Verse studies

Every study, in the order of the Qur’an. Each one sets out the verse, the context in which it was revealed, the readings of the exegetes, and our reflection on the comparison, with an invitation to share yours.

2 · Sūrah al-Baqarah

2:124Sūrah al-Baqarah, verse 124When his Lord tested Abraham with certain words, and he fulfilled them, He said, 'I am making you the Imam of mankind.' Said he, 'And from among my descendants?' He said, 'My pledge does not extend to the unjust.'2:143Sūrah al-Baqarah, verse 143Thus We made you a middle nation that you may be witnesses to the people and that the Apostle may be a witness to you. We did not appoint the Qiblah which you used to face but that We might know those who follow the Apostle from those who turn back on their heels. And it was indeed a hard test except for those whom Allah has guided. And Allah would never let your faith go to waste. Indeed Allah is most kind and merciful to mankind.2:207Sūrah al-Baqarah, verse 207Among the people is he who sells his soul seeking Allah’s pleasure, and Allah is most kind to (His) servants.

3 · Sūrah Āl ʿImrān

3:7Sūrah Āl ʿImrān, verse 7It is He who has sent down to you the Book, of which there are definitive verses, which are the mother of the Book, and others are metaphorical. As for those in whose hearts is deviance, they pursue what is metaphorical in it, seeking to cause sedition and to interpret it . Yet no one knows its interpretation except Allah. And those firmly grounded in knowledge say, “We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord.” And none takes admonition except those who possess intellect.3:61Sūrah Āl ʿImrān, verse 61Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge that has come to you, say, ‘Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls, then let us pray earnestly and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.’

4 · Sūrah al-Nisāʾ

4:59Sūrah al-Nisāʾ, verse 59O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favorable in outcome.

5 · Sūrah al-Māʾidah

5:3Sūrah al-Māʾidah, verse 3Forbidden to you is carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been offered to other than Allah, and the animal that has been strangled, or beaten to death, or died by falling, or was gored, or devoured by a beast—excepting what you have slaughtered—and that which is sacrificed on stone altars, and to divide meat by raffling with arrows: that is an outrage. Today the faithless have despaired of your religion; so do not fear them, but fear Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion. But should anyone be compelled by hunger, without inclining to sin, then Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.5:6Sūrah al-Māʾidah, verse 6O you who have faith! When you stand up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads, and your feet up to the ankles. And if you are in a state of ritual impurity, then purify yourselves. But if you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you comes from the toilet, or you have touched women, and you do not find any water, then take clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with it. Allah does not desire to cause you hardship, but He desires to purify you and complete His blessing upon you so that you may give thanks.5:35Sūrah al-Māʾidah, verse 35O you who have faith! Be wary of Allah, and seek the means of recourse to Him, and wage jihad in His way so that you may be felicitous.5:55Sūrah al-Māʾidah, verse 55Your waliyy (guardian) is only Allah, His Apostle, and those who believe who maintain the prayer and give the zakāt while bowing down.5:67Sūrah al-Māʾidah, verse 67O Apostle! Communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message. Allah shall protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the faithless lot.

7 · Sūrah al-Aʿrāf

7:172Sūrah al-Aʿrāf, verse 172When your Lord took from the Children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants and made them bear witness over themselves, [He said,] ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we bear witness.’ Lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘Indeed we were unaware of this.'

9 · Sūrah al-Tawbah

9:40Sūrah al-Tawbah, verse 40If you do not help him, Allah has already helped him when the faithless expelled him, and he was one of the two, when the two were in the cave, he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; Allah is indeed with us.’ Then Allah sent down His composure upon him, and strengthened him with hosts you did not see, and He made the word of the faithless the lowest, and the word of Allah is the highest; and Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.9:100Sūrah al-Tawbah, verse 100The early vanguard of the Emigrants and the Helpers and those who followed them in virtue—Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them . That is the great success.

13 · Sūrah al-Raʿd

13:43Sūrah al-Raʿd, verse 43The faithless say, ‘You have not been sent (by Allah).’ Say, ‘Allah suffices as a witness between me and you, and he who possesses the knowledge of the Book.’

17 · Sūrah al-Isrāʾ

17:71Sūrah al-Isrāʾ, verse 71The day We shall call every group of people with their Imam. So whoever is given his book in his right hand—they will read their book, and they will not be wronged a single date-thread.

20 · Sūrah Ṭā Hā

20:121Sūrah Ṭā Hā, verse 121So they ate from it, whereupon their nakedness became visible to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of paradise. Thus Adam disobeyed his Lord, and went astray.

21 · Sūrah al-Anbiyāʾ

21:87-88Story of Prophet YūnusAnd (mention) Dhu’l-Nūn, when he left in a rage, and thought that We would not put him to hardship. Then he cried out in the darkness, "There is no god except You! You are immaculate! I have indeed been among the wrongdoers!" (21:87-88)

24 · Sūrah al-Nūr

24:35-36Sūrah al-Nūr, verses 35-36Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is a niche wherein is a lamp—the lamp is in a glass, the glass as if it were a glittering star—lit from a blessed olive tree, neither eastern nor western, whose oil almost lights up, though fire should not touch it. Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomever He wishes. Allah draws parables for mankind, and Allah has knowledge of all things. In houses Allah has allowed to be raised and wherein His Name is celebrated; He is glorified therein, morning and evening.

33 · Sūrah al-Aḥzāb

33:33Sūrah al-Aḥzāb, verse 33Stay in your houses, and do not flaunt your finery like the former ignorance. Maintain the prayer and give the zakāt, and obey Allah and His Apostle. Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.33:72-73Sūrah al-Aḥzāb, verses 72-73Indeed We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and were apprehensive of it; but man undertook it. Indeed he is most unjust and ignorant. So that Allah may punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the polytheists, men and women, and that Allah may turn clemently to the faithful, men and women, and Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

42 · Sūrah al-Shūrā

42:23Sūrah al-Shūrā, verse 23That is the good news Allah gives to His servants who have faith and do righteous deeds. Say, ‘I do not ask you any reward for it except love of relatives.’ And whoever performs a good deed, We shall enhance for him its goodness. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-appreciative.

48 · Sūrah al-Fatḥ

48:1-3Sūrah al-Fatḥ, verses 1-3Indeed We have inaugurated for you a manifest victory, that Allah may forgive you what is past of your sin and what is to come, and complete His blessing upon you, and guide you on a straight path, and that Allah may help you with a mighty help.

56 · Sūrah al-Wāqiʿah

56:77-79Sūrah al-Wāqiʿah, verses 77-79Indeed it is a noble Qur’an, in a guarded Book, which none touches except the purified.

66 · Sūrah al-Taḥrīm

66:1-2Sūrah al-Taḥrīm, verses 1-2O Prophet! Why do you forbid what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking to please your wives? And Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful. Allah has certainly sanctioned for you the absolution of your oaths, and Allah is your master, and He is the All-knowing, the All-wise.

75 · Sūrah al-Qiyāmah

75:22-24Sūrah al-Qiyāmah, verses 22-24Some faces on that day will be radiant, looking at their Lord. And (some) faces on that day will be scowling.

80 · Sūrah ʿAbasa

80:1-4Sūrah ʿAbasa, verses 1-4He frowned and turned away, because the blind man approached him. And do you know, maybe he seeks to purify himself, or take admonition, and the admonition may benefit him.