Al-Baqara, alternatively transliterated Al-Baqarah (Arabic: البقرة, ’al-baqarah; lit. “The Heifer” or “The Cow”), is the second and longest chapter (surah) of the Quran. It consists of 286 verses (āyāt)click the button above to listen to the recitation of this Quranic verse againThe surah encompasses a variety of topics and contains several commands for Muslims such as enjoining fasting on the believer during the month of Ramadan; forbidding interest or usury (riba); and several famous verses such as The Throne Verse, Al-Baqara 256, and the final two or three verses. The surah addresses a wide variety of topics, including substantial amounts of law, and retells stories of Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham) and Musa (Moses). A major theme is guidance: urging the pagans (Al-Mushrikeen) and the Jews of Medina to embrace Islam, and warning them and the hypocrites (Munafiqun) of the fate God had visited in the past on those who failed to heed his call.Sections: The Book of Guidance for those who want to be righteous. The difference between the believers and the non-believers. The hypocrites: their sickness, mischief and self-deception. Mankind, worship Allah alone. Make no partners in Allah’s divinity. The challenge of the Qur’an. This Book will guide many but many will remain in error. The character of those who shall remain in error. The story of the creation of Adam. Allah’s plan and promise to send His guidance from time to time through His prophets. Address to Bani Israel to accept this message. Allah’s covenant must be fulfilled. Warnings to those who stray from the covenant of God. How some from among the Children of Israel turned away from God’s teachings. God’s blessings on the Children of Israel and their transgressions. The real recipients of Divine salvation. The hesitation of Bani Israel in sacrificing the cow. Some perversions of those who were supposed to follow the law of God. Basic principles of God’s Covenant with the Children of Israel. Some of them were arrogant to follow the teachings of their prophets, some rejected the prophets or tried to kill them, some worshipped the calf, disobeyed God’s commands and became too greedy for the life of this world. Opposition and enmity towards the Prophets, following devils and magic. Reminders to the Believers to follow these examples. Stay firm on your principles. Some among the People of the Book will try to mislead you with false claims and assertions. The true guidance of Allah is here. Read the Book of Allah and follow it. The great example of Prophet Ibrahim. He and his son built the Ka’bah and prayed for a Prophet to come. Prophet Ibrahim –peace be upon him- submitted to Allah and this is the message that he and his sons gave to their progeny. The change of Qiblah and the response of the hypocrites and fools. Those who have knowledge know that this is the true Qiblah of all the Prophets. Follow this direction wherever you are. This is the universal Qiblah for all. Believers will be tried but they should be firm and steadfast and must face the trials with patience and prayers. Allah’s signs and His bounties are everywhere. The polytheists and idolaters are misplacing their loyalties. Believers should eat good and permissible food and should never follow the steps of the devil. The true piety and righteousness. Some rules related to the punishment of murderers. The rules of bequests. Fasting and Ramadan: the objective of fasting and some rules. Rules of Hajj, fighting those who expelled Muslims from their homes. No fighting during Hajj, rather seek God’s bounty when you return from Hajj. Appreciate God’s bounties. All human beings were originally one community. Divisions came later. Be generous and defend your self and your faith. Some important questions answered: War in the sacred months, wine and gambling, charity, orphans’ money, divorced women and their situation. The laws of divorce Continuation of the laws of divorce. Rules on the remarriage of the divorced women or the widowers. Further rules of divorce Fighting in the cause of God: Israelites Under the leadership of Prophet David the victory came over the forces of Goliath. Emphasis on charity. To Allah belong everything. His Throne extends to heaven and earth. No compulsion in religion. Allah brings out people from darkness unto light. Allah’s power over life and death, some examples: Prophet Ibrahim’s dialogue with Namrood, a man in the valley of dead (probably Prophet Ezekiel’s vision of Jerusalem), Prophet Ibrahim asks Allah how will He raise the dead to life. Allah’s answer to Prophet Ibrahim. Allah blesses charity: some examples of how Allah blesses charity Emphasis on charity: spend good things, give openly and secretly to the poor and needy. Prohibition of usuary (riba) and its bad effects on individuals and society Some rules on loan transactions Conclusion and prayer: Everything in the heaven and earth belong to Allah, the prayer of the believers.
Ibrahim (Arabic: إبراهيم, Ibrāhīm; Arabic synonym of “Abraham”) is the 14th chapter (surah) of the Qur’an with 52 verses (āyāt).click the button above to listen to the recitation of these Quranic verses againThe basic theme of the Surah is Allah’s guidance through His prophets. The purpose of this guidance is to take the people from darkness to light. Many people in the past had doubts about their prophets.They laughed at them and they threatened to kill them or expel them from their towns. However, the lasting word is the “good word.” The Surah also mentions Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer when he established the city of Makkah.Sections: The purpose of the Qur’an is to lead humankind to light. Prophets and their people. Non-believers threatened the Prophets, but Allah’s promise to the Prophets. Satan misleads the disbelievers in this world, but in the hereafter he would leave them in the lurch. The ingratitude of people Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer for Makkah, for its people and for his own children Allah is aware of what the wrongdoers are doing, their respite and end.
Al Imran (Arabic: آل عمران, āl ʿimrān; meaning: The Family of Imran) is the third chapter (sūrah) of the Quran with two hundred verses (āyāt).click the button above to listen to the recitation of this Quranic verse againIt is named after Ale-Imran ‘the family of Imran’ – Imran being the grandfather of Jesus [Isa], and the father of Mary [Maryam]. Other than this Surah, Imran is not mentioned in the rest of the Qur’an with the exception of Surah 66: at-Tahreem – ‘Maryam daughter of Imran’ [66:12]. Zahra – The Prophet is reported to have called al-Baqarah and Ale-Imran as ‘Zahrawayn’ [Two Lights (of guidance)]The main topics of this Surah are Tawhid, Prophethood and the truth of the Qur’ an. As Surah al-Baqarah discussed the issues related to Bani Israel, this Surah discusses some issues related to the Christian community and their religious positions. It also discusses the subjects of Hajj, Jihad, Zakat and Riba. It ends, like Surah al-Baqarah, with a profound dua.
Al Imran (Arabic: آل عمران, āl ʿimrān; meaning: The Family of Imran) is the third chapter (sūrah) of the Quran with two hundred verses (āyāt).click the button above to listen to the recitation of this Quranic verse againIt is named after Ale-Imran ‘the family of Imran’ – Imran being the grandfather of Jesus [Isa], and the father of Mary [Maryam]. Other than this Surah, Imran is not mentioned in the rest of the Qur’an with the exception of Surah 66: at-Tahreem – ‘Maryam daughter of Imran’ [66:12]. Zahra – The Prophet is reported to have called al-Baqarah and Ale-Imran as ‘Zahrawayn’ [Two Lights (of guidance)]The main topics of this Surah are Tawhid, Prophethood and the truth of the Qur’ an. As Surah al-Baqarah discussed the issues related to Bani Israel, this Surah discusses some issues related to the Christian community and their religious positions. It also discusses the subjects of Hajj, Jihad, Zakat and Riba. It ends, like Surah al-Baqarah, with a profound dua.
Al Imran (Arabic: آل عمران, āl ʿimrān; meaning: The Family of Imran) is the third chapter (sūrah) of the Quran with two hundred verses (āyāt).click the button above to listen to the recitation of this Quranic verse againIt is named after Ale-Imran ‘the family of Imran’ – Imran being the grandfather of Jesus [Isa], and the father of Mary [Maryam]. Other than this Surah, Imran is not mentioned in the rest of the Qur’an with the exception of Surah 66: at-Tahreem – ‘Maryam daughter of Imran’ [66:12]. Zahra – The Prophet is reported to have called al-Baqarah and Ale-Imran as ‘Zahrawayn’ [Two Lights (of guidance)]The main topics of this Surah are Tawhid, Prophethood and the truth of the Qur’ an. As Surah al-Baqarah discussed the issues related to Bani Israel, this Surah discusses some issues related to the Christian community and their religious positions. It also discusses the subjects of Hajj, Jihad, Zakat and Riba. It ends, like Surah al-Baqarah, with a profound dua.
The name of the surah, at-Taubah is derived from ت و ب and it occurs 87 times in the Quran. Interestingly, this surah has the highest usage of the words derived from ت و ب compared to all other surahs – it is used 17 times. In Ayat 118, occurs the case of the three companions whom Allah turned to and accepted their tawbah to Him – those who had abstained from joining the Jihad at the Battle of Tabuk.click the button above to listen to the recitation of this Quranic verse againThis is the only Sūrah of the Qur’ān to which ‘In the Name of God, Most Gracious Most Merciful’ is not prefixed. Though the commentators have given different reasons for this, the correct one that which has been given by Imām Razi: namely this is because the Prophet himself did not dictate it at the beginning of the Sūrah. Therefore the Companions did not prefix it and their successors followed them. This is a further proof of the fact that utmost care has been taken to keep the Qur’ān intact so that it should remain in its complete and original form.The basic subjects of the Surah are: The non-believers who broke their treaties, Muslims have no obligation to honor treaties with them. Muslims must protect themselves from hypocrisy, weak faith and negligence. Battle of Tabuk and its lessons. Sections: Proclamation that the Treaty of Hudaibiyah is cancelled. Honor the treaties with those who honor them. Fight with those who have broken the treaty. Mushrikin are forbidden to be the caretakers of the Masjid al-Haram. Muslims should trust Allah, not just their numbers. Jews and Christians also committed Shirk. Command to spend in the path of Allah. The correct number of months. The Tabuk expedition. Those who stayed behind and did not participate in the Battle of Tabuk, hypocrites and weak in faith. The proper distribution of charity. Those who speak ill of the Prophet or make fun of Allah and His Book. The hypocrite men and women.
Al-Mulk (Arabic: الملك, “Sovereignty, Kingdom”) is the 67th chapter (surah) of the Quran, comprising 30 versesclick the button above to listen to the recitation of these Quranic verses againSurah al-Mulk takes its name from the first Ayat, تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ “Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent -” [67:1]It talks about the greatness of Allah and beautiful universe that He has created. It reminds people that if they consider the laws of universe and travel in the land with open eyes, they will indeed see that this whole kingdom belongs to Allah and He controls everything.
The Surah takes it name from the fourth Ayat, إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ “Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly.” [61:4]. There are 14 Ayat in this Surah.click the button above to listen to the recitation of this Quranic verse againThe Surah exhorts Muslims to be in a united front and not be hypocritical in their actions. The Surah speaks about Prophet Moses and his difficulties with his own people. He told them to follow Allah’s rules and they did not listen to him. Then Allah sent Jesus among them and he also reminded them about Allah and gave them the good news of the coming of Prophet Muhammad. But they continue in their stubborn denial. The Surah ends with the good news that the true religion will prevail in the end and Allah will give it victory.Sections: Struggle for the Truth. The light of Islam will shine more. The way of success for the believers is to struggle for the truth.
The Surah takes it name from the fourth Ayat, إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ “Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly.” [61:4]. There are 14 Ayat in this Surah.click the button above to listen to the recitation of these Quranic verses againThe Surah exhorts Muslims to be in a united front and not be hypocritical in their actions. The Surah speaks about Prophet Moses and his difficulties with his own people. He told them to follow Allah’s rules and they did not listen to him. Then Allah sent Jesus among them and he also reminded them about Allah and gave them the good news of the coming of Prophet Muhammad. But they continue in their stubborn denial. The Surah ends with the good news that the true religion will prevail in the end and Allah will give it victory.Sections: Struggle for the Truth. The light of Islam will shine more. The way of success for the believers is to struggle for the truth.
Al-Mujādilah (Arabic: المجادلة, She who disputed or “She Who Disputes, The Pleading Woman”) is the 58th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur’an with 22 verses (ayat)click the button above to listen to the recitation of these Quranic verses againThe Surah talks about a bad social custom by which husbands in pre-Islamic times used to oppress their wives. Some one would call his wife “mother” and thus would separate from her, but would not give her the divorce. Allah condemned this custom. The Surah also speaks about the hypocrites and other non-Muslim groups in Madinah who were involved in spreading rumors against the Prophet (saw). They are given warnings here and Muslims are urged to be alert and careful.Sections: The custom of Zihar is condemned. The rights of women should be protected. Allah is aware of the secret counsels of the hypocrites. Believers should not involve in such activities. The rules of gatherings in Islam. Be aware of the internal enemies also. Do not take as patrons those who are the enemies of Allah and His Messenger.
