The Triumph
Al-Fatḥ
الفَتْح
Surah Al-Fatḥ for kids content
MAKKAN ARROGANCE
26'Remember when the disbelievers had filled their hearts with pride-the pride of ignorance 'before Islam'-then Allah sent down His peace upon His Messenger and the believers, inspiring them to stick to the word of faith, because they were more fit and deserving of it. And Allah has 'perfect' knowledge of all things.
إِذۡ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَأَلۡزَمَهُمۡ كَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ وَكَانُوٓاْ أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهۡلَهَاۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٗا26
BACKGROUND STORY
- •
Before the Hudaibiyah peace agreement, the Prophet had a dream that he and his companions were entering the Holy Mosque in peace and shaving their heads (which is done after 'umrah). When he told his companions, they got very excited.
However, when the idol-worshippers stopped them from doing 'umrah, the companions were very disappointed. Some hypocrites started to say, "What is this?
No heads have been shaved, and no Holy Mosque has been entered!" 'Omar reminded the Prophet of his dream, and the Prophet said, "Did I say it is going to be this year?" 'Omar said, "No!" Then the Prophet told him that they would definitely do it in-sha-Allah.
THE PROPHET'S DREAM
27Allah will certainly make His Messenger's dream come true: in-sha-Allah, you will definitely enter the Holy Mosque, in peace-'some with' heads shaved and 'others with' hair shortened-without fear. He knew what you did not know, so He gave you this great success' first.
48He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with 'true' guidance and the religion of truth, making it rise above all others. And Allah is enough as a Witness.
لَّقَدۡ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ ٱلرُّءۡيَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ لَتَدۡخُلُنَّ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدَ ٱلۡحَرَامَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمۡ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَۖ فَعَلِمَ مَا لَمۡ تَعۡلَمُواْ فَجَعَلَ مِن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ فَتۡحٗا قَرِيبًا27
48
BACKGROUND STORY
- •
The following verse (48:29) confirms the fact that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, even if the idol-worshippers challenge and question him. Allah will always support him. Allah chose the best people to be his sahabah (companions).
They are described in the Tawrah of Musa as being tough with their enemies, but kind to each other. They bow down in salah, hoping to please Allah. Their faces are bright from praying.
The example of the Muslim community in the Injil of 'Isa is that of a single seed that turns into a plant (like the Prophet), then branches come out (like Khadijah, Abu Bakr, 'Omar, 'Othman, 'Ali, Bilal, and Salman), then the plant grows day by day, becoming huge and strong.
You and I are part of this big tree of almost 2 billion people.
WORDS OF WISDOM
- •
A şahabi is someone who met the Prophet at least once, accepted Islam while the Prophet was alive, and died as a Muslim. The sahabah are the best generation among Muslims, as the Prophet says in a hadith. They saw the Prophet. They lived with him. They prayed behind him.
They heard his talks. They listened to his recitation of the Quran. They travelled with him. They supported him. They stood up for his message. They took Islam to many countries. They spread the Quran and the teachings of Islam after him.
To honour their legacy, we should love them, follow their example, support Islam, and teach others about this beautiful religion.
WORDS OF WISDOM
- •
Someone may ask, "If the companions are the best generation of Muslims, how come some of them disagreed and even fought against each other?" To answer this good question, think about the following points: We cannot question their intention or sincerity because we are not at their
level of faith. As we mentioned before, the Prophet said that his companions are the best in the history of Islam. At the end of the day, the sahabah are great human beings, not angels. They wanted the best for the Muslim Ummah (nation).
Hard decisions had to be made, and disagreements happened. Some of them got it right, and some got it wrong. Allah will be their Judge, not us. He already says in the Quran (9:100) that He is pleased with them and has prepared Jannah for them.
The Jews respect the companions of Musa. The Christians respect the companions of 'Isa. We should love and respect the companions of Muhammad even more. The disagreement among some companions is another proof that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.
He warned his companions that these disagreements were going to happen after his death and told them the best course of action.
The part of verse 29 that says "the believers are tough with the disbelievers" refers to the idol-worshippers and other enemies who were at war with Muslims because of their faith.
Otherwise, Islam encourages Muslims to treat peaceful non-Muslims with kindness and fairness, as Allah instructs in 60:8-9. One day, the Prophet was with his companions.
He said to them, "I wish I could see my fellow believers (brothers and sisters)!" They asked, "Are we not your fellow believers?" He replied, "You are my companions. Our fellow believers will come later.
They will believe in me without seeing me." He was then asked how he would recognize them on Judgment Day? He said, "They will come with brightness on their faces from making wudu' (purifying themselves for salah).
SIDE STORY
- •
Verse 29 is very special to me. Around the summer of 1999, I had an American roommate. He used to make fun of my ability to type in English. Back then, I was new to computers, so I struggled to find the letters with one finger.
I probably typed 4-5 words per minute, ma-sha-Allah (or should I say a'uzu-billah?). I said to myself, "I have to do something about it." I didn't know any local place where I could learn typing on a keyboard, so I booked a typing class. I practiced 3 times a week.
I trained myself very well on how to find the keys on a typewriter. I memorized them. They got coded into my brain. Later, I saved some money from my translation work, and decided to buy my first computer.
Finding out that some of the keys on the keyboard were different than those on the typewriter was a total nightmare. The struggle was real, because it is easier to learn something new than to unlearn something old. But I didn't give up.
Then it so happened that someone gifted me a CD that teaches typing, so I used it to practice. Eventually, it paid off, and I was able to type an average of 40-50 words per minute, using all my fingers, without looking at the keyboard.
By then I was probably typing faster than my roommate. But I wanted to take it to the next level: I taught myself how to type in Arabic-something he couldn't do. How did I do it?
Here is the secret: I practiced with verse 48:29, because it has all 29 letters of the Arabic alphabet.
BELIEVERS' DESCRIPTION IN THE TAWRAH AND INJIL
29Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And those with him are tough with the disbelievers and kind with each other. You see them kneeling and bowing down 'in salah', seeking Allah's blessings and pleasure. The sign 'of brightness can be seen' on their faces from the trace of bowing down. This is their description in the Tawrah. And their example in the Injil is that of a seed that sprouts its 'tiny' branches, making it strong. Then it becomes thick, standing perfectly on its stem, making the planters happy-in this way, Allah makes their strength a source of discomfort to the disbelievers. To those of them who believe and do good, Allah has promised forgiveness and a great reward.
مُّحَمَّدٞ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ تَرَىٰهُمۡ رُكَّعٗا سُجَّدٗا يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنٗاۖ سِيمَاهُمۡ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنۡ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِۚ وَمَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡإِنجِيلِ كَزَرۡعٍ أَخۡرَجَ شَطَۡٔهُۥ فََٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسۡتَغۡلَظَ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعۡجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلۡكُفَّارَۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِنۡهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٗ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمَۢا29