Yasir Qadhi

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi illustrates the 9 blessings of giving Zakah, as described in the Quran and Sunnah.  We are also acquainted with some of the dangers of not giving Zakah. Linguistically, Zakah means to purify our wealth and to grow the remaining wealth in order to increase Zakah. There are 9 main blessings of Zakah: Increase our wealth. It causes our wordly distresses to be minimised and It averts calamities. It is a proof of one’s Iman. The highest level of believers in Jannah are those who are eager and continuous in giving Zakah. Allah accepts our Zakat even before we hand it out to the poor and needy. Zakat dissolves and extinguishes the wrath of Allah. It protects us from Jahannam. It allows us to enter into the Rahmah of Allah. Dangers of not giving Zakah: It sets the essence of the signs of hypocrisy creeping in. It takes everything from us and removes Barakah. Allah will stop sending rain and droughts will set in.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi delves into the need of building a relationship with the Quran via constant and frequent recitation.  The verses referenced are verses 57-58 of Surah Yunus where Allah SWT says (to the effect) :“O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and a healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. Say, "In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate." The Fadhl of Allah is the Prophet (SAW) and the Rahmah of Allah is the Qur'an. To recite the Qur'an is a sign of Iman. The one who recites the Qur'an fluently is with the noble angels in Heaven. The Qur'an will be a means of salvation on the Day of Judgement. According to a Hadith, the one who has perfected the recitation and memorization of the Qur'an will be placed in the highest level of Jannah. 5 beautiful adjectives used by Allah SWT to adorn the Qur'an with: Mauidhah - Emotional advice  Shifa  Hudan  Burhan  Rahmah To recite the Qur'an is a sign of Iman.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi elaborates on the Islamic principle of Tawakkul (reliance on Allah) as depicted in verse 51 of Surah At-Tawbah.  This verse deals with the Battle of Tabuk and the great difficulties faced by the companions RA. Allah SWT said to them: (to the effect) "Say, nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed. Allah is our Mawlana and in Allah let the believers place their trust."   This verse sheds ample light on the relation between the servant and the Creator. We also get the benefit of Tawakkul and we realise that no predicament and agony of this world is going to affect us unless Allaha has willed it. Tawakkul is an internal aspect and it changes the way we feel about problems around us or our perception. We should put in efforts to get that which will benefit us, make dua to Allah and not to be lazy. If we do not get what we desire, we should place our Tawakkul in Allah and firmly believe that Allah Alone is sufficient for us and whatever happens in the future is by the Will of Allah.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi provides elaborates on the Islamic principle of reconciling broken ties, bonds and kinship as exhibited in verse 63 of Surah Al-Anfal. A secret group is permitted to be formed to bring good and that which gets the Ajar of Allah: If one is coming together for a charity Reconciliation between two fighting people or the one who have severed ties with their kith and kin. According to a famous Hadith, there is something far better than Sadaqah, Siyam, and Salah and that is bringing those ties of kinship together.  More so, even though lying is Haram in all forms in Islam, it is till permitted to bring two people together who have not been on good terms.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi elaborates on the Islamic principle of commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil, as depicted in the story present in verses 163-164 of Surah Al-A'raf. These verses are about a group of people committing sins and another group that warned them but they didn't listen. They were instead criticized for warning them because their advice was falling on deaf ears. They were told to not waste their time because they will be punished by Allah anyway in the end . but the group maintained that they were doing this so that they would have an excuse on the Day of Judgement in front of Allah SWT that they tried commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil. It is this characteristic of Muslims that sets us apart from the rest of mankind and this is why we are the best Ummah. Allah has His La'nah is on people who do not stop each other from doing evil and who do not preach what is good, although they are very well aware about it. We should forbid evil by usage of tongue, hand and then ultimately, hate from the heart.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi elaborates on the purpose, benefits and wisdom behind stories in the Qur'an.   It is said in the books of Tafseer that one third of the Quran is Theology, one third is stories and one third is laws. Why so? It is verbatim, it has happened in reality, good stories and there are morals and wisdom in these stories. It also strengthens the Iman of mankind. It has warnings for the one who rejects Iman. Of the wisdoms of Quranic stories is that we can derive practical manifestations from the stories of Islamic principles that we can apply in our daily lives. Surah Al-A'raaf primarily focuses on nothing but stories and comprises stories of 8 Prophets.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi provides useful insights and a beautiful commentary on verse 90-92 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, where Allah SWT tells the believers to avoid intoxicants, gambling, divination of arrows in front of the idols and idolatry to be successful in life. Eat pure and do not eat from the impure .Every part of the flesh of human beings fed with Haram is going to Jahannum. Anything that is intoxicating in large quantities is forbidden even in small quantities. All of these forbidden items mentioned in the Quran are all filth from Shaytan.  Our Prophet ﷺ has said that Allah has cursed 10 categories with regards to alcohol - alcohol itself and all its manifestations and all aspects relating to it.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi delves on verse 147 of Surah Al-Nisa, where Allah asks the believers a rhetorical question - "What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe?" This Ayah lays the foundation as to why this world is one of pain and suffering and also what leads mankind to become atheists. This Ayah illustrates that there is pain and suffering because of a higher wisdom. Nothing happens without a cause and reason. Of the causes we are in pain and suffering are as follows: We are not thankful when we are in a blessed state. To remove arrogance from within us. In the humbling of ourselves when in calamity, we discover the necessity and sweetness of Dua. We have to earn our place in Jannah with whatever meagre good we can do in this world. Allah will give you with much more than what you have earned. To alleviate the pain of the Akhirah.

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi delves on verse 103 of Surah Al-Nisa, where Allah asks the believers to establish prayer.   We as an Ummah have learnt the importance of performing Salah time and time again. There is no concept of Islam without Salah. Iman is connected to Salah. The Messenger ﷺ was called before the Almighty to reveal the revelation of Salah as opposed to the rest of the revelations which demonstrates its importance. Umar Ibn Al Khattab RA was stabbed while praying Salat ul Fajr but he did not leave the Salah. This is his mindset even as he is facing certain death. What level of importance should we then lay on the establishment of Salah?

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi delves into an explanation of the verses 17-18 of of Surah Al-Nisa, where Allah talks about accepting the Tawbah of some and not accepting of others. We also are acquainted with the conditions for repentance or Tawbah.   When we commit sins or disobey Allah while in a state of ignorance. We repent quickly for the sins committed. Allah shall accept the Tawbah of everyone till the pangs of death are faced. Conditions of repentance: We feel guilty and remorseful for the sins committed which is the essence of Tawbah. We verbalise our forgiveness to Allah. We should make a genuine attempt to stay away from the sins committed. If you have harmed someone else, you have to make it up to that person as well.