Notes from lecture # 1 by shaykh Dr.

YasirQadhi

1. Fatiha.

● Fathiha – the opening, oft repeated surah. Surah recited in every player. Allah calls this surah
7-oft repeated surah.
● This surah, Summaries our entire purpose of life.
● (Most important -> guide us to the straight path)

2. Al Baqarah:

● Surah is named after the message the Musa A.S. given to his people that Allah wants them to
sacrifice goat.
● Names of surah are sometime given for convenience by peoples and sometime the Prophet
Muhammad SAW gave the name to surah.
● Longest Surah
● Contains the most blessed verse ​ ​ Ayat Ul Qursi
● First surah revealed in Madina (early madhni)
● Recite Quran (esp. Baqarah, al Imran – the light or lamps) it will come as intercessor on Day of
Judgment for those who recited. (hadith)
● Reading this is a blessing, leaving it is grief or sad (i.e. reciting this gives happiness), evil cannot
touch. (Hadith).
● Most categories or topics are discussed in this surah.
● It begins by discussing the three main categories of the mankind
o Those who believe
o Those who choose not to believe (i.e. kafir)
o Those who pretend to believe (i.e. hypocrites)
● Most aspects of theology are discussed.
● Allah’s power is also discussed.
● Allah’s signs discussed.
● Surah tells us to believe in the angels. Also mentions two powerful angels.
o Jibril
o Mikail
● Story of previous nations.
● Previous Prophet’s story, and we are told to believe in them.
● Every ritual of Islam by name, Talks about the basic creed, five pillars ​ ​ Shahada, Salat, Zakat,
Ramzan, Haj.
● Resurrection.
● Prohibition of alcohol, gambling.
● Shaping morality.
● Marriage, divorce, various laws etc. are also mentioned.
● Foundation of Islamic economics, financial concepts, contracts of business, witness etc.
● Riba – Interest. A war against Allah.

Thus, Islam touch all aspects of life. Islam is a system of life (Marriage, business, personal matters etc.

Story of prophets.
Adam AS

● Creation of Adam AS, Allah taught the speech, intellect.

● Story of our origin. Origin of our speech.
● Iblis and his arrogance.
● Adam AS and his regret of sin and repentance.
● Allah forgave our father (the hope that Allah will forgive all sin).
● All children of Adam sin but the best is those who repent.

Ibrahim AS

● Building of Kaaba
● Ibrahim AS prayers, humbleness

Yaqoob AS

● Event at his death bed, he is asking his children who will you worship after my death? His
children said we will worship Allah. Yaqoob A.S died happily.
● It was his priority at death bed

Dawood AS

● Slingshot vs sword.
● With the help of Allah comes victory.

Sulaiman AS

● Allah’s blessings
● He was slandered even after his death
● The jinn issue
● But Allah helped and rectified the slander in the Quran.

Musa AS

● Over questioning and arrogance of children of Israel.

● Most discussed story
● Wise is the one who learns from others' mistakes.

● The relation of Islam with previous faiths. The techniques of interfaith dialogue. Telling children
of Israel to remember the blessings.
● The Arabian prophet citing the incidents without previous exposure to the text of Jews,
Christians etc. i.e. a proof of real prophethood of our prophet.
● Bring the evidence if you are truthful.
● The calendar of Islam. Moon sighting for hajj.
● The beginning of this surah, no doubt a book from the lord.
● Challenge to disbelievers ​ ​ Bring one chapter like it. (and you will never be able to do it).
● We can say that it is the response to Surah Fatiha, ​??​ i.e., Guide Us.
● Everything has a crown and the crown of the Quran is al Baqarah.