Appendix: 1

1 Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur’an, and:
(a) briefly describe the main theme(s) in each passage. [4]
(b) briefly explain the importance of these themes in a Muslims life today. [4]
1: Sura, 2:255 (Ayat ul Kursi)

َ‫ٱ ﱠُ ﻵَ إِﻟَـٰﮫَ إِﻻﱠ ھُوَ ٱﻟْﺣَﻰﱡ ٱﻟْﻘَﯾﱡومُ ۚ ﻻَ ﺗَﺄْﺧُذُهُۥ ﺳِﻧَﺔٌۭ وَﻻَ ﻧَوْمٌۭ ۚ ﻟﱠﮫُۥ ﻣَﺎ ﻓِﻰ ٱﻟﺳﱠﻣَـٰوَٰتِ وَﻣَﺎ ﻓِﻰ ٱﻷَْرْضِ ۗ ﻣَن ذَا ٱﻟﱠذِى ﯾَﺷْﻔَﻊُ ﻋِﻧدَهُۥٓ إِﻻﱠ ﺑِﺈِذْﻧِﮫِۦ ۚ ﯾَﻌْﻠَمُ ﻣَﺎ ﺑَﯾْن‬
ُ‫أَﯾْدِﯾﮭِمْ وَﻣَﺎ ﺧَﻠْﻔَﮭُمْ ۖ وَﻻَ ﯾُﺣِﯾطُونَ ﺑِﺷَﻰْءٍۢ ﻣﱢنْ ﻋِﻠْﻣِﮫِۦٓ إِﻻﱠ ﺑِﻣَﺎ ﺷَﺂءَ ۚ وَﺳِﻊَ ﻛُرْﺳِﯾﱡﮫُ ٱﻟﺳﱠﻣَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱﻷَْرْضَ ۖ وَﻻَ ﯾَـُٔودُهُۥ ﺣِﻔْظُﮭُﻣَﺎ ۚ وَھُوَ ٱﻟْﻌَﻠِﻰﱡ ٱﻟْﻌَظِﯾم‬
٢٥٥

Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither
drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is
on the earth. Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission? He ˹fully˺ knows
what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His
knowledge—except what He wills ˹to reveal˺. His Seat encompasses the heavens and the earth,
and the preservation of both does not tire Him. For He is the Most High, the Greatest.
(a.) Theme:
Theme of this long verse is God himself. It’s a verse of sura al-Baqarah, a Madni sura. It begins
with the expression of the shahada (declaration of oneness of God) It elaborates various aspects
of unity of God that make him matchless. God is free from all weaknesses and limitations. He
has perfect knowledge of all times. He 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 of the Theme:
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)
ٌۭ‫ﺑَدِﯾﻊُ ٱﻟﺳﱠﻣَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱﻷَْرْضِ ۖ أَﻧﱠﻰٰ ﯾَﻛُونُ ﻟَﮫُۥ وَﻟَدٌۭ وَﻟَمْ ﺗَﻛُن ﻟﱠﮫُۥ ﺻَـٰﺣِﺑَﺔٌۭ ۖ وَﺧَﻠَقَ ﻛُلﱠ ﺷَﻰْءٍۢ ۖ وَھُوَ ﺑِﻛُلﱢ ﺷَﻰْءٍ ﻋَﻠِﯾم‬١٠١ ۖ َ‫ذَٰﻟِﻛُمُ ٱ ﱠُ رَﺑﱡﻛُمْ ۖ ﻵَ إِﻟَـٰﮫَ إِﻻﱠ ھُو‬
ٌۭ‫ﺧَـٰﻠِقُ ﻛُلﱢ ﺷَﻰْءٍۢ ﻓَﭑﻋْﺑُدُوهُ ۚ وَھُوَ ﻋَﻠَﻰٰ ﻛُلﱢ ﺷَﻰْءٍۢ وَﻛِﯾل‬١٠٢ ُ‫ﻻﱠ ﺗُدْرِﻛُﮫُ ٱﻷَْﺑْﺻَـٰرُ وَھُوَ ﯾُدْرِكُ ٱﻷَْﺑْﺻَـٰرَ ۖ وَھُوَ ٱﻟﻠﱠطِﯾفُ ٱﻟْﺧَﺑِﯾر‬١٠٣

˹He is˺ the Originator of the heavens and earth. How could He have children when He has no
mate? He created all things and has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of everything. That is Allah—your
Lord! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. ˹He is˺ the Creator of all things, so
worship Him ˹alone˺. And He is the Maintainer of everything. No vision can encompass Him, but
He encompasses all vision. For He is the Most Subtle, All-Aware.
(a.) Theme:
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 of the theme
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 41.37 (Surah Fussilat)

َ‫وَﻣِنْ ءَاﯾَـٰﺗِﮫِ ٱﻟﱠﯾْلُ وَٱﻟﻧﱠﮭَﺎرُ وَٱﻟﺷﱠﻣْسُ وَٱﻟْﻘَﻣَرُ ۚ ﻻَ ﺗَﺳْﺟُدُوا۟ ﻟِﻠﺷﱠﻣْسِ وَﻻَ ﻟِﻠْﻘَﻣَرِ وَٱﺳْﺟُدُوا۟ ﱠِ ٱﻟﱠذِى ﺧَﻠَﻘَﮭُنﱠ إِن ﻛُﻧﺗُمْ إِﯾﱠﺎهُ ﺗَﻌْﺑُدُون‬٣٧

Among His signs are the day and the night, the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or
the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them ˹all˺, if you ˹truly˺ worship Him ˹alone˺.
(a.) 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 of the theme:

Theme of this passage urges Muslims to observe various objects of nature that reflect God’s
presence, majesty and glory. Since humans cannot 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 (42.4-5)
ُ‫ﻟَﮫُۥ ﻣَﺎ ﻓِﻰ ٱﻟﺳﱠﻣَـٰوَٰتِ وَﻣَﺎ ﻓِﻰ ٱﻷَْرْضِ ۖ وَھُوَ ٱﻟْﻌَﻠِﻰﱡ ٱﻟْﻌَظِﯾم‬٤ َ‫ﺗَﻛَﺎدُ ٱﻟﺳﱠﻣَـٰوَٰتُ ﯾَﺗَﻔَطﱠرْنَ ﻣِن ﻓَوْﻗِﮭِنﱠ ۚ وَٱﻟْﻣَﻠَـٰٓﺋِﻛَﺔُ ﯾُﺳَﺑﱢﺣُونَ ﺑِﺣَﻣْدِ رَﺑﱢﮭِمْ وَﯾَﺳْﺗَﻐْﻔِرُون‬
ُ‫ﻟِﻣَن ﻓِﻰ ٱﻷَْرْضِ ۗ أَﻵَ إِنﱠ ٱ ﱠَ ھُوَ ٱﻟْﻐَﻔُورُ ٱﻟرﱠﺣِﯾم‬٥

To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And He is the Most
High, the Greatest. The heavens nearly burst, one above the other, ˹in awe of Him˺. And the
angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and seek forgiveness for those on earth. Surely Allah
alone is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(a.) Theme:
The two verses are from sura al-Shura, revealed in Makkan 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 of the theme:

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-zumar). Surah 97(al-Qadr) also talks
about: “the angels and the spirit” descending in the night of Power to distribute God’s mercy.
5: Sura Al- Ikhlas (112)
ٌ‫ﻗُلْ ھُوَ ٱ ﱠُ أَﺣَد‬١ ُ‫ٱ ﱠُ ٱﻟﺻﱠﻣَد‬٢ ْ‫ﻟَمْ ﯾَﻠِدْ وَﻟَمْ ﯾُوﻟَد‬٣ ٌۢ‫وَﻟَمْ ﯾَﻛُن ﻟﱠﮫُۥ ﻛُﻔُوًا أَﺣَد‬٤

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “He is Allah—One ˹and Indivisible˺; Allah—the Sustainer ˹needed by all˺. He
has never had offspring, nor was He born. And there is none comparable to Him.”

(a.) 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.) Importance of the Theme:

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.
6: Sura 1 AL-FATEHA (1-7)
ِ‫ﺑِﺴْﻢِ ٱ ﱠِ ٱﻟﺮﱠﺣْﻤَـٰﻦِ ٱﻟﺮﱠﺣِﯿﻢ‬١ َ‫ٱﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﱠِ رَبﱢ ٱﻟْﻌَـٰﻠَﻤِﯿﻦ‬٢ ِ‫ٱﻟﺮﱠﺣْﻤَـٰﻦِ ٱﻟﺮﱠﺣِﯿﻢ‬٣ ِ‫ﻣَـٰﻠِﻚِ ﯾَﻮْمِ ٱﻟﺪﱢﯾﻦ‬٤ ُ‫إِﯾﱠﺎكَ ﻧَﻌْﺒُﺪُ وَإِﯾﱠﺎكَ ﻧَﺴْﺘَﻌِﯿﻦ‬٥ َ‫ٱھْﺪِﻧَﺎ ٱﻟﺼﱢﺮَٰط‬
َ‫ٱﻟْﻤُﺴْﺘَﻘِﯿﻢ‬٦ َ‫ﺻِﺮَٰطَ ٱﻟﱠﺬِﯾﻦَ أَﻧْﻌَﻤْﺖَ ﻋَﻠَﯿْﮭِﻢْ ﻏَﯿْﺮِ ٱﻟْﻤَﻐْﻀُﻮبِ ﻋَﻠَﯿْﮭِﻢْ وَﻻَ ٱﻟﻀﱠﺂﻟﱢﯿﻦ‬٧
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah—Lord of
all worlds, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. You ˹alone˺
we worship and You ˹alone˺ we ask for help. Guide us along the Straight Path, the Path of those
You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.
(a.) Theme:
This is the opening chapter of the Quran and its theme is God’s relation with his created world. It
is believed to be the first complete sura revealed in Makkah. It declares that God alone is the
sustainer of all the known and the unknown worlds, ultimate source of mercy, justice and
guidance for mankind. Only He can guide man to the way of life acceptable to him though he
doesn’t compel anyone to follow that way. Instead, in the words of the Quran, it is man’s duty to
beg before Him for guidance: “and your Lord says: call on Me, I shall answer your supplication”
(40:60). He also tells man the consequences of following this code of conduct or going astray.
Therefore, man needs to praise and worship him and resort to him alone.

(b.) Importance of the Theme:

This passage sums up the message of the Quran. Muslims are told to worship God by following
the right path contained in the Quran and Sunnah and invoke God’s mercy, because according to
the Quran: “he has inscribed for himself the rule of mercy” (6:12, 54, al-An’aam). They should
be pious because God is not only Merciful, He is also Just as He will dispense absolute justice on
the Day of Judgment. They should remember that they will surely get reward in the hereafter as
is promised in the Quran: “and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full
recompense” (3,185, al-Imran). Obedience to God enables Muslims to earn His blessing and
avoid his anger.
7: Sura Al-Baqarah (2.21-22)
َ‫ﯾَـٰٓﺄَﯾﱡﮭَﺎ ٱﻟﻨﱠﺎسُ ٱﻋْﺒُﺪُوا۟ رَﺑﱠﻜُﻢُ ٱﻟﱠﺬِى ﺧَﻠَﻘَﻜُﻢْ وَٱﻟﱠﺬِﯾﻦَ ﻣِﻦ ﻗَﺒْﻠِﻜُﻢْ ﻟَﻌَﻠﱠﻜُﻢْ ﺗَﺘﱠﻘُﻮن‬٢١ َ‫ٱﻟﱠﺬِى ﺟَﻌَﻞَ ﻟَﻜُﻢُ ٱﻷَْرْضَ ﻓِﺮَٰﺷًۭﺎ وَٱﻟﺴﱠﻤَﺂءَ ﺑِﻨَﺂءًۭ وَأَﻧﺰَلَ ﻣِﻦ‬
َ‫ٱﻟﺴﱠﻤَﺂءِ ﻣَﺂءًۭ ﻓَﺄَﺧْﺮَجَ ﺑِﮫِۦ ﻣِﻦَ ٱﻟﺜﱠﻤَﺮَٰتِ رِزْﻗًۭﺎ ﻟﱠﻜُﻢْ ۖ ﻓَﻼَ ﺗَﺠْﻌَﻠُﻮا۟ ﱠِ أَﻧﺪَادًۭا وَأَﻧﺘُﻢْ ﺗَﻌْﻠَﻤُﻮن‬٢٢
O humanity! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those before you, so that you may become
mindful ˹of Him˺. ˹He is the One˺ Who has made the earth a place of settlement for you and the
sky a canopy; and sends down rain from the sky, causing fruits to grow as a provision for you.
So do not knowingly set up equals to Allah ˹in worship˺.
(a.) Theme:
Theme of this passage is God and his created world. The two verses of sura al-Baqarah a Madni
sura outline God’s power to create and make arrangements for the sustenance and growth of
mankind through all ages. The passage commands humans to identify their real Lord by serving
and worshipping Him. It further commands them to reject any form or degree of associating
partners with God as he alone is the supreme creator, cherisher and care-taker of all as
enunciated repeatedly in the Quran: “… there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me”
(21;25) and also, “and your God is one God” (2:163).

(b.) Importance of the Theme:

The passage conveys the message of inculcating taqwa (piety/fear of God) and a sense of
gratitude to God for his countless bounties. Muslims should closely observe God’s favour and
blessing as is frequently mentioned in sura 55: “then which of the bounties of your Lord will you
deny?, “ the best way of remembering God’s favour is to obey and worship him by rejecting
Shirk. Taqwa is the focal point of a Muslim’s life and the Quran very clearly instructs in this
regard: “O, you who believe! Fear God as he should be feared and die not except in a state of
Islam” (3:102, al-Imran). So, Muslims should sincerely worship God and refrain from sins.
8:Surah Al-Alaq (96:1-5)
َ‫ٱﻗْﺮَأْ ﺑِﭑﺳْﻢِ رَﺑﱢﻚَ ٱﻟﱠﺬِى ﺧَﻠَﻖ‬١ ٍ‫ﺧَﻠَﻖَ ٱﻹِْﻧﺴَـٰﻦَ ﻣِﻦْ ﻋَﻠَﻖ‬٢ ُ‫ٱﻗْﺮَأْ وَرَﺑﱡﻚَ ٱﻷَْﻛْﺮَم‬٣ ِ‫ٱﻟﱠﺬِى ﻋَﻠﱠﻢَ ﺑِﭑﻟْﻘَﻠَﻢ‬٤ ْ‫ﻋَﻠﱠﻢَ ٱﻹِْﻧﺴَـٰﻦَ ﻣَﺎ ﻟَﻢْ ﯾَﻌْﻠَﻢ‬٥
Read, ˹O Prophet,˺ in the Name of your Lord Who created—created humans from a clinging
clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen—taught humanity what
they knew not.
(a.) Theme:
Theme of the passage is God and his created world. It mentions God’s power to create and
ensure the survival and growth of mankind. He created man from a low origin and then matured
him physically, intellectually and spiritually by enabling him to read and write. Human ability to
acquire knowledge means to learn, both worldly and divine sciences so that man is able to find
means of physical survival as well as take care of his intellectual and spiritual development. God
has revealed divine books for spiritual guidance of mankind. Thus, man is totally dependent on
his creator Lord in all spheres of life and activity.

(b.) Importance of the theme:

According to the theme of the passage, Muslims are required to acknowledge God’s goodness
and greatness as he created man from a low origin and then enabled him to acquire worldly and
religious knowledge. Human ability to learn has made him superior to all other creatures and the
Quran endorses this fact: “We have indeed created man in the best of moulds” (96:4al-Tin).
Muslims are taught to identify their lord through the perspective of religious knowledge and
adore him alone because of his bounty of divine guidance mentioned in the Quran: “It is He who
has taught the Quran” (55:2, al-Rahman).
9: Surah Al-Zilzal (99)
‫إِذَا زُﻟْزِﻟَتِ ٱﻷَْرْضُ زِﻟْزَاﻟَﮭَﺎ‬١ ‫وَأَﺧْرَﺟَتِ ٱﻷَْرْضُ أَﺛْﻘَﺎﻟَﮭَﺎ‬٢ ‫وَﻗَﺎلَ ٱﻹِْﻧﺳَـٰنُ ﻣَﺎ ﻟَﮭَﺎ‬٣ ‫ﯾَوْﻣَﺋِذٍۢ ﺗُﺣَدﱢثُ أَﺧْﺑَﺎرَھَﺎ‬٤ ‫ﯾَوْﻣَﺋِذٍۢ ﺗُﺣَدﱢثُ أَﺧْﺑَﺎرَھَﺎ‬٤ َ‫ﺑِﺄَنﱠ رَﺑﱠك‬
‫أَوْﺣَﻰٰ ﻟَﮭَﺎ‬٥ ْ‫ﯾَوْﻣَﺋِذٍۢ ﯾَﺻْدُرُ ٱﻟﻧﱠﺎسُ أَﺷْﺗَﺎﺗًۭﺎ ﻟﱢﯾُرَوْا۟ أَﻋْﻣَـٰﻠَﮭُم‬٦ ‫ﻓَﻣَن ﯾَﻌْﻣَلْ ﻣِﺛْﻘَﺎلَ ذَرﱠةٍ ﺧَﯾْرًۭا ﯾَرَهُۥ‬٧ ‫وَﻣَن ﯾَﻌْﻣَلْ ﻣِﺛْﻘَﺎلَ ذَرﱠةٍۢ ﺷَرًّۭا ﯾَرَهُۥ‬٨

When the earth is shaken ˹in˺ its ultimate quaking, and when the earth throws out ˹all˺ its
contents, and humanity cries, “What is wrong with it?”— on that Day the earth will recount
everything, having been inspired by your Lord ˹to do so˺. On that Day people will proceed in
separate groups1 to be shown ˹the consequences of˺ their deeds. So whoever does an atom’s
weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.
(a.) Theme:
Theme of the passage is God‘s relation with the created world. It elaborates the events and the
final outcome of the day of reckoning or end of time. That day will be marked by the most
intense convulsions that will reverse all the normal physical phenomena. Mankind will be
shocked to see earth emitting all its hidden contents, as mentioned elsewhere in the Quran: “and
when the earth is flattened and casts forth what is within it and becomes empty” (84:3-4). Finally
all mankind will appear in the divine court of justice for the rewards of their worldly deeds.

(b.) Importance of the Theme

This passage asks Muslims to have strong faith in God’s power to end time and make all stand
accountable before Him for the ultimate justice. With such a belief , Muslims will learn about the
worthlessness of this world and realize the value of true worlds by saying: “Nay you prefer the
life of this world, but the hereafter is better and more enduring” (87:16, al-A’la). Genuine and
sincere faith in the hereafter shapes the conduct of Muslims. this belief reminds them of God’s
mercy justice and powers the Quran repeatedly talks of this theme by using several expressions
that include: “when the sun is folded up” (sura: 81) “when the sky is clef a sunder” (sura 82) and
“when the earth is flattened out” (sura 84). The objective of this repetition is to remind Muslims
of the Hereafter.
10: Sura Al-Nas (114)

ِ‫ﻗُﻞْ أَﻋُﻮذُ ﺑِﺮَبﱢ ٱﻟﻨﱠﺎس‬١ ِ‫ﻣَﻠِﻚِ ٱﻟﻨﱠﺎس‬٢ ِ‫إِﻟَـٰﮫِ ٱﻟﻨﱠﺎس‬٣ ِ‫ﻣِﻦ ﺷَﺮﱢ ٱﻟْﻮَﺳْﻮَاسِ ٱﻟْﺨَﻨﱠﺎس‬٤ ِ‫ٱﻟﱠﺬِى ﯾُﻮَﺳْﻮِسُ ﻓِﻰ ﺻُﺪُورِ ٱﻟﻨﱠﺎس‬٥ ِ‫ﻣِﻦَ ٱﻟْﺠِﻨﱠﺔِ وَٱﻟﻨﱠﺎس‬
٦
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I seek refuge in the Lord of humankind, the Master of humankind, the God of
humankind, from the evil of the lurking whisperer—who whispers into the hearts of
humankind—from among jinn and humankind.”
(a.) Theme
This is the last surah of the Quran and its theme is God’s relation with his created world. It
mentions God’s three-fold relation with man and, therefore asks man to seek God’s shelter
against all evils that are crafted by Satan and his host of assistants who may be humans or Jinns.
They inject devil in man’s heart and the Quran warns us about this: “for Satan is an avowed
enemy to man” (12:5).
Man should however, also remember the Qur’anic instruction: “and on God let the believers put
their trust” (99:51)

(b.) Importance of the Theme:

This passage together with sura 113, teaches Muslims to seek God’s refuge against all evils as
Satan is always there to misguide them. Muslims should, however strengthen their relation with
God toward of all evil forces. The best way to do this is remember God as enunciated n the
Quran: “and establish regular prayer in order to remember me” (20:14, Taha). Recitation of the
Quran also shuns evil by bringing the reader closer to God: “when you recite the Quran, seek
God’s protection against the evil ones” (16:98, al-Nahl). Muslims should also be ready to
identify evil forces led by Satan and his assistants who accomplish their ugly task in various
ways the holy prophet used to recite sura 113 and 114 to guard against evil, after his Makkan
enemies had cast magic spell on him.

11: Al-Baqarah (2:30-37)

ۖ َ‫وَإِذْ ﻗَﺎلَ رَﺑﱡﻚَ ﻟِﻠْﻤَﻠَـٰٓﺌِﻜَﺔِ إِﻧﱢﻰ ﺟَﺎﻋِﻞٌۭ ﻓِﻰ ٱﻷَْرْضِ ﺧَﻠِﯿﻔَﺔًۭ ۖ ﻗَﺎﻟُﻮٓا۟ أَﺗَﺠْﻌَﻞُ ﻓِﯿﮭَﺎ ﻣَﻦ ﯾُﻔْﺴِﺪُ ﻓِﯿﮭَﺎ وَﯾَﺴْﻔِﻚُ ٱﻟﺪﱢﻣَﺂءَ وَﻧَﺤْﻦُ ﻧُﺴَﺒﱢﺢُ ﺑِﺤَﻤْﺪِكَ وَﻧُﻘَﺪﱢسُ ﻟَﻚ‬
َ‫ﻗَﺎلَ إِﻧﱢﻰٓ أَﻋْﻠَﻢُ ﻣَﺎ ﻻَ ﺗَﻌْﻠَﻤُﻮن‬٣٠ َ‫وَﻋَﻠﱠﻢَ ءَادَمَ ٱﻷَْﺳْﻤَﺂءَ ﻛُﻠﱠﮭَﺎ ﺛُﻢﱠ ﻋَﺮَﺿَﮭُﻢْ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ٱﻟْﻤَﻠَـٰٓﺌِﻜَﺔِ ﻓَﻘَﺎلَ أَﻧۢﺒِـُٔﻮﻧِﻰ ﺑِﺄَﺳْﻤَﺂءِ ھَـٰٓﺆُﻵَءِ إِن ﻛُﻨﺘُﻢْ ﺻَـٰﺪِﻗِﯿﻦ‬
٣١ ُ‫ﻗَﺎﻟُﻮا۟ ﺳُﺒْﺤَـٰﻨَﻚَ ﻻَ ﻋِﻠْﻢَ ﻟَﻨَﺂ إِﻻﱠ ﻣَﺎ ﻋَﻠﱠﻤْﺘَﻨَﺂ ۖ إِﻧﱠﻚَ أَﻧﺖَ ٱﻟْﻌَﻠِﯿﻢُ ٱﻟْﺤَﻜِﯿﻢ‬٣٢ ‫ﻗَﺎلَ ﯾَـٰٓـَٔﺎدَمُ أَﻧۢﺒِﺌْﮭُﻢ ﺑِﺄَﺳْﻤَﺂﺋِﮭِﻢْ ۖ ﻓَﻠَﻤﱠﺂ أَﻧۢﺒَﺄَھُﻢ ﺑِﺄَﺳْﻤَﺂﺋِﮭِﻢْ ﻗَﺎلَ أَﻟَﻢْ أَﻗُﻞ‬
َ‫ﻟﱠﻜُﻢْ إِﻧﱢﻰٓ أَﻋْﻠَﻢُ ﻏَﯿْﺐَ ٱﻟﺴﱠﻤَـٰﻮَٰتِ وَٱﻷَْرْضِ وَأَﻋْﻠَﻢُ ﻣَﺎ ﺗُﺒْﺪُونَ وَﻣَﺎ ﻛُﻨﺘُﻢْ ﺗَﻜْﺘُﻤُﻮن‬٣٣ ٰ‫وَإِذْ ﻗُﻠْﻨَﺎ ﻟِﻠْﻤَﻠَـٰٓﺌِﻜَﺔِ ٱﺳْﺠُﺪُوا۟ ﻟِـَٔﺎدَمَ ﻓَﺴَﺠَﺪُوٓا۟ إِﻵﱠ إِﺑْﻠِﯿﺲَ أَﺑَﻰ‬
َ‫وَٱﺳْﺘَﻜْﺒَﺮَ وَﻛَﺎنَ ﻣِﻦَ ٱﻟْﻜَـٰﻔِﺮِﯾﻦ‬٣٤ ‫وَﻗُﻠْﻨَﺎ ﯾَـٰٓـَٔﺎدَمُ ٱﺳْﻜُﻦْ أَﻧﺖَ وَزَوْﺟُﻚَ ٱﻟْﺠَﻨﱠﺔَ وَﻛُﻼَ ﻣِﻨْﮭَﺎ رَﻏَﺪًا ﺣَﯿْﺚُ ﺷِﺌْﺘُﻤَﺎ وَﻻَ ﺗَﻘْﺮَﺑَﺎ ھَـٰﺬِهِ ٱﻟﺸﱠﺠَﺮَةَ ﻓَﺘَﻜُﻮﻧَﺎ‬
َ‫ﻣِﻦَ ٱﻟﻈﱠـٰﻠِﻤِﯿﻦ‬٣٥ ٌ‫ﻓَﺄَزَﻟﱠﮭُﻤَﺎ ٱﻟﺸﱠﯿْﻄَـٰﻦُ ﻋَﻨْﮭَﺎ ﻓَﺄَﺧْﺮَﺟَﮭُﻤَﺎ ﻣِﻤﱠﺎ ﻛَﺎﻧَﺎ ﻓِﯿﮫِ ۖ وَﻗُﻠْﻨَﺎ ٱھْﺒِﻄُﻮا۟ ﺑَﻌْﻀُﻜُﻢْ ﻟِﺒَﻌْﺾٍ ﻋَﺪُوﱞۭ ۖ وَﻟَﻜُﻢْ ﻓِﻰ ٱﻷَْرْضِ ﻣُﺴْﺘَﻘَﺮﱞۭ وَﻣَﺘَـٰﻊ‬
ٍۢ‫إِﻟَﻰٰ ﺣِﯿﻦ‬٣٦ ُ‫ﻓَﺘَﻠَﻘﱠﻰٰٓ ءَادَمُ ﻣِﻦ رﱠﺑﱢﮫِۦ ﻛَﻠِﻤَـٰﺖٍۢ ﻓَﺘَﺎبَ ﻋَﻠَﯿْﮫِ ۚ إِﻧﱠﮫُۥ ھُﻮَ ٱﻟﺘﱠﻮﱠابُ ٱﻟﺮﱠﺣِﯿﻢ‬٣٧

˹Remember˺ when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive ˹human˺
authority on earth.” They asked ˹Allah˺, “Will You place in it someone who will spread
corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?”
Allah responded, “I know what you do not know.”1He taught Adam the names of all things, then
He presented them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if what you say is
true?”1They replied, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us.
You are truly the All-Knowing, All-Wise.” Allah said, “O Adam! Inform them of their names.”
Then when Adam did, Allah said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and
the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?” And ˹remember˺ when We said to
the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,”1 so they all did—but not Iblîs,2 who refused and acted
arrogantly,3 becoming unfaithful. We cautioned, “O Adam! Live with your wife in Paradise and
eat as freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, or else you will be wrongdoers.” But
Satan deceived them—leading to their fall from the ˹blissful˺ state they were in,1 and We said,
“Descend from the heavens ˹to the earth˺ as enemies to each other.2 You will find in the earth a
residence and provision for your appointed stay.” Then Adam was inspired with words ˹of
prayer˺ by his Lord,1 so He accepted his repentance. Surely He is the Accepter of Repentance,
Most Merciful.

(a.) Theme:
Theme of the passage is God’s messengers. It describes the story of creations of Adam and his
especially elevated status granted by God’s decree. The superiority of Adam was duly
acknowledged by all angels except Iblis who showed arrogance (since he was a Jinn, not an
angel). Adam and Eve were granted paradise but Iblis maneuverer their exile from there, out of
jealousy and malice. On repentance on their mistake Adam and Eve were pardoned by God who
awarded them a new phase of worldly living. The Quran mentions this phase at another place as:
“it is We, Who have placed you with authority on earth” (7:10).
(b.) Importance of the Theme:
Theme of this passage contains important lessons for Muslims. They are told the reason for
making human being superior over all other creatures. God appointed man (byway of Adam) as
his vicegerent on earth because of the knowledge and free will. The free will is a test for humans
as they can be enticed by Satan to commit sins. The Quran warns about this by saying: “for Satan
is an avowed enemy to man” (12:5, Yusuf). The passage further tells about God’s mercy and
forgiveness as he accepted repentance by Adam. The Quran reminds Muslims repeatedly of this
attribute of God: “if anyone does evil, or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seek God’s
forgiveness. He will find God Oft-forgiving and most Merciful” (4:110, Al-Nisa)

12: Al-An’aam (6:75-79)

َ‫وَﻛَﺬَٰﻟِﻚَ ﻧُﺮِىٓ إِﺑْﺮَٰھِﯿﻢَ ﻣَﻠَﻜُﻮتَ ٱﻟﺴﱠﻤَـٰﻮَٰتِ وَٱﻷَْرْضِ وَﻟِﯿَﻜُﻮنَ ﻣِﻦَ ٱﻟْﻤُﻮﻗِﻨِﯿﻦ‬٧٥ َ‫ﻓَﻠَﻤﱠﺎ ﺟَﻦﱠ ﻋَﻠَﯿْﮫِ ٱﻟﱠﯿْﻞُ رَءَا ﻛَﻮْﻛَﺒًۭﺎ ۖ ﻗَﺎلَ ھَـٰﺬَا رَﺑﱢﻰ ۖ ﻓَﻠَﻤﱠﺂ أَﻓَﻞ‬
َ‫ﻗَﺎلَ ﻵَ أُﺣِﺐﱡ ٱﻟْـَٔﺎﻓِﻠِﯿﻦ‬٧٦ َ‫ﻓَﻠَﻤﱠﺎ رَءَا ٱﻟْﻘَﻤَﺮَ ﺑَﺎزِﻏًۭﺎ ﻗَﺎلَ ھَـٰﺬَا رَﺑﱢﻰ ۖ ﻓَﻠَﻤﱠﺂ أَﻓَﻞَ ﻗَﺎلَ ﻟَﺌِﻦ ﻟﱠﻢْ ﯾَﮭْﺪِﻧِﻰ رَﺑﱢﻰ ﻷَﻛُﻮﻧَﻦﱠ ﻣِﻦَ ٱﻟْﻘَﻮْمِ ٱﻟﻀﱠﺂﻟﱢﯿﻦ‬٧٧ ‫ﻓَﻠَﻤﱠﺎ‬
َ‫رَءَا ٱﻟﺸﱠﻤْﺲَ ﺑَﺎزِﻏَﺔًۭ ﻗَﺎلَ ھَـٰﺬَا رَﺑﱢﻰ ھَـٰﺬَآ أَﻛْﺒَﺮُ ۖ ﻓَﻠَﻤﱠﺂ أَﻓَﻠَﺖْ ﻗَﺎلَ ﯾَـٰﻘَﻮْمِ إِﻧﱢﻰ ﺑَﺮِىٓءٌۭ ﻣﱢﻤﱠﺎ ﺗُﺸْﺮِﻛُﻮن‬٧٨ َ‫إِﻧﱢﻰ وَﺟﱠﮭْﺖُ وَﺟْﮭِﻰَ ﻟِﻠﱠﺬِى ﻓَﻄَﺮ‬
َ‫ٱﻟﺴﱠﻤَـٰﻮَٰتِ وَٱﻷَْرْضَ ﺣَﻨِﯿﻔًۭﺎ ۖ وَﻣَﺂ أَﻧَﺎ۠ ﻣِﻦَ ٱﻟْﻤُﺸْﺮِﻛِﯿﻦ‬٧٩
We also showed Abraham the wonders of the heavens and the earth, so he would be sure in faith.
When the night grew dark upon him, he saw a star and said, “This is my Lord!” But when it set,
he said, “I do not love things that set.” Then when he saw the moon rising, he said, “This one is
my Lord!” But when it disappeared, he said, “If my Lord does not guide me, I will certainly be
one of the misguided people.” Then when he saw the sun shining, he said, “This must be my
Lord—it is the greatest!” But again when it set, he declared, “O my people! I totally reject
whatever you associate ˹with Allah in worship˺. I have turned my face towards the One Who has
originated the heavens and the earth—being upright—and I am not one of the polytheists.”
(a.) Theme:
Theme of this passage is God’s messengers and this passage outlines the story of Prophet
Abraham in search of One Supreme God. Abraham was gradually guided to identify the real
Creator and Lord by way of his creations such as the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. He eventually
realized that God is eternal and therefore He rejected the polytheism (shirk) that was the
hallmark of the society around him. He finally, declared the shahada (proclamation of belief in
one God) as a sign of acquiring internal peace.
(b.) Importance of the Theme:
Theme of this passage teaches Muslims to refuse Shirk i.e. associating partners with God and to
believe in Tawhid. They should learn that celestial bodies merely reflect God’s glory and are
only God’s creatures. They should never be worshiped because the Quran categorically declares:
“he has made subject to you the night and the day; the sun and the moon; and the stars are in
subjection by his command” (16:12, al-Nahl). Muslims should also believe God granted prophet-
hood to his messengers by various modes and that all these messengers preached the universal
message of Tawhid. Prophet Ibrahim’s proclamation of Tawhid was not different from the
shahada taught by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Therefore Muslims should respect all the
messengers equally.

13:Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:110)

(a.) Theme:
Theme of this passage is God’s association with His messengers. It describes God’s address to
Jesus in the Divine Court in the presence of children of Israel. It outlines the prophetic signs of
Jesus that include his ability to speak from the cradle, give life to the dead and cure the leper and
the blind. Above all he was taught the divine wisdom through the Torah and the Gospel but
despite all this he was rejected by his people who even tried to crucify him.

(b.) Importance of the theme:

Muslims are taught many important things though the theme of this passage. They are required to
believe that, like other messengers Jesus was also a man chosen by God. He was granted
miraculous powers so that men of wisdom should identify him. The Quran referred to this fact
as: “thus does God make clear to you His signs in order that you consider” (2:219, al-Baqarah).
Muslims also learn that God’s messengers were always rejected despite such clear signs by the
‘spiritually dead’ and ‘sick in heart’ people who are mentioned by the Quran as: “those who
reject our signs are deaf and dump and midst of darkness profound” (6:39, al-An’aam). Muslims
also learn that the rejecters of truth will stand accountable before God in the Hereafter.
14:Sura Al-Duha (93)

(a.) Theme:
Theme of the passage is God’s special relation with the Holy Prophet. The passage was revealed
after a long break that worried the prophet, and his makkan enemies began to mock him. God
consoled him re-assuring that he would not abandon him. God reminded the prophet some of His
past favours on him. The prophet was a born orphan but God made arrangements for his growth
and upbringing. God then granted him prophet-hood, His greatest reward. Purpose of these
reminders is to re-assure him of similar support in future. However, God instructed him to be
kind to those in need as this would reflect his gratitude to God.

(b.) Importance of the Theme:

The theme of this passage teaches Muslims the importance of faith in God’s help. The Holy
Prophet (SAW) was re-assured by God in the midst of mockery in Makkah. Muslims today
should also retain their faith in difficult times by remembering the Quranic promise: “So, verily
with every difficulty there is a relief” (94:5, al-Inshirah). Muslims should believe that all
messengers of God were rejected and ridiculed but they remained firm in their mission. They
should also believe that the relationship with God can be strengthened by their kindness to the
weak and unsupported people because such an attitude is an expression of love for God. The
Quran says: “it is righteous to spend of your substance out of love for Him, for your kins, for
orphans” (2:177, al-Baqarah).
15:Sura Al-Kauthar (108)

(a.) Theme:
Theme of the passage is God’s relation with his messengers. It mentions God’s special care for
the Holy Prophet (SAW) in time of difficulties. The Prophet was mocked by the Makkans on the
death of his sons from Khadija (RA). God consoled him by promising him abundance of success
and destruction of the ones who insulted him. He told the prophet to remember God through
regular prayer and to develop the spirit of sacrifice so that he could continuously strengthen his
bond with God and to get constant divine support.

(b.) Importance of the Theme:

This passage, like surah 93, teaches Muslims to have faith in God’s support that surely teaches
the noble people. The holy prophet was assured of “abundance” in the face of persecutions in
Makkah. This “abundance” came in the form of his countless followers and his descendants
through his daughter Fatima. His insulters, on the other hand, perished forever. So, a noble
mission always survives though it is rejected by the misguided people. The Quran testifies to it:
“rejected were the Messengers before you; with patience and constancy they bore their rejection“
(6:34, al-An’aam). The passage teaches Muslims to develop spirit of sacrifice and establish
prayer as these are the best means of getting closer to their lord, as is endorsed by the Quran:
“and establish regular prayer in order to remember Me” (20:14, Taha).