JUZ TWENTY-SEVEN
The twenty-seventh juz of the Qur’an focuses heavily on the afterlife. This theme is clear in every surah in this juz, especially in the middle portion, the two famous surahs: Surah al-Raḥman and Surah al-Waqiʿah. The juz begins at verse thirty-one of Surah al-Dhariyat. It includes the following surahs, Surah al-Tur, Surah al-Najm, Surah al-Qalam, Surah al-Raḥman, Surah al-Waqiʿah, and ends with Surah al-Ḥadid.
This juz marks the beginning of the al-Mufassal surahs. These are the short comprehensive surahs of the Qur’an mentioned in the famous narration by ʿAʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her).
The first thing that was revealed thereof was a surah from al-Mufassal, and in it was mentioned Paradise and the Fire. When the people embraced Islam, the verses regarding legal and illegal things were revealed. If the first thing to be revealed was: “Do not drink alcoholic drinks,” people would have said, “We will never leave alcoholic drinks,” and if it had been revealed, “Do not commit illegal sexual intercourse,” they would have said, “We will never give up illegal sexual intercourse.”
The majority of the surahs in this juz focus on the descriptions of Paradise and Hell. Surah al-Raḥman and Surah al-Waqiʿah are unique in their descriptions. These are the only two surahs in the Qur’an that describe two different levels of Paradise one after the other. It is from these surahs that we learn that there are various levels of Paradise linked to one’s level of piety. The righteous will enjoy rewards that the average Muslim will not
have access to, but everyone will be content and happy with what they receive.
Surah al-Rahman first describes the Paradise of those who fear their Lord, then describes a Paradise that is lower than it.166 Surah al-Waqiyah likewise first describes the Paradise of the forerunners in piety, then describes the Paradise of the people who receive their books in their right hands. Both surahs also contain detailed descriptions of the Hellfire to balance the message of hope with fear of sin.
Surah Tur also describes Paradise in vivid details. One of the most comforting descriptions mentioned in this surah is that we will be with our families and loved ones in Paradise.
Those who believed, and their offspring followed them in faith—We will unite them with their offspring, and We will not deprive them of any of their works. Every person is hostage to what he has earned.
Every surah in this juz calls on us to urgently embrace the message of truth and follow it completely. Surah al-Najm reminds us about the moment the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم first saw Jibril. This is followed by a strong warning to embrace the truth revealed in such a powerful rhythmic manner that even the pagans among the Quraysh fell in prostration when they first heard this surah recited.
Surah al-Qamar reminds us that the Quraysh were shown a clear sign in the splitting of the moon and still rejected the truth. Everyone had been given a clear sign in the Qur’an about which we are repeatedly told throughout this surah, “We made the Qur’an easy to learn. Is there anyone who would learn?
The juz ends with Surah al-Ḥadid, a powerful reminder of the importance of true belief and the dangers of hypocrisy. This surah includes the heart-shaking verse that changed the life of Fudayl Ibn Iyad.
Is it not time for those who believe to surrender their hearts to the remembrance of God, and to the truth that has come down, and not be like those who were given the Book previously, but time became prolonged for them, so their hearts hardened, and many of them are sinners?
Fudayl Ibn Iyad was a thief who repented upon hearing this verse and changed his life. He became a great scholar of Islam and a saint. This verse should shake the hearts of the believers as it is addressed directly to all of us.
By Dr. Omar Suleiman & Sh. Ismail Kamdar
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