Quran Talks...
This blog aims to spread the authentic teachings of Islam and to promote the learning of the Holy Quran. Contributing are sisters studying under Dr. Farhat Hashmi at Al Huda Institute Canada, who will be sharing first hand accounts of their learning.

Bismillah

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Surah AlQamar

Reflections of November 1st, 2006
The Past Nations
Today, Ustazah invited a physician to share her experience about her tour to disaster stricken areas of Pakistan. The description was terrible and frightening, but when she told us that these people were well off and also highly educated, it was shocking and surprising.
People say, ‘why did GOD do all this?’ Some just take it as a natural disaster. Some don’t care and go on with their busy lives. The obvious calamity is seen by the whole world. Aid is sent from all around, but still in many areas the human aid proves to be of no use. They were helpless.
Still we question, turn a blind eye or think of ourselves as if we are in authority.
In today’s surah, there were aayats on how nations were destroyed in different ways.


So We opened the gates of heaven with pouring rain and caused the earth to burst with gushing springs. [Al-Qamr: 11-12]

We let loose on them a furious wind, on the day of their bitter misfortune, which snatched them off like trunks of uprooted palm trees. [Al-Qamr: 19-20]

We let loose on them one mighty blast and they became like the trampled twigs used by a fence builder. [Al-Qamr: 31]


We let loose on them a stone - charged tornado---. [Al-Qamr: 34]

Do we realize Who the Being we question is? To Whose advices we don’t take heed. It’s Allah (s.w.t) who owns everything and can do anything. What we have to do is to submit to HIM. Be humble and not arrogant and turn to HIS advice: AL- QURAN.
- Ayesha Asad (Etobicoke)

I was feeling really down and depressed today while reading surah Al Qamr for two reasons:
1) I was sad to see another surah go by us which indicates that our time at Al-Huda is starting to tick
2) Reading through the end results of previous nations-which is a reminder for us
But, during the last five minutes of tafsir, I felt like I was uplifted to 'high spirits'. The feeling that came over me was extremely rejuvenating. I felt like there is indeed hope not just for myself but for each and every person in the world. The last two verses state, "Surely, the righteous will be in the midst of gardens and rivers. In a seat of honor near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability."
Those two little verses hold such importance and great news that it just puts one to ease. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and whisper the word "righteous"...May Allah (s.w.t) give us all the taufeeq to be on the path of guidance, so that we can all meet at our final destination. Ameen
- Fatima Malik (Mississauga)


And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition? [Al-Qamr: 17]

Then is there any that will receive admonition?
Allah made His book perfect. Perfect with no flaws and easy to understand. Allah made His book ready for us to read, ponder upon, and benefit from. Allah made His book for us, so that we go to it and receive admonition. Allah did so much for us, but how often do we bother to read the Quran? How often do we go to it when we need advice? How often do we take the Quran as a letter from our Creator? The Quran is a blessing, guidance, mercy upon mankind. Let’s grasp the Quran before it’s too late.
- Ayesha Ahmed (Texas)



In Surah Al-Qamr Allah (s.w.t) is mentioning those who rejected His miracles, in such a miraculous way! When you look at the Surah, every verse ends with the letter 'Ra'. Allah (s.w.t) relates all that He wants in a beautiful manner. When you listen to the recitation of this Surah, the lessons/warnings of the past are being conveyed in a wise and powerful way.
Allah (s.w.t) reminds us of those who denied His message and their end result. He then asks us over and over again “then is there any that will receive admonition?” This reminds me of when we tell our children stories of what happened to 'so and so' because of his behavior. We relate these stories because we love them dearly, and somehow want to convey to them that they should not make the same mistake. Allah (s.w.t)'s Mercy for us, is far beyond that. Are we willing to receive admonition?
We have been given so many examples from the past, proving that; following your desires, being lost in the benefits this world, or 'success' in this life only, is of no use in the Hereafter. After being warned many times, and knowing, the pit of Hell fire will be very full and compared to that, very few will enter Paradise; Why not then, should we 'raise our hand' and be one of those who will receive admonition?
- Ayesha Baig (California)


Beauty of this Surah
SubhanAllah! As we are heading towards the end of Quran, I can feel the beauty and the rhythm of the Surahs increase... I can relate something that we learned in Uloom-ul-Quran, chapter 'Quran is a miracle': The words used, the language, the rhythm, the repetitions are just mind blowing... Each surah is better than the previous, in its beauty and effects.
Other than the contents (which are always the best and most effective), I was admiring the format of the surah... how it is presented in such an effective manner.
Mainly the whole surah mentions one after the other, stories of previous nations in a few ayahs stating: their Prophet, their mistakes, how Allah punished them, then a warning and a reminder for us, and an inspiration to do good.
Again, the end of each narration has the same repeated ayahs so that we can absorb it well.
Each sentence ends with the same letter 'Raa' and thanks to the tajweed rules… the 'Raa' becomes SAAKIN always... I enjoyed the Qiraat more when I realized this.
Every nation which is punished and destroyed, can be visualized so well... and their end results are related to certain things, so that we can actually understand and feel their destruction (e.g. Al-Qamr: Ayah 31) and learn a lesson from it.
- Salma Ghansar (Mississauga)


"We have indeed made the Quran very easy to understand the admonition, so is there any who would take admonition?" (Surah Al-Qamr: 40)

Does your heart weep bloodied tears
Do the heaving sobs wrench through ironed sheets of arrogance
Does its desperate turmoil untangle your entwined soul
Do its widened eyes burn deep into seams of action

Or have you silenced its caged freedom,
strangled the screams for life,
and lost yourself to the numb searing pain
in waves of billowing black darkness

- Thanzila Naz (London)


Pyari Ustazah Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wabarakatuhu
As the Moon makes the Stars seem brighter, so does Surah Al Qamr make Surah An Najm more clear.
I felt Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala is talking directly to me, giving me example after example of the perished nations, and after each example, making sure that I understood it, leaving no room for any excuse. Can any of us deny that there is anything in the Quran beyond our understanding? Anything that we have been asked to do, as well as refrain from, not clear? No doubt, Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala has made it easy for us to understand the Quran, but are we the ones who will take heed, remember and avoid evil?
I thought if I die this very moment, what will save me from the punishment. My deeds, neatly and accurately are being added on to the list every moment. What good deeds do I have, to make me feel secure and safe from the disgrace, when everyone will be assembled for accountability. I thought that I have always tried to help others, and do whatever good I can for my Deen, but is it with Ikhlaas (sincerity) and without Riya (showoff)? Will I come forth from my grave with humbled eyes, hastening towards the place of reckoning. I wanted to cry but could not. When we were listening to the recitation of Ayah 47 and 48 “Verily the criminals are in error and will burn. That day they will be dragged on their faces into the fire”-- I quickly closed my Mushaf, and held it tight, as if by doing so, I can protect myself from all of that.
I sometimes wonder, how can we be so naïve about the Akhira. Why do we always think that we still have a lot of time? I also thought of the punishments the previous nations were given in this dunya. As you explained Ustazah, no one could hide from the violently cold wind—Sarsar, when it was sent to the people of Hud (A.S.) to punish them. “Plucking out men as if they were uprooted stems of date palms.” (Al Qamr: 29) If Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala decides to punish us, is there anyone to save us?
The sad, but true story is that we do shed a few tears, when we listen to Ayahs about resurrection and punishment. We even proclaim that we are scared, and temporarily make taubah too, but unfortunately all of this does not last very long. Our Nafs takes over, and our focus is on getting maximum wealth, fame, happiness and enjoyment in this dunya. “You laugh and you weep not. And turn away, singing (and rejoicing)”. (Surah An Najm: 60-61). It is never enough. The only time left for the Akhira is --- an occasional temporary reminder, and memorizing a few duas that are, our passport for entering Jannah and a savior from the Hell fire.
Ustazah, as you say “Jo kaam kernay kay hain” (The things that need to be done) we are not in the least concerned about those. After studying more than twenty six Juz of the Quran; do we need someone to remind us everyday about what to do, and what not to do? For our own benefit, starting from Surah Al Fatiha, let us write one thing a day, that Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala has commanded us to do, as well as one thing that he has commanded us to refrain from, and try to follow it in the best way we can, putting our utmost effort to do, exactly as commanded. InshaAllah we should keep adding on to the list, as Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala repeatedly reminds us, “And indeed, we have made Quran easy to understand and remember; so is there any that will remember”. (Al-Qamr: Ayah 40)
May Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala make us amongst the ones who receive this admonition. Ameen
Jazakillahu Khairan for helping me understand the Quran.
- Fakhri Hameed (Ottawa)

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