Month: April 2022

Sūrat al-Tawba, No.9. Revealed in Madinah, 129 verses.  

There is no Bismillah at the beginning of this Sūra because the beginning verses are a stern warning to the polytheists. Bismillah is a sentence of mercy and compassion, and these qualities are not applicable to the enemies of Allah and His religion.

Sūrat al-Tawba, No.9. Revealed in Madinah, 129 verses.  

This Sūra talks a lot about repentance and hence is known al-Tawbah. It is also known as al-Bara’at, from the first word of the Sūra.

It is from among the last Sūras to be revealed to the Prophet (s). It came down after the Muslims had established themselves and overcome their enemies. The threat to the Muslims was now mainly from the hypocrites, a topic the Sūra discusses at length. 

Merits of reciting the Sūra

Imam al-Sadiq (a) has said; Whoever recites Sūra al-Anfal and Sūra al-Tawbah, hypocrisy will never enter him, and he will be from the true followers of Amir al-Mu’minin (Imam Ali) (a).

Note: This reward is for those who understand and follow the message of the Sūras in their lives.

Sūrat al-Nās, No.114. Revealed in Makkah, 6 verses.  

Both Sūrat al-Falaq and Sūrat al-Nas seek refuge in Allah, but al-Falaq asks for protection from all forms of evil, while al-Nās focuses on protection from the evil effect of whisperings on the soul.

Some narrators say that Sūrat al-Falaq and Sūrat al- Nās were revealed together.

 Merits of reciting the Sūra

The Prophet (s) has said; Whoever recites the two Sūras of al-Nas and al-Falaq is like someone who has recited all the books of Divine Prophets.

 Imam al-Baqir (a) said; Whoever recites the Sūras of al- Mu^cawwidhatān and Sūrat al-Ikhlas in his witr prayers he will be told that, ‘O servant of God! You have good news that God has accepted your witr prayer.

 Note: The rewards mentioned in these hadith are for the one who understands and follows the message of the Sūras.

Sūrat al-Falaq, No.113. Revealed in Makkah, 5 verses.  

When Sūrat al-Falaq and Sūrat al-Nas were revealed, the Prophet (s) said, Verses have been revealed to me the like of which have not been revealed before.

Sūrat al-Falaq and Sūrat al-Nas are called al-Muawwidhatān because they are recited to seek protection.

 Merits of reciting the Sūra

The Prophet once told his companions; ‘Do you want me to teach you two Sūras that are among the most outstanding Sūras of the Quran?’ The companion replied in the affirmative. The Prophet then taught him Sūrat al-Falaq and Sūrat al-Nas. Then he recited them in the salaat of Subh and told the companion to always recite them before sleeping and when waking up.

It is narrated that the Prophet (s) used to recite them the al-Muawwidhatān for Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Husayn (a) to protect them from evil.

Sūrat al-Ikhlas, No.112. Revealed in Makkah, 4 verses.  This Sūra is named al-Ikhlas as it purifies the one who recites it with reflection and firm belief from all forms of polytheism. It is also known as al-Tawhid. It encapsulates the Unity of God in a succinct and most comprehensive manner. This Sūra is only one of the two Sūras that do not take its name from anything mentioned within it.

After Sūra al-Fatiha, this is the most important Sūra in the acts of worship. One scholar has said about it beautifully: The entire Quran is an oyster, and the pearl is his statement ‘Say, He, God is One’.

Merits of reciting the Sūra

Many hadith narrate the importance of reciting this extraordinary Sūra.

The Prophet once asked his companions; ‘Is anyone of you unable to recite a third of the Quran at night?’. One of the companions replied, ‘Who can do that, O Prophet of Allah?’. The Prophet told them they could do that by reciting this Sūra.

Sūrat al-Masad, no.111. Revealed in Makkah in the early days of the Prophet’s mission, 5 verses.

This Sūra is also known as al-Lahab, as it condemns the actions of Abu Lahab.

Merits of reciting the Sūra

The Prophet (s) has said: Whoever recites Sūrat al-Masad I have hope that Allah will not join him and Abu Lahab in one abode.

Note: This is for the one who recites this Sūra and disassociates from the path of Abu Lahab.

Sūrat al-Nasr, no.110. Revealed in Madinah, 3 verses.

This Sūra is also known as the Sūra of farewell as it indicated that the end of the mission of the Prophet (s) and his death were near.

This Sūra was revealed in the early Makkan period when the Prophet (s) and the early Muslims were under a lot of pressure to abandon their mission or merge their beliefs with the polytheists. The Prophet (s) was firm and uncompromising.

Merits of reciting the Sūra

The Prophet (s) has said: Whoever recites Sūrat al-Nasr is as if he has witnessed the conquest of Makkah.

Imam al-Sadiq (a) told his companions that whoever recites this Sūra in the obligatory or Nawafil prayers, Allah would make him victorious over his enemies and he will come out of his grave with a letter of safety from the fire.

Note: This reward will be for those who understand the message of the Sūra and are on the path taught by the Prophet (s).