Taraweeh Tonight: Connect With The Quran – Eighth Night of Ramadan

Ramadan 2013 Posts

Eighth Night of Ramaḍān

Allāh, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

Surat al-A‘raaf – The Heights (007)

40. The gates of Heaven will not be open to those who rejected Our revelations and arrogantly spurned them; even if a camel were to pass through the eye of a needle they would not enter the Garden. This is how We punish the guilty–

41. Hell will be their resting place and their covering, layer upon layer– this is how We punish those who do evil.

42. But those who believe and do good deeds– and We do not burden any soul with more than it can bear– are the people of the Garden and there they will remain.

43. We shall have removed all ill feeling from their hearts; streams will flow at their feet. They will say, ‘Praise be to God, who guided us to this: had God not guided us, We would never have found the way. The messengers of our Lord brought the Truth.’ A voice will call out to them, ‘This is the Garden you have been given as your own on account of your deeds.’

44. The people of the Garden will cry out to the people of the Fire, ‘We have found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised you to be true?’ and they will answer, ‘Yes’. A voice will proclaim from their midst, ‘God’s rejection [hangs] over the evildoers:

45. Those who turned others away from God’s path and tried to make it crooked, those who denied the Hereafter.’

46. A barrier divides the two groups with men on its heights recognizing each group by their marks: they will call out to the people of the Garden, ‘Peace be with you!’– they will not have entered, but they will be hoping,

47. And when their glance falls upon the people of the Fire, they will say, ‘Our Lord, do not let us join the evildoers!’–

48. And the people of the heights will call out to certain men they recognize by their marks, ‘What use were your great numbers and your false pride?

49. And are these the people you swore God would never bless? [Now these people are being told], “Enter the Garden! No fear for you, nor shall you grieve.”’

50. The people of the Fire will call to the people of Paradise, ‘Give us some water, or any of the sustenance God has granted you!’ and they will reply, ‘God has forbidden both to the disbelievers–

51. Those who took their religion for distraction, a mere game, and were deluded by worldly life.’ Today We shall ignore them, just as they have ignored their meeting with this Day and denied Our Revelations.

Further on Allāh, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

65. To the people of _Ad We sent their brother, Hud. He said, ‘My people, serve God: you have no god other than Him. Will you not take heed?’

66. But the disbelieving leaders of his people said, ‘We believe you are a fool,’ and ‘We think you are a liar.’

67. He said, ‘My people, there is nothing foolish about me! On the contrary, I am a messenger from the Lord of all the Worlds:

68. I am delivering my Lord’s messages to you. I am your sincere and honest adviser.

69. Do you find it so strange that a message should come from your Lord, through a man in your midst, to warn you? Remember how He made you heirs after Noah’s people, and increased your stature: remember God’s bounties, so that you may prosper.’

70. They said, ‘Have you really come to tell us to serve God alone and to forsake what our forefathers served? If what you say is true, bring us the punishment you threaten.’

71. He said, ‘You are already set to receive your Lord’s loathing and anger. Are you arguing with me about mere names you and your forefathers invented, names for which God has given no sanction? Just wait; I too am waiting.’

72. We saved him, and those who were with him, through Our mercy; We destroyed those who denied Our revelations and would not believe.

Further on Allāh, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

94. Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We afflicted its [disbelieving] people with suffering and hardships, so that they might humble themselves [before God],

95. And then We changed their hardship into prosperity, until they multiplied. But then they said, ‘Hardship and affluence also befell our forefathers,’ and so We took them suddenly, unawares.

96. If the people of those towns had believed and been mindful of God, We would have showered them with blessings from the heavens and earth, but they rejected the truth and so We punished them for their misdeeds.

97. Do the people of these towns feel secure that Our punishment will not come upon them by night, while they are asleep?

98. Do the people of these towns feel secure that Our punishment will not come upon them by day, while they are at play?

99. Do they feel secure against God’s plan? Only the losers feel secure against God’s plan.

100. Is it not clear to those who inherit the land from former generations that We can punish them too for their sins if We will? And seal up their hearts so that they cannot hear?

101. We have told you [Prophet] the stories of those towns: messengers came to them, and clear signs, but they would not believe in what they had already rejected– in this way God seals the hearts of disbelievers.

102. We found that most of them did not honour their commitments; We found that most of them were defiant.

103. After these, We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his leading supporters with Our signs, but they rejected them. See the fate of those who used to spread corruption.

Further on Allāh, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

127. The leaders among Pharaoh’s people said to him, ‘But are you going to leave Moses and his people to spread corruption in the land and forsake you and your gods?’ He replied, ‘We shall kill their male children, sparing only the females: We have complete power over them.’

128. Moses said to his people, ‘Turn to God for help and be steadfast: the earth belongs to God– He gives it as their own to whichever of His servants He chooses– and the happy future belongs to those who are mindful of Him,’

129. And they replied, ‘We were being persecuted long before you came to us, and since then too.’ He said, ‘Your Lord may well destroy your enemy and make you successors to the land to see how you behave.’

130. We inflicted years of drought and crop failure on Pharaoh’s people, so that they might take heed,

131. Then, when something good came their way, they said, ‘This is our due!’. When something bad came, they ascribed it to the evil omen of Moses and those with him, but their ‘evil omen’ was really from God, though most of them did not realize it.

132. They said, ‘We will not believe in you, no matter what signs you produce to cast a spell on us,’

133. And so We let loose on them the flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood– all clear signs. They were arrogant, wicked people.

134. They would say, whenever a plague struck them, ‘Moses, pray to your Lord for us by virtue of the promise He has made to you: if you relieve us of the plague, we will believe you and let the Children of Israel go with you,’

135. But when We relieved them of the plague and gave them a fixed period [in which to fulfil their promise]– lo and behold!– they broke it.

136. And so, because they rejected Our signs and paid them no heed, We exacted retribution from them: We drowned them in the sea

137. And We made those who had been oppressed succeed to both the east and the west of the land that We had blessed. Your Lord’s good promise to the Children of Israel was fulfilled, because of their patience, and We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people were making and what they were building.

Further on Allāh, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

154. When Moses’ anger abated, he picked up the Tablets, on which were inscribed guidance and mercy for those who stood in awe of their Lord.

155. Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment, and when they were seized by trembling, he prayed, ‘My Lord, if You had chosen to do so, You could have destroyed them long before this, and me too, so will You now destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is only a trial from You– through it, You cause whoever You will to stray and guide whoever You will– and You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the best of those who forgive.

156. Grant us good things in this world and in the life to come. We turn to You.’ God said, ‘I bring My punishment on whoever I will, but My mercy encompasses all things. ‘I shall ordain My mercy for those who are conscious of God and pay the prescribed alms; who believe in Our Revelations;

157. who follow the Messenger– the unlettered prophet they find described in the Torah that is with them, and in the Gospel– who commands them to do right and forbids them to do wrong, who makes good things lawful to them and bad things unlawful, and relieves them of their burdens, and the iron collars that were on them. So it is those who believe him, honour and help him, and who follow the light which has been sent down with him, who will succeed.’

158. Say [Muhammad], ‘People, I am the Messenger of God to you all, from Him who has control over the heavens and the earth. There is no God but Him; He gives life and death, so believe in God and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet who believes in God and His words, and follow him so that you may find guidance.’

Further on Allāh, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

187. They ask you [Prophet] about the Hour, ‘When will it happen?’ Say, ‘My Lord alone has knowledge of it: He alone will reveal when its time will come, a time that is momentous in both the heavens and earth. All too suddenly it will come upon you.’ They ask you about it as if you were eager [to find out]. Say, ‘God alone has knowledge of [when it will come], though most people do not realize it.’

188. Say [Prophet], ‘I have no control over benefit or harm, [even] to myself, except as God may please: if I had knowledge of what is hidden, I would have abundant good things and no harm could touch me. I am no more than a bearer of warning, and good news to those who believe.’

189. It is He who created you all from one soul, and from it made its mate so that he might find comfort in her: when one [of them] lies with his wife and she conceives a light burden, going about freely, then grows heavy, they both pray to God, their Lord, ‘If You give us a good child we shall certainly be grateful,’

190. And yet when He gives them a good child they ascribe some of what He has granted them to others.

191. God is far above the partners they set up alongside Him! How can they set up with Him these partners that create nothing and are themselves created,

192. That cannot help them at all, or even help themselves?

193. If you [believers] call such people to guidance, they do not follow you: it makes no difference whether you call them or remain silent.

194. Those you [idolaters] call upon instead of God are created beings like you. Call upon them, then, and let them respond to you if what you say is true.

195. Do they have feet to walk, hands to strike, eyes to see, or ears to hear? Say [Prophet], ‘Call on your “partners”! Scheme against me! Do not spare me!

196. My protector is God: He has revealed the Scripture, and it is He who protects the righteous,

197. But those you call on instead of Him cannot help you or even help themselves.’

198. If you [believers] call such people to guidance, they do not hear. You [Prophet] may observe them looking at you, but they cannot see.

199. Be tolerant and command what is right: pay no attention to foolish people.

200. If Satan should prompt you to do something, seek refuge with God– He is all hearing, all knowing–

201. Those who are aware of God think of Him when Satan prompts them to do something and immediately they can see [straight];

202. The followers of devils are led relentlessly into error by them and cannot stop.

203. When you do not bring them a fresh revelation, they say, ‘But can you not just ask for one?’ Say, ‘I merely repeat what is revealed to me from my Lord: this revelation brings you insights from your Lord, and guidance and mercy for those who believe,

204. So pay attention and listen quietly when the Quran is recited, so that you may be given mercy.’

205. [Prophet], remember your Lord inwardly, in all humility and awe, without raising your voice, in the mornings and in the evenings– do not be one of the heedless–

206. [even] those who live in the presence of your Lord are not too proud to worship Him: they glorify Him and bow down before Him.