Grounded

Introduction: Last 10 Nights & Extra Effort

• 25th night, odd night—potential Laylatul Qadr.

• Encouraged extra spiritual effort:

• Qur’an recitation, prayer, charity, du‘a.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Welcome to BeQuranic.

Today is Tuesday, the 25th of Ramadan.

As always on Tuesdays, we’ve got Tajweed Tuesday, where we break down the Tajweed rules in the Ayat of the Week.

This week, we are covering ayahs 56 to 61 of Surah Al-Rahman.

Usually, we begin with the theory, and then apply it to the ayat.

But this week, I want to do things a little differently.

Since we’ve now completed the rules of Nun Sakin and Tanwin — which is one of the largest areas of Tajweed (aside from mudūd, or elongation) — I thought we could go straight into the application.

We’ll read the ayat, and then revisit and deep dive into the rules of Ikhfā’, particularly focusing on examples we didn’t fully cover last week.

There are subtle but important differences between types of Ikhfā’ — and these details help us beautify our recitation even more.

So, get your mushaf out.

Let’s open up and read together — Surah Al-Rahman, ayat 56 to 61:

📖 (Recitation)

فِيهِنَّ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

كَأَنَّهُنَّ الْيَاقُوتُ وَالْمَرْجَانُ

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

🔎 Tajweed Breakdown

🔸 فِيهِنَّ

• “فِي” is madd aṣlī – elongate 2 harakat.

• “هِنَّ” has nun mushaddadah, so it’s wājib al-ghunnah — a clear nasal sound, held for 2 harakat.

To check your ghunnah, pinch your nose while saying it — if it blocks the sound, you’re doing it right!

🔸 قَاصِرَاتُ

• Heavy letter ص: Remember, heaviness doesn’t come from puckering the lips.

It comes from lifting the back of your tongue.

Don’t say soo-raa, say ṣaa, with that elevation at the back of the tongue.

🔸 يَطْمِثْهُنَّ

• Again, we have nun mushaddadah, so wājib al-ghunnah.

• The letter ط is heavy — hold the ghunnah properly, and avoid pushing it from your lips.

🟡 Examples of Ikhfā’

Now, let’s look at some specific examples of Ikhfā’:

🔹 إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ

• The nun sākinah in “insun” has no visible sukun — and the letter qāf is after it.

• Qāf is not one of the Idghām letters, so this is Ikhfā’.

• Qāf is a deep letter, pronounced from the back of the tongue, so your tongue needs to be lifted for this one.

Hold the ghunnah for 2 harakat, and prepare your mouth for the qāf sound.

“Insun qaablahum”

🔹 Compare that with a lighter Ikhfā’, like:

“Insun sāriqun” – the sīn is a light letter, so your tongue remains flat.

You see? Same rule, but different articulation depending on the following letter.

That’s why we say: there are two types of Ikhfā’ — heavy and light — based on the strength and makhraj of the next letter.

🔸 وَلَا جَانٌّ

• Madd: You see the madd sign (tilde-like wave) + shaddah, which means this is madd lāzim — held for 6 harakat.

• The nun here is mushaddadah again — so ghunnah applies too.

🔸 وَالْمَرْجَانُ

• This word has no shaddah on the nun, so no ghunnah.

• You can read the madd here with 2, 4, or 6 harakat — your choice.

But if you’re stopping on it, keep it consistent.

🔸 إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ

• الْإِحْسَانُ ends with a sukun — madd ‘āriḍ līssukūn — so if you’re stopping, read it with 4 harakat.

📌 Quick Recap of Key Tajweed Covered Today:

• ✅ Madd Aṣlī – elongation of 2 harakat

• ✅ Wājib al-Ghunnah – nasal sound with nun/mīm mushaddadah

• ✅ Ikhfā’ – hiding of nun sākinah or tanwīn (we saw both light and heavy)

• ✅ Madd Lāzim – 6 harakat with shaddah after madd

• ✅ Madd ‘Āriḍ līssukūn – when you stop on a word with a temporary sukun

📝 Final Notes:

These ayat are full of beauty and precision in their sound — and Tajweed helps us bring that beauty out.

Be extra careful when applying the Ikhfā’ rules — especially in distinguishing between heavy and light letters. It’s these small differences that make our recitation more melodious and more accurate.

Keep practising. Keep repeating. Listen to reciters and try to imitate their articulation.

I’ll see you this Thursday for Tafsir Thursday, inshaAllah.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Introduction: Covering All Bases in Ramadan

• Although tonight (24th night) is even for some, it’s odd for others.

• Due to differences in moon sighting, don’t risk missing Laylatul Qadr—perform extra worship on every night of the last 10 nights.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Welcome to BeQuranic.

Today is Monday, the 24th of Ramadan.

That means tonight will be the eve of the 25th of Ramadan.

And Rasulullah ﷺ said in a very well-known hadith:

“Search for Laylatul Qadr in the last ten nights, on the odd nights.”

So tonight is one of the last ten odd nights – it could be Laylatul Qadr.

InshaAllah, let’s make the most of this night.

🔹 Increase your worship

🔹 Pray extra raka‘at

🔹 Read more Qur’an

🔹 And especially – make lots of du‘a

The du‘a that Rasulullah ﷺ taught Sayyidatina Aisha (RA) for this night is:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni

O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me.

And please don’t forget to make heartfelt du‘a for our brothers and sisters in Palestine.

The genocide has only intensified – more bombings, more killings.

This is the best time to turn to Allah with sincerity and beg Him for justice, liberation, and peace for Palestine.

As usual, we begin our week with the Ayat of the Week.

We are continuing our journey through Surah Al-Rahman.

This week, inshaAllah, we will be reading from ayah 56 to 61.

🎙️ (Recite the ayat here: Surah Al-Rahman 55:56–61)

Those are the Ayat of the Week.

📖 Read them, practice them, reflect on them.

We’ll see you tomorrow, Tuesday, for Tajweed Tuesday,

where we will dissect the Tajweed rules within these ayat, inshaAllah.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Introduction: Laylatul Qadr and Its Importance

• Tonight (23rd night of Ramadan) is an odd night, possibly Laylatul Qadr.

• Prophet ﷺ:

• “Whoever is deprived of the good of Laylatul Qadr has been deprived of all good.”

• Analogy:

• If offered 1000 months’ salary for working just one day without knowing the exact day, no one would miss it. Similarly, Laylatul…

Introduction: Importance of Worship in Uncertainty

• Tonight is the 22nd night of Ramadan, an even night.

• In Perth, due to differing start dates of Ramadan, some Muslims consider tonight the 21st.

• Reflection:

• While confident in your own calculation, always worship as though you might be wrong, ensuring no opportunity for Laylatul Qadr is missed.

Introduction: Significance of Tonight

• Tonight is the 21st night of Ramadan, an odd night and also the eve of Friday, increasing the likelihood of Laylatul Qadr.

• Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that when an odd night aligns with Friday, it creates نور على نور (light upon light), enhancing the night’s virtue.

• Practical Advice:

• Sleep 15 minutes later o…

Introduction

• Tonight marks the beginning of the last ten nights of Ramadan, a crucial period to seek Laylatul Qadr, a night better than a thousand months.

• Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised seeking this night in the last ten, especially the odd nights.

Maximising Laylatul Qadr

• Virtue of Jama’ah Prayers:

• Isha in Jama’ah: Equivalent to half a night of worship.

• Fajr in Jama’ah: Equivalent to a full night of worship.

• Completing Taraweeh with Imam: Equivalent to another full night of worship.

• By combining these acts, rewards multiply significantly, potentially surpassing 2,500 months (~200 years) of worship every year.

• Recommended Dua:

اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني

(“O Allah, You are pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.”)

• Al-Afuw vs Al-Ghafur:

• Al-Ghafur: Forgiveness, sin remains recorded but punishment removed.

• Al-Afuw: Pardoning, sin is completely erased as if it never occurred.

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Significance of Angels in Laylatul Qadr

• Countless angels, led by Jibril (AS), descend, filling Earth completely.

• Reason for the name “Al-Qadr”:

• Refers to divine decree and also “constriction,” signifying the vast number of angels leaving no space empty.

• Angels witness worship, du’a, and ibadah, making this night incredibly blessed.

Du’a & Decree (Qadar)

• On Laylatul Qadr, Allah announces the year’s decree to the angels from the Lauh Mahfuz (Preserved Tablet).

• Du’a acts like submitting appeals before final decree is given to angels, emphasizing the power of sincere supplication.

• Although divine decree is predetermined by Allah, dua shows the angels the power of supplication.

Tafseer of Surah Al-An‘am (Verses 63–64): Gratitude and Returning to Allah

Verse 63: Turning to Allah in Hardship

• Allah asks rhetorically, “Who saves you from darkness and danger on land and sea?”

• When faced with calamities, humans instinctively turn to Allah (تضرعاً وخفية), humbly and privately begging for relief.

• People often promise gratitude (شكر) if Allah saves them.

Reflection on Levels of Worship (Imam al-Ghazali):

1. Fear-based Worship: Avoiding Jahannam, like a slave obeying a harsh master.

2. Reward-based Worship: Seeking Jannah, like a businessman looking for profit.

3. Gratitude-based Worship: Pure gratitude and love towards Allah, the highest level, exemplified by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who worshipped extensively out of thankfulness.

Welcome to BeQuranic – today is Thursday, the 20th of Ramadan.

🌙 Tonight is the 21st night of Ramadan – the beginning of the last ten nights!

🔹 We are entering the last lap of this blessed month.

🔹 Laylatul Qadr – the greatest night of the year, which is better than a thousand months, is hidden in these nights.

🔹 Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Search for Laylatul Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan, in the odd nights.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

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📢 What should we do tonight?

✅ Make extra ibadah – pray, read Qur’an, make dhikr, and give charity.

✅ Make dua – especially the dua taught by Rasulullah ﷺ to Aisha (RA):

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni

(O Allah, You are The Most Pardoning, and You love to pardon, so pardon me.)

📖 Why “Afu” instead of “Maghfirah”?

🔹 “Maghfirah” (غفران) means forgiveness, but the record of the sin remains.

🔹 “Afu” (عفو) means complete erasure – like it never happened!

🔹 Laylatul Qadr is the night to ask Allah to erase all our sins!

🛑 Tonight is even more special!

💡 Imam Ibn Rajab (RA) stated:

👉 If an odd night of the last ten falls on the eve of Friday (like tonight), the chances of it being Laylatul Qadr are even higher!

📢 So don’t miss this opportunity!

✅ Increase your dua, istighfar, and acts of worship – it could be our last Ramadan!

📖 Tafsir of Surah Ar-Rahman – Ayah 46 to 55

📌 Summary of what we’ve covered so far in Surah Ar-Rahman:

• Allah’s favours – Qur’an, speech, nature, sustenance, and provisions.

• The Day of Judgment – when everything will perish except Allah.

• The punishment of Jahannam – fire, boiling water, and endless suffering.

• A transition to Jannah!

🚨 After describing the horrors of Jahannam, Allah now speaks about Jannah – the ultimate motivation for the believers!

1️⃣ The Reward for Those Who Fear Standing Before Allah

Allah says:

“And for those who fear the standing before their Lord, there are two gardens.” (55:46)

📌 Who are these people?

🔹 Those who are mindful of standing before Allah on the Day of Judgment.

🔹 Those whose fear motivates them to do good and avoid sin.

🔹 Those who remain obedient to Allah, even when alone.

📢 The result?

👉 Two gardens in Jannah! 🌴🌴

Introduction:

• Tonight marks the 19th night of Ramadan, approaching the last 10 nights—the time to seek Laylatul Qadr, as recommended by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

• Brief reflection on the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. Prayers requested for the innocent victims, and for an end to injustice and genocide.