Notes on Covenant with Allah

A Lecture given by

Nouman Ali Khan



This note is based on the lecture mentioned above
The lecture can be found at the following links
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7p0bSt3E1g
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PJMlKEbf0k









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Islam Class (for guys)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Islam-Class-for-guys-/119967094691113
islamclassforguys@hotmail.co.uk
May Allah (swt) accept this effort














A Request
If you have taken notes from lectures given by speakers like Yasir
Qadhi, Nouman Ali Khan, Kamal el Mekki, Abdullah Hakim Quick,
Waleed Basyouni, Murtaza Khan or others
then please do share with us for the purpose of spreading the message.
Email: islamclassforguys@hotmail.co.uk





















Our other notes
1. How to give Shahadah in 10 minutes by Kamal el Mekki
http://www.scribd.com/doc/74544248/Notes-on-How-to-Give-Shahada-in-10-Minutes-by-
Kamal-El-Mekki

2. Overview of Life in Few Verses by Nouman Ali Khan
http://www.scribd.com/doc/74125078/Notes-on-Overview-of-Life-in-Few-Verses-by-
Nouman-Ali-Khan

3. The End of Music by Kamal el Mekki
http://www.scribd.com/doc/72067604/Notes-on-the-End-of-Music-by-Kamal-el-Mekki

ISLAMQA ruling compilations

1. Rulings about Eating Etiquettes
http://www.scribd.com/doc/61254474/ISLAMQA-Ruling-Compilation-on-Eating-Etiquettes

2. Rulings about the Dying and Dead person, funeral rituals etc.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/60888981/ISLAMQA-Ruling-Compilation-About-the-Dead

3. Rulings about the virtues of Friday (Jumuah), the prescribed worships on that day and
other issues.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/70695127/ISLAMQA-Ruling-Compilation-on-the-Virtues-of-
Friday-Jumu-Ah-The-Prescribed-Worships-and-Other-Issues














Quite often we hear or come across verses from the Quran where Allah (swt) mentions that
those who know and those who dont know are not the same. Here we will discuss a
passage from the Quran where Allah (swt) goes into detail about those who will be
benefitting from this Quran.
Allah (swt) mentions in the Quran
_. `l- , !.. _. ,, l| _. ,, _>' _. > _.s !.| `.. , l`
.,l _
Shall He Then who knows that what has been revealed unto You (O Muhammad) from Your
Lord is the Truth be like Him who is blind? But it is only the men of understanding that pay
heed. [Quran, 13:19]

Now, the question arises is, who are the men of understanding? Allah (swt) gives the reply
in the next verse;
_ `, .-, < .1., _..,.l _
Those who fulfil the Covenant of Allh and break not the Mthq (bond, treaty, covenant)
[Quran, 13: 20]
So the discussion delves into the issue of the Covenant of Allah and the word mithaq.
Mithaq in Arabic means covenant and its not just like the agreements when we sign into,
while installing softwares or sub-prime mortgages; where one party of the agreement fully
knows what they are getting into and the other party of the agreement does not. Rather the
word mithaq is used when it is a serious agreement with serious consequences, where both
parties know exactly what they are getting into. So when it comes to describe the
relationship between us and Allah (swt), our Lord has used the word mithaq. It's a VERY
serious agreement, where Allah (swt) is fully aware of the seriousness of its implications and
HE WILL be holding up HIS end of the deal and since we have been notified about this
contract through this book Al-Quran; Allah (swt) expects from us as well that we too will
uphold our end of the deal.

But unfortunately we ask how many Muslims are aware of the seriousness of this
agreement? And if we don't even know what are the clauses of this contract then how easy
it will be for us to violate those conditions?
In the first two verses, Allah (swt) mentions that only men of understanding will benefit
from this Quran and then HE describes them (men of understanding) as those who fulfil
their covenant with Allah (swt). Now, in the next verses Allah (swt) mentions the conditions
of this agreement and the qualities of the people who will be fulfilling their covenant with
Allah (swt).
And ALLAH says in this ayah (interpretation):
_ l., !. . < ., _.`, _ :> , !> ,.
,!.>' _
Those who join that which Allh has commanded to be joined (i.e. they are good to their
relatives and do not sever the bond of kinship), fear their Lord, and dread the terrible
reckoning (i.e. abstain from All kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allh has forbidden and
perform All kinds of good deeds which Allh has ordained). [Quran, 13:21]

_ l., !. . < ., _.`,
Meaning; they are the ones who keep connected what ALLAH commanded to keep
connected.
Now the question arises that what does this mean "they keep connected, what ALLAH
commanded to keep connected"? Well, this means many things and this is one of the
comprehensive words of the Quran which includes many lessons inside one. And we
[actually its Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan ] will refer couple of them.

In Islam, ALLAH (swt) has joined a few things. For example: HE joined the Sunnah of HIS
messenger (sal-lallahu alaihi wasallam) with our understanding of HIS Book. We can't
separate the messenger (pbuh) from the Quran even though we'll find people who believe
in the Qur'an but they have a hard time believing in the Sunnah of the prophet,
subhanallah! ALLAH (swt) commanded something to keep adjoined but they separate
them.

Another interesting example would be regarding the mushrikoon (polytheists). Well, we
know that ALLAH (swt) combined this idea that ALLAH (swt) is the "Creator" with the idea
that ALLAH (swt) is also the "Master". Now when ALLAH is the master, what does that make
us? HIS "Slaves" and when ALLAH is the creator, what does that make you & me? HIS
"Creation".
The mushriks of Makkah had no problem accepting ALLAH (swt) as the Creator, because
they know that they are part of the creation and they have a creator. But they separated
this idea from ALLAH (swt) being the Master, the Lord and the sole authority of this universe
and therefore themselves being the slaves. Because if we believe that there is a supreme
Creator; that doesn't necessarily mean that we owe anybody as authority over us. But if we
accept a MASTER; then we have to accept that "we"' are SLAVES. And if we're slaves; then
somebody has authority over us. The party is over! And the mushrikoon of Makkah did not
want the party to be over.
Which is why, in this Surah Al-Rad (no. 13) and also in Suratul Ankaboot (no. 29), ALLAH
(swt) presents an interesting picture of the mushrikuun.
Allah (swt) mentions in Suratul Ankaboot (no. 29)
_l .l!. _. _l> ,...l _ >. _.:l . 1l _l1 ,l <
_.! >`, _
If You (O Muhammad) were to ask them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth and
subjected the sun and the moon?" they will surely reply: "Allh." How then are they
deviating (as polytheists and disbelievers)? [29:61]

People who disbelieve in ALLAH (swt) and do shirk; these people testifying that Allah (swt)
has created the skies and the earth. They don't deny that Allah (swt) is the Creator.

But in this Surah Al-Rad (no. 13), Allah (swt) mentions
_ _. , ,. ..l _ _ < ... _
Say (O Muhammad): "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" say: "(It is) Allh." ..."
[Quran, 13:16]
So we can see that when asked, "Who is the Owner, who has the authority over the Skies &
the Earth?" NO answer. So Allah (swt) is telling the prophet to tell them that its "ALLAH".
This time we don't hear (that) they say ALLAH. They don't say it. So the messenger (pbuh)
was told, "When they're silent. You tell them it's ALLAH." Because they're not willing to
accept that part; separating some aspects of their relationship with ALLAH with others.

Similarly, we too act like this when it comes to follow Islam. In our religion we have certain
obligations and most of us know very well the bare minimum obligations such as what we
owe to this Deen? What are the major things that are haram? And what are the major
things we are supposed to do? Pretty much everybody knows about them.

But what we do is that we make a deal with ALLAH (swt) in our head. Such as we say to
ALLAH, I'll give you Ramadan but I have to party on "New Year's Eve. I got some business
things I gotta do which are a "little" questionable but I'll go to Hajj.
This is how we decide to cut apart and shred some instructions from ALLAH (swt) and hold
on to the other instructions. Allah (swt) knows this kind of thinking very well and that is why
he mentioned
`... _-,, ..>l _`>. _-,, !. ',> _. `_-, l:
.. | _> _ :,>l !,..l , ..,1l :`, _|| .: ,.-l !.
< _.-, !.s l .-. __
Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the
Recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of This world, and on
the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the Most grievous torment. And Allh is
not unaware of what you do. [Quran, 2:85]

This is what ALLAH (swt) is warning about. So we have seen that the people of
understanding are those who fulfil the covenant with Allah and do not break the mithaq by
keeping things connected what Allah (swt) has commanded to keep connected.
Now, Allah (swt) adds further qualities of these people by saying

Meaning: And they continue to fear their Master (refer to 13: 21)
These people, who continue to fear ALLAH (swt) are worried; no matter how much they
have worshipped. They even fearful about the many mistakes they have committed even in
the good things they have done. Even in the good things we do, are full of mistakes.
So they're afraid whether their good deeds are even acceptable to Allah (swt) or not?

And on top of that Allah (swt) carries it on further..

Meaning: they're afraid of the worst type of audit/hisaab (refer to 13: 21)
It's important to understand that on the day of judgement, every single action will be asked
for, even if it has a size of an atom.

There will be two different ways that Allah will hold people accountable for their deeds.

1. In the first way, Allah will quickly and easily skim through the people's deeds, and
will allow them to enter paradise safely. Those who believe strongly with sincerity;
will enter paradise in this manner.
2. In the second way, Allah will discuss the people's deeds in depth and in detail, and
will hold them accountable for each evil act they committed. Then Allah will send
them away to the Hell Fire. These are the disbelievers, hypocrites, those who are
weak in their faith, or those who are not sincere will enter the Hell Fire in this
manner.

Anyone who is questioned in depth and in detail will surely be destroyed:
Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that Ai'sha (R.A.) said that the prophet Muhammad
(S.A.W.) said: "Destroyed is the one who has his account settled on the Day of Resurrection
, Ai'sha said: "O messenger of Allah, didn't Allah say "Then he who is given his records in his
right hand soon will his account be taken by easy reckoning" ( Surat Al-Inshiqaq, Verses 7
and 8) The prophet (S.A.W.) replied: "This is the skimming through the deeds; and
destroyed is the one who has his account settled on the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: For the believers, the (length
of) the Day of Resurrection will be like the time between Zuhr and Asr. (Reported by al-
Haakim in al-Mustadrak and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami, 8193)

An example for an "easy" audit/reckoning can be drawn from our school life memories and
this is true even for today. We would see teachers going easy on the good student while
checking everybodys home-works. Even the good student remains fearful while presenting
his assignments to the teacher. The teacher put a check mark on it and most of the time the
teacher don't even look at the page. They just need to see scribble on there and the student
moves on, right? Now, in case of the bad insincere student, who never does his
assignments, if he were to present his work to his teacher the teacher will go very hard on
this one and go through the details of his work even though the good student got a lenient
checking from the teacher moments ago. The bad student was hoping that he too will get an
easy checking and will allowed to pass on but guess what he got caught even if he is asked
for once.
Similarly, on the Day of Judgment if a person is asked just ONE question, that's all he needs
to be destroyed.
This is the WORST kind of audit, the WORST kind of questioning.

So after mentioning the ones who keep connected what ALLAH commanded to keep
connected, continue to fear their Master and afraid of the worst type of audit/hisaab; Allah
(swt) carries on to the next verse and that is
_ . ,!-., > , `.! :l.l 1. !.. .. .
,.s _',., ..>'!, .,.l ,. l` > _,1`s __
and those who remain patient, seeking their Lord's Countenance/face, perform As-Salt
(Iqmat-as-Salt), and spend out of that which we have bestowed on them, secretly and
openly, and defend evil with good, for such there is a good end. [Quran, 13:22]
_ . ,!-., > ..., __

Meaning: And those who remain patient in pursuit of the face of their Master
Before dwelling into the issue of being patient, let us consider the following hadeeth. It is
reported by Muslim in his Saheeh (266) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, Allaah will say, Do you want
anything more? They will say, Have You not brightened our faces, admitted us to Paradise
and saved us from Hell? Then the veil will be lifted and they will not have seen anything
more dear to them than looking upon their Lord, may He be glorified and exalted. This is
what is meant by even more. Then he recited the verse (interpretation of the
meaning): For those who have done good is the best reward and even more (i.e. having the
honour of glancing at the Countenance of Allaah) [Yoonus 10:26]

So we can see that the best rewarding experience for the believer would be to see our
Lords face inshallah. It is understandable that when we love/follow someone very dearly
(whether in having an affair, following our political leaders) and that person is very far away
then we would be eager to meet him and we would be very much excited when we come
face to face with that person. A believer sacrifices his entire life, all of his resources, all of his
sacrifices only for the cause of Islam, for the love of Allah (swt); so rightly so the believer will
be over the moon when given the chance to see his Lords face.

Now, returning to being patient. Having patience is undoubtedly one of the important
virtues of a believer to get into Jannah. Allah (swt) has strongly emphasized of being patient
while going along with life. We have been told that one of the minimum qualities for a
person to enter Jannah is patience according to the following verses.
`. -l | _.. _.l .> _ | _ `.., l.s .>l..l
. . _>l!, .. .l!, _
By the time. Verily! man is in loss, except those who believe (in Islmic Monotheism) and do
righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the Truth, and recommend one
another to patience. [Quran, 103: 1-3]

So we can see that we have to be patient; the test of patience can come from our family
members, our job, our business, our careers, monthly bills etc. whatever it may be; our
patience is being tested whether through little issues or big ones.
While going through these difficult times we think about things which keep us motivated as
like seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. We tell ourselves that this is going to be over
very soon. And if we see no end in sight then we become completely hopeless and
frustrated. According to the verse mentioned above, ALLAH (swt) says that the light at the
end of the tunnel for the real people of patience would be that they will be able to see
ALLAH (swt). They're in pursuit of ALLAH's face and that's what gives them patience and
drives their power to be patient. And if we are losing our patience then maybe we haven't
found the right motivation to be patient yet.
Allah (swt) after mentioning the quality of being patient then he adds
,.s . .. !.. 1 . :l.l`.!
Meaning: and they establish the prayer; spend from what they have been given secretly &
openly.
And then HE says such an awesome statement which is so easy to say, so easy to remember
but so hard to live by. Its very hard to live by it indeed.
Allah (swt) says,
.,.l ..>'!, _',.,
Meaning: they repel every bad thing that happens to them with something good.

These people that ALLAH (swt) is praising in this passage, their quality is that when
something bad happens their immediate reaction is that they do something good. If they
heard some really nasty language, they say kind words in response. They did something
really bad; they do a good deed in response to the bad one. For most of us, this type of
behaviour is quite the opposite to our instincts. For example, if somebody said something
bad to us, what is our almost always immediate reaction? Well, "you said two things to me,
let me tell you my arsenal, I am far more equipped than you are."
Most people when they commit a sin think that since I have already messed up so much
why not carrying it on as far as I can take, as in spiralling downwards into more serious sins.

But this is not the quality of these people mentioned in the verse; these are the people who
are going because of the unique quality of theirs to the final home, i.e. Jannah. It's really
interesting because Allah (swt) says
_,1`s > ,.l`
Meaning: for such there is a good end.
This passage indicates that the house of jannah would be the ultimate final abode; you
cannot get better than that. The word _,1`s is used actually for the nth degree of
something, the climax of something. It is like when a person moves into a grand house
thinking that to be his ultimate home telling himself that, this house is perfect for me and I
am not leaving this one. Even that person starts thinking about moving to another house
couple of years later.

ALLAH (swt) is telling us here when the house of Jannah is offered, it will be the "final"
house. We will never ever think that there is a better place out there. Every time we think of
a modification of our home, it will happen instantly. Whether we want a bigger yard, more
rooms, different colours-furnitures, extra floors; it will be done instantly with no
restrictions.
The people of jannah will also be complimented with a special reunion which Allah (swt)
mentions in the next verse and then I will be done. ALLAH (swt) says
..> .s !.l>., _. _l. _. !,, > ..`,: >.l.l l>., ,ls
_. _ ,!, __
'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which they shall enter and (also) those who
acted righteously from among their fathers, and their wives, and their offspring. and angels
shall enter unto them from Every gate (saying): [Quran, 13:23]

Allah (swt) is saying that these are the gardens of 'Adan, one of the higher levels of Jannah.
Let us consider that a person is entering these "amazing" gardens and they look around but
cannot find their some family members. Now there are only two possibilities to that, one
would be that they are somewhere else in Jannah may be higher or lower level of Jannah.
And we know that the levels of Jannah are very far from each other like looking at the stars
above not like just going up the elevator. And there is no guarantee that all of our family will
earn the level of Jannah so the other horrible possibility would be that a family member is in
the worst possible place they can be.

To understand the beauty of this ayah, let us imagine for a moment that ALLAH (swt) enters
us by His mercy to Jannah. Some of the members of our family getting to the higher levels of
Jannah and some in the lower levels of Jannah.

Now listen to this, because of the family members on the higher level, Allah (swt) will
upgrade the other family members to the higher levels.

Now here's the thing, lets have an example from Dunya:
In Dunya, when we go in to a hotel with a lot of family members and make bookings for
ourselves; imagine that one of us get the executive suite and the others get rooms on the
cheap economy class floors. So the person from the executive class goes to the concierge
and say, "I would like to be with my family." What are they going to do? Put all of them in
executive suite? Or put that person down in the economy class? Undoubtedly, they'll put
that person from the executive suite down in the economy class. And what does ALLAH
(swt) do here? You're on the executive class Jannah, the premium package and your family
in the economy package Jannah. What does ALLAH (swt) do? He upgrades them such an
amazing reunion.
Well the story does not end here, lets elaborate the reunion moments. Allah (swt) talks
about our righteous ancestors and offsprings in that verse who will also be present in the
reunion. Think about that if someone up in our ancestry was not a muslim himself and nor
his parents were and he became muslim and because of his decision his children, their
children and theirs became muslim right up to us and it would be immensely exciting to
meet that person whose decision prompt his offsprings to live according to la ilaha illallah.
Even we can meet our great great great grand kids as well. Just imagine, if we have
someone who was a great scholar of Islam up in our ancestry or down in our lineage then
we will be able to meet that person too. However, this reunion will not like the ones which
we have here in dunya; where people express their ill feelings towards other people,
backbiting, etc. rather it will be about love, affection and appreciation since the things which
used to cause friction among people in dunya will be absent in Jannah. This amazing reunion
is in itself is a great blessing from Allah (swt).

Its not done yet, ALLAH (swt) at the end of the verse; mentions about the angels, a certain
group of angels.

Meaning: [And angels shall enter unto them from every gate [13:22]
These are Angels that guard us, who have been assigned by ALLAH (swt) to ward-off harms
except for those who don't fulfil their obligations towards ALLAH (swt).
[For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard
him by the Command of Allh. (13:11)]
It's like having invisible security guards around us. They are protecting us by the command
of Allah (swt) and when we are not obeying Allah (swt); HE commands the angels to move
over and let the harm affect the disobeying slaves, because they don't deserve the angels
protection anymore. So we will be able to meet these Angels and they're coming to meet us
from all doors. You got a lot of people and angels coming from every direction in this huge
party of Jannah.
Allah (swt) mentions in the next verse,
'.l. >,l. !., , . -. _,1`s __
"Salmun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent
indeed is the final home!" [Quran, 13:24]
So, it will be said unto them may peace be onto you because of how patient you were.
How patient you were... when? Answer is now in this dunya. This is the advice of ALLAH
(swt) to us that we have to go through the life of this dunya by following Allahs (swt)
command and if we experience hardship/difficulties because of following Islam then we
have to be patient.
We have discussed about the people who will benefit from the message of Islam, they are
the ones who fulfil their covenant with Allah (swt) by keeping things connected what Allah
(swt) has commanded to keep connected, who continue to fear Allah (swt) even if they are
doing good deeds, who fear about the worst kind of hisaab/reckoning. They remain patient
through lifes hardship, establish salah, spend in charity (secretly and openly) and repel bad
things by doing something good; these are the people who will be given the ultimate final
abode; i.e. Al Jannah.
And so I conclude with the next verse where Allah (swt) warns us about the consequences
of not fulfilling our covenant with Allah
_ .1. , .s < _. .-, .1. :,. _`- L1 , !. . < .,
_.`, ..`, _ _ ,.l` `l .-ll > ',. __
And those who break the Covenant of Allh, after its ratification, and sever that which Allh
has commanded to be joined, and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse; and for
them is the ultimate worst home. [13:25]]
The thing which ALLAH (swt) is offering us is beautiful, these are the kinds of advice &
reminder that ALLAH (swt) offers us time and time again in the Qur'an, so beautiful but who
is going to make the effort to go into the Qur'an and listen and take in the advice, the
counsel, the reminder, the beautiful words of ALLAH (swt).

May ALLAH (swt) make us of those; who become a people of listening to the Qur'an and
enjoying its message and internalizing it. May ALLAH (swt) make us the people of patience.
May ALLAH (swt) make us the people of Jannah, who enjoy the Jannah. What an "awesome"
final home to be in. ALLAH (swt) himself calling it awesome, how awesome must it be?
May ALLAH make us all residents, permanent residents of that home. Ameen.