Juz 1

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًۭى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ٢

ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ٣

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ٤

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًۭى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ٥

“This is the Book! There is no doubt about it—a guide for those mindful ˹of Allah˺.

Those who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and donate from what We have provided for them, and who believe in what has been revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ and what was revealed before you, and have sure faith in the Hereafter…. ” — Qur’an 2:2-5

Islam is the most balanced and perfect way of life. Allah opens the Quran telling us that this Qur’an has been sent as a guide for those who are mindful of God.

As many will experience throughout Ramadan, life is a chance to attain nearness to God through acts of worship that are pleasing to Him.

Knowing God and being mindful of Him at all times is our mission and our purpose in life.

Our aim is to worship him, and to see and seek him in all that we do.

In our striving to fulfil this divine mission, we rectify our lives, establish good upon the earth, help others and enact meaning and purpose in our life. This purpose and meaning brings tranquility to our souls and peace to our hearts.

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًۭى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ٥

“…It is they who are ˹truly˺ guided by their Lord, and it is they who will be successful.” — Quran 2:5

Juz 2

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ١٥٣

“O believers! Seek comfort in patience and prayer. Allah is truly with those who are patient.”— Quran 2:153

Prayer is a core pillar of life: Praising God, thanking Him, repenting for the past, and asking Him for guidance in the future.

God encourages believers to have patience when things don’t go “our way”. We seek comfort in patience, knowing that perhaps the thing we wanted wasn’t beneficial for us at the present time. God will provide something even better later on.

God will make a way forward for us when things are tough. We should remain patient and continue to pray. We pray patiently, knowing that all prayers are answered either in this life or the next.

“Allah is with those who are patient” — in our patience we have nearness to God, what more could we want than nearness to our Lord and sustainer

Juz 3

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ٢٥٥

“God! There is no god except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.

Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission? He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His knowledge—except what He wills ˹to reveal˺

His Seat encompasses the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not tire Him. For He is the Most High, the Greatest.” – Qur’an 2:255

This verse, the “verse of the Throne” tells us of Allah’s magnificence – his jalaal.

Not only does it remind us that all good is from God in his immense glory and majesty but also that he has complete knowledge and power over our actions.

If he chooses he can aid or stop us in any endeavour.

We continuously beseech him for help and guidance when we are stuck. We continuosuly express our gratitude when things are pleasing to us

Juz 4

قُلْ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ فَٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًۭا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٩٥

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٩٦

“‘God speaks the truth, so follow Abraham’s religion: he had true faith and he was never an idolater.’ The first House [of worship] to be established for people was the one at Mecca. It is a blessed place; a source of guidance for all people;” — Quran 3:95-96

Abraham was a monotheist. Worshipping God faithfully and truthfully. Before religion, he knew his Lord and he knew that he had to worship God. His creator, his sustainer, the all powerful and all loving God.

Just like Abraham, all souls seek to return to their primordial faith.

Before humans were born into this worldly life God created all the souls and gathered them together to take their oath:

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَآ ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ ١٧٢

“And ˹remember˺ when your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their descendants and had them testify regarding themselves. ˹God asked,˺ “Am I not your Lord?” They replied, “Yes, You are! We testify.” ˹He cautioned,˺ “Now you have no right to say on Judgment Day, ‘We were not aware of this.’ “

— Qur’an 7:172

This was at a degree of existence other than that of this world but there was a form of cognition and awareness for all of our souls and an oath we all took to recognise our Creator.

Even though we are now in this physical world, our souls are journeying back to God, seeking something ethereal and deeper than the material world. Ultimately every soul yearns for nearness to God and His divine presence.

“أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ”

“Verily, in the remembrance of God do hearts find rest.”
— Qur’an 13:28

Juz 5

يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ ٢٦

وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ أَن تَمِيلُوا۟ مَيْلًا عَظِيمًۭا ٢٧

يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُخَفِّفَ عَنكُمْ ۚ وَخُلِقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ ضَعِيفًۭا ٢٨

“It is Allah’s Will to make things clear to you, guide you to the ˹noble˺ ways of those before you, and turn to you in mercy. For Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

And it is Allah’s Will to turn to you in grace, but those who follow their desires wish to see you deviate entirely ˹from Allah’s Way˺.

And it is Allah’s Will to lighten your burdens, for humankind was created weak.” — Qur’an 4:26-8

Born into this world with an inherent inkling towards good, mankind is left looking for guidance.

God sends the Qur’an as a guidance to mankind, a criterion, from which to discern right from wrong; halal from haram, the path of the sharia – the path to enlightenment of the soul.

Generations ago however there already came an enlightened generation…

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), His actions and character were described as being a living embodiment of the Qur’an. He was the most perfect exemplar of guidance. Living a life of balance, unity, and tranquility.

We seek to emulate the best generation, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). His companions (sahabah) learned from Him, lived with Him and sought to live their lives in accordance with his noble characteristics and actions

We don’t just seek to progress ourselves and society financially and technological — but also spiritually.

Spiritual progress is in our striving to return to that epoch of enlightenment — the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions, may God be pleased with them.

Spiritual progress is the journey of the human condition and ultimately any progress comes with the question “is this pleasing to God? and in line with the message and actions of His messenger Muhammad (ﷺ)?”

As such we seek to emulate and follow his sunnah, striving to make all of our actions pleasing to Allah, and in line with the sunnah (characteristics and actions) of His noble Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

Juz 6

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِٱلْحَقِّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا لَّكُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِوَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا ١٧٠

O mankind, the Messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord, so believe; it is better for you. But if you disbelieve – then indeed, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. And ever is Allāh Knowing and Wise.” — Qur’an 4:170

To be Muslim is not only to accept the tenets of faith intellectually but also to believe them in one’s heart and to live them every day in one’s actions.

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ٣١

“Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If you ˹sincerely˺ love God, then follow me; God will love you and forgive your sins. For God is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”—Quran 3:31

Islam is to believe in God and His noble messenger Muhammad (ﷺ). This belief in God entails belief in the Qur’an and it’s veracity — in its wholeness.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍۢ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍۢ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا ١٥٠

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ حَقًّۭا ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا ١٥١

“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allāh and His messengers wish to discriminate between Allāh and His messengers and say, “We believe in some and disbelieve in others,” and wish to adopt a way in between.

Those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.” — Qur’an 4:150-151

To believe in the Qur’an means obeying its diktats to the best of our ability, in their completeness. As muslims we endeavour to do the handful of things we’re commanded to do, and to avoid anything that is prohibited from us.

These simple acts are a way of a person demonstrating that they respect and honour the commands of God. Actions testify to belief — and that one has dedicated their life to God — only doing what pleases Him and avoiding what he has decreed is sinful and displeasing to Him.

Ultimately sins are only considered sins as they block us from the truth, and our true purpose: worshipping and witnessing God.