Dr. Shabir Ally discusses Quran 17:5, which refers to the first of two foretold destructions involving the Children of Israel. Drawing on historical accounts, Dr. Shabir explains that Muslim commentators often interpret this “first destruction” as a combination of two major events: the Assyrian invasion in 721 BCE that decimated the northern tribes of Israel, and the Babylonian conquest in 586 BCE that destroyed the southern kingdom and Solomon’s temple, leading to the exile of Jewish elites. These events are seen as a continuous period of decline and divine punishment. The verse is often misunderstood when people isolate it from its historical context or assume that the “two destructions” must include a future event yet to come. However, Dr. Shabir argues this isn’t required by the Quranic narrative and that both destructions are better understood as past events grounded in known history. The second destruction will be discussed further in an upcoming episode. If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks

Many of us today are overwhelmed. Every day brings new headlines: people being deported, voices silenced, borders closing, and in G*z*, g*n*c*de. Elsewhere, wars rage on. It’s hard not to feel helpless or lost. What are we supposed to do? How do we respond when the world feels like it’s falling apart? In this episode, Dr. Safiyyah Ally asks Shabir Ally: does Islam offer us a way to act and hold on to hope in times like these? If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks

Dr. Shabir Ally joins Dr. Safiyyah Ally to reflect on the passing of Pope Francis and what it reveals about religious leadership. While the Pope was a unifying figure for Catholics and a powerful voice for justice, calling for peace and championing the rights of the vulnerable, Dr. Shabir explains that Islam doesn’t have a single global leader like the Pope. Sunnis rely on elected leaders chosen for their merit, while Shia Muslims have a history of divinely guided imams, with the final one, the Mahdi, believed to be in hiding. Together, they explore what Muslims gain and potentially lose by having a decentralized model of leadership. Does it foster freedom and dynamism or does it make unity harder to achieve? If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks

Dr. Shabir Ally explores a misunderstood verse from the Quran (17:4), which states that the Children of Israel will cause corruption on earth twice and rise to great heights. The discussion centers on whether this decree was made in a specific scripture, and what "the Book" refers to: whether it's the heavenly Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) or a known written scripture like the Torah. Classical commentators entertained both possibilities. While some prophetic books in the Bible mention consequences for disobedience, these are generally framed conditionally, unlike the Quran’s seemingly definite wording. Dr. Shabir suggests this definitiveness might reflect hindsight or be conditional in meaning. Ultimately, he emphasizes that the verse is open to multiple interpretations and caution should be exercised against rigidly locking it into a single explanation. If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks

Dr. Shabir Ally unpacks the often misunderstood Quranic verse about the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey and ascension (17:1), highlighting the linguistic shifts in the verse that suggest a subtle dialogue between the speaker and God. He explains that some early Muslims viewed the journey as a spiritual vision rather than a physical one, noting that the Quran itself does not explicitly say the Prophet’s body was transported. The term "abd" (servant) used in the verse, he argues, does not necessarily imply a bodily journey, as it can refer to the soul as well. While many Muslims accept the journey as a miraculous physical event, others, seeking a rational explanation, interpret it as a visionary experience. Dr. Shabir emphasizes that both views are valid within the tradition, and cautions against relying solely on later biographical literature to interpret the Quran. If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks