Loving and Living the Quran
Chapter 87 Sura Ala'a

This Surah is one of the earliest Surahs revealed at Makkah and it talks about 

  1. Tawhid: Allah is Almighty, always glorify Him.
  2. Allah has taken the responsibility off of Holy Prophet's memorization of the Qur'an by assuring him that he will not forget any portion of it.
  3. Those who heed Allah's reminders will be successful in the Hereafter. 

When P (saw) was asked about favourite Sura, he said Ala. It was very close to him.  Ala is one of the names of Allah – it is one of 4 suwer of the Quran which bear one of the names of Allah swt – Rahman, Fatir, Ala and Ghafir, (which is also called Surat Momin)

Sura Ala is also one of the 6 glorification sura which begin with the Tasbeeh of Allah swt: Hadid – 57 Hashr – 59 Saff – 61 Jummah – 62 Taghabun – 63 Ala – 87. These Suras mention various Names of Allah s..tw , and Suratul Hadeed mentions 4 Names, Al Awwal ul Aakhir, Az Zahir Al Batin, The First, the Last, the Open and the Hidden, which Masters have called the Source Names, as all other attributes of Allah s..wt are necessary offshoots or derivatives from this Essential Reality.

Sayyid Qutb says that this sura turns the whole universe into a temple of glorification where the four corners echo the glory and subhan of Allah and when we were listening to the Sura, it’s rhythm, and the ending vowels of each aya seem to echo the tasbih of Al Alaa This Sura is like a capsule summary of the essence of the entire spiritual path.

Direct download: Chapter_87_Sura_Ala_Edited.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 7:03pm EDT
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Continuing with our study of Ayat ul Kursi, which the Holy Prophet (saw) called "Sayyadul Ayat". 

In this session, we do a recap of the Verse of the Throne and then go on to study one of the most oft quoted and misquoted verses 2:256 "There is no compulsion in religion". What does this mean? Does it mean that we can do whatever we want? Doesn't that then make the rules of religion meaningless? This discussion may clarify these and other questions about this important verse of Sura Baqara.

 

 

Direct download: Ayat_ul_Kursi_pt_3_Edited_2008.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 9:05am EDT
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Ayat ul Kursi Part 2 of 3

Continuing with our study of Ayat ul Kursi which is Allah’s introduction of Himself, His self-definition.

In this session we talk about the Holy Attributes of Hayy and Qayyum - The Ever-Living and the Self Subsisting

This episode is part 2 from a live Quran Study Group session in 2007 when we spent 3 weeks studying this verse. 

 

 

Direct download: Ayat_ul_Kursi_pt_2_edited.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT
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Ayat ul Kursi Part 1 of 3

Ayat ul Kursi is Allah’s introduction of Himself, His self-definition.

Hadith: “Everything has a summit and the summit of the Quran is Ayat ul Kursi”

HP (saw) cream of the Quran is in Suratul Baqara and the cream of Suratul Baqara is in Ayat al kursi

Imam Ali (as) : “I have not spent a single night . . .without reciting it.”

This episode is from a live Quran Study Group session in 2007 when we spent 3 weeks studying this verse. 

 

Direct download: Ayat_ul_Kursi_pt_1_EDITED_wout_qs__2007.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 3:35pm EDT
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Chapter 32 Sura Sajda verses 23 - 30

In the final few verses of this awesome Sura, Allah mentions the faculties of sight and hearing and invites us to listen, not just hear and have insight not just see. The verses talk about how if we listen and have vision, we will can become conscious of our past, discover our true purpose and use our time here accordingly. Those who refuse to learn from these signs focus instead in questioning and arguments which are not going to be useful in the long run. 

Direct download: Sura_Sajda_Verses_23_-_30_end.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 3:04pm EDT
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Chapter 32 Sura Sajda verses 18 - 22

Continuing with our study of Sura Sajda, these verses explain how a believer and a transgressor are not the same - in fact, their outlook on life, their perceptions and their actions are all polar opposites. While the believers have a vision for the Hereafter and act accordingly, the transgressors are focused on following their whims based on very short term thinking. It is natural that they will different eventual outcomes. 

Direct download: Chapter_32_Sura_Sajda_v_18_-_22.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 9:57pm EDT
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Chapter 32 Sura Sajda verses 15 - 17

These verses contain the profile of those who believe in the communications of Allah swt. The verses list 8 actions of believers and how they respond to the communications of their Lord. 

We also cover the rules of prostration when we recite a which contains an obligatory prostration. 

Direct download: Chapter_32_Sura_Sajda_v_15_-_17.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 9:48pm EDT
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Chapter 32 Sura Sajda verses 10 - 14

Continuing with our study of Sura Sajda, these verses about the outcome of the disbelievers on the Day when they are faced with the consequences of the way they lived their life

Direct download: Chpater_32_Sura_Sajda_v_10_-_14.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 11:15pm EDT
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Chapter 32 Sura Sajda verses 6 - 9

Continuing with the study of Sura Sajda, these verses talk about the stages of man's creation. Islam asks us to reflect not only about our end and final destination but also about our beginnings. These verses talk about man's physical creation and then his spiritual side as well. 

Direct download: Chapter_32_Sura_Sajda_v_6_-_9.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 11:11pm EDT
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Chapter 21 Sura Sajda v 1 - 5

Sura Sajda is a beautiful sura of the Holy Quran which, it is reported, that the Holy Prophet (saw) used to recite every night (along with Sura Mulk).

In the episode, we talk about the benefits of this Sura and discus the first few verses which talk about the objections to the Quran that were presented to the Holy Prophet (saw) and how Allah swt answers them. 

Direct download: Chapter_32_Sura_Sajda_v_1_-_5.mp3
Category:Quran Study Circle -- posted at: 11:06pm EDT
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