Surah Hud:

• Allah (swt) is the provider of every single creation. No matter where it lives. All is in a clear register. Every detail in this universe is recorded. He is aware of it all, each and everything.
• Nothing good in this world is a reward. Nothing bad in this world is a punishment. Everything in this world is a: Trial. Everything is a TEST.
• Real enjoyment, real reward is in Jannah. Real punishment is Hellfire.
• It does not matter what the deed is. If it’s not done for Allah (swt), it won’t matter. Expect your reward from Allah (swt) only. Not from this world, not from people.
• People of prophet Noah (as) were given 950 years to believe. But even then very few believed
• He (prophet Noah) was then commanded to build a ship, board the ship, with two mates of each creature and his own family (except his wife and son, who did not believe). Only 80 people boarded.
• Water gushed out and the waves were like mountains. Noah made one last attempt to call his son to the ship. But his son still did not trust and believe his father. And so his son drowned in this flood.
• Prophet Noah (as)’s own son drowned. A member of his very own family. Never think that because you are from a certain family you will be saved. Your lineage has nothing to do with being saved.
• After the flood had subsided, Noah asked: Even my own son was killed? Allah (as) responded: that Noah’s son was not part of his family anymore.
• Every prophet conveyed the message of Allah (swt), without looking for any worldly reward or benefit. They had no greed for wealth. They expected reward only from Allah (swt).
• Prophet Hud (as)  was the brother of the nation of A’ad
• The nation of A’ad was arrogant and stubborn. They responded to those that called them to disobedience. Eventually nation of A’ad was destroyed.
• Similarly, Prophet Salih (as) was sent to the people of Thamud. The people of Thamud also denied, disobeyed, were corrupt. Eventually the nation of Thamud was also destroyed.
• Life is given only once.
• One night, guests visited Prophet Abraham (as) in his home. He served them good food. But he saw that his guests were not eating the food. He started to distrust them. Felt a little concerned and apprehensive. But it was made known to him that these guests were actually, Angels. They, the angels told Abraham not to fear, and that they have been sent by Allah (swt), to destroy the nation of Lot.
•  Prophet Abraham (as)’s wife, Sara was standing nearby, heard that they were angels, and smiled. A smile of relief. She was then given the news that she would be giving birth to a child, Isaac and then Jacob. Sara was surprised. “How can I, an old woman, give birth?” It is reported that she was almost 90 years old at this time.
• Hajar, Prophet Abraham (as)’s second wife, had already given birth to Ismael. And so Sara was very jealous that Hajar was able to bare a child, but that she herself had not. Prophet Abraham (as) had taken Hajar and Isamel to Makkah and left them there in a desert to start a new community. Meanwhile Sara was in Palestine, with no child yet.
• And so now, Sara is given news by the angels (the guests) that she will give birth to a child, Isaac. She was amazed, surprised and happy. The angels made dua for the people of  Prophet Abraham (as)’s house.
• Upon realizing the guests are angels, not being apprehensive or afraid anymore, and after getting news of Sara’s pregnancy, prophet Abraham (as) began to get worried for people of Lot that were going to be destroyed. Even after getting such good news,  prophet Abraham (as) was concerned for other people.
• Prophets were not selfish people. Propeht Abraham (as0 was concerned for prophet Lot (as).
• When we are blessed with good things we quickly forget about others who are in need. We have no concern for others. We are selfish.
• Angels told prophet Abraham (as) that there is no point in trying to plea for Lot and his people. They said the command of your Lord has come, it cannot be changed.
• The people of Lot were committing a sin that had never been committed before: homosexuality
• Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: the thing I fear the most for my Ummah is that this act of homosexuality will be common. (It was the action of the people of prophet Lot (as))
• Because rectal intercourse is forbidden between men and men or between men and women. May Allah (swt) curse the ones who do this action.
• It is forbidden because it brings more harm than pleasure. Physically it harms the person and it harms the society at large. Leaving the person and people with no shame, no haya (shame).
• So when prophet Lot met these guest/men (who were actually angels), he was worried because of the men in his community. He was worried about how they would react upon seeing these angels, here in the form of men.
• When the men of Lot’s community saw the guests, they came rushing to them, even though they had just been recently engaged in doing evil deeds. Meaning these people were and are never satisfied. They wanted more of the haram.
• Something that is halal, lawful, even a little of it is satisfying. Something that is haram, unlawful, prohibited, no matter how much of it you have, you will never be satisfied. For example: alcohol
• Prophet Lot even offered his daughters/women to the men of his community, but they refused, and were not interested. Were not attracted to females. They wanted men.
• The angels told Lot: go out in the middle of the night, with your family and don’t look back. Except your wife, she will look back.
• In the morning, Allah (swt) destroyed prophet Lot (as)’s community
• Another example, another nation/society: Madyan. To them Allah (swt) had sent Shuyab. His people were believers but during business transactions, they used to cheat each other. Even though they were prosperous , there were greedy, wanting more, cheating to get more.
• Work according to your position
• If you feel guilty after sinning, do a good deed which can be as simple as: La-ilaha-illAllah
•  Prophet Muhammad (saw) left for battle of Badr while his daughter was sick in Madinah and on the verge of death. But he had to leave. When he returned after the battle, she had just been buried.

Surah Yusuf:

• Allah (swt) has called it the Best Story. It’s a story full of lessons. You learn something new every time you read this Surah.
• The Jews asked Prophet Muhammad (saw) about the story of prophet Yusuf (as), during his times, to test his knowledge. To see if he was truly a messenger. Because if he truly knew the story of prophet Yusuf (as), then he must be telling the truth.
• So Allah (swt) revealed the whole story.
• The story starts with prophet Yusuf (as)’s dream.
• There are three types of dreams: stuff related to things going on in your life, dreams from the shaytan, and then good dreams
• Brothers of propeht Yusuf (as) were jealous of him. Similarly Mushrikeen were jealous of Muhammad (saw). Jealousy makes the most intelligent people foolish
• Shaytan was able to get to even the sons of the prophet. Because nobody is safe from his attack
• Brothers of prophet Yusuf (as), out of jealousy conspired to kill prophet Yusuf (as). They said that after doing this, then they will become righteous. This is totally wrong thinking. To start with a sin and then say that, “oh we will just repent and become righteous after sinning”. That’s not right, it doesn’t work like that
• It is very common for someone to become jealous when someone else gets more attention than they do. If jealousy takes over, then the Iman is in danger. Hasad, envy, hatred. Jealousy is a disease of the heart. It will destroy people.
• Remember to have a greater purpose in life, rather than becoming envious or jealous over little petty worldly things.
• Nothing happens without Allah (swt)’s will
• Every person who is given a blessing is envied. So let’s try not to flaunt our blessings. We should not show off these things, these blessings. Should not give others a reason to be jealous.
• Prophet Yusuf (as)’s brothers lied, lie upon lie. Just kept lying.
• They threw prophet Yusuf (as) into a well, left him there and went home. After reaching home they lied to their father about what happened to him.
• prophet Yaqub (Jacob) (as), their father, was a very patient man. He controlled his anger and sadness upon hearing this news. He controlled his emotions for the sake of Allah (swt). Patience is most fitting. (Sabrun Jameel: beautiful patience)
• Prophet Yusuf (as) was eventually picked up and sold for a small price to a “financial master”, who treated prophet Yusuf (as) well.
• As prophet Yusuf (as) reached maturity, Allah (swt) gave him judgement and knowledge.
• The lady of the house tried to seduce prophet Yusuf (as0. But prophet Yusuf (as) resisted and said he cannot do what she was seducing him to do, because the master of the household had been so good to prophet Yusuf (as0 as he was growing up.
• Even though the lady of the house was much older than Yusuf (as), he was still tempted, because after all he was a man. But Allah (swt) averted him from evil and immorality.
• She was non-mahram. Older, but still non-mahram for him. This teaches us to never be alone with a non-mahram, regardless of age differences.
• So Yusuf (as) resisted, tried to leave. Both him and the lady raced towards the door. The lady pulled Yusuf (as)’s shirt as she tried to stop him, and it tore. At the door, the husband of the lady/master of the home saw them. She blamed Yusuf (as). Yusuf (as) denied and insisted that it was the lady that was trying to seduce him. Not the other way around.
• An outside/neutral party said that the shirt must be checked. It must be checked to see which side it was torn from. If it was torn from the front, it would mean prophet Yusuf (as) is guilty. If it was torn from the back, it would mean that the wife/lady was guilty. The shirt indeed was torn from the back.
• So the husband/master ordered his wife/lady to apologize
• This became big news around the whole city. All the women were talking about this incident, this scandal.
• So the lady/wife decided to invite all the women of the city to see for themselves, why she was tempted. She invited all the women to her home for banquet. Gave all of them knives as Yusuf (as) came into the room. All of them, distracted by Yusuf (as), began to cut their hands, while staring at Yusuf (as). Not even knowing that they were cutting their own hands.
• These means, women must lower their gaze too!
• The lady/wife wanted to justify her sin. She said she had tried to seduce him, but he had refused. She said and basically threatened prophet Yusuf (as), that if he doesn’t obey her orders, she will send him to prison.
• Yusuf (as) explained that prison will be better than what she was trying to get him to do. He was willing to suffer worldly loss, to maintain his Iman.
• Yusuf (as) was removed from one difficulty to another. But he remained patient.
• As he entered prison, two prisoners/men with him asked him about dreams they were having and for an interpretation.
• He gave dawah (sharing Islam, inviting someone to Islam)  even in prison.
• The dream interpretations: #1) one will be free and serve wine to his master. #2)one will be crucified and birds will eat from your head.
• Yusuf (as) asked that the prisoner/man who had dream #1, to mention prophet Yusuf (as) to his master when he is free, so that maybe he may free Yusuf (as) as well. But the prisoner/man forgot to do this after going free. And so Yusuf (as) remained in prison for many many more years.
• This happens very often, that someone does a favor for you and then you totally forget them afterwards.
• The king had a dream one night and wanted an interpretation. His dream showed seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean cows, seven green spikes of grain and others were dry. At this point the prisoner/man who had dream #1, now recalled prophet Yusuf (as)  and how he had interpreted his own dream for him in prison.
• Prophet Yusuf (as) is now brought to interpret the king’s dream. But before leaving prison, prophet Yusuf (as) asks about the lady/wife of master who tried to seduce him. Prophet Yusuf (as) was patient, and rather than running out of prison hastily, he wanted his name to be cleared before coming out of prison
• The wife (of the master) admitted that she was the one who had originally seduced Yusuf (as). That prophet Yusuf (as) was the truthful one.
• Yusuf (as) wanted the master and everyone else to know that he was honest and that he did not betray anyone’s trust.