The chronology of the Quran

Part Two
by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

Eighth Day

25. Al-Qadr  (Destiny) (97)

Makkah

Al-Qadr is the 25th Surah revealed upon the Prophet and it is the 97th Surah of the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah at a time when the fasting in the month of Ramadan was not prescribed and the Prophet had not announced that the odd nights in the last ten days of the Quran have a night of power in them. The Surah explains that a moment of faith in the majesty of God is better than living without faith for a thousand nights. It reminds the believers of the glory of the divine guidance that was revealed to the Prophet for the first time in the month of Ramadan. The night in which it was revealed is described the night of destiny because the Quran has the power to enable the people to change their destiny..  

26. Ash-Shams (The Sun) (91)

Makkah

Ash-Shams is the 26th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 91st Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 15 Ayah in one Ruku. The Ayah explains the laws that govern the physical aspects of the universe and invites people to reflect upon them in the context of their own creation. It explains that human beings are in a state of constant evolution or devolution or stagnation. Those who are aware of the fact that their knowledge is the foundation of growth and purification will grow constantly and those who deny knowledge and facts any role in human evolution will regress.                                                                                                                               

27. Al-Buruj (The Great Constellation) (85)

Makkah

Al-Buruj is the  27th Surah revealed upon the Prophet is 85th in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 22 verses in one Ruku. It refers to a long practice on the part of those who reject the divine faith and warns against persecuting the believers in this world. It asserts that those who deny the truth and harm the believers should be ready for the consequences of their actions. It also reassures the believers that their sacrifices would not go waste and they would prosper in life yet to come.

28. At-Tin (The Fig) (95)

Makkah

At-Tin is the 28th Surah revealed upon the Prophet and in the traditionally arranged Quran, it appears as the 95th Surah. It was revealed in Makkah has eight Ayah in one Ruku. It refers to the divine message that was given to the God’s chosen messenger and explains that human being were the ones who had the best intellectual and physical structure to accept and live by the divine guidance, yet they chose to ignore it, thus harming them. It refers to those who had faith and who substantiated their faith with actions as successful people.

Ninth Day

29. Quraish (106)

Makkah

Quraysh is the 106th Surah of the traditionally arranged Quran and is the 29th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah and has four Ayah in one Ruku. By giving the example of the tribe of Quraysh who were given the prominence and honor of being the custodians of the Kaaba, the Surah is inviting people to have faith in Allah and his message. It assures them that Allah would not abandon them and provide for them as he has to the tribe of Quraysh.

30. Al-Qari’ah (The Sudden Calamity) (101)

Makkah       

Al-Qariah was the 30th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It occurs as the 101st  Surah of the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah has 11 Ayah in one Ruku. It described the Day of Judgment in a concise manner and reminds people that everything that is in existence would perish, mountains would crumble and humans would scatter. Only those who followed the divine guidance would succeed and prosper on that day.

31.  Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection)

Makkah

Al-Qiyamah is the 75th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran and is the 31st Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah and has 40 Ayah in two Ruku. It assures the people that death is not the annihilation of the body and soul as they would be resurrected to see the record of their deeds in this world. It talks about the physical resurrection and the events that would take place at the end of the world.

32. Al-Humazah (The Slanderer) (104)

Makkah

Al-Humazah is the 32nd Surah revealed upon the Prophet and its number in the traditionally arranged Quran is 104th. It was revealed in Makkah and has nine Ayah in one Ruku. It refers to the human tendency to accumulate wealth without realizing that it would be of no avail at the time when one departs from this world. It reminds humans of the dangers of following this materialistic lifestyle.

Tenth day

33. Al-Mursalat (The Resurrection) (77)

Makkah

The 33rd Surah that was revealed upon the Prophet was Al-Mursalat meaning those sent forth. This is the 77th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It has 70 Ayah in two Ruku. This Surah was revealed in Makkah and has 50 verses in 2 sections.  It focuses on the theme of resurrection and reassures the people that its occurrence is certain and cannot be denied. It would happen at its appointed time and those who reject would suffer the consequences of their denial.

34.  Surah Qaf (the Arabic Alphabet Qaf) (50)

Makkah

Qaf is the 34th Surah revealed upon the Prophet and is the 50th in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 45 Ayah in three Ruku. The Surah refutes those who argued that resurrection was impossible and human beings once dead cannot be revived. The Surah assures them that human beings would be brought back to their original form and be held accountable for their deeds in this world and would face consequences for them. It assures success to those who have faith in Allah. It explains that nature gives proof of the resurrection. It also reminds people that Allah is closer to them than their jugular vein and he is watching over them.

35. All-Balad (The Land) (90)

Makkah

The 35th Surah, Al-Balad, revealed upon the Prophet is the 90th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 20 verses in one Ruku.  It entrusts the believers with two main tasks i.e., the liberation of human beings from the bondage they have been placed in by social and political or economic circumstances and to eliminate hunger. It explains that faith becomes meaningful when these two tasks are given priority.

36. At-Tariq (That which comes up in the Night) (86)

Makkah

At-Tariq is the 36th Surah that was revealed upon the Prophet and in the traditionally arranged Quran, its number is 86th. It was revealed in Makkah and has 17 Ayah in one Ruku. It reminds human beings of the creator of the universe who has embedded physical laws in it under his supervision. It reminds people of the serious nature of the process of creation. It asks people to pay attention to the universe, their own creation and the words of Allah as appear in the Quran.

Eleventh day

37. Al-Qamar (The Moon) (54)

Makkah

Al-Qamar is the 37th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 54th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 55 Ayah in 3 Ruku. This Surah gives details of the end of time and talks about the Day of Judgment. It reminds people of the great flood that place at the time of Prophet Noah, the punishment that was meted out to the people of Ad, Thamud, Lot, and the Pharaoh. It shares the glad tidings with the believers that they would enjoy the closeness of their creator and would find them in eternal peace.

38. Saad (The Arabic Letter Saad) (38)

Makkah

Saad is 38th Surah revealed upon the Prophet and it is also the 38th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 88 Ayah in five Ruku. It reminds people of the continuity of divine guidance through messengers throughout human history. It talks about the sacrifices the messengers and their supporters gave upholding the truth and divine guidance. It repeats the historical fact that truth always and ultimately prevails. It explains that it is the guidance of Allah that enables people to achieve great things in a humble manner. It warns people against arrogance and tells them that only through submission to Allah; one can develop the faculties of humility.

39. Al-A'raf (The Faculty of Discernment) (7)

Makkah

Al-Araf is the 39th Surah revealed upon the Prophet and in the traditionally arranged Quran, its number is seventh.  This is one of the few longest Surah revealed in Makkah and the time of its revelation is one or two years before the Prophet’s migration to Medina.

It has 206 Ayah in 24 Ruku.  It dwells in greater detail on the institution of Prophethood. It explains that Allah communicates his message to human beings through his chosen messengers who are given divine guidance by Angel Gabriel. The story of each of the chosen messenger offers inspiration and motivation to people to understand live the divine guidance in their life and circumstances.  It informs the people that the messengers of Allah were persecuted by elites who were opposed to the divine ideas. However, none succeeded in harming the messengers as Allah helped them prevail over their opponents. It reminds the believer that divine guidance is for all and it must be shared with all. The Surah invites people to learn lessons from the lives of Prophets Noah, Hud, Salih, Shuaib, and all others whose names are mentioned as well as not mentioned in the Quran. It reasserts the fact that Prophet Muhammad is sent to serve humanity at large and the message that he is sharing with humanity in the Arabic language is indeed the divine message.

40. Surah al-Jinn (The invisible beings) (72)

Makkah

Al-Jinn is the 72nd Surah of the Quran and it was the 40th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah and has 28 Ayah in two Ruku. It refers to the creation of Allah that was created before human beings. What is that creation and how does it look like and what functions it has been assigned by Allah. These are matters of mystery. All that humans know is that the jinn as a species is a hidden creation. The Surah alludes to a situation when this hidden creation listened to the divine guidance from the Prophet and accepted the message. It reassures the people of the truthfulness and usefulness of the divine guidance to all who have the capacity to think and act on the basis of that thinking.

Twelfth Day

41. Yasin (O You Human Being) (36)

Makkah

Yasin is the 41st Surah revealed upon the Prophet and it is the 36th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 83 Ayah in five Ruku. It is also described as the heart of the Quran. It explains the foundational beliefs of Islam in monotheism, the finality of the Prophet and the divine message he is relaying to people, the life after death and the hereafter. It asks people to learn from the physical laws and be assured that a day would come when every human being would be brought back to life once again. It warns people of the Day of Judgment.

42. Al-Furqan (The Standard of True and False) (25)

Makkah

Al-Furqan is the 42nd Surah revealed upon the Prophet and it is the 25th surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 77 Ayah in six Ruku. It responds to many objections the disbelievers had against the Quran and the divine guidance. It describes the characteristics of being believers is to lead a God-conscious life. It says the quality of humility is essential for anyone who wants to accept the oneness of God and wants to live the life of a believer. It warns people of the dangers of polytheism. It refers to nature and invites people to learn the divine rules embedded in that.

43. Al-Fatir (The Origination) (35)

Makkah

Al-Fatir is the 43rd Surah revealed upon the Prophet and its number in the traditionally arranged Quran is 35th. It was revealed in Makkah and has 45 Ayah in five Ruku. The Surah focuses on the attitude of disbelievers towards divine guidance and the messenger of Allah. It reminds people to make a decision about the faith that is being presented to them for their own good. It asks them to accept divine guidance so that they could have a successful life in this world and the hereafter. It draws their attention to nature and explains to them that physical laws point out to the Creator and his majesty.

44. Maryam (Mary) (19)

Makkah

Names after Maryam, the mother of Prophet Jesus, Maryam is the 44th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. In the traditionally arranged Quran, it is the 19th Surah. It was revealed in Makkah and has 98 Ayah in six Ruku. This Surah was revealed before the migration to Abyssinia. It mentions Prophets Zakariyya, Yahya, Isa, Ibrahim, Ismail, Musa and Idris and describes their mission as guided by Allah the same way as the mission of Prophet Muhammad is guided. It emphasizes the importance of monotheism in the evolution and growth of one’s personality as it liberates people from the intellectual slavery of others. It tells the story of Prophet Zakariyya who was blessed with a son Yahya. It also gives details of the miraculous birth of Prophet Jesus. It reminds the people of Prophet Ibrahim’s struggles with his father and elders of the community. It challenges the idea of the divinity of Jesus and refers to him as the son of Mary.

Thirteenth Day

45. TaHa (O Man) (20)

Makkah

The 45th Surah Taha revealed upon the Prophet is the 20th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. Like the previous Surah, it was also revealed before the migration to Abyssinia. It was also the Surah whose recitation by the sister of Umar caused the would be the second Caliph accept Islam. It was revealed in Makkah and has 135 Ayah in eight Ruku. It reminds the believers of their responsibility in sharing the divine guidance to those who are not familiar with them. It assures them of their success if they remain steadfast in their belief. It narrates the story of Prophet Moses in great details and asks the believers to learn from his struggle and life situation.

46. Al-Waqi'ah (That which must come to Pass) (56)

Makkah

The 46th Surah Al-Waqiah revealed upon the Prophet is the 56th in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 96 Ayah in three Ruku. It dwells on the subject of resurrection, hereafter, and life after death. It presents resurrection as a matter of fact that cannot be denied. It defines the categories of believers. They are pioneers in the faith, then there are those who followed the footsteps of the pioneers with the same zeal and thirdly there are believers. It also describes the characteristics of those who reject the divine guidance.  The Surah invites people to look at the blessings that Allah has created for their comfort and be grateful to him for those. It asks them to remain loyal and consistent with the divine guidance

47. Ash--Shu'ra' (The Poets) (26)

Makkah

Ash-Shura was the 47th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 26th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran.  It was revealed in Makkah and has 227 Ayah in 11 Ruku. It narrates several historical incidents, hitherto unknown to people and provides evidence of the authenticity of the divine guidance by pointing out to the signs of Allah. It also narrates stories from the past highlighting the struggles of those who were on the right path. It says that the creation itself is the greatest sign given by Allah for people to accept the guidance given by him. It refers to the signs given to Prophet Moses. It tells the story of Prophets Noah, Saleh, Hud, Lot, Shuaib and Moses and the exodus of Israelites from Egypt to give the evidence of the help of Allah to all those who were on the right path. It refutes the assertion of the disbeliever that the Prophet was a poet and composing the poetry to influence the mind of people. It invites them to accept the Quran as the final message of Allah.

48. An-Naml (The Ants) (27)

Makkah

An-Naml is the 48th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 27th in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 93 Ayah in seven Ruku. Throughout human history, Allah has guided human beings to the right path. He sent his message to all people through specially chosen people who were designated as messengers. They might have spoken different languages, yet the essence of their message was the same. People throughout history either accepted their message or rejected it. The surah explains the difference between polytheism and monotheism clearly.

Fourteenth Day

49. Al-Qasas (The Story) (28)

Makkah

The 49th Surah Al-Qasas revealed upon the Prophet is the 28th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 88 Ayah in nine Ruku. The institution of prophethood is pivotal in the divine scheme of guidance to humanity. Allah always speaks to people through the messengers he carefully chooses to deliver his message. This Surah focuses on some of the similarities between Prophet Moses and Prophet Muhammad. By referring to the trials and tribulations Prophet Moses went through, Allah is giving assurance to Prophet Muhammad and his followers that they should never feel hopeless as the succor of Allah would come to them as it came to Prophet Moses. It assures them that divine guidance has always benefitted people and all those who were

50. Al--Isra' (The Night Journey) (17)

Makkah

The 17th Surah Al-Isra in the traditionally arranged Quran is the 50th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah and has 111 Ayah in 12 Ruku. It was revealed some 18 months before the migration of the Prophet to Medina. It refers to the Prophet’s journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and onward to heavens. It establishes the connection among messengers sent with divine guidance and calls them each other’s companions and friends. It emphasizes the continuity in divine guidance and it invites people to adopt a lifestyle that would strengthen their character and they would help them become a better resource for humanity. It describes the characteristics of an ideal believer. Furthermore, it defines the dignity of every human being as the cardinal principle of divine faith. It explains the steps one need to take to preserve dignity. It reminds people that every action they bring consequences and every individual would bear his or her own burden.

51. Yunus (Jonah) (10)

Makkah

The 51st Surah Yunus revealed upon the Prophet is the 10th in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 109 Ayah spread over 11 Ruku. The Surah describes the purpose of divine guidance is to enable people to achieve peace in their internal and external life. It lays open the path to peace by following the divine guidance as given in the Quran by the one who is Almighty and All-wise. His guidance is an act of mercy upon his creation. Humanity can find a solution to its manmade problems in divine guidance. History is a witness to the fact that whenever the divine guidance is followed with sincere intentions and appropriate actions, the help of Allah comes. However, when human beings follow their own path neglecting divine guidance, they cause havoc for themselves. Their self inflicted calamities occur because of their deviations.

52. Hud (11)

Makkah

Hud is the 52nd Surah revealed upon the Prophet and is the 11th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran It was revealed in Makkah and has 123 Ayah and ten Ruku. The Surah refers to the stories of Prophets Noah, Salih, Hud, Lot, Shuaib, and Moses and explains that when people reject the divine message and ridicule the messengers they invite the divine punishment for their actions and behavior. The consequences of one’s actions are faced by the people regardless of their status or birth or family or ethnic ties. It invites people to evaluate their actions and seek repentance for their deviations if any. I exhort people to demonstrate perseverance in their life journey and perform good deeds to make this life better. It explains that the denial of truth by the elite should not prevent the believers from sharing the guidance to the people.

Is the Trump Administration getting closer to ban the Muslim Brotherhood

By  Dr. Aslam Abdulah

A possible executive order or a congressional bill that would have a severe impact on the Muslim American community is in the offing as President's special advisor, John Bolton, and the secretary of the State Department, Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, who as a member of Congress co-sponsored a bill to ban the Muslim Brotherhood are eager to ensure that the organization known as Ikhwanul Muslimeen in Arabic is declared as a terrorist organization and banned before the end of Trump's first term. Seemingly, Both seem to enjoy support for their crusade amongst pro-Israel lobbyists and evangelical Christians, the two major groups who have adopted the Trump agenda in totality.

Behind the move of banning the organization is the influence of religious ideas of evangelical Christians and the pressure on the Israeli Prime Minister. Of the two Pompeo reflect the religious ideas openly and loudly he is on a crusade to put it into action. Not long ago, he was reported to have told the well known Islamophobe Frank Gaffney "There are organizations and networks here in the United States tied to radical Islam in deep and fundamental ways, They're not just in places like Libya and Syria and Iraq, but in places like Coldwater, Kansas, and small towns all throughout America."

Pompeo is an evangelical Christian, and in an interview that he gave to a Christian broadcasting network in March this year, he responded to a question around a Biblical mythological story about a queen who saved Jews from a Persian official said: Mr. President Trump had been “raised to help save the Jewish people from the Iranian menace?” He further explained: "I am confident that the Lord is at work here.”

Later, while attending the American Israeli Public Affairs Council’s annual convention, the secretary of state asserted: “As secretary of state and as a Christian, I’m proud to lead American diplomacy to support Israel’s right to defend itself.

As an evangelical Christian, he believes that Israel fulfills a biblical prophecy because of God promised land to the Jews and that the gathering of Jews in Israel is foretold in the prophecy of the rapture — the ascent of Christians into the kingdom of God.

At a rally in 2015 on God and country, he said that  “We will continue to fight these battles, until “the rapture.” Pompeo believes that any territorial concession to Palestinians would violate the Biblical prophecy, hence he is opposed to a Palestinian state on theological grounds. He believes that the Muslim Brotherhood is the main Muslim organization that has kept the idea of a Palestinian state alive globally since 1947 interfering with the divine plan. He believes that a ban on the organization would weaken the Palestinian resistance for a statehood.

But this is not the only reason the Trump Administration is keen to ban the organization. The dictators and monarchs have also been advocating a ban on Muslim Organization in the US. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Russia, and the United Arab Emirates have already declared the organization as a terrorist organization. The dictators are apparently opposed to any movement that wants to restore democracy in their countries. Even though the US Administration vows to promote democracy in the region, it has sided with dictators and monarchs always, even when it was evidently known that pro-democracy elements were brutally crushed by them.

The case to ban the organization was made by Egyptian dictator General Sisi recently when he visited Washington recently. During a private conversation with Trump, General Sisi reportedly urged US President to join Egypt in designating the group a terror organization. Trump told Sisi that the plan would make sense, which some officials said could be interpreted as a commitment. Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization would mean that the members or supporters, as well as humanitarian organizations linked with it, would face economic and travel sanctions.  White House press secretary Sanders has acknowledged in a statement that the administration was looking into the designation. 

On the other hand, John Bolton is a hardliner and believes in flexing muscles to force the opponents to yield to the US. He believes that by exerting force against groups, like the Muslim Brotherhood, the US can dictate its terms of the Middle East. He believes that force alone will ensure continued U.S. dominance in the international system. He sees diplomacy and negotiations, particularly through the U.N., as a tactic for weak states to tie the hands of the stronger states.  

The two have the support of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his main supporters in the US, Evangelical Christians for their plan to ban the organization. The Republicans are 100 percent behind the plan while the Democrats have their majority congressional delegate supporting it.

The Muslim Brotherhood was formed in 1928 in Egypt by Hassan al Banna to challenge the military and monarchic powers and to introduce Islam as a way of life in a democratic setup. The organization was described by the Egyptian government as a violent group. However, the groups declared in its early years that it believed in nonviolence.  The organization has thousands of supporters and sympathizers all over the world including the United States. The possible ban would impact such supporters and sympathizers in the United States. The news circulating in Washington states that the Administration is identifying individuals, groups, and companies associated with Muslim organizations with close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood.  Seemingly, a task force has been established informally to define measures to be taken against such individuals and companies. There are several Muslim organizations in the US who reportedly identify with the ideas of Ikhwanul Muslimeen leaders or supporter and use their literature to create a better awareness of Islam. The Republican leadership has often accused many Muslim organizations as supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and sought to ban them. The Democrats are not as forthright but have their sympathy with the Prime Minister Netanyahu’s position on the Muslim Brotherhood.

If the organization is banned, it would pose a serious challenge to Muslims in general in the US as anyone can be identified as a supporter or sympathizer of the Muslim Brotherhood based on their attendance of mosques and Islamic centers run by people known for their support or ties to the organization. It would also impact those who have visited the web sites associated with the organizations and those who believe that their understanding of Islam is built on the ideas of Hasan al Banna, the founder of the group or Syed Qurb, its main ideologue.

It's an issue that should alert Muslim American organizations for a unified response in cooperation with leading civil rights organizations because if they failed to take action in defense of their constitutional rights, they and the Muslim community might face grave consequences whose limits cannot be imagined at this time because the hated promoted by the President under the influence of evangelical Christians and the Prop-Netanyahu lobbyists.   

Glancing over the Quran in the order it was revealed upon the Prophet

Part one
By Dr. Aslam Abdullah

Many Muslims and non-Muslims would go over the Quran during the month of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims believe that it began to be revealed upon the Prophet. The Prophet under his supervision arranged the Quran the way we read it. The arrangement is believed to be from the longest Surah (loosely translated as a chapter) to the shortest Surah with the exception of Surah Al-Fatiha that has only seven Ayah that is the first Surah of the Quran.

In this series, the Surahs of the Quran are being introduced the way they were revealed upon the Prophet so that we could follow the footsteps of the Prophet. During the month of Ramadan, the series would offer the summary of the dominant ideas of four Surah daily. We would also identify Surah that has Ayah requiring the believing readers to prostrate while reading it.

Surah loosely means chapter, Ayah means verse or sign, Ruku means section and Surah with Sajda Ayah means the Surah that has a verse upon whose reading the believers should offer prostration.

Each Surah has its number of revelation as well as the number of its appearance in the traditionally arranged Quran that we have. It has its Arabic name and its English translation also in parenthesis.

The following Ayahs require prostration when read.

1.      Surah Araf (7:206)

2.      Surah Raad (13:15)

3.      Surah An-Nahl (16:50)

4.      Surah Isra (17:109)

5.      Surah Maryam (19:58)

6.      Surah Al-Hajj (22:18)

7.      Surah al-Hajj (22:77) according to Imam Shafai

8.      Surah al-Furqan (25:60)

9.      Surah An-Naml (27:26)

10.  Surah As-Sajdah (32:15)

11.  Surah Saad ( 38:24)

12.  Surah Fussilat (41:38)

13.  Surah An-Najm (53:62)

14.  Surah Inshiqaq (84:21)

15.  Surah Al-Alaq (96:19)

On the authority of Prophet Muhammad, Muslims believe that the Quran is a divine revelation in Arabic sent to human beings through Angel Gabriel in a period of 23 years in Arabia peninsula. The period of revelation is between 610 CE to 632 CE. The Quran has 6,236 verses, 114 surah and about 323,000 letters. Some 33,000 companions have verified and testified that the Quran as compiled under the supervision and with the approval of the one who was receiving it is the same as they heard from him.

The Quran was revealed differently than the way it was compiled under the supervision of the Prophet. Sometimes, an entire surah was revealed to the Prophet and sometimes parts of the surah were revealed at different times and different proportions. The arrangement in this series is according to their chronology of revelation. It is possible that parts of the surah may have been revealed at different times. However, we put the Surah in chronological order according to the revelation of its first part.

We are publishing the most agreed upon the chronology of the revelation with a short introduction of the theme of each surah.

Day Two

1. Al-'Alaq (The Germ-Cell) (96)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Alaq is the 96th Surah in traditionally arranged Quran. It is the first Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah and it has one Ruku and 19 Ayah. The first five Ayahs were revealed in the Cave of Hira in Makkah and the remaining 14 ayahs were revealed when the Prophet was asked to perform the prayers in Kasbah.

The Surah lays the foundation of faith and invites people to build their character, life, family, and society on the divinely created knowledge. It invites human being to reflect on the process of his or her own creation and alludes to the fact that only through divinely revealed knowledge. Human beings can control their rebellious instincts.

2. Al-Qalam (The Pen) (68)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Qalam was the second Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 68th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has two Ruku and 52 Ayah. The name itself suggests that the art of writing down on paper with the pen was known to the people around the Prophet. It also implied that the divine guidance would no longer be at the discretionary power of the memory, however strong it may be, rather it would be written down so that every letter and word is recorded for eternity.

The Surah reminds people that the message being revealed upon the Prophet is the continuation of the divine message given to human beings through messengers throughout human history. Even though it is being revealed in the Arabic language, it is for all human beings. It is also declaring that the ideas that are shared by the Prophet were rooted in rationality and they were relevant to the needs of the society. It asks people to ensure that those who are forced to live in a state of dependence causing them humiliation must be helped. It shares the story of a people who had a garden with plenty of produce, yet they would deny the needy any share in it. Consequently, they lost everything. It lays the foundation of a society that creates conditions for acquiring the means of subsistence for everyone. It also narrated the story of Prophet Jonah, and his followers and urges the followers of the Prophet not to give up and continue their mission to spread virtue in their society.  It introduces the idea of learning from the past to better the present.

3. Al-Muzzammil (The Enwrapped one) (73)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Muzammil was the third Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 73rd Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has two Ruku (sections) and 20 ayahs.  It is the seventy-third Surah in traditionally arranged Quran. It reminds the believers to focus on the message of the Quran and make it's reading part of the prayer. It invites the adherents to the faith to take strength from reliance on the divine message as being revealed upon the Prophet.

4. All-Muddathir (The Enfolded One) (74)

Makkah

Al-Mudassir was the fourth Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 74th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has two Ruku and 56 ayahs. It dwells upon the manners of sharing the faith with others and elaborates upon the manners of dawah. It exhorts the believers to identify the evils plaguing the society and work to remove them, It also reminds the people that those who deny the truth would suffer the consequences.

Day Three

5. Al-Fatiha (The Opening) (1)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Fatiha was the fifth Surah revealed upon Prophet Muhammad. In the traditionally arranged Quran, it is the first Surah.  It was revealed in Makkah and has seven Ayah. It is known by different names and it has seven ayahs. It summarizes the essence of divine guidance and explains the basic principles of the faith. It reminds the people that if they do not follow the divine path, they would be lost and might indulge in actions that would harm them. It exhorts them constantly to be in a state of gratitude to God seeking his succor in all aspects of life. It also reminds them of the Day of Judgment when each of his creations would return to give an account of their deeds and words.

6. Al-Lahab (the Twisted Strands) (11)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Lahab or Al-Masad was the sixth Surah revealed upon the Prophet and it was revealed in Makah and has five Ayah. It is 111th in the traditionally arranged Quran and known by the above mentioned two names. Even though it names the enemies of the divine guidance, it reminds the believers that those who deny the truth consciously will never succeed in hiding it. Abu Lahab, whose name has been mentioned in this revelation along with his wife, lived several years after its revelation. He had the opportunity to challenge the truthfulness of the Quran by changing his faith to Islam. Yet, he refused and thus, testified the accuracy of the Quranic message.  It establishes the principle that each one is responsible for one’s action.

7. Al-Takwir (Shrouding in Darkness) (81)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Takwir is the seventh Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 81st Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran and it was revealed in Makkah and has 29 Ayah. It describes the happenings at the end of the world and shows a glimpse of the scenes of the Last Day. It explains that everything would cease to exist and no one would get a chance to go back and change their wrongful deeds. It urges people to become morally upright in order to succeed on the Last Day. The purpose of this message is to remind people to become morally upright.

8. Al-A'la (The All Highest) (87)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Ala is 87th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran was the eight Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah has 19 verses in one Ruku.  It defines the majesty and grandeur of the Creator and invites people to express gratitude towards him. It asserts that divine guidance would make human progress and their denial would make them stagnant. It reminds people of the continuity of the divine guidance through successive messengers and invites them to follow the divine guidance to succeed in this life and the life hereafter. It also refers to the Last Day.  

Day Four

9. Al-Layl (The Night) (92)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Al-Layl was the ninth Surah revealed upon the Prophet. In the traditionally arranged Quran, it is 92nd Surah. It was revealed in Makkah and has 21 verses in one Ruku. The Surah reminds humans of the two main choices they all have, the choice to live a good life and the choice to lead a life with evil actions.  It informs them that their actions would have consequences to bear. It has basically the same theme as the previous Surah, but it tells us about the two ways of life: good way and the evil way and the consequences of both ways.

10. Al-Fajr (The Dawn)

Place of Revelation: Makkah (89)

Al-Fajr is the tenth revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 89th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah has 30 Ayah in one Ruku. It explains the concepts of reward and punishment through historical references of Pharaoh and the people of Aad and Thamud. It reminds people that when they neglect their responsibilities towards the neglected and the deprived ones and start indulging in a lifestyle that makes them forget Allah, they invite consequences to their actions. It also introduces the concept of a comforted soul that upon its return to God joins the ranks of those who dwell in the heavens among the closest to God.  

11. Ad-Duha (The Bright Morning Hours) (92)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Ad-Duha is the eleventh Surah revealed upon the Prophet. In the traditionally arranged Quran, it is the 93rd Surah. It was revealed in Makkah and has eleven Ayah. It highlights the internal search for truth that every human has and explains that regardless of the human conditions one faces, the truth becomes manifest upon searching for it. It invites people to devote their resources for the poor and the needy and assures them the coming days would be better than the days of difficulties.

12. Ash Sarah (The Opening of the heart) (94)

Place of Revelation: Makkah

Ash- Sharah is the twelfth Surah in the chronology of the revelation. It is the 94th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has eight verses in one Ruku. It introduces humans to a permanent rule that difficulties do not last forever as they always lead to ease. It also reminds people that their work for the good of humanity lasts more than their lifetime.

Fifth day

13. Al-‘Asr (The Time) (103)

Makkah

Al-Asr is the thirteenth Surah revealed upon the Prophet was Al-Asr. It is 103rd in the traditionally arranged Quran and has three ayahs. It was revealed in Makkah and has three Ayah in one Ruku. It summarizes the essence of human history with the conclusion that human beings would continue to harm themselves if they do not adhere to the path of truth and perseverance. It explains that truth is the only substance that liberates humans from all bondages.

14. Al-'Adiyat (The Chargers)

Makkah

Al-Adiyat is the 100th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran and is the fourteenth Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah and has 11 Ayah in one Ruku. Referring to human history, it shows the ungratefulness that humans have toward the Creator and towards each other. It also reflects on the wild and imbalanced lifestyle of Arabs and reminds humans that on the Day of Judgment all that human beings were hiding would be exposed.

15. Al-Kawthar (Good in Abundance) (108)

Makkah

Al-Kawthar is the 108th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It is the fifteenth Surah revealed upon the prophet. It was revealed in Makkah and has three verses in one Ruku. It is a Surah of hope and glad tidings. It assures the people that the divine guidance would ultimately be accepted by them and truth will prevail.

16. Al-Takathur (Greed for More and More) (102)

Makkah

Al-Takathur is the 102nd Surah in the Quran and it was the sixteenth surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah has 8 Ayah in one Ruku and it refers to the human tendency, in general, to be greedy for more and more. It reminds people of the consequences of materialistic lifestyle and explains that this practice is a recipe for disaster for all as the society remains divided between haves and have nots and the greed prevails the relationship.

Sixth Day

17. Al-Ma’un (Assistance) (107)

Makkah

Al-Maun is the 107th Surah of the Quran. It is the seventeenth in the chronology of the revelation. It was revealed in Makkah and has seven Ayah in one Ruku. It defines faith in terms of its inspiration to people to help the poor and the needy. It reminds them that faith is lip service as long as it does not lead to creating a compassionate and kind society for all.

18. Al-Kafirun (The deniers of the Truth) (109)

Makkah

Al-Kafirun is the eighteenth Surah revealed upon the Prophet and it is the 109th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has six Ayah in one Ruku. It establishes the principle of freedom of religion and argues that any compromise in matters of faith would reduce the significance of divine guidance by mixing the truth with falsehood.

19. All-Feel (The Elephant)

Makkah

Al-Feel is the nineteenth surah that was revealed to the Prophet is also the 105th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has five Ayah in one Ruku. It refers to the invasion of Makkah for the purpose of demolishing the Kaaba by the ruler of Yemen. In the midst of hostilities towards the Prophet, the Surah reassures him that Allah is the protector of the faith and his protection is for all who stand for the truth.

20. Al-Falaq (The Rising Dawn) (113)

Makkah

Al-Falaq is the twentieth Surah revealed upon the Prophet and its number in the traditionally arranged Quran is 113th. It was revealed in Makkah has five Ayah in one Ruku. It explains that evil forces are out there to tempt humans away from the truth to harm them and destroy their peace. It invites people to find refuge in the divine guidance from the forces of darkness.

Seventh Day

21. An-Nas (Human Beings) (114)

Makkah

Immediately after the revelation of Al-Falaq, the 114th Surah known as An-Nas was revealed. It was revealed in Makkah and is the 21st Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It has six Ayah in one Ruku. It exposes the satanic strategy to whisper evil ideas in the minds and hearts of people and advises them to focus on the divine guidance in their words and deeds to succeed in this life and the life hereafter.

22. Al-Ikhlas   (The declaration of God’s Perfection) (112)

Makkah

Al-Ikhlas was the 22nd revealed upon the Prophet. It is the 112th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has four verses in one Ruku. It is a statement of monotheism and an elaboration on how the monotheism should be defined. It speaks of the uniqueness and oneness of Allah without attributing any biological traits.

23. An-Najm (The Unfolding) (53)

Makkah

An-Najm is the 23rd Surah of the Quran revealed upon the Prophet. It appears as 53rd Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and has 62 Ayah spread over three Ruku. The Surah refers to the incident of the Prophet’s ascension to heavens to experience the closeness with Allah. It asks the unbelievers to take divine guidance and the status of the messenger seriously. It refutes the narration that angels were like the daughters of Allah. The Surah refers to the issue of the intercession of Angels on behalf of humans.

24. 'Abasa (He Frowned) (80)

Abasa is the 80th Surah in the traditionally arranged Quran and 24th Surah revealed upon the Prophet. It was revealed in Makkah has 42 Ayah in one Ruku. It establishes the rule that in the dissemination of divine guidance, everyone should be treated equally. The divine message is for everyone and the decision to accept or reject is the prerogative of every individual who is exposed to it. It reminds the people that those accept it would benefit from it and those who reject it would suffer the consequences.