HUMANITY

مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا
Whosoever killed a soul… it is as if they have killed all of humanity collectively.

• In this ayah, the type of soul is not specified. i.e. it does not matter what religion an individual ascribes to – Muslim or Non-Muslim.
• Why is killing one person equivalent to killing humanity?
• This is because once a person kills, there is nothing preventing them from killing again.
• A person who would do such a despicable, detestable and abominable act has no limits; if the person wanted and was capable, they would kill all of humanity.
• Benefit: Once an individual commits any evil act there is nothing preventing them from repeatedly doing it.

BROTHERHOOD

فمن عفي له من أخيه شيء

Whosoever forgave anything from his brother

This phrase is in the context of a person who has killed — the worse crime one can commit.

Even then, the killer and the killed are called brothers. What then about anything lower?

This also refutes the beliefs of the Khawaarij and the Mu’tazilah (the former stating anyone who commits a sin is a disbeliever and the later believing that a sinner is between belief and disbelief).

CLEMENCY

ذَٰلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ
This is a leniency from your Lord and a mercy.

Benefit: Islamic law is established on leniency and mercy.

TRANSFORMATION

وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it to the rulers in order to consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know.

• This ayah appears at the end of fasting. What is the relationship?
• A test to determine if Ramadan has been beneficial is to reflect over our interactions and relationships.

REGRET

إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ

When those who followed disassociated themselves from those who followed them — and they saw the punishment — and all means were severed.

• Anyone who recommended any form of corruption, injustice, evil, prohibition or belief will be the first to disassociate from it.
• This verse along with the next shows the deep regret that people will have.
• The extensive use of the past-tense for a future event conveys unflinching certainty.
• The repetition of the word follow implies accountability based on action and support.
• Beauty: The Prophets and the righteous will never divorce from the believers.

WHY

وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَانَهُ ۖ بَل لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُون بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

They say, ” Allah has taken a son.” [1] Perfect is He! Rather, [2] to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. [3] All are devoutly obedient to Him. [4] Originator of the heavens and the earth. [5] When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.

• This is the first ayah in the Quran in which Allah Subhanahu wa ta’la negates Him having a son.
• The perfection, the ownership, the independence, the power and the ability of Allah Subhanahu wa ta’la negate the need for a son.
• Benefit: If God is perfect why does He need or want a son?

ALTRUISM

افتطمعون ان يؤمنوا لكم

Do you hope that they will believe like you?

Benefit: a believer wants good for everyone (the greatest good is guidance).

INTELLIGENCE

ويريكم آياته لعلكم تعقلون

And He shows you all His signs so that you may use your intellect.

Benefit: Nothing develops the intellect like the Quran.

HAJJ IN RAMADAN

عمرة في رمضان تعدل حجة

Prophet Sallallahu ‘alihi wa Salam said, ‘Umrah in Ramadan equals Hajj (recorded by Bukhari and Muslim with similar wordings).

Reward is dependent on the intention. If one is unable to do an act, one should have the intention.

ONE DAY

عن أبو سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: مَنْ صَامَ يَوْماً فِي سَبِيلِ الله بَعَّدَ الله وَجْهَهُ عَنْ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا.. متفق عليه وهذا لفظ البخاري، وفي لفظ مسلم: (باعَد).

Whoever fasts a day in the way of Allah, Allah will move his face away from the Hellfire by a distance of seventy years (Bukharin).

Majority of the scholars said this applies to anyone who fasts for the sake of Allah.