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Yunus – An-Nahl

10. Surah Yunus(يُونُس)

Jonah

Surah 51 according to the order of revelation.  This Surah was revealed in Makkah perhaps a few years before the Hijrah.  It has 109 verses in 11 sections.

The main subject of this Surah is faith in Allah and belief in the Hereafter.  Those who have true faith, they worship Allah and recognize Him as their Lord and Master and live their lives in accordance to His command.  Allah sent His Messengers to remind people and to warn them.  The stories of Prophets Noah and Prophet Moses with Pharaoh are told to remind people about the consequences of unfaithfulness and arrogance.

Introduction to Sections

  1. The Qur’an is the Book of wisdom, it contains signs from the All Wise.
  2. Man’s ingratitude to Allah and His revelation.
  3. Allah’s mercy to His creation.  Allah invites to the abode of peace.
  4. Allah’s gifts. The Qur’an is from Allah. Bring a Surah like the Qur’an if you can.
  5. Those who disbelieve in the Qur’an shall be the losers. Every people were sent a Messenger.
  6. The Qur’an is a mercy, blessing and a cure for the problems of humankind.
  7. Whatever you do Allah is a Witness. The mistakes of the Mushrikin.
  8. The story of Prophet Noah and his people.  Prophet Moses and Aaron -peace be upon them all.
  9. Allah delivered the Children of Israel from the bondage of the Pharaoh.
  10. Allah’s mercy for the Children of Israel. Prophet Yunus and his people.
  11. If Allah afflicts you with any loss or wants to bestow any profit on you, none can avert it.  You must always follow Allah’s guidance.

11. Surah Hud(هُود)

Hud

Surah 52 according to the order of revelation.  This is a Makki Surah revealed soon after the previous Surah.  It has 123 verses and 10 sections.

In this Surah we have the stories of Prophets Noah, Salih, Hud, Lot, Shuaib and Moses -peace be upon them all. The basic point is that Allah sent His Prophets and Messengers to mankind out of His grace and mercy, but when people did not listen to the Prophets and rejected their message then Allah’s punishment came and came relentlessly. It did not make any difference whether someone was the son of a Prophet or his wife or any one, none could escape Allah’s judgment.

Introduction to the Sections

  1. Seek forgiveness from Allah and His bounties will be for you.
  2. Patience and good deeds bring the stability in character.
  3. The story of Prophet Noah -peace be upon him.
  4. The fate of those who disbelieved in Prophet Noah.  The moving description of the fate of Prophet Noah’s son.
  5. The Message of Prophet Hud.  ‘Ad people denied Allah’s message and were punished.
  6. The Message of Prophet Saleh, the Sign of the She-Camel, and end of Thamud.
  7. Prophet Ibrahim receives the angles.  The angels then went to Prophet Lot. The punishment of the people of Lot -peace be upon him.
  8. Prophet Shu’aib and his message, his people’s denial and their punishment.
  9. Prophet Moses was sent to Pharaoh and his people.  The purpose of these stories.
  10.  Prophets were denied before.  Continue presenting the message with patience.  Had Allah forced His will upon the people, He would have made them all one people.

12. Surah Yusuf(يُوسُف)

Joseph

It is a Makki Surah revealed towards the end of the Makkan period, about a year or two before the Hijrah.  This Surah has 111 ayat in 12 sections.

The basic theme of the Surah is to emphasize that all Prophets were human beings and their messages were similar. They were also highly moral beings. This is the way all believers should be.  The Prophets trusted in Allah and in the end Allah’s plans did succeed.

Introduction to the Sections

  1. Prophet Yusuf’s dream
  2. Prophet Yusuf suffered the bad treatment of his stepbrothers.
  3. Prophet Yusuf was sold in Egypt, his firmness in piety against the temptations
  4. Prophet Yusuf in prison.
  5. Prophet Yusuf preaches to the inmates.
  6. The King’s dream and Prophet Yusuf’s interpretation.
  7. Prophet Yusuf was cleared of the false charges against his character. He became a high official in Egypt.
  8. The famine in Palestine brought Prophet Yusuf’s brothers to Egypt.
  9. Prophet Yusuf meets his real brother
  10. Prophet Yusuf disclosed his identity to his stepbrothers.
  11. Prophet Jacob’s family comes to Egypt.  Prophet Yusuf honors his parents and forgives his brothers.
  12. In the histories of the Prophets there are many lessons for us to learn and follow.

13. Surah al-Ra’d(ٱلرَّعْد)

The Thunder

Opinions differ about its being Makki or Madani Surah.  According to some authorities it is Makki with the exception of few verses and according to others it is Madani except few verses revealed in Makkah.  It seems its time period is closer to the Hijrah.  The Surah has 43 verses in 6 sections.

The basic theme of the Surah is divine guidance.  Allah has created this whole universe. He knows what is in the wombs and every thing is under His knowledge.  He sent His prophets and guides to all people for their guidance and now the Last Messenger has come.

Introduction to the Sections

  1. Allah’s signs in nature.
  2. Allah knows everything; the whole universe praises Him.  Those who have eyes can see the truth. The truth has an abiding power.
  3. The faithful and unfaithful, their characters and their ends.
  4. The comfort of the hearts is in the remembrance of Allah.  Those who deny Allah, no signs or miracles can help them.
  5. People in the past also denied Allah’s Prophets and laughed at them, but what were their ends.
  6. Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.  The witness is Allah and all those who have the knowledge of the Scriptures of Allah.

14. Surah Ibrahim(إِبْرَاهِيم)

Abraham

It is probably one of the last Makki Surahs.  It has 52 verses and 7 sections.

The basic theme of the Surah is Allah’s guidance through His prophets.  The purpose of this guidance is to take the people from darkness to light.  Many people in the past had doubts about their prophets. They laughed at them and they threatened to kill them or expel them from their towns. However, the lasting word is the “good word.” The Surah also mentions Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer when he established the city of Makkah.

Introduction to the Sections

  1. The purpose of the Qur’an is to lead humankind to light.
  2. Prophets and their people.
  3. Non-believers threatened the Prophets, but Allah’s promise to the Prophets.
  4. Satan misleads the disbelievers in this world, but in the hereafter he would leave them in the lurch.
  5. The ingratitude of people
  6. Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer for Makkah, for its people and for his own children
  7. Allah is aware of what the wrongdoers are doing, their respite and end.

15. Surah al-Hijr(ٱلْحِجْر)

The Rocky Tract, The Stoneland, The Rock City, Al-Hijr

Al-Hijr is the 54th Surah according to the order of revelation.  This is a Makki Surah revealed about 3-4 years before the Hijrah.  It has 99 verses in 6 sections. The name al-Hijr refers probably to the same area where Thamud used to live in the northwestern part of Arabia.

The main theme of the Surah is divine guidance, and people’s response.  Allah’s warns those who deny this message and as a reminder of these warnings, we have here the stories of Prophet Lot’s people, Thamud and other groups.

Introduction to the Sections

  1. Qur’an is the Books of Allah. He revealed it and He will guard it.
  2. Allah knows everything in the universe.  He is the Creator of all.
  3. The creation of human being is from a very humble stuff, but Allah honored him and asked angels to bow down to Adam.  Satan’s response.
  4. Allah is very forgiving, but His punishment is also severe.
  5. Prophet Lot and Prophet Shu’aib’s people.
  6. The People of Hijr and what happened to them.  Qur’an and Surah al-Fatihah are special gifts of Allah.  Allah will take care of those who ridicule  His message.

16. Surah al-Nahl(ٱلنَّحْل)
The Honey Bees, The Bee

70th Surah according to the order of revelation.  This is one of the late Makki Surahs revealed sometime before the Hijrah.  This and previous six Surahs (Yunus, Hud, Yusuf, al-Ra’d, Ibrahim and al-Hijr) were revealed one after another.  The time period and themes are similar.  This Surah has 128 verses in 16 sections.

The Surah speaks about Allah’s creative power.  Everything in the universe points to Allah.  There is coherence and balance in Allah’s creation.

Introduction to the Sections

  1. The whole creation points to Allah.
  2. The truth is that there is only One God.
  3. The reward of the righteous and the disgrace of the wicked.
  4. Allah’s message has come.  Man is a creature of Allah, but he argues a lot.
  5. Mushrikin’s argument and the answer
  6. Prophets were human beings.  The mission of the last Prophet.  Warnings to non-believers.
  7. Prohibition against shirk. Arabs used to call angels the daughters of Allah but they themselves did not like to have daughters.
  8. Allah gives time to people to repent and turn to him.
  9. Consider the bounties of Allah.  Some more signs mentioned.
  10. The comparison between the faithful and the unfaithful.
  11. Warnings about the Last Hour.  Allah’s favors to humankind.
  12. Prophet Muhammad is a witness over all witnesses.
  13. Justice, benevolence, care of the kith and kin are Allah’s commands.  He forbids shameful deeds, evil and aggression.
  14. Qur’an is sent by Allah; even the Prophet cannot make any changes in it.
  15. Every soul will be paid in full what it has earned. Halal and Haram are the authority of Allah.
  16. The ideal faith of Prophet Ibrahim.  The best way of giving da’wah.