Grounded

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!

Welcome to Day 14 of the BeQuranic 2025 New Year Challenge! How’s everyone doing? We’re almost halfway through Surah Al-Mulk, and I hope this journey is inspiring you as much as it’s inspiring me.

Here’s the plan, as always: one ayah a day, dissecting its Tajweed rules, understanding its meaning, and exploring the timeless wisdom it holds. And don’t forget that added challenge—memorising one ayah every day! By the end of January, inshaAllah, we’ll not only understand this surah but also have it in our hearts.

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Now, let’s dive into today’s ayah—ayah 14:

“Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, Most Aware?”

Tajweed Check-In

Before we delve into the meaning, let’s review some Tajweed gems from this ayah:

1. The letter ‘Ayn: This is a tricky one for many of us non-Arabs. It’s a flowing sound, not blocked. So, when you say Ala, let it glide. It’s not a stop—it’s a soft flow.

2. The noon sakin: There’s no gunna here. It’s a clear noon, pronounced crisply, like in man khalaqah.

3. The mad arid lissukun: At the end of the ayah, we pause, extending it for four harakat.

Let’s always strive to give each letter its full rights. Remember, Tajweed isn’t just about the sound—it’s about respecting the words of Allah.

The Meaning of Ayah 14

Allah asks us a rhetorical question here: Does the One who created not know? Think about it—Allah, who created us, who designed every intricate part of our being, knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows not just what we say or do, but also what we think, feel, and intend.

Allah then describes Himself as Al-Lateef—the Subtle—and Al-Khabeer—the All-Aware. These names are so profound. Al-Lateef refers to Allah’s knowledge of even the smallest, most hidden things. Al-Khabeer tells us that He’s completely aware of everything, from the tiniest atom to the grandest galaxy, and everything in between—including the deepest secrets of our hearts.

Context of Revelation

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!

Welcome to Day 13 of the BeQuranic 2025 New Year Challenge! We’re moving forward in our journey through Surah Al-Mulk, studying one ayah every day this month. By the end of January, inshaAllah, we’ll have completed not just reading and reflecting on, but also memorising this profound surah that the Prophet ﷺ described as our protector from the torment of the grave.

Remember, it’s not just about reciting for the hasanat, which is wonderful—10 rewards for every letter! But the deeper goal is to internalise its meaning, reflect on its wisdom, and let it shape our lives to be more Quranic.

So let’s dive into ayah 13 today:

“And conceal your speech or publicise it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the chests.”

Let’s break this down. In this ayah, Allah is saying it doesn’t matter if you whisper your words, shout them out loud, or keep your thoughts locked in your heart—Allah knows. Everything. Even what’s buried deep within us.

Now, here’s something fascinating. Ibn Abbas narrated the reason for the revelation of this ayah. Some of the Quraysh leaders were secretly plotting against the Prophet ﷺ, and one of them said, “Keep your voices low so Muhammad’s God doesn’t hear us.” SubhanAllah! And Allah responded with this ayah, revealing their hidden conversation to the Prophet ﷺ.

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It’s a powerful reminder that nothing—absolutely nothing—is hidden from Allah. He knows not only what we say but also what we think, what we intend, and even the whispers of doubt in our hearts.

This ayah is a wake-up call, but it’s also deeply comforting. It’s a warning for those who think they can hide their evil intentions from Allah. But for believers, it’s a source of hope. Why? Because Allah knows our struggles. He knows our silent duas, the pain we can’t put into words, and the effort we make to turn away from sin—even when no one else sees it.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!

Welcome to Day 12 of the BeQuranic 2025 Challenge! SubhanAllah, we’re moving forward in our journey with Surah Al-Mulk. Just a quick reminder of why this surah is so special: Rasulullah ﷺ wished that every member of his ummah would memorise this surah because it protects us from the torment of the grave. But it’s not just about reciting; it’s about understanding and applying the Quran’s lessons to our daily lives.

So, let’s dive into today’s ayah, ayah 12:

“Indeed, those who fear their Lord without seeing Him will have forgiveness and a great reward.”

What a contrast this is to the previous ayat, where Allah described the punishment of the people of Jahannam. But now, Allah shifts to reward, showing us balance. Islam is not just about fear—it’s about hope and love.

Here, Allah is talking about those who fear Him without seeing Him. Let’s pause on this. The word used is khashyah, which isn’t just fear—it’s a reverential fear. It’s the kind of fear you have when you respect and love someone so deeply that you don’t want to disappoint them. And it’s profound because we’re doing this without seeing Allah.

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Think about it—our belief is entirely based on faith, on reflecting on Allah’s signs. When we look at the vastness of the universe, the intricacies of nature, even our own existence, it all points to a Creator. This reflection leads us to Allah, and it protects us. Remember what we discussed earlier? Contemplation on nature can safeguard us from the Fire. It’s a way to keep our hearts connected to Allah.

Now, what’s the reward for having this khashyah? Forgiveness and a great reward. Forgiveness because Allah knows we’re going to slip. We’re not perfect. But when we repent, He wipes the slate clean. And then there’s ajrun kabir—a great reward. That’s Jannah, the ultimate prize, something beyond what we can imagine.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!

Welcome to Day 11 of the BeQuranic 2025 Challenge! SubhanAllah, we’re moving deeper into Surah Al-Mulk, and the ayah we’re reflecting on today really hits hard. But first, a quick reminder of why we’re here: Rasulullah ﷺ said that this surah, if we recite it every night, will protect us from the torment of t…

Alhamdulillah, today the 10th day of our new year challenge. And today is a Friday. Friday’s posts will be free for everyone. For every other days’ posts, consider joining the BeQuranic Qrew to listen to the full posts. Thank you to those that have subscribed.

BeQuranic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to Day 10 of the BeQuranic 2025 Challenge, where we continue our journey through Surah Al-Mulk. Every day, we read one ayah, break down its Tajweed rules, delve into its meaning, and reflect on its lessons. For those memorising along with us, by the end of January, you’ll have memorised the entire surah, inshaAllah!

Today’s ayah, ayah 10, offers a profound reminder. The people of Jahannam admit,

“If only we had listened and used our reason, we would not be among the people of the blazing fire.”

This verse highlights two key qualities that protect us from misguidance: listening and understanding. But too often, pride—kibr—gets in the way. When someone gives us advice, do we listen to understand, or are we quick to respond and defend our ego?

The story of Abu Jahl teaches us this lesson well. He recognised the beauty of the Qur’an but refused to follow it because of tribal pride. Similarly, the path of Iblis shows how pride not only blinds but also leads to blame and misguidance.

Our takeaway today: let’s guard our hearts against pride and embrace humility. When advice comes our way, let’s pause, listen, and seek to understand—not to defend or argue.

I’ll see you tomorrow, inshaAllah, as we continue this journey together. Until then, Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!

Welcome to Day 9 of the BeQuranic 2025 Challenge, where we explore Surah Al-Mulk, one ayah at a time. Each day, we reflect on its Tajweed rules, delve into its meaning, and uncover its timeless wisdom. For those taking the extra challenge, memorising one ayah per day means we’ll have committed the entire surah to heart by the end of January, inshaAllah.

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Welcome to Day 8 of the Qur’anic 2025 Challenge, where every day in January, we dive into Surah Al-Mulk. Together, we’re reading, reflecting, and memorising one ayah at a time, uncovering its Tajweed rules, exploring its meaning, and extracting lessons to enrich our lives.

Today’s ayah, ayah 8, continues the vivid description of Jahannam, as it almost bu…

Welcome to Day 7 of the Qur’anic 2025 Challenge, where we dive into Surah Al-Mulk, one ayah at a time, breaking down its Tajweed rules, exploring its meaning, and reflecting on its powerful lessons. And for those taking the extra challenge, we’re memorising one ayah per day—by the end of January, inshaAllah, we’ll know the entire surah!

BeQuranic is a re…

Welcome to Day 6 of the Be Quranic 2025 Challenge, where we journey through Surah Al-Mulk, ayah by ayah.

Today’s focus is ayah 6, a powerful verse that warns about the punishment for those who disbelieve in their Lord:

“And for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the punishment of hellfire, and what an evil destination.”

Be Quranic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This verse serves as a reminder of accountability and highlights the seriousness of rejecting Allah after receiving the truth. But who is a “kafir” in this context? Imam Al-Ghazali explains that a kafir, as described in the Qur’an, is someone who:

1. Has been presented with Islam in a reasonable, thought-provoking manner.

2. Has had their doubts addressed.

3. Has had time to reflect.

4. Despite all of this, consciously rejects the truth.

Welcome to Day 5 of the Be Quranic 2025 Challenge, where we reflect deeply on Surah Al-Mulk, ayah by ayah.

Today, we’re exploring ayah 5, where Allah describes the beauty of the lowest heaven, adorned with stars that serve not only as decorations but also as missiles against the devils. SubhanAllah, this ayah reminds us that the universe operates with both physical precision and a spiritual dimension.

For instance, when we see a shooting star, science explains it as a meteor burning in the atmosphere, but Allah teaches us there’s also a spiritual purpose: angels protecting divine knowledge from being intercepted by devils.

This duality extends to every aspect of life: there’s the physical world, where we exert effort, and the spiritual world, where we rely on Allah. Whether it’s seeking rain, success, or sustenance, as believers, we balance both dimensions—hard work and dua, action and tawakkul.

Be Quranic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.