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The Arabic word Surah is loosely translated as chapter and Ayah as verse for the English readers who are unfamiliar with Qura'nic concepts. The Ayah (plural Ayat) means a sign. Those who have read the meaning of the Qur'an thoroughly and have had time to reflect upon them appreciate the word ayah as it is truly a sign from Allah (SWT), the lord of the universe, the absolute. In the English translation and the RealAudio narration, the terms 'those who surrendered to Allah' and 'the religion of the surrender to Allah' are used. The revealed Arabic words of the Qur'an for these translated words are 'Muslim' and 'Al-Islam'. Many other words that have been translated for the convenience of English readers are: Maryam (Mary), 'Isa or Easa (Jesus), Zakariya (Zachariah), Yahya (John), Musa (Moses), Haroon (Aaron), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqoob (Jacob), Yusuf (Joseph), Dawood (David), Sulaiman (Soloman), and Ayyub (Job), peace be upon them, and many others. Refer to the index in the first reference cited below for more details. The Qur'an speaks in the first person, i.e., Allah's commandments to its creation. The Qur'an also uses the royal "We" for Allah's commandments. The main theme of the Qur'an and all previous revelations has been the absolute oneness of Allah, the creator and sustainer of the universe, who is without partner(s). Allah (Glory be to Him) did not beget nor was He begotten. The Qur'anic verses address people in a variety of ways depending on the context. It says "O mankind" and "O people" in a general sense addressing to all people, and in other instances "O believers" for those who have already accepted the message of Qur'an.
The Qur'an is the direct Word of Allah and it does not contain a single alphabet from anyone, even Prophet Muhammad. The sayings of Prophet Muhammad are contained in separate compilations known as Hadith, and include his deeds, lifestyle, explanations and decisions on a variety of issues. The Qur'an and Hadith form the foundation of daily life of a practicing Muslim. The
Qur'an has not changed by even an alphabet since its revelation fourteen centuries ago. Allah (SWT) has promised in the Qur'an that He will preserve it to the end of time. It is also for this reason there is no need for any new prophet or revelation (guidance) to come to humankind. The Qur'an is read in Arabic with great emphasis on the accuracy of recitation, including the recognition of diacritical marks and places where one pauses momentarily or stops. USEFUL REFERENCES
"The Holy Qur'an," Text, Translation and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, 1934. (Latest Publisher: Amana Publications, Beltsville, MD, USA; Title: "The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an," 1992). A pocket edition of Yusuf Ali's translation is also available in contemporary English.
"The Meaning of the Glorious Koran," An Explanatory Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, a Mentor Book Publication. (Also available as: "The Meaning of the Glorious Koran," by Marmaduke Pickthall, Dorset Press, N.Y. and several Islamic book publishers; Published by several publishers since 1930). Note: The Mentor publication (451 MJ1529 195) contains a few errors/omissions, e.g., in Surah 72: the last part of Verse 2 should read "we ascribe no partner unto our Lord", and Surah 68: Verse 22 should read "straight" road instead of "beaten" road. In case of any doubt, the reader is advised to check with a copy from an Islamic publisher and also check with an Islamic scholar for the meaning directly from the Arabic original.
Pickthall writes in his foreward of 1930: "...The Qur'an cannot be translated.... The book is here rendered almost literally and every effort has been made to choose befitting language. But the result is not the Glorious Qur'an, that inimitable symphony, the very sounds of which move men to tears and ecstasy. It is only an attempt to present the meaning of the Qur'an-and peradventure something of the charm in English. It can never take the place of the Qur'an in Arabic, nor is it meant to do so. ..."
For the serious readers of the meaning of the Qur'an in English, it is recommended that it should be read along with a good commentary to comprehend the essential meaning and scope of verses. Either Yusuf Ali's or Maududi's commentaries are a good starting point. The former presents the meaning Ayah (verse) by Ayah with footnotes and includes a detailed index of the topics mentioned in the Qur'an, while the latter presents commentaries for each Surah (chapter) of the Qur'an. LINKS Articles on The Holy Qur'an
Copyright © 1998 Dr. A. Zahoor and M. Kureshi
Last Updated: May 18, 1998. (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/9263/acmk1.htm) 
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SHORT SURAHS
(contents in brief)
Surah 73
Al-Muzammil (The Enshrouded One): O thou (Muhammad) wrapped up in thy raiment! Keep vigil... and recite the Qur'an in measure, For We shall charge thee with a word of weight...
Surah 74
Al-Mudath-thir (The Cloaked One): O thou (Muhammad) enveloped in thy cloak, Arise and warn, Thy Lord magnify, Thy raiment purify, Pollution shun! ...Then frowned he and showed displeasure, Then turned he away in pride...
Surah 75
Al-Qiyamah (The Day of Resurrection): ...when sight is confounded, And the moon is eclipsed, And sun and moon are united...; Stir not thy tongue herewith to hasten it. Lo! upon Us resteth the putting together thereof and the reading thereof (Qur'an). And when We read it, follow thou the reading; Then lo! upon Us resteth the explanation thereof...
Surah 76
Ad-Dahr (Time or Man): Hath there come upon man (ever) any period of time in which he was a thing unremembered?... Goblets of silver are brought round for them, and beakers as of glass bright as glass but made of silver, which they themselves have measured to the measure of their deeds... Their raiment will be fine green silk and gold embroidery.
Surah 77
Al-Mursalat (The Emissaries): By the emissary winds, sent one after another, By the raging hurricanes... So when the stars are put out, And when the sky is riven asunder, And when the mountains are blown away... Woe unto the repudiators on that day! When it is said unto them: Bow down, they bow not down!
Surah 78
An-Naba' (The Tidings): ...Nay, but they will come to know!... And the heaven is opened and becometh as gates, And the hills are set in motion and become as a mirage... Everything have We recorded in a Book.
Surah 79
An-Nazi'at (Those Who Drag Forth): By those who drag forth to destruction, By the meteors rushing, By the lone stars floating, By the angels hastening... Hath there come unto thee the history of Moses? How his Lord called him in the holy vale of Tuwa....They ask thee of the Hour: when will it come to port?
Surah 80
'Abasa (He Frowned): He (Muhammad) frowned and turned away, Because the blind man came unto him... On honored leaves, Exalted, purified, set down by scribes, Noble and righteous (refers to writing of the Qur'an as revealed).
Surah 81
At-Takwir (Folded Up): When the sun is overthrown, And when the stars fall, And when the hills are moved... And when the seas rise... And when the sky is torn away, And when hell is lighted, And when the garden is brought nigh... Surely he beheld him on the clear horizon (refers to Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, seeing Archangel Jibril (Gabriel) at the first revelation, first five verses of Surah 96).
Surah 82
Al-Infitar (The Cleaving): When the heaven is cleft asunder, When the planets are dispersed, When the seas are poured forth... O man! What hath made thee careless concerning thy Lord, the Bountiful... Lo! there are above you guardians, Generous and recording, Who know all that ye do... Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Day of Judgment is!
Surah 83
At-Tatfif (Defrauding): Woe unto the defrauders: Those who when they take the measure from mankind demand it full, But if they measure... Woe unto the repudiators on that day! Those who deny the Day of Judgment, Which none denieth save each criminal transgressor... This day it is those who believe who have the laugh of disbelievers, On high couches, gazing.
Surah 84
Al-Inshiqaq (The Sundering): When the heaven is split asunder, And attentive to her Lord in fear, And when the earth is spread out, And hath cast out all that was in her, and is empty, And attentive to her Lord in fear!... Then whoso is given his account in his right hand...
Surah 85
Al-Buruj (The Mansons of The Stars): By the heaven, holding mansions of the stars, And by the Promised Day... Lo! they who persecute believing men and believing women and repent not, theirs verily will be the doom of hell, and theirs the doom of burning... Lo! He it is Who produceth, then reproduceth... Nay, but it is a glorious Qur'an, On a guarded tablet.
Surah 86
At-Tariq (The Morning Star): By the heaven and the Morning Star, Ah, what will tell thee what the Morning Star is!... On the day when hidden thoughts shall be searched out... By the heaven which giveth the returning rain... Lo! this (Qur'an) is a conclusive word, It is no pleasantry. Lo! they plot a plot (against thee, O Muhammad), And I plot a plot (against them).
Surah 87
Al-A'ala (The Most High): Praise the name of thy Lord the Most High, Who createth, then disposeth; Who measureth, then guideth... Lo! He knoweth the disclosed and that which still is hidden... He is successful who groweth, And remembereth the name of his Lord, so prayeth... Lo! This is in the former scrolls, The Book of Abraham and Moses.
Surah 88
Al-Ghashiyah (The Overwhelming): Hath there come unto thee tidings of the Overwhelming? On that day (many) faces will be downcast, Toiling, weary, Scorched by burning fire... In that day other faces will be calm, Glad for their effort past... Remind them, for thou (Muhammad) art but a remembrancer, Thou art not at all a warder over them.
Surah 89
Al-Fajr (The Dawn): By the Dawn, And ten nights... Dost thou not consider how thy Lord dealt with the tribe of Aad... And with (the tribe of) Thamud, who clove the rocks in the valley; And with Pharaoh, firm of might... Nay, but ye (for your part) honor not the orphan, And urge not on the feeding of the poor.
Surah 90
Al-Balad (The City): Nay, I swear by this city... We verily have created man in an atmosphere: Thinketh he that none hath power over him?... But he hath not attempted the Ascent, Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! It is to free a slave, And to feed in the day of hunger, An orphan near of kin, Or some poor wretch in misery.
Surah 91
As-Shams (The Sun): By the sun and his brightness, And the moon when she followeth him... And a soul and Him who perfected it, And inspired it with conscience of what is wrong for it and what is right for it. He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow, And he is indeed a failure who stunteth it.
Surah 92
Al-Leyl (The Night): By the night enshrouding, And the day resplendent... As for him who giveth and is dutiful (toward Allah), And believes in goodness; Surely We will ease his way unto the state of ease.
Surah 93
Ad-duha (The Morning Hours): By the morning hours... Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor doth He hate thee (Muhammad), And verily the latter portion will be better for thee than the former... Therefor the orphan oppress not, Therefor the beggar drive not away...
Surah 94
Al-Inshirah (Solace): Have We not caused thy bosom to dilate, And eased thee of the burden... Lo! with hardship goeth ease; So when thou art relieved, still toil, And strive to please thy Lord.
Surah 95
At-Tin (The Fig): By the fig and the olive, By Mount Sinai... Surely We created man of the best stature, Then... Save those who believe and do good works, and theirs is a reward unfailing.
Surah 96
Al-'Alaq (The Clot or That Which Clings): Read: In the name of thy Lord who createth, Createth man from a clot. Read: And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous, Who teacheth by the pen, Teacheth man that which be knew not. Nay, but verily man is rebellious... Nay, but if he cease not, We will seize him by the forelock-- The lying, sinful forelock--... Nay! Obey not thou him. But prostrate thyself, and draw near unto Allah.
Surah 97
Al-Qadr (Power): Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees. That night is Peace until the rising of the dawn.
Surah 98
Al-Beyyinah (The Clear Proof): Those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters could not have left off erring till the clear proof came unto them, A messenger from Allah, reading purified pages, Containing correct scriptures... (And) lo! those who believe and do good works are the best of created beings... Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.
Surah 99
Al-Zilzal (The Earthquake): When Earth is shaken with her final earthquake, And Earth yieldeth up her burdens.... That day she will relate her chronicles... That day mankind will issue forth in scattered groups to be shown their deeds. And whoso doeth good an atom's weight will see it then, And whoso doeth ill an atom's weight will see it then.
Surah 100
Al-A'adiyat (The Coursers): By the snorting coursers, Striking sparks of fire, And scouring to the raid at dawn.... Lo! man is an ingrate unto his Lord, And lo! he is a witness unto that; And lo! in the love of wealth he is violent.
Surah 101
Al-Qari'ah (The Calamity): The Calamity! What is the Calamity...
Surah 102
Al-Takathur (Rivalry in Worldly Increase): Rivalry in worldly increase distracteth you...
Surah 103
Al-Asr (The Declining Day): By the declining day, Lo! man is in a state of loss, Save those...
Surah 104
Al-Humazah (The Traducer): Woe unto every slandering traducer...
Surah 105
Al-Fil (The Elephant): Hast thou not seen how thy Lord dealt with the owners of the Elephant?
Surah 106
Al-Shita (Qureysh): For the taming (civilizing) of Qureysh...
Surah 107
Al Ma'un (Small Kindnesses): ...he who repelleth the orphan.
Surah 108
Al-Kauthar (Abundance): ...Lo! it is thy insulter and not thou who is without posterity.
Surah 109
Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers): Say: O Disbelievers! I worship not that which ye worship....Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion
Surah 110
An-Nasr (Succour): ...And thou seest mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops...
Surah 111
Al-Masad (Palm Fiber): The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish...
Surah 112
Al-Ikhlas (The Unity): Say: He is Allah, the One!... He begetteth not nor was begotten...
Surahs 113 and 114
Al-Falaq (The Daybreak) and An-Nas (Mankind): The two surahs are known as Al-Mu'awwadhateyn, the two prayers for refuge and protection from fears of unknown and from the evil of the sneaking whisperer.
Surah 1
Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening): ...Thee alone we worship, Thee alone we ask for help... (Surah Al-Fatihah is recited (in Arabic) in daily prayers in each standing part of the prayer cycle.)
THE BELIEVERS
Surah 23, Ayat 1-11
Al-Mu'minun (The Believers): Successful indeed are the believers Who are humble in their prayers, And who shun vain conversation... These are the heirs Who will inherit Paradise: There they will abide.
Surah 33, Ayat 35-36
Al-Ahzab (The Clans): Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey...
Surah 09, Ayah 112
At-Tauba (Repentance): Triumphant are those who turn repentant to Allah, those who serve Him, those who praise Him, those who fast...
Surah 24, Ayat 27-34
An-Nur (Light): Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest... And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest... And marry such of you as are solitary and the pious of your slaves and maid servants... And let those who cannot find a match keep chaste... Emancipation of slaves...
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Allah: Allah is the proper name in Arabic for The One and Only God, The Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It is used by the Arab Christians and Jews for the God (Eloh-im in Hebrew; 'Allaha' in Aramaic, the mother tongue of Jesus, pbuh). The word Allah does not have a plural or gender. Allah does not have any associate or partner, and He does not beget nor was He begotten. The abbreviation 'SWT' usually follows when Allah is mentioned, and it means 'Glory Be To Him.'
The Qur'an was revealed in pure Arabic to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over a period of twenty-three years ending in 632 A.D., the year he passed away. The first revelation was only five verses, the first five verses of Chapter 96. Among the very early revelations are Surah 73, 74, 80, 81, 93 and 97. The revelations were sent by Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala (SWT), the creator and sustainer of the universe, and transmitted to him by the Archangel Jibril (as) (Gabriel). The revelations he received were sometimes a few verses, a part of a chapter or the whole chapter. Some revelations came down in response to an inquiry by the nonbelievers. The ordering of the Qur'an is not the same as the revelations. Archangel Jibril (as) taught the ordering of Ayat and Surahs (refer to Surah 75) as he transmitted the revelations to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The first ten surahs revealed in chronological order are 96, 68, 73, 74, 1, 111, 81, 87, 92 and 89.
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