Juz 23- Juz Gems

Do Not Despair of the Mercy of Allah

Assalaamu Alaykum! Tonight, our mashaayikh will recite the 23rd juz of the Qur’an, which means that tonight may be the Night of Power, or Laylatul Qadr. In these last ten nights, whether we are spending them in the masjid, or adding a bit more reflection throughout our nights, we will be yearning to feel closer to Allah. One of the most intimate verses found in the Qur’an is in Surat az-Zumar:

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚإِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥٣﴾

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful," (Surat az-Zumar, aya 53).

Notice how Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to “Say,” but then changes the phrasing from a third person command to the second person (Oh My servants), which indicates a greater love and tenderness Allah has for us, even if we are sinful. In addition, Allah uses the word “servants” which further exemplifies His Divine Love for us. We see the shift from the third person to second person in Surat al Fatiha as well- “All praise is due to Allah,” (1:2) to “You alone we worship and you alone we ask for help,” (1:5)

These verses help us increase the love we have of Allah and reminds us to never lose hope in His mercy. It is no coincidence that we find this aya in the 23rd juz- constantly reciting it every Ramadan on an odd night during the last ten nights of Ramadan where we seek protection from the Hellfire. Sometimes, the shaytan attacks us by making us think that we will never be good enough servants to Allah. We are riddled with guilt and this guilt makes it impossible to move on and have a hopeful attitude, which may cause someone to give up striving all together.

Another instance where Allah uses the term “My servant,” is found in Surat al Baqarah right after the verses of Ramadan have been revealed:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖفَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ﴿١٨٦﴾

And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided, (Surat al-Baqarah, aya 186).

Knowing Allah is near, knowing Allah is commanding us to not lose hope, knowing that Allah will answer our supplications if we supplicate to Him is so empowering. It is no longer a nebulous relationship one may have with her Creator, but a very intimate and profound connection that one hopes to foster throughout her life.