Bismillah
Class: Word Analysis and Tafsir
Lesson #27 Surah Al Baqarah Ayah Number 197-203
(I’m going to be writing in transliteration so if you need to look at the Arabic, you can follow along using this website: http://quran.com/2)
So, this lesson focuses a lot on Hajj but I’m going to select a few ayahs and share what I learned from there.
Today’s focus: Ayahs 200-201
Ayah 200
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.
After Arafat, pilgrims must go back to Mina and they should stop in Muzdalifah on the way. A person must perform certain rituals at Mina (ex: casting stones at the first jamarah, offering the sacrifice, cutting or shaving the hair [women cut the hair, men can trim it or shave it], going from Mina to Makkah, doing the saee of Safa and Marwah…)
Many times, we humans limit remembrance of Allah to during actof of worship. For example, we only make dua after salah. So, we’re told to not just remember Allah during rituals. At Hajj, people can take off the ihram after the rituals. Many people shower, and then go towards restaurants, etc. But we should remember Allah.
Here, it’s being said to remember Allah like one remembers his forefathers..or more than that. the word “kazikrikum” in this ayah gives the meaning of “like your previous remembrance (like you used to remember your forefathers)”
The word “aw” means “or” However, in this ayah, it means “INSTEAD.” The word “or” gives a choice. There is no choice being given here. Remember Allah just as you used to remember your forefathers. But remember Allah more intensely, more strongly.
When the Arabs would finish Hajj, they’d praise their forefathers. They’d talk about their ancestors. They’d mention such things about their forefathers through which they could boast, show off. But Allah says to remember Allah more than you remembered your forefathers. When people talk, they talk about family, business, etc. Don’t just talk about your personal lives! Remember Allah (swt) more than you rmembered your forefathers…:
1)with more intensity (sincerity) 2) more in quantity
When we’re engaged in an act of worship, its easy to remember Allah. But once it’s over and you’re back to your normal life, it’s easy to forget to remember Allah. For example, when you pray salah, you are remembering Allah. After salah, do you still remember Him? Or do you limit His remembrance to just 5 times a day?
So now, the first type of dua is mentioned…
1)Some say “Oh our Lord, give us in the dunya”
Dunya is the feminine form of “adna” which means lowst, nearest. Dunya is very near compared to akhirah. It’s very low compared to akhirah. Some people want everything now..in this dunya. For this kind of person, there is no share in akhirah. He’s not working for it. He’s not praying for it. He can get as much as dunya as Allah will give him. But why should he get akhirah? You get what you work for.
Another word used in this ayah is “khalaq.” Khalaq is “a major or an appointed portion of something”. Specifically, it’s a portion of good. It’s a portion that a person gets by virtue of his akhlaq, by virtue of his good deeds and habits… (Ex: A person reads a lot. He develops this habit. He gets the benefit of being able to learn a lot) The word Khalaq is also used for reward
*Imagine* The entire Hajj this person has taken. But when he goes for Hajj, he’s only concerned about dunya. For him, he’ll have NO reward in the hereafter. A person should pray for dunya AND akhirah at hajj. Typical duas that are made at hajj or umrah are for business, children, marriage, wealth, health, success, etc. What is that? DUNYA. Some people only pray for dunya. Allah says they’ll have no share in the hereafter. They’ll have no reward..for ALL this effort that they’ve put in.
We learn that it’s not wrong to make dua for the dunya. But, we need to keep the akhirah in mind. This is the main goal. Make dua for health, children, marriage, etc. But DON’T forget the hereafter!
Ayah 201
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.”
“Hasanah” means beauty. It’s a blessing that is a means of happiness.
The first dua was “Give us in the dunya”
Let’s take a look at Dua Number Two (The dua that Allah likes!!!):
“Give us in the dunya hasanah..”
We don’t know what’s good for us and what’s not good for us. Allah knows that which is best for us. Hasanah is not just worldly things but the word hasanah is also used for a good deed. So, it’s also saying “Give me more Hidayah. Give me Guidance.”
Hasanah: 1)Worldly things that are good for me, that are in my favor 2)Hidayah, good deeds
Also, we’re asking for Allah to give us hasanah in the hereafter. ex: Jannah is good in the hereafter. Seeing Allah (swt) is good.
Akhirah includes the whole time from death onwards. Good could be: good news from the angel at the time of death, the book is given in the right,…etc.
*The Prophet (saw) used to make this dua a lot between the yemeni corner and hajar al aswad
The next part of this dua is about being saved from the hellfire…
The punishment of the fire is unbearable even for a second. Even the smoke coming out of the hellfire is a punishment. We’re asking.. “Don’t let us enter it even for a moment, even for a second”
THIS IS THE TRUE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS—> That a person has good in the dunya, the akhirah, and he is saved from the punishment.
Surah Al Imran ayah 185 says:
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
Whoever is saved from the fire and is admitted into jannah-HE HAS ATTAINED SUCCESS!
*Ask Yourself*-What do I make dua for? Think of FIVE things you made dua for in Ramadan. Did they include jannah?! 
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE between what we consider success and what Allah TELLS us success is. Can’t we see that the Quran is so clear? We’re being TOLD that THIS is true success. True success isn’t obtaining that fancy house or that fancy car. It’s not obtaining that degree. It’s not pleasing people. Having worldly benefits is not haram. But what are we doing with our lives? Are striving for jannah or are we lost in this material world, wondering what new gadget will come out next? Are we pleasing Allah or are we pleasing those around us? This life is temporary. These materials are temporary. Run towards success! Pray to be saved from the hellfire.
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