I Learned The Meaning From An Ice-Seller

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Al-Raazee mentioned in his Tafseer: It has been reported that someone from the Salaf said: ❝I learned the meaning of the Surah from an ice-seller. He was calling out in a loud voice (pleading with people), saying: “Have mercy on the one whose capital is melting away! Have mercy on the one whose capital is melting away!”

I said (to myself): “This is the meaning of the saying of Allaah تعالى:

إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
{Verily! Man is in loss} 

Time passes by for a person; his life goes on, he gains nothing, therefore, making him a loser.”❞

📚 [Tafseer al-Raazee (32/278). The Aayah is from Surah al-`Asr (103): 2]

Themes Of Surah Al-Kahf

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Surah al-Kahf highlights essential principles for safeguarding against the four major worldly temptations: religion, wealth, knowledge, and power.

Reflecting on these Aayaat offers practical advantages in understanding al-Tawḥeed (monotheism), engaging in al-Da`wah (calling to Islaam), practicing al-Ṣabr (patience), and strengthening Yaqeen (certainty) about the Hereafter.

In the Tafseer of Surah al-Kahf, by Shaikh Haitham Sarḥaan, the key benefits derived from this Surah focus on these four themes:

No One Is Independent Of Allaah’s Mercy

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى mentioned that Moosa عليه السلام supplicated, saying:

فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

{(Moosa عليه السلام) said: “My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!}
📚 [Surah al-Qasas (28): 24]

Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما said: “Moosa عليه السللام said: {“My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me”}, while he (Moosa) was amongst the most honored of creations to Allaah, (yet he was tested), and he was in need of half a date, and he was afflicted so much so that his stomach stuck to his back from extreme hunger.”
📚 [Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (37017) and its chain is authentic]

Abu Haazim said: “Moosa عليه السلام said this because he was hungry, afraid, and felt unsafe. So he asked his Lord, and did not ask the people. The shepherds did not understand, but the two maidservants did, and they narrated the incident to their father.”
📚 [Musnad al-Daarimee (1/504)]

All of Allaah’s creations depend on His mercy and cannot exist without His provision. When Allaah grants someone sufficiency, He has fully cared for them. If He bestows abundant provision, it is their duty to thank Allaah.

They Think They’ll Get Away With It!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Many people believe that through eloquent speech and persuasion, they can talk their way out of any situation, which is why they feel no shame about taking things that do not belong to them.

Some also come to believe that falsehood and deception can shield them from every consequence. It is this illusion that emboldens them to seize what is not rightfully theirs, mistaking deception for immunity, injustice for gain, and greed for entitlement.

Do Not Forsake The Qur’aan

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Those who know the value, rights, and worth of the Qur’aan will never abandon or forsake it. When you learn that one letter is worth ten good deeds. When you believe that frequently reciting the Qur’aan pleases Allaah, and there is nothing greater than the pleasure of Allaah عز وجل.

The highest station an individual can achieve is that his Lord is pleased with him. As Allaah تعالى said:

وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

{But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allaah.
That is the supreme success.}

📚 [Surah al-Tawbah (9): 72]

Be Grateful To Allaah And to Your Parents

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ‎﴾

{Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the final destination} 
📚 [Surah Luqmaan (31): 14]

Allaah has made it obligatory for us to thank Him and thank our parents. Since there is consensus that thanking one’s parents is done through constant obedience to them, and that simply praising them is not enough, words alone are insufficient. It is well known that true gratitude to Allaah requires more than just words; it must be demonstrated through actions. This is achieved by obeying Allaah and using His blessings in ways that please Him, rather than wasting them on wrongdoing.

(6.4) Explanation Of Hisn Al-Muslim: Merits Of Dhikr

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ithaaf al-Muslim bi Sharh Hisn al-Muslim

(Gifting A Muslim With Explanation Of Fortress Of The Muslim)

By: Shaikh Sa`eed Ibn `Alee Ibn Wahf al-Qahtaanee رحمه الله

The Merits Of Dhikr (Remembering Allaah) (Part 4):   

Fourth: Allaah تعالى said:

وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ

{And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.} [1]

Explanation:

(6.3) Explanation Of Hisn Al-Muslim: Merits Of Dhikr

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ithaaf al-Muslim bi Sharh Hisn al-Muslim

(Gifting A Muslim With Explanation Of Fortress Of The Muslim)

By: Shaikh Sa`eed Ibn `Alee Ibn Wahf al-Qahtaanee رحمه الله

The Merits Of Dhikr (Remembering Allaah) (Part 3):  

Third: Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا﴾‏

{and the men and the women who remember Allaah much, Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)} [1]

Explanation:

1. al-Haafidh al-Baghawee رحمه الله reported that Mujaahid said: “A slave (of Allaah) cannot be considered among those who remember Allaah much till he remembers Allaah while standing, sitting, and laying down.” [2]

2. Tafseer al-Muyassar: “The men and women who remember Allaah much with their hearts and tongues, for all of them (i.e., the ten categories mentioned in the Aayah), Allaah has prepared forgiveness for their sins and a great reward, i.e., Paradise.” [3]

3. Shaikh al-Sa`dee رحمه الله said: {for them}, that is, for these people who are described in these glowing terms as possessing these noble characteristics, which include beliefs, deeds of the heart, physical deeds, spoken words, and doing acts that may benefit oneself or others, as well as doing good deeds and refraining from evil deeds, for the one who does these things has established the religion in the fullest sense, both outwardly and inwardly, and has attained Islaam, Imaan (Faith) and Ihsaan (highest level of God-consciousness).” [4]

---

[1] Surah al-Ahzaab (33): 35

[2] Tafseer al-Baghawee (3/640)

[3] Tafseer al-Muyassar (1/422)

[4] Tafseer al-Sa`dee (1/664)

(6.2) Explanation Of Hisn Al-Muslim: Merits Of Dhikr

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ithaaf al-Muslim bi Sharh Hisn al-Muslim

(Gifting A Muslim With Explanation Of Fortress Of The Muslim)

By: Shaikh Sa`eed Ibn `Alee Ibn Wahf al-Qahtaanee رحمه الله

The Merits Of Dhikr (Remembering Allaah) (Part 2): 

Second: Allaah تعالى said:

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا *‏ وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا﴾

{O you who believe! Remember Allaah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and `Asr prayers]} [1]

Explanation:

(6.1) Explanation Of Hisn Al-Muslim: Merits Of Dhikr

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ithaaf al-Muslim bi Sharh Hisn al-Muslim

(Gifting A Muslim With Explanation Of Fortress Of The Muslim)

By: Shaikh Sa`eed Ibn `Alee Ibn Wahf al-Qahtaanee رحمه الله

The Merits Of Dhikr (Remembering Allaah) (Part 1):

First: Allaah تعالى said:

﴿فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ﴾
{Therefore, remember Me, I will remember you. And be grateful to Me, and do not be ungrateful} [1]

Explanation:

Aadam عليه السلام And The Apple:

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

⚡Is there any benefit in learning about the fruit that Aadam عليه السلام ate?

The tree - that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى forbade Aadam and his wive عليهما السلام to eat from, but they still ate from it - no scholar has confirmed what tree it was, and there is nothing in the Book of Allaah or the authentic Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ to point to a specific tree or fruit.

Whatever has been mentioned about a specific type of tree or fruit, then that has been narrated by some of the Taabi`een (students of the Companions), and most of them are based on Texts from the people of the Book (Jews and Christians). Some of them said it is the fig tree, and some said it is the grapevine, and some said it is wheat, and others said it is barely. But what is more commonly known with the vast majority of the people is that it was the apple. But there is no basis for this.

🎓 Imaam Ibn Jareer رحمه الله, after mentioning the above different opinions, said in his Tafseer of Surah al-Baqarah:

❝The correct opinion is to say: "From among the many trees in Jannah, Allaah تعالى forbade Aadam and his wife from eating from one specific tree. But they both disobeyed in what Allaah تعالى had prohibited for them, and they ate as Allaah تعالى had mentioned in His Book. And we do not know which specific tree it was, because Allaah تعالى did not leave any clue for His slaves, neither in His Book nor in the authentic Sunnah. So, from where did the people come to this conclusion (that it was an apple, or wheat, etc.)?

Some said it was from barely, and some said it was from grapevine, while others said it was from the fig tree. It could be one of them (but we do not know for sure). This is part of knowledge, which, if one came to know about it, it would not benefit him. And if an ignorant remains ignorant about it, his ignorance about this would not harm him."❞

📚 [Tafseer al-Tabaree]

There are many lessons to be learned from the story of Aadam عليه السلام, and learning about the fruit or tree is not one of them.

Importance Of Repaying Debts (A Compilation Of 20 Narrations)

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Summary: 

1.     Books of Hadeeth like Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan al-Nasaa’ee, Sunan Ibn Maajah, and Sunan al-Daarimee dedicated a special chapter heading: “Stern Warning Concerning Debt”

2.     Anyone who died while he had a debt to repay, will be detained from entering Paradise.

3.     The Prophet ﷺ refused to offer funeral prayer for the one who died without repaying debt or not leaving behind anything with which to repay the debt. The only other time the Prophet ﷺ and his Ummah have been prohibited to pray is for the Kuffaar. This is another clear indication of the importance of Huqooq al-`Ibaad (rights of the creation), and the severity of not repaying debts.

4.     On the Day of Judgment, there will be no Deenar or Dirham to repay debt with. The matter will be decided through the exchanging of good deeds and bad deeds.

5.     The Person, who is in debt, should pay off his debts before he can give money in charity.

6.     The inheritance is not to be distributed to the heirs till the debt is paid off first. Just in two Ayaat, Allaah تعالى reminded four times about this in His Book.

Leading By Examples

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In the Qur’aan we come across many Aayaat that are arranged in such a way that we, a lot of times, fail to understand the wisdom behind their arrangement. At first glance, we would not be able to make any connections between these different Aayaat, but upon pondering over them again and again, one can appreciate the Wisdom of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى.

A few examples of such pairing of `Aayaat are as follows:

1. Aayaat on Patience paired with Aayah of al-Safa & al-Marwah

2. Aayaah of Du`aa paired with Aayaat on Fasting

3. Aayah on Tawakkal paired with Surah Yusuf

It is like when Allaah تعالى instructed His Prophet ﷺ and the Believers to be patient, He تعالى gave an example in Patience. And when He تعالى instructed His Prophet ﷺ and the Believers to trust Him in all our affairs, He تعالى gave an example in Trust.


1. Pairing of Aayaat on Patience with Aayah of al-Safa & al-Marwah:

Right after the Aayaat on al-Sabr, Allaah تعالى mentioned about al-Safa and al-Marwah. Allaah تعالى said:

Never Take Things For Granted!

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

🌟 QUOTE:

❝They say:
“You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”
But the truth is:
“You knew exactly what you had. You just didn’t think you’d lose it…”❞

 

🌴🌴🌴

🌟 The Pain Of Moving On After Getting Used To A Comfortable Life/Place/Situation:

The comforts in life come in different shapes and sizes. People love having luxurious homes, comfortable cars, lots of wealth, beautiful wives and children, big farms, etc. As Allaah تعالى mentioned:

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ

{Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle, and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world's life; but Allaah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers, etc.) with Him.} [1]

But the thing is that not only did our hearts get attached to the comforts of this life, rather, we also got comfortable with sins. And every sin, if not repented, comes with a price, and now we are paying the price... loss of lives, health, jobs, and wealth, the ever-increasing expenses, the insecurity about what the future holds, the uncertainty of the next move, and the indecisiveness about the next step.

The Trials Through Good And Evil:

 (Or The Trials Through Prosperity And Poverty)

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

﴿كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ﴾

{Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall test you with evil and with good by way of trial. And to Us you will be returned} [Surah al-Anbiyaa (21): 35]

Ibn Rajab رحمه الله commented, saying:
“Allaah تعالى has made everything that afflicts a person – either good or bad – a Fitnah (trial), meaning it is a calamity by which everyone will be put to test.

Teaching Through Examples:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In the Qur’aan we come across many Aayaat that are arranged in such a way that we, a lot of times, fail to understand the wisdom behind their arrangement. At first glance, we would not be able to make any connections between these different Aayaat, but upon pondering over them again and again, one can appreciate the Wisdom of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى.

A few examples of such pairing of `Aayaat are as follows:
1. Aayaat on Patience paired with Aayah of al-Safa & al-Marwah
2. Aayaah of Du`aa paired with Aayaat on Fasting
3. Aayah on Tawakkal paired with Surah Yusuf

It is like when Allaah تعالى instructed His Prophet ﷺ and the Believers to be patient, He تعالى gave an example in Patience. And when He تعالى instructed His Prophet ﷺ and the Believers to trust Him in all our affairs, He تعالى gave an example in Trust.

1. Pairing of Aayaat on Patience with Aayah of al-Safa & al-Marwah:

Right after the Aayaat on al-Sabr, Allaah تعالى mentioned about al-Safa and al-Marwah. Allaah تعالى said: 

al-Qur'aan: Meaning of the word: “al-Nazgh”

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

Allaah تعالى said in the Glorious Qur’aan:

 

وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

{And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaitaan then seek refuge with Allaah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.}

📚 [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 200, and Surah al-Fussilat (41): 36]

 

🌴🌴🌴

 

👉 At any time, and in any situation, {if a prompting from Shaitaan stirs you up} that is, you feel angry or you feel Shaitaan’s whispering and discouragement from doing good, or encouragement and prompting to do evil, then seek Allaah’s protection, for He hears all things, and He is aware of all that is taking place.

📚 [Tafseer al-Muyassar (7):200]

 

🌴🌴🌴

 

👉 Al-Tabaree mentioned in his Tafseer:

The root meaning of the word al-Nazgh (النزغ) is al-Fasaad (corruption). It is when Shaitaan stirs animosity and the feeling of hostility amongst the people, so that one group transgresses the rights of the other.

📚 [Tafseer al-Tabaree (Jaami` al-Bayaan) (7):200]

 

🌴🌴🌴

 

📑 Note:

Many people do not know the true meaning of the word al-Nazgh which Allaah تعالى mentioned in the Qur’aan. Here is a practical example to teach you the correct meaning, because when you ponder over the meaning, you will take better precautions. It is like putting a small scorpion and a locust in a bottle and shaking it violently. The locust and the scorpion will bump into each other. The scorpion will feel that the locust is attacking it, and the locust will feel that the scorpion wants to sting it with its stinger, but in reality, it is the one who is shaking the bottle that is stirring the problem between the two, while these creatures are unaware.

This is the same example for us, as husband and wife, inside the house, in the same room, there is someone who tries to stir problems between the two while they are unaware, and that is the Shaitaan.

The meaning of al-Nazgh is Waswasah (whisper, evil prompting). And for Allaah is the highest attribute, when He تعالى says:

{And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaitaan then seek refuge with Allaah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.}

The inhabitants of the Hellfire's plea for help

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

 

The inhabitants of the Hellfire will make many requests, and all of them will be denied for them:

1. They will ask for death (a permanent relief from the punishment), but it will be denied for them. [Surah al-Zukhruf (43): 77]

2. They will ask for a day’s relief, that Allaah lightens the punishment for at least one day, but it also be denied. [Surah Ghaafir (40): 49-50]

3. They will request the inhabitants of Jannah to provide them with some food and water from the Jannah, but this will also be denied for them. [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 50]

4. They will ask to be given a second chance to do righteous deeds, but this will also be denied for them. [Surah al-Mu’minoon (23): 107-108]

The difference between the words اجتنبوا (Ijtaniboo (avoid)) and اتركوا (Utrukoo (leave))

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

QUESTION: When it came to Major Sins, why did Allaah تعالى say: اجتنبوا (Ijtaniboo (avoid)), and He تعالى did not say: اتركوا (Atrukoo (leave))?

Examples: Allaah تعالى said:

إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا

{If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall remit from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise).}

[Surah al-Nisaa (4): 31]

When will a person be regarded as from the People of the Qur’aan, the People of Allaah, those who are closest to Him?!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

🚫 This has nothing to do with the Qur’aaniyoon (the Hadeeth rejectors), may Allaah save us from their Fitnah.

It was narrated that Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه said: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Allaah has His own people among mankind.❞ They said: “O Messenger of Allaah, who are they?” He ﷺ said: ❝They are the people of the Qur’aan, Allaah’s own people and those who are closest to Him.❞

📚 [Musnad Ahmad (12279, 12292), Sunan Ibn Maajah (215) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]