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Welcome back to Day 4 of the BeQuranic 2025 Challenge!
This January, we’re diving into Surah Al-Mulk—one ayah a day. We’ll break down the Tajweed rules, explore its meaning, and reflect on the timeless lessons it holds for our lives. For those of you taking up the extra challenge, you’ll also be memorising an ayah a day so that, by the end of January, you’ll have memorised the entire Surah.
And don’t forget: reciting Surah Al-Mulk every night is not just a habit—it’s a protector. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, it will guard us from the punishment of the grave.
Now, before we get started, a quick note—I’m feeling a little under the weather today. My voice and tajweed aren’t quite up to scratch because of this stuffed nose! But Alhamdulillah, I’ve got Sakeenah with me today, and she’ll be reading ayah 4 from Surah Al-Mulk for us.
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Tajweed Breakdown
In this ayah, we come across a new tajweed rule: Mim Mushaddada, where the mim has a shaddah on it. This rule is called Wajibul Ghunnah, meaning it’s compulsory to make a ghunnah—that lovely nasal sound.
Now, because of my stuffed nose, I can’t give you a proper example today, but Sakina demonstrated it perfectly. The ghunnah lasts for two harakat, like a double beat.
We also see Ikhfa here, which involves merging the sound of noon saakinah with the following letter, Qaf, but maintaining the nasal tone. Then we have Qalqalah, a bouncing sound with the letter Ba.
Each of these rules brings beauty and precision to the Qur’anic recitation. It’s a reminder that even in the way we pronounce the Qur’an, there’s perfection and harmony.
Meaning of Ayah 4
Now let’s reflect on the meaning of this powerful ayah.
In ayah 3, Allah directed us to observe the heavens, marvel at their perfection, and reflect on the vastness of His creation. In ayah 4, He doubles down on that message:
“Thumma raji’ il-basar karratayn yanqalib ilaikal basaru khasi’an wa huwa haseer.”
“Then look again and again; your gaze will return humbled and exhausted.”
Allah challenges us: Keep looking at the universe, examine it deeply. You won’t find a single flaw. The deeper you look, the more you’ll be awestruck by its precision and beauty.
This ayah reminds us of the two types of revelation Allah has given us:
1. The Qur’an—the recited revelation that connects us to Allah through dhikr (remembrance).
2. The Universe—the observed revelation that inspires tafakkur (deep contemplation).
When you pair dhikr with tafakkur, you create a cycle of spiritual growth. You recite the Qur’an, which inspires you to reflect on Allah’s creation, and that reflection brings you back to the Qur’an with renewed understanding. It’s a journey that continually deepens your connection to Allah.
The Power of Contemplation
Think about this: The universe we observe stretches 13.8 billion light-years in all directions. That’s just the observable universe! Beyond that, it’s even greater, far beyond what we can measure.
