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Month of September # 9

Foundations/ New Beginnings

The Holy Bible

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

 

Meaning and Context

Presence: God tells the listener not to be afraid because He is physically and spiritually present with them.

 

Reassurance: The phrase "do not be dismayed" addresses anxiety, confusion, or discouragement in hard times.

 

Support: God promises active help—giving strength and holding the person up with His power and righteousness

 

Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

 

Matthew 12:20 states: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory"

 

The Metaphors: A "bruised reed" is a broken, fragile stalk of grass that is easily crushed, and a "smoldering wick" is a candle or lamp with a faint, dying flame that is easily snuffed out.

 

Gentleness of God: These symbols represent weak, hurting, discouraged, or sinful people. Instead of crushing the vulnerable, God treats them with profound mercy, patience, and gentle care.

 

Ultimate Justice: The verse is a quote from Isaiah 42 showing that God works quietly and tenderly, yet He persists with unwavering resolve until God's righteousness and justice completely triumph.

 

Philippians 4:19 states, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

 

Meaning: Paul assures the believers that because they generously shared in his troubles, God will take care of their own needs out of His endless spiritual and physical abundance.

 

The Quran

(New Beginnings and Allah’s Barakah (Divine Blessings)

 

1. Unexpected Provision and Pathways (Making a Way)

Isaiah's promise of a "way in the wilderness" is structurally and spiritually echoed in Quranic verses about God opening unexpected paths out of desperate situations:

 

· Surah At-Talaq (65:2-3): "And whoever fears Allah—He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect."

 

Surah Al-Inshirah (94:5-6): "For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease." This verse guarantees a transitional pathway out of suffering, much like a road opening through a wasteland.

 

2. Physical Transformation and Rain as Renewal (Streams in the Desert)

Isaiah uses the imagery of "rivers in the desert" to symbolize physical and spiritual revival. The Quran frequently uses identical imagery, pointing to rainfall on dead, arid land as a sign of God's power to renew life:

 

· Surah Al-Furqan (25:48-49): "...and We send down pure water from the sky, that We may bring to life thereby a dead land and give it as drink to many of those We created..."

 

· Surah Qaf (50:9-11): "And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky, making thereby gardens and grain for harvest... giving life to a dead land. Thus is the resurrection."

 

3. Spiritual New Beginnings (Doing a New Thing)

Isaiah's call to forget former failures because God is "doing a new thing" matches the Islamic theology of sincere repentance (Tawbah), which completely wipes away the past for a fresh start.

 

· Surah Az-Zumar (39:53): "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.'"

 

Surah An-Nahl (16:97): "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer—We will surely cause him to live a good life..." Scholars view this verse as a promise of spiritual transformation and a completely fresh start.

 

Life example set by Jesus the Messiah:

John 8:7 “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”

Background and Context

· The Scene: Religious leaders bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus.

 

· The Trap: They ask if she should be stoned according to the law of Moses. They want to trap Jesus. If he says no, he breaks the law. If he says yes, he loses his message of mercy.

 

· The Response: Jesus writes in the dirt and then tells the crowd that the person without sin should throw the first stone.

 

The Result: The accusers leave one by one. Jesus tells the woman he does not condemn her and tells her to sin no more.

 

Meaning

· Hypocrisy: Jesus exposes the hidden sins and unfair judgment of the accusers.

Forgiveness: The story shows that humans make mistakes and need mercy rather than harsh judgment.

 

Life Example set by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)

The saying "Paradise is beneath the feet of your mother" comes from an authentic narration recorded in Sunan an-Nasa'i and other Hadith collections like Musnad Ahmad.

 

The Story Behind the Hadith

· A companion named Jahimah came to the Prophet Muhammad and said he wanted to join a military expedition (Jihad) and asked for advice.

 

· The Prophet asked him if he had a living mother.

When Jahimah said yes, the Prophet told him: "Stay with her, for Paradise is beneath her feet."

Meaning and Significance

 

· Humility and Service: The phrase is metaphorical. It means that serving, respecting, and caring for your mother with total humility is a clear path to gaining Paradise.

 

· High Status: It highlights the supreme rank, immense sacrifice, and great honour given to mothers in Islam.

 

· Practical Priority: Looking after a dependent mother can take precedence over optional or voluntary military/outward commitments when her care is needed.

Month of September

Foundations  / New Beginnings

#9

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