JUZ FIFTEEN
The fifteenth juz of the Qur’an contains all of Surah al-Israʾ, also known as Surah Bani Israʾil, and the bulk of Surah al-Kahf, ending at verse seventy-four of Surah al-Kahf in the middle of the story of Prophet Musa.
Surah al-Israʾ and Surah al-Kahf complement each other and flow together. Surah al-Israʾ begins with tasbiḥ, while Surah al-Kahf begins with taḥmid, these are the two primary forms of dhikr by which we remember Allah. Both of these are Makkan surahs from the late Makkan period focused on miracles, answered duʿas, and Allah’s Power and Wisdom. These themes continue in the next juz with Surah Maryam and Surah Taha as well.
Surah al-Israʾ is named in reference to the Prophet’s night journey to Jerusalem in which he صلى الله عليه وسلم led the previous prophets in prayer, and then ascended to visit the world of the unseen. It was a turning point in his life as it established his status as the leader of the prophets. Surah al-Israʾ is named after the amazing miracle of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ,while the next few surahs focus on the miracles of past prophets and righteous people. The theme of miracles runs strong over the next few surahs.
A large portion of Surah al-Israʾ focuses on the early laws of Islam. The bulk of Islamic law was revealed in Madinah but in Surah al-Israʾ we get a glimpse of what laws were revealed in Makkah. A primary focus of these laws was the importance of respecting one’s parents and treating them well. This remains a core component of our religion today.
Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you be good to your parents. If either of them or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them a word of disrespect, nor scold them, but say to them kind words. And lower to them the wing of humility, out of mercy, and say, “My Lord, have mercy on them, as they raised me when I was a child.” Your Lord knows best what is in your minds. If you are righteous—He is Forgiving to the obedient. And give the relative his rights, and the poor, and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully.
Notice how the verse flows from the rights of parents to the rights of relatives, the poor, and others. This shows the comprehensive teachings of Islam. We are called upon to treat everyone well, but our parents deserve a special level of kindness, especially when they reach old age. This kindness during their old age is one of the gateways to Paradise.
The story of Adam is repeated in this surah with a focus on the arrogance of Shaytan. It is repeated again in the middle of Surah al-Kahf, focusing on the origins of the devil. Surah al-Israʾ shows us that the devil looked down upon Adam for being created from mud, while Surah al-Kahf reminds us that the devil was a jinn, which is not automatically better than a human. The devil had no real reason to feel superior; this is the trap of arrogance, it involves a false sense of superiority.
The devil is then reminded that he has no authority over the righteous. It is only the rebellious who fall for the devil’s tricks. “As for My devotees, you have no authority over them. Your Lord is an adequate Guardian.”
Towards the end of the surah, we are reminded that the Qur’an is a mercy and a healing for us. In the previous surah, Allah promised to preserve the Qur’an; in this surah He reminds us that the Qur’an was revealed for our benefit. Allah fulfilled His promise, and the Qur’an remains the primary source of spiritual healing and mercy for humanity today.
The surah ends with a series of verses about Prophet Musa. Prophet Musa was the main prophet that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم communicated with during the night journey; he also resembled him the most in story and mission and is a primary focus of the next surah. In the story of Musa in Surah al-Israʾ, we see the punishment of Pharaoh
and understand why Allah punishes tyrants in this world. In the story of Musa in Surah al-Kahf, we see good people facing trials and learn to understand why bad things happen to good people in this world.
Surah al-Israʾ ends with praising Allah who has no son. Surah al-Kahf begins with similar verses. “Praise be to God, who has not begotten a son, nor has He a partner in sovereignty, nor has He an ally out of weakness, and glorify Him constantly.”101 “Praise be to God, who revealed the Book to His servant, and allowed in it no distortion.”
Surah al-Kahf focuses on four core stories, each dealing with a different test of life. The sleepers of the cave were tested for their faith, and Allah rewarded them through a miracle. The owner of the garden was tested with wealth, and it was taken away from him when he failed to show gratitude. The people in the story of Musa and Khidr were tested with a variety of trials. Their patience with these trials was the path to passing the test. Finally, Dhu al-Qarnayn was tested with power over others, and he passed this test by ruling with justice.
The core lesson in this surah is that each of us will face similar trials in life. Surah al-Kahf teaches us how to pass each of the tests. In this way, a weekly recitation of Surah al-Kahf on a Friday serves as a reminder and a guiding light for the rest of the week. Abu Saʿid al-Khudri reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Whoever recites Surah al-Kahf on Friday will have a
light between this Friday and the next.”
By Dr. Omar Suleiman & Sh. Ismail Kamdar
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