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Before I start my study of the longest Surah in the Qur’an, Al-Baqarah, I’d like to recap all the Surahs I have completed.

Alhamdulilah for the time and energy to study the words of Allah. My greatest joy is in reading the Qur’an, and this journey of studying the Qur’an has allowed me to deepen my connection and enhance my understanding of the most powerful words on earth.

While studying the Qur’an, I am also learning the context in which these verses were revealed. The society in which my beloved Prophet lived and the kinds of problems they faced in those times. How the Qur’an literally brought people out of darkness and into the light and gave rights to the downtrodden. A message that directly affected the people of its time but also transcended through generations, so that even to this day, for all of our problems, the solution can be found in the Qur’an.

This is just the beginning, and I pray Allah carries me through and continues to strengthen my faith on this journey.

Surah Kahf - The Cave

This Surah is very special to me because as soon as I started to study it, my life became surrounded by its teachings. I would listen to khutbahs from Jummah and they would mention it, or listen to lectures on YouTube and lessons from Al-Kahf would be mentioned. I learned a lot about my own religion and who Allah is just by studying this Surah.

In this Surah, there are four major stories shared, and from those stories, many gems.

What are the four stories?

The boys in the cave, the two friends, Musa & Khidr, and last but not least, Dhul-Qarnayn.

It is also a Sunnah to read this Surah every Friday.

It is a Makki Surah.

This Surah answers two of the questions brought to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by Quraysh to determine if he was a true Prophet.

The questions:

What is the story of the young men who fled seeking Allah’s protection?

What is the story of the king whom Allah blessed with the east and west?

This Surah also teaches us the lessons behind divine phrases:

The lesson of saying “I don’t know.”

The lesson of saying “Mashallah.”

The lesson of saying “Inshallah.”

My takeaways?

Since I read this Surah every Friday, I am grateful to now be able to understand and follow along with the stories shared. I feel I can now say confidently that I don’t know something instead of making up an answer. There are verses in Al-Kahf that give me great comfort, and I always go back to them when I feel misaligned. This Surah reminds me I am never alone when I am in the company of God.

3 Quls 

These Surahs are known to be used for protection by the Prophet (ﷺ) himself.

Surah An-Nas: Protection from inner whispers. Protection of the heart (Akhira)

Surah Al-Falaq: Protection from others (dunya)

Surah Al-Ikhlas: Affirm Allah’s Oneness.

They are generally known as Makki Surahs.

My takeaways?

I think it’s so beautiful that Surah Ikhlas is a description of the Most Merciful and that in this Surah, Allah tells us that He is ONE and it is He who will fulfill all our needs.

If the Prophet of God is protecting himself with these Surahs, this is exactly what I must strive to do as well.

Also, I am grateful that these Surahs are so short yet so powerful. It makes it extremely easy to implement. Alhamdulilah.

Surah Mulk - The Sovereignty

Our second home will be the grave, and this Surah gives us protection from its punishments.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Surah Tabārak (Al-Mulk) is the protector from the punishment of the grave.”

-Narrated by Abdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه)

It is a Makki Surah.

My takeaways?

Instead of being a scary Surah about punishment, this Surah is actually very comforting. It talks about how deeply Allah knows His own creation and reminds us that it is He who provides for us. It surprised me how gentle this Surah actually is because it is a protection from punishment and as believers, we know nothing of what is waiting for us. It is quite scary to think about.

Fatiha - The Opener

A beautiful conversation with God Almighty:

I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.

When the servant says, ‘ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ’

Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’

When he says, ‘ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ,’

Allah says, ‘My servant has exalted Me.’

When he says, ‘مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ,’

Allah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me, and My servant has submitted to Me.’

When he says, ‘إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ,’

Allah says, ‘This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will have what he has asked for.’

When he says, ‘صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ’

Allah says,‘This is for My servant, and My servant will have what he has asked for.’

It is a Makki Surah.

My takeaways?

The first Surah every Muslim is taught. A Surah that teaches us very quickly how we relate to Allah. Creation and Creator. We need Him, and Him alone will benefit us. This Surah showed me how much Allah respects and loves us. Such an honor to be thought of so highly by Allah Most High. I wish I had learned this so much sooner, and now that I know, it helps me to have such a deeper concentration in my prayer. I also love just reading it outside of prayer as well. It gives me so much peace.

Ya Allah, bless me with the ability to continue studying Your words. Honor me to be a student of the Qur’an. Let this journey be a means of gaining Your love, and raise me in rank among the greats. You are ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ.

Onward - Baqarah

Going forward, I am so excited to start my study of Surah Baqarah, which will probably take six months or more. After Baqarah, Inshallah, I want to study Surah Hujarat, which is about the character of a Muslim; Surah Muzzamil, a Surah I enjoy reading often; and Surah Az-Zalzalah, one of the smaller Surahs that describes the Last Day.

Peace and blessings upon the Nabi of Allah.