Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

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- “And do not come near to adultery; surely it has been an obscenity and odious as a way"(TMQ, 17: 32). Since the ayahs address the pure nature, they describe zena (unlawful sex) as “odious as a way" for it is an extremely foul deed even if some of the weak souls do not find it so. Adopting such an evil way leads to nothing but destruction and disasters like murders, lack of rizq (sustenance), darkness of faces (the troubled state of mind that shows on the face), confusion of lineage, and a miserable sad life. Moreover, Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, - “And do not kill the self that Allah has prohibited, except by truthful (right) (Literally: with the truth)” (TMQ, 17:33). - “And do not draw near the wealth of the orphan except in the fairest (manner)...” (TMQ, 17:34). - “And fill up the measure when you measure, and weigh with the straight equitableness... (TMQ, 17: 35). - “And do not pursue what you have no knowledge of; surely hearing and beholding and heart-sight, (Or: perception) all of those will be questioned of” (TMQ, 17:36). - “And do not walk in the earth merrily; surely you will never pierce the earth, and you will never reach the mountains in height” (TMQ, 17:33- 37). Such words cannot possibly be rejected or deserted; the Book quite plainly orders Muslims to do all these good things and warns them against what may cause their destruction. Allah says (SWT) what can be translated as, “All the bad aspects of these (the above mentioned things) are hateful to your Lord” (TMQ, 17:38). For this reason, these ayahs are followed by an interesting comment; Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “That is of (the) Wisdom your Lord has revealed to you...” (TMQ, 17:39). All the forth mentioned concepts constitute great wisdom and lead to a decent existence here and in the afterlife. Nevertheless, whoever disregards them is guaranteed a long stay in hell as Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “and do not make up with Allah another god, (or) then you will be cast in Hell blamed (and) rejected” (TMQ, 17:39). This illustrates the greatness of the Qur’an since in ayah after ayah, Allah (SWT) informs Muslims that all the good they could ever need is simply in it. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And indeed We have already propounded (i.e., Our warnings) in this Qur’an that they may constantly remember; and in no way does it increase them except in repulsion” (TMQ, 17:41). The value of the Qur'an Thus, the ayahs do not only establish the greatness of the Qur'an and the significance of its commandments, but also they enumerate the qualities of the Book from one
ayah to the other as this surah is considered the one with the largest number of references to the Book. For example, the Qur’an acts as a shield of protection for its people. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And when you read the Qur’an, We make between you and the ones who do not believe in the Hereafter a screened curtain. And We make lids upon their hearts so that they could not comprehend it, and (we make) in their ears an obstruction. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Qur’an, they turn their backs in repulsion” (TMQ, 17:45-46). Furthermore, the Qur'an includes historical secrets and civilization-building norms. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And decidedly not a city is there excepting that We will be causing it to perish before the Day of the Resurrection, or We will be tormenting it with a strict torment. That has been in the Book inscribed” (TMQ, 17:58). The stress laid on the greatness of the Qur'an in Surat Al-Israel is quite palpable to readers who have started the journey with us and have reached Part 15, the middle of it. Readers are by all means encouraged to sense the significance of the Qur’an and are not advised to read it indifferently, simply because the ayahs such as the ones discussed here offer them a great opportunity to improve their status on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (SAWS) says, " On the Day of Judgment, the reciter of the Qur'an will be summoned: "Read, and be promoted (be raised to sublimity) and recite melodiously (i.e. the Qur'anic verses) for your (religious) rank accords with the last ayah you recited.” 2 Dear Muslim brother/sister, the number of the levels of Jannah (Paradise) equal that of the Qura'nic ayahs. Don't you want to go to Jannah Don't you dream of it Don't you want Al-Ferdaos Al-A’ala (the highest level of Jannah) If you do, then always read the Qur'an, especially in Al-Fajr prayer (the dawn prayer) and in Qiyam (night prayers). In this regard, Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Keep up the prayer at the sinking of the sun to the dusk of the night and (the reading) of the Qur’an at dawn; surely the reading of the Qur’an at dawn has been witnessed” (TMQ, 17:78). Allah (SWT) also says what can be translated as, “And keep constant vigil with it (The Qur’an) (part) of the night (These are the late night supererogatory prayers) as an accordance for you; it may be that your Lord will make you rise again to a praised station.” (TMQ, 17:79). A cure and mercy to believers Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And We are sending down, of the Qur’an, that which is a cure and a mercy to the believers; and it increases the unjust in nothing except in greater loss” (TMQ, 17:82). As mentioned in Surat An-Nahl, the word “cure” in Qur’an is only associated with Qur’an and honey. This is because honey is a cure to bodily diseases while Qur’an is a cure to the hearts and souls that truly understand its value. The challenge of Qur’an 2 Good Hadith, narrated by Al-Albany.
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AmrKhaled.net © This Article may
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Surat Yunus (Jonah) Surat Yunus is
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permission. That is Allah, your Lor
Page 7 and 8: Torment and destruction are never i
Page 9 and 10: messengers to their people; namely
Page 11 and 12: The surah ends with a practical les
Page 13 and 14: 1. Loss of hope, will, and disconti
Page 15 and 16: Allah’s (SWT) universe. This may
Page 17 and 18: It is rather a soft and gentle tone
Page 19 and 20: 3. “And do not (seek) support (yo
Page 21 and 22: Pointers that aid in Resoluteness T
Page 23 and 24: Surat Yusuf (Joseph) Surat Yusuf is
Page 25 and 26: prepares the Messenger for the misf
Page 27 and 28: The patience recommended here is co
Page 29 and 30: all products He made therein two pa
Page 31 and 32: people veneer it with flimflam like
Page 33 and 34: Surat Ibrahim (Abraham) The Objecti
Page 35 and 36: death comes up to him from every pl
Page 37 and 38: In a wonderful supplication and pra
Page 39 and 40: (invoking the name of Allah (SWT)),
Page 41 and 42: The people of Al-Hijr did not belie
Page 43 and 44: Have a high zeal for your religion,
Page 45 and 46: • The blessing of revelation, whi
Page 47 and 48: the earth against earthquakes. •
Page 49 and 50: Allah (SWT) says what can be transl
Page 51 and 52: humiliates them, a dangerous aspect
Page 53 and 54: Please observe the following Qur’
Page 55 and 56: Surat Al-Israa (The Night Journey)
Page 57: what can be translated as, “And e
Page 61 and 62: It raises nations and destroys othe
Page 63 and 64: Surat Al-Kahf (The Cave) Surat Al-K
Page 65 and 66: his servant, “Truly, we have suff
Page 67 and 68: gain authority and power, denies Al
Page 69 and 70: earth mingles with it,” so simply
Page 71 and 72: This all goes to prove that we can
Page 73 and 74: Surat Maryam (AS) (Mary) Surat Mary
Page 75 and 76: lessed wheresoever I be, and has en
Page 77 and 78: (this Qur’an and Muhammad SAWS) a
Page 79 and 80: Surat Ta-Ha Surat Ta-Ha is Makkan.
Page 81 and 82: Such questions are to be asked: why
Page 83 and 84: unto you (O Muhammad SAWS) to cause
Page 85 and 86: Thus, Surat Al-Anbiya focuses on th
Page 87 and 88: After delivering a lot of messages
Page 89 and 90: Hajj and the scenes of the Day of J
Page 91 and 92: Surat Al-Mu’minun (The Believers)
Page 93 and 94: are sure to return to their Lord (f
Page 95 and 96: Not an evil The previous Ayah comme
Page 97 and 98: Although our religion commands not
Page 99 and 100: then after such compulsion, Allah i
Page 101 and 102: (Caliph), he saw an act of adultery
Page 103 and 104: This light requires a source of ill
Page 105 and 106: thereof, chained together, they wil
Page 107 and 108: elievers of Allah’s (SWT) mercy,
Page 109 and 110:
Surat Ash-Shu’ara (The Poets) Thi
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him off and his brother (for a whil
Page 113 and 114:
Surat An-Naml (The Ant) Surat An-Na
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torment him with a strict torment o
Page 117 and 118:
quickly as possible. Such a religio
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Say, “Praise be to Allah, and pea
Page 121 and 122:
Surat Al-Qasas (The Narrative) This
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One may learn from Surat Al-Qasas h
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We notice that there is always a lo
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came to him and narrated the story,
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Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

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