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Are You Shakir or Kafir? - The Real Test of Life "Was there not a period of time when man was nothing to speak of? We created man from a drop of mingled fluid to put him to the test; We gave him hearing and sight; We guided him to the right path, whether he was grateful (shakir) or not (kafir)." [surah Al-Insan 76:1-3] Contrary to the belief of many people and various traditions, this life is neither about enjoyment nor suffering, it is only one thing - a test. In his supplementary notes for the upcoming seminar on Surah Al-Insan (also known as Al-Dahr), Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi writes: "This surah can be paired with the one before it. Al-Qiyamah ended with a brief account of the lowly first stages of a human life, from which one can hardly imagine that there could emerge so complex a creature as a human being capable of knowing right from wrong and therefore self-accusing. Surat al-Insan begins with mention of those first stages of a human life and the forceful affirmation that in the whole of time (al-dahr) there is not any period (however small) in which a human being is to be considered unworthy of mention, i.e. of no account. To the contrary, human life is always significant, important, and heavy with consequences, which become fully apparent in the afterlife. Whereas Surat al-Qiyamah had emphasized the punishment in hereafter of the unbelieving, unrepentant sinners, this surah emphasizes the rewards in paradise for those who are thankful believers and strive to please the One who created and nurtured them. God has created human beings hearing and seeing, that is, capable of perceiving and understanding when they are shown the way between right and wrong, and capable of choosing. Man indeed has a choice: to be kafir or shakir – to deny and cover up the reality that he knows right from wrong, or to acknowledge that reality, be thankful for it and choose the right. God created him and gave him life and responsibility in order to put him to a testing trial so that he comes to know for himself his own value." The full notes can be found at: http://goo.gl/exVN0 Surah Al-Insan goes to the core of the reason of existence of man. These notes are only a taste of what is to come in the forthcoming seminar on Surah Al-Insan this Saturday in Cambridge and Live Online Worldwide. Please book your place now for an incredibly powerful and life-changing seminar inshaAllah. Surah Al-Insan Man The Unknown - What is His Destiny? The Magnificent Journey Seminar Series With a Special Session on "Doubts and Controversies about Islam" By Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford) Date: Saturday 22nd June 2013 Time: 9.30AM - 6PM Venue: Cambridge University and Live On-line Web Access Features: Course Notes, Childcare/Crèche, Free Parking, Group Discounts and Scholarship http://courses.meoc.org.uk << Click Here To Register Previous Posts Why Have We Forgotten Our Destination? Man The Unknown - Surah Al-Insan - What is His Destiny? (plus Bonus Open Q & A Session) "Doubts and Controversies about Islam" in the Light of Surah Al-Insan Wassalaam Cambridge Islamic Sciences Seminars Muslim Education & Outreach Cambridge (MEOC) Tel: 07736 779448 / 01223 655223 Email: courses[at]meoc.org.uk

Man The Unknown - Surah Al-Insan - What is His Destiny? Surah Al-Insan is a powerful Makkan surah giving a vivid reminder to man of his weak and humble beginning and his ultimate destiny. "Was there not a period of time when man was nothing to speak of? We created man from a drop of mingled fluid to put him to the test; We gave him hearing and sight; We guided him to the right path, whether he was grateful or not." [surah Al-Insan 76:1-3] While the earlier Surahs of the Qur’an drew man’s attention to the grave danger that awaits him if he chose to be ungrateful, Surah Al-Insan gives the glad tidings of Paradise and all that awaits therein for those who choose the right path, being grateful to their Lord and following His Command until they depart from this world successful. This Surah also directs man to a truth he cannot forget - his success and the endless reward of Paradise is achieved only by the grace and mercy of his Lord, so he must take the way to Him. "This is a reminder. Let whoever wishes, take the way to his Lord. But you will only wish to do so if God wills– God is all knowing, all wise– He admits whoever He will into His Mercy and has prepared a painful torment for the disbelievers." [surah Al-Insan 76:29-31] Bonus Question & Answer Session on "Doubts and Controversies about Islam" These days, many contentious and sensitive issues related to Islam have arisen which lead to questions and doubts in the minds of many Muslims with few reliable sources to turn to for proper answers. In the forthcoming seminar on Surah Al-Insan, there will be a special bonus session giving all attendees the opportunity to have their questions answered by Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi, one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of today. Surah Al-Insan Man The Unknown - What is His Destiny? The Magnificent Journey Seminar Series With Bonus Session on "Doubts and Controversies about Islam" By Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford) Date: Saturday 22nd June 2013 Time: 9.30AM - 6PM Venue: Cambridge University and Live On-line Web Access Features: Course Notes, Childcare/Crèche, Free Parking, Group Discounts and Scholarship http://courses.meoc.org.uk << Click Here To Register Testimonials "Jazakumullahu khayran. I can't thank you enough for the opportunity. I am so impressed by the Sheikh, subhanallah, mashaAllah. A very rare example of tradition fused with awareness of the environment and reality while not compromising God consciousness. If only there were more like him. Questions, I'm so glad we can ask them even if it's not about the sura. Yes, how else are we to learn from his wisdom and experience if we don't ask? The issues facing Muslims in the West are so many and so confusing and I just love the fact that he does not have an inferiority complex about Islam. It's really sad to see psychologically defeated scholars start throwing away tradition in the name of progress and fitting in. Sheikh Akram Nadwi gives you the sense that the real life is in the hereafter so don't have to get so tied up with the philosophies and controversies that sometimes take away our attention from the real purpose. The onus is on us, are we being pious?" - Aisha Barkatulla, Cambridge "I wanted to thank you for organising the seminar about 'Eesa (AS) on Sunday. For me personally, it was truly very very beneficial and I learnt so much and it has opened my eyes to a lot I had no knowledge of before. I attended with the intention of learning so I could speak to my Christian friends but it was an eye opener for me personally as a Muslim. Brother Akram Nadwi is a very wise brother MashaAllah and its our privilege to have him around. Jazakumullahu Khairan and may Allah SWT reward all of you with His best reward - ameen" - Umm Haroon, Cambridge “There are not many people that you meet and in the first hour of sitting with them you decide you love them for the sake of Allah, but for me that was the case one week ago, when I had the honour of sitting in on a course by Shaykh Akram Nadwi. The next week I was with him again and by no means did he cease to amaze me any less. When someone like Shaykh Akram speaks and explains things the way he does, you know that anyone who is not benefiting from him will look back in 10 years and think, man I totally lost out there. You may know a topic inside out but because of the depth of his knowledge and more importantly his understanding, when he explains something you are thrown back by how he explained it in a way you never heard it before. MashaAllah. These courses are essential for every Muslim. If people are sincere about seeking knowledge that will connect them to their Creator, Allah (SWT), then they will take full advantage as they will not only help one understand their purpose in life in a deeper and more meaningful way but they will also be in a strong position to articulate Islam to the people around them in a way that makes sense and appeals the the hearts and minds.” - Tariq Shaekh, London More Testimonials (including videos): http://courses.meoc.org.uk/p/testimonials.html Wassalaam Cambridge Islamic Sciences Seminars Muslim Education & Outreach Cambridge (MEOC) Tel: 07736 779448 / 01223 655223 Email: courses[at]meoc.org.uk