Passages from Quran – (Paper 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)

A: Theme:

Theme of this long verse is God in himself. It’s a verse of Surah al-Baqara, a Madni surah. It
begins with the expression of the Shahada (declaration of oneness of God) and then elaborates
various aspects of God’s unity that make him matchless. God is free from all weaknesses and
limitations, has perfect knowledge of all times, is not dependent on anyone for his survival and
enjoys autonomy in exercising His authority. His authority and his rule encompass the entire
universe. This makes God not only unique but also elevates him to the heights, we just can’t
imagine and that is mentioned in the Quran as: “then He established Himself on the throne”
(10:3, 13:2)

B: Importance 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 reader. 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: Sura: 6. 101—103 (Al-An’aam)

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 understand Him, though He Himself can see to the
unimaginable 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 closer to him 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)

A: Theme:

This verse is from Surah Fussilat\Ha-Mim, an early Makki 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 his 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-Roam). 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)

A: Theme:

The two verses are from Sura al-Shura, revealed in Makka shortly after Surah 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 passage 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). Sura 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)

A: Theme:

Theme of this early Makki Sura is God in himself in terms of His unique person. It outlines the
most fundamental and cardinal aspects of Tawhid (oneness of God). It rightly declares God’s
unity and negates the false belief of God having ancestors and descendants. It further highlights
God’s unity by saying that God 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 Surah 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 Al-Fateha

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 Surah 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, Al Ghafir). 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 Quran. Muslims are told to worship God by following the
right path mentioned 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, 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). Obedience to God enables Muslims to earn His blessing and
avoid his anger.

7: Sura Al-Baqarah (2.21-22)

A: Theme:

Theme of this passage is God and his created world. The two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah a
Madni surah 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, Al-Anbiya) and also, “and your God is one God” (2:163 , Al-Baqarah).
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 Surah Ar Rehman (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: Sura Al-Alaq (96:1-5)

A: Theme:

This passage is about Allah’s relation with humans who is their creator and teacher. The Theme
of the passage is Tauheed i.e. oneness of Allah. Allah is the creator of man and everything that
exists. He has created man out of the insignificant material which shows his strength to create.
He has complete control over them and thus is the most powerful. Allah has purest and perfect
knowledge of everything. He is omniscient as Ayat ul Kursi also says, “Nor shall they encompass
any kind of His knowledge except as He wills.” He has taught man with written knowledge of
different things through revelations and divine books. If this knowledge had not been granted,
man would have been otherwise ignorant of the right path.

(b) Importance of the theme:

These verses of Surah e Alaq mention God’s power of creation which is seen in the way he has
created humans from almost nothing so this strengthens Muslim’s belief in Allah as they
depend upon Him. This passage starts with the word ‘Iqra’ which means read, thus it makes
Muslims realize about the importance of attaining knowledge. They also realize the significance
of divine books like the Holy Quran which were revealed to guide them as a result they recite
the Holy Quran frequently in order to follow the straight path of Allah. From this passage
Muslims also recognize the relationship between God and man as teacher and student because
this is the same knowledge provided by Allah which makes man superior to other creations and
vicegerent of God.

9. Sura Al-Zilzal (99)

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,Al- Inshiqaq). 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” (Surah : 81, At-Taqweer) “when the sky is
clef a sunder” (Surah 82, Al- Infitar) and “when the earth is flattened out” (Surah 84, Al-
Inshiqaq ). The objective of this repetition is to remind Muslims of the Hereafter.

10: Sura Al-Nas (114)

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, Surah e Yousaf). Man should however, also remember the Quranic
instruction: “and on God let the believers put their trust” (9:51, Al - Tauba)

(b) Importance of the Theme:

This passage together with Surah Falaq (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, against all evil forces. The best way to do this is remember God as
enunciated in 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 Surah Naas and Surah Falaq to guard
against evil, after his Makkan enemies had cast magic spell on him.
11: Al-Baqarah (2:30-37)

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. 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. 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, Al- A’raf).

(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 (by way 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)

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:

This passage talks about God’s relationship with his messengers, in this case the Prophet Isa.
Allah gave knowledge to His Prophets to help them like Isa got the Holy Spirit, the book,
wisdom and law and the Gospel. He also gives miracles to His Prophets as a sign of their
prophet hood and in order to show his support for them. The miracles of Isa included healing
the blind, treating the lepers and resurrecting the dead. The repetitive use of the phrase ‘by my
leave’ shows that Muslims can do great things but with God’s permission as He has power and
authority over all that exists. He also gives mankind signs through Prophets of His existence
which separates those who believe from those who don’t. Allah save Isa from his enemies as
the Holy Quran says at another place, “Behold! Allah said, ‘Oh Isa! I will take you and raise you
to Myself and clear you (of the false hoods) 0f those who blasphemy.’ This proves that Allah
protects his chosen ones from harm.

B: Importance of the theme:

Muslims are taught many important lessons through 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’am). 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: Surah 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 Al-Duha93, 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).