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 11, Hüd, verses 1-24. These verses deal posit Allah as the Sustainer of all creatures and that Man, except the believers, is ungrateful to God. It asserts that the Qur'an is not a forgery by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and divides the People of the Book into two camps - those who can see the Truth and those who choose not to see the Truth.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is the entirety of Surah 88, Al-Ghãshiyah or the Overwhelming Event, verses 1-26. This Surah deals with two major themes - the condition of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment and the wonders of nature, admonition and accountability.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today marks the second day of the Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims must make once in their lifetime. It is also known as the Day of Arafah or Yawm al-Arafah. Today, we will be relaying to you, Du'a Arafah, which is a Shi'a prayer recited on this day, and the Prophet's Last Sermon, which was given on this day in the 9th year of the Islamic calendar, in the 'Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat in Mecca.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 24, An-Nûr or The Light, verses 27-40. These verses discuss etiquette for entering other people's houses, required behavior in mixed gender settings, marriage, and granting freedom to slaves. Next a series of inspirational passages asserting that Allah is the Light is the heavens and earth, Allah's light is found in places of worship and the deeds of the unbelievers are like a mirage in a sandy desert.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 24, An-Nûr or The Light, verses 1-26. This selection deals with the punishments for both men and women found guilty of sex outside of marriage. It also hands down punishments for men who falsely accuse women of fornication and women who falsely accuse a man of fornication and what to do with accusations of adultery. Lastly, the believers are exhorted not to follow Satan or take part in false accusations and calumny or slande

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 22, Al-Hajj or the Pilgrimmage, verses 26-38. These verses talk of how Prophet Ibrâhim (or Abraham) built the Kabah and called all to come for pilgrimage. The verses also speak of the good of sacrificing animals in Allah's name and how only your piety, not the blood of the animals, reaches God.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 22, Al-Hajj or Pilgrimage, verses 11-25. These verses discuss the behavior of those standing at the verge of faith, God's help to his Messengers, a description of the disbelievers' garments in hell, and the rights of natives and foreigners to access Al Masjid-al-Harãm, or the Kabah.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 12, Al-Hajj or Pilgrimmage, verses 1-10. These verses discuss a scene from the Hour of Doom, the cycle of life in this world and life in the Hereafter and yet people invoke other deities besides Allah.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. Today's selection is from Surah 36, Yâ-Sin, verses 1-32, which reveals that the Qur'an was sent as a warning to those who fear Allah and seek forgiveness. An example is given of the time when Allah sent three Prophets to one town but the entire town rejected them except one man. It is told Allah blessed that believer with paradise and destroyed the wicked who opposed God.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection concludes Surah 46, Al-Ahqãf or the Winding Sand-Tracts, Verses 21-35, discussing the ancient nation of the 'Ad, who rejected Allah's message. A story of a group of jinns is related, who heard the message of Allah and became preachers of his message. Lastly, believers are encouraged to keep on passing the message of God and be patient in the face of the disbelievers. 

Tafseer is an explanation of the meaning behind the phrase Al-Ahqãf.