Be Quranic

Alhamdulillah, I was given the honour of delivering the Friday Khutbah at the Australia Open Pencak Silat International Championship 2024. It was the first time for Australia to host an international silat tournament.When the organiser approached me asking if I can deliver the khutbah at the tournament, my heart skipped a beat. For those of you who know me, will know my love for martial arts.Here’s some snippets from the khutbah. May Allah reward the organisers for their hard work.

Dear Qommunity,

In the 7th year of Prophethood, the Muslim community was pushed to the brink of starvation. The Quraysh had imposed a ruthless boycott—no trade, no marriages, no contact. The Muslims were isolated in a valley outside Makkah, slowly starving.

At night, the cries of hungry children pierced the desert silence. These cries broke through the pride of some Quraysh leaders. One of them, Zuhair ibn Abi Umayyah, though not a Muslim, stood before the Quraysh and asked:

“Are we going to eat while Banu Hashim is star...

Lessons from the Seerah

When we look at the sīrah, in the seventh year of Prophethood, the challenges facing the Muslims were unbearable.

At first, the Quraysh mocked and insulted. But when insults failed, by the fifth year they turned to violence—abusing, torturing, even killing some of the early Muslims. When that too didn’t stop the daʿwah, they escalated further: a total boycott against the Muslims and Banū Hāshim, the Prophet’s own tribe.

No one was allowed to buy from them, sell to them, marry them, or even speak...

Assalamu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.

Welcome back to BeQuranic. In this session, we’re looking at our ayat of the week — verses 9 and 10 of Surah al-Ḥujurāt. Today’s focus is Tajweed: we’ll read the verses together, highlight key rules, and talk about how to practise them for fluency.

The Ayat of the Week

These are slightly longer verses, especially ayah 9, so it’s helpful to break them down in sections. We’ll read them slowly, paying attention to the points of stop and continuation.

﴿وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِن بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَىٰ فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّىٰ تَفِيءَ إِلَىٰ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن فَاءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ (٩) إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (١٠)﴾

Tajweed Breakdown

Let’s go through the main rules you’ll encounter:

* Ikhfā’: in وَإِن طَآئِفَةً, notice the nūn sākinah before ṭā. That requires ikhfā’, a nasal sound.

* Madd wājib muttaṣil: in طَآئِفَةً and تَفِيءَ. The alif followed by a hamzah in the same word requires elongation of 4–5 counts.

* Madd jā’iz munfaṣil: in إِلَىٰ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ. The madd...

Full transcript (AI generated)

Alhamdulillah, we praise Allah for allowing us to gather on this beautiful—if a little chilly—morning. Alhamdulillah for this amazing weather.

It was lovely to see the president of the Islamic society in red and white today. To our Indonesian brothers and sisters: Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan—Happy Independence Day. Eighty years since independence—may Allah keep your nation in peace and strength.

If anyone needs proof that Islam was not spread by the sword, just look at our region. You don’t find armies forcing Islam upon the people the...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, and welcome back to BeQuranic.

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s Tafseer Thursday—where we go beyond recitation and Tajweed, and dive into the practical reflections that help us live the Qur’an every day.

This week, we’re looking at Ayat 6 to 8 of Surah al-Ḥujurāt. But before we jump into them, let’s do a quick…

📖 Ayat of the Week

We’re reading and breaking down Surah al-Ḥujurāt, verses 6 to 8. These āyāt are rich in Tajweed opportunities—perfect for practice.

🎯 Tajweed Focus

1. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا

* This is a classic case of Mad Munfaṣil (detached).

* The word “يَا” ends in a mad and is followed by a Hamzah at the start of the next word: “أَيُّهَا.”

* You read this for four ḥarakāt, though up to six is also accepted.

2. آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ

* “آمَنُوا” is Mad Badal, but in Ḥafṣ it’s read like Mad Aṣlī — simple two ḥarakāt.

* “إِن جَاءَكُمْ” starts with a nūn sākinah followed by jīm = Ikhfā’...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

We’re going to dive into the meanings of the ayat we’ve been reciting this week, and explore the practical lessons we can take home and apply in our daily lives—so we can be more Qur’anic in how we live.

Today, insha’Allah, we’ll be looking at Ayat 3 to 5 from Surah al-Hujurat.

Surah al-Hujurat is a Madani surah—revealed in Madinah, and in fact, revealed …

Tajweed Tuesday — Surah al-Hujurat, Ayat 3–5

Assalamu ʿalaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Welcome back to BeQuranic. Apologies for the delayed post. I know today is Wednesday, but here you go, Tajweed Tuesday.

This week, we’re continuing our journey through Surah al-Hujurat, looking at Ayat 3 to 5. Let’s begin with the recitation of these verses, followed by a breakdown of the key Tajweed rules.

1. Ayah 3 – Pronunciation & Tajweed Focus

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

* إِنَّ – Wajib al-Ghunnah (with shaddah on the noon, held for 2 counts).

* الَّذِينَ – Madd asli on “الَّذِي” (basic elongation).

* يَغُضُّونَ – Note the ضاد, a thick letter produced by pressing the side of the tongue to the upper molars. Be careful not to turn it into a heavy د or make it a tip-of-the-tongue sound.

* أَصْوَاتَهُمْ – Ṣād is a heavy lette...

Don’t Give Up: Hope in Bleak Times

Bismillah.

The past few weeks have been incredibly difficult for the Ummah — especially for our brothers and sisters in Gaza.

And it’s not just these few weeks. It’s been 23 months. Almost two years of relentless destruction. Every time we think we’ve seen the worst, we’re proven wrong. Every time we think we’ve hit rock bottom, Israel and the powers that support her prove that evil has no limit.

We are now witnessing full-blown famine. Starvation. Infants with nothing b...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

Welcome back to BeQuranic. This term, we’re diving into Surah al-Hujurat, a short but powerful surah that speaks directly to the heart of what it means to live as a Muslim — not just with belief, but with adab (proper conduct).

Last term we explored Surah al-Waqi‘ah, where we reflected on the categories of people in the Hereafter. Now, we’re bringing the…

Surah al-Ḥujurāt Begins!

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

We’ve kicked off Term 3 of the BeQuranic journey, and this term we’ll be diving into Surah al-Ḥujurāt — a short but deeply powerful surah, full of lessons on adab, respect, and community.

This week, we’re beginning slowly and deliberately with just the first two ayāt. Why? Because each line is loaded with both tajwīd gems and practical life reminders — so we want to sit with them, reflect, and read with clarity.

Tajwīd Highlights This Week

We started by revising two key etiquette phrases that open every recitation:

Assalamualaikum,

We’ve reached the final portion of Surah al-Wāqiʿah, and it’s been a beautiful journey. Each week, we recited, studied Tajwīd, and reflected practically on what these ayāt mean for our lives.

Tajwīd Highlights

* Madd Munfasil vs Muttasil:

If the wave sign (madd) is in two words, it’s munfasil → read 4 harakat.

If it’s in one word, it’s muttasil → read 4 harakat.

I keep it simple: when you see the wave, go 4 — unless there’s a shaddah or sukun, then it’s 6.<...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

Reflections beneath the stars.

I’m writing this fresh after recording beneath a night sky filled with stars, away from the city lights, where the beauty of Allah’s creation overwhelms the heart and opens the soul.

In this week’s Tafsir Thursday, we explore one of the most awe-inspiring passages in Surah al-Wāqi‘ah: Allah swearing by the constellations of …

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!

We’re almost at the end of Surah al-Wāqiʿah and Term 2 of 2025. Apologies for missing last week’s episode—I got caught up with work. But alhamdulillah, we’re back to wrap up the surah over the next two weeks, inshaAllah.

📖 Ayat of the Week

This week we’re covering Surah al-Wāqiʿah, Ayat 83 to 87.

🧠 Tajwīd Highlights

* Long Madd

Anytime you see a wavy line ( ~ ) over an alif or small wāw/ya:

→ Read 4 harakāt (unless it’s followed by a shaddah/suk...

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Rasulullah ﷺ began looking for a new base for Islam because of the intense persecution Muslims faced in Makkah. In the 10th year of prophethood, his uncle Abu Talib — the leader of Banu Hashim, the Prophet’s tribe — passed away. At that time, Makkah had no judicial system: your safety depended entirely on your tribal protection. As long as your tribe protected you, no one would harm you because your tribe could avenge any harm done.

When Abu Talib passed away, leadership of Banu Hashim went to Abu Lahab, who refused to protect...

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Welcome back to BeQuranic. Today is Tuesday, and that means it’s time for Tajweed Tuesdays.

This week, we’ll be reading our Ayat of the Week — Surah al-Waqi‘ah, verses 75 to 82 — and then we’ll dissect some of the tajweed rules inside these verses.

We’re coming close to the end of Surah al-Waqi‘ah, and that also means the end of this term, inshaAllah. So let’s really focus and try to master the tajweed in these final ayat.

Let’s get reading…

Remember, the aim is n...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

Welcome back to BeQuranic — where we don’t just read the Qur’an, we try to live it.

Today is Tafsir Thursday, and we’re catching up on the second half of Surah al-Waqi‘ah — from verse 58 to 74. These verses shift from describing people of the Hereafter to presenting a powerful series of reminders from nature.

The tone changes. Now Allah is asking us — ref…

Welcome back to BeQuranic!

Today is Tajweed Tuesday, and that means it’s time to dive into the recitation and rules of the Qur’an — not in a complicated, academic way, but in a practical way that helps us all recite with confidence, clarity, and fluency.

This week’s Ayat of the Week comes from Surah al-Waqi‘ah, verses 68 to 74. It’s a shorter passage than usual, which means we can take our time and really focus on perfecting our Tajweed.

Practice Tips

* First, slow down and get your articulation correct.

* Then...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

This week on Tafseer Thursday, we explored a powerful and sobering section of Surah al-Waqi‘ah — verses 41 to 56 — where Allah describes the fate of Ashab al-Shimal, the people of the left. These are the individuals who will receive their records in their left hands on the Day of Judgment — a sign of loss, disgrace, and eternal regret.

Allah asks with a …

Welcome back to Road to Hajj — where we explore the rituals of Hajj, their meanings, and the mysteries behind them.

Tonight, though, we’re going to take a step back from the rituals themselves. Instead, we’re diving into an incredible historical moment — one that didn’t just shape the Hajj… it changed the course of Islamic history forever.

BeQuranic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This moment happened on the last night of Hajj, 1,447 years ago.

I...

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!

Welcome back to BeQuranic. Today is Tuesday, which means it’s time for Tajweed Tuesday!

We’ll start by reading our ayat of the week, then we’ll break them down together and go through some of the Tajweed rules hidden within. This week, we’re looking at Ayahs 57 to 67 from Surah al-Waqi‘ah.

Let’s begin with isti‘aadhah:

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

Now let’s dive into the Tajweed breakdown:

نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ

Notice the qalqalah on the letter qāf in khalaqnā. That bouncing sound is key. Don’t read it flat—bounce it slightly: khalaqā, not khal...

Welcome back to Road to Hajj—a short, practical overview of the Hajj journey. This series isn’t about deep fiqh or academic detail. It’s about following the footsteps of the Hujjaj and reflecting on the wisdom behind each ritual.

Today is the 12th of Dhul Hijjah, and we’re continuing our reflections on the Jamarāt—the symbolic stoning of Shayṭān.

Picking the Pebbles

Let’s start with a practical question: Where do you get the pebbles?

They can come from anywhere. Many Hujjaj pick them from Muzdalifah simply because i...

Welcome back to Road to Hajj, a simple overview of the Hajj rituals and a light reflection on the meanings behind them. This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive fiqh guide — just an easy companion for those wanting to connect deeper with the journey.

Today is the 11th of Dhul Hijjah. The hujjaj are now spending most of the night — if not all of it — back in Mina, the city of tents. It’s sunnah to stay the whole night, but wajib to remain for at least half of it.

Now Mina isn’t a place of i...

Welcome back to Road to Hajj.

This isn’t a comprehensive Hajj guide — just a simple, day-by-day overview of what the hujjaj do, with some reflections on its deeper meaning.

Today is the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah — Yawm an-Nahr — the Day of Sacrifice. This is the peak of the Hajj journey.

To understand this day, we look at the story of Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام, starting from the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, Yawm at-Tarwiyah — the day of pondering. That’s when he began to reflect deeply on a troubling dream: that he was slaughtering his son.

By the 9th, Yawm ‘Ar...

Welcome back to Road to Hajj — a simplified walk-through of what the hujjaj do each day of the Hajj journey.

Now is Maghrib of the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah.

In the day, the hujjaj spent the most important day of the year — the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah — at ‘Arafah. From Dhuhr to Maghrib, they stood in du‘a during wuqūf, the core act of Hajj. It’s the day when most du‘as are answered and the most people are forgiven in the whole year.

BeQuranic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and suppo...

Welcome back to Road to Hajj – a short series giving you a simple, practical overview of the Hajj journey. This isn’t a deep dive or fiqh breakdown, just a companion to help you reflect on what each day of Hajj means.

Today is the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah — the Day of ‘Arafah.

Let’s quickly recap: yesterday, on the 8th, the hujjaj doing Tamattu‘ re-entered ihram. Those performing Ifrād or Qirānwere already in ihram. Depending on their package, many hujjaj moved to Mina, but some may have gone straight to ‘Arafah for logistical reasons. That’s...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

It’s Tafsir Thursday—and not just any Thursday. Today is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the Day of ‘Arafah, the greatest day of the year.

If you’re fasting today—may Allah accept it from you! The Prophet ﷺ said that fasting on this day wipes away two years of sins: one past, one future. Incredible reward for just one day.

And if you’re not fasting? Don’t worry—t…

Welcome back to Road to Hajj — your practical companion for the blessed days of Hajj.

In today’s episode, we explore 8 Dhul-Hijjah, also known as Yawm at-Tarwiyah — the Day of Preparation. While it might sound unfamiliar to some, it’s one of the key transitional days leading into the main Hajj rites.

🗓️ What is the Day of Tarwiyah?

“Tarwiyah” comes from the root word rawā, which means to prepare water or to reflect deeply.

Historically:

* Hujjaj would spend this day collecting and preparing water, food, and provisions before heading out for the challe...

Welcome to Road to Hajj, a practical podcast series designed to help pilgrims—especially those travelling from Australia—navigate their journey to the House of Allah. This is not an academic deep dive, but a step-by-step companion for anyone wanting to be better prepared, both spiritually and practically, for the days of Hajj.

📌

Episode Summary

In this opening episode, Ustadh Azizi breaks down the three types of Hajj that Muslims may perform:

* Hajj Ifrād (إفراد) – “The solo Hajj”

* Intention: Only Hajj.

* Enter Makkah already in Ihrām.

* Perform Hajj...

Here’s a smooth, podcast-style version of your transcript with a clear structure, natural flow, and a catchy title:

🎙️ BeQuranic | Tajweed Tuesday – The People of the Left (Ashab al-Shimal)

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, and welcome back to BeQuranic.

It’s week 4, and today is Tuesday – which means it’s time for Tajweed Tuesday! We’re continuing with our journey through Surah al-Waqi‘ah this term, and today we’re reading Ayat 41 to 56, which focus on the third category of people mentioned in this Surah: Ashab al-Shimal — the people of the left.

Just a quick reminder before...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

In this special session, I walk a group of youth through the meaning, rituals, and spiritual significance of Hajj—starting with a mock Hajj and ending with a powerful reminder about the sincerity of our journey to Allah.

💫 In this episode:

* Why Hajj matters: its origins in the call of Prophet Ibrahim (as), the sacred months, and the spiritual and historic…

Khutbah at Iqro’ Centre Jumuah Prayer

Today happens to be the fifth Friday of the month — normally a week off from delivering the khutbah. But when I dropped by Iqro’ Centre this afternoon aand the imam, a dear friend of mine, saw me in the prayer hall, he asked if I could give the sermon. And honestly, how could I say no?

So here it is: lessons from the life of Prophet Ibrahim, drawn from verses 124 to 129 of Surah al-Baqarah.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, and welcome back to BeQuranic.

Today is Thursday, the 2nd of Dhul-Hijjah, 1446. That means we’ve officially entered the best 10 days of the year — the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah.

Just as the last 10 nights of Ramadan are the most sacred nights — containing Laylatul Qadr — the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are t…

Great! Here’s a refined and structured version of your Tajweed Tuesday + Ayat of the Week script for BeQuranic – Week 3 of Term 2, 2025 (covering Surah Al-Wāqiʿah, verses 27–40). This version improves clarity, flow, and consistency, while keeping your teaching voice and intent intact.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Welcome back to BeQuranic. Today is Tuesday, and that means it’s Tajweed Tuesday.

Apologies—we didn’t get a chance to upload Ayat of the Week earlier, so in today’s session, we’ll combine both. We’ll recite this week’s portion of Surah Al-Wāqiʿah, and then break d...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

Welcome back to BeQuranic.

Today is Thursday, which means it’s time for Tafsir Thursday — where we reflect on how to live the Qur’an in practical, everyday ways. At BeQuranic, we’re not diving into academic depth or technical tafsir debates. Instead, we focus on action:

BeQuranic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work,…

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Welcome back to Be Qur’anic!

It’s Tuesday, and that means it’s time for Tajweed Tuesday, where we break down the recitation and pronunciation rules from the Ayat of the Week.

This is Week 2 of Term 2, and we’re continuing with Surah al-Wāqiʿah, focusing on verses 10 to 26. Don’t worry — although that’s 16 ayat, the verses are short and rhythmically structured, which makes them ideal for learning Tajweed.

Let’s begin with Isti‘ādhah:

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

This is not part of the Qur’an but an instruction from Allah — “When...

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Welcome back to Be Qur’anic.

Today we’re continuing with our Ayat of the Week for Term 2 of 2025, where we’re diving into the powerful and reflective verses of Surah al-Wāqiʿah.

This week, we’ll be reciting from ayah 10 to ayah 26. That might sound like a lot—16 ayat—but don’t worry. Surah al-Wāqiʿah is known for its short, rhythmic verses, which makes it easy to recite and reflect upon.

Let’s begin, as always, with istiʿādhah — seeking protection from Shayṭān — and then proceed to the recit...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bequranic.substack.com

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Welcome to Be Quranic. It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for Tafsir Thursday — where we dive into the meanings and lessons behind our Ayat of the Week.

We’re now in Term 2 of 2025, and this term, we’ll be studying Surah al-Wāqi‘ah — the chapter that follows Surah al-Rahmān, which we explored last term. As usu…