Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Alhamdulillah, welcome to Be Quranic.
This is the blessed month of Ramadan—Ramadan Mubarak to everyone! May Allah bless us in this month with a fasting full of Iman and sincerity, leading to taqwa and forgiveness from Him.
The Be Quranic Taraweeh Approach
Each Ramadan, I choose one surah as my pet surah to study and recite throughout the month in Taraweeh.
I lead Taraweeh with the Qaswa community here in Perth, and our approach may differ slightly from other places.
We select one surah and deeply study it throughout the month. Each night before Taraweeh, we have a short tafsir session, and the ayat covered in tafsir are then recited in salah. This means we repeat the same ayat for several nights—allowing us to develop a deeper connection with the Qur’an.
This method helps us internalise the surah and absorb its meanings so that when we hear the recitation in prayer, it resonates more deeply with us.
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A Journey Through Past Ramadans
We started this approach in 2019 with Surah Al-Baqarah.
In 2020, due to COVID restrictions, we opted for Surah Al-Kahf, keeping things shorter and simpler.
By 2021, restrictions were still fluctuating, so we went through Juz Amma, studying and repeating it in our Taraweeh prayers.
Then, in 2022, as things returned to normal, we resumed our original format with Surah Ali ’Imran, followed by Surah An-Nisa in 2023, and Surah Al-Ma’idah in 2024.
This year, 2025, our chosen surah is Surah Al-An’am.
The Purpose of This Approach
This is not just an intellectual tafsir—it is a practical approach. We extract real-life lessons from the surah, which we can turn into action points for the next 11 months.
Each Ramadan, we add a new checklist of Qur’anic principles to live by, so that over the years, we gradually build our character through the Qur’an.
This way, we don’t just read or listen to the Qur’an—we live by it.
Introduction to Makki Surahs
What Makes a Surah Makki?
The division of Makki and Madani Surahs is not based on geography—it is based on time.
• Makki Surahs were revealed before Hijrah when the Prophet ﷺ was based in Makkah.
• Madani Surahs were revealed after Hijrah, even if they were revealed outside of Madinah.
For example:
• Surah An-Nasr (إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ) was revealed in Makkah but is still a Madani Surah because it was revealed after the migration.
• Surah Al-Fath (إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا) was revealed near Hudaybiyyah, closer to Makkah than Madinah, yet it’s a Madani Surah.
So, the division is based on period, not place.
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What Makes Makki Surahs Unique?
The 13 years in Makkah were the toughest years for the early Muslims. They were a minority, oppressed, and struggling against an overwhelming opposition.
During this time, there were no major laws—no fasting, no zakah, no hijab. Even the five daily prayers were only fully established towards the end of the Makkan period.
So, what was the focus of Makki Surahs?
👉 Building Iman and Character
Makki Surahs emphasise Aqidah (belief), universal morality, and justice.
They cover three main topics:
1️⃣ Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) – Teaching people about Allah’s greatness and rejecting idol worship.
2️⃣ Prophethood – Establishing the truth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and previous prophets.
3️⃣ Akhirah (Afterlife) – Descriptions of Jannah, Jahannam, and accountability on the Day of Judgment.
These themes are reinforced through two methods:
✅ 1. Reminders of Allah’s Favours
• How Allah created the heavens, the earth, food, sustenance, etc.
• Encouraging gratitude and reflection.
✅ 2. Lessons from History
• The stories of past nations who rejected the truth and were destroyed.
• Reinforcing that history repeats itself—those who reject Allah always face consequences.
What Made the Early Muslims in Makkah So Special?
When we think of a “practicing Muslim” today, we might imagine:
✔ Long beard
✔ Wearing a thawb
✔ Praying five times a day
✔ Reciting Quran beautifully
But none of these were defining traits of the early Muslims in Makkah!
🔹 There was no hijab yet.
🔹 There was no fasting yet.
🔹 There was no formal five daily salah in the early years.
So what made them stand out?
👉 Their attachment to the Quran. They lived by it, recited it, and invited others to it.
👉 Their commitment to justice. They were the first to stand up for the oppressed—feeding the poor, freeing slaves, and fighting injustice.
That’s why Abu Bakr (RA) spent his wealth freeing slaves like Bilal (RA). That’s why Muslims were known for feeding prisoners—even those who had fought against them!
Their akhlaq (character) and integrity made them distinct.
The Role of Nature in the Qur’an’s Guidance
One of the most beautiful aspects of the Makki Surahs is how Allah connects nature to moral lessons.
The Sky & Justice – Surah Ar-Rahman
Allah says in Surah Ar-Rahman:
“And the sky, He raised it, and He set the balance, so do not transgress in the balance. And establish justice and do not shortchange the scales.” (55:7-9)
Every time you look up at the sky, it should remind you of justice.
• Just as the sky is perfectly balanced, our dealings in life should be just.
• Just as the stars are fixed, we should uphold fairness in everything we do.
So when you go outside and see a clear sky, it should remind you that you cannot cheat, lie, or oppress others.
The Stars & the Qur’an’s Order
Allah says in Surah Al-Waqi’ah:
“So I swear by the setting of the stars. And indeed, this is a mighty oath, if only you knew. Indeed, it is a noble Qur’an.” (56:75-77)
What is the connection between stars and the Qur’an?
• To an untrained eye, the stars look like a beautiful mess—scattered, random.
• But to a trained navigator, stars are a source of guidance.
Likewise, the Qur’an might seem random to someone unfamiliar with its structure. But when you study it deeply, you see its divine order and wisdom.
This reminds me of something we do in Perth—we go crabbing in summer.
• When you’re out in the darkness, in the middle of the ocean, and you look up at the night sky, it’s overwhelming.
• But if you know your stars, you can navigate your way home.
Similarly, the Qur’an is a guide for those who seek it.
The First Ayah of Surah Al-An’am
Surah Al-An’am starts with:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ
“Praise be to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light.”
This is the second surah in the Qur’an that begins with Alhamdulillah.
🔹 Surah Al-Fatiha – General gratitude for everything in life.
🔹 Surah Al-An’am – Gratitude for guidance—the distinction between light and darkness (truth & falsehood).
🔹 Surah Al-Kahf – Gratitude for the Qur’an.
Each Alhamdulillah is placed strategically, reminding us to be grateful at key points in the Qur’an.
Conclusion & What’s Next
Today, we covered:
✅ What makes a surah Makki
✅ The key themes in Makki Surahs
✅ How nature reinforces the Qur’an’s message
✅ The stars as a metaphor for Qur’anic order
✅ The first ayah of Surah Al-An’am
Tomorrow, we’ll continue with more ayat from Surah Al-An’am, inshaAllah.
May Allah accept our fasting and prayers this Ramadan, and may we emerge from it with renewed Iman, taqwa, and a deeper connection to the Qur’an.
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
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