Saturday
Structural Integrity of The Ummah
Tonight’s taraweeh consists of Juz 26.
The Sûrahs covered are Al-Ahqâf (The Sandhills), Muhammad , Al-Fath (Victory), Al-Hujurât (The Apartments), Qâf and the first section of Al-Dhâriyât (The Winds that Scatter).
Surah Al-Ahqâf
The Ahqâf are the long and winding crooked tracts of sand-hills, like those in the land of the nation of ‘Ad. These people probably had a fertile irrigated country, but their sins brought on Allah’s Punishment.
Allah has created everything “for just ends.” Allah’s truth is unchangeable; those who disbelieve in it will be severely punished on the Day of Judgement. Be kind to your parents for their sacrifices they made for you. In your old age pray for the well-being of your offspring.
Allah places different people in different ranks “according to their deeds.”
Sûrah Muhammad
This surah was revealed around the 1st year after Hijra when the possibility existed that the Pagan Makkans might wipe out the Muslims. This and the next two Sûrahs deal with external and internal relations when the Ummah was formed.
“Those who reject Allah and obstruct (men) from the path of Allah – Allah will cause their deeds to go wrong and they will be destroyed.
But those who believe and do good… Allah will remove their ills from them and improve their condition”.
Allah will guide those who fight for His cause. The hypocrites (like those in Madîna in Prophet Muhammad’s time) on the other hand are fainthearted. They only pay lip-service to Islam. Serve Islam sincerely, otherwise “He will replace you with another group of people (who) will not be like you.”
Sûrah Al-Fath
This Sûrah was revealed after the Treaty of Hudaibiya which was signed in 6 A.H. between the Muslims and the Makkan Pagans.Prophet Muhammad , together with about 1500 Muslims, wanted to perform the ‘Umra (lesser pilgrimage).
The treaty that followed was a great moral, social and political victory for Islam. Victory comes from calmness of mind, faith, devotion, bravery and patience, as shown at Hudaibiya. Greed or faint-heartedness can never bring victory. The rewards for service cannot always be measured by immediate results, but show themselves in many ways if we are patient. Fight with strength, but be kind and gentle among yourselves. Such an act will cause Allah to love you.
Surah Al-Hujurât
This Sûrah was revealed in 9 A.H. when many deputations visited Madîna to offer their loyalty to Islam.
Be humble in accepting the sunnah of your Prophet. Do not accept rumours without testing them. Make peace between 2 quarreling parties among Believers “with justice”. Remember that “the Believers are a single Brotherhood”. Do not make wounding remarks, “Avoid suspicion as much (as possible)… do not spy on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs”. “Certainly the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.”
Being a believer does not mean paying lip-service, but by accepting Allah’s Will and striving in His cause. By accepting Islam you do not do others a favour; rather, you do yourselves a favour because it is a source of guidance for you.
Sûrah Qâf
We now come to a group of seven Makkan Sûras dealing with Allah’s revelation through nature, history and the mouths of the Prophets.
The disbelievers find it beyond their understanding that they will be raised up again after they have become dust. But they just have to look at His Creation, and conclude from it that Allah is capable of doing everything. As He gives (new) life to land that is dead so will He bring about our Resurrection.
Every deed, word and thought is recorded by two angels. Death will open your eyes and make you see the Truth. The fruit of good deeds will be Paradise, while the fruit of evil will be Hell.
Sûrah Al-Dhâriyât
This Sûrah deals with the many ways in which Truth is successful at all times, even against heavy odds. The winds may be strong or gentle: blowing, scattering, lifting, rushing or dividing in all directions – but Allah’s Purpose remains one.
On the Day of Judgement everything will become clear. Look at the history of past peoples who rejected Allah and learn lessons therefrom. Those who believe find profit in their lives. Evil will end in Punishment while Good will end in Joy and Satisfaction.
If you do not heed Allah’s signs, the loss is your own.
May we reflect on these signs as we head into the final week of Ramadan.
Abbreviations
s.w.t – Subhanahu wa Ta’ala – (Allah) The Glorious, the Exalted
a.s – Alayhis Salam– (Prophets, pious ones) on whom be peace
s.a.w – SalAllahu alayhi Wa sallam – (Muhammad) on whom be peace
RamadanPrayers 