# Juz 19: What Makes You Valuable to Allah? | Ust. Roohi Tahir

**Author:** Dr. Omar Suleiman
**Series:** Qur’an 30 for 30 | Season 7
**Published:** 2026-03-08
**YouTube:** https://youtu.be/4qImREXNsKo
**URL:** https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-19
**Topics:** Faith, Quran

## Summary
This episode of Qur'an 30 for 30 covers Juz 19, featuring Ustadh Roohi Tahir alongside Shaykh Omar and Shaykh Abdullah. The discussion centers on the profound question of what gives a person value in the sight of Allah, anchored by the verse from Surah Al-Furqan: 'Say, what would my Lord care for you if not for your du'a?' [Al-Furqan 25:77]. The speakers explain that du'a is the outward manifestation of iman, and Ibn Abbas interpreted this verse to mean that it is one's faith that gives them worth before Allah. A key distinction is drawn between Allah's general love for all of creation and His specific love reserved for the believers — with iman being a gift Allah grants only to those He loves. The episode also explores Surah Al-Furqan's description of 'ibadur-Rahman (servants of the Most Merciful) and the verse 'Sufficient is your Lord as a guide and a helper' [Al-Furqan 25:31], emphasizing that hidayah (guidance) and nusrah (divine support) together empower believers to withstand any opposition. The discussion transitions to Surah An-Naml and the example of Prophet Sulayman (عليه السلام), who recognized his extraordinary blessings as a test and responded with gratitude, acknowledging 'whoever is grateful, is grateful for their own good, and whoever is ungrateful, my Lord is Self-Sufficient and Most Generous' [An-Naml 27:40]. The speakers connect these themes to contemporary suffering, particularly in Gaza and Palestine, affirming that Allah is with the believers in their hardship, and encouraging those in positions of privilege to reflect on how they use their blessings in service of others.

## Key Points
- Du'a is the manifestation of iman — you would not call upon Allah if you did not believe in Him, and it is what gives a person value in Allah's sight.
- Ibn Abbas interpreted 'if not for your du'a' [Al-Furqan 25:77] as meaning 'if not for your iman,' equating supplication with faith.
- Allah gives worldly blessings to both those He loves and those He does not love, but He grants iman only to those He loves — making faith the true marker of divine love.
- There is a general love of Allah for all creation and a specific, elevated love earned through faith and righteous action.
- The combination of Allah's hidayah (guidance) and nusrah (support) together is what empowers and protects believers against all forms of resistance and oppression.
- Every prophet faced enemies and tyrants — this is a universal principle — but Allah's guidance and help are always sufficient to overcome that resistance.
- Prophet Sulayman (عليه السلام) exemplifies the correct response to immense blessing: recognizing it as a test and responding with gratitude rather than arrogance or tyranny.
- Those in positions of privilege should reflect on how they use their blessings, knowing that even small sincere efforts are not wasted by Allah (Al-Karim).
- The steadfastness and resilience of those suffering the most intense oppression, such as in Gaza, is itself a sign of their connection to Allah through du'a and iman.
- Gratitude to Allah is ultimately for one's own benefit — 'whoever is grateful, is grateful for their own good' [An-Naml 27:40].

## Chapters
- 0:00 Introduction
- 1:16 Ust. Roohi Tahir’s favorite name of Allah
- 5:14 Does Allah love everyone?
- 6:40 How merciful was the Prophet ﷺ?
- 7:48 The framing of Juz 19
- 12:30 Every Prophet has an oppressor
- 21:00 The test of Sulayman (as)

## Transcript
**[0:00]** Wait a minute, you know, like this is too easy. This is too good. And for Sulayman (عليه السلام), this is provoked out of that realization. It's not just that Allah (عز وجل) gave me the guidance to be able to recognize that I'll overcome my tyrant.

**[0:18]** Allah (عز وجل) gave me the guidance to be able to recognize that I should not become a tyrant because of my blessing. Allah gives us these names, he gives us these scenarios, he gives us enemies to see are we going to hope in him, are we going to hope in his guidance and know that he will guide us to the right way.

**[0:34]** You stand for the truth, there's going to be resistance, be prepared. And we see Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is undeterred by this and he's going to continue to seek Allah's help, his guidance and his help. And Allah is with the believers through those most difficult challenges.

**[0:54]** As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, everyone. Welcome back to Qur'an 30 for 30. Alhamdulillah, Rabbul Alameen. We are in Juz 19. And so with that, we want to remind you, bi-idhnillah, as we go into the last 10 nights, especially, please do inshallah ta'ala sign up to automate your donations for the last 10 nights. Bi-idhnillah ta'ala. This is the biggest source of donations that we have throughout the entire year, alhamdulillah.

**[1:15]** And it really funds so much of the work and by participating in this challenge inshallah ta'ala and sharing it with many others. Bi-idhnillah ta'ala, it's a way for you to be involved and to participate and partake in all of these blessed nights, bi-idhnillah ta'ala. So please, whatever amount it's going to be inshallah, we ask you to participate and to partake in it, bi-idhnillah ta'ala.

**[1:35]** And everything that's coming up with the last 10 nights in terms of the programming, the late night reflections and so on, so forth, inshallah. Just follow along and try to keep up and of course keep us in your du'a. We are blessed to have with us today, alhamdulillah, Ustadh Ruhi Tahir. Allah bless you. How are you Ustadh Ruhi?

**[1:51]** Alhamdulillah, it's a pleasure to be here. Alhamdulillah, it's a pleasure to have you. And before we get started, we kind of put our guests on the spot and we ask them, don't worry, we ask them, what's your favorite name of Allah right now that you're connecting to or that you're thinking about these days?

**[2:09]** I find myself calling out to Al-Jabbar. I think it's the climate we're in. I think it's seeking that definitive forcefulness from Allah, subhanAllah, along with the healing that we all need. Al-Jabbar, the Compeller, subhanAllah, so much. He mends and he also subdues the tyrants.

**[2:32]** Alhamdulillah, may Allah (عز وجل) allow us to witness the effect of that, bi-idhnillah ta'ala, in this blessed month. And as we ask Allah, subhanAllah, to overcome them, we ask Allah to put us back together. Allahumma ameen. JazakumAllahu khayran for sharing that.

**[2:47]** So, Alhamdulillah, we are now in Juz 19. And Juz 18 is a Juz in which you have this powerful name of Allah, subhanAllah, ta'ala, Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The very powerful verse of Allah (عز وجل), as the light of the heavens and the earth and all that we take from that.

**[3:07]** And in Juz 19, Allah, subhanAllah, says in Surah Al-Furqan, وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَا Those who do not expect to meet us, they say, if only the angels were sent down to us or we could see our Lord.

**[3:24]** So, they make that the excuse. And Allah, subhanAllah, has just explained to us how He's put so much of, you know, His signs around us so that we can connect to Him. Those who expect not to meet us, they say, if only we could see Allah, subhanAllah,

**[3:39]** Allah (عز وجل) says, لَقَدْ اسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْا عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا That they have certainly been carried away by their arrogance and they have exceeded all of their limits. Now, here's something really interesting. And, you know, since we're talking about how Allah talks about Himself in the Qur'an, in these ajza',

**[3:58]** When you come to Surah Al-Furqan, you have, obviously, the beautiful elaboration on 'ibadur-Rahman, the servants of the Most Merciful. The way that they walk, the way that they talk, the way that they worship, the way that they interact. I mean, it's such a beautiful description of these believing servants of Allah.

**[4:15]** And Allah, subhanAllah, loves them and they love Allah, subhanAllah. But then Allah, subhanAllah, says, قُلْ مَا يَعْبَأُ بِكُمْ رَبِّي لَوْلَا دُعَاؤُكُمْ فَقَدْ كَذَّبْتُمْ فَسَوْفَ يَكُونُ عِذَابٌ That, say, O Prophet, that you matter nothing to your Lord if it is not for your du'a.

**[4:34]** What do you matter to Allah, subhanAllah, if it's not for your du'a? And, verily, you have denied the truth and so the torment is bound to come. Now, مَا يَعْبَأُ بِكُمْ رَبِّي That your Lord, you know, what care does your Lord have for you if it is not for your du'a?

**[4:52]** Very interesting verse and it actually helps us to lean right into the discussion for today, inshallah, of what gives us value in the sight of Allah, subhanAllah, ta'ala. And Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) he explains, قُلْ مَا يَعْبَأُ بِكُمْ رَبِّي لَوْلَا دُعَاؤُكُمْ He says, لَوْلَا إِيمَانُكُمْ

**[5:08]** Now, what this means is, if it's not for your iman, and Allah (عز وجل) named iman, du'a here, named faith, du'a. It's very interesting, right, that الدعاء هو العبادة, as Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) says, supplication is worship. And du'a is the manifestation of your iman.

**[5:25]** You wouldn't call out to him if you didn't believe in him. And in Ramadan, people make du'a in ways that they don't throughout the entire year, especially when we get into these last 10 nights. And we talk about how Allah, subhanAllah, celebrates those who are calling upon him in these last 10 nights. And Laylatul Qadr, and all that it comes with in terms of the celebration of the servants of Allah, subhanAllah, by the angels.

**[5:46]** And Allah (عز وجل) praising them in the heavens. May Allah make us amongst them. Allahumma ameen. So just as we're talking about Allah elevating this group of people because of how important they are due to their du'a, due to their iman. There's also a concept here that, you know, does Allah, subhanAllah, love everyone?

**[6:03]** And the Prophet (ﷺ) says, in an authentic hadith, that Allah (عز وجل) yu'ti ad-dunya man ahaba wa man la yuhibb. That Allah (عز وجل) gives dunya or wealth. Allah gives from this world those that he loves and those that he doesn't love. Wa la yu'ti al-iman illa man yuhibb.

**[6:20]** But he only gives faith, iman, to those that he loves. This is profound because it's one thing to say Allah loves good for everyone. It's another thing to say Allah loves everyone. Or that Allah (عز وجل) puts the oppressor and the oppressed, the wicked and the righteous, the obedient and the disobedient, all on the same plane.

**[6:37]** And that just is not the way that Allah, subhanAllah, operates with us. And that is an Islamic reality that we come to. That the love of Allah, subhanAllah, there's a general love and then there's a specific love. And you have to earn your degrees with Allah, subhanAllah, and by his mercy and his grace, he will bring you to higher degrees.

**[6:54]** We all want to be from 'ibadur-Rahman that are being granted al-Firdaws, right? But the reality is that that's a specific cut of the believers that are all beloved to Allah in the general sense. But then you graduate to a higher degree.

**[7:09]** Now here's the question, and subhanAllah, this is where the discussion gets very interesting. Just a few verses later in this juz, Allah, subhanAllah, says to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), لَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَفْسَكَ أَلَّا يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ That perhaps you, O Prophet, will grieve yourself (ﷺ) to death over their disbelief.

**[7:26]** Is Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) more merciful than Allah? Absolutely not. Allah (عز وجل) celebrates the repentance of a person the way that that man who loses his camel with everything on it, thinks he's going to die and then he finds that camel and the happiness that he has when he finds his livelihood.

**[7:44]** Allah (عز وجل) is more pleased with your repentance than that man. So Allah is the one who makes Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) rahmatan lil-'alamin, who sent him as a mercy to the world. And Allah, subhanAllah, is the one who manifests his love partly through the sending of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

**[7:59]** But it does sort of frame us or frame this discussion in this idea that you are to pursue Allah (عز وجل), and when you pursue Allah, subhanAllah, then he'll come faster towards you in every single way.

**[8:14]** And so the pursuit is upon you and this grows quite a bit or builds quite a bit on what we've been talking about in the previous ajza' of doing your part. And so what's your part in building a relationship with Allah, subhanAllah, ar-Rahman, and how he can bring you closer as a result of that?

**[8:30]** So, Shaykh Abdullah, I'll start with you, inshallah ta'ala. Any comments just on sort of how we frame this juz? Yeah, I mean, subhanAllah, jazakAllah khair for that hefty introduction. I think it's beautiful when seeing how the mercy and love of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ),

**[8:46]** for people that even rejected him at that time and rejected the message, which is more important than even our own selves, subhanAllah. Having that mercy, going through that struggle, and Allah, subhanAllah, choosing you for that, it gives us a deep, profound message for us individually as human beings that are trying our best to be Muslims in societies

**[9:04]** to where you will be challenged on an individual, familial, collective level. But recognizing that Allah, subhanAllah, is enough for us in this challenge in what we are doing, but showing it in times of hardship is where it's really, really important.

**[9:19]** You know, when you say, Allah, subhanAllah, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), someone said breaking his back, it was so stressful for him. When we see that stress that we have for people that are suffering, there's also the suffering of kufr, of disbelief, you know, that people don't even realize that they're drowning deep in this disbelief,

**[9:36]** whether it's in ego, whether it's in money, in stature, in tribe, whatever the case may be. Having that type of love for humanity, but also the integrity of your belief simultaneously, that can be a challenge in and of itself. And I think establishing a relationship with Allah, subhanAllah,

**[9:53]** recognizing those boundaries, and on a daily basis, living your life through the system that he has given us. I mean, when you look at the prayer in and of itself, the prayer is a time to detach, to put everything back into its proper position and in its proper place.

**[10:08]** So when you get involved in Islam, for lack of better words, and the Shari'ah that Allah, subhanAllah, has given, when you're faced with these situations, you have that strong foundation to hold on to. And that's why that verse is so profound to me. You know, when Allah, subhanAllah, mentioning Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ),

**[10:26]** and mentioning that Allah is more merciful, obviously, than Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). But at the same token, you know, that stress that one has for humanity and for people is something that extends beyond you. Because when your children see that, when people see that,

**[10:41]** when someone that may be an enemy towards you or towards Islam sees that which you have towards them, they still have a heart, and they still have the propensity to want guidance and to want some type of answers in life. So that's really the input I have from what I was really hearing.

**[10:58]** And basically, Allah, subhanAllah, to make us of those that are merciful towards His creation. I mean, I was looking at this, just in light of some of the verses that we're going to be focusing on today, and I was looking at the examples that Allah, subhanAllah, gives us of all of the previous nations,

**[11:15]** and what we are to learn and take from that, and how knowledge in and of itself is not enough. Obviously, we need to know what's happened in the past. We need to know that the Prophets, yes, they all came with the truth. But what is it that took those people away that went away from Allah, subhanAllah?

**[11:34]** And what is it that connects us? And the theme of this entire month of Ramadan for us in this series is to really know Allah, subhanAllah, to know what those guardrails are in the first place. And to know how to stay on track, how to call upon Allah, subhanAllah,

**[11:49]** and secure that help only by asking, because these levels that you were mentioning earlier, Shaykh Omar, those come from seeking Allah. They don't come from just being born into the faith, or being born into, and then learning and having the knowledge.

**[12:04]** There's knowing what to do, but then there's actually doing it. And I think we see examples of that in this juz' where there's previous nations, and then how Allah, subhanAllah, aided His Prophets, and they all wanted the best for their people. But that help came in ways that we wouldn't necessarily have that knowledge of how that's going to happen.

**[12:21]** But Allah, subhanAllah, has His plan, and He has His ways, and we're seeing people who are falling on either side of that equation, where just in this, in Juz' 19, in Surah Al-Furqan, we have an ayah of regret. Those who steered and went with the wrong people.

**[12:38]** Those who did not, and that deep regret of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), over the grief over the people whom he cannot have that power over to guide them, because that's only for Allah to guide. We see that regret also, and that's something that I think can only come from knowing Allah,

**[12:58]** so that we understand what those guardrails are, and then seeking that continuously. So it's an action all the time. So on that note, I'm going to leave it with you, inshallah, to take us into the section that we're going to be speaking about. In Surah Al-Furqan, Yusuf Jal mentions that every Prophet is going to have an enemy from the mujrimin,

**[13:19]** from the criminals, and from these oppressors. We've spoken about this in previous episodes, this idea that Prophets were not tested by natural disasters, they were tested by dirty tyrants, and that's kind of the way that history unfolds, and that's what makes something like Gaza and beyond, and Palestine, and everything so frustrating.

**[13:38]** It's like the tyrant in front of you, those who reject faith and how nasty they become, yet somehow they seem to be winning sometimes, whereas those who are beloved to Allah, and who embrace faith, sometimes it seems to be that they're losing, right? And Shaykh Yusuf Allah have elaborated on this beautifully before,

**[13:55]** but in this verse, verse 31, we're still in Al-Furqan, وَكَفَى بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيًّا وَنَصِيرًا Allah says, but sufficient is your Lord as a guide and a helper. These two names together, and in this context, what can we take from it?

**[14:10]** So I was looking at this and reflecting on this ayah, and when we look at the context in which this ayah was revealed, this is a hostile time in Mecca. During this time, the Prophet (ﷺ), and the believers, there's few of them, many of them are from the most vulnerable part of society,

**[14:29]** and they're being persecuted heavily by the powerful Quraysh. So exactly, we're seeing that, these enemies. And Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, in this ayah, He's laying a foundation, a principle for us that's universal. And He's teaching the Prophet (ﷺ),

**[14:46]** and He's teaching all of the believers that every single time, there's going to be a stand for the truth. Every time I have sent a prophet, you can expect that that truth will be met with some kind of resistance, some kind of opposition. But... It is Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala's, help and His guidance together, this combination together, that is sufficient to overpower and overcome any of that resistance.

**[15:10]** No matter what that resistance is, success is not about removing that resistance as much as it is about turning to Allah for guidance and for help. And in that, the believers will always prevail. So, what can we glean of wisdom in Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, mentioning His hidayah and His nusrah together in this ayah?

**[15:29]** And I was reflecting on that, and Subhanallah, we need guidance, obviously, to know the truth and be able to discern the truth. This entire surah, Al-Furqan, is that criteria. This is the Qur'an. This is our deen, that we need to know truth from falsehood. We need to know that to know who Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, is and how to worship Him.

**[15:47]** But this is what also gives us clarity. This is what also gives us principles. This is what also gives us the confidence, then, to take action in a very principled way. But to do that, we'll never be void of, and we always need the help of Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala. We need His support.

**[16:02]** And so, what's amazing about this, as I was thinking about it, is that the combination of these two together actually are what empower the believers. And this is what Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, is teaching us, that when you have this together, you're going to be empowered and protected. Because you have the inner strength of your faith that's strengthening your heart and giving you that light of guidance, that nur.

**[16:23]** But you also now have the support of Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, because you're seeking it from Allah, and He's going to give it to those who ask. And that together is empowering and protecting so that the believer does not succumb to the weakness and the desire that comes from the resistance that's sometimes just within the individual,

**[16:44]** but also the external as well, that they don't just cave to the agenda or just the self-interest of others. And so, this is really quite powerful when you combine the two together. And then when you look at the Prophet (ﷺ) exemplifying that, go back to Makkah for a moment,

**[17:02]** and what we can take and how we can actually meaningfully connect to Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, through these very names. We see the first revelation of Iqra in the cave, and Waraqa ibn Naufal is telling the Prophet (ﷺ), you're going to be ridiculed, you're going to be turned out of your home.

**[17:21]** And that's that framework right there. You stand for the truth, there's going to be resistance. Be prepared. And we see the Prophet (ﷺ) is undeterred by this, and he's going to continue to seek Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala's, help, his guidance and his help. And Allah is with the believers through those most difficult challenges that we're seeing happen around us today.

**[17:39]** Actually, for the first time, kind of bringing to life these, in our lifetimes, I mean, seeing it come to life of the persecution, the famine, the boycott. All of these things are so painful, they're real, but Allah is with the believers. And that's the distinction.

**[17:56]** The Prophet (ﷺ) goes to the Quraysh, the chiefs, and he's hopeful that this will bring their power, their notoriety, their influence is going to bring more people to Islam. He's well intended, of course. But Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, gently guides him. This is where his guidance comes into play. Not these people, these people. These are the sincere people who are calling on Allah.

**[18:15]** And that's actually, the strength is there. That's how Allah sometimes aids the believers, is that through these people who might seem marginalized, but they're actually showing this kind of strength of faith. They're persevering, they're steadfast, because they're calling on Allah for guidance and for help together.

**[18:33]** And so Allah aids them through that. Or the enemy, that once was the enemy, that becomes a strong pillar of Islam. 'Umar and Hamza both come to the deen from the opposite side. This is Allah aiding the Muslims through that. So we see that the angels during the few will overcome the many, and then eventually victory.

**[18:50]** So it's these two things that play, that you bring it to our lifetime. And Subhanallah, it just gave me a sense of hope that our brothers and sisters who are suffering right now, Allah is with them. They seem like they're abandoned, but actually their steadfastness, their resilience is what we're seeing as a result of this, asking Allah for guidance and help.

**[19:10]** And may we be amongst them too, obviously. And we see and pray for that day, inshallah. We hope for that day soon that they will see that success and victory as well. It was interesting here, how you mentioned how it's empowering and the protection from Hadi, that it's empowering that Allah guides us,

**[19:28]** has given us the foundation, the faith, and even how to deal with what he puts in front of us, that may not be what we anticipate at that time, but what we would ultimately want or initially want even. Allah says,

**[19:47]** We made enemies for you. Allah is the one that made the enemies for you. And it's a test. You think, oh, the enemies, yeah, they're enemies of Islam, enemies, but who allowed them to come with his Qadr and his predestination? It was Allah to test you to see if you recognize that he is Hadi and that he is Nasir.

**[20:07]** And that's why when you mentioned, it's beautiful that you mentioned, when you're seeing a brother and sister, it gives me a sense of hope. And I rely on that hope. And that reliance with the hope is exactly, Allah gives us these names. He gives us these scenarios. He gives us enemies to see, are we going to hope in him?

**[20:28]** Are we going to hope in his guidance and know that he will guide us to the right way? He will show us the way, number one, and then enable us to go the way, number two. And then on top of that, when we hope and we're going through this struggle, that jihad and nafs all throughout these days, he's reading these texts, he's reading these,

**[20:46]** you know, you're reading that and it can be a struggle at times. You have to put the phone away. Sometimes you displace your anger on someone else. You have to know how to stay focused. That Allah is when you say, you know, you put your phone down, you get up to pray Maghrib, you say, you think of it, like, you're not just saying it. You think, guide me to the straight path.

**[21:03]** The straight path is saying patience, like the ones that you have guided, not the ones that are astray, right? It's a process that you're going through. And then when you're done praying, you think, Allah is going to help this deen. He's going to help the people of this deen.

**[21:19]** And it is not, it is not with the death of people. That is the, that is the worst tragedy. Rather they are brought there, they're alive with the Lord being provided for. And as we say,

**[21:37]** Oh Allah, the one that you have allowed to die and caused to leave this earth and allow them to leave this earth with that firm Iman. And we ask Allah to bless us with that. And that's why, Subhanallah, when I, when I was, when you were speaking, you were talking about the hope. I was thinking about Allah. Allah even says it there. He says,

**[21:52]** We have to think of that predestination and being patient with Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala's, Qadr by using these names and attributes and activating them in our lives to where that tawakkul is manifest and people can see it and eventually be affected as well as

**[22:09]** You know, Subhanallah, one thing that's really interesting to take this to another, another side of this. Allah, 'Azza wa Jall, says, Every single prophet had a tyrant, had an enemy to deal with. Just like every prophet was a shepherd. Every prophet had an enemy.

**[22:25]** Not a single one of them is exempt from this. But then Allah, 'Azza wa Jall, takes us in Surah An-Naml to Suleiman ('alayhi assalam), who definitely had what not many prophets had. You know, like, like, and this kind of goes back to when the prophet says, Allah gives from this dunya those who he loves and those who he doesn't love.

**[22:41]** Suleiman ('alayhi assalam) is definitely included amongst those who Allah loves and who's given the dunya from a place of love, not from a place of anger or istidraj or reeling him in. And so in Surah An-Naml, like you have this scenario where Suleiman ('alayhi assalam) is

**[22:56]** seeing the rapidness to which everything is happening for him. Like everything is at his disposal. And, you know, when he wants something within a blink of an eye, it can come to him right away. If you're one of the soldiers that Allah, 'Azza wa Jall, has placed at his disposal

**[23:11]** and he realizes this is Allah testing me and Allah wants to see if I'm going to be grateful or not. Right. Like I get it. Like this is not normal. What I'm living through is not normal. And then he says, وَمَنْ شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ

**[23:28]** So this is [An-Naml 27:40] that whoever is grateful, is grateful only for their own good. And whoever is ungrateful, then surely my Lord is Ghaniyun Karim. My Lord is self-sufficient and most generous. So it's almost like the opposite real recognition of this is that,

**[23:45]** look, we, by virtue of the privilege that we are in, when we're talking about what the people of Gaza are going through, what the people of Palestine are going through, the people of Sudan are going through, we're not them. We're not struggling the way they're struggling.

**[24:00]** We're being tested in our own ways for sure. We have our own tyrants to deal with for sure. But the intensity of it is definitely not the same. It's not equally distributed. And there's also a realization that should dawn upon you like, wait a minute.

**[24:15]** You know, like this is too easy. This is too good. And for Suleiman ('alayhi assalam), this is provoked out of that realization. It's not just that Allah, 'Azza wa Jall, gave me the guidance to be able to recognize that I'll overcome my tyrant. Allah, 'Azza wa Jall, gave me the guidance to be able to recognize

**[24:30]** that I should not become a tyrant because of my blessings and become ungrateful and start to use that, right, in ways that will not be pleasing to him, Subhanahu wa ta'ala. So my Lord is Ghaniyun Karim. Like he doesn't need us. He doesn't need any of this.

**[24:45]** But this is a test as well. So I'm just curious, like how would you, and either one of you inshallah can take this, how do you reflect on this verse in context of what we've been speaking about? It actually hit home with something I was reflecting on a few days ago. I'll share it. It's personal, but I'll share it if it benefits inshallah.

**[25:03]** That feeling of we're so privileged in terms of the worldly sense and how is it that we're seeing these people being tested so, so much more than us. And yes, of course, alhamdulillah, and we are grateful to Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, as practicing believing Muslims.

**[25:19]** But we do realize that disparity in what we have and what they have. And what can I, we hear this often, right? What can I do? What can I do? What can I do? And so one day I just went through and said, I'm going to just go through the Qur'an and look for everywhere where Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, says, la yudhi'u, it's not going to be wasted.

**[25:35]** Whatever little bit, whatever little bit you can do. And I literally, I was just looking it up. It's like I found a number of verses where Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, says, I was like, when did he say that? And what did he say about that? Because I want to make sure that I know that sometimes even in the privilege,

**[25:51]** there's a test and we want to make sure we're not overlooking that test. You know, in this manner that there can be somebody who's loved by Allah. They have that privilege. I want to find where do I fit in all of that? And so it is, it's an awakening, I think, for everyone to say that in many ways,

**[26:07]** those who are tested manifestly and very obviously, they know what they're going through. And maybe this is that image of the fuqara who are ahead of us on the day of judgment. But at the same time, we can self-account, I guess, for ourselves to say,

**[26:24]** what am I doing with what I have? And be grateful to Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, that much more because Allah's mercy and his generosity is so great that as Al-Karim, he's saying, whatever little you do, I'm not going to let it go wasted. It'll be noticed.

**[26:39]** So if you do something even small, but you're doing with the right intention, sincerely, I'll make sure that that effort is noted, even though you might not think it's much. It's like Allah gives you the blessings not to guilt you, but to make you grateful. There's a big difference between those two things. Use them and they'll become transcendent.

**[26:56]** Jazakum Allah khair. Jazakum Allah khair. I like how you mentioned that at the end, khitaman, I mean, just that whatever you're given, it reminds me of the time I was in Medina. I mention this all the time. I was in Medina and I was waiting to pick my wife up.

**[27:11]** And then a little girl comes up to the car. She has no shoes on. Her hair is disheveled. She knocks on the door and then I let my window down and she puts her hand out. She says, "Al-'Tinima al-taqallah." And she said that, I was like, she said, "Give me for what Allah has given you."

**[27:26]** Like that was a khutbah in and of itself. I was less than a minute, but it was okay. Let me put whatever I have in my wallet and give it to her. I had a one riyal and a hundred riyals by the way, I accidentally gave her the hundred riyals. But I found that later at the gas station. But Alhamdulillah, I mean, at that moment, you just have to be thankful for what Allah has given you.

**[27:46]** He gives it to you to test. And if you're ungrateful with the verses, "Inna Allaha Ghani Karim." Now that Allah is self-sufficient. He doesn't need your thanks. The thanks is actually for you. That's why in shukra, "Fa-man yashkuru fa-innamā yashkuru li-nafsih." That when you thank Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala,

**[28:02]** and that gratitude is by following the system that he has given you to the best of your ability. Knowing you're going to make mistakes and know that Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, is Karim. He's not unaware of it. But in the same token, realizing that whatever we've been given, there's always an opportunity to thank Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala,

**[28:18]** with what you've been given by giving back. Jazakumullah khayran, Shaykh Abdullah, Ustadh Ruhi for the wonderful reflections. May Allah 'azza wa jall allow us to first and foremost honor what he's given us of faith and to thank him properly for that greatest gift, right?

**[28:33]** Which gives us value in his sight and gives us purpose in our lives. And may Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, allow us to use every blessing that we have to support our brothers and sisters that are living under the most intense forms of oppression. May Allah 'azza wa jall grant our Ummah victory, guidance, gratitude. Allahumma Amin.

**[28:49]** Jazakumullah khair for joining us. Insha'Allah ta'ala we'll see you all tomorrow. We want to remind you all, insha'Allah ta'ala, to of course donate bi-idhn ta'ala. Make du'a for us and keep up with our content. The last 10 nights, it becomes very special. Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

## Other Episodes in "Qur’an 30 for 30 | Season 7"
- [Juz 30: Love Al-Razzaq More Than Rizq | Sh. Navaid Aziz](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-30.md)
- [Juz 29: Your Spiritual Report Card  | Dr. Nazir Khan](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-29.md)
- [Juz 28: How To Truly Be Conscious of Allah | Dr. Jinan Yousef](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-28.md)
- [Juz 27: The Night You Give Everything | Sh. Abu Bakr Zoud](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-27.md)
- [Juz 26: Don’t Run From Struggle | Sh. Mikaeel Smith](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-26.md)
- [Juz 25: God Is Not A Mystery | Sh. Ibrahim Hindy](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-25.md)
- [Juz 24: Candid Conversations with Allah | Mufti Abdul Rahman Waheed](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-24.md)
- [Juz 23: Facing Your Trials With Honor | Dr. Farah Islam](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-23.md)
- [Juz 22: Appreciating Muhammad ﷺ | Sh. Omar Hajjaj](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-22.md)
- [Juz 21: Allah Is The Author of History | Sr. Sarah Sultan](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-21.md)
- [Juz 20: Allah’s Loud and Silent Revelations | Sh. Hisham Abu Yusuf](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-20.md)
- [Juz 18: The Qur’an Is A Cure | Dr. Tesneem Alkiek](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-18.md)
- [Juz 17: When Allah Chooses You, How Will You Respond? | Sh. Yousef Wahb](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-17.md)
- [Juz 16: Can You Be Patient With Allah? | Ust. Lobna Mulla](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-16.md)
- [Juz 15: Join the Heavens in Glorifying Allah | Sh. Mohamud Mohamed](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-15.md)
- [Juz 14: The Surah of Blessings | Ust. Taimiyyah Zubair](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-14.md)
- [Juz 13: What Is 1% of Allah’s Mercy? | Dr. Mohamed AbuTaleb](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-13.md)
- [Juz 12: Allah Is Not Far | Sh. Omar Hedroug](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-12.md)
- [Juz 11: Stop Playing Games | Dr. Ovamir Anjum](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-11.md)
- [Juz 10: When Allah Goes To War For You | Dr. Suleiman Hani](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-10.md)
- [Juz 9: How To Memorize Allah’s Names | Dr. Haifaa Younis](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-9.md)
- [Juz 8: Whose Validation Do You Need? | Sh. Shabbir Hassan](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-8.md)
- [Juz 7: They Know Al-Lateef in Gaza | Dr. Farhan Abdul Azeez](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-7.md)
- [Juz 6: Signs of A Hypocrite | Sh. Asim Khan](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-6.md)
- [Juz 5: You Can’t Fight Fire with Fire | Ust. Fatima Lette](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-5.md)
- [Juz 4: The Final Moments of This Life | Ahmad Hraichie ( The Muslim Undertaker)](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-4.md)
- [Juz 3: How The Qur’an Makes You Rich | Dr. Tahir Wyatt](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-3.md)
- [Juz 2: The Lord of Rituals | Mufti Menk](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-2.md)
- [Juz 1: Allah’s Names in the Qur’an | Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-juz-1-mohammad-elshinawy.md)
- [TRAILER | Qur’an 30 for 30 Season 7 | Dr. Omar Suleiman and Sh. Abdullah Oduro](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/quran-30-for-30-season-7/quran-30-for-30-season-7-trailer.md)