1

QURANIC PASSAGES
1-15

1: Surah, 2.225 (Ayat ul Kursi)

Allah. There is no god but He, the living,

the self-subsisting, eternal. No slumber can
seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the
heavens and on earth. Who is there can
intercede in His presence except as
He permits? He knows what is before or
after or behind them. Nor shall they
compass any of His knowledge except as He
wills. His Throne extends over the heavens
and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in
guarding and preserving them for He is the
Most High, the Supreme

(a) Main Theme:

 Theme of this long verse is Allah in

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
 2

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 worshiped and no
authority can be compared with him.
 3

 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)

101. To Him is due the primal origin of the

heavens and the earth: how can He have a
son when He has no consort? He created all
things, and He has full knowledge of all
things. 102. that is Allah, your Lord! There
is no god but He, the Creator of all things:
then worship Him: and He has power to
dispose of all affairs. 103. No vision can
grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision:
He is above all comprehension, yet
is acquainted with all things.

(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
 4

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 (41.37) (Surah Fussilat)

37. Among His signs are the night and the

 5

day, and the sun and the moon. Adore not

the sun and the moon, but adore Allah, who
created them, if it is Him you wish to serve.

(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 cannot afford to see God
physically, they are asked to identify the
 6

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)

4. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens
and on earth: and He is most high, most
great. 5. The heavens are almost rent
asunder from above them, and the angels
celebrate the praises of their Lord, and
pray for forgiveness for beings on earth:
Behold! Verily Allah is He, the oft-forgiving,
the most merciful.

(a)Main Theme:

The two verses are from sura al-Shura,

 7

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.
 8

 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(112)

1. Say: He is Allah, the one and only; 2.

Allah, the eternal, absolute; 3. He does not
beget, nor is He
begotten; 4. And there is none like Him.

(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
 9

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:
 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).
 10

 Belief in Tawhid, in turn affects the

conduct of Muslims as they develop a
strong sense of God’s presence and
knowledge.

Allah’s relationship with the created world

6. Sura Al-Fateha (1) Opening Chapter of
Quran

1. In the name of Allah, most gracious, most

merciful. 2. Praise be to Allah, the cherisher
and sustainer of the worlds; 3. Most
gracious, most merciful; 4. Master of the
Day of Judgment. 5. You we worship, and
your aid we seek. 6. Show us the
straightway, 7. The way of those to whom
You have given your grace, not those who
earn your anger, nor those who go astray.

(a)Main 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 Makka. 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.
 11

 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:
 This passages 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’am).
 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).
 12

 Obedience to God enables Muslims to

earn His blessing and avoid his anger.

7.Sura Al-Baqarah (2.21-22)

21. O people! Adore your Guardian-Lord,

who created you and those who came
before you, so that you may have the
chance to learn righteousness; 22. Who has
made the earth your couch, and the
heavens your canopy; and sent down rain
from the heavens; and by it brought forth
fruits for your sustenance; then do not set
up rivals to Allah, when you know.

(a)Main 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
 13

serve Me” (21;25) and also, “and your God

is one God” (2:163).

(b)Importance:

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)

1. Read! in the name of your Lord, who

created, 2. Created man out of a clot of
congealed blood: 3.
Proclaim! And your Lord is most bountiful,
 14

4. He who taught by the pen, 5. Taught man

what he did not know.

(a)Main 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:

According to the theme of the passage,

Muslims are required to acknowledge God’s
goodness and greatness as he created man
 15

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)

1. When the earth is shaken to her utmost

convulsion, 2. And the earth throws up her
burdens, 3. And man cries out: ‘What is the
matter with her?’, 4. On that day will she
declare her tidings: 5. For that your Lord
will have given her inspiration. 6. On that
day will men proceed in companies sorted
out, to be shown their deeds. 7. Then shall
anyone who has done an atom’s weight of
good see it! 8. And anyone who has done an
atom’s weight of evil shall see it.

(a)Main Theme:

Theme of the passage is God‘s relation with

the created world.
 16

 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:

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).
 17

 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)

1. Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of

mankind, 2. The King of mankind, 3. The
God of Mankind, 4. from the mischief of the
whisperer who withdraws, 5. Who whispers
into the hearts of mankind, 6. among jinns
and among mankind.

(a)Main 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
 18

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 Quranic instruction: “and on God let
the believers put their trust” (99:51)

(b) Importance:

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
 19

Makkan enemies had cast magic spell on

him.

Allah’s Messengers
11.Sura Al-Baqarah (2:30-37)

(a)Main 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.
 This 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 maneuvered their exile from there,
out of jealousy and malice.
 20

 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:

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
 21

Oft-forgiving and most Merciful” (4:110, Al-

Nisa)

12.Sura Al-an’aam (6:75-79)

75. So also did We show Abraham the

power and the laws of the heavens and the
earth, so that he might have certainty? 76.
When the night covered him over, he saw a
star: He said: ‘This is my Lord.’ But when
it set, he said: ‘I do not love things that
set.’ 77. When he saw the moon rising in
splendor, he said: ‘This is my Lord.’ But
when the moon set, he said: ‘Unless my
Lord guides me, I will surely be among
those who go astray.’ 78. When he saw the
sun rising in splendor, he said: ‘This is my
Lord; this is the greatest.’ But when the sun
set, he said: ‘O my people! I am indeed free
from your giving partners to Allah.’ 79. ‘For
me, I have set my face firmly and truly
towards Him who created the heavens and
the earth, and never shall I give partners to
Allah.’

(a)Main Theme:

 Theme of this passage is God’s

messengers and this passage outlines the
story of Prophet Abraham in search of One
Supreme God.
 22

 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:
 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
 23

 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)

Then will Allah say: ‘Jesus son of Mary!

Recount my favor to you and to your
mother. Behold! I strengthened you with
the Holy Spirit, so that you spoke to the
people in childhood and in
maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and
Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And
behold! You make out of clay, as it were,
the figure of a bird, by my leave, and you
breathe into it and it becomes a bird by my
leave, and you heal those born blind, and
the lepers, by my leave. And behold! You
bring forth the dead by my leave.
And behold! I restrained the Children of
Israel from you when you showed them the
clear signs, and the unbelievers among
them said: ‘This is nothing but evident
magic.’

(a)Main Theme:

 Theme of this passage is God’s

association with His messengers.
 24

 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:

 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
 25

midst of darkness profound” (6:39, al-

An’am).
 Muslims also learn that the rejecters of
truth will stand accountable before God in
the Hereafter.

14.Sura Al-Duha (93)

1. By the glorious morning light, 2. And by

the night when it is still, 3. Your Lord has
not forsaken you, nor is he displeased. 4.
And truly the Hereafter will be better for
you than the present. 5. And soon your Lord
will give you so that you will be pleased. 6.
Did He not find you an orphan and give you
shelter? 7. And He found you wandering,
and He gave you guidance. 8. And He found
you in need, and made you independent. 9.
Therefore, do not treat the orphan with
harshness, 10. Nor drive the beggar away;
11. But tell about the bounty of your Lord!

(a)Main 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.
 26

 God reminded the prophet some of His

past favors 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:
 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
 27

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)

1. To you have We granted abundance 2. So

pray to your Lord and sacrifice. 3. For he
who hates you, he will be cut off

(b)Main 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.
 28

(b)Importance:
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 Makka. 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’am).
 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).