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 28, Al-Qasas or the Narrations, verses 1-21. These verses begin the story of Prophet Musa (Moses), including Pharaoh's plot to kill the sons of the Israelites, and Prophet Moses' youth and how he escaped retribution after killing a man.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is the entirety of Surah 95, At-Tin or The Fig, verses 1-8. This Surah appeals to four sacred symbols to show that God created man in the best of molds but that man is capable of the utmost degradation unless he has Faith and leads a good life. 

Tafseer concerns the four sacred symbols mentioned in verse 1-3.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 18, Al-Kahf or the Cave, verses 18-31. These verses concludes the story of the Companions of the Cave. The story's point is to resolve the disputed issue of life after death but instead people got caught up in debating numbers and years not the main point. The next section talks about how no one is authorized to change the Word of God and lastly, how the Qur'an invites us to make a choice - believe or disbelieve.

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.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection concludes Surah 83, Al-Mutaffifïn or the Dealers in Fraud, verses 18-36. These verses talk of the rewards in store for the righteous and how the disbelievers may laugh today but a Day will come when they will be the ones laughed at. 

Tafseer for this selection explains the "wine" and drinks spoken of in verses 25-28.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 83, Al-Mutaffifïn or the Dealers in Fraud, verses 1-17. These verses talk of those who defraud others and the punishments they will incur. 

Tafseer for this selection concerns the word "fraud" and its definition in verses 1-3.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 56, Al-Wãqi‘a or the Inevitable, verses 39-56. These verses talk of the third of three groups into which some of mankind will be divided - the punishment of those who appear on the left-hand. 

Tafseer for this selection contrasts the those in Bliss from the previous episode and those of misery in today's selection as well as a refresher on the Tree of Zaqqûm, which was mentioned in a previous episode.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 56, Al-Wãqi‘a or the Inevitable, verses 1-38. These verses talk of the inevitable Doomsday of Manink when they will be divided into three group. This selection describes the first two groups. 

Tafseer for this selection concerns the "companions" of the Righteous in Heaven.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 16, An-Nahl or the Bees, verses 26-40. These verses discuss how on the Day of Judgment, God will humiliate the arrogant and cast them into Hell while the righteous will enter Paradise. God has sent the Prophets to warn against the unbelievers' excuse that if God wanted, people would not worship anyone else.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 16, An-Nahl or the Bees, verses 1-25. These verses concern the revelations sent down to warn people of the shahadah - that there is no god but God. It talks of the purpose of animals such as cattle, the power of Allah to furnish the earth with rains to sustain agriculture, and the mountains which stabilize the land. There are so many gifts from Allah for mankind yet the unbelievers act reprehensibly and ungratefully in return.