Quran Reflections – English

Quranic Reflection No. 540. Ayat 28:4 – Strategies of the Oppressors

إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ Inna fir‘awna ‘alā fil-ardhi waja‘ala ahlahā shiya‘an yastad‘ifu tā’ifatan minhum yudhabbihu abnā’ahum wayatahyī nisā’ahum; innahu kanā minal mufsidīn. Surely Fir’awn exalted himself in the land and made its people into parties, weakening one party from … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 539. Ayat 3:110 – The Best Nation

كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ Kunntum khayra ummatin ukhrijat linnāsi ta’murūna bilma‘rūfi wa tanhawna ‘anil-munkari wa tu’minūn   You are the best nation (ever) brought up for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah (Sūrat Āl-‘Imrān, No. 3, Āyat 110)  In the … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 538. Ayat 7:196 – Divine Guardianship for the Righteous

إِنَّ وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ ۖ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى الصَّالِحِينَ Inna waliyyallāhul-ladhī nazzalal-kitāba wahuwa yatawallas-sālhīn My guardian is indeed Allah who sent down the Book, and He takes care of the righteous. (Sūrat al-A‘rāf, No 7, Āyat 196) One of the hopes of a believer is to be righteous and be counted from among respected … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 537. Ayat 18:51 – Helpers who misguide

وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا Wamā kuntu muttakhidhal-mudhillīna ‘adudā And I do not take those who mislead others as assistants. (Sūrat al-Kahf, No 18, Āyat 51) Verses 50 and 51 of Sūrat al-Kahf condemns those who take Shaytān and his people as guardians rather than Allah. They have no role to play in the act … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 536. Ayat 4:63 – Effective Advice

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَعِظْهُمْ وَقُل لَّهُمْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ قَوْلًا بَلِيغًا Fa-a‘rid ‘anhum wa‘izhum waqul lahum fī anfusihim qawlan balīghā So let them alone, and advise them, and speak to them effective words concerning themselves. (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, No 4, Āyat 63) This verse tells the Prophet sallal-lāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam how to deal with the hypocrites – those who … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 535. Ayat 48:10 – Allegiance to Allah ‘azza wajall

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ Innalladhīna yubāyi‘ūnaka innamā yubāyi‘ūnallāha yadullāhi fawqa aydīhim Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad] – they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands (Surat Al-Fath, No. 48, Āyat 10) To give allegiance is to willingly pledge … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 534. Ayat 41:25 – Evil Companions

وَقَيَّضْنَا لَهُمْ قُرَنَاءَ فَزَيَّنُوا لَهُم مَّا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ Waqayyadnā lahum quranā’ fazayyanū lahum mā bayna aydīhim wamā khalfahum We have assigned them companions who make their present and future seem decorous to them. (Sūrat Fussilat, No 41, Āyat 25) One of the worldly consequences of sins is to have people in your close … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 533. Ayat 3:176 – Being affected by Disbelief.

وَلَا يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ لَن يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا Walā yahzunkal-ladhīna yusāri‘ūna fil-kufr, innahum lan yadurrul-lāha shay’ā Do not grieve for those who are active in disbelief; they will not hurt Allah in the least. (Sūrat Āli Imrān, No 3, Āyat 176) This verse is part of a passage that was revealed … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 532. Ayat 17:28 – Declining a request gently

وَإِمَّا تُعْرِضَنَّ عَنْهُمُ ابْتِغَاءَ رَحْمَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكَ تَرْجُوهَا فَقُلْ لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَيْسُورًا Wa-immā tu‘ridhanna ‘anhumu-bitigā’a rahmatin min rabbika tarjūhā faqul lahum qawlan maysūrā And if you turn away from them, seeking mercy from your Lord, which you hope for, speak to them a gentle word. (Sūrat al-Israa, No 17, Āyat 28) The request of a … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 531. Ayat 3:188 – Seeking Undeserved Praise

وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا Wayuhuhibbūna an yuhmadū bimā lam yaf‘alū And [those who] love to be praised for what they have not done. (Sūrat Āli Imrān, No 3, Āyat 188) This verse talks about the qualities of hypocrites. They like to boast about what they do, and they want to take credit for … Read more