Surah Familiarization 1443

 

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).

Sūrat al-Kāfirun, no.109. Revealed in Makkah, 6 verses.

 

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

This Sūra has been given extraordinary importance in Hadith due to its strong content. It is recommended to recite this Sūra before sleeping as it is a disassociation from polytheism. Imam al-Sadiq (a) narrates from his father that after reciting this Sūra he would say ‘I worship only One God, I worship only One God’.

The Prophet (s) has said that the best companion to take on a trip who would be of great benefit is the recitation of al-Kāfirun, al-Nasr, al-Ikhlās, al-Falaq and al-Nās.

The Prophet (s) has also said: Whoever recites Sūrat al- Kāfirun is as if he has recited a fourth of the Quran. The rebellious Shayātin distance themselves from him, he will be free of polytheism, and he will be safe from the great fear (on the Day of Judgement).

 

Note: This reward will be for the one who absorbs the message of the Sūra and completely disassociates himself from polytheism.

Sūrat al-Kauthar, no.108. Revealed in Makkah, 3 verses. It is the smallest Sūra of the Quran.

 

When the Prophet (s)’s son died, the enemies taunted him and called him ‘abtar’. This was a name the Arabs at that time gave to someone who had no sons and was considered to have no progeny. The Sūra was revealed to give good tidings to the Prophet (s) that he would have abundance and grace.

Merits of reciting the Sūra

The Prophet (s) has said: Whoever recites Sūrat al-Kauthar in his obligatory prayers will get to drink from the river of Paradise on the Day of Judgement and will be from the companions of the Prophet under the tree of Tuba.

 

Note: This blessed reward will be for those who understand the message of the Sūra and follow the teachings of the Quran and the Ahlul Bayt (a).

Sūrat al-Mā‘ūn, No.107. Revealed in Makkah, 7 verses. It takes its name from the word Mā‘ūn in the last verse which means any form of assistance, kindness or charity.

It has been narrated by some that the cause of revelation of this Sūra was about Abu Sufyan who used to slaughter two large camels every day for his family and friends to eat. One day an orphan came and asked to have something from it. Abu Sufyan took his stick and hit him with it, telling him to get away. According to Tafsir Namūne these verses were revealed in condemnation of that action. 

Merits of reciting the Sūra

Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir (a) has said: Whoever recites Sūrat al-Mā‘ūn in his obligatory and Nawāfil prayers, Allah will accept his prayers and fasts, and will not take him into account for what he has done in the life of this world.

 

Note: This reward is for the one who understands the contents of this Sūra and stays away from that which is being condemned in it.

Sūrat al-Infitār, No. 82. Revealed in Makkah, 19 verses. It takes its name from the verb in the first verse, a vivid description of what will take place on the Day of Judgment.

Merits of reciting the Sūra

Imam al-Sādiq (a) has said: Whoever recites these two surahs [al-Infitār and al-Inshiqāq] and reflects on them in his obligatory prayers and his Nawāfil prayers, there will be no veil between him and Allah and there will be no barrier between him and Allah. Continuously, he will see Allah [with the eyes of his heart] and Allah will see him [look at him with mercy] until he is free of the accounting of mankind.

Note: Such a great status is for the one who absorbs the contents of these Sūras and disciplines himself accordingly. It is not for those who only verbally recite it.