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

Ramadan 2013 Posts

The Qurʾān is not a storybook of wondrous tales and ancient fables, isolated from the realities and complexities of real life. Each verse, in fact, each letter is miraculously precise in meaning, succinct in message and pure in sound.

Although it is impossible to articulate a translation that establishes clearing the majestic nature of the Qurʾān in any language of the world, nevertheless, Muslims need to become more familiar with the overall coherence of its message in their native language.

During Taraweeh, myself and other Imams lead the congregation in prayer beginning the first night with the opening chapter of the Qurʾān and we finish it, in sha Allāh before the end of the blessed month of Ramaḍān.

The aim of this series is to highlight key sections of the Qurʾān that will be recited each night so those who are not able to understand the Arabic reading can feel a connection with what they will hear that evening in the prayers by reading this summation.

I have selected sections of verses and have used primarily the Oxford University Press translation – The Qurʾān Translated by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem as the foundational translation. I have not been entirely faithful to it in all the selections for a variety of reasons.

I pray that Allāh accepts your prayer and mine, your fast and mine and that He, the Most Generous, rewards us all more than we anticipate or deserve.

Tenth Night of Ramaḍān

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

Surat Yunus – Jonah (010)

In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy

 1. Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the wise Book.

2. Is it so surprising to people that We have revealed to a man from among them that he should warn people, and give glad news to those who believe, that they are on a sure footing with their Lord? [Yet] those who disbelieve say, ‘This man is clearly a sorcerer.’

3. Your Lord is God who created the heavens and earth in six Days, then established Himself on the Throne, governing everything; there is no one that can intercede with Him, unless He has first given permission: this is God your Lord so worship Him. How can you not take heed?

4. It is to Him you shall all return––that is a true promise from God. It was He who created [you] in the first place, and He will do so again, so that He may justly reward those who believe and do good deeds. But the disbelievers will have a drink of scalding water, and agonizing torment, because they persistently disbelieved.

5. It is He who made the sun a shining radiance and the moon a light, determining phases for it so that you might know the number of years and how to calculate time. God did not create all these without a true purpose; He explains His signs to those who understand.

6. In the succession of night and day, and in what God created in the heavens and earth, there truly are signs for those who are aware of Him.

7. Those who do not expect to meet Us and are pleased with the life of this world, contenting themselves with it and paying no heed to Our signs,

8. shall have the Fire for their home because of what they used to do.

9. But as for those who believe and do good deeds, their Lord will guide them because of their faith. Streams will flow at their feet in the Gardens of Bliss.

10. Their prayer in them will be, ‘Glory be to You, God!’ their greeting, ‘Peace,’ and the last part of their prayer, ‘Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds.’

11. If God were to hasten on for people the harm [they have earned] as they wish to hasten on the good, their time would already be up. But We leave those who do not expect to meet Us to wander blindly in their excesses.

12. When trouble befalls man he cries out to Us, whether lying on his side, sitting, or standing, but as soon as We relieve him of his trouble he goes on his way as if he had never cried out to Us to remove his trouble. In this way the deeds of such heedless people are made attractive to them.

13. Before you people, We destroyed whole generations when they did evil– their messengers brought them clear signs but they refused to believe. This is how We repay the guilty.

14. Later We made you their successors in the land, to see how you would behave.

15. When Our clear revelations are recited to them, those who do not expect to meet with Us say, ‘Bring [us] a different Qurʾān, or change it.’ [Prophet], say, ‘It is not for me to change it of my own accord; I only follow what is revealed to me, for I fear the torment of an awesome Day, if I were to disobey my Lord.’

16. Say, ‘If God had so willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. I lived a whole lifetime among you before it came to me. How can you not use your reason?’

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

45. On the Day He gathers them together, it will be as if they have stayed [in the world] no longer than a single hour, and they will recognize one another. Those who denied the meeting with God will be the losers, for they did not follow the right guidance.

46. Whether We let you [Prophet] see some of the punishment We have threatened them with, or cause you to die [first], they will return to Us: God is witness to what they do.

47. Every community is sent a messenger, and when their messenger comes, they will be judged justly; they will not be wronged.

48. They ask, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, if what you say is true?’

49. Say [Prophet], ‘I cannot control any harm or benefit that comes to me, except as God wills. There is an appointed term for every community, and when it is reached they can neither delay nor hasten it, even for a moment.’

50. Say, ‘Think: if His punishment were to come to you, during the night or day, what part of it would the guilty wish to hasten?

51. Will you believe in it, when it actually happens?’ It will be said, ‘Now [you believe], when [before] you sought to hasten it?’

52. It will be said to the evildoers, ‘Taste lasting punishment. Why should you be rewarded for anything but what you did?’

53. They ask you [Prophet], ‘Is it true?’ Say, ‘Yes, by my Lord, it is true, and you cannot escape it.’

54. Every soul that has done evil, if it possessed all that is on the earth, would gladly offer it as ransom. When they see the punishment, they will repent in secret, but they will be judged with justice and will not be wronged.

55. It is to God that everything in the heavens and the earth truly belongs: God’s promise is true, but most people do not realize it.

56. It is He who gives life and takes it, and you will all be returned to Him.

57. People, a teaching from your Lord has come to you, a healing for what is in [your] hearts, and guidance and mercy for the believers.

58. Say [Prophet], ‘In God’s grace and mercy let them rejoice: these are better than all they accumulate.’

59. Say, ‘Think about the provision God has sent down for you, some of which you have made unlawful and some lawful.’ Say, ‘Has God given you permission [to do this], or are you inventing lies about God?’

60. What will those people who invent lies about Him think on the Day of Resurrection? God is bountiful towards people, but most of them do not give thanks.

61. In whatever matter you [Prophet] may be engaged and whatever part of the Qurʾān you are reciting, whatever work you [people] are doing, We witness you when you are engaged in it. Not even the weight of a speck of dust in the earth or sky escapes your Lord, nor anything lesser or greater: it is all written in a clear record.

62. But for those who are on God’s side there is no fear, nor shall they grieve.

63. For those who believe and are conscious of God,

64. for them there is good news in this life and in the Hereafter– there is no changing the promises of God– that is truly the supreme triumph.

65. Do not let their words grieve you [Prophet]. Power belongs entirely to God; He hears all and knows all;

66. indeed, all who are in the heavens and on the earth belong to Him. Those who call upon others beside God are not really following partner-gods; they are only following assumptions and telling lies.

67. It is He who made the night so that you can rest in it and the daylight so that you can see– there truly are signs in this for those who hear.

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

Surat Hud – Hud (011)

In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy

36. It was revealed to Noah, ‘None of your people will believe, other than those who have already done so, so do not be distressed by, what they do.

37. Build the Ark under Our [watchful] eyes and with Our inspiration. Do not plead with Me for those who have done evil– they will be drowned.’

38. So he began to build the Ark, and whenever leaders of his people passed by, they laughed at him. He said, ‘You may scorn us now, but we will come to scorn you:

39. you will find out who will receive a humiliating punishment, and on whom a lasting suffering will descend.’

40. When Our command came, and water gushed up out of the earth, We said, ‘Place on board this Ark a pair of each species, and your own family– except those against whom the sentence has already been passed– and those who have believed,’ though only a few believed with him.

41. He said, ‘Board the Ark. In the name of God it shall sail and anchor. My God is most forgiving and merciful.’

42. It sailed with them on waves like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who stayed behind, ‘Come aboard with us, my son, do not stay with the disbelievers.’

43. But he replied, ‘I will seek refuge on a mountain to save me from the water.’ Noah said, ‘Today there is no refuge from God’s command, except for those on whom He has mercy.’ The waves cut them off from each other and he was among the drowned.

44. Then it was said, ‘Earth, swallow up your water, and sky, hold back,’ and the water subsided, the command was fulfilled. The Ark settled on Mount Judi, and it was said, ‘Gone are those evildoing people!’

45. Noah called out to his Lord, saying, ‘My Lord, my son was one of my family, though Your promise is true, and You are the most just of all judges.’

46. God said, ‘Noah, he was not one of your family. What he did was not right. Do not ask Me for things you know nothing about. I am warning you not to be foolish.’

47. He said, ‘My Lord, I take refuge with You from asking for things I know nothing about. If You do not forgive me, and have mercy on me, I shall be one of the losers.’

48. And it was said, ‘Noah, descend in peace from Us, with blessings on you and on some of the communities that will spring from those who are with you. There will be others We will allow to enjoy life for a time, but then a painful punishment from Us will afflict them.’

49. These accounts are part of what was beyond your knowledge [Muhammad]. We revealed them to you. Neither you nor your people knew them before now, so be patient: the future belongs to those who are aware of God.