The Qur'an in Plain English: Part 30 With Surah Al-Fatihah

By Imam Torres Al Haneef

An English translation of the Qur'an prepared specifically for children.

The language has been simplified and modernised to make understanding easier, and the text more accessible than many twentieth century translations.

Each chapter is helpfully introduced and avoids explanatory notes.

Only includes the final part of the Qur'an (Juz Amma), which is the one most frequently recited in prayers, memorized by Muslims and studied to introduce Islam's core religious teachings, such as the oneness of God; the belief in the Day of Judgement; trust in God's plan and doing good and avoiding evils. (This chapter avoids religious rulings.)

Beside the translation is the original Arabic text, making it an ideal resource for Muslim parents looking for a Qur'an for their children to practice their Arabic recitation and understanding of the English.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kube Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Jun 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9780860377511

Book preview

1

al-Fatihah [The Opening]

MAKKAN PERIOD

Su rat al-F a ti h ah is very special for many reasons. It is the beautiful opening of the Book of Allah. It is called by many names: Ummal-Kit a b (Mother of the Book), al- H amd (the Praise), as-Sab [ al-Math a n i (the Seven Oft-Repeated Verses — because it is repeated in s al a h), ash-Shif a ’ (the S u rah of Healing), al-K a fiyah (the Sufficient One), and al-As a s (the Foundation).

Unlike the other surahs which were revealed only once, it is reported that Surat al-Fatihah was revealed twice: once in Makkah and once in Madinah. An angel once told the Prophet g that it is a light which has never been given to any other prophet before him. It is the main du[a’ of the Muslims, and we must recite it in every rak[ah of salah. Because of this, it is the most often-repeated prayer in the world: many millions of Muslims all over the world recite it at least 17 times a day.

Placed at the beginning of the Qur’an, this surah is actually a prayer. Allah asks us to read the Qur’an with the aim of finding out ‘the straight path’ and true guidance. This surah is thus a human prayer and the rest of the Qur’an is Allah’s response, showing us ‘the Straight Path’ which will bring us success in both this life and the Next. It is divided into two parts. In the first part, He shows us how we should speak about Him: He is kind, merciful, and good to us, and deserves all of our praise. He is our Master and King. We will stand before Him on the Day of Judgement with our actions, good and bad.

In the second part, He teaches us how to speak to Him; we address Allah Who is the only One we worship and ask for help, and we ask Him to guide us both in this life and the Next. We ask Allah to keep us doing the things which He is pleased with, and not the ones which make Him angry, or will lead to us becoming confused and lost.

Al-Fatihah

[The Opening]

[1] In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Most Kind

[2] Praise is for Allah, Master of the Universe,

[3] the All-Merciful, the Most Kind,

[4] King5of the Day of Judgement.

[5] You are the One we worship (O Allah); You are the One we ask for help.

[6] Show us the Straight Path;

[7] the Path of those whom You are pleased with – not the path of those who deserve Your anger, nor of those who become lost.

5. Or Master.

78

an-Naba’ [The Awesome News]

MAKKAN PERIOD

This is one of the earliest Makkan s u rahs, out of a series whose theme is the Resurrection, Judgement and life after death. When the Prophet Mu h ammad g first began to preach his message in Makkah, it was very simple: there is only One God, I am His Prophet, and everyone will be raised from death for a final Judgement, after which they will be rewarded or punished for their deeds on earth.

The Makkans found the first two parts of the message more reasonable than the last. Although they worshipped many ‘gods’, they believed that Allah was the greatest of these gods. They also accepted that the Prophet Muhammad g was an honest and sincere person, known throughout his life for his wisdom and trustworthiness. Such a person would not be expected to lie for his own benefit (this was, in fact, one of the reasons that some people suggested that perhaps the Prophet g was possessed by a jinn, since he was clearly not a liar). But the idea of a final Resurrection Day was something they had never heard of before, and most of the people found it unacceptable. ‘How could dry bones come alive again?’, they said.

This surah and the others which follow therefore draw attention to Allah’s Power — it is He Who created so many wonders in the world, so much beauty! Isn’t the One Who gave everything its first life also able to bring everything back to life a second time? Secondly, the surah focuses on the meaning behind all of this wonderful creation. Look around you! See the earth with its firm mountains, grain, vegetables, and plentiful rain, the heavens above with the blazing sun, the changing of night and day which allows us to work in light and rest in dark. Is it possible in a world in which everything has been made so perfectly, with so much care, that the whole purpose of life is simply to eat, drink, sleep, work, marry, grow old and die? No. This life is rather a test; those who pass it will be richly rewarded, and those who fail will regret it bitterly. They will suddenly realize that they have wasted their most sacred possession — life itself – and will wish at that moment that they could turn into dust to escape that sense of failure and the doom of punishment.

an-Naba’

[The Awesome News]

In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Most Kind

[1] What do they question each other about?

[2] About the awesome news

[3] which they cannot agree on.6

[4] No! But they will come to know (soon enough).

[5] No! Surely they will find out!

[6] Have We not made the earth easy and wide7

[7] and (We made) the mountains as pegs (to hold it firm),

[8] and created you in pairs,8

[9] and have made your sleep for rest,

[10] and have made the night as a cloak,9

[11] and have made the day as a time to earn your