Reflection on the Qur'an (tadabbur)

In separate episodes of the series "al-Fawz al-Mubin", Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy sets out the meanings of short suras, speaks of completing the Qur'an and starting it again, and calls for reading the Qur'an with reflection. ¹ He calls for reading the Qur'an with reflection in the course of answering those who deny the religion. ²

The Sheikh says that the mushaf closes with three short suras, and that he begins the mention of Sura al-Ikhlas when speaking of the end of the Qur'an. Verse 1 of Sura al-Ikhlas ³ He cites a prophetic report on the best of deeds and describes the custom of completing the mushaf and then returning to its beginning. The narrator of the report is not named in the recording (needs_source: the report is unnamed). ⁴ He says that a believer begins with the Opening sura and the opening of al-Baqara immediately after finishing al-Nas, and that some scholars permitted a supplication at the completion. Completing a Qur'an recital ⁵

The Sheikh presents Sura al-Duha as a statement of God's favour to His Prophet, and calls his listeners to reflect on its meanings. Verse 1 of Sura al-Duha ¹ He explains that al-Duha is the early part of the day, and that the night is the time when it covers things and lets its darkness fall. ⁶ Asked about the meaning of al-Duha and the night, the Sheikh gives the outward meaning of the alternation of day and night, and then the inward meaning concerning uprightness. ⁷ He explains al-Duha as the dawning of the light of monotheism in the heart, and the night as the darkness of sins settling over the heart. ⁸

The Sheikh says that one of the five themes of the Qur'an is the account of the hereafter, and presents Sura al-Zalzala as short in wording and great in meaning (needs_source: the five-themes claim is not sourced). ⁹ He explains the great quaking mentioned at the start of the sura as the true quaking on the Day of Resurrection, of which earthquakes in this world are a small image. He also recalls the concern of scholars about a chain of volcanoes (needs_source: the reference to a chain of volcanoes is not sourced). Verse 1 of Sura al-Zalzala ¹⁰ He says that the mountains now move with a steady motion like the motion of the spheres, and that the Qur'an informed of their motion on the Day of Resurrection. ¹¹ He counts the earth and the limbs of a person among the witnesses over the servants on the Day of Resurrection (needs_source: the list of witnesses is not sourced). ¹² He says that the earth bears witness to what happens upon it, whether remembrance of God, injustice or corruption, and gives examples of places where idle pursuits and injustice take place. ¹³ He says that the earth where God is remembered is proud over other lands, and that God revealed to it that it should make its reports known. ¹⁴

The Sheikh says that the accounts of many peoples have not reached us, and that the Qur'an mentions of the nations' histories what is enough for the lesson. He gives old dates in figures that are not sourced (needs_source: the dates are not sourced). ¹⁵ He says that the Qur'an relates briefly the stories of Qarun, Pharaoh, Moses and Shu'ayb, and that the verses show the forms of tyranny, hoarding and injustice. ¹⁶

The Sheikh says that the two fruits named at the start of Sura al-Tin may be meant as two great mountains or two great places, and that it has been said they are the Sacred Mosque and the Farthest Mosque. He mentions this among the views that the exegetes report (needs_source: the views of the exegetes are not yet sourced). Verse 1 of Sura al-Tin ¹⁷

The Sheikh answers those who deny the religion and describes that path as far from the way of God. He calls for reading the Qur'an with reflection, and says that falsehood cannot reach it. Verse 42 of Sura Fussilat ²