Taraweeh 16

Surah : An – Naml 1 to 4

The Quran is a guide and good news for the believers.

Story of Musa a.s – Musa seeing a fire, Allah speaking to him, 2 signs given to him of the staff and shining hand, Musa showing the signs to Firaun and his chiefs. Their hearts were convinced about the truth, but they rejected Musa due to their wickedness and pride.

Story of Sulaiman a.s and the Ants (Naml) – The army of Sulaiman a.s comprised of Jinns, men and birds and they were kept under strict discipline.

While on an expedition, the army came across a valley of ants and one of the ants said ” O ants, get into your homes, lest Sulaiman and his army crush you under their feet without noticing”.

Sulaiman smiled, laughing at its statement and said “O Rabb! Inspire me to render thanks for Your favours, which you have bestowed upon me and on my parents”.

Story of Sulaiman a.s and the Queen of Sheba – While taking attendance of the birds, Sulaiman a.s observed that the hoophoe bird was missing and he wanted to punish it.

The bird arrived soon and brought news about the people of Sheba, who worship the sun and have a woman possessing a magnificent throne as their ruler.

Sulaiman wants to verify this, so he sends a letter to her, asking her to come in complete submission as Muslim.

The Queen consults her chiefs. She decides to send presents to Sulaiman which he refuses to accept. He announces that if she and her people do not accept Islam, he will march to them with his army.

Sulaiman a.s gets news that the Queen of Sheba was coming to him in submission. He asks the Jinns to bring her throne before she arrives. Also, he instructs the Jinns to build a new palace immediately.

One powerful Jinn said that he can bring the throne before the court is adjourned, while another Jinn who had knowledge of the Book said that he can bring it in the twinkling of an eye.

Sulaiman saw the throne in front and prayed to Allah, acknowledging that it is a test from Allah to see if he would be among the grateful.

When the Queen arrives, she sees the throne which Sulaiman had disguised for her. She says the throne is just the same as her throne.

She entered the newly built palace whose floors seemed like a pool of water, so she tucked her skirt up. Sulaiman said, that this is a palace whose floors are paved with glass.

Seeing both the miracles, the Queen exclaimed “I submit myself in Islam with Sulaiman to Allah, the Rabb of the worlds”.

The People of Thamud and Saleh a.s – There were 9 ringleaders in the city and they plotted to kill Saleh and his family. But Allah devised a counter plan. You can see how Allah annihilated those leaders with all their people.

The People of Lut a.s – the people were steeped in ignorance with their homosexual behaviour. Allah delivered Lut and his family, except his wife, and sent a shower of brimstone that destroyed them all.

Surah : An Naml 5 to 7

Just think – who has made the earth and all its creation therein. Just think – who answers to the oppressed person when he cries out. Just think – who guides you in darkness on the land and sea. Just think – who originates creation and then repeats its production. Is there another God besides Allah?

The unbelievers question about life after death, saying this idea is nothing but a legend of prior people. Tell them, “Travel through the earth and see what has been the end of the criminals”.

When the time to fulfill Allah’s word comes to pass, Allah will bring out from the earth a strange creature which will speak to them about this, that the people did not believe in Our revelations.

On the Day of resurrection , Allah will gather the disbelievers from every nation, and they shall be arranged in classification according to their merits.

On that Day, all who dwell in the heavens and the earth shall be terrified, except those whom Allah will choose to spare, and all shall come to Him in utter humiliation.

You shall see the mountains pass away like clouds . Such is the artistry of Allah, who has perfected all things.

SurH : Al Qasas Section 1

Ta Seen Meem. These are the verses of the Book that make things clear.

Further information about Musa and Firaun – Firaun elevated himself in the land and oppressed one group of people, putting their sons to death and sparing the females.

Allah wanted to favour those who were oppressed in the land, to make them leaders and make them inherit the land.

Allah inspired the mother of Musa to suckle him and cast him into the river (on a basket) without any grief, for Allah shall restore Musa back to her.

Allah made Firaun’s family pick him up from the river. Firaun’s wife said “this child may become the comfort of the eyes for me and for Firaun”.

Allah had ordained that Musa would refuse to suck from any foster mother.

Musa’s sister came to Firaun’s wife and informed, about one home which would take care of the child. Thus Allah restored Musa to his mother, so she may know that the promise of Allah is true.

Surah : Al Qasas 2 to 5

Incident of Musa killing a man, and then realising that this is from the work of Shaitan.

Musa prays for forgiveness and Allah forgives him.

The next day, Musa was about to lay hands on a man, when he gets news that the chiefs of the land are plotting to kill him. He leaves the place in fear and caution and heads towards Madyan.

At the well of Madyan, he comes across 2 women who were holding their flock back, waiting for the men to finish watering their flock.

Musa helped the women water the flock and prayed “O My Rabb! Surely I am in desperate need of whatever good that You may send down to me”.

Soon after, one of the women came to Musa, and asked him to see her father.

Musa narrated his story and the father consoled him, and said not to fear as he has escaped from those wicked people.

The old man offered one of his daughters in marriage to Musa if he would stay in service for a minimum of 8 years, or 10 years would be gracious of him. Musa agreed.

After completion of term, Musa travelled with his family and saw a fire in the direction of Mount Tur.

Conversation with Allah and Allah gives him 2 signs of the staff and shining hand. Musa was to go to Firaun with these signs.

Musa’s fear that he had killed a man, and the people would put him to death. Also he requested Allah to have his brother Haroon as his helper for support and for his eloquent speech.

Allah grants authority to Musa and Haroon, such that Firaun would not be able to harm them.

Firaun and his chief dismissed the signs of Musa as sorcery.

Firaun’s order to Haman, to build a high tower so that he could climb it and see the God of Musa.

Firaun and his warriors were arrogant, so Allah seized them and flung them into the sea.

Musa a.s was given the Torah, after Allah had destroyed the former generations.

Allah is revealing these information to you O Muhammad (saws), so that you may forewarn a nation to whom no Warner came before you.

Surah : Al Qasas 6 to 9

O Muhammad (saws), you cannot give guidance to whom you wish. It is Allah who gives guidance to whom He pleases.

Criteria for destroying a town – Allah will never destroy the towns until He has sent to their mother town a Rasool reciting to them His revelations. And Allah will not destroy towns except when their dwellers had become wrongdoers.

Allah creates what He wills and chooses for His work whom He pleases.

Have you considered if Allah made the night perpetual till the Day of Resurrection or if Allah made the day perpetual till the Day of Resurrection, which deity can bring the night back for you to rest or the day to seek His bounty.

Qaroon was one of Musa’s people, but he rebelled against them.

Allah had given him so much treasure that their very keys were a burden to a band of strongmen.

Qaroon was warned by his people not to exult and show off, but he replied that all he has got is by virtue of the knowledge that he possesses.

One day he came out before his people in his worldly glitter, and the people wished that they had the like of Qaroon’s fortune.

The next day, Allah caused the earth to swallow him along with his dwellings and the same people said – “Alas! We had forgotten that it is Allah indeed who enlarges the provision for whom He wills and restricts from whom He pleases”.

Allah has reserved Jannah for those who seek neither exaltation nor corruption in the earth. The ultimate good is for the righteous.

Filed under: From the Holy Quran, Ramadhan, Taraweeh