“So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to [accept] Islam and he is upon [i.e., guided by] a light from his Lord [like one whose heart rejects it]? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Those are in manifest error” (39:22) Sharḥ aṣ-Ṣadr — the expansion of the breast — is the divine opposite of constriction. It signifies openness, spiritual vitality, and the settling of peace and joy in the heart. Constriction, in contrast, is marked

Divine selection (istifa’) is one of Allah’s universal laws (sunan) that govern His creation. It encompasses every realm of existence. Allah (swt) selects messengers from among the angels and messengers from among humanity. He chooses specific times and places— just as He chose Ramadan from all months, and the Kaaba from all locations. This Divine selection always relates to a purpose for which the selection occurs, and generally, that purpose is to serve the message of servi

“So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And let not those who have no certainty of faith to shake your firmness” (30:60). Patience is the believer’s means and weapon on the long, thorny path that may at times seem endless. Its foundation lies in trust in the promise of Allah, and its fruit is steadfastness — unwavering, free from doubt or hesitation. One should not let those who lack certainty shake their resolve, stirring within them distress, anxiety, or pani