Ramadan 23, 1435/2014 Tafseer, by Imam Muhammed Shoayb Mehtar, Khadeeja Islamic Center, SLC, Utah
Nightly Notes (23)*:
Tonight we read Surah Naba where the disbelievers are asking what is the great news. They ask in these times where is Allah, when is Qiyamah coming, and they make fun of our deen in general. For ex: many disbelievers joke and say they will be the first to go to Hell but the great news is Qiyamah. Some branches of Christianity thought the world was going to end and got rid of all of their wealth and belongings awaiting the ‘Rapture’ but nothing happened. Allah is saying there is no need for this nonsense. ‘Take full heed that they will soon know about Qiyamah’. Allah repeats this ayah again emphasizing it further. When we are about to die our small Qiyamah happens and the angel of Death yanks out our souls just like pulling a vein out of your body or a tree from the ground, they resist it because they are fixed in the body and ground, respectively. Just like this, our soul will be yanked out very roughly if we are disbelievers and the soul will just start ripping, and ripping, and ripping. The angel of Death doesn’t care if we cry out, it’s his job to take our souls at the time of death.
But for the believers, our souls will be taken out like water coming out of a tap, a very, very easy death.
Allah has created everything with a purpose in mind – He created the earth as a bedding (a place of rest) and the mountains as pegs and He has created a pair for each of us as a source of comfort. The night is designed to drape over the day; Everything is running according to the system of Allah. So what are we doubting, that Allah is the one who created everything?
Forget all of these unnecessary questions and thoughts about Allah.
Allah gives food and takes food. Allah gives health and takes health. Everything is from Allah. Allah is Allah – He knows what He is doing so it is up to us to make the best with what we have. In Jannah, there is no evil, futile talk and There will be no lies told. Why does Allah mention all these things? He is giving us a hint for us to give all these things up – give up useless things that are taking our attention away from Allah, and prepare for Jannah now.
On the Day of Judgment, our souls will be lined up. No person can talk on that Day and Allah will order us to come and talk (through our body parts) about the deeds we have done in this world (good and bad).
Three takeaways from tonight’s Tafseer:
- Stop unnecessary questioning about Allah.
- Remember that it is Allah who has given you all of the bounties in our lives.
- Allah will hold everyone accountable for every single deed that we have done in this world on the Day of Reckoning.
May Allah (SWT) help us and guide us at all times.
*Nightly Notes provided by note-takers in the masjid, as heard during tafseer.