Ramadan Quran Series Day 2

Ramadan Quran Series Day Two

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

1. Al-‘Alaq (The Germ-Cell) (96)

Makkah

Al-Alaq is the 96th Surah in traditionally arranged Quran. It is the first Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah and it has one Ruku and 19 Ayah. The first five Ayahs were revealed in the Cave of Hira in Makkah and the remaining 14 ayahs were revealed when the Prophet was asked to perform the prayers in Kasbah.

The Surah lays the foundation of faith and invites people to build their character, life, family and society on the divinely created knowledge. It invites human being to reflect on the process of his or her own creation and alludes to the fact that only though divinely revealed knowledge. Human beings can control their rebellious instincts.

2. Al-Qalam (The Pen) (68)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Qalam was the second Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 68^th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has two Ruku and 52 Ayah. The name itself suggests that the art of writing down on paper with a pen was known to the people around the Prophet. It also implied that the divine guidance would no longer be at the discretionary power of the memory, however strong it may be, rather it would be penned down so that every letter and word is recorded for eternity.

The Surah reminds people that the message being revealed upon the Prophet is the continuation of the divine message given to human beings through messengers throughout human history. Even though it is being revealed in the Arabic language, it is for all human beings. It is also declaring that the ideas that are shared by the Prophet were rooted in rationality and they were relevant to the needs of the society. It asks people to ensure that those who are forced to live in a state of dependence causing them humiliation must be helped. It shares the story of a people who had a garden with plenty of produce, yet they would deny the needy any share in it. Consequently, they lost everything. It lays the foundation of a society that creates conditions for acquiring means of subsistence for everyone. It also narrated the story of Prophet Jonah, and his followers and urges the followers of the Prophet not to give up and continue their mission to spread virtue in their society.  It introduces the idea of learning from the past to better the present.

3. Al-Muzzammil (The Enwrapped one) (73)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Muzammil was the third Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 73^rd Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has two Ruku (sections) and 20 ayahs.  It is the seventy-third Surah in traditionally arranged Quran. It reminds the believers to focus on the message of the Quran and make its reading part of the prayer. It invites the adherents to the faith to take strength from reliance on the divine message as being revealed upon the Prophet.

4. All-Muddathir (The Enfolded One) (74)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Mudassir was the fourth Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 74^th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has two Ruku and 56 ayah. It dwells upon the manners of sharing the faith with others and elaborates upon the manners of dawah. It exhorts the believers to identify the evils plaguing the society and work to remove the, It also reminds the people that those who deny the truth would suffer the consequences.