English Translation of Al-Quran
[35].Surah Fatir [The Originator of Creation]
Ayat 32. Then We gave the Book the Qur’an) for inheritance to such of Our servants whom We chose (the followers of Muhammad ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH), Then of them are some who wrong their own selves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allah’s Leave, foremost in good deeds. That (inheritance of the Qur’an), that is indeed a great grace.
Tafseer of Surah Fatir Ayat 32. Then Allah gave the Book for inheritance to such Our Servants as Allah has chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by Allah’s leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace. The force of “then” is that of finality. The Qur’an is the last Book revealed. Or it may be here to point the contrast between “to thee” in the last verse, i.e., the Prophet, in contradistinction to the People of Islam, who inherited the Book after him. The custodians of the Qur’an after the Prophet were the People of Islam. They were chosen for the Book, not in any narrow sense, but in the sense that the Book was given for their age and they were charged to obey it and preserve and propagate it, so that all mankind should receive the Message. But it does not follow that they are all true and faithful to their charge, as indeed we see too painfully around us today. Just as mankind was chosen collectively to be Vicegerents for Allah, and yet some among mankind fell into evil-even so, some in the house of Islam fail to follow the Light given to them, and thus “wrong their own souls”. But some follow a middle course; in their case “the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak”: their intentions are good, but they have much to learn yet of the true Muslim life and Muslim virtues. Then there is a third class: they may not indeed be perfect, but both their intentions and their conduct are sound, and they form an example to other men: they are “foremost” in every good deed. They are so, not by their own merits, but by the Grace of Allah. And they have reached the highest Achievement-the salvation, which is typified by the various metaphors that follow.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) used to urge (the people) to perform (optional Tarawih) prayer at night during the month of Ramadan. He did not order them or make it obligatory on them. He ﷺ (PBUH) said, “Whosoever performs (optional Tarawih) prayers at night during the month of Ramadan, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah’s reward, will have his past sins forgiven.”
[Muslim Book 04, Chapter 52, Hadith # 210].
Lesson: This Hadith highlights the following points: 1. Qiyam in the month of Ramadan is a much-stressed act and has great importance from the viewpoint of reward and award.
2. The sins which are pardoned through it are minor sins because major sins are not forgiven unless one makes sincere repentance and compensates those whom he has wronged.
3. That Qiyam during the month of Ramadan was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ [SAWW]((PBUH). During the course of a Ramadan, he made Qiyam for three nights consecutively, that is, he performed this Nafl Salat in congregation with his Companions. On the fourth night, when his Companions gathered for this purpose he said to them, “I am afraid it will be made obligatory for you.” So, in spite of their desire to join him in this prayer, he did not lead the Salat that night.
