The Qur’an Is A Cure | Dr. Tesneem Alkiek | Juz 18 Qur’an 30 for 30 S7 | Ramadan Series

The day of judgment, subhan Allah, as a courtroom is such a scary thought. May Allah protect us and and make our hesab easy. What other judge will say, oh like let's bring the voluntary deeds and like let's fill in especially when the judge is the subject of the transgression. But the sustenance of the soul, subhan Allah, the Quran is that without a doubt that the Quran when one reads it, when one pers over it, it starts inward. And Allah subhana t is the one that has created all of creation. He's created the human beings, the plants, everything. >> That moment that you feel belittled or insignificant or like honestly like people are making fun of you and you and you have those moments. Remember this this fierce discussion that's like Allah putting these people in their place, their rightful place. Everyone, welcome back to Quran 30 for30. Alhamdulillah. As we come into the 18th J, we are just at the gates of the last 10 nights. We want to remind you all inshallah to please tune in to all the content that's coming up. keep up with the content that's already uh come out and support the work of you have an opportunity in these last 10 nights to plug in your donations for the last 10. This is where the majority of our support comes in for the entire year is through people like yourselves that benefit from the content and want other people to benefit as well in continue to do so without any charge. Uh we have with us alhamdulillah one of our oldest contributors inshallah who's been with y from the very start. Alhamdulillah Dr. Tasnim Al. How are you? >> Alhamdulillah. Doing good. I didn't get a dora this time. >> You dto. I said dctor right? Yeah dto. Martto right. That's we can say that. That's probably like the most like uh like it's sticking. >> It's sticking sticks. Alhamdulillah. Um, mashallah, you're doing a lot. Alhamdulillah. You're writing a lot. You got the uh series Real Talk. Alhamdulillah, it was beautifully filmed. Um, what do you what do you say to people now that are like is awesome in Ramadan, but like how do we uh keep it up for them inshallah after Ramadan? What do they have to look forward to after Ramadan? Why should they continue to tune in? >> Alhamdulillah, we just finished wrapping up production for a whole new series for the women's uh series on Real Talk. And at this point, it's already all 10 episodes have come out and I think this is just the start. Alhamdulillah, our media team is incredibly talented and they're really ready to produce a lot more, a lot faster, a lot better. Um, and I think it's I think this is only the beginning. So, if if you enjoyed Ramadan, if you enjoyed the series before, uh, we need your your guidance in terms of like what you want next because we're I think we're ready to move full speed. Alhamdulillah. >> What about the research beyond the media? you know, um what what do you tell people that don't feel like reading papers? >> Do I go into my professor mode about like the importance of literacy? >> Um >> especially in AI and >> you know, you know, I guess I can I can speak to something because like I I recorded a video and one of the episodes was on marriage. Elsa wrote a paper on gender roles. The amount of detail I was able to go through in the paper that you can't get in a video series, it's just there's so much more to the conversation. And so I I think that reading papers is so valuable for those who are looking for detail for citations and evidence and like you're a lot more careful with wording and that's so important especially when you're getting into sort of like more nuanced topics. You really want to be careful with word choice and like sometimes you're on a podcast and it's really hard to just be like specific with what you're trying to say. >> So I think you want to take it to the next level. Let's you know start reading the papers and we'll produce the papers you want that the topics people want. So we just need to hear from you and and can do that too. I think people often forget like we've we never stop producing papers. We keep producing. Alhamdulillah. We we constantly invest in our research. Alhamdulillah. And >> um both the media quality, the substance is growing as well as the papers and and you've been a huge part of that. May Allah reward you and the whole research team. >> Uh last question for you before we get started with the J is what's your favorite name of Allahh at this moment? >> I think Alhaleim has been resonating a lot lately. I just I think to because the way that I've been approaching the names of Allahh is how can I be a better person through the name of Allah like how can I be inspired to be a better person when I think about and that's something I can work on and when I see Allah's in our life his forbearance his gentleness his like the constantly forgiving think to myself man I really got to step it up if Allahh is this generous with us the least we can do is sort of resemble that even a fraction >> absolely Absolutely. Um Abdullah, as we're getting into last 10 almost now, like this is like a post Ramadan dip, you know, like you got to crank it back up. What's your quick advice to people before we get started? Like how do they now take it into the last 10 in the right way? >> I think really what's important is to look in the benefit of what is called kalwa to have your time alone with Allah. Maybe these times of Ramadan you, you know, you're praying in congregation, then after that you're hanging out with people and stuff like that, but >> have you really had that time to make taj you know uh and have your time alone with Allah and to listen to your thoughts and to uh ponder on that? >> That's really important because like there's a lot of programming, a lot of community in the last 10 and stuff like that. But there's also like that important uh command to really isolate yourself even when you're in the mid take a corner you know sit with yourself like try not to just constantly get lost in >> the community stuff but also in your individual stuff that's very beneficial by the way it actually fits j um so as we come to it because jet 18 starts off with right so successful are the believers and those are the ones that first and foremost have deep humility uh in their prayers. So just a quick overview of this juzj as it relates to how allahel talks about himself. First and foremost, this is just something I noticed. Um the beginning of just 17 is allahel describing they're pushing away the hour as the hour is coming close to them. They're pushing away allahel the hour all thoughts of religiosity and then this just starts off with like they're inviting >> Allahh the thoughts of the hereafter and what comes uh into their lives. So right away there's a uh a contrast that's being drawn. Also allahel mentions success. I know I haven't started with the part about Allahh but I couldn't help this part. Success the believers have been successful. After comes and Allah says in verse 51 so Allah mentions that the only response for the true believers when they're called to Allah and his messenger so that he may judge between them is to say we hear and we obey verily they are the ones who truly succeed. So this idea of is so you know powerful uh in this j like this is how you succeed by connecting deeply to Allahh responding to Allah subhana t inviting allahel into your thoughts into your deeds into your hearts and and moving accordingly uh the last thing that I'll say here inshalla in regards to this overview just look at in allahel introduces himself as the creator Right. So the one who created who created humanity and who sustains uh humanity Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. And so you have this idea of Allahel creating and not just guiding but Allahh bringing life in the full spiritual sense through his light to everything that he creates. And then right the the most uh blessed incubator of that light is the Quran. >> Right? And so allahel praises himself as the creator inah he praises himself as the light inah and then he praises himself as the one who revealed the book of light the criterion of truth. You know, it's really interesting because like when Allah refers to the Quran as it's the criterion, right? And you think about like the way people were being described in 17, right? Turning away, not paying attention, um distant and then in this people that are deeply connecting and of course the contrast is in every between the believers and the disbelievers. Thean sorts out light from darkness, truth from falsehood, success from failure, right? And all of that goes back to the source of all truth. Alak himself, subhanahu wa ta'ala, an himself, subhanahu wa'ta'ala. So he's the lord of creation. He's the light of guidance. He's the one who discerns revelation. So it's, you know, if there's like a visual map, and I often try to think about this when we're reading through a like if this could be summarized in a visual, right? And don't ask AI to do it for you. You know, this is you have to sit and do it yourself. And actually draw something out in your head, in your heart. It's Allah subhanana wa ta'ala engaging every single element of creation >> with all that he's given around us. the book, the signs, allahel engaging the heart, Allah engaging the mind, that translating into your prayer, that translating into every form of like deep thoughtful engagement with everything that Allahh uh has put um around you. So first and foremost, uh she Abdullah would love to just hear your thoughts about how we approach this concept as believers. >> Yeah, subhan Allah. I mean you know when Allah subhanaa tala the way he chooses to sustain his creation in different ways with the creation you see that there's the tangible aspect of it I mean even though Allah we see how Allah causes there's different forms of creation that illuminate on other forms of creation to bring forth life and even to sustain it but the sustenance of the soul subhan allah the Quran is that without a doubt that the Quran when one reads it when one pers over it starts inward and Allahh is the one that has created all of creation. He's created the human beings, the plants, everything etc. But then within itself, they all work within each other with with each other in harmony in synchrony to maintain each other all ultimately under the authority of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. But then the Quran when when the with the human beings that sustenance of recitation that sustenance of pondering over what you recite the blessings of struggling when reciting you know it's all a form of bringing life and sustenance to the heart you know in this month of Ramadan how the Quran is probably the we hear the Quran the most in this month you know whether we're in the masid whether we're in our homes whether alone at the kalwa alone with Allah subhana wa ta'ala this is a you know a lot of times we like to use the term to recharge recharge our soul, recharge our heart, recharge our ponderance, our pondering over Allah, our our awareness of the creation and of the creator. I think that's beautiful in this regards when Allahh is talking about how he is the and also the Quran is that which brings life. But as a result of that, the more that you recite it, the blessings, some of them you will know and not and encounter and realize and be thankful for. Some you will know and encounter and not be thankful for. And some you will won't even realize, but it's still there. It's a blessing, but we're not even aware of it. So when when you when you fall into the category of knowing it, realizing it, being thankful for that, that's when hopefully it will really really become aan for you. You're able to decipher between truth and falsehood. You're able to make the right choices in Ramadan. You're able to fight yourself at 2 in the morning when fudger is at 2:45 or 3:00 in the morning, 3:45. you're able to do that in that month of Ramadan and hopefully sustain that within the following months inshallah. >> Beautiful words. Subhan Allah. So unless you know the truth of what's in front of you, then you can't act in a way that is uh you know in accordance with that truth. >> That's that's such a beautiful way. >> Dr. Chasim, any um sort of thoughts on the overview of the J before we get to the specific page I want to ask you about? >> Yeah. So I I just wanted to add like the idea that the Quran is a shifa Allah describes as a shifa. I like going to imagery, right? You got to be creative with how you imagine that shif that cure that that protection that the Quran comes into your life because sometimes it's like it could be just you not getting into that car accident. My child comes out healthy from school every single day and I think to myself that might be the Quran protecting my child. Like people ask me all the time like wow mashallah like your life is organized and clean or whatever. They they'll say what they say and I think to myself it's the Quran protecting me. like that that is really what gets me through day day by day. And I I think it's it requires that little bit of imagination because sometimes we think it comes like in the form of like money or like something very specific or I I've healed from cancer but there's so much that could have afflicted you that Allahh protects you from because of your relationship with the Quran. And I think that's when when you start to invite that imagination like the possibilities are endless and you just start to see Allah's rah and mercy and shif everywhere. so powerful like people are always like once you get sick let me read Quran let me do this let me try to cure you with the Quran but it's you know said obviously it's a deeper uh you know connotation but you know someone said that so and so memorized the Quran he said the Quran protects him right he doesn't protect he doesn't guard the Quran with his memory rather the Quran envelopes him and protects him and of course that's from spiritual illness that's from uh physicalness us from so much of calamity that can come in the deepest sense of the word. So Dr. when we get to um this page, this is a really powerful page, you know, Allah subhana t says it's like these are such powerful words, so exalted is Allah the true king. There is no god worthy of worship except him, the lord of the noble throne. This page though, it really talks about, you know, Allah being greater than everything else. M >> and the purpose that you should find in life. So as allahel highlights how limited our time on earth is what then should we be living for? You know when it comes to this particular page and the names that are brought up on this page >> you know I was very excited to have J 18 because the this is one of the pages in the Quran that every time I read I almost always have to stop like it's like those goosebumps moments. the the page starts off because with this very descriptive imagery of the people who are now punished in the next life and it's like this back and forth dialogue of them begging Allahh ya Allah like please we regret it we messed up get us out and Allah like asked them did you not have all of the signs like you had everything I told you time and time again this is my message this is I'm trying to guide you and you continued to reject There's this very like again like goosebump like dialogue between Allahh and those who are now being punished like we were overwhelmed. We couldn't help ourselves and they're just trying to negotiate any way back out. And the way Allahh like puts it into context is absolutely incredible. Like you're you're staying in there. Uh I don't want like essentially like not a word, right? You had your chance. You could have spoken up. You could have done whatever it is that you needed to do. Now it's too late. You know what? There was a group of my worshippers. There were is a group of people who saw the signs that I clearly displayed, clearly gave a and they responded, right? Ya Allah, we believe in you. Please forgive us. Have mercy on us. Like we see your messages. We see our signs and and because we know everything we're doing wrong, please forgive us, ya Allah. Please have mercy. Like, you are the the best of those who are merciful to others. And this is the part that really just gives me chills. You guys used to make fun of these people >> until like you lost sight of everything. You were constantly teasing these people. You were criminalizing these people. You always were after them. And it's just such a lived experience I think for so many of us where you feel like whether you're in college, you're in school, you're in hijab in public, what we all have those moments where you feel so small and belittled and like insignificant and you're constantly like what are you wearing that for? Why are you doing that? Really going to stop and pray like you believe in God. like something even as basic of like really like the amount of times I was not not taken seriously. It's like, okay, God's in the picture for you. And there's those moments that you have and you just feel so little and insignificant. And Allah flips the script on the day of judgment and says, "Those people that you sat and made fun of, like I'm saving them and you are going just you you can sort of revel in this this punishment." And I and I think to me like that is such an incredible display of Allahh is like his mercy to us in this dunya now still that moment that you feel belittled or insignificant or like honestly like people are making fun of you and you and you have those moments remember this this fierce discussion that's like Allah putting these people in their place their rightful place and Allah praising you that on that day when you got past that moment when you were able to turn to Allah like listen this is really difficult I I know I'm messing it up somehow I'm not doing what I need to be doing have mercy on us right it's just like you this inviting you be one of those people you were made fun of everyone's going to be made fun of but when you stand out and you push through and you you make this dua that that is really what's going to distinguish you on the day of judgment so to me it's a it's a it's a message of like fear fear of being among those who who are make fun of those who believe in God but have hope for those who stick through despite that. And so this is like a really important segue really like the setup to Allahh says next. And then it says they're asked like how like how long were you even on that on this earth? Like how long were you even there to make fun of to disbelieve to neglect my signs? You and they respond like just a few days like I don't know the time went by so fast. It was a couple days here and there and Allahh says no no no like like again putting it into context like at the end of the day you neglected my signs. It was all just a few days. It was just a blink of an eye and everything was over. Those few days you had the opportunity that limited time on earth. You had that opportunity. I created you for a purpose. I sent you signs. I you have something to look forward to to push through. Like literally it just builds up all this this this into this moment. Allahh says exalted is Allahh right and it's there's a couple ways you can read this ayah but al like if you read them separately I think is is a good starting point the king but the king of what the king of this world right that those moments when you feel unsure like uh inconfident about who you are as a Muslim as a believer that it it's difficult and it is difficult to believe right God is the true king he's the owner of this world like I I don't care who's in power now. We have that focus. God is and we have truth. We have the right. We have what can guide us, make us help us make those distinctions, have us stick to the truth, have that clarity that people are so desperately looking for, right? And then you can read the the the names together, the true king, the only king, right? The best of kings. Um and I I think it's it's like again that powerful reminder of putting things in their place that people will make fun of you. those people who exist who deny me when you stick through you make this dua and the surah also ends with the same thing right that the you are the best of those who have mercy it's this desperate plea Allah have mercy on us because it's not easy and when you do Allah says I will give you your rightful place this world is only a few days it's going to pass like this you're going to be asked and it's going to be like what it was just a day or two and Allahh says reminds us we did not create you without that purpose so to me It's when I read I think to myself Allahh is the real he is the one in charge right don't lose sight of that and we have the truth we have something that these people don't have and it's that what sets us apart and it's that which gets us to that pl that place that rank where we can be told Allahh says no no no you you get all of this because you stood stood fast right you get all of this because despite everyone pressuring you you believed in my word and it's an invitation to make this dua day in and day out, especially last 10 nights of Ramadan. Ya Allah, please forgive us. Have mercy on us. You are the best of those who have mercy. Yeah. Subhan Allah. There's there's a lot of things that went through my mind in that. Subhan Allah. That that verse always every time. to it's like the first thing I think about is you know if you're that person that has told someone something over and over and time and time again and they don't do it and then when they finally you know see the they get stung by the reality of what you told them to stay away from and they come to you said no no I told you that's it I've told you that's it you know now you have to deal with that particular situation you have to face the consequences and Allah is a much greater much greater example subhan Allah when Allah at the same time he's saying No, no, stay there and don't even speak led to Khalimon. That's it. All those opportunities that's been there in this life. And then I started to think about, subhan Allah, there was a an individual that used to live with me. He was locked up. You know, mashallah, of course, mash may Allah bless him. Um I met him and he became a Muslim. He be he became a Muslim. He got kicked out of his house. He lived with me. Then when I went to go study in Medina, he went back to jail. Then I graduated from Medina. We ended up living together again. Don't ask me how. That's from the of Allahhanaa. But he was telling me and I was remembering for those of you that are out there that you know when you commit that crime or you do something wrong and then you go to court even if it's a speeding ticket to you go to court you're very subservient at that moment you don't want to face any penalty you're going to be on your best mannersh is the owner of that day and all the other days and that day he is the owner there is no as Allah says who is the authority for on this day Allah is telling you. He is telling you. But if we're not reading these verses, if we're not constantly encountering what Allah is telling you, he's painting the picture for you for you to even think about what efforts are you making. Because those of you that have went to court at least, and many other examples, you're saying, "Man, I wish I wouldn't have done that. I wish I wouldn't have sped. I wish I would have paid that bill. I wish I would have done I wish I would have done so and so and so and so." After that, what are you going to do in the following days? What are you going to do after this Ramadan is over? On these last 10 days, how are you going to rectify those those deeds? What are you going to do? And even if it's a little do that little deed, but have that las sincerity and Allahh will will rectify inshallah. But that day will come. That is that's what he's warning you about. The one that has authority cuz he is the king, the ownership. He is the one that has authority over that day and he's letting you know that firstly there will be a day that will take place. You don't want to be from those inhabitants. May Allah make us free from that. Inshallah. >> It's such a powerful elaboration. May Allah reward you. I I don't think I'll read the page the same way again bless you. But subh like that imagery >> of the courtroom that you're just talking about. >> Like my brother's a lawyer. You talk about this like a lot like what it looks like in a courtroom, right? Like and you're right like uh unless it's like a political prisoner like these >> these people that are that are wrongfully being held but someone like that did something and they know they did it. >> What are you dependent on at that point? You're dependent upon in the worldly sense how well your lawyer can argue for you, how many holes your lawyer can poke, and then your performance of guilt. >> It's your performance of guilt, how how regretful you can appear to be in those moments. >> So that maybe the jury or the judge would look at you with some pity >> and you can always see when they're like reading out like showing the videos, you see the person kind of put their head down. Very few people will like sit up and laugh because they know they're done anyway. You know, people put their heads down. It's just kind of like man like Yeah. like how do you feel about yourself right now? How do you feel about what you did? And the day of judgment, subhan Allah, as a courtroom is such a scary thought, you know, may Allah protect us and and make our easy and I think the the part of like oh Allah have mercy on us. It's not just the forgiveness, but the fact that anybody passes through that because you can't perform for Allahh. You can't fake this. You can't you can't fake regret on the day of judgment. The fact that anybody survives that and in fact Allah guarantees the believers right that they'll have an easy accountability and allahel will allow the prophet to intercede and Allahh will fill in like what other judge seriously what other judge will say oh like let's bring the voluntary deeds and like let's fill in especially when the judge is the subject of the transgression >> you aggressed on the rights of Allah There's not another party here. This is between you and Allah. Of course, if there's wound towards another person, you know, you're in trouble. Woe to you. Like cuz Allahh is just he's not going to show mercy on behalf of someone else. He's going to take their full rights. But overall like you aggressed on the rights of Allah. You're standing in front of Allah saying where are the voluntary deeds? patch up the the the obligatory good deeds and Allahh bringing you close to him in naja saying like you committed these sins in secret I'm I'm covering you I'm concealing you I'm forgiving you for them and by the way I'm not going to embarrass you in front of these people what other judge does that so when you think of allahel is the ultimate king the ultimate judge the fact that that's paired with his that's something in the very beginning of the Ramadan series it's talking about the names of Allahh if you pair alman with any other name it fits. >> Every other name of Allah, if you put Alman first, it fits >> cuz he'sman with his justice. He's Rahman with his power. He's Rahman with his might. He's Rahman with his all of it avenging. He's Rahman with all of it. Right? So, um at the end of the day, you know, you come back to the beginning of can we focus? Can we exert ourselves? And you know Dr. I want to leave the last word with you inshallah with the last couple of minutes. You know you started us off with this really powerful discussion. What are some takeaways for people to not despair? >> You know I think it's beautiful because we're talking about on the day of judgment when it's too late. But I think about all of the times but there's a friend that I had that was constantly sort of going down this downhill >> and it was a very close friend and I kept like day in and day out listen you're in a bad space. you're in a bad place, like you need to get out of it. You got to do XYZ. Day in and day out for months on end. Of course, months almost a year passes by and exactly what I predicted was going to happen happened. And I I just remember being so angry the second I heard that what I told them for almost a year, day in and day out, like you got to change. You got to change. Exactly what I told them was going to happen happened. Go to my room. Boom. I'm like screaming in my pillow like, "Hello, I gave you I gave you all the tips you needed. I was the support you needed. Like I reminded you like there was no you have no excuse." >> And for like 30 seconds, I was just like sort of screaming into my pillow like, "I can't believe this happened." And then it just like something clicked in my head and I was like, "This sounds familiar. >> This sounds familiar." Day in and day out, Allahh gives you signs. This is my message. These are my laws. This is what you do. Everything I'm telling you to do is good for you. everything is good for you. Just listen to me. I got you. And day in and day out, we make a mistake. Day in and day out, we're like, "Oh, sorry. Did it again." Day in and day out, we come to Ramadan and we got a full plate. And I thought to myself, and when I when I said mentioned in the the beginning, it was like this like Allah, I'm like, "Wait a minute." And like the anger within like a minute dissipated like if Allah could forgive me day in and day out for making these mistakes, who am I not to forgive this person right now? And I had no grudge at that moment. Just think of Allah's mercy and his forbearance for our mistakes day in and day out despite every single time telling us I told you so. But then that is balanced right that is balanced with Allah saying you have a time. You can't you can't play this game for the rest of your life. I'll give you chance after chance after chance. But for those who have lost their chance and have continued to push past and refuse to to ask for forgiveness for that guidance that's when Allah his judgment his his decree like you can read those verses and think like that's very strict but if you know the context of like the amount of gave you on this earth day in and day I reminded you I gave you everything but now you are taking advantage of me that is when like Allahh like clarifies like I'm in charge right and I so I think there's like that that balancing act like Allahh his that mercy is there in this dunya take advantage of it like >> because when that day comes that that is when your last chance is over and that is the remind Allahh like don't wait until you be you get to that date right we want to turn to Allah especially the last 10 nights of Ramadan and he gave you that opportunity come back to the last 10 nights to do the same thing powerful words to get us set up for the last 10 a few seconds over time but it's good for us. Inshallah, I don't think anyone's complaining about that take-h home message. May Allah bless you and reward you. Everyone, tune in tomorrow night. Keep us in your dua.

Ramadan is whirling by. Automate your donations for the last 10 nights and make every night count: http://yqn.io/hhsj We all have moments when we feel small and insignificant. In this episode, Dr. Tesneem Alkiek reminds us of a powerful du’a from Surah Mu’minun to say in these moments. Names mentioned: Al-Khaaliq, An-Noor, Al-Malik, Al-Haqq 0:00 - Introduction 1:37 - What’s coming next for Yaqeen? 3:24 - Dr. Tesneem Alkiek’s favorite name of Allah 4:10 - Post-Ramadan dip advice 5:20 - Success of the believers 9:22 - How Allah sustains 11:50 - Dr. Tesneem’s thoughts on Juz 18 13:00- Reflecting on the powerful Surah Ibrahim 20:00 - Day of Judgment as a courtroom 27:00 - Takeaways to not despair Download our new e-book, “Changed by the Qur'an” by Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy, to unlock a deeper connection with the Qur'an this Ramadan: http://yqn.io/hsdu #quran30for30 #namesofallah #omarsuleiman #ramadan #ramadanseries Click SUBSCRIBE and hit the 🔔 icon to receive the latest updates from Yaqeen! Visit http://www.yaqeeninstitute.org for full access to all research publications, infographics, and videos. Join the conversation on UpScrolled, X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @yaqeeninstitute!