By For today’s #MuslimGirlRamadanBookClub reflections, we will tap into our main lessons from Juz 13. Juz 13 consists of three Surahs; the second half of Surah Yusuf, all of Surah Ra’ad, and all of Surah Ibrahim. All three surahs were revealed in Makkah and contain themes of truth in them. Allah SWT uses stories, imagery, and prose to teach us some extremely important and valuable lessons.
Relying on Allah SWT during times of hardship
Surah Yusuf is a Makkan Surah and so, it was revealed during the early days of Islam before the Prophet Muhammad migrated to Madinah. Juz 13 begins in Ayah 53 of Surah Yusuf, in the middle of the story of Prophet Yusuf AS.
The story of Prophet Yusuf AS is extremely well known, and Allah SWT continues his story in the ayahs of the surah, telling us about how the Prophet Yusuf interpreted the dream of the King of Egypt. This helped Yusuf AS be released from prison after he was falsely accused by the wife of the Aziz and the women of the city. The King, upon realizing the innocence of the Prophet and understanding the great wisdom he had, grants Yusuf free reign and authority of the land. The ayahs continue with the story of Prophet Yusuf and his reign over Egypt, meeting his brothers and reuniting with his parents. The story of Prophet Yusuf ends with the dream he had, which is mentioned at the beginning of the surah, coming true.
Prophet Yusuf was innocent of many things and suffered through several injustices. He had been cast into a well due to the jealousy and hatred of his brothers and then thrown into prison under a false accusation. His reputation had been tarnished by the wife of the Aziz and he had no family looking after him. And yet, he remained steadfast in his belief in Allah and was patient throughout his experiences. Through the surah, Allah SWT tells us to first and foremost be truthful in all situations and rely on Him. We also learn about the dangers of mixing with the opposite gender and the harm jealousy and envy can cause a human. And finally, we learn about the importance of parents and children through the love Prophet Yusuf and his father Prophet Ya’qub shared.
Throughout the entire surah, my absolute favourite ayah has to be the following because it is the reply Prophet Ya’qub gives to his sons who return after meeting Prophet Yusuf in Egypt without knowing his true identity. Prophet Ya’qub, even after so many years of being apart from Yusuf AS to the point he had lost his sight from sorrow, still pined and loved his son and only ever complained to Allah SWT about his pain:
I complain of my anguish and sorrow only to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know.
— Quran (12:86)
The glory and oneness of Allah
Surah Ra’ad, which means thunder, contains 43 Ayahs and is also a Makkan Surah, however, this surah has been speculated to have been revealed a long time after the Prophet Muhammad SAWS was given prophethood.
Surah Ra’ad has one main theme and that is the glory and oneness of Allah SWT and that whatever actions we do in this dunya will be reflected in the akhirah. The ayahs in the surah are aimed at the Prophet Muhammad SAWS, with Allah SWT telling the Prophet Muhammad how he should reply to disbelievers when they question Allah and His message. Allah SWT reiterates the fact that He is the one alone who has created everything in this dunya, from the mountains and rivers to fruits and foods. Allah is the one that turns each day into night and all these things mentioned are pure and true signs that Allah SWT is the One that is the Creator.
Allah SWT spends several ayahs talking about His creations and His Oneness to show the disbelievers that He is the Lord of the Worlds. Allah SWT tells the Prophet Muhammad SAWS to remind the transgressors that they have been given so many signs and messages and if they still disbelieve, then they will face punishment. Allah also tells the Prophet about the gardens of paradise the believers who are steadfast in their salah and are good people will enter. Allah SWT also mentions the different prophets that have come down to portray the exact same message of Allah to different generations and ages and the holy books they all received, with the Quran being the most perfect book of Allah. In Ayah 17, Allah uses the imagery of gold and water as parables in this ayah, comparing the gold and water as good knowledge and the truth that has been left for the believers and the scum and foam found in gold and water as falsehood, which eventually fades away.
My favorite ayah is the following ayah because, in it, Allah SWT ensures us that the believers will be protected by angels and that a person can only enter Allah’s favor when they change their behavior and increase their Iman, belief in Allah SWT.
For each one there are successive angels before and behind, protecting them by Allah’s command. Indeed, Allah would never change a people’s state ˹of favour˺ until they change their own state ˹of faith˺. And if it is Allah’s Will to torment a people, it can never be averted, nor can they find a protector other than Him.
— Quran 13:11
Obeying Allah SWT and not listening to the whispers of the devil
Surah Ibrahim is also a Makkan surah, revealed in the later part of the Prophet Muhammad’s life. This surah, along with Surah Ra’ad, both begin with the same three letters (with Surah Ra’ad having one extra letter), which only Allah SWT knows the meaning and weight of.
The entire surah is a warning to the disbelievers about their punishment for not believing in the message of the Prophets, especially Prophet Muhammad SAWS. Allah SWT ensures that the Prophet knows what will happen to those who choose to digress from the truth and gives the Prophet instructions on how to respond to their questions. Allah SWT also uses imagery and parables again in this surah, in ayah 24 to 27. Allah SWT says that a believer is like a good tree, one who believes in Allah alone and worships Him alone, with the branches of that tree being plentiful and reaching towards the heavens. Whereas a disbeliever is like an evil or bad tree, as it has no basis or stability, just like Kufr.
In Surah Ibrahim, Allah SWT mentions several prophets by name, like Prophet Musa and Nuh and the people of Ad and Thamud, and gives the Prophet Muhammad SAWS examples from their times. Allah also mentions Prophet Ibrahim and the specific dua’s he made to Allah for descendants and people who would worship Allah and have people perform Tawaf around the Ka’bah. Prophet Ibrahim also made two wonderful dua’s that we should try and incorporate into our daily lives as well in Ayah 40 and 41.
My Lord! Make me and those ˹believers˺ of my descendants keep up prayer. Our Lord! Accept my prayers. Our Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day when the judgment will come to pass.
— Quran (14:40-41)
My favorite ayah, although a little bit sad, has to be the following ayah. This ayah, speaks about what Shaytan will say to the disbelievers after the day of judgement, and for me, it’s an extremely huge reality check. We need to be careful of what we do in this dunya because at the end of the day, Allah’s word is truth and if we choose to disbelieve and listen to Shaytan’s whispers and go astray, it’ll be our own doing. May Allah SWT save and protect us all, Ameen.
And Satan will say ˹to his followers˺ after the judgment has been passed, “Indeed, Allah has made you a true promise. I too made you a promise, but I failed you. I did not have any authority over you. I only called you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; blame yourselves. I cannot save you, nor can you save me. Indeed, I denounce your previous association of me with Allah ˹in loyalty˺. Surely the wrongdoers will suffer a painful punishment.”
— Quran (14:22)
How about you? Let us know your favourite verses from this Juz on all social media platforms.