23rd Night Taraweeh Summary

The para opens with the incident of Hadhrat Ibraheem (A.S), when some angels visited him in the guise of humans and informed him of the imminent birth of his son Hadhrat Is’haaq (A.S). When he asked them what their mission was, they replied that they were out to rain a shower of stones upon the nation of Hadhrat Loot (A.S). They were therefore sent to punish these people.Allaah then relates the incidents of Hadhrat Moosa (A.S), the Aad, the Thamud and the nation of Hadhrat Nooh (A.S). The Surah expounds Allaah’s greatness, establishes Tauheed and Risaalah and then describes the purpose of man’s creation in the following words: “I have only created man and jinn to worship Me.” [verse 56] Allaah stresses that He sustains all and does not require sustenance from anyone.

Surah Toor commences next wherein Allaah warns the rejecters of the Day of Qiyaamah that the day will be so severe that the heavens and the earth will tremble and mountains will fly about like cotton-wool. The kuffaar will be shoved into Jahannam and the punishment will be severe for those who falsify the truth. It is only foolish people who will harass a messenger who only wishes well for them. Those who reject the truth are really evil in nature. Allaah urges Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) to be patient and assures him that he will certainly be assisted.

Surah Najm thereafter makes mention of the miraculous journey of Mi’raaj. Allaah says that Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has neither gone astray nor erred and that he drew so close to Allaah that there scarcely remained the distance between two ends of a bow between them. Allaah makes it clear that Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam)’s eyes did not deceive him and that he saw everything clearly. Allaah then spoke certain things to Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) which no third being has any knowledge of.   

Allaah tells people that that they should never doubt the words of Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) (especially on the occasion of Mi’raaj) because “he does not speak of his own will. Everything he says is revelation that descends to him.” [verse 4]
Hear Mufti A Hoosen Elias audio summary of the 23rd night of Taraaweeh

In Surah Qamar thereafter, Allaah speaks about Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam)’s miracle of splitting the moon; a miracle that foretold the eventual defeat of the kuffaar. Allaah says that the kuffaar are unlikely to mend their ways because they refer to the miracles of Rasululllaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) as magic. However, the time is nigh when they will hang their heads in remorse and flee from the truth.

Surah Rahmaan follows Surah Qamar as the 55th Surah of the Qur’aan. In this Surah, Allaah enumerates a large number of bounties that He has bestowed on man. Throughout the Surah Allaah repeatedly asks, “Which bounty of your Rabb will you deny?” Amongst the other bounties, Allaah speaks of man’s creation, the knowledge Allaah granted man, and the creation of everything else that is of use to man. By identifying all these bounties, man is introduced to Allaah. The Surah also describes the Hereafter and highlights the fact that everything besides Allaah is perishable. Allaah asserts, “Everything on earth shall perish but the countenance of your Majestic and Benevolent Rabb shall remain.” [verse 27]

 Surah Waaqi’ah describes the advent of Qiyaamah, illustrating that the records of righteous people’s deeds will be given in their right hands, while those of the kuffaar and sinners will be given in their left hands from behind their backs. The Surah states that the diet of the people of Jahannam shall be a poisonous tree and scalding water. Allaah terminates the Surah by drawing man’s attention to the fact that the Qur’aan is great blessing of Allaah, which has an elevated position in the Lawhul Mahfoodh (The Protected Tablet) in the heavens.

Surah Hadeed follows Surah Waaqi’ah by stating that every creation glorifies Allaah. Allaah exhorts Muslims to spend in His way, which is regarded as a loan yielding a minimum of ten times the reward. Pious people neither become despondent when afflicted with adversities nor do they behave boastfully and arrogantly when enjoying prosperity. According to their deeds, these are the ones who will attain the status of Siddeeq and Shaheed. Allaah also tells the Ahlul Kitaab that Allaah bestows His grace and favour upon whomsoever He wills.