Surah Al-Ahzab: (continued)

• The wives of the Prophet (saw) are role models, teachers, examples for all women. Their hardships were greater, sacrifices were greater, and therefore their rewards will be double fold, perhaps more. They willingly chose Akhirah over this worldly life.
• Prophet Muhammad (saw) survived on just dates and water for many days on. His wives would eat the same. They feared with him, struggled with him, traveled with him, supported him.
• Allah (swt) has promised these wives a noble provision
• To sacrifice the comforts of this world, for women it is a huge deal. A huge sacrifice. To not care or give priority to curtains, clothes, dishes, etc, is a big sacrifice. By putting her comfort and her home as second priority is very difficult for a woman to do. But its only then that she has time for the Deen and Quran. Time to serve Allah (swt).
• We must learn to detach ourselves from this world. Learn to choose Deen over Dunya
• Status of Prophet Muhammad (saw)’s wives were greater and different from other women.
• They were told not to be soft in speech, but to speak with appropriate speech. To not be unnecessarily friendly or giggly. To be non-inviting. But not to be harsh either.
• Cover yourself  but also guard your speech.  Because speaking nicely and sweetly to non-mahram could cause fitnah in the hearts of men.
• Ayah 33: Do not unnecessarily go out extra dressed up to attract attention. The way of walking, standing and giggling etc, should not draw the attention of other men. Even with proper coverage and hijab don’t attention unnecessarily. This means even posting your own pictures.
• Tabbaruj means displaying adornment. Allah (swt) does not like these people.
• Women’s fitnah is to be noticed. Being noticed. To beautify themselves seeking the attention of others, other men.
• Men’s fitnah is sexual desire.
• Very few women will enter Jannah because of this fitnah
• Do not worry about promoting ourselves. Promote the Deen. Promote our productivity
• The wives of the Prophet were advised and told to protect themselves from the dirty and filthy eyes of non-mahram men outside. Men who would be looking at them, and staining them with their eyes.
• Hijab is not done to please men. Hijab is done to please Allah (swt). In His obedience.
• Must not forget the learning of the Deen, Quran and Hadith. Must not forget to keep it all alive our homes. That is and should be priority. Making the home, rearing children, beautifying ourselves, clothing etc. This should not be priority. A woman does not need to restrict herself to just doing these things at home only. Must learn these things and then teach it to others, your kids, your family
• Prophet Muhammad (saw) did not even allow a new comfortable mattress in the house.
• The wives would learn and teach the Quran
• Hafsah (ra) had a copy of the Mushaf. Her level of knowledge of the Quran was really great
• Teaching is not just in classrooms, it can be done at home, one on one, by writing, by art, etc. There are many ways to spread the Quran
• If any women had the right to stay home and do nothing, it would be the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). They could’ve stayed home, take care of the kids, cooked, look pretty etc. But they dedicated their lives to learning the Quran, the Deen. And then they would teach it, spread it.
• Ayah 35: mentions the most prominent and important qualities of the believing muslims
• There is no limit to their good deeds and to their dhikr
• Do dhikr in every state. Remember Allah (swt) whenever you can, remember Him often
• Any good deed, any good action done with dhikr of Allah (swt) becomes the best deed.
• Change your actions to match the commands of Allah (swt), put your likes, dislikes and desires aside.
• Zayd was bought as a slave boy and given to Khadijah (ra). When she married prophet Muhammad (swt) she gave Zayd as a gift to him. Muhammad (saw) set him free and declared him to be his son. Later on, Zayd’s actual family came looking for him. They asked to have Zayd back at any price. Muhammad (saw) left the decision up to Zayd, allowing him to do as he pleased. Zayd chose to stay with Muhammad (saw) (This was actually before Muhammad (saw) even became a prophet). Zayd decided that he would rather stay as a slave of Muhammad (saw) than going back to his own family to live as a prince. Prophet Muhammad (saw) then declared Zayd as his son to everyone. (This is all prior to when the ayah regarding adoption was revealed). People around didn’t even know that Zayd was an adopted son because the prophet (saw) treated him like his own actual son. Caring, loving and generous. This was Allah (swt)’s favor on Zayd.
• Zayd was later married to Zainab (the Prophet’s cousin). But the two, Zayd and Zainab did not get along. Muhammad (saw) had a feeling that if the two were to get divorced, Allah (swt) would command him, Muhammad (saw) to marry Zainab, his cousin. And this would be to emphasize to the Arabs that an adopted son in not the same as a real son. Because if Zayd would have been his real son, marrying his ex-wife would be prohibited for the Prophet.
• Divorce can happen between even two good people. Two people who just don’t get along. The divorced wife of your son, you cannot marry. Divorced wife of your adopted son, you can marry? cannot marry? 
• Zainab was then married to the prophet. Nikkah was done in the skies.
• Muhammad (saw) is the Last prophet. He is not the father of any men. There will be many leaders, caliphs after but no more prophets. 30 liars will come after, claiming to be a prophet, but they will all be liars.
• Make use of the silent moments to do Dhikr of Allah (swt). Make use of your  fingers to do dhikr. Make it a habit that when you feel your fingertips, that you are reminded and reflexed to doing dhikr.
• Prophet Muhammad (saw) said the one who remembers Allah by Dhikr after Fajr salat, sitting in remembrance of Him, until the sun rises, and then prays 2 rakats of salat. This will be the reward of Hajj and Umrah
• A divorce that happens before consummation, there is no need for Iddah period.
• Through his marriages, Prophet Muhammad (saw) set examples. That just because a woman was: older, divorce, widowed, etc, didn’t mean that she was an outcast. And so he would marry them, to show that they had value.
• Ayah 50: mentions that cousins were lawful for the Prophet. He gave them mahr.
• A regular person must be just and fair to all his wives. But the Prophet was given a choice. That if he is not 100% fair and just with his wives, its ok. It would be ok, because he did not marry them for personal reasons. He married them in obedience to Allah (swt). He had a huge responsibility on his shoulders. All the marriages were for a reason. His marriages were not ordinary ones, like that of ordinary men. (Ayah 51)
• Allah (swt) states that He has made an exception for him. This did not apply to other believers.
• And even though the Prophet was given a choice, an exception to not be 100% with his wives, he was never unfair or unjust to them
• Even in his last days, the Prophet would be making his rounds, his visits and serve his wives and family.
• On his very last days, he asked the other wives’ permission to just stay in Aisha (ra)’s home. They all allowed.
• These were the women that were chosen for the Prophet, by Allah (swt). No more after, and no exchanges.
• When invited somewhere, someone’s house, come at an appropriate time of invitation. After eating, you should then leave, rather than sticking around for conversation (Ayah 53)
• No man should enter the house of another man if the man himself is not home. He should not enter alone. This can and would lead to the death of that marriage, because shaytan is everywhere.
• Must send salam upon the prophet. So if you hear Prophet Muhammad and do not follow his name with (saw), you have strayed from the path of paradise.
• It’s a crime. A punishable sin to harass and harm believing men and women. Hurting them should be avoided at all costs.
• Cover your face partially with hijab at least. This will send the message that you are a believing woman and not available for anyone. To not be abused. (Ayah 59)
• Don’t be like those abused prophet Musa (as), by not believing and constantly questioning him and the commands.

 

Surah Saba: (Sheba)

• It is only because of Allah (swt) mercy that we are safe.
• When David did tasbeeh, mountains and birds did tasbeeh with him.
• Iron was so soft for David. It was like dough for him. He could shape it, mold it, break it easily. Could make full coats of armor with it
• If a person has a talent or skill, he/she should do good with it.
• For Solomon, the wind was subjected to him. He had a flowing spring of liquid copper and the jinns would work for him.
• We must show our gratitude through our tongue and our work
• When Solomon died, the jinn didn’t even realize until they saw something eating away at his staff. That’s how they just worked and worked. The jinn did not know anything about the unseen
• People of Saba were ungrateful. So Allah (swt) sent a flood upon them, replacing their gardens of fruits  with bitter fruits, tamarisk and sparse lote trees. This all because they were ungrateful
• They would travel between the northern city in Saudi Arabia and the southern city in Yemen, by night or day, in safety. They visited cities in between. But they started to become insolent. They asked Allah (swt) to increase the distance between the cities, because it was becoming to easy for them. They were basically complaining about their blessings, rather than being grateful.
• Spend in Allah (swt)’s cause, He will compensate you for it. Spend and don’t calculate, because then Allah (swtO will calculate with you.
• The three deeds/things of ours that will continue in this world after we die: 1) beneficial knowledge 2) starting a charity 3) Righteous child.
• Be careful because bad deeds will continue too.

 

Surah Fatir: (Originator)

• Angel Gabriel had 600 wings. Every creation, every creature is different. Different in variation. Every creature has been made differently and that in itself is a test. Even angels had variation. Created with 1, 2, 3, etc wings
• Wings of the angels are not like the wings of birds. ( Because Hajar at one point saw an angel digging a well for Zamzam water with his wing or his heel) This goes to show that the angel wings are not of what we think or know of them today.
• Don’t ruin your Akhirah because of this world. Don’t let shaytan deceive you. The dearest to Iblees (shaytan) are those who bring discord, problems and fights in the house between husband and wife.
• Good deeds and good speech ascend to Allah (swt)
• Don’t be afraid of death. Prepare for it. Pray for a good end.
• True fear of Allah (swt) is in those who have knowledge of the Quran
• Only those fear Allah (swt) who have knowledge
• No worry, no fatigue, no stress in Jannah
• Allah (swt) will ask that didn’t He give you a life long enough for you to remember Him?
• He has given us a life long enough for us to obey, worship and remember Him.
• If we were to be punished and destroyed for every sin we commit, there would be no body left here on Earth

 

Surah Yasin: 

• The Quran is evidence of the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (saw).