summaries from The Qur’an (a new translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem; Oxford World’s Classics)

9. surah At-Tawbah (Repentance):

• opening ayahs about idolaters —> shirk
• historical context: fight against the romans w/ Prophet Muhammad (sallallhu alayhi wa salaam)
  • disbelievers stayed behind - Allah has turned away from them
  • fighting for the cause of Allah is necessary (anyone who leaves the battlefield is committing a major sin)
  • haram to fight in 4 sacred months
• please the Creator not His creation
• struggle in this dunya is trade for Jannah
  • it’s Allah’s test and love towards us, so that we’re always mindful of Him
• if family are disbelievers, don’t pray for them or take them as allies
• Allah is the most merciful so ALWAYS turn to Him no matter how many times or how severe you’ve sinned

Surah At-Tawbah 9:1-10 - Towards Understanding the Quran - Quran Translation Commentary - Tafheem ul Quran

10. surah yunus (jonah)

• scripture presented to a commoner, a human being, because all humans in the end are regarded the same
  • yet there are those who are blind and call the prophet a “sorcerer”
• heavens and earth were created in 6 days; only Allah has ultimate control and nothing moves without his permission
  • worship Him because to Him we shall return and it is Him to created us
• good deeds shall be rewarded and the disbelievers shall “drink of scalding water, and agonizing torment, because they persistently disbelieved.”
• the sun and the moon (and its phases) were created by Allah to allow us the ability to calculate years (subhanallah!)
  • everything was created with a purpose; those who believe see the signs