Is the importance of the surahs of the Qur’an measured by the number of their verses?
From Surah Al-Nas to Surah Al-Zalzalah, these are a part of the Qur’an that scholars have referred to as “Al-Qisar” (The Short Ones). They are called “short” because their verses are few or brief. The “Qisar” includes the chapters from Al-Duha to Al-Nas. This portion of the Qur’an holds great virtue and significance; the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to lead his companions in prayer with these chapters. These chapters contain profound spiritual meanings and important divine messages. Some of them are equivalent to a quarter of the Qur’an, some absolve from associating partners with Allah, and others are equivalent to a third of the Qur’an.
Moreover, in these chapters, Allah defended His Prophet, discussed the Day of Judgment and its horrors, and discussed the reward of the believers and the punishment of the losers. Therefore, the significance of Qur’anic chapters is not measured by the number of their verses, but by the divine meanings they instill in the hearts of Muslims. How can we forget “Al-Fatiha”, which, despite its brevity, is considered one of the greatest chapters of the Qur’an?
These short chapters that we have in our hands, despite the brevity of their verses, contain profound meanings, some of which we will explore here.
“Surah An-Nas“:
“It is your weapon in facing your enemy.”
Imagine that someone has declared war against you and is scheming to lead you to ruin!
Picture someone digging a pit on a path you are walking, intending to see you fall into the depths of misguidance and destruction, while you are unaware of what awaits you!
After all this fear you feel, you find God, the Almighty, who is far stronger and greater than those who wish you harm. You are under His protection; He will guard you as long as you believe in Him, trust that He will protect you, and turn to Him in every moment of need. This is God, the powerful, the Almighty, capable of all things!
This is what Surah “An-Nas” conveys about the state of humanity when Satan threatens the children of Adam, intending to mislead them from worshipping God. God describes how we can seek refuge in Him, the powerful, the great, the Lord of mankind, their Sovereign, and their God. He is the one who will protect us from the whispers of this enemy who threatens us. This is what we learn about the method of seeking refuge in the interpretation of Surah An-Nas:
This great surah has come to seek refuge from the evil of that enemy who strives for our destruction. We seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, their Sovereign, and their God from the devil, who is the source of all evil. He whispers into the hearts of people, making evil appear good and good appear evil. He is always in this state, whispering to people, until the servant remembers his Lord, at which point the devil withdraws, meaning he distances himself.
The most important educational and Practical Benefits of the Surah:
1- Surah An-Nas teaches us to seek help from God, to hold onto Him, and to seek refuge in Him to repel the evil of our enemy, for creation and command belong solely to Him.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorise surah An Nas:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat An-Nas:
Two surahs about which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “said that he had never seen the like of them”
And indeed, this is a testament to the greatness of the meanings of these verses and their importance in a Muslim’s life!
Regarding ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Have you not seen verses revealed this night that have never been seen before: ‘Say, I seek refuge with the Lord of Al-Falaq’ and ‘Say, I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.'”
- Let’s explore their meanings:
“Surah Al-Falaq“:
“Seeking refuge in Allah is a way of life to confront evil”.
Did you know that this Surah teaches you how to seek refuge in Allah from any harm? Such as envy, magic, darkness, and others…
Seeking refuge in Allah is a way of life to confront evil. Because enemies and evils are numerous, Surah Al-Falaq was revealed to alert Muslims to seek refuge in Allah from all these evils, not just from the devil. Seeking refuge is a method of the prophets, as it was uttered by our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and all the prophets before him. If they were keen on it, we are more deserving of ensuring our lives and souls against all evil, and all of this is done through seeking help and turning to Allah Almighty. This is what Surah Al-Falaq affirms with its profound meaning; He is the Lord of all creation and their Master.
“We seek refuge in Him from the evil of what He has created; there is no benefit or harm except by His permission. Therefore, we turn to Him and seek refuge in Him to protect us from all evils. Even in the darkness of night, we seek refuge in Allah from the evil that may occur within it, and from envy and magic, we seek refuge in Allah from them and seek His help to nullify their plots and evils.
It is a great Surah, and its impact is profound in the life of a Muslim!
The most important educational and practical benefits of the Surah:
When we follow the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ1- we find that he used to recite Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas in the morning and evening, and before sleeping.
The Prophet ﷺ2- used to recite them upon himself when he complained of pain; they serve as protection for the body from external evils and internal fears”.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorise surah Al Falaq:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Falaq:
“Surah Al-Ikhlas“:
“I love it because it describes the Merciful”
“I love to recite it”
“Tell him that Allah loves him!”
This was a conversation about a short chapter from the Quran, but one of great status. The man loved to recite it, and in return, he received a tremendous reward when the Prophet ﷺ told him, “Allah loves him.” What magnificent good news!
He loved to recite it because it describes the Merciful. Indeed, Allah Almighty described Himself with it when the Quraysh asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Describe your Lord to us, O Muhammad.” Thus, Surah Al-Ikhlas was revealed to refute their disbelief with the words of Allah, {Say, He is Allah, [who is] One}, meaning there is no deity but Him, and no Lord besides Him. He is One in His essence, attributes, and actions. It was revealed to deny their idolatry with Allah’s words, {Allah, the Eternal Refuge}, meaning that Allah is the Absolute, unlike anything else, and He is the One to whom all needs are directed. It was revealed to reject their misconceptions about Allah with the words, {He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent}, meaning He has no child and no parent. Exalted is He, needing no one, while all creation is in need of Him. He is the Creator of all creation, so how could any of His creations be equal to Him or even approach Him?
This is Surah “Al-Ikhlas”, a description of the Merciful. Despite being only two lines long in the Quran, it is equivalent to one-third of the Quran. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Indeed, it equals one-third of the Quran.”
The most important educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- Loving Surah Al-Ikhlas and the attributes of the Merciful within it can be a cause for Allah Almighty to love us.
2- Reciting it three times is as if you have recited the entire Quran.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorise surah Al Ikhlas:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Ikhlas:https://youtu.be/C5nLnbTBHnc?feature=shared
“Surah Al-Masad“:
His lineage did not benefit him!
Did you know that this surah talks about the harm caused by the Prophet’s (ﷺ) uncle and his uncle’s wife, and the punishment they received from Allah (SWT)?
In this noble surah, Allah (SWT) shows us the fate of the one who denies His blessings, and the fate of his wife, who participated in the crime. Allah condemned both of them to torment in Hell while they were still alive, which proves the truthfulness of Muhammad’s (ﷺ) prophethood. This surah carries many messages and lessons, one of the most important being that the greatest loss for a person is to devote themselves to fighting Allah’s religion on earth, because by doing so, they declare war on Allah. Allah (SWT) is dominant over all matters, and anyone who opposes His religion will face regret. Islam is the religion of Allah, and He has promised to protect and support it. All the wealth and pleasures of this world will not benefit a person unless he uses them for the pleasure of Allah.
Abu Lahab dedicated his life to opposing the Prophet (ﷺ), using his home and family for this purpose. As a result, Allah punished him in this world and the hereafter. Therefore, we must strive for a project of salvation for ourselves and our children by supporting our religion, our Prophet, and implementing his Sunnah on earth. The criteria for elevation in the sight of Allah are not based on lineage or social status but on piety! Islam treats people based on their actions, not their status or lineage.
Another lesson is the greatness of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) right, as Allah Himself defended him by revealing a surah in the Qur’an that will be recited until the Day of Judgment, cursing anyone who insults him.
The most important educational and practical benefits in the surah:
- Supporting the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
- Our elevation in the sight of Allah is not based on lineage, social status, or wealth, but on piety!
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorise surah Al Masad:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Masad:https://youtu.be/7TXlC5gAc6M?feature=shared
“Surah An-Nasr“:
This is the good news… Victory after Jihad “fighting”
“Are you excited to discover the story of the conquest of Makkah through this Surah? it brings glad tidings, and victory after striving!
The Quraysh opposed the prophet peace be upon him) message, harmed him, and tortured his companions. For 13 years, they persisted in persecuting the Muslims until the situation became unbearable. Then, Allah commanded His Prophet(peace be upon him) to leave Makkah and migrate to Madinah. Migration was not easy for the Prophet(peace be upon him).
He looked back at Makkah while leaving and said”By Allah, you are the most beloved land to Allah, and the most beloved land to me. If your people had not forced me out, I would never have left”“. After migrating to Madinah, the Prophet continued spreading the message of Islam and striving for Allah’s sake. Eventually, Allah completed His favour by granting him the good news of victory, with the conquest of Makkah. The Prophet returned the conqueror triumphantly, and people began entering Islam in large numbers, transforming former enemies into supporters of faith.
Thus, Surah An-Nasr is such a piece of good news for all who strive in the way of Allah, promising them victory. May Allah grant victory to Islam and the Muslims.
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
- Gratitude, “shukr,” increases blessings. You must always thank Allah for His blessings so that He preserves and increases them for you. After achieving victory, Allah commanded His Prophet (peace be upon him)to praise Him and seek forgiveness. That teaches us that gratitude leads to more blessings. Islam’s victory did not stop with the conquest of Makkah but continued until Islam spread across the earth.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorise surah An Nasr:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat An-Nasr: https://youtu.be/tswuD_Uas7w?feature=shared
“Surah Al-Kafirun“:
!A disassociation from Polytheism
How do we disassociate ourselves from the disbelievers?
Did you know that this Surah was revealed in response to a great condition that the Quraysh required our prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to do in order to believe?
They said: “O Muhammad, come and follow our religion, and we will follow your religion. Worship our gods for a year, and we will worship your God for a year. If what you have brought is better than what we have, we will share it with you, and take our part of it. And if what we have is better than what you have, and then you share in our matter and take your part of it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “I seek refuge in Allah from associating anything with Him.” Then Allah revealed: “Say, O disbelievers,” until the end of the Surah. The Prophet ( peace be upon him) returned to the Sacred Mosque, where the Quraysh leaders were present, and recited it to them until he completed the Surah. At that point, they lost hope in convincing him.
Despite their offer of embracing Islam under this condition, he refused and rejected it!
The smallest doubt in faith or a slight deviation can cause a person to question and lose their way. Therefore, “Iman” faith and a strong belief make a person believe that all other religions are kinds of atheism, don’t accept it to himself, and hate to return to disbelief after Allah has guided him to faith “Iman”. Everything outside the frame of Islam is disbelief, and this is why Surah Al-Kafirun was revealed. It is the section “surah” of monotheism and pure belief. It declares our disassociation from polytheism, affirming that we do not worship what they worship. Thus, we must fight polytheism in all its forms and stay steadfast in our faith despite the challenges and temptations of life, just as our Prophet Muhammad taught us through his stance in Surah Al-Kafirun.
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
- Steadfastness in faith, Maintaining firm belief despite the temptations around us, and learning how to hold onto true faith while facing disbelief.
- Regular recitation of Surah Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas, as The Prophet recited these two Surahs in the Sunnah prayers of Fajr and Maghrib, highlighting the importance of their meanings despite their brevity.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al Kafirun:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Kafirun:
:”Surah Al-Kawthar“
First, how about you guess the meaning of “Al-Kawthar?”
Let’s start and see if your guess is correct or not..
The blessings of Allah (Glorified be He) are boundless. He bestows His gifts upon all His servants, both believers and non-believers, such as health and guidance. Allah may test the believers for various reasons, and even when He does, He grants them patience.
Allah’s mercy is manifested in the story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Surah Al-Kawthar. Though it is the shortest surah in the Qur’an, it holds profound and significant meanings!
Allah has promised the believers a great reward in this world and the Hereafter. As for our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Allah granted him the river Al-Kawthar. After mentioning this blessing, Allah commanded him to show gratitude by saying: {So pray to your Lord and sacrifice {فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنۡحَر} These two acts of worship were specifically mentioned because they are among the best acts of worship and the most noble forms of devotion. Prayer encompasses submission of both heart and body to Allah, and in sacrifice, one draws near to Allah by offering the best of what they have, doing so with sincerity, as this sacrifice is solely for Allah. Additionally, Allah protected him from the harm of his enemies in the verse: {Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off} (Al-Kawthar 108:3). This means that the one who hates you, O Muhammad, will be the one whose lineage will be cut off. This verse was revealed about a man named Al-‘As bin Wa’il as-Sahmi, who used to pass by our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and say: “I despise you, and you are cut off from men.” So Allah revealed: {Indeed, your enemy} meaning Al-‘As bin Wa’il {is the one cut off} from the good of this world and the Hereafter.
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
- Sincerity in worship to Allah.
- Giving charity and contributing to good deeds with our wealth, as a means of drawing closer to Allah.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al Kawthar:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Kawthar:
:”“Surat Al-Ma’un
“The most dangerous type of people”
Did you know that Islam is a relationship with the Creator and a relationship with the creatures? This is the opposite of what the infidels and deniers do and imagine, so beware of imitating their actions!
It is a surah with seven short verses, but it contains many morals and directives. It outlines a method for reforming the individual and society and shows us that religion is not just rituals, rites and worship, but rather this religion is an integrated method of worship with rituals and individual and collective duties. Islam is a relationship with the Creator, a relationship with the creatures, and dealing with the creatures is a religion for which one will be held accountable!
And every shortcoming in the rights of others is a result of weak faith in the heart of its owner!
In Surat Al-Ma’un, Allah – the Almighty – warns us against the reprehensible morals that a Muslim should avoid, so as not to imitate the polytheists, those who deny resurrection and recompense and believe that Allah – the Almighty – created them in vain; Therefore, they dared to violate the rights of the servants, and their most prominent characteristics were that they violently pushed the orphan away due to the hardness of their hearts, and they did not encourage anyone to feed the poor. This is their negligence on the rights of creation. As for their negligence in the rights of the Creator – the Almighty – they did not sincerely worship their Lord, but rather made their worship for the sake of people. They were also heedless of prayer and neglected it, and prayer is the faithful guardian of transactions and morals. Then the Surah concluded the talk about the characteristics of the deniers, that they do not help people or aid them; they are stingy, believing that giving reduces sustenance, although Islam’s care for the Ma’un is evidence of the religion’s interest in all aspects of life, small and large.
Truly, the meanings of Surah Al-Ma’un are great, clarifying the close connection between belief, morals, rituals, transactions, giving and aid, and being a positive person who does not prevent good and seeks it. All of this is the core of the rituals of Islam!
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- I observe my dealings and sincerity in my worship so that I do not resemble the reprehensible morals of the disbelieving disbelievers.
- Maintaining the establishment of prayer on time
Striving to feed orphans and the poor, even if it is a little.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al-Ma’un:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al-Ma’un: https://youtu.be/br4tKFjTcLk?feature=shared
“Surat Quraish“:
“Gratitude is the key to preserving blessings!”
Qarun was a wealthy man from the Children of Israel, and God granted him immense wealth. He possessed such great treasures that the keys to his vaults were so heavy that a group of men could barely carry them. However, Qarun was arrogant and did not thank God for this blessing. Instead, he believed his wealth was due to his own knowledge and skills. Rather than helping the poor and giving charity, he continued to boast about his wealth. His punishment was that God caused the earth to swallow him and his treasures, leaving no trace of him. This was the end of a person who denied God’s blessings and did not show gratitude.
This story connects us to Surah Quraysh. The Quraysh tribe, like Qarun, was blessed by God with great favors, such as security and sustenance from their trade journeys in the winter and summer. They lived in Mecca, where the Kaaba is located, and were respected and protected by the people. However, God reminded them in the Surah that all these blessings were not due to their own strength or wisdom, but rather a favor from God. Therefore, they must show gratitude to God and worship Him, for He is the one who fed them in hunger and provided them security In fear.
Just as with Qarun, any people or individual who forgets to thank God for His blessings may lose them. God has commanded us to always remember His blessings and thank Him for them so they may continue and increase, for gratitude is the cause of Increased blessings!
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- Thanking God for His abundant blessings through praise and using these blessings in obedience to Him.
2- Attributing these blessings to God Almighty and avoiding arrogance and pride on earth.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Quraish:
- This link will help you learn more about surah Quraish:
“Surah Al-Fil“:
“A complete army of elephants led by a group of humans to destroy the Kaaba… Imagine that this really happened one day!”
Are you excited to learn together today about the story of “The People of the Elephant?”
We believe in the truths and unseen realities revealed by God Almighty. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not witness this event, but he believed in it because it is the truth revealed to him in Surah Al-Fil.
“Have you not seen, O Muhammad, what God did to the People of the Elephant?” This massive army was led by Abraha the Abyssinian, a tyrannical king who built a church in Yemen to draw people to pilgrimage there, but it did not gain acceptance. Additionally, a man from Mecca defiled it, so King Abraha used this incident as a pretext to invade Mecca and destroy the Kaaba. He came with this enormous army, including giant elephants that the Arabs were not familiar with. For them, this represented a powerful, unstoppable force. On their way, this army destroyed some Arab tribes, capturing their leaders and plundering their wealth. “Have you seen, O Muhammad, what God did to them?”
God made their plot go astray: “Their plot is in vain.” The plot refers to the secret planning and deceit… On the surface, they aimed to destroy the Kaaba, but God knew their hidden desire to establish a church and spread Christianity in the sacred house of God, which holds great sanctity. So, God nullified their plot!
God also made their scheme go astray. “Going astray” is different from “misguidance.” Going astray means that God enticed them into believing they could destroy the Kaaba and promote Christianity there. They came with this army, but God defeated them in His sacred house and weakened the remaining ones, forcing them to return to Yemen humiliated and defeated. They were completely eradicated, purging the Arabian Peninsula of them, paving the way for the message of the noblest of creation, our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),
God sent upon them birds in dense, successive groups called “Ababil,” which carried stones of baked clay from Hell, throwing them at them like bullets. God reduced them to the remnants of animal food, humiliating their status. The criminals receive special treatment from God, just as the believers do. One of the aims of this Surah is to demonstrate God’s power to protect His sacred house, serving as a reminder and an expression of gratitude.
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- Do not ally with the oppressors, or you will be punished with them, for God destroyed the soldiers, leaders, and all those in that army.
2- Do not be deceived by your strength and capabilities… They were deceived by their power and elephants, and God brought them destruction, defeat, and humiliation from where they least expected it.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al Fil:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Fil:
“Surah Al-Humazah“:
“Bad manners destroy, and wealth fades away.”
Imagine this: What if you were eating the flesh of your dead brother? Could you stand it? Of course not, it would be unbearable! Now, imagine that there is a bad trait mentioned in Surah Al-Humazah, and if you do it, it’s as if you are eating the flesh of your dead brother—this trait is gossip and mockery!
The chapter begins with a severe warning and a threat of painful punishment for certain types of people. These are the ones who live among others and backbite, speak ill of them, and harm their reputation with words and actions. These are terrible manners and dangerous behaviors that spread hatred and cause division among people. They are among the major sins. Backbiting is speaking about your brother in a way he dislikes. In a hadith, it was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what if what I say is true about my brother?” He replied, “If it’s true, you have backbitten him, and if it’s not, you have slandered him.”
Backbiting is evil and a major sin, as is gossiping. The Prophet
said: “A gossiper will not enter Paradise.
The chapter also warns of punishment for those whose main concern is gathering and counting wealth, hoarding it without giving its due right in charity and zakah. They live as though their wealth will make them live forever. But this money, without fulfilling the rights of Allah, will not grant them eternal life. Instead, it will lead to their destruction in “Al-Hutamah,” the crushing fire. This is a great fire that burns deep into the hearts, trapping them inside with no escape, with pillars surrounding them. All this torment is for those who belittled others, mocked them, spread hatred, and for those who amassed wealth but did not give Allah’s due right from it.
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- Do not speak ill of your Muslim brother.
2- Advise those who engage in this bad behavior to stop.
3- Use your wealth for good and give Allah’s due right from it.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al Humaza:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Humaza:
Imam Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “If no other chapter had been revealed from the Quran except this one, it would have been enough for people!”
This is “Surah Al-Asr“:
“The salvation from loss”
It is one of the most important chapters in the entire Quran. It consists of only three verses, but each verse covers important topics. This shows that the value of a chapter is not measured by the number of its verses. These three short verses outline the path to success and the path to destruction. Therefore, we need to understand this chapter well, as it emphasizes the importance of using time wisely and highlights what can save humanity from ruin and loss in this life and the hereafter.
At the beginning of the chapter, Allah swears by time, highlighting its significance and warning against wasting it. Then, He informs us that all people are in a state of loss because they prioritize worldly life over the hereafter, except for one group that has escaped this loss. They are those who combine faith in Allah with righteous deeds and advise one another to follow truth, goodness, obedience, and patience in times of difficulty while doing good deeds and avoiding sins. These are the ones who succeed in both this world and the hereafter.
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- Take care of your time and use it in ways that please Allah.
2- Pray that Allah makes you among those who succeed in this life and the hereafter, and not among those who face ruin and loss.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al Asr:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Asr:
“Surah Al-Takathur“:
What comes after being preoccupied with this world?
God tells us that seeking more of this world has distracted us from seeking the Hereafter!
People, you are busy boasting about wealth and children instead of obeying God. Until you die and enter your graves, you will realize the consequences of this distraction. Then He repeats it: “You will surely know the consequences of this distraction.
If only you truly knew that you would be raised to God, and He will reward you for your deeds, you would not be distracted by boasting about wealth and children. Indeed, you will see the Fire on the Day of Judgment… then you will see it with certainty, without doubt. On that Day, God will ask you about the blessings He has given you. O Muslim, prepare an answer for this question!
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- A servant is required to show gratitude for blessings with their heart, tongue, and body. How is that done?
2- Gratitude with the heart means feeling that these blessings are a favor and grace from God upon me, and that I have no power in bringing boastfulness of blessings to myself, so I should not be.
3- Gratitude with the tongue means praising and thanking God.
4- Gratitude with the body means using these blessings in obedience to God and not in disobedience, for which we will be punished. For example, the rich should help the poor, the strong should assist the weak, and the knowledgeable should teach others. Remembering blessings increases them through gratitude.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al Takathur:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al Takathur:
“Surah Al-Qari’ah“:
“There is no greater lesson for the heart than the scenes and terrors of the Day of Judgment. Whenever the heart remembers the afterlife, it wakes up from its neglect and becomes eager to work and worship. This surah strikes the heart deeply. It is Surah Al-Qari’ah”
Al-Qari’ah is one of the names of the Day of Judgment, and this surah, despite its few verses, carries deep meanings. God describes the scenes of the Day of Judgment, like how people will come out of their graves like scattered moths, and how the mountains will collapse and scatter. The surah emphasizes the fear of this day to prepare people for it. It explains two types of people on the Day of Judgment: the first are those who learned and did good deeds in this life, and their reward is eternal paradise. The second are those who denied the truth, and their punishment will be eternal suffering in the fire of Hell.
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- Belief in the Day of Judgment is a fundamental part of Islamic faith.
2- The surah reminds us of the terrors of that day to motivate us to do good deeds and keep us from committing sins.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al-Qari’ah:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al-Qari’ah:
“Surah al-‘Adiyat“:
“How can we deny the blessings of Allah upon us?”
“Do you love horses, especially those that gallop for the sake of Allah? Indeed, Allah has sworn by them in this Surah.”
Allah begins Surah al-‘Adiyat by swearing by the galloping horses in His cause, emphasizing the significance of the message conveyed in the Surah. Al-Baqillani states that Allah concluded Surah al-Zalzalah with a description of evil actions and began this Surah to explain the character traits that lead to such actions. One of these traits is the denial of blessings and ingratitude.
Have you seen the horses that gallop in the path of Allah, enduring the fires of war and all this hardship, all to please their owners who feed them?
Horses are more grateful to their owners than people are to their Lord!
In contrast, humans are often ungrateful, as the Surah states, “Indeed, mankind is, to his Lord, most ungrateful.” Humans tend to forget blessings and focus on hardships. Only those who strive to improve themselves and balance their worldly and afterlife concerns can overcome this natural inclination towards ingratitude.
In Surah al-‘Adiyat, Allah reproaches those who distance themselves from Him. Do you not see how horses, cared for by their owners and fed by them, become obedient to them?
Shouldn’t you, as a human, feel ashamed of your ingratitude towards your Lord? Consider the countless blessings He bestows upon you day and night. You should feel humbled and return to your Lord. It is astonishing how people become ungrateful and reluctant to give and sacrifice when it comes to matters of faith.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Indeed, the affairs of the believer are all good. This is not for anyone except the believer. If he is granted ease, he is grateful, and that is good for him. And if he is afflicted with hardship, he perseveres, and that is good for him.”
Blessings can become curses when a person focuses on them without considering the Bestower. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “To mention the blessings of Allah is gratitude, and to neglect them is ingratitude. Whoever is not grateful for a little will not be grateful for a lot. And whoever is not grateful to people will not be grateful to Allah.”
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- The Surah emphasizes the importance of gratitude and reminds us of the countless blessings Allah bestows upon us.
2- It warns against ingratitude and its consequences.
The Surah encourages us to emulate the gratitude of animals towards their owners.
- It highlights the importance of balancing worldly and afterlife concerns.
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Al-Adiyat:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Al-Adiyat:
“Surat Al-Zalzalah“:
“Beware of two earthquakes: the earthquake of the earth, and the earthquake of the heart!”
The most dangerous earthquake that has ever happened on Earth is the one that happened in Chile, and it lasted for only ten minutes, destroying the entire city and killing thousands. The earthquake that we are talking about in Surat Al-Zalzalah is not an ordinary one, but rather an earthquake that causes the earth to bring out its treasures and dead people. Your heart shakes at the sight and you look at it saying: “What is this earth?” Suddenly you see it talking about the news that happened on its surface, as Allah – the Most High – commanded it, and your heart leaps out!. These are the horrors of the Day of Judgment!
You and the people around you are gathered, waiting for the results of your actions. Some of them used to belittle a sin and see it as their destruction!
Some of them despise a good deed, but they see it as their savior!
Earthquakes are inevitable, and in order to make the earthquake of the heart easier for yourself, know that the matter is up to action, so do not belittle a good deed or underestimate a sin. When you commit a sin, remember that the earth will bear witness against you, and if you do good, even if it is small, Allah will never waste it. The Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, called the two verses {So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it (7) And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it} the unique comprehensive verse, because it combines good and evil, so it contains encouragement and intimidation, fear and hope.
It is said that this Surah was revealed about two men in Medina: one of them was visited by a beggar and he would not give him a date, and the other was lenient about minor sins such as lying, backbiting, looking at something forbidden, and others.
The most important Educational and Practical Lessons from the Surah:
1- The Surah begins with the earthquake that shakes hearts, and ends with the scales of deeds, so from now on weigh your deeds with the scales of Sharia!
– 2- Be aware of the name of Allah, the Watchful, when you commit a sin, and that the earth will bear witness against you even if your action is the weight of an atom.
3- Do not belittle any act of kindness or good deeds, even if it is the weight of an atom.
– 4- Think about this scary question:” Where will our fate be if God judges us by the atom and the weight of an atom?”
- This link will help you to learn, recite and memorize surah Az Zalzala:
- This link will help you learn more about Surat Az Zalzala:
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In conclusion, our aim was not merely to provide an explanation of some chapters of the Qur’an. Rather, the intention was far greater — to transform these chapters, with their spiritual and educational meanings, into a practical reality in our lives. These chapters are not just isolated texts with short verses; they represent a comprehensive system that carries profound meanings within, conveying great concepts related to faith, ethics, worship, and transactions.
Glory be to the One who perfected His revelation, who said, exalted be He:
{كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ}
“A blessed Book which We have revealed to you, that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded”.
- This link will help you to understand more information easily:
- Here is a link to the translation of the article into classical Arabic:
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- Sources:
- tafsir aibn kathir
- tafsir altabari
- tafsir alsaedi tafsir juz’ eami
- https://sahih-international.com
- https://quran.com