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| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [10-HR] नींद की दुआ, तस्बीह और कुरान। आरामदायक। सुखदायक । Sleep Duaa Tasbeeh Quran | عشر ساعات دعاء النوم تسبيح فاطمة الزهراء المعوذات | 26 Apr 2024 | 10:00:00 | |
[10 HR] इस शांतिपूर्ण पॉडकास्ट एपिसोड में, जिसका शीर्षक है "Sleep Duaa & Tasbeeh & Quran. Relaxing. Soothing | دعاء النوم وتسبيح فاطمة الزهراء والمعوذات," हम अपने श्रोताओं को एक सुखदायक ध्वनि परिदृश्य में ले जाते हैं जो मन को शांत करने और आत्मा को सुख देने के लिए डिज़ाइन किया गया है। इस एपिसोड में चुनिंदा दुआ (प्रार्थनाओं), फातिमा अल-ज़हरा की तस्बीह (भक्ति संबंधी जप) और कुरान के मु'अव्विदात (सुरक्षा के छंद) के सुखदायक पाठ प्रस्तुत किए गए हैं, जो रात्रि में आध्यात्मिक आराम के लिए आदर्श साथी हैं। जैसे ही आप रात को सोने के लिए तैयार होते हैं, इन पवित्र ग्रंथों की कोमल, गूंजती हुई ध्वनियों को आपको शांति और तनावमुक्ति में लिपटने दें, जिससे आध्यात्मिक शांति में लिपटी एक आरामदायक नींद फोस्टर हो। चाहे आप लंबे दिन के बाद विश्राम की तलाश में हों या सोने से पहले शांति का क्षण चाहते हों, इस एपिसोड को आपकी आरामदायक रात के लिए आध्यात्मिक सुख के सुखद आलिंगन में आपका मार्गदर्शक होने दें। In this tranquil episode of our podcast titled "Sleep Duaa & Tasbeeh & Quran. Relaxing. Soothing | دعاء النوم وتسبيح فاطمة الزهراء والمعوذات," we immerse our listeners in a serene soundscape designed to calm the mind and soothe the soul before sleep. Featuring a curated selection of Duas (prayers), Tasbeeh (devotional chants) of Fatimah al-Zahra, and soothing recitations of the Quranic Mu'awwidhat (verses of protection), this episode is a perfect spiritual companion for nighttime relaxation. As you settle in for the night, allow the gentle, reverberating sounds of these sacred texts to envelop you in peace and tranquility, fostering a restful sleep enveloped in spiritual well-being. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or seeking a moment of peace before drifting into slumber, let this episode be your guide to a restful night enveloped in the comforting embrace of spiritual serenity. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| नींद की दुआ, तस्बीह और कुरान। आरामदायक। सुखदायक । Sleep Duaa & Tasbeeh & Quran. Relaxing. Soothing | دعاء النوم وتسبيح فاطمة الزهراء والمعوذات | 23 Apr 2024 | 00:27:00 | |
इस शांतिपूर्ण पॉडकास्ट एपिसोड में, जिसका शीर्षक है "Sleep Duaa & Tasbeeh & Quran. Relaxing. Soothing | دعاء النوم وتسبيح فاطمة الزهراء والمعوذات," हम अपने श्रोताओं को एक सुखदायक ध्वनि परिदृश्य में ले जाते हैं जो मन को शांत करने और आत्मा को सुख देने के लिए डिज़ाइन किया गया है। इस एपिसोड में चुनिंदा दुआ (प्रार्थनाओं), फातिमा अल-ज़हरा की तस्बीह (भक्ति संबंधी जप) और कुरान के मु'अव्विदात (सुरक्षा के छंद) के सुखदायक पाठ प्रस्तुत किए गए हैं, जो रात्रि में आध्यात्मिक आराम के लिए आदर्श साथी हैं। जैसे ही आप रात को सोने के लिए तैयार होते हैं, इन पवित्र ग्रंथों की कोमल, गूंजती हुई ध्वनियों को आपको शांति और तनावमुक्ति में लिपटने दें, जिससे आध्यात्मिक शांति में लिपटी एक आरामदायक नींद फोस्टर हो। चाहे आप लंबे दिन के बाद विश्राम की तलाश में हों या सोने से पहले शांति का क्षण चाहते हों, इस एपिसोड को आपकी आरामदायक रात के लिए आध्यात्मिक सुख के सुखद आलिंगन में आपका मार्गदर्शक होने दें। In this tranquil episode of our podcast titled "Sleep Duaa & Tasbeeh & Quran. Relaxing. Soothing | دعاء النوم وتسبيح فاطمة الزهراء والمعوذات," we immerse our listeners in a serene soundscape designed to calm the mind and soothe the soul before sleep. Featuring a curated selection of Duas (prayers), Tasbeeh (devotional chants) of Fatimah al-Zahra, and soothing recitations of the Quranic Mu'awwidhat (verses of protection), this episode is a perfect spiritual companion for nighttime relaxation. As you settle in for the night, allow the gentle, reverberating sounds of these sacred texts to envelop you in peace and tranquility, fostering a restful sleep enveloped in spiritual well-being. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or seeking a moment of peace before drifting into slumber, let this episode be your guide to a restful night enveloped in the comforting embrace of spiritual serenity. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 38. Surah Sad | سورة ص | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:16:42 | |
The thirty-eighth chapter of the Quran was revealed in Mecca and like all Meccan chapters it emphasizes the fundamentals and basic concepts of Islam. Sad’s eighty-eight short verses discuss the Oneness of God, the Day of Judgment, and the previous prophets. It compares the arrogance of the unbelievers of Mecca to the arrogance found in previously destroyed nations, and with the arrogance of Satan. Verses 1 – 17 God swears an oathThis chapter begins with the Arabic letter sad. The use of one or more Arabic letters at the beginning of a chapter is a narrative device used in this and 28 other chapters of Quran. The reason and the meaning of this is the subject of much speculation, however the answer is known only to God. God swears an oath by the Quran, the book that serves a reminder to all of humankind. Those who disbelieve are occupied with nothing but arrogance and defiance. God has destroyed many generations before them for such arrogance and every one of them cried out in despair but it was too late. A warner has come to them (Meccan disbelievers) from among themselves but they do not accept this, and call him a liar or a magician. Why would the message be sent to him (Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) they think to themselves and say, did he turn all the gods into One God? Don’t believe him, hold fast to your religion, the religion of our forefathers. They doubt because they have not yet tasted the punishment. Do the disbelievers possess God’s treasures or have control over the heavens and the earth? If so let them ascend and dictate to God. They are just an armed alliance that will be crushed. The people of Noah, and Aad and Pharaoh denied their messengers. The people of Thamud, and Lot and Midian formed alliances against their messengers. They all called their messengers liars; God’s punishment was justified. They wait for nothing but a single blast heralding the Day of Judgement and they will wish that they could have their punishment in this life. Prophet Muhammad is advised to bear their words and be patient. Verses 18 – 29 DavidRemember God’s servant David, who sang the praises of God. He was joined by both the mountains and the birds. God strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom, sound judgment and discerning speech. There is a story of two litigants who climbed over a wall alarming David in his prayer chamber. They asked him to judge between them. David passed judgment and realized that he had been put into this position as a test from God. He sought forgiveness for any errors, such as fear and suspicion of the two men at the outset, and any mistakes in judgement he might have made, such as not being impartial in his judgement. God forgave David and reminded that he was a vicegerent on earth, who should rule with justice and not follow his own desires. Those who stray will face a severe punishment. The heavens and earth and all that is in between were not created without a purpose. Those who do well are not treated the same as the ones who do mischief. The blessed Quran has been sent down so that humankind can ponder its verses and learn a lesson from it. Verses 30 – 48 Solomon and JobGod gave David a son, Solomon; he was an excellent servant to God. He became obsessed with his beautiful racehorses and became distracted from remembering God. He realized his mistake and sent the horses from his sight. (Some scholars say that he slaughtered them). Solomon was tested and he became so ill that he was like a walking skeleton. Solomon repented and turned back to God. Solomon asked for forgiveness and more power than anyone else would ever have. God gave him power over the wind and the jinn. And remember God’s servant Job when he called out in distress because Satan had afflicted him with suffering. God gave him cool water and restored and multiplied the family members that had deserted him. God relieved Job of the oath he made to beat his wife by instructing him to strike her with blades of grass.[1] God’s servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were men of vision; Ishmael, Elisha and Dhul Khifl were outstanding among men. Verses 49 – 64 In the HereafterThis is a reminder, the gates of Paradise will open to the righteous and their provision will never end. In contrast, the rebellious and wrongdoers will burn in Hell with other punishments of various kinds. The followers will be thrown in after their leaders. Some will pray that their leaders be doubly punished and they will all wonder why the ones they used to ridicule were not there with them. The people of the Hellfire will continue to argue and blame one another. Verses 65 – 88 A conversationProphet Muhammad must tell them that he is only a warner and that there is no deity but God. He delivers a mighty message which they choose to ignore, and he has no knowledge of what is discussed in the heavens. Prophet Muhammad knows only what is revealed to him. The discussion was between God, the angels, and Satan. God told the angels that He was going to make a human being out of clay and that when he was done they should bow down before it. They did, all of them except Satan (sometimes called Iblees), because he was arrogant. Satan thought himself better than Adam (the human being) because he was made from fire rather than clay, so God banished and cursed him until the Day of Judgment. Satan asked for respite until that Day and he was granted. He swore to God that he would use the time to mislead all human beings except the ones that are sincerely devoted to Him. God told Satan to listen to the truth; He intended to fill Hell with Satan and all of his followers. Prophet Muhammad must tell the people that the Quran is a reminder and that he does not ask for any payment, nor does he pretend to be something other than a man with a message and a warning. In time, everyone will know that he speaks the truth. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 114. Surah al-Nas | سورة الناس | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:31 | |
This is the final chapter of Quran and it is the second in a pair of chapters that were revealed at the same time. These six short verses and the previous chapter are generally thought to have been revealed in Mecca, although there is some scholarly dispute about this. Their subject matter and themes are similar, and they are known together as the ‘chapters of refuge'. Both the final two chapters are used as invocations against evil. The title of this chapter is ‘The People’. It is named for the last word in the first verse where God refers to Himself as the Lord of all the people. At the end of chapter 113, we sought refuge from the harm caused by envy and jealousy and thus we move straight to chapter 114 where we are urged to seek refuge from the one who is the most jealous and causes the most jealousy and envy in the hearts of the people—Satan. The evils mentioned in the previous chapter are those that are out of our control. However, in this chapter, the evils are such that we are liable for them ourselves thus to a certain extent these are the greater evils. The final chapter begins with the same word as the two chapters before it. That word is ‘say’ or in the Arabic language Qul. Together chapters 112, 113, and 114 are known as the ‘three quls’. There are many authentic traditions from Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and his companions that recommend saying the final three chapters when seeking God’s protection throughout the day or the night. Thus in chapter 114, God says, when you seek refuge in Me say these words. Verse 1 - 3 The Lord, King, and GodGod is telling us to humble ourselves and ask Him for help. The word say is a command. Seek refuge, God says, in Me, the Lord, Master, and Protector of all the people, of all humankind. Seek refuge in the King, or Ruler of all the people. Here God is saying that He is the One with all the authority, therefore go straight to Him. There is no need for an intercessor or a person who can only solve a little bit of the problem. Go straight to the top. People tend to leave seeking the protection of God until the very last resort. That is not the way God intended. He is saying to us that He is the source of all protection and He is your first and only line of defence. He is the Master, the King and the God of all humankind. Seek your refuge with Him. God alone is the One who has all control, the only Ruler and the only Deity; there is no one apart from Him in which to seek refuge. Ask Him. In the first three verses, God mentions three of His attributes, the Lord, the King and the God (or Deity). The word Nas meaning all of the people, is also mentioned three times, this contributes to the rhythm of the chapter, stressing each point. One of the root words of the word nas is nasiyya - to be forgetful. One of the inherent traits of people is to be forgetful; thus this powerful and rhythmic chapter is a reminder to those of us who forget that God is our only refuge. In addition to this, God has given Satan the power to make people forgetful. Therefore God commands us to seek refuge in Him and then tells us who we are seeking refuge from. Verses 4 – 6 The whispererGod tells us quite clearly the identity of this slinking whisperer so that we are alerted and ever watchful. Satan is the one who is continually performing his role. He is obsessed with it and will not stop. We therefore need to be on our guard and ever vigilant because Satan will not cease his whispering and he is sneaky. He operates secretly, hidden away, whispering into the dark, and the dark recesses of our minds. We have however been warned; we know that the only way to overpower this threat is to seek refuge with God. This is a most powerful weapon. The only way to defeat Satan is to remember God and know that it is our faith that will strike down this whispering threat. Describing Satan as slinking is very significant because it indicates the intrinsic feebleness of Satan. He meekly withdraws when he is openly confronted. Satan places himself close to the heart of the believer and whispers but when the believer remembers God and seeks His protection, Satan steps back, he retreats. Satan can also transfer this task of distracting and whispering to others. God tells us in the last verse that evil whisperings can come from people as well as Satan and his ilk. The harmful thoughts, suggestions and whispers need not always be Satan; they can come through other people, other jinn and from evil circumstances that might commonly surround us. Thus this chapter not only protects us from the whispers of Satan, but also from the evil suggestions of our fellow humans. If you feel the whisperings of Satan or feel tempted by the actions of those around you calling you to evil, harmful or disobedient acts—recite this chapter, obey God and seek His protection. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 113. Surah al-Falaq | سورة الفلق | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:27 | |
Chapter 113 is the penultimate chapter in Quran and is the first in a pair of chapters that were revealed at the same time. Their subject matter and themes are similar and they are known together as the ‘chapters of refuge’. When Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was spreading the message of Islam, the opposition against him was becoming more and more intense. The disbelievers of Mecca were trying to disrupt the mission in any way they could including devising plots to harm and even kill Prophet Muhammad. God therefore instructs Prophet Muhammad specifically and the believers in general to seek refuge in Him from any source of fear, hidden or visible, known or unknown. The Daybreak is a very short chapter of just five verses. Its title is taken from the last word of the first verse. Al-falaq means a lengthwise division, fissure or cleft. When it is used with the word dawn it means the break of dawn. The chapter begins with the same word as the chapter before it and the one after it. That word is "say" or in the Arabic language Qul. Together chapter 112, 113, and 114 are known as the ‘three quls’. From the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, we know that there are many authentic sayings that recommend reciting these three chapters to seek God’s protection throughout the day or the night. Thus, in chapter 113 God begins, when you seek refuge in Me say these words. Verse 1 Seeking refuge with the Creator of everythingA deeper meaning of the word falaq is to create, or to bring into being. With reference to the fissure or the split it denotes that God is the one who splits the seed, bringing forth the living from the dead. God, the Lord of all creation brings light out of darkness. The sun, as it rises splits through the darkness of the night. Refuge is sought from the One who exposes everything hidden in the darkness and bestows safety by kindling the light of day. Verse 2 Refuge with God from all evilSeeking refuge in God is seeking refuge in the Supreme Power whom no evil can fight or oppose. It is refuge from not only the evils of the world but also the evils of the Hereafter. In some of the translations to English of this chapter you will find the following words, ‘from the evil of what He has created’. Some more modern translations have changed this to from the evil of created things in order to clarify that the evil is attributed to the created being who did it and not to God’s creative act, which is of course free from evil from all perspectives. Evil or that which contains evil is however a by-product of God’s creative act because He is the Creator of everything. Verse 3 Protection from the evil that comes out in the darknessVerse two was seeking protection from evil in general, now in verse three it becomes more specific. Particular types of evil come out from the darkness of the night. Criminals and the perpetrators of wickedness, wild animals, raiders and bandits, who plunder and destroy, all use the darkness to cover their approach. God commands us to seek refuge with Him from the evils and calamities which descend at night. We seek refuge with the Lord of the breaking dawn from the evils of the dark night. Verse 4 Protection from sorceryGod mentions this as the next great source of evil. It includes all forms of witchcraft and sorcery whereby they are deceived into acting or thinking in an unnatural way. There are many forms of witchcraft throughout the world and it almost always includes a belief that some people can influence others by certain rites, formulas or actions. The verse particularly refers to a form of witchcraft carried out by the women of Arabia at the time, tying knots in cords and blowing on them to cast spells. God is the ultimate Protector; no power is able to cancel His authority. Verse 5 Protection from jealousyThe evil of the envier is the third source of evil mentioned. Envy is the begrudging reaction a person feels towards another who has received blessings and bounties from God. It is a baseless grudge often accompanied by the wish that the favours cease. The Arabic word used here for envy is hasad which means destructive or malicious envy and it is one of the most destructive emotions a person can have towards his fellow human beings and can cause untold damage. This chapter covers the three most dreadful things that are able to harm people. The most important lesson that it teaches us is that if a person encounters these evils they must seek protection, but only from one place; from God Himself. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 112. Surah al-Ekhlas | سورة الإخلاص | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:18 | |
1. Say: “He is Allah, the Unique.” 2. “Allah, the Self-Sufficient.” 3. “He does not give birth, nor was He born.” 4. “And there is none equal to Him.” (1) Say: “He is Allah, the Unique.” This verse represents Allah’s own affirmation of His unique Monotheism, His inimitable Oneness. Thus, the first verse is a command to the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and whoever reads or recites this verse to affirm Allah’s Unique Oneness. He is one like whom there is no other. There are many unities in this world, but they all are not unique as each unity has others similar to them. For example, there is one Mount Everest, but there are other tall mountains similar to it. In the case of Allah, there is no other unity similar to Him. All other unities can be divided into parts, while Allah is unique in His Oneness and is as such indivisible. (2) Allah, the Self-Sufficient. Allah’s uniqueness is realized in His self-sufficiency. On the other hand, all created beings have ne eds and are dependent on others to fulfill their needs. Allah is not in need of any of His creation in any way, as nothing they can do can better or benefit His already perfect state. This attribute of self-sufficiency invites the believers to reflect on the purpose and the goals of their worship. Most people worship as if they are doing God a favor. The purpose of human creation is to worship Allah because all human beings have a need to worship Him. He has no need for or from them. Human beings need to worship and glorify God because obedience to divine law is the key to their success in both this life and the next. (3) “He does not give birth, nor was He born.” This verse describes another aspect of Allah’s Unique Oneness. False religions generally represent God in human terms by either giving Him human characteristics and or human form. This verse deals primarily with two distinct characteristics of human beings and other living creatures in general: coming into existence by being born and procreating by giving birth. “He (Allah) does not give birth,” because there is nothing similar to him. A child is made from portions (sperm and ovum) of the bodies of its parents which is why it is similar to its parents in form and characteristics. If God gave birth, there would be another god like Him, which His uniqueness has already negated. The Almighty also rejected the concept of having a child from the perspective that bearing offspring usually requires a female partner similar in form to the male. Allah also rejected offspring from the general perspective that it is not befitting, since to have a child would reduce him to the status of His creatures. This answers the question of those who claim that since it is agreed that God can do anything, He should be able to have a son if He wished. It is not befitting because it would make God like His creatures. Furthermore people have children out of a need for help to survive in this material world or out of the need for continued existence through one’s progeny.[1] By describing Himself as self-sufficient, Allah also negated this possibility. “Nor was He born” subtly rejects the notion that Jesus was God, because he was born. For God to be born, He must first have not existed, which contradicts the basic unique divine attribute of eternal existence. (4) “And there is nothing equal to Him.” Allah closes the chapter with a restatement of the opening verse. If God is unique, nothing can be equal to Him. If nothing is equal to Him, then He alone is unique. If He alone is Self-Sufficient and all creation is in need of Him, nothing in creation can be equal to Him. If He does not bear offspring, nor did anyone or anything give birth to Him, nothing or no one can be equal to Him as every created being came into existence after a period of non-existence. Every created being has something similar to it, called its pair, or something resembling it, called its equal. If the Creator were from one or other of these species He would have an equal and a similitude. Thus, this chapter contains the genealogy and description of God, the Most Merciful. It was revealed by Allah to refute beliefs attributed to Him by misguided people concerning His similitude, form, origin and offspring. For example, those who paint pictures or make statues of Allah are claiming similitude, those who worship others besides Him claim similitude, and those who attribute some parts of His creation to others besides Him claim similitude. However, nothing is similar to Him in His Attributes, His Dominion or His Divinity. Therefore, only He alone deserves to be worshipped by His creatures. Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allah (God), (the) One. (1) “Allah-us-Samad [Allah (God) the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. (2) “He begets not, nor was He begotten. (3) “And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” (4) (Quran 112:1-4) Interpretation(1) “Say” a decisive statement which you believe in and be aware of, “He is Allah (God), (the) One” which means, the oneness is confined to Him, He is the one who alone possesses perfection, Who has the most beautiful names and perfect supreme attributes,. He is unparalleled and matchless. (2) “Allah-us-Samad” [Allah the Self-Sufficient Master] whom all creatures need. All the inhabitants of the upper and lower world are in utmost need of Him. They ask Him for their needs, and seek Him for their concerns, because He is perfect in his attributes, He is the all-knowing whose knowledge is perfect, He is the most-forbearing whose forbearance is perfect, the most-merciful whose mercy is perfect. (3) And of his perfection that “He begets not, nor was He begotten” due to the perfection of his opulence [freedom of all needs] (4) “And there is none comparable to Him.” Neither in His names and attributes nor in His deeds. Far removed is He from every imperfection. So this Chapter establishes the oneness of God. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 111. Surah al-Masad | سورة المسد | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:33 | |
Abu Lahab was the uncle of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. Lahab means flames and hence he was nicknamed so because of the radiant look on his face. Together with his wife, Abu Lahab was one of the most hostile opponents of God’s Messenger and the ideas he propagated. Rabi`ah, son of `Abbad, recalls, "When I was young, I once watched, with my father, God’s Messenger preaching Islam to the Arab tribes, saying ‘O sons of... (calling their respective tribal names), I am God’s Messenger sent to order you to submit to, and worship Him alone, invoking nothing else beside Him, and to believe in me and protect me until I carry out what God has entrusted to me.’ A cross-eyed, bright-faced man was behind him, who used to say, after he had finished, ‘O sons of... this man wants you to forsake al-Laat and al-`Uzza (two idols worshipped by the pagan Arabs) and your allies of the jinn, the children of Malik ibn Aqmas, and to substitute for them these innovations and nonsense he has come up with. Do not listen to him, nor follow what he preaches.’ I asked my father who that man was and he told me that it was Abu Lahab, the Prophet’s uncle." His wife, Arwa bint Harb ibn Umayyah gave him unfailing support in his virulent, relentless campaign. One day the Prophet went out to a large square in Mecca, climbed a hill and summoned the people of the Quraysh. When they came to him, he addressed them, saying, ‘Were I to tell you that an enemy is drawing near and will attack you tomorrow morning or evening, would you believe me?’ ‘Yes,’ they replied. ‘O listen to me,’ he went on, ‘I am warning you of (God’s) gruesome torment.’ Abu Lahab was there and snapped at him, ‘Damn you! For this have you called us?’ Then this chapter was revealed. Another instance was when the clan of Hashim, Prophet Muhammad’s own clan, under Abu Ţalib’s leadership, decided on grounds of tribal loyalty to protect the Prophet despite their rejection of the religion he preached. Abu Lahab was the only one to take a different stand. Even though he belonged to the same clan, he joined with the opposing Quraysh instead, and was with them in signing the document imposing a complete social and business boycott on the clan of Hashim to starve them out unless they delivered the Prophet to them. Abu Lahab also ordered his two sons to renounce Muhammad’s two daughters to whom they had been engaged before Muhammad’s prophetic assignment. His aim was to burden the Prophet with their living and welfare expenses. Thus, Abu Lahab and his wife, Arwa, who was also called Umm Jameel, continued with their persistent onslaught against the Prophet and his message. The fact that they were close neighbors of the Prophet made the situation worse. We are told that Umm Jameel used to carry thorns and sharp wood and place them along the Prophet’s path. This chapter was revealed as a counterattack against Abu Lahab’s and his wife’s hostile campaign. God took it upon Himself to say the final word on behalf of His Messenger. Verses 1-3 The punishment of Abu LahabThe Arabic term, tabba, rendered as ‘doomed’ also signifies failure and cutting off. The term is used twice in two different senses. It is used first as a prayer, while in the second instance it implies that the prayer has been already answered. So, in one short verse, an action is realized which draws the curtains upon a battle scene. What later follows is merely a description of what took place with the remark that "his wealth and his gains shall avail him nothing." (Verse 2) He can have no escape. He is defeated, vanquished and damned. This was his fate in this world, but in the Hereafter "he shall have to endure a flaming fire." (Verse 3) The fire is described as having flames in order to emphasize that it is raging. Verses 4-5 The punishment of his wife"And his wife, the carrier of firewood," will reside there with him having "a rope of palm-fiber round her neck," with which, as it were, she is being dragged into Hell, or which she used for fastening wood bundles together, according to whether a literal or metaphorical interpretation of the text is adopted. The language of this chapter achieves remarkable harmony between the subject matter and the atmosphere built around it. Hell, with its fiercely burning lahab, or flames, will be inhabited by Abu Lahab. At the same time his wife, who collects thorns and sharp woods, materials which can significantly increase the blaze, will be met with the same fire with a rope tied round her neck, bundled like firewood. How perfectly matched are the words and the pictures portrayed: the punishment is presented as being of the same nature as the deed: wood, rope, fire and lahab! May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 110. Surah al-Nasr | سورة النصر | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:28 | |
This chapter is believed to be one of the last revealed and thus the majority of Islamic scholars believe it to have been revealed in Medina. Its title, The Help, is taken from the word ‘help’ (nasr) that occurs in the first of three verses. When we read the chapters of the Quran chronologically we find that this chapter is directly connected to both the previous and the following chapters. In the previous chapter ‘The Disbelievers’ (Al-Kafirun), Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, is told to separate completely from the people of Mecca who refused to embrace Islam. In ‘The Help’ Prophet Muhammad and those who followed him are guaranteed victory. The word deen in the previous chapter often translated to mean religion can also be translated to outcome. The outcome will be that a person will experience the consequences of their actions. The consequence for Prophet Muhammad and the fledgling Muslim nation, we are told in ‘The Help’, is victory, in this world and the next. The chapter that follows ‘The Help’ is ‘The Palm Fibre’ where we see that the consequence for those who disbelieve is a flaming fire, quite a different outcome altogether. Verse 1 The victory belongs to GodIn the Arabic language there are several words for help and they are used throughout the Quran. They all have slightly different shades of meaning. This particular word nasr (help) is used for the kind of help that is used to overpower an aggressor or oppressor. It is not help moving furniture or digging a vegetable garden. If we say the (nasr) help of God, we know that it is tremendous and incomparable. This victory is usually believed to be the conquest of Mecca. When Prophet Muhammad returns to Mecca as a conqueror it is a nonviolent conquest and thus a particularly amazing victory. However, many scholars believe that the word victory here does not mean that one particular victory but many victories proving that God is the supreme power in Arabia and beyond. Interestingly many of the people of Mecca and the surrounds were waiting for the Prophet to achieve some victory before following him. God prophesises victory in this chapter and thus those who hung back were now having second thoughts. God is telling Prophet Muhammad that when His tremendous help arrives there is nothing that will be able to stop or over power him. Verse 2 The message is clearAfter the conquest of Mecca, the Arab tribes that had resisted embracing Islam, the ones that were waiting for a victory, began to flock to Prophet Muhammad to pledge allegiance to God and to the religion of Islam. Up until this time Prophet Muhammad was often filled with grief and emotional pain. Although God had assured him otherwise Prophet Muhammad always felt as if he was responsible for everybody. If they refused to believe and ended their lives in that state, he was sad and wished he had done more to save them. In this chapter God is assuring Prophet Muhammad that he will see crowds of people accepting Islam. God is saying that he will see these large groups in his lifetime. Not just one person here and there but whole extended families and tribes, and not just a couple of tribes but many. Prophet Muhammad seeing crowds of people entering Islam is not restricted to only those who entered Islam during his lifetime. We know from many of his traditions that he saw the large number of believers that will stand gathered behind him on the Day of Judgment. This verse however reassured Prophet Muhammad, eased his grief and had a very deep and profound impact on his personal life. Verse 3 How to seek forgivenessProphet Muhammad and his followers are told to feel reassured, be calm, glorify and praise God. The victory is God’s Alone. There was never any doubt that it would end this way. Stay close to God, glorify Him, then praise Him and after this, seek His forgiveness because He is always ready to forgive. It is well reported in the traditions of Prophet Muhammad that after this chapter was revealed he increased his worship of God by spending longer hours praying, glorifying and praising Him, and seeking forgiveness many times a day. His personal habits changed because of this verse. Following the instructions in this chapter and emulating the behaviour of Prophet Muhammad is the key to making supplication to God. It is also related in numerous authentic traditions that this chapter had great personal impact on many of the companions of Prophet Muhammad. Many of them recognised that this revelation meant that Prophet Muhammad had completed his mission. Throughout the stories of the prophets it is clear that once the mission is completed, the lifetime of the prophet is at an end. Many of the companions were profoundly affected and this chapter reduced them to tears of grief. These three short verses hold a wealth of information and knowledge that we have only just touched on in this summary. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 109. Surah al-Kafiroon | سورة الكافرون | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:44 | |
Although the Arabs before Islam did not deny God altogether, they did not know Him by His identity as the One and the Eternal. They neither showed any true understanding of God, nor worshipped Him properly. On the contrary, they ascribed to Him, as partners, idols that were supposed to represent their great and pious ancestors or, in some cases, the angels whom they claimed to be God’s daughters. Moreover, they alleged a kinship between Him and the jinn. In spite of their belief in God, the polytheism they entertained fouled their concepts, traditions and rites to the extent that they assigned to their alleged deities a portion of their earnings and possessions, and even their offspring. When Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, declared his religion to be that of Abraham, they argued that there was no reason for them to forsake their beliefs and follow his instead, since they too were of the same religion. In the meantime, they sought a sort of compromise with him proposing that he should prostrate himself before their deities in return for their prostration to his God, and that he should cease denouncing their deities and their manner of worship in reciprocation for whatever he demanded of them! This confusion in their concepts, vividly illustrated by their worship of various deities while acknowledging God, was perhaps what led them to believe that the gulf between them and Prophet Muhammad was not unbridgeable. They thought an agreement was somehow possible by allowing the two camps to co-exist in the region and by granting him some personal concessions! To clear up this muddle, to cut all arguments short and to firmly distinguish between one form of worship and the other, and indeed between one faith and the other, this chapter was revealed in such a decisive, assertive tone. Verses 1-5 The believers denounce the disbeliever’s false godsFollowing one form of negation, assertion and emphasis after another, the chapter sets its message in absolute clarity. It starts with the word, ‘Say,’ which denotes a clear divine order stressing the fact that the whole affair of religion belongs exclusively to God. Nothing of it belongs to Prophet Muhammad himself. Moreover, it implies that God is the only One to order and decide. Address them, Prophet Muhammad, by their actual and true identity: "Say: Unbelievers!" (Verse 1). They follow no prescribed religion, nor do they believe in you. No meeting point exists between you and them anywhere. Thus, the beginning of the chapter brings to mind the reality of difference which cannot be ignored or overlooked. The verses make it as clear as the shining sun that no comprise is possible in any way or form, with the disbelievers, in matters of worship. According to some scholars, the repetition in these verses is for emphasis. Others say that the repetition serves to negate the repeated propositions from the leaders of the Quraysh that the Prophet mix his religion with theirs (Quran 39:64). Another opinion is that the different statements refer to the present and the future, as if to say, "I do not now worship what you worship; nor are you now worshippers of what I worship; nor will I ever be a worshipper of what you worship; nor will you ever be worshippers of what I worship." Verse 6 Belief and disbelief and religious pluralismFinally, the whole argument is summed up in the last verse: "You have your own religion, and I have mine," meaning that you, unbelievers, and I, Muhammad, are very far apart, without any bridge to connect us. This is a complete distinction and a precise, intelligible demarcation. Such an attitude was essential then in order to expose the fundamental discrepancies in the essence, source and concepts of the two beliefs, i.e. between monotheism and polytheism, faith and unbelief. Faith is the way of life which directs man and the whole world towards God alone and determines for him the source of his religion, laws, values, criteria, ethics and morality. That source is God. Thus, life proceeds for the believer, devoid of any form of idolatry. Idolatry on the other hand is the opposite of faith. The two never meet. On the one hand, this verse is a criticism, but on the other, it implies that believers should not argue with disbelievers, but simply leave them to their own devices, for God will deal with them accordingly. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 108. Surah al-Kawthar | سورة الكوثر | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:21 | |
This chapter exclusively concerns Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, seeking to cheer him up and assure him of happier prospects in his struggle. It represents a glimpse of his life and the course of his mission in the early period at Mecca. In it God threatens his enemies with destruction while directing the Prophet to the path of thanksgiving. It deals with the plots and insults directed against him and the divine message he conveys. The chapter is an example of God’s protection of His servant, Prophet Muhammad, and the few who followed him and believed in God. BackgroundAmong the people of the Quraysh, the Arab tribe which controlled Mecca, there were some folks who viewed the Prophet and his mission with a degree of antagonism. They would resort to taunts against him to deter the people from listening to the divine message which he was trying to convey. They said about the Prophet that he was a man with no posterity, referring to the death of his sons. One of them once remarked, "Do not be bothered with him; he will die without descendants and that will be the end of his mission." Such taunts had a wide impact on the Arab society of the time which set great premium on sons. Such teasing delighted the Prophet’s enemies and undoubtedly was a source of sadness and irritation to his heart. This chapter was therefore revealed to comfort the Prophet and assure him of the abiding and profuse goodness which God had chosen for him and of the deprivation and loss awaiting his persecutors. Verse 1 God’s blessings on Prophet MuhammadThe word used in the chapter and rendered as ‘abundance’ is derived from the stem word which signifies ‘a multitude’. It indicates the opposite meaning to the one the impudent Quraysh tried to attach to the Prophet. We have given you that which is plentiful, overflowing and rich, unstinting and unending. Verse 2 Commanding the Prophet to be sincere in worshipping God and offering sacrifice to Him aloneHaving assured the Prophet of this munificent gift, which disproves what the calumniators and wicked schemers say, God directs the Prophet to be completely and sincerely thankful to Him for His bounty. He is to devote himself to Him alone in worship and ritual slaughter, taking no heed whatsoever of any form of idolatry and refusing to participate in the worship rituals offered by idolaters, especially when they invoke anyone other than God in their offerings. Islam frequently lays emphasis on the pronouncing of God’s name when slaughtering animals. It prohibits anything that is consecrated to any other being, which indicates the importance Islam attaches to the purification of human life from all forms of idolatry and all that leads to it. Because it is based on the principle of God’s oneness in its purest sense, Islam does not aim merely at purifying human imagination and conscience. It pursues idolatry in all its manifestations, striving to eliminate its marks in man’s consciousness, worship rituals and general behavior. Life, Islam says, is one indivisible entity and must be treated as such. It must be cleansed inside out and completely oriented towards God, in all its aspects: worship, tradition and social behavior. Verse 3 God defends His ProphetIn the first verse, God specified that Muhammad was not the one who had no posterity but, on the contrary, was the one endowed with abundance. In this verse, God throws back the taunt on those who hated and reviled the Prophet. Indeed, God’s promise has come true, for the influence and legacy of Muhammad’s enemies were short-lived, while his impact on human life and history has grown and deepened. Today we are witnessing the truth of this divine pronouncement as clearly as no one among those addressed by the Quran for the first time ever did or imagined. Faith and goodness cannot be barren. Their influence is both profound and deep-rooted. By contrast, falsehood, error and evil may grow and spread quickly, but they ultimately come to nothing. God’s criteria are different from the criteria laid down by man. Men are often deceived when they vainly believe their sense of judgement to be the criterion. Before us is the eloquent and enduring example of the Prophet. Of what value or interest to humanity have Muhammad’s slanderers and foes been to anyone? On the other hand, calling others to the religion of God, to truth and goodness, can never be called futile. Neither can the righteous and the true be called deprived or cut off. How can it be, when this message itself comes from, and is supported by, God, the Immortal, the Eternal? But deprived and sterile indeed are disbelief, error and evil as are their votaries, however strong and widespread they may appear to be at any moment. God affirms the truth; wily opponents are but liars! May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 107. Surah al-Ma'oon | سورة الماعون | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:42 | |
The majority of the scholars of Islam agree that this chapter was revealed in the city of Mecca. Revelation in the early years of Islam before the migration was mainly concerned with establishing faith and the basic beliefs of Islam; The Oneness of God, His signs and evidences, the prophethood of Muhammad and the final Judgement. This chapter is concerned with two of the core teachings of Islam, how you pray and how you give. These two things show your connection to the Hereafter and whether or not you believe with certainty in the judgment of God. This chapter is named after the final words of the final verse. A small action apparently insignificant but holding much weight in the eyes of God. Verses 1-3 Those who deny the JudgmentGod is asking the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, did you see these people lying about the religion; denying the judgment? They go about their sinful ways refusing to accept that they will be called to account. They are recognizable by the way they act. They are those who drive away the orphans, the most vulnerable of any society. In essence God is asking us to look around us and see those who deny any sort of judgement or recompense for their behavior. If you only care about yourself and your position in this world it is easy to push away those that need help. If you deny the judgement then there is no need to care for those less fortunate. Not only do those who deny the recompense push away and ignore the poor, they also refuse to encourage or inspire others to help those in need. They do not encourage feeding the poor. In the time of the Prophet the leaders of Meccan society trampled on the rights of the poor and desolate. Today we can see their like in the politicians and leaders of communities who refuse to take care of the most defenceless members of any society. Looking after the weak, feeding the poor is not something that they encourage and on the Day of Judgement they will be judged harshly. It is the right of the poor to be fed and looked after by those who have the means to do so. In this chapter God shows the connection between denial of the recompense and bad behavior. He also goes further by connecting prayer with behaviour. Verses 4-7 Those who are heedless in prayer.Verse four demands our attention. Woe to those who pray. The person reading this verse immediately thinks, "Me? Is this referring to me? I pray." It is referring to those who are heedless in their prayer; those who deliberately delay their prayer or move through the positions of prayer like a chicken plucking at the ground for food, or those who pray whilst wishing that the prayer would be over. They might execute the prayer but their hearts are hard and do not open up to the essence and purpose of prayer. There are some people who pray only because it is an obligation; otherwise it would have no place in their hearts or their lives. This admonition does not include those who fall short in their prayer but nevertheless struggle to keep their thoughts focused. Nor does it include those who are forgetful or plagued by whisperings. It includes those who deny their own need for prayer and those who would do anything rather than rise up to pray when the call is given. These people are also recognizable by their behavior. They make a show of their religious obligations but refuse to help others. They want others to view them as good religious people but are careless about how God views them. They resist showing even the smallest kindness to others. Their prayers have not affected their hearts or behavior. Their hearts are hard. In this chapter God is telling us the two things that will soften our hearts; prayer and charity. These two things are intertwined. This chapter talks about crimes against people and crimes against God. If a person refuses to acknowledge that it is the right of the poor and the needy to be helped, then it stands to reason that he also refuses to give God His rights, specifically the right to be worshipped. People who fit this description are so self-centred that they refuse to do even the smallest acts of kindness, things that you would not miss or even think about again such as a smile. Our actions have consequences and the most important of all consequences will become clear on the Day of Judgment. God is telling us clearly how to avoid a disastrous outcome on that fateful Day. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 106. Surah Quraish | سورة قريش | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:33 | |
The title of this four-verse chapter is Quraish which refers to the tribe of Quraish mentioned in the first verse. The Quraish was the ruling tribe in Mecca at the time of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. They were a tribe of merchants and were the custodians of the Kaba. The Quraish was made up of ten main clans including Hashim, the clan to which the Prophet belonged. The chapter Quraish was revealed in Mecca and has a particularly close association with the previous chapter The Elephant (Al-Fil). In chapter 105, The Elephant, God defeats the threat to Mecca from the Yemini King Abrahah, thus in Chapter 106, Quraish, the trading and trading journeys carried out by the tribe of Quraish are secure. In fact, some of the early Muslims regarded these two chapters as one chapter. However, when compiling the Quran for future generations the scholars of the time set chapters 105 and 106 down as two separate chapters. Regardless of whether they are one or two chapters there is little doubt that the latter is a continuation of the former. Verses 1 & 2 Safety and securityGod begins this chapter saying, for the convenience of the Quraish, and to secure their winter and summer journeys. This implies that God destroyed the army of Abrahah for their benefit. The Meccans relied heavily on the trade with Yemen and therefore if Abrahah had been successful he would either have taken over their business or would have prevented them from entering Yemen. Thus both the winter and summer trade journeys were secured. The Quraish sent caravans to Yemen in winter and to Syria in the summer. They were able to travel throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond in relative peace and security. They established themselves along the breadth of the two routes and were met with generosity and admiration. The security of the Quraish also meant security for the Kaba, which is the focal point of Islam. The Quraish were the custodians of the Kaba. As their position in the land was raised, due to God’s favor and their trading expertise, the Kaba became safe from the usual marauding and plundering that took place across the Peninsula. The Quraish found themselves in an exclusive position with a guaranteed means of sustenance. This security was a direct result of their custodianship of the Kaba; its sanctity is ordained and preserved by God. Thus it could be said that for the sake of Islam God destroyed the Army of the Elephant and in doing so secured the future of the Quraish. Verses 3 & 4 Worship and be gratefulSo let them worship the Lord of this house, the Kaba. He is the One who provides them with food to ward of hunger and provides them with safety to ward off fear. God reminds the Quraish of the blessings He provided for them. God provided them with food. Their land is barren and infertile, they would have starved if God had not provided them with a means by which to feed and support themselves. The life of the Quraish could have been one of fear and apprehension but God granted them security and allayed their fears. These two verses serve as a reminder to the Quraish that their custodianship of the Kaba has a great effect on their lives. It was also an admonition exhorting them to worship God in the way that He expects and deserves. When Prophet Abraham had completed the rebuilding of the Kaba, he prayed that He make this place a city of peace and sustain its inhabitants with the fruits of the earth. God answered the prayer of Prophet Abraham, however, despite this many of the Quraish were not thankful or grateful to God and still others were polytheists. It is as if God is saying if you cannot be grateful for all the blessings God has bestowed on you at least show some gratitude for this one huge favor, namely sustenance and security. The Quraish should have been gratefully worshipping their Lord, the Lord of the Kaba, the one who provided them with sustenance and security. Their land was only a desert but it provided them with a livelihood, and God protected them from all their enemies even their most formidable foe Abrahah. Instead of being grateful the Quraish persistently spoke and acted against Prophet Muhammad and the message he preached. This chapter is a clear admonition to the Quraish and a warning that God could, if He so desired, destroy them as thoroughly as He had destroyed and humiliated the Army of the Elephant. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 105. Surah al-Feel | سورة الفيل | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:38 | |
Chapter 105 entitled The Elephant consists of five short verses. It was revealed in Mecca and scholars deduce from its historical background that it was revealed in the very earliest days of revelation. When Islam was first presented to the people of Mecca they were all non-believers. Although it was revealed for all people in all times, the Meccans were the first to hear the message. Yes they believed in God but had put intermediaries between themselves and God. The early revelations taught the people that God was One; He has no intercessors, partners or associates. The Elephant refers to a very famous incident that took place in the Arabian Peninsula in the same year Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was born. It demonstrates how God protected the land that was to become the focal point of the last revelation. It is described briefly because it was an event still clear in the minds of those living in Mecca and the surrounding areas. The entire city had to be evacuated because of the coming aggression. Various historical reports tell us that the Abyssinians had expelled the Persians from Yemen. They established their rule there under the Abyssinian governor Abrahah. He established a splendid and expensive church in his capital because he had witnessed the love and enthusiasm the Yemeni Arabs had for their Holy House at Mecca, and he hoped to entice them away from there and to his capital at Sa’na. If the Arabs preformed the pilgrimage in Sa’na instead of Mecca, it would divert the economic benefits to Yemen. This did not eventuate and Abrahah was furious. He formed an army, which included thirteen elephants, with the intention of demolishing the Holy House. On his expedition he succeeded in defeating all the Arab armies until he reached Mecca. As Abrahah’s armies approached the city, God intervened. It is said that the lead elephant sat down and refused to move towards the city. The elephant trainers tried all they could to make the elephant move but he refused. When he was encouraged to move in a different direction the elephant cooperated but when turned towards Mecca he refused. Verse 1 The Army of the ElephantGod addresses Prophet Muhammad, asking him, have you not seen how your Lord (God) dealt with the Army of the Elephant? God is asking Prophet Muhammad, don’t you remember, don’t you realise? The punishment of God is not limited to the Hereafter and this event is an example that God can inflict punishment at any time. This question also draws the reader’s attention to the incident and thus stresses its great significance. This incident was so well known to the Arabs that the year in which it occurred came to be known as the Year of the Elephant, and they used to use it to describe various lengths of time. It was as if it was their calendar. For example they would say this thing happened in the year of the Elephant or it happened two years before the year of the Elephant. And this was also the year in which Prophet Muhammad was born. Verse 2 FutilityNext God abbreviates the well-known story in the form of a rhetorical question. Did He (God) not cause their treacherous plan to be futile? Any plans made by the People of the Elephant were useless and incapable of achieving their desires because their plans were not God’s plans. Although they set out with a destination and an outcome in mind they were like people lost and wandering, their destination was out of reach. The Meccans were too weak to face the aggressors but God took it upon Himself to protect His Holy House. He reduced their nefarious plans to nothing. Verses 3 – 4 Flocks of birdsThe Quran then brilliantly portrays how the aggressors were defeated. God sent against them flocks of birds that pelted them with pebbles of sand and clay. Islamic historians say that the birds were of all different kinds, some never seen in that area before. In addition to this they came from every direction. Those who could remember the event described the birds as filling all of the sky, as far as they could see. The birds did not each throw one pebble; they had pebbles in their beaks and in each of their claws and they fell like rain, one after the other. The pebbles were thrown from such a height that it is said that they went straight through their skulls. This event suggests that God did not want the responsibility for protecting His House to be taken out of the hands of the Meccans. He directly intervened to repel the aggression by a stronger force. God was preparing the way for His religion before the birth of Prophet Muhammad and long before he began to spread the message. Verse 5 DevastationThis is followed by a vivid image describing the aggressors as being devoured like dry leaves. In other translations they are described as looking like the windblown died straw that animals chew on. After being pelted by the pebbles the army was completely demolished. God has the power to destroy His enemies with the most unlikely of weapons. AfterwordIslamic historians tell us that Abrahah survived the attack and fled back to Sa’na. By the time he arrived his body looked as if it was diseased, with wounds everywhere and skin falling off. Normally when an army is defeated they make plans to avenge that defeat but the condition of Abrahah meant that they were severely afraid to return to the area. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 37. Surah al-Safat | سورة الصافات | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:16:37 | |
Those Ranged in Rows was revealed in Mecca. Those chapters revealed before the migration to Medina tended to concentrate on monotheism; the Oneness of God. This one is no exception and thus establishing a firm faith is its aim. In 182 short verses this chapter also covers other issues; it affirms the Prophethood of Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and refutes pagan beliefs. Verses 1 – 10 God is OneThree groups are mentioned in the form of an oath confirming God’s Oneness. The first are angels standing in rows, the second are the angels that reprimand and thirdly those angels that recite God’s words. God then mentions something about Himself that attests to His Oneness that He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is in-between including every point from which the sun rises. God has fortified the sky closest to the earth with celestial bodies that guard against the devils who try to eavesdrop on the conversations of the angels. They are attacked from all sides with flaming meteors. Verses 11 – 39 The disbelieversThe Prophet is then instructed to question the disbelievers of Mecca about whether they considered their own creation to be more difficult or the creation of the heavens, earth and all creation in the universe. The Prophet marvels that humankind was made from clay but the disbelievers mock and call him a sorcerer, once again denying the Resurrection. It is an undeniable fact that after just one shout they will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment. The angels are ordered to gather the disbelievers and wrongdoers together and drive them towards Hell. Along the way they will be questioned about why they did not help each other towards the truth. The disbelievers will accuse their deities who are also being ushered along but they will deny any power over the disbelievers. It does not matter because on this day they will be partners in the punishment meted out. They denied God and the message and will get what they deserve. Verses 40 – 74 Paradise or Hell?The happiness and bliss that God’s true servants will experience in the gardens of delight is described, including flowing rivers of wine and beautiful companions. The inhabitants of Paradise will converse with each other. One person will ask about a friend who did not believe and will be able to see him in the midst of the Fire. Then they will realize how blessed they are for they have achieved the supreme triumph. This should be everyone’s goal. To contrast the difference between Paradise and Hell, God asks what is better this (the Gardens of Delight) or the Zaqqum tree? This tree growing devils’ heads in the midst of the Fire will be the food of those in Hell together with scalding water to drink. The disbelievers made fun of a tree growing in a fire but it will become their reality because they followed their forefathers into disbelief even though they were warned. Listen to what happened to those before you. Verses 75 – 148 Scenes from the pastProphet Noah is given as an example of how well God rewards the righteous. Noah was a believer and God saved him and his people from great distress. The non-believers were warned but they made the wrong choice, then they were drowned. Prophet Abraham was also a man of faith, devoted to God. He asked his father and his people why they worshipped false gods. When his people were going for the festival, Abraham said he felt ill and stayed behind. He went to their temple and asked the carved gods questions, why do you not eat why do you not speak. They did not reply so he pushed them over. Abraham’s people were angry and intended to burn him in fire but God had a different plan and kept him safe. Prophet Abraham left trusting God to guide him to a better place. He asked for more, a righteous son which God provided. When the boy (Ishmael) was old enough to work with his father, Abraham had a troubling dream in which he was called upon to sacrifice Ishmael. He told Ishmael and they both were willing to submit to God’s will. Abraham put Ishmael upon the stone but God called out for him to stop. It was a test and Abraham passed it due to his complete submission to God’s command. Abraham is remembered by the following generations as a righteous man. He was given news of another righteous son called Isaac. Among their descendants were the righteous but also those who wronged themselves. God also favoured and supported Prophet Moses and his brother Aaron. They too were delivered from distress and guided on the straight path. God gave them the Torah. Prophet Elias was one of those devoted to God. He questioned his people about the false god Ba’l but they ignored him and faced the consequences. Lot was another Prophet who was delivered from harm along with his whole family, except his wife; she was left to face the punishment with the wrongdoers. Their city is a constant reminder but many people do not take heed. In the next scene is Prophet Jonah. He fled from his disbelieving people to an overloaded ship where they drew lots in order to stay on board. Being swallowed by a whale was his just punishment but he was delivered from harm because he had been one of God’s devoted believers. He was cast ashore and God protected him from the elements and a serious illness. God then provided him with a large nation who believed in him and they were permitted to live out their lives. Verses 149 – 182 Superstitions deniedMany people from Mecca claimed that the angels were the daughters of God. God refutes this superstition. Next they claim that God is kin to the jinn. How could this be possible when the jinn themselves have to appear before God and account for their deeds? God is far above these superstitions and only those destined for the Hellfire would believe such things. The angels are ranged in ranks and glorify God. Previously the disbelievers asked for a Messenger and said they would follow the guidance, yet when the best Messenger and the best revelation are sent to them they resort to disbelief. But they will come to know and understand. God assures Prophet Muhammad that he will see their downfall as sure as they will see his victory. God is far above what they attribute to Him. The chapter closes with a blessing on God’s Messengers and declares that all praise is for God. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 104. Surah al-Humazah | سورة الهمزة | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:49 | |
The Backbiter, named for the word humazah in the first verse, is one of the short chapters towards the end of the Quran. Many of these chapters deal extensively with the concept of Hell. However, although there are ten more chapters to follow, this is the last one that mentions or describes the fires of Hell. Here Hell is described in such a way that we are able to experience its ferocious power with all our senses. Chapter 104 is made up of only nine short verses and was revealed in Mecca in the very early days of Islam. At that time the new Muslims were subjected to some of the worst behavior from those disinclined to listen to the message of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. God calls attention to some of their ugly characteristics and makes it clear that this sort of behavior will be severely punished in the Hereafter. One significant lesson we learn from this chapter is that success does not lie in the accumulation of wealth rather it lies in the remembrance of God. Verse 1 A woeful situationThe chapter begins with God describing a truly woeful situation. Great misery will come upon the person who ridicules or taunts others. Using the words backbiter and slanderer together indicates those who continually and habitually slander others. These are wicked and vain people who mock others, taunting and slandering them, with their tongues and body language. They criticizes them, imitating their movements or the sounds of their voices and deride their looks or features. This type of person cannot see their own flaws but delights in finding and pointing out flaws in others. Islam has high standards of morality and emphatically forbids this sort of behavior. Taunting openly or backbiting in a concealed way, as well as mockery and scorn, are all considered sordid and ugly, definitely not the behavior a believer would engage in under any circumstances. Verse 2 & 3 Great wealth does not make you immortalThis describes the people who use their wealth to tyrannize others. Hoarding their wealth will not make them immortal. Wealth is not the standard by which people are measured. Any good traits possessed before wealth are considered useless and a waste of time. This type of person thinks that his wealth controls his destiny and that he is not accountable to anyone for anything. They count their wealth again and again, looking at it, and taking pleasure in it; they are miserly and selfish. Have they forgotten death and that a time will come when their wealth will have to be left behind? Woe indeed because their wealth will not protect them from God and the Day of Judgement. Verses 4 & 5 Do you know what the crusher is?Because of their wealth these people believe they are great men and women, but on the contrary, those who think they have immortality will find themselves flung into the crusher. God asks, what will make you fully understand how bad the crusher is? The one who seeks power by ridiculing others will be slighted and flung like neglected rubbish into the great crusher. This is a palpable image of Hell, a great crushing instrument that destroys everything that crosses it path or stands in its way. On the Day of Judgment, the slanders and backbiters will be hurled into Hell like contemptible objects. The crushing instrument will destroy the wealth and power that those who mock and ridicule believe will keep them safe. Islamic scholars say that the crusher is in the lowest depths of Hell. Verse 6 A fire kindled by GodIn verse six the crushing instrument is identified. It is, we are told, the fire of Hell. It is in a particular place in Hell and is kindled by God Himself. The chapter begins with a cryptic description but when God reveals the menacing crusher it suggests unimaginable horrors. It is a fire that we are unable to imagine because there is nothing like it. It is designed by God to punish those who eat the flesh of their brothers and sisters with backbiting and mockery. Thus, the punishment also eats the flesh. This is the only place in the Quran where the fire of Hell has been called the fire of God. This not only expresses its gruesomeness but indicates the wrath and contempt God has for those who become attached to worldly wealth thinking it gives them the right to treat others badly. Verse 7 A fire raging over the heartThis unimaginable fire rages over the hearts of those flung unceremoniously into it. However, it does not go into the heart because that would cause death, this fire eats the flesh, and crushes the bones. The fire rages over the heart. This happens over and over just as these same people counted their wealth again and again. There is symmetry to the subject matter and the chapter relates the crime to the punishment. By backbiting and all it involves, people metaphorically tear at the flesh of their brothers, however, the crusher in Hell literally tears at the flesh. Verses 8 & 9 Towering columnsThe fire of God that crushes will close in on the slanderers and backbiters. The flames will shoot up and the columns will close any slit or opening surrounding those being punished. There will be no escape. Just as they kept their wealth secure in safes and behind closed doors God will lock them into a punishment without any means of escape. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 103. Surah al-Asr | سورة العصر | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:24 | |
Verses 1-2 The condition of the disbelievers At every moment we are advancing towards our death. This means that if a person does not utilize his time available to him for things that really matter, he will finally face total destruction. In order to be successful, a person has to exert himself, while for failure he has to do nothing – it is rushing towards him anyways. The biggest asset, which God has given to each and every individual evenly is time, twenty-four hours a day, no more no less, whether you are rich or poor, young or old, living in the east or in the west. It is a treasure that keeps going out of our hands, slipping away into a place from where we cannot bring it back. The only way to avoid losing this treasure is to use it; every moment is like a jewel and we must buy a good deed with it. The test of life is to see who to buys the most deeds, and the best deeds, pure in intention and excellent in their quality. However, who is going to tell us whether we are buying the right things with our time or are we just collecting worthless trash? There is a story in classical Islamic literature of a man who understood this chapter by an ice vendor who was shouting in the market, ‘O people, have mercy on one whose assets are melting away!’ This was when people sold their products in the open and refrigerators did not exist. The man then spoke to himself saying that just as ice melts and reduces, the lifespan given to man is fast passing away. If the opportunity is lost in inaction or evil action, this is man’s loss. It is such a deception that instead of asking God for true guidance, we have formed our own opinions about life and think them to be enough as our guiding principles. However, if our ideas and principles don’t match with God’s commands then what will we gain at the end of the day? This is why God warns us that if we do not turn to Him for guidance, then it is the greatest loss that we are inflicting on ourselves. Only those people will be saved from loss who have some specific qualities. Verse 3 The condition of the believers and the basics of salvationOne who utilizes his time properly is one who adopts three courses in the present world. One, is faith, i.e. consciousness of truth or reality and its acceptance. Second, one of virtuous deeds, i.e. doing what is required to be done as a matter of religious duty and abstaining from what is sinful. Third, that of advising people about truth and forbearance. This follows upon a deep realization of truth such that the person becomes its preacher. Faith is the characteristic by which man, a small creature with a life of short duration in a limited world, attains closeness to the Absolute and Everlasting Originator of the universe and all that exists in it. He thus establishes a link with the whole universe, which springs from that One Origin, with the laws governing it and the powers and potentialities it provides. As a result, he breaks away from the narrow boundaries of his trivial self to the broadness of the universe, from his inadequate power to the great unknown universal energies, and from the limits of his short life to the eternity that God alone comprehends. What does faith have to do with success or failure? Is being a good person not enough? However, if you think about it, what good can be in a person who denies the Creator and Sustainer? Can an ungrateful person who takes everything and then denies the Provider be called a good person? The fact is that faith in one God is the root of all goodness. In addition, it is the only motivation for us to be consistently obedient to God and to be unconditionally good to people. However, we cannot remain steadfast on our faith and good deeds unless we make a conscious effort to spread this goodness to others too. Human beings cannot survive in isolation. We can never be entirely independent, neither for our worldly needs nor our spiritual growth. So that is why God has made it a requirement upon us that if we want to save ourselves from loss, then just being good in our own spirit and character is not enough. Rather we will have to cultivate this goodness of faith and good deeds all around us. Finally, patience ensures our safety. The journey to Paradise is tough, and we cannot reach our destination without patience and perseverance. Therefore, we must help each other to stay determined and focused. Thus, faith, good deeds, and helping each other are the ultimate keys to success. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 102. Surah al-Takathur | سورة التكاثر | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:49 | |
This is one of the short chapters found at the end of the Quran. It is generally accepted that these chapters, which were revealed in Mecca, contain stern, sometimes violent, warnings with an emphasis on belief in God and the Day of Judgement, and descriptions of Paradise and Hell. They were revealed during the first years of the mission of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, when ignorance and polytheism were at their peak. The eight short verses of chapter 102 follow on from the previous chapter 101 The Crashing Blow, in which were told that certain people will find there eternal abode in the fires of Hell. In this chapter we are told the reason why people will have such a terrifying end and God offers them advice. This chapter takes its name from the first verse. Verses 1 The piling upThe Arabic word used here is takathur meaning striving for more. Many Arabic words have layers of meaning and this word, in this context, has several meanings. Each meaning adds to the seriousness of God’s advice. It means firstly, the desire to have a lot of things (including all of life’s distractions). It also means competing with others to get a lot of things. For example in these days it could mean wanting a better car then your neighbour, or a better house in a better neighbourhood, or to earn more money than your brother. The third layer of meaning is taking pride in having all these things and being unable to resist telling people about your worldly wealth and possessions. Bragging and boasting at every opportunity. Lastly it means the cooperation between people to acquire more things. This is a type of cooperation that easily crosses all barriers of religion, ethnicity or age. It is mutual cooperation in piling up possessions or wealth. Verse 2 Pay attention nowHumankind has become so obsessed with acquiring things that nothing will put an end to it except death. Once you visit your grave, the place where you will wait for the Day of Judgement, you will realise that you were distracted from the real purpose of life, which is to worship God. Humankind is so busy striving for more and more things that there is little time for anything else. Death is the only thing that will distract us and remind us that we should have been paying attention to the message. God is advising us against chasing the pleasures of this world while forgetting about the next world. Verses 3 & 4 Seeing the realityWhen God repeats a warning it adds urgency to the situation. When you die you will see the reality and understand and then again when you arise on the Day of Judgment you will again understand with certainty. You will rise from your graves knowing that what you coveted and competed for was nothing but a distraction. And it has now led you to a terrible conclusion. You have wasted your life, it has slipped away. Verse 5 Understand with certaintyGod is saying that although you know what you should be doing, you do not know with the kind of certainty that would prevent you from frivolously wasting your life. People strive for more and more because they want to be immortal. They want to have more descendants, build a structure that lasts forever, and be remembered as the wealthiest or most handsome. Wanting to go on forever in some form or another is a common human trait. And we will live forever, but not here, not in this world. God is saying that you should strive to know with certainty that there is a reward but it will not be found in the piling up of things. Verses 6 & 7 With your own eyesOn the Day of Judgment you will see the Fire and you will see it as if you were the prey about to be attacked by a ferocious lion. You will stare into the Fire as if it is the eyes of the lion. Even those who are not destined for the Fire will see it. What you see with your own eyes you know with certainty. It might seem that our final destination is a long way off but our life here is just a blip in God’s reckoning of time. God is telling us exactly what is going to happen yet we continue to clutch at our belongings as if they can protect us from what is to come. Verse 8 QuestionsHumankind must understand and know with certainty that on the Day of Judgement they will be questioned about the pleasures and comforts that were blessings and bounties from God. God will want us to explain how we used the resources that we were given. Are you grateful for the comforts in this worldly life? God emphasises three times that you will be questioned. As you pile up your possessions it is worth remembering that the more you have the more you will be questioned. God will ask about the things you gathered and also about your continuous blessings such as, air, water food, seeing, hearing. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 101. Surah al-Qariah | سورة القارعة | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:00:57 | |
The Striking Hour is a short Meccan chapter of eleven verses. As is the case with most Meccan chapters, this chapter also focuses on the fundamental beliefs of Islam. In this chapter we are presented with scenes from the Day of Judgment and confronted by the possibility of a shocking outcome in the Hereafter. It deals with what takes place on that momentous Day and what it will lead too. Verses 1-3 A startling blowThe Striking Hour is one of the names God uses for the Day of Judgement. Throughout the Quran, He uses many different names each one designed to convey a particular aspect of the earth-shattering event. Other names used include the Overwhelming One, the Deafening Shout and the Great Catastrophe. Al-Qariah is most often translated to The Striking Hour, but it is also known in English as The Striking Calamity, or the Crashing Blow. The word Qariah describes all of these things. Originally the word Qariah meant the knocking one, a strike or a blow, the act of hitting, and a single blow. However, in the wider sense it can mean a major misfortune or calamity. With either definition it conveys a sense of alarm and a startling noise. It is something that shakes you to the core and fills you with fear. Thus God is warning us that there will be a striking hour, and it will chill us to the bone. It will startle us out of our complacency. Do you know what it is God asks, do you know what it means? What will make you understand that this Day and this Hour will be a reality? The reality of this event however is that it is too great to be fully understood. God’s question is a rhetorical question because the truth is that we will never ever fully comprehend it until we experience it. God follows His question with some scenes that describe that Day. Verses 4 – 5 Moths and mountainsThis is the Day when people will be like scattered moths and the mountains will be like tufts of wool. In order to help us understand God mentions two things that people are familiar with. People (humankind) pride themselves on their intelligence and their abilities. We consider ourselves to be clever and able to organise into workable societies and communities. However, on this inevitable Day this will mean nothing. All people will be so startled and shocked we will be like scattered moths, running in all directions not sure of what to do or how to behave. We have all observed moths, flying in all directions and often times flying straight into danger. Mountains too are an object that we are familiar with. They stand like guardians on the earth, strong and impenetrable. Mountains are parts of creation that are imposing and insurmountable but on this Day they will no longer be fixed to earth like pegs; they will instead be like tufts of wool, or as in some translations, like carded wool. In either case it is wool that is no longer stable, instead it is broken away from the whole. The present order of the world will be overthrown. People will be confused, running about like moths drawn to a flame and the mountains will be flying about or crumbling. Verses 6 – 7 Heavy scalesNext God shifts the narrative to a different aspect of the Day of Judgment, the Judgment itself. The person whose scale is heavy with good deeds will learn that they will have a good life in the Hereafter. The first scenes leave our minds in a panic, everything we know about the world will change. But now God lightens the blow. Those with scales heavy with good deeds have nothing to fear; they will now have a life where the necessities of life will not be a concern, everything will be provided, and they will be satisfied. In other words, it is a life full of contentment and joy. Verses 8 – 9 Light scalesOn the other hand, there will be people who stand before God with scales that are light. Their bad deeds far outweigh their good deeds. These people will have no home in the Hereafter apart from the abyss. They will be cast into a deep pit. The Arabic word used is Hawiyah, and it usually used to describe a deep canyon that goes down, down, endlessly down. Hawiyah is a deep canyon in Hell. The person will be completely surrounded and held firmly in the abyss. Verses 10 – 11 The abyssAgain God asks what is it that will make you aware of just what this punishment is. How can you really know the depth of the abyss or what it entails? It is beyond comprehension and imagination; you can only hope for a glimpse or a hint of what it will be. God answers his own question and knowing does not put your mind at ease. The answer comes as a swift blow to the senses. The abyss is a raging fire, a deep canyon of raging, spitting flames, and fire. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 100. Surah al-Adiyat | سورة العاديات | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:01:02 | |
Chapter 100 is named from the words of the first verse describing charging war horses, or those that run. It is an eleven-verse chapter amongst the short Meccan chapters at the end of the Quran. These chapters were predominantly revealed at the beginning of the prophethood of Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and served to teach the new Muslims the basics of faith and to strengthen their hearts in the face of strong opposition and abuse. At the time of this chapter’s revelation, the country was in chaos and turmoil. Inter-tribal skirmishes and raids were a daily occurrence; thus the sight and sound of war horses was something that the people no doubt knew very well. The subject matter is designed to show how evil a person can become if he constantly denies the Hereafter. Verses 1 – 6 An oath by magnificent horsesGod swears an oath by the charging steeds that pant, while producing sparks by striking their heels. They make raids in the early morning when their enemies are unaware and stir up clouds of dust when they dash into the middle of the enemy troops. When the Arabs of the time mounted raids on settlements or other tribes, they would leave at night in order to take the enemy by surprise when they launched their attack in the very early morning. It was in this half-light that the sparks generated by the movement of horses would be visible. God swears by these war horses and describes their movements. In our mind’s eye we see a picture of the horses running, snorting, neighing, and arriving in the middle of the enemy. Their hooves strike the rocky desert terrain producing sparks of fire, adding to the fear the enemy must have felt surrounded by these magnificent panting horses creating disorder and confusion. This vision is one well-known to those persons to whom the Quran was at first addressed. They were well aware of the widespread bloodshed, and the loot and plunder mentality that was prevalent at that time. Thus God swears by this scene in order to make a statement and call attention to His words. The horses God had bestowed upon them were, gifts and a blessing, they should not have been employed for unjust fighting, tyranny, and plunder. God did not intend that these magnificent animals be used for this purpose. To use them in this way demonstrates careless ingratitude. Verses 6 – 8 People are ungratefulGod says that there is no doubt that the human being is disloyal to his master (God). Most people are ungrateful for all the bounties and blessings He bestows upon them. They deny God’s favors and this ingratitude is shown through their actions and verbal statements. There are many who do not even believe that God exists let alone acknowledge the blessings He has bestowed. On the Day of Judgment, each person will testify against him or herself because they will be unable to speak anything but the truth. Humankind’s love of wealth is excessive and intense. He sees something that he wants or desires and becomes engaged in a relentless pursuit of it. For many acquisition of wealth is the primary purpose of their lives irrespective of how it is obtained and without giving a thought to the legitimacy of the way it is earned. However, having faith changes a person’s priorities, values, and concerns. Faith brings God-consciousness and changes ingratitude to thankfulness. Verses 9 – 11 Intentions and actions have consequencesDon’t people understand that when the contents of graves burst forth, and those who were dead are brought back to life, all their secrets will be made known? On that Day God will be fully aware of everything they did. Pondering the final three verses provides a cure for ingratitude. It describes a scene from the Day of Resurrection that makes any right-minded person shudder with fear. We are shocked by a violent and frightening scene; the graves burst open scattering their contents. People will exit their graves by being wrenched out and thrown around forcefully. It leaves no doubt that the intense longing for wealth and multitudes of world possessions will provide no protection whatsoever. God will not pass judgment only on the apparent and obvious deeds but also the ones that a person tries to keep hidden. All the intentions, aims, ideas and thoughts, as well as the motives behind a person’s acts and deeds, will be uncovered and examined in minute detail. Everything that lies hidden in a person’s heart will be exposed. On that fateful Day of Resurrection, God will be fully aware of what is on the inside and what is on the outside. He will know what is what, who is who, what was visible and what was hidden, and He will know what punishment or reward is deserved. The chapter began with people carefree and unconcerned about consequences, however, it ends with the knowledge that a record was definitely kept, nothing is hidden from God, and there will indeed be consequences. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 99. Surah al-Zalzalah | سورة الزلزلة | 30 Jan 2021 | 00:01:00 | |
There is some scholarly dispute about whether this chapter was revealed in Mecca or Medina. In general, chapters revealed in Medina emphasized establishing an Islamic society. The earlier Meccan chapters presented the fundamentals of Islam in a concise and effective way, this included the final Judgment. This is one of a series of chapters that deal with scenes from the Day of Judgment. (Others include chapters 81, 82, and 101.) Verses 1-3 Terror on the Day of JudgmentThis is the beginning of the end; the Final Day. God is telling us quite clearly how the Day of Judgment will begin. There will be a violent earthquake the like of which has not been seen before. The whole earth will shake; one huge convulsion after the other. It will shake, pause and then shake again, over and over until mountains fall and buildings crumble. The earth will then be reduced to a flat surface. The violent shaking and convulsing will cause the earth to expel its burdens. Islamic scholars have given this verse more than one meaning. The first is that the bodies of the dead will be thrown out of their graves, resurrected. Secondly the treasures of this world will be laid out exposing their insignificance. What use are expensive cars and jewellery, for instance, when the earth and all that is in it has been shaken and flattened. Thirdly the earth will cast out, as if it were a video recording, a record of all the deeds and actions that have taken place throughout its history. All of humankind will look around afraid and transfixed. Each person will be amazed and terrified at the same time and each person will ask himself or nobody in particular, what is happening!? What is wrong with this earth!? Slowly the fear will be replaced by the realization that this is the Day of Judgment and the terror will take on a new dimension. This is the day that was promised, the Day of Resurrection, the Day of Judgement. Verses 4 and 5 The earth bears witnessThe earth itself will bear witness as to what has happened on it. Every single thing and every single person’s deeds and actions will be laid bare. Humankind individually and as a whole will be bewildered. Nothing has been hidden; the earth has recorded and remembered each and every action and reaction and now at the command of God it will reveal its long kept confidences. And the forgetful will be reminded of the deeds and actions they have somehow dispelled from their consciousness. God will cause the earth to speak or in some way reveal the events that have taken place; long kept secrets, true version of events lost in the midst of time, great deeds, and seemingly insignificant ones that were never acknowledged will now be clearly identifiable. The earth will report its news; describe its condition and what has happened on it. The earth obeys the orders of God in true and complete submission. Verses 6-8 The ResultsMany scholars believe that this is describing the people separated into categories depending on what their position will be in the Hereafter. It is a scene indescribable in any human language. The people are both terrified and amazed as they go to where they will be confronted with their deeds, both the good and the bad. For many this will be more distressing than any earthly punishment because humankind is very good at hiding their crimes even from themselves. In the seventh verse the use of the word ‘so’ denotes a conclusion. So now you will see all the bad deeds and all of the good deeds you have ever done. Nothing will be left out, even things as small as you could imagine; a speck of dust, or even an atom. Having a good deed as small as an atom could mean a favorable outcome, likewise a bad deed, as tiny as an atom, may cast you into the abyss. This chapter started with something big and ends with the smallest of things. Even a very ordinary small good has its own value and likewise even the most ordinary evil will also be considered and taken into account. Thus, no good act, however small, should be left undone. It may be that many such good deeds can collect and add up to be heavy on the Scale. Likewise, even the most commonplace evil should also not be committed, because tiny sins done repeatedly can harden the heart and make it blind to the seriousness of greater offences. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 98. Surah al-Bayyinah | سورة البينة | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:01:56 | |
The Clear Evidence is one of the short chapters found towards the end of the Quran. It contains only eight verses yet covers a number of themes including the coming of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, why it was necessary to send him with a new revelation, and the importance of respecting and acting upon knowledge. This chapter takes its title from the closing words of the first verse – the clear evidence. Chapter 98 also deals with a number of details about the history of faith. Prophet Muhammad was essential to the reform of people since all of humanity had fallen into disbelief. The discord and conflict among the People of the Book did not arise out of ignorance rather they chose conflict even after they had been given clear evidence. And the religion of God is and has always been the same. The majority of Islamic scholars agree that this chapter was revealed in Medina; however a sizeable minority consider that it was revealed in Mecca. Those who believe it was revealed in Medina think it was revealed in the first three to four years after the Muslims immigration to Medina. It speaks of the division between the believers and disbelievers of the time and is pertinent to the history of faith in Arabia. Verse 1 What brings about changeThe unbelievers – be they the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) or the idolaters and polytheists - are not going to change their ways and leave their disbelief until clear evidence comes to them. They will not be parted from their erroneous ways and their superstitions until they see proof. It implies that there was no way that they could be released from their state of unbelief except with clear evidence from God. Corruption had crept in to all creeds and doctrines and there was no anticipation of improvement except with clear evidence. Verse 2 & 3 What is the clear evidence(The clear evidence is) a messenger from God reciting pure scriptures that contain the rules and laws of God. The clear evidence is Prophet Muhammad. He is the proof that the unbelievers need; in his essence, in his dealings with others, and in his manners, morality, and principles. He recites to the people from purified scriptures that contain no errors or falsehood. This is the Quran. Verse 4 Those that came beforeThe People of the Book did not divide and deviate because no clear proof had been sent to them but because they chose the wrong way of their own free will. They divided into sects only after Jesus, the Prophet of God and the clear evidence for the Jewish people, had been sent to them with the Gospel. They were divided in matters of faith. Those who followed Jesus began to split into hostile and belligerent sects and denominations. Likewise, since the previous scriptures are no longer pure and a source of guidance, God by sending a final messenger of His with clear evidences, has again fulfilled His obligation towards them. If they remain divided after that and do not embrace the true faith, then they themselves should be responsible for it and should have no excuse left to plead before God. Verse 5 The true religionGod commanded only that they worship Him with sincere devotion. They were asked to be true to their faith, to establish the prayer and to pay the obligatory charity. That, says God, is the true religion. This is what all the prophets of God had tried to tell their people, and it is also what their various revelations had prescribed for them. Proof was given to the People of the Book, now it has been given to them again in the form of Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. Prophet Muhammad is now saying exactly the same thing that the prophets before him said. He is the last messenger who comes with the final, complete and perfect message. The previous revelations have been changed, corrupted or forgotten. Religion is clear in its original form and the core of faith is simple. Verse 6 The worst of creationThose who have disbelieved – be they the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) or the idolaters and polytheists - will dwell for all time in the fires of Hell. God calls them the worst of all creation. Disbelieved here means those who have refused to acknowledge Prophet Muhammad as a Messenger from God. Those who refuse to acknowledge that Prophet Muhammad is reciting God’s words will face an eternity of despair in the Fire. This is an absolute verdict for those who continue to deny Faith. Verse 7 The best of creationOn the other hand, those who believe and do good deeds are the best of all creation. They are superior to all of creation, even the angels because the angels are not capable of disobeying whereas humankind has free will and is able to choose to either obey or disobey God’s commands. Verse 8 Eternal delightThe people who are called the best of creation will have their reward. They will be with their Lord (God) in Gardens under which rivers flow. They will dwell there forever. They will be eternally happy and peaceful in splendid and satisfying surroundings. God is pleased with them and they will be pleased with God. This is a refined touch to the usual way that Paradise is described. The pleasure of God is far more exalted then just happiness; it expresses unique connotations. This eternal bliss is what awaits those who fear God. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 97. Surah al-Qadr | سورة القدر | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:00:40 | |
The chapter is famous for its declaration regarding the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr), during which the Quran was first revealed. This is universally believed to have occurred during the month of Ramadan, as stated in Quran 2:185. Muslims maintain that the Night of Power comes every year. Many reports say that the Night of Power occurs during the last ten nights of Ramadan. Most scholars maintain that it occurs on one of the odd-numbered of these last ten nights. Verse 1 The beginning of the revelation of the QuranThis chapter speaks about the promised great night which the whole universe marks with joy and prayer. It is the night of perfect communion between this world and the Supreme society. That night marked the beginning of the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, an event unparalleled in the history of mankind for its splendor and the significance it has for the life of mankind as a whole. Its greatness is far beyond human perception. The Quranic statements which relate this great event radiate with God’s clear and shining light. Verses 2-5 The virtues of the Night of DecreeThere is also the light of the angels and the Spirit (Angel Gabriel) moving between the earth and God, Most High. In addition, there is also the light of dawn which the chapter represents as perfectly harmonious with the light of the Quran and the angels as well as with their spirit of peace. The night in question here is the same night referred to in Quran 44:3-6. Its name, Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power, may be taken to mean deliberate planning, management and organization, or it may mean value, position and rank. Both meanings are relevant to the great, universal event of the revelation of the Quran and the assigning of the message to the Prophet. It is indeed the greatest and most significant event the universe has ever witnessed. It is the event which explains most clearly how human life benefits by God’s planning, management and organization. This night is better than a thousand months. This night is too sublime for proper human perception. It is great because God chose it for the revelation of the Quran, so that its light may spread throughout the universe, and divine peace may spread in human life and conscience. The Quran includes an ideology, a basis for values and standards, and a comprehensive code of moral and social behavior, all of which promote peace within the human soul and in the world at large. It is great because of the descent of the angels, and Gabriel in particular, by God’s leave, carrying the Quran. They fill all the space between heaven and earth in such a splendid, universal celebration, vividly portrayed in this chapter. Humanity, out of ignorance and to its misfortune, may overlook the value and importance of the Night of Power. When humanity does so ignore it, it loses the happiest and most beautiful sign of grace which God bestowed on it. It also suffers the loss of the real happiness and peace gifted to it by Islam, namely, the peace of conscience, family and society. What it has otherwise gained of material civilization is inadequate compensation for its loss. The believers in Islam, are commanded not to forget or neglect this event. The Prophet has taught us an easy and enjoyable way to commemorate it, so that our souls may always be in close communion with it. He has urged us to spend this night of each year in devotion. He said: "Seek the Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramadan." (Bukhari, Muslim) He also said: "Whoever spends the Night of Power in worship, with a pure motive of faith and devotion, will have all his past sins forgiven." (Bukhari, Muslim) Islam is not mere formalities. Hence, the Prophet specifies that the consecration of that night must be motivated by faith and devotion. This would make its consecration by any individual an indication of his or her full awareness of the far-reaching effects of what took place on that night. The Islamic method of education and character building links worship with faith and establishes truth in our hearts and consciences. By this method, worship is considered a means for maintaining full awareness of this truth, its clarification and firm establishment in our minds, hearts and souls. This method has been proved to be the best for the revival of this truth so that it has an unfailing influence on our behavior. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 96. Surah al-'Alaq | سورة العلق | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:01:28 | |
"Al-ʿAlaq" is an early Meccan chapter. The first five verses are considered by most to be the first verses of the Quran to be revealed; the remaining verses were revealed later in the Meccan period when opposition to the revelation arose among the leaders of the Quraysh. This initial revelation is said to have taken place during the last third of the month of Ramadan, in 610 of the Christian era, twelve years before the migration to Madina (hijrah) in 622, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Verses 1-5 An injunction to read, seek knowledge, and learn how to writeThe event of the beginning of revelation has immense significance. With reference to God, it signifies that He is the source of all great bounties and unfailing compassion. He is the Benevolent, the Loving, who bestows His mercy and benefactions for no reason except that benevolence is one of His divine attributes. As for man, this event signifies that God has bestowed on him an honor the greatness of which he can hardly ever appreciate and for which he can never show enough gratitude, not even if he spends all his life in devotion and prostration. This honor is that God has taken notice and care of him, established contact with him and chosen one of humans as His Messenger to reveal to him His words; that the earth, man’s abode, has become the recipient of these divine words, which the whole universe echoes with submission and devotion. The great event specified the source man should look up to in order to derive his ideals, values and criteria. The chapter instructs God’s Messenger, Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, right at the very first moment of his blessed contact with the Lord and before taking his very first step in delivering the message, to read in the name of God. The chapter then states the source of learning, which is God. From Him man receives all his knowledge, past, present and future. From Him man learns any secret revealed to him about this universe, life and himself. It is God who creates, teaches and bestows His abundant bounties on man. This implies that man should acknowledge God’s benevolence and be grateful for it. But what actually happens is something different. Verses 6-8 The nature of man and his forgetfulness of the HereafterIt is God who gives to man in abundance and makes him independent. He also creates and teaches him and extends to him His generous treatment. But men in general — except for those guarded by faith — are not thankful for their independence which is made possible by what they are given. They do not recognize the source of this grace, which is the same as the source of their creation, knowledge and livelihood. They behave arrogantly and transgress all limits instead of being dutiful and thankful. All must refer to God in every matter, thought or action. He is the only resort and refuge. The good and the bad, the obedient and the sinner, the righteous and the wrongdoer, the rich and the poor, will all return to Him. Even the man who tyrannizes when he thinks himself independent will come to Him eventually. The chapter lays down the essential components of the Islamic ideological concept: creation, education and honor come from God alone, and to Him all will return. Verses 9-18 Threatening the transgressorsThis section of this short chapter tackles a particularly appalling form of tyranny of the person who prevents a servant of God from praying! Its description in the inimitable Quranic style fills us with wonder and dismay that it should take place at all. Our dismay is enhanced by the manner of expression which takes the form of address and conversation, using short sentences that follow in rapid succession. The effect can hardly ever be produced by ordinary written language. The transgressor outdoes himself by taking a still more abhorrent stand by denying the truth and turning his back. Thus, we have a scene of tyranny trying to suppress the call of faith and obedience to God. This is followed immediately by a stern warning stated explicitly this time. The dragging is by the forelock, the part of the head raised high by every conceited tyrant. It undoubtedly deserves to be hit violently. Verse 19 Comforting Prophet MuhammadIn light of this frightening destiny for the unbelievers, the chapter concludes with an instruction to God’s obedient servants to persevere and follow the path of faith. Do not obey this tyrant who tries to stop you from offering your devotion and conveying your message. Prostrate yourself before your Lord and bring yourself closer to Him through worship and obedience. As for the tyrant, leave him to the guards of Hell who are sure to mete out to him what he deserves. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 95. Surah al-Teen | سورة التين | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:00:48 | |
The Fig is a concise chapter of eight verses. Its name comes from the first words of the first verse. The majority of scholars agree that this chapter was revealed in Mecca and Mecca is mentioned in the chapter giving credence to this assumption. Meccan chapters, especially the short chapters at the end of the Quran, usually focus on the basics of Islam particularly the nature of the Hereafter. In the previous chapter God promised to ease the hardship of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and in this chapter we are reminded that all messengers of God went through hardship. We are also taught that human beings are created in an excellent way and are able to endure hardship. People can reach high levels of both endurance and faith by following the examples set by the messengers. Although short, this chapter is one of the most in-depth chapters in regards to the nature of humankind. God created humankind to be in perfect harmony with faith. If people deviate from the straight path, they risk sinking to the lowest depths imaginable. Verses 1 – 3 Three oathsThis chapter opens with three oaths and we know that when God gives an oath, when he swears by something, He is then going to give a response that is related to the oath. The oath is the framework in which the central message of the chapter sits. By the fig and the olive, By Mount Sinai, And by the secure city (of Mecca). The first verse seems to be straightforward, God is swearing by the fig and the olive. Both fruits have many benefits for humankind. However, in the following oaths, God mentions places. Theses oaths have been much debated by the scholars of Islam. Some say that the foods are just foods we are familiar with; the fig was praised by Prophet Muhammad in his traditions and the olive is praised by God in the Quran particularly in chapter twenty-four. Others point out that, at the time, the Arabs would refer to a place by the food that was grown there. Thus, the words fig and olive can refer to the place where these were grown, the lands of Syria and Palestine. Mount Sinai clearly refers to the Sinai Peninsula, and the secure city is the city of Mecca. All four places are the habitats of prophets, and the prophets are examples of human beings living their best life. It is said that the fig refers to the area in Syria where Prophet Noah built his mosque, and the olive refers to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and brings to mind Prophet Jesus. Prophet Moses is always associated with Mount Sinai, and Prophet Muhammad is the prophet most closely connected to the secure city of Mecca but so too is Prophet Abraham. Verses 4 & 5 Human naturePeople are made in the best form, and due to that stature, we have a great responsibility. We have been created in this manner so that we are able and equipped to follow the best way or path. God created humankind with special care; we are upright, symmetrical and balanced in form and nature. God intended humans to have a distinct rank in the universe. However, humankind is also given the quality of being able to stoop down to levels unreached by any other creatures. When a person deviates from the upright nature God intended for him, he is able to reach down into the depths of degradation. People can become so overwhelmed by greed, selfishness, addiction, rage and fury, and other such traits, that morally they are reduced to the lowest of the low. When this happens, animals become more superior because they do not deviate from their God-given nature; they fulfill their functions as they have been guided. Humankind has been given free will to choose their behavior. Having laid out the path and sent guidance, God allows humankind to choose their beliefs and deeds, and subsequently their destination. Those who slip to the lowest level may be on a slippery road to Hell where they will be punished for their misdeeds. There are some scholars that say the lowest of the low could refer to people who in their prime and strength did righteous deeds but in their old age were unable to continue them; there would be no reduction in their reward. Verses 6 – 8 Righteousness and judgementThe importance of faith and good deeds now becomes apparent because these are what elevates the human being. Those who follow the messengers doing righteous deeds are the best of all people and will be abundantly rewarded. On the other hand, those who obstinately reject the messengers are the worst of the worst. At the time many people said that Prophet Muhammad was lying about the Day of Resurrection and the Judgement. In these times also there are those who recognize that Islam is true, but they don't want to submit to God, so they call it lies. It would only be the lowest of the low that would behave like this, or lie about Prophet Muhammad. God is directly rebuking them by asking what sort of person would act like this. Misdeeds do not go unnoticed, God is watching, and He is the most just; He will reward or punish each person according to what he or she has done. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 36. Surah Yaseen | سورة يس | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:14:27 | |
The 36th chapter of the Quran is entitled Ya Sin. It is named after the first two letters of the chapter which are "ya" and "sin" (pronounced seen). Thus it cannot be translation into English and is always left untranslated. This chapter of 83 verses was revealed in Mecca and as with all the Meccan chapters, it focuses primarily on the belief in the Oneness of God and the consequences of either believing or disbelieving in that basic principle. Chapter Ya Sin has many short verses and its recitation with short pauses is very emotional. Verses 1 - 12 The revelation of the Quran is a warning to humankindGod swears by the wise Quran that Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, is indeed a messenger on the straight path sent to warn those who are unaware. The Quran is full of wisdom, and those who do not follow its guidance are indeed unfortunate. However only those who believe in God and fear His punishment will take heed of the warning. God keeps a clear record of everything. Verses 13 – 29 The example of the three messengersProphet Muhammad is told to warn the people using the example of the three messengers. Two who were sent to the people and then a third to strengthen their number yet still the people refused to believe. The messengers revealed themselves and issued a warning but they were called liars and threatened with stoning. A man ran from the other side of the town saying listen, they do not want a reward. Listen to the message he pleads but he is killed by the disbelievers and thus abruptly finds himself in heaven. Still he wishes the people knew of the forgiveness and mercy of God. God did not send an army against the people, nor was He about to. He just sent one heavenly blast and they fell down, lifeless. Verses 30 – 40 Those who deny the resurrection fail to the signsAlas for humankind says God, they ridicule the messengers and they do not see just how many generations have been destroyed before them. None of them will ever come back yet all of them will come back to stand before God. They deny the Resurrection yet there are signs everywhere. God gives life to the lifeless earth. There is produce and springs of fresh water. They have not produced these things themselves so why are they not grateful. All glory is for God who created all species in pairs, and humankind itself and many other things that humankind knows nothing about. It is God who strips away the daylight transitioning day into night. The sun runs on a fixed course and the moon waxes and wanes according to God’s command. The sun does not reach the moon and the night does not overtake the day because God has determined the course on which they run. Verses 41 - 51 Reminders and warningsAs a reminder God refers to the Flood and how our ancestors were carried in the ark. God continued to create the means with which to traverse the sea and if He willed, the people would be drowned and He would not respond to their cries. They would not be saved except as a mercy from God. We are warned to beware of what lies before and what lies behind. This is a reference to our behaviour in this world and our abode in the Hereafter. Perhaps there will be mercy; perhaps we will not heed the warning. The signs come but the disbelievers turn away. When they are told to give generously out of what has been provided to them they mock the messengers and say why should we feed those whom God could easily provide for. They arrogantly ask "when will this promise (meaning the Resurrection) be fulfilled" but alas a single blast (sometimes translated as shout) will overtake them while they are still arguing. Then the trumpet will be blown signalling the Resurrection. Verses 52 – 58 A scene from the Day of ResurrectionThe people will ask who has raised us from our sleeping place (generally agreed to be the grave) and they will be told that this is the promise made to you by the Most Merciful (God) and what the messengers warned about. It will be but one single blast and lo and behold, all of humankind will be brought before God. On that Day no one will be wronged, everyone will be recompensed for what they did; all will be repaid for their deeds. The people of Paradise will be rewarded handsomely; they will be with their spouses seated on couches in the shade. They will have therein all kinds of fruits and whatever they wish for. And in addition to this their Lord will greet them with "peace". Verses 59 – 65 God addresses the disbelieversThen God will say, stand apart you criminals. Remove yourselves from the ranks of the believers so that you are distinguishable from them. God says, "Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan – for he is a clear enemy to you. And that you worship [only] Me?" This is a straight path, says God and he (Satan) has led great numbers of you astray, could you not use your reason to see this? The disbelievers are told to enter Hellfire because of what they denied and refused to believe and because they refused to heed God’s commands. God will seal their mouths but their hands and feet will speak and bear witness to all. Verses 66 – 76 The Quran is a warning, a gauge between right and wrongGod could have left humankind without guidance but because of His mercy he did not. They could have been left blind without the means to see, or deformed without the means to move either forward or backward but He did not. Prophet Muhammad is not a poet; he was not given mere poetry; rather, he was given a clear book of guidance, the Quran. It is a warning, so that God’s judgment can be passed according to it. God then informs us of one of the many blessings He has bestowed upon us: livestock. He created it for our general use, to be used as a means of transportation, for food and milk, and for other benefits. Instead of giving thanks to God for this blessing, the disbelievers have taken other deities besides God for worship and even call upon them for help but they cannot help! Even an entire army of false gods combined cannot help in the least. God tells Prophet Muhammad not to be distressed at what they say because He (God) knows what they reveal and what they conceal. Verses 77 – 83 The Creator is the Only One to bring back to lifeHumankind seems to forget their origin so God reminds us that we were created from a drop of fluid. Yet even then they dispute openly asking who could give life back to bones after they have decayed? God says that the One who gave them life in the first place will bring them back; it is only He who has knowledge of every act of creation. It is He who produced fire so that humankind can benefit from it; it is He who created the heavens and the earth so is it not then easy for Him to bring back the people? Of course it is! When God wills something to be, He says "Be" and it is. All glory belongs to God, who controls everything and it is to Him that humankind will be resurrected. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 94. Surah al-Sharh | سورة الشرح | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:00:36 | |
This is a short, eight-verse chapter revealed in Mecca; its title, The Opening Up or The Expansion is taken from the first verse. It was revealed shortly after the previous chapter, The Forenoon and is a continuation of the reassurance and encouragement given there to Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. It gives us a glimpse of God’s love for Prophet Muhammad and explains the measures He has taken out of concern for His messenger. There are also the glad tidings that relief will soon be upon Prophet Muhammad. Delivering the message caused a great change in Prophet Muhammad’s life; the same society that had previously held him in great honour suddenly turned hostile. He was used to being treated with respect and now was being showered with abuse. With every step he faced new difficulties. Although Prophet Muhammad did get used to the new conditions the initial stages were very discouraging. Consequently this and the chapter before it were sent down to console and embolden him. Verse 1 Illuminating Prophet Muhamad’s pathProphet Muhammad was troubled; there were many obstacles put in his way and the difficulties of his mission weighed heavily on his heart. He felt as though he needed help and God provided this comforting discourse. God addressed his beloved messenger saying, "Have we not expanded your breast?" God put Prophet Muhammad’s mind at ease in regards to the message and his mission. God illuminated his path, and facilitated his journey. He reassures Prophet Muhammad that He is with him through every difficulty. God, in just a few words, explains that Prophet Muhammad has been blessed with guidance and light, and submission has been made easy thus there is no need for distress and worry. Verses 2 & 3 Lightening Prophet Muhammad’s burdenJust as God expanded Prophet Muhammad’s chest in such a way that nobody else had ever felt such relief; now He relieves the burden weighing Prophet Muhammad down so badly his back is beginning to feel as if it would crack, in a way devised especially for him. Relief came in the form of lightening Prophet Muhammad’s heart and filling him with guidance so that the way to fulfil his mission became clear. The revelation of the Quran helped him to understand and explain the truth of the message so that it was no longer a burden weighing down on him but it was light and becoming lighter. Verse 4 Exaltation of Prophet MuhammadAt the beginning of Prophet Muhammad’s mission, the Meccans, who refused to heed his call, tried everything they could to defame him. This however only made his name spread further afield. God exalted Prophet Muhammad above those on earth and in the entire universe. His reputation became very high when his name began to be spoken whilst coupled with the name of God. There is no God but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God. This degree of exaltation is granted to no other human being now, in the past or in the future. The fact that Prophet Muhammad was chosen for the task of spreading God’s message is an exaltation that cannot be aspired to by anyone else. God has decreed that century after century, generation after generation; millions of people across the globe will honour the name of Muhammad, Messenger of God. They honour him with prayers for peace and blessings. By exalting Prophet Muhammad’s name God was demonstrating his love for him. Verses 5 & 6 Ease after every hardshipGod informs Prophet Muhammad that these bad times will not last forever. An amazing amount of ease will be associated with every hardship. These two verses fill the hearts of humankind with gratitude and hope. As God eases Prophet Muhammad’s burden with these words of comfort so too does He ease the pain we feel. The pain and heaviness of Prophet Muhammad’s heart is not comparable to the pains of humankind as we go through our trials and tribulations, but God treats us all with kindness and teaches us lessons in the way He dealt with His messenger. Incredible ease will only arrive, after you go through some difficulty. Scholars suggest that God was preparing Prophet Muhammad for the difficult journey of fulfilling his mission but also telling him that victory was assured. According to Arabic grammar these are two sentences describing one hardship. With every hardship comes two eases, both of them amazing and able to overpower or erase the difficulty or hardship. The bad times do not last forever, indeed the way hardship and ease are mentioned together suggests that difficulties are not present without ease being close behind. Verses 7 & 8 Longing for God and seeking solace in HimGod tells Prophet Muhammad that when he has finished the difficult work that consumes him by day he will then be able to do what he has been longing to do. Worship God. This devotion and dedication to your Lord will provide you with comfort and fortify you to face any difficulties that may arise the next day. There are scholars who believe that this also refers to Prophet Muhammad’s death. When his great work was completed he was able to do what he has wanted to do the whole time. Be with God and worship Him. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 93. Surah al-Duha | سورة الضحى | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:00:59 | |
This is a short chapter of eleven verses found towards the end of the Quran. It was revealed in Mecca in the very early period of revelation and addressed to Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. God reassures him that he had not been forgotten even though there had been no revelation for some time. The temporary lull in revelations caused Prophet Muhammad much grief and stress, thus the subject matter is designed to console Prophet Muhammad and relieve his anxiety and distress. It reveals God’s tenderness and mercy and is a message of affection that soothes Prophet Muhammad. The chapter reveals God to be benevolent; soothing pain and trouble, and filling humankind with contentment and hope. When, for a period of time, the revelations stopped, the unbelievers taunted Prophet Muhammad saying that "Muhammad’s Lord has deserted him." The revelations were the link between Prophet Muhammad and God; they kept him firmly on his path while learning to spread the message. When the revelations stopped Prophet Muhammad felt abandoned and rejected and the derision of the disbelievers was an added burden. When this chapter was revealed it came as a flow of mercy and compassion. It restored Prophet Muhammad’s strength and reassured him. Verses 1 – 4 An oath followed by reassuranceGod swears by the morning brightness and by the night when the earth grows still and dark. When God swears an oath he is asking us to reflect and ponder. The bright hours of the day are contrasted with the quiet stillness of the night. By describing these two periods of time before reassuring Prophet Muhammad, God establishes a connection between natural phenomena and human feelings. Both of these times have a remarkable effect on the human being. These opposite periods of time allude to the fact that people face different circumstances; sometimes life is easy, sometimes it is very difficult. Going through the darkness is an important part of being alive. Your Lord (God says to Prophet Muhammad) has not forsaken you, nor is He displeased with you. God assures Prophet Muhammad that he is not angry or annoyed with him and He did not and will not ever abandon him. He says emphatically that He did not say goodbye and this situation is not final. These are tender and soothing words expressing God’s love for Prophet Muhammad. He (God) goes on to say that the life to come will be better than this present life. The scholars say that this refers to the Hereafter being better than this present life and that it might refer to the later part of Prophet Muhammad’s life being easier and better than the struggles at the beginning of his life and his prophethood. Verses 5 – 8 Three favorsGod tells Prophet Muhammad that He will be bounteous to him and he will be well satisfied and content. God will also ease the difficult path and Prophet Muhammad’s mission will be successful. He will have honor and prestige and his message will continue to spread. In the Hereafter, Prophet Muhammad’s position will be higher than the rank he attained in this world. It will not be an immediate transformation, it might take some time but soon Prophet Muhammad will be blessed with more than he can imagine. God then continues by reminding Prophet Muhammad that He was caring about him throughout his life. When Prophet Muhammad was an orphan it was God who gave him shelter and refuge. The orphan could be called the most oppressed in any society, when they cry out for help it is only God who hears and responds to their call. Prophet Muhammad was in a dark place, but God rescued him. When Prophet Muhammad was lost it was God who found him and guided him. He (Prophet Muhammad) was never involved in idolatry, polytheism or atheism even though it was present in the customs and practices of his people. He was however unaware of the true faith and his true purpose. He sensed this, and it haunted him; He was seeking, and God directed him to the straight path. When Prophet Muhammad was poor it was God who enriched him and made him self-sufficient. The scholars explain that Prophet Muhammad was under a lot of pressure. He felt responsible not just for himself and his immediate family but for humanity. God found him crushed under this weight and made him free of need. Verses 9 – 11 Three demandsProphet Muhammad is then instructed by God to protect the orphans, be charitable to those who seek aid and proclaim the blessings of God. Of course Prophet Muhammad would never oppress an orphan or ignore someone in need, however when God teaches him a lesson it is the believer who learns. Prophet Muhammad was at one time an orphan thus he knows the hardships associated with this situation. The believer becomes responsible for not letting this happen to any orphans in their sphere of influence. When a person seeks aid, it could be physical aid such as food or shelter, and it can also be knowledge and guidance. God is teaching us how to deal with those who seek aid. Do not humiliate them, treat them with respect, and allow them to remain dignified in the face of distress. These instructions reflected the needs of the day. It was a time not dissimilar to our own, a greedy, materialistic society in which the needs of the weak were not catered for. Islam reformed that society and God’s instructions are equally applicable today. Those who seek knowledge and guidance are often fearful or over enthusiastic; treat them in the same way as those who need physical aid, with care and respect. Talking about God’s bounties is a way of expressing gratitude to Him. Mention His favors to you and mention the teaching He has blessed you with. Prophet Muhammad has been given favor after favor and God has instructed him to mention them. It is a lesson for us all because when we examine our lives we too will find many blessings and favors, and then the biggest favor of all is guidance. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 92. Surah al-Layl | سورة الليل | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:01:44 | |
Verses 1 – 3 Three oaths By the night when it descends and covers everything with darkness, and by the appearance of the bright and radiant day, and by He who created both the male and the female. God begins this chapter with a series of three oaths. God swears by both the day and the night and describes them eloquently. The night falls and conceals everything but then the day, in its brightness uncovers and reveals everything. Two contrasting visions of the cyclical nature of creation are followed quickly by the contrast between male and female. God created the universe and He defines its purpose. And it is God that is responsible for the creation of male and female. They were not created in vain and they were not created to lead a life without purpose. Verses 4 – 7 Those on the right pathYour efforts are diverse; they differ greatly and come to very different conclusions. Firstly, there is the person who is charitable, mindful of God, and believes in goodness. God will ease this person’s way. Goodness includes the correct attitude towards belief, manners and morals. The person on the correct path is generous with what God has provided, acknowledges and is mindful of God’s mercy and generosity, and behaves in a manner befitting a believer in God. This implies that the person who strives to please God will find his life unfolding with the ease that characterizes the nature of the universe, everything moving in the manner for which it was designed. The day follows the night with unending harmony. The righteous person finds a path leading to dignity and satisfaction. Verses 8 – 11 Those who choose the wrong pathOn the other hand, we have the person who is stingy and considers himself self-sufficient and not in need of God. He does not believe in goodness. God will facilitate his passage towards difficulty. And his wealth will be of no use to him when he falls headlong into the Hellfire. This is the person who sacrifices nothing for God, is not generous with the wealth God has provided him with, and disbelieves in the messages and warnings that God sent to him and to all of humankind. God makes his efforts difficult; he might think he is becoming successful but he is gravely mistaken. God has deprived him of the pleasures that should come from his daily efforts. He is always at war with his nature, his conscience, the laws made by the Creator and the society in which he lives. When he endeavors to satisfy his own interests and desires in every way possible, transgresses all moral limits of honesty and nobility, and when the people he interacts with are harmed by him, he feels disgraced in his own eyes and has to clash at every step with the society he lives in. When his steep descent begins he will see that he cannot make use of the wealth he hoarded. Prosperity in this life is not an indication of success in the Hereafter. Verses 12- 13 God provides guidanceGod decrees that it is incumbent upon Him to give guidance to humankind. This world and the next belong to God; he is the beginning and the end. Everywhere, every place and every time is part of God’s dominion. He sent prophets to every nation to show them the truth and the best way to live. If a person seeks the goodness of this world, God alone can provide it and if it is the home in the Afterlife that you pursue it is God who provides that as well. One aspect of God’s mercy is that He surely provides guidance to whoever sincerely seeks it. Verses 14 – 17 A warningTherefore, God says, I am warning you about the blazing Fire. Those most wicked individuals who denied the truth and turned away will enter the raging Fire. However, the pious, righteous people will be kept well away from it. Again, a harmonious distinction between the rewards for doing what is right and the punishment for choosing to behave in the wrong way. The one who does not answer when God beckons him with clear guidance will face the consequences. These are the most wretched people because there is no wretchedness worse than facing the fires of Hell. In contrast those who answer when God calls will have a happy reward. Verses 18 – 21 Those who are well contentThe person who gives generously from his wealth as a way to purify himself and please God, and without hoping or intending that his generosity will be reciprocated in any earthly way, will soon be very pleased with the generosity of God. Indeed, he will be well content, satisfied with his religion and with his destiny. This person will be well pleased and well satisfied with his life in this world, and his reward in the Hereafter. God will be pleased with him and He will bless him. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 91. Surah al-Shams | سورة الشمس | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:01:19 | |
The Sun (Ash-Shams) is the ninety-first chapter in the one hundred and fourteen chapters of Quran. Thus it is amongst the short chapters at the end of the Quran. Here almost all the verses and chapters were revealed in Mecca, at the beginning of the prophethood of Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. In this early era the revelations were primarily concerned with the establishment of faith and laid down the foundation beliefs of Islam. The central theme of this chapter is the choice between purifying or corrupting the soul, and the nation of Thamud is used as an example of corruption. The title, The Sun, comes from the description of the sun in the first verse. When this chapter is recited in the Arabic language it keeps up a rhyming musical beat throughout its fifteen verses. These few short verses encompass a great truth, the nature of humankind and their inherent abilities to choose between right and wrong and decide their own fate. Verses 1 – 10 Success or failureGod swears by a number of celestial phenomena. The bright and radiant sun, the moon, the day when the sun’s splendor is revealed, and the night that descends to shroud the earth. God swearing by these objects gives them an added significance and draws our attention to their extraordinary nature and the magnificence of the One who created them. The oath specifies the beauty of the sun when it rises but also its effect on the earth when the day is revealed. Our familiarity with the sun sometimes allows us to overlook this magnificent phenomenon and its beauty and function, but this oath reminds us of the daily spectacle. The human heart has long felt a fascination with the moon and on clear moonlit nights one can feel the majesty of God in the space around us. When night descends it is able to cover and conceal everything, the earth is quietly waiting for the splendor of the sun to reawaken it. The Quran frequently urges humankind to ponder and reflect upon the universe. And God continues to swear by the sky and how He constructed it and by the earth and how He spread it out. When God swears by the construction of the sky we immediately think of the heavens above us, but we really know very little about the sky and how it was built. Even in this scientifically advanced century we continue to wonder what keeps it together, high above us, ethereal yet somehow solid. When God refers to the earth it reminds us that life on this planet would not have been possible if God had not incorporated the characteristics and natural laws that make all life possible. God then swears by the soul and how He balanced and refined it giving it the knowledge of what is right for it and what is wrong for it. Humankind is one of the most remarkable wonders because God molded and inspired each person with the knowledge of wickedness and piety, and the ability to choose one over the other. Humankind has the innate ability to determine his or her own course of action and is thus responsible for each choice. Those who make the right choices will be successful and those who choose to corrupt their pure soul will fail. God, for His part, does not leave the person or soul alone wandering blindly and trying to decide what is right; He has made the message clear for anyone who seeks to benefit from it. Verses 11 – 15 The people of ThamudIn these verses God uses a historical event to further explain the previous verses. With arrogant cruelty the people of Thamud called Prophet Saleh (who was chosen by God to deliver His message) a liar and denied him. When the most wretched person among them was sent out to hamstring the she-camel, that had been sent by God as a sign, Prophet Saleh told them not to harm her (the she-camel). He also told them to let the she-camel drink on the days that had been assigned to her. The people of Thamud ignored him, hamstrung the she-camel and then killed her without thinking about the consequences of their actions. As a result of their outrageous insolence a terrible calamity befell the people of Thamud. God destroyed them by levelling them to the ground. God does not fear consequences for anything He does. God is not like the kings and rulers of the world, who, when they want to take some action against a people, are compelled to consider what the consequences of their actions will be. God’s power is supreme. Humankind, however, should fear the consequences because the Day of Judgement is coming, and every person will answer to God for the choices he or she made. God is not asked about what He does, but His servants will surely be asked to explain their actions. This chapter links the human soul to the celestial phenomena we experience on a regular basis. The sun rises, the moon comes out, the day reveals the earth in all its splendor and night time is able to cover and conceal. It is constant and repetitive. God’s laws that determine failure or success are also constant. He plans wisely and sets a time for everything and a purpose for every action. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 90. Surah al-Balad | سورة البلد | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:01:48 | |
The subject matter of this 20-verse chapter indicates that it was revealed in Mecca. At the time of its revelation, the disbelievers had convinced themselves it was acceptable to oppress and harass Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and his followers, especially the weaker members of society. Chapter 90 is named for the word in the first verse ‘al-balad’, the city (Mecca). The miraculous nature of the Quran is shown here when it manages to explain a vast subject, the true position of humankind, in just a few sentences. Each person is offered two distinct paths, one towards good, the other towards evil, and each individual is able to exercise free will by choosing his own path. He should therefore seek to do good deeds rather than indulge in arrogance and wastefulness. Verses 1 – 3 Mecca, Prophet Muhammad & humankindThis chapter opens with an oath. God swears by the city of Mecca. The people of Mecca are well aware of why an oath would be sworn by their city. They know that it is an important city in the midst of desolate mountains. They know that it is the place where Prophet Abraham restored the first ever House of God and they know that it sits in a barren valley where it is the only place of safety and security. It is a sacred place in a lawless land. God adds Prophet Muhammad to his oath and calls him an inhabitant of this city, a resident who further enhances the glory of the city. However, at the time the disbelievers considered it their right to oppress and tyrannize the Prophet even in this sanctified city. It was as if persecuting the Prophet had been made lawful. God concludes his oath by swearing by parents and their children or as some scholars say, by Prophet Adam and his children - humankind. This part of the oath is an introduction to the discussion that follows; the nature of humankind. Verses 4 – 7 This world is a testHumankind has been created for hard work and for testing. The struggle may take different forms depending on when and where a person is born. Even when a person’s life is one of ease and comfort that person must struggle to please God. Your place in the world is a test. A person suffering in this world might qualify for a prosperous position in the Hereafter. Another person, in a position of power, for instance, might only fulfill his lusts and desires and end up suffering affliction in the Hereafter. Does each person imagine that no one can overcome him; does he think that there is no one more powerful than himself? How could he have deluded himself into believing this when a single bolt of lightning is enough to show humankind how weak they really are? I have wasted great wealth, spent on anything I desire, he says; in his arrogance he has forgotten that God watches over him. Verses 8 – 10 Free willGod says that He has given every person two eyes with which to see, and a tongue with which to speak and two lips to control what speech comes out of his mouth. A person might think they are powerful, but it is God who has granted him what little power he has. God has granted us knowledge and wisdom and the ability to know and choose between right and wrong. Verses 11 – 16 What will make you understand?But, God continues, some people have not attempted to climb the steep path. They may have spent their wealth but not in ways that are pleasing to God. There are countless bounties that should motivate people to climb as high as they are able, yet they do not. What will make them understand? God explains just what things point people towards Paradise. It is the freeing of slaves, and feeding someone that is hungry, whether they are a relative, or an orphan, or somebody needy and in distress. These are examples of actions that were totally lacking at the time of this chapter’s revelation. Slaves were treated with great cruelty. Famine and hunger were widespread and orphans were often mistreated even by their close relatives. These actions test the character of the believer. And they are followed by the most important step of all. Verses 17 – 18 ParadiseClimbing the steep path means to be one of those who believe, and counsel one another to be steadfast and merciful. What would be the value of feeding the hungry or freeing the slaves if a person was without faith? Those who believe live in a community of believers that encourages kindness and compassion. They are the people of the right hand, the ones that are will enjoy Paradise as compensation for their belief and their actions. They will receive their records in their right hand and they will proceed to Paradise. Verses 19 -20 HellfireThe disbelievers, those who receive their records in their left hand will proceed towards the Hellfire. They disbelieved in God’s revelations. These people chose not to climb the steep path. The fire will be all around them, closing in on them. They will be encircled by it, locked in with no hope of escape. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 89. Surah al-Fajr | سورة الفجر | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:03:04 | |
Chapter 89 of the Quran is named Al-Fajr, The Dawn. As with many chapters it takes its name from the first verse of the chapter. It was revealed in Mecca at a time when the Muslims were being persecuted. Al-Fajr has 30 verses. It begins with God swearing an oath that the tyrants of Mecca will be dealt with like those of the past. It then goes on to compare the destinies of the grateful and the ungrateful. Verses 1 - 5 An oathThe chapter begins, by the daybreak (also called the dawn), and by the ten nights, by the even and the odd and by the passing of the night. God swears an oath and by swearing on these significant events in His well-ordered universe He asks us whether it is a strong enough oath for a rational person. The disbelievers have been warned and reminded time and time again about the inevitability of the Day of Judgment yet they still refuse to acknowledge it. If God swears by these important and well known events will you listen and understand? The dawn is the time when the first rays of light break through the darkness of night. It is a miracle of sorts that when we wake up every morning it is a reminder of the Day of Judgement and our resurrection. It is generally agreed that the ten nights refer to the first 10 days of the month Dhul-Hijjah. These days and nights were sacred even before the time of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, thus the reference was well understood by the opponents of Islam who were refusing to admit the inevitability of a Reckoning. The odd and the even refer to the alternation of day and night and the precision of God’s creation. Day and night, male and female, earth and sky or Paradise and Hell cannot be appreciated or understood without the other. Finally the oath concludes with the passing of the night. This connects with the first verse, as the night departs the dawn breaks through. All these things point to the reality of an All-Powerful God ruling over the universe. The oath says you see these things yet you will not believe? Look at them closely, use your intellect. Verses 6 – 14 Consider the pastGod then addresses Prophet Muhammad asking him if he considered how He (God) dealt with the tyrants and unbelievers of the past. Remember the people of ‘Aad in the city of Iram whose lofty pillars have never been made in any other land. Consider also the people of Thamud who built their dwellings in the rocks of the valley; and the might and powerful Pharaoh. All of them committed excesses and spread corruption in their lands. But God is watchful, He sees, records, and holds to account, and a scourge of torment was unleashed upon them. Verses 15 - 20 Social welfareIn the previous verses God was talking about whole nations, now He focuses on individuals. The nature of humankind is such that when a person is tried or tested with honour and blessings he says, "My God has honoured me", but when a person is tried or tested with a restriction of his provisions he says, "My God has humiliated me". God refutes the claim that if God has given abundance to someone then it is out of honor for him and likewise if He has given less to someone then He intends to humiliate him. Rather both situations are a trial and a test to see who is thankful to Him when given wealth and who is patient when tested with less sustenance. For indeed God gives wealth to those whom He loves as well as those whom He does not love and He withholds sustenance from those whom He loves and those whom He does not love. You have such things as prosperity and respect yet you spend your wealth in vain and useless activities. You don’t take care of the orphans nor feed the needy; you devour the inheritance of those under your protection. You have no regard for what is permissible and what is forbidden and your every thought is on how to accumulate more. This powerful admonition carries with it a strong warning. A great many people are wrong, they cannot do whatever they like and not be held to account for it. Verses 21 – 30 A powerful admonitionNo indeed (and you shall see) when the earth is pounded to dust, pounded and pounded. When God comes with the angels, rank upon rank of angels. This is the Day when Hell will be brought near. This is the Day when humankind will take heed but by then it will be too late. These words with their captivating rhythm create a scene that strikes fear into the heart of the believer. On that Day, when the disbelievers see the sight of the earth being levelled to the ground and smashed and God arriving with ranks of angels that fill the horizon, they will sigh in horror as they become aware of their true situation. Alas, they will say, if only I had sent forth some good deeds; would that I had left provision for this life to come. The chapter then goes on to describe the fate of the disbelievers after this desperate sigh. On that Day no one will punish as He punishes and no one will bind as He binds. This verse calls to mind the excesses of the nations in the previous verses where torture was a common punishment. None can punish as God can punish. It is a strong warning and invokes fear of what is to come. However, amidst this unimaginable horror, the believers are addressed by God Himself. O Soul, be at peace, return to God well pleased with Him and well pleasing to Him. Join My servants and enter My Garden. Unlike the earlier people described as being ungrateful and arrogant this person is pleased with God in all situations and is addressed with gentleness and compassion. Join my people in my Garden, a fitting end to a life well lived.
May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 88. Surah al-Ghashiyah | سورة الغاشية | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:02:12 | |
This is a short chapter revealed in Mecca and found towards the end of the Quran. It has twenty six verses; the first 7 serve as a warning to the disbelievers. The dire warning is then contrasted by a description of the pleasures and delights the believers will attain in Paradise. Next God asks us to consider the creation. That is followed by Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, being absolved from responsibility for those who will not listen to the warning and heed his message. The title, Al-Ghashiyah, or in the English language, The Overwhelming Event, comes from the first verse. The Overwhelming Event is another name used for the Day of Judgement. The Arabic word ghashiyah means something that covers entirely. Thus this overwhelming event will both overwhelm and cover the entire earth. As with many of the chapters in the last part of the Quran the themes are the Oneness of God and the Hereafter. Verses 1 – 7 On that DayGod asks, "Has the news of the Overwhelming Event reached you?" This is a rhetorical question and it is directed to everyone who hears or reads these words. It is a reminder and yet another way to describe the events on the Day of Judgment and the reward or punishment that awaits all humans in the Hereafter. Thoughts and descriptions of the event arouse fear. On that Day there will be downcast faces. These are people who believed they toiled hard in this world but now see no good result for their actions. There deeds were not accompanied by faith or done for the sake of God. Thus their works have been rendered worthless. Once they have entered Hell, thirsty and exhausted, they are given nothing to appease that thirst except water from a boiling spring. Their food is no better. It consists of bitter dry thorns that do not nourish them or satisfy their hunger. It is an ultimate affliction whose true and terrible nature is almost incomprehensible except to those who will experience it. Verses 8 – 16 Gardens of ParadiseIn stark contrast to this, other faces on this Day will show pleasure and happiness. Some people will be radiant with bliss and they will be well pleased with their efforts. These people will be shown into an elevated Garden. They are happy, reassured and enjoying the feeling of both spiritual and physical satisfaction. In this Garden they will hear no vain or evil talk. They will not use nor will they hear any unsuitable speech whatsoever. Within this lofty Garden will be a flowing spring and the description of water flowing implies fresh clean water. They will recline on raised couches. Filled goblets will be placed before them and comfortable cushions will be arranged with beautiful carpets underfoot and spread around. The descriptions of Paradise are both sublime and brilliant. The senses are satisfied. They will have their thirst appeased. The décor is luxurious and appeals to the eye. However, once again the true nature of this reward is incomprehensible except to those who will experience it firsthand. These descriptions help us to imagine the ultimate reward for those who strove for the Hereafter. Verses 17 - 20 The Wonders of natureWhen the warning and description of the Hereafter comes to a close, the chapter goes on to refer to the present world. We proceed to a reminder of the perfect planning and power of God. Do they not look at how the camels are created? Or look at the sky and how it was raised high? What about the perfection of the mountains firmly set in place or the earth spread out? We are given a scene from the universe of an elevated heaven and an outstretched earth and asked to ponder. Consider this. If God is able to create these wonders of the universe why would the Hereafter not be real? Consider the opening verse. Has the news of the Overwhelming Event reached you? Verses 21 – 26 Admonition and accountabilityGod says to Prophet Muhammad, "Warn them". He is told his only task is to warn the people; he is not able to control them. Prophet Muhammad is the admonisher who reminds them of the future and of the consequences of their actions, but he is not the enforcer. There is no compulsion in religion; to heed the warning or not or to believe or not to believe is a choice given to humankind. However they are accountable for their deeds and those who turn away in disbelief will be punished. In other words Prophet Muhammad is told that once his obligation to warn is complete God will take it from there and punish those who have knowingly turned away. Finally God says, "Indeed to Us is their return and then indeed upon Us is their account". To God is the final return and a final accounting or reckoning will take place. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 87. Surah al-A'laa | سورة الأعلى | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:01:36 | |
Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, used to love this chapter of the Quran. We know this from a chain of narration dating back to his friend, cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib.[1] Al A’la and the previous chapter At-Tariq were often recited together by Prophet Muhammad in the prayer on Fridays or the Islamic feast days[2]. It is a short chapter of 19 verses revealed in Mecca and it brings Prophet Muhammad good news. God will help him in his mission to spread the word of Islam and will personally take responsibility to make sure Prophet Muhammad’s memory of the Quran will not fail or be impeded in any way. Al-A’la includes the basic foundations of Islam and affirms that these foundations have well established roots in the previously revealed messages. Verses 1- 3 Praise GodThe chapter opens with an order to glorify God. Glorify the name of your Lord the Most High. The name of the chapter Al-A’la comes from this first verse. To glorify means to praise and to recognise His omnipotence. In just a few words we are immediately presented with two of the attributes of God; His Lordship and His Greatness. It is He who has created and proportioned. Everything that God created is well proportioned and perfected for the role it is to play in life on this earth. God has determined and set the destinies. Every piece of creation is given the sustenance it needs to fulfil its purpose and is guided to what it requires. Verses 4 & 5 ImageryAfter the glorification of God the imagery changes to a scene from the world of plants. God is He who brings forth the pasturage and then turns it into withered grass. Every plant has a purpose both in its flowering when it first shoots forth and in the withering and dying. All conditions have a purpose. Consider soil regeneration. Soil has its own self regenerative process; that which is biologically dead gathers minerals to begin the process once again.[3] Verses 6 - 7 Prophet Muhammad will not forgetGod addresses Prophet Muhammad saying that He will make him recite the Quran and he (Prophet Muhammad) will not forget. Forgetting is a human trait but Prophet Muhammad does not have to worry about trying to memorise the revelations as they are sent down to him. God has promised that He will take the responsibility and ensure that none of the revelations will be lost. These are glad tidings for the Prophet and for the Muslims in general. Its preservation is a bounty and favour from God to humankind. God’s decisions are based on his unfailing knowledge of everything. Verses 8 – 9 "We will ease you towards ease"This is quickly followed by more good news. God will smooth Prophet Muhammad’s way. God says, "We will ease you towards ease". This is either the path to Islam, which is invariably easy and natural or the path to Paradise which is by way of Islam. The universe was created by God with ease, it follows its appointed way with ease and draws towards the final objective with ease. It is well known that throughout his life Prophet Muhammad always chose the easier of lawful alternatives to any situation he was in.[4] The religion of Islam takes care to make the path to Paradise easy for every human being who lives in harmony with the universe. Prophet Muhammad is told to remind everyone, if reminding will help or be of some benefit. There will always be, in every place and in every generation those for whom the warning will be useful. Verses 10 – 13 The Great FireThose who heed God will take the reminder but it will be ignored by the wicked and they will burn in the fires prepared for them. The unfortunate ones will enter into the greatest fire where they will neither die nor live. They will not be granted the respite of death, nor will they be able to enjoy their present state of life. The one who turns away and does not listen to the warning must surely live in constant worry striving to attain pleasures in this life and trying to ignore the reminder of what will come. The greatest fire is the fire of Hell and the suffering in it is endless. Verses 14 – 17 Remembrance & PrayerThe one who heeds the warning, and purifies himself, will be successful. God asks us to listen to the message and purify ourselves from everything sinful act. This is achieved by remembering God and praying. God points out the vast difference between the two options. Heed the message and be saved, ignore the message and be wretched. Then He points out the reason for failure. You people prefer the life of this world even though the Hereafter is better and longer lasting. Verses 18 & 19 One OriginThis chapter concludes by pointing out that the message of Islam is not new. In fact it goes far back in time. God says this is the message delivered in the scriptures given to Prophets Abraham and Moses. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 86. Surah al-Tariq | سورة الطارق | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:01:24 | |
This is one of the short chapters found at the end of the Quran. Some of these chapters contain stern warnings to the reader. Think. Reflect. Ponder. Consider. It was revealed in Mecca at a time when the disbelievers were doing everything in their power to defeat and disrupt the message brought by Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. The Night Visitor takes its name from a word in the first verse. There are seventeen short verses that discuss two themes; that man must appear before God and that the Quran is the decisive indisputable word of God. Verses 1 - 3 An oathThis chapter opens with an oath. God swears by the heaven or the sky. The Arabic word used generally means everything above us, it is an infinite term. Thus He swears by everything above us, and by the night visitor. The word for night visitor, at-Tariq means anything that travels at night. Just as the reader is pondering what a night visitor might be God is also asking a question. What will make you understand what the night visitor is? That is, what will explain the night visitor to you? We are given the impression that it is serious, perhaps even beyond explanation. It is, we are then told, the star of piecing brightness. A star whose light penetrates or cuts through the darkness. Verses 4 – 7 Ponder the miraclesThere is a watcher over every soul. God watches over every star in the galaxy and every human being. The stars in this instance can be thought of as evidence to the fact that each soul has a watcher, an angel guarding them. Generally the scholars do not think of this in the same way western literature thinks of an angel watching and protecting a person’s every move. Rather it is more like an angel to watch over the recording of deeds. Humankind is then asked to consider how he has been brought into existence. God says reflect deeply about your own creation. Each life begins from fluid ejected. Life begins, God says, from what gushes out. This is consistent with the imagery of the chapter. Just as the star pierces through the darkness the fluid of life gushes forth. Ponder the miracle of human existence, a fluid ejected and then a life emerging fully formed from between the backbone and the ribs. God asks us first to look around, outside ourselves and ponder the wonders of the universe then He asks us to look inside, to contemplate the wonders involved in the creation of a human being. Verses 8 – 10 Secrets laid bareGod is certainly able to bring a human being back to life after death. On the Day of Judgement, sometimes called the Day of Resurrection, human beings will emerge from the grave. On that Day secrets will be laid bare. The rhythm and images continue. The light pierces, the fluid gushes and now the earth splits. What has been created once can surely be created again. On that Day the human being will have neither power nor someone to help him. When the secrets are examined people will not be able to escape the consequences of their deeds by their own power, or with help from somebody else. Verses 11 – 14 And in conclusion another oathNow God swears another oath. He swears by the sky that sends down rain and by the earth that is forever bulging with new growth. When the rain comes, it penetrates the earth however it soon dries out. The water evaporates and then returns to earth in the familiar water cycle. The rain is recurring and the earth cracks open over and over again for plant life to emerge. Every plant that appears has ripped open the earth; another impregnation that pierces and gushes forth. The rain gushes forth and the plant life pierces the earth. This is a serious task and so too is the Quran. It is also sent down and the truths it contains are not play or jest - they are a stern warning of an unavoidable reality. It is decisive and not to be taken lightly. Verses 15 – 17 The best of planners is GodGod say that they (the unbelievers of Mecca) are plotting and scheming. They are devising whatever plots they can to defeat the message of the Quran. They are creating doubts in people’s minds and making false statements about Prophet Muhammad. God is also plotting. He is planning that none of their devices will succeed. They will be utterly defeated. God has a plan that will overtake and obliterate all of their plans. Do not be hasty in revenge He tells Prophet Muhammad; leave them alone for a while and you will see what becomes of them and their schemes. Do not be angry, deal with them gently for God has it all in hand; for He alone holds the power in the beginning and in the end. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 85. Surah al-Burooj | سورة البروج | 29 Jan 2021 | 00:02:21 | |
The eighty-fifth chapter of the Quran is The Great Constellations. The title is taken from the first verse and refers to God’s power over the entire universe. It is God’s total power that is the recurring theme of this short chapter of 22 verses. The Great Constellations was revealed in Mecca and following the pattern of most Meccan chapters it focuses on the essentials of faith and the importance of belief. Verses 1 – 4 An oathThe chapter opens with an oath that links together, heaven, the great constellations, the Day of Judgment and the witnesses. God swears by the sky and its towering constellations and by the day that is promised, the Day of Judgment. He also swears by Himself, the ultimate witness and the Sovereign of the heavens and the earth who witnesses all things. And in addition to this God swears by all the people who will witness that great day, the Day of Judgment. These are powerful images that provide a serious atmosphere for what comes next. Doomed are the people referred to as the "people of the ditch." The people of the ditch (sometimes translated as trench) were the agents of a tyrannical King who refused to allow his people to believe in God. The actions the King’s agents took in obedience to their ruler earned them the curse of God. Verses 5 – 9 A storyGod then goes on to tell us just what the King ordered his men to do. They made a fuel filled fire in a great pit and drove the believers into the burning hole. That was not their only crime, the perpetrators then sat around the pit watching the people burn, delighting in their torture. Vengeance was exacted for no other reason except that they were believers in the One God. Their only "crime" was to believe in the One who has control over the heavens and the earth; the One who is a witness over all things. This is an abridged extract from the full story that can be found in the sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, researched and collected by Imam Muslim (817-874 CE) *The companions of Prophet Muhammad knew well the story about the people of the ditch; their story was contained in a longer story known as The Boy and the King. There was once a boy who was sent by the King to be a sorcerer’s apprentice. But each day as he went to his work he passed by a monk, and he stopped, listened and learned. He eventually learned that the way of the monk was better than that of the sorcerer so he believed in God and began to heal people in God’s name. The King eventually learned about the boy when one of his couriers was cured of blindness and accepted the belief in One God. The King was furious and demanded he give up his belief and when he refused he was sawn in two. The King tried to kill the boy because he would not give up his religion but his attempts to throw him off a mountain and drown him in the sea failed because of God’s intervention. In time the boy tricked the King into killing him with an arrow, in God’s name, thus showing the people God’s ultimate power. Many of the King’s people turned to God and in his fury the King ordered a deep ditch to be dug and a fire kindled in it. All those who would not give up their belief in God were cast into the burning ditch. Verses 10 - 11 The HereafterGod says very eloquently that those who torture or persecute the believing men or women, and do not repent from their actions, will find themselves in the fires of Hell. When a person’s time on earth has come to an end, it is not the end of the story, there is another life. It is one that will last forever and it will restore the balance of the scales of justice. Those who believe and strive to do good will live in beautiful gardens under which rivers flow; and theirs will be the greatest success. To escape punishment in the Hereafter is indeed the supreme triumph. Verses 12 – 18 God’s supreme powerGod’s vengeance is indeed stern. This verse contrasts God’s punishment in the Hereafter with the actions of the tyrannical King’s men. Their vengeance was trifling compared to God’s; God will bring people back to life and can punish as He wills and for as long as He wills. Verse 13 also reminds us that creation, death and decay, and then re-creation is a continuous process and is happening throughout the universe. And He is a forgiving and loving God. (He is) the Lord of the Throne, the Glorious, and does whatever He wills. These attributes portray God’s absolute dominance and power. This verse is followed by relevant examples of God’s punishment of others; Pharaoh and the people of Thamud. Have you not heard the stories about these warriors, God asks? They were mighty forces but God did with them as He pleased. Both stories were different in nature, and in consequence, but both manifested God’s will and His power. Verses 19 – 22 Surrounded by GodYet, even knowing these stories the disbelievers persist in their denial of the truth. God has them encircled, He surrounds them. His might and His knowledge engulf them making them powerless but they do not comprehend this, they are totally unaware. This is a glorious Quran. It is inscribed on a preserved slate, an imperishable tablet that God keeps with Him. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 35. Surah Fater | سورة فاطر | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:14:25 | |
The Originator is a forty-five verse chapter. It was revealed during the period in which the small fledgling band of Muslims was suffering from persecution and oppression at the hands of the Meccan elite. The title comes from the first verse in which God’s power of creation is affirmed. This chapter is alternatively known as The Angels, also from the first verse where God mentions the wings of the angels. God’s power is confirmed and contrasted with the powerlessness of idols. The idolaters receive a warning and the Prophet is comforted. Verses 1 – 10 God has power over all thingsAll praises belong to God. He is the one who created the heaven and the earth. He also created angels, with two, four, or six pairs of wings, to be His messengers. God creates whatever He pleases. When He wants to give blessings no one can withhold them but if He wants to withhold His blessings no one is able to release them. Remember God’s graces because there is no god who is able to provide the sustenance you require. Why are you deluded about this matter? God addresses Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, saying, do not be upset if the people call you a liar and deny you. Many messengers before you were treated in this way. Then God address the people saying that His promise is true and warning them not to be deceived by Satan who is the great Deceiver. Satan is your enemy so treat him as an enemy. He only wants you to follow him into the Fire. Those who disbelieve will be punished but those who do good deeds will find forgiveness and rewards. Oh Muhammad, are you able to guide the people whose evil deeds are made alluring to them? The truth is that God chooses who will be guided and who will be left to wander in the dark so do not feel regret. God is aware of everything they do. He is the one who revives the earth with winds and clouds after it has been dead; in much the same way the Resurrection will take place. All power belongs to God and a severe torment belongs to those who plot and plan. Their plans will come to nothing. Verses 11 – 14 God the CreatorIt is God who created humankind; first from dust and then from a drop of fluid. He made you into pairs, and no female conceives or gives birth without His knowledge. And no person grows old or has his life cut short except that it is in accordance with what is written in God’s record. There are two bodies of water but they are not alike. One is sweet and pleasant to drink but the other is salty and bitter. From each you can extract food and ornaments. And the ships move through them. God makes the night and the day and they merge into each other, and the sun and the moon rise and fall at appointed times. The things you worship other than God cannot even control something as small as the skin on a date stone. If you invoked them they would not hear and if they heard they would not respond. And on the Day of Judgement they will deny you. Verses 15 – 26 God is free of all needsHumankind, you need God but He does not need you. He is free of all wants or needs. If He so desired he could destroy you and replace you with a new creation. No one can carry another person’s burden. Prophet Muhammad is only able to warn those who already fear their Lord and establish the prayer. Those who purify themselves do so for their own benefit, not to benefit God. The seeing and the blind are not the same, nor are darkness and light, or heat and shade. The living and the dead are not equal. There is a difference between those who are guided and those who refuse. Prophet Muhammad is a warner who has been sent with the truth. Every community was sent a warner, and many of them were called liars even though they came with clear signs, scriptures and enlightening revelations. In the end God seized the disbelievers and His disapproval was terrible. Verses 27 – 37 Abundant blessingsGod sends down rain from the sky and from it the earth brings forth fruits and vegetables and plant life. The mountains are made up of streaks and tracts of various hues and colors. Humankind and animals are also made up of different colors, shades and hues. Those who have knowledge stand in awe of God. Those who recite from the Book, establish the prayer and give generously from what God has provided them with should expect a reward that does not perish. The Quran is the truth and it confirms the scriptures that came before it. God has given the Quran as an inheritance for those He has chosen. The believers will enter Paradise and they will praise God. However, those who reject the truth will be in the Hellfire where they will never find relief. They will cry out to be given another chance but they have already had many chances. Verses 38 – 45 God knows the unseen and sees everythingGod knows the unseen and all your secrets. You forget that He made you vicegerent on this planet. You are a representative of God and should act accordingly. Those who deny the truth will bear the consequences. Have you thought about those you invoke others besides God? What have they created? Do they have a Book? No, they do not; their promises are delusions. It is God who holds the heavens and the earth together. If they should slip no one could hold them in place except God. They swore that if a warner came to them they would have believed. The warner did come but they treated him with hostility. Evil plots only entrap the plotters. Are they waiting for the same end as the end that came to previous more superior nations? God’s methods have not changed. If God were to punish the people for their sins, there would not be a single person left on the planet. But He gives them respite, and on the Day of Resurrection mankind will be brought to account. Each person will be rewarded or punished according to what they did. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 84. Surah al-Inshiqaq | سورة الإنشقاق | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:02:34 | |
This short twenty-five verse chapter is about the Resurrection and the Hereafter. It was revealed in Mecca soon after the revelations began and before the persecution of the Muslims was commonplace. The message of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was beginning to interest a lot of people and many were questioning the idea that the Resurrection would ever take place. The chapter begins with a powerful opening takes its title from the first verse in reference to the ripping apart of the heavens, one of the events on the Day of Judgement. This is followed by an address to humankind, a description of significant scenes of life in this world, and then closes with the consequences of those who deny the message and those who accept it. Verses 1 – 5 Scenes from the Day of ResurrectionWhen the sky is split apart; having heard God’s commands it immediately and willingly obeys. And when the earth has been stretched flat and levelled out it casts out everything and is empty. It has listened to and responded to its Lord; immediately and willingly obeying His commands. The splitting of the sky has been discussed in other chapters, but the sky’s complete submission to God is a new element. The earth carries its load from one generation to the next from one century to the next, but on that fateful day it will cast out everything. Following the sky’s example and obeying God with full submission. After this powerful opening with the emphasis on submission, God addresses humankind. Verses 6 – 15 God speaks to humankindOh humankind. You are striving throughout your life, hastening towards your death when you will meet your Lord. Laboring hard in a variety of ways is the lot of all people. However, on the Day of Resurrection humankind will be divided into two distinct groups. One will suffer great hardship, and the other will enjoy blessings that will allow him or her to forget the hard labors of life in this world. Those that are given their record of deeds in their right hand will have an easy reckoning and will return to their people rejoicing. They were true to their faith and led a life of righteousness; God is pleased with them and rewards them well. As for those who are given their record of deeds in their left hand receive it with reluctance behind their backs, knowing that what lies ahead makes their laboring in this world appear easy. They will cry out for death and will be made to enter the blazing Fire. Indeed, some people led their lives without care, thinking they would never return to God for accountability. God was watching and seeing all their misdeeds. Verses 16 – 19 Scenes from the life of this worldGod then swears by the glow of the sunset, by the night and what it conceals and by the full moon that you (humankind) will gradually move from stage to stage. All around us there is a continuous and gradual change taking place; stillness is unknown in the universe. Likewise, each person moves through stages, from birth until death and then resurrection followed by reward or punishment. Therefore, the disbelievers are wrong in thinking that life ceases with death. These verses also remind us of how little control we have over events, and it is truly God who is the All-Powerful and the only one deserving of our submission and worship. Verses 20 – 25 An expression of wonderWhat is the matter with people? Why do they not believe? And when the Quran is recited to them why don’t they prostrate before God? God expresses wonder at those who persist in their denial of the truth even though they are surrounded by constant reminders and signs. There is so much evidence in the universe and in the depths of each person’s own soul yet they do not believe. Everything around the disbelievers is amazing but still they do not kneel in prayer when they hear the words of the Quran. It is designed to open their hearts and induce submission to the Creator, but they continue to refuse. Thus, the Quran goes on to describe a painful punishment, for those who chose to hide from the truth, denying and lying at every opportunity. God knows perfectly well what their motives are and thus He addresses Prophet Muhammad in the final verses telling him to give them (the disbelievers) tidings of a woeful doom. This, however, is not the end for the believers. They are protected from such punishment by their belief and their good and righteous deeds; rather for them, is a never-ending reward. And on that uplifting note, the chapter ends. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 83. Surah al-Mutafifeen | سورة المطففين | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:04:23 | |
This thirty-six verse chapter is towards the end of the Quran where the chapters are short and were predominantly revealed in Mecca. At the beginning, when the Muslim community was small in number and suffered terribly at the hands of the Meccan elite, the chapters and verses served to strengthen the hearts and minds of the new Muslims. Chapter 83 addresses the conditions in Mecca at the time. It threatens those who deal in fraud with a severe punishment in the Hereafter and contrasts that punishment with the delights that await the righteous. This chapter can be divided into four distinct parts. The first part addresses those who deal in fraud and reminds them that they will stand before God. The second part establishes their guilt and aggression. The third part describes the rewards the righteous should anticipate, and in the final part the believers are consoled and the disbelievers warned. The name of the chapter is taken from the first verse. Verses 1- 6 Morality is a part of faithWoe to those who deal in fraud, the ones who give short measure. The word woe implies both destruction and ruin. When they take from others they take full measure, but they have no problem defrauding others. The next verses express astonishment that some people think that they will never be bought to account for their actions. There will indeed be a Day when they will rise up to stand before their Lord and face all the consequences of their actions. Meccan chapters usually focus on the fundamentals of the faith; thus the fact that corrupt business practices is mentioned here are an important consideration. It highlights the emphasis Islam gives to having good ethics and its uncompromising stand against injustice. Verses 7 – 17 Recording the deeds of the wickedA list of the wicked is already in a register. It is a written record of who will be in the lowest depths of Hell. And on the Day of Resurrection, ruin and destruction will belong to the deniers of that Day. It is only the sinful transgressors that deny it - their hearts are stained by their sinful actions. When they hear the revelations, they call them tales from ancient people. They will not be able to see God in the Afterlife. This separation from God is the most agonizing of all punishments. They will enter the Hellfire and feel the fire and be told that they are now experiencing the thing they used to deny. Verses 18 – 28 A record of righteousnessBy contrast, the record of the righteous is in a register of the exalted ones. It is a clearly written list, attested to by the angels. The righteous will be in a state of bliss, reclining on soft, comfortable couches, looking all around and recognizing the signs of pleasure in each other’s faces. Their thirst will be quenched with a nectar that is delicious but does not intoxicate. Its lingering odor is musk. Those who wish to compete should compete in righteousness so that they may be rewarded. A person’s life on earth is limited while life in the Hereafter is unlimited. Now is the time to compete and push each other to good deeds. The reward will be full of bliss including this wonderful drink that is mixed with the water of Tasnim, the highest spring in Paradise and the most favored drink of its inhabitants. Only those bought near to God will drink from this spring. Verses 29 – 36 The believers are consoled and the disbelievers warnedDuring their life in this world, those who committed the crimes used to laugh at the believers. They would wink at one another and exchange derisive glances as they passed them on the roads. When they returned to their own people, they would joke about the believers. However, on the Day of Resurrection, it will be the believers laughing at the unbelievers. The believers will recline on their couches and gaze at the unbelievers saying that now they have certainly been repaid for what they used to do. ConclusionAt the time in Mecca, the Muslims were facing a sustained and demoralizing onslaught. Thus in this chapter, God comforts them and urges them on to greater deeds and greater rewards. The believers suffer now, but in the Hereafter the outcome will be very different. God makes ironic remarks about the disbelievers, but even if they hear the revelation, they are insensitive to the remarks that are clearly meant for them. The hearts of the believers are more sensitive and pick up on the nuances contained in God’s words. Even though they are being given a chance to change their ways, the disbelievers prefer to make jokes and encourage one another to more wickedness. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 82. Surah al-Infitar | سورة الإنفطار | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:02:02 | |
This short chapter of nineteen verses was revealed in Mecca and it is named from the word in the first verse, infitarat, which means to split or cleave asunder. Chapter 81 was revealed around the same time and both chapters are closely associated. Their subject matter is similar and together they give a very clear vision of the Last Day. Meccan chapters tend to focus on the basics of Islam predominantly the Oneness of God and the inevitability of the Day of Judgment. Accordingly, this chapter deals with humankind’s ingratitude, and failure to acknowledge the Day of Judgment. Verses 1 – 3 A Powerful EventOn the Day of Judgment, the skies will be spilt apart, the stars will be flung across the universe, and the seas and oceans will burst forth as if the wall of a dam has broken. A violent change will devastate the universe, and the perfect system that God had set in place will no longer be operational. How exactly this fierce upheaval will take place is known only to God but we can use our knowledge of the universe to imagine scenarios, each one more terrifying than the other. If the oceans explode it might mean that they are reduced to their component parts oxygen and hydrogen. In gas form, this would be a fearful explosion more destructive than the nuclear devices we so fear today. The oceans would be set ablaze as described in the previous chapter. What we thought to be permanent will no longer exist in any form that we know or imagine. Verses 4 – 5 The ResurrectionThe graves will be turned inside out, the contents exposed and scattered about. This might be as a result of the turmoil mentioned in the first three verses or it might be a separate event. The people are hurled out of their graves, resurrected to stand up and face the promised reckoning. Every soul there will be faced with what it has done and what it has left undone. This upheaval is not the end of the matter for some will face consequences even more terrifying than the events that have just taken place. Verses 6 – 8 A Wonderful CreationGod remonstrates with humankind asking what it is that lures them away from Him. God reminds them that it was He who created them, shaped them and proportioned them. What is it God is asking that prevents you from fulfilling your obligations to Him. He has been gracious and generous towards you, raising you above all of creation. God has assembled humankind and carefully balanced the physical, mental and spiritual aspects. People should ponder their amazing bodies and minds and this alone should prompt them to show gratitude and respect to God. Verses 9 – 12 Recording AngelsInstead of pondering the generosity God has shown to you by creating you, you spend your time denying the Resurrection. If you thought about what God has already created, you would not doubt that He could easily destroy His work and resurrect it again. You deny the Day of Judgement but you will certainly face it. There are guardians watching over you and everything you do in this life will be counted and recorded. Nothing will be left out by the noble angels accompanying you by day and by night. Verses 13 – 16 Righteous or Wicked?The righteous will live in gardens of bliss while the wicked will burn in the fire. The end is certain. The righteous person, he or she who consistently does good deeds of all kinds, will have a good end, blissful happiness. By contrast, the ones who are impudent and insolent will find themselves in Hell. That is the recompense for wickedness. Everyone will enter their abode on the Day of Judgment. The destiny of every person has been determined based on the recordings of the noble angels. No one is able to escape from their determined destiny nor can they leave it for even a little while. Verses 17 -19 ConsequencesGod asks the rhetorical question; just what is it that will make you understand what the Day of Judgment is? And for emphasis He repeats the question a second time. This rhetorical style is used often in the Quran. It suggests that the matter under discussion is very difficult to understand for those who do not think, ponder and look for meaning in God’s signs. God is asking how He can make you understand, what more can He say to convince you that this world is not for play and pleasant pastimes. Everything you do has consequences in this life and the next. As if to give every person one final chance, God tells us that the Day of Judgment is a day in which no person can help another person. You cannot look to your family for help; you can rely only on the recordings of the noble angels. The Day of Judgment is something you cannot ignore; it is only the ignorant and conceited who try to do that. Here God is giving everyone a vivid description of what will happen. Change your ways before it is too late because on that Day everybody stands alone and it is God who reigns supreme, all the power is with Him. The chapter closes and leaves the reader with a feeling of fear and expectation. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 81. Surah al-Takweer | سورة التكوير | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:02:27 | |
The chapter was revealed in Mecca. It emphasizes the fact that people will be confronted by their deeds on Judgement Day, asserts the truth of the Quran, and calls people to the right path. It opens with a powerful description of events on that Day, and the title of the chapter is taken from this description. Verses 1-14 The reality of the Day of ResurrectionThese verses sketch a scene of great upheaval which envelops the whole universe. It is an event which reveals every guarded secret and leaves nothing hidden away. Every human being faces what he has put forward for the Day of Reckoning and Judgement. The great events mentioned indicate that the present familiar state of the universe, with its perfect harmony, measured movement, controlled relations, perfected by the Maker whose work is flawless, will suffer a complete breakdown. Its role will be finished. Along with all creation, it will move into a new predetermined phase of life, unlike anything known to us in this world. The chapter aims to get this idea of the inevitable upheaval well established in people’s hearts and minds so that they may attach little or no importance to the values and riches of this world, though these may seem to be of lasting consequence. The great terror which overwhelms the wild beasts in their jungles is the cause of their coming together. They forget their mutual enmities, and move together, unaware of their direction. They neither seek their homes nor chase their prey as they usually do. The value of human life must have sunk very low in pre-Islamic Arabian society. There existed a convention of burying young girls alive, for fear of shame or poverty. The Quran describes this practice in order to portray its horror and to denounce it. We are told that the murdered girl will be questioned about her murder. The chapter leaves us to imagine how the murderer will be brought to account. The social order of the pre-Islamic period would never have helped women to gain a respectable, dignified position. God decreed to change it. With Islam, the way of life God has chosen for humanity secures a dignified position for both men and women. When all these great events take place throughout the universe, changing the status of all life, no one can entertain any doubt about what they have done in this present life, or what they have carried with them to the next life. People will find themselves completely separated from all that has been familiar to them, and from their world as a whole. Everything will have undergone a total change except God. If man turns to God now, he will find that His support is forthcoming when the whole universe is overwhelmed by change. Thus ends the first part of this chapter, leaving us with a vivid impression of the universal upheaval on the Day of Resurrection. Verses 15-29 The reality of the revelationThe second part of the chapter opens with a form of oath using some very beautiful scenes of the universe. Essentially, this oath is made to assert the nature of revelation, the Angel (Jibreel or Gabriel) carrying it, and the Messenger receiving and delivering it to us, as well as people’s attitudes to it, all in accordance with God’s will. As the Quran makes this brief, full-of-life description of these phenomena, it establishes a spiritual link between them and man, with the result that, as we read, we feel the power which created these phenomena, and the truth which we are called upon to believe. This truth is then stated in a manner which fits in superbly with the general theme of the chapter. This Quran with its description of the Day of Judgement is conveyed by Gabriel to Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. The chapter gives a description of this chosen angel. He is ‘noble’, honored by God, and he is ‘mighty’, which suggests that considerable strength is required to carry and convey the Quran. What a great honor for Gabriel to enjoy such a position with the Lord of the universe. ‘He is obeyed in heaven’, i.e. by the other angels. He is also ‘faithful to his trust’, carrying and discharging the message. These qualities add up to a definite conclusion: that the Quran is a noble, mighty and exalted message and that God takes special care of man. It is a manifestation of this care that He has chosen an angel of Gabriel’s caliber to bring His revelations to the man He has chosen as His Messenger. As man reflects on this divine care he should feel humble, for he himself is worth very little in the kingdom of God. There follows a description of the Prophet who conveys this revelation to mankind. The chapter seems to say to them: You have known Muhammad very well over a considerable length of time. He is your old, honest, trusted friend. Why, then, are you fabricating tales about him, when he has been telling you the simple truth which he has been entrusted to deliver to you. The chapter then reminds us that it is up to every individual to choose whether to follow the right path or not. Since God has granted everyone a free will, every human being is responsible for himself. The right path has been indicated for everyone who wishes to be upright. Anyone who follows a different path shall, therefore, bear the responsibility for his actions. The chapter concludes by stating that the operative will behind everything is the will of God. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 80. Surah Abasa | سورة عبس | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:03:31 | |
The chapter was revealed in Mecca. While the Prophet was speaking to some pagan notables, hoping to convert them, a blind Muslim man came up to learn from him, but in his eagerness to attract them to Islam, the Prophet frowned at him. The Prophet was reproached by God. In the second section, there is condemnation of man’s ingratitude. People become self-satisfied and forget their origin and final return to God. Verses 1-10 A kind approachIts first part is based on an incident which took place in the early days of Islam. Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was busy with a few Quraysh dignitaries, explaining to them the Islamic message, when Ibn Umm Maktum, a poor blind man, interrupted him. Unaware that the Prophet was busy, the blind man asked him repeatedly to teach him some verses from the Quran. The Prophet was not very pleased at this interruption. He frowned and turned away from Ibn Umm Maktum. Heaven intervened to say the final word in this matter. The chapter opens by criticizing the Prophet’s behavior in this incident. It lays down clearly the values and principles upon which Islamic society is founded and states the true nature of the message of Islam. Verses 11-16 The message and virtue of the QuranThe Quran is a noble and honored message in every respect. Its pages are purified and exalted, entrusted to ‘noble and devout’ angel ambassadors who convey God’s message to His Prophets who then convey it to their people. It is also dignified. No one who pretends that he is self-sufficient and will spurn the message of Islam need be approached with it. Those who are sincere and seek to be purified will benefit from it. Verses 17-32 Reflection and contemplationMan’s ungrateful attitude towards God and his denial of Him comes up for discussion. Here man is reminded of his humble origin, how his life is made easy, how God determines his death and resurrection; and how, after all this, he remains totally oblivious of God’s care and His complete power over every stage of his existence, and fails to carry out His orders. Next, man is invited to reflect upon his food and that of his cattle, which is one of the great many things God has provided for him. Absolute perfection of creation is obvious in the provision of food for man as it is obvious in the creation, proportioning and development of man Himself. This is the full story of man’s food, related here stage by stage. Let man reflect: does he play any significant role in it? Can he determine or change its course? The same hand which has brought him to life has brought forth the food which sustains him. Verses 33-42 When the deafening blast comesThis is the end of all delight and enjoyment. It fits perfectly with the planning and designing which included every stage of man’s development. The end portrayed here fits perfectly with the scene at the beginning of the chapter which shows someone coming forward with zeal and with a feeling of fear in his heart, and another who considers himself self-sufficient and turns away from divine guidance. Here we have an exposition of their standing in God’s view. The verses here touch upon "the stunning blast" and its fearful effects. The very sound of the words gives the impression of horror. It makes people unaware of anything around them. Their faces, however, provide a lucid account of what is happening to them. Some faces beam with happiness overflowing with delight. They are hopeful and reassured because they feel that their Lord is pleased with them. These people are spared the terror of the stunning blast, so they can afford to smile and demonstrate their joy. Or probably the smiles and manifestations of happiness are seen after these people have realized the good end awaiting them. The faces of people devoid of faith, who do not believe in God or in the divine message, will be covered with the dust of sadness and misery, darkened with humiliation and depression. They know what they have done in this life and they await their inevitable punishment. The fearfulness depicted in this scene strikes the soul, and makes us realize that each of us is accountable for ourselves, and what really matters is our beliefs and deeds and we will be recompensed accordingly. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 79. Surah al-Naziat | سورة النازعات | 27 Jan 2021 | 00:04:23 | |
Chapter 79 is titled The Extractors. It is named from the Arabic word in the first verse, naziat. This word is most often translated as angels, particularly the angels charged with extracting the souls from the dead. The Extractors is one of the short chapters, only 46 verses, found towards the end of the Quran and was revealed in Mecca. The Meccans of the time emphatically denied the Resurrection thus The Extractor’s subject matter confirms the Day of Resurrection as strenuously as the previous chapter number 78, The Great News. The Meccans however did not deny the existence of the angels; therefore God swears by the angels that the reality of the Day of Resurrection cannot be denied. Verses 1- 5 An OathAn oath, by God, on those angels who tear out the souls destined for Hell. And those angels that gently remove the souls destined for Paradise. Also by those angels who glide about as if swimming and those who charge swiftly, eagerly competing with each other to carry out God’s commands. And the angels that organise each matter according to God’s decree. Verses 6 – 14 A severe warningOn the Day of Resurrection there will be a loud blast of a trumpet or horn that will be followed by a second blast. The first blast from the trumpet will destroy the earth and everything on it while the second will herald humankind rising up from their graves. The hearts of those who denied the Resurrection will tremble and pound with terror. Their eyes will be downcast. In Mecca at the time they were asking each other, ‘Will we really be returned to the earth alive even though our bones have decayed?’ Mockingly they describe the Resurrection a losing return, a useless restoration. God then warns them sternly that it will be a single sound and they will find themselves alive once more all standing together upon an open plain. It is inevitable and cannot be diverted by denial, escape or mockery. Verses 15 – 25 Moses and PharaohGod called out to Prophet Moses in the sacred valley known as Tuwa. Go to Pharaoh, Moses was told, for he has transgressed beyond all bounds. Ask him if he wants to repent and purify himself? Offer to guide him towards God by showing him a great miracle. Moses turned his stick into a serpent but Pharaoh denied the miracle and turned his back on the offer to be guided to faith. Pharaoh hastily gathered his people together. He proclaimed to them that he was the most exalted Lord; he was the supreme and most high. God seized him for punishment in this life and in the Hereafter; for setting himself up as a deity, for his oppression of the people and for his denial of Moses’ offer. This is a lesson and a warning for anyone who fears God and stands in awe of Him. Verses 27 – 33 God the CreatorGod asks a question to humankind. What is harder to create, you or the heavens? The universe was built high and in perfect proportion. The darkness of night spreads over the earth as if it was a canopy and in the day time the sun is brightly glowing in the sky. God created the earth with water sources, vegetation of all kinds and mountains set firmly in the ground. All these things were provided for the benefit of humankind and all living creatures. Verses 34 – 41 A permanent abodeThe great disaster will strike. The Day of Resurrection will arrive and every person will remember exactly what he or she has done. Hell will be on view for all to see. It will become the home of those who have transgressed, rebelled or preferred the life of this world. Paradise however will become the home and refuge of all those were righteous, those who restrained themselves from base desires and those who feared this momentous Day. Verses 42 – 45 And they asked about the HourThe disbelievers of Mecca asked Prophet Muhammad about the Hour. Although they did not believe in the Resurrection or the afterlife they asked this question over and over. When will it come they ask but Prophet Muhammad is not able to answer them. Only God knows the answer. To Him belongs the ultimate knowledge. Prophet Muhammad’s message and waring will only benefit those who fear the coming of the Day. Verse 46 A lifetime is but a momentWhen the Day of Resurrection commences, humankind will feel as if they had only been in this life for the evening of a day or a part of the morning. Those who have ruined their afterlife will wonder how they could have done so in such a short time. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 78. Surah al-Naba | سورة النبأ | 26 Jan 2021 | 00:04:53 | |
The main division of the Quran is into chapters and verses, however it is also divided into 30 roughly equal parts. Each part is known in Arabic as a juz. Because each juz is not usually divided along chapter lines, each one is sometimes referred to by its first word. The thirtieth part is known as juz amma, and it is named after the first word of its first chapter; chapter 78, The Great News. This is the first of the short chapters found towards the end of the Quran. It is generally accepted that most of these chapters were revealed in Mecca during the first years of the mission of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. During this period, the people of Mecca who had not already embraced Islam, mocked and expressed doubt in the doctrine of the Hereafter. The title of the chapter is taken from the second verse, and its name denotes its subject matter. The word naba implies the news of the Resurrection and the Hereafter and the entire 40 verses are devoted to this theme. The Great News opens by listing God’s gifts to humankind; it then gives a stern warning about a day of resurrection and an accounting for one’s deeds and behavior. Verses 1 – 4 A question of beliefGod asks a question. What do they ask one another? What is it that they are talking about? It is a rhetorical question asked in order to produce an effect in us. He provides us with the answer; they are talking about the great news. (It is the certainty of the Resurrection and the Hereafter.) Are they really talking and arguing about this event when they should be preparing for it? It will not be long before they understand; very soon they will come to know that the Day of Resurrection and the Hereafter are real. This is an emphasized and a confirmed warning for those who persist in denying the inevitability of this day. Verses 5 – 16 God’s generosity towards humankindGod gives evidence of His power. He made the earth smooth and the mountains secure. They are pegged into the earth for stability and balance. He created people in pairs, male and female, and created sleep in order that people may rest. God made the night as a mantle, a cover or concealment, and the day so that humankind may earn their livelihood. In a perfectly designed universe, the earth is in its own orbit spinning around a life-sustaining sun. And He has sent down rain in abundance in order to facilitate the growth of vegetation of all kinds, from grain to luxurious gardens. Verses 17- 30 A description of the Day of Resurrection and HellGod clarifies that the date for the Day of Resurrection has already been set. On that momentous day the trumpet will be blown, and all of humankind will rise out of their graves. They will come in crowds as the sky opens up wide as if it were doors or gateways. The mountains will shake until they become a mirage. These things will happen. Hell is lying in wait for those who disbelieve or transgress the commandments of God. It is there that they will live for an unending time. They will feel no cool breeze nor have cool water to drink. Those who dwell in Hell will be offered nothing but scalding water and decaying filth. It will be an appropriate recompense, in proportion to their crimes. The disbelievers did not expect to be called to account. They blithely denied the revelations. They did not fear a reckoning and described the messages as lies. However, everything was documented in a clear record. Now they will taste and experience the fruits of their labor. The inmates of Hell can expect nothing but an increase in the torment they feel. Verses 31 – 37 Gifts for the righteousThe righteous, those who were aware of God and their commitment to Him, will find success, reward and safety from the fires of Hell. They will achieve their heart’s desires, beautiful gardens and vineyards. They will have perfect companions, and they will both drink from overflowing cups. In this beautiful garden, they will hear no vain talk nor will they be told any lies. This is a gift from the boundless generosity of the Merciful God to the righteous. They will not only be given what is due to them but even more, because He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them. The Day will be so awe-inspiring that no one will be capable of speaking to God without His permission. Verses 38 – 40 On the Day of TruthThe Day of Resurrection is the day on which Angel Gabriel and the angels with will stand together in ranks, row after row. Nobody will speak except those to whom the compassionate God grants permission. Even then they will only be capable of speaking the truth because this is the Day of Truth. This day will become a reality so whoever desires to be successful should seek a way to God through correct beliefs and righteous deeds. The people have been warned of an imminent punishment. On the Day of Resurrection, everybody will see the truth of their actions and deeds. They will see what their hands have sent forth, and many will wish that they had remained in the earth as nothing but dust. The cry of the unbeliever will be, "If only I were dust." May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 77. Surah al-Mursalat | سورة المرسلات | 24 Jan 2021 | 00:04:37 | |
This chapter sits in the middle of five chapters, all thought to have been revealed in Mecca, in the earliest days of revelation. It is a fifty-verse chapter that takes its name from the first words of the first verse, ‘By the winds sent forth.’ It strings together a series of images from this life and from the Hereafter and punctuates them with a sharp admonition, ‘Woe on that Day to those who deny the truth.’ This rebuke is repeated ten times. The Winds Sent Forth describes events that will precede the Judgment. Verses 1 – 15 An OathThe chapter begins with God taking an oath by forces that have an effect on earth and on our daily lives. By the winds sent forth, one after the other; by the storms and hurricanes and the winds that lift and scatter the clouds to far-off distant places. They deliver a warning and a reminder; what you are promised will definitely happen. This refers to the Resurrection and the Judgment. The All-Wise and All-Mighty who made this system and controls it is fully capable of destroying it and resurrecting us from the dead. We are then jolted by a description of that momentous Day. The stars will be dimmed, the sky will be torn apart, and the mountains turned to dust. These descriptions suggest that the universe we think we understand will break down and there will be countless small collapses. And on that Day the Messengers will give testimony for their communities. God asks us if we know when this is all going to happen and answers His own question by saying that it will happen on the Day of Decision (Judgment). He also asks what would make us realize just what the Day of Decision is? And on that Day, woe to the disbelievers who deny the truth. Verses 16 – 19 The past repeatedGod asks us to think, by saying, ‘Did We not destroy the former generations for their evil deeds?’ The same thing will happen to the last of the generations; they will follow the first and be destroyed because of their evil behavior. This is how God deals with the guilty. And on that Day, woe to the disbelievers who deny the truth. Verses 20 – 28 A home for the living and the deadGod asks us to ponder the fact that He created us from an underrated fluid and let us rest in a secure place while we developed (in the womb) for a period of time that He alone determined. God has the power to shape and develop us into a perfect and complete person from an insignificant sperm-drop; how shall He be helpless to re-create us on that Day? God made the earth a home for both the living and the dead. He placed firm mountains upon it and provided fresh, sweet, water to drink. Woe to whoever reflects upon these created things which demonstrate the greatness of their Creator, then after that continues to reject Him. Verses 29 – 40 The dreaded commandThe chapter now thrusts images of the Day of Judgment upon us. Those who denied the truth will be told to walk towards the Hell they denied. God does not actually mention the word Hell because it will be plain to see; three tall pillars of smoke rising out of the pit of Hell. God tells them to walk towards their shadow but warns that it provides no shade of coolness or protection from the flames. It is suffocating and it is burning. It shoots out sparks as big as huge castles. This is the punishment for the deniers of truth. They will be totally speechless; their guilt and crime will be proved to the fullest, and they will not be able to offer any excuse after it. There will be a deafening and ominous silence. They will then be told that this is the Day of Decision (Judgment). They are gathered with all the previous generations, and God will wryly suggest that if they have any plots to use against Him, this would be the time to use them. And on that Day, woe to the disbelievers who deny the truth. Verses 41 – 45 The righteous are honoredHowever, those who took heed of God’s words and were righteous, striving to please Him, will have no such experience. For them will be cool shade, flowing springs, and any fruit they desire. This shade will provide coolness and relief from the burning sun unlike what the disbelievers are experiencing as they make their way towards the columns of smoke. The righteous however will know nothing of this and will be encouraged to eat and drink to their heart’s content. This is their reward, and this is how God rewards those who strive to behave in a way that is pleasing to Him. Verses 46 – 50 An opportunity for guidanceIn the only image of this present life, given to us in this chapter, God addresses the disbelievers telling them that they can eat, and enjoy themselves, for a short while. But a Day where there will be retribution. And if the disbelievers do not believe in this Quran which has clear proofs then what else after this can convince them!? May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 76. Surah al-Insan | سورة الإنسان | 23 Jan 2021 | 00:05:40 | |
This is a thirty-one verse chapter. It is generally accepted that it was revealed in Mecca, however, there is some scholarly debate and many scholars believe that the chapter was revealed in Madina. There are even suggestions that part of it was revealed in Medina whilst the majority was revealed in Mecca. The theme of the chapter is to inform humankind of their true position in the world and suggests that he (each human being) should adopt an attitude of gratefulness. After addressing humankind, the chapter goes on to describe Paradise in great detail contrasting the end results for both the evildoers and the righteous. This chapter is a serene discourse encouraging people to turn to God, obey Him, seek His pleasure, remember His favors, and work to avoid His punishment; and it is sometimes referred to as Time (Ad-Dhar). Verses 1 – 3 At one time we did not existGod asks, ‘Was there not a period of time when the human being was nothing, not even mentioned?’ This question requires us to think about where we were before God called us into existence. God creates each human being from a drop of mingled fluid; a combination of both male and female substances. All people were created to undergo a test, thus for this reason God endows the human being with the faculties of hearing and sight. God shows us to the right path, and it is us that make a choice. Will we stay on the right path and be grateful or stray from it thus showing our ingratitude. Verses 4 – 10 Some qualities of righteous peopleWe have a choice, and God tells us clearly what the outcome of our choice will be. For the disbelievers, those who chose to stray from the path, God has prepared chains, shackles, and a blazing fire. However, those who choose to stay on the path of righteousness will be in Paradise enjoying its delights. These people, who will be in Paradise, are the ones who fulfil their vows and dread the widespread terror that will occur on the Day of Judgement. They are also compassionate towards those who are less fortunate. They feed the poor, the orphan, and the captive, in spite of having desire for it themselves. They know within their hearts that they feed them for His sake only and do not expect any reward or gratitude from people. Verses 11 – 22 For those in ParadiseThus God will keep them safe from the woes on that Day, and they will be radiant with happiness. They will be rewarded for their patience with gardens in Paradise and silken clothing. There they will recline on couches and feel no scorching heat or bitter cold. The trees of Paradise will provide shade, and the fruits of Paradise will hang in low clusters within easy reach. They will be served from silver dishes and crystal cups, and goblets made from clear silver, filled by attendants with everything they desire or fancy. They will be given a drink infused with ginger from a fountain in Paradise known as Salsabil. Their attendants will be boys of eternal youth, and if you saw them you would think that they were scattered pearls. If you could look around you would see blessings and pleasure, splendor and wealth. The residents of Paradise will wear clothing of fine green silk and rich brocade. They will wear fine jeweled bracelets, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. It will be said to them, ‘This is your reward, and your endeavors (in the world) have been appreciated.’ Verses 23 – 26 Remember your LordThis Quran has been revealed to you (O Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) gradually according to the circumstances. O Prophet, bear patiently the hardships and difficulties that you may face in the great mission that has been entrusted upon you, and do not yield to any disbeliever so as to give up preaching of the true faith or become inclined to make even the least change in the religious beliefs or the moral teachings to please anyone. Remember the name of your Lord at dawn and in the evening. Bow down to Him at night and exalt His praise in the long hours of the night. Verses 27 – 31 People are free to choose but bear the consequences of their decisionsThese disbelievers love the transitory life of this world and neglect to prepare for the heavy Day that is coming. God created them and strengthened their constitution, giving them all the power that they enjoy. If He so willed he could do away with them and replace them with a different creation. This is indeed a warning. The Quran is a reminder that makes the truth evident. People have been given free will to make their choices. Those who wish to take heed will benefit from it whilst those who knowingly reject the truth will be severely punished. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 75. Surah al-Qiyamah | سورة القيامة | 22 Jan 2021 | 00:03:36 | |
The Resurrection is a forty-verse chapter revealed in Mecca. Most Meccan chapters deal exclusively with the fundamentals of faith, and this one concentrates particularly on the Day of Resurrection and humankind’s habit of denying its inevitability. The name of the chapter is taken from the first verse, and it also describes the theme and subject matter. It is believed to be one of the earliest chapters revealed, and its style indicates that the concepts and teachings were presented to the people of Mecca in brief yet forceful sentences. This chapter predominantly addresses those who deny the Hereafter and replies to their doubts and objections. Verses 1 – 15 The inevitability of the Day of ResurrectionThe chapter begins with two short introductory sentences. God swears by the Day of Resurrection and by the self-reproaching soul. The Day of Resurrection is something that is inevitable; everything in this world will come to an end it is neither eternal nor everlasting. The self-reproaching soul is what we today call the conscience. Humankind is always questioning their actions, for example, in our minds we ask ourselves, should I have done this or that or perhaps something else. Thus God swears by two inescapable things. There will be a resurrection and people will always question themselves. Do people think that God will not be able to reassemble their bones? Because He can do that easily, in fact, He can even reshape the very tips of a person’s fingers. But alas, people want to deny what is ahead of them, a day of certainty, the Day of Resurrection and mockingly asks when this day will occur? God answers that it will come when the eyes are dazzled, and the moon darkens. On that day the sun and the moon will be joined together, and people will ask where to find a place of refuge. On that day there is no refuge except with God. That is the only answer to that question. On that fateful and inevitable day, people will be informed about their deeds, good or bad, big or small; and even bear witness against themselves. Verses 16 – 19 Prophet Muhammad and the QuranThese next four verses give Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, instructions regarding the revelation of the verses of the Quran. He is told not to rush when trying to memorize the recitation being revealed to him. God will most assuredly make sure you remember it. And when it is recited to you (Prophet Muhammad) repeat it, and God will make it clear and understandable for you. God takes total responsibility for the Quran, its revelation, its recitation, its collection, and its preservation. Verses 20 – 30 Opposite outcomesPeople love this fleeting life and are heedless of the Hereafter. On the Day of Judgment, some faces will be radiant and beaming, turned towards their Lord, looking at indescribable beauty. Others, however, will look dreadful and despairing, anticipating something devastating to befall them. Their sins and misdeeds cast a dark shadow over them. When a person is on the verge of death, someone cries out, "Who will cure him?" The person will then understand that he is dying. The road ahead becomes clear. It is the final parting, from his family, friends, and all worldly possessions. Shortly thereafter he is wrapped in his shroud and prepared for burial. He will then be led towards his Lord, as if in a procession, along a road that every living being will eventually have to take. Death separates a person from their loved ones and does not respond to pleading or an outpouring of grief. It takes the most powerful as easily as it takes the weakest, and the tyrant succumbs in exactly the same manner as the one who was oppressed. The chapter moves on from this distressing death scene, but its image remains in our consciousness. Verses 31 – 40 Arrogant rejection and the power of GodIn this life the disbeliever denies the truth, fails to pray, and then turns away, walking back to his people with arrogance and conceit. Some people refuse to do anything other than deny the truth. They do not fear God or prepare for the inevitable; instead, they indulge in sinful behavior not even bothering to conceal their arrogance. Here the Quran issues a clear warning to these people. Woe to you. Woe is repeated four times in two short verses. The day comes closer and closer; nearer and nearer. It is a strong threat, more than a warning. Keep in mind that when the time of death arrives, it cannot be altered, it cannot be moved forward or backward even by a nanosecond. Do some people really think that they will not be returned to the Creator for judgment? Humankind will not be left to wander about without purpose. Each person began as a drop of sperm, changed into a clinging clot (mass of cells) that God proportioned and shaped and made into one or other of the two sexes, male or female. Just as the reader recognizes the truth of this, the chapter concludes by asking a simple question. Knowing all this do people still think that God does not have the power to bring the dead back to life? May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 34. Surah Saba' | سورة سبأ | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:16:06 | |
The fifty-four verse chapter, Sheba, was revealed in Mecca. All chapters revealed in Mecca tend to concentrate on the fundamentals of faith and pay particular attention to belief in the Day of Judgement and the Hereafter. The title Sheba comes from verses fifteen to twenty-one in which the community of Sheba is punished for their ingratitude. The chapter also deals with the absurd allegations of madness directed at Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. Verses 1 – 9 God is All KnowingAll praises belong to God. He is the owner of all that is in the heavens and the earth. Even in the Hereafter all praises are His. Yet the disbelievers say that the Day of Judgement will never come to them. They are wrong. Not even a speck of dust escapes God’s knowledge and it is all recorded in a book. The Hour is established so that those who believe and do righteous deeds are generously rewarded and those who disbelieve and work to undermine the Prophet’s warning are severely punished. Those with knowledge can see that what Prophet Muhammad says is the truth but some of them mock and taunt him. They call him a liar and say that he is mad because he warns of a resurrection after death. He is not mad and those who say so will suffer a torment. God could make the earth swallow them or let fragments of sky fall down upon them. In this is a sign for every person who turns back to God in repentance. Verses 10 – 14 David & Solomon are gratefulDavid was showered with God’s blessings. He sang praises to God with the mountains and the birds. God made iron pliable for David and commanded him to make chain mail and armour from it. God sees everything. God favoured Solomon with control over the wind and a fountain of molten brass. Many of the jinn worked for Solomon making palaces, statues, water fountains and other amazing things. If they disobeyed, God punished them severely. God told the family of David to work gratefully pointing out that most people are ungrateful. When Solomon died the jinn did not realise he was dead until a small creature eating through his stick made him fall down. If they had known Solomon was dead they would not have continued working. Verses 15- 21 The people of Sheba are ungratefulThe people of Sheba had two marvellous gardens, one to the right and one to the left. God told them to eat from what He provided and to be grateful and give thanks. They refused and turned away. God punished them by causing the dam to break, flooding them completely. Because of their lack of gratitude God replaced their two beautiful gardens with bitter fruit and sparse thorny trees. God repays those that are ungrateful. God allowed the people of Sheba to travel easily between the towns he had blessed. They could travel safely both day and night but they were insolent and complained about ease. They were rewarded for their ungratefulness by ceasing to exist as a nation and were scattered throughout the land, and became as mere tales for people to talk about. In this are signs for those who are patient and grateful. Satan cannot force people to disobedience, but God has been given him the power to whisper and seduce mankind so that it serves as a test to distinguish those who are sincere and believe in the Hereafter and those who entertain doubts about its coming. Verses 22 – 30 One God, no partners!If you invoke other deities you will find that they have no control over anything, not even a speck of dust. They are no help to God and they possess no ability to intercede. On the Day of Judgment intercession will only work when God gives His Permission. God speaks the truth and He is the One who gives sustenance. God has no partners and he will judge justly. Prophet Muhammad was sent to bring good news and a warning but most people choose not to understand. They ask when the Day of Judgement will come. The knowledge of when it is known only to God and no one has the authority to change it. Verses 31 – 39 A warner for every communityThe disbelievers say they will not believe in the Quran, or the earlier revealed scriptures. If only Prophet Muhammad could see how the disbelievers will act when they stand before God. They will reproach one another and accuse one another but they will all fall silent with regret when iron collars are fastened around their necks. They will be recompensed for what they did. Every community had a warner sent to them. The affluent people, in general, refused to believe that they would be punished. But it is not great wealth or many children that bring a person closer to God; it is righteousness. Those who are righteous will get a double reward and will be in the upper part of Paradise safe and secure. Verses 40 – 54 Prophet Muhammad tells the truthOn the Day of Judgment God will ask the angels if people worshipped them. They will vehemently reply no rather they worshipped the jinn. Then the disbelievers will taste the Fire that they refused to believe in. When God’s messages are recited to them they turn away and call the Quran a lie, and when the truth has come to them they call it sorcery. Former people denied God’s messages and His reproach was terrible. Prophet Muhammad is not mad nor is he a liar, he only warns of a severe suffering to come. Muhammad does not ask for any reward; his reward is from God Alone. God hurls the truth down and He has knowledge of the unseen. The truth has come, and falsehood has gone and has perished. If you could glimpse the Hereafter you would see how terrified some people are and there is no escape for them. They will say that they believe now, but it will be too late. They had many opportunities that are now gone forever. They will not be able to go back and accumulate good deeds. They were in complete denial, (now they are in despair). May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 74. Surah al-Muddather | سورة المدثر | 22 Jan 2021 | 00:05:55 | |
There is much scholarly discussion about this chapter and the one before it, The One Wrapped in Garments. This is a fifty-six verse chapter that begins by addressing Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, directly and goes on to remind the disbelievers of the consequences of their lack of faith. The first seven verses are generally accepted to have been revealed in the very early period of revelation in Mecca, whilst the rest of the chapter was revealed after Prophet Muhammad began to spread the message from God. Scholars differ as to the exact circumstances surrounding how the revelation of this chapter began. Some say that after Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation in the cave at Hira, he hurried home to his beloved wife Khadijah; he was trembling and overwhelmed and asked her to cover him in his cloak. Other scholars say that after the events in the cave, the revelations did not begin again for some time. One day Prophet Muhammad saw the angel who had visited him in the cave sitting on a throne between heaven and earth. The sight terrified him, and he ran home quickly asking to be covered up securely. Verses 1 – 7 Wrapped in his cloakProphet Muhammad is addressed from on high. Oh you enfolded in your cloak, the time has come for you to arise, stand up and begin to warn the people. Warn them of the consequences if they remain in disbelief. Having given the instruction to warn others, God gives Prophet Muhammad some instructions to observe in his own life. The first of these is to proclaim God’s greatness. God is the greatest, and only He deserves to be glorified. Prophet Muhammad is then directed to maintain cleanliness and physical purity. In Arabic the expression, to clean one’s garments, means maintaining purity of heart and high moral values. Hence it carries this meaning as well. The one who delivers the message needs to be perfectly clean so that he can save those who are tainted while allowing nothing to taint him. Next, he is directed to stay away from all filth, which refers to polytheism or idolatry, and everything that exposes one to God’s punishment. And Prophet Muhammad is told that whatever favor he does it should be for the sake of God and without any selfish motive, that is, not to expect some worldly benefit in return. Finally, he is advised to be patient and steadfast because the task he is being entrusted with is difficult and requires sacrifice. Verses 8 – 31 The obstinate disbelievers should take heedGod makes reference to an opponent of the Quran, a man He refers to as created alone. He is not named but is generally accepted to be al-Waleed ibn al-Mugherah, who after inclining toward the Quran denied it publicly in order to gain the approval of the Meccan leaders. He was given abundant resources, wealth, and sons, and a life of comfort and ease. Yet he hoped for more. God says that will not happen because he persistently denied the revelations. Instead of what he desires he will face arduous calamities. Indeed God knew what he thought and deliberated about regarding how he could discredit Prophet Muhammad. He plotted devilishly and ferociously. He behaved arrogantly and turned his back on the truth saying this Quran is just sorcery from long ago and is merely the word of a man. Because of his behavior God will drive him into Hell, and He asks what will make you understand exactly what Hell is. God explains. It is a place that allows nothing to remain and leaves nothing unburned. It shrivels human flesh, and there are nineteen angels guarding it. Verses 32 – 56 The disbeliever’s foolish attitudeGod swears by the moon, the departing night, and the shining dawn that indeed the Hellfire is one of the mightiest scourges and a warning to humankind; and a warning to those who choose to go ahead or to lag behind. Every soul will be responsible for what it has earned. Those who receive their record in their right hand will be in the gardens of Paradise, and they will question the guilty. "What brought you into Hell?" The guilty will answer, "We did not pray or feed the poor. We wasted time in vain talk and denied the Day of Judgment until death overtook us." The guilty will have no intercessors that can help them in any way. God questions why the disbelievers would turn away from the reminder. They flee from it like frightened donkeys running from a lion. Each one of them expects a scripture to be sent down to them personally and unrolled before his very eyes! But no! The fact is that they do not fear the Hereafter. This Quran is an admonition and a reminder, so whoever wishes to take heed must do so. It is He alone Who should be feared, and it is He alone Who is able to forgive sins. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 73. Surah al-Muzzamil | سورة المزمل | 21 Jan 2021 | 00:04:16 | |
This chapter of the Quran was revealed in Mecca with the exception, many scholars believe, of the lengthy final verse. The subject matter of the first 19 verses indicates that it was revealed in the earliest part of the Prophet Muhammad’s mission while he was being prepared to shoulder the responsibilities of living and teaching others to live in the Islamic way. Verse twenty is believed to have been revealed in Medina when the rules and regulations of a functioning society were being established. Verses 1 – 8 Prayer at nightThis surah begins by addressing Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, as Muzzamil, the one enfolded or wrapped in garments. He (Prophet Muhammad) was asleep wrapped securely in his garments but God awakens him and tells him to pray, at this time of the night, to prepare himself for the time which is about to come. It is a time heavy in responsibility and the revelations weigh heavily upon him both metaphorically and physically. Arise at night and stand in prayer. Not the entire night, rather half the night, or a little more, or perhaps a little less. The hours of the night, says God, are more effective because words spoken (Quran recitation, prayer and supplication) at this time make a deeper impression and are understood with sharper clarity. Only those who are both sincere and devoted are able to arise at this time and absorb the words of God. This is most certainly because during the day humankind are occupied with the worldly affairs of life. In the quiet of the night remember your Lord and remember also that you are devoted to Him alone. Verses 9 – 14 Trust in God’s planTrust God and rely on Him. He is the Lord of the east and the west. There is no God but He. Next God addresses Prophet Muhammad in particular and humankind in general when He says bear patiently what they say and politely leave their (the detractors) company. God will deal with those who reject the message yet enjoy the comforts God provides. So God says, let them be, for a while. A punishment awaits them; one of shackles and fire, and choking food as well as a painful torment. On the Day of Judgement the earth will shake and the mountains will crumble to sand. Verses 15- 19 A reminderThose who oppose the Prophet and the message he brings have been warned. Prophet Muhammad will be a witness both for and against them. He is a warner and a Messenger the same as Moses who was sent as a warner and Messenger to Pharaoh. Pharaoh disobeyed and God seized him in a firm grip. A heavy punishment was inflicted upon him and the people who obeyed him above God. Thus if you disbelieve, how will you guard against a Day that will turn the hair of children grey? How will you guard against a Day on which the sky will be ripped apart and God’s promise will be fulfilled? How will you save yourself from the punishment for disbelief on the Day of Resurrection? This is a reminder, so let those who wish to succeed, move in the right way towards their Lord God. Verse 20 The All-KnowingThis is the verse that many scholars believe was revealed in Medina approximately ten years after the previous verses. According to the traditions of Prophet Muhammad it was revealed so that the new Muslims would, if necessary, curtail the length of their night time prayers in order to prayer the obligatory five daily prayers in a timely efficient manner. God addresses Prophet Muhammad saying that He knows that he (Muhammad) stands in prayer for long hours of the night; sometimes two thirds of the night, at other times half the night or a third of the night. God also knows that so do too many among the companions. God controls the alternation of day and night therefore knows that you (humankind) will not be able to keep such a gruelling schedule. So read from the Quran as much as you can. God also knows that there are some of you that are sick, and others travelling through the land seeking the bounty of God and still others are fighting in God’s cause. Therefore recite as much as is easy for you, be steadfast in prayer, and pay the alms that are obligatory upon you, and give to God a good loan. Whatever good you store up for yourselves it will not go to waste; God will improve it and increase it for you. Ask God for forgiveness, He is oft forgiving, Most Merciful. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||
| 72. Surah al-Jinn | سورة الجن | 21 Jan 2021 | 00:05:52 | |
This twenty eight verses chapter was revealed in Mecca. Meccan chapters tend to concentrate on teaching the basics of Islam. They focus on the Oneness of God and the consequences of ignoring the message. The first 15 verses give an account of a discussion by a group of jinn after they heard a recitation of the Quran. This chapter shows us how the Islamic faith appears to those from a different world. The disbelievers of Mecca had previously accused Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, of learning his new faith from the jinn. Here we see that this is clearly not correct. We are given an accurate description of the jinn and many of the ideas and superstitions that surround them are shown to be false. The final part of the chapter is addressed to Prophet Muhammad. Verses 1 – 7 Some jinn accept IslamGod revealed to Prophet Muhammad that a group of jinn listened to his recitation of the Quran. They returned to their own society and described the recitation as wondrous, saying that it called to what is true and sensible by distinguishing between right and wrong. Those who listened believed in it and reported such to the others of their kind. They declared that they would never again associate anything with God. This chapter puts this response to the unbelievers of Mecca who also listened to the recitation of Quran yet failed to believe in it. Those of the jinn who listened immediately embraced a true untainted faith. They said that the recitation exalted God and further stated that He had neither partner nor offspring. At the time many Arabs believed that the angels were God’s daughters through marriage to the jinn but the jinn emphatically deny this. The jinn declare that some of their number said shocking things about God even though they believed no one would ever have the audacity to tell lies about God. But now that they had heard the Quran for themselves they realised that those ideas were false. In the past some people had sought protection with some of the jinn but this only led them further away from the truth and increased them in sin. Some humans and some jinn thought that God would never send a messenger to guide and warn them. God, however, is generous and kind and does indeed send messengers to guide to the right way. Verses 8 – 10 The jinn cannot see the unseenThe jinn disclaim any knowledge of the unseen, stating that it remains beyond their reach. We tried to reach the heavens, they say, but found it to be fortified by stern guards and shooting stars. Before Prophet Muhammad the jinn were able to collect information by eavesdropping on the angels. They then passed it on to astrologers, fortune-tellers and others of that ilk. This is no longer possible and if they try they will find a celestial deterrent lying in wait for them. They do not know what is in store for those on earth. God’s intentions (misfortune or guidance) remain unseen. Verses 11 – 15 Many different pathsThe jinn then describe their own situation and their attitude towards guidance. Some of the jinn are righteous, others are not. They follow many different paths and hold many different opinions and beliefs. They understand that they can never damage God’s plans for earth and its inhabitants and they can never escape God’s will. When we heard this recitation of the Quran we believed in it and those who believe in God need not fear loss, injustice or an unbearable burden. Some (jinn) submit to God and are guided; others refuse to accept the truth. Those who accept the truth have found their way to salvation the others are fuel for the Hellfire. This applies to humans as well, some accept guidance others plough a course towards Hell. Verses 16 – 19 Pay attention to the warningsGod tells Prophet Muhammad that if the Meccans had remained on the straight path He would have provided them with abundant rain (water, and assuring their provision). This is also a means by which God tests people. The Quran tells us that having plenty is as great a test as having little. The person who pays no attention to God’s warnings will face an arduous punishment, spiralling down into Hell. The mosques are built for God alone; they make worship easy but a Muslim can pray anywhere (with very few exceptions). Worship is for God alone so do not call on anyone but Him. When Prophet Muhammad stood up to make supplication the crowd pressed in around him, the unbelievers ready to attack him. God protected him on this and on many other occasions. Verses 20 – 24 Deliver the messageThis chapter now addresses Prophet Muhammad in a decisive tone making it clear to him that once he has delivered the message he has no say over how people respond. He is told to tell the people that he prays to God alone and he does not set up partners or associates with Him. He tells them that he cannot cause harm and he cannot force them to go in the right direction. Prophet Muhammad says that if he were to disobey God no one could protect him and he could never find a place to hide from Him. His mission is only to deliver the message. Whoever disobeys God and his messenger will find themselves in the Hellfire. The disbelievers think they have the strength in numbers but they will soon come to understand that Prophet Muhammad has God’s power and strength behind him. Verses 25 – 28 The message is protectedProphet Muhammad informs the disbelievers that he does not know when the threatened punishment will take place. He has no part in that decision, it is God alone who decides. The promised punishments in this life, and in the life to come, are matters of the unseen and God does not reveal such matters to anybody. However there is one exception, God may reveal unseen matters to one of His messengers if necessary. Guardian angels protect both the messenger and the message. God knows everything about His messengers, there is nothing that escapes His knowledge. Everything is counted and measured. The message is carefully monitored. May Allah bring light to every heart carrying hidden pain, grief, fear, loneliness, guilt, or hardship. Please remember the oppressed, the imprisoned, the forgotten, and those separated from their loved ones in your duaa. فَكُنْ لَهُمْ عَوْنَهُمْ وَسَنَدَهُمْ يَا لَطِيفُ يَا جَبَّارُ، Read Alfurqan by Hashem Nabil E-mail: read.alfurqan@gmail.com Quran Recitation by Hashem Nabil on Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1526025373 | |||