Quran Series

[Huda]

Assalamu alikom ...
Just wanted to share with u all what I learned from studying Tafsir today.

Chapter 114: Al Nas (the People)
Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, The King of mankind, The Ilah (God) of mankind, From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah), Who whispers in the breasts of mankind, Of jinns and men."

The first three verses are speaking of the characteristics of God... the Lord, King and Ilah.... the Tafsir says... these means He is the one who guides, protects, owns and judges, acts as He pleases, and he is the ilah i.e. the one in Charge.

So what are we ordered to do in this chapter?? To seek refuge with Allah. From what? From Satan and this whispers.

There is a hadith that says: Each of us has a Qareen (i.e. a companion) from the devils which whispers to us the bad things. The companions said: "O Prophet of Allah... and u too??" The prophet said.. yes but Allah has helped me so that my Qareen has become a muslim and only whispers good to me.

The chapter is a guidance and a call from Allah telling us to turn to him when seeking guidance and protection from evil, because we cannot see all evil things.. and there are evil which we cannot push away...only Allah can.

We also learn from the chapter that Satan whispers to us evil thoughts when we are away from Allah and he is quiet when we remember Allah.

And the evil here comes not only from Satan, but also from Satan, and his followers (whether they be other devils or of people who tell us to do bad things).

This chapter brings our attention to the importance of going back to Allah, for we are weak.... it reminds us of the battle between Satan and Mankind since the time of Adam. It is an ongoing battle that will not end till day of judgement... and if we are left on our own... we would be overwhelmed... but knowing that by remembering Allah... we are protected and guided then this gives us peace and calmness with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

The end of this chapter.

if the people here are interested I'll continue this series with the other chapters as i study them.... if not then I'll stop :) Just let me know what everyone thinks.

This is not a thread for non muslims to argue... its a thread for muslims to learn. If non muslims have a question, please post another thread and we can discuss it!

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ãä åäÇ äÈÏà æ Ýí ÇáÌäÉ äáÊÞí
It's Here we start... and in Jannah we meet, InshaAllah

[khalid sawani]

Assalamu alikom to followers of islam

Prophet (purh) said that the best among you is who learn quran and teaches it to others

NOT BAD IDEA BUT WRONG APPROCH

quran is not revwealed only for muslims
1....tommorrow on the day of quiamaha suppose if a non muslim brought in front of you complaining that this female didn't allowed me to learn quran and ask questions to understand it better then what will be your answer ?

2 ...this is job of moderators to allow or stop someone participating in forum or a perticuler thread

I hope you understood what I mean and I intend

we should guide others with the light of Allah and non-muslims deserve more attaintion if quran is the subject to be tought

MAY ALLAH GUIDE US TO STRIGHT

KHALID....

[Huda]

Assalamu alikom...

You misunderstood me.. I said lets make the questions in other threads, i.e. they can create a new thread with the title Sura number X and ask the question just so this thread will be kept for the lessons only. but ok sorry if i didn't make it clear!
Its just that usually we get many replies and many questions and we are off topic that's why.

i am not against teaching non muslims... this is why we are here right?

wassalam

[khalid sawani]

Assalamu alikom to those who follow guidence

they should be allowed anywhere,anytime if you understand

come lets start and pls dont mind nonmuslims asking anything
they have this right from Allah and its our duty to explain them

Wasslamoalaykum

KHALID...

[Huda]

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-05-02 AT 05:19 AM (GMT)]:)

Ok akhee... as u wish. I agree... and may Allah bless you for everything. Jazak Allah khair.

We have already done chapter 114 and shall now move back to chapter 113.

Sura Al Falaq (The day break)

Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak, From the evil of what He has created; And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away). And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots, And from the evil of the envier when he envies."

This Sura along with Ch. 114 which we discussed last time are very very important. The prophet peace be upon him said that they are the best two suras people have read... the prophet also told Oqba Bin Amer to read them before he sleeps and when he wakes up. He also said to read them after each obligatory prayer.

The Tafsir mentions a story of Oqba with the prophet... Oqba said to the prophet... Shall I read to you Sura Hud or Yousif to which the prophet peace be upon him said to him: You shall not read a sura which is more beneficial to you when you meet Allah than Sura Al Falaq.

There is also a hadith that says: "Shall I not teach you three Suras the likes of which were not revealed in the Torah, Gosple, Psalms or the Quraan... they are Sura Al ikhlas, Al Falaq, Al Nas."

Now the sura is saying to seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak, from the evils of creations, and from the night (Because there is more evil at night) and from Magic.

SubhanaAllah it is as if Allah is opening his arms to us and saying... come to the protection of ur lord... come to the place where u find peace, happiness, and safety - with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, For He knows we are weak, and we have enemies (shaytaan) and that all around us is lots of evil... but with Him, Allah will push away evil if we seek his help only and He will give us peace and safety from all evils.

InshaAllah next Sura coming soon...

[Huda]

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-05-02 AT 05:19 AM (GMT)]Here is the promised Next Chapter... I used more sources this time and thus have a better tafsir inshaAllah... (3 tafsir books - one in english and thus u'll notice their good way of putting things... not like me :) )

Chapter 112: Al-Ikhlas - The Purity (of faith).

Say: "He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him."

This chapter was revealed when the non believers said to the prophet Mohammad peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to tell them the heretage of Allah (who is his family etc).

The nature of Allah is here indicated to us in few words, such as we can understand. Here we are taught to avoid the pitfalls into which men and nations have fallen at various times in trying to understand Allah. The first thing we have to note is that His nature is so sublime, so far beyond our limited conceptions, that the best way in which we can realise Him is to feel that He is a Personality, "He" and not a mere abstract conception of philosophy. HE is near us, He cares for us, we owe our existence to Him. Secondly, He is the One and Only God, the Only One to Whome worship is due, all other things or beings that we think of are His creatures and in no way comparable to Him. Thirdly, He is Eternal, without beginning or end, Absolute, not limited by time or place or circumstance, the Reality. Fourthly, we must not think of Him as having a son or a father, for that would be to import animal qualities into our conception of Him. Fifthly, He is not like any other person or thing that we know or can imagine: His qualities and nature are unique.

You will notice the word As-Samad in not translated because it is hard to find a word which really explains it in english. As-Samad is more like TheEternal, the Absolute. i.e. Absolute existence can only be predicated of Him, and all other existance is temporal or conditional, and the Eternal is that He is dependent on no person or things, but all persons or things are dependent on Him, thus negativing the idea of gods and goddesses who ate and drank, wranggled and plotted, depended on the gifts of worshippers, etc.

He begets not, nor was He begotten
this is to negate the Christian idea of "the father" the "begotten son" etc.

And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.
and this sums it all up and warsn us specially against anthropomorphism, the tendency to conceive of Allah after our own pattern, an insidious tendency that creeps in at all times and among all people.

There is a hadith here that mentions that a man used to read this chapter in every rak'a of the prayers and the people complained to the prophet about it. The prophet asked him why and the man replied: "I love it" and the prophet replied, "Your love for it will take u to paradise".

There is another hadith that says that this one chapter weighs as much as one third of the whole Quraan (in value).

There is another hadith that also says that reading this chapter ten times guarantees that Allah will build for that person a castle in Paradise. Omar Ibn Al Khattab said when he heard this: "Then shall we say it often O Prophet of Allah to increase our castles" and the Prophet replied: "Allah has more and is more generous".

It is also narrated that the prophet used to read it every night before he sleeps.

There is a comment made here by the author of the choise of words.. in the Arabic it says: "qol howa Allahu ahad". The word "wahad" in Arabic means one. However in the verse the word used is "ahad" and it says here that ahad is stronger in meaning as it means one of a kind...unique not just one! I can say this is one apple, but its not unique. I have one pen... i have one but there are many in the world... however the word "ahad" means one and only - unique.

This chapter is basically the summing up of islamic monotheism and belief of Allah... He is one.. none is like him.

Here is a nashid (islamic song) which i think explains this chapter very in a very beautiful way.

http://www.anasheed.com/songs/yi/yi_say_he_is_allah.rm

[Huda]

Quraan: Chapter 111: Surah Al-Masad

"Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab (an uncle of the Prophet), and perish he! His wealth and his children (etc.) will not benefit him! He will be burnt in a Fire of blazing flames! And his wife too, who carries wood (thorns of Sadan which she used to put on the way of the Prophet (), or use to slander him). In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad (palm fibre). "

This very early Makkan Sura, though it is referred in the first instance to a particular incident in a cruel and relentless persecution, carries the general lesson that cruelty ultimately ruins itself. The man who rages against holy things is burnt up in his own rage. His hands, which are the instruments of his actions, perish, and he perishes himself. No boasted wealth or position will save him.

This chapter was revealed when the prophet peace be upon him went out to a mountain in Makkah and called his Tribe. When they came to see what he wanted, he said to them: "If I said to you that an enemy shall invade you this morning or evening would you believe me?" They replied: "Yes, we only knew honesty from you." He said: "Then I am a warner to you from a severe torment (that will befall you if you do not heed)"
Upon hearing this, his uncle Abu Lahab said: "May you perish, did u call us to say this??" And thus the chapter was revealed by Allah as a reply to Abu Lahab that it is he who will perish!

"Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab (an uncle of the Prophet), and perish he! "

Abu Lahab (the father of flame), was the nick name of an uncle of the holy Prophet, from his fiery hot temper and his ruddy complexion. He was one of the most inveterate enemies of early Islam. When the holy Prophet called together the Quraish and his own kith and kin to come and listen to his preaching and his warning against the sins of his people, the "Father of Flame" flared up and cursed the holy Prophet, saying "Perdition to thee!" According to the English saying, "the causeless curse will not come". His words were futile, but his power and strength were equally futile. The star of Islam rose higher and higher every day, and its persecutors dwindled in strength and power. Many of the leaders of persecutions perished at Badr, and Abu Lahab himself perished a week after Badr, comsumed with grief and his own fiery passions. Verse 3 was prophetic of his end in this very life, though it also refers to the Hereafter.

"His wealth and his children (etc.) will not benefit him! He will be burnt in a Fire of blazing flames! "

Abu Lahab, when warned by the prophet of the day of judgement, used to say: "I will be saved by my wealth and children" and thus this verse came as a reply to him that his wealth and children will be of no benefit to him what so ever.

"And his wife too, who carries wood (thorns of Sadan which she used to put on the way of the Prophet, or use to slander him). In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad (palm fibre)."

Abu Lahab's wife was a woman of equally passionate spite and cruelty against the sacred person of the holy Prophet. She used to tie bundles of thorns with ropes of twisted palm-leaf and carry them and strew them about on dark nights on the paths which the Prophet was expected to take, in order to cause him bodily injury. "To carry firewood" may also be symbolical to carrying tales between people to embroil them. This was also one of her vices. But she was laying up for herself another kind of Fire and another kind of Rope, the Fire of Punishment, and the Rope of Slavery to Evil. Thus does Evil prepare its own fate. This is the general lesson of sustained craft and cruel wrong-doing recoiling on the wrong-doer's head.

About the rope in her nick, it was said that she had a necklace which she swore to spend in the harming of the Prophet and thus her punishment is a rope in her nick of fire!

[Huda]

Quraan Lesson: Chapter 110: Al Nasr (The Victory)

When comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah), And you see that the people enter Allah's religion (Islam) in crowds, So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask for His Forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and forgives.

This beautiful Sura was the last of the Suras to be revealed as a WHOLE, though the portion of the verse v. 4, "This day I have perfected your religion for you" etc., contains the last WORDS of the Quraan to be revealed.

Victory is the crown of the service, not an occasion for exultation. All victory comes from the help of Allah.

When this sura was revealed, the prophet peace be upon him called his daughter Fatima and said to her that he shall die soon. This indeed was a sign that victory is finally here, the duty of the prophet on this earth was done.

It contains an order from God, that when the prophet shall see that sign, he would remember God, thank him and glorify him for verily victory is only from God. This is the reason the prophet prayed 8 rak'at of salah when he opened Makkah. It is a recommended act that each time a city is opened (i.e. won by the muslim army) that the leader (at least) should pray 8 rak'at to thank Allah.

The prophet peace be upon him had migrated from Makkah to Madina, a persecuted man. In Madinah all the forces of truth and righteousness rallied around him, and the efforts by the Makkans and their confederates to destroy him and his community recoiled on their own heads. Gradually all the outlying parts of Arabia ranged themselves round his standard, and the bloodless conquest of Makkah was the crown and prize of his patience and constant endeavour. After that, whole tribes (who used to say, if he rules over his land, then he is a true prophet) and tracts of country gave their adhesion to him collectively, and before his ministry was finished, the soil was prepared for the conquest of the wide world for Islam. What was the lesson to be learnt from this little epitome of the world's history? Not man's self-glory but humility, not power but service, not an appeal to man's selfishness or self sufficiency, but a realization of Allah's Grace and Mercy, and the abundant outpouring of Allah's Praises in word and conduct.

And thus, when all expect us to celebrate victory, our real celebration is by prayers... and by thanking Allah for His mercy. It helps one avoid pride and helps us remember that its not us who got this victory but its the help of Allah that helped us gain it. It reminds us that for all the hardships we had before, the patience we exerted, now victory is here, and thus we thank God that He has accepted our patience and prayers and given us victory. And by that, the human is liberated from his selfishness and his desires and remembers only God for truly victory is only with God. And thus with the blessings of victory, we forget ourselves and our happiness and bow down in prayers to the One and Only God - Allah.