 Friends |  HofaMisA: Trusting God: Beautiful Advice in the Quran Habeeba Husain Picture There is so little that we know as human beings about our own selves. We think we know everything, when in reality, we do not. Few of us can say we knew exactly where we would end up in adulthood when we were kids, who our best friends would be, what kind of jobs we would have, what kind of home we would live in, or who we would marry. We all have hopes and dreams—but ultimately those are just, well, hopes and dreams. They may even be in realistic reach, but there is no way we really know what type of future lies ahead of us. Throughout my life, this whole unknown future concept scared me immensely—even to the point of tears. It was not about having control over a situation per se, but more so a severe lack of confidence, worry, and anxiety due to not being able to prepare myself (or knowing how to) for whatever was to come. The dilemma was not knowing when or how or who, whether that was figuring out what to major in at college, what post-grad life would be like, getting married, moving away from home, going on Hajj (the Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah), starting a family…the list continues. Islam recognizes this very big knowledge gap that humans have in regards to their own lives. It acknowledges we do not know all, nor are we supposed to. What Muslims are encouraged to do in these kinds of situations is “tie their camel” and then put their trust in Allah. In other words, do your due diligence and leave the rest to God. There is only so much we can control about our lives, and to be able to deal with the rest we need to rely upon and trust God. Over the years, I bookmarked many verses from the Quran about trusting God that brought me great comfort. Whenever I trek toward uncharted territory in my life, I refer back to these verses to give myself comfort. “…place your trust in Allah. Surely, Allah loves those who place their trust in Him.” (Q. 3:159) If placing trust in Allah will result in His love, what other comfort can we ask for in our time of uncertainty and need? “If Allah helps you, there is none to overcome you. And if He abandons you, then, who is there to help you after that? In Allah the believers should place their trust.” (Q. 3:160) When I read this verse, I am reminded that God is my true, best friend. He is the one to turn to for help, and we must realize He can right all of our affairs. “…Enough for me is Allah. There is no god but He. In Him I have placed my trust, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne.” (Q. 9:129) This verse first caught my attention thanks to my teacher. She told me every morning and evening she read this verse seven times and no matter how much she had on her plate, God took care of it all. Somehow, someway, she was able to complete all her tasks in the day even when it seemed their simply was not enough time. Personally, I have used this verse to calm myself down prior to doctor’s appointments or blood tests—things that really make me squirm and feel uncomfortable. It really feels miraculous the way God soothes souls through verses like these. “And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.” (Q. 65:3) The first sentence in this verse brings me the ultimate comfort. It highlights how we humans do not know—we cannot even fathom how beautifully God takes care of us and our affairs. No matter what we are going through, Islam teaches us to simply trust Him, and He will be enough for us. Again, He knows, while we know not. And once we submit to this reality, the bumpy road ahead in the future will look a lot more smooth.  HofaMisA: THE NAMES and ATTRIBUTES of ALLAH # Arabic Transliteration Translation (can vary based on context) Quranic Usage 1 Ar-Rahman The All Beneficent, The Most Merciful in Essence, The Compassionate, The Most Gracious Beginning of every chapter except one, and in numerous other places 2 Ar-Rahim The Most Merciful, The Most Merciful in Actions Beginning of every chapter except one, and in numerous other places 3 Al-Malik The King, The Sovereign, The True and Ultimate King 59:23, 20:114 4 Al-Quddus The Most Holy, The Most Pure, The Most Perfect 59:23, 62:1 5 As-Salaam The Peace and Blessing, The Source of Peace and Safety, The Most Perfect 59:23 6 Al-Mu’min The Guarantor, The Self Affirming, The Granter of Security, The Affirmer of Truth 59:23 7 Al-Muhaymin The Guardian, The Preserver, The Overseeing Protector 59:23 8 Al-Aziz The Almighty, The Self Sufficient, The Most Honorable 3:6, 4:158, 9:40, 48:7, 59:23 9 Al-Jabbar The Powerful, The Irresistible, The Compeller, The Most Lofty, The Restorer/Improver of Affairs 59:23 10 Al-Mutakabbir The Tremendous 59:23 11 Al-Khaliq The Creator 6:102, 13:16, 39:62, 40:62, 59:24 12 Al-Bari’ The Rightful 59:24 13 Al-Musawwir The Fashioner of Forms 59:24 14 Al-Ghaffar The Ever Forgiving 20:82, 38:66, 39:5, 40:42, 71:10 15 Al-Qahhar The All Compelling Subduer 13:16, 14:48, 38:65, 39:4, 40:16 16 Al-Wahhab The Bestower 3:8, 38:9, 38:35 17 Ar-Razzaq The Ever Providing 51:58 18 Al-Fattah The Opener, The Victory Giver 34:26 19 Al-Alim The All Knowing, The Omniscient 2:158, 3:92, 4:35, 24:41, 33:40 20 Al-Qabid The Restrainer, The Straightener 2:245 21 Al-Basit The Expander, The Munificent 2:245 22 Al-Khafid The Abaser 95:5 23 Ar-Rafi‘e The Exalter 58:11, 6:83 24 Al-Mu‘ezz The Giver of Honour 3:26 25 Al-Mudhell The Giver of Dishonour 3:26 26 As-Sami‘e The All Hearing 2:127, 2:256, 8:17, 49:1 27 Al-Basir The All Seeing 4:58, 17:1, 42:11, 42:27 28 Al-Hakam The Judge, The Arbitrator 22:69 29 Al-`Adl The Utterly Just 6:115 30 Al-Lateef The Subtly Kind 6:103, 22:63, 31:16, 33:34 31 Al-Khabeer The All Aware 6:18, 17:30, 49:13, 59:18 32 Al-Haleem The Forbearing, The Indulgent 2:235, 17:44, 22:59, 35:41 33 Al-Azeem The Magnificent, The Infinite 2:255, 42:4, 56:96 34 Al-Ghafoor The All Forgiving 2:173, 8:69, 16:110, 41:32 35 Ash-Shakoor The Grateful 35:30, 35:34, 42:23, 64:17 36 Al-Aliyy The Sublimely Exalted 4:34, 31:30, 42:4, 42:51 37 Al-Kabeer The Great 13:9, 22:62, 31:30 38 Al-Hafeez The Preserver 11:57, 34:21, 42:6 39 Al-Muqeet The Nourisher 4:85 40 Al-Hasib The Reckoner 4:6, 4:86, 33:39 41 Al-Jaleel The Majestic 55:27, 39:14, 7:143 42 Al-Karim The Bountiful, The Generous 27:40, 82:6 43 Ar-Raqib The Watchful 4:1, 5:117 44 Al-Mujib The Responsive, The Answerer 11:61 45 Al-Wasse‘e The Vast, The All Encompassing 2:268, 3:73, 5:54 46 Al-Hakeem The Wise 31:27, 46:2, 57:1, 66:2 47 Al-Wadud The Loving, The Kind One 11:90, 85:14 48 Al-Majeed The All Glorious 11:73 49 Al-Ba’ith The Raiser of The Dead 22:7 50 Ash-Shaheed The Witness 4:166, 22:17, 41:53, 48:28 51 Al-Haqq The Truth, The Real 6:62, 22:6, 23:116, 24:25 52 Al-Wakeel The Trustee, The Dependable 3:173, 4:171, 28:28, 73:9 53 Al-Qawee The Strong 22:40, 22:74, 42:19, 57:25 54 Al-Mateen The Firm, The Steadfast 51:58 55 Al-Walee The Protecting Friend, Patron and Helper 4:45, 7:196, 42:28, 45:19 56 Al-Hamid The All Praiseworthy 14:8, 31:12, 31:26, 41:42 57 Al-Muhsi The Accounter, The Numberer of All 72:28, 78:29, 82:10-12 58 Al-Mubdi’ The Producer, Originator, and Initiator of All 10:34, 27:64, 29:19, 85:13 59 Al-Mu‘id The Reinstater Who Brings Back All 10:34, 27:64, 29:19, 85:13 60 Al-Muhyi The Giver of Life 7:158, 15:23, 30:50, 57:2 61 Al-Mumit The Bringer of Death, The Destroyer 3:156, 7:158, 15:23, 57:2 62 Al-Hayy The Ever Living 2:255, 3:2, 25:58, 40:65 63 Al-Qayyum The Self Subsisting Sustainer of All 2:255, 3:2, 20:111 64 Al-Wajid The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing 38:44 65 Al-Majid The Illustrious, The Magnificent 85:15, 11:73, 66 Al-Wahid The One, The Unique, Manifestation of Unity 2:163, 5:73, 9:31, 18:110 67 Al-Ahad The One, the All Inclusive, The Indivisible 112:1 68 As-Samad The Self Sufficient, The Impregnable, The Eternally Besought of All, The Everlasting 112:2 69 Al-Qadir The All Able 6:65, 36:81, 46:33, 75:40 70 Al-Muqtadir The All Determiner, The Dominant 18:45, 54:42, 54:55 71 Al-Muqaddim The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward 16:61, 17:34, 72 Al-Mu’akhir The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away 71:4 73 Al-Awwal The First 57:3 74 Al-Akhir The Last 57:3 75 Az-Zahir The Manifest, The All Victorious 57:3 76 Al-Batin The Hidden, The All Encompassing 57:3 77 Al-Waali The Patron 13:11, 22:7 78 Al-Muta’ali The Self Exalted 13:9 79 Al-Barr The Most Kind and Righteous 52:28 80 At-Tawwab The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting 2:128, 4:64, 49:12, 110:3 81 Al-Muntaqim The Avenger 32:22, 43:41, 44:16 82 Al-‘Afuww The Pardoner, The Effacer of Sins 4:99, 4:149, 22:60 83 Ar-Ra’uf The Compassionate, The All Pitying 3:30, 9:117, 57:9, 59:10 84 Malik-al-Mulk The Owner of All Sovereignty 3:26 85 Dhu-al-Jalaliwa-al-Ikram The Lord of Majesty and Generosity 55:27, 55:78 86 Al-Muqsit The Equitable, The Requiter 7:29, 3:18 87 Al-Jami‘e The Gatherer, The Unifier 3:9 88 Al-Ghani The All Rich, The Independent 3:97, 39:7, 47:38, 57:24 89 Al-Mughni The Enricher, The Emancipator 9:28 90 Al-Mani’e The Withholder, The Shielder, the Defender 67:21 91 Ad-Darr The Distressor, The Harmer, The AfflictorThis attribute can only be found in hadith 6:17 92 An-Nafi‘e The Propitious, The Benefactor 93 An-Nur The Light 24:35 94 Al-Hadi The Guide 25:31 95 Al-Badi The Incomparable, The Originator 2:117, 6:101 96 Al-Baqi The Ever Enduring and Immutable 20:73 97 Al-Warith The Heir, The Inheritor of All 15:23 98 Ar-Rashid The Guide, Infallible Teacher and Knower 2:256 99 As-Sabur The Patient, The Timeless. HofaMisA: Surah 61. The Ranks, Battle Array In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 1. Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah. for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. 2. O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not? 3. Grievously odious is it in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not. 4. Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure. 5. And remember, Moses said to his people: "O my people! why do ye vex and insult me, though ye know that I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you?" Then when they went wrong, Allah let their hearts go wrong. For Allah guides not those who are rebellious transgressors. 6. And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of an Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "this is evident sorcery!" 7. Who doth greater wrong than one who invents falsehood against Allah, even as he is being invited to Islam? And Allah guides not those who do wrong. 8. Their intention is to extinguish Allah.s Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it). 9. It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it). 10. O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?- 11. That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew! 12. He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement. 13. And another (favour will He bestow,) which ye do love,- help from Allah and a speedy victory. So give the Glad Tidings to the Believers. 14. O ye who believe! Be ye helpers of Allah. As said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, "Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah." Said the disciples, "We are Allah.s helpers!" then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed. HofaMisA: Quran on God's Love Quran, Chapter 3, Verses 31 and 32: “Say: if you love God, then follow me, God will love you and forgive you your faults, and God is forgiving, merciful” “Say: obey God and the messenger; but if they turn back, then surely God does not love the unbelievers”Islam in one sense is different from some other major religions of the world. The picture of God that has been depicted in Quran, as we Muslims all believe, is a combination of love toward good people and aversion toward bad people. This has been repeated in at least 40 verses of holly Quran with a clear definition for good people and bad people. This article aims to distinguish between these two groups based on Quranic verses and clarify the image of people whom God loves. As mentioned in above two verses, the first step is to follow the path that has been shown to us by god’s messenger. This is the most beautiful picture that one can demonstrate as a mutual love. If you do love your God, you are therefore prompted to follow the path that has been shown to you and prepare yourself to receive his love. But it is also stated that the people who do not follow the right path are not to be loved by God. This may need a little bit more clarification on the definition of right path and people who are to be loved by God. Perhaps the most distinguished characteristic for these people which has been mentioned in 5 verses of Quran (2:195, 3:134, 3:148, 5:13 and 5:93) is to do good to others. Doing good could be helping poor people, supporting orphans or even respecting one’s parents which have been also mentioned in various verses of Quran. Others, based on Quran, are people who: guard themselves against sin (3:76, 9:4, 9:7) judge fairly (5:42, 49:9, 60:8) fight in God’s way (61:4) purify themselves (2:222, 9:108) turn much to God (2:222) trust in God (3:159) and are patient (3:146). On the other hand, God does not love the person who is: an unbeliever (3:32, 30:45) arrogant (16:23, 4:36, 31:18, 57:23) cruel (3:57, 3:140, 42:40) unfaithful and ungrateful (2:276, 22:38) exceeding the limits (2:190, 5:87, 7:55) extravagant (6:141, 7:31) mischief-maker (2:205, 5:64, 28:77) treacherous (8:58, 4:107) and exulting in riches (28:76) ParsQuran.com HofaMisA: Chapter AL-MAEDA (THE TABLE), Verse 92 وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَاحْذَرُوا فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِنَا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger. Beware; if you give no heed, know that Our Messengers duty is only to give the clear delivery. |
People, do you understand me now?
Sometimes I feel a little mad
Don't you know no one alive can always be an angel?
When things go wrong, I seem a little sad
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
You know sometimes, I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
And sometimes seems that all I have is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
If I seem edgy, I want you to know
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems and I get more than my share
But that's one thing I never mean to do
I don't mean it
People, don't you know I'm only human?
Don't you know I have thoughts like any one?
But sometimes I find myself alone regretting
Some little thing, some foolish thing
That I have done
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Don't let me be misunderstood
I'm just someone whose intentions are good
Don't let me be misunderstood
Don't let me be misunderstood