Taraweeh Tonight: Connect With The Quran – Twenty Fifth Night of Ramadan

Ramadan 2013 Posts

Twenty Fifth Night of Ramaḍān

Surah ash-Shura – Consultation (042)

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

1. Ha Mim

2. Ayn Sin Qaf

3. This is how God, the Mighty, the Wise, sends revelation to you [Prophet] as He did to those before you.

4. All that is in the heavens and earth belongs to Him: He is the Exalted, the Almighty.

5. The heavens are almost broken apart from above as the angels proclaim the praises of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on earth. God is indeed the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

6. As for those who take protectors other than Him, God is watching them; you are not responsible for them.

7. So We have revealed an Arabic Qur_an to you, in order that you may warn the mother of all cities (Mecca) and all who live nearby. And warn [especially] about the Day of Gathering, of which there is no doubt, when some shall be in the Garden and some in the blazing Flame.

8. If God had so pleased, He could have made them a single community, but He admits to His mercy whoever He will; the evildoers will have no one to protect or help them.

9. How can they take protectors other than Him? God alone is the Protector; He gives life to the dead; He has power over all things.

10. Whatever you may differ about is for God to judge. [Say], ‘Such is God, my Lord. In Him I trust and to Him I turn,

11. The Creator of the heavens and earth.’ He made mates for you from among yourselves – and for the animals too – so that you may multiply. There is nothing like Him: He is the All Hearing, the All Seeing.

12. The keys of the heavens and the earth are His; He provides abundantly or sparingly for whoever He will; He has full knowledge of all things.

13. In matters of faith, He has laid down for you [people] the same commandment that He gave Noah, which We have revealed to you [Muhammad] and which We enjoined on Abraham and Moses and Jesus: ‘Uphold the faith and do not divide into factions within it’– what you [Prophet] call upon the idolaters to do is hard for them; God chooses whoever He pleases for Himself and guides towards Himself those who turn to Him.

14. They divided, out of rivalry, only after knowledge had come to them, and, if it had not been for a decree already passed by your Lord to reprieve them until an appointed time, they would already have been judged. Those after them, who inherited the Scripture, are in disquieting doubt about it.

15. So [Prophet] call people to that faith and follow the straight path as you have been commanded. Do not go by what they desire, but say, ‘I believe in whatever Scripture God has sent down. I am commanded to bring justice between you. God is our Lord and your Lord– to us our deeds and to you yours, so let there be no argument between us and you– God will gather us together, and to Him we shall return.’

16. As for those who argue about God after He has been acknowledged, their argument has no weight with their Lord: anger will fall upon them and agonizing torment awaits them.

17. It is God who has sent down the Scripture with Truth and the Balance. How can you tell? The Last Hour may well be near:

18. Those who do not believe in it seek to hasten it, but the believers stand in awe of it. They know it to be the Truth; those who argue about the Hour are far, far astray.

19. God is most subtle towards His creatures; He provides [bountifully] for whoever He will; He is the Powerful, the Almighty.

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

Surah az-Zukruf – Ornaments of God (043)

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

20. They say, ‘If the Lord of Mercy had willed it, we would not have worshipped them,’ but they do not know that – they are only guessing –

21. Or have We perhaps given them a book before this one, to which they hold fast?

22. No indeed! They say, ‘We saw our fathers following this tradition; we are guided by their footsteps.’

23. Whenever We sent a messenger before you to warn a township, those corrupted by wealth said, in the same way, ‘We saw our fathers following this tradition; we are only following in their footsteps.’

24. The messenger said, ‘Even though I bring you a truer religion than what you saw your fathers following?’ and they replied, ‘But we do not believe the message you bring.’

25. We punished them: think about how those who rejected the Truth met their end.

26. Abraham said to his father and his people, ‘I renounce what you worship.

27. I worship only Him who created me, and it is He who will guide me,’

28. And he bequeathed these words to his descendants so that they might return [to God].

29. I have let these people and their fathers enjoy long lives, and now I have given them the Truth and a messenger to make things clear –

30. Yet when the Truth came to them, they said, ‘This is sorcery. We do not believe in it,’

31. And they said, ‘Why was this Qur_an not sent down to a distinguished man, from either of the two cities?’

32. Are they the ones who share out your Lord’s grace? We are the ones who give them their share of livelihood in this world and We have raised some of them above others in rank, so that some may take others into service: your Lord’s grace is better than anything they accumulate.

33. If it were not that all mankind might have become a single nation [of disbelievers], We could have given all those who disbelieve in the Lord of Mercy houses with roofs of silver, sweeping staircases to ascend,

34. Massive gates, couches to sit on,

35. And golden ornaments. All of these are mere enjoyments of this life; your Lord reserves the next life for those who take heed of Him.

36. We assign an evil one as a comrade for whoever turns away from the revelations of the Lord of Mercy:

37. Evil ones bar people from the right path, even though they may think they are well guided.

38. When such a person comes to Us, he will say [to his comrade], ‘If only you had been as far away from me as east is from west. What an evil comrade!’

39. [It will be said to them], ‘You have done wrong. Having partners in punishment will not console you today.’

40. Can you [Prophet] make the deaf hear? Or guide either the blind or those who are in gross error?

41. Either We shall take you away and punish them – indeed We will –

42. Or We shall let you witness the punishment We threatened them with; We have full power over them.

43. Hold fast to what has been revealed to you– you truly are on the right path–

44. For it is a reminder for you and your people: you will all be questioned.

45. Ask the prophets We sent before you: ‘Did We ever appoint any gods to be worshipped besides the Lord of Mercy?’

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

Surah ad-Dukhan – Smoke (044)

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

1. Ha Mim

2. By the Scripture that makes things clear,

3. Truly We sent it down on a blessed night – We have always sent warnings –

4.  A night when every matter of wisdom was made distinct

5. At Our command – We have always sent messages to man –

6. As a mercy [Prophet] from your Lord who sees and knows all,

7. Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything between – if only you people were firm believers –

8. There is no God but Him: He gives life and death – He is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers –

9. Yet in [their state of] doubt they take nothing seriously.

10. [Prophet], watch out for the Day when the sky brings forth clouds of smoke for all to see.

11. It will envelop the people. They will cry, ‘This is a terrible torment!

12. Lord relieve us from this torment! We believe!’

13. How will this [sudden] faith benefit them? When a prophet came to warn them plainly,

14. They turned their backs on him, saying, ‘He is tutored! He is possessed!’

15. We shall hold the torment back for a while c – you are sure to return [to Us] –

16. And on the Day We seize [them] mightily We shall exact retribution.

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

Surah al-Jathiyah – Kneeling (045)

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

14. Tell the believers to forgive those who do not fear God’s days [of punishment] –He will requite people for what they have done.

15. Whoever does good benefits himself, and whoever does evil harms himself: you will all be returned to your Lord.

16. We gave scripture, wisdom, and prophethood to the Children of Israel; We provided them with good things and favoured them above others;

17. We gave them clear proof in matters [of religion]. They differed among themselves out of mutual rivalry, only after knowledge came to them: on the Day of Resurrection your Lord will judge between them regarding their differences.

18. Now We have set you [Muhammad] on a clear religious path, so follow it. Do not follow the desires of those who lack [true] knowledge –

19. They cannot help you against God in any way. Wrongdoers only have each other to protect them; the righteous have God Himself as their protector.

20. This [revelation] is a means of insight for people, a source of guidance and mercy for those of sure faith.

21. Do those who commit evil deeds really think that We will deal with them in the same way as those who believe and do righteous deeds, that they will be alike in their living and their dying? How badly they judge!

22. God created the heavens and earth for a true purpose: to reward each soul according to its deeds. They will not be wronged.

23. [Prophet], consider the one who has taken his own desire as a god, whom God allows to stray in the face of knowledge, sealing his ears and heart and covering his eyes– who can guide such a person after God [has done this]? Will you [people] not take heed?

24. They say, ‘There is only our life in this world: we die, we live, nothing but time destroys us.’ They have no knowledge of this; they only follow guesswork. Their only argument,

25. When Our clear revelations are recited to them, is to say, ‘Bring back our forefathers if what you say is true.’

26. [Prophet], say, ‘It is God who gives you life, then causes you to die, and then He gathers you all to the Day of Resurrection of which there is no doubt, though most people do not comprehend.’

27. Control of everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to God. When the Hour comes, those who follow falsehood will be the losers on that Day.

28. You will see every community kneeling. Every community will be summoned to its record: ‘Today you will be repaid for what you did.

29. Here is Our record that tells the truth about you: We have been recording everything you do.’

30. Those who believed and did good deeds will be admitted by their Lord into His mercy– that is the clearest triumph–

31. But those who disbelieved [will be asked]: ‘When My revelations were recited to you, were you not arrogant and persistent in wicked deeds?

32. When it was said to you, “God’s promise is true: there is no doubt about the Hour,” did you not reply, “We know nothing of the Hour. This is only conjecture in our opinion. We are not convinced”?’

33. The evil of their actions will [then] become clear to them. The punishment they mocked will engulf them.

34. It will be said, ‘Today We shall ignore you just as you ignored your appointment with this Day. The Fire will be your home and no one will help you,

35. Because you received God’s revelations with ridicule and were deceived by worldly life.’ They will not be brought out of the Fire on that Day, nor will they be given the chance to make amends.

36. So praise be to God, Lord of the heavens and earth, Lord of the worlds.

37. True greatness in the heavens and the earth is rightfully His: He is the Mighty, the Wise.