Glimpses of The Qur'an Chapters 1-30
Glimpses of The Qur'an Chapters 1-30
Glimpses of The Qur'an Chapters 1-30
of the
Qur’an Chapters
Translated By
Zehra Hazratji Khalid Elzamzamy
PREFACE
These are short glimpses of the chapters of the
Qur’an. They mention the main ideas and topics of
each surah briefly, acting as a guide for more
reflection and understanding.
The main source for these glimpses was a concise
Arabic publication prepared by the authors of the
website: www.tadabbor.com.
This is in no way an attempt to summarize the
Qur’an, and it should just act as a key towards a
more in depth study and contemplation.
We hope that this will be a seed for a more
detailed publication in the future, InshaAllah.
PRELIMINARY EDITION
Please send any comments or feedback to:
kh.zamzamy@gmail.com
Surah: Al Fatihah “The opener” focuses on:
Praising Allah (1-4)
Sincerity in worship and seeking help from Allah. (5)
The guidance and its reality. Types of people who are
deprived from guidance. (6-7)
Surah: Al Baqarah “The Cow” in the first chapter we
find:
Types of people in regards to the revelation: Believers –
Disbelievers – Hypocrites, and the description of each.
The longest description being that of the hypocrites.
(1 – 20)
The beginning of the story of Adam and his creation.
(30 – 39)
The story of the children of Israel (Jacob), and how they
dealt with the angels, their messengers and the revelation
they received. (40 – 66) (75 – 123)
The story of the cow, and the message that it teaches our
nation is in summary: a warning from hesitating in
accepting the orders of Allah and that doing so results in
the hardening of the hearts. (67 – 74)
The danger of preventing the worship of Allah in the
mosques and working to destroy them. (114 – 115)
The mention of the sacred mosque in Makkah, who built it
and how it was built. (124 – 141)
Surah: Al Baqarah “The Cow” in the second chapter we find:
How the direction of the Qibla (Direction of prayer) changed
and how different groups of people reacted to this test of faith.
(142 – 152)
The virtue and rank of this nation. (143)
The different forms of tests in life, and how to react to them
with patience. (153 – 157)
Purifying the inner self and performing good deeds takes
priority over the external matters, although both are important.
(177)
The obligation of Fasting, its rules and all that is related to it.
Note: This is the only place in the Quran where fasting is
mentioned so give it special attention. (183 – 187)
The laws and etiquettes of Jihad. (190 – 195, 216 – 218)
The explanation of the rules of Hajj (Pilgrimage), especially the
technical ones, while in Surah Al Hajj, the emphasis is on the
spiritual aspects. (196 – 203)
A detailed description of the rules pertaining to family matters
(Family Law) including marriage, divorce, and nursing, and
connecting them to Taqwa (Awareness and watchfulness) of
Allah and to the belief in the day of judgment, to encourage
people to be mindful in adhering to those laws. (220 – 242)
The story of Goliath (Jaloot) which includes many lessons such
as: patience, and that victory is not contingent upon numbers
alone. (246 – 252)
Surah: Al Baqarah “The Cow” in chapter 3 we find:
The greatest verse in the Qur’an: Ayat-ul-Kursi. Reflect on the
secret of its greatness. (255)
3 stories that need our reflection: Prophet Ibrahim and the Arrogant
King – The man who was brought back to life after being dead for a
100 years – A demonstration for Prophet Ibrahim of how Allah
brings the dead back to life. (258 – 260)
The virtues of charity (Sadaqah), and that Satan (Shaytan) scares
people with fears of poverty. (261 – 274)
Warning against interest/usury (Riba), and declaring it as war against
Allah and His messenger peace be upon him. (275 – 281)
The verse of debt (the longest single verse in the Qur’an) is a sign
of the importance that Islam gives to financial matters and business
contracts. (282 - 283)
Surah Al Baqarah concludes with a great Duaa (supplication). (286)
Surah: Aali Imran “The family of Imran” in chapter 3 we find:
Al Qur’an is a criterion between truth and falsehood, and that Allah
will not accept any religion other than Islam. (1 – 22)
The story of the mother of Mariam (Mary), which shows the
impact and effect of the parents’ good intentions on the
righteousness of the children, and how Allah protects the children
because of that. (32 – 37)
A detailed story of Prophet Isa, peace be upon him, and his people.
(45 – 63)
Clarifying that Prophets Musa, Isa, and Mohammad, peace be upon
them, believed in and called to the Oneness of Allah and denied
that He had any partners. (64 – 91)
Surah: Aali Imran “The Family of Imran” in chapter 4 we find:
The first house of worship that was built on earth, and the
obligation of Hajj (Pilgrimage) (96 – 97)
The importance of unity and holding firmly to the rope of Allah,
and the danger of division. (100 – 109)
The great virtue of calling people to do good and forbidding evil. (110)
The danger of taking as Bitanah (advisors, consultants, intimate
companions, protectors, helpers) those from outside the believers.
(116 – 120)
A mention of the battle of Uhud, which shows the consequences
of committing sins and its impact on society, and among the
greatest of all sins: dealing with interest (Riba), and voraciously
competing for worldly possessions. (121 – 175)
The qualities and characteristics of Allah’s righteous servants.
Reflect on them and try to achieve those qualities. (133 – 136)
Some of the contradictions of the people of the book. (181 – 187)
The last part of Surah Aali Imran has great virtue. The prophet
encouraged us to read it and reflect upon it, and he used to read it as
soon as he got up at night for Tahajjud (night prayers). (190 – 200)
Surah: An-Nisa’ “The Women” in chapter 4 we find:
The Surah focuses mainly on the members of society whose rights
are usually violated: women, orphans, and the weak people who
can’t migrate from the lands where they are oppressed. (Examples:
2, 4, 6, 10, 19-21)
Allah Himself determined the division of the shares of inheritance,
to avoid any dispute between family members. (11 – 14)
The categories of women who men are forbidden to marry. (22-24)
Surah: An-Nisa’ “The Women” in Juz’ 5 we find:
A mention of family relationships, especially the marital relationship, and
how Allah favors men and women differently, and the responsibility of
each, and how to resolve conflicts and deal with domestic disharmony, and
an emphasis on the concept of mediation and reconciliation. (32 – 35)
A verse that made the Prophet peace be upon him cry! (41)
A mention of the people of Prophet Musa (Moses) and their lying, envy,
and falsification of the truth. (44 – 57)
Importance of Returning trusts to their owners (Amanah) and upholding
Justice. (58) (135)
The obligation of obedience to Allah, the Messenger, and those who are
in authority, and to return to the Qur’an and Sunnah in the event of
disagreement or dispute. The importance of submitting to the laws of
Allah and His messenger. Among the qualities of the hypocrites is seeking
laws from sources other than the Law of Allah. (59-70)
Fighting for the cause of Allah and the cause of those who are weak and
mistreated. (71 – 84)
The seriousness of unlawful killing, and the penalties and severe
consequences of doing so (92 – 93).
Migrating away from an evil land where a Muslim cannot fulfill their
religious duties. (97 – 100)
The rules of shortening salah (prayer) while travelling, and a description
of Salat Al-Khawf (Praying in a state of fear while in battle) (101 - 103)
The danger of the plots of Shaytan (Satan), and his eagerness to misguide
us. (116 – 122)
Some of the etiquettes of marriage while dealing with discord and
separation, and the importance of fairness, and tying all of those to the
awareness that Allah is always watchful. (127 – 130)
A description of the hypocrites, their impact on the society, their loyalty to
the enemies of Allah, their laziness in obeying Allah, and their fate in the
hereafter. (88 – 91) (138 – 147)
We find in the last part of Surah: An-Nisa’ “The Women” in Juz’ 6:
A mention about the people of the book, and what they said to
Prophet Musa, and their position regarding Mariam & Isa (Marry
and Jesus), peace be upon them. (150 – 175)
Surah: Al-Ma’idah “The Table Spread” in Juz’ 6 we find:
The surah’s main emphasis is on keeping and respecting our contracts,
covenants and promises with others; Muslims or non-Muslims, relatives or
non-relatives.
The Surah mentions 18 rules and contracts that are not mentioned in any
other Surah in the Qur’an.
A detailed description of some of the lawful and unlawful foods. (3 – 5)
The verse (ayah) of wudu’ (ablution), and the conditions in which wudu’ and
ghusl (ablution & bathing) are obligatory. (6)
Being witnesses for the sake of Allah, and upholding justice even with our
enemies or people we dislike. (8)
Understanding the nature of the relationship between the people of the
book and their Lord and their Prophets is very important to understanding
how to deal with them. (12 – 19)
The story of Prophet Musa entering and asking his people to enter the holy
land, which shows the virtue of declaring the truth, inviting the people to do
good, and true reliance on Allah. (20 -26)
The story of the son of Adam who killed his brother, which shows the
seriousness of unlawful killing, the ugliness of spreading corruption on
earth, and the virtue of saving lives.(27 – 40)
A mention of the revelation of the 3 main Divine books: Torah, Bible, and
Quran, and the state of those who don’t abide by or enforce Allah’s laws and
legislations. (41- 50)
The forbidding of taking Jews and Christians as awliya’ (intimate friends,
helpers, protectors). (51 – 71)
Refuting the misconceptions of the Christians about Prophet Isa (Jesus), and
inviting them to repent to Allah. (72 – 81)
We find in the last part of Surah: Al-Ma’idah
“The Table Spread” in Juz’ 7:
The people of other faiths: who are the nearest to the believers in
love and who are the strongest in their hostility. (82 – 86)
A group of rules and laws regarding: compensation for violating
oaths, prohibition of alcohol and gambling, hunting restrictions in
Makkah and its penalty, rules related to death: the will and the
witnesses. (89 – 97) (106 – 108)
The dialogue between Isa (Jesus) and his disciples as they insisted
that Allah sends down on them a (Table Spread) to strengthen their
faith. (110 – 115)
The conversation between Allah and Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him
about Allah’s Lordship and the clarification that Isa (Jesus) is
innocent of the claim that he is God. (116 – 120)