Quran

Bsmillah alhamdulillah,

If you want read the Qur’an online, here is a scanned in version which is very easy to use and mirrors the Saudi printed mushaf (Quran) which is widely available in many places in the world and ubiquitous here in masjids and prayer areas. The site is called QuranFlash.com

Hijrah – yes or no?

Bismillah, alhamdulillah

A verse in the Quran talks about emigrating or hijrah. Hijrah or emigration from non-Muslim lands to Muslim lands. This had been a topic of much conversation in Muslim circles around a decade ago especially in the West. The enthusiasm and zeal for this idea seems to have died down over the last few years as the reality of emigrating and its hardships has set in bolstered by counter arguments over the overall benefit of hijrah.

Hijrah is not as easy, palatable and in some circles not strictly relevant or a priority in the current climate. At times like this when the pendulum of discussion swings between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ the casual observer is lost in the complex mesh of argument and counter-argument. Is hijrah or emigrating an obligation, an obligation that cannot be met hence hence excused, or the opposite as hijrah can lead to worse consequences. The debate naturally occurs at a variety of levels from the scholastic to the common. At times like this contemplation of God’s book is a vital source of strength:

Quranic Pearls: Intercession & even – connection?

Bismillah, alhamdulillah

Reading verse 85 from the fourth surah (Al-Nisaa’ – Women.) I was puzzled by the words in red:

مَّن يَشْفَع شَفَاعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَّهُ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُن لَّهُ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَا وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقِيتًا (4:85 )

85. Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: And whoever recommends and helps an evil cause, shares in its burden: And Allah hath power over all things. [Yusuf Ali]

The above is Yusuf Ali’s rendition of this verse. A literal translation will probably show what I found puzzling:

Whoever intercedes (yashfa’) an intercession (shafaa’ah) of good there is for him a portion from it, and whoever intercedes (yashfa’) an intercession (shafaa’ah) of evil there is for him a portion from it. And Allah is over everything capable.

What I found puzzling was the use of the verb يشفع yashfa’ (to intercede) and its related noun شفاعة shafaa’ah (intercession). My brain paused at this point and tried to work out what was meant by intercession here. The commentaries of Sayyid Tantawi and Fath al-Qadeer combined to offer a very nice linguistic explanation of this word. The verb yashfa’ is derived from the noun شفع shaf’ or even, as opposed to odd. It may leave you wondering what the connection between even and intercession is?

Every even number can be thought of as a paired number. This is the key to the link, the pairing number can be thought of as aiding or helping the odd number to become even. Hence the meaning of intercession: ‘the act of mediation through speech to help someone achieve something beneficial or save him from something harmful, whether in this world or the next’.

It brings to my mind the picture of someone pairing with someone to help them carry out their deed – good or bad to greater effect. The imagery of the Quran never ceases to amaze me:

ربنا زدنا علما O our Lord increase us in knowledge.