The 17 Verses Podcast: Distilling the Qur'an One Day at a Time

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 18, Al-Kahf or the Cave, verses 1-17. The first few verses contain an admonition against those who say that Allah has begotten any progeny, specifically a son. Then we begin to the story of the Companions of the Cave, a group of young men who were forced to take refuge in a cave to escape persecution for their beliefs in God. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review. 

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y7-kahf-18-1-17. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 2, Al-Baqarah, Verses 21-39. These verses detail the rewards for believers, how Allah might use a gnat as a parable which only believers will understand, and the story of Adam and his fall from grace and subsequent repentance. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review.  

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y7-baqarah-2-21-39. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 2, Al-Baqarah or the Cow, verses 1-20. In these first verses, the Qur'an is introduced as a guide for those who are conscious of God. Next proceeds a discussion of hypocrites and the consequences of their actions, concluding with examples of the hypocrites' deeds. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review.  

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y7-baqarah-2-1-20/. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today is the last day of our 365 day journey and we will finish the Qur'an at the beginning with Surah 1, Al-Fatiha or The Opening. It is theorized that this was the first complete Surah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is meant to instruct readers that if they want to sincerely benefit from the Qur'an, they should offer this prayer to the Lord of the Universe. Tafseer for this Surah further expounds on this Surah's significance.

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review. 

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y6-faitha-1. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is Surah 108, Al-Kawthar or The Abundance. This Surah sums up in the single mystic word Kawthar the doctrine of spiritual riches through devotion and sacrifice. The converse also follows: indulgence in hatred means the cutting off of all hopes of this life and the Hereafter.

Tafseer for this Surah is a short meditation on sacrifice and thankfulness. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review. 

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y6-kawthar-108. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss. 

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is the entirety of Surah 101, Al-Qãri‘ah or The Great Calamity. This Surah describes Judgment Day as the Day of Clamor when men will be distracted and the landmarks of this world will be lost, but every deed will be weight in a just balance, and find its real value and setting. 

Tafseer for this selection expounds on the metaphors of the moths in verse 4 and the mountains in verse 5. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review. 

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y6-qariah-101. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is the entirety of Surah 104, Al-Humazah or the Scandalmonger. This Surah condemns all sorts of scandal, backbiting, and selfish hoarding of wealth as destroying the hearts and affection of men. Tafseer for this Surah concerns the Hutamah or That which Breaks to Pieces in verses 4 and 5 and the Fire of punishment in verses 6-8. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review. 

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y6-humazah-104. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection consists of three short Surahs. The first is Surah 109 Al-Kãfirün or Those Who Reject Faith. This Surah defines the right attitude towards those who reject faith; in matters of Truth, we make no compromise but there is no need to persecute or abuse anyone for his faith of belief. Tafseer for this selection concerns the matter of personal conviction in Faith.

The second is Surah 110, Al-Nasr or the Help. This Surah defines victory as an occasion to celebrate Allah's praises, not as a reason for exultation.

The third is Surah 110, which goes by two names; either Al-Masad which means The Plaited Rope or Al-Lahab which means the Flame. While directed at a particular person named Abu Lahab, the Surah illustrates that he who rages against holy things is burnt up in his own rage and that women, who are made for nobler emotions, may, if they go wrong, feed unholy rage with fiercer fuel, to their own loss. Tafseer for this Surah contains some historical background on Abu Lahab and his wife. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review. 

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y6-kafirun-nasr-lahab-102-104. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection covers the entirety of Surah 73, Al-Muzzammil or the Enfolded One, verses 1-20. This surah talks about the significance of Prayer and humility in spiritual life and the fate of those who reject Faith and Revelation. 

Tafseer for this Surah is a short explanation of why Al-Muzzammil was one of Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) nicknames. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review. 

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y6-muzzammil-73. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss. 

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection consists of three short Surahs. The first is Surah 105, Al-Fil or the Elephant. This Surah briefly recounts the what happened to the Abyssinian govern Abrahah Ashram when he tried to destroy the Kabah in the same year that the Prophet was born. Tafseer for this Surah is a further historical background. 

The second is Surah 106, Quraysh which was the Prophet's tribe. This Surah admonishes Prophet Muhammad's tribe to be grateful to Allah for the profit, position and security they enjoyed from living in Makkah. Tafseer for this Surah concerns the historical prestige of the Quraysh. 

The third is Surah 107 Al-Mã‘ün or the Small Kindnesses. This Surah concerns true worship, the helping and love of those in need and true sincerity in devotion and charity. Tafseer for this Surah concerns helping the indigent and our neighbors. 

If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review. 

Show notes and text episode: http://www.17verses.com/y6-fil-quraysh-maun-105-107. 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1HwzXZS. 

Stitcher - http://bit.ly/17vstchr. 

RSS - http://bit.ly/17vrs-rss.