Surahs 78-114
Wow, we are finally here - the
last day of Ramadhan and the final Chapter of the Holy Quran. When I started
this endeavour at the beginning of the month, I never imagined how meaningful
and powerful it would be. The Holy Quran is a miraculous book with so much
depth and wisdom. I feel as if I have only touched the surface of its knowledge.
Chapter 30 covers the last 36
Surahs of the Holy Quran. As we get near the end the Surahs are very short with
3-5 verses and one or two important messages. We start with Surah 78, An-Naba
(The Announcement). This Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 40 verses in 2
sections.
Surah 78, An-Naba (The
Announcement)
Section 1: The great
announcement, verses 1-30
"Whereof do they question one
another? Of the Great News, Concerning which they are in disagreement. Nay, but
they will come to know!" (Verses 1-4)
"Have We not made the earth an
expanse, And the high hills bulwarks? And We have created you in pairs, And
have appointed your sleep for repose, And have appointed the night as a cloak,
And have appointed the day for livelihood." (Verses 6-11)
"Lo! the Day of Decision is a
fixed time, A day when the trumpet is blown and ye come in multitudes, And the
heaven is opened and becometh as gates, And the hills are set in motion and
become as a mirage." (Verses 17-20)
"Lo! hell lurketh in ambush, A
home for the rebellious. They will abide therein for ages." (Verses 21-23)
"Everything have We recorded in a
Book. So taste (of that which ye have earned). No increase do We give you save
of torment." (Verses 29-30)
The "Great News," in verse 2, refers to the Imamat of Imam Ali (as)
and more specifically the concept of Imamat in
general. At all times, on Earth there must be a representative of Allah and
that is no-one other than the Imam of our time, the 12th Holy Imam. In
subsequent verses the process of creation demonstrates the evidence of divine
plan and purpose which shall culminate in resurrection after which a new world
will come into being.
Section 2: Everyone shall
receive what he has sent forth, verses 31-40
"Lo! for the duteous is
achievement - Gardens enclosed and vineyards, And mates, maidens beautiful, And
a full cup." (Verses 31-34)
"On the day when the angels and
the Spirit stand arrayed, they speak not, saving him whom the Beneficent
alloweth and who speaketh right. That is the True Day. So whoso will should
seek recourse unto his Lord." (Verses 38-39)
"Lo! We warn you of a doom at
hand, a day whereon a man will look on that which his own hands have sent
before, and the disbeliever will cry: "Would that I were dust!"" (Verse 40)
From verse 38, none shall
have the right to address Allah to seek blessings or address others to convey
His blessings save those whom He gives permission (the Holy Prophet and his
Ahlul-Bayt). The belier of Allah, His prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt will find no
place to escape. He will neither live nor die. He will wish that he could be
reduced to nothingness, but even that would not be possible.
Next comes Surah 79, An-Naazi'at
(Those who drag forth), which was revealed at Mecca and has 46 verses in 2
sections.
Surah 79, An-Naazi'at (Those
who drag forth)
Section 1: There is a lesson in
the fate of the Pharaoh, verses 1-26
"By those who drag forth to
destruction, By the meteors rushing, By the lone stars floating, By the angels
hastening, And those who govern the event, On the day when the first trump
resoundeth." (Verses 1-6)
"On that day hearts beat
painfully While eyes are downcast (Now) they are saying: Shall we really be
restored to our first state Even after we are crumbled bones? They say: Then
that would be a vain proceeding. Surely it will need but one shout, And lo!
they will be awakened." (Verses 8-14)
The swearing by the angels and
the other forces and elements in nature in verses 1-6, highlight the
true sense of gravity of the act - the Day of Resurrection. Verses 1-3 refer to the preparatory work before
any divine will takes effect which sets in motion that which is willed. Verses 4 and 5 refer to the administration or
operation of the consequences of the divine will. The forces working in the
universe operate in harmony under the laws made by the creator.
All hearts will be in agitation and all eyes will be cast down: the hearts of
the righteous to see the beginning of the fulfilment of their Lord's promise
with their eyes cast down in humble modesty and obedience; the hearts of the
disbelievers for fear of His just punishment in utter humiliation and shame for
their past arrogance and insolence. The beliers of the inevitable day of
resurrection used to say that death was the end of all things and their rotten
bones and limbs would never be restored again. On the day of resurrection they
will indeed be in a terrible loss; indeed they will go to perdition.
Verses 15-26 speak of the fate of the Pharaoh at
the time of Prophet Musa and how he belied the message of Allah and was duly
punished for his behaviour and refusal to accept the unity of God.
Section 2: The doom, verses
27-46
"Are ye the harder to create, or
is the heaven that He built? He raised the height thereof and ordered it; And
He made dark the night thereof, and He brought forth the morn thereof." (Verses 27-29)
"But when the great disaster
cometh, The day when man will call to mind his (whole) endeavour, And hell will
stand forth visible to him who seeth, Then, as for him who rebelled And chose
the life of the world, Lo! hell will be his home.
But as for him who feared to stand before his Lord and restrained his soul from
lust, Lo! the Garden will be his home." (Verses 34-41)
On the Day of Judgement man will be fully aware of what he used to strive for
in the life of the world. He will not only remember every detail of his deeds
but also clearly see the fire of punishment. The eternal punishment will be
given to those who had wilfully and persistently disobeyed Allah and
transgressed all bounds. The punishment will not touch those who had repented
and have been forgiven; and those who are guilty of minor sins through human
frailty, their good deeds will be weighed in the balance against their bad
deeds. Those who feared the punishment, paid heed to Allah's warnings and
restrained their souls from lust, will dwell in paradise.
Moving on to Surah 80, Abasa
(He Frowned). This was revealed at Mecca and has 42 verses in 1 section.
Surah 80, Abasa (He Frowned)
Section 1: The day of requital,
verses 1-42
"He frowned and turned away
Because the blind man came unto him. What could inform thee but that he might
grow (in grace) Or take heed and so the reminder might avail him?
"Man is (self-)destroyed: how
ungrateful! From what thing doth He create him? From a drop of seed. He
createth him and proportioneth him, Then maketh the way easy for him, Then
causeth him to die, and burieth him; Then, when He will, He bringeth him again
to life. Nay, but (man) hath not done what He commanded him." (Verses 17-23)
"But when the Shout cometh On the
day when a man fleeth from his brother And his mother and his father And his
wife and his children, Every man that day will have concern enough to make him
heedless (of others).
On that day faces will be bright as dawn, Laughing, rejoicing at good news; And
other faces, on that day, with dust upon them, Veiled in darkness, Those are
the disbelievers, the wicked." (Verses 33-42)
Verse 1-12 were revealed at the time when a blind
man approached the Holy Prophet whilst he was in discussion with some of his
companions. The blind man wanted to learn the Quran and the Holy Prophet
invited him to sit down and join the discussion. Some of the companions did not
like the interruption and one of them "frowned
and turned away" from the blind man. That person is criticised by Allah for
being too proud. Verse 4 asserts that it is more likely that a poor
man on account of his will to learn may grow in his spiritual development more
than a wealthy leader who was proud of his possessions, referred to in verse 5, it
was he who frowned in anger.
The rest of the Surah tells of
the creation and lifespan of man and then the subsequent resurrection. The
believers shall appear with faces radiant, happy and joyous. The wicked will
appear with faces, sorrowful, with dust on them.
Next is Surah 81, At-Takwir
(The Overthrowing) which was revealed at Mecca and contains 29 verses in 1
section.
Surah 81, At-Takwir (The
Overthrowing)
Section 1: The Day of
Judgement, verses 1-29
"And when the stars fall, And
when the hills are moved... And when the girl-child that was buried alive is
asked For what sin she was slain... And when hell is lighted, And when the
Garden is brought nigh, (Then) every soul will know what it hath made
ready." (Verses 1-3, 8-9 & 12-14)
"Oh, but I call to witness the
planets, The stars which rise and set... That this is in truth the word of an
honoured messenger, Mighty, established in the presence of the Lord of the
Throne, (One) to be obeyed, and trustworthy; And your comrade is not mad." (Verses 15-16 & 19-22)
"This is naught else than a
reminder unto creation, Unto whomsoever of you willeth to walk straight. And ye
will not, unless (it be) that Allah willeth, the Lord of Creation." (Verses 27-29)
Verses 1-14 tell of the
signs of the approach of the Day of Judgement. It will be a time when the laws
governing the creation will cease to function. The sun which is the source and
support of all the physical life on the earth will lose its existing condition.
The physical forces and the laws governing matter will break up with the
"folding up" of the sun, but the souls will survive the material
destruction. They will be sorted out into three classes as mentioned in Surah 56, Verses 7-10.
Verses 15-22 speak of the position of the Holy
Prophet and how he was sent as the messenger of Allah. On the earth he came to
be known as the most trustworthy and the most truthful person ever lived among
the people of his birth place so that they could have no reason to belie his
message. Allah spoke to the people through him.
Moving on to Surah 82, Al-Infitaar
(The Cleaving). This Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 19 verses in 1
section.
Surah 82, Al-Infitaar (The
Cleaving)
Section 1: None shall be able
to help the other, verses 1-19
"A soul will know what it hath
sent before (it) and what left behind. O man! What hath made thee careless
concerning thy Lord, the Bountiful, Who created thee, then fashioned, then
proportioned thee? Into whatsoever form He will, He casteth thee. Nay, but ye
deny the Judgment." (Verses 5-9)
"Lo! there are above you
guardians, Generous and recording, Who know (all) that ye do.
Lo! the righteous verily will be in delight. And lo! the wicked verily will be
in hell; They will burn therein on the Day of Judgment." (Verses 10-15)
"Again, what will convey unto
thee what the Day of Judgment is! A day on which no soul hath power at all for
any (other) soul. The (absolute) command on that day is Allah's." (Verses 18-19)
An indirect guidance may be inferred from verse 6, that man should
not sin under the belief that the great charitable disposition of his Lord would
protect him from the just punishment. The bounties of Allah should make man
grateful which he can manifest by using his faculties to choose the right path
and follow it all his life, but the disbelievers turn away from the right path
and deny the Day of Judgement. Verse 19 confirms that no soul shall have power
to do anything for another. Personal responsibility will be fully enforced.
Authority belongs to Allah. He will allow whom He pleases to intercede on
behalf of any one the authorised intercessor finds suitable.
Rapidly moving to the next
Surah, 83, Al-Mutaffifin (Defrauding). It was revealed at Mecca and has 36
verses in 1 section.
Surah 83, Al-Mutaffifin
(Defrauding)
Section 1: Everyone's record is
preserved, verses 1-36
"Woe unto the defrauders: Those
who when they take the measure from mankind demand it full, But if they measure
unto them or weight for them, they cause them loss." (Verses 1-3)
"Nay, but the record of the vile
is in Sijjin - Ah! what will convey unto thee what Sijjin is! - A written
record. Woe unto the repudiators on that day!" (Verses 7-10)
"Who, when thou readest unto him
Our revelations, saith: (Mere) fables of the men of old. Nay, but that which
they have earned is rust upon their hearts. Nay, but surely on that day they
will be covered from (the mercy of) their Lord." (Verses 13-15)
"Nay, but the record of the
righteous is in 'Illiyin - Ah, what will convey unto thee what 'Illiyin is! - A
written record, Attested by those who are brought near (unto their Lord). Lo! the
righteous verily are in delight." (Verses 18-22)
"Lo! the guilty used to laugh at
those who believed, And wink one to another when they passed them; And when
they returned to their own folk, they returned jesting; And when they saw them
they said: Lo! these have gone astray.
Yet they were not sent as guardians over them. This day it is those who believe
who have the laugh of disbelievers, On high couches, gazing. Are not the
disbelievers paid for what they used to do?" (Verses 29-36)
The defrauders are those who
try to cheat their fellow man by giving short measure or weight of that which
they owe. On the Day of Judgement, the defrauders shall have to answer for
every act of theirs which they did to violate the commands of Allah. Those who
have been cheated may not know the loss they suffered but the all-knowing Lord
knows everything. The record of the wicked is preserved in Sijjin - a register from where nothing can
ever escape.
In reference to verse 14, the Holy
Prophet has said that the heart of man, as created by Allah, is pure, but every
time he does an ill-deed, it marks a stain on his heart. If he does not repent
and thereafter live a righteous life, the stains deepen and spread more and
more until the heart is sealed. On the Day of Judgement, those with blackened,
tarnished hearts shall not receive the light of the glory of Allah (verse 15).
Illiyin is
a place where the record of the righteous is kept. On the day of judgement a
witness will be called for every people and the Holy Prophet will be called as
witness over all these witnesses. The witnesses are the Holy Prophet, the
prophets of Allah and the Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt all of whom always preached
goodness and invited people to follow the right path. For the Holy Prophet to
be a witness over all the witnesses, it means that he has been present since
the very beginning of creation as confirmed by him when he said: "I was the prophet of Allah
when Adam was yet in the process of creation."
Next up is Surah 84, Al-Inshiqaaq
(The Splitting Open). This Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 25 verses in 1
section.
Surah 84, Al-Inshiqaaq (The
Splitting Open)
Section 1: The Day of
Reckoning, verses 1-25
"Thou, verily, O man, art working
toward thy Lord a work which thou wilt meet (in His presence). Then whoso is
given his account in his right hand He truly will receive an easy reckoning And
will return unto his folk in joy.
But whoso is given his account behind his back, He surely will invoke
destruction And be thrown to scorching fire." (Verses 6-12)
"What aileth them, then, that
they believe not And, when the Qur'an is recited unto them, worship not
(Allah)?
Nay, but those who disbelieve will deny; And Allah knoweth best what they are
hiding. So give them tidings of a painful doom, Save those who believe and do
good works, for theirs is a reward unfailing." (Verses 20-25)
Although the life of this world is sometimes full of toil and misery for the
believers, yet they strive hard to follow the right path because they are
convinced that there is a Day of Resurrection when they shall receive a great
judgement from Allah. The disbelievers of the Day of Reckoning shall also come
before Allah but without the hope of salvation. The wicked will cry for death
and annihilation, but they will neither live nor die. In the life of this world
they were, in utter neglect of the hereafter, imagining that they would not be
called upon to account for their evil deeds. That is simply not the case.
Continuing with the final
chapter, next comes Surah 85, Al-Burooj (The Constellations). It was revealed
at Mecca and has 22 verses in 1 section.
Surah 85, Al-Burooj (The
Constellations)
Section 1: Quran secured in the
guarded tablet, verses 1-22
"(Self-)destroyed were the owners
of the ditch Of the fuel-fed fire, When they sat by it, And were themselves the
witnesses of what they did to the believers. They had naught against them save
that they believed in Allah, the Mighty, the Owner of Praise, Him unto Whom
belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is of all
things the Witness." (Verses 4-9)
"Lo! they who persecute believing
men and believing women and repent not, theirs verily will be the doom of hell,
and theirs the doom of burning." (Verse 10)
The "mansion of the stars," or
constellations refer to the 12 signs of Zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Leo,
Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. The "promised day," is the Day of Judgement which will
inevitably come to pass.
The "guarded tablet" is not
a physical entity as mentioned in Surah 56, Verses 77-79. Imam Ali (as)
narrates the story that verses 4-9 refer to. A Prophet was sent to the
people of Abyssinia who were ruled by the King Zu Nawas. The King asked the
people to worship him alone as God. He arrested any companion of the Prophet
who preached the message of the unity of God. A huge pit of fire was prepared
and the King announced that any believer in the Prophet and Allah should jump
into the pit. The companions, along with the Prophet jumped into the pit, but
all were saved by Allah's command. The persecutors who inflicted cruelty on men
for their faith in Allah deserve to be punished in the fire of hell.
Next comes Surah 86, At-Taariq
(The Morning Star), which was revealed at Mecca and has 17 verses in 1 section.
Surah 86, At-Taariq (The
Morning Star)
Section 1: Man reminded of his
origin, verses 1-17
"No human soul but hath a
guardian over it. So let man consider from what he is created. He is created
from a gushing fluid That issued from between the loins and ribs.
Lo! He verily is Able to return him (unto life) On the day when hidden thoughts
shall be searched out. Then will he have no might nor any helper." (Verses 4-10)
"Lo! this (Qur'an) is a
conclusive word, It is no pleasantry.
Lo! they plot a plot (against thee, O Muhammad) And I plot a plot (against
them). So give a respite to the disbelievers. Deal thou gently with them for a
while." (Verses 13-17)
On the Day of Resurrection, when all created beings will be brought back to
life, all our actions, motives, thoughts of this life, however secret, will be
brought into the open, for reckoning and in that severe test no advantage of
this life will have any force or ability to help the examinee in any way.
Verses 13-17 refer to the Quraysh who wanted to
thwart the growth of Islam. It will be so in all ages. Allah will not allow the
hypocrites and the disbelievers to succeed in their evil designs to distort or
corrupt the true religion of Allah. God gives respite to them in every age so
that whosoever among them sees the light of true guidance and follows the true
guides, chosen by Allah, may turn repentant to Him and save himself from the
eternal punishment.
Moving on to Surah 87, Al-A'ala
(The Most High). This Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 19 verses in 1
section.
Surah 87, Al-A'ala (The Most
High)
Section 1: He
who purify's his self is successful, verses 1-19
"We shall make thee read (O
Muhammad) so that thou shalt not forget Save that which Allah willeth. Lo! He
knoweth the disclosed and that which still is hidden; And We shall ease thy way
unto the state of ease." (Verses 6-8)
"Therefor remind (men), for of
use is the reminder. He will heed who feareth, But the most hapless will flout
it, He who will be flung to the great Fire Wherein he will neither die nor
live.
He is successful who groweth, And remembereth the name of his Lord, so prayeth,
But ye prefer the life of the world Although the Hereafter is better and more
lasting." (Verses 9-17)
Verses 6-8 confirm once more that the Holy
Prophet only followed the command of Allah and could not make any mistakes. If
he did then the people would have an excuse not follow him. He was, at all
times, protected by the will of Allah.
The effectiveness of the
reminder about Allah, depends upon the capacity of those who hear it. The cases
where reminder produces positive benefits and where it does not, are mentioned
in verses 10 and 11. When the message of Allah is proclaimed, it creates
positive response in those in whose hearts is the fear of Allah, which those
who run away from it, reject and belie it prepare their own ruin. They will be
thrown into the fire of hell where they will neither die nor live.
Next is Surah 88, Al-Ghaashiya
(The Overwhelming). This Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 26 verses in 1
section.
Surah 88, Al-Ghaashiya (The
Overwhelming)
Section 1: The Overwhelming
event, verses 1-26
"Hath there come unto thee
tidings of the Overwhelming? On that day (many) faces will be downcast,
Toiling, weary, Scorched by burning fire, Drinking from a boiling spring, No
food for them save bitter thorn-fruit Which doth not nourish nor release from
hunger." (Verses 1-7)
"Will they not regard the camels,
how they are created? And the heaven, how it is raised? And the hills, how they
are set up? And the earth, how it is spread? Remind them, for thou art but a
remembrancer, Thou art not at all a warder over them." (Verses 17-22)
Verses 2-7 describe the conditions in which the
disbelievers, the transgressors and those who opposed the true servants of
Allah in this world will live forever. Verses 8-16 describe the state of bliss in which
the righteous will live forever.
As evidence of Allah's mercy to
mankind a few signs have been referred to, which are full of meaning, design
and goodness to man. The camel, a domesticated animal, serves the dwellers of
the desert in many ways. The blue sky high above us is a source of many
bounties mankind receive for sustenance. The mountains not only stabilize the
earth but also store water, moderate climate, provide stone for many purposes.
The earth is a globe, yet it seems to be spread out before us in plains,
valleys, hills and deserts. The Prophet of Allah is sent to teach, preach and
guide the people, but not to force people to adopt the right path.
Next Surah is no. 89, Al-Fajr
(The Dawn). This Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 30 verses in 1 section.
Surah 89, Al-Fajr (The Dawn)
Section 1: The soul at rest,
verses 1-30
"By the Dawn And ten nights, And
the Even and the Odd, And the night when it departeth, There surely is an oath
for thinking man." (Verses 1-5)
"As for man, whenever his Lord
trieth him by honouring him, and is gracious unto him, he saith: My Lord
honoureth me. But whenever He trieth him by straitening his means of life, he
saith: My Lord despiseth me.
Nay, but ye (for your part) honour not the orphan And urge not on the feeding
of the poor. And ye devour heritages with devouring greed." (Verses 15-19)
"But ah! thou soul at peace!
Return unto thy Lord, content in His good pleasure! Enter thou among My
bondmen! Enter thou My Garden!" (Verses 27-30)
Only the "thinking man" can
understand and appreciate the evidences mentioned in verses 1-4. The
dawn is the glory of the daybreak when light overtakes night. The ten nights
are understood to be the first 10 days of Zilhajj, the sacred period of
pilgrimage. Even and odd suggest contrasts but they follow each other in
regular succession. Lastly, when this world, comparable to the darkness of
night, passes away or vanishes, the light of the eternal hereafter will be
seen.
Many verses of the Quran, make
it clear that the large means of sustenance given to a particular man is a
trust he holds to distribute them among the needy, the poor and the orphans,
but more often he becomes selfish and prefers to spend it on his own lusts,
luxuries and enjoyments. The desire and inordinate love for more and more
worldly possessions develops a morbid tendency in man to own everything by hook
or by crook on account of which he destroys social harmony and discipline.
The righteous will be welcomed
to a life free from pain, sorrow, doubt, struggle, desire and disappointment.
They will be at rest, in peace, in a state of complete satisfaction. This stage
of soul is the final stage of bliss.
Rapidly continuing through the
Surahs of the final chapter, we are now at Surah 90, Al-Balad (The City). Surah
90 was revealed at Mecca and has 20 verses in 1 section.
Surah 90, Al-Balad (The City)
Section 1: The two highways,
verses 1-20
"We verily have created man in an
atmosphere: Thinketh he that none hath power over him? And he saith: I have
destroyed vast wealth: Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?" (Verses 4-7)
"Did We not assign unto him two
eyes And a tongue and two lips, And guide him to the parting of the mountain
ways?
But he hath not attempted the Ascent - Ah, what will convey unto thee what the
Ascent is! - (It is) to free a slave, And to feed in the day of hunger. An
orphan near of kin, Or some poor wretch in misery, And to be of those who
believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to
pity." (Verses 8-17)
Allah gives man His bounties to
try him. He who bestowed them on him can take them away. The man who thinks
that none has power over him and he can do what he likes forgets that on the
day of reckoning Allah will punish him for his arrogance, disbelief and
transgressions.
Allah has given us not only the
faculties implied in the eyes, the tongue and the lips, but also given us the
judgement to distinguish between good and evil so as to choose the right way by
following the thoroughly purified guides He has appointed. The difficult path
of virtue is described as the unselfish service in the cause of Allah. Freeing
the bondmen, feeding the hungry orphans and looking after the poor are some of
the virtues mentioned in verses 13-16. To
practice such virtues man must have patience which implies self-restraint and
constant reliance upon Allah, along with compassion and kindness towards fellow
beings.
Next is Surah 91, Ash-Shams
(The Sun) which was revealed at Mecca and has 15 verses in 1 section.
Surah 91, Ash-Shams (The Sun)
Section 1: Purifying the soul,
verses 1-15
"By the sun and his brightness,
And the moon when she followeth him... And a soul and Him Who perfected it And
inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for
it.
He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow, And he is indeed a failure who
stunteth it." (Verses 1-2 & 7-10)
The sun is our main source of
light and energy on Earth. The moon follows or acts as substitute to the sun
for illuminating our world with reflected light and therefore may be called the
sun's vicegerent. Verses 7-8 refer to the soul of man, with its
capabilities and faculties, endowed with the power of distinguishing between
good and evil, right and wrong. Then the conclusion is stated in verses 9-10 that he who purifies himself achieves
success; and he who corrupts it fails and becomes a loser.
Surah 92, Al-Lail (The Night)
comes next and was revealed at Mecca. It has 21 verses in 1 section.
Surah 92, Al-Lail (The Night)
Section 1: None has done any
favour to God, verses 1-21
"And Him Who hath created male
and female, Lo! your effort is dispersed (toward diverse ends)." (Verse 1-2)
"Lo! Ours it is (to give) the
guidance And lo! unto Us belong the latter portion and the former.
And lo! unto Us belong the latter
portion and the former. Which only the most wretched must endure, He who
denieth and turneth away. Far removed from it will be the righteous Who giveth
his wealth that he may grow (in goodness)." (Verses 12-18)
"And none hath with him any
favour for reward, Except as seeking (to fulfil) the purpose of his Lord Most
High. He verily will be content." (Verses 19-21)
Man's aims in life are diverse.
These aims may be broadly divided into two classes, good and evil. He who runs
after the pleasures of the temporary life of this world, unmindful of the
eternal happiness of the hereafter, is striking a bad bargain. He will be a
certain loser on the day of reckoning. On the other hand he who does not
transgress the bounds laid down by Allah and does not lay his hands on unlawful
gains and possessions but bears hardships patiently and willingly shall attain
salvation in the hereafter.
Allah in His infinite mercy has
provided guidance to His creatures through His book and religion, messengers
and guides (Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt). By the help of the faculties Allah has
given man, he must use his freedom of choice and follow the right guidance. Those
believers most devoted to Allah who have safeguarded themselves against evil
and spent their wealth in the way of Allah to purify themselves much reward is
due onto them from Allah in the hereafter.
Next comes Surah 93, Ad-Dhuha
(The Morning Hours). It was revealed at Mecca and contains 11 verses in 1
section.
Surah 93, Ad-Dhuha (The Morning
Hours)
Section 1: The Prophet promised
to be blessed to his heart's content, verses 1-11
"Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee
nor doth He hate thee, And verily the latter portion will be better for thee
than the former, And verily thy Lord will give unto thee so that thou wilt be
content." (Verses 3-5)
"Did He not find thee an orphan
and protect (thee)? Did He not find thee wandering and direct (thee)? Did He
not find thee destitute and enrich (thee)?
Therefor the orphan oppress not, Therefor the beggar drive not away, Therefor
of the bounty of thy Lord be thy discourse." (Verses 6-11)
Verse 3 Allah clearly states that the Holy
Prophet can never be forsaken, unlike the Christian belief towards Jesus. The
verse was revealed to put an end to the mischievous speculations of the enemies
of Allah and the Holy Prophet.
Verses 6-8 refer to the divine protection
arranged for the Holy Prophet when his father Abdullah died before he was born
and his mother died when he was only six years old. His grandfather Abdul Muttalib
died two years later. Thereafter his uncle Abu Talib loved him, protected him
and brought him up as his own son. Verse 7 also implies that the knowledge the
Holy Prophet possessed was perfect because he never acquired knowledge from any
mortal but was taught by Allah Himself.
The next Surah actually follows
on from Surah 93, it is only split by Bismillahir
rahmanir rahim. Surah 94, Al-Inshira (The Consolation) was revealed at
Mecca and has 8 verses in 1 section.
Surah 94, Al-Inshira (The
Consolation)
Section 1: Prophet ordained to
appoint one in his place, verses 1-8
"Have We not caused thy bosom to
dilate, And eased thee of the burden Which weighed down thy back; And exalted
thy fame?" (Verses 1-4)
Verse 1 means to expand the breast or heart to
gain knowledge from Allah. It means absolute perfection in wisdom, guidance and
mercy only next to Allah. Verses 2-3 refer to the Holy Prophet asking Imam
Ali (as) to be his support and vicegerent and ease some of the Holy Prophet's
burden. Through verse 7 the Holy Prophet is asked to establish
the imamat of Imam
Ali (as) when he completes the duties of conveying the divine guidance to
mankind, so as to continue it forever. In verse 8 Allah expresses His will that the Holy
Prophet should return to his Lord after carrying out His commands (this follows
on from Surah 5, Verse 67).
We are now down to the last
twenty Surahs of the Holy Quran. Surah 95, At-Tin (The Fig) was revealed at
Mecca and has 8 verses in 1 section.
Surah 95, At-Tin (The Fig)
Section 1: Man created in the
best stature, verses 1-8
"By the fig and the olive, By
Mount Sinai... Surely We created man of the best stature Then we reduced him to
the lowest of the low, Save those who believe and do good works, and theirs is
a reward unfailing." (Verses 1-2 & 4-6)
A lot of these smaller Surahs
towards the end of the Quran start with the names of things and events used as
symbols of knowledge which is only known by Allah. Here it starts in the name of
figs and olives. Fig is the most approved of fruits and the most nutritious,
quick of digestion, having nothing redundant, and a very useful medicine. In
its early state, it is nothing but tiny seed, insipid and often full of worms
and maggots, but after full growth it is one of the finest, most delicious, and
most wholesome fruits in existence.
There is no fault in Allah's
creation and there is no stigma of original
sin. To man Allah gave intelligence, faculties of observation, judgement
and action with free will and discretion. As the chosen representative of Allah
man was exalted higher than the angels. Allah's creation is so perfect that
there is no room for any change or alternation. If man follows after evil,
rebels against Allah and uses his freedom of choice and action to violate the
laws made by Allah he is abased to the lowest possible position. Those who
retain the innate purity by realizing Allah's unity, submit to the laws of
Allah and lives a righteous life in this world, an unending life of bliss is
their reward.
Next comes Surah 96, Al-Alaq
(The Clot), the Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 19 verses in 1 section.
Surah 96, Al-Alaq (The Clot)
Section 1: The Prophet
commissioned to preach, verses 1-19
"Read: In the name of thy Lord
Who createth, Createth man from a clot.
Read: And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous, Who teacheth by the pen, Teacheth man
that which he knew not." (Verse 1-5)
"Lo! unto thy Lord is the return.
Hast thou seen him who dissuadeth A slave when he prayeth? Hast thou seen if he
relieth on the guidance (of Allah) Or enjoineth piety? Hast thou seen if he
denieth (Allah's guidance) and is froward? Is he then unaware that Allah
seeth?" (Verses 8-14)
Verse 1 was the very first recitation of the
Holy Quran by the Holy Prophet when it was first revealed to him by angel
Jibrail. He was commanded to recite that which he already knew - it was the
beginning of the gradual revelation. The mention of pen in verse 4 implies reading, writing, books, study
and research. Verse 5 refers to the growth of knowledge in
man whose origin is humble but he learns more and more day by day by means of
faculties granted to him by Allah. With the growth of knowledge, particularly
in the spiritual realm, his consciousness and awareness also develop.
Verses 8-14 are generally applicable to perverse
disbelievers who not only rebel against Allah's law, but also prevent others from
following it. In particular these verses refer to Abu Jahl, an inveterate enemy
of Islam, who used to insult and persecute the Holy Prophet and those who
followed his teaching.
Moving on to Surah 97, Al-Qadr
(The Power), this was revealed at Mecca with 5 verses in 1 section.
Surah 97, Al-Qadr (The Power)
Section 1: The Night of Qadr
"The Night of Power is better
than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the
permission of their Lord, with all decrees. (The night is) Peace until the
rising of the dawn." (Verses 3-5)
This oft-recited Surah in our
daily prayers talks about the revelation of the Holy Quran on Laylatul Qadr. The whole Quran
was revealed to the Holy Prophet in this night but he used to recite or convey
to the people only such passages or verses as he was commanded by Allah through
Jibrail. It is known as gradual revelation. We do not know the exact night in
Ramadhan and hence perform amaals from the 19th night onwards an all the odd
nights until the end of Ramadhan.
Next comes Surah 98, Al-Bayyina
(The Evidence). This Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 8 verses in 1 section.
Surah 98, Al-Bayyina (The
Evidence)
Section 1: Quran, the clear
evidence, verses 1-8
"Those who disbelieve among the
People of the Scripture and the idolaters could not have left off (erring) till
the clear proof came unto them, A messenger from Allah, reading purified pages
Containing correct scriptures." (Verses 1-3)
"And they are ordered naught else
than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright,
and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion. Lo!
those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will
abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings." (Verses 5-6)
The people of the book referred
to are the Jews and the Christians who were freed from their false beliefs when
the Holy Prophet, whose advent was clearly foretold in the Torah and the Bible,
brought the final book of Allah, the Quran, in this world. The people of the
book strayed from the true teachings of Musa and Isa. The polytheists and the
pagans did not believe in any scripture. When the Holy Prophet came with clear
evidence (his life, his character and his teachings) to them, all of them had
an opportunity to believe in Allah and follow His religion, Islam.
The Jews and the Christians
were commanded through their scriptures to worship Allah, sincerely devoted
only to Him. The people of the book were in a better position than the pagans
to recognise the truth of Islam, because they had been prepared for religion of
Allah by the revelations sent down on their Prophets; but, when the clear
evidence came in the Holy Prophet, they rejected it. To reject truth is the
worst sin a man, endowed with the ability to discriminate between right and
wrong and to use his free will, can commit. Therefore it will necessarily bring
its own punishment, because such a person is the worst of creatures.
Nearing the 100th Surah mark
with Surah 99, Az-Zalzala (The Earthquake). Surah 99 was revealed at Mecca and
has 8 verses in 1 section.
Surah 99, Az-Zalzala (The
Earthquake)
Section 1: Everyone shall see
his own deeds, verses 1-8
"That day she will relate her
chronicles, Because thy Lord inspireth her.
That day mankind will issue forth in scattered groups to be shown their deeds.
And whoso doeth good an atom's weight will see it then, And whoso doeth ill an
atom's weight will see it then." (Verses 4-8)
On the Day of Judgement, the
earth will divulge all the events that ever took place on her. The present
order will pass away, but the deeds done therein, even the most secret, will be
made known when Allah will give the command. The smallest deed, good or bad,
will be taken into account for reward or punishment. No one will be deprived of
the fruit of any good deed done by him, nor spared the punishment for the evil
deed committed by him.
We reach the 100th Surah of the
Holy Quran: Al-Adiyat (The Chargers). It was revealed at Mecca and has 11
verses in 1 section.
Surah 100, Al-Adiyaat (The
Chargers)
Section 1: Man's ingratitude to
God, verses 1-11
"Lo! man is an ingrate unto his
Lord And lo! he is a witness unto that; And lo! in the love of wealth he is
violent.
Knoweth he not that, when the contents of the graves are poured forth And the
secrets of the breasts are made known, On that day will their Lord be perfectly
informed concerning them." (Verses 6-11)
The disbeliever, by his
conduct, proves the charges of selfishness and ingratitude levelled against
him, because he rejects truth and wages war against the truthful. Dead bodies
from the graves, and closely guarded secret plots and evil thoughts from the
breasts of the resurrected men will stand forth before Allah on the Day of
Resurrection. Allah's knowledge is all-encompassing at all times. On the Day of
Judgement His knowledge will make manifest all secrets long forgotten or
blotted out from the memory of mankind; and the books of their deeds will make
known whatever they did in the world before the seat of judgement.
Moving beyond 100 to Surah 101,
Al-Qaari'a (The Calamity) which was revealed at Mecca. It has 11 verses in 1
section.
Surah 101, Al-Qaari'a (The
Calamity)
Section 1: Deeds weighed,
verses 1-11
"The Calamity!
What is the Calamity? Ah, what will
convey unto thee what the Calamity is!
A day wherein mankind will be as
thickly-scattered moths And the mountains will become as carded wool." (Verses 1-5)
"Then, as for him whose scales
are heavy (with good works), He will live a pleasant life. But as for him whose
scales are light, A bereft and Hungry One will be his mother, Ah, what will
convey unto thee what she is! - Raging Fire. (Verses 6-11)
A tremendous stunning noise
will be heard before the Day of Judgement. The whole of the present order of
existence will be overthrown. All our present landmarks will be lost. It will
inaugurate a new existence of true and permanent values, in which every human
deed will have its just recompense as if weighed in balance, as stated in
verses 6-9.
Continuing with Surah 102, At-Takaathur
(Competition) which was revealed at Mecca. It has 8 verses in 1 section.
Surah 102, At-Takaathur
(Competition)
Section 1: Exuberance engages
men, verses 1-8
"Rivalry in worldly increase
distracteth you Until ye come to the graves. Nay, but ye will come to
know!" (Verses
1-3)
"Nay, would that ye knew (now)
with a sure knowledge! For ye will behold hell-fire. Aye, ye will behold it
with sure vision. Then, on that day, ye will be asked concerning the
bounties." (Verses
5-8)
Exuberance engages man,
diverting him from the real object of life - to remember and turn towards
Allah. By the time of death it too much time has been spent on worldly affairs,
it shall be too late for Allah's blessings. "The
bounties" refers to the Holy Prophet and the Ahlul-Bayt.
Next comes Surah 103, Al-Asr
(The Declining Day) which was revealed at Mecca. It contains 3 verses in 1
section.
Surah 103, Al-Asr (The
Declining Day)
Section 1: To preach truth and
endurance, verses 1-3
"By the declining day, Lo! man is
a state of loss, Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one
another to truth and exhort one another to endurance." (Verses 1-3)
According to Imam Jaffer
as-Sadiq (as), "the
declining day" refers "to
the age when the living Imam of the Ahlul-Bayt, Muhammad bin Hasan al Mahdi al
Qa-im, will be commissioned by Allah to administer the society of all human
beings under the law of Allah prescribed in the religion of Islam."
Onto Surah 104, Al-Humaza (The
Traducer). It was revealed at Mecca and has 9 verses in 1 section.
Surah 104, Al-Humaza (The
Traducer)
Section 1: One who amasses
wealth, verses 1-9
"Woe unto every slandering
traducer, Who hath gathered wealth (of this world) and arranged it. He thinketh
that his wealth will render him immortal. Nay, but verily he will be flung to
the Consuming One." (Verses 1-4)
Piling up wealth, by not
spending it in the service of those who need it, is another vice condemned in this
Surah. The miser imagines that his wealth can prolong his life or protect him
from punishment. The slanderer shall be thrown into the fire. It is the fire of
the wrath of Allah, kindled by Him, "the
Consuming One," therefore shall not be extinguished by any one or any thing.
The fire will not only scorch the body but also destroy the soul. It will cover
them all over.
We are now down to the last ten
Surahs of the Holy Quran; starting with Surah 105, Al-Fil (The Elephant). This
Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 5 verses in 1 section.
Surah 105, Al-Fil (The
Elephant)
Section 1: The fellows of the
Elephant, verses 1-5
"Hast thou not seen how thy Lord
dealt with the owners of the Elephant? Did He not bring their stratagem to
naught, And send against them swarms of flying creatures, Which pelted them
with stones of baked clay, And made them like green crops devoured (by
cattle)?" (Verses 1-5)
This Surah narrates the story
of the Christian army led by Abraha who came to Mecca on elephants with the
intention of destroying the Holy Kaaba (prior to the birth of the Holy
Prophet). When the army entered Mecca, a large swarm of birds flew in from the
seacoast and pelted the army with "stones
of baked clay," killing them all. As their bodies were left on the ground,
soon they were consumed by the Earth and the cattle feed on the soil.
There are two lessons from this
narration. Firstly, the pagans of Mecca were forewarned that as the Holy
Prophet was superior to the Kaaba, Allah, who protects whatever is His own,
shall protect him from all their evil schemes. It is also a warning to men in
all ages that if a man intoxicated with power comes out to defeat Allah's holy
plan, he cannot prevail against Allah.
Next comes Surah 106, Quraysh
which was revealed at Mecca and has 4 verses in 1 section.
Surah 106, Quraysh
Section 1: The protection of
the Quraysh, verses 1-4
"For the taming of Qureysh. For
their taming (We cause) the caravans to set forth in winter and summer. So let
them worship the Lord of this House, Who hath fed them against hunger and hath
made them safe from fear." (Verses 1-4)
The Quraysh, among whom the
Holy Prophet was born, was a tribe held in great esteem, as the guardians of
the Kaaba, by the Arabs. They were the descendants of Prophet Ibrahim through
his son, Prophet Ismail. The custody of the sacred shrine of the Kaaba enabled
them to obtain covenants of security from the rulers of neighbouring countries
on all sides on account of which they travelled to Syria in summer, and to
Yemen in winter, to carry out their trade. This honour and advantage they
owed to their position as servants of the sacred house. They owed it to Allah.
It was therefore right and fitting that they should worship Allah alone and
accept as true the religion of Allah, Islam, brought by the Holy Prophet.
Moving on to Surah 107, Al-Maa'un
(Almsgiving). The Surah was revealed at Mecca and has 7 verses in 1 section.
Surah 107, Al-Maa'un
(Almsgiving)
Section 1: He who cares not for
prayer and withholds alms, verses 1-7
"Hast thou observed him who
belieth religion? That is he who repelleth the orphan, And urgeth not the
feeding of the needy.
Ah, woe unto worshippers Who are heedless of their prayer; Who would be seen
(at worship) Yet refuse small kindnesses!" (Verses 1-7)
Those who treat the helpless
with contempt and lead arrogant selfish lives will meet a great punishment in
the hereafter. More so for those who go on to forbid or discourage others from
performing any acts of charity. True worship does not consist in the mere
form of prayer, without the heart and mind being earnestly applied to seek the
pleasure of Allah. In Islam prayer is not a ritual.
We now get to Surah 108, Al-Kawthar
(Abundance), which is the shortest Surah of the Holy Quran. It was revealed at
Mecca and has 3 verses in 1 section.
Surah 108, Al-Kawthar
(Abundance)
Section 1: The abundance given
to the Prophet, verses 1-3
"Lo! We have given thee
Abundance; So pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice. Lo! it is thy insulter (and
not thou) who is without posterity." (Verses 1-3)
After the death of the Holy
Prophet's son as a baby, he was mocked by some for not having a male heir. This
Surah was revealed to give glad tidings to the Holy Prophet that abundance of
unbounded grace, wisdom and knowledge, mercy and goodness, spiritual power and
insight, and of progeny has been given to him. The Holy Prophet has said:"Kawthar
is a stream of super excellence, exclusively belonging to me. Only the
righteous believers (among my followers) will be allowed to drink from it. Ali
shall distribute the water from it to them. On the Day of Judgement I will see
some of my companions driven, like cattle, away from Kawthar. It will be
announced that they are those who, after my departure from the world, deviated
from the true religion and introduced innovations (based upon conjecture) to
corrupt the faith." In verse 3 it is said that the enemies of the
Holy Prophet and the Ahlul-Bayt will be lost in oblivion. It is a divine
prophecy.
Next comes Surah 109, Al-Kaafiroon
(The Disbelievers), which was revealed at Mecca with 6 verses in 1 section.
Surah 109, Al-Kaafiroon (The
Disbelievers)
Section 1: One's religion to
one's self, verses 1-6
"Say: O disbelievers! I worship
not that which ye worship; Nor worship ye that which I worship. And I shall not
worship that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. Unto
you your religion, and unto me my religion." (Verses 1-6)
Some of the leading
disbelievers of Mecca had proposed to the Holy Prophet a compromise between
Islam and their ancient faith such as they conceived it, so that their idols
might also have an honourable mention in the adoration of the worshippers. The
Holy Prophet resisted all appeals to worldly motives, and stood firm to his
message of eternal unity of Allah. This surah breathes a spirit of
uncompromising abhorrence to idolatry but at the same time confirms that no
force will be enacted on anyone to believe in the Holy Prophet's message (verse 6).
With five more Surahs left to
go, we have no. 110, An-Nasr (Divine Support). This Surah was revealed at Mecca
and has 3 verses in 1 section.
Surah 110, An-Nasr (Divine
Support)
Section 1: God's help brings
multitudes to God's religion, verses 1-3
"When Allah's succour and the
triumph cometh And thou seest mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops,
Then hymn the praises of thy Lord, and seek forgiveness of Him. Lo! He is ever
ready to show mercy." (Verses 1-3)
The pagans of Mecca opposed and persecuted the Holy Prophet from the very start
of his mission. After migrating to Madina, gradually all the people of Arabia rallied
round him and the bloodless conquest of Mecca was the conclusion of his patient
and constant striving in the cause of Allah. People hastened to offer their
allegiance to the religion of Allah. Delegations flocked from near and far to
offer obedience to the Holy Prophet. The expansion of Islam is the most
miraculous of all miracles. Polytheism yielded to monotheism.
Next we have Surah 111, Al-Lahab
(The Flame), which was revealed at Mecca and has 5 verses in 1 section.
Surah 111, Al-Lahab (The Flame)
Section 1: Abu Lahab cursed,
verses 1-5
"The power of Abu Lahab will
perish, and he will perish. His wealth and gains will not exempt him. He will
be plunged in flaming Fire, And his wife, the wood-carrier, Will have upon her
neck a halter of palm-fibre." (Verses 1-5)
Abu Lahab, the uncle of the
Holy Prophet, was a bitter and fierce opponent of Islam. He made it his
business to torment the Holy Prophet; and his wife, Umm Jumail, sister of Abu
Sufyan, took pleasure in carrying thorny bushes and strewing them in the sand
where she knew that the Holy Prophet was sure to walk barefooted, because of
which she is referred to as the bearer of the wood. Abu Lahab used to persuade
the people to throw stones at the Holy Prophet, whenever he passed the streets
of Mecca, by telling them that he was a mad man. The two hands he used to throw
stones at the Holy Prophet are cursed. A week after the battle of Badr, Abu
Lahab perished, consumed with grief and his own fiery passions. The angel of
death strangled his wife with the rope she used to wear around her neck. On the
Day of Judgement the fire of punishment like a rope of iron strongly twisted
will be put on her neck.
We not get to the three Khuls - the last three
Surahs of the Holy Quran, all seeking protection from Allah. Surah 112, Al-Ikhlaas
(Sincerity) is probably the second most recited Surah of the Holy Quran in our
daily prayers. It was revealed at Mecca and has 4 verses in 1 section.
Surah 112, Al-Ikhlaas
(Sincerity)
Section 1: Unity of God, verses
1-4
"Say: He is Allah, the One!
Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And
there is none comparable unto Him." (Verses 1-4)
The spirit of the absolute
unity of Allah is the foundation of the structure of the religion of Allah,
Islam. This Surah, which explains the unity of Allah, was revealed to give an
idea of what the Holy Prophet preached. Anthropomorphism, the tendency to
conceive God in the terms known to man, creeps in at all times and among all
peoples. Nothing or no being can be separated from the infinite supreme being
nor was there anything or being from which He was separated. So neither He begets
nor was He begotten. Therefore there cannot be any being like to Him.
The penultimate Surah of the
Holy Quran is Surah 113, Al-Falaq (The Dawn), which was revealed at Mecca and
has 5 verses in 1 section.
Surah 113, Al-Falaq (The Dawn)
Section 1: Seeking protection
of God, verses 1-5
"Say: I seek refuge in the Lord
of the Daybreak From the evil of that which He created; From the evil of the
darkness when it is intense, And from the evil of malignant witchcraft, And
from the evil of the envier when he envieth." (Verses 1-5)
This Surah is a prayer for
seeking divine protection from fears proceeding from visible as well as
invisible, known as well as unknown, physical as well as spiritual forces
emanating due to interaction of laws created by Allah. As everything is a
creation of Allah, nothing has the unchecked power to hurt man if he or she
seeks Allah's protection and takes refuge with Him.
Finally we get to the last
Surah of the Holy Quran. Surah 114, An-Naas (Mankind). It was revealed at Mecca
and has 6 verses in 1 section.
Surah 114, An-Naas (Mankind)
Section 1: Seeking refuge
aginst the Jinn and the men, verses 1-6
"Say: I seek refuge in the Lord
of mankind, The King of mankind, The god of mankind, From the evil of the
sneaking whisperer, Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind, Of the jinn and of
mankind." (Verses 1-6)
The prayer of the previous
Surah, al-Falaq continues in an-Naas. Man is asked to seek refuge with Allah
from the power of evil of Shaitan and his followers among jinn and men who
secretly whisper evil and then leave people to rebel against Allah and go
astray. For their emancipation and liberation Allah sent His messengers and
Prophets in every age. Therefore material and spiritual purification is not at
all possible unless man turns to his supreme Lord.
That concludes Chapter 30 and
with it the Holy Quran. What a month it has been and what an experience of
writing up each and every chapter, each and every day for the past 30 days. I
can honestly say that it has taken over my life. In that time I have only
touched the surface of the knowledge that is contained in the Holy Quran. There
is a lot more to come inshallah.
Thank you all for reading - I
don't know how many still are!
EID MUBARAK!
