Taraweeh Summary – NIGHT 14

This summary of the fourteenth Tarawîh covers the Fifteenth Juz.

Beginning of the Fifteenth Juz

Sûrah Bani Isra’îl follows Sûrah Nahl as the seventeenth Sûrah of the Qur’ân. Allâh took Rasuluilâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam on the miraculous journey of Mi’râj, when Allâh showed him great signs of His power. It was on this journey that Allâh made the five daily Salâh obligatory on all Muslims. This blessed Sûrah also contains the 14 guidelines by which the life of a Muslim can be most fulfilling. These are:

1.        Worship only Allâh.

2.        Treat parents kindly.

3.        Fulfil the rights of relatives, the poor and travellers.

4.        Never be wasteful.

5.        If you cannot be of assistance to a person in need, inform him kindly.

6.        Be neither miserly nor extravagant, but choose a path between the two.

7.        Never kill your children for fear of poverty.

8.        Never even come close to fornication or adultery.

9.        Never slay a person without a legal warrant.

10.    Never misuse the wealth of an orphan.

11.    Always keep your word.

12.    Never cheat in weight and measure.

13.    Never talk about anything that you have not verified.

14.    Never walk with pride.

The Tahajjud Salâh is made compulsory for Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam in this Sûrah Bani Isrâ’îl. Allâh also announces: “Say, ‘The truth has arrived and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood was bound to disappear.'” (verse 81)

Thereafter Allâh speaks about Hadhrat Mûsa his miracles, and his preaching to Fir’aun. The eventual destruction of Fir’aun is also mentioned. Allâh says further, “We have revealed it (the Qur’ân) with the truth, and with the truth did it come” (verse 105). Awestruck by the grandeur of the Qur’ân, men of knowledge prostrate when they hear the Qur’ân and the Qur’ân increases their humility.

The very last verse of the Sûrah declares, “Say, All praise is for Allâh, Who has not taken a child, has no partner in sovereignty and does not require an assistant due to any weakness. And declare His greatness in abundance.” (verse 111)

Sûrah Kahf follows Sûrah Bani Isra’îl. The part of Sûrah Kahaf which is recited in this Tarawîh includes the incident of the men of the cave and Hadhrat Mûsa meeting with Hadhrat Khidr The 11 men of the cave” were a group of young men who were deeply affected by the depravity around them and decided to leave their town. Since the only shelter they could find outside their town was a cave, they entered it. Allâh cast them all into a deep sleep that lasted approximately three hundred years. During this period, their dog lay watch at the mouth of the cave. Eventually, the evil and corruption that existed in their town gave way to a decent government of Mu’minîn. By the time they woke up, everything had changed. It was not long after that they learnt about the situation that they all passed away in the very same cave. They will now awaken only on the Day of Qiyâmah.

This Sûrah also makes mention of the wisdom in Allâh’s system of control, which he showed Hadhrat Mûsa Alayhis Salâm via Hadhrat Khidr Alayhis Salâm. As the two travelled, Hadhrat Khidr Alayhis Salâm damaged the boat of some poor people, killed an innocent looking young boy, and bolstered a failing wall of some people who had behaved inhospitably towards them. Hadhrat Mûsa was unable to restrain his emotions as he saw these acts and objected to each of them. Finally, Hadhrat Khidr Alayhis Salâm explained to him that Allâh had commanded each act and that there was good in every act even though they appeared to be dreadful.

Allâh also declares in the Sûrah: “We have undoubtedly expounded all types of subjects in the Qur’ân for people. Man has always been the worst disputant” (verse 54). Man has always contested what Allâh has revealed to His Ambiyâ and refuses to accept it. The Qur’ân contains ethical teachings so that people with understanding may ponder over them and learn lessons from them.

Among these teachings are the incidents of the men of the cave and of Hadhrat Mûsa May Allâh grant us deep insight and understanding. Âmîn.

End of the Fifteenth Juz