Eleven Surahs of the Quran
The First Surah – Suratul Fatihah
In this chapter, we will explore eleven Surahs (chapters) from the Quran, beginning with Suratul Fatihah. These Surahs hold great significance in the Islamic tradition. We will start with Suratul Fatihah, which is often referred to as the opening chapter of the Quran.
1. Suratul Fatihah (The Opening) –
Transcription (Arabic): بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْمِ الْحَمْ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. ملِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِيْنُ. اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْـ صِرَاطَ الَّذِيْنَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِينَ.
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. All praise is for Allah, the Lord of the Universe. The Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship, from You alone we seek help. Guide us along the straight path. The path of those whom You have favored, not of those who earned Your anger nor of those who go astray.
Suratul Fatihah serves as an essential component of Muslim prayers and holds profound spiritual significance as an opening supplication. It acknowledges Allah’s mercy, sovereignty, and role as the ultimate guide for believers. The Surah emphasizes seeking Allah’s guidance to remain on the righteous path and avoid straying from His guidance.
2. Suratun Nas (The Mankind) – Chapter 114
Transcription (Arabic): بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ أَعُوْذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ مَلِكِ النَّاسِ. إِلهِ النَّاسِ. مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ.. الْخَنَّاسِ. الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ.
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the mischief of the sneaking whisperer, who whispers in the hearts of mankind, from among Jinn and mankind.
Suratun Nas, the Surah of Mankind, serves as a powerful supplication seeking refuge in Allah from the evil influences of both the unseen world (Jinn) and human beings. It emphasizes the sovereignty of Allah as the Lord, King, and God of all humanity.
3. Suratul Falaq (The Daybreak) – Chapter 113
Transcription (Arabic): بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ اَعُوْذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ . مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ . وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ. وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفْتُتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ. وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of the darkness when it settles, and from the evil of the blowers in knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.
Suratul Falaq, the Surah of Daybreak, is a supplication for protection from various forms of harm and evil, including the darkness of night and the envy of others. It acknowledges Allah as the Lord of the daybreak and the Creator of all things.
4. Suratul Ikhlas (The Sincerity) – Chapter 112
Transcription (Arabic): بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ اَحَدٌ الله الصَّمَدُ. لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ. وَلَمْ يَكُن لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ.
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Say, He is Allah, the One. Allah is Eternal and Absolute. None is born of Him nor is He born. And there is none like Him.
Suratul Ikhlas, the Surah of Sincerity, encapsulates the concept of the Oneness of Allah (Tawheed) in the most concise and clear manner. It affirms that Allah is unique, eternal, and incomparable, emphasizing the essence of monotheism.
5. Suratul Lahab (The Flame) – Chapter 111
Transcription (Arabic): بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ ثبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبٍ. مَا أَغْنى عَنْهُ مَا لَهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ . سيصلى نَارًا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّا لَةَ الْحَطَبِ فِي جِيْدِهَا حَبْلٍ مِّنْ مَّسَد.
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained. He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame. And his wife [as well] – the carrier of firewood. Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber.
Suratul Lahab, the Surah of Flame, condemns the actions of Abu Lahab, an opponent of Islam. It vividly illustrates the consequences of his opposition and disbelief. This Surah serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and the consequences of rejecting the message of Allah.
6. Suratun Nasr (The Victory) – Chapter 110
Transcription (Arabic): بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْم إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللهِ وَالْفَتْحُ . وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ أَفْوَاجًا . فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا .
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. When the victory granted by Allah and the conquest come, and you see the people embracing the religion of Allah in large numbers, then celebrate the praises of your Lord, and seek His forgiveness. He is ever ready to show mercy.
Suratun Nasr, the Surah of Victory, signifies the divine triumph and the spread of Islam. It celebrates the moment when Allah’s help and victory arrive, and people enter the religion of Allah in multitudes. The Surah encourages believers to praise their Lord and seek His forgiveness, emphasizing Allah’s readiness to extend His mercy.
7. Suratul Kafirun (The Disbelievers) – Chapter 109
Transcription (Arabic): بِسمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَفِرونَ لا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ. وَلا أَنْتُمْ عبدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ . وَلا أَنَا عَابِد ما عَبَدتُّمْ . وَلا أَنْتُمْ عبدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ . لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ .
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Say: O disbelievers! I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. I shall never worship what you worship, neither you worship what I worship. You have your own religion and I have mine.
Suratul Kafirun, the Surah of Disbelievers, emphasizes the clear distinction between the beliefs of Muslims and disbelievers. It highlights the uncompromising nature of faith and the rejection of false idols or beliefs.
8. Suratul Kawthar (Abundance) – Chapter 108
Transcription (Arabic): بسم اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم إنَّا أَعْطَيْنكَ الْكَوْثَرَ . فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ . إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الأَبْتَرُ.
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Indeed we have given you the Kawthar (abundance or fountain).
Suratul Kawthar, the Surah of Abundance, acknowledges the blessings and favors bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by Allah. It emphasizes gratitude and the act of worship as a response to divine abundance.
9. Suratul Ma’un (Small Kindnesses) – Chapter 107
Transcription (Arabic): بسم اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّيْنِ. فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيْمَ. وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِيْنِ. فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّيْنَ. الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُوْنَ. الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ يُرَاءُوْنَ. وَيَمْنَعُوْنَ الْمَاعُوْنِ.
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. Have you seen him who denies the judgment? It is he who harshly repels the orphan, and does not urge others to feed the needy. Woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayers, who put on a show of piety but refuse to give even the smallest help to others.
Suratul Ma’un, the Surah of Small Kindnesses, admonishes those who neglect their duties toward the needy and orphaned while pretending to be pious. It underscores the importance of sincere acts of kindness and prayer.
10. Suratul Quraish (The Quraish) – Chapter 106
Transcription (Arabic): بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ . إِيلَافِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَاءِ وَالصَّيْفِ. فَلْيَعْبُدُوْا رَبَّ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ. الَّذِيْ أَطْعَمَهُمْ مِّن جُوْعٍ وَآَمَنَهُمْ مِّنْ خَوْفٍ.
Translation (English): In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. For the tradition of the Quraish; their tradition of traveling in winter and summer. Let them worship the Lord of this house, Who provides them with food lest they should go hungry, and with security lest they should live in fear.
Suratul Quraish, the Surah of the Quraish tribe, acknowledges the blessings bestowed upon them and invites them to worship the Lord of the Kaaba, the sacred house. It highlights the importance of gratitude for sustenance and protection.
11: Suratul Fil (The Elephant)
سُوْرَةُ الْفِيْل
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحبِ الْفِيلِ. اَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِي تَصْلِيْلِ. وَاَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيْلَ. تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَهِ مِنْ سِحِيْلِ. فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفِ مَا كُول.
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind.
Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the people of the elephant? Did He not cause their treacherous plan to fail, and send against them flights of birds, which pelted them with stones of sand and clay? Thus He made them like devoured dry leaves.
Suratul Fil (The Elephant) recounts an incident from the past when a tyrant ruler named Abraha, along with his army, attempted to destroy the Kaaba in Mecca using a large army, including an elephant. However, Allah’s divine intervention protected His sacred house. The elephants, along with Abraha’s army, were defeated by birds carrying small stones, sent by Allah, rendering their plans futile.
This surah serves as a reminder of Allah’s ultimate power and His ability to protect His sacred places and those who believe in Him. It is a testament to the significance of the Kaaba and the sanctity associated with it.
