JUZ TWENTY-SIX
The twenty-sixth juz contains six surahs, all of which represent a variety of themes. These include three Makkan surahs; Surah al-Aḥqaf and the last two surahs in the juz, Surah Qaf and Surah al-Dhariyat. The other three surahs in this juz are Madinan surahs: Surah Muḥammad, Surah al-Fatḥ and Surah al-Ḥujarat. Each surah has its own theme and many powerful lessons.
Surah al-Aḥqaf is the final surah in a string of surahs focused on the importance of the revelation of the Qur’an. It begins with a reminder that Allah did not create the Heavens and Earth without a purpose, and that the Qur’an was revealed to show us our purpose.
The sending down of the Scripture is from God, the Honorable, the Wise. We did not create the heavens and the earth and what lies between them except with reason, and for a finite period. But the blasphemers continue to ignore the warnings they receive.
The surah includes a mention of the people of ʿAd and the consequences of their rejecting the message. This story was relevant to the people of Makkah as they were aware of ʿAd and what had happened to them. The surah was a warning that they would face the same consequences if they rejected the truth.
We had empowered them in the same way as We empowered you, and We gave them hearing, and sight, and minds. But neither their hearing, nor their sight, nor their minds availed them in any way. That is because they disregarded the revelations of God; and so, they became surrounded by what they used to ridicule.
The next three surahs are short Madinan surahs focused on a variety of Madinan themes. Surah Muhammad highlights the differences between the believers and hypocrites. Believers are expected to be brave, righteous, and steadfast. In return, they are promised Paradise. The hypocrites, in contrast, pretend to be pious while their hearts are full of cowardice and malice. Their end is disgrace in both worlds. We are supposed to reflect on the two descriptions and ensure we fall on the right side of this description.
Surah al-Fatḥ was revealed after the treaty of Ḥudaybiyah. In this surah, Allah declared the treaty a clear victory. This was difficult for the companions to understand at that time as the treaty seemed unfair against them. Yet it did prove to be the greatest victory as it opened the doors to peace, expansion, mass conversion, and eventually the conquest of Makkah.
This surah also includes a powerful testimony of Allah’s acceptance of the deeds of the companions. This verse is considered among the strongest evidence for the high status of the companions in Islam.
God was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, and sent down serenity upon them, and rewarded them with an imminent conquest.
Surah al-Ḥujarat is also known as the chapter of manners. It is an amazing surah that summarizes the core manners of Islam in nineteen short powerful verses. These verses include the prohibition of gossip, spreading fake news, name-calling, backbiting, spying, unwarranted suspicions, and racism. If all Muslims implemented the teachings of this surah, it would transform society and rid us of most of our communal problems.
Surah al-Hujarat also includes a warning that the revelation cannot conform to our desires. Had it conformed to our desires, that would defeat its purpose. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had the mission of conveying the message and implementing it in the land. It was not his job to listen to everyone and treat their opinions as equal to the revelation.
And know that among you is the Messenger of God. Had he obeyed you in many things, you would have suffered hardship. But God has given you the love of faith, and adorned it in your hearts, and made disbelief, mischief, and rebellion hateful to you. Those are the rightly guided servants.
The juz ends with a return to the Makkan themes. Surah Qaf begins a new string of surahs focused on the afterlife. This remains the core theme for the remaining sections of the Qur’an. Both Surah Qaf and Surah al-Dhariyat contain powerful imagery about the afterlife. The juz concludes at verse thirty of Surah al-Dhariyat.
By Dr. Omar Suleiman & Sh. Ismail Kamdar
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