JUZ THIRTEEN
The thirteenth juz begins at verse fifty-three of Surah Yusuf, contains all of Surah Raʿd, and ends with Surah Ibrahim. A common theme that runs from Surah Yunus to Surah al-Ḥijr is the greatness of the Qur’an itself. In fact, every one of these surahs begins with verses describing the greatness of the Qur’an, as a reminder to you, the reader, to take it seriously and reflect upon it.
This juz begins with a turning point in the life of Prophet Yusuf . His story in the previous juz focused on his trials. At this point, he begins to work for the king and eventually rises to a position of authority in the kingdom. It is at this stage that we see the amazing character of Yaʿqub and Yusuf. Yaʿqub shows us the most beautiful example of optimism and patience, while Yusuf shows us an incredible example of generosity and forgiveness. These are four powerful characteristics that their forefather Ibrahim was known for and we see all these characteristics in this surah.
The surah ends with the family reunited and all grudges forgiven. Yaʿqub is not satisfied to learn that his son Yusuf is still alive; he is only satisfied when he learns that he is still a believer. The true passing of any test in life is to remain firm on the true faith throughout the test. Yusuf himself asks Allah to allow him to die a believer, fulfilling the supplication of his forefathers. In Surah al-Baqarah we learn that Ibrahim and Yaʿqub both made duʿa that their progeny would die upon Islam. Yusuf was one of many answers to that duʿa.
A common theme that runs throughout this juz is the importance of patience and gratitude. Surah Yusuf gives us the example of beautiful patience in Yaʿqub. Surah Raʿd reminds us that Paradise is earned through patience. “Peace be upon you because you endured patiently. How excellent is the Final Home?”
Both Surah Raʿd and Surah Ibrahim remind us of the crucial importance of gratitude in earning the mercy of Allah. “Those who believe, and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of God. Surely, it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find comfort.”
And when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks, I will grant you increase; but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe.”
Do you not see how God presents a parable? A good word is like a good tree—its roots are firm, and its branches are in the sky. It yields its fruits every season by the will of its Lord. God presents the parables to the people, so that they may reflect. And the parable of a bad word is that of a bad tree—it is uprooted from the ground; it has no stability.
This is the common theme that runs throughout this juz. The two paths to Paradise are patience and gratitude. We need to be patient with the trials of life, knowing that victory is from Allah and He does not test us beyond our capabilities. We also need to be grateful for every blessing in our lives. If we are, Allah will increase our blessings in both worlds. These two qualities can exist at the same time. At almost any time in our lives, there are trials to be patient with and blessings to be grateful for. Victory is achieved by constantly moving between patience and gratitude depending on the tests of the day.
Surah Raʿd is named after the thunder as this surah reminds us that even what we perceive as inanimate are creations of Allah that praise Him in ways that we cannot imagine. “The thunder praises His glory, and so do the angels, in awe of Him. And He sends the thunderbolts, striking with them whomever He wills. Yet they argue about God, while He is Tremendous in might.”
Surah Ibrahim is named after Prophet Ibrahim as it contains a powerful passage about the duʿas of Ibrahim from which we can derive beautiful lessons. Below is the translation of this passage for us to reflect on.
Recall that Abraham said, “O my Lord, make this land peaceful, and keep me and my sons from worshiping idols. My Lord, they have led many people astray. Whoever follows me belongs with me; and whoever disobeys me, You are Forgiving and Merciful. Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley of no vegetation, by Your Sacred House, our Lord, so that they may perform the prayers. So, make the hearts of some people incline towards them, and provide them with fruits, that they may be thankful. Our Lord, you know what we conceal and what we reveal. And nothing is hidden from God, on earth or in heaven. Praise be to God, who has given me, in my old age, Ishmael and Isaac. My Lord is the Hearer of Prayers. My Lord, make me one who performs the prayer, and from my offspring. Our Lord, accept my supplication. Our Lord, forgive me, and my parents, and the believers, on the Day the Reckoning takes place.”
By Dr. Omar Suleiman & Sh. Ismail Kamdar
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.