Question 1: Major themes of the Quran

Q: Choose any two of the following Passages from the Quran and, (a) Briefly describe the main theme(s) in each passage (b) Briefly explain how each passage presents these theme(s) in a distinctive way.

Each Passage has 2 parts

Part (i) Main Theme

Part (ii)
Presentation

of Theme

Part (i) Main Theme Answer (2 marks)

Explain:

Themes
Meanings

60-80
words in

Content
Teachings

3
minutes

Quote Quran verses/Ahadith to support and illustrate points (optional) Demonstrate knowledge of Arabic

Part (ii) Presentation of Theme (2 marks)

Explain:How

themes have been presented by Allah to make people understand them

How Allah teaches similar themes in other Surahs verses, yet this one this different

3
minutes

Comparison Between (i) & (ii)

Part (i) Main Theme Part (ii) Presentation of
Theme

Themes Meanings Content Teachings

How themes have been presented by Allah to make people understand them How this passage is different from other similar passages

Lets Start the Lesson!

We shall study three basic themes of the Quranic verses

Himself

Relationship with His Creation

Relationship with His Messengers

Person

Powers

Tauheed

Attributes

Signs

Allah in Himself (Signs)

Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore Allah, who created them, if it is Him you wish to serve Surah
Fussilat/Sajda

Allah in Himself (Person)

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the Glass as it were a brilliant star: lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the East nor of the West, whose Oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things. (Nur : 35)

The Holy Quran describes and elaborates details about the person of Allah. Usually certain symbolic expressions and parables have been used for this purpose. For example, Surah An Nur describes Allah as a 'light',

Sura Ikhlas

Allah in Himself (Attributes)

The Holy Quran describes and elaborates details about the nature and attributes of Allah using parables & analogies Attributes of Allah

Allah is He, than whom there is no other god the sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection). the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him. (23) He is Allah the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the exalted in Might, the Wise. (Surah Al Hashr)

Allah in Himself (Powers)

Another oft repeated theme is that of Allah's Unmatchable power, Verily, when He intends a thing, His command is "Be" and it is! (36:82) Sura Al Anaam

Allah in Himself
Person

Signs

Attributes

Powers

Ayat Al Kursi (2:255)

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, Most Merciful. Allah! There is no God but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting. Neither slumber nor sleep can seize Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Who will intercede with Him except by His Leave? He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them, While they encompass nothing of His Knowledge, except what He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, And He is never weary of preserving them. And He is the Sublime, the Supreme.

Allah! There is no God but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting Neither slumber nor sleep can seize Him To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth Who will intercede with Him except by His Leave? He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them, While they encompass nothing of His Knowledge, except what He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, And He is never weary of preserving them. And He is the Sublime, the Supreme.

Comparison Between (i) & (ii)

Part (i) Main Theme Part (ii) Presentation of
Theme

Themes

Meanings
Content

Teachings

How themes have been presented by Allah to make people understand them How this passage is different from other similar passages

The Main Theme(s)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The main theme of this passage, which we know as the verse of the Throne, is the oneness of Allah, or Tawhid Allah is a being unlike any other beings because he knows everything and can do everything Also He has neither parents nor children Similarly Surah Ikhlas also states that He cannot be compared to anyone or anything His throne signifies His absolute power over all as well as His absolute knowledge of everything.

The Presentation of the Theme

1.

2. 3. 4.

This passage teaches us the powers of Allah, which are limitless in all aspects, thus clearly marking the differences between Him and His creation. This passage states all this in a authoritative tone, and declares its teachings in a distinctive manner. It teaches multiple articles of faith and belief in very few words, thus making it a unique passage. Other Quranic verses similarly teach such themes but seldom in so few words and also they tend to at times give logical reasoning along with their teachings such as Surah Anam which gives a logic that Allah cannot have a son as He has no wife

Surah Al Anaam 6: 101 to 103

101. To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: how can He have a son when He has no consort? 102. He created all things, and He has full knowledge of all things. That is Allah, your Lord! There is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship Him: and He has power to dispose of all affairs. 103. No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all visions: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.

101. To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: how can He have a son when He has no consort? 102. He created all things, and He has full knowledge of all things. That is Allah, your Lord! There is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship Him: and He has power to dispose of all affairs. 103. No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all visions: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.

Comparison Between (i) & (ii)

Part (i) Main Theme Part (ii) Presentation of
Theme

Themes

Meanings
Content

Teachings

How themes have been presented by Allah to make people understand them How this passage is different from other similar passages

The Main Theme(s)

1.
2.

3.
4.

5. 6.

The main theme of this passage is the unlimited power of Allah that proves Tauheed It describes how He created all things including the heavens and the earth from scratch The Arabic word Badee means He who creates without any raw materials to start with It strongly refutes any concept of him being a parent or husband when it is He who cannot even be seen by anyone Another important aspect of the theme is fact the His knowledge is absolute. These arguments establish Him as the sole being to be worshipped.

Another Sample answer of the Theme

The doctrine of Tawhid is based on Allah's power of creating His domain out of nothing and by His single command, Be (36:82) and that is the main theme of this Surah: teaching Allahs Onesness by explaining about His Person and Powers 2. Exercise of this power explains Allah's immense power and unlimited knowledge 3. Demands us to demonstrate our belief by bowing down before Him in all submission and worship like the other creations: And the stars and the trees both bow in adoration (Surah 55). 4. This further negates any form of shirk (associating partners with Allah), specially associating any relatives with Him. 5. Surah Ikhlas more emphatically and explicitly refutes the corrupted idea of assuming descendants of Allah 6. Such degree of uniqueness of Allah renders our imagination just helpless to comprehend His entity.
1.

The Presentation of the Theme

1.

2.

3.

4.

The teachings of this passage are the Oneness of Allah, His Powers as well as His Person which is beyond human comprehension. These are taught here in a distinctive manner that uses common logic so people may understand. It also explains how unlimited and absolute His Power of Creation and Knowledge are, thus making it a logical result that we should worship Him only. This manner of explanation is distinct from other passages as they usually only declare or order man to worship Him without giving any reason or logic.

Surah Fussilat/Sajda; 41. 37

37. Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore Allah, who created them, if it is Him you wish to serve.

Allah in Himself
Person

Signs

Attributes

Powers

37. Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore Allah, who created them, if it is Him you wish to serve

Surah Fussilat/Sajda;41. 37
Person

Signs

Attributes

Powers

The Main Theme(s)

1.

2.

3. 4.

The main theme of this passage is Tauheed or oneness of Allah which is being taught by explaining His powers. Throughout history, many people have begun worshipping the sun and the moon due to their beauty or power. The Quran says that these are just signs of Allah, who is the Creator of all. Similar themes are found in many places in the Quran such as in Surah Rehman where Allah states that He has absolute power over all heavenly bodies.

The Presentation of the Theme

Tauheed, the theme of this passage is presented through a distinctive manner of giving examples of His signs 2. Mankind should recognize the Designer of all these and submit to His will. 3. This is distinctive from other verses such as in Surah Ikhlas where Allah states the theme of Tauheed but without explaining or using any example 4. This passage urges us not only identify HIM but also to Worship Him.
1.

Surah As Shura 42: 4 & 5

4. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: and He is most High, most Great. 5. The heavens are almost rent asunder from above them, and the angels celebrate the praises of their Lord, and pray for forgiveness for beings on earth: Behold! Verily Allah is He, the oft-Forgiving, the most Merciful.

Surah As Shura 42: 4 & 5 4. To Him belongs all

that is in the heavens and on earth: and He is most High, most Great. 5. The heavens are almost rent asunder from above them, and Signs the angels celebrate the praises of their Lord, and pray for forgiveness for beings on earth: Behold! Verily Allah is He, the oft-Forgiving, the most Merciful.

Person

Attributes

Powers

The Main Theme(s)

1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

The main theme in this passage is Tauheed of Allah as everything is His property. His greatness and supremacy is evident by the fact that the heavens are bent and on the brink of falling to pieces due to the weight of the angels worshipping Him. It is no wonder that countless angels are continuously engaged in glorifying the name of Allah while seeking forgiveness for mankind. Allah Himself has ordered them to do so as only He Himself is full of forgiveness and mercy for His creation. Thus He has also ordered humankind to glorify Him and then ask for forgiveness as in many other verses in the Holy Quran

The Presentation of the Theme.

This passage presents the great mercy of Allah by stressing on His supreme majesty. 2. The angels not only to celebrate His praise, and also pray for forgiveness for us because Allah Himself has ordered them. 3. The greatness as well as mercy of Allah is presented here distinctively here by first stating His being the owner and supreme Lord of everyone and everything, yet His being kind and benevolent to His creatures. 4. This is a distinct style from Surah Al-Fatiha where Allah simply announces Himself as merciful but doesnt discuss His rank and status
1.

Surah Al-Ikhlas 112: 1-4

1.
2.

3.
4.

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful. Say: He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Absolute (the Eternal). He does not beget nor is He begotten, And there is none like Him.

Surah Al-Ikhlas 112: 1-4

1. 2. 3. 4.

Say: He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Absolute (the Eternal). Signs He does not beget nor is He begotten, And there is none like Him.

Person

Attributes

Powers

Main Theme(s)
1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

This Surah is a comprehensive summary of Tauheed The theme clearly asserts Him being the one and only god, thus negating any parenthood or kinship assigned to Him by anyone It defines the very nature of Allah to be free from the phenomenon of birth as He is not in need of anyone or anything Allahs attribute AsSamad mentioned here means He who doesnt need anyone rather everyone is in need of Him Also by saying that He is incomparable with everything, this Surah negates all forms of Shirk.

The Presentation of the Theme

1.

2.

3. 4. 5.

The Surah Ikhlas presents the theme of Tauheed in a very distinctive manner from most other passages of the Holy Quran because it in covers so many aspects of Tauheed in just four short sentences It doesnt offer any sort of explanation or argument as certain other passages, rather it simply makes a statement of fact by saying that Allah is One, Absolute and incomparable to anyone or anything For example, in Surah Al-Maeda, Allah specifies that it is disbelief to call Jesus the son of Allah But here in Surah Al-Ikhlas, He simply declares that He doesnt give birth at all Thus all false beliefs regarding any son or daughter of Allah are shattered.

Key Features of the Passages: Allah in Himself: 10marks

1.

2.

3.

4.

Allah in Himself (Person) i. The Holy Quran describes and elaborates details about the person of Allah. ii. Usually certain symbolic expressions and parables have been used for this purpose. iii. For example, Surah An Nur describes Allah as a 'light', (give example here) & Sura Ikhlas Allah in Himself (Attributes) i. The Holy Quran describes and elaborates details about the nature and attributes of Allah using parables & analogies ii. Attributes of Allah: (Surah Al Hashr) Allah in Himself (Powers) i. Another oft repeated theme is that of Allah's Unmatchable power, ii. Verily, when He intends a thing, His command is "Be" and it is! (36:82) & Sura Al Anaam Allah in Himself (Signs) i. Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Adore not the sun and the moon, but

Some of the Books authored by Maulvi Jahangir Mahmud