Ramadan, a gift for Muslims

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsU2-ZyTXU4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The Muslim ummah's "national holiday" & "constitution/law"!

Ramadan & the Quran

Memorising Qur'an

Best way to memorize the Quran AND never forget it! In shaa Allah.

And for motivation:

http://www.duacoach.com/

"Sit back and learn your Quran and Dua’s in a matter of days via email, using the latest learning techniques to help you achieve your desired goals, you can use some of them or all of them to increase your learning pace. We use established techniques that you can find in many memory books, and throw in a couple of new ones which are tailored to the rhythmic quality of the Quran, we mix in technology too, and instead of eating the whole of the cake, using our algorithm which breaks down your lesson to word level, we will email you up to 3 times a day, a smaller slice of the cake that you find tasty and that you can digest easily." 

أحكام التجويد

We're going back to studying tajweed, in shaa Allah walhamdu lillah.

Laylatul Qadr

The Virtues of Laylatul Qadr - Sheikh Sajid Ahmed Umar



In Depth Analysis & Tafseer of Surah 97 al-Qadr by Nouman Ali Khan (the video is from a different lecture!)

Hassan ibn Abdullah al-'Awad

Muhammed Taha al-Junaid

Abdur-Rahman, the 3 year old Haafidh

Abdur-Rahman, the youngest haafidh (who has memorised the Qur'an by heart) in the world. He was three years old, 1430 (2009).

Thirty Lessons For Those Who Fast

Thirty Lessons For Those Who Fast

From the book with the same name by Aa’id Abdullah al Qarni, on the above blog by a dear sister, may Allah reward them, ameen.

Ramadaan - the month of the Qur'an

Seven year old boy (he looks younger than seven to me?) leading taraweeh prayers (special Ramadaan night prayers, in which you recite a big portion of the Qur'an while standing - traditionally these prayers would go on the whole night).

Ramadaan Tafseer Series 2011

Ramadaan Tafseer Series 2011 of Surah Yaseen:



The whole series for this year can be found here, in shaa Allah.

Ramadan Mubarak

رمضان مبارك

Ramadan Mubarak!

For the first time in the history of Youtube

لأول مرة في تاريخ اليوتيوب
مصاحف مرتلة في فيديو واحد
For the first time in the history of Youtube
The recitation of the Qur'an on one video!

المصحف المرتل للشيخ سعد الغامدي في مقطع واحد
ومدته ٢٤ ساعة و٤٧ دقيقة على هذا الرابط
Sheikh Saad Alghamdi, 24 h 47 min



ومصحف آخر للشيخ ماهر المعيقلي
ومدته ٢٢ ساعة و٣٦ دقيقة على هذا الرابط
Sheikh Maher Al-Maeeqliy, 22 h 36 min



ومصحف ثالث للقارئ الشيخ محمد صديق المنشاوي
ومدته ٢٨ ساعة و٤٦ دقيقة على هذا الرابط
Sheikh Muhammed Siddeeq Al-Minshaawiy, 28 h 46 min

The Ramadan Tafseer Series

A bit late, but better late than sorry. I just found this on bayyinah.com:

The Ramadan Tafseer Series

Start from the bottom (or second last) of the page, linked to above, then work your way upwards. There are two more pages, so click "Newer posts" when you're done with the first set of videos.

Ramadan Truffles

Here's a short series of tafseer and daily reminders:

Ramadan Taraweeh Truffles - Muhammad AlShareef



Each day in Ramadan 2010, Muhammad Alshareef shares with you a sweet reflection on one of the verses recited that night. Tune in daily for these "sweet" reflections.

http://www.heartwheeljournal.com/

Noble Qur'an-Juz by Juz

Just found this video series:



Noble Qur'an-Juz by Juz

The Qur'an: the literal Word of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). All 30 Juz are in this playlist. These videos come with Arabic and English translation along with a melodious recitation by Sheikh Ahmed ibn Ali Al-Ajmi.

PS Have a look around this sister's other videos (1503 videos!), many of them are on the subject of Ramadan, mashaa Allah.

Children and fasting

Alhamdu lillah, the children's progress with fasting so far has been over expectations, mashaa Allah. All three boys are fasting full-time, alhamdu lillah. They've benefited from years of "training", mashaa Allah, and the long summer days don't seem to have affected them (nor us adults, subhaanAllah walhamdu lillah).

But someone I'm really proud of, mashaa Allah, is R. She will be seven at the end of this year, and as far as I can remember has never fasted a full day, before this Ramadan. She hasn't missed a single day! On Sunday she woke up for suhoor and kept fasting through-out the day, mashaa Allah, the other days she's had breakfast with her sisters and then fasted.

S has fasted a few half days, and T has fasted some thirds of days (?). T has always had a good grasp of what it means to be fasting, mashaa Allah (could it be because she was born in Ramadan?!). I manage to keep her mind off food before iftar, when she craves something, by asking her "Aren't you a big girl?" "Oh yes, I'm a big girl" she goes, and sticks out her tongue: "Look, I'm fasting!"

Here are some advice about children and fasting (courtesy of sisters on a muslim home ed list), in shaa Allah:

What is the ruling of the fast of a young (child) who has not yet attained puberty?

Response: The fasting of a young (child), as has preceded us, is not obligatory upon him. However, it is upon one who is in charge of his affairs to command him to (fast) and thereby prepare him (for it). And the fast of such a young (child) is (regarded) as a sunnah, in that there is a reward for him fasting, however, there is no sin upon him should he stop.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Page 237, Fatwa No.182;
Fataawa ash-Shaykh Muhammad as-Saalih al-'Uthaymeen - Volume 1, Pages 493

http://www.fatwa-online.com/fataawa/worship/fasting/fas006/9991223_1.htm

Rubbayi' bint Mu'awwaz (Radhiyallaho anha) says:
"Once the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) enjoined on us to fast on the 10th of Muharram. Since then we have always been fasting on that day. Even the children were made to fast with us. When they cried out in hunger, we diverted them with toys made of cotton flakes till the time of Iftaar."

In 'Umar's (Radhiyallaho anho) time, a person was arrested by the police for drinking in Ramadhan.When he was brought before Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho), he said to him: "Woe to you! Even our children are keeping fast in this month."

Third, fourth & fifth days of Ramadan

My favourite recitation, surat Aal 'Imraan (The Family of 'Imran) by Abu Haajar al-Iraqi.

The schedule is off track... maybe it was unrealistic, maybe I'm not strict enough... maybe I'm just being negative? Allahu a'lam, it's late as well and maybe I'm a bit too tired to think straight.

We had a power cut-off for almost an hour and a half on Friday, and alarms went off up and down the street, subhaan Allah. Our fire alarm started beeping just after Fajr on Saturday, we had to switch it off at the mains.

We've had guests for two days, so we've been pretty busy just cleaning, cooking and washing up (well, me anyway) afterwards.

We haven't read any more tafseer, nor seen more than one episode of the stories of the Prophets (as) since Thursday. I must say I'm pretty disappointed at how things have turned out, but I'm not the kind who gives up easily. I'm exhausted, and I don't know if my goals were just simply unrealistic and I have to tweak them, or if I should try harder?

Perhaps I should just drop the whole schedule, and leave them to do what they want as long as they don't waste their time, and then just sneak in the stuff that I wanted whenever we have a free moment?


This is the series on the sahaabah that the boys are reading, alhamdu lillah. If they get into the habit of reading now, then I'll say Ramadan was successful in this area.
A sister gave us a vegetable box from her allotment, mashaa Allah, which got me think about what to do in the area of sadaqah, gifts and generosity towards friends and neighbours (something I've thought of on and off, but I'm a bit stuck when it comes to what to give). Alhamdu lillah, this idea of giving is part of why I've been blogging so much more recently. My intention, in shaa Allah, is to give more. I just hope that what I give will be beneficial to visitors, in shaa Allah.

The mosque that the boys are praying Taraweeh at have a Ramadan competition on the Names of Allah, mashaa Allah.

It spurred A and B to action, alhamdu lillah, and they started on the first assignment today: What is the greatest of Allah's names, mentioned in surat Muhammed (asws), write down the verse, and write the conditions of "Laa ilaaha ill-Allah" with their proofs.

This evening I watched a lecture called "Why and How to Learn the Arabic Spoken in the Quran", that a sister hinted to through an e-mail (jazaahAllahu khayran). Mashaa Allah, I really liked that lecture, and I'll have a more detailed look into his study program, in shaa Allah.

I also watched this lecture:



and the one after it. Mashaa Allah, I found them beneficial.

It's time to have suhoor, so laters, in shaa Allah.

Tips for Ramadan

I received a text from a sister (jazaahAllahu khayran) with some tips for Ramadaan:

Seek Allah's pleasure and mercy
Read Qur'an
Listen to Qur'an
Keep yourself in a state of wudu
Evaluate yourself everyday
Seek forgiveness and repent / Make taubah
Increase your dhikr
Give sadaqah
Seek knowledge
Make time for others
Increase your sunnahs and nawaafil
Aquire patience and strong will
Strive fore ihsan and avoid showing off
Control your anger
Feed others
Make itikaaf
Don't eat too much at iftar and suhoor
Sleep early
Get up a little early for suhoor and pray tahajjud
Make dua for yourself and others
Don't waste time socialising too much
Pay zakatul fitr early
Set a goal of memorising some Quran and duaa
Watch your tongue

I tweaked them a bit, added the Arabic translation and wrote it on some big sheets of coloured paper, decorated with glitter glue and hung them up, alhamdu lillah:

I didn't nap today and neither did the kids. Which is a bit surprising because we didn't sleep particularly early yesterday either. The boys went to the café after taraweeh prayers, and it seems they've gone there today again... hmmm, not very smart. Me and the girls are staying at home during taraweeh prayers so far, it's a bit too late for us, and our car is really too small to hold us all, anyway. Alhamdu lillah, my time will come later in the month, in shaa Allah.

Today we read the tafseer bit that I decided on yesterday (in Arabic), watched another episode of the stories of the Prophets (as). Iftar preparation got a bit delayed today as we didn't have all ingredients. Hubby also decided to make fish tagine, so food preparation took longer than hoped for. A brought the sahaabah books downstairs (he knew all along where they were! I wonder where he had forgotten his hearing yesterday as we were talking and searching for them all day!) The boys read from them on their own whilst I read my bit of Qur'an.

Hubby made a big, yummy fruit salad for us whilst we were reading and took up his Mushaf when I warmed up the soup and popped the bureks under the grill (we don't deep-fry as we've had problems with fungi because of it!)

In the morning I'll read this bit of tafseer, in shaa Allah:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِى أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ 2:185 The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasting) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasting) must be made up) from other days. يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah (i.e., to say Takbir (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)) for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. Top

The Virtue of Ramadan and the Revelation of the Qur'an in it

Allah says;

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ ...

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an,

Allah praised the month of Ramadan out of the other months by choosing it to send down the Glorious Qur'an, just as He did for all of the Divine Books He revealed to the Prophets.

Imam Ahmad reported Wathilah bin Al-Asqa that Allah's Messenger said:

أُنْزِلَتْ صُحُفُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي أَوَّلِ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَأُنْزِلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ لِسِتَ مَضَيْنَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَالْإِنْجِيلُ لِثَلاثَ عَشَرةَ خَلَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ الْقُرْآنَ لأَرْبَعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ خَلَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَان

The Suhuf (Pages) of Ibrahim were revealed during the first night of Ramadan. The Torah was revealed during the sixth night of Ramadan. The Injil was revealed during the thirteenth night of Ramadan. Allah revealed the Qur'an on the twenty-fourth night of Ramadan.

The Virtues of the Qur'an

Allah said:

... هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ ...

...a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).

Here Allah praised the Qur'an, which He revealed as guidance for the hearts of those who believe in it and adhere to its commands.

Allah said: وَبَيِّنَاتٍ (and clear proofs) meaning, as clear and unambiguous signs and unequivocal proof for those who understand them.

These proofs testify to the truth of the Qur'an, its guidance, the opposite of misguidance, and how it guides to the straight path, the opposite of the wrong path, and the distinction between the truth and falsehood, and the permissible and the prohibited.

The Obligation of Fasting Ramadan

Allah said:

... فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ...

So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasting) that month.

This Ayah requires the healthy persons who witness the beginning of the month, while residing in their land, to fast the month.

This Ayah abrogated the Ayah that allows a choice of fasting or paying the Fidyah. When Allah ordered fasting, He again mentioned the permission for the ill person and the traveler to break the fast and to fast other days instead as compensation.

Allah said:

... وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ...

...and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasting) must be made up) from other days.

This Ayah indicates that ill persons who are unable to fast or fear harm by fasting, and the traveler, are all allowed to break the fast. When one does not fast in this case, he is obliged to fast other days instead.

Allah said:

... يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ...

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.

This Ayah indicates that Allah allowed such persons, out of His mercy and to make matters easy for them, to break the fast when they are ill or traveling, while the fast is still obligatory on the healthy persons who are not traveling.

Several Rulings concerning the Fast

The authentic Sunnah states that;

Allah's Messenger traveled during the month of Ramadan for the battle for Makkah. The Prophet marched until he reached the area of Kadid and then broke his fast and ordered those who were with him to do likewise.

This was recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Breaking the fast mentioned in this Hadith was not required, for the Companions used to go out with Allah's Messenger during the month of Ramadan, then, some of them would fast while some of them would not fast and neither category would criticize the others. If the command mentioned in the Hadith required breaking the fast, the Prophet would have criticized those who fasted. Allah's Messenger himself sometimes fasted while traveling.

For instance, it is reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Ad-Darda said,

"We once went with Allah's Messenger during Ramadan while the heat was intense. One of us would place his hand on his head because of the intense heat. Only Allah's Messenger and Abdullah bin Rawahah were fasting at that time.''

We should state that observing the permission to break the fast while traveling is better, as Allah's Messenger said about fasting while traveling:

مَنْ أَفْطَرَ فَحَسَنٌ، وَمَنْ صَامَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْه

Those who did not fast have done good, and there is no harm for those who fasted.

In another Hadith, the Prophet said:

عَلَيْكُمْ بِرُخْصَةِ اللهِ الَّتِي رُخِّصَ لَكُم

Hold to Allah's permission that He has granted you.

Some scholars say that the two actions are the same, as Aishah narrated that;

Hamzah bin Amr Al-Aslami said, "O Messenger of Allah! I fast a lot, should I fast while traveling?''

The Prophet said:

إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصُمْ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَفْطِر

Fast if you wish or do not fast if you wish.

This Hadith is in the Two Sahihs.

It was reported that;

if the fast becomes difficult (while traveling), then breaking the fast is better.

Jabir said that;

Allah's Messenger saw a man who was being shaded (by other people while traveling). The Prophet asked about him and he was told that man was fasting.

The Prophet said:

لَيْسَ مِنَ الْبِرِّ الصِّيَامُ فِي السَّفَر

It is not a part of Birr (piety) to fast while traveling.

This was recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

As for those who ignore the Sunnah and believe in their hearts that breaking the fast while traveling is disliked, they are required to break the fast and are not allowed to fast.

As for making up for missed fasting days, it is not required to be consecutive. One may do so consecutively or not consecutively. There are ample proofs to this fact.

We should mention that fasting consecutive days is only required exclusively during Ramadan. After the month of Ramadan, what is required then is to merely make up for missed days. This is why Allah said: فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ (...the same number (should be made up) from other day).

Ease and not Hardship

Allah then said:

... يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ...

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.

Imam Ahmad recorded Anas bin Malik saying that Allah's Messenger said:

يَسِّرُوا وَلَا تُعَسِّرُوا وَسَكِّنُوا وَلَا تُنَفِّرُوا

Treat the people with ease and don't be hard on them; give them glad tidings and don't fill them with aversion.

This Hadith was also collected in the Two Sahihs.

It is reported in the Sahihayn that Allah's Messenger said to Mu`adh and Abu Musa when he sent them to Yemen:

بَشِّرَا وَلَا تُنَفِّرَا، وَيَسِّرَا وَلَا تُعَسِّرَا، وَتَطَاوَعَا وَلَا تَخْتَلِفَا

Treat the people with ease and don't be hard on them; give them glad tidings and don't fill them with aversion; and love each other, and don't differ.

The Sunan and the Musnad compilers recorded that Allah's Messenger said:

بُعِثْتُ بِالْحَنِيفِيَّةِ السَّمْحَة

I was sent with the easy Hanifiyyah (Islamic Monotheism).

Allah's statement:

... يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ ...

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days),

means: You were allowed to break the fast while ill, while traveling, and so forth, because Allah wanted to make matters easy for you. He only commanded you to make up for missed days so that you complete the days of one month.

Remembering Allah upon performing the Acts of Worship

Allah's statement:

... وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ ...

...and that you must magnify Allah (i.e., to say Takbir (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)) for having guided you,

means: So that you remember Allah upon finishing the act of worship.

This is similar to Allah's statement:

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَـسِكَكُمْ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا

So when you have accomplished your Manasik, (rituals) remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with far more remembrance. (2:200)

and,

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَوةُ فَانتَشِرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَابْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

...Then when the (Jumuah) Salah (prayer) is ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the bounty of Allah (by working), and remember Allah much, that you may be successful. (62:10)

and,

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ

وَمِنَ الَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَـرَ السُّجُودِ

...and glorify the praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting. And during a part of the night, glorify His praises, and after the prayers. (50:39-40)

This is why the Sunnah encouraged;

• Tasbih saying, Subhan Allah, i.e., all praise is due to Allah,

• Tahmid saying Al-Hamdu Lillah, i.e., all the thanks are due to Allah, and

• Takbir saying Allahu Akbar, i.e., Allah is the Most Great.

after the compulsory prayers.

Ibn Abbas said,

"We used to know that Allah's Messenger has finished the prayer by the Takbir.''

Similarly, several scholars have stated that;

reciting Takbir the during Id-ul-Fitr was specified by the Ayah that states:

وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ

(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah (i.e., to say Takbir (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)) for having guided you...

Allah's statement:

... وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾

...so that you may be grateful to Him.

means: If you adhere to what Allah commanded you, obeying Him by performing the obligations, abandoning the prohibitions and abiding by the set limits, then perhaps you will be among the grateful.

1st day of Ramadaan

Alhamdu lillah, the day started out good and promising. Iftar was prepared early, only the soup was cooking after Thuhr and the bureks were all rolled. We were all exhausted by Thuhr, they boys having stayed awake until Fajr the night before!

This is where things started to go wrong :( After the prayer, the boys had to wash bird accessories, unfortunately they took much longer than needed, giving excuses not to work all three together. They finally fell asleep around 4 pm and then we didn't wake up until 6. After praying 'Asr the boys had to wash all the extra drinkers to get them out of the way. I pleaded can't they do it tomorrow? Oh, it shouldn't take long... only it always takes longer than expected with the boys.

DH was busy with the birds and then made us a fruit salad. The kids helped to peel the pomegranate, which turned out to be extremely sour, ruining the whole salad!

In the end we only got some Qur'an recitation done (the boys preferred to concentrate on their revisions than read the first juz') and one part of the Prophets' Stories while eating our dinner. The sahaabah book series has been put away somewhere where we can't find them, so now we only have the sahaabiyaat books *rolling eyes*

On a more positive note, the good deed of today was "to give a helping hand" and it worked pretty well.

And I figured out what to read in the tafseer:

The Harshness of the Jews (Surat al-Baqarah 2:74)

Allah criticized the Children of Israel because they witnessed the tremendous signs and the Ayat of Allah, including bringing the dead back to life, yet,

ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ ...

Then after that your hearts were hardened.

So their hearts were like stones that never become soft.

This is why Allah forbade the believers from imitating the Jews when He said,

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَكُونُواْ كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الاٌّمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَـسِقُونَ

Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah ـ Islamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allah's Reminder (this Qur'an), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture (the Tawrah) and the Injil (Gospel)) before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened! And many of them were Fasiqun (the rebellious, the disobedient to Allah). (57:16)

In his Tafsir, Al-Awfi said that Ibn Abbas said,

"When the dead man was struck with a part of the cow, he stood up and became more alive than he ever was. He was asked, `Who killed you' He said, `My nephews killed me.' He then died again. His nephews said, after Allah took his life away, `By Allah! We did not kill him' and denied the truth while they knew it.

Allah said,

... فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً ...

And became as stones or even worse in hardness.''

And by the passage of time, the hearts of the Children of Israel were unlikely to accept any admonishment, even after the miracles and signs they withnessed. Their hearts became harder than stones, with no hope of ever softening. Sometimes, springs and rivers burst out of stones, some stones split and water comes out of them, even if there are no springs or rivers around them, sometimes stones fall down from mountaintops out of their fear of Allah.

... وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاء وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللّهِ ...

And indeed, there are stones out of which rivers gush forth, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which split asunder so that water flows from them, and indeed, there are of them (stones) which fall down for fear of Allah,

Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah means,

"Some stones are softer than your hearts, they acknowledge the truth that you are being called to,

... وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٧٤﴾

And Allah is not unaware of what you do.''

The site that I usually use to read tafsir Ibn Kathir translated into English, isn't working tonight, but I found this site instead which seems really good, mashaa Allah.

May Allah make the rest of Ramadaan more successful, ameen.