ALHAMDULILLAH
You can praise something/someone but not thank them
and you can thank something/someone but not praise them
Mentally prepare yourself to praise Allah and then thank Him on top of that
Not, mention something bad that happened to you (i.e. say Alhamdulillah and then complain at the same time.)
Our religion begins with a positive attitude ('Alhamdulillah is the first ayah in Quran)
People who think negatively don't understand when they stand in front of Allah and say "Alhamdulillah"
'HAMD' also means - GENUINE praise and thanks
gratitude/thanks is a reaction
Somebody does you a favour, and after that then you say thanks
You have to acknowledge it
To acknowledge it, you have to know it
but HAMD is gratitude is not limited to a reaction,
cos sometimes you don't even know all the favours of Allah for you
nouns vs verbs
Difference #1
nouns don't have past, present or future - it is timeless
but verbs, are dependent on time
Difference #2
you need a subject associated with verb
eg. "She ate the apple."
but for Noun, don't need a 'do-er' (Allah doesn't need you, anyone or anything to praise Him)
Allah is praise in it by Himself
Praise and thanks - they are nouns
nouns - place, person, thing, idea
ALHAMDU - it is a noun, it is timeless, no need for a 'do-er'
Allah used a noun and not a verb
Means?
The praise of Allah is timeless.
Allah doesn't need you to praise Him.
Realistically, if Allah tells us to have taqwa, it can lead to two things, you can either do it, or not do it
when Allah issues a command, He does not need you for HAMD to exist
INNA - for sure/indeed
how come did not use INNA ALHAMDULILLAH? to emphasise it?
two kinds/purposes of sentences
1. to communicate information - it could be right or it could be wrong
2. to communicate emotion - cannot be said to be wrong
ALHAMDULILLAH - can be used for both purposes, it is flexible
when you use INNA, you are guaranteeing that the sentence that is coming is a info sentence
by not using INNA, Allah says it is not only used for info
LILLAHI-ALHAMD = HAMD only belongs to Allah
- it also means that HAMD does not belong to anyone/anything else
- you only use this when you're debating with someone
- mentioned in Surah #45 - the surah is about people committing shirk
ALHAMDULILLAH = HAMD belongs to Allah
- is the voice of guidance in every human being (fitrah)
- the argument doesn't even exist
- it is a natural conclusion in everyone's heart
ALHAMDULILLAHI RABBILA'LAMEEN
RABB is a name of Allah, then why need to mention 'Allah' before that?
RABB only shows appreciation/acknowledgement that Allah is the Creator/the One Who raises you
Al-Fatihah is the Quran introducing itself, so the name ILLAH is important, not just one name of Allah (RABB)
If you just say RABB/lord, other people could get confused. They would not think you're referring to Allah, but you're referring to others.
We also praise and thank other than Allah too. E.g. Prophet Muhammad (saw)
The ultimate HAMD belongs to Allah, but some HAMD can go to others (but that is because you know that all is from Allah and that people/situations/things are gifts from Allah, so you are indirectly attributing HAMD for Allah anyway.)
if you start reading the Quran with the right lens (first impression - Surah Al-Fatihah), then everything following that will be understood properly insyaAllah
We also praise and thank other than Allah too. E.g. Prophet Muhammad (saw)
The ultimate HAMD belongs to Allah, but some HAMD can go to others (but that is because you know that all is from Allah and that people/situations/things are gifts from Allah, so you are indirectly attributing HAMD for Allah anyway.)
if you start reading the Quran with the right lens (first impression - Surah Al-Fatihah), then everything following that will be understood properly insyaAllah
meaning? no one will be saying that Allah is stern in punishment, only making things hard for us, making everything haram, etc..
RABB
- first meaning: owner (MALIK)- 2: the one in control/in charge (SAYYID)
- 3: makes sure something grows and is taken care of (TARBIYYAH)
- 4: maintainer / makes sure something does not fall apart, makes sure it stays intact (AL-QAYYIM)
- 5: the Giver of gifts, which are not something we earned, have the right to, etc. You are not getting something you deserve, if you don't get it, you don't have any right to complain. Whatever you get or don't get in life, it's not because you earned it. Allah is an incredibly generous giver. and there is no way you can compensate for His gifts
you can own something and not take care of it
you can own something but not be completely in charge of it
Meaning?
We cannot do anything ourselves, without Allah
so the English translation of LORD, does not have the same connotations of the many meanings of RABB
therefore, Eng translation of MASTER is a better alternative
also denotes that we are SLAVES
but SLAVES also have a connotation that they are in a bad situation
why? because of their master, and the best thing for a slave is freedom from his master
so is it good for us to translate RABB = MASTER, means we are SLAVES being oppressed and abused?
humans have an innate desire to get away from authority
you hate when people tell you what to do
but it is a delusion that you want freedom
you are going to be enslaved by something or other (trends, culture, money, others' impression of you, societal demands, etc)
might as well be enslaved by Allah, the MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE
the only FREEDOM is being a slave of Allah
the only One you have to make 'happy' is Allah (the only One you really need to please)
everything else looks like freedom on the outside, but it is a hidden slavery
it is a tragedy that humans try to run away from the only One that will make them FREE
a Slave is a Slave, not dependent on time, place, event, situation, etc.
our relationship with Allah is not just through worship, but it is a constant state
worship is there to reinforce that you are a SLAVE, to remind you that you live your life to please Allah, for those moments of worship, you are in complete submission (your body, your tongue, your thoughts, etc) SubhanAllah
AL-ALAMEEN
commonly translated to 'OF THE WORLDS'
but the mountains, clouds, etc, dont need a warning, intellectual creations are the ones who needs the warnings.
but better to say: OF THE NATIONS (of people)
connotation: referring to people/jinn/angels - all creations with intellect
a different world - referring to a different culture, generation, society, people, mentality, etc.
Allah cares for ALL OF THE NATIONS
Allah wants Every Nation to develop and grow better - despite where they're from, which nation they live in, what culture they're in, etc.
Think about how Allah owns YOU
it is personalised to people, that's why Allah doesn't mention the earth, land, skies, universe, etc.
AR-RAHMAN AR-RAHEEM
RAHMAH = EXTREME and IMMEDIATE (right now) Mercy, Love and Care
RAHM = state of foetus in womb of a mother
Why two words?
Mercy is used when you were about to get into trouble, then you got saved from it
it has a negative connotation
However, the word RAHMAH/RAHM has nothing to do with a negative situation
when you are in your mother's womb, everything has been taken care for you
your food, drink, defecation, shelter, warmth, etc
the child is in complete care by his mother, he has no idea of what his mother has to go through to take care of him
We are not capable to understand/comprehend how Allah takes care of us
Allah is conscious and ensures you are maintained FOR YOU, CONSTANTLY in COUNTLESS of ways.
you are just as ignorant as the baby in the mother's womb
the mother goes out of her way to show love
the foetus causes harm to the mum and they don't even know it
when in labour, the mother is even close to death, bleeds for hours
but when baby comes out, the mother even loves the baby and immediately feeds it
'Being' patient vs 'Is' patient
'being' patient means as of now
'is' patient, means not necessarily at that moment
but there is a possibility that Allah's extreme and immediate mercy, love and care could be taken away
Similarly,
AR-RAHMAN
- as of now (covers your present, immediate needs)
- can be taken away (you can do something in this world that will lose Allah's Rahmah for you)
--for the people of this world
AR-RAHEEM
- permanent/always (covers your future needs)
- not necessarily happening right now
--for the believers of the afterlife
people cannot think about the future until my present is taken care of (the current problem you are going through)
Allah is unimaginably loving and unimaginably caring
HAMD --- RABB ---- AR-RAHMAN, AR-RAHEEM
When Allah tells you to do something, it is out of His Extreme Love for you
It is not even for Him, He does not need it
It is for your benefit
If you have reached Ihsan, it is for yourself
Allah wants to lighten your burden, that is why He gives you Syariah Law
MALIKI YAWMIDDEEN
Praise and thanks belongs to Allah because...
(1) RABBIL A'LAMIN
(2) AR-RAHMAN, AR-RAHEEM
(3) MALIKI YAWM IDDEEN
If just have (2), then you will take advantage of Allah's kindness
(3) balances the equation
"Human Being, what turned you away from your Gracious Rabb?"
MAALIK/MALIK - Rahmah is removed from the equation a little bit
MAALIK = Owner (of things that are small) - Micro Manage
MALIK = King (of things that are huge, eg. country, nation, etc.) - Macro Manage
King only owns the big decisions, but not the small decisions (eg. what your citizens will eat for lunch)
Allah is both.
Day of Judgement
'day' is a unit of time
humans can own things but we don't own time
Allah takes ownership of something that only He can control
Allah owns time, He owns The Day, and everything inside that Day
DIN = Judgement
everything and everyone will be dealt with, and everything that is owed will be paid off
Justice does not exist in the perfect sense in this world
but nothing you did (good and bad) will go unaccounted for on The Day
AR-RAHMAN, AR-RAHEEM < Judgement > PUNISHMENT
instead of countering the Positive with the Negative, He counters it with the Neutral,
All Allah does is being fair
whoever gets questioned on Judgement Day, they are getting Allah's justice, that means you're doomed to Hell
First 3 ayah concisely describes Allah, He introduces Himself
Part 1 - Allah is talking
Part 2 - You are talking to Allah
Al-Fatihah confirms that you have your own conversation with Allah, you have to have your own relationship with Allah
Messengers came to connect people to Allah
Nothing can get in the way between you and Allah, there is no barrier
IYYAKA NA'BUDU
It is only to You that we willingly give ourselves in slavery and worship
not just 'worship', because that limits the relationship to just the duration of time you are in worship (Salah)
Allah created the human in two moulds - mind and heart
some decisions we make, because we thought through it properly (thinking)
some decisions we make because we just felt like it (feeling)
for this ayah, humans thought about it and gave it serious thought and consideration
at the same time, it is emotional too
i am heart and mind together coming to the conclusion that i will give myself to You in slavery and worship
Al-Fatihah is like a conversion each time, like you're restarting with Allah
revisiting why you are a slave of Allah and why you are worshiping and believe in Allah
slavery is all the time, not just during your Salah
I made my commitment to Allah to stay within the lines in between the Salah
Salah reminds you of that commitment and refreshes your commitment with Allah
being a slave to Allah is not easy, you can't do it on your own
therefore...
WA IYYAAKA NASTA'EEN
We seek Your help and only Your helpalso shows that you don't need anyone else's help, other than Allah's
You don't need any other help, support, friends or resources
Just recite Al-Fatihah, and mean what you recite
the fact that Allah is the only One worthy of slavery to, there is no other relationship more important
now that you have committed to being His slave, then you can ask for Help
Purpose: To be Allah's slave
Getting the help from Allah is a benefit, after you put in your effort
What you do for Allah comes first, then asking from Allah
Human Effort then Divine Help
ISTI-ANA is only one word of many words referring to HELP -
HELP that only comes when you have placed effort
One extreme: Allah does everything, and I can't do anything (blame everything on 'Allah's help didn'tcome yet)
Other extreme: I did everything, every result came cos of my own efforts
Effort & Results
Allah is asking you for your best effort
Results will always be in the Hand of Allah
because you made effort, the results comes from Allah
when you ask for help, you usually need to specify what kind of help you need
but in this ayah, the kind of help you need from Allah is not specified
Why? cos you need Allah's help for everything
imagine you are falling off of a cliff, hanging on by one hand
You just need to say 'HELP!!'
When you're desperate, you're short on words
this ayah shows the desperation of the human being asking Allah for help desperately
desperation is not in our words, desperation is an attitude
what is your attitude when you recite and ask for help?
Allah concerns Himself only for words that comes from the heart, doesn't matter how well you recited the ayah with the best tajweed, etc
you can recite something well but not ask for guidance
one who especially just came to Islam and just finally found Allah, but the one thing that is most important to them, that they don't want to ever ever lose, is the right course
It is GUIDANCE
the most desperate need you have is Guidance
Guidance is like Water
it's not like you need it once and you have it and not need it anymore
you always need it
again and again and again and again
everything else, Allah gives you without you asking - food, water, safety, comfort, luxuries of this world
but guidance is only given to those who ask
so for your sake, Allah asks you to come to Him every rakaat and ask Him for guidance, even Prophet Muhammad (saw) asks Allah for guidance
Guidance doesn't come from memorising the Quran, it doesn't come from knowledge
you may know more than others but still not be guided
You can also be a muslim but still not be guided
Guidance is not one act, it is in EVERY DECISION you make
Allah is the One who can and is willing to give you His Guidance for every decision you make
IHDINA SIRAT AL-MUSTAQEEM
Guide us to the Straight Path
A master-slave relationship is defined by the instructions from the master
The greatest gifts of all is guidance
so that we will not be lost ever again
the moment you are unappreciative about it, guidance can be taken away
how to gauge how much you appreciate Allah's guidance?
-How moved and emotionally attached you are in Salah
-The Quality of your conversations with Allah
there are many Arabic words for PATH
SIRAAT qualities:
- straight path (no confusion, you can see what's coming in front of you, it's not like it has hidden corners)
- wide road (many people are on it with you)
- long road
in this world, we usually ask for directions/guidance to a destination, not a path
why then we ask Allah to guide us to a path, not say 'Guide us to Jannah' ?
understand that in this life, your destination is the road itself
you just have to make progress
if you get to a destination, you can stop cos you've already reached there
but no
Islam is about continual progress
As long as you are on the path - doesn't matter slow, fast / far ahead, way behind - you're on the right track
it eliminates you comparing yourself with others
you just need to compare yourself with yourself from yesterday
Allah created everyone differently
Guidance is NOT = Knowledge
Ya Allah, I've learnt this. Through it, guide me.
MUSTAQEEM = Straight up (going vertically/upwards)
The Straight Path is literally Upwards
Going Up takes more effort
When you stop making effort, you start going down (getting lost in Dunya)
Dunya and its temptations will keep pulling you down - Gravity will always pull
it doesn't matter how long you've been on this road
the higher up you get, the more dangerous it is
if you fall from a greater height, you will crash (be in a worse state)
AN'AMTA = Whom you've made their journey easy and luxurious
'made'?
that's past tense
just like when you're in school, you take advise from your seniors (those who've already made the journey, not those who are still in journey)
that's why the Quran is full of examples of Good, Successful people
They are the ones who are your 'seniors' who have made it
GHAYR = Change / away from
AL-MARGHDUBI 'ALAYHIM WALA AD-DALLEEN
Not anything like of those who receive rage, Nor of those who are lost
receive (it is a noun, not verb) = timeless, you can find them in the past, present and future
(1A) when someone does something wrong, when knowing that it was wrong, then they deserve more anger
(2A) the one who does not know and did wrong, is also responsible for his doing
when Rasul (saw) said that these refer to Jews and Christians (as case studies)
but these terms are not interchangeable with AL-MARGHDUBI 'ALAYHIM WALA AD-DALLEEN
(1B) Jews are very knowledgeable, but they do wrong, and also increase wrong in the world. they influence others who follow them
(2B) Those who don't know and do wrong (people who don't even want to know so that think they will not be blamed for their wrongdoing)
AL-FATIHAH is balanced (//) that is humanly impossible
HAMD => Praise // Thanks
LOVE and CARE // MASTER OF DAY OF JUDGEMENT
first 3 lines
- about Allah (NOUN sentences - Allah is Permanent)
- about Knowledge
fourth line
- between us and Allah (NOUN and VERB sentences)
- conclusion to first part and also intro to the second part
- about Action
last 2 lines
- about us (VERB sentences - we are temporary)
- Learn from people who have Knowledge and Action,
not of those who have Knowledge but no Action,
or those who have Action but no Knowledge
doesn't matter where you're from or who you are, you are in one of these 3 categories
AL-FATIHAH also // AN-NAAS (with negatives and positives)
World problems that will never be solved:
a) SOCIAL: men vs women
b) ECONOMIC: capital/money vs labour (boss vs employee, boss wants you to work more, you want to work less)
c) POLITICAL: govt. vs people (govt wants control, people want to be free)
d) INTRAPERSONAL: body vs soul
So who can be a fair judge? Nobody can be given supreme judgment and control over all.
Only Allah can be a fair judge who can give balance to the world, just like the balance shown in Al-Fatihah.
SubhanAllah.
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