THE MEANING OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN
English Narration - Topical


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On Muslim History and Civilization

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Adhan (Call to Prayer)
Adhan Adhan (Call to Prayer) at Haram (3 min.)
Recitation of The Glorious Qur'an, Selections in Arabic
Qur'an 3:190-194 Qari Jaleel from India [10 min.].
Qur'an 59:21-24 Qari Syed Abdul Kader (70+years old) from Syria [1.8 min.].
Qur'an Selections from Surah 2 & 3 Mubarak Talib (11-year old) from South Africa [4.5 min.].
English Narration OF The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'an
English Narration by Charles Gai Eaton (Hasan Abdul Hakim)
  ALLAH (SWT)
 (contents in brief)
Surah 2, Ayat 255-257 Al-Baqarah (The Cow): Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth... (Ayah 255 is known as Ayatul Kursee)
Surah 112 At-Tauhid (The Unity): Allah - begetteth not nor was begotten...
Surah 24, Ayah 35 An-Nur (Light): Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth...
Surah 31, Ayat 26-30 Luqman: ...And if all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven more seas to help it, (were ink), the words of Allah could not be exhausted. Allah is Mighty, Wise...
Surah 59, Ayat 21-24 Al-Hashr (Exile): If We had caused this Qur'an to descend upon a mountain... Allah: His are the most beautiful names.
  QUR'AN  
Surah 97 Al-Qadr (Power): Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power....The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
  SURAH 1 AND SURAH 2  
Surah 1 Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening) ...Thee alone we worship, Thee alone we ask for help... (Surah Al-Fatihah is recited (in Arabic) in daily prayers in each standing part of the prayer cycle.)
 Surah 2, Ayat 1-29 Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off evil... And of mankind are some who say: We believe in Allah and the Last Day, when they believe not... And when it is said unto them: Make not mischief in the earth, they say: We are peacemakers only. Are not they indeed the mischief makers? ...Deaf, dumb and blind; and they return not... O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who hath created you and those before you, so that ye may ward off evil....Do not set up rivals to Allah... And if you are in doubt....then produce a sura or the like thereof....And if you do it not and you can never do it--then guard yourselves against the fire prepared for disbelievers...
Surah 2, Ayat 111-134 Al-Baqarah: And they say: None entereth Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian. Say: Bring your proof if ye are truthful... Allah....The Originator of the heavens and the earth! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is... Lo! We have sent thee (O Muhammad) with the truth, a bringer of glad tidings and a warner... O Children of Israel!... the House (at Mecca)...
  BELIEF, SUPPLICATION  
Surah 2, Ayat 133-138 Al-Baqarah: Belief; Jacob, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus (pbut)
Surah 2, Ayat 284-286 Al-Baqarah: Belief, Supplication
Surah 6, Ayat 160-166 Al-An'am (Cattle): Belief; My worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allah only...
Surah 3, Ayat 1-13 Ale-Imran (The Family of Imran): Belief, Qur'an: confirming that which was revealed before it and a criterion (of right and wrong), Supplication, Clear and allegorical revelations, Token in the battlefield (at Badr)
  COMMANDMENTS, LEGISLATION  
Surah 2, Ayat 168-177 Al-Baqarah: Forbidden Food, Hide Scripture, Righteousness, Free slaves, Treaty, Patience, God Fearing
Surah 5, Ayat 3-5 Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread): Forbidden foods, This day have I perfected your religion for you and chosen Al-Islam, All good things made lawful, Marriage to virtuous women of those who received Scripture.
Surah 4, Ayat 1-4 An-Nisa (Women): Be careful of your duty to your Lord; Orphans, Marriage: If you cannot do justice then only one.
Surah 2, Ayat 219-221 Al-Baqarah: Drinks, Gambling, Charity, Orphans, Marriage....slave
Surah 5, Ayat 90-93 Al-Ma'idah: Strong drinks, Games of chance, Divining arrows..., Be Midful of Your Duty (repeated three times).
Surah 4, Ayat 135-136 An-Nisa (Women): Staunch in justice, Witness for Allah, even though it be against yourself..., Belief.
Surah 5, Ayat 8-11 Al-Ma'idah: Equity, Deal justly.
Surah 5, Ayat 87-89 Al-Ma'idah: Expiation of breaking sworn oath: ...Liberating a slave...
Surah 17, Ayat 22-39 Al-Isra, Bani Israil (The Children of Israel): Fourteen Precepts of Wisdom (Commandments of Allah)
Surah 6, Ayat 152-154 Al-Isra, Bani Israil: Sacred Duty
Surah 24, Ayat 27-34 An-Nur (Light): Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest... And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest... And marry such of you as are solitary and the pious of your slaves and maid servants... And let those who cannot find a match keep chaste... Emancipation of slaves...
Surah 2, Ayat 282-283 Al-Baqarah: Contracting a debt for fixed term, Record it in writing, No harm be done to scribe and witnesses
Surah 5, Ayat 106-108 Al-Ma'idah: Witnesses to last Will and Testament
Surah 5, Ayat 6-7 Al-Ma'idah: Preparation for prayer (Ablution)
  CHILDREN OF ISRAEL  
Surah 2, Ayat 40-46 Al-Baqarah: O Children of Israel..., Confound Not Truth With Falshood
Surah 2, Ayat 47-57 Al-Baqarah: O Children of Israel..., Calf worship; Moses
Surah 2, Ayat 67-71 Al-Baqarah: Sacrifice of yellow cow
  MARY, JESUS, ZACHARIAH, YAHYA  (pbut)  
Surah 3, Ayat 33-41 Ale-Imran (The Family of Imran): Birth of Mary, Prophets Zachariah and Yahya (pbut)
Surah 19, Ayat 01-15 Maryam (Mary): Prophet Zachariah (pbuh), Birth of Yahya (John), pbuh: Wisdom when a child, Purity, Peace on Yahya
Surah 3, Ayat 42-51 Ale-Imran: Birth of Jesus (pbuh), his childhood and Mission.
Surah 19, Ayat 16-40 Maryam (Mary): News of the child 'Isa (Jesus), pbuh; Speaks in his cradle, Blessed wheresoever I may be, Peace on Jesus, 'Be And It Is', Allah is my Lord and your Lord.
Surah 5, Ayat 109-120 Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread): Jesus, son of Mary; Prophethood, Disciples, Table Spread with food from heaven, Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.
Surah 3, Ayat 52-63 Ale-Imran: Jesus (pbuh) and his Ascention, Likeness to Adam (pbuh)
Surah 5, Ayat 17-26 Al-Ma'idah: Jesus, son of Mary; They have indeed disbelieved...; Moses, Land forbidden for forty years.
Surah 5, Ayat 72-77 Al-Ma'idah: They surely disbelieve who say Allah is Messiah...and Allah is the third of Three.
Surah 4, Ayat 153-162 An-Nisa: Calf worship, Transgress not Sabbath, Slaying of Prophets, Speaking against Mary and Jesus (pbut), They slew him not (Messiah Jesus), Usury, Devour wealth by false pretences.
Surah 4, Ayat 171-174 An-Nisa: Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, 'Say not three, cease'
Surah 61, Ayat 6-9 As-Saff (The Ranks): Jesus, son of Mary (pbut): bringing good tidings of a messenger coming after me whose name is Ahmed (the praised one)
Surah 66, Ayat 9-12 At-Tahrim (Banning): Allah cites an example of those who disbelieve: wife of Noah and wife of Lot; Allah cites an example of those who believe: wife of Pharaoh and Mary, daughter of Imran (mother of Jesus, pbuh).
  PROPHETS OF ALLAH (SWT)  
Surah 37, Ayat 75-132 As-Saffat (Those Who Set The Ranks): Salaam, Prophets Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Aaron and Elias (pbut)
Surah 6, Ayat 83-91 Al-An'am (Cattle): Prophets Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon, Job, Elisha, Jonah, Lot, Moses, Aaron, Elias, Zachariah, John, Jesus and Muhammad (pbut)
  HAJJ  
Surah 22, Ayat 26-37 Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage): Abraham (pbuh), Proclaim unto Mankind the Pilgrimage, Go around the ancient House; Shun the filth of idols, and Shun lying speech; Turn to Allah only, not ascribing partners to Him
  JUM'AH  
Surah 62 Al-Jum'ah (The Congregation): Likeness of the ass carrying books; And when the prayer is ended, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah's bounty...
  SURAH AR-RAHMAN  
Surah 55, Ayat 1-30
Surah 55, Ayat 31-78
Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent): Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny? The question is generally believed to be addressed to mankind and the Jinn.
  JINN  
Surah 72, Ayat 1-17 Al-Jinn: Jinn's belief in the Marvellous Qur'an, their space travels and communities
Surah 55, Ayat 1-16 Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent): He created man of clay like the potter's, and the Jinn did He create of smokeless fire. Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?
Surah 55, Ayat 31-36 Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent): O company of jinn and men, if ye have power to penetrate (all) regions of the heavens and the earth; then penetrate (them)! Ye will never penetrate them save with (Our) sanction. Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?
Surah 18, Ayat 51-54 Al-Kahf (The Cave): And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the Jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil doers!
     
Surah 57, Ayat 25-29 Al-Hadid (Iron): Allah sent Messengers with clear proofs...; He revealed iron wherein is mighty power and many uses for mankind; Monasticism they invented ... That the People of the Scripture may know that they control naught of the bounty of Allah.
Surah 98 Al-Beyyinah (The Clear Proof): ...Lo! Those who believe and do good works are the best of created beings....Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.
  BOOKS, QUR'AN E-BOOK  


Allah: Allah is the proper name in Arabic for The One and Only God, The Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It is used by the Arab Christians and Jews for the God (Eloh-im in Hebrew; 'Allaha' in Aramaic, the mother tongue of Jesus). The word Allah does not have a plural or gender. Allah does not have any associate or partner, and He does not beget nor was He begotten. The abbreviation 'SWT' usually follows when Allah is mentioned, and it means 'Glory Be To Him.'

The Arabic word Surah is loosely translated as chapter and Ayah as verse for the English readers who are unfamiliar with Qura'nic concepts. The Ayah (plural Ayat) means a sign. Those who have read the meaning of the Qur'an thoroughly and have had time to reflect upon them appreciate the word ayah as it is truly a sign from Allah (SWT), the lord of the universe, the absolute.

In the English translation and the RealAudio narration, the terms 'those who surrendered to Allah' and 'the religion of the surrender to Allah' are used. The revealed Arabic words of the Qur'an for these translated words are 'Muslim' and 'Al-Islam'. Many other words that have been translated for the convenience of English readers are: Maryam (Mary), 'Isa or Easa (Jesus), Zakariya (Zachariah), Yahya (John), Musa (Moses), Haroon (Aaron), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqoob (Jacob), Yusuf (Joseph), Dawood (David), Sulaiman (Soloman), and Ayyub (Job), peace be upon them, and many others. Refer to the index in the first reference cited below for more details.

The Qur'an was revealed in pure Arabic to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over a period of twenty-three years ending in 632 A.D., the year he passed away. The first revelation was only five verses, the first five verses of Chapter 96. Among the very early revelations are Surah 73, 74, 80, 81, 93 and 97. The revelations were sent by Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala (SWT), the creator and sustainer of the universe, and transmitted to him by the Archangel Jibril (as) (Gabriel). The revelations he received were sometimes a few verses, a part of a chapter or the whole chapter. Some revelations came down in response to an inquiry by the nonbelievers. The ordering of the Qur'an is not the same as the revelations. Archangel Jibril (as) taught the ordering of Ayat and Surahs (refer to Surah 75) as he transmitted the revelations to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The first ten surahs revealed in chronological order are 96, 68, 73, 74, 1, 111, 81, 87, 92 and 89.

The Qur'an speaks in the first person, i.e., Allah's commandments to its creation. The Qur'an also uses the royal "We" for Allah's commandments. The main theme of the Qur'an and all previous revelations has been the absolute oneness of Allah, the creator and sustainer of the universe, who is without partner(s). Allah (Glory be to Him) did not beget nor was He begotten. The Qur'anic verses address people in a variety of ways depending on the context. It says "O mankind" and "O people" in a general sense addressing to all people, and in other instances "O believers" for those who have already accepted the message of Qur'an.

The Qur'an is the direct Word of Allah and it does not contain a single alphabet from anyone, even Prophet Muhammad. The sayings of Prophet Muhammad are contained in separate compilations known as Hadith, and include his deeds, lifestyle, explanations and decisions on a variety of issues. The Qur'an and Hadith form the foundation of daily life of a practicing Muslim. The Qur'an has not changed by even an alphabet since its revelation fourteen centuries ago. Allah (SWT) has promised in the Qur'an that He will preserve it to the end of time. It is also for this reason there is no need for any new prophet or revelation (guidance) to come to humankind. The Qur'an is read in Arabic with great emphasis on the accuracy of recitation, including the recognition of diacritical marks and places where one pauses momentarily or stops.

USEFUL REFERENCES

"The Holy Qur'an," Text, Translation and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, 1934. (Latest Publisher: Amana Publications, Beltsville, MD, USA; Title: "The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an," 1992). A pocket edition of Yusuf Ali’s translation is also available in contemporary English.

"The Meaning of the Glorious Koran," An Explanatory Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, a Mentor Book Publication. (Also available as: "The Meaning of the Glorious Koran," by Marmaduke Pickthall, Dorset Press, N.Y. and several Islamic book publishers; Published by several publishers since 1930). Note: The Mentor publication (451 MJ1529 195) contains a few errors/omissions, e.g., in Surah 72: the last part of Verse 2 should read “we ascribe no partner unto our Lord”, and Surah 68: Verse 22 should read “straight” road instead of “beaten” road. In case of any doubt, the reader is advised to check with a copy from an Islamic publisher and also check with an Islamic scholar for the meaning directly from the Arabic original.

Pickthall writes in his foreward of 1930: "...The Qur'an cannot be translated.... The book is here rendered almost literally and every effort has been made to choose befitting language. But the result is not the Glorious Qur'an, that inimitable symphony, the very sounds of which move men to tears and ecstasy. It is only an attempt to present the meaning of the Qur'an-and peradventure something of the charm in English. It can never take the place of the Qur'an in Arabic, nor is it meant to do so. ..."

For the serious readers of the meaning of the Qur'an in English, it is recommended that it should be read along with a good commentary to comprehend the essential meaning and scope of verses. Either Yusuf Ali's or Maududi's commentaries are a good starting point. The former presents the meaning Ayah (verse) by Ayah with footnotes and includes a detailed index of the topics mentioned in the Qur'an, while the latter presents commentaries for each Surah (chapter) of the Qur'an.




ARTICLES

Jesus, The Son of Mary (pbut)
Mary and Jesus (peace be upon them)
Biography of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Tolerance in Islam


BOOKS, QUR'AN E-BOOK
http://www.cyberistan.org/books.htm

Copyright © 1998 Dr. A. Zahoor
All Rights Reserved

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