{"id":68983,"date":"2017-08-25T18:14:26","date_gmt":"2017-08-25T22:14:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/?p=68983"},"modified":"2017-08-25T18:14:26","modified_gmt":"2017-08-25T22:14:26","slug":"surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/","title":{"rendered":"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The title of this article comes from a <em>\u1e25<\/em><em>adi<\/em><em>th<\/em>.It is a Prophetic narration which amazed me the first time I came across it, and continues to do so every time I reread it. It is in some ways at the essence of an issue I am deeply passionate about; Quranic contemplation. It epitomises for us the way we should be relating to the Qur\u2019an and the nature of our connection to the Speech of Allah <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"sub\u1e25\u0101nahu wa ta'\u0101la (glorified and exalted be He)\" alt=\"sub\u1e25\u0101nahu wa ta'\u0101la (glorified and exalted be He)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/swt.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/swt.svg\">.<\/p>\n<p>It also raises a number of difficult questions we need to ask ourselves. What effect does the Qur\u2019an actually have upon us? Do we really spend enough time with the Qur\u2019an? How do we gain that greater relationship with the Book of Allah <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"sub\u1e25\u0101nahu wa ta'\u0101la (glorified and exalted be He)\" alt=\"sub\u1e25\u0101nahu wa ta'\u0101la (glorified and exalted be He)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/swt.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/swt.svg\">? We read the Quran, study it when we can and memorise portions of it, but how does it impact us? These are questions I often ask myself.<\/p>\n<p>When I analyse my relationship (and what others tell me they too experience) with the Quran and compare it to the connection our Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> had with the Quran, I see a wide and deep gulf. There are few narrations which show how deeply the Quran transformed the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> than the one upon which this article is based. It was not just a change or improvement in character and spirituality, but also a physical transformation.<\/p>\n<p>In this <em>\u1e25<\/em><em>ad<\/em><em>\u012b<\/em><em>th<\/em>, narrated by Abu Ju\u1e25ayfah, Ibn \u2018Abb\u0101s and others,<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> Abu Bakr <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu 'anhu (may All\u0101h be pleased with him)\" alt=\"ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu 'anhu (may All\u0101h be pleased with him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/ranhu.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/ranhu.svg\"> came to the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> one day, and remarked how he looked older. Specifically, the Arabic wording refers to \u2018<em>shayb<\/em>\u2019 which is when one\u2019s hair turns grey and white. This itself is an interesting insight into how closely the Companions paid attention to the minutest detail of the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\">. Not only did they notice his actions and memorise his sayings, but they also paid attention to the subtlest of changes. What makes this particular observation more remarkable, is that the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> didn\u2019t have more than twenty white hairs in his beard and head by the time of his death.<a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a> Yet still those extra couple of white hairs did not go unnoticed.<\/p>\n<p>The other interesting point here is how this remark from Abu Bakr <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu 'anhu (may All\u0101h be pleased with him)\" alt=\"ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu 'anhu (may All\u0101h be pleased with him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/ranhu.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/ranhu.svg\"> is somewhat commonplace. We often say similar things to members of our family and friends, especially when we haven\u2019t seen someone for a length of time. We banter that a friend looks older, their hair has thinned, they\u2019ve put weight on or lost it. Usually in response, that friend will give us a reason as to why they look older or different. Perhaps, they\u2019re stressed at work, they have health issues or maybe their spouse and\/or kids have put a strain on them.<\/p>\n<p>However, this was not the response of the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\">. Let\u2019s be honest, he had plenty of stressful issues going on. He was a husband, father, friend, imam, leader and military general, all rolled into one. He would have to prepare the Friday sermon, lead the prayers, deal with people\u2019s issues and disputes. He would then return home and support his family, play with his grandchildren and joke with his daughters. He would visit the elderly and ill, spend time with his friends and feed the poor. He would then deal with the threat of Quraysh and others, train his army and deal with the political issues of his time, and much more besides.<\/p>\n<p>Yet none of the above were used as reasons for his growing old. Instead, the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> replied to Abu Bakr <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu 'anhu (may All\u0101h be pleased with him)\" alt=\"ra\u1e0dyAll\u0101hu 'anhu (may All\u0101h be pleased with him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/ranhu.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/ranhu.svg\">, \u201cIt is <em>S<\/em><em>\u016b<\/em><em>rah H<\/em><em>\u016b<\/em><em>d<\/em> and her sisters [i.e. similar chapters] which have me grow old.\u201d In another narration, the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> named all the chapters and said, \u201cIt is <em>S<\/em><em>\u016b<\/em><em>rahs H<\/em><em>\u016b<\/em><em>d<\/em>,<a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a> <em>W<\/em><em>\u0101<\/em><em>qi\u2019ah<\/em>,<a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a> <em>Mursal<\/em><em>\u0101<\/em><em>t<\/em>,<a href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\">[5]<\/a> <em>Naba\u2019<a href=\"#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\"><strong>[6]<\/strong><\/a><\/em> and <em>Takw<\/em><em>\u012b<\/em><em>r<a href=\"#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\"><strong>[7]<\/strong><\/a><\/em> which have made me grow old.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I am tempted to end this article here. To leave everyone with this narration, simply to ponder over it and all that it entails. However, I do want to add a few points. Firstly, it shows the level of connection the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> had with the Qur\u2019an. When he read chapters like those mentioned above, which focus on issues of punishment of past nations, the Day of Judgement and Hellfire, he would internalise the verses and imagine himself there.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, our relationship with the Qur\u2019an cannot just be surface. It can\u2019t be limited to a single inspiring lecture or some amazing recitation. It requires us to imbed the message of the Qur\u2019an within our hearts and imprint its lessons within our bodies. This in turn, requires hard work, dedication and perseverance.<\/p>\n<p>Thirdly, with each passing generation we seem to become slightly more distanced from the Qur\u2019an. The essential need for our children and youngsters to have a solid connection with the Qur\u2019an in all its different forms is so important and vital for the future of our communities. It is our collective responsibility to attempt this.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, unless our mindset changes, we are at risk of having the Qur\u2019an as a Book we respect, honour and love, but that we do not understand. Its lessons, words and verses will remain a mystery to us, its pearls and gems rarely unearthed and its benefits seldom attained. I want to conclude this article with another <em>\u1e25<\/em><em>ad<\/em><em>\u012b<\/em><em>th<\/em> to show how the Prophet\u2019s <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> connection with <em>S<\/em><em>\u016b<\/em><em>rah H<\/em><em>\u016b<\/em><em>d<\/em> was not a one-off but a developed relationship.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018\u0100\u2019ishah narrated that the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\"> would become perturbed when he would see clouds and strong winds. She remarked how the people would see these as signs of coming rain and would rejoice, but he would look upset. He said, \u201cO \u2018\u0100\u2019ishah, How can I be sure it is not punishment? Nations were punished with fierce winds and others saw punishment but thought they were rain clouds.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn8\" name=\"_ftnref8\">[8]<\/a> The nation he refers to as seeing rain clouds were the nation of H\u016bd <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"'alayhi'l-sal\u0101m (peace be upon him)\" alt=\"'alayhi'l-sal\u0101m (peace be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/alayhis.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/alayhis.svg\">. Thus, the story of H\u016bd is internalised to the level it changes the behaviour of the Prophet <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" alt=\"\u1e63allall\u0101hu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of All\u0101h be upon him)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/saw.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/saw.svg\">.<\/p>\n<p>Allah <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"sub\u1e25\u0101nahu wa ta'\u0101la (glorified and exalted be He)\" alt=\"sub\u1e25\u0101nahu wa ta'\u0101la (glorified and exalted be He)\" class=\"islamic_graphic\" src=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/png\/swt.png\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/islamic-graphics\/img\/black\/svg\/swt.svg\"> says, \u201cAnd when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, \u2018This is a cloud bringing us rain!\u2019 Rather, it is that for which you were impatient; a wind, within it a painful punishment. Destroying everything by command of its Lord. And they became so that nothing was seen except their dwellings.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn9\" name=\"_ftnref9\">[9]<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> Collected by al-Tirmidh\u012b and others.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> For example, see the narration of Anas in al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> Chapter 11.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\">[4]<\/a> Chapter 56.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\">[5]<\/a> Chapter 77.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\">[6]<\/a> Chapter 78.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref7\" name=\"_ftn7\">[7]<\/a> Chapter 81.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref8\" name=\"_ftn8\">[8]<\/a> Al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref9\" name=\"_ftn9\">[9]<\/a> 46:24-25.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The title of this article comes from a \u1e25adith.It is a Prophetic narration which amazed me the first time I came across it, and continues to do so every time I reread it. It is in some ways at the essence of an issue I am deeply passionate about; Quranic contemplation. It epitomises for us [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":69067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_10162779835525413_128059875822":"","twitter_22332114_22332114":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_payment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_user_ghostwriter":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6041,14,17,95,3157,4103],"tags":[1773,6956,6235,136,554,129,7214,5458,154,123,139,7034,6240,4135,8431,273,7236],"coauthors":[6745],"class_list":["post-68983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-islam","category-aqeedah-and-fiqh","category-inspiration-and-spirituality","category-quran-and-sunnah","category-riyad-as-saliheen","category-uncategorized","tag-aishah","tag-aging","tag-al-tirmidhi","tag-dawah","tag-hadith","tag-inspiration","tag-islam-3","tag-islamic-studies","tag-muslim","tag-muslims","tag-quran","tag-sahih-bukhari","tag-shaykh-ahsan-hanif","tag-surah-hud","tag-surah-waqiah","tag-tafsir","tag-worship"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old - MuslimMatters.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old - MuslimMatters.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The title of this article comes from a \u1e25adith.It is a Prophetic narration which amazed me the first time I came across it, and continues to do so every time I reread it. It is in some ways at the essence of an issue I am deeply passionate about; Quranic contemplation. It epitomises for us [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MuslimMatters.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/muslimmatters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"www.facebook.com\/shahsanhanif\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-08-25T22:14:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"669\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@muslimmatters\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@muslimmatters\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/person\/855a23460c660215175046fb3eb34d91\"},\"headline\":\"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-08-25T22:14:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/\"},\"wordCount\":1112,\"commentCount\":6,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"A'ishah\",\"Aging\",\"Al-Tirmidhi\",\"Dawah\",\"hadith\",\"Inspiration\",\"Islam\",\"islamic studies\",\"Muslim\",\"muslims\",\"Quran\",\"Sahih Bukhari\",\"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif\",\"Surah Hud\",\"Surah Waqiah\",\"tafsir\",\"Worship\"],\"articleSection\":[\"#Islam\",\"Aqeedah and Fiqh\",\"Inspiration and Spirituality\",\"Quran and Sunnah\",\"Riyad as-Saliheen\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/\",\"name\":\"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old - MuslimMatters.org\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-08-25T22:14:26+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":669},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/\",\"name\":\"MuslimMatters\",\"description\":\"Discourses in the Intellectual Traditions, Political Situation, and Social Ethics of Muslim Life\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#organization\",\"name\":\"MuslimMatters\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/mmlogo2-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/mmlogo2-1.png\",\"width\":152,\"height\":65,\"caption\":\"MuslimMatters\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/muslimmatters\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/muslimmatters\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/muslimmatters\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/muslimmatters\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/person\/855a23460c660215175046fb3eb34d91\",\"name\":\"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/98c98b7d7615d7e05b85ae9c5da4e27d\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05f6a5eb9648d1a9c6f771fa1ea0efad4b63e931740faac907024b231a3de140?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05f6a5eb9648d1a9c6f771fa1ea0efad4b63e931740faac907024b231a3de140?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD\"},\"description\":\"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD, was born and raised in Birmingham, UK. He memorised the Qur\u2019an at a young age and at the age of 17 received a scholarship to study at the Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia. As well as attaining an ijazah in the Qur\u2019an and a diploma in Arabic, Shaykh Ahsan graduated from the Faculty of Shari\u2019ah Studies in 2006. Upon his return to the UK he attained his PhD from the University of Birmingham. He is currently an imam at Green Lane Masjid, Birmingham as well as the head of the Qur\u2019an &amp; Hadith Studies Department for AlMaghrib Institute. He has spoken at Islamic conferences in various countries, published translations of Arabic works and is a presenter of IslamQA for Islam Channel.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/author\/ahsan_hanif\",\"www.facebook.com\/shahsanhanif\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/author\/ahsan_hanif\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old - MuslimMatters.org","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old - MuslimMatters.org","og_description":"The title of this article comes from a \u1e25adith.It is a Prophetic narration which amazed me the first time I came across it, and continues to do so every time I reread it. It is in some ways at the essence of an issue I am deeply passionate about; Quranic contemplation. It epitomises for us [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/","og_site_name":"MuslimMatters.org","article_publisher":"http:\/\/facebook.com\/muslimmatters","article_author":"www.facebook.com\/shahsanhanif","article_published_time":"2017-08-25T22:14:26+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":669,"url":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@muslimmatters","twitter_site":"@muslimmatters","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/"},"author":{"name":"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/person\/855a23460c660215175046fb3eb34d91"},"headline":"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old","datePublished":"2017-08-25T22:14:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/"},"wordCount":1112,"commentCount":6,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg","keywords":["A'ishah","Aging","Al-Tirmidhi","Dawah","hadith","Inspiration","Islam","islamic studies","Muslim","muslims","Quran","Sahih Bukhari","Shaykh Ahsan Hanif","Surah Hud","Surah Waqiah","tafsir","Worship"],"articleSection":["#Islam","Aqeedah and Fiqh","Inspiration and Spirituality","Quran and Sunnah","Riyad as-Saliheen"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/","url":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/","name":"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old - MuslimMatters.org","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg","datePublished":"2017-08-25T22:14:26+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_57450115.jpg","width":1000,"height":669},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/2017\/08\/25\/surah-hud-has-made-me-grow-old\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Surah Hud Has Made Me Grow Old"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/","name":"MuslimMatters","description":"Discourses in the Intellectual Traditions, Political Situation, and Social Ethics of Muslim Life","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#organization","name":"MuslimMatters","url":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/mmlogo2-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/mmlogo2-1.png","width":152,"height":65,"caption":"MuslimMatters"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/facebook.com\/muslimmatters","https:\/\/x.com\/muslimmatters","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/muslimmatters\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/muslimmatters"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/person\/855a23460c660215175046fb3eb34d91","name":"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/98c98b7d7615d7e05b85ae9c5da4e27d","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05f6a5eb9648d1a9c6f771fa1ea0efad4b63e931740faac907024b231a3de140?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05f6a5eb9648d1a9c6f771fa1ea0efad4b63e931740faac907024b231a3de140?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD"},"description":"Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, PhD, was born and raised in Birmingham, UK. He memorised the Qur\u2019an at a young age and at the age of 17 received a scholarship to study at the Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia. As well as attaining an ijazah in the Qur\u2019an and a diploma in Arabic, Shaykh Ahsan graduated from the Faculty of Shari\u2019ah Studies in 2006. Upon his return to the UK he attained his PhD from the University of Birmingham. He is currently an imam at Green Lane Masjid, Birmingham as well as the head of the Qur\u2019an &amp; Hadith Studies Department for AlMaghrib Institute. He has spoken at Islamic conferences in various countries, published translations of Arabic works and is a presenter of IslamQA for Islam Channel.","sameAs":["http:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/author\/ahsan_hanif","www.facebook.com\/shahsanhanif"],"url":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/author\/ahsan_hanif\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68983\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68983"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/muslimmatters.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=68983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}