JUZ TWENTY-EIGHT
The twenty-eighth juz of the Qur’an consists of nine surahs. Most of these are Makkan surahs. As these surahs are short and were revealed at different points in time, their themes are diverse. The surahs in this juz span everything from family life to warfare, and from society to business. The primary focus is on being truthful to our promises and fulfilling the rights of others.
The juz begins with Surah al-Mujadilah, the only surah in the Qur’an that has the name Allah in every verse. The surah is about a woman whose husband was emotionally abusing her by keeping her in a suspended state. This was a violation of the rights of the spouse and the good conduct expected in such a relationship. Allah responded and defended the woman, giving her rights and showcasing how the law of Islam defends the
rights of women.
Surah al-Ḥashr focuses on the believers who love Allah and assist the immigrants and the Prophet, even though they themselves are in need. “And those who, before them, had settled in the homeland, and had accepted faith. They love those who emigrated to them and find no hesitation in their hearts in helping them. They give them priority over
themselves, even if they themselves are needy. Whoever is protected from his natural greed—it is they who are the successful.”
This verse is about the Ansar. They went beyond what was expected of them and risked everything to protect the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Muhajirun. The immigrants were in a vulnerable state and the kindness of the Ansar helped and saved them. Contrary to this we see the attitude of the hypocrites who violated their promises and harmed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
In Surah Saff, Allah admonishes those who say that which they do not do. When making a contract with Allah, be sure to honor it. Compare the heroes of Uḥud to the hypocrites who abandoned the army at Uḥud. The example is given in this surah of the disciples of Jesus and their loyalty to him. In this surah, Allah praises both the Ansar of Muhammad and the Ansar of Jesus.
O you who believe! Be supporters of God, as Jesus son of Mary said to the disciples, “Who are my supporters towards God?” The disciples said, “We are God’s supporters.” So, a group of the Children of Israel believed, while another group disbelieved. We supported those who believed against their foe, so they became dominant.
The next surah discusses the hypocrites who broke their promises and undermined the mission of the Prophet. In Surahs al-Saff and Munafiqun, we see two opposite types of people: those who obey Allah and those who betray Islam. The focus is on the covenant and fulfilling the rights of Allah and the rights of the believers.
In between these two surahs is Surah al-Jumuʿah, reminding us to leave our business and rush to remember Allah on Fridays. In these verses, Allah is telling us to remember to enjoy Jumuʿah, not to drag our feet with our minds still in our businesses. Those who pursue this world will undermine their commitments, and those who focus on the afterlife will pursue it with iḥsan.
O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of God, and drop all business. That is better for you, if you only knew.
Yet whenever they come across some business, or some entertainment, they
scramble towards it, and leave you standing. Say, “What is with God is better than entertainment and business; and God is the Best of providers.”
The juz ends with Surah Talaq and Surah Taḥrim. Surah Talaq teaches us not to mistreat our spouses, and to be kind, even when getting a divorce. Surah Mujadilah discussed a form of emotional abuse; talaq is a legitimate divorce with proper ethics and mercy. This juz teaches us both the right and the wrong ways of dealing with marital problems and ending a marriage.
Surah Taḥrim teaches us about the kind of people who cling to this world because of those who they associate with, thinking they will protect them. These people are deluded. The example is given of the wives of Lut and Nuḥ, their association with their husbands did not protect them in this world or the next, as they were hypocrites.
This is in contrast with Asiyah and Maryam who fulfilled their covenants with Allah. Asiyah was married to the worst man but still earned Paradise through her righteousness. She sacrificed everything for Allah. The juz begins and ends with a story of a woman making duʿa about her husband mistreating her, and Allah answering her duʿa.
By Dr. Omar Suleiman & Sh. Ismail Kamdar
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