1: Surah, 2.
225 (Ayat ul Kursi)
(a) Main Theme:
Theme of this long verse is God himself.
It’s a verse of Sura al-Baqara, a Madninan sura.
It begins with the expression of the Shahada (declaration of oneness
of God) and then elaborates various aspects of unity of God that
make Him matchless
God is free from all weaknesses and limitations, has perfect
knowledge of all times, is not dependent on anyone for His survival
and enjoys autonomy in exercising His authority.
His authority and His rule encompass the entire universe. This makes
God not only unique but also elevates him to the heights, we just
can’t imagine and that is mentioned in the Quran' as: “then He
established Himself on the throne” (10:3, 13:2)
(b) Importance:
This passage tells Muslims to believe in Tawhid in terms of God’s
uniqueness, majesty and glory.
The theme is important for Muslims as it crystallizes the belief of
Tawhid and trains them to condemn shirk.
There is repetitive mention of God’s authority, unlimited knowledge
and powers in order to strengthen the faith of its readers.
For example, it says “He is exalted in power, Wise. He created the
heavens without any pillars”31:9-10, luqman) and “but God is the One
free of all wants “(35:15,Fatir).
The objective is to remind Muslims that God alone is to be
worshipped and no authority can be compared with him.
Many Muslims recite this verse regularly to reiterate God’s power and
high position as compared to any worldly authority.
2.Surah (6:101-103) (Al-An’aam)
(a)Main Theme:
The Theme of this passage is God in Himself.
It elaborates some of the fundamental aspects of unity of God
(Tawhid).
It describes God as the originator of universe and rejects any kind of
misconception of God having any family.
It also refers to His unbounded knowledge, power and grasp on His
created world.
The passage further stresses on the sublime nature of God and
inability of human imagination to encompass God’s person, though
He himself can see to the unfathomable depths, as endorsed
elsewhere in the Quran: “for God is He Who understands
the finest mysteries” (22:63).
(b)Importance:
This passage is important for Muslims to clearly understand the
doctrine of Tawhid in terms of God’s nature and powers. Muslims
need to learn that though God is too sublime to be perceived,
He is everywhere and all powerful.
The Quran reminds Muslims this repeatedly: “and He is with
you where ever you are” (57:04, Al-hadid), and
“for We are nearer to him (man) than his jugular
vein” (50:16, Qaf).
The passage also categorically negates the false belief of God having
any wife or children and thus, it strikes at the roots of shirk
(associating partners with God).
Muslims, in this way, develop a clearer concept of tawhid and feel
themselves bound to adore God only.
They remember that shirk is the only unpardonable sin in the sight of
God.
3.Sura (Surah Fussilat)
(a)Main Theme:
This verse is from sura fussilat Ha-Mim, an early makkan sura,
it describes the theme of God in Himself.
It mentions some of the signs and phenomena of nature that reflect
God’s unity and majesty.
It refers to the cycles of day and night as evidence of divinity.
The quran supports it elsewhere as: “Behold! In the creation of the
heavens and earth; in the alternation of the night and the day….are signs
for the people who are wise’’ (2:164).
The passage commands us to worship the Creator of the sun and
moon and not the creations themselves because the Creator is
always superior to the creations
(b)Importance:
Theme of this passage urges Muslims to observe various objects of
nature that reflect God’s presence, majesty and glory.
Since humans can not afford to see God physically, they are asked to
identify the real creator through his creations that bear witness to is
existence.
Such observation encourages Muslims to develop a strong belief in
Tawhid in all its aspects.
The Quran, for this reason, frequently refers to the need of pondering
and observing: “Verily, in the alternation of the night and the day, and in
all that God has created in the heavens and the earth, are signs for those
who fear Him” (30:40, Al-Rum).
So, Muslims should express their gratitude to God for enabling them
to see and think deeply.
Muslims will thus avoid Shirk that the earlier communities fell victim
to, and worship one Supreme God.
4.Sura Al-Shura (
(a)Main Theme:
The two verses are from sura al-Shura, revealed in Makka shortly
after sura fussilat and its theme is God’s unity expressed by His
grandeur and authority. He enjoys unshared authority over entire
universe.
The Quran says: “His are all things in the heaven and on the
earth” (2:255).
It also mentions the effect of God’s might on the heavens that hardly
sustain this immense burden.
The passage also refers to the countless angels who are busy in the
prayers and glorification of the Lord and also invoke His mercy and
pardon for humans who tend to disobey their lord. The Quran
declares this weakness of humans as: “It is man that wrongs his
own soul” (10:44).
(b) Importance:
Theme of this message guides Muslims about two articles of faith:
belief in Tawhid and angels.
The passage tells Muslims about God’s power, authority and glory in
order to make them His obedient servants.
By referring to the angels praising God and seeking forgiveness for
humans, it tells them about God’s mercy. Humans, because of free
will, can commit sins but God is ready to forgive them.
Belief in God’s mercy and forgiveness prepares Muslims to repent
over their misdeeds.
The Quran re-assures Muslims by saying: “Despair not of the mercy
of God; for God forgives all sins, for he is oft-forgiving, Most merciful’’
(39:53 al-zulmar). Surah 97(al-Qadr) also tells about: “the angels and the
spirit” descending in the night of Power to distribute God’s mercy.
5.Sura Al- Ikhlas
(a)Main Theme:
Theme of this early Makkan is God in himself in terms of His unique person.
It outlines the most fundamental and cardinal aspects of Tawhid (oneness of God).
It out rightly declares God’s unity and emphatically negates the false belief of God
having ancestors and descendants.
It further highlights God’s unity by saying that God’s nature or person can never be
compared to anyone throughout the universe. It also mentions God’s freedom from time
and space by saying that he has always been and will always be there.
This way, the passage crystallizes the belief of Tawhid.
(b)Importalnce:
Theme of this passage purifies Muslim’s belief in Tawhid and that is why the passage is
named al-Ikhlas (the purity of faith).
Muslims learn from this passage that God is unique in all aspects.
This uniqueness and supremacy of God highlights human inability and limitation before
his Lord.
Thus, it eliminates all forms and degrees of shirk or associating partners with God.
Muslims recite this sura in daily prayers in order to reiterate rejection of shirk.
It is so important that the holy prophet declared it equivalent to one third of the Quran.
Its theme is so important that the Quran repeatedly mentions this: “and your God is one
God” (2:163, al-Baqarah) and “God! there is no God but He” (2:255).
Belief in Tawhid, in turn affects the conduct of Muslims as they develop a strong sense
of God’s presence and knowledge.
