The revelation of Surah Al-Ankabut occurred when Muslims faced severe oppression. Once Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) began preaching Islam publicly, his few followers quickly found that professing faith meant facing ruthless torture and execution. Men from the Mecca like Abu Bakr (ra), were beaten unconscious in the streets, while slaves like Bilal b. Rabah (ra) and Suhayb b. Sinân (ra) were shackled and left to scorch in the midday desert sun.

The conditions had become extremely unfavorable, and a noble companion was tortured with burning coals without clothes. They took him to hot, open areas in the city when the sun was very strong. It was scorching on the ground. They removed his clothes, put iron armor on him, and laid him on the hot ground. Because of the intense heat, his skin would burn, and his body would become still. His skin melted due to the extreme conditions, and he went to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), asking, "Why isn't Allah's help coming, considering what we are going through?"

Then, the verses of Surah Al-Ankabut were revealed. When Surah Al-Ankabut was revealed, its initial verses emphasized patience. The first verses addressed the companions, saying, “Do people think once they say, “We believe,” that they will be left without being put to the test? We certainly tested those before them. And ˹in this way˺ Allah will clearly distinguish between those who are truthful and those who are liars.”

After this, the mention of Prophet Noah began, highlighting that he had to endure centuries of waiting, and eventually, Allah's help came through the flood. After that, the mention of Prophet Abrahim followed, who faced difficulties from his own people and was saved from the fire.

Then the story of Prophet Lut is mentioned. Prophet Lut was also supposed to migrate. However, at that point, the command for migration had not yet been given. Prophet Lut would be questioning when the command would come and when they would leave this place.

After a long period of patience, finally, the angels came, and the command for migration was given.

Allah, through these stories, was conveying to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that just as He helped all those previous prophets, He would help them too. However, they needed to be patient and wait, just as all of them had to wait.

He told him: Describe to me the delights of Jannah?

                He can’t help but wonder what it is she expects from him. Mercy or an ear or a shoulder to lean on  --  on the surface, he knows he can’t offer her what it is she so desperately seeks. Though he knows the truth beneath the villainous guise he wears of how near and dear she remains to his heart, the very reason all of his plans have succeeded or ever got put into motion to begin with, sentimentality is no longer an option. Nor is kindness. He looks at her, broken and held captive by chains, with no expression on his face, but there’s guilt plaguing him. Irregardless of how she remembers him, he reminds himself, all of this will still bring her peace, in the end.

And ˹remember˺ when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this city ˹of Mecca˺ secure and provide fruits to its people—those among them who believe in Allah and the Last Day.” He answered, “As for those who disbelieve, I will let them enjoy themselves for a little while, then I will condemn them to the torment of the Fire. What an evil destination!” [Al Baqarah - 126]

Ibrahim AS prayed to the Lord and asked Him to transform "the building or structure that was built by him at that time" into a peaceful city. It was a structure of kaaba, not how it looks today. It was surrounded by desert. Nothing at all in sight.

So, Ibrahim AS prayed to not only make it a city all around, but a peaceful one, providing its people with all kinds of food. It was all desert around him; he was looking at nothing while making the dua, but what an imagination. SubhanAllah.

While making dua, why do we limit ourselves? Why do we think, "Nah, Allah won't provide me with that"? Why? Look at the dua of Ibrahim AS. And yes, you might say that he was a prophet, so of course, Allah heard him, but here is a lesson to learn. Ibrahim said yes to everything Allah asked him to do, then he built the Kaabah, and then he made the dua which was fulfilled. So, what is it that you and I need to do to get our duas answered? Try to be like Ibrahim AS. When a command comes to us, we say labbaik to it. We say yes, and we strive our best, we do our best. We give our best. And once we do, once we are in the process of fulfilling Allah’s commands, make dua, ask Him for the impossible, and see it become possible.

He is asking to make the desert into a city, then a secure city, and then a city with a good economy. Safety and prosperity. Two things you need for a stable society. If there is no security, people will not come to live here and will not be safe if they do. If it has no good economy, no all kinds of food, which means no good economy, no prosperity so people will not have jobs to survive there.

So make it a city, make it prosperous, and make it for believers, people who believe in Allah and the Last Day.

Allah replied, even the one who disbelieves, I will provide him a little too. And after I let him enjoy, I will drag him to the punishment of the flame. What a horrible place to go back to.

So, yeah, even those who disbelieve will have the luxuries of dunya too, but their end will be horrible.

After Muslims migrated to Madinah, they were praying towards Masjid Al Aqsa. Now, the ruling to pray towards Makkah was forthcoming, so to prepare them, Allah sent this verse. Allah was preparing them for the change. The change of the qiblah was approaching, so Allah said here that “He owns both the east and the west;” meaning, you cannot confine Allah to a specific direction. Wherever you turn, you will find Allah there. “Surely, Allah is all-encompassing; He knows what you are doing and where you are.”

This verse also comforts the soul, at least it comforts me, because I feel like there is more to learn here than just the changing of the Qiblah.

The Prophet (SAW) was understandably saddened by leaving his city and people after migrating to Madinah. Allah, here in this verse, was assuring him that no matter where the Prophet SAW faced or went, He would be there. Although the place and circumstances had changed, Allah was still with him. He had not lost Allah. He will find Allah wherever he turns.

Even for us, Wherever we go, He is there. And…”He owns both the east and the west.” He is the owner of the east, west, and everything in between. So instead of worrying about things not working out, things changing, or anything that is troubling our hearts right now, we should focus on having Allah on our side. Why? When you have someone influential on your side, does that make you worry less? Yes!! So, if the owner of the east and west is with you, what do you have to fear?

Ibrahim AS left Hajra in a desert. She is alone. The child is alone. There is nothing to eat or drink. The child kept crying. And the mother ran barefoot between Safa and Marwah. Until the spring burst forth from the child's footsteps. And that spring is still flowing today. And the patience of this mother became a sign.

Millions of Muslims have been running to follow her example for centuries. They walk thousands of steps on air-conditioned roads and marble floors. And they get very tired. They complete the Sa’i and shave their heads. Then they head straight to the nearest restaurant or mall. They eat food. And go to sleep in their hotels.

But when Hajra was alone, there was no hotel or mall near Hajra. The water flowing did not mean that her life became easy.

What do women usually do? They need their husbands for everything. If he's there, they can manage everything, but if he's not, they struggle a lot. Obviously, husbands should be there because they are both responsible for the child. But sometimes, according to Allah's will, what you "need" doesn't happen. Humans don't always stay together. Death, illness, tragedy, anything can separate you from your biggest support. In such situations, many women walk into self-doubt.

We say, “what should we do? We are helpless. We are left alone.”

But Hajra didn't do that. Hajra trusted in Allah. Just like Allah allowed Ibrahim to enter the fire, similarly, Allah also allowed Hajra to walk between Safa and Marwah.

Allah will test your limits and tire your body on His path. Its reward comes after the difficulty. The hardships have to be borne first.

It's not like Allah abandoned Hajra. If Allah told Ibrahim to stay with Sarah, it doesn't mean Allah didn't care about Hajra. Rather, Hajra's life was more important than that marriage.

Every person has a purpose they need to fulfill. Hajra had work to do in her own share. And it couldn't happen while staying in Palestine with this marriage. Allah had a separate plan for Sarah and a separate one for Hajra.

So whenever you feel like Allah has given someone else the blessing you wanted in your test, like if Sarah wanted children, it doesn't mean Hajra didn't want companionship with her husband. She did too.