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 5, Al-Mâ‘idah or the Repast, verses 51-66. These verses advise the believers not to take Jews or Christians as protectors for only Allah, his Messenger and your fellow believers can protect you. Do not befriend those who make a mockery of your religion nor those who slander and deceive. If only the People of the Book had believed, they would have had the best of both world.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 5, Al-Mâ‘idah or the Repast, verses 35-50. These verses discuss struggling in God's name and the punishment for stealing. Next there is a discussion of how if God intends to test a person, even the Prophet could not intervene, the laws of the Torah, and finally, establishing justice based on Allah's revelations.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is the entirety of Surah 93, Ad-Dhuhã or the Glorious Morning Light. This Surah served as consolation from God to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during a difficult period in his ministry. 

Tafseer for this Surah concerns the mention of morning and night in verses 1-2.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 43, Az-Zukhruf or the Golden Adornments, verses 68-78. These verses discribe a scene from Heaven and a separate scene from Hell. 

Tafseer for this selection concerns the descriptions of the gardens of Heaven and its delights.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 43, Az-Zukhruf or the Golden Adornments, verses 57-67. These verses talk of Prophet Isa or Jesus and how he was only a mortal man and serves as a harbinger of the End Times. 

Tafseer for this selection concerns the view of Jesus as a God or Son of God in early Christianity and in Arabia as well his role in the End Times.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection concludes Surah 25, Al-Furqân or The Criterion, verses 61-77. These verses describe the characteristics of the True Servants of God.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 25, Al-Furqân or The Criterion, verses 45-60. These verses discuss how Allah has made the night a mantle, sleep to rest and the day to work. Do not yield to the unbelievers, strive against them with the Qur'an and put your trust in the ever-living Allah.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 40, which goes by two names, Ghãfir which means Forgiver or Al-Mu’min or the Believer, verses 69-85. These verses assert that those who argue about the revelations in the Qur'an will soon learn the truth. God has sent many Messengers before Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); some are mentioned in the Qur'an and some are not. In another example, cattle are held up as a sign for people of understanding.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 40, which goes by two names, Ghãfir which means Forgiver or Al-Mu’min or the Believer, verses 51-68. These verses assert that God does help his Messengers and the believers in this world's life and will help them in the hereafter. We must call on God to answer our prayers. But no one has the right to be worshipped except Allah, Creator and Lord of the worlds.

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters. 

Today's selection is from Surah 40, which goes by two names, Ghãfir which means Forgiver or Al-Mu’min or the Believer, verses 38-50. These verses continue the story of Prophet Moses confrontation with the Pharaoh of Egypt. In this selection, God saves a believer from the plots of Pharaoh and destroyed his people; they are then presented at the fires of Hell, morning and evening.