Ramadan 14, 1435/2014 Tafseer , by Imam Muhammed Shoayb Mehtar, Khadeeja Islamic Center, SLC, Utah
Nightly Notes (14)*:
Today we read about Musa (AS) when reaching maturity he was given knowledge and wisdom by Allah. He felt that he was the most knowledgeable person on earth so Allah sent Khidr (AS) to him to show him that Allah gives knowledge to whom He pleases. In another part of the Qur’an Musa (AS) wants to learn from Khidr (AS) but could not understand the lessons that Khidr (AS) had him go through and why he did certain things, etc. There are two types of knowledge, knowledge of the world, and knowledge of the Hereafter. Khidr (AS) and prophets were given knowledge about the Gereafter. A man came to Rasulullah (SAW) and asked about botany. It is not the place of prophets to know about the world, their knowledge is about the Hereafter to impart to us for our betterment.
Regarding Ahlel Kitab (People of the Book) be gentle and nice with them. Do not debate with them except in a dignified manner. If they are arrogant, doing dhulm (oppression), giving false information regarding Islam, then you can take a firmer stance with them but one thing we must do is pass on the message of the oneness of Allah.
There are various signs of Allah: he created us from sand and has created for each person a spouse to make a pair. This spouse can come from at times from the least expected of places. Why did Allah do this? So we can appreciate Him more. So we can have sakoon, ease, a good night sleep with our spouse. Some people have the mentality that they have to “live it up” to impress other people and as a result they go into debt. That is not the idea, the idea is to enjoy and relax with our spouse. Do not let 3rd parties come between you and your spouse and between you and your children.
Allah has created different languages, people in different colors, so that we may realize the greatness of Allah. He created night for rest, ask anyone who works a night shift, it is not easy. He created lighting, thunder, for a reason. Nothing was created by Allah or is happening by random or by accident. Allah created us young, then old, then senile so appreciate the strength you have in your youth, appreciate the maturity you have in your old age, accept the weakness that comes thereafter with age, and not just weakness but a state of being decrepit because it is a reality. Assist the elderly, assist the poor, assist the needy and Allah will take care of you like when you took care of others. When we get old we at times cannot walk so it is important to take care of our strength now.
Travel throughout the world and see the good people are going through, the hurt they are going through and reflect on it. Many times when a disaster such as a tsunami strikes we say that those people deserved it. That is not the case and we should not say such things. Allah sometimes has others suffer because of our sins so that we may realize and put things right. Otherwise, the same disaster can happen to us.
Whatever comes your way, have patience. Like the English saying, “no pain, no gain”. What Allah has written for you is what you are going to get, whether it is a little or a lot. Whether it is a little now and a lot later or vice-versa. If we have patience during trying times then with firm conviction we will become successful and not just overcome our given difficulty but also earn Allah’s pleasure.
May Allah (SWT) help us and guide us at all times.
*Nightly Notes provided by note-takers in the masjid, as heard during tafseer.