Women

According to verse 28, humans are created weak, impatient, and unable to control their desires.

Our physical weakness becomes clear when we compare our development and strength to those of other creatures.

To start with, human babies need at least 3 months to raise their heads, about a year to be able to walk, and some may take several years

just to leave their parents' beds!

However, a baby horse can run within hours after birth.

A baby turtle is able to swim only a day or two after hatching, while a bluebird can fly out of the nest in two weeks.

Moreover, some creatures have superpowers that we simply can't match.

Here are a few fun facts from National Geographic: One blue whale weighing 200 tons is equal to 40 elephants (each weighing 5 tons) or 2,667 humans (each

weighing 70 kg).

A single ant can carry 50 times its own body weight.

To match this, a human being (weighing 80 kg) would have to carry 4,000 kg.

A tiny flea can jump 150 times its own body length.

A 2-meter human being would need to jump 300 meters to match a flea.

A seahorse can give birth to an average of 1,500 babies at a time.

A little creature known as a water bear (or tardigrade) can survive extreme cold and heat and can even survive in space.

It can go without food or water for years.

In comparison, some people may think that they will die if they fast for hours in Ramadan!

Even though we are not the biggest, strongest, or fastest compared to many other creatures, Allah has blessed us with superior intelligence and free will.

He put us in charge of the earth and ordered us to do what is right and avoid what is wrong.

This surah talks a lot about Allah's mercy.

With the exception of Surah 9, all surahs begin with the basmalah to remind us that He is indeed Ar-Rahman (the One full of mercy) and Ar-Rahim (the

One giving mercy).

In verses 26-28, Allah says that He always shows mercy to people and eases their burdens, knowing that they have been created weak.

This reminds me of a very emotional story that happened with a Muslim brother in Canada.

His little daughter got very sick, and eventually the hospital had to put her on life-support.

At some point, the doctors told him and his wife that their daughter would never recover and that she should be taken off life-support—which meant she would die

shortly after.

The father refused to sign the papers.

A week went by, but again he couldn't do it.

That was a very stressful time for him and his family.

Finally, after realizing that his daughter's condition was only getting worse, he prayed for Allah's mercy and took the pen to sign the papers.

His hand started shaking when the doctor showed him where to sign.

Suddenly, a nurse rushed into the room to tell him that there was no need to sign as his daughter had just died on her own.

The father dropped the pen and went into sajdah to thank Allah for His mercy during that intense moment.

The following passage talks about a situation where the wife severely misbehaves, disrespects her husband, fails to give him his rights, or has an illegal relationship with another

man.

As the guardian and protector of the family, the husband has the right to take the following steps:

1.

To advise and caution his wife.

2.

If this doesn't work, then he can refuse to share the bed with her.

3.

But if this doesn't work, then he can discipline her.

The aim is to show that he's not happy with her bad behavior, not to be violent with her.

In his final speech, the Prophet advised people to be kind to their women.

He himself never hit a woman or a servant.

If the husband is unfair or abusive to his wife, she can get help from her guardian or seek divorce.

(Imam Ibn Kathir & Imam Al-Qurtubi)

One day, the Prophet asked 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud to recite some verses of the Quran to him.

Ibn Mas'ud said, 'How can I do that, when it was revealed to you?

' The Prophet replied, 'I'd love to hear it from someone else.

' So, Ibn Mas'ud started reciting from the beginning of this surah.

When he reached verse 41, the Prophet told him, 'That is enough.

' Ibn Mas'ud said he looked at the Prophet and saw his eyes flowing with tears.

(Imam Al-Bukhari & Imam Muslim)

Verses 36-40 criticize those who hate to share with others and fail to donate in the cause of Allah, even though all of their wealth came only from

Him.

Such people ignore the fact that one day they will die and leave everything behind.

Those who are wise should be grateful that Allah has blessed them with wealth, guided them to donate, and promised to reward them for their donations.

Helping others and easing their hardship is one of the best things that you can do as a Muslim.

Joha was a rich man, but he didn't like to share.

One day, he was standing on the roof of his 4-story house when a poor man started banging on his door.

Joha looked from the top and asked the man, 'What do you want?

' The man replied, 'Come down please, I need to talk to you urgently.

' When Joha walked down the stairs and came out, the man said, 'I need some food.

' Joha paused for a moment then said, 'Follow me.

' The man got very excited, and he walked up the stairs with Joha.

Once on the roof, Joha pointed up and told the man, 'Allah will give you.

' The poor man was shocked.

He asked Joha, 'Why didn't you say that when I was down there in the street?

' Joha replied, 'And why didn't you ask for food when I was up here on the roof?

' The man said, 'I didn't want everyone in the neighborhood to know that I was hungry.

' Still, Joha told the man to leave or he would push him off the roof!

Before he left, the poor man told him, 'If you can't afford some food, at least you can afford some manners!

'

Like Joha, Hamzah always kept things for himself.

Even though Allah blessed him with a lot of wealth, he didn't donate to the masjid or any good cause.

He loved money so much that he didn't even use it to live a comfortable life.

One day, his friend Zaki asked him, "Hamzah!

What do you do in the winter when it gets cold in your house?

" He replied, "Of course, I put the electric heater in my room.

" His friend then asked, "What if it gets much colder?

" Hamzah replied, "I sit closer to the heater.

" Again, his friend asked, "What if it gets so cold to the point you would freeze to death?

" Hamzah said, "Then I'd turn the heater on!

"

Muslims must purify themselves before salah.

If someone cannot find water or is unable to use it because of illness or cold weather, then they are allowed to touch clean earth or sand with

the palms of their hands once, then blow in their hands and wipe over their faces and hands.

This ruling is called **tayammum**.

(Imam Al-Bukhari & Imam Muslim)

As mentioned previously, some Jews in Madinah would mock the Prophet by twisting words.

Instead of saying 'ra'ina' (give us extra attention), they would make it sound like 'our fool'.

They would loudly proclaim, 'We listen,' then whisper, 'But we disobey!

' and say, 'Hear us,' then quietly add, 'May you never hear!

' They privately told each other, 'If this man were truly a prophet, he would know we are mocking him.

' Consequently, verse 46 was revealed, offering alternative phrases that couldn't be twisted.

(Imam Ibn Kathir & Imam Al-Qurtubi)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once dispatched a group of his companions outside Madinah, appointing 'Abdullah ibn Huzafah as their leader.

During their journey, Abdullah, known for his playful nature, instructed them to build a large campfire.

He then challenged them, asking, 'Didn't the Messenger of Allah command you to obey me?

' When they affirmed this, he ordered them to jump into the fire!

Conflicted, the companions hesitated.

Some reasoned, 'We embraced Islam to be safe from the Fire (of Hell).

' Upon their return, they recounted the incident to the Prophet.

He responded, 'If you had entered it, you would not have come out.

Obey your leaders only if they tell you to do what is right.

' This event led to the revelation of verse 59.

(Imam Al-Bukhari & Imam Muslim)

Verse 58 teaches believers to return things to their rightful owners.

A prime example is the story of 'Othman ibn Talhah, whose family had held the Ka'bah's key for generations.

Early in Islam in Makkah, the Prophet wanted to enter the Ka'bah, but 'Othman (still an idol-worshipper) rudely refused.

The Prophet told 'Othman, 'One day, this key will fall into my hands and I'll give it to whoever I want.

' Many years later, when the Muslim army took over Makkah, 'Othman had to hand the key to the Prophet for prayers inside the Ka'bah.

Although Al-Abbas (the Prophet's uncle) asked to become the new key-keeper, the Prophet returned the key to 'Othman, saying, 'Your family will be in charge of this key

till Judgment Day.

' 'Othman was deeply moved by the Prophet's forgiveness and kindness.

The Prophet then asked him, 'Do you remember what I told you about this key many years ago?

' He replied, 'Absolutely!

You are indeed the Messenger of Allah.

' (Imam Ibn Sa'd).

'Othman's family remains in charge of the Ka'bah's key to this day.