Surah al Baqarah

1. Surah al Baqarah Ayahs 122 - 129

2. Ayah 122 O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds.

4. But Bani Israel forgot about the purpose, What did we do?

5. When we are favored... and (remember) when Your Lord proclaimed 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' [Ibrahim: 7]

6. LESSONS • The greatest blessing Allah SWT gives us, is of imaan • We should remember the blessings we have • Every group is not the same; some may be preferred with more wealth, more talent etc. • Be GRATEFUL for what you have 

7. Ayah 123 And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, and no compensation will be accepted from it, nor will any intercession benefit it, nor will they be aided.

8. Roots • Jeemzaaiyaa– to come in use for the other;  even if you’re the child of a prophet, your father can’t help you if you didn’t do anything yourself in this world • Aaindaallaam– something that is equivalent • Sheen faaaain– to join; to plead a request

9. Conditions

10. Stop Relying on Others Do Something Yourself

11. Ayah 124 And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [ Allah ] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [ Allah ] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."

12. Intro to Ibrahim A.S. • Sent after Nuh A.S.; was from Iraq • Sent around 2000 B.C. • Mentioned 25 times in the Qu’ran • The people opposed him and he was exiled • Went to Makkah and Palestine • He was made the leader and father of all prophets

13. Roots • Baa laamyaa– a trial in which there is hardship; difficulty; could also be something good that a person is enjoying, and then it becomes a test of gratitude • Ibtilaa – to test someone to reveal their true worth; “His” Lord – Allah SWT might put us in tests for us to get closer to Him

14. Roots • Kaaflaammeem– it may be Kawni (Allah’s decree) or Share’ee (commandments); Ibrahim A.S. was tested with both • Taameemmeem– to complete something fully; nothing remains unclear (Ibrahim a.s. passed all the tests by completely carrying out all the commands) • Hamzameemmeem– to intent/aim for something; one who is followed/consulted; linguistically: imam (Abrahamic Faiths)

15. Roots • Ibrahim A.S. was very soft-hearted; he wanted this blessing of religious leadership for his children too • Dhaalraawhamza– to create; give birth to • OR • Dhaalraawraaw– a particle; small particles spread out; doesn’t apply to just immediate children but also progeny/descendants

16. Roots • Noon yaalaam– to reach a goal • Allah’s reply: those people who do wrong, will not be leaders, even if they are from Ibrahim A.S.

18. Leadership only comes when a person sacrifices.

19. Wisdom Behind Tests So every person that goes through a test is being prepared for what is going to come ahead.

20. Rasool Allah (s.a.w) said "The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath." (al-Tirmidhi)

21. LESSONS • 1. We should remember Ibrahim A.S. • 2. Being happy with Allah’s decree • 3. Allah tests those who are righteous; tests are a means of improving ourselves; don’t underestimate yourself  • 4. Tests show the sincerity/truthfulness of a person; also expiation for sins • 5. Leadership is not inherited but its earned through one’s own hard work

22. REFLECT! • BANI ISRAEL  TESTED THROUGH BLESSINGS AND FAILED THE TESTS  • IBRAHIM A.S.  TESTED THROUGH DIFFICULTIES AND PASSED  • WHAT KINDS OF TESTS AM I GOING THROUGH? • AM I PASSING OR FAILING THESE TESTS?

23. Ayah 125 And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]."

24. Roots • Baa yaataa– where you spend the night; i.e. house (i.e. Kaabah; the House of Allah) • Thaawaaw baa – when something is returned to its original state; technically: the Kaabah is a place where people go again and again to quench their spiritual thirst • Context: Story of the building of the kaabah; this was the dua of Ibrahim A.S., that the hearts of people are inclined towards the kaabah

27. Roots • Hamzameem noon – secure and peaceful; people always respected the haram; even animals and plants are secure there • It’s a place where you don’t have any worries • Allah made Makkah a sanctuary • Qaafwaawmeem– the station of Ibrahim A.S. • 1. the stone that was used by Ibrahim A.S. when building the kaabah 2. general sense; all the rites of Hajj where Ibrahim A.S. stood for worship

28. He was honoured because he didn’t wait to sacrifice the dearest thing to him in the way of Allah.

29. More Roots… • Saawdlaamyaa– a place for salaah •  2 rakaat performed after tawaaf •  refers to all of the rituals • Taawhaaraaw – physical and intangible cleanliness (i.e. shirk, bidaa) • Taawwaawfaa– can only do this around the kaabah;

30. More Roots… • Aainkaaffaa– to do ihtekaaf in the masjid; seclude oneself for a period of time to worship Allah SWT • Ruku and sajdah are mentioned here because they show humility

31. Context • Ibrahim and Ismael A.S. were ordered to build the kaabah • After building it, they were also told to clean and maintain it • Although he was a leader, Ibrahim A.S. was still part of the “cleaning staff” • Clean the masjid so that people can come and pray there

32. Places where Allah is remembered should be kept clean Don’t just build the Kaba but maintain it

33. LESSONS • 1. we should involve our children in building/cleaning the mosques of Allah (Ismael A.S. helped his father). • 2. cleaning the masjid is a great honor for a person • 3. Etiquettes of the masjid: (hadith): whoever eats a raw onion/garlic should not come to our masajids because whatever is displeasing to man, is displeasing to the angels

34. Lesson If we become sincere for Allah and perform a deed, Allah will guard that deed, even after we die.

35. Those who benefit mankind are the ones who are remembered in the hearts of people.Allah preserves their traces!

36. Ayah 126 And [mention] when Ibraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day." [ Allah ] said. "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination."

38. Roots • Baa laamdaal– a place that is populated; also has a boundary; could be a country or town •  refers to Makkah here • Hamzameem noon – everything in that city is safe; secure is the one who is in it and there is no violence amongst them • Thaameemraaw– not just fruits; asked for provisions, because Makkah is a dessert

39. Roots • Meemtaaaain– everything that a human/animal needs to survive •  Allah said He will also provide for the disbelievers, but only temporarily • DaawdRaawRaaw– force something difficult over another;  people will resist the hell-fire; they will be thrown into the fire • Saawdyaaraaw– a place where something ends up/stops (how bad is hell fire as a place to stop).

40. Having Dunya is Important, but giving importance to Dunya over Akhira is not right

41. Lesson • Give importance to the akhirah • Dua for deen and dunya, because you do need good quality dunya to worship • Ibrahim A.S. made dua for food too, so we should make dua for little things as well

42. Ayah 127 And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.

43. Roots • Qaafaaindaal– to sit; the basis of something •  getting help from someone else is not a bad thing or sign of weakness; Ismael A.S. helped out his father •  interesting to note what father and son were saying WHILE constructing the Kaabah • Qaaf baa laam– to accept something happily; be happy with what we have done

45. Lessons

46. Ayah 128 Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

47. Roots • Muslimain – to increase in their submission; keep us submissive to you throughout our lives • Raawhamzayaa– visualize/point out; where and how to worship (explain to us our ways of worship so clearly, as if we can see it) • Noon seen kaaf– sacrifice; it’s a source of purification

48. Eman is something that fluctuates, so we should keep on making du’a to Allah What is the state of our du’a?

49. Lessons Ibrahim (a.s)’s du’a shows his wisdom and farsightedness Ibadah requires Knowledge & Knowledge requires a Teacher

50. Ayah 129 Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise."