[Aya] Anger

وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَن مُّوسَى ٱلۡغَضَبُ

"When the anger of Moses was appeased"

Verse 154, Surat Al A'araf

The English translation I shared here is really not satisfactory to the words that are in Arabic. Appeased somehow does not seem like the right word to be used here, because anger is described as something that can talk, then can be made quiet. The word used in Arabic in place of appeased is (سَكَتَ) which means to become quiet. Like a noisy room that suddenly becomes quiet when someone walks in for example. Though Appease does include the meaning of to make something quiet, it also includes the meaning to calm something down.

The anger that is described in the verse seems like something that talks to you, or more like shouts and screams at you, causing of noise in your head and within you. You need to take control of it and shut it up basically lol, make it quiet.

Does anger feel that way to you? It sure does with me.

Allah knows best.

More to come on topic in later post.

Surat Al Kahaf questions

My dear readers, I am in a bit of a pickle and I would appreciate some insight from you guys on some verses from Surat Al Kahaf.

The story of Prophet Moosa and Khithr (Peace be upon them) is one of the many that is told to us by Allah in Surat Al Kahaf (and one of my favorites) . Khithr is basically an embodiment of Qadar (destiny ordained to us by Allah Subhanho wa Taala) and it just goes to show that no matter how much you think you know ... you just don't.

The verses that caught my attention (as was first pointed out to me by my Mother) are the following:

قَالَ هَـٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنِكَ‌ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأۡوِيلِ مَا لَمۡ تَسۡتَطِع عَّلَيۡهِ صَبۡرًا

He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience.

أَمَّا ٱلسَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتۡ لِمَسَـٰكِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ فِى ٱلۡبَحۡرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنۡ أَعِيبَہَا وَكَانَ وَرَآءَهُم مَّلِكٌ۬ يَأۡخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصۡبً۬ا

"As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force.

وَأَمَّا ٱلۡغُلَـٰمُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤۡمِنَيۡنِ فَخَشِينَآ أَن يُرۡهِقَهُمَا طُغۡيَـٰنً۬ا وَڪُفۡرً۬ا

"As for the youth, his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man).

فَأَرَدۡنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَهُمَا رَبُّہُمَا خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡهُ زَكَوٰةً۬ وَأَقۡرَبَ رُحۡمً۬ا

"So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection.

وَأَمَّا ٱلۡجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيۡنِ يَتِيمَيۡنِ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحۡتَهُ ۥ كَنزٌ۬ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبۡلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسۡتَخۡرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحۡمَةً۬ مِّن رَّبِّكَ‌ۚ وَمَا فَعَلۡتُهُ ۥ عَنۡ أَمۡرِى‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ تَأۡوِيلُ مَا لَمۡ تَسۡطِع عَّلَيۡهِ صَبۡرً۬ا

"As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, orphans, in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: So thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure - a mercy (and favor) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience."

Verses 78 to 82, Surat Al Kahaf

As Khithr begins to explain to Prophet Moosa (Peace be upon them) the reason for his actions, there is a change in who is being referred to as doing the action (I totally don't remember what this is called in English grammar).

With the boat, Khithr says (seemingly referring only to himself):

فَأَرَدتُّ أَنۡ أَعِيبَہَا
I but wished to render it unserviceable

With the youth, Khithr says (seemingly referring to several):

فَخَشِينَآ
we feared

فَأَرَدۡنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَهُمَا رَبُّہُمَا
So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange

With the wall, Khithr says (seemingly referring to Allah only):

فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ

So thy Lord desired

I had a little think about it and came up with my own reasoning (Allah knows best) that the reason why:

• Khithr referred to himself only with the boat incident is that he created the fault in it with his own hands.
• Khithr referred to a group with the youth is that he killed the youth but then Allah Subhanho wa Taala will bless the boy's parents by creating for them another child (so I assume here that "we" refers to Khithr and Allah).
• Khithr referred to Allah only with the wall incident because it is Allah who will keep the treasure safe as well as the two youths until they are able to find it.

However, I am not a student of Tafseer, and so this reasoning is just an opinion that should not be taken as the correct answer. I would love to learn more about as well as understand why the verses keep changing with regards to subject matter (hope that is the right way to say it) . I did try to have a search on the world wide web, but that didn't yield the desirable results.

If any reader has an idea on the matter, read something on the subject or has asked someone of knowledge about it, please please don't hesitate to tell me about it, whether in the comments or by flicking me an email =)

Jazakoum Allah Khairan!

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 18

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 18

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 17

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 17

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 16

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 16

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 15

I felt so guilty at the end of the episode when we were told how Allah Subhanho Wa Taala told Prophet Moosa Peace Be Upon Him how special the Umma of Prophet Mohammed Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him. The guilt I felt is due to how far so many of us have strayed from the straight path of Islam. We take for granted what we are blessed with.

Readers, I have a major test tomorrow, please say a Dua for me to pass xD Here's the episode

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 15

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 14

I still didn't have the chance to watch this episode (was studying for a test) but from what was said yesterday am guessing the flight of Prophet Moosa Peace Be Upon Him and the Children if Israel from Egypt and Pharaoh is told, in addition to one of Allah's miracles to Prophet Moosa: Splitting the sea.

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 14

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 13

This episode was kinda scary for me to be honest. In it the plagues or curses Allah Subhanho wa Taala sent down on Egypt as warnings are spoken about. Even after all the doubtless signs from Allah, Pharoh still refused to grant Prophet Moses Peace Be Upon Him's request of letting him and the Children of Israel to leave Egypt.

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 13

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 12

Good episode as always. I am way too sleepy at the moment to even give an overivew of what is talked about, but seriously it is a good episode *sleepy thumbs up*

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 12

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 11

Another exciting episode xD Prophet Moosa Peace Be Upon Him and Pharoh's battle continues, this time infront of a huge crowd. Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah!

I love the effort Amr Khaled put into this episode, standing in the sun and running from place to place to bring us closer to the images and meanings. May Allah reward him for it all, Ameen.

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 11

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 10

I enjoyed this episode SO MUCH! In it we are taken through the debate Prophet Moosa and Pharoh had in a super exciting way xD

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 10

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 9

In this episode, we are walked through the emotions that Prophet Moosa felt as Allah Subhanoh wa Taala spoke to him, and revealed to him his great mission

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 9

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 8

One of the points presented by Amr Khalid in this show was about how the Prophets spent alot of time alone with nature before revelations reached them. It was part of making their belief stronger. Yesterday I had the lovely opportunity for the first time in my life to pray outdoors, in front of an ocean. I took a photo of the view. It's a different experience, praying to the sounds of nothing but the lapping of the water, and lifting your head after the Salam to see Allah's creation in front of your eyes: the sky, the mountain, the water. I think this might be one of the reasons why people are losing their Eman these days, we don't see Allah's creation before our eyes, but are surrounded by concrete monsters.

The photo was taken during the morning time, we prayed later during the afternoon. The sun was in front of us and lighting slightly different. Btw, afternoon is my favourite time of the day =P The period that's like two hours before sunset.



And here's the episode =P

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 8

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 7

We follow the Prophet Moosa Peace Be Upon Him as he flees from Egypt and heads to Madyan. Part 1 of the Madyan story. I was awestruck with the location filmings in this episode, I wanna go and see =(

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 7

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 6

The sixth episode in the series. We learn of the events that forced Prophet Moses Peace Be Upon him to flee from the city he grew up in, and draw the lesson of the importance of making good decisions in our life on our own.

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 6

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 5

In this episode, we are walked through the childhood of Prophet Moses Peace Be Upon him, and the influences that molded him into the incredible leader he grew up to be.

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 5

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 4

This episode really tore at my heart strings lol. I never considered in depth the feelings and emotions Prophet Moosa's mother felt as she placed her new born baby in a river, not knowing what will happen to him ... =(

However, Allah promised her that he will be back in her arms, and Subhan Allah He kept to his promise. This ties with the lesson being delivered in the episode: El Twakol 3ala Allah (not sure how to translate this to English ... anyone got any suggestions?) It made me smile so much in the end, how in the end Allah kept to His promise. Allah keeps to all of His promises, but most people don't realize or understand the significance of that.

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 4

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 3

Continuation of the story of Prophet Moses Peace Be Upon Him.

Haven't had time to watch it so can't comment on it yet =(

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 3

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 2

This episode was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

I applaud Amr Khalid, as well as his team for the effort that they put into making this show.

In the second episode, the story of Prophet Moosa Peace Be Upon Him is continued. However, before delving any deeper into the story, we are taken back to the time of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) Peace Be Upon Him. Prophet Moosa is the great grandchild of Prophet Yaqoob (Jacob) Peace Be Upon them both, and we are shown their family tree. Amr Khalid then explains what happened to reduce the children of Israel (who is Yaqoob Peace Be Upon Him) from their high status during the time of Prophet Yusuf, to being slaves during the time of Prophet Moosa Peace Be Upon Them Both.

I've heard this story so many times in my life, but I learnt new information today. I loved how the history of what happened was explained to us, and I did some research and reading after watching the episode to learn more about the Hyksos. They are the group of people whom ruled Egypt during the time of Prophet Yusuf Peace Be Upon Him.

I also came across this rather interesting article regarding the number of Pharohs from the Quranic Prespective. Kinda related to the topic I guess xD

Finally, I loved the moral that was delivered in the show. In our current world, it's hard dealing with justice, since there is more injustice this world than justice lol. May Allah forgive us all for what's happening on the surface of this planet.

I won't embed the video here, but provide a link to it in YouYube in HD.

Amr Khlaid: Quran Stories - Part 2

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 1

Part 2 of Amr Khalid's show from last Ramdan (Quran Stories) !

I super enjoyed this show from last Ramadan (I watched it on YouTube a couple of months ago though, not during Ramadan). I love stories so much, especially from the Quran because they all have morals and lessons we can learn and reflect on. There is an aya in the Quran that says each person can find their archetypes in these stories.

An archetype is an original model of a person, ideal example, or a prototype after which others are copied, patterned, or emulated; a symbol universally recognized by all. In psychology, an archetype is a model of a person, personality, or behavior.

In the analysis of personality, the term archetype is often broadly used to refer to

1. a stereotype -- personality type observed multiple times, especially an oversimplification of such a type; or
2. an epitome -- personality type exemplified, especially the "greatest" such examples.

I still don't know who I am though lol. I hope I'll realize it one day.

Here's the link to the first episode in HD. Amr Khalid starts out by reflecting on the importance of Ramdan to us Muslims, then he relates the story of Prophet Moses Peace Be Upon Him.

The first thing I noticed about the show this year is the incredible effort at relating the stories to your minds eye by the use of animation as well as telling the story at the location of where it occurred rather than just sitting in a studio. Quite cool.

I'll post the link to each episode on here everyday.

Amr Khalid: Quran Stories - Episode 1