By Today’s takeaways for #MuslimGirlRamadanBookClub focus on Juz 16, which consists of the remainder of Surah Kahf, Surah Maryam, and Surah Taha. All three surahs were revealed in Makkah, before the Prophet Muhammad SAWS migrated to Madinah.
Here are our takeaways for this Juz!
Practicing patience and believing in the will of Allah
We continue Surah Kahf with the story of Prophet Musa and Khidhr. Even though Khidhr is not mentioned by name, we know that it is Khidhr because of his description of being a very wise and pious man. Khidhr teaches Prophet Musa several lessons but there are two lessons that really resonate with us. The first is patience. Allah SWT puts great emphasis on patience and in Surah Kahf, Allah SWT shows us how impatient Prophet Musa was while he was on his journey with Khidhr. There are so many things in this world that make no sense to us, that we don’t understand, that we wish would happen faster. But it is with patience that we can truly see and understand why the things that are happening around us are happening.
… I did not do it all on my own. This is the explanation of what you could not bear patiently.
— Quran (18:82)
The second lesson is to understand that whatever happens in this Dunya is the will of Allah SWT. Khidhr was merely doing what Allah SWT told him to do and that too for reasons that benefited the people he was doing them to.
The final parts of the surah speak about Dhul-Qarnayn, who was a righteous man. He was the one who built the wall around the Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj (Gog and Magog). This wall will be turned into dust and the tribe of Gog and Magog will wreak havoc on this earth when Allah SWT wills it.
My favorite ayah must be the following because of the weight Allah’s power holds. Allah SWT is telling Prophet Muhammad SAWS that if the water of all the seas was ink to write about the power, the Signs, and the Wisdom of Him, then all the water would run out before the writing could be finished. This goes to show just how magnificent Allah SWT is.
Say, O Prophet, “If the ocean were ink for writing the Words of my Lord, it would certainly run out before the Words of my Lord were finished, even if We refilled it with its equal.”
— Quran (18:109)
Relying on Allah
Surah Maryam has 98 ayahs and is named for Maryam, the mother of Prophet Isa (AS). Surah Maryam was revealed right before the Sahabah migrated to Ethiopia, a predominantly Christian country.
The angels announced, “O Zachariah! Indeed, We give you the good news of the birth of a son, whose name will be John [Yahya] — a name We have not given to anyone before.”
— Quran (19:7)
Allah SWT speaks about Prophet Zakariya and his wife, who had remained barren for almost a century before they were blessed with a son; Prophet Yahya. Prophet Yahya was an obedient and righteous son and carried on the message of Allah and the Prophets who came before him. In this, we learn about patience and relying on Allah SWT.
That is Jesus, son of Mary. And this is a word of truth, about which they dispute.
— Quran (19:34)
In the surah, Allah mentions Maryam and her son, Prophet Isa, and the difficult journey they had, from Maryam conceiving Isa through the Will and Power of Allah SWT to the people who ridiculed and shunned her. With this, we learn that Allah SWT is capable of anything.
“Oh dear father! I have certainly received some knowledge which you have not received, so follow me and I will guide you to the Straight Path.”
— quran (19:43)
The story of Prophet Ibrahim and his father Azra are mentioned as well. Prophet Ibrahim did his best to bring his father Azra away from idol worshiping but was unsuccessful. Azra even threatened to stone Prophet Ibrahim to death if he didn’t denounce Allah SWT. But Prophet Ibrahim leaves his father by asking Allah SWT for his forgiveness. This teaches us to be respectful and kind to our parents and teach them about Islam but also to leave them to Allah if they go against what Allah SWT has told us.
Lastly, Allah SWT mentions Prophet Musa and his brother Prophet Harun, Prophet Ismail, Prophet Idris, Prophet Nuh, Prophet Ishaq, and Prophet Ya’qub. All of these prophets went through difficulties and hardships and strived to bring forward the message of Allah SWT with sincerity and truthfulness. And their reward will be Paradise.
My favorite ayah has to be the following. To me, this ayah is the epitome of hope. Allah SWT says these exact words to Prophet Zakariya, who was desperate for a child, and to Maryam, who had a child without any man ever touching her. Both these miracles only happened through the Power and Will of Allah SWT.
An angel replied, “So will it be! Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, just as I created you before, when you were nothing!’”
— Quran (19:9)
Spreading Allah’s words isn’t burdening
Surah Taha has 135 ayahs and goes into detail about the story of Prophet Musa (AS) as a lesson to the people of the Quraysh who were causing problems for the Prophet Muhammad SAWS.
The surah begins with a very powerful message for the Prophet Muhammad SAWS.
We have not sent down the Qur’an unto you [O Muhammad] to cause you distress, but only as a Reminder to those who fear [Allah]. A revelation from Him [Allah] Who has created the earth and high heavens. The Most Beneficent [Allah] rose over the Throne. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil. And if you [O Muhammad] speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden. Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He! To Him belong the Best Names.
— Quran (20:2-8)
In the above seven ayahs, Allah SWT reminds the Prophet Muhammad SAWS that He is the Lord of the Worlds, that He is the one who has created everything, and that everything belongs only to Him. Allah SWT assures the Prophet Muhammad SAWS that the Quran was not meant to be a burden to the Prophet. It was sent as a form of guidance and admonition, and it doesn’t demand the Prophet Muhammad to go about changing the stubborn and unchangeable hearts of the disbelievers.
Then the story of Prophet Musa, his birth, his life living with Firaun, and his battle against Firaun is told. The story of Prophet Musa and Firaun and the people of Israel who disobeyed Prophet Musa after he’d given them a command was a lesson for the Quraysh. Allah SWT warns and admonishes the disbelievers and reminds them of the punishments and consequences they will face, similar to the punishments and consequences the Firaun and his people faced.
My favorite ayah is the following because, in this ayah, Allah SWT tells the Prophet Muhammad SAWS that He has sent down the Quran in Arabic, with warnings and lessons and admonitions for the disbelievers so that they may lose their barbaric ways (which they had adopted for centuries) and go onto the right path.
And so We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran and varied the warnings in it, so perhaps they will shun evil or it may cause them to be mindful.
— Quran (20:113)
Let us know what your favorite verses are Juz 16 on all social media platforms!