Juz 21
- Revelation meant to be read, understood and implemented; establish prayer for it is a means of keeping one from evil and corruption (42-45)
- Etiquette and basis for inter-faith dialog laid out; Qur'an is a Divine message and a reminder while Prophet Muhammad is the admonisher. Believers who maintain faith are applauded (46-60).
- None can deny the intricate workings of the creation of Allah manifested in the diversity of His creation (60-63) ; life of this world is fleeting while the Hereafter is real living (64) and those who strive in Allah's way will find guidance to Allah's Path and Allah loves those who do good. (69)
{Surah al-?¢‚ǨÀúAnkabut concluded}
ar-Rum
This Makkan surah makes a historical reference to the Byzantine Romans in its opening; hence its title and the main theme revolves around the fact that truth eventually triumphs.
- It opens wit an accurate prediction of the Byzantine Roman at the hands of the Persians within a specified period. Reflect on the natural world, that all creation serves a purpose, study the history of civilizations before you and note that everything has a specified period of existence. Consider (1-27) how Allah?¢‚Ǩ¬¶
- grants life and revives nature
- created human beings
- created spouses from the same species and facilitated compassion in that relationship
- created variety of peoples and languages
- provides sleep as a means of rest
- facilitates the water cycle, o important for sustaining life
- Human beings are born with fitrah /a pure nature, and Islam is natural way of life that flow with the natural order of things. People are encouraged to keep the self in the best of natural states by being haneef /upright. Do not deviate from the good, the pure and the natural nor barricade yourselves into mutually exclusive groups. (30-32)
- Do not forget your experiences because of expediency, fulfill your social duties, be generous, indulge not in acts of economic exploitation, notice how corruption is widespread because of people's wrongdoings, and study history of peoples and reflect on the end result of their corruption (33-41)
- Reflect on workings of nature and note that the deniers of truth also look at the workings of nature, yet do not reflect on the higher issues. Make no invalid excuses and patiently persevere. (42-60)
Luqman
This Makkan surah is titled after an African sage who enunciates moral principles to his son. This surah sheds light on moral values that promote goodness and respect.
- Qur'an is a book of wisdom, a source of inspiration and guidance for those who have faith, those who establish prayer, promote economic welfare and are promised to be of the muflihun successful. (1-6)
- Reflect on the cosmos, the variety of animals, the operation of the water cycle, the growth of plants, all the effects of the command of the Creator. (7-11)
- Luqman advises his son ?¢‚Ǩ¬¶
- Begins moral sermon by laying stress on the central of all religious beliefs, tawhid / oneness of the Divine
- Obligation to humanity which begins with the closest of all human relationships; between parent and child (and more particularly mother and child)
- Gratitude to Allah and those who perform functions as agents of Allah )life that Allah grants flows into the world through parents)
- Human accountability and consciousness of the consequence of our deeds
- Establish prayer
- Command and engage in justice and goodness
- Prevent and shun evil and corruption
- Patiently persevere the trials of life
- Be humble(12-19)
- Reflect on how Allah has made creation available to the service and benefit of man and these ni'am /bounties are both zaahir /apparent and at times baatin /unrecognizeable. Note that whoever submits his whole self to Allah, and is a doer of good, has grasped indeed the most trustworthy hand-hold: and with Allah rests the Decision of all affairs .(20-22)
- Reflect on how natural law facilitates human development and is at the service of human needs (eg. wood floats on water and hence ships are made of floating material, making it possible for people to travel over large bodies of water). Take heed, reflect on various creation pf Allah and their operation, be aware of the approaching Day of Accountability. (23-32)
- Let not then this world beguile you, nor let the Deceiver deceive you concerning Allah. Indeed, the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah alone. It is He Who causes rainfall, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. No one knows what tomorrow will hold, nor does any one know in what land he is to die. Verily Allah alone is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (33-34)
As-Sajdah
This Makkan revelation; which takes its title from reference to the faithful who prostrate/ sajadah themselves when the sign of the Creator are conveyed to them, focuses mostly on belief and disbelief and with the success that comes with faith.
- Revelation is Divine, Prophet's are God's messengers, Allah is the Creator who has granted us tremendous capabilities which we do not always use effectively and for which we seldom show gratitude (1-9)
- The Hereafter is the most denied of the realities after denial of the Divine, and when the reality comes to pass people will wish they could come back to prepare for it. Believers humble themselves to God, are not mean but soft, remembering Allah, helping their with their possessions. (10-22)
- Prophet Moses was a messenger who conveyed Divine Guidance and was exemplary. Guides come and people turn away from such guides and look at the end result of those who opposed prophets like Prophet Moses. (23-30)
Al-Ahzaab
This Madinan revelation takes its name from the confederated tribes/ ahzaab , when under the instigation of the Banu Nadir tribe in Madinah, many of the Arab tribes formed themselves into a confederacy and marched on Madinah to wipe out the Muslims.
- Follow the guidance provided in the Qur'an, trust Allah and follow not the paths of hypocrisy. Note that superstitious, prejudicial and unjust customs must be abandoned. Be fair and realistic in your dispensing of inheritance. (1-6)
- The special relationship between the Prophet Muhammad and the Believers is mentioned as well as the mission of Prophets Noah (the first law-bearing Prophet), Abraham (the forefather of the present Judaic, Christian and Islamic traditions), Moses (the counterpart of Prophet Muhammad) and Jesus (the Messiah). (7-8)
- The events of the Battle of the Confederates are detailed, lessons are drawn, hypocrisy is revealed; while the favors of Allah are mentioned, the steadfastness of believers are lauded and the uswatun hasanah /outstanding example of the Prophet is highlighted. (9-27)