Tarjumatul Quran - Surahs al-Zilzal [The Earthquake] - al-Nas [Mankind]

Including Surah al-Adiyat [The Coursers], Surah al-Qariyah [The Knell], Surah al-Takathur [The Competitions], Surah al-Asr [The Age], Surah al-Humaza [The Gossipmonger], Surah al-Fil [The Elephant], Surah al-Quraysh, Surah al-Ma'oon [The Kindnesses], Surah al-Kauthar [The Plentiful], Surah al-Kafirun [The Disbelievers], Surah al-Nasr [The Help], Surah al-Lahab [The Rope of Plaited Palm Fibre], Surah al-Ikhlas [The Fidelity] and Surah al-Falaq [The Daybreak]. The early verses of Surah al-Adiyat testify to an aspect of the history of Islam in that the Holy Prophetﷺ would never attack anybody who was asleep. Surah al-Qariyah warns mankind of impending disasters and paints a picture of atomic warfare which nobody could have conceived of during the time of the Holy Prophetﷺ. The context of Surah al-Humazah requires its verses to be translated in a way which encompasses all times. It alludes to the tricks of a nation which it plays in order to instigate conflict between one nation and another and considers [the acquisition of] wealth to be their raison d'être and to be the hallmark of such power as they thrive upon. Surah al-Fil mentions the Kaaba to be the abode of peace. When Abraha attempted to destroy it the Divine decree sent swarms of birds to throw pebbles carrying the germs of smallpox which they threw upon them so that an outbreak of smallpox served to destroy them. Surah al-Ma'oon mentions the distinctive features of those who deny the faith that they are a people who shun the orphans and do not encourage feeding the needy and are oblivious of prayers and are pompous. Surah al-Nasr prophesises the acceptance into Islam not only of individuals but of entire nations. Surah al-Lahab informs that even the helpers of those who blaze the fires would be destroyed and the woman represents those nations who follow them. The prayer to be safeguarded from the evil of the jealous ones in the final three Surahs al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and al-Nas proves that Islam would be triumphant. [The Caliph recites the traditional prayer recited upon completing the recitation of the Quran and observes]: I particularly like the prayer of 'O my Allah! Remind me whatever I have forgotten of it' when seen in lieu of the central point in: We shall teach thee and thou shalt not forget. Except as Allah wills. [Surely He knows the apparent and the hidden]. ('The Holy Quran'. Al Ala [The Highest]: 7, 8). The Holy Prophetﷺ would also forget through human frailty but he would be reminded through this promise. 24 February 1999. © The Tahir Archive / MTA International, 2012.