Stories from the Quran

1. Stories from the Quran Delivered at ICN Ogden Week 1

2. Subject Matter • Similar to Tafseer but will focus on stories mentioned in the Quran • We will focus in deriving lessons and benefits from these stories • Some of the stories we will cover insha’Allah • Story of the Cow • Story of Harut and Marut • Story of Taloot and Jaloot • Story of Story of Uzayr • Story of the sons of Adam عليه السلام • Story of the People of the Sabbath • Story of One that Clings to the Earth

3. More Stories We Will Cover insha’Allah • Story of the People of the Cave • Story of the People of the Two Gardens • Story of Musa and Khidrعليهما السلام • Story of DhulQarnayn • Story of Ya’juj and Ma’juj • Story of Qarun • Story of Luqman • Story of the People of Sabaa • Story of the People of the Village • Story of the Believer from the Family of Firawn • Story of the People of the Ditch • Story of the People of the Elephant

4. Importance of the Subject • Allah said • نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ (3) • 3. we relate unto You (Muhammad) the best of stories through Our revelations unto you, of This Qur'ân. and before This (i.e. before the coming of Divine Inspiration to you), You were among those who knew nothing about it (the Qur'ân). Yusuf:3 • لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَى وَلَكِنْ تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ (111) • 111. indeed In their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. it (the Qur'an) is not a forged statement but a confirmation of the Allâh's existing Books [the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel) and other Scriptures of Allâh] and a detailed explanation of everything and a Guide and a Mercy for the people who believe.

5. Benefits of the Subject • Reaffirms our belief in Allah, His powers, abilities and His unique right to be worshipped • Awaking people who are heedless and unaware • Encourages the believers to follow the examples of the believers that came before them • Emphasizes the importance of calling people to the religion by giving them good news about the benefits of obedience and warning them against the harms of disobedience • Comfort and support to the believers • Reminder that the way we increase and gather blessings is by obeying Allah and the way we lose our blessings is by disobedience • Greater appreciation for the Quran

6. Story of the Cow • There are many themes discussed in Surah Al-Baqrah • Some themes described are the following • Conditions of the Believers • Conditions of the Disbelievers • Conditions of the Hypocrites • Conditions of Previous Nations • Family Law • Despite these themes and others this Surah is named Al-Baqrah because it sheds light on the very important issue • All Good Comes from Answering the Call (Commands) of Allah and His Messengers عليم السلام

7. Allah Commands You To Sacrifice A Cow • وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَةً قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ (67) • 67. and (remember) when Mûsa (Moses) said to his people: "Verily, Allâh commands You that You slaughter a cow." they said, "Do You make fun of us?" He said, "I take Allâh's Refuge from being among Al-Jâhilûn (the ignorants or the foolish)." • Why did they go to Musa عليه السلام in the first place? • The story about the murder that occurred amongst them • When the Prophet commanded them to do something they took it as he was joking, messing around, and not being serious • It is okay to joke, but not when it comes to the commands of Allah • The one’s that turn away from the commands of Allah are foolish and ignorant

8. Response After Realizing the Seriousness of the Situation • قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا هِيَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ فَافْعَلُوا مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ (68) • 68. they said, "Call upon Your Lord for us that He may make plain to us what it is!" He said, "He says, 'Verily, it is a cow neither too old nor too young, but (it is) between the two conditions', so do what You are commanded.“ • If they had gone and sacrificed any cow Allah would have accepted it from them • Instead they began to question and make things difficult • When they made things tough Allah made things tough on them • After being told now do what you are commanded • How did they respond?

9. Asked About the Color • قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ (69) • 69. they said, "Call upon Your Lord for us to make plain to us its colour." He said, "He says, 'It is a yellow cow, bright In its colour, pleasing to the beholders.' • Even after being told the color did not listen

10. Became Confused • قَالُوا ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا هِيَ إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ (70) قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَا ذَلُولٌ تُثِيرُ الْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِي الْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌ لَا شِيَةَ فِيهَا قَالُوا الْآنَ جِئْتَ بِالْحَقِّ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا يَفْعَلُونَ (71) • 70. they said, "Call upon Your Lord for us to make it clear to us what it is. Verily to us All cows are alike, and surely, if Allâh wills, we will be guided." • 71. He [Mûsa (Moses)] said, "He says, 'It is a cow neither trained to till the soil nor water the fields, sound, having no other colour except bright yellow.' " they said, "Now You have brought the truth." so they slaughtered it though they were near to not doing it. • Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما had they not said insha’Allah they would not have been guided

11. Allah Reviving the Dead • وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا وَاللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ (72) فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا كَذَلِكَ يُحْيِ اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَى وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ (73) • 72. and (remember) when You killed a man and fell into dispute among yourselves as to the crime. but Allâh brought forth that which You were hiding. • 73. so we said: "Strike Him (the dead man) with a piece of it (the cow)." Thus Allâh brings the dead to life and shows You his Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) so that You may understand. • Allah prevented bloodshed amongst them by making clear who the murderer was • How did they respond to this favor?

12. Hardening of Hearts • ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ (74) • 74. then, after that, Your hearts were hardened and became as stones or even worse In hardness. and indeed, there are stones out of which rivers gush forth, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which split open so that water flows from them, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which fall down for fear of Allâh. and Allâh is not unaware of what You do. • After being granted a blessing from Allah instead of being grateful they responded with arrogance, so their hearts became hard

13. How To Deal With A Hard Heart • Know the reasons for hardening of the heart • Amongst the reasons are: • Too much eating • Too much sleeping • Too much talking • Too much intermingling • Too much security • Heedlesness • Dealing with a hard heart • Remembrance of Death • Visiting the Sick • Visiting the Graveyard • Reading and reflecting on the Quran • Helping people who have less than you in the dunya

14. Things Which Prevent People From Obeying Allah • Being deceived by the large numbers of people disobeying Allah • وَإِنْ تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ (116) • 116. and if You obey Most of those on earth, they will mislead You far away from Allâh's Path. they follow nothing but suspicions, and they do nothing but lie. Al-Anaam • Following Desires • فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكَ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ (50) • 50. but if they answer You not (i.e. do not believe In Your doctrine of Islâmic Monotheism, nor follow you), Then know that they Only follow their own desires. and who is more astray than one who follows his own desires, instead of guidance from Allâh? Verily! Allâh guides not the people who are Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allâh, and polytheists). Al-Qasas

15. How Do We Answer the Call of Allah? • Read the Quran with understanding and with the intention to implement • Seek knowledge • Increase in good deeds • Fear having a bad ending • Remember death often • Avoid procrastination • Reflect on the reality of this world

16. Importance of the 10 Days of DhulHijjah • عنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنهما قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : «مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهِنَّ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ» فَقَالُوا : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ،وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : «وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ، إِلَّا رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ» .] • On the authority of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما He said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم said that there are no days where good deeds are more beloved to Allah سبحانه وتعالى They said not even jihaad, He صلى الله عليه و سلم said Not even Jihaad unless a person leaves with His soul and his wealth, and then doesn’t return with either of those things.”

17. Actions To Perform During These Days • Performing Hajj- if a person has the ability to do so. • Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said • العُمْرَةُ إِلَى العُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَالحَجُّ المَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلَّا الجَنَّةُ • Umrah to Umrah is an expiation for what is in between them, and there is no reward for an accepted Hajj except Jannah. • The best thing that a person can do so is make Hajj during these days. We ask Allah to accept the Hajj of all of the Hujjaj. We ask Allah to make us all amongst the Hujjaj. • Not everyone has the ability to perform Hajj, so what can they do to share in the reward during these great days. • Make the intention to perform Hajj and insha’Allah Allah may reward us based on our intention

18. Fasting • Fasting • قَالَ اللَّهُ: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ، إِلَّا الصِّيَامَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ • Allah has said in a HadeethQudsi “All of the deeds of the children of Adam are for him, except for fasting it is for me and I will reward it.” Allah is the one that rewards for all of our deeds, but he has specficied fasting because of the great reward. One of the best ways we can come closer to Allah سبحانه و تعالى is through fasting, and we all have experienced this during the month of Ramadan. • كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ تِسْعَ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ، وَيَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ، وَثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، أَوَّلَ اثْنَيْنِ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ وَالْخَمِيسَ • The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم used to fast the 9 days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of Aashura, three days of every month, Mondays and Thursdays. Abu Dawud • If a person cannot fast all of these days then he/she should at least make an effort to fast the 9th of DhulHijjah which is next Thursday (October 25, 2012)

19. Deeds Continued • Focus on the Salah, the fard and the naflsalah especially Shurooq • وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، • Dhikr constantly remember Allah سبحانه و تعالى • فعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: (ما من أيام أعظم عند الله ولا أحب إليه العمل فيهن من هذه الأيام العشر، فأكثروا فيهن من التهليل والتكبير والتحميد) • There are no days in which good deeds are more rewarding and more beloved to Allah than these days so increase in tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed” saying La illahilla Allah, Allahu Akbar and Alhumdulilah • Giving Sadaqah- Udhuyyiah this is something that will multiply our rewards and will make up any shortcomings in our actions • Abstain from cutting hair and nails