Ramadan Quran Series Day 23

Ramadan Quran Series Day Twenty-three

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

85. Al-‘Ankabut (The Spider) (29)

Makkah

Al-ankabut is 85th Surah revealed upon the prophet and in the traditionally arranged Quran, it appears as 29th Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and it has 69 Ayah and seven Ruku. Life is not always a bed of roses. Human beings go through ups and downs in life. Those who have faith in Allah often face and have faced trials in their times. The followers of Prophet Muhammad should not be afraid of going through such trials. It would strengthen them and prepare them to deal with such trials effectively.  Ultimately, they are the ones who will overcome such hardships because non-believers and the deniers of the truth would suffer the consequences of their action.

86. Al-Mutaffifin (Those who give short measures) (83)

Makkah

The 83rd Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran is the 86th surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was the last Surah revealed in Makkah and it has 36 Ayah and one Ruku. It establishes the principle that faith covers all aspects of life. One cannot a true believer if one’s entire life is not guided by it.  It refers to business practices and warns of dishonesty in trade relations and warns of the consequences. It explains that justice will ultimately be done and if people are not caught in this world for their wrongs, they would face the judgment in the life hereafter.

87. Al-Baqarah (The Cow) (2)

Medina

The 87th Surah revealed upon the Prophet is Al-Baqarah and is the second Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran and it is the longest Surah in the Quran. It has 286 Ayah divided into 40 Ruku. It is the first one to be revealed in Medina and it deals with issues pertaining to the emerging society with reference to law, morality, economy, polity, interfaith relations and security of citizens. It speaks of three categories of people, genuine believers, conscious rejecters of the faith, the hypocrites. Those who genuinely believe in the divine guidance follow what they have been ordained to follow in every aspect of life. Those who reject the faith consciously will never accept the truth because in their mind they have the conviction that they were right. The hypocrites watch the situation and move in either direction depending on their interests. It narrates the story of the beginning of humanity and refers to the animosity and arrogance of Satan to the divine guidance, It assures people of the guidance that would be sent through messengers to show humans the right path. It refers to the covenant that the Jews had with God about living their lives according to the divine teachings and how that covenant was broken.  It describes the process of the creation of the House to worship one God. It also focuses on family matters, transparency in one’s dealings with others. It asks people to be truthful to their vows and it draws people’s attention to the past when the divine message was changed and edited to suit the interests of those who were the power elites. It lays emphasis on establishing a society free from usury, exploitation and oppression.

88. Al-Anfal (Spoils of War) (8)

Medina

Al-Anfal is the 88th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It appears as the eighth Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Medina has 75 Ayah divided in 10 Ruku. it was revealed in Medina in the second year of migration and after the battle of Badr.

It advises believers to maintain good interpersonal relations and explains the rules of engagements between Muslims and others. It refers to the wealth and resources that the enemies of Muslim left behind after the battles. It provides a rationale of just war and it demands steadfastness from those who are among believers. It also advises on how to deal with prisoners of war. It reminds people that obedience of God and the Prophet are part of the faith and believers must always be ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of truth. Justice is the essence of faith and Muslims must be the seekers of justice not only for themselves but for others. Defending the neglected and the poor is the responsibility of Muslims