Way of the Salaf

An abridged version of her TED TALK. When Lesley Hazleton was writing a biography of Muhammad, she was struck by something: The night he received the revelation of the Koran, according to early accounts, his first reaction was doubt, awe, even fear. And yet this experience became the bedrock of his belief. Hazleton calls for a new appreciation of doubt and questioning as the foundation of faith — and an end to fundamentalism of all kinds.

From Makkah, 1885 by Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje. Dutchman Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje took rare 1885 photographs and sound recordings of Makkah. He was also a pioneering multimedia journalist. The annual Hajj pilgrimage of the Muslims was what drew him to the heart of Islam. Snouck captured crackling, quranic soundscapes using Thomas Edison's newly-invented wax cylinders. A pioneering traveller, he was a rare Western presence in Makkah, but embraced the culture and religion of his hosts with passion, converting to Islam.

الله أكبر Allaahu Akbar (2x) "Allah is the greatest" الله أكبر Allaahu Akbar (2x) "Allah is the greatest" أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله Ashhadu allaa illaaaha ill-Allaah "I bear witness that there none worthy of worship except God" أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله Ashhadu allaa illaaaha ill-Allaah "I bear witness that there none worthy of worship except God" أشهد أن محمد رسول الله Ash Hadu anna Muhamadan rasuulullah "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God" أشهد أن محمد رسول الله Ash Hadu anna Muhamadan rasuulullah "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God" حي على الصلاة Hayya' alas salaah "Come to prayer" حي على الصلاة Hayya' alas salaah "Come to prayer" حي على الفلاح Hayya' alal falaah "Come to success" حي على الفلاح Hayya' alal falaah "Come to success" الله أكبر Allaahu Akbar(2x) "God is the greatest" لا إله إلا الله Laa ilaaha illa-Lah "There is none worthy of worship except God"

Surat Maryam (Mary) - سورة مريم - Surah 19 - HEART TREMBLING Recitation by Ibrahim Al-Asiri 1 Kaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ayn, Sad. 2 [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah 3 When he called to his Lord a private supplication. 4 He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy. 5 And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir 6 Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]." 7 [He was told], "O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name." 8 He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?" 9 [An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.' " 10 [Zechariah] said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound." 11 So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon. 12 [Allah] said, "O John, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy 13 And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah 14 And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant. 15 And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive. 16 And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. 17 And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. 18 She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah." 19 He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." 20 She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" 21 He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.' " 22 So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. 23 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten." 24 But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. 25 And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. 26 So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.' " 27 Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. 28 O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste." 29 So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" 30 [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. 31 And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive 32 And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. 33 And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." 34 That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute. 35 It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. 36 [Jesus said], "And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path." 37 Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved - from the scene of a tremendous Day. 38 How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error. 39 And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe. 40 Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned. 41 And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet. 42 [Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all? 43 O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path. 44 O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient. 45 O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire]." 46 [His father] said, "Have you no desire for my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so avoid me a prolonged time." 47 [Abraham] said, "Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me. 48 And I will leave you and those you invoke other than Allah and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy." 49 So when he had left them and those they worshipped other than Allah, We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and each [of them] We made a prophet. 50 And We gave them of Our mercy, and we made for them a reputation of high honor. 51 And mention in the Book, Moses. Indeed, he was chosen, and he was a messenger and a prophet. 52 And We called him from the side of the mount at [his] right and brought him near, confiding [to him]. 53 And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron as a prophet. 54 And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet. 55 And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing. 56 And mention in the Book, Idrees. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet. 57 And We raised him to a high station. 58 Those were the ones upon whom Allah bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping. 59 But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil - 60 Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all. 61 [Therein are] gardens of perpetual residence which the Most Merciful has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has ever been coming. 62 They will not hear therein any ill speech - only [greetings of] peace - and they will have their provision therein, morning and afternoon. 63 That is Paradise, which We give as inheritance to those of Our servants who were fearing of Allah. 64 [Gabriel said], "And we [angels] descend not except by the order of your Lord. To Him belongs that before us and that behind us and what is in between. And never is your Lord forgetful - 65 Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them - so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?" 66 And the disbeliever says, "When I have died, am I going to be brought forth alive?" 67 Does man not remember that We created him before, while he was nothing? 68 So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees. 69 Then We will surely extract from every sect those of them who were worst against the Most Merciful in insolence. 70 Then, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein. 71 And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed. 72 Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees. 73 And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of [our] two parties is best in position and best in association?" 74 And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance? 75 Say, "Whoever is in error - let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension [in wealth and time] until, when they see that which they were promised - either punishment [in this world] or the Hour [of resurrection] - they will come to know who is worst in position and weaker in soldiers." 76 And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse. 77 Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, "I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]?" 78 Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a promise? 79 No! We will record what he says and extend for him from the punishment extensively. 80 And We will inherit him [in] what he mentions, and he will come to Us alone. 81 And they have taken besides Allah [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor. 82 No! Those "gods" will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents [on the Day of Judgement]. 83 Do you not see that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting them to [evil] with [constant] incitement? 84 So be not impatient over them. We only count out to them a [limited] number. 85 On the Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as a delegation 86 And will drive the criminals to Hell in thirst 87 None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant. 88 And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son." 89 You have done an atrocious thing. 90 The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation 91 That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. 92 And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. 93 There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. 94 He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting. 95 And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone. 96 Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection. 97 So, [O Muhammad], We have only made Qur'an easy in the Arabic language that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people. 98 And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?

الله أكبر Allaahu Akbar (2x) "Allah is the greatest" الله أكبر Allaahu Akbar (2x) "Allah is the greatest" أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله Ashhadu allaa illaaaha ill-Allaah "I bear witness that there none worthy of worship except God" أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله Ashhadu allaa illaaaha ill-Allaah "I bear witness that there none worthy of worship except God" أشهد أن محمد رسول الله Ash Hadu anna Muhamadan rasuulullah "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God" أشهد أن محمد رسول الله Ash Hadu anna Muhamadan rasuulullah "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God" حي على الصلاة Hayya' alas salaah "Come to prayer" حي على الصلاة Hayya' alas salaah "Come to prayer" حي على الفلاح Hayya' alal falaah "Come to success" حي على الفلاح Hayya' alal falaah "Come to success" الله أكبر Allaahu Akbar(2x) "God is the greatest" لا إله إلا الله Laa ilaaha illa-Lah "There is none worthy of worship except God"

John Green teaches you the history of Islam, including the revelation of the Qu'ran to Muhammad, the five pillars of Islam, how the Islamic empire got its start, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and more. Learn about hadiths, Abu Bakr, and whether the Umma has anything to do with Uma Thurman (spoiler alert: it doesn't). https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/crash-course1/crash-course-world-history/whats-God-got-to-do-with-It/v/crash-course-world-history-13

"And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face - free from any resemblance or likeness to anything - Just as you see the sun at its Zenith in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night. A narration traced back to the truthful Prophet, as is present in the sahih books of hadith. From the narration of Jarir and Soahib and Anas and Abu Hurayrah and Abu Musa and Abu Saeed. So listen on the day that the caller will call: 'O People of Paradise! Your Lord - Blessed and Exalted - requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!' So they will say: 'We hear and obey!' Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet - and none of them will turn down the request of the caller - the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: 'O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allaah in which He wishes to reward you!' So they will say: 'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?' And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller - Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names - has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: 'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!' So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: 'O Allaah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!' So the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will laugh to them and say: 'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!' So, they will all give the same response: 'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!' So, He will say: 'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!' So, they will all give the same response: 'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!' So, the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allaah - the Exalted - had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them. And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord - the Exalted - will speak to him and say: 'Do you remember the day that you did this and that?' and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say: 'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?' So, He will say: 'Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness.'" From the Arabic book: Haadi al-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad il-Afraah by Ibn al-Qayyim, p.355-360. The Arabic Text: يقول إبن القيم رحمه الله وإن سألت: عن يوم المزيد، وزيارة العزيز الحميد، ورؤية وجه الله المنزه عن التمثيل والتشبيه، كما ترى الشمس في الظهيرة والقمر ليلة البدر، كما تواتر النقل فيه عن الصادق المصدوق صلي الله عليه وسلم ، وذلك موجود في الصحاح، والسنن المسانيد، ومن رواية جرير، وصهيب، وأنس، وأبي هريرة، وأبي موسى، وأبي سعيد، فاستمع يوم ينادي المنادي: يا أهل الجنة إن ربكم تبارك وتعالى يستزيركم فحيى على زيارته، فيقولون سمعا وطاعة، وينهضون إلى الزيارة مبادرين، فإذا بالنجائب قد أعدت لهم، فيستوون على ظهورها مسرعين، حتى إذا انتهوا إلى الوادي الأفيح الذي جعل لهم موعدا، وجمعوا هناك، فلم يغادر الداعي منهم أحدا، أمر الرب سبحانه وتعالى بكرسية فنصب هناك، ثم نصبت لهم منابر من نور، ومنابر من لؤلؤ، ومنابر من زبرجد، ومنابر من ذهب، ومنابر من فضة، وجلس أدناهم - وحاشاهم أن يكون بينهم دنئ - على كثبان المسك، ما يرون أصحاب الكراسي فوقهم العطايا، حتى إذا استقرت بهم مجالسهم، واطمأنت بهم أماكنهم، نادى المنادي: يا أهل الجنة سلام عليكم. فلا ترد هذه التحية بأحسن من قولهم: اللهم أنت السلام، ومنك السلام، تباركت ياذا الجلال والإكرام. فيتجلى لهم الرب تبارك وتعالى يضحك إليهم ويقول: يا أهل الجنة فيكون أول ما يسمعون من تعالى: أين عبادي الذين أطاعوني بالغيب ولم يروني، فهذا يوم المزيد. فيجتمعون على كلمة واحدة: أن قد رضينا، فارض عنا، فيقول: يا أهل الجنة إني لو لم أرض عنكم لم أسكنكم جنتي، هذا يوم المزيد، فسلوني فيجتمعون على كلمة واحدة: أرنا وجهك ننظر إليه. فيكشف الرب جل جلاله الحجب، ويتجلا لهم فيغشاهم من نوره ما لو لا أن الله سبحانه وتعالى قضى ألا يحترقوا لاحترقوا. ولا يبقى في ذلك المجلس أحد إلا حاضره ربه تعالى محاضرة، حتى إنه يقول: يا فلان، أتذكر يوم فعلت كذا وكذا، يذكره ببعض غدراته في الدنيا، فيقول: يا رب ألم تغفر لي؟ فيقول: بلى بمغفرتي بلغت منزلتك هذه. انتهى كلام ابن القيم رحمه الله تعالى [حادي الأرواح إلى بلاد الأفراح ص355-360)].

Surat Maryam (Mary) - سورة مريم - Surah 19 - Recited by Mansoor Az-Zahrani 1 Kaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ayn, Sad. 2 [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah 3 When he called to his Lord a private supplication. 4 He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy. 5 And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir 6 Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]." 7 [He was told], "O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name." 8 He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?" 9 [An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.' " 10 [Zechariah] said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound." 11 So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon. 12 [Allah] said, "O John, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy 13 And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah 14 And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant. 15 And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive. 16 And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. 17 And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. 18 She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah." 19 He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." 20 She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" 21 He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.' " 22 So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. 23 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten." 24 But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. 25 And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. 26 So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.' " 27 Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. 28 O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste." 29 So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" 30 [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. 31 And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive 32 And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. 33 And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." 34 That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute. 35 It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. 36 [Jesus said], "And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path." 37 Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved - from the scene of a tremendous Day. 38 How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error. 39 And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe. 40 Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned. 41 And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet. 42 [Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all? 43 O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path. 44 O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient. 45 O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire]." 46 [His father] said, "Have you no desire for my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so avoid me a prolonged time." 47 [Abraham] said, "Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me. 48 And I will leave you and those you invoke other than Allah and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy." 49 So when he had left them and those they worshipped other than Allah, We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and each [of them] We made a prophet. 50 And We gave them of Our mercy, and we made for them a reputation of high honor. 51 And mention in the Book, Moses. Indeed, he was chosen, and he was a messenger and a prophet. 52 And We called him from the side of the mount at [his] right and brought him near, confiding [to him]. 53 And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron as a prophet. 54 And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet. 55 And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing. 56 And mention in the Book, Idrees. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet. 57 And We raised him to a high station. 58 Those were the ones upon whom Allah bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping. 59 But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil - 60 Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all. 61 [Therein are] gardens of perpetual residence which the Most Merciful has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has ever been coming. 62 They will not hear therein any ill speech - only [greetings of] peace - and they will have their provision therein, morning and afternoon. 63 That is Paradise, which We give as inheritance to those of Our servants who were fearing of Allah. 64 [Gabriel said], "And we [angels] descend not except by the order of your Lord. To Him belongs that before us and that behind us and what is in between. And never is your Lord forgetful - 65 Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them - so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?" 66 And the disbeliever says, "When I have died, am I going to be brought forth alive?" 67 Does man not remember that We created him before, while he was nothing? 68 So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees. 69 Then We will surely extract from every sect those of them who were worst against the Most Merciful in insolence. 70 Then, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein. 71 And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed. 72 Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees. 73 And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of [our] two parties is best in position and best in association?" 74 And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance? 75 Say, "Whoever is in error - let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension [in wealth and time] until, when they see that which they were promised - either punishment [in this world] or the Hour [of resurrection] - they will come to know who is worst in position and weaker in soldiers." 76 And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse. 77 Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, "I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]?" 78 Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a promise? 79 No! We will record what he says and extend for him from the punishment extensively. 80 And We will inherit him [in] what he mentions, and he will come to Us alone. 81 And they have taken besides Allah [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor. 82 No! Those "gods" will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents [on the Day of Judgement]. 83 Do you not see that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting them to [evil] with [constant] incitement? 84 So be not impatient over them. We only count out to them a [limited] number. 85 On the Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as a delegation 86 And will drive the criminals to Hell in thirst 87 None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant. 88 And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son." 89 You have done an atrocious thing. 90 The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation 91 That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. 92 And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. 93 There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. 94 He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting. 95 And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone. 96 Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection. 97 So, [O Muhammad], We have only made Qur'an easy in the Arabic language that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people. 98 And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?

Surat Al-Ĥāqqah (The Reality) - سورة الحاقة - Emotional Recitation by Omar El Habib 1 The Inevitable Reality - 2 What is the Inevitable Reality? 3 And what can make you know what is the Inevitable Reality? 4 Thamud and 'Aad denied the Striking Calamity. 5 So as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overpowering [blast]. 6 And as for 'Aad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind 7 Which Allah imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees. 8 Then do you see of them any remains? 9 And there came Pharaoh and those before him and the overturned cities with sin. 10 And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, so He seized them with a seizure exceeding [in severity]. 11 Indeed, when the water overflowed, We carried your ancestors in the sailing ship 12 That We might make it for you a reminder and [that] a conscious ear would be conscious of it. 13 Then when the Horn is blown with one blast 14 And the earth and the mountains are lifted and leveled with one blow - 15 Then on that Day, the Resurrection will occur, 16 And the heaven will split [open], for that Day it is infirm. 17 And the angels are at its edges. And there will bear the Throne of your Lord above them, that Day, eight [of them]. 18 That Day, you will be exhibited [for judgement]; not hidden among you is anything concealed. 19 So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, "Here, read my record! 20 Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account." 21 So he will be in a pleasant life - 22 In an elevated garden, 23 Its [fruit] to be picked hanging near. 24 [They will be told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth in the days past." 25 But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, "Oh, I wish I had not been given my record 26 And had not known what is my account. 27 I wish my death had been the decisive one. 28 My wealth has not availed me. 29 Gone from me is my authority." 30 [Allah will say], "Seize him and shackle him. 31 Then into Hellfire drive him. 32 Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him." 33 Indeed, he did not used to believe in Allah, the Most Great, 34 Nor did he encourage the feeding of the poor. 35 So there is not for him here this Day any devoted friend 36 Nor any food except from the discharge of wounds; 37 None will eat it except the sinners. 38 So I swear by what you see 39 And what you do not see 40 [That] indeed, the Qur'an is the word of a noble Messenger. 41 And it is not the word of a poet; little do you believe. 42 Nor the word of a soothsayer; little do you remember. 43 [It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. 44 And if Muhammad had made up about Us some [false] sayings, 45 We would have seized him by the right hand; 46 Then We would have cut from him the aorta. 47 And there is no one of you who could prevent [Us] from him. 48 And indeed, the Qur'an is a reminder for the righteous. 49 And indeed, We know that among you are deniers. 50 And indeed, it will be [a cause of] regret upon the disbelievers. 51 And indeed, it is the truth of certainty. 52 So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

Surat Ar-Ra`d (The Thunder) - سورة الرعد - Surah 13 - Recited by Hamad Al-Da'griry 1 Alif, Lam, Meem, Ra. These are the verses of the Book; and what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, but most of the people do not believe. 2 It is Allah who erected the heavens without pillars that you [can] see; then He established Himself above the Throne and made subject the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. He arranges [each] matter; He details the signs that you may, of the meeting with your Lord, be certain. 3 And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. 4 And within the land are neighboring plots and gardens of grapevines and crops and palm trees, [growing] several from a root or otherwise, watered with one water; but We make some of them exceed others in [quality of] fruit. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason. 5 And if you are astonished, [O Muhammad] - then astonishing is their saying, "When we are dust, will we indeed be [brought] into a new creation?" Those are the ones who have disbelieved in their Lord, and those will have shackles upon their necks, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally. 6 They impatiently urge you to bring about evil before good, while there has already occurred before them similar punishments [to what they demand]. And indeed, your Lord is full of forgiveness for the people despite their wrongdoing, and indeed, your Lord is severe in penalty. 7 And those who disbelieved say, "Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?" You are only a warner, and for every people is a guide. 8 Allah knows what every female carries and what the wombs lose [prematurely] or exceed. And everything with Him is by due measure. 9 [He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Grand, the Exalted. 10 It is the same [to Him] concerning you whether one conceals [his] speech or one publicizes it and whether one is hidden by night or conspicuous [among others] by day. 11 For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron. 12 It is He who shows you lightening, [causing] fear and aspiration, and generates the heavy clouds. 13 And the thunder exalts [Allah] with praise of Him - and the angels [as well] from fear of Him - and He sends thunderbolts and strikes therewith whom He wills while they dispute about Allah; and He is severe in assault. 14 To Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with a thing, except as one who stretches his hands toward water [from afar, calling it] to reach his mouth, but it will not reach it [thus]. And the supplication of the disbelievers is not but in error [i.e. futility]. 15 And to Allah prostrates whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or by compulsion, and their shadows [as well] in the mornings and the afternoons. 16 Say, "Who is Lord of the heavens and earth?" Say, "Allah." Say, "Have you then taken besides Him allies not possessing [even] for themselves any benefit or any harm?" Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Or is darkness equivalent to light? Or have they attributed to Allah partners who created like His creation so that the creation [of each] seemed similar to them?" Say, "Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Prevailing." 17 He sends down from the sky, rain, and valleys flow according to their capacity, and the torrent carries a rising foam. And from that [ore] which they heat in the fire, desiring adornments and utensils, is a foam like it. Thus Allah presents [the example of] truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it vanishes, [being] cast off; but as for that which benefits the people, it remains on the earth. Thus does Allah present examples. 18 For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place. 19 Then is he who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like one who is blind? They will only be reminded who are people of understanding - 20 Those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and do not break the contract, 21 And those who join that which Allah has ordered to be joined and fear their Lord and are afraid of the evil of [their] account, 22 And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home - 23 Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying], 24 "Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home." 25 But those who break the covenant of Allah after contracting it and sever that which Allah has ordered to be joined and spread corruption on earth - for them is the curse, and they will have the worst home. 26 Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment. 27 And those who disbelieved say, "Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him] - 28 Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured." 29 Those who have believed and done righteous deeds - a good state is theirs and a good return. 30 Thus have We sent you to a community before which [other] communities have passed on so you might recite to them that which We revealed to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Merciful. Say, "He is my Lord; there is no deity except Him. Upon Him I rely, and to Him is my return." 31 And if there was any qur'an by which the mountains would be removed or the earth would be broken apart or the dead would be made to speak, [it would be this Qur'an], but to Allah belongs the affair entirely. Then have those who believed not accepted that had Allah willed, He would have guided the people, all of them? And those who disbelieve do not cease to be struck, for what they have done, by calamity - or it will descend near their home - until there comes the promise of Allah. Indeed, Allah does not fail in [His] promise. 32 And already were [other] messengers ridiculed before you, and I extended the time of those who disbelieved; then I seized them, and how [terrible] was My penalty. 33 Then is He who is a maintainer of every soul, [knowing] what it has earned, [like any other]? But to Allah they have attributed partners. Say, "Name them. Or do you inform Him of that which He knows not upon the earth or of what is apparent of speech?" Rather, their [own] plan has been made attractive to those who disbelieve, and they have been averted from the way. And whomever Allah leaves astray - there will be for him no guide. 34 For them will be punishment in the life of [this] world, and the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe. And they will not have from Allah any protector. 35 The example of Paradise, which the righteous have been promised, is [that] beneath it rivers flow. Its fruit is lasting, and its shade. That is the consequence for the righteous, and the consequence for the disbelievers is the Fire. 36 And [the believers among] those to whom We have given the [previous] Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], but among the [opposing] factions are those who deny part of it. Say, "I have only been commanded to worship Allah and not associate [anything] with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return." 37 And thus We have revealed it as an Arabic legislation. And if you should follow their inclinations after what has come to you of knowledge, you would not have against Allah any ally or any protector. 38 And We have already sent messengers before you and assigned to them wives and descendants. And it was not for a messenger to come with a sign except by permission of Allah. For every term is a decree. 39 Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book. 40 And whether We show you part of what We promise them or take you in death, upon you is only the [duty of] notification, and upon Us is the account. 41 Have they not seen that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? And Allah decides; there is no adjuster of His decision. And He is swift in account. 42 And those before them had plotted, but to Allah belongs the plan entirely. He knows what every soul earns, and the disbelievers will know for whom is the final home. 43 And those who have disbelieved say, "You are not a messenger." Say, [O Muhammad], "Sufficient is Allah as Witness between me and you, and [the witness of] whoever has knowledge of the Scripture."