114 – Al Naas – The Human Beings Sura Al Naas and Sura Al Falaq are known as Maudhatayn (The two protectors). Both were revealed simultaneously. Between Al Falaq and Al Naas there are 5 ‘sharrs’ (evils – that which cause harm) from which protection is sought. Here the most deadly of them is mentioned – ‘was waas’ – subtle negative whisperings by the greatest of ‘haasid’s’  (jealous one) – Shaytan. There are 9 inner whispering that cause evil: greed, expectations, worldly desires, acquisition, affliction, pride, belittling others, desire for acknowledgement and admiration and stinginess. Refuge is sought from these in Allah, manifested in different ways – by having trust in Allah, remembering Allah and accountability, recognising less is more, seeing the good in a situation, having humanity, considering the honour of others and having humility and generosity.  Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

113 – Al Falaq – The Daybreak Sura Al Naas and Sura Al Falaq are known as Maudhatayn (The two protectors). Both were revealed simultaneously. Between Al Falaq and Al Naas there are 5 ‘sharrs’ (evils – that which cause harm) from which protection is sought. This sura acknowledges Allah’s power to bring light into the darkness and discusses seeking refuge in Him from the potential of the evil of creation, utter darkness (ignorance), ‘blowing on knots’ (sorcery) and from those who are jealous. Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

112 – Al Ikhlaas – The Purity of Belief The constant question of ‘who is Allah?’ Is answered by saying that Allah is:  ‘Al-Ahad’ – The Unique  ‘Al-Samad’ – eternal One who does not father nor is fathered and  One who is  incomparable and has no equal.  The aim is to transcend the relative and submit and fall in love with The Absolute Reality. Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

111 – Al Lahab – The Flame Abu Lahab, the father of flames, and his wife are used as an example of people who believed that they were independent of God, He had wealth, power, arrogance and a tongue as hot and sharp as flames.  They used this to torment the Prophet and destroyed themselves in the process, teaching that by starting a fire harassing others, one can find oneself in one’s own   fire and neither wealth nor power will  assist. Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

110 – Al Nasr – The Divine Help The chapter celebrates the unique conquest of Makka where there was no bloodshed, safety for all and the cleansing of the Ka’ba of its idols. The majority of the region’s tribes had converted to Islam. The chapter therefore begins with the cleansing of the external house (The Ka’ba) and ends with a directive of how to celebrate this victory which can only be done with the purification of the internal house (the heart) with declaring His perfection, gratitude and praise of Divinity and seeking forgiveness.  We manifest the directive of this sura in the two prostrations in Salaa. In Sajda we declare His perfection with Sub-haan and express our gratitude and praise with His Hamd. In between the prostrations we ask for forgiveness through Istighfaar. Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

109 – Al Kaafirun – Those Who Cover Up The whole chapter is a direct address to those who defiantly covered up the truth and rejected Divine guidance.  It was revealed in response to a proposal from the leaders of Makka, who approached the Prophet and offered a compromise of worshipping each others Gods in alternate years and/or to abandon his religion in exchange for wealth, women and position. The Quraysh did not reject the concept of a Divine Creator but they did not wish to be dictated by Divinity and wished to make up their own rules.  The Prophet went up to them and addressed them with this chapter, creating a unique identity based on religion (deen – that which one has based his life on). Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

108 – Al Kawthar – The Positive Abundance It was a fundamental Arab goal to have sons. Father and sons would raid other tribes. Fathers considered their daughters a burden because they could not fight and risked falling into enemy hands, which would tarnish the tribes honour. This mindset caused the Makkan men to assume that Islam would endure only in name after the Prophet’s death as he had no son to protect his legacy.  The Prophet (pbuh) had a son called Ibraheem, born to Maria Qibtiyya who died when he was 18 months old. His two sons from Sayyida Khadija (Qasim & Tahir) had also died in infancy. Some people including his uncle Abu Lahab taunted him, calling him ‘Abtar’ which means an animal without a tail – one who had no succession.  The pain of losing his son was extenuated by those who celebrated saying his legacy would die with him. This chapter was revealed in reply to those who taunted the Prophet (pbuh) and gives consolation to him and expounds on the immense favours given to him which would be timeless and immeasurable. His succession and legacy  of the Ahlulbayt through Sayyida Fatima, the Qur’an and the stream of Kawthar in Janna. Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

107 – Al Maa’un – The Smallest Act of Kindness The chapter takes its name from the word Maa’un in the last verse which means ‘the plate upon which food is served’ and in its broader sense any act of kindness, charity or assistance.  A narration states that Abu Sufyan was in the habit of slaughtering two camels every week. One day an orphan came asking him for something and he responded by hitting him with a stick. The chapter admonishes those who do not themselves feed the needy and those who encourage others not to either.  If they do pray or do good it is only to increase their reputation.  Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

106 – Al Quraysh – The Quraysh Al Quraysh is a Makki chapter which takes its name from the people of Makka. The first two verses are a reminder to the Quraysh of the blessings they have received from Divinity as a means of sustenance.  The last two verses provide the central theme of the chapter in submitting to Divinity from whom all prosperity and protection comes.  Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city

105 – Al Feel – The Elephant The chapter takes its title from the discussion of the companions of the elephant whose destruction it relates.  The general who ruled Yemen named Abraha, had built an opulent  church in Sana’a in order to divert pilgrims from the Ka’ba in Makka. A narration states that a few members of the Quraysh had gone to Yemen and defiled the church.   When the the visitations to the Ka’ba were not abandoned, he sent an army with an elephant to destroy the Ka’ba. Divinity protected the Ka’ba by sending a swarm of birds that pelted the army destroying them.   This chapter and the next (Al Quraysh 106) are a pair which together are a warning to the Quraysh that they were protected not because of their status but because Allah wished to protect the Ka’ba and to make way for the coming of His final messenger. Sura Introduction from: https://qfatima.com/quran-city/a-journey-through-quran-city