Surah Hujarat Continued

47. A Thematic Overview

Summary (3d)

Surah Al Hujuraat (49:11-18) cont.

“O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (Sahih International) (49:11)

  

If you feel racially/nationally superior to anyone, then you have no faith We ridicule each other with our words and body language...check yo self

Women are separately mentioned because they make fun of each other in ways different than guys. (Generally), guys like to give each other offensive nicknames (ex. Hey, come here fatso!), whereas women like to judge (she wore THAT to the Masjid? OMG...)

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  •  Check with people in private if they are okay with the nicknames you call them by...if they aren’t, you will be held accountable on the Day of Judgement

  •  بئس لسم الفسوق بعد الإيمان : using deragotary/demeaning language feels sick to Muslims when faith has entered their heart...guard your hearts. Avoid environments that are filled with filthy words.

“O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” (Sahih International) (49:12)

  •  من الظن : Assume the best about people

  •  تجسس لا : Don’t spy on people

  •  يغتب لا : Don’t share people’s secrets...this isn’t lying about someone behind their back )غيبة( this is saying something true that people may not want known , ) نميمة(

 In families (Ex. spouses, siblings) you have to hide people’s secrets/bad habits/traits

 We usually think tawba is only for crimes against Allah, but Allah is saying that if you commit a crime against people, you need to seek forgiveness: from both Allah and the person you wronged. Allah will not forgive you until the other person forgives you, so it’s important to go out of the way to seek their forgiveness. Especially forgive and seek people’s forgiveness in Ramadan.

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“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Sahih International) )49:13(

 شعب : “a hole in the wall” – all nations have some imperfection to them, no one nation has everything...which means we all need each other!

 قبيلة : comes from قبل “who came before”...which ties all the way back to Adam (A). Just as Adam (A) made a mistake, every tribe is linked to our father Adam (A) so all of us are equal and imperfect.

  •  لتعارفوا : we are supposed to learn other people’s culture and history, and every nation tries to improve...this ayah shows the benefit of travelling. Learn from other people!

  •  The most noble to Allah are those with the most taqwa, which is something only in the hearts, so since we can’t judge people’s hearts, we have to treat everyone like they are noble in sight of Allah to be on the safe side.

 When it comes to business or marriage, then you have to investigate into people’s character. When people ask you about other people, then we have to be honest with them.

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“The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Sahih International) (49:14)

  •  Legal belief vs. Real belief...just because you are legally Muslim doesn’t mean you are emotionally invested in Islam. There’s a difference between being a Muslim vs. Mu’min. We do not have the right to judge one another, but Allah does.

  •  إن تطيعوا :even if you don’t feel faith in your heart yet (ex. even if you have never cried in salaat), don’t worry you are still being rewarded for following Allah and the Prophet (S).

    “The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful.” (Sahih International) (49:15)

  •  Doubt is intellectual and emotional; these Believers have always had solid faith in both areas

  •  A Muslim tries to do the minimum, a Mu’min tries to do the maximum... Believers feel the need to struggle, to impact others...they feel the need to serve and to lead.

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“Say, "Would you acquaint Allah with your religion while Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allah is Knowing of all things?” (Sahih International) (49:16)

 Only Allah is allowed to draw the lines between Islam and Imaan, so Allah sarcastically asks “Are you going to decide what Islam is and what Imaan is???”

“They consider it a favor to you that they have accepted Islam. Say, "Do not consider your Islam a favor to me. Rather, Allah has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you should be truthful.” (Sahih International) (49:17)

 Allah did you the favor to guide you to Imaan! You aren’t doing Allah a favor by accepting Islam!

“Indeed, Allah knows the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And Allah is Seeing of what you do.” (Sahih International) (49:18)

 Only Allah knows what is in our hearts....only he can judge the quality of our actions. Purify your intentions, and be sincere!

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