<script data-pm-proxy="intercept"></script><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Saira]]></title><description><![CDATA[A space to celebrate Arabic calligraphy, creativity, and faith. Sharing my journey as an artist through letters, colors, and stories, where words become art.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k0w7!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88dbbecc-8a77-4b06-b65c-0b56d07c7f28_1008x1008.png</url><title>Saira</title><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:09:13 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Saira]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[sdcreatives@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[sdcreatives@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Saira]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Saira]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[sdcreatives@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[sdcreatives@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Saira]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Juz 11 :When Faith Becomes Real]]></title><description><![CDATA[A journey from excuses and hypocrisy to repentance, trust, and complete surrender.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-11-when-faith-becomes-real</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-11-when-faith-becomes-real</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 21:16:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ttx0!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa3cfb678-702b-4f18-8240-95f6ddfd3b94_1970x1523.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p><span>Juz 11 continues from the final part of </span><strong><span>Surah At-Tawbah (9:93&#8211;129)</span></strong><span>, then takes us through the </span><strong><span>whole of Surah Yunus (10:1&#8211;109)</span></strong><span>, and ends with the opening verses of </span><strong><span>Surah Hud (11:1&#8211;5)</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>What makes this Juz so powerful is that it keeps asking us one question in different ways:</span></p><p><strong><span>Is our faith something we say, or something we actually live?</span></strong></p><p><span>We see people making excuses, people giving sincerely, people spending for Allah, people repenting, people being tested, prophets standing firm, nations rejecting the truth, and believers learning to trust Allah even when they cannot see the outcome.</span></p><p><span>There is also a beautiful movement throughout this Juz:</span></p><p><strong><span>excuses &#8594; sincerity &#8594; repentance &#8594; trust &#8594; patience &#8594; surrender.</span></strong></p><p>Surah At-Tawbah &#8212; When excuses are no longer enough</p><p>The people who stayed behind</p><p>The Juz begins by discussing people who had the ability to go out with the believers but chose not to. When the Prophet &#65018; returned, they came forward with excuses and asked to be left alone.</p><p>Allah makes an important distinction between those who deliberately stayed behind because of hypocrisy and those who genuinely had an excuse.</p><p>Some people had no real excuse. They preferred comfort over obedience and were exposed by their own choices.</p><p>But there were also sincere believers who were physically unable to participate. Allah does not blame someone for something genuinely beyond their ability.</p><p>This reminds us that Allah knows the difference between an excuse and a genuine limitation.</p><p>The Bedouins and different levels of faith</p><p>The Surah then speaks about some of the Bedouins. Among them were people whose hypocrisy was deeply rooted, while others believed in Allah and the Last Day and considered what they spent to be a means of getting closer to Allah.</p><p>This shows that people cannot all be placed into one category simply because they look similar from the outside.</p><p>Allah knows what is actually inside a person.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The people whose charity was mocked</p><p>Some believers gave charity sincerely, while others gave only a small amount because that was all they could afford.</p><p>Instead of appreciating their effort, hypocrites mocked them.</p><p>The message is so relevant:</p><p>Never measure someone&#8217;s sacrifice by its size.</p><p>Allah sees the heart behind what is given.</p><p>The Prophet &#65018; was instructed to take charity from believers and pray for them because his prayer would bring them reassurance.</p><p>And Allah reminds us that He hears their prayers and knows their actions.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The first ones to believe</p><p>Allah mentions the Muhajirun and Ansar and those who followed them with excellence.</p><p>These were people who sacrificed, migrated, supported one another and remained sincere.</p><p>Allah was pleased with them, and they were pleased with Allah.</p><p>But the Surah also mentions hypocrites who lived among the community while hiding what was inside them.</p><p>This contrast is important:</p><p>Being physically close to righteousness does not automatically make the heart righteous.</p><p>What matters is sincerity.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The Mosque of Harm</p><p>The hypocrites built a mosque with the intention of causing division, weakening the believers and providing a place for opposition.</p><p>Allah tells the Prophet &#65018; not to stand there.</p><p>Instead, the mosque established upon taqwa was more worthy.</p><p>This teaches us that even something outwardly good can have a corrupt intention behind it.</p><p>A beautiful action is not necessarily a righteous action if its foundation is wrong.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Who truly builds Allah&#8217;s houses?</p><p>Allah then describes the people worthy of maintaining His places of worship:</p><p>* They believe in Allah.</p><p>* They believe in the Last Day.</p><p>* They establish prayer.</p><p>* They give zakah.</p><p>* They fear none except Allah.</p><p>Their faith is reflected in their actions.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Repentance and purification</p><p>Allah praises those who repent and those who purify themselves.</p><p>Then comes a beautiful reminder through the story of the believers who mixed good deeds with mistakes.</p><p>They acknowledged their wrongdoing.</p><p>They did not pretend they had done nothing wrong.</p><p>They confessed, repented and hoped for Allah&#8217;s forgiveness.</p><p>This is an important lesson:</p><p>Repentance begins when we stop defending our mistakes.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The three who were left behind</p><p>One of the most emotional passages of this Juz is the story of the three believers who failed to join the expedition.</p><p>They did not lie.</p><p>When they were asked what happened, they admitted the truth.</p><p>Because of this, they went through an extremely difficult period of isolation. The earth itself felt tight around them, and their hearts became overwhelmed.</p><p>But they did not run away from Allah.</p><p>Eventually, Allah accepted their repentance.</p><p>Their story teaches something incredibly powerful:</p><p>Sometimes telling the truth can be painful immediately, but it can save you in the long run.</p><p>Their honesty became part of their path back to Allah.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Be with the truthful</p><p>Allah commands the believers:</p><p>Be with the truthful.</p><p>Truthfulness is not just about avoiding lies.</p><p>It means being honest with Allah, honest with ourselves and honest with other people.</p><p>Sometimes we want Allah&#8217;s forgiveness while still making excuses for ourselves.</p><p>Juz 11 reminds us that real repentance requires honesty.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Do not seek closeness through disobedience</p><p>Allah warns the believers about people whose actions are motivated by hypocrisy.</p><p>The message becomes clear:</p><p>Good intentions do not make a wrong action right.</p><p>What matters is both the action and the intention behind it.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Allah has bought the believers</p><p>One of the most powerful verses in this section describes the relationship between Allah and the believers:</p><p>Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and possessions, and in return He gives them Paradise.</p><p>The believer&#8217;s life is therefore not ultimately their own.</p><p>Everything we have is something Allah gave us.</p><p>Our time.</p><p>Our money.</p><p>Our abilities.</p><p>Our relationships.</p><p>Our opportunities.</p><p>Our lives.</p><p>The question becomes:</p><p>What are we doing with what Allah has entrusted to us?</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Who are the true believers?</p><p>Allah describes them through their qualities:</p><p>* They repent.</p><p>* They worship.</p><p>* They praise Allah.</p><p>* They fast.</p><p>* They bow and prostrate.</p><p>* They encourage what is good.</p><p>* They discourage what is wrong.</p><p>* They protect Allah&#8217;s boundaries.</p><p>Faith is therefore not passive.</p><p>Faith creates movement.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The Prophet&#8217;s compassion</p><p>Near the end of Surah At-Tawbah, Allah speaks about the Messenger &#65018; and his immense concern for people.</p><p>Their suffering was difficult for him.</p><p>He cared about their hardship.</p><p>He wanted good for them.</p><p>He was gentle and compassionate toward the believers.</p><p>And Allah reminds him:</p><p>Allah is enough for you.</p><p>The final verses of the Surah teach us that even when people turn away, Allah remains our ultimate source of support.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Surah Yunus &#8212; Trusting Allah when you cannot see the outcome</p><p>Surah Yunus begins by affirming the Quran as wisdom and guidance.</p><p>The people questioned how revelation could come through a human being, but Allah makes clear that revelation is not something strange&#8212;it is guidance from Him.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Look at the world around you</p><p>Allah repeatedly directs our attention toward His signs:</p><p>* the heavens,</p><p>* the earth,</p><p>* the sun,</p><p>* the moon,</p><p>* the changing of night and day,</p><p>* the creation of everything.</p><p>The universe is not meaningless.</p><p>Creation itself points toward its Creator.</p><p>Yet some people see the same signs and still turn away.</p><p>This is because seeing with the eyes is not the same as seeing with the heart.</p><p>This world is temporary</p><p>Allah reminds us that worldly life can appear beautiful and powerful.</p><p>People work, build, collect, decorate and become attached to what they have.</p><p>But the world can disappear just as quickly as a field dries up after being green and flourishing.</p><p>The lesson is not that worldly life is worthless.</p><p>It is that worldly life is temporary, while what is with Allah remains.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Those who seek Allah&#8217;s pleasure</p><p>Allah contrasts people who pursue temporary worldly satisfaction with those who seek Allah&#8217;s pleasure.</p><p>For those who believe and do good, Allah promises guidance, peace and reward.</p><p>Their final destination is Paradise.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The Quran is not something invented</p><p>Allah challenges those who claim that the Quran was fabricated.</p><p>He calls them to bring a chapter like it if they are truthful.</p><p>The Quran is presented as revelation, guidance and truth.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Allah does not wrong people</p><p>A repeated theme throughout Surah Yunus is that Allah does not wrong anyone.</p><p>People often create their own destruction through disbelief, arrogance and wrongdoing.</p><p>Allah&#8217;s justice is perfect.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>When people are desperate, they remember Allah</p><p>Allah describes human nature:</p><p>When people are safe, they may forget Him.</p><p>But when they are surrounded by danger&#8212;on land or sea&#8212;they suddenly call upon Allah sincerely.</p><p>They promise that if He saves them, they will be grateful.</p><p>Then, when the danger disappears, some return to the same behaviour.</p><p>It is a powerful reminder:</p><p>Do not make Allah the emergency contact of your heart.</p><p>Remember Him when life is easy too.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The story of Prophet Musa and Pharaoh</p><p>Allah then brings us to Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and Pharaoh.</p><p>Musa was sent with clear signs.</p><p>Pharaoh and his people rejected them because of arrogance.</p><p>Pharaoh saw the truth but refused to submit.</p><p>His pride became so great that he claimed authority over his people.</p><p>Musa continued calling them toward Allah.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The magicians recognized the truth</p><p>Pharaoh gathered magicians to challenge Musa.</p><p>But when they saw the truth of what Allah had given Musa, they believed.</p><p>Pharaoh threatened them.</p><p>Yet their response changed completely.</p><p>They chose Allah over Pharaoh&#8217;s threats.</p><p>This is one of the most beautiful transformations in the Surah:</p><p>People who came intending to defeat the truth became people willing to die for the truth.</p><p>Their hearts changed when they recognized Allah.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Musa tells his people to trust Allah</p><p>Musa tells his people to rely upon Allah if they truly believe.</p><p>They respond by placing their trust in Him and asking Him not to make them a trial for the oppressors.</p><p>This teaches us that tawakkul is not passive.</p><p>It is choosing Allah while still facing fear.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Pharaoh&#8217;s final moment</p><p>Pharaoh continues in his arrogance until the moment of drowning.</p><p>Only then does he claim belief.</p><p>But belief at the moment when destruction is already visible does not save him.</p><p>Allah preserved Pharaoh&#8217;s body as a sign for those who came after him.</p><p>The lesson is chilling:</p><p>Do not wait until the end of your life to turn back to Allah.</p><p>Turn back while you still have time to change.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The people of Yunus</p><p>Then comes an exception.</p><p>The people of Yunus believed before punishment overtook them, and Allah removed the punishment from them.</p><p>This shows that repentance is powerful when it is sincere and comes before it is too late.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>There is no compulsion in faith</p><p>Allah tells the Prophet &#65018; that if Allah had willed, everyone on earth would have believed.</p><p>But people are given the ability to choose.</p><p>The Prophet &#65018; is not responsible for forcing belief into people&#8217;s hearts.</p><p>Our responsibility is to convey, remind and live according to the truth.</p><p>Guidance ultimately belongs to Allah.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Allah&#8217;s signs are everywhere</p><p>Allah asks us to look at what is around us.</p><p>What benefit are signs worth if people refuse to reflect?</p><p>The heavens and earth contain reminders.</p><p>History contains reminders.</p><p>Our own lives contain reminders.</p><p>But reflection requires a heart willing to listen.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>The believers are saved</p><p>Allah reassures the believers that He saves those who believe and remain mindful of Him.</p><p>The final part of Surah Yunus turns toward the Prophet &#65018; and the believers with instructions to remain firm.</p><p>The Prophet &#65018; is told to follow what has been revealed, remain patient and continue until Allah&#8217;s judgment comes.</p><p>The Surah ends with one of the strongest lessons of all:</p><p>Do not abandon the truth simply because people reject it.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p>Surah Hud &#8212; A Quran built on truth</p><p>Juz 11 ends with the opening five verses of Surah Hud.</p><p>Allah describes the Quran as a Book whose verses are perfected and explained in detail.</p><p>Its central call is:</p><p>Worship none but Allah.</p><p>The Prophet &#65018; is instructed to warn people and give them good news.</p><p>And Allah reminds humanity to seek forgiveness and turn back to Him.</p><p>He knows what we hide and what we reveal.</p><p>He knows what is inside our hearts.</p><p>Nothing is outside His knowledge.</p><p>MY OWN REFLECTION <strong><span>&#1610;&#1614;&#1593;&#1618;&#1578;&#1614;&#1584;&#1616;&#1585;&#1615;&#1608;&#1606;&#1614; [They make excuses]</span></strong></p><p><span>Juz 11 made me think about how easily I can confuse </span><strong><span>faith with words</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>It is easy to say that I trust Allah when everything is going well.</span></p><p><span>It is easy to say that I am grateful when I have what I want.</span></p><p><span>It is easy to say that I have repented while secretly holding on to the same mistake.</span></p><p><span>But this Juz keeps bringing faith back to action.</span></p><p><span>The people who were truly sincere showed it through sacrifice.</span></p><p><span>The people who repented showed it through honesty.</span></p><p><span>The people who trusted Allah showed it when they were afraid.</span></p><p><span>The magicians showed their faith when they were threatened.</span></p><p><span>The people of Yunus showed repentance before it was too late.</span></p><p><span>And the three believers showed sincerity by telling the truth even when the truth brought consequences.</span></p><p><span>What stayed with me most is that </span><strong><span>Allah is not asking me to be perfect. He is asking me to be truthful with Him.</span></strong></p><p><span>If I fall, return.</span></p><p><span>If I make a mistake, admit it.</span></p><p><span>If I am afraid, trust Him.</span></p><p><span>If I have been given something, use it for Him.</span></p><p><span>If the world feels overwhelming, remember that it is temporary.</span></p><p><span>And if I do not understand what Allah is doing, I can still choose to trust who Allah is.</span></p><p><span>Maybe that is what real tawakkul looks like:</span></p><p><strong><span>I don&#8217;t need to know how everything will work out to know that Allah will never abandon me.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Key Takeaways</span></strong></p><ol><li><p><strong><span>Don&#8217;t hide behind excuses.</span></strong><span> Allah knows the difference between a genuine limitation and an excuse.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Your intention matters.</span></strong><span> The same outward action can have completely different meanings depending on what is inside the heart.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Never underestimate a small good deed.</span></strong><span> Allah sees the sacrifice behind it.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Be honest when you make a mistake.</span></strong><span> The story of the three believers shows how truthfulness can hurt temporarily but lead to forgiveness.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Repent before it is too late.</span></strong><span> Don&#8217;t wait until you are forced to face the consequences.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Faith should show up in your actions.</span></strong><span> Prayer, charity, fasting, worship, good character and standing for what is right are all expressions of faith.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Don&#8217;t build something good on a bad intention.</span></strong><span> Even an apparently righteous action can become harmful when its foundation is wrong.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Your life belongs to Allah.</span></strong><span> Your time, money, talents and opportunities are all trusts.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Don&#8217;t remember Allah only when you&#8217;re desperate.</span></strong><span> Build a relationship with Him during ease, not only during hardship.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Look at Allah&#8217;s signs.</span></strong><span> Creation, history and our own lives are full of reminders.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Pride can prevent a person from accepting the truth.</span></strong><span> Pharaoh saw signs but allowed arrogance to become his downfall.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Guidance cannot be forced.</span></strong><span> We can remind and invite, but Allah guides hearts.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Tawakkul means trusting Allah while still doing your part.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>The world is temporary.</span></strong><span> Don&#8217;t let something temporary become more important than what is eternal.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Stay with the truth even when people reject it.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Allah does not wrong anyone.</span></strong><span> His justice is perfect, even when we don&#8217;t immediately understand it.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Come back to Allah again and again.</span></strong><span> Repentance is not a sign that you are hopeless; it is a sign that you still want Allah.</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Be truthful with Allah and with yourself.</span></strong><span> You cannot heal a relationship with Allah while constantly lying to yourself about where you stand.</span></p></li></ol><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ttx0!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa3cfb678-702b-4f18-8240-95f6ddfd3b94_1970x1523.jpeg" 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/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ttx0!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa3cfb678-702b-4f18-8240-95f6ddfd3b94_1970x1523.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>&#129330;<strong><span>A Dua in My Words</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah,</span></strong></p><p><span>Make my faith real, not just something I say.</span></p><p><span>Help me to be honest with You, especially when I have made mistakes. Give me the courage to admit when I am wrong and the strength to return to You instead of making excuses.</span></p><p><span>Ya Allah, don&#8217;t let me remember You only when I am scared or desperate. Let me remember You when my life is easy, when I am happy, when I have everything I asked for, and when I have nothing but You.</span></p><p><span>Give me the kind of tawakkul that Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; had&#8212;the kind that trusts You even when I cannot see a way forward.</span></p><p><span>Keep arrogance away from my heart. Don&#8217;t let my ego stop me from accepting the truth.</span></p><p><span>Forgive me for the things I have done knowingly and unknowingly. Purify my intentions and make my actions sincere.</span></p><p><span>If I fall, help me return.</span></p><p><span>If I become lost, guide me.</span></p><p><span>If I become attached to this world, remind me that it is temporary.</span></p><p><span>And when I don&#8217;t understand what You are doing in my life, give me enough faith to trust You anyway.</span></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah, make me among the truthful, the repentant, the grateful and those who completely rely on You.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ameen.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Warmth,</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Saira</span></strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Juz 10: When Faith Is Tested, Let Your Heart Stay With Allah]]></title><description><![CDATA[Faith is not merely what we say when life is comfortable. Faith is revealed by what we choose when we are tested.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-10-when-faith-is-tested-let-your</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-10-when-faith-is-tested-let-your</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:01:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p><span>Juz 10 continues the lessons of </span><strong><span>Surah Al-Anfal</span></strong><span> and then opens the powerful beginning of </span><strong><span>Surah At-Tawbah</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>These verses speak about victory and its responsibilities, the danger of hypocrisy, the consequences of breaking covenants, and the difference between sincere faith and faith that exists only when circumstances are easy.</span></p><p><strong><span>Reflection</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>1. Victory is never only about winning</span></strong></p><p><span>Surah Al-Anfal reminds the believers that whatever they receive as victory or gain is ultimately from Allah.</span></p><p><span>The believers are also reminded of </span><strong><span>Allah&#8217;s mercy and His guidance</span></strong><span>. Success should therefore never make a person arrogant.</span></p><p><span>When Allah gives us something we have prayed for, the correct response is not simply celebration. It is </span><strong><span>gratitude, humility and obedience</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>A blessing becomes truly beautiful when it brings us closer to the One who gave it.</span></p><p><strong><span>2. Allah knows what is in the heart</span></strong></p><p><span>The Juz repeatedly draws attention to sincerity.</span></p><p><span>There are people who speak words of faith, but their actions reveal something different. Allah knows what human beings cannot see.</span></p><p><span>This is a powerful reminder for us personally.</span></p><p><span>We can spend our lives trying to appear righteous before people, but Allah does not judge the appearance alone. </span><strong><span>He knows the intention behind every action.</span></strong></p><p><span>The question is not:</span></p><p><em><span>How do we look before people?</span></em></p><p><span>The deeper question is:</span></p><p><strong><span>What does Allah know about our heart?</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>3. Honour your promises</span></strong></p><p><span>Surah At-Tawbah speaks strongly about treaties and covenants.Islam does not teach believers to be careless with their promises. Justice and faithfulness remain important even when relationships become difficult.</span></p><p><span>This lesson reaches far beyond treaties between nations.</span></p><p><span>Our everyday promises matter too.</span></p><p><span>The commitment we make to another person, the trust someone places in us, the responsibility we accept, and the words we give are all part of our character.</span></p><p><strong><span>A believer&#8217;s word should have weight.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>4. Faith cannot be built on convenience</span></strong></p><p><span>One of the strongest themes of this Juz is the distinction between sincere believers and hypocrites.</span></p><p><span>When difficulty comes, the hypocrites find excuses. When sacrifice is required, they hesitate. When there is something to gain, they are present.</span></p><p><span>The sincere believer, however, understands that obedience to Allah is not dependent upon convenience.</span></p><p><span>This is a question worth asking ourselves:</span></p><p><strong><span>Do we turn to Allah only when we need something, or do we remain connected to Him even when life is going well?</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>5. Charity is not merely about money</span></strong></p><p><span>Surah At-Tawbah reminds believers about spending for the sake of Allah.</span></p><p><span>But charity is not simply about how much we give.It is about </span><strong><span>what kind of heart gives</span></strong><span>.A small amount given sincerely can be more meaningful than something much greater given for recognition.Allah is not in need of our wealth.</span></p><p><strong><span>We are in need of the purification that comes from giving.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>6. Some hearts become harder through repeated choices</span></strong></p><p><span>The Juz also gives a serious warning about hypocrisy and the consequences of repeatedly turning away from truth.A person does not usually become spiritually distant from Allah in one moment.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes it happens through repeated compromises:</span></p><p><span>One ignored reminder.One delayed repentance.One justified wrong.One promise broken.One sin treated as insignificant.Over time, the heart can become accustomed to what it once considered wrong.That is why repentance should never be postponed.</span></p><p><strong><span>A heart that turns back to Allah is never too late to begin again.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>7. The sincere believers are not perfect, but they return</span></strong></p><p><span>One of the most comforting lessons in this Juz is that sincerity does not mean never making mistakes.We all fall short, but we should acknowledge our mistakes and turn back to Allah.That is very different from deliberately defending wrongdoing or refusing to repent.Allah loves repentance.</span></p><p><span>So when we recognize that we have gone wrong, we should not allow shame to keep us away from Allah.</span><strong><span>The door of tawbah is itself a mercy from Him.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>8. The Prophet &#65018; and the believers were tested too</span></strong></p><p><span>The events described in these verses remind us that being close to Allah does not mean living a life without hardship.</span></p><p><span>The Prophet &#65018; and his companions faced fear, sacrifice, opposition, uncertainty and difficult decisions.</span></p><p><span>Yet their trials became opportunities to demonstrate faith.</span></p><p><span>This changes the way we can look at our own difficulties.</span></p><p><span>A hardship is not necessarily evidence that Allah has abandoned us.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes it is the very place where our faith becomes visible.</span></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:604630,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/213045652?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-HdL!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F265ff3d0-1696-448c-8d17-af6e05161c08_2064x2752.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p><strong><span>A Personal Reflection</span></strong></p><p><span>Perhaps the most important question Juz 10 leaves with me is this:</span></p><p><strong><span>If everything around us changed, would our relationship with Allah remain the same?</span></strong></p><p><span>If we lost something we loved, would we still trust Him?</span></p><p><span>If we received something we prayed for, would we still remember Him?</span></p><p><span>If nobody saw our actions, would we still choose what is right?</span></p><p><span>And when we fall short, would we run away from Allah because of our guilt, or run </span><strong><span>towards</span></strong><span> Him because we know His mercy is greater than our mistakes?</span></p><p><span>Faith is not tested only in hardship.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes it is tested in ease.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes it is tested through wealth.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes through waiting.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes through people.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes through our own weaknesses.</span></p><p><span>And through all of it, Allah calls us back to sincerity.</span></p><p><strong><span>Key Takeaways</span></strong></p><ol><li><p><strong><span>Victory belongs to Allah, so success should produce humility, not arrogance.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Allah knows the reality of our intentions, even when people do not.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>A believer honours promises and trusts.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>True faith remains when circumstances become difficult.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Giving purifies the heart when it is done sincerely for Allah.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Repeatedly ignoring wrong can harden the heart, so repentance should not be delayed.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Making a mistake does not mean we should give up. Turn back to Allah.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Hardship can become a test through which sincere faith is revealed.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Our relationship with Allah should not depend on what we receive from Him.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>The greatest victory is not winning something in this world, but remaining faithful to Allah through every situation.</span></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span>Dua&#129330;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah, make our faith sincere and our hearts steadfast.</span></strong></p><p><span>Protect us from hypocrisy, arrogance and showing off.</span></p><p><span>Help us honour every trust and every promise.</span></p><p><span>When You bless us, make us grateful.</span></p><p><span>When You test us, make us patient.</span></p><p><span>When we make mistakes, give us the courage to repent.</span></p><p><span>Do not allow our hearts to become hard through repeated disobedience.</span></p><p><span>Give us the strength to choose what pleases You even when it is difficult.</span></p><p><span>Purify our intentions, forgive our shortcomings and keep our hearts connected to You.</span></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah, let our greatest victory be that we remain faithful to You until our final breath. Ameen.</span></strong></p><p></p></li></ol>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Juz 9: When Faith Is Tested ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Journey Through the Stories of Shu&#703;ayb, Musa, and other prophets .]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-9-when-faith-is-tested</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-9-when-faith-is-tested</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:52:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UhOA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ecfc85c-462a-4412-9d0b-a24f99328d22_2732x2048.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p><strong><span>Bismillah.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Asalamualikum,</span></strong></p><p><span>As we continue our journey through the Qur&#8217;an, Juz 9 brings us face to face with a question that is deeply personal:</span></p><p>Prophet Shu&#703;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and the believers with him are threatened with expulsion because they refuse to abandon their faith. From there, the Qur&#8217;an takes us through the rise and fall of nations, the story of Prophet Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and Pharaoh, the trials of the Children of Israel, the people of the Sabbath, the covenant of humanity with Allah, and finally the opening of Surah Al-Anfal with its powerful lessons from the Battle of Badr.</p><p>The Juz moves from one story to another, but its message remains connected:</p><p>Faith is tested through what we choose when truth becomes difficult.</p><p>We see people who remain firm.</p><p>We see people who compromise.</p><p>We see people who receive blessings but become ungrateful.</p><p>We see people who witness clear signs yet turn away.</p><p>And we see believers who, despite being weak in worldly strength, place their trust in Allah.</p><p>Juz 9 asks us to look within ourselves.</p><p>When we are tested, where do we turn?</p><p>When obedience becomes difficult, what do we choose?</p><p>When the world tells us one thing and Allah tells us another, whose voice do we follow?</p><p><strong>Reflection</strong></p><p>1. Prophet Shu&#703;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;: Standing Firm for Truth</p><p>Juz 9 begins with Prophet Shu&#703;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and his people.</p><p>The arrogant leaders threaten Shu&#703;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and the believers with him:</p><p>&#8220;We will certainly drive you out of our land, O Shu&#703;ayb, along with those who believe with you, unless you return to our faith.&#8221;</p><p>Qur&#8217;an 7:88</p><p>But Shu&#703;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; refuses to return to falsehood after Allah has saved him from it.</p><p>He places his trust in Allah and asks Him to judge between them with truth.</p><p>This is one of the strongest lessons of the Juz:</p><p>Faith sometimes requires us to stand firm when standing firm comes with a cost.</p><p><strong>Shu&#703;ayb</strong> &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; had already called his people to worship Allah and to be honest in their dealings. His message was not only about worship. It was also about justice, fairness, and not depriving people of what belonged to them.</p><p>His people rejected him, but the truth did not become false because people rejected it.</p><p>Eventually, the punishment of Allah came upon those who rejected the truth.</p><p><strong>Shu&#703;ayb</strong> &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; then turned away from them after having delivered Allah&#8217;s message and advised them sincerely.</p><p>The lesson is clear:</p><p>Our responsibility is to follow and convey the truth sincerely. Guidance belongs to Allah.</p><p>2. When Blessings Become a Test</p><p>After the story of <strong>Shu&#703;ayb</strong>, Allah reminds us about earlier nations.</p><p>When people experience hardship, they may turn towards Allah. But when hardship is replaced with ease and blessings, some people forget.</p><p>Allah tells us that if the people of the towns had believed and developed taqwa, He would have opened blessings for them from the heavens and the earth.</p><p>Qur&#8217;an 7:96</p><p>This is a beautiful reminder that blessings are also a test.</p><p>We often think that only difficulties test our faith.</p><p>But wealth can test us.</p><p>Health can test us.</p><p>Comfort can test us.</p><p>Success can test us.</p><p>Sometimes the greater test is not what Allah takes away from us, but what He gives us and how we use it.</p><p>3. The Rise and Fall of Nations</p><p>The Juz reminds us that previous nations were given opportunities, warnings, and blessings.</p><p>Yet when they rejected Allah and persisted in wrongdoing, their worldly strength could not save them.</p><p>Allah says:</p><p>&#8220;Did the people of the towns feel secure that Our punishment would not come upon them at night while they were asleep?&#8221;</p><p>Qur&#8217;an 7:97</p><p>The Qur&#8217;an repeatedly asks us not to become complacent.</p><p>We should never assume that because life is comfortable, Allah must be pleased with everything we are doing.</p><p>Comfort is not always a sign of approval.</p><p>And hardship is not always a sign of rejection.</p><p>Both can be tests.</p><p>What matters is how we respond to them.</p><p>4. <strong>Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and Pharaoh</strong></p><p>The Juz then moves into the detailed story of Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and Pharaoh.</p><p>Pharaoh was powerful, arrogant, and oppressive.</p><p>Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; was sent with clear signs from Allah.</p><p>Pharaoh and his people, however, continued to reject the truth.</p><p>They witnessed signs, yet their hearts remained stubborn.</p><p>Allah then sent them different trials: floods, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood.</p><p>Whenever a punishment came, they asked Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; to pray to Allah for its removal and promised to believe.</p><p>But when the punishment was removed, they repeatedly broke their promises.</p><p>This is a warning about making promises to Allah only when we are desperate.</p><p>How often do people say:</p><p>Ya Allah, if You solve this, I will change.</p><p>If You give me this, I will become better.</p><p>If You remove this difficulty, I will come closer to You.</p><p>Juz 9 reminds us:</p><p>Do not make Allah the One you remember only in your crisis.</p><p>Let hardship bring you closer to Him, but let blessings keep you close to Him too.</p><p><strong>5. The Magicians Who Chose Allah</strong></p><p>Pharaoh gathered his magicians to challenge Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;.</p><p>But when the magicians witnessed the truth, their hearts changed.</p><p>They fell in prostration and declared their belief in the Lord of Musa and Haroon .</p><p>Pharaoh threatened them with severe punishment.</p><p>Yet they did not turn back.</p><p>They had entered the contest hoping for Pharaoh&#8217;s reward.</p><p>They left it willing to sacrifice everything for Allah.</p><p>What changed?</p><p>They recognized the truth.</p><p>And when truth became clear, worldly fear became smaller.</p><p>Their story teaches us that guidance can transform a person in a moment.</p><p>It also teaches us never to underestimate the possibility of change.</p><p>A heart that seems far away today can be brought close to Allah tomorrow.</p><p>So we should never stop making dua for guidance, for ourselves and for others.</p><p><strong>6. Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and His People</strong></p><p>After Pharaoh and his army were destroyed, the Children of Israel were given freedom.But their journey did not end there.They too were tested.Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; told his people to seek help from Allah and remain patient.</p><p>He reminded them:</p><p>&#8220;Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He gives it as inheritance to whom He wills of His servants. And the best outcome is for the righteous.&#8221;</p><p>Qur&#8217;an 7:128</p><p>This is a message for every believer going through a difficult period.</p><p>Your circumstances may not belong to you forever.</p><p>Your difficulty is not your identity.</p><p>Your present situation is not necessarily your final destination.</p><p>The earth belongs to Allah, and the final outcome belongs to Him.</p><p><strong>7. The Covenant of the Children of Adam</strong></p><p>Juz 9 then takes us to one of the most profound passages in the Qur&#8217;an.</p><p>Allah speaks of the covenant taken from the children of Adam:</p><p>&#8220;Am I not your Lord?&#8221;</p><p>They said:</p><p>&#8220;Yes, we bear witness.&#8221;</p><p>Qur&#8217;an 7:172</p><p>This verse takes us back to the deepest reality of our existence.</p><p>Before we became concerned with our worldly identities, possessions, achievements, and relationships, our relationship with Allah was already established.</p><p>We were created to know Him and worship Him.</p><p>This makes us reflect:</p><p>Am I living in a way that remembers the covenant of my Lord?</p><p><strong>8. Those Who Know the Truth but Turn Away</strong></p><p>Allah then gives a powerful example of someone who was given knowledge and signs but chose worldly desire instead.</p><p>The Juz warns us that knowledge alone is not enough.</p><p>A person may know what is right and still refuse to follow it.</p><p>A person may hear the Qur&#8217;an and still not allow it to enter the heart.</p><p>A person may know Allah&#8217;s commands and still choose the desires of the self.</p><p>This is why we should never ask only:</p><p>&#8220;How much do I know?&#8221;</p><p>We should also ask:</p><p>&#8220;How much of what I know am I living?&#8221;</p><p><strong>9. The People of the Sabbath</strong></p><p>Juz 9 then brings us to the people of the Sabbath.</p><p>They were tested with a command from Allah.</p><p>Instead of obeying sincerely, some attempted to manipulate the command.</p><p>They tried to find a way around what Allah had prohibited.</p><p>This story carries a warning that remains relevant today.</p><p>We should not search for technical ways to make disobedience appear like obedience.</p><p>Allah knows our intentions.</p><p>True submission is not finding loopholes. It is surrendering to Allah.</p><p></p><p><strong>10. Allah&#8217;s Mercy</strong></p><p>After these warnings, the Juz reminds us of Allah&#8217;s vast mercy.</p><p>Allah says:</p><p>&#8220;My mercy encompasses all things.&#8221;</p><p>Qur&#8217;an 7:156</p><p>But Allah also describes those who receive His mercy in a special way: those who have taqwa, give zakah, believe in His signs, and follow the Messenger.</p><p>This gives us hope.</p><p>No matter how many times we have fallen, Allah&#8217;s mercy is greater.</p><p>But mercy should not make us careless.</p><p>It should make us return to Him.</p><p><strong>11. Following the Messenger &#65018;</strong></p><p>Juz 9 also describes the Messenger Muhammad &#65018; and the qualities of those who follow him.</p><p>Allah commands what is right, encourages what is good, and turns away from foolishness.</p><p>Among the beautiful guidance given is:</p><p>&#8220;Hold to forgiveness, enjoin what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.&#8221;</p><p>Qur&#8217;an 7:199</p><p>What a beautiful way to live.</p><p>Forgive.</p><p>Encourage good.</p><p>Do not allow every foolish argument to disturb your heart.</p><p>Not every battle deserves our attention.</p><p>Sometimes strength is knowing when to speak.</p><p>And sometimes strength is knowing when to walk away.</p><p><strong>12. Listen to the Qur&#8217;an</strong></p><p>Near the end of Surah Al-A&#703;raf comes one of the most beautiful instructions of this Juz:</p><p>&#8220;So when the Qur&#8217;an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.&#8221;</p><p>Qur&#8217;an 7:204</p><p>After taking us through so many stories of people who heard the truth and responded differently, Allah tells us to listen.</p><p>Not merely with our ears.</p><p>With our hearts.</p><p>Perhaps this is one of the most beautiful lessons of Juz 9:</p><p>The Qur&#8217;an can guide us only when we allow ourselves to listen.</p><p><strong><span>Surah Al-Anfal</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>13. The Believers&#8217; Hearts</span></strong></p><p><span>Juz 9 then moves from </span><strong><span>Surah Al-A&#703;raf to Surah Al-Anfal</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>The opening verses address the believers and the question of the spoils of war.</span></p><p><span>But before discussing worldly possessions, Allah describes the qualities of true believers.</span></p><p><span>When Allah is mentioned, their hearts tremble.</span></p><p><span>When His verses are recited, their faith increases.</span></p><p><span>They rely upon their Lord.</span></p><p><span>They establish prayer.</span></p><p><span>And they spend from what Allah has given them.</span></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 8:2&#8211;4</span></strong></p><p><span>This is important.</span></p><p><span>Before Allah speaks about victory, He speaks about </span><strong><span>the heart</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>Before the believer thinks about what he will receive, he must ask:</span></p><p><strong><span>What kind of believer am I?</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>14. Badr: When the Few Faced the Many</span></strong></p><p><span>The Juz then takes us to the events surrounding </span><strong><span>the Battle of Badr</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>The believers were not expecting the exact circumstances in which they found themselves.</span></p><p><span>They were greatly outnumbered.</span></p><p><span>Yet Allah gave them victory.</span></p><p><span>Allah reminds them that victory comes from Him.</span></p><p><span>The believers had to act, obey, remain patient, and rely upon Allah.</span></p><p><span>This is not a lesson in abandoning effort.</span></p><p><span>It is a lesson in understanding where the ultimate result comes from.</span></p><p><span>We do our part.</span></p><p><span>We pray.</span></p><p><span>We work.</span></p><p><span>We prepare.</span></p><p><span>We remain patient.</span></p><p><span>And then we leave the outcome to Allah.</span></p><p><strong><span>That is tawakkul.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>15. Allah&#8217;s Help at Badr</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah reminds the believers of His help during Badr.</span></p><p><span>The believers were reassured, strengthened, and supported.</span></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an makes it clear that the victory was not simply the result of worldly calculations.</span></p><p><span>Allah says:</span></p><p><span>&#8220;And victory is not but from Allah.&#8221;</span></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 8:10</span></strong></p><p><span>This verse is not only for battles.</span></p><p><span>It is for life.</span></p><p><span>When something seems impossible, we often calculate what we have.</span></p><p><span>Allah reminds us to look beyond what we have and remember </span><strong><span>Who we have</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><strong><span>16. Obedience, Unity and Strength</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah then commands the believers to obey Him and His Messenger &#65018; and not dispute with one another.</span></p><p><span>&#8220;And do not dispute and thus lose courage and your strength would depart.&#8221;</span></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 8:46</span></strong></p><p><span>This is a powerful lesson for every community and every family.</span></p><p><span>Arguments can weaken us.Division can weaken us.Ego can weaken us.</span></p><p><span>But unity upon truth gives strength.The lesson of Badr is therefore not simply:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;Allah gave them victory.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><span>It is also:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;They had to obey, remain patient, stay united, and rely upon Allah.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>17. What We Fear and What We Trust</span></strong></p><p><span>Juz 9 repeatedly teaches us to distinguish between worldly fear and fear of Allah.</span></p><p><span>The believers at Badr were faced with something much greater than themselves.</span></p><p><span>Yet they did not allow fear to decide their actions.</span></p><p><span>This is relevant to every believer.</span></p><p><span>We may not stand on a battlefield.</span></p><p><span>Our battles may be private.</span></p><p><span>A difficult decision.</span></p><p><span>A painful relationship.</span></p><p><span>Financial uncertainty.</span></p><p><span>A test of patience.</span></p><p><span>A temptation.</span></p><p><span>A fear about the future.</span></p><p><span>And sometimes the greatest victory is simply to say:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;I will choose what pleases Allah, even though I am afraid.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>The Message of Juz 9</span></strong></p><p><span>When we step back and look at the entire Juz, the stories connect beautifully.</span></p><p><strong><span>Shu&#703;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong><span> teaches us to stand for truth.</span></p><p><strong><span>Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong><span> teaches us to depend upon Allah.</span></p><p><span>The </span><strong><span>magicians</span></strong><span> teach us that truth is worth sacrificing for.</span></p><p><span>The </span><strong><span>Children of Israel</span></strong><span> teach us that freedom does not remove the need for obedience.</span></p><p><span>The </span><strong><span>people of the Sabbath</span></strong><span> teach us not to manipulate Allah&#8217;s commands.</span></p><p><span>The </span><strong><span>covenant of Adam</span></strong><span> reminds us who our true Lord is.</span></p><p><span>The command to listen to the Qur&#8217;an teaches us to open our hearts to guidance.</span></p><p><span>And </span><strong><span>Badr</span></strong><span> teaches us that victory belongs to Allah.</span></p><p><span>The Juz therefore brings us back to one central truth:</span></p><p><strong><span>Our circumstances do not determine our faith. Our response to our circumstances reveals our faith.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Key Takeaways</span></strong></p><ol><li><p><strong><span>Stand firm upon truth</span></strong><span>, even when people pressure you to compromise.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Faith must be reflected in </span><strong><span>honesty, justice, and how we deal with others</span></strong><span>.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Blessings are tests just as difficulties are tests.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Do not remember Allah only when life becomes difficult.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; teaches us that Allah&#8217;s help can come even when circumstances appear impossible.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The magicians teach us that recognizing truth requires the courage to follow it.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Knowledge is not enough. </span><strong><span>We must act upon what we know.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><span>Do not manipulate Allah&#8217;s commands or search for loopholes in obedience.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Allah&#8217;s mercy is vast, but we should respond to that mercy with taqwa and obedience.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Listen to the Qur&#8217;an with your heart, not only your ears.</span></p></li><li><p><span>True believers rely upon Allah and allow His words to increase their faith.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Badr teaches us that </span><strong><span>victory comes from Allah</span></strong><span>, while we must still make every sincere effort.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Unity and obedience give strength; division and argument weaken it.</span></p></li><li><p><span>When you cannot control the outcome, </span><strong><span>trust the One who can</span></strong><span>.</span></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" 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/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UhOA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6ecfc85c-462a-4412-9d0b-a24f99328d22_2732x2048.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p></li></ol><p><strong><span>Dua&#129330;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah,</span></strong></p><p><span>As we reflect upon Juz 9, make us among those who listen to Your words and allow them to change our hearts.</span></p><p><span>Give us the courage of </span><strong><span>Shu&#703;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong><span> to stand for truth and justice even when it is difficult.Give us the patience and reliance of </span><strong><span>Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong><span> when we face situations that seem impossible.Give us the sincerity of those who recognized the truth and chose You over worldly power.Protect us from becoming like those who receive Your blessings but forget You.Protect us from knowing the truth but refusing to follow it.Ya Allah, give us hearts that listen to the Qur&#8217;an with humility.Give us taqwa when we have blessings and sabr when we are tested.Keep our families and communities united upon goodness.Remove arrogance, jealousy, anger, and division from our hearts.When we feel weak, remind us that Your strength is greater than our weakness.When we see no way forward, remind us that You can open a way where we see none.When we are afraid, increase our tawakkul.When we succeed, keep us humble.And when we face our greatest tests, make us among those whose faith becomes stronger, not weaker.Ya Allah, let the Qur&#8217;an be the light of our hearts, the guide of our lives, and a means of mercy for us.Keep us firm upon Your path until we return to You.</span></p><p><strong><span>Ameen Ya Rabb al-Alameen.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Warmth,</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Saira.</span></strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Juz 8: The Straight Path “وَلَوْ أَنَّنَا]]></title><description><![CDATA[When Faith Becomes a Way of Life]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-8-the-straight-path</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-8-the-straight-path</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:30:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8Xvz!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdec5da77-db50-4cc5-8f68-1516096cd2b7_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p><strong><span>Asalamualikum readers,</span></strong></p><p><span>We are following the journey of Quran .All of you must have noticed that every Friday we are touching one Juz.Today we will talk about Juz8.</span></p><p><span>It brings together the ending of </span><strong><span>Surah Al-An&#8216;&#257;m (6:111&#8211;165)</span></strong><span> and the beginning of </span><strong><span>Surah Al-A&#8216;r&#257;f (7:1&#8211;87)</span></strong><span>.It is a Juz filled with reminders about </span><strong><span>Tawheed, gratitude, obedience, accountability, humility, justice and the consequences of turning away from Allah&#8217;s guidance</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>One of the most powerful passages is found in </span><strong><span>Surah Al-An&#8216;&#257;m 6:151&#8211;153</span></strong><span>, where Allah gives a series of fundamental commandments. These verses are referred to as the </span><strong><span>&#8220;Ten Commandments&#8221; of the Qur&#8217;an</span></strong><span> because they gather together essential principles for a righteous life.</span></p><p><span>Juz 8 goes beyond these commandments. It asks us a deeper question:</span></p><p><strong><span>What happens when we know the truth, but our hearts refuse to submit to it?</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Guidance requires a willing heart</span></strong></p><p><span>The opening of Juz 8 started when Allah tells us that even if signs were brought to those who stubbornly reject the truth, they might still refuse to believe.</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;Even if We sent down to them the angels, and the dead spoke to them, and We gathered together before them everything, they would not believe unless Allah willed.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 6:111</span></strong></p><p><span>This reminds us that guidance is not simply about seeing signs.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes Allah has already given us enough reminders.</span></p><p><span>The real question is:</span></p><p><strong><span>Is our heart willing to accept them?</span></strong></p><p><span>We can hear the Qur&#8217;an, receive reminders, recognize our mistakes and still delay change.</span></p><p><span>Juz 8 encourages us to ask Allah not merely for knowledge, but for a </span><strong><span>heart that responds to knowledge.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>The Ten Commandments: a complete framework for our life</span></strong></p><p><span>In </span><strong><span>Surah Al-An&#8216;&#257;m 6:151&#8211;153</span></strong><span>, Allah gives a beautiful set of foundational commands:</span></p><ol><li><p><strong><span>Do not associate partners with Allah.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Be good to your parents.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Do not kill your children because of poverty.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Do not approach immoralities, whether apparent or hidden.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Do not kill a soul unjustly.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Do not approach the wealth of an orphan except in the best manner.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Give full measure and weight with justice.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Speak with justice, even concerning a close relative.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Fulfil the covenant of Allah.</span></strong></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Follow Allah&#8217;s straight path and do not follow other paths.</span></strong></p></li></ol><p><span>These commandments begin with </span><strong><span>our relationship with Allah</span></strong><span>, then move into </span><strong><span>family, children, morality, human life, the vulnerable, business, speech, promises and finally the path we choose to follow.</span></strong></p><p><span>Islam is not only about worship inside the masjid.</span></p><p><span>Our </span><strong><span>business dealings are worship when they are honest.</span></strong></p><p><span>Our </span><strong><span>words are worship when they are truthful.</span></strong></p><p><span>Our </span><strong><span>treatment of parents is worship.</span></strong></p><p><span>Our </span><strong><span>care for the vulnerable is worship.</span></strong></p><p><span>Our entire life becomes meaningful when it is lived according to Allah&#8217;s guidance.</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8216;&#8217;My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><span>One of the most beautiful declarations in this Juz is:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8216;&#8217;Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 6:162</span></strong></p><p><span>This verse makes me pause.</span></p><p><span>It does not say only my prayer is for Allah.</span></p><p><span>It says:</span></p><p><strong><span>My living.</span></strong></p><p><span>That means my choices, my relationships, my work, my hopes, my difficulties and my decisions should all ultimately be connected to Allah.</span></p><p><span>This is Tawheed lived, not merely Tawheed spoken.</span></p><p><strong><span>Then comes the story of Adam &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong></p><p><span>Surah Al-A&#8216;r&#257;f takes us back to the beginning of humanity and the story of </span><strong><span>Adam &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and Iblis</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>Iblis refused Allah&#8217;s command because of arrogance.</span></p><p><span>His words reveal the disease in his heart:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;I am better than him.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 7:12</span></strong></p><p><span>This is a frightening reminder.</span></p><p><span>The problem was not lack of knowledge.</span></p><p><span>The problem was </span><strong><span>pride</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>Iblis knew Allah. He knew the command. But he refused to submit.</span></p><p><span>This makes me reflect on my own heart.</span></p><p><span>Sometimes the hardest thing is not knowing what is right.</span></p><p><span>It is accepting what is right when it goes against </span><strong><span>my ego, my desires or my plans.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Adam&#8217;s mistake and the door of repentance</span></strong></p><p><span>Adam &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; also made a mistake.</span></p><p><span>But his response was completely different.</span></p><p><span>He and Hawwa turned back to Allah and acknowledged their wrong.</span></p><p><span>This is an important distinction:</span></p><p><strong><span>A believer may fall, but a believer returns.</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah&#8217;s mercy gives us a way back.</span></p><p><span>The Prophet &#65018; also taught us that Allah&#8217;s joy at the repentance of His servant is greater than the joy of someone who finds what he had lost in the desert. This is authentically reported in </span><strong><span>Sahih Muslim 2747</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>So when we make a mistake, we should not allow Shaytan to turn one sin into hopelessness.</span></p><p><strong><span>The clothing of Taqwa</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah says:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;But the clothing of righteousness, that is best.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 7:26</span></strong></p><p><span>The phrase </span><strong><span>&#8220;clothing of Taqwa&#8221; (&#1604;&#1616;&#1576;&#1614;&#1575;&#1587;&#1615; &#1575;&#1604;&#1578;&#1614;&#1617;&#1602;&#1618;&#1608;&#1614;&#1609;&#1648;)</span></strong><span> comes from </span><strong><span>Surah Al-A&#8216;r&#257;f 7:26</span></strong><span>:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#1608;&#1614;&#1604;&#1616;&#1576;&#1614;&#1575;&#1587;&#1615; &#1575;&#1604;&#1578;&#1614;&#1617;&#1602;&#1618;&#1608;&#1614;&#1609;&#1648; &#1584;&#1614;&#1648;&#1604;&#1616;&#1603;&#1614; &#1582;&#1614;&#1610;&#1618;&#1585;&#1612;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;But the clothing of Taqwa, that is best.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>What does &#8220;clothing of Taqwa&#8221; mean?</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah first mentions our </span><strong><span>physical clothing</span></strong><span>, which covers the body and provides beauty and protection. Then He points us toward something more important: </span><strong><span>the clothing that covers and protects the heart and soul.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Taqwa</span></strong><span> means being conscious and mindful of Allah, protecting yourself from what displeases Him, and choosing what brings you closer to Him.</span></p><p><span>We naturally care about our outward appearance.</span></p><p><span>But Allah draws our attention to something deeper:</span></p><p><strong><span>What is covering our heart?</span></strong></p><p><span>Taqwa.</span></p><p><span>Humility.</span></p><p><span>Sincerity.</span></p><p><span>Modesty.</span></p><p><span>Fear of Allah.</span></p><p><span>Awareness that He sees us.</span></p><p><span>The finest outward appearance cannot compensate for a heart that has forgotten Allah.</span></p><p><strong><span>Do not follow the footsteps of Shaytan</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah warns:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8216;&#8217;O children of Adam, do not let Satan tempt you&#8230;&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 7:27</span></strong></p><p><span>Notice that Allah warns us about </span><strong><span>the footsteps</span></strong><span> of Shaytan.</span></p><p><span>A person rarely reaches a major sin in one sudden step.</span></p><p><span>It can begin with something small:</span></p><p><span>a thought,</span></p><p><span>a justification,</span></p><p><span>a repeated temptation,</span></p><p><span>a little compromise,</span></p><p><span>and eventually the heart becomes comfortable with what it once knew was wrong.</span></p><p><span>This is why we must protect the heart before the small step becomes a long journey away from Allah.</span></p><p><span>In </span><strong><span>Surah Al-A&#8216;r&#257;f 7:80&#8211;84</span></strong><span>, Allah mentions the story of </span><strong><span>Lut &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong><span> and his people.</span></p><p><span>Lut &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; confronted his people because of their </span><strong><span>shameful and immoral acts</span></strong><span>. He called them back to what Allah had made lawful and warned them against crossing the limits Allah had set.The nation of Lut use to had lust with men instead of women.</span></p><p><span>Allah describes their response: they wanted to drive Lut and his family out of their town because they considered themselves people who wanted to remain &#8220;pure.&#8221;</span></p><p><span>This is a powerful warning about how </span><strong><span>society can sometimes reverse the meaning of right and wrong</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>Lut &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; remained firm despite being surrounded by people who rejected his message.</span></p><p><span>Allah ultimately saved Lut and his family, except his wife, who was among those who remained with the wrongdoing people.</span></p><p><span>&#9878;&#65039;</span><strong><span> The concept of weighing and measuring</span></strong></p><p><span>This is also very important in Juz 8.</span></p><p><span>In </span><strong><span>Surah Al-An&#8216;&#257;m 6:152</span></strong><span>, Allah says:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8216;&#8217;And give full measure and weight in justice.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><span>And in </span><strong><span>Surah Al-A&#8216;r&#257;f 7:85</span></strong><span>, when Prophet Shu&#8216;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; addresses his people, he says:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;Give full measure and weight, and do not deprive people of their due.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><span>This is more than a command about scales in a marketplace.</span></p><p><span>It teaches a much bigger principle:</span></p><p><strong><span>Do not take more than you give. Do not deprive people of what belongs to them.</span></strong></p><p><span>It applies to:</span></p><ul><li><p><span>Business and financial dealings</span></p></li><li><p><span>Weighing and measuring goods</span></p></li><li><p><span>Honesty in agreements</span></p></li><li><p><span>Paying people fairly</span></p></li><li><p><span>Keeping promises</span></p></li><li><p><span>Giving people their rights</span></p></li><li><p><span>Being fair in our judgments</span></p></li><li><p><span>Even how we measure other people&#8217;s mistakes versus our own</span></p></li></ul><p><span>And there is a beautiful spiritual dimension to it:</span></p><p><strong><span>Allah wants us to live with balance and justice.</span></strong></p><p><span>We should not demand perfection from others while excusing ourselves.</span></p><p><span>We should not count every small thing others do for us while forgetting everything they have already given.</span></p><p><span>We should not be miser with others.</span></p><p><strong><span>The Prophets and the people who rejected them</span></strong></p><p><span>Juz 8 also teaches the powerful series of stories in Surah Al-A&#8216;r&#257;f, including </span><strong><span>Nuh, Hud,Lut, Salih and Shu&#8216;ayb &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607;&#1605; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>Their message was fundamentally the same:</span></p><p><strong><span>Worship Allah alone.</span></strong></p><p><span>Yet their people repeatedly responded with denial, arrogance and attachment to what their forefathers had followed</span></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8Xvz!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdec5da77-db50-4cc5-8f68-1516096cd2b7_2048x2048.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8Xvz!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdec5da77-db50-4cc5-8f68-1516096cd2b7_2048x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8Xvz!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdec5da77-db50-4cc5-8f68-1516096cd2b7_2048x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8Xvz!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, 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/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8Xvz!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdec5da77-db50-4cc5-8f68-1516096cd2b7_2048x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption"><strong><span>A reminder that no sign is enough for a heart that refuses to see, but a heart open to Allah can find guidance everywhere.</span></strong></figcaption></figure></div><p><strong><span>The message is timeless.Truth does not become false because people reject it.And falsehood does not become truth because many people follow it.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>My Dua&#129330;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah, open our hearts to Your guidance and make us among those who listen to Your words and follow what is best.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah, protect us from arrogance, heedlessness and the whispers of Shaytan. Give us the humility to accept the truth and the courage to follow it.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah, make us grateful for every blessing You have given us. Help us honour our parents, protect the rights of others, speak with justice, fulfil our promises and deal with people with honesty and mercy.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah, when we fall, do not let us remain fallen. Give us the heart of Adam &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;, a heart that turns back to You in repentance.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Make our prayer, our sacrifice, our living and our dying for You alone. Keep us firm upon Your straight path and do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba&#8216;da idh hadaytana wa hab lana milladunka rahmah, innaka antal-Wahhab.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Yourself. Indeed, You are the Bestower.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;an 3:8</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ameen. </span></strong></p><p><span>Warmth,</span></p><p><span>Saira.</span></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Quran Journey – Juz 7: Lessons in Tawheed, Truth, and Steadfast Faith]]></title><description><![CDATA[Justice is not always easy. Truth is not always popular. But Allah calls us to remain steadfast, sincere, and faithful even when the path is difficult.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/quran-journey-juz-7-lessons-in-tawheed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/quran-journey-juz-7-lessons-in-tawheed</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:13:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!d5p8!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20d9badf-f502-4042-b526-b7e72b0b12f4_2732x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p><em><span>Asalamualikum,</span></em></p><p><span>We are on our journey of Quran, Juz 7 .It continues </span><strong><span>Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah (5:82&#8211;120)</span></strong><span> and begins </span><strong><span>Surah Al-An&#8217;am (6:1&#8211;110).</span></strong></p><p><span>This Juz reminds us that Islam is a religion of justice, sincerity, gratitude, and unwavering tawheed. It teaches that success lies in following Allah&#8217;s guidance rather than the opinions or desires of people.</span></p><p><span>Allah praises those whose hearts soften when they hear the truth and warns against arrogance, stubbornness, and following desires instead of revelation.</span></p><p><span>The beginning of Surah Al-An&#8217;am shifts our attention toward the countless signs of Allah throughout creation, calling us to recognize His absolute Oneness and reject every form of shirk.</span></p><p><strong><span>MAIN TOPICS:</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>1. Some hearts recognize the truth immediately</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah describes people who were moved to tears upon hearing the Qur&#8217;an because they recognized its truth.</span></p><p><span>Their example teaches us that guidance belongs to Allah, and a humble heart is more valuable than pride.</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;Our Lord, we believe, so write us among the witnesses.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><em><span>(Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah 5:83)</span></em></p><p><strong><span>2. Gratitude for Allah&#8217;s blessings</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah asks why a true believer should prohibit what He has made lawful.</span></p><p><span>True piety is not inventing unnecessary restrictions but living gratefully within Allah&#8217;s guidance.</span></p><p><strong><span>3. The seriousness of keeping promises</span></strong></p><p><span>The Juz emphasizes honesty in oaths and fulfilling commitments.</span></p><p><span>Every promise we make&#8212;to Allah or to people&#8212;is a trust.</span></p><p><strong><span>4. Tawheed is the foundation</span></strong></p><p><span>Surah Al-An&#8217;am opens by directing our eyes to the heavens, the earth, life, death, day and night.</span></p><p><span>Every sign points toward one Creator.</span></p><p><span>Nothing deserves worship except Allah.</span></p><p><strong><span>5. Revelation versus human desires</span></strong></p><p><span>Many people reject truth not because evidence is lacking but because their desires prevent them from accepting it.</span></p><p><span>Allah reminds us that guidance comes from following revelation, not public opinion.</span></p><p><strong><span>6. Every Prophet faced rejection</span></strong></p><p><span>The Prophet &#65018; is comforted that previous messengers were also denied and opposed.</span></p><p><span>Patience has always been the path of those who carry the truth.</span></p><p><strong><span>Verses That Touched My Heart</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Surah Al-An&#8217;am 6:17</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;If Allah touches you with hardship, none can remove it except Him. And if He touches you with good, then He is over all things Competent.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><span>This verse reminds us that every difficulty and every blessing ultimately comes under Allah&#8217;s perfect control.</span></p><p></p><p><strong><span>Surah Al-An&#8217;am 6:59</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;With Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><span>A beautiful reminder to place our trust in Allah when the future feels uncertain.</span></p><p><strong><span>Reflection</span></strong></p><p><span>As I journeyed through Juz 7, I found myself asking a simple question: </span><em><span>How do I respond when the truth challenges me?</span></em><span> The believers praised in this Juz did not allow pride, culture, or personal desires to stand between them and Allah&#8217;s guidance. They recognized the truth, accepted it with humility, and their hearts overflowed with sincerity. This made me realize that faith is not measured by how much we know, but by how willing we are to submit when Allah&#8217;s words ask us to change. Surah Al-An&#8217;am then lifted my eyes to the countless signs scattered throughout creation, reminding me that every sunrise, every breath, and every blessing points back to the One Creator. It renewed my certainty that while people may disappoint us and circumstances may change, Allah&#8217;s wisdom never fails. My responsibility is simply to trust Him, remain grateful, and stay steadfast upon His guidance.</span></p><p><strong><span>Juz 7 teaches us that guidance is not reserved for the most knowledgeable.It is granted to the most humble. When the heart submits to Allah, every sign in creation becomes a reminder of His mercy, every trial becomes an opportunity for patience, and every step taken in obedience brings us closer to Him.</span></strong></p><p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!d5p8!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20d9badf-f502-4042-b526-b7e72b0b12f4_2732x2048.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!d5p8!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20d9badf-f502-4042-b526-b7e72b0b12f4_2732x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!d5p8!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20d9badf-f502-4042-b526-b7e72b0b12f4_2732x2048.png" width="1456" height="1091" 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/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!d5p8!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F20d9badf-f502-4042-b526-b7e72b0b12f4_2732x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Caption:&#11015;&#65039;</figcaption></figure></div><p><strong><span>An original Arabic calligraphy of Juz 7(a reminder to remain steadfast upon the truth, place our trust in Allah, and see His signs in every part of creation)</span></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span>Du&#8217;a</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah, soften my heart so that I recognize Your truth with sincerity and accept it without hesitation. Protect me from pride, stubbornness, and the temptation to follow my own desires over Your guidance. Make me grateful for every blessing, faithful to every trust, and steadfast upon tawheed until I meet You. When life becomes uncertain, remind me that the keys of the unseen are with You alone, and fill my heart with complete reliance upon Your perfect wisdom. Ameen.</span></strong></p><p></p><p><em><span>The Arabic calligraphy featured in all my  posts are my original artwork.I created all of these as a part of this Qur&#8217;an Journey. Every reflection is also written in my own words after studying the Qur&#8217;an through trusted translations and tafsir. Any good in this work is from Allah alone.May Allah forgive our shortcomings.</span></em></p><p><em><span>Warmth,</span></em></p><p><em><span>Saira.</span></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Journey Through the Qur’an Juz 6: Honouring Our Promises and Standing Firm for Justice]]></title><description><![CDATA[Faith is not only what we believe. It is also reflected in the promises we keep, the justice we uphold, the truth we speak, and the choices we make when no one is watching.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/a-journey-through-the-quran-juz-6</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/a-journey-through-the-quran-juz-6</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:09:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nchf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee81aad3-5c11-4a37-aa5d-749abbb01678_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p><span>This Juz begins with a powerful lesson about how we speak about others. Allah does not like harmful words being spoken openly, yet He makes an allowance for the person who has been wronged. Even then, the Qur&#8217;an encourages forgiveness and goodness whenever possible. It teaches us that our words carry responsibility. We should not use them to spread harm, expose people unnecessarily, or deepen conflict.</span></p><p><span>The verses then remind us of the unity of Allah&#8217;s message. Every prophet was sent with guidance, and Muslims are taught to believe in all of Allah&#8217;s messengers without rejecting some while accepting others. The Qur&#8217;an also corrects beliefs that exaggerate the status of prophets and calls people back to the worship of the One God.</span></p><p><span>As Surah An-Nisa comes to an end, we are reminded that Allah&#8217;s guidance is complete and that His knowledge surrounds everything. The detailed guidance in this Surah shows that faith is not separate from daily life. It includes family responsibilities, justice, inheritance, honesty, and the protection of people&#8217;s rights.</span></p><p>Juz 6 includes:</p><p>* Surah An-Nisa, verses 148&#8211;176</p><p>* Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah, verses 1&#8211;81</p><p>The Juz begins with the words:</p><p>&#8220;Allah does not like the public expression of evil words, except by one who has been wronged.&#8221;</p><p>(Surah An-Nisa 4:148)</p><p>This verse teaches us that Allah knows when injustice has been done. A person who has been wronged is not expected to remain silent about oppression. At the same time, the Qur&#8217;an guides us away from unnecessary harshness, revenge, and spreading harm.</p><p>The Juz then moves into Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah with a direct command:</p><p>&#8220;O you who believe, fulfil your commitments.&#8221;</p><p>(Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah 5:1)</p><p>This opening sets the tone for the Surah. A believer is someone whose promises can be trusted. Our commitments to Allah and our responsibilities toward people are not small matters. They are part of our faith.</p><p><strong>Main Themes of Juz 6</strong></p><p><strong>1. Speak with Truth, but Do Not Spread Harm</strong></p><p>The opening verses teach us that Allah does not love the open spreading of harmful speech. Yet Allah knows the pain of those who have been treated unjustly.</p><p>This gives us an important balance. Islam does not ask people to hide oppression or remain silent when their rights are violated. However, even when we are hurt, we should try not to allow anger to lead us toward injustice.</p><p>The Qur&#8217;an then reminds us that forgiveness and overlooking the mistakes of others are qualities beloved to Allah.</p><p>This made me reflect:</p><p><em>When I am hurt, do I seek justice while remaining fair, or do I allow my pain to make my words harsher than they need to be?</em></p><p><strong><span>2. Believe in All of Allah&#8217;s Messengers</span></strong></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an teaches that all prophets were sent by Allah with guidance. Muslims are required to believe in all of them and not divide between Allah&#8217;s messengers by accepting some and rejecting others.</span></p><p><span>The message of every prophet was connected to the same foundation: worship Allah, live with righteousness, and follow the guidance sent to humanity.</span></p><p><em><span>The Qur&#8217;an also teaches us not to exaggerate the status of any messenger. Prophets were honoured servants and messengers of Allah, but worship belongs only to Allah.</span></em></p><p><strong><span>3. Fulfil Every Promise and Commitment</span></strong></p><p><span>Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah begins with a clear command:</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;O you who believe, fulfil your commitments.&#8221;</span></strong><span><br></span><em><span>(Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah 5:1)</span></em></p><p><em><span>A promise is not</span></em></p><p><em><span> merely a </span></em></p><p><em><span>social agreement</span></em></p><p><em><span>. It is a responsibility before Allah.</span></em></p><p><em><span>Sometimes we think of faith only through prayer, fasting, or charity. But Juz 6 reminds us that faith is also seen in whether people can trust our word.</span></em></p><p><em><span>A believer should not make promises carelessly or break them when keeping them becomes difficult.</span></em></p><p><strong><span>4. Justice Must Not Depend on Our Feelings</span></strong></p><p><span>One of the strongest lessons in this Juz is the command to stand firmly for justice.</span></p><p><span>Allah tells the believers not to allow hatred toward any people to make them act unjustly. Justice must not change because we like someone, dislike someone, agree with them, or have been hurt by them.</span></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;Be just. That is nearer to righteousness.&#8221;</span></strong><span><br></span><em><span>(Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah 5:8)</span></em></p><p><span>This verse is deeply relevant to our lives today.</span></p><p><em><span>Justice is tested when emotions are involved. It is easy to be fair with people we love. The real test is whether we remain fair when we are angry, disappointed, or in conflict.</span></em></p><p><em><span>The Qur&#8217;an teaches us that justice is not based on personal preference. It is a duty before Allah.</span></em></p><p><strong><span>5. Remember Allah&#8217;s Blessings and Do Not Take Them for Granted</span></strong></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an repeatedly reminds the believers to remember Allah&#8217;s blessings.</span></p><p><span>We often notice blessings only when they are taken away. Health, family, safety, food, faith, guidance, and the ability to begin another day can become so familiar that we forget they are gifts.</span></p><p><em><span>Gratitude is not only saying Alhamdulillah. It is also using Allah&#8217;s blessings responsibly.</span></em></p><p><em><span>If Allah has given us knowledge, we should use it to benefit others.</span></em></p><p><em><span>If Allah has given us wealth, we should share from it.</span></em></p><p><em><span>If Allah has given us influence, we should not misuse it.</span></em></p><p><em><span>If Allah has given us faith, we should allow it to improve our character.</span></em></p><p><strong><span>6. Obedience Is Not Always Easy</span></strong></p><p><span>The story of Prophet Musa &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; and his people teaches us about courage, trust, and obedience.</span></p><p><span>When they were asked to enter the land Allah had promised them, many became afraid. They focused on the strength of the people before them and forgot the power and promise of Allah.</span></p><p><span>Two faithful men encouraged them to trust Allah and move forward. But fear caused many of them to refuse.</span></p><p><span>This story teaches us that fear can sometimes make us forget what Allah has already done for us.</span></p><p><span>There may be moments when we know what is right, but the path feels difficult. We may hesitate because we are afraid of failure, uncertainty, or what others may think.</span></p><p><em><span>Juz 6 reminds us that faith requires trust and courage. We should take the right steps while relying on Allah.</span></em></p><p><strong><span>7. The Story of the Two Sons of Adam</span></strong></p><p><span>The story of the two sons of Adam teaches us about jealousy, anger, sincerity, and the value of human life.</span></p><p><span>One brother&#8217;s offering was accepted because it came with righteousness, while the other allowed jealousy to grow into violence.</span></p><p><span>This story shows how dangerous it can be when jealousy is left unchecked.</span></p><p><span>Jealousy may begin as a small feeling, but if we feed it, it can become resentment, hatred, and harmful actions.</span></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an teaches that Allah accepts from those who are mindful of Him. The value of an action is not only in what we do but also in the sincerity and righteousness behind it.</span></p><p><em><span>The story also reminds us of the sacred value of human life and the serious consequences of violence and corruption.</span></em></p><p><strong><span>8. Do Not Change Allah&#8217;s Guidance for Personal Gain</span></strong></p><p><span>Juz 6 speaks about people who knew the guidance of Allah but changed, ignored, or misused it for worldly benefit.</span></p><p><span>This is a warning for all of us.</span></p><p><span>Knowledge is a trust. We should not use religion to gain power, status, money, or control over others.</span></p><p><span>We should also be careful not to follow only those teachings that are convenient while ignoring the guidance that asks us to change.</span></p><p><em><span>Sometimes the hardest part of faith is not understanding what Allah wants from us. It is being willing to follow it when it challenges our habits, desires, or personal interests.</span></em></p><p><strong><span>9. True Faith Must Be Reflected in Our Actions</span></strong></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an reminds us that belief is not only something we claim. It should be visible in our conduct.</span></p><p><span>Faith should make us:</span></p><ul><li><p><span>More truthful</span></p></li><li><p><span>More trustworthy</span></p></li><li><p><span>More just</span></p></li><li><p><span>More grateful</span></p></li><li><p><span>More compassionate</span></p></li><li><p><span>More responsible</span></p></li><li><p><span>More willing to correct ourselves</span></p></li></ul><p><em><span>The Qur&#8217;an does not separate belief from character. What we believe should influence how we speak, how we treat others, and how we fulfil our responsibilities.</span></em></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nchf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee81aad3-5c11-4a37-aa5d-749abbb01678_2048x2048.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nchf!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee81aad3-5c11-4a37-aa5d-749abbb01678_2048x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nchf!, 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee81aad3-5c11-4a37-aa5d-749abbb01678_2048x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nchf!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee81aad3-5c11-4a37-aa5d-749abbb01678_2048x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nchf!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee81aad3-5c11-4a37-aa5d-749abbb01678_2048x2048.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nchf!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee81aad3-5c11-4a37-aa5d-749abbb01678_2048x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p><strong><span>Pause and Reflect</span></strong></p><p><span>If Allah were to ask us today about the promises and trusts He has placed in our care, our family, our words, our work, our relationships, and our worship, would we be able to say that we fulfilled them with honesty and sincerity?</span></p><p><span>When we speak about someone who has hurt us, do we remain truthful and fair?</span></p><p><span>When we make a promise, do people feel secure because they know they can trust us?</span></p><p><span>When we disagree with someone, do we still treat them with justice?</span></p><p><span>And when Allah&#8217;s guidance asks us to change, do we listen with an open heart, or do we follow only what is easy for us?</span></p><p><strong><span>One Verse to Carry This Week</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>&#8220;Be just. That is nearer to righteousness.&#8221;</span></strong><span><br></span><em><span>(Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah 5:8)</span></em></p><p><span>This verse reminds us that justice is not only for courts, leaders, or governments.</span></p><p><span>Justice begins with each one of us.</span></p><p><span>It begins in our homes, our conversations, our workplaces, our friendships, and even in those moments when only Allah knows what is in our hearts.</span></p><p><strong><span>Key Takeaways from Juz 6</span></strong></p><p><span>Juz 6 teaches us to speak responsibly, seek justice without becoming unjust, and fulfil every promise and trust. We are reminded to believe in all of Allah&#8217;s messengers, remain fair even when we are hurt, and show gratitude by using Allah&#8217;s blessings responsibly. We should not allow fear to stop us from doing what is right or let jealousy grow into resentment and harmful actions. The Juz also warns us not to use religious knowledge for personal gain and reminds us that true faith should be reflected in our honesty, compassion, justice, trustworthiness, and responsibility.</span></p><p><strong><span>A Prayer from My Heart</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Ya Allah,</span></strong><span> as we continue our journey through Quran , help us carry its guidance into our hearts and lives. Teach us to honour our promises, protect the trusts You have given us, and speak words that bring truth, kindness, and goodness. When we are hurt, give us the strength to seek justice without becoming unjust, and when fear holds us back, remind us that Your power is greater than every difficulty. Protect our hearts from jealousy, pride, anger, and resentment, and make us grateful for every blessing You have given us. Ya Allah, make our faith visible through our honesty, compassion, patience, fairness, and the way we treat others. Do not let us read the Qur&#8217;an without being changed by it. Let its words guide us when we are uncertain, comfort us when we are hurting, strengthen us when we are weak, and bring us closer to You with every verse we read. Forgive our shortcomings, accept our efforts, guide our families, and help us live by Your words with sincerity and love.</span></p><p><span> </span><strong><span>Ameen, Ya Rabb al-&#8216;Alamin.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Warmth,</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Saira.</span></strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[JUZ 5وَ الْمُحْصَنْتُ Where Justice Meets Mercy]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lessons on Justice, Trust, Family, and Sincere Faith.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-5-where-justice-meets-mercy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-5-where-justice-meets-mercy</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:11:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0UMd!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F190dd033-a794-4e9d-ab47-dfeab9494df8_2732x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Asalamualikum dear Readers,</p><p>Welcome  on our journey through Quran Juz 5.It <span>consists entirely of </span><strong><span>Surah An-Nisa (4:24&#8211;147)</span></strong><span>. It focuses on building a just and compassionate society through strong families, honesty, fairness, sincere worship, and complete trust in Allah.</span></p><p><span>The topic discussed in this Juz remain as relevant today as they were when they were revealed, reminding us that every act of justice, kindness, and sincerity is an act of worship.</span></p><p><span>As I was researching this Juz, I realized that justice is not limited to courts or rulers. Although it is becoming harder to achieve justice in the courts due to increasing corruption&#128546;,it begins with each one of us&#8212;in our homes, our conversations, our workplaces, and even in those moments when only Allah knows what is in our hearts.</span></p><p><span>This made me think that faith is not measured only by the prayers we offer, but also by the honesty we uphold, the kindness we show, the promises we keep, and the mercy we extend to others. .</span><strong><span>Every act of justice, no matter how small, is beloved to Allah.</span></strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0UMd!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F190dd033-a794-4e9d-ab47-dfeab9494df8_2732x2048.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0UMd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F190dd033-a794-4e9d-ab47-dfeab9494df8_2732x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p><span>Important topics discussed in Juz 5</span></p><p><strong><span>1. Marriage is a Sacred Trust</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Reference:</span></strong><span> Surah An-Nisa (4:24&#8211;35)</span></p><p><span>Allah teaches that marriage is built upon mutual respect, compassion, responsibility, and kindness. When difficulties arise, He encourages patience, communication, and reconciliation before conflict.</span></p><p><em><strong><span>Healthy families are not built by perfection; they are built by mercy, forgiveness, and the sincere desire to please Allah.</span></strong></em></p><p><strong><span>2. Justice is the Foundation of Faith</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>References:</span></strong><span> Surah An-Nisa (4:58, 4:135)</span></p><p><span>Allah commands us to return every trust to its rightful owner and to judge with complete fairness.</span></p><blockquote><p><strong><span>&#8220;Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people, judge with justice.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>(Surah An-Nisa 4:58)</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><span>He also reminds us to stand firmly for justice, even if it is against ourselves or those closest to us.</span></p><p><strong><span>Justice is not based on emotions or personal interests. It is an act of obedience to Allah.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>3. Return to Allah&#8217;s Guidance</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Reference:</span></strong><span> Surah An-Nisa (4:59)</span></p><p><span>Whenever disagreements arise, Allah instructs us to return to the Qur&#8217;an and the authentic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad &#65018;.</span></p><p><strong><span>The Qur&#8217;an is our greatest source of guidance. The closer we stay to it, the clearer our path becomes.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>4. Strength During Trials</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Reference:</span></strong><span> Surah An-Nisa (4:71&#8211;104)</span></p><p><span>Life will always bring challenges, but Allah reminds believers to remain patient, prepared, courageous, and steadfast while placing complete trust in Him.</span></p><p><strong><span>Faith does not remove every hardship, but it gives us the strength to face them with hope.&#129330;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>5. Allah&#8217;s Mercy is Always Open</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Reference:</span></strong><span> Surah An-Nisa (4:110)</span></p><p><span>Allah lovingly reassures us that sincere repentance is always accepted.</span></p><blockquote><p><strong><span>&#8220;Whoever does wrong or wrongs himself then seeks Allah&#8217;s forgiveness will find Allah All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>(Surah An-Nisa 4:110)</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><em><strong><span>No matter how many times we fall, Allah&#8217;s door of mercy remains open as long as we sincerely return to Him.</span></strong></em></p><p><strong><span>6. Sincerity Above All</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Reference:</span></strong><span> Surah An-Nisa (4:138&#8211;147)</span></p><p><span>The Juz concludes by warning against hypocrisy and encouraging believers to remain sincere in both their faith and their actions.</span></p><p><em><strong><span>Allah knows what lies within every heart. Our sincerity matters far more than appearances.</span></strong></em></p><p><strong>Pause and Think</strong></p><p>This Juz challenged us to think about the trusts Allah has placed in our lives . Are we fair in our dealings? Do We keep our promises? Do We seek Allah&#8217;s guidance before making decisions? Every verse reminds us that true faith is lived through our actions.I wish these reflections inspire us to draw closer to Allah and strive to become better Muslim , one step at a time.</p><p><strong><span>&#129330; A Prayer </span></strong></p><p><strong>O Allah, let the Qur&#8217;an transform my heart before it transforms my words. Make me among those who fulfill every trust with honesty, stand firmly for justice with courage, and treat others with kindness and compassion. Fill my heart with sincerity, forgive my shortcomings, and never allow me to lose hope in Your infinite mercy. Bless my family with love, peace, and barakah, and guide us to live by the teachings of the Qur&#8217;an every day. Ameen.</strong></p><p><strong>Warmth ,</strong></p><p><strong>Saira.</strong></p><p><strong><span>Qur&#8217;anic References</span></strong></p><ul><li><p><span>Surah An-Nisa 4:24&#8211;35 &#8212; Marriage and family responsibilities</span></p></li><li><p><span>Surah An-Nisa 4:58 &#8212; Trusts and justice</span></p></li><li><p><span>Surah An-Nisa 4:59 &#8212; Obedience to Allah and His Messenger &#65018;</span></p></li><li><p><span>Surah An-Nisa 4:71&#8211;104 &#8212; Patience and steadfastness</span></p></li><li><p><span>Surah An-Nisa 4:110 &#8212; Repentance and forgiveness</span></p></li><li><p><span>Surah An-Nisa 4:135 &#8212; Standing firmly for justice</span></p></li><li><p><span>Surah An-Nisa 4:138&#8211;147 &#8212; Warning against hypocrisy</span></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Lan Tanaalul Birra لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَ ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Path to True Righteousness]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/lan-tanaalul-birra</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/lan-tanaalul-birra</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 19:30:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EYy7!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe587b763-8d73-433b-bf0b-e6f087d6b9c9_4096x1714.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>Today I try to summarize Juz number 4 as simple as I can to understand everyone.</p><p></p><p><em>&#8220;You will never attain true righteousness until you spend from that which you love.&#8221;</em>(3:92)</p><p></p><p>This verse asks a question of every heart: <em>What do I hold onto more tightly than I hold onto Allah?</em></p><p>Giving what is easy requires little sacrifice. But giving what we love&#8212;our wealth, our comfort, our time, our pride, or even our desire to always be right&#8212;purifies the heart. It teaches us that everything we possess is a trust from Allah, not a possession to cling to.</p><p></p><p><strong>Juz&#8217; 4</strong> reminds us that righteousness is not measured by words alone. It is reflected in generosity, honesty, patience, and justice. It warns against consuming the rights of others, concealing the truth, and allowing worldly attachments to outweigh obedience to Allah.</p><p></p><p>Every act of sincere giving is an act of worship. Every sacrifice made for Allah brings us closer to <em>birr</em>&#8212;a life of goodness that begins in the heart and is reflected in our actions.</p><p></p><p>May Allah grant us hearts that give willingly, speak truthfully, uphold the rights of others, and seek His pleasure above all else.</p><p></p><p><strong>True righteousness (Birr) is not merely belief,it is demonstrated through sacrifice, obedience, justice, patience, and fulfilling the rights of Allah and His creation.Lets break it in few points:</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>&#8220;You will never attain righteousness until you spend from that which you love.&#8221;</strong></p><p><strong>(Surah Aal &#8217;Imran 3:92)</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>1. Spending What You Love</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>(3:92)</strong></p><p></p><p>This verse teaches that real generosity means giving something valuable to Allah&#8217;s cause, not merely what is left over.</p><p>When this verse was revealed,</p><p></p><p><strong>Abu Talhah (&#1585;&#1590;&#1610; &#1575;&#1604;&#1604;&#1607; &#1593;&#1606;&#1607;)</strong> owned the most beloved garden in Madinah called <strong>Bayruha&#8217;</strong>.</p><p></p><p>He immediately offered it in charity.</p><p></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; replied:</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Excellent! That is profitable wealth.&#8221;</p><p></p><p>Then he advised Abu Talhah to distribute it among his relatives.</p><p></p><p><strong>Reference</strong></p><p></p><p>Sahih al-Bukhari 1461, 2752</p><p></p><p><strong>2. Allah Knows Every Charity</strong></p><p></p><p>Allah says:</p><p>&#8220;Whatever you spend, Allah knows it.&#8221;</p><p>Nothing given sincerely is ever lost.</p><p><strong>3. Jews and the Food Laws</strong></p><p>Allah corrects false claims made by some Jews that certain foods were always forbidden.</p><p>He explains that Israel (Ya&#8217;qub &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;) had prohibited some foods upon himself before the Torah.</p><p>Lesson:</p><p>Never change Allah&#8217;s religion according to personal or cultural traditions.</p><p><strong><br>4. The &#128331;:</strong></p><p><strong>It is mentioned in Juz 4</strong></p><p></p><p>&#8226; First House built for mankind</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Located at (Makkah)</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Source of blessings</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Guidance for humanity</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Hajj is obligatory for those who are able.</p><p></p><p><strong>Authentic Hadith</strong></p><p></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; said:</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Islam is built upon five&#8230;&#8221;</p><p></p><p>including Hajj.</p><p></p><p>(Bukhari &amp; Muslim)</p><p></p><p><strong>5. Hold Firmly to Allah</strong></p><p>One of the greatest verses of unity.</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Hold firmly to the Rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.&#8221;</p><p></p><p>According to Ibn Kathir,</p><p></p><p>&#8220;The Rope of Allah&#8221; means:</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Qur&#8217;an</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Islam</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Covenant of Allah</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Lessons learned</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Avoid division</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Unity comes through Qur&#8217;an and Sunnah</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Remember Allah&#8217;s blessings</p><p></p><p><strong>6. The Best Nation</strong></p><p></p><p>Allah says Muslims became the best Ummah because they:</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Forbid evil</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Believe in Allah</p><p></p><p>This honor depends on fulfilling these responsibilities.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>7. Battle of Uhud</strong>:</p><p></p><p>This is the largest topic of Juz&#8217; 4.</p><p></p><p>Allah analyzes why Muslims faced defeat.</p><p></p><p>Reasons:</p><p></p><p><strong>1. Disobedience</strong></p><p></p><p>The archers left their posts despite the Prophet&#8217;s command.</p><p></p><p>Reference:</p><p>Sahih al-Bukhari</p><p></p><p><strong>2. Love of Worldly Gain</strong></p><p>Some desired the spoils before victory.</p><p></p><p><strong>3. Losing Discipline</strong></p><p>Victory requires obedience.</p><p></p><p><strong>4. Allah Tests Believers</strong></p><p>Trials distinguish sincere believers from hypocrites.</p><p><strong>Beautiful Verse</strong></p><p>&#8220;Do not lose heart nor grieve. You will be superior if you are true believers.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Another Famous Verse</strong></p><p></p><p>&#8220;If Allah helps you, none can overcome you.&#8221;</p><p></p><p><strong>Tawakul</strong></p><p></p><p>&#8220;Upon Allah let the believers rely.&#8221;</p><p><strong>8. Martyrs are Alive</strong></p><p></p><p>One of the most comforting passages.</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Do not think those who are killed in the way of Allah are dead.&#8221;</p><p></p><p>Authentic Hadith</p><p></p><p>Their souls live in green birds beneath Allah&#8217;s Throne.</p><p></p><p>Sahih Muslim.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>9.Repeated lessons:</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>We will see ayahs on :</strong></p><p></p><p>&#8226; Sabr</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Tawakkul</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Obedience</p><p></p><p>&#8226; Repentance</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>10. Reflection on Creation</strong></p><p></p><p>Among the greatest verses about thinking.</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Indeed in the creation of the heavens and earth&#8230;&#8221;</p><p></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; used to recite these verses during night prayer.</p><p></p><p>Reference</p><p>Sahiih Muslim</p><p></p><p><strong>11. Beautiful Du&#8217;as</strong></p><p>Some of the Qur&#8217;an&#8217;s most powerful prayers.</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Our Lord, You did not create this in vain.&#8221;</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Our Lord, forgive us.&#8221;</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Our Lord, do not disgrace us.&#8221;</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Our Lord, grant us what You promised.&#8221;&#8217;</p><p></p><p><strong>12. Allah Never Wastes Good Deeds</strong></p><p></p><p>Allah promises that no righteous deed of any believer&#8212;male or female&#8212;will be lost.</p><p>A beautiful reminder of Allah&#8217;s perfect justice.</p><p><strong>13. Success is Jannah</strong></p><p></p><p>The central message of the Juz:</p><p></p><p>&#8220;Whoever is saved from the Fire and admitted into Paradise has truly succeeded.&#8221;</p><p></p><p>True success is not wealth, status, or fame&#8212;it is attaining Allah&#8217;s pleasure and Paradise.</p><p></p><p><strong>Beginning of Surah An-Nisa (4:1&#8211;23)</strong></p><p></p><p>This section establishes the foundations of a just family and society:</p><p></p><ul><li><p>Fear Allah, who created all people from a single soul (4:1).</p></li><li><p>Protect the rights and property of orphans; do not consume their wealth unjustly (4:2, 4:10).</p></li><li><p>Fairness in marriage, including the command to deal justly if marrying more than one wife (4:3).</p></li><li><p>Give women their dowries willingly as their rightful gift (4:4).</p></li><li><p>Rules of inheritance are introduced (4:7&#8211;12), affirming that both men and women have divinely assigned shares.</p></li><li><p>Marriage prohibitions are outlined, clarifying who is permanently unlawful to marry (4:22&#8211;23).</p></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><p></p><ol><li><p>True righteousness requires sacrifice, not convenience (3:92).</p></li><li><p>Give from what you love, trusting Allah&#8217;s reward.</p></li><li><p>Hold firmly to the Qur&#8217;an and Sunnah and avoid division (3:103).</p></li><li><p>Victory comes through obedience to Allah and His Messenger &#65018;.</p></li><li><p>Difficulties are tests that strengthen faith.</p></li><li><p>Reflect on Allah&#8217;s creation to deepen your relationship with Him (3:190&#8211;191).</p></li><li><p>The rights of others&#8212;especially orphans, women, and family members&#8212;are sacred and must never be violated.</p></li><li><p>Every sincere good deed is known to Allah and will be rewarded (3:195).</p></li><li><p>Real success is entering Jannah (3:185).</p></li></ol><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Authentic Tafsir References</strong></p><p></p><ul><li><p><strong>Tafsir Ibn Kathir</strong> (Surah Aal &#8217;Imran 3:92&#8211;200; Surah An-Nisa 4:1&#8211;23)</p></li><li><p><strong>Jami&#8217; al-Bayan</strong> by Imam al-Tabari</p></li><li><p><strong>Tafsir al-Sa&#8217;di</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Tafhim al-Qur&#8217;an</strong> by Abul A&#8217;la Maududi</p></li><li><p><strong>Sahih al-Bukhari</strong> (Book of Tafsir; Hadith 1461, 2752 regarding Abu Talhah&#8217;s charity)</p></li><li><p><strong>Sahih Muslim</strong> (Book of Imarah, regarding the souls of the martyrs; Book of Tahajjud regarding the Prophet &#65018; reciting the closing verses of Aal &#8217;Imran).</p></li></ul><p>I have tried my best to summarize it in a very easy way so everyone can read it without any difficulty.</p><p></p><p><strong>Dua</strong></p><p><strong>Ya Allah ,please accept our sincere efforts and forgive our shortcomings.</strong></p><p>Warmth,</p><p>Saira.</p><p class="button-wrapper" 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Messengers.&#8221;]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-3-tilka-ar-rusul</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-3-tilka-ar-rusul</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:30:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!T7cC!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb123b68d-7987-4b1f-9c51-5486ee4fbea2_1280x940.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb123b68d-7987-4b1f-9c51-5486ee4fbea2_1280x940.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!T7cC!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb123b68d-7987-4b1f-9c51-5486ee4fbea2_1280x940.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!T7cC!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb123b68d-7987-4b1f-9c51-5486ee4fbea2_1280x940.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!T7cC!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb123b68d-7987-4b1f-9c51-5486ee4fbea2_1280x940.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>We have already done with Juz1 and Juz 2.Today we will talk about Juz 3.<span>The title comes from Surah Al-Baqarah (2:253), where Allah reminds us of the noble messengers .He sent throughout history. Although they lived in different times and places, they all carried the same essential message: to worship </span><strong><span>Allah alone and follow His guidance.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Reflection:</span></strong></p><p><span>One of the most beautiful lessons of Juz 3 is that Allah&#8217;s guidance has always been consistent. From Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa (peace be upon them all) to our beloved Prophet Muhammad &#65018;, every messenger was sent with the same call: </span><strong><span>to guide people toward faith, righteousness, and submission to Allah.</span></strong></p><p><span>Human beings often differ, argue, and become divided, but Allah reminds us that the truth itself does not change. The prophets were chosen to illuminate the path back to our Creator, teaching justice, mercy, gratitude, and sincere worship.</span></p><p><span>This Juz also reminds us that </span><strong><span>faith</span></strong><span> is more than words. True belief is reflected in how we treat others, how we earn and spend our wealth, how we fulfill our responsibilities, and how we place our trust in Allah during times of ease and difficulty.</span></p><p><span>At the heart of this Juz is </span><strong><span>Ayat al-Kursi,</span></strong><span> one of the most powerful verses in the Qur&#8217;an. It reminds us that Allah&#8217;s knowledge encompasses everything, His authority extends over the heavens and the earth, and His care never diminishes. In a world filled with uncertainty, this verse offers reassurance that every affair is under the control of the Most Wise and Most Merciful.</span></p><p><span>The story of </span><strong><span>Namr&#363;d (Nimrod)</span></strong><span> and Prophet Ibrahim is one of the Qur&#8217;an&#8217;s most powerful examples of arrogance before Allah. The Qur&#8217;an gives the essential conversation, while additional details come from early Islamic historical and tafsir works. Namr&#363;d was a mighty king who became so proud of his power that he claimed divine authority. Some traditions say he even claimed to be a god.</span></p><p><span>When Ibrahim called him to worship Allah alone, Namr&#363;d challenged him.</span></p><p><strong><span>First argument: &#8220;I give life and death.&#8221;</span></strong></p><p><span>Ibrahim </span><strong><span>&#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong><span> (&#8220;peace be upon him&#8221;), said:</span></p><blockquote><p><span>&#8220;My Lord is the One who gives life and causes death.&#8221;</span></p></blockquote><p><span>Namr&#363;d tried to twist the meaning. He brought two prisoners before him. He ordered one to be executed and released the other, saying:</span></p><blockquote><p><span>&#8220;See? I give life and death.&#8221;</span></p></blockquote><p><span>But he was not truly giving life or causing death as Allah does. He was merely deciding whether someone would live or be killed.</span></p><p><strong><span>Ibrahim&#8217;s</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>&#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;</span></strong><span> (&#8220;peace be upon him&#8221;)</span><strong><span> decisive proof:</span></strong></p><p><span>Rather than continue arguing over words, Ibrahim presented an undeniable sign:</span></p><blockquote><p><span>&#8220;Allah brings the sun from the east. Bring it from the west.&#8221;</span></p></blockquote><p><span>This challenge exposed Namr&#363;d&#8217;s helplessness. If he were truly a god, he should be able to control the sun.</span></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an says:</span></p><blockquote><p><strong><span>&#8220;The disbeliever was confounded (stunned).&#8221;</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><span>He had no answer.</span></p><p><strong><span>What happened to Namr&#363;d afterward?</span></strong></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an does not describe his death.</span></p><p><span>However, authentic reports from scholars mention a well-known narration that Allah ultimately humbled him in an extraordinary way. It is reported that a tiny gnat (or mosquito-like insect) entered his nose and tormented him for years. He is said to have ordered people to strike his head because the pain was so severe, until he eventually died.</span></p><p><span>Power and wealth can lead to arrogance if they make a person forget Allah.</span></p><ul><li><p><span>Truth does not need complicated arguments. Ibrahim( peace be upon him) answered with wisdom and simple, undeniable evidence.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Human beings may possess authority, but they can never possess Allah&#8217;s absolute power over creation.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Allah can humble the mightiest ruler in ways no one expects.</span></p></li></ul><p><span>The concluding verses of Surah Al-Baqarah beautifully capture the spirit of a true Muslim : humility before Allah, recognition of our limitations, and complete reliance upon His mercy and forgiveness. They teach us that while we strive to obey Allah, we ultimately depend upon His compassion and guidance in every step of Life.</span></p><p><span>Juz 3 continues from Surah Al-Baqarah and concludes with the opening section of Surah Aal-Imran.</span></p><p><strong><span>Key takeaways</span></strong></p><ul><li><p><span>The virtues of spending in His cause.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Ayat al-Kursi and Allah&#8217;s perfect knowledge, power, and authority.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Lessons from the lives of previous prophets and messengers.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The prohibition of riba (interest) and the importance of ethical financial dealings.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The importance of documenting debts and transactions fairly.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The heartfelt supplications at the end of Surah Al-Baqarah.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The beginning of Surah Aal-Imran, affirming that theQuran was revealed after Torah and Gospel.</span></p></li></ul><p><strong><span>Essence :</span></strong></p><ol><li><p><span>All of Allah&#8217;s messengers brought the same message: worship </span><strong><span>Allah</span></strong><span> alone.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Faith is shown through our actions, not only our words.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Allah&#8217;s knowledge and power encompass everything.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Honesty and fairness in financial matters are important parts of faith.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Islam encourages justice and prohibits exploitation through riba.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Allah never burdens a soul beyond its capacity.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Sincere du&#8217;a and reliance upon Allah bring strength and comfort.</span></p></li></ol><p><span>8.Nothing is hidden from Allah,neither in the Earth nor in the Heavens.</span></p><p><strong><span>A Message from Me:</span></strong></p><p><span>As I wrote the calligraphy for </span><strong><span>Tilka Ar-Rusul</span></strong><span>, I reflected on the remarkable chain of guidance that Allah sent through His messengers. Their lives remind us that while times and circumstances change, Allah&#8217;s guidance remains constant. The same light that guided Muslims centuries ago continues to illuminate our path today through the Qur&#8217;an.</span></p><p><span>As I close this reflection on Juz 3, one truth continues in my heart: there is no god but Allah. He alone deserves our worship, our obedience, our gratitude, and our complete trust.</span></p><p><span>Throughout this Juz, Allah reminds us to live with humility, to be grateful for His countless blessings, to uphold justice, to protect the rights of others, and never to allow pride to take root in our hearts. He warns us through the stories of those who were given power but forgot the One who gave it to them. Nimrod believed that his kingdom made him great, yet before Allah, all his power amounted to nothing.</span></p><p><span>That warning is not only for kings. It is for every one of us.</span></p><p><span>Whenever we think we are better than others, whenever we wrong someone, take what is not ours, ignore or denying the rights of another person or a business partner , or become careless in our worship, we risk allowing the same arrogance to enter our hearts. In Islamic teachings, </span><strong><span>&#1594;&#1589;&#1576;</span></strong><span> is considered a serious &#1592;&#1604;&#1605; (injustice). The Qur&#8217;an repeatedly commands believers to deal justly and not consume one another&#8217;s wealth unlawfully. The Prophet &#65018; also strongly warned against taking another person&#8217;s rights, whether large or small.</span></p><p><span>Pride does not always sit on a throne. Sometimes it hides behind wealth, status, knowledge, or even our own desires.</span></p><p><span>When I look at the world around me, my heart feels heavy. We see injustice becoming ordinary, unlawful earnings becoming acceptable, the rights of others being overlooked, and many hearts drifting away from the remembrance of Allah and the five daily prayers. Yet before asking when the world will change, I must first ask myself: </span><strong><span>Has the Qur&#8217;an changed me?</span></strong></p><p><span>Perhaps that is the question every Juz leaves us with.</span></p><p><strong><span>Dua</span></strong><span>&#129330;:</span></p><p><span>May Allah make the Qur&#8217;an a light that transforms our hearts before it transforms our words. May He protect us from the arrogance of Nimrod, the tyranny of Pharaoh, and the pride that stays within our own souls. May He make us people who worship Him alone, who stand for justice, who are grateful in every circumstance, and who return to Him with humble hearts every single day.</span></p><p><span>My hope is that this reflection inspires us to deepen our connection with Allah&#8217;s words, learn from the examples of His messengers, and strive to embody the values of faith, sincerity, and trust in our daily lives.</span></p><p><em><span>The accompanying calligraphy of &#8220;Tilka Ar-Rusul&#8221; has been hand-written by me and digitally designed as part of this Qur&#8217;an journey, with each Juz reflection followed by its calligraphic artwork, celebrating the beauty of the Qur&#8217;an through both contemplation and art.</span></em></p><p><em><span>Warmth,</span></em></p><p><em><span>Saira.</span></em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Juz 2: Sayaqūl (سَيَقُولُ) ]]></title><description><![CDATA[From Obedience to Leadership: Building a Life of Faith Through Submission.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-2-sayaqul</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/juz-2-sayaqul</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:30:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>Today we will talk about second Juz (Para) of Quran.<span>The word </span><strong><span>&#8220;Sayaq&#363;l&#8221;</span></strong><span> means </span><strong><span>&#8220;They will say&#8221;</span></strong><span> or </span><strong><span>&#8220;The people will say.&#8221;</span></strong><span> It is taken from the opening verse of this Juz:</span></p><blockquote><p><em><span>&#8220;The foolish among the people will say, &#8216;What has turned them away from the direction of prayer which they used to face?&#8217;&#8221;</span></em><span> (Qur&#8217;an 2:142)</span></p></blockquote><p><span>The title reminds us that people will always have opinions, criticisms, and questions about the commands of Allah. A true Muslim remains steadfast and follows Allah&#8217;s guidance regardless of what others say.The </span><strong><span>2nd Para</span></strong><span> is called </span><strong><span>Sayaq&#363;l</span></strong><span> because of the prominent opening words.</span></p><p><span>Juz Sayaq&#363;l teaches that faith is proven through obedience. When Allah commanded the Muslims to change the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to the Ka&#8217;bah, some people questioned and criticized this change. Yet the Muslims submitted without hesitation because they trusted Allah completely.</span></p><p><span>This Juz reminds us that Islam is not merely about understanding every wisdom behind Allah&#8217;s commands. It is about trusting the One whose wisdom is perfect. The companions showed that true faith means saying, </span><em><span>&#8220;We hear and we obey.&#8221;</span></em></p><p><span>Allah also reminds us that the Muslim Ummah has been chosen as a balanced nation, entrusted with carrying His message to humanity. This honor comes with responsibility: to uphold justice, mercy, truth, and good character.</span></p><p><span>Throughout this Juz, Allah encourages generosity, patience, gratitude, remembrance of Him, and reliance upon Him during trials. The believer&#8217;s strength is not found in wealth or status, but in a heart connected to Allah through faith and sincere worship.</span></p><p><span>Juz Sayaq&#363;l covers </span><strong><span>Surah Al-Baqarah (2:142-252)</span></strong><span> and includes several important things:</span></p><ul><li><p><span>The change of the </span><strong><span>Qiblah</span></strong><span> from Jerusalem to the </span><strong><span>Kaaba</span></strong><span>.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The identity and mission of the Muslim Ummah as a balanced nation.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The importance of patience, prayer, and remembrance of Allah.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Commands regarding charity and spending in Allah&#8217;s cause.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Laws related to fasting in the month of Ramadan.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Guidance on Hajj and worship.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Teachings about family life, marriage, divorce, and justice.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Warnings against consuming wealth unjustly.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The story of </span><strong><span>Talut</span></strong><span> and </span><strong><span>Dawud</span></strong><span>, demonstrating that victory comes through faith and trust in Allah, not numbers or worldly power.</span></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg" width="1456" height="1091" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1091,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:318125,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/204730845?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nE4B!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce2f53f0-5e82-4a3d-980b-c69b0c619efb_2732x2048.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">caption...<strong><span>Sayaq&#363;l (&#1587;&#1614;&#1610;&#1614;&#1602;&#1615;&#1608;&#1604;&#1615;)</span></strong></figcaption></figure></div><p><span>.</span></p></li></ul><p><strong><span>Key Takeaway</span></strong></p><p><span>When Allah&#8217;s guidance becomes clear, our role is not to follow public opinion but to follow His command. Success belongs to those who trust Allah, obey Him sincerely, and remain steadfast even when others question their path.</span></p><p><span>You will often hear many voices telling you what is right, fashionable, or successful. Juz Sayaq&#363;l teaches that true confidence comes from following Allah&#8217;s guidance. Stay connected to the Qur&#8217;an, pray regularly, be kind and generous, and remember that pleasing Allah is more important than pleasing people.</span></p><p><span>The reflection I have written on Juz 2 is based on my own understanding, along with what I have learned through my study of the Qur&#8217;an. I hope you all find it meaningful and beneficial.</span></p><p><strong><span>When the world says one thing and Allah says another, choose Allah. He gave us the free will to choose.That choice is the path to honor, purpose, and lasting success.May Allah except our prayers and forgive all of us. Ameen .</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Warmth,</span></strong></p><p><strong><span>Saira.</span></strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alif Laam Meem]]></title><description><![CDATA[Juz 1:Qur&#8217;an begins by directing sincere hearts toward certainty, faith, and God-consciousness.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/alif-laam-meem</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/alif-laam-meem</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:30:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gd6a!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa120a27f-8442-4485-9e33-d72dfd6400f0_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gd6a!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa120a27f-8442-4485-9e33-d72dfd6400f0_2048x2048.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gd6a!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa120a27f-8442-4485-9e33-d72dfd6400f0_2048x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gd6a!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa120a27f-8442-4485-9e33-d72dfd6400f0_2048x2048.png" width="1456" height="1456" 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa120a27f-8442-4485-9e33-d72dfd6400f0_2048x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gd6a!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa120a27f-8442-4485-9e33-d72dfd6400f0_2048x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gd6a!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa120a27f-8442-4485-9e33-d72dfd6400f0_2048x2048.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gd6a!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa120a27f-8442-4485-9e33-d72dfd6400f0_2048x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p><span>Have you ever thought from where we got these names of the Juz of Quran.</span></p><p><span>The names commonly associated with each Juz (Para) of the Qur&#8217;an are not official names given by Allah or the Prophet &#65018;. Most of them come from a distinctive word or phrase that appears near the beginning of that Juz. However, these names often hint at a deeper theme that runs through the section.</span></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an is divided into 30 parts, called </span><em><span>ajza</span></em><span> (singular: </span><em><span>juz</span></em><span>), to make recitation and study easier. Juz 1 is simply the first of these thirty sections. It begins with </span><strong><span>Surah Al-Fatihah</span></strong><span> and continues through </span><strong><span>Surah Al-Baqarah</span></strong><span> up to verse 141.</span></p><p><strong><span>What does &#8220;Alif Lam Meem&#8221; mean?</span></strong></p><p><span>Juz 1 opens with the mysterious letters </span><strong><span>Alif Lam Meem (&#1575;&#1604;&#1605;)</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>These are known as </span><em><span>Huruf al-Muqatta&#8217;at</span></em><span> (disjointed letters). Their exact meaning was not explained by the Prophet &#65018;, and the strongest scholarly position is that </span><strong><span>Allah knows their full meaning best</span></strong><span>. They remind us that while the Qur&#8217;an is clear guidance, some aspects of divine knowledge remain beyond human understanding.</span></p><p><span>Immediately after these letters, Allah declares:</span></p><p><span>&#8220;This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.&#8221;</span></p><p><span>This teaches us that faith begins with humility before Allah&#8217;s knowledge and trust in His guidance.</span></p><p><span>Alif L&#257;m M&#299;m stands at the threshold of the Qur&#8217;an like an invitation. It calls us to enter this divine Book with wonder, humility, and faith. Before we seek to understand every mystery, we are reminded to submit to the One whose knowledge encompasses all things. In doing so, the Qur&#8217;an becomes not only a book we read, but a guide that transforms our hearts and lives.</span></p><p><strong><span>Summary of Juz 1</span></strong></p><p>It recounts the creation of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him), highlighting humanity&#8217;s role as Allah&#8217;s vicegerent on earth and the ongoing struggle between obedience and temptation. It reminds us that <strong>repentance</strong> remains open to those who sincerely turn back to Allah.</p><p><span>A significant portion of the juz&#8217; focuses on  (Bani Israeel) recalling Allah&#8217;s countless favors upon them and the lessons learned from their responses to divine guidance. Through these stories, we are encouraged to remain grateful, steadfast, and obedient.</span></p><p><span>The juz&#8217; also emphasizes the importance of worship, patience, prayer, and trust in Allah. It calls humanity to recognize the signs of Allah in creation and to worship Him alone. The closing verses of this juz&#8217; mark the transition of leadership from the descendants of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to a community built upon faith, submission, and righteousness.</span></p><p><span>The central message of Juz&#8217; 1 is that true guidance belongs to those who approach Allah with sincerity, humility, and a willingness to submit to His commands. Through faith, gratitude, patience, and obedience, believers find the path that leads to success in this world and the Hereafter.Lets make it easy for understanding it better:</span></p><p><strong><span>1. The Prayer for Guidance</span></strong></p><p><span>Juz 1 begins with </span><strong><span>Surah Al-Fatihah</span></strong><span>, where believers ask:</span></p><p><span>&#8220;Guide us to the straight path.&#8221;</span></p><p><span>The rest of the Qur&#8217;an is the answer to this prayer.</span></p><p><strong><span>2. Three Types of People</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah describes:</span></p><ul><li><p><span>The believers who accept guidance.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The disbelievers who reject it.</span></p></li><li><p><span>The hypocrites who outwardly claim faith while concealing disbelief.</span></p></li></ul><p><strong><span>3. The Story of Adam (AS)</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah teaches the creation of Adam (AS), the honor given to humanity, and the danger of pride through the refusal of Iblis to obey Allah.</span></p><p><strong><span>4. Lessons from Bani Israel</span></strong></p><p><span>A major portion of Juz 1 reminds the Children of Israel of Allah&#8217;s favors upon them and warns against:</span></p><ul><li><p><span>Forgetting Allah&#8217;s blessings.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Distorting truth.</span></p></li><li><p><span>Following desires instead of revelation.</span></p></li></ul><p><strong><span>5. The Example of Ibrahim (AS)</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah highlights the sincerity, obedience, and devotion of Ibrahim (AS), who submitted completely to Allah and became a model for all believers.</span></p><p></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><p><strong>Trust Allah&#8217;s Guidance</strong></p><p>Human beings need divine guidance just as they need food and water.</p><p><strong>Be Humble</strong></p><p>&#8220;Alif Lam Meem&#8221; reminds us that not everything can be understood through human intellect alone.</p><p><strong>Avoid Hypocrisy</strong></p><p>Faith should be reflected in both belief and action.</p><p><strong>Learn from Past Nations</strong></p><p>The mistakes of previous communities are lessons for us, not merely historical accounts.</p><p><strong>Submit Like Ibrahim (AS)</strong></p><p>True success comes from sincere obedience and trust in Allah, even when the wisdom behind a command is not immediately apparent.</p><p><strong><span>The Qur&#8217;an is our guide.</span></strong></p><p><span>Just as we use maps to find our way, the Qur&#8217;an guides us through life&#8217;s challenges and decisions. Make it a companion in your daily life.</span></p><p><span> </span><strong><span>Faith begins with trust in Allah.</span></strong></p><p><span>The believers described in the opening verses trust Allah even when they cannot see the outcome. True faith means believing in Allah&#8217;s wisdom and plan.</span></p><p><span> </span><strong><span>Prayer strengthens the heart.</span></strong></p><p><span>Allah repeatedly emphasizes salah because it connects us directly to Him. Prayer is not just an obligation, it is a source of strength and peace.</span></p><p><span> </span><strong><span>Be grateful for Allah&#8217;s blessings.</span></strong></p><p><span>The stories of the Children of Israel remind us not to take Allah&#8217;s favors for granted. Gratitude increases blessings and softens the heart.</span></p><p><span> </span><strong><span>Learn from the mistakes of others.</span></strong></p><p><span>The Qur&#8217;an shares the stories of previous nations so that we can avoid their errors and follow the path of obedience.</span></p><p><span> </span><strong><span>Repentance is always possible.</span></strong></p><p><span>The story of Prophet Adam ( &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; ) teaches us that when we make mistakes, we should turn back to Allah with sincerity and hope.</span></p><p><span> </span><strong><span>True success comes through obedience to Allah.</span></strong></p><p><span>The first juz&#8217; teaches that guidance, honor, and success belong to those who believe, worship sincerely, and follow Allah&#8217;s commands.Finally,Juz 1 also teaches that the journey of faith begins with a sincere request for guidance and a willingness to follow it. The believer is not the one who knows everything, but the one who trusts Allah, seeks knowledge with humility, learns from the lessons of the past, and strives to submit wholeheartedly like Ibrahim (AS). The opening words, </span><em><span>Alif Lam Meem</span></em><span>, remind us that Allah&#8217;s knowledge is perfect while ours is limited, and that true guidance comes from turning to Him with sincerity.</span></p><p><span>This is my humble research and personal reflection, shared with my readers.May Allah accept our prayers and forgive our shortcomings.</span></p><p><span>Warmth,</span></p><p><strong>Saira</strong>.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Circles in Conversation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Harmony in mauve, green, and black.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/circles-in-conversation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/circles-in-conversation</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:34:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png" width="1456" height="1456" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1456,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:5546265,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/201418789?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!TO08!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8bb34a11-18e8-47cb-83e8-4299ad74339b_2048x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>I started the process with some bubbles and eclipses.I placed these across multiple layers.I kept going through the process and built six layers,allowing the shapes to interact and create depth and movement. The soft mauve tones blend with muted green, while black adds contrast and structure throughout the piece.</p><p>As the layers developed, some circles moved into the background while others came forward, creating a sense of rhythm across the surface. The transparent overlaps formed unexpected textures and new shapes, giving the artwork a feeling of connection and balance.</p><p>In this piece I tried to explore repetition contrast and the beauty that emerges when simple elements are allowed to interact freely.</p><p>Sometimes the most interesting compositions grow from the repetition of a single shape. Through layering, contrast, and colour, simple circles can create depth, movement, and visual harmony.</p><p>Warmth,</p><p>Saira.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Wound We Carry, The Cycles We Break for a Better Future:]]></title><description><![CDATA[When Absence Leaves a Lasting Mark&#128546;&#129301;]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/the-wound-we-carry-the-cycles-we</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/the-wound-we-carry-the-cycles-we</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 07:30:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ocwl!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0eaaaba-d0fb-4c89-9702-adb0cd3611aa_2732x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0eaaaba-d0fb-4c89-9702-adb0cd3611aa_2732x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ocwl!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0eaaaba-d0fb-4c89-9702-adb0cd3611aa_2732x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ocwl!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0eaaaba-d0fb-4c89-9702-adb0cd3611aa_2732x2048.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ocwl!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0eaaaba-d0fb-4c89-9702-adb0cd3611aa_2732x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">We break the cycle through Mercy</figcaption></figure></div><p>&nbsp;<span>Asalamualikum,</span></p><p><span>Today I want to pen down on a very sensitive issue of our society. I have seen such things in many families. Wounded children and wounded parents as well. Today I will try to reflect on children&#8217;s perspective through the </span><strong><span>Quran</span></strong><span> and </span><strong><span>Hadith</span></strong><span>.</span></p><p><span>Some wounds are visible. Others remain hidden beneath years of smiles, achievements, and daily routines.</span></p><p><span>Among the deepest wounds children can carry are those left by a father or sometimes by a mother who was physically present but emotionally absent, or one who failed to provide the care, protection, support, and affection that children needed.</span></p><p>Children do not enter this world asking for perfection. They simply long to feel safe, valued, protected, and loved by the people Allah entrusted with their care.</p><p>The Qur&#8217;an places great responsibility upon parents, especially fathers. Allah says:</p><blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;Upon the father is the mother&#8217;s provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable.&#8221;</strong></p><p><em>(Qur&#8217;an 2:233)</em></p></blockquote><p>This verse reminds us that fatherhood is not merely a title. It is a trust. A father is responsible for providing, protecting, and caring for his family.</p><p>Allah also says:</p><blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;And let those fear Allah who, if they left behind weak offspring, would be concerned for them. So let them fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.&#8221;</strong></p><p><em>(Qur&#8217;an 4:9)</em></p></blockquote><p>The Qur&#8217;an consistently calls Muslims to protect the vulnerable, and few are more vulnerable than children who depend upon their parents for love, guidance, and security.</p><p>Allah further reminds believers:</p><blockquote><p><strong>&#1610;&#1614;&#1575; &#1571;&#1614;&#1610;&#1615;&#1617;&#1607;&#1614;&#1575; &#1575;&#1604;&#1614;&#1617;&#1584;&#1616;&#1610;&#1606;&#1614; &#1570;&#1605;&#1614;&#1606;&#1615;&#1608;&#1575; &#1602;&#1615;&#1608;&#1575; &#1571;&#1614;&#1606;&#1618;&#1601;&#1615;&#1587;&#1614;&#1603;&#1615;&#1605;&#1618; &#1608;&#1614;&#1571;&#1614;&#1607;&#1618;&#1604;&#1616;&#1610;&#1603;&#1615;&#1605;&#1618; &#1606;&#1614;&#1575;&#1585;&#1611;&#1575; &#1608;&#1614;&#1602;&#1615;&#1608;&#1583;&#1615;&#1607;&#1614;&#1575; &#1575;&#1604;&#1606;&#1614;&#1617;&#1575;&#1587;&#1615; &#1608;&#1614;&#1575;&#1604;&#1618;&#1581;&#1616;&#1580;&#1614;&#1575;&#1585;&#1614;&#1577;&#1615;</strong></p><p><strong>&#8220;O you who believe! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones&#8230;&#8221;</strong></p><p><em>(Qur&#8217;an 66:6)</em></p></blockquote><p>This command extends beyond material provision. Parents are entrusted with nurturing the hearts, character, faith, and emotional well-being of their children. Protection includes guidance, compassion, presence, and sincere care. A father&#8217;s responsibility is not only to provide for a child&#8217;s body, but also to protect and nurture their heart, character, and faith.</p><p>The Prophet &#65018; further emphasised the importance of family when he said:</p><blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.&#8221;</strong></p></blockquote><p>True strength is not measured by authority, wealth, or reputation. It is measured by how we treat those who depend on us.</p><p>Yet many children grow up carrying the ache of what they never received. They miss the conversations that never happened, the encouragement that was never given, the protection that never came, and the affection they watched other children receive so naturally.</p><p>As adults, these children often find themselves grieving a childhood they can never revisit. For some, the wounds take a different form.</p><p>Not every child who grows up without emotional support openly expresses their pain. Some learn to bury it so deeply that even they no longer recognise it.</p><p>They become highly productive, ambitious, and driven. They pour themselves into careers, achievements, financial success, and endless responsibilities. From the outside, they may appear strong and successful. Yet beneath that success may be a child still searching for the security, validation, and acceptance they never fully received.&#128546;</p><p>Work becomes a refuge. Achievement becomes a source of worth. Busyness becomes a way to avoid most of our emotions.</p><p>Over time, life can begin to feel mechanical. Days become a series of tasks to complete, goals to achieve, and responsibilities to fulfil. They learn how to survive, but not always how to experience <strong>joy</strong>. They know how to earn a living, but sometimes struggle to <strong>truly live.</strong></p><p>This grief is real.</p><p>It is natural to mourn what was lost or missed in the past.</p><p>But there comes a moment when a person must ask a difficult question:</p><p><strong>Will I spend the rest of my life reliving these wounds, or will I use them to build something different?</strong></p><p>The pain of the past should never be denied, but neither should it become the future.</p><p>The child who was neglected can become the parent who listens.</p><p>The child who was unheard can become the adult who speaks with kindness.</p><p>The child who longed for encouragement can become the one who uplifts others.</p><p>Breaking a cycle does not erase the hurt. It transforms it.</p><p>What happened in childhood may explain some of our struggles, but it does not have to define the rest of our lives.</p><p><strong>Allah</strong> never wastes our hardships. Even painful experiences can become a source of wisdom, empathy, and growth. The believer strives not to pass wounds forward but to turn them into mercy.</p><p>If your childhood carried disappointment or neglect, acknowledge the pain honestly. Grieve what was lost. Pray for healing. Seek support when needed. But do not allow the failures of others to determine the person you will become.</p><p>While we cannot rewrite our childhood, we can choose how we respond to it. We can become the parents, mentors, and caregivers we once needed ourselves. One of the greatest acts of healing is to break harmful cycles and replace them with mercy, patience, and love.</p><p>No one can replace the past&#8230;&#8230;.</p><p>But with Allah&#8217;s help, we can write a different future.</p><p>And perhaps one of the greatest victories is this:</p><p><strong>The cycle that wounded us ends with us:</strong></p><p>The love we did not receive becomes the love we give.</p><p>The care we longed for becomes the care we offer.</p><p>The encouragement we never heard becomes the encouragement we give to another child.</p><p>And the person we once were finally finds peace, not because the past changed, but because we chose not to repeat it.</p><p><strong>A Prayer</strong></p><p><strong>O Allah, heal the hearts of those who carry wounds from their childhood. Grant them patience, wisdom, and peace. Help them forgive where forgiveness is possible, protect them from repeating harmful cycles, and make them a source of mercy for future generations.</strong></p><p><strong>O Allah, help all of the parents to fulfil the trust You have placed upon them. Make our homes places of mercy, compassion, understanding, care, love, and faith. Allow us to leave behind legacies of love rather than legacies of pain&#8230;O Allah please forgive all of us as children, as parents, and as spouses, because we all are human beings&#8230;.</strong></p><p><strong>Warmth,</strong></p><p><strong>Saira.</strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Provision beyond our imagination ]]></title><description><![CDATA[When the path seems closed, Allah opens doors unseen and provides from beyond our expectations.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/the-promise-of-taqwa</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/the-promise-of-taqwa</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:31:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Roj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5a1bada9-ebf4-4d82-a854-bdd074804984_2048x2048.png" length="0" 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8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>Today I am sharing this ayah;<strong>&#8220;And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make for them a way out and provide for them from where they do not expect.&#8221;</strong><br><em>(Surah At-Talaq 65:2-3)</em></p><p><strong>Reflection</strong></p><p>One of the most beautiful lessons in the Qur&#8217;an is that Allah does not ask us to control every outcome. He asks us to remain conscious of Him.</p><p>We often spend our days trying to solve every problem ourselves, searching for answers, calculating possibilities, and worrying about what lies ahead. Yet this verse gently reminds us that the greatest source of relief is not our ability to foresee every path, but our willingness to walk the path of taqwa.</p><p>When a person chooses Allah in moments of uncertainty, strives to obey Him, and places their trust in Him even when the future is unclear, Allah promises something remarkable: <strong>He creates a way out.</strong> Not always in the way we expect, and not always in the timing we desire, but in the way that carries His wisdom and mercy.</p><p>Then comes an even greater promise. Allah provides from where we could never have imagined. A door opens that was never visible. Help arrives from an unexpected source. A hardship becomes the means to a blessing. What seemed impossible begins to unfold by Allah&#8217;s command.</p><p>This verse teaches us that while we must make every sincere effort, our hearts should never become dependent on our plans alone. Sustenance, ease, and solutions ultimately come from Allah. He is the One who sees what we cannot see and knows what we do not know.</p><p>Perhaps this is why Allah links provision to taqwa. When the heart remains connected to Him, it learns that true security is not found in what we possess, but in the One who provides.</p><p><strong>Allah has given us sustenance as a blessing, and He has placed a great wisdom in it. While we must strive and work hard, when we live with taqwa and trust in Him, He opens doors we could never have opened ourselves. His provision reaches us in ways beyond our imagination, reminding us that He is truly the Best of Providers.</strong></p><p><strong>I personally  experience it .What is your experience about it.</strong></p><p><strong>Warmth,</strong></p><p><strong>Saira.</strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Layers of Tides in an abstract manner ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A study of tides movement, rhythm, and balance.]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/layers-of-tides-in-an-abstract-manner</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/layers-of-tides-in-an-abstract-manner</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:31:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png" width="1456" height="1091" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1091,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:5093068,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/201789932?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NmXd!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fb548bc-05d1-4bc6-9c91-4ac8b11db434_2732x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Abstract tides </figcaption></figure></div><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>In this art work I have tried to explore the meeting point between movement and structure. Flowing layers travel across the composition like shifting horizons, gentle waves, or landscapes constantly being reshaped by time. Alongside them, repeating vertical lines create rhythm and stability, reminding us that even within change there is order.</p><p>I use warm ochre, deep charcoal, soft creams, and muted neutrals tried to bring an earthy presence to the work, grounding its movement while allowing each layer to emerge and recede in its own way. The contrast between fluid forms and structured patterns reflects a truth we often encounter in life: growth rarely moves in a straight line. It unfolds through seasons, transitions, and moments that seem disconnected until they reveal a larger pattern.</p><p>For me, this artwork is a study of balance. It is about allowing movement without losing direction, embracing change without letting go of what anchors us, and recognizing that both structure and freedom have a place in the journey. Every layer contributes to the whole, creating a visual rhythm that invites the eye to wander, pause, and discover new connections.</p><p><strong>Key Takeaway:</strong><br>Life often unfolds between movement and structure. When we learn to embrace both, we begin to see that every season, every shift, and every layer contributes to a greater sense of balance and meaning.</p><p>Warmth,</p><p>Saira.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Path of the Truthful: ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Patience, Sincerity, Generosity, and Seeking Allah&#8217;s Forgiveness]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/the-path-of-the-truthful</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/the-path-of-the-truthful</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:31:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9-fl!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F742d8a8c-a2cc-48bb-9ba1-86f3ae4e8b37_2732x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9-fl!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F742d8a8c-a2cc-48bb-9ba1-86f3ae4e8b37_2732x2048.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9-fl!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F742d8a8c-a2cc-48bb-9ba1-86f3ae4e8b37_2732x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9-fl!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F742d8a8c-a2cc-48bb-9ba1-86f3ae4e8b37_2732x2048.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9-fl!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F742d8a8c-a2cc-48bb-9ba1-86f3ae4e8b37_2732x2048.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9-fl!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F742d8a8c-a2cc-48bb-9ba1-86f3ae4e8b37_2732x2048.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9-fl!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F742d8a8c-a2cc-48bb-9ba1-86f3ae4e8b37_2732x2048.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>Today my focus will be on <strong>Surah Aal-e-Imran (3:17)</strong></p><p><em>&#8220;Those who are patient, truthful, obedient, who spend in the way of Allah, and who seek forgiveness before dawn.&#8221;</em></p><p><em>Here is the calligraphy for this ayah.I used saffron yellow and wrote with milky white.I hope you like it.</em></p><p><strong>Shan-e-Nuzool (Context of Revelation)</strong></p><p>This verse was revealed while describing the qualities of Allah&#8217;s beloved servants who seek His pleasure over the temporary attractions of this world. In the preceding verses, Allah mentions the worldly things people naturally love, then directs our attention toward something far greater: the qualities that lead to His mercy and Paradise.</p><p>Allah presents a portrait of the believers He loves most. Their greatness is not measured by wealth, status, or recognition, but by the state of their hearts and their relationship with Him.</p><p>What strikes me most about this verse is that Allah does not begin with grand achievements. He begins with <strong>sabr</strong>.</p><p>Patience is placed first because every other virtue depends upon it. We need patience to remain truthful when honesty is difficult. We need patience to stay obedient when temptations surround us. We need patience to give from our wealth when our hearts fear scarcity. We need patience to rise before dawn and stand before Allah seeking His forgiveness.</p><p>The next quality is truthfulness. A believer&#8217;s words, intentions, and actions should be in harmony. Truthfulness is not merely speaking the truth; it is living truthfully before Allah and before people.</p><p>Allah then mentions devotion and obedience. True worship is not limited to rituals. It is a life lived with the awareness that every action can become an act of worship when done sincerely for His sake.</p><p>Then comes <strong>generosity</strong>. Allah has given us sustenance as a blessing, and He has placed a great wisdom in it. He wants us to show generosity. While we must strive and work hard, when we spend from Allah&#8217;s provision on those in need, our families, the poor, and the vulnerable, He multiplies our sustenance. In this way, generosity becomes a pathway to even greater divine provision and blessing.</p><p>Finally, Allah mentions those who seek <strong>forgiveness</strong> before dawn. There is something deeply moving about a person who leaves the comfort of sleep to stand before Allah while most of the world is resting. In those moments, there is no audience, no recognition, and no praise from people. There is only a servant and their Lord. These early hours become a place where hearts are purified, burdens are lifted, and souls are renewed through sincere repentance.</p><p>This verse reminds us that a beautiful life is not built through one extraordinary deed. It is built through consistent qualities of character that Allah loves: patience, truthfulness, obedience, generosity, and humble repentance.</p><p>Key Takeaways:</p><p>* Patience is the foundation of every lasting success.</p><p>* Truthfulness should be reflected in our words, intentions, and actions.</p><p>* Worship extends beyond rituals and should shape our daily lives.</p><p>* Generosity never decreases what Allah has provided; rather, it invites greater blessings.</p><p>* The moments before Fajr are among the most precious opportunities for dua and seeking forgiveness.</p><p>* Allah values sincere character more than worldly achievements.</p><p>* Small acts of consistency can transform a person&#8217;s relationship with Allah.</p><p><strong>Closing Reflection</strong></p><p>Allah described those believers in this verse that are not extraordinary because of what they possess, but because of who they become. Their <strong>patience</strong> steadies them, their <strong>truthfulness</strong> guides them, their <strong>obedience</strong> draws them closer to <strong>Allah</strong>, their generosity benefits others, and their repentance keeps their hearts connected to their Lord. These are the qualities that illuminate a believer&#8217;s journey in this world and lead them toward eternal success in the next life.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Allah Is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Light That Guides Hearts Beyond What Eyes Can See]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/allah-is-the-light-of-the-heavens</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/allah-is-the-light-of-the-heavens</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:00:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!, 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-5K!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a23777-00c8-45f2-92a4-2f7546fa3740_1125x1416.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>Today I chose this <strong>Ayah:</strong></p><p style="text-align: right;"><strong>&#1575;&#1604;&#1604;&#1614;&#1617;&#1607;&#1615; &#1606;&#1615;&#1608;&#1585;&#1615; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1614;&#1617;&#1605;&#1614;&#1575;&#1608;&#1614;&#1575;&#1578;&#1616; &#1608;&#1614;&#1575;&#1604;&#1618;&#1571;&#1614;&#1585;&#1618;&#1590;&#1616;</strong><br><em>&#8220;Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.&#8221;</em> (Surah An-Nur 24:35</p><p style="text-align: right;"></p><p><strong>(Asbab al-Nuzul):      </strong>Scholars mention that this verse was not revealed because of a specific incident. Rather, it came within Surah An-Nur, a chapter that emphasizes purity, modesty, faith, and moral guidance. The verse serves as a profound parable illustrating how Allah guides believers and how faith shines within the heart of the believer.</p><p>Classical scholars such as Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari, and Al-Qurtubi explained that Allah being &#8220;the Light of the heavens and the earth&#8221; means that He is the source of guidance, illumination, and direction for all creation. The remainder of the verse presents the famous parable of the niche, lamp, and shining light to help us understand how divine guidance fills and illuminates the believing heart.  </p><p>In my opinion this magnificent verse reminds us that every form of true guidance, clarity, wisdom, and faith originates from Allah alone. Just as physical light allows us to see our path in the darkness, Allah&#8217;s guidance illuminates the heart, helping us distinguish truth from falsehood and righteousness from error.</p><p>A person may possess knowledge, wealth, influence, or worldly success, yet still feel lost within. Real illumination is not merely the ability to see with the eyes but the ability to perceive with the heart. Allah&#8217;s light brings faith after doubt, hope after despair, and certainty after confusion.</p><p><strong>When we turn to Allah through prayer, remembrance, sincere repentance, and reflection upon His words, our hearts become receptive to His light. The closer a servant draws to Allah, the more clearly they begin to see life&#8217;s trials, blessings, and purpose through the lens of faith.</strong></p><p>This verse also reminds us that guidance is a gift. We can seek it, pray for it, and strive for it, but ultimately it is Allah who places light in the hearts of whom He wills. Therefore, a believer continually asks Allah not only for worldly success but for a heart illuminated by faith, sincerity, and steadfastness.Thats the best take away from this reflection.</p><p>Warmth,</p><p>Saira.</p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Flowers made with golden sand]]></title><description><![CDATA[Even in the darkest spaces, beauty continues to unfold]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/flowers-made-with-golden-sand</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/flowers-made-with-golden-sand</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 12:02:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y7y3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc42ea9a-e055-44ba-bb87-05d1acafd6e6_1494x1087.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc42ea9a-e055-44ba-bb87-05d1acafd6e6_1494x1087.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y7y3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc42ea9a-e055-44ba-bb87-05d1acafd6e6_1494x1087.png" width="1456" height="1059" 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc42ea9a-e055-44ba-bb87-05d1acafd6e6_1494x1087.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y7y3!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc42ea9a-e055-44ba-bb87-05d1acafd6e6_1494x1087.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y7y3!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc42ea9a-e055-44ba-bb87-05d1acafd6e6_1494x1087.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y7y3!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc42ea9a-e055-44ba-bb87-05d1acafd6e6_1494x1087.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>I created these blossoms with golden sand and glue.Then I outlined these with acrylic paint.These scattered blossoms remind me that light and darkness often exist side by side. Some flowers bloom fully, while others are still unfolding, yet each carries its own beauty. Life is much the same. Even through uncertainty, the soul continues to grow, soften, and reach toward light.</p><p>Sometimes the simplest thing creates beautiful effect.</p><p>Hope you like it.</p><p>Warmth,</p><p>Saira.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Manasik al-Hajj]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Journey of Obedience, Remembrance, and Surrender]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/manasik-al-hajj</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/manasik-al-hajj</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 21:48:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg" width="1456" height="1069" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1069,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:8481350,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/197473240?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hetX!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15a3bfcb-a411-463b-b325-d93c44e206bc_4160x3054.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>Today I will talk about Manasik al Hajj.Today is 25th May and  Hijjaj are in Mina.From tomorrow Waquf at Arafat will start ,the greatest pillar of Hajj.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><strong>Hajj</strong> is not merely a journey across lands. It is a journey inward. Every ritual of Hajj carries a meaning rooted in submission to Allah, remembrance of Ibrahim peace be upon him and purification of the soul. Allah did not prescribe these rituals without wisdom. Every step, every movement, every sacrifice teaches the believer obedience, humility, patience, and devotion.</p><p>The manasik of Hajj are among the ancient traditions of Ibrahim &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605;,were revived and completed through the Prophet Muhammad &#65018;.These rituals are not random acts. They are symbolic acts of worship connected deeply to tawhid, sacrifice, and the covenant between  &#1575;&#1604;&#1573;&#1606;&#1587;&#1575;&#1606; his Creator.</p><p><strong>Entering the State of Ihr&#228;m</strong></p><p>The journey begins with Ihr&#227;m. Before crossing the appointed boundaries (Miq&#227;t), the pilgrim enters a sacred state by making the intention for Hajj and reciting the Talbiyah:</p><p><strong>&#1604;&#1614;&#1576;&#1617;&#1614;&#1610;&#1618;&#1603;&#1614; &#1575;&#1604;&#1604;&#1617;&#1607;&#1615;&#1605;&#1617;&#1614; &#1604;&#1614;&#1576;&#1617;&#1614;&#1610;&#1618;&#1603;&#1614;&#1548; &#1604;&#1614;&#1576;&#1614;&#1610;&#1618;&#1603;&#1614; &#1604;&#1614;&#1575; &#1588;&#1614;&#1585;&#1616;&#1610;&#1603;&#1614; &#1604;&#1614;&#1603;&#1614; &#1604;&#1614;&#1576;&#1617;&#1614;&#1610;&#1618;&#1603;&#1614;&#1548; &#1573;&#1616;&#1606;&#1617;&#1614; &#1575;&#1604;&#1618;&#1581;&#1614;&#1605;&#1618;&#1583;&#1614; &#1608;&#1614;&#1575;&#1604;&#1606;&#1617;&#1616;&#1593;&#1618;&#1605;&#1614;&#1577;&#1614; &#1604;&#1614;&#1603;&#1614; &#1608;&#1614;&#1575;&#1604;&#1618;&#1605;&#1615;&#1604;&#1618;&#1603;&#1614;&#1548; &#1604;&#1614;&#1575; &#1588;&#1614;&#1585;&#1616;&#1610;&#1603;&#1614; &#1604;&#1614;&#1603;&#1614;</strong></p><p>&#8220;Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Surely all praise, blessings, and dominion belong to You. You have no partner!&#8221;</p><p>Ihr&#227;m is not simply a dress code. It is a declaration that worldly distinctions have been left behind. Rich and poor, powerful and weak, all stand before Allah equally. The plain white garments resemble the simplicity of the kafan, reminding the believer that one day every soul will return to Allah with nothing except deeds.</p><p><strong>Tawat Around the Ka&#8217;bah</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png" width="279" height="181" 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/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cbL9!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ff2607e-d5f9-4ff2-9390-110ac903a46f_279x181.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>Upon reaching Masjid al-Haram, the pilgrim performs Taw&#228;f around the Ka&#8217;bah seven times anti clockwise.</p><p>The Ka&#8217;bah is the symbol of the unity of Allah and the unity of the Muslim Ummah. Just as believers across the world face one qibla in prayer, during Hajj and His guidance.</p><p><strong>Sa&#8217;i Between &#536;af&#227; and Marwah</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg" width="275" height="183" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:183,&quot;width&quot;:275,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:18365,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/197473240?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ejpW!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F480cc463-d0b7-4a1d-b604-9aab06eacd99_275x183.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>After Taw&#228;f comes Sa&#8217;i between the hills of Safa and Marwa.</p><p>This ritual commemorates the struggle of Hajar plul ulc when she ran between these hills searching for water for her infant son Ismail pill aulc. In her desperation and trust, Allah caused the spring of Zamzam to emerge.</p><p>Sa&#8217;i teaches that reliance upon Allah does not mean abandoning effort. Hajar searched, struggled, and exhausted herself before Allah opened the way.</p><p>True tawakkul combines trust with action.</p><p>The Day of &#8216;Arafah</p><p>The heart of Hajj is the standing at Mount Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah.</p><p>The Prophet t said:</p><p><strong>&#8220;Hajj is &#8216;Arafah.&#8221;</strong></p><p>This is the day of dua, repentance, tears, and reflection. Millions stand together under the open sky with no worldly rank separating them. It is a scene that resembles the Day of Judgment, when humanity will stand before Allah awaiting His mercy.</p><p>The greatest lesson of <strong>Arafah</strong> is recognition of one&#8217;s dependence upon Allah. A servant arrives there stripped of pride, pleading only for forgiveness and acceptance.After that they leave Arafat calmly after  Maghreb  without praying Maghrib there.In Muzdalifah they pray Maghrib and Isha together.Rest for the night&#8230;Next task is for Muzdalifah.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p><strong>Muzdalifah and the Collection of Pebbles</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg" width="242" height="208" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:208,&quot;width&quot;:242,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:17452,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/197473240?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!226k!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F82edc639-6770-433a-8607-e98bc26fac83_242x208.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>After sunset, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah where they spend the night under the sky and collect pebbles for the next ritual.</p><p>There is simplicity in this night. No luxury, no comfort, no separation between people. The believer learns that closeness to Allah is not found in worldly possessions, but in humility and remembrance.</p><p><strong>Ramy al-Jamarat</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg" width="192" height="189" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:189,&quot;width&quot;:192,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:19173,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/197473240?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sQWA!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa87013ee-c915-4cd6-b1d6-a68fcab32129_192x189.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p> </p><p>At Jamarat Bridge, pilgrims stone the pillars representing Shay&#539;&#257;n.</p><p>This act symbolizes rejection of evil, temptation, arrogance, and disobedience. It recalls the moment Ibrahim pilwl aule rejected the whispers of Shaytan when commanded to sacrifice his son.</p><p>The real battle is not with stones and pillars, but with the inner desires that distance a believer from Allah.</p><p><strong>Sacrifice (Qurb&#257;ni) </strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg" width="225" height="225" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:225,&quot;width&quot;:225,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:17627,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/197473240?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sOEK!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7132fbc-dfa0-4965-8e3b-38e2f9214c90_225x225.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The sacrifice commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; to submit completely to Allah&#8217;s command.</p><p><strong>Allah says in the Quran:</strong></p><p>&#8220;Neither their meat nor their blood reaches Allah, but what reaches Him is your tagw&#227;.&#8221;</p><p>The essence of sacrifice is not the animal itself, but the surrender behind it. A believer learns that faith sometimes demands letting go of what is beloved for the sake of Allah.</p><p><strong>Shaving or Trimming the Hair </strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg" width="300" height="168" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:168,&quot;width&quot;:300,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:10217,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/197473240?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jrqj!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0633d6e9-4039-4c79-9ad5-cfcde9e4f601_300x168.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Pilgrims then shave or trim their hair, symbolizing renewal and purification. It marks the completion of major rites and reflects spiritual rebirth after days of devotion and struggle.</p><p><strong>The Farewell Tawaf </strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg" width="223" height="226" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:226,&quot;width&quot;:223,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:25719,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/197473240?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rsZn!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff504ac58-5954-4536-b650-a7fe54cbcae7_223x226.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Before leaving Makkah, pilgrims perform the Farewell Tawaf. The journey may end physically, but the transformation of the heart must continue.</p><p>Hajj is not meant to be an isolated spiritual experience. Its purpose is to shape the believer afterward: more humble, more conscious of Allah, more patient, more compassionate, and more sincere in worship.</p><p>The manasik of Hajj are ultimate lessons for believers.Every rite teaches one reality: complete submission to Allah with love, trust, and obedience.</p><p>Ibrahim  &#1593;&#1604;&#1610;&#1607; &#1575;&#1604;&#1587;&#1604;&#1575;&#1605; embodied this spirit and every pilgrim walks in the echoes of his devotion.....</p><p>Warmth,</p><p>Saira.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Message for All Humanity]]></description><link>https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/the-last-sermon-of-prophet-muhammad</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://sdcreatives.substack.com/p/the-last-sermon-of-prophet-muhammad</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Saira]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 11:02:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="/__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_webp, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!, 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data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2129,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3197704,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://sdcreatives.substack.com/i/198148645?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="/__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_424, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png 424w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_848, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png 848w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1272, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png 1272w, /__u/substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-Q9P!, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/w_1456, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/c_limit, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/f_auto, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/q_auto:good, /__u/sdcreatives.substack.com/fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2411519-a5e2-418e-8943-be339139c74f_2845x4160.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Asalamualikum,</p><p>Today I want to write &#9997;&#65039; something about the last Sermon of our beloved Prophet Mohammad &#65018;.It is also known as the <em>Khutbatul Wada&#8217;</em> (Farewell Sermon), was delivered during the Prophet&#8217;s final Hajj in the 10th year after Hijrah, on the plains of Mount Arafat near Makkah.</p><p>More than one hundred thousand companions were present. The Prophet &#65018; knew that his time in this world was nearing completion, so this sermon became a final message of guidance, mercy, justice, and responsibility for the Ummah.</p><p>This sermon is not only for Muslims of that time. It is a timeless reminder for humanity about dignity, equality, family, justice, and our relationship with Allah.</p><p><strong>The Historical Setting</strong></p><p>In the 10th year of Hijrah, Prophet Muhammad &#65018; announced that he would perform Hajj. Thousands of Muslims traveled with him to learn the rituals directly from him.</p><p>On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, at Arafat, he delivered this powerful sermon.</p><p>One of the most emotional parts of this moment is that many companions later realized this was a farewell. During this Hajj, the verse was revealed:</p><p>&#8220;Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen Islam as your religion.&#8221;<br>(Surah Al-Ma&#8217;idah 5:3)</p><p>This deeply moved the companions because they understood that the mission of the Prophet &#65018; was nearing completion.</p><p><strong>Main Themes of the Last Sermon</strong></p><p><strong>1. Sanctity of Life, Wealth, and Honor</strong></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; began by reminding people that human life is sacred.</p><p>He said:</p><p>&#8220;Your blood, your property, and your honor are sacred, like the sacredness of this day, this month, and this city.&#8221;</p><p>In simple words, Islam teaches that hurting another person unjustly, taking someone&#8217;s wealth, or damaging someone&#8217;s dignity are major sins.</p><p>The Prophet &#65018; compared these rights to the holiness of:</p><p>* the Day of Arafah,</p><p>* the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah,</p><p>* and the sacred city of Makkah.</p><p>This shows how serious Islam is about human rights and justice.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p><strong>2. Ending the Practices of Ignorance</strong></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; declared that the corrupt customs of the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah) were abolished.</p><p>He especially mentioned:</p><p>* blood revenge,</p><p>* tribal hatred,</p><p>* and unjust financial dealings.</p><p>People before Islam often lived in endless cycles of revenge and violence. Islam came to end this cruelty and replace it with justice and mercy.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p><strong>3. Prohibition of Interest (Riba)</strong></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; clearly prohibited riba (usury or exploitative interest).</p><p>He announced that all forms of unjust interest from the days of ignorance were canceled.</p><p>This was revolutionary because wealthy tribes used interest to oppress poor families, trapping them in debt.</p><p>Islam encourages fairness, compassion, and ethical trade rather than exploitation.</p><p></p><p><strong>Rights and Responsibilities in Marriage</strong></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; spoke with great care about family life.</p><p>He reminded men to treat women kindly and with respect.</p><p>He said:</p><p>&#8220;Treat women well.&#8221;</p><p>He explained that husbands and wives both have rights over one another.</p><p>In simple language:</p><p>* Marriage in Islam is built on mercy and responsibility.</p><p>* A husband must provide care, protection, and respect.</p><p>* A wife also has rights and dignity given by Allah.</p><p>* Families should be based on compassion, not oppression.</p><p>This part of the sermon is extremely important because it established the spiritual and social honor of women in a society where women were often mistreated before Islam.</p><p><strong>Equality of All Human Beings</strong></p><p>One of the most beautiful teachings in the Last Sermon was the rejection of racism and superiority based on ethnicity or lineage.</p><p>The Prophet &#65018; said:</p><p>&#8220;An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have superiority over an Arab. A white person has no superiority over a black person, nor does a black person have superiority over a white person, except through piety and righteousness.&#8221;</p><p>This message was extraordinary for its time and remains powerful today.</p><p>Islam teaches that:</p><p>* all people are equal before Allah,</p><p>* race and nationality do not define worth,</p><p>* true honor comes from taqwa (God-consciousness and righteousness).</p><p>&#11835;</p><p><strong>Holding Firmly to the Qur&#8217;an and Sunnah</strong></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; reminded the Ummah to stay connected to divine guidance after him.</p><p>He said that if Muslims hold firmly to the Book of Allah, they would not go astray.</p><p>This teaches us that:</p><p>* the Qur&#8217;an is a source of guidance,</p><p>* the Sunnah explains how to live that guidance,</p><p>* and Islam is meant to guide every aspect of life with balance and wisdom.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p><strong>Brotherhood of Muslims</strong></p><p>The Prophet &#65018; emphasized unity and brotherhood.</p><p>He reminded Muslims that:</p><p>* believers are brothers and sisters to one another,</p><p>* &#1592;&#1604;&#1605; (oppression) is forbidden,</p><p>* jealousy and hatred destroy communities,</p><p>* and Muslims must care for each other sincerely.</p><p>This message is especially relevant today when division and anger often weaken communities.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p><strong>Delivering the Message</strong></p><p>Toward the end of the sermon, the Prophet &#65018; asked the companions:</p><p>&#8220;Have I conveyed the message?&#8221;</p><p>The companions replied:</p><p>&#8220;Yes, you have conveyed it.&#8221;</p><p>Then the Prophet &#65018; raised his finger toward the sky and said:</p><p>&#8220;O Allah, bear witness.&#8221;</p><p>This moment is among the most emotional scenes in Islamic history.</p><p>&#11835;</p><p><strong>The Final Advice of the Prophet &#65018;</strong></p><p>The Farewell Sermon was not simply a speech. It was a summary of the moral foundations of Islam:</p><p>* justice,</p><p>* mercy,</p><p>* equality,</p><p>* family responsibility,</p><p>* financial ethics,</p><p>* unity,</p><p>* and obedience to Allah.</p><p>It reminds us that Islam is not only rituals. It is also about how we treat people, how we protect dignity, and how we build compassionate societies.</p><p><strong>The Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad &#65018; is a timeless message for humanity. More than fourteen centuries later, its teachings still speak to the struggles of our modern world: injustice, racism, greed, broken families, and division.</strong></p><p><strong>The Prophet &#65018; reminded us that true success is not in power or wealth, but in righteousness, compassion, and obedience to Allah.</strong></p><p><strong>His final public message was not about domination or pride. It was about mercy, human dignity, justice, and responsibility toward one another and toward our Creator.</strong></p><p><strong>Warmth,</strong></p><p><strong>Saira.</strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>