In hardship, call on Allah

There are seven surahs in the Holy Qu’ran referred to as the ‘musabeehat’ in Arabic. They start with phrases of glorification of Our Creator. They were revealed by Allah to bring comfort and relief to His Believers. The first is Surat Al-A'la (87 The Most High), This surah brought so much comfort of Prophet Muhammad that he often recited it in jummuah, the Friday congregation, and the Eid clebration prayers. Glorifying Allah reminds us of His Perfection and this world is not perfect. This brings peace to believe in and seek to understand Allah’s Perfection, including in all that He creates and decrees.

The second surah, Al-Isra (17 The Night Journey), was revealed in what is referred to as The Year of Sadness, when Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ wife, uncle and son, who were all beloved relatives to him, returned to Allah. It was during this time that Allah provided His prophet ﷺ the miraculous journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascended him ﷺ to heaven to receive gifts including the command for daily prayers and the two verses of Surat Al-Baqarah (2 The Cow).

Muslims partake of these gifts daily in worship, glorifying Allah when bowing and prostrating. Allah begins Surah Al-Isra: “Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” Glorifying Our Creator brings believers ease. The Qur’an is a cure from disease and harm. In the 82nd verse of Surah Al-Isra, Allah says: وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌۭ وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا the first part of which translates as: “We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers.”

Other surahs in the musabeehat Allah sent during times of Islam’s early revelation to ease the hardships His believers faced, including a seige from 300 soldiers. With the right intention, actions and asking of Allah, relief comes. In this situation, the Muslims dug a trench and Allah sent a sandstorm which caused the soldiers to retreat. Remembering Allah’s Perfection brings peace, comfort and strength.

Completing our look at these surahs:

The beginning of Al-Hadid (57 The Iron), Al-Hashr (59 The Exile) and As-Saf (61 The Ranks) all start with: “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth glorifies Allah. For He is the Almighty, All-Wise.”

Al-Hashr ends with: “He is Allah: the Creator, the Inventor, the Shaper. He ˹alone˺ has the Most Beautiful Names. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth ˹constantly˺ glorifies Him. And He is the Almighty, All-Wise.”

Al-Jumu'ah (62 The Congregation, Friday) begins with: “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth ˹constantly˺ glorifies Allah—the King, the Most Holy, the Almighty, the All-Wise.”

At-Taghabun (64 The Mutual Delusion) “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth ˹constantly˺ glorifies Allah. The kingdom is His, and all praise is for Him. For He is Most Capable of everything.”