This is an early Makkan surat; its central theme is resurrection. The story of Pharaoh highlights why some people don't believe, because of pride, selfishness and love of the world (15). The surat opens with five oaths - five descriptive, active participles that are enigmatic and unclear, making them difficult to translate. However, commentators ha…

One day, the Messenger ﷺ was preaching to the leaders of Makkah, hopeful they would accept his message. He was extremely concerned to bringing them into the fold of Islam, and saving them from the Hellfire. However, Abdullah ibn Umm-al Maktum, a blind Muslim, came unexpectedly and wanted the attention of the Prophet ﷺ, saying: "Messenger! Teach me …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al Takwir. The central theme of this early Makkan surat is the truthfulness of the Majestic Quran and the validity of its teachings. It opens with twelve oaths, each signifying one of the cataclysmic events prior to the Day of Resurrection. In the second section, another set …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al Infitar. This is an early Makkan surat. Its central theme is self-deception that turns a person away from Allah. After taking the oaths of the events leading to Judgement Day, a question is gently asked: “people, what deceived and misled you from your generous Lord?” (6). …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Mutaffifin. This is a late Makkan surat, condemning cheating traders and shopkeepers who were dishonest in their dealings with others. This picture of a dishonest person isn’t limited to commercial transactions but is also relevant to people who are dishonest in other aspe…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Inshiqaq. This is a late Makkan surat, of which the central theme is the connection between actions and consequences. It opens by stressing the instinctive obedience of the inanimate; the Sky and the Earth. An indirect disapproval of the Makkans, who refused to obey their …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Buruj. This Makkan surat marks the beginning of the second phase of the mission of the Prophet ﷺ, around the third year; the start of tensions. Its central theme is the support of the faithful. The surat opens with a series of oaths, “By the sky full of constellations.” A …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain share his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Tariq. This is a Makkan surat a with the central theme about the truthfulness of Judgement Day. After taking the oath of the shining stars, people are reminded, "There is a keeper over you" (4). Those who denied the Judgement Day are invited to reflect on their humble beginn…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-A’la. This is an early Makkan surat, its central theme is the role of the Majestic Quran and the Messenger ﷺ as reminders. By referring to the early Scriptures of Musa and Ibrahim, the Quran makes it clear that this is a continuation of the same mission of past prophets. W…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Ghashiyah. This surat was revealed in the middle Makkan period. The three fundamental doctrines of Islam are emphasised. The Day of Judgement is introduced in an unusual manner: "Has the news of the Overwhelming Event reached you?" This is followed by a harrowing account o…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Fajr. The surat begins by taking four oaths to draw our attention: the dawn, the time when the first light appears, the ten sacred nights of the twelfth lunar month of Dhu’l-Hijja, the month of pilgrimage, and the mystery of odd and even numbers. The odd may hint to Allah,…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Balad. The mountain is a permanent feature of our landscape, an effective metaphor for the smallness of humans. The Majestic Quran uses the mountains to provide a dramatic setting: “Had We revealed this Quran on a mountain, you would have seen it humble itself and turn to …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Shams. This early Makkan surat opens with ten oaths. The first four relate to the sun and the last six to the sky, the earth and the human soul. The purpose of these oaths is to support the claim, “Then He inspired it to follow either its vice or virtue” (8). The central t…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Shams. This early Makkan surat opens with ten oaths. The first four relate to the sun and the last six to the sky, the earth and the human soul. The purpose of these oaths is to support the claim, “Then He inspired it to follow either its vice or virtue” (8). The central t…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Layl. This is an early Makkan surat with the central theme of diversity in human endeavours, enterprises and efforts. However, the primary choice confronting people is between good or evil and practising moral values.

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Layl. This is an early Makkan surat with the central theme of diversity in human endeavours, enterprises and efforts. However, the primary choice confronting people is between good or evil and practising moral values. The surat identifies righteous people as those who have…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Inshirah. This Makkan surat builds on the previous surat’s consolation of the Messenger ﷺ in a tone that displays friendship and love. The opening or expansion of the chest of the Prophet ﷺ occurred twice: once in his childhood and again at the start of the Night Journey (…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Duha. This is an early Makkan surat. According to Imam Suyuti, there was a short period when the revelation stopped and the Messenger ﷺ did not preach, prompting the Makkans to say mockingly, "Your Satan has deserted you." The Messenger ﷺ was upset and the surat was reveal…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Duha. This is an early Makkan surat. According to Imam Suyuti, there was a short period when the revelation stopped and the Messenger ﷺ did not preach, prompting the Makkans to say mockingly, "Your Satan has deserted you." The Messenger ﷺ was upset and the surat was reveal…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Tin. This Makkan surat opens with four oaths: two of the valuable trees and two of sacred places. These splendid symbols are used as a testimony to the truthfulness of its theme, the 'inherent goodness' of human nature, and how this is ruined. This vivid description of the…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Qadr. This early Makkan surat praises the splendour of the night on which the Majestic Quran was revealed, a night in the blessed month of Ramadan. On this night of power, glory and splendour, the Majestic Quran was transferred from the Protected Tablet in the upper Heaven…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Zilzal. This is an early Madinan surat, its central theme is accountability on the Day of Resurrection. The surat opens with the advent of the Day of Resurrection, marked by a devastating Earthquake that will flatten the Earth; mountains will turn into rubble, and the seas…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-‘Adiyat. This is a late Makkan surat that concisely describes the human condition of thanklessness. The Arabic is Kufr, a key theme in the Quran, as it often warns people of the dreadful consequences of human ingratitude. A kafir is an unthankful person, the one who fails …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Qari'ah. This is a Makkan surat that starts with a question about Judgement Day in order to open our eyes to the reality of it. It describes the momentous events of that Day and then points out the root of a successful life: good deeds, a guarantee for success. Those who l…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Takathur. This is a Makkan surat that concisely highlights human greed and obsession with material things. It is trying to shock that person who is deeply immersed in the love of the world. Therefore, particularly relevant for our affluent societies. It lays bare the fact …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Asr. The short and pithy message of this Makkan surat is a moving description of those who are mindful. Imam Shafie (d.820 AH) expressed this eloquently when he said: "If people thought deeply just about this one surat, it would be enough for them". This is because it simp…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Humazah. This is a Makkan surat that condemns people who have a negative attitude towards others and are obsessed with wealth. The belief that money can give them health, longevity, happiness and freedom from difficulties is a delusion. Many money-obsessed people are so ou…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Fil. This is an early Makkan surat, which reminds the people of Makkah how they were saved from the army of Abraha. He was a Yemenite Christian king, whose capital Sana housed a magnificent cathedral. The only rival to this cathedral in the Arabian Peninsula was the Kaaba …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Quraysh. This Makkan surat highlights another favour given to the Quraysh: a good livelihood through trading. The Quraysh are reminded they can travel safely to Yemen with their caravans laden with expensive cargo during the winter months, and to Syria in the summer, and t…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Ma'un. This is an early Makkan surat that opens with a description of the character of a Qurayshi leader: unwilling to accept Judgement Day and its justice, unkind to the weak, indifferent to the welfare of the needy, and so mean-spirited that he doesn't lend even small to…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain share his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Kawthar. This is a Makkan surat, it was revealed when the Prophet ﷺ lost both of his baby sons, Qasim and Abdullah, the Qurayshi leaders, including Abu Lahab, were jubilant and called the Prophet Abtar; a pejorative term meaning cut off, i.e. sonless. In other words, the tau…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Kafirun. This surat was revealed in the middle Makkan period when a group of Qurayshi leaders came to the Messenger ﷺ with a proposal: “If you worship our idols for one year, we shall worship your God for one year. This way we will keep our people united.” The surat was re…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat al-Nasr. This is a Madinan surat that forecasts the victory of Makkah and the ultimate success of the Messenger ﷺ, hinting his mission is nearly complete. According to some scholars, this was revealed on the occasion of the 'farewell pilgrimage', in the final year of the life…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat al-Lahab. This is a Makkan surat about Abu Lahab, who was the uncle of the Prophet ﷺ but a bitter enemy. He had considerable influence in the city. One day, the Prophet ﷺ was preaching on Mount Safa near the Kaaba to an attentive crowd. He was inviting them to believe in one …

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat al Ikhlas. This Makkan surat succinctly summarises Quranic teachings about Tawhid, the Oneness of Allah and the core of Islamic faith: all power, glory and control are in the hands of the Almighty Lord. I have translated Al-Samad as “The Eternal”. He is the aim and goal of ev…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat al Falaq. This Surat describes four sources of possible physical and psychological harm; from creation, including visible creatures and the invisible; darkness and what is hidden in it; the witches and their witchcraft; and jealousy. Allah is the only true Protector Who can s…

Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat al Nas. This surah focuses on harm from our archenemy, Satan. This surah tells us how he tries to influence our hearts and minds. Protection lies in turning to Allah for refuge, shield and shelter.