Nouman Ali Khan

Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan delves into a deep discussion on what it actually means to be responsible for being witness to Humanity. In the Qur'an, Surah Al Baqarah, Verses 142 - 143, “The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allah belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.” Allah SWT exposes in Surah Al Baqarah that there was a knowledgeable group among the Jewish community of Madinah that looked to this Messenger ﷺ and found that every single description that they were given about him in their books, so they came to the conclusion that in fact, this is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. And at the same time they came to a very strange conclusion also that “no matter what we will not follow him, we will not accept him as a Messenger of Allah”. They actually start blaming Jibreel (AS) saying that he must have gone to the wrong address. so, Allah defends Jibreel (AS) in this Surah. Now, a new Ummah is being inaugurated by two major things:     The change of the Ka'bah.     The instillation of the month of Ramadan. These two things are identifying us as a distinct new nation completely separate from Bani Israel. How did these two events come into existence? Do listen intently. What is the mean that we have become an Ummah and we share this responsibility? The Messenger delivered the message to us and that message, in summary, is Allah’s book. His life mission was to deliver this book to the best of his ability and he did his job. He did his job to represent it’s teaching in our character, not only that but to be closer to Allah. Two things that will ensure success in this world and the Hereafter:     One thing is the promise of the Messenger ﷺ       The second thing is the promise of Allah. First, is the promise of the Messenger ﷺ it occurs in Bukhari -“The expert in the Quran is ranked among the highest angels”. Allah’s promise to us is said to us three times which is to really be an Ummah is to be united and Allah says “hold on to Allah’s rope tightly”. That rope of Allah is the Qur'an. The more we are tied to the Qur'an, the more we are tied to each other and it’s the glue that bonds us.

Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan delves into an analysis of the following verse from the Holy Qur'an. “And those who say: Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqun.’” (Al-Furqan 25:74)  It is clear that the purpose of this Dua that we make often is due to our incessant inward love and fondness for our family. We strive endlessly into making them acquainted with the main principles and positive laws of Islam and the paths of truth and justice. The Arabic phrase “qurrata ‘ayn” means the apple of one’s eye, which basically means a person who is the cause of happiness and pride. This is originally derived from the word “qurr” which means coolness and since it is said that the tears of eagerness and happiness are always cool, the phrase means something that causes the eyes of a man to cool down. This implies happiness and joy. The Muttaqin acquire the qualifications of greatness and leadership in a way that all the required attributes of a real leader are included in them and this is a herculean job given the severe and testing conditions in and around us. They are special servants of Allah and their knowledge, speech, thought and power helps in guiding people to the path of the Truth. They are the lanterns of guidance in the wake of storms and we should try to always inculcate values from them if not aiming at being them.

Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan delves into the important characteristics of the Dwellers of Jannah in this enlightening lecture. In Surah Ale Imran, verses 133 to 136, “Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous. Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men- for Allah loves those who do good. And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins,- and who can forgive sins except Allah?- and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath,- an eternal dwelling: How excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive).” In the above verses, Allah SWT describes some characteristics of people of Jannah that can be summarized as follows: These are the people who spend when it is easy and when it is difficult. People who swallow their anger. Those who lovingly forgive people. Those who excel in their Deen. The above points have been dealt with individually in the most elaborate fashion for a clear and amazing comprehension. It deserves an intent listen.

Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan explicitly talks about the people that are trying to hold on to any strand of religion but have become the outcasts of this ummah in their own homes and family and are the objects of ridicule. If one is studying the deen and destroying family relations at the same time, we must realize that our priorities are somewhere they shouldn’t be. It is paramount that we fix family ties. This is a fundamental of our religion. It’s a fundamental premise of our Deen.  How do we go about preaching religion without making it a big deal? We should strive to make da’ee and da'wah as nothing but rather, we must learn to take the hits and the insults and live with them. We must endeavor to change their behavior towards us. Be the best to your family and that is the da'wah of Islam.  Hence, it is essential that we pray to Allah to give us a sense of perspective and concern for the rest of this ummah and to teach us how to use our knowledge wisely and to deliver the words of advice and our naseehah in a place that is appropriate.also, we must make dua to Allah to put barakah in our words and reward us for the efforts that we make to serve his Deen.

Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan takes up a topic of intrigue and is laced with interest for the modern generation. This lecture deals with the concept of science in the Quran. The Quran in Muslim belief is two things in one. It’s a divine message but at the same time, it is also a miracle. Miracles are a religious thing and are certainly not a scientific thing. What is a miracle in Islam? The classical scholars of Islam have enlisted many conditions for something to be considered a miracle according to Islamic theology: Something that is impossible for human beings to do or perform. A miracle has to be something that can’t be manufactured.  Something that breaks the laws of nature. Something that challenges mankind.  In Arabic, Islamic scholars use the word - Mu’jiza- for describing a miracle. Mu’jiza means that which incapacitates the opponent and to overpower the opponent. But the word used in religious text – in Quran – and also in the Sunnah, the word used is Ayah. The word Ayah, however, is translated into two things: it means a miracle, and it means a sign. So a good translation of Ayah that alludes to both would be a miraculous sign.  In the coming minutes of the lecture, we see an interesting blend of a back and forth between examples from the Qur'an and Sunnah that are for miracles while also simultaneously citing numerous examples from a scientific point of view. These examples show the supreme place that the Qur'an occupies in the existence of mankind.

Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan acquaints us with the signs of a hypocrite and how one should be wary of them. Allah (SWT) tells us in the Quran, “The hypocrites, they are in the lowest pit of Hellfire.”The lower the hellfire gets, the tougher it gets. The lowest pit possible in Hellfire is reserved for al-Munaafiqoon—the hypocrites. Allah tells His Messenger ﷺ twice in the Quran: It is all the same for them whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them; never will Allah forgive them. (Quran; Surah al-Munaafiqoon, ayah 6) These people have reached a point of no return in their hypocrisy. It would be the same for them whether you made istighfar for them or you didn’t make istighfar for them. It means that Allah is telling His Messenger ﷺ that if you ask Allah to forgive them or you never asked, it wouldn’t make a difference. Allah wouldn’t forgive the hypocrites. It is also mentioned in the Quran Allah says, “If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allah forgive them.” (Quran; Surah at-Tawbah, ayah 80) Among the numerous signs of a hypocrite are: Whenever he speaks, he lies. When he is argued/ debated/ disagreed with, he explodes.  Whenever he is entrusted with something, he violates that trust.  He makes a promise; he goes back on his promise.  They don’t spend except that they regret it. They don’t even come to the prayer except that they are lazy.

Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan discusses at length about the topic - Why should I believe in God?  "How do you know that God exists?”  “How do you come to faith?” “How did faith come to you?"  These are the pertinent questions asked by an atheist and Ustadh tries to elaborate on the answers with soundproof. We are now acquainted with the Quran’s reasoning. The Quran does not ask the question or answer the question “Does God exist?”. The Quran is Allah speaking himself. And He is in conversation with his creatures. He is in direct conversation with us. The only question He asks is -“Do you really believe it is Me talking? Do you really believe that these words are my own?” One is not hearing Allah’s words; infact we are hearing the voice of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.  “Are there other God that you should be worshipping besides Myself?” “Do you think that you are going to worship yourselves and not Me?” “Do you think that you are going to thank others other that Myself?” These are the kinds of questions that the Quran asks. So this gives rise to another important question - “How come Quran never asks that question? How come the Quran never deals with the question that God ever exist or not? Why not?" Listen intently and be mesmerized with the beautiful explanation for the above questions and discover the settling of one’s doubts and apprehensions.