Qur’an Cover-to-Cover: Day 2 (“The dawn”, …)
Continuing with my chronological read through the Qur’an, today I read the following chapters: 87, 92, 89, 93, 94, 103 and 100.
Surah 87: “The most high” (Al-Ala)
Allah tells Muhammad that he will make him recite the Qur’an and remember it…unless God wants him to forget it. This relates to the rather troublesome subject of abrogation in the Qur’an where, even within the lifetime of Muhammad, some chapters were overridden or replaced.
Allah promises to lead Muhammad and his followers to true religion, but the wretched to the fires of Hell.
Questions
Q1. The text says “…the Hereafter is better and more enduring. Indeed, this is in the former scriptures. The scriptures of Abraham and Moses”. Where does the Pentateuch teach about the afterlife?
Surah 92: “The night” (Al-Lail)
Another poem comparing the righteous and the wretched, how the former “belongs the Hereafter and the first life” and the latter will go to “a Fire which is blazing”. Towards the end it talks about how charitable giving without expectation of repayment purifies the giver.
Surah 89: “The dawn” (Al-Fajr)
The hearer is reminded of various evil people, such as Pharaoh, whom God punished. Humanity is reminded of its sins (not caring for orphans, feeding the poor and loving wealth) and the day of judgment is then recounted.
Questions
Q1. Many of the chapters of the Qur’an begin in a similar manner: “By the dawn, by the ten nights…”. Is Allah swearing an oath here?
Q2. What does “Pharaoh, owner of the stakes” mean? My commentary says that Pharaoh tortured people with stakes. Do you have any more details about this?
Surah 93: “The morning hours” (Ad-Dhuha)
Allah reassures Muhammed that He has not deserted him and He promises his prophet a wonderful afterlife.
The next portion of the text is probably my favourite passage thus far. Allah reminds Muhammad that he was an orphan, lost and poor and that God blessed him. Therefore, says Allah, you should not oppress the orphan or repel the petitioner and should instead praise Him for all His blessings.
Surah 94: “Consolation” (Al-Inshirah)
This is a very short surah where Allah tells Muhammad that he gladdened his heart, removed his burdens and raised him high.
Questions
Q1. What does “With hardship [will be] ease” mean? That hardships will end? That difficult things will be made easy?…
Surah 103: “The declining” (Al-Asr)
Consisting of only three verses, in this chapter the listener is reminded that “mankind is in loss” except those who believe, do righteous deeds and who advise each other to truth.
Surah 100: “The chargers” (Al-Adiyat)
This poem opens with the imagery of a surprise attack on horseback upon enemies at dawn. We are told that mankind has an intense love of wealth, but that the hearts of all will be revealed on the day of judgement.
The themes of the Qur’an continue to be very limited in scope, with considerable emphasis on the subject of judgment and Hell.