Al Mu'min Miraatul Mu'min

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA), Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: The believer is a mirror for the believer, and the believer is the brother of the believer..."-- Abu Dawud 

I recently attended a weekend course by Sheikh Kemal Al Mekki who discussed the significance of this beautiful hadith. It is one that many of us are likely familiar with, but have we ever sat and thought about its meaning? The Prophet (SAW)'s descriptions were full of complete wisdom. A believer being a mirror to another believer-- What does it mean? What does a mirror do? What happens or even what is our intention when looking into a mirror? So based on what I learned over the weekend, I will post the points discussed in the course, but consider it yourself. What else can you think of.  So, the we will discuss the mirror first. 

THE MIRROR--

-Is truthful

-Doesn't exaggerate

-Straight forward

-Not Condescending

-Shows the good of the person as well as pointing out the fault

-Doesn't communicate the flaw to others 

-It can show more than one flaw at a time

-Doesn't Judge

-Doesn't remember previous flaws

-It is always there

-If it is a dirty mirror, the reflection is unclear. Likewise if the other person (mirror) doesn't come with the right intention, their advice may also be in error or unclear

-A warped mirror is one that people will avoid. -- Another believer who is not staying on the straight path, is one that other believers will not turn to for advice

-It has no impatience and lets  you return to it again and again

-If the mirror is destroyed, it is of no benefit

-It gives the right information to the right person

-Different quality of mirror gives different quality picture. 

Do you see the point we are making here? It would have been easy for the Prophet (SAW) to have said, the believer gives the other believer advice, but that wouldn't encompass the deep and true meaning behind how we should go about it, what the Akhlaq (manner) is or even the Ikhlas (intention). The depth of this hadith is so vast. Inshallah you will think more about it. 

Now, what about the person who looks into the mirror? We will say that this is You.

YOU--

-Appreciate the advice the mirror has given you, and are not angry or defensive by having learned it

-Act on what the mirror has shown you

-The more you stand in front of the mirror, the more you can see about yourself

-Likewise the closer you stand to it, the more in depth you will see elements. (The closer you are to other believers, the better they will be able to know you)

-You go to the mirror VOLUNTARILY

-You enjoy looking at the mirror

-You see a flaw, change it, and then look again to make sure it is changed

-You not only see yourself, but you see all that is around you

-IF YOU REFUSE TO LOOK INTO THE MIRROR, IT WON'T TELL YOU ANYTHING

Just as there was much to be said about the mirror itself, there is just as much that can be learned about us. We should not be angry when others give advice, in fact we should seek it out. Ever trying to better ourselves, and when given such advice, there is an Akhlaq that should be maintained in receiving it. Don't get defensive, don't make excuses. Thank your brother or sister in Islam and use the information to better yourself, then go back later and check. Let them hold you accountable. Draw close to others, form relationships so they can correct you, and likewise you correct them. 

May Allah (SWT)  make us consider all of His words, and the words of the Prophet (SAW) in such depth, contemplating their meaning and then give us the ability to apply them to our lives. Ameen.

Revision

I have revised the below post to include information about the course, and other points I wanted to make. 

The Miracle of the Qur'an (REVISED)

-- I have added the remaining points I wanted to make in this post, and have also posted the information about Al Huda courses. Please read the revisions. 

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"Those to whom We give the book, recite it as it should be recited, they are the ones who believe." Baqarah: 121

Alhamdulillah I have been Muslim for 2.5 years now, and will readily say that one of the most significant things when I converted was the truth and the miracle of the Qur'an. That it is the same as it was 1400 years ago, its beauty, that it has been unchanged and protected... I thought that I understood the miracle of the Qur'an. After all, I have read the translation numerous times, and its words have spoken to me at various times. Changing the way I live, think, act...
I realize now, I had (and really still have) no idea about the miracle of the Qur'an. I recently enrolled in the Taleem al Qur'an course (Online evening course-- which has 250 students enrolled from all around the world!!!) inshallah to learn the Arabic Meaning, the Tajweed (proper recitiation of the Qur'an) and the Tafseer (the reason of revelation and deep meaning of the Qur'an). I am absolutely BLOWN AWAY. By the end of the first two classes we had spent 8 hours learning about Al Fatihah only. This is 7 verses. 8 hours, for 7 verses! The following two classes we learned Verses 1-5 of Surah Al Baqarah. 8 hours on 5 verses!
As I am learning the Arabic, the roots, the meanings, that the order of the sentences even adds a contextual meaning to the Qur'an, I am beginning to understand the true miracle of this book. I get goosebumps when I think about it. I can't believe I have spent the last 2.5 years, not really understanding the words of Allah.
I want to tell you all this in the hopes that it would encourage all of us as Muslims to strive to understand the Qur'an. This doesn't mean read a translation. It means understand it in the way it was reavealed to our Prophet (SAW). Insallah it will bring a new focus and passion to the way you live Islam, increase your focus in prayer, and earn many good deeds.... May Allah (SWT) make it easy for all of us. Remember He promises to make it easy for us.

"We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember..." Al Qamar:32

Besides Allah (SWT)'s promise to make it easy, we must also consider the obligation on us as Muslims to learn the Qur'an. Not only is this the way Allah is preserving it for us, through the hearts and memories of the Believers, but we must consider how. It has been taught in Arabic, by those who knew the Qur'an from the beginning. Allah (SWT) revealed it to Muhammad (SAW) through Jibreel who thus knew the proper recitation. Muhammad (SAW) then taught it to the Sahaba (those who lived at the time of Muhammad (SAW). They with their proper knowledge taught it to the Taab' ieen (the generation which followed the Sahabah) and so on and so forth. Thus as we can see, the Qur'an should be learned in Arabic, with the proper Tajweed (rules of recitation.) It is easy to see the importance of this elsewhere in the faith, when we realize our 5 daily prayers must be performed in Arabic, and that there is a strong opinion by scholars that any supplication you make in those five daily prayers, must be done in Arabic. We also know that the best du'a were those made by the Prophet (SAW)--- said in Arabic. And lastly, the Qur'an in English is just a translation, and that the only true Qur'an is that in its Arabic form.  The Qur'an will either testify for or against us on the day of resurrection. We need to learn it properly in its true form, so it will testify for us. Not only do we need to learn how to recite it but we need to learn its meaning. This is why I strongly encourage everyone to take this course as it covers Word Analysis, Tajweed, and Tafseer. You come out of a lesson inshallah learning how to read the Qur'an properly, understanding not only the meaning in Arabic, but all of the root words within the verses. 

"Those to whom We give the Book recite it as it should be recited, they are the ones who believe." Baqarah:121

"Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an in order that you may understand." Yusuf:2

The Messenger (SAW) said: "Read it as you were taught, for verily those before you were destroyed by their differing from their Prophets." Saheeh Al Jaami 2/389

Please check out Al Huda Institute-- Taleem Al Qur'an Course 2009. They offer a full time program M-F 9:30-3:30 for the duration of 1.5yrs  or the part time evening course W&Th 5:30-9:30pm for the duration of 3yrs. I have also heard about a weekend course they may begin offering. The full time course is offered at Al Huda or Online. The evening course is only online. Those outside of Toronto have no excuse! You can do this from the comfort of your livingroom. alhudapk.com or you can find the same information on farhathashmi.com (the site of Dr Farhat Hashmi you teaches the course. I find this site more easy to navigate.)