In our daily prayers, we commonly recite the shorter chapters from the end of the Quran. Largely Makkan Surahs, they are extremely beautiful and characterized by short verses, powerful language, vivid imagery, and musical rhymes—often addressing the most basic themes of belief, Allah and His Oneness, the Last Day, and the Messengerhood of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. If understood and properly reflected upon, these verses shake the listener to the core.
Tafsir of the Short Surahs: Finding the Beauty & Power in Your Daily Recitation is a detailed and inspiring commentary of the short chapters at the end of the Quran, designed to help you relate with the verses that you recite most frequently. Lessons cover Surah Duha through Surah Nas.
Besides the general themes mentioned above, the Surahs also explore mankind’s natural tendency to greed and lack of realizing the great significance of time. The meanings in these chapters will help you both gain insights about your own life and draw closer to Allah and His revelation.
This course will also serve as an introduction to a linguistic study of the Qur’an. You will begin to appreciate and be moved by the beauty and depth of Qur’anic Arabic. You will memorize a vocabulary list of common Quranic vocabulary and common Quranic linguistic styles, making the course an excellent stepping-stone to further studies and readings in tafsir literature.
By the end of the course, you will gain an understanding of the meanings of the selected chapters, which will help you connect with and memorize the Quran. This will also hopefully lead to more khusho, or presence of heart, in prayer. You will also have gained an understanding of the approach and style of tafsir.
Whether you have already memorized these Surahs or would like to be motivated to do so, Tafsir of the Short Surahs is a perfect opportunity to connect with both the Quran and your prayer.