Surah Al Kahf: (Continued)

• So by now Prophet Musa (as) had already disturbed Khizer with his questioning twice. He promised that if he asks again, Khizer would be allowed to send him away. Meaning: strike three and I’m out.
• The two came to a town and its people. They asked the people for food, but the people refused to give the two of them food or any hospitality. So Khizer found a wall that was about to collapse, and restored/repaired it. Musa (as) here made a comment to Khizer: You could have taken payment for this work and repair, if you wanted.
• Khizer’s response to this: This is where we will part. But before letting Musa go, he informed him of the things Musa (as) was asking impatiently about.
• Musa (as) was curious and alert, wanting to learn. Wanting to understand why it is that Khizer had done these things.
• Many things in life are like this. We don’t know why they happen. Seem bizarre, illogical, nonsensical. But there is always a hidden meaning.
• For example: when a family member is sick, we don’t really know why they get sick. It brings the rest of the family members together. Constantly calling, checking up on things, brings them all closer. But when the person who is sick recovers, weeks go by before the families speak to each other again. Hence, there is a reason for everything!
• It’s difficult for us to accept hardship. But there is good in everything that Allah (swt) decrees. Accept and trust His decisions.
• Now for Khizer’s explanations: As for the ship: It belonged to poor people who were working on the ship at sea. The king of the people was seizing all good ships by force. So by creating a defect in the ship, it was saved from the king. As for the boy: his parents were believers, but there was fear that the boy would overburden them with transgression and disbelief. So it was intended that a child better in purity and nearer to mercy, be substituted to the parents. The boy was who was rebellious to his parents, hurting them, was taken away. Causing pain and burden to your parents is very very wrong. Apologize to them and make dua for them. As for the wall: It belonged to two orphan boys in the city. Their father had been righteous and had left behind a treasure that was buried beneath the wall. It was for the boys to receive, and Allah (swt) wanted them to reach maturity and then extract their treasure when they became of age.
• Story of Dhul-Qarnayn: He had a strong kingdom. He traveled far and wide, very easily. He was a just and fair king. One time, he reached a place where the sun was setting in a dark mud. Near it were people.
• Allah (swt) said: Its your choice, you can be good to them or you can punish them.
• Dhul-Qarnayn chose justice. For the people who had wronged, they would be punished. When they returned to Allah (swt), He would punish them with a terrible punishment. For the good and righteous people, there will be ease for them and they would be rewarded with Paradise.
• Dhul- Qarnayn continued his journey and came to the sun rising on people who had absolutely nothing. He himself had a lot, many resources etc, that had been given to him by Allah (swt). But rather than using these things on himself, he would travel and use these resources to benefit people who were in need.
• We learn here that luxuries did not make Dhul-Qarnayn lazy and useless.
• Dhul-Qarnayn continued his journey and reached a pass between two mountains, where he met people who were totally foreign. He could not understand them and they did not understand him. Eventually they somehow communicated and he learned that Gog and Magog have been creating great fasaad (corruption) here. The people asked Dhul-Qarnayn to save them from this evilness and help build a barrier/wall around them for protection. They even offered to pay him for his help. He responded that what is with Allah (swt) or from Him is better than their payment. He agreed to help them build the barrier/dam. Dhul-Qarnayn had wealth, skills and resources.
• The wall was huge and impenetrable. It was a huge accomplishment. A huge mercy from Allah (swt). Dhul-Qarnayn remembered and thanked Allah (swt) because without Him, the success of the wall would have been impossible. He also mentioned that it was up to Allah (swt) when He wants to destroy the wall.
• This wall will come down before the Day of Judgement. Gog and Magog will be released, and that will be one of the signs. When they do actually penetrate through the wall, they will be running out killing people, drinking up all the water, and shooting blood stained arrows.
• When the trumpet is blown for the first time, all the people who are alive on Earth, will die. When the trumpet is blown for the second time, all the people will rise from their graves. There will be waves of people.
• Hell will be presented to the disbeliever.
• Ascribing a partner to Allah (swt) is a very serious crime.
• The blessings of this world compared to the blessing of the HereAfter are like a mustard seed compared to an entire world.
• Don’t let the world blind you of your goals and obligations to reach Jannah. Aim for Jannat-Al-Firdaws
• The greatest losers in terms of their deeds, are those whose efforts were lost in the worldly life. Those who are lost in the worries and matters of this world. They don’t even know they are doing something wrong. They forget the Akhirah. The worth of their deeds will be zero. Because to them, the success in this world was worth more.
• Those who are good and righteous, they will live in Jannah, forever. For eternity.
• In Jannah there is only pleasure. People will not be and never will be bored in Jannah.
• “If the sea were ink for writing the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted”

Surah Maryam:

• Zechariah (as) made a private dua to Allah (swt). He narrated his sadness, grief and worries to Allah. Not to people. This is how we should make dua. Pour out and talk to Allah. It invites his mercy. Remain hopeful. He hears the prayers of the hearts.
• Zechariah (as) remained hopeful always of Allah (swt). He was concerned that he was old and that his wife was barren. He wanted to have children, because he was worried about his people, about who would guide and teach them. He wanted a child to teach and lead his people. That’s the horrible state Bani Israel was in.
• He said and prayed to Allah (swt); ” I don’t know how (because he and his wife were too old to reproduce) but give me an heir from Yourself, Allah”, ” A child that would be pleasing to you, Allah.” ( This is what we should pray for ourselves, that Allah (swt) is pleased with us)
• Zechariah (as) had seen that when Maryam (as) was provided rizq from Allah (swt), from the unseen, that Allah (swt) could also provide for him. And rather than being envious or jealous and pitying himself, he asked the One who provides anything and everything, Allah (swt)
• So Allah (swt) told him: that he will have a child named John. ( A name that was unique and go given to anyone before)
• So Zechariah (as) was surprised and asked how it could happen, as he and his wife were too old. He was amazed at how it would happen.
•  Allah (swt) is capable of anything, and everything. Put all your trust in Him.
• Zechariah (as) asked for a sign. Allah (swt) told him: to not speak to people for three nights. Zechariah (as) just made signals to his people, to make tasbeeh in the morning and afternoon. He did this himself too. Because this is a great blessing, to do dhikr in the morning and afternoon.
• Best person with long life is one who spends his life in the dhikr of Allah (swt).
• John was a very smart and wise, since his boyhood. He was very good to his parents and not a disobedient tyrant.
• Maryam (as) was born and taken to Bail-ul- Makhdas, by her mother. There she stayed in her own private quarters and dedicated her life to the worship of Allah (swt)
• An angel in the form of a man, was to sent to communicate with her. Her immediate response was that of a modest, chaste and responsible girl. She asked that the “man” leave if he feared Allah (swt). She didn’t want him near her, alone. Her statement and reaction is a testament to chaste women.
• He (the angel) told her to not to worry, and that he was a messenger from her Lord. Giving her news of a baby boy.
• She was surprised of course, because how could that be, when a man had never ever touched her.
• But this was Allah’s decree.
• She left and went off to remote place. She was worried about the reaction of her people as her childbirth pain began.
• She was told by Allah (swt) to eat dates from a nearby tree and drink from below it, and with that be content.
• And was also told that if anyone tries to talk to you, there is no need to say anything.When someone falsely accuses you, just be silent. Wait for some time, Allah (swt) will create a defense.
• So as Maryam (as) carried her new baby back home with her, her people saw and began to accuse her. She responded by pointing to her baby, because she had been instructed not to say anything or speak to anyone. And she obeyed.
• But Jesus (as), her baby, spoke: He said that he is a servant of Allah (swt), Who has given him the scripture and made him a prophet
• The story of Prophet Abraham (as) and his father is talked about. Abraham (as) showed respect to his father, even though he was mean and disbelieving.
• When we ask Allah (swt), ask with conviction.
• Abraham (as) was given Isaac and Jacob ( who also went on to be prophets) after he left his disbelieving people
• Story of prophet Musa (as) is mentioned here. Musa (as) was brought so close to Allah (swt)
• Salah is a mean of being close to Allah (swt).
• Musa’s brother was Aaron, also a prophet.
• Idrees (as) was a man of truth and also a prophet.
• Our own desires prevent us from prayers or even praying properly
• In Jannah, there will be no fasting, no poverty, no ill speech
• The bridge set up over Hellfire, will as sharp as the edge of a sword.
• Beg Allah (swt), because we need Him.
• People will cross the bridge at different speeds, some fast, some slow and some will fall into Hellfire.
• Don’t run after the creation, run after the Creator.
• We alone will have to face Allah (swt)

Surah Ta-ha:

• Sacrifice ego and desires. Problems come and go, but sabr and secret conversations with Allah in prayer, it is through these, one becomes the chosen by Allah (swt)
• The Quran is not meant to be a burden. It is meant to be a reminder
• Story of prophet Musa (as) and the fire. When Musa had left his city of Madyan due to fear from the pharaoh, (because he had accidentally committed murder), he saw fire in a distance. Told his family to stay where they were, and that he would go and check it out. When he came to it, he was told to remove his sandals because he was now in the sacred valley of Tuwa, by Allah (swt).
• Allah (swt) spoke to him.
• Allah (swt) told Musa to throw the staff that he was holding, down on the floor. The staff became a snake. Allah (swt) told him to grab it, and as he did, it became a staff again.
• Allah (swt) told Musa (as) to go to the pharaoh, because of the pharaoh’s transgressions.
• Prophet Musa (as) made dua so that the people would accept and understand his speech. Musa (as) also asked for an assistant, someone to come with him. Aaron, his brother.
• Asking to make Aaron a prophet, and to help Musa as well.
• A good friend is someone who, in their company you can remember Allah (swt)
• Allah (swt) granted the request. He also reminded Musa (as) of an earlier favor, when his mother had put him in a box in the river and sent him to the enemy pharaoh. At that time, the pharaoh was killing all babies of Bani Israel. So Musa (as) was sent to the enemy to be saved from the enemy.
• Allah (swt) now tells Musa (as) to go to pharaoh, speak to him gently and perhaps he will listen. But the pharaoh denied and refused. And instead challenged Allah (swt)’s power.
• Human beings like to fill their stomachs, it’s considered the worst container.
• On the Day, all voices will be stilled and you will hear nothing but the whisper of footsteps.
• Always make dua for more knowledge.
• Perfection and absolute comfort is going to be only in Jannah
• Whoever turns away from Allah (swt) and His remembrance, he will be depressed here in this world and blind on the Day.
• Must continuously review the Quran and its meaning. Consistently.
• Person who is regular with Fajr and Asr salat, he will never enter the Hellfire.
• Don’t look at what other people have. It’s a test of the worldly life for them.
• Strive for Allah (swt)’s provision, that is way better.
• Ask Allah (swt) to use me, to benefit your Deen, help others. Don’t let me go to waste.