In surah al-Baqarah, Allah gives the command to pray facing Makkah after previously having prayed towards Jerusalem, saying:

[فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ ۗ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ]

"So turn your face towards al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you may be, turn your faces in that direction. Those who were given the scripture certainly know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not oblivious to what they do." [144]

In his encyclopedic tafsir, ibn al-Jawzi wrote:

[قوله تعالى: ليعلمون أنه الحق يشير إلى ما أم

This verse shows the consideration of Salih for his people. It shows his gentleness and his wanting of guidance for all. As Muslims, we should follow his example and spread the oneness of Allah in the hope that as many people are guided to the truth.

He even addresses them dearly and says 'O my people' and asks them a question instead of simply stating that they are hastening the torment. He calls them to the better option which is to seek Allah's forgiveness.

Just today, two weeks after Ramadan, I felt a bit uneasy.

I went to the masjid for ‘Isya, and it brought me to tears seeing how empty it was compared to the 29th night of Ramadan.

That uneasiness… I realized it comes from things that are completely human: thinking about a future spouse, children, rizq, and everything in between.

As I continued my Qur’an recitation, I felt like I was being reminded, very gently, through Surah Ali-Imran (3:14–15).

In ayah 14, Allah tells us that these things we’re drawn to; family, love, wealth are indeed made beautiful to us. It’s part of our nature.

But then in ayah 15, Allah redirects us so softly:

“Shall I inform you of something better than that?”

In the middle of surah al-Baqarah, Allah discusses the changing of the qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah and says:

[وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ]

"And Allah would not let your faith go to waste." [143]

Commenting on this in his book of tafsir, ibn al-Jawzi wrote:

[قوله تعالى: وما كان الله ليضيع إيمانكم نزل على سبب; وهو أن المسلمين قالوا: يا رسول الله! أرأيت إخواننا الذين ماتوا وهم يصلون إلى بيت المقدس؟! فأنزل الله وما كان الله ليضيع إيمانكم والإيمان المذكور هاهنا أريد به: الصلاة في قول الجماعة . وقيل: إنما ��ميت [ ص: 156 ] الصلاة إيمانا ، لاشتمالها على قول ونية وعمل ]

This was revealed in response to an event, which was that the Muslims said, "O Messenger of Allah, what about

When fitnah surrounds us and we begin to fear for our own steadfastness and that of our children, don’t let anxiety take over. Instead, gently shift that fear, grief, and anxiety into calm and peace by throwing fear into the beautiful river of tawakkul.

Trust that the Owner of the river will return whatever you throw into HIS river,purified and cleansed of all distress and free from every trace of corruption and dirt.

I wonder if the reason Allah specifically asks us to thank Him for the provision of food and water is because, despite being among the most crucial sustenance for life, they are often taken for granted — especially in this age of consumerism, where food is available at the touch of a finger. Reflecting on this, I realized that despite having a gratitude list, I had never once included thanks for this basic yet essential provision. What else have we forgotten to thank Allah.

When i l read the last verse from Surah Naml.

And say, “All praise is for Allah! He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is never unaware of what you do.”

i felt grateful that Allah not only show His signs through Quran and Universe but also enables us to recognise it...Recognition itself is a blessing from Allah. With this feeling i moved to the next surah and i wanted to give attention so as to realise and recognise HIS signs.

The 1st ayah " Ṭâ-Sĩn-Mĩm. (28 : 1) made me pause ....

These are letters we can read, but we don’t fully understand their meaning. It reminded me of how limited and dependent we are.

One clear sign I realized is this:

Without A

One aspect of Ramadan which we should seek to continue is being awake at the time Suhoor. In Ramadan, we factor this in to our busy schedules. we pave way for it. and there is no reason why this cannot be done throughout the year. The prayer and worship in the last moments before the start of Fair is a spiritual 'sweet-spot' for the believer. We know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised us, “Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing” (Bukhari, Muslim).

I find it amazing that the Quran is deliberate in telling us, that It was the time of suhoor in which Allah saved the believers from the punishment with Lut AS, "As for ˹the believers of˺ Lot’s family, We delivered them before daw

When I was reading this verse, SubhanAllah, my heart became overwhelmed by the scene… "Musa Alaihisalam being called from the blessed place,a direct call from our Rabb, an invitation to a private conversation"

That moment felt so personal, so intimate.A servant being called… and Allah speaking.

Then I paused and asked myself ; Is this verse , only to feel overwhelmed … What is my action point from this verse? Then i thought,Allah is calling me too through Adhan....

Not once… but five times a day. An invitation for a private meeting with Him.

But the question is:

Are we listening to that call? Are we responding to it with eagerness? Are we giving this invitation its due right?

Allah, i

Allah says in surah al-Ahzab [33]:

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا]

O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance. [41]

In his tafsir of this ayah, al-Qurtubi wrote:

[أمر الله تعالى عباده بأن يذكروه ويشكروه ، ويكثروا من ذلك على ما أنعم به عليهم . وجعل تعالى ذلك دون حد لسهولته على العبد . ولعظم الأجر فيه قال ابن عباس : لم يعذر أحد في ترك ذكر الله إلا من غلب على عقله]

Allah has commanded His servants to remember Him and be grateful to Him, and to do so abundantly in response to how He has blessed them.

And He did not set any specific limit for how much since it is something easy for a person to do and because of how much reward it entails.

Ib