Zaad lesson 14:

Recap:

-From the Prophet’s (s) routine we learn that the first thing that came to his mind when he woke up was Allah, and the last thing on his mind before he slept was Allah.

-If the Prophet’s (s) past and future sins are forgiven, then why does he seek forgiveness in his gatherings and when he wakes up?

Because he (s) is our teacher. We are always in debt to Allah.

-That’s why difficulties are an opportunity to return to Allah, it is not a reason for us to feel Allah is harming us.

-The benefit of learning Arabic. We need to develop ourselves to become breathless when we read the book of Allah?

-“Shakur” is the hyperbolised version of the word “Shakir”, i.e. “One who is immensely grateful”.

-No matter what we do, we will never truly be grateful to Allah. Mankind is “Shakir”, thankful, but Allah is “Shakur”.

-The most important thing to realise is that Allah knows what is best for you, better than what you think is best for yourself.

-Insights and reflections from surah kahf that expand on this. The people of the cave ask Allah, “Give us from what you know to be mercy.”

-Despite being the most knowledgeable of creation, as soon as he woke up, he would first and foremost say, “O’ Allah, increase me in knowledge.” He took care of Allah’s commandment the moment he woke up.

-Then, he asks Allah to protect him from misguidance. In today’s world where it is a test to even publicly identify as Muslim, these du’as are important.

-When we say ‘Hamd’ “Belongs to Allah”, that means that irrespective of us, Allah did not need us to be created for him to be considered the “Most praiseworthy”.

-The word “Madh” is also translated as praise, but the difference is that one may praise someone else without really meaning it. That can be considered “Madh”.

-Al Hamd constitutes praising with the feelings of sincere love and exhaltation.

-True Hamd is only due to Allah himself.

-The du’a for waking up: Teaches us we experience a form of death when we sleep (known as the lighter death).

-Reading: Pages 64-72.