Weekly Classroom Themes – Secondary

Enduring Good Deeds

"Wealth and children are adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope." (18:46)

Surah al Kahf is a chapter which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recommended reading weekly, telling us that doing so will be a light and protection from one Friday to the next (recorded in Bayhaqi). In this verse Allah tells the believers that they ought to place their trust, hope and work in good deeds, not material or even familial wealth in this life. al baqiyat al salihat linguistically means: the enduring things, good deeds. Examples of this, as ibn Abbas, Uthman ibn Affan and Sa'eed ibn Jubayr (may Allah be pleased with them) have mentioned are saying: subhanAllah, alhamdulilah, la ilaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, and astaghfirullah as well as sending peace and blessings upon Allah's Messenger.

ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) also mentioned, when speaking about enduring good deeds, the actions of: daily prayers, hajj, sadaqah, freeing slaves, jihad, maintaining ties of kinship and all other good deeds. These same words (al baqiyat al salihat) are mentioned by Allah in Surah Maryam, which again is with regards to how people may be confused and overtaken by the love of worldly things. Allah says:

"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." (19:76)

However, within the world view and perspective of the Muslim, wealth and benefits of this worldly life are not disliked or avoided. Rather, such goods can lead to attaining further goodness, or otherwise. As is recorded in al Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to make dua: "O' Allah, our Lord, give us in this world good and in the Hereafter good and protect us from the punishment of the fire." And similarly Allah says:

"And when you have completed your rites, remember Allah like your [previous] remembrance of your fathers or with [much] greater remembrance. And among the people is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world," and he will have in the Hereafter no share. But among them is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire." Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in account." (2:200-202)

Thus the Muslim is in balance between his aspiration for the Hereafter while not renouncing the worldly life. He or she aims for success in both, while keeping in mind the temporary nature of this life and the eternal nature of the Hereafter. And, for the wise amongst us, it is clear that the things of this worldly life, such as wealth and family as Allah mentions, can be tools for success in the eternal realm.

And Allah knows best.

Questions:

List some enduring good deeds.

What are some of the benefits of reading Surah al Kahf?

How can wealth and children distract us from performing enduring good deeds? Should wealth and children be completely avoided in the worldly life? How can we benefit from wealth and children in the hereafter?

Who was ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him)?

Week 14

Disobedience

During a certain campaign during which prisoners were taken, abu Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) witnessed them and wept. He said:

"How insignificant are the people to Allah if they disobey Him. Look at these people: they were powerful and prevailed over their enemies, but when they ignored the commands of Allah - may He be glorified and exalted - and disobeyed Him, they ended up as you see." (Tareekh al Islami)

And, in another report narrated by Jubayr ibn Nufayr he (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"Woe to you, this was a powerful nation that prevailed, but when they neglected the commands of Allah, they ended up as you see. Allah punished them by making them prisoners... How insignificant are the people to Allah if they disobey Him." (al Bidayah wal Nihayah)

Questions:

Research and write about at least one story mentioned in the Qur’an about a people that were powerful at one time, but were then reduced to nothing because they disobeyed Allah. What characteristics did these people have?

Reflect on the two narrations mentioned above and write about how the Ummah could benefit and learn from the people in the past.

Week 15

Qur'an

In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

About the Qur'an, Allah says:

"Say: 'In the bounty of Allah and His Mercy, let them rejoice', this
is better than all the [wealth] they can amass" (10:58)

'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported (as is recorded in Sahih al Muslim) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah will raise (honor) people by this Book, and He will debase others by it."

Abu Malik al Ashari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates (recorded in Sahih al Muslim) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Qur'an is either an evidence for you, or against you."

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The person who reads the Qur'an fluently is with the honorable and obedient scribes (angels), and he who reads it with difficulty, he shall get a double reward." (abu Dawud)

Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever wishes to love Allah and His Messenger, let him read the mushaf." (recorded in ibn Nu'aym).

Ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It will be said to the companion of the Qur'an after he has entered Paradise, 'Recite, and rise!' For every verse he recites, he will rise one level, until he recites the last verse with him." (abu Dawud)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Never do a group of people gather together in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the book of Allah and pondering over it, except that peace descends upon them, and Allah remembers them in His gathering." (abu Dawud).

May Allah make us among those who love the Qur'an, who learn the Qur'an, who recite the Qur'an, who enact and practice what it entails, and who are among those who are told: "Recite, and rise!" Amin.

Questions:

In what ways have you benefitted from reading Qur’an?

Reflect on the following prophetic narration: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The best of you are the ones who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others.”

Reflect on the following verse [Quran 2:2]: “This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqoon [the pious].”

Week 16