Podcasts about Quraysh

The Last Ten Nights Are HereBefore diving into the final ayah of Surah Al-Muzzammil, a timely reminder — tonight is the 23rd night of Ramadan. The last ten nights are upon us, and the Prophet ﷺ told us to hunt for Laylatul Qadr in these nights, especially the odd ones. Tonight is one of them.So what should fill these nights? Extra raka'at. Extra Quran. Extra dhikr. And the best du'a for this occasion comes to us through Sayyidatuna Aisha (رضي الله عنها), who asked the Prophet ﷺ: if I encounter the Night of Al-Qadr, what should I say? He replied: “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa'fu ‘anni” — “O Allah, You are the Most Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.”Now, there's an important distinction here between ‘afw and ghafar. When we say astaghfirullah and ask for Allah's forgiveness (ghafar), the record of the sin remains — but the punishment is cancelled. The deed is still in the books on the Day of Mahshar, but Allah will not punish us for it.Al-'Afw is something else entirely. It is when the record is expunged altogether. Wiped clean. As if the sin never happened. This is why the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever fasts sincerely and prays during the nights of Ramadan — and catches Laylatul Qadr — will have all their past sins forgiven. They exit Ramadan like the day they were born. No record of sins whatsoever.It's just a few nights. Sleep a little less. Yes, there will be tiredness — that's okay. This is our training. Don't miss a night that is greater than a thousand months, greater than 83 years of worship.Grounded is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Where We Left Off — The Arc of Surah Al-MuzzammilThe surah opened with a command: stand up at night, pray, and recite the Quran. Why? Because the day is full of heavy tasks — spreading truth, standing for justice, enduring hardship — and the strength to carry all of that comes from the spiritual work done at night. Reading about Jannah motivates. Reading about Jahannam sobers. The connection to Allah realigns everything.Then came the warning through the story of Fir'aun — richer, stronger, more powerful than the Quraysh, yet destroyed in an instant when he rejected Prophet Musa. Then the terrifying imagery of Yawmul Qiyamah: skies torn apart, children's hair turning white from sheer terror. And finally, the choice: believe and take the prophetic path, or reject and face the consequences. Every choice carries a consequence.Now the surah circles back to where it began — Qiyamul Layl — but this time with something remarkable: mercy.Allah Knows Our WeaknessThe original command was demanding. Stand up most of the night — two-thirds, or at least half, or at the very minimum a third. The Prophet ﷺ did this every single night, without exception, even while travelling, even during battle. But Allah knew that the rest of the ummah would struggle.Allah says: “Indeed, your Lord knows that you stand less than two-thirds of the night, sometimes half, sometimes even less than a third — and so do a group of those with you.”Allah is the One who measured the length of night and day. Some seasons, the nights are long and Qiyamul Layl is easier — in Perth during winter, Maghrib comes in at 5:15 and Fajr isn't until around six. Plenty of time to sleep and still wake up. But in the peak of summer, when Fajr is at 3:30? That's a different story. Allah knows all of this.And so He says: “He has forgiven you.” Qiyamul Layl is fard upon the Prophet ﷺ, but for the rest of us, Allah has already shown mercy and lifted that strict obligation.But Don't Abandon It AltogetherHere's the key — just because the full obligation has been eased doesn't mean doing nothing is an option. Allah says: “So read what is easy for you from the Quran.” Stand up for even two raka'at. Read whatever surahs have been memorised. Carve out even a small portion of the night for spiritual work.This is a fundamental principle in Islam: what cannot be accomplished entirely should not be abandoned in totality. Islam doesn't teach perfectionism — it's not 100% or nothing. It teaches consistent effort. The Prophet ﷺ said that the most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small. Two raka'at every single night outweighs a marathon session once a month.And this, by the way, is one of the great purposes behind memorising the Quran — so that those surahs can be recited in prayer. Al-Kahf, Al-Mulk, Al-Baqarah — they come alive when recited standing before Allah at night.The Three Excuses Allah AcceptsThen Allah provides specific concessions. First: those who are sick. Illness isn't a choice — when rest is needed for recovery, Allah says it's okay.But then come two more categories that are remarkable, because they are things people can choose — and Allah still grants them as valid reasons for doing less Qiyamul Layl.The first: those who travel the earth seeking Allah's bounty — meaning those who are out working, doing business, building economic stability. The second: those who fight in the path of Allah, defending the religion and the community.These two are placed in equal standing. Working hard to earn a living is given the same weight as defending the faith. That is extraordinary. It tells us something profound about how Islam views economic productivity — not as a worldly distraction, but as an act valued by Allah Himself.The Prophet ﷺ said the best rizq is what a person earns from their own effort, and he pointed to Prophet Dawud (عليه السلام) as the example — a prophet, a king, and yet also a blacksmith who worked with iron and ate from the labour of his own hands.Ibn Umar expressed this beautifully. He said the best deaths he could wish for were two: martyrdom in the path of Allah, and dying on a business journey — on his camel, with his trade goods, on his way to earn a living. Because this ayah puts them side by side.Islam Wants Muslims to Be Wealthy — But With PurposeThe encouragement to work hard and build wealth doesn't come without direction. Islam doesn't say: get rich so you can buy the fanciest car, then a fancy island, and once you run out of things to buy on earth, spend a trillion dollars trying to conquer Mars.Islam says: be rich, but that's not the end goal. The ummah becomes strong when Muslims have economic power and an akhirah mindset. With wealth, the community can build schools, support students in critical fields, fund long-term projects. This is Sadaqatul Jariyah — continuously flowing charity that keeps giving long after the initial contribution.There's a telling hadith in Imam Al-Nawawi's Forty Collection that captures this tension perfectly. The poor companions once came to the Prophet ﷺ and complained: “Ya Rasulullah, the rich have taken all the extra reward! They pray like we pray, they fast like we fast — but they can give charity from their surplus wealth, and we can't.” The Prophet ﷺ reassured them that dhikr — saying SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar — is also charity. The poor companions went away happy. But a few days later? The rich started doing dhikr too. Now they had both. The poor came back and said: what about us now?The point isn't to vilify poverty. The Prophet ﷺ went on to explain that there is charity in every good act — helping someone onto their ride, carrying someone's load. But wealth opens doors that nothing else can. Zakat, the pillar of Islam, is only payable by those who have wealth. And the framing matters: it's not that the wealthy have to pay zakat — they get to pay zakat. Without wealth, that entire pillar of Islam is inaccessible. And hajj is the same.The story of Sayyidina Uthman (رضي الله عنه) at the Battle of Tabuk drives this home. He donated so generously — horses, camels, wealth — that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Nothing Uthman does after this will harm him.” Guaranteed paradise. And Uthman wasn't living in poverty. He had luxuries. But look at the scale of what his wealth allowed him to do for the ummah.At the same time, Islam doesn't expect anyone to give 100% away. The best charity, the Prophet ﷺ said, is what is spent on family — on spouses, on children. The balance is always there: spend on yourself, on your family, and on the ummah for the sake of the akhirah.The Beautiful LoanEven with all these concessions, Allah says: still, read what is easy from the Quran. Establish your salah. Pay your zakat. Don't let the extras overshadow the foundations — a hundred raka'at of Qiyamul Layl mean nothing if Fajr is missed. Generous charity donations mean nothing if zakat is neglected. The obligatory always comes first.Then comes a stunning phrase: “And give Allah a beautiful loan (qard hasan).”A qard hasan is a loan with no deadline for repayment and no interest. Every good deed — every act of worship, every charity, every kindness — is a loan to Allah. And here's the beauty of it: Allah doesn't need our loan. He owns everything in the heavens and the earth and everything in between and beyond. He could simply say: “That's Mine, I gave it to you, give it back.”But in His mercy, Allah understands human nature. He understands that people are wired to think in terms of profit and return on investment. So He frames it as a transaction: give Me a loan, and I will surely repay you — multiplied many times over. In human transactions, demanding extra on a qard is riba. But with Allah, He is the One promising to multiply the return. It's the ultimate ROI.And what can a person invest with? Two things: wealth or skills. Both require Muslims to be hardworking.It's All For UsAllah then makes something clear: whatever is sent forth for the akhirah, it's essentially for our own benefit. Allah doesn't need our investment. Every command He gives is for our sake, not His.And there's a profound observation embedded here. As humanity lives more and more comfortably — materially, physically — mental health continues to decline. The richer the country, the higher the rates of depression and anxiety. Why? Because life without purpose erodes the soul. When everything is easy and comfortable, humans lose their sense of direction.Islam solves this by providing a purpose so enormous that no amount of wealth or comfort can make it irrelevant: getting to Jannah. How do we get there? That question structures every day, every decision, every effort. It keeps life purposeful no matter the circumstances. And when the community works together with that shared purpose, everyone rises.Ending with IstighfarThe surah closes with a command to seek Allah's forgiveness. Wastaghfirullah — make istighfar. There are two dimensions to this.First, the timing. The pre-dawn hours — suhoor time — are the best time for istighfar. Allah praises those who seek forgiveness in the early morning. For those already awake for Qiyamul Layl, this flows naturally.Second, there's a subtler reason. Sometimes, in the middle of worship and good deeds, something dangerous creeps into the heart. A feeling of: “I woke up for Qiyamul Layl. I read Surah Al-Kahf in one raka'ah and Surah Al-Mulk in the next. I'm amazing.” Or after giving a large charity: “I'm so generous. Look at what I gave.”This is kibr — arrogance — and it's one of Shaitan's favourite tricks. When he can't stop someone from doing good deeds, he tries to spoil the deed through the intention. So the surah ends with the antidote: astaghfirullah. Centre yourself. Realign the intention. “Ya Allah, if there was any misalignment in my heart, I seek Your forgiveness.”Indeed, Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.The Complete Message of Surah Al-MuzzammilAnd with that, Surah Al-Muzzammil comes to a close. Its message is beautifully complete: stay up at night, even a little. Pray. Read Quran. Let that spiritual recharge fuel everything in the day — the work, the earning, the serving of the ummah. Islam is a religion of balance: worship at night, work hard in the day. And in between, give everything its right. The body has a right — rest, nutrition, exercise. Family has a right — time and attention. And Allah has a right — acts of worship.Fulfil all those rights. That's the straight path.Your Action Steps This Week* Make the du'a of Laylatul Qadr every night. Memorise “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa'fu ‘anni”and repeat it abundantly in the remaining nights of Ramadan. Understand the difference — this isn't just asking for forgiveness, it's asking for a complete clean slate.* Do something every night, even if it's small. If two raka'at is all that's manageable, pray two raka'at. If one page of Quran is what's realistic, read one page. Don't let the inability to do everything become an excuse to do nothing.* Reframe how work fits into worship. This ayah places earning a livelihood alongside fighting in the path of Allah. Approach work this week with the conscious intention that economic productivity is an act Allah values — and use what is earned to benefit family and community.* Audit the foundations before the extras. Before adding more nawafil, make sure the obligatory salah and zakat are fully in order. The extras don't compensate for gaps in the foundations.* End every night with istighfar. After Qiyamul Layl, after du'a, after any act of worship — close with astaghfirullah. Let it be the safeguard against arrogance creeping into the heart through the very deeds meant to bring closeness to Allah.May Allah grant us the strength to apply the lessons from Surah Al-Muzzammil — to pray at night, recite the Quran, and work hard in the day for the benefit of the ummah. May Allah allow us to enter Jannah with the Prophet ﷺ and with the Sahaba.Next week, inshaAllah, we begin Suratul Muddaththir. Don't forget — tonight is the 23rd night. Qiyamul Layl. Stay up extra. Make lots of du'a.Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.Thanks for reading Grounded! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit groundeddaily.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit groundeddaily.substack.comThe Last Ten Begin TomorrowTonight is the 19th night of Ramadan. The last ten start tomorrow.The Prophet ﷺ told us that whoever misses the good of Laylatul Qadr has been denied all good for the entire year — because that person looked at a night worth more than a thousand months and said: I'm fine, I don't need it.One thousand months is 83 years. One night of ibadah — one raka'ah, one dollar given in charity, one dua made sincerely — on that night is worth doing that same act every single day for over 83 years without a break and more.And we're in Australia. Our odd nights might be someone else's even nights. Our even nights might be someone else's odd. So cast the net wide. All ten nights. If you've had an unfinished TV series to get through — tonight is your last chance. From tomorrow, for ten nights, we give everything.Grounded is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The Wrongdoers IdentifiedWe left off last night with a mu'adzin in Jahannam announcing: the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers. Tonight Allah defines who these wrongdoers are.They are those who block people from the path of Allah — who not only refuse to walk it themselves, but actively work to prevent others from finding it. This was the Quraysh in real time. Abu Jahl would hire musicians to play loudly across the street whenever the Prophet ﷺ was reciting Quran or giving da'wah, so that the sound of music would drown out the revelation. Abu Lahab would greet every caravan arriving in Makkah and warn them: don't listen to my nephew — he's mad.The result? Many of the Quraysh never actually heard the Quran. Not because they rejected it, but because their leaders made sure it never reached them. This is why Islam insists we are not sheep. We do not follow our leaders blindly. Every statement, every ruling, every claim — we measure it against the Quran and the Sunnah.The same ayah mentions those who bend the path — those who speak about Allah without knowledge, declaring halal and haram on their own authority. The root of this, Allah tells us, is disbelief in the akhirah: wa hum bil akhirati kafiroon.This is the key insight. The Quraysh had no fundamental problem believing in Allah as the ultimate creator. Their problem was with the akhirah. Because believing in akhirah has consequences — it means you can no longer cheat, oppress, or abuse without accountability. In Makkah, the rich and powerful could do whatever they wanted. Islam came and said: there is a day coming where none of that will protect you.This is why throughout the Quran, iman billah and iman bil akhirah are paired together. You could, technically, believe in Allah without believing in the akhirah — the Quraysh did exactly that. But belief in Allah without belief in akhirah will not reshape who you are. It is the akhirah that governs behaviour. It is accountability that changes people.And this is what keeps the believer sane when they watch the world. Schools bombed. Entire populations under siege. The powerful openly declaring that international law does not apply to them — that might is right again. Where is the justice? The akhirah is where. Every oppressor will stand before Allah. No title, no army, no wealth will help them. This is not a coping mechanism — it is a theological certainty that the Quran repeats again and again.The HeightsBetween Jannah and Jahannam, Allah says, there is a hijab — a barrier. And rising above that barrier, there is the A'raf: a height, an elevated terrain, from which both destinations can be seen.On the A'raf, standing on this high ground, is a group of people. They can look across and see the people of Jannah. They can look the other way and see the people of fire. And they know — from signs visible to them — who belongs to which side.Who are the people of A'raf? They are those whose good and bad deeds are exactly equal. The scales balanced perfectly. They are neither in Jannah nor in Jahannam. They are suspended — waiting.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit groundeddaily.substack.comAfter BadrThe battle is over. The Muslims are victorious. Fourteen Muslims were martyred. Seventy Quraysh were killed, including Abu Jahl — the man who had led the persecution of the believers for over a decade.And then the Prophet ﷺ did something that tells you everything about his character. He instructed the Muslims to dig graves and bury the Quraysh dead. These were men who had tortured and killed companions. Men who had tried to kill the Prophet ﷺ himself. Men who had driven the Muslims from their homes, confiscated their property, starved them, humiliated them.Grounded is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Bury them.No mutilation. No revenge. No public display of contempt. The body is the body — even the body of an enemy is to be respected.Only one man was not buried in the conventional way: Umayyah ibn Khalaf — the master who had tortured Bilal RA, dragging him into the desert sun and placing a boulder on his chest. When the companions tried to lift Umayyah's body, his skin disintegrated. They could not move him. Rocks and stones were placed over him where he lay — just as he had placed a rock on the chest of Bilal in the desert. The Arabs say: what you give, you get back.The Prophet ﷺ then walked to the grave of Abu Jahl and asked him a question — the same question the people of Jannah will ask the people of Jahannam, which we reach tonight in the surah. Did you find what Allah promised you to be true?The companions asked: Ya Rasulullah, can the dead hear us? He said: they can hear you as clearly as you hear me — but they cannot respond. When we visit the graves of our loved ones, when we make dua and say our salams, they hear us.Iman and Amal — They Cannot Be SeparatedAllah now turns to the people of Jannah: those who believe and do good deeds.Islam does not offer salvation through faith alone. Iman and amal salih must come together — and they are inseparable by nature. True iman will always manifest as good deeds. And truly sincere good deeds can only come from a heart that has iman. Without iman, the deeds may look the same from the outside — but the intention is elsewhere. You are doing it to be praised, to be seen, to be known. The action and the heart become disconnected.A sincere heart shows. It shows in what a person does when no one is watching. Publicly and privately, the same. That is the mark of iman.And those who say my heart is good while their actions tell a different story — Islam does not accept this. A good heart is not invisible. It is expressed.

Seerah 01-07: The Public Call of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at Mount Safa: Lessons from Early Islamic Da'wah and the Warning to the Quraysh | Qur'an and Authentic Sunnah Insights | ZAD Academy Audio | Blogpost by Zayd HajiAssalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,I am Zayd Haji, a student at ZAD Academy. In this lesson from ZAD Academy, we study a significant moment in the early history of Islam when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ publicly announced his message to the people of Makkah. After several years of secretly calling people to Islam, the Prophet ﷺ was commanded by Allah to openly warn his people and begin the public stage of da'wah.This event marked a turning point in the mission of the Prophet ﷺ and demonstrated his courage, sincerity, and commitment to delivering the message of Islam.After years of private preaching, Allah commanded the Prophet ﷺ to warn his closest relatives and the people of Makkah. Allah says in the Qur'an:“And warn your closest kindred.” (Qur'an 26:214 – Quran.com)This command signaled the beginning of the public proclamation of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ understood that, just as earlier prophets faced rejection from their people, he too would encounter opposition and resistance.To deliver the message publicly, the Prophet ﷺ climbed Mount Safa and called out to the tribes of Quraysh. The people gathered because they trusted him and knew him as an honest and truthful person.Narrated Ibn `Abbas: When the Verse: --'And warn your tribe of near-kindred, was revealed, the Prophet (ﷺ) ascended the Safa (mountain) and started calling, "O Bani Fihr! O Bani `Adi!" addressing various tribes of Quraish till they were assembled. Those who could not come themselves, sent their messengers to see what was there. Abu Lahab and other people from Quraish came and the Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Suppose I told you that there is an (enemy) cavalry in the valley intending to attack you, would you believe me?" They said, "Yes, for we have not found you telling anything other than the truth." He then said, "I am a warner to you in face of a terrific punishment." Abu Lahab said (to the Prophet) "May your hands perish all this day. Is it for this purpose you have gathered us?" Then it was revealed: "Perish the hands of Abu Lahab (one of the Prophet's uncles), and perish he! His wealth and his children will not profit him...." (111.1-5)Sahih al-Bukhari 4770https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4770During this address, the Prophet ﷺ emphasized that every individual is responsible for their own faith and actions. He addressed his relatives and even his daughter Fatimah with a powerful reminder that no one can rely solely on family ties for salvation.Narrated Abu Huraira: When Allah revealed the Verse: "Warn your nearest kinsmen," Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got up and said, "O people of Quraish (or said similar words)! Buy (i.e. save) yourselves (from the Hellfire) as I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment; O Bani `Abd Manaf! I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment, O Safiya, the Aunt of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment; O Fatima bint Muhammad! Ask me anything from my wealth, but I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment."Sahih al-Bukhari 2753https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2753While many of the Quraysh were surprised by the message, the most hostile response came from the Prophet's uncle Abu Lahab. He rejected the message and insulted the Prophet ﷺ.In response to his hostility, Allah revealed a chapter in the Qur'an condemning Abu Lahab:“May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he.” (Qur'an 111:1 – Quran.com)This revelation confirmed the truth of the Prophet's mission and exposed the opposition of those who rejected the message of Islam.The public call of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at Mount Safa represents a pivotal moment in Islamic history. It illustrates the courage of the Prophet ﷺ in delivering Allah's message despite the risk of rejection and persecution.

Tonight is the night of Badr.On this night, 1,443 years ago, 313 Muslim men camped on the plains of Badr — underprepared, outnumbered more than three to one — on the eve of a battle that would determine whether Islam survived or was extinguished.There is no tafseer of Surah Al-A'raf tonight. Tonight belongs to Badr.How They Got ThereThe Muslims left Madinah on the 12th of Ramadan. The mission was straightforward: intercept Abu Sufyan's caravan returning from Syria — the largest trading caravan the Quraysh had ever assembled, loaded with profits from goods financed largely by wealth confiscated from the Muslims at the time of Hijrah. Not a battle. An interception.But Abu Sufyan's scouts were sharp. One of the Bedouin trackers found camel droppings along the route, opened them, and recognised the date pits inside as coming from the farms of Madinah. The Muslims were tracking them. Abu Sufyan immediately rerouted and sent the fastest rider in his group back to Makkah — the rider sliced the nose of his camel and smeared the blood on himself to arrive with maximum drama, ensuring the message landed with urgency.Abu Jahl raised 1,300 men. Not to protect the caravan — the caravan had already escaped. This was about something else now. We are going to crush Islam and the Muslims once and for all.By the time 300 of that army turned back — satisfied that their property was safe — 1,000 Quraysh warriors were marching toward Badr with that single purpose.The Muslims, meanwhile, had 313 men. Two horses. Seventy camels. And eight swords.They had not come prepared for battle. They had expected a small caravan escort — ten, twenty, thirty men at most. They found an army.And they did not turn back.The Leadership of the Prophet ﷺWhen the Prophet ﷺ chose a campsite on the plains of Badr, a companion — al-Hubab ibn al-Mundhir — approached him and asked a remarkable question: Ya Rasulullah, is this position based on revelation from Allah, or is this your personal judgement?The Prophet ﷺ said: personal judgement.Al-Hubab said: in that case, may I suggest we move further forward — to the wells of Badr — so that we control the Quraysh's access to water?The Prophet ﷺ accepted. He moved the entire army.This is a man who could have said: I am the Prophet of Allah, my opinion is final. He said nothing of the sort. He distinguished clearly between what came from Allah and what came from his own thinking. And when a companion had a better idea, he took it.A leader who cannot be corrected is a leader who will eventually fail. The Prophet ﷺ modelled the opposite: you are not any stronger than me, and I am not any less in need of the reward from Allah. When they shared rides on the 160-kilometre journey — three men, including the Prophet ﷺ, rotating on one camel — his companions begged him to ride the whole way. He refused. He walked his share.The Night BeforeThat night, with a thousand armed men across the plain, Allah gave the Muslims a gift: sleep.Anyone who has had a major exam, a difficult interview, a high-stakes day ahead knows what that night feels like. You lie awake. The mind races. The Muslims knew what was coming — and they slept.Allah also sent light rain on the Muslim side. The ground compacted. The march in the morning would be firm underfoot. On the Quraysh side, Allah sent heavy rain. Sleepless. Muddy ground. No access to water. Before a single sword was raised, the advantage had already shifted.The Prophet ﷺ spent much of that night in dua — arms raised so intensely that his shawl fell to the ground. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, waking before Fajr, wrapped it back around his shoulders and stood listening. Among the duas the Prophet ﷺ made that night: Ya Allah, if You destroy this group, You will never be worshipped on this earth again. These were the best of the Muslim men. Most of them. If they fell here, there would be no rebuilding.The dhikr of Badr — the one the Prophet ﷺ repeated through that night and into the battle — was Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum. The Ever-Living. The Ever-Sustaining. The One who holds everything in existence. Repeat this in your own difficult nights.Islam Is a Salad BowlWhen the Prophet ﷺ organised his army on the morning of battle, he divided them into three groups: the Muhajirin on the right, led by Sayyidina Ali; the Ansar on the left, led by Sayyidina Sa'd ibn Mu'adh; and a mixed group at the centre, where the Prophet ﷺ stood himself, with the banner held by Mus'ab ibn Umayr — the first companion to migrate to Madinah, the man through whose teaching most of the Ansar had embraced Islam.Why keep them separate? Why not one unified mass?Because Islam does not erase identity. It never has. The Muhajirin were Meccan. The Ansar were Medinan. Different dialects, different traditions, different cultures — and at this point in history, genuinely different peoples. Islam acknowledged that difference and worked with it. Each group fought with the strength that came from who they were.Islam is not a melting pot. It is a salad bowl. A tomato remains a tomato. A cucumber remains a cucumber. Mixed together, each contributing what it is — they serve something greater than any one of them alone.Keep your cultural identity. Be proud of who Allah made you. Learn your mother tongue. And be equally proud to be Muslim — guided by Islamic principles, united by La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah, with Arabic as the thread that connects the entire ummah across every language and culture.Help Comes in Ways You Cannot SeeWhen the battle began, most of the Muslims did not know they were being assisted by angels. They raised their weapons and fought with everything they had. Some were injured. Some were martyred. They had to show up. They had to put in the effort. The help came — but it came to those who were already in the field.Jibreel came wearing a yellow turban, marked like Mus'ab ibn Umayr. A thousand angels — one for every Quraysh soldier — came wearing white, on white horses. The Quraysh saw them coming from across the plain. They did not know what they were seeing.And then Iblis — who had marched alongside the Quraysh in the guise of Suraqah ibn Malik, who had promised them safety, who had said I am with you, no one can defeat you today — Iblis was the first to see the angels. He turned and fled.I see what you do not see. I am afraid of Allah.The Quraysh: You were the one who convinced us to come! You were the one who promised us victory!Iblis said nothing more. He left.This is who Iblis is. He is there when things are going well. The moment the cost becomes real, he disappears. The friends you make in sin will not be there when the consequences arrive.Abdullah ibn Mas'ud — a man so small he stood barely above a metre — captured Sayyidina Abbas, the Prophet's uncle, a giant of a man with a voice that could carry across a battlefield. Abbas was humiliated. He told everyone who saw him: it wasn't this small man — there was someone bigger, someone else who took me down. When Abdullah ibn Mas'ud brought Abbas to the Prophet ﷺ, the Prophet ﷺ confirmed: it was not you, Abdullah. You were assisted by an angel.Do not be arrogant with your success. You put in the effort. But the victory was never yours alone to claim.The Secret of Badr — And of RamadanThe Quran tells us the secret of Badr in Surah Ali Imran in two words: sabr and taqwa.Sabr is steadfastness — continuing on the right path regardless of how difficult it becomes. Taqwa is your living connection with Allah.Ramadan trains both. Every day of fasting hones sabr — the steadfastness to stay on the right path regardless of hunger and exhaustion. Every night of prayer and Quran builds taqwa — the connection with Allah that carries you through what the day alone cannot prepare you for.The Prophet ﷺ won his greatest military victory in Ramadan — on the 17th, on the plains of Badr. His greatest political victory, the Conquest of Makkah, was also in Ramadan. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas defeated the Persian Sassanid Empire at the Battle of Qadisiyyah in Ramadan. Amr ibn al-As conquered Egypt in Ramadan.The pattern is not coincidence. It is a formula.Fast your days. Pray your nights. And trust that when you show up on the field with whatever weapons you have, Allah will send what you cannot seeBadr Wallpaper for smartphonesBadr Wallpaper for tablets.Badr wallpaper for computersAfter Witr tonight insha'Allah — Salawat Badriyya.Following along with the series? Consider a paid subscription to receive a free digital copy of the Surah Al-A'raf Study Guide and Workbook. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit groundeddaily.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit groundeddaily.substack.comA Ramadan Halftime Check-InBefore we dive into today's ayat, I want to take a moment to remind myself and all of you — today marks the 15th of Ramadan. We are at the halfway mark of this blessed month.It's time to pause and reflect on our first half. How has it been? Have we been building momentum? Because here's the thing — it is no longer time to warm up. We should already be warmed up by now. We are gearing up and preparing ourselves to hunt for the greatest night of the year: Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Power, which will fall on one of the odd nights in the last ten nights of Ramadan.So let's make sure our ibadah is increasing every single night — our Quran recitation, our prayers, our charity, our kindness to family, friends, and neighbours. Everything must now be on an upward trajectory so that when the last ten nights arrive, we are ready to go all out. We're hunting for a night that is greater than a thousand months. Let's not miss it.Grounded is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Where We Left OffLast week, we explored how Allah was preparing Rasulullah ﷺ for the enormous mission ahead. The Prophet was troubled by the verbal abuse and humiliation inflicted on him and his followers by the Quraysh. And what was Allah's prescription? Stand up at night. Pray. Recite the Quran. Make dhikr — mention the name of your Lord.This is how we find the strength to face every challenge in life, especially the challenge of becoming and remaining a good Muslim. The more we connect with the Quran, the more we connect with Allah, and the more everything else becomes easier.Allah then told Rasulullah ﷺ to take Him as a Wakil — the One who looks after all your affairs. When you have Allah as your Wakil, you do a little and things become a lot easier. Then Allah turned directly to the Quraysh and warned them of chains, choking food, and a burning fire.Now we come to a new passage where Allah expands the audience. He is still addressing the Quraysh, but He is also speaking to every single one of us.A Messenger as Witness — For Us or Against UsAllah says: “Indeed, We have sent to you a messenger as a witness over you.”Think about that for a moment. Rasulullah ﷺ is going to stand on the Day of Judgement as a witness. The question is — will he be a witness for us, or against us?If he testifies for us, that means shafa'ah — intercession. He will stand before Allah and say: “Ya Allah, this person is from my ummah. They followed my teaching, they followed my sunnah, they tried their very best.” He will intercede on our behalf, asking Allah to forgive our sins and tip the scales in our favour.But he could also testify against us. And Allah has already recorded in the Quran what that looks like. On the Day of Judgement, Rasulullah ﷺ will say: “O my Lord, my people — they received this Quran and just put it aside.” They chose to ignore it. Chose not to put it into practice. Chose not to be guided by it.That is a terrifying thought. If the Prophet ﷺ — Habibullah, the beloved of Allah — testifies against us, who is going to stand up to defend us? Who would dare?

A quick note before we begin: from tonight, we recite Dua Qunut in Witr. The Shafi'i madhab holds that Qunut in Witr is only in the second half of Ramadan — following the practice established by Sayyidina Umar ibn al-Khattab when he unified the companions behind one imam for Taraweeh and instructed Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka'ab to lead with Qunut in the final nights. May Allah enter us among those who pray with the imam from beginning to end, and receive the reward of a full night's prayer.The Battle of Badr — ApproachingThe Muslims left Madinah on the 12th of Ramadan. Tonight, in the timeline of history, they would have been settling into the plains of Badr — fasting, outnumbered, about to face something no one had fully planned for.The original aim was to intercept Abu Sufyan's caravan returning from Syria — laden with the wealth the Quraysh had confiscated from the Muslims at the time of Hijrah. Abu Sufyan's scouts, however, found camel droppings containing date pits from the farms of Madinah. He understood: the Muslims are tracking us. He rerouted the caravan and sent the fastest rider back to Makkah with a call for reinforcements — the rider even smeared camel blood on himself for dramatic effect, to ensure the message landed with urgency.Abu Jahl raised 1,300 men. By the time they reached the plains of Badr, the caravan had already escaped via a different route. Three hundred of the Quraysh army turned back — the property was safe, their reason for coming was gone. But Abu Jahl pressed forward with a thousand. This was no longer about a caravan. This was about crushing Islam once and for all.When the Prophet ﷺ chose a campsite on the plains of Badr, one of the companions asked: Ya Rasulullah, is this position based on revelation, or is this your personal judgement? The Prophet ﷺ said: personal judgement. The companion said: in that case, may I suggest we move further, to control the Quraysh's access to the wells?The Prophet ﷺ accepted. He moved the entire army.In that moment — a Prophet, the most beloved of creation, moving his troops based on a suggestion from a companion — is a masterclass in leadership. A good leader takes counsel. A good leader distinguishes between revelation and personal opinion. A good leader is not too proud to be corrected.We continue the story of Badr tomorrow insha'Allah.The Blame Game Has No EndReturning to Surah Al-A'raf — yesterday we saw the people of Jahannam blaming each other as they entered. The followers blamed the leaders. The leaders said: you chose to follow us. Taste what you earned.Now Allah introduces a further dimension: the former and the latter — early generations and those who came after.Think about what this means personally. If someone in your family tree was the first to introduce something harmful — idol worship, a corrupt practice, a tradition that led generations away from Allah — and their descendants followed without question, then when all of them meet in Jahannam, the descendants will turn to the ancestor: you started this. This is your fault. You deserve more.It is a sobering thought. The decisions we make do not end with us.The Reverse Is Also TrueBut the reverse is equally real — and this is where the heart lifts.A thousand years ago, the ancestors of many Muslims sitting in our community tonight were not Muslim. The Malays were Hindu and Buddhist. The Turks were sky-worshipping pagans on the steppe. The Indonesians had their own traditions. And then — somewhere up that family tree — one person made a decision. I am going to be a Muslim.Because of that one decision, generations of descendants were born into Islam. Every salah they prayed, every fast they kept, every act of charity they gave — a portion of that reward travels back up the chain to the one who made the original call.That ancestor has been in his grave for perhaps 700, 800 years. And he is still receiving dividends. Still collecting on that one decision. This is the real passive income. Not a pyramid scheme — a multi-level reward that compounds across generations until Yawmul Qiyamah.And in Jannah, insha'Allah, we will find that ancestor. We will say: thank you. Because of you, I did not have to make the hard choice. I was born Muslim. All I had to do was protect what you gave me.For those among us who did make that hard choice — who came to Islam as adults, who chose this path when no one around them did — your reward carries the same weight. Every person in your lineage who comes after you and remains on this deen is a continuation of your decision. Do not underestimate what you started.Do Not Trivialise Small Good DeedsThis is why we must never dismiss small acts of goodness as insignificant.Teach one child Quran. That child teaches his children. His children teach theirs. How many generations between now and Yawmul Qiyamah? Every one of them who recites the Quran — you carry a portion of that reward. A tiny portion, yes. But multiplied across centuries, across an entire family tree — it becomes something beyond calculation.Whatever good deed you start, its consequences ripple outward in ways you will never live to see. A Muslim thinks in generations, not just in lifetimes. The question is not only: what am I doing today? The question is: what am I starting?The Camel and the Eye of the NeedleFor those who reject the ayat of Allah, who are arrogant against His guidance — la tufattahu lahum abwab al-sama'. The gates of heaven will not be opened for them. Their good deeds will not ascend. The angels carry our deeds up twice daily — at Fajr and Maghrib, which is why these are the great times of morning and evening dhikr, when two shifts of angels overlap and the same act is recorded twice. But for the one who rejects Allah, those deeds remain earthbound. He gets what he intended — praise from people, a legacy among men — and nothing more.Hatim al-Ta'i was the most celebrated generous man in Arab history. His name became a byword for generosity — Arabs still use it today, 1,400 years later. His son asked the Prophet ﷺ about his father's fate. The Prophet ﷺ said: he never gave for Allah's sake. He gave to be known as generous. And Allah gave him exactly that. He is still being praised. His intention was fulfilled in full.You get what you intend for. If you intend for Allah, Allah rewards you. If you intend for people, people reward you. But the gates of heaven remain closed.And if a person who rejects the ayat of Allah still imagines they might enter Jannah — Allah gives us the measure of that hope: try fitting a camel through the eye of a needle first. In Arabic this is the expression for the impossible, the never-happening, the stop-dreaming. It will not happen. Not through arrogance. Not through denial. Not through rejecting the messenger.Tomorrow insha'Allah — the people of Jannah. The Quran always balances: after the warning comes the glad tidings.Following along with the series? Consider a paid subscription to receive a free digital copy of the Surah Al-A'raf Study Guide and Workbook. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit groundeddaily.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit groundeddaily.substack.comHalfway. Fifteen nights in, fifteen nights to go.The warm-up is over. From here, we accelerate. The last third — the ten nights of salvation — is coming. But before we get there, the middle ten: the days of forgiveness. Use them.A brief note before tonight's tafseer: on the 17th of Ramadan, we commemorate Yawm al-Furqan — the Day of Criterion, the Battle of Badr. The Muslims left Madinah on the 12th of Ramadan, fasting, unprepared for full battle, setting out on the instruction of the Prophet ﷺ immediately after prayer. 313 men. In a few days, they would meet an army of a thousand. What happened at Badr is the most important battle in human history — the moment truth and falsehood were separated with finality. We will cover it over the coming nights insha'Allah.Grounded is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The Worst Wrongdoer“Who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah?”This phrase — faman azlamu mimman iftara ala Allahi kadhiban — appears in multiple places in the Quran. It is one of the gravest charges the Quran levels. And it falls into two categories.The first is inventing objects or forms of worship and attributing them to Allah. The Quraysh who worshipped idols and claimed these were the daughters of Allah, that Allah commanded their worship — this is the obvious example. Creating your own god and calling it Allah's command.The second is subtler and closer to home: declaring halal and haram without knowledge. Pronouncing that something is forbidden or obligatory without proper grounding in revelation — and then attributing this ruling to the Sharia of Allah. This too is lying against Allah. This too is a grave sin.The early imams understood this acutely. They rarely used the word haram unless something was explicitly stated in the Quran or Sunnah. If their ijtihad pointed toward avoidance, they would say: stay away from it. They would not say haram. Because to declare something haram without certainty is to speak about Allah without knowledge — and that is the very sin this ayah is addressing.Over time, something interesting happened. When the imam said “stay away from it,” later generations heard: it's not haram yet — we can still do it. So the scholars had to escalate to “haram.” And then people started asking: is it a major sin or a minor sin? If minor, Allah is most forgiving — carry on. The language had to become stronger because the taqwa had become weaker. The early generation did not need to be told something was haram. The imam's caution was enough.Be very careful about declaring things halal or haram. That is the domain of Allah alone.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S34) The Treaty of Hudaybeeyah was broken by the Quraysh and their allies. The Banu Khuza'a joined the Messenger's ﷺ side and the Banu Bakr joined the Quraysh. The Banu Bakr attacked the Banu Khuza'a. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه was angry and had nothing to do with this. The Messenger ﷺ sent Dhamura رضي الله عنه to give the Quraysh a message: Break away from the Banu Bakr, play the blood money for the men of Banu Khuza'a you killed. If not, we will go to war.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit groundeddaily.substack.comAllah does not leave us alone on this earth.After Adam's descent, after the warnings about Shaitan's tactics, after the long passage of advice to the children of Adam — Allah makes a promise. Ya Bani Adam, imma ya'tiyannakum rusulum minkum. O children of Adam, surely a messenger from amongst you will come to you.That word surely is embedded in the Arabic itself. The verb does not simply say ya'tikum — he will come. It says ya'tiyannakum — with a heavy nun at the end, what grammarians call nun thaqilah. In Arabic, sound carries meaning. That heaviness is emphasis. That emphasis is a promise. Allah will not send you into this world and abandon you without guidance.Grounded is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.A Prophet From Among YouThe first audience of this ayat was the Quraysh. And the message to them was pointed: this messenger is from amongst you. He is Arab. He is Qurayshi. If he succeeds, it is your success. If his message spreads, it is the Arabs who are elevated.Consider their situation. The Arabian Peninsula sat sandwiched between two of the greatest empires in human history — the Sassanid Persian Empire to the east and the Roman Empire to the west. Alexander the Great had swept across the known world but did not even bother to venture south into Arabia. Rocks and camels, they said. The Arabs had no comparable civilisation, no unified identity, no place in the story of the great powers.And here was a prophet — from among them — carrying a message that would unite them, give them identity, and ultimately make them the inheritors of both those empires within a generation.Even some of the Quraysh leaders who resisted Islam quietly acknowledged this. Why should we fight him, they reasoned. If he wins, the victory belongs to us. If he loses, the Romans or the Persians will deal with him. Why are Arabs fighting Arabs?Allah was asking the same question. Why are you against this?

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit groundeddaily.substack.comOne third of Ramadan is behind us.There is a narration — its grading is discussed among scholars, but widely used as a reminder — that the first ten nights carry the overwhelming mercy of Allah, the second ten His forgiveness, and the final ten His guarantee of salvation from the fire. Though in reality, every single night holds all three. Ramadan does not divide itself neatly into chapters. But the framing is useful: if the first ten was a warm-up, the second ten is time to accelerate.Do a honest pit stop. How have the first ten days been? Whatever the answer, Ramadan is a marathon, not a sprint. The goal is not to peak on night one. The goal is to be better in the second third than the first, and better in the final third than both.Grounded is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The People Who Think They Are GuidedAllah divides humanity into two groups in this passage: those who follow guidance, and those for whom misguidance has become their reality.Why does misguidance become their reality? Because they have taken Shaitan as their wali — their loyal, protective ally. And Shaitan, as we discussed, is a wali who flatters in good times and abandons at the worst possible moment.But here is the sobering part: they think they are guided.This is not about people who know they are doing wrong and do it anyway. This is about people who have followed Shaitan's logic so completely that it feels like wisdom. The Quraysh doing tawaf naked genuinely believed they were being more pure, more sincere before Allah. The logic made sense to them.This is the danger of reason untethered from revelation. On an individual level, so many harmful things can seem reasonable. Take riba — interest. Two people agree, both are happy, both see benefit. What is the harm? But apply that same logic across an entire economy and you get 2008. Families losing homes. Businesses collapsing. Lives broken. The short-term individual logic disintegrates when it scales.Our intellect is a gift. But it needs guidance. The Quran is that guidance. Without it, we are capable of convincing ourselves that almost anything is fine — and feeling guided the entire time.Dress Nicely for Prayer

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S29) The Messenger ﷺ camped at Hudaybeeyah. He ﷺ sent Kharraash Ibn Umayyah رضي الله عنه as the first ambassador. The unbelieving Quraysh killed his camel and almost killed him! رضي الله عنه. Umar رضي الله عنه recommended sending Uthmaan رضي الله عنه, as he رضي الله عنه had family in Makkah and would be safer there. Uthmaan رضي الله عنه goes to Makkah. The rumour was spread that he رضي الله عنه had been martyred and thus the famous pledge under the tree was taken. ~1,400 Companions رضي الله عنهم pledged to the Messenger ﷺ. Everyone (رضي الله عنهم) who pledged to the Messenger ﷺ under the tree on that day is free from the fire. اَللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ.

Nine nights in. If you've been reading one juz a night, you've just passed Surah Al-A'raf in your recitation — the very surah we're studying together. A good reminder of how the Quran works on multiple levels simultaneously.The Naked Tawaf — ContinuedLast night we left off with the Quraysh practice of doing tawaf naked around the Kaaba. Tonight, a detail worth noting: the Quraysh themselves were exempt from this practice. They claimed to be the pure people of Makkah, above sin — so they could do tawaf in clothing. It was only the outsiders, the pilgrims who travelled from afar, who had to choose: strip down, or buy fresh garments from the Quraysh merchants.A shameless practice, with a profitable business model built into it.And when challenged, their answer was simple: our ancestors did this, and Allah commanded it.Allah's response was immediate: “Allah does not command shameless things. Are you saying about Allah what you do not know?”This is the danger of reason untethered from revelation. The argument the Quraysh made — that you were born naked and sinless, so the purest worship is naked worship — has an internal logic to it. You can follow it step by step and almost be convinced. But it leads somewhere Allah never intended. Modesty is not a burden placed on human nature. It is human nature. The nafs, the animal side of us, knows no shame. Haya is what lifts us above it. When we strip away modesty, we strip away something uniquely human.What Allah Actually Commands: Qist“Say: My Lord commands justice — qist.”Two Arabic words are both translated as justice in English: adala and qist. But they are not the same.Adala is doing what is right at a given moment — even if one party walks away unhappy. A judge delivers adala. The winning side praises him. The losing side calls him the worst judge they've ever seen. That is the nature of adala — it is correct, but not always mutually satisfying.Qist is higher. It is the middle path that brings both parties to a place of genuine acceptance. Not just legally correct, but humanly resolved. Adala is passing. Qist is excellent.Allah commands us toward qist — in our worship, in our dealings, in how we carry ourselves in this world.The Cure for ShamelessnessHere is what is striking. Allah has just spoken about shamelessness — the Quraysh doing tawaf naked, Shaitan's mission to strip humanity of modesty. And what is the cure Allah prescribes?Not a dress code. Not isolation. Not a list of prohibitions.Prayer.“Establish your faces at every masjid.”The word masjid here goes back to its root — sajada, to prostrate. This surah is Makki; the only masjid at the time was Masjid Al-Haram, surrounded by 365 idols. So Allah is not speaking about a building. He is speaking about the act itself. Every time and place of sujud — turn yourself fully toward Allah.And why wajh, face? Because the face is the most honourable part of a person. In Arabic, the most honourable portion can denote the whole. When you bring your face to the ground in sujud — the most honourable part of you touching the lowest point — that is the full surrender of the entire self.This is how prayer protects us from shamelessness. Allah says elsewhere in the Quran that prayer prohibits a person from fahsha — from indecency and evil. But how? We all know people who pray and still fall into wrong.The answer is in the word aqimu — establish. Not just perform. Not just go through the motions. To establish prayer is to be present in it. To actually stand before Allah, to speak to the Lord of the universe, to feel that you are seen.Think about it this way: if you were called to the principal's office this morning and firmly reminded of your responsibilities, how would you behave for the rest of the day? Even a difficult student behaves for at least a few hours after that meeting.Now imagine the meeting is with the Lord of the universe. Every morning before sunrise. Fajr carries you through the morning. Then Dhuhr arrives before you can wander too far. Then Asr. Then Maghrib. Then Isha. If you are truly present in each one — truly establishing, not just performing — there is barely a gap for shaitan to work in.The prayer, established with presence, is the antidote.We Began Without Clothes — We Return Without ClothesAllah closes this passage with a reminder: just as we entered this world, we will return to Allah. Naked. On the plains of Yawmul Qiyamah, everyone resurrected the same way.Sayyidatuna Aisha asked: won't we be ashamed — with everyone around us?The Prophet ﷺ said: the day will be too great. No one will have the capacity to think about anyone else. Even the greatest prophets — Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa — when people come to them seeking intercession, they will say: nafsi, nafsi. Myself, myself. I have my own account to answer for.Only the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will say: this is what I was created for. And he will intercede.On that day, the sun will feel as though it is a hand span above our heads. People will be drowning in their own sweat. But some will be shaded — elevated on hills, wearing shining crowns, alongside their spouses. People will look up and wonder who they are, what they did to deserve this.They will be told: your children memorised the Quran.If the parents of Quran memorisers are raised to such a station — what of the memorisers themselves?It Is Never Too LateThe Prophet ﷺ received his first revelation at 40. Abu Bakr accepted Islam at 38. Neither said: I am too old for this.If memorising the entire Quran feels out of reach, change the target. One ayah a day, understood deeply, revised slowly, carried with you. One juz a year. In thirty years, you have the whole Quran — memorised with comprehension, not just repetition.And if life takes you before you finish? The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever makes a consistent effort toward something and is prevented from completing it, Allah will complete the reward for them.Start. Stay consistent. Do not give up.Anything attached to the Quran becomes elevated in the eyes of Allah.We stopped here tonight. Tomorrow insha'Allah, we continue.Following along with the series? Consider a paid subscription to receive a free digital copy of the Surah Al-A'raf Study Guide and Workbook. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit groundeddaily.substack.com/subscribe

Surah Quraysh (Part 2) — delivered by Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman Mangera as part of The Last Ten Surahs: The Power of the Message series in Ramadan 2026 — continues the tafsīr by drawing deeper attention to the moral and spiritual responsibility that accompanies divine favor. Building upon the themes of security and provision discussed in Part 1, this session reflects on how material stability and social unity are not ends in themselves, but signs meant to awaken humility and devotion to Allah. In this series we explore the profound wisdom of the last ten surahs of the Quran during Ramadan 2026. Link to donate: https://www.whitethread.org/donate/

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S24) The battle of the trench: This battle took place in the year 5 A.H. The Jews instigated this. They went to Makkah to rally a force to attack the Messenger ﷺ. The Jewish tribes told the Quraysh to lead and that they'll follow. The Jews prostrated to Jibt and Thaaghoot (2 Idols) to prove their oath. The Messenger ﷺ received intel from Abaas رضي الله عنه that ~10,000 men were coming. The believers had one week to prepare. Salman al-Farsi رضي الله عنه suggested digging a trench as this was a tactic he saw in his lands before. Thus a trench was dug around the northern side.

Surah Quraysh (Part 1) — delivered by Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman Mangera as part of The Last Ten Surahs: The Power of the Message series in Ramadan 2026 — begins a reflective tafsīr journey into the themes and historical context of Surah Quraysh. This session explores Allah's blessings upon the Quraysh tribe, their security, unity, and prosperity through sacred protection and trade, and how these favors were meant to lead them toward sincere worship and gratitude.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S21) The second encounter at Badr: 4 A.H, in Shabaan. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه got a messenger to tell the believers that they (the unbelievers) were in even larger numbers than before. This tactic didn't work. The Messenger ﷺ said: “I shall keep the appointment with the unbelievers, even if I have to go alone!”. The Messenger ﷺ set out with ~1,500 men. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه had ~2,000. The Messenger ﷺ camped at Badr for 8 days. False propaganda was spread that the Muslims were weak. This propaganda was destroyed when the people saw the Muslims camping at Badr, engaging in trade and making loads of profit. The Quraysh were humiliated and not a single drop of blood was spilt.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S20) Some of the martyrs of Uhud (رضي الله عنهم): Hamza, Musab Ibn Umayr, Yamaan, Sa'ad Ibn Rabee, Hanzala رضي الله عنهم. The disbelieving Quraysh were going to return to finish their mission after Uhud. The Messenger ﷺ and the Companions رضي الله عنهم were at a place called Hamraa al-Asad, which is ~8 miles away from Madinah. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه asks for a message to be conveyed to the Messenger ﷺ.

The life of Khabbab ibn al-Aratt (RA) is one of the most moving examples of patience, sacrifice, and unwavering faith in early Islamic history.Among the first ten people to accept Islam, Khabbab (RA) embraced the truth at a time when doing so meant severe persecution. A slave and skilled blacksmith in Makkah, he was subjected to brutal torture by the Quraysh. Burning coals were placed on his back, and he faced constant abuse and humiliation, all because of his belief in Allah and his loyalty to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.Despite unimaginable suffering, Khabbab (RA) never turned away from Islam. His pain only strengthened his conviction, and his endurance became a source of guidance and inspiration for others. Later, he migrated to Madinah, took part in all major battles, and lived to see Islam flourish, a faith he once endured torture for believing in.He eventually passed away in Kufa, honored as a righteous and respected Companion. His life reminds us that truth demands sacrifice, but Allah never lets the struggle of sincere believers go to waste.This episode revisits the remarkable journey of a man whose scars told the story of faith and whose patience helped shape Islamic history.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S9) Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه sent a message to the Quraysh that their caravan was going to be attacked. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه brilliantly travels near the coast for safe passage. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه informs the Quraysh that they no longer need to come and that the caravan is safe. Abu Jahl said no, we will go out and camp at Badr for 3 days. The Bedouins will respect us for it! Indeed, the whole world remembers Badr. The disbelievers were humiliated. The greatest battle in history took place. The Angels (a.s) were present. 313 (a.s) blessed souls were on the field. Father vs son, uncle vs nephew. Jibraaeel (a.s) arrived on his horse, Hayzoom. This was it!

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S6) The persecutions increase: The Quraysh boycotted the believers. This lasted ~3 years. Hishaam Ibn Amr Ibn al-Haarith would get a camel loaded with supplies and sneak it to the Muslims. Once, Hishaam was caught. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه intervened and said let him go, he only wishes to aid his family. The Messenger ﷺ supplicates and the Quraysh then went though a famine. It lasted ~1 year. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه goes to the Messenger ﷺ and asks him to supplicate to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى to end this.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S7) When the Quraysh were struggling, the Messenger ﷺ sent wealth to them. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه said: “I have never seen anyone with a more sublime character than Muhammad”. (ﷺ). Khadija رضي الله عنها passed away and so did Abu Talib. The Messenger ﷺ and Zayd Ibn al-Haaritha رضي الله عنه go to Ta'if. Stones were thrown at the Messenger's ﷺ feet, this caused his feet to bleed. Zayd Ibn al-Haaritha رضي الله عنه recieved many injuries to his head.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S10) After Badr, the Quraysh wanted vengeance. Many of their notables were killed and 70 were taken as prisoners of war. The Chiefs were killed so Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه was made the new chief. Abu Sufyaan's رضي الله عنه son Hanzala was killed at Badr. His other son, Amr, was taken as a prisoner. Hind's رضي الله عنها father, Utbah Ibn Rabee, her uncle, Shaybah Ibn Rabee and her brother, Waleed Ibn Utbah, were killed at Badr. Surah [8:38]: “Tell the disbelievers that if they desist, their past will be forgiven. But if they persist, then they have an example in those destroyed before them”.

Should believers pay taxes? Should they vote, work for the government, or obey modern laws? In this uncompromising episode of The Mahdi's Manifesto, we address one of the most difficult and controversial questions believers face today — authority. From Moses versus Pharaoh, to Jesus and Caesar, to Muhammad and Quraysh, the message has always been the same: God alone appoints legitimate rulers. This episode exposes the forgotten truth that religion was never meant to be passive or purely spiritual. The prophets were not just preachers — they were kings, leaders, and heads of state. Their followers were not conformists — they were the resistance.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S2) Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه narrates a business trip he and Umayya Ibn Abu al-Salt went on to Syria. They encounter a village of Christians and discuss Religion - the priests mention the final Messenger ﷺ. Umayya thought he would've been the final Prophet himself, but the priest said the final Prophet ﷺ will be from the Quraysh. Umayya was from Ta'if. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه returns to Makkah and sees the Companions رضي الله عنهم being persecuted.

War was never the plan. So how did the situation change so quickly? The Muslims left Madinah intending to intercept a caravan. But once the caravan escaped, new information reached both sides, and the direction of events shifted. In episode 76 of the Seerah, Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan explains how matters developed as Quraysh continued advancing toward Badr. Their numbers, leadership, and intentions become clear, as does why some tribes chose to turn back while others pressed on. The episode also follows the decisions made by the Prophet ﷺ as the reality of a battle became unavoidable. Consultation takes place, different opinions are voiced, and firm commitments are given by the companions, especially as responsibility settles on those who would bear the greatest cost. You'll learn how the Muslims prepared on the ground, how information was gathered, how positions were chosen near the wells of Badr, and how Allah supported them through the night with calm, rest, and stability. The Prophet ﷺ spends the night in duʿa, while the army prepares for what lies ahead. The battle has not begun yet. But everything needed for it is now in place. Sign up now to AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amauofficial/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAUofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUofficial iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/al-madrasatu-al-umariyyah/id1524526782 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08NJC1pIA0maaF6aKqZL4N Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #AMAU #Islam #Dawah

War was never the plan. So how did the situation change so quickly? The Muslims left Madinah intending to intercept a caravan. But once the caravan escaped, new information reached both sides, and the direction of events shifted. In episode 76 of the Seerah, Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan explains how matters developed as Quraysh continued advancing toward Badr. Their numbers, leadership, and intentions become clear, as does why some tribes chose to turn back while others pressed on. The episode also follows the decisions made by the Prophet ﷺ as the reality of a battle became unavoidable. Consultation takes place, different opinions are voiced, and firm commitments are given by the companions, especially as responsibility settles on those who would bear the greatest cost. You'll learn how the Muslims prepared on the ground, how information was gathered, how positions were chosen near the wells of Badr, and how Allah supported them through the night with calm, rest, and stability. The Prophet ﷺ spends the night in duʿa, while the army prepares for what lies ahead. The battle has not begun yet. But everything needed for it is now in place. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Precap and Introduction 00:02:45 - The Number of Disbelievers in Badr 00:04:41 - Iblees Steps in 00:08:22 - The Enemies March Towards Badr 00:10:34 - The People Assigned to Feed the Army 00:15:30 - The Path the Disbelievers Took 00:16:17 - Abu Sufyan and the Spies 00:24:47 - The Prophet ﷺ Hears About Quraysh's Plan 00:29:09 - Sahabah's Reaction to the Unexpected Battle 00:37:41 - The Prophet's ﷺ Prediction at Badr 00:40:35 - Scouting with Abu Bakr 00:46:40 - Settling Into Position at Badr 00:51:50 - Sa'd ibn Mu‘adh's Advice 00:54:26 - Abu Bakr's Courage at Badr 00:57:26 - Battle Preparations Begin 01:04:59 - The Prophet's ﷺ Battle Instructions AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amau... Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAU... Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUoffici... iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/... Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #AMAU #Islam #Dawah

The journey to Badr didn't begin with a battlefield. It began with small moments that tested the companions one by one. Some were told to return, others tried to stay hidden, and lessons were given on the road that shaped the mindset of the entire group. What seemed like a simple march became a series of decisions that revealed what each person carried in their heart. Meanwhile in Makkah, a sudden wave of news moved through the city and forced Quraysh to react. What they chose next set both sides on a path neither could step away from. Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan explains how these moments built the lead-up to Badr and why they changed the direction of the story. The clash hasn't begun yet, but the turning point is close. Sign up now to AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amauofficial/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAUofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUofficial iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/al-madrasatu-al-umariyyah/id1524526782 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08NJC1pIA0maaF6aKqZL4N Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #AMAU #Islam #Dawah  

The journey to Badr didn't begin with a battlefield. It began with small moments that tested the companions one by one. Some were told to return, others tried to stay hidden, and lessons were given on the road that shaped the mindset of the entire group. What seemed like a simple march became a series of decisions that revealed what each person carried in their heart. Meanwhile in Makkah, a sudden wave of news moved through the city and forced Quraysh to react. What they chose next set both sides on a path neither could step away from. Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan explains how these moments built the lead-up to Badr and why they changed the direction of the story. The clash hasn't begun yet, but the turning point is close. Time Stamps: 00:00:00 - Precap and Introduction 00:02:20 - Role of Anas ibn Malik in the Battle of Badr 00:03:59 - Disputed Participants in the Battle of Badr 00:04:55 - Count of Badr Warriors 00:09:15 - Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: The Man of His People 00:13:55 - Punishment for Minor Shirk 00:15:35 - The Story of a Doctor 00:18:55 - Victory is from Allah 00:24:34 - The Young Sahabah Who Showed Up 00:26:30 - Preparing the Battalions 00:29:16 - Eating on the Day of Badr 00:29:24 - The Route to Badr 00:35:18 - Abu Sufyan Hears About the Prophet's ﷺ Army 00:38:45 - The Dream of ‘Atikah Bint Abdul Muttalib 00:51:40 - The Quraysh Gear Up for Battle 00:53:32 - Why Umayyah ibn Khalaf Avoided the Battle 00:59:15 - Benefits From the Lesson AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amau... Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAU... Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUoffici... iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/... Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #AMAU #Islam #Dawah

The Prophets (a.s) (S12) Muazh Ibn Amr Ibn al-Jamooh رضي الله عنهم loses his arm at the battle of Badr. He brings it to the Messenger ﷺ. The Messenger ﷺ uses his blessed saliva and reattaches Muazh's رضي الله عنه arm. Muazh Ibn Amr رضي الله عنهم lived on until the Khilafat of Uthmaan رضي الله عنه. The Messenger ﷺ performed many miracles even before he ﷺ proclaimed. One example is the story of his (ﷺ) wrestling match With Ruqana رضي الله عنه: Ruqana Ibn Abd Yazeed رضي الله عنه: He رضي الله عنه was from Banu Hashim, thus a cousin of the Messenger ﷺ. He رضي الله عنه was the undefeated wrestler amongst the Quraysh. The Messenger ﷺ defeats Ruqana رضي الله عنه three times without breaking a sweat!

A caravan returning from Sham set the stage for the first major battle in Islam. In this episode, Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan explains how a simple attempt to intercept Quraysh's wealth became Yawm al-Furqan, the day Allah separated truth from falsehood. He covers the precise date of Badr (Friday, 17 Ramadan, 2 AH), why the Prophet ﷺ left Madinah without calling for a full mobilisation, and how a small group of Sahabah was chosen for a test they never expected. You'll also hear why the people of Badr were given a unique status, along with early incidents that showed Allah's support for them. This session establishes the cause and context of Badr before the military details continue in the next episode. 0:00:00 - Precap and Introduction 0:03:52 - The Greatness and Virtue of the Battle of Badr 0:08:07 - Distinct Features of the Battle of Badr 0:15:42 - The Background to the Battle 0:22:23 - Setting Out for the Caravan 0:28:09 - How Many Were the Sahabah? 0:33:04 - Those Who Didn't Participate 0:43:50 - What We'll Cover Next AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amau... Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAU... Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUoffici... iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/... Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #AMAU #battleofbadr #seerah #prophetmuhammad #islamicknowledge

A caravan returning from Sham set the stage for the first major battle in Islam. In this episode, Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan explains how a simple attempt to intercept Quraysh's wealth became Yawm al-Furqan, the day Allah separated truth from falsehood. He covers the precise date of Badr (Friday, 17 Ramadan, 2 AH), why the Prophet ﷺ left Madinah without calling for a full mobilisation, and how a small group of Sahabah was chosen for a test they never expected. You'll also hear why the people of Badr were given a unique status, along with early incidents that showed Allah's support for them. This session establishes the cause and context of Badr before the military details continue in the next episode. Sign up now to AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amauofficial/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAUofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUofficial iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/al-madrasatu-al-umariyyah/id1524526782 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08NJC1pIA0maaF6aKqZL4N Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #AMAU #battleofbadr #seerah #prophetmuhammad #islamicknowledge  

The expeditions had begun. Quraysh's caravans - loaded with the wealth stripped from the Muslims in Makkah - became the new target. The first expeditions passed without major confrontation, but each one edged closer to the inevitable clash. Then came Nakhlah.A sealed letter. A mission meant only to observe. Twelve men who suddenly found themselves standing at a crossroads: strike the caravan now and risk spilling blood in the sacred month, or let it pass and lose the chance forever. One arrow was loosed. A man fell. Captives were taken. The first spoils of war were in Muslim hands.What followed shook everything. Accusations, anger, and uncertainty filled Madinah. Even the Muslims themselves were unsure of what had just happened - until revelation from Allah ﷻ descended, clarifying the truth and turning the tide.In this episode, Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan explores:- The Prophet's ﷺ earliest expeditions and why only the Muhajirun participated in them.- The Nakhlah raid and its far-reaching consequences.- A tender moment that gave ‘Ali رضي الله عنه the name Abu Turab, and a chilling prophecy about his fate.- Lessons from deviation, and why the chains of scholarship protect the Ummah.A single decision at Nakhlah pushed the Muslims closer to what Quraysh had long feared: open battle.Timestamps:00:00 Precap & Introduction03:00 The First Expedition10:27 The Second Expedition11:28 The Third Expedition18:18 Story Behind ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib's Nickname: Abu Turab30:13 The Death of ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib42:54 The Final ExpeditionAMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amau...Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAUTelegram: https://t.me/amauofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAU...Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUoffici...iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/...Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouchBarakAllahu feekum.#AMAU #seerah #prophetmuhammad #islamiclectures #islamicknowledge

The expeditions had begun. Quraysh's caravans - loaded with the wealth stripped from the Muslims in Makkah - became the new target. The first expeditions passed without major confrontation, but each one edged closer to the inevitable clash. Then came Nakhlah. A sealed letter. A mission meant only to observe. Twelve men who suddenly found themselves standing at a crossroads: strike the caravan now and risk spilling blood in the sacred month, or let it pass and lose the chance forever. One arrow was loosed. A man fell. Captives were taken. The first spoils of war were in Muslim hands. What followed shook everything. Accusations, anger, and uncertainty filled Madinah. Even the Muslims themselves were unsure of what had just happened - until revelation from Allah ﷻ descended, clarifying the truth and turning the tide. In this episode, Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan explores: - The Prophet's ﷺ earliest expeditions and why only the Muhajirun participated in them. - The Nakhlah raid and its far-reaching consequences. - A tender moment that gave ‘Ali رضي الله عنه the name Abu Turab, and a chilling prophecy about his fate. - Lessons from deviation, and why the chains of scholarship protect the Ummah. A single decision at Nakhlah pushed the Muslims closer to what Quraysh had long feared: open battle. Sign up now to AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amauofficial/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAUofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUofficial iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/al-madrasatu-al-umariyyah/id1524526782 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08NJC1pIA0maaF6aKqZL4N Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #AMAU #seerah #prophetmuhammad #islamiclectures #islamicknowledge

Dear Qommunity,In the 7th year of Prophethood, the Muslim community was pushed to the brink of starvation. The Quraysh had imposed a ruthless boycott—no trade, no marriages, no contact. The Muslims were isolated in a valley outside Makkah, slowly starving.At night, the cries of hungry children pierced the desert silence. These cries broke through the pride of some Quraysh leaders. One of them, Zuhair ibn Abi Umayyah, though not a Muslim, stood before the Quraysh and asked:“Are we going to eat while Banu Hashim is starving?”That plea cracked the boycott. It saved lives.And today, we ask ourselves the same question:“Are we going to comfortably eat in our homes and cafés while our brothers and sisters in Gaza are starving?”Over 500 tonnes of food have been left to expire—deliberately blocked by a cruel regime that fears bread more than bombs.So what can we do?Australia has been one of the strongest backers of this genocide. But after the massive march in Sydney—where hundreds of thousands of ordinary people took to the streets—we saw a shift in our government's stance. Pressure works. Your voice matters.So let's show up.Let's be the voice that breaks the boycott. Let's be the people who, like Zuhair, refuse to stay silent in the face of starvation and oppression.Join us tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. in Forrest Place, Perth.Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring your voice.Rain or shine, we march.Because they are still starving. And we are still human. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bequranic.substack.com/subscribe

Lessons from the SeerahWhen we look at the sīrah, in the seventh year of Prophethood, the challenges facing the Muslims were unbearable.At first, the Quraysh mocked and insulted. But when insults failed, by the fifth year they turned to violence—abusing, torturing, even killing some of the early Muslims. When that too didn't stop the daʿwah, they escalated further: a total boycott against the Muslims and Banū Hāshim, the Prophet's own tribe.No one was allowed to buy from them, sell to them, marry them, or even speak to them. Forced into the valley of Abū Ṭālib, the Muslims suffered starvation. At night, the Quraysh could hear the cries of hungry children echoing from the valley. It became so unbearable that some of the Quraysh nobles themselves—polytheists, not Muslims—like Muṭʿim ibn ʿAdī and Zuhayr ibn Abī Umayyah, stood up and said: This is not right. These are our people, even if we differ in religion.One day Zuhayr stood with his back to the Kaʿbah, facing the leaders of Quraysh. He declared: Our brothers and sisters are starving in the valley because of us. I will not sit down until this boycott is broken. And not long after, the boycott was lifted.A Parallel to TodayBrothers and sisters—this was 1,400 years ago. Today, history repeats itself. Our brothers and sisters in Gaza are starving—not because of food shortage, but because food is blocked, burned, or left to rot. Just last month, 500 tonnes of food were discarded because of the blockade.If Quraysh—who did not believe in lā ilāha illā Allāh—could act out of nothing more than blood ties, then what excuse do we have, we who claim faith? We say faith is thicker than blood—so why aren't we doing more?Acting Within Our MeansYes, our anger is real. But we are Muslims—we act with discipline, bound by the Sharīʿah. That means we work within the legal framework of the country we live in. We don't take matters into our own hands violently. Instead, we use the means available to us—and al-ḥamdu lillāh, here in Australia, there are means.And we've seen this before in our history. When Jerusalem fell to the Crusaders in 1099, the Khalīfah in Baghdad was doing nothing. It was a single qāḍī, Abū Saʿd al-Ḥarawī, who mobilised the people. After Jumuʿah prayer, he gave speeches, organised protests, and led the masses to demand action from the Khalīfah. Week after week, protest after protest, until the Khalīfah was forced to act.Power of ProtestThat's how politics works. Leaders move when people move.We saw this not long ago in Sydney—hundreds of thousands marched across the Harbour Bridge. And within a week, the Australian government shifted its diplomatic stance. Suddenly, they were talking about recognising Palestine. Suddenly, they were criticising Israel—something unimaginable just months before. Why? Not because the Prime Minister had a dream, but because the people marched.Call to Action – Perth RallySo brothers and sisters, this Sunday, we have the chance to stand up and be counted. Yes, the weather forecast says it will rain. But what is rain? Just water. Al-ḥamdu lillāh, Allah created our skin waterproof.Our brothers and sisters are rained upon with bombs and bullets. We will only be rained upon with water. So bring an umbrella, bring a jacket—and bring your friends. Convince those who've never attended a rally before. Come shoulder to shoulder with your fellow Australians, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, demanding justice for Palestine.On SalahuddīnEvery time a calamity strikes Palestine, people ask: Where is our Ṣalāḥuddīn?But Ṣalāḥuddīn did not appear in a vacuum. He didn't descend from the sky with angels. He was the product of decades of groundwork. It started with people like Abū Saʿd al-Ḥarawī, who mobilised the grassroots. Then came Imām al-Ghazālī, who strengthened the ummah spiritually. Then Nūruddīn Zengī, who prepared the armies. All three passed away before Palestine was liberated. Ṣalāḥuddīn simply completed the work.So the real question is not Where is Ṣalāḥuddīn? but What are we doing to build a Ṣalāḥuddīn for our time?AccountabilityOn Yawm al-Qiyāmah, Allah will not ask us whether we liberated Palestine—that's beyond our means. But He will ask: What did you do with what you could?And even before the Day of Judgment, our children and grandchildren will ask us: You were alive during the genocide. What did you do? Will we say, I was busy on social media?The Quraysh only heard the cries of hungry children. We see those cries broadcast live to our phones. If that doesn't move us, what will?Hope, Not DespairYes, the ummah is weak. Yes, we feel surrounded. But Allah reminds us: Do you think you will enter Jannah without being tested like those before you, until even the Messenger and those with him cried out: When will the help of Allah come? Verily, the help of Allah is near.We are a people of hope, not despair. Even today we see results: countries shifting, governments changing tone, and even the most Islamophobic nations being forced to recognise Palestine.ClosingSo I end with the same question that Zuhayr once asked the Quraysh: Are we eating our food while our brothers and sisters are starving?May Allah allow us to attend the rally in huge numbers this Sunday. May it be peaceful, impactful, and successful. May Allah open the hearts of our fellow Australians, and may He grant victory and liberation to our brothers and sisters in Palestine. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bequranic.substack.com/subscribe

Between 622 and 628, Muhammad and the first Muslims made a home from themselves in Medina, fended off assaults from the Quraysh and others, and changed the course of history forever. New Spotify Bonus Content Channel: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lahbonuscontent/subscribe New Patreon Store: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory/shop Episode 115 Quiz: https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-115/ Episode 115 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/episode-115-the-life-of-muhammad-part-2 Bonus Content: https://literatureandhistory.com/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@literatureandhistorypodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literatureandhistorypodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lahpodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lahpodcast.bsky.social X https://x.com/lahpodcast

Don't Give Up: Hope in Bleak TimesBismillah.The past few weeks have been incredibly difficult for the Ummah — especially for our brothers and sisters in Gaza.And it's not just these few weeks. It's been 23 months. Almost two years of relentless destruction. Every time we think we've seen the worst, we're proven wrong. Every time we think we've hit rock bottom, Israel and the powers that support her prove that evil has no limit.We are now witnessing full-blown famine. Starvation. Infants with nothing between their skin and bones. And on top of that — we hear of America burning 500 tonnes of food rather than allowing it to reach Palestine.At times like this, it's tempting to throw in the towel. To say:“We've done everything we can.”“We've shouted, we've protested, we've boycotted, we've flooded social media.”And yet, the powers that be… remain.But when that sense of despair starts creeping in, we must pause. We must take a step back and remember:We are looking through the lens of our short lives.We live 60, 70 years — maybe 50 as adults — and from that narrow perspective, it feels like there's no hope. But history tells a different story. When we zoom out, we see a sunnah of Allah unfold:Evil never wins in the end.No matter how powerful. Fir'aun claimed he was God Most High — Allah destroyed him. Yet many lived and died under his tyranny and may have thought:“Where is Allah's help?”“Where is our du‘a?”Allah addresses this feeling directly in the Qur'an — in the verse I opened with. He speaks of previous nations, believers who were so shaken by hardship that even their Prophets asked, “When will the help of Allah come?”And Allah replies:“Indeed, the help of Allah is near.”But near from whose perspective? Not always ours.That's why in Surah Ibrahim, Allah reminds us:“Do not think that Allah is unaware of the actions of the oppressors. He is merely delaying them for a Day when eyes will stare in horror.”We are people of hope. We do not despair when times get tough. And in this brief khutbah, I want to share three points in history to remind us: we carry the torch of hope.1. The Trench in the Cold of MedinaYear 5 after Hijrah.The Battle of the Trench.After the losses at Uhud, Quraysh saw an opportunity to wipe out Islam. They gathered the largest army Arabia had ever seen: 10,000 strong. They were backed by Banu Ghatafan from the north, and allied with Jews from Khaybar, including Banu Qurayzah from within Medina.Rasulullah ﷺ had only 3,000 companions to defend the city. It was winter. The Sahaba were hungry, cold, and exhausted. Salman al-Farisi suggested digging a trench — a Persian military tactic. And they did. Day and night. Starving, shivering, digging non-stop.Then they hit a boulder they couldn't break. They called the Prophet ﷺ. He struck it once — a spark flew.“Allahu Akbar!” he cried.A second strike — another spark.“Allahu Akbar!”Third strike — the boulder shattered.“Allahu Akbar!”The companions asked: What was the takbir about?Rasulullah ﷺ said:* With the first spark, I saw Persia falling to the Muslims.* With the second, Rome.* With the third, Yemen.In the darkest moment, he gave them light. He gave them vision.He didn't just say “Have hope.”He gave them reasons to hope.And history proved him right. Islam triumphed. Not through numbers, but through divine help — a storm that forced the enemy to retreat. A month-long siege broken without a single full-scale battle.2. The Fall of Baghdad (1258 CE)Hulagu Khan — grandson of Genghis Khan — invaded Baghdad.Within days, 800,000 were slaughtered.Libraries burned. Books tossed into the Tigris until the river ran black with ink.Muslim writers thought it was the end of time.Non-Muslim historians wrote:“This is the day Islam died.”But Islam didn't die.Baghdad fell, but Cairo rose. So did Damascus. The Delhi Sultanate grew. And from these ashes, the Ottomans would eventually rise.Even Hulagu's cousin, Berke Khan, accepted Islam.Within a generation, the very dynasty that destroyed Baghdad became a Muslim dynasty.And amidst all of this — scholars kept working.* Imam al-Nawawi, who focused on preserving and teaching knowledge.* Ibn Taymiyyah, the scholar-warrior.* Ibn Ata'illah, who focused on tazkiyah and purifying hearts.* Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salam, who spoke truth to power and engaged with the rulers .Despite the devastation, they didn't stop. They carried on.3. The Fall of Apartheid (1994)From 1948 — the same year Israel was created — South Africa began enforcing apartheid. For decades, the people resisted: boycotts, protests, global pressure.In 1994, apartheid fell.The same Nelson Mandela who was once branded a terrorist by the West was now hailed as a hero — by the very same powers that had supported the apartheid regime.Let that sink in.The same powers that supported apartheid in South Africa are the ones supporting apartheid in Palestine today.And just like before — they can be defeated.Social Media: Double-Edged SwordToday, we have a powerful tool: social media. It's helped shift global opinion. It's brought awareness.But it's also draining us.We doomscroll.We see starvation, death, suffering — again and again.Two things happen:* We either fall into despair…* Or we become numb.We start thinking this is normal.So yes — use social media, but set a limit. 15 minutes. Half an hour. Post, share, amplify — and then get back to work. Real work.Know Your Role, Play Your PartNot all resistance looks the same.Imam al-Nawawi didn't fight with swords. He wrote books that still strengthen the Ummah today.Ibn Taymiyyah led at the frontlines.Ibn Ata'illah focused on hearts.Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salam engaged with the rulers.Some of us are better behind the scenes. Some are activists, some are scholars, some are thinkers, some are organisers. Some are better on the mic, others behind a pen.Don't judge someone's contribution just because it's not the same as yours. We need all hands on deck.“Allah will not ask you about what you couldn't do — but He will ask what you did with what you could.”May Allah give victory to the oppressed.May He feed the hungry, clothe the exposed, and strengthen the weak.May He unite our ranks and guide our efforts.May He grant us clarity, discipline, and sincere hearts in service of this Ummah. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bequranic.substack.com/subscribe

Donate to our charity partner Baitulmaal here: http://btml.us/thinkingmuslim Help us expand our Muslim media project here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipThe Prophet Mohammad PBUH was the first activist in Islam. He lived a mujahid and died a shaheed, dedicating his life to spreading the message of Islam and fighting the injustices of his community of Quraysh and even the two giant powers of the time, the Byzantine and Sassanian empires. And yet today, we have lost the essence of this and strayed from the Prophet's PBUH principle of standing for justice. In today's episode, we discuss how we, as Muslim youth, can follow in the Prophet PBUH path of correcting injustices and emulating the greatest man that ever lived. Become a member here:https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipOr give your one-off donation here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/donateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Purchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:X: https://x.com/thinking_muslimLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-thinking-muslim/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@thinkingmuslimpodcastFind Mohammad Arhaam here:X: https://x.com/ArhaamMukatiFind Muhammad Jalal here:X: https://twitter.com/jalalaynInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jalalayns/Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comDisclaimer:The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He was on the verge of becoming king — until the Prophet ﷺ arrived. In public, he claimed Islam. Behind closed doors, he stirred conflict, mocked the believers, and fed secrets to their enemies. ‘Abdullah ibn Ubayy wasn't just any man — he was the head of the hypocrites in Madinah. In this gripping episode, Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan traces his story: from his bitter heart at being sidelined, to his fake conversion after Badr, to the moments he disrespected the Prophet ﷺ to his face — and the chaos he sparked among the Sahabah رضي الله عنهم. You'll learn: - Why the Prophet ﷺ gave his own cloak for his burial - How his plots nearly divided the believers - What the Quraysh told him in a secret letter — and how he responded - How Allah exposed him in the Qur'an - The events that led to unrest in Madinah and heightened tensions with Quraysh A man driven by envy. A city at a crossroads. Watch now to witness one of the most dangerous figures in the early Seerah — and the Prophet's ﷺ response to him. Sign up now to AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amauofficial/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAUofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUofficial iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/al-madrasatu-al-umariyyah/id1524526782 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08NJC1pIA0maaF6aKqZL4N Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #AMAU #Islam #seerah #prophetmuhammad #madinah

Are you struggling with marriage problems or contemplating a life-changing decision? Today’s insightful Tafsir dives deep into Verse 20 of Surah An-Nisaa, where we explore the divine wisdom behind marriage, divorce, and dowries. Discover the best way forward when facing marital breakdowns, and listen to a woman from Quraysh corrected the Caliph Umar.

Auto-generated transcript: My brothers and sisters, ideology can be combated only with ideology. Since we have a lot of my brothers and sisters from Egypt, Egypt for centuries was an idol worshiping society, just like India and unlike the Quraysh in Arabia. Unlike because in India and Egypt, idol worship was developed to a point… Continue reading Maktab is the shield

The Quraysh, despite their numerical superiority, were unprepared for the determined resistance they encountered, leading to to around 70 men, including key Quraysh leaders, being killed while many others were captured. The surviving Quraysh retreated to Mecca, marking a decisive victory for Muhammad and his ...

Today's poem is 5 A.M. by Michael Ondaatje. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “The nature of my youth was one in which my passion for art lived out in my passion for life. At times, there was a recklessness about it. Like Greg, Quraysh, and me spilling out of a Soho bar at first light, having debated literature and writers with a seriousness that felt like life mattered, truly mattered.” Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

All bets are off when the Quraysh initiates a brutal crackdown against the community of the believers. No act is too depraved, no savagery is spared. Though the companions are patient and persistent, they are only human after all.