By So far we have seen that each Juz serves as a treasure trove of divine guidance, offering profound insights and timeless lessons for us to elevate our moral compass. Juz nine, spanning from verse 7:88 to 8:40, is no exception for us, which you will know during today’s #MuslimGirlRamadanBookClub reflections.
In this segment of the Quran, we delve into Surah Al-A’raf and Surah Al-Anfal, to pinpoint the most salient lessons that we can all benefit from during this Ramadan, Insha’Allah.
Here are our main takeaways for this Juz!
Seeking divine guidance and mercy as a means of nurturing the soul
In Surah Al-A’raf, Allah (SWT) extends His divine guidance to humanity, offering solace and direction to those who seek it. Three verses from this segment encapsulate the essence of His mercy and guidance:
We would surely be fabricating a lie against Allah if we were to return to your faith after Allah has saved us from it. It does not befit us to return to it unless it is the Will of Allah, our Lord. Our Lord has encompassed everything in ˹His˺ knowledge. In Allah we trust. Our Lord! Judge between us and our people with truth. You are the best of those who judge.
— Quran (7:89)
This verse talks about the people of Midian who refused to return to falsehood after having embraced the truth, recognizing that their ultimate reliance should be upon Allah (SWT) alone.
I find empowerment in this verse because it is a reminder for us to set boundaries about what we believe in and uphold our values no matter the objections we might face from the mainstream. Our ultimate allegiance should be to Allah (SWT), and we should trust in His wisdom and judgment to guide us on the right path that will eventually lead us to His all-encompassing mercy.
Moses prayed, “My Lord! Forgive me and my brother! And admit us into Your mercy. You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
— Quran (7:151)
In this verse, Moses (Musa) addresses Allah (SWT) in prayer, seeking His forgiveness and mercy for himself and his brother. This prayer occurs within the broader context of Harun (Musa’s brother) being unable to prevent Israelites from going astray. So Musa (AS) prayed to Allah (SWT) to forgive his brother for any shortcomings that might have been the cause of the unfolded events.
Musa’s prayer serves as a profound example of full reliance on Allah’s mercy. By including his brother Harun in his supplication, Musa displays compassion and concern for his sibling, highlighting the importance of expanding our wishes to those who matter to us.
O believers! If you are mindful of Allah, He will grant you a decisive authority, absolve you of your sins, and forgive you. And Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.
— Quran (8:29)
This verse offers a promise of divine mercy and forgiveness to those who are constantly mindful of Allah (SWT) and strive to uphold righteousness.
As Muslims, we should always do our best to seek the mercy of Allah (SWT) as much as we can and seek His forgiveness. And I love how simple Allah’s request is; imagine being asked to be mindful of His presence and in return, you can attain His mercy and have all your sins washed away — words fail to describe how generous, kind, and beautiful Allah (SWT) is.
In essence, these verses remind us of the importance of seeking divine guidance and mercy in our lives. Through steadfast faith, humility, and adherence to righteousness, we can navigate life’s challenges with confidence, knowing that Allah’s mercy and guidance are ever-present for those who seek them.
Prophetic mission and dawah: spreading the message of truth
In Surah Al-A’raf and Surah Al-Anfal, the Quran elucidates the prophetic mission of inviting humanity towards Islam. Let us explore two verses from this range that embody the essence of this divine call:
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O humanity! I am Allah’s Messenger to you all. To Him ˹alone˺ belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His revelations. And follow him, so you may be ˹rightly˺ guided.
— Quran (7:158)
This verse underscores the universal message of Islam, calling upon all of humanity to embrace the truth of monotheism and follow the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It emphasizes the essential principles of belief in Allah, the acceptance of His Messenger, and the pursuit of guidance through following his example.
As believers, it is our responsibility to convey the message of Islam to humanity at large with absolute compassion and love. Just as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was appointed as a messenger to all of mankind, we should strive to emulate his compassion, sincerity, and dedication in representing our beautiful religion and conveying what it truly stands for.
O believers! Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn away from him while you hear ˹his call˺.
— Quran (8:20)
This verse emphasizes the importance of obedience to Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (PBUH), highlighting the integral role of following divine guidance in nurturing our spirituality.
Our commitment to Islam should be unwavering, and our obedience to Allah and His Messenger should be absolute. By aligning our actions with Allah’s divine commandments and following the prophetic example, we can cultivate a strong connection with our faith and navigate life’s challenges with clarity and purpose.
Repentance and forgiveness: striving to get back on track
Within the verses of Surah Al-A’raf and Surah Al-Anfal, the Quran extends a profound invitation to repentance and forgiveness. Here is what Allah (SWT) says to us:
But those who commit evil, then repent and become ˹true˺ believers, your Lord will certainly be All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.
— Quran (7:153)
This verse illustrates the mercy of Allah (SWT) toward those who commit sins but sincerely repent and turn back to Him in belief — no matter the magnitude of one’s misdeeds. It is a heartwarming reminder that Allah (SWT) is always welcoming back those who sincerely seek His forgiveness through repentance and faith.
The most beautiful part of it — to those questioning the extent to which Allah (SWT) can be welcoming — is that the Prophet (PBUH) described in full detail how happy Allah gets when someone repents to Him, saying: “Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly)”. 1
Tell the disbelievers that if they desist, their past will be forgiven. But if they persist, then they have an example in those destroyed before them.
— Quran (8:38)
This verse highlights the mercy and forgiveness of Allah, even towards those who have previously erred or disbelieved. It extends an invitation to repentance and offers the promise of forgiveness to those who sincerely abandon their disbelief and hostility toward Islam.
No matter how grave our sins may be, Allah’s mercy is always within reach for those who sincerely repent and turn back to Him — even if we keep on getting off track again and again. As long as we keep on repenting, Allah (SWT) will keep on forgiving.
And, again, this is not wishful thinking; the Prophet (PBUH) said it himself: “Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious said: ‘A slave committed a sin and he said: O Allah, forgive my sin,’ and Allah said: ‘My slave committed a sin and then he realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives the sins and punishes for the sin.’ He then again committed a sin and said: ‘My Rubb, forgive my sin,’ and Allah (SWT) said: ‘My slave committed a sin and then realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives his sin and punishes for the sin.’ He again committed a sin and said: ‘My Rubb, forgive my sin,’ and Allah (SWT) said: ‘My slave has committed a sin and then realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives the sin or takes (him) to account for sin. I have granted forgiveness to my slave. Let him do whatever he likes.'” 2
Trials and tests: nurturing resilience in the face of adversity
In Surah Al-A’raf and Surah Al-Anfal, the Quran addresses the reality of trials and tests that believers may encounter in their lives.
And know that your wealth and your children are only a test and that with Allah is a great reward.
— Quran (8:28)
This verse speaks to all of us, especially our brothers and sisters in Palestine. I love this verse because it sheds light on the fact that true success lies not in material wealth or worldly attachments but in seeking Allah’s pleasure and the eternal reward that He promises.
In the face of seeing your loved ones leaving this world in front of your eyes or losing your job and possessions, please let us all remember that this moment in time is nothing but a test. As hard as it is to say this, but only patience and being mindful of any plight from the mindset that it is a test, we rise in status as human beings and Muslims, Insha’Allah.
Faith and conviction: strengthening the bond with Allah
Surah Al-A’raf and Surah Al-Anfal emphasize the significance of unwavering faith and conviction in Allah’s commandments. Allah (SWT) tells us:
The ˹true˺ believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord.
— Quran (8:2)
This verse describes the characteristics of true believers, highlighting their reverence and respect for Allah (SWT), responsiveness to His guidance, and reliance upon Him alone. It emphasizes the importance of cultivating a deep connection with Allah and strengthening one’s faith through reflection upon His verses.
Now this verse does not exclude Muslims who feel they might not relate to the definition of “true believers;” the verse describes the perfect image of what a Muslim should be like. But Allah knows that we are not perfect — which is why we should keep on repenting daily. What the verse essentially conveys is the soft-heartedness that a true believer possesses, so much so that they can be moved by the words of Allah (SWT) and His messages to them.
O believers! Respond to Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah stands between a person and their heart, and that to Him you will all be gathered.
— Quran (8:24)
This verse emphasizes the importance of responding promptly to the call of Allah and His Messenger. I had to look at various explanations (tafsirs) here to understand what it is that Allah (SWT) is referring to in “that which gives you life.” And it is beyond magical that it is faith (Iman). Having faith is truly what makes us alive because the moment we stop having faith, we become dead souls with living bodies.
So Allah (SWT) is literally giving us the 101 guide or the manual that we should follow to function properly and happily as human beings. After all, only He knows how we can become the best versions of ourselves, and He is not keeping the means of achieving it a secret from us.
As we are bringing our reflections for today on Juz nine to a close, we are reminded of the profound wisdom, guidance, and mercy encapsulated within its verses.
As Muslims and believers, let us heed the lessons and takeaways gleaned from Juz nine on these blessed days and nights, striving to embody the virtues of patience, sincerity, humility, and obedience in our daily lives.
What about you? Let us know what your personal takes are!
- Al Bukhari, “Riyad as-Salihin,” no. 15; Muslim.
Another narration verified by Muslim is: “Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: ‘O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Rubb’.He commits this mistake out of extreme joy”. ↩︎ - Al Bukhari, “Riyad as-Salihin,” no. 421; Muslim.
Note: The last sentence “let him do whatever he likes” refers to keep on repenting back, according to what scholars said about this hadith. Al Bukhari, “Riyad as-Salihin,” no. 421; Muslim. ↩︎