Alhuda Bolton · Save Your Family

With Shaykh Al-Wasifi
and Ustadh Abu Muadh Taqweem

  • Importance of raising a Muslim family
  • Who’s responsibility? husband or wife?
  • Make goodness easy
  • Do not facilitate evil and expect goodness
  • Spending your life wisely

Part 1: Ustadh Abu Muadh Taqweem


 O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allâh, but do that which they are commanded.

[Quran: Surah At-Tahrim (The Prohibition) verse 6]

Shaykh Abdulrahman As-Si’di, in his tafseer of this verse, tells us that Protecting yourself and your family is by way of three things.

  • Obeying the commandments of Allah
  • To stay away from the Prohibitions
  • To Repent and seek Forgiveness from wrongdoing

The shaykh also says with regards to your Families that you…:

  • Teach them the morals, manners and etiquettes of a Muslim
  • Educate them with regards to the religion
  • Instruct them to act upon the religion
  • To implement these qualities within yourself first and foremost

Ibn Kathir, with regards the same verse, mentions the statements of the companions:

  • Ali Ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), said with regards to the words “Save yourselves and your families”
  • Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
    • Act upon the obedience to Allah
    • stay away from the Sinning
    • command your families with the families,
    • And Allah will protect you from the Fire
  • Mujahid said (may Allah be pleased with him):
    • Protect yourselves and your families from the fire means be obedient to Allah, stay away from his prohibitions, fear Allah, and command your families
  • Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
    • That you be upon righteousness
    • To aid and help them in that
  • Question: What if the wife is more practicing than the husband? who has the responsibility in raising the children?

It is a requirement upon the Muslim that he teach his family what Allah has obligated upon them and what He has prohibited them from

The Scholars have given an example with regards to the prayer and fasting.

  • The Prophet (ﷺ) said command the child to pray when he reaches 7 years old and enforce this when he reaches 10 years
  • When a child is learning to fast for the first time, he or she may become hungry at first. The companions would give their children toys to facilitate their fasting and keep them preoccupied
  • Question: What if a child is incapable of fasting? should one compel them to do this?

“a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones”

  • The Fire of Hell feeds on the corpses of people
  • With regards to the stones mentioned, then this is specifically indicating the idols which were worshipped
  • Question: A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) if the stones and rocks in Hellfire were the same as those on earth. What did he (ﷺ) say in reply?

Do not facilitate the evil and expect your family to be upon Good.

Questions & Answers:

  • Is this responsibility upon the husband alone?
  • What about the verse “There is no compulsion in the religion”?

Part 2: Shaykh Ali Al-Wasifi


By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.

[Quran, Chapter 103 Al-Asr (Time) verses 1-3]

The Shaykh begins by describing the different styles of Tafseer (explanation) of the Quran and how to determine the correct methods.

Most of the Scholars agree that this Chapter was revealed in Makkah, however some, such as Qatadah, hold that it was sent down in Madinah.#

He then continues on to discuss the great importance of this Chapter and what the companions have said about it.

With regards to the first part of the chapter, “By Time,”, then this is an oath taken by Allah himself. An oath is taken to emphasise a particular matter or to highlight its greatness or importance.

  • What does it mean, and what have the Salaf said regarding it?

#Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), said that if the only chapter of the Qur’an to be sent down was just this chapter, then it would suffice the people.

  • It comprehensively incorporates all of the Quran. Why?
  • If one truly understands it, it lightens the heart

Some scholars hold that the word “Asr” is in reference to Time itself.

  • What is the significane of time?
  • It is from amongst the most noble of affairs in the life if a Believer
  • Time and Location are the physical factors which determine happiness or misery
  • Time is an opportunity

Note: The verse “Indeed, mankind is in loss”, then it is important to remember that everyone is, to an extent, in a state of loss we all sin. The severity and extent differ for each person.

Other Scholars argue that the word “Asr” is with regards to the Asr prayer, i.e. the mid-afternoon prayer:

  • Question: Why did Allah swear by the Asr prayer?
  • Why is the Asr prayer referred to as the Middle prayer?
  • What happened when Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon, may Allah be pleased with him) missed the Asr prayer?
  • Hadith: Whosoever missed the Asr prayer, it is as if he has lost his family and his wealth
    • What about the one who abandons it intentionally?
  • The virtues of the Asr Prayer
    • The Qiblah (prayer direction) was changed from Jerusalem to Makkah during the Asr prayer
    • It is the final prayer of the day, before the record of your actions are sealed by eh Angels

Another group of Scholars state that the word “Asr” is in reference to the time and era of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ):

  • What is the evidence for this?

With regards to the words “Indeed, mankind is in loss,”:

  • This is in reference to All of Mankind, whether believers or unbelievers. Why?
    • Some scholars hold that this phrase only applies to the Disbelievers or the Hypocrites#, why?
  • What should one do if he or she wants to exit this loss?
  • The methods to get out of this loss are not easy. The results of your effort and striving will only become apparent in the afterlife. This makes us Lax in this world as most people want immediate results
  • Spending your life wisely
  • 📚 Quran Structure: The word “Loss” is mentioned in the verse using the indefinite form. In Arabic grammar, this emphasises the great nature of the loss and that only Allah knows its true extent.

With regards to the final verse “Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.”

  • The importance of Belief
  • This verse emphasises the importance of action. What are righteous actions?
  • The importance of Advising each other with the truth and with patience
  • What is meant by patience here?
    • It means havign patience to stay within the commandments of Allah,
    • Not to loose your patience with your worship, and
    • to have patience keep yourself away from that which would lead you to misery