Ramadan Taraweeh Night One-Al-Quran Surah Fatiah &Surah Baqarah (1-176)

 Ramadan Quran Taraweeh

Summary for Night 1

Night 1: Al-Faatihah to Al-Baqarah 176

Al-Faatihah: The Quran starts with Surah Fatihah, which is the supreme Du’a gifted to us by AllahSWT. These are the most recited verses

 of the Qur’an through which we affirm our faith in Allaah SWT as the sole object of our worship and the only source of our help. We ask Him to show us the Straight Path and protect us from going astray and His anger like it happened to other People of the Book. In response to the Dua, AllahSWT has given us the Qur’an.

Al-Baqarah: Surah Baqarah, the longest Surah of the Qur’an, has 286 verses and 40 Rukus. It’s spreads over 2 � Juz. The title of the Surah, "Al-Baqarah," literally means "The Cow." It relates to the parable of Prophet MoosaAS and his Ummah, Bani Israeel (Children of Israel) who hesitated to carry out Allah’s command to sacrifice a cow as an expiation for an evil they had committed.

Central Theme: To unconditionally listen and obey Allah, to inspire others to obey Him, and to warn and safeguard against any deviation from or abandonment of the commandments of AllahSWT.

"Thus We have made you an Ummah justly balanced that you will be witnesses over the people, and the Messenger a witness over you..." [Baqarah 2:173]

According to the above ayah, Muslims are witnesses to AllahSWT: as being the only God, to the Qur’an as the Divine Book, to the last Messenger as the true Messenger, to the message brought by him, and to the Hereafter

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Basics of Divine Guidance (Ayaah 1-39).

The Surah begins by declaring that the Qur’an is the Book of Allaah and there is no doubt in its truthfulness. This Book is a guide to the Muttaqoon. The Surah then identifies people who would never benefit from the Qur’an: One, the kuffar (the non-believers) who, of their own choice, deny the Quran as being the Word of AllaahSWT. They have a disease in their heart and Allaah SWT increases their disease. And two, the munafeqoon, the hypocrites who show faith on the outside but hide a dislike for Islam and Muslims in their heart. They are hypocrites by choice: " deaf, dumb, blind -- so they shall not repent" [2:18]. The Qur’an invites all mankind to accept the message of Rasulullaah (SAW) and challenges them to produce one chapter like the Qur’an if they have any doubt about its truthfulness. The story of the creation Adam (AS) and the nature of man is described next. Man is given knowledge and free will and he must struggle to choose between good and evil. Because he is given free will, he is liable for his sins. To overcome his sins, he is given two Divine gifts: one, the promise to accept repentance and to forgive sins whenever the sinner turns to AllahSWT, just as He forgave AdamAS: 2

Lessons from Bani Israel, a Nation in Decadence: the Broken Covenant and the Diseases of the Heart. (Ayaah 40-123)

The focus now moves to Bani Israeel, the Jews of the time. Ayaaha 40-46 describe Allah’s immense blessings upon them, and their ingratitude, their violations of His Commandments, their diseases of heart -- in short a story of broken covenants. The story of Bani Israeel is described as a ‘mirror’ for the Muslims of all times, to hold themselves up to, to see a reflection of their own conditions and destiny. It also describes the transfer of the responsibility of discharging Allah’s mission from Bani Israeel to the Muslims through RasulAllaahSAW. Bani Israeel are reminded of major events in history and their behavior. Each event is described as a lesson for the Muslims to contemplate. It tells them about their disobedience of Allaah (SW) and his messenger, Musa (AS), as well as their worship of the golden calf. It was the height of ungratefulness to Allaah SWT since He had freed them from the tyranny of Fir’aun (Pharaoh), given them streams of water, shaded them from the scorching heat in the Sinai desert by clouds and given them Manna wa Salwa food. But they were nor happy with that and wanted more of the worldly things. Due to their disobedience of Allaah’s commands, disgrace and poverty were imposed on them: "They were covered with humiliation and poverty; they drew on themselves the wrath of AllahSWT. This was because they went on rejecting the signs of AllahSWT and killing His messengers without just cause. This was because they disobeyed and exceeded the limits." [2:61]

The surah then turns to the attitude of Bani Israeel toward the last ProphetSAW. But, it is explained that this is nothing new, it is only a continuation of a long history of such attitudes.

The Prophetic Mission to the Muslims (Ayaah 124-152)

To prepare the Muslims, the surah then talks about Ibraheem (AS), his pious life, and his devotion and submission to AllahSWT. IbraheemAS was appointed the custodian of the House of AllahSWT and the leader of mankind because he proved himself in every test that he was put through. AllahSWT fulfilled a prayer of IbraheemAS to raise a Muslim Ummah: "Our Lord! make us Muslims [in submission] to You, and [raise] from our progeny a Muslim nation submitting to You..." [2:128] Muslims are the heirs to IbraheemAS’s legacy. Jews forfeited their right to inherit it when they persisted in disobeying Allaah SWT.

Basics of Deen and Personal Resources (Ayaah 153-157)

The change of Qibla -- the direction of Salaah from Jerusalem to Makkah [2:144-150] symbolizes the transfer of the Prophetic mission to the Muslims: "Thus We have made you an Ummah justly balanced that you will be witnesses over the people, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves." 3

AllahSWT then tells Muslims that as an Ummah they have to promote the jama’ah and do some things collectively, such as congregational prayers, Ramadan fasting, Hajj and jihad for His sake. Muslims should always be mindful of Allaah’s presence and glorify Him. "So remember Me; I will remember you." [2:152].

They are also commanded to seek Allaah’s help through Sabr and Salaah. To emphasize this Allaah SWT tells them, "And We will surely test you with something of fear, and hunger, and some loss of wealth, and lives and fruits, but give good news to those who practice Sabr (patiently persevere)." [The story of Safa and Marwah is told next because it represents Sabr, hope, and trust in AllahSWT. It is a story about Hajar (wife of IbraheemAS) and their son IsmaeelAS. How she agreed to live with her infant son alone in a desert valley of Makkah, with no inhabitants, only because it was the command of AllahSWT. Immediately following the virtues of Sabr and Salaah, AllahSWT establishes important foundation of Deen (religion):

1. Tawheed: Faith in Allah alone as God: "And your Allah is one Allah; there is no god but Him.." [2:163]

2. Hubullaah: The love of Allah SWT

3. Obedience of RasulAllah SAW

Then come some of the most important principles of Shariah (Islamic laws):

1. All good things on earth are permissible, except those which are forbidden.

2. The authority to make things prohibited rests only with Allah SWT and no one else.

3. Things prohibited are specified by AllahSWT

4. The prohibitions can be relaxed in the face of dire human needs: "but if one is driven by necessity, not desire, nor exceeding the limits, there is no sin upon him." [2:173]

5. Hiding Allah’s Message is a grave sin: "Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book and exchange it for a small price -- they swallow nothing but fire into their bellies; and Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection..." [2:174]