Theme of Juz Twenty Seven –The Afterlife

The 27th Juz comprises of 6 Makkan Surahs which share the common theme of the Afterlife and preparing for it. The Juz starts in the middle of Surah Az-Dhariyaat, which is followed by Surah Toor, Surah An-Najm, Surah Al-Qamar, Surah Ar-Rahman, Surah Al-Waqiyah and ends with the Madinan Surah,Surah Al-Hadeed.

These Surahs offer vivid descriptions of the Afterlife, especially of Paradise and Hell and the main focus is on preparation for the Afterlife. We need to live our lives in such a way that every decision we make takes into consideration the impact it will have in our Afterlife.

Surah An-Najm reminds us that the Prophet    “does not talk out of his own desires, it is only revelation that has been revealed to him.” (53:3-4). This verse is clear evidence of the importance of following the prophetic Hadith and that everything Prophet Muhammad    said about the religion is based on revelation.

The same Surah also reminds us about the Meraj in which the Prophet    saw Paradise and Hell with his own eyes, as a firm reminder of their reality. One day we too will see them, so we need to be prepared before that day comes.

In Surah Al-Qamar, we find the following message repeated four times, “Indeed, We made the Qur’an easy to remember so who is going to Muddakir (memorize, understand and follow it – Tafseer Jalalayn).” (54:17, 22, 32, 40) This message comes between multiple stories of people who ignored the revelation and faced the wrath of Allah for doing so.

Combining the message of these two Surahs, we understand that the way to Paradise is through understanding and following both the Qur’an and Hadith/Sunnah. These two sources of revelation complement each other and both are necessary sources of our religion.

Surah Ar-Rahmaan is a beautiful and popular Surah focusing on Allah’s Mercy and His Favours upon us which are an expression of that Divine Mercy. Allah created us, taught us religion and gave us worldly skills and intelligence, created this beautiful world full of wonders that we see all around us, and created things that we can’t see or comprehend like the Jinn, Paradise and Hell, “so which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?”

Surah Al-Waqiyah reminds us that there will be three categories of people on the Last Day: The people on the Right Hand i.e. the people of Paradise and they will be many, the people on the Left Hand i.e. the people of the Hellfire and they will be many, and most importantly those who race to do good deeds, those closest to Allah whom Allah describes as “many of the previous generations but few in the latter generations.” (56:13-14)

Beautiful descriptions are given of the homes in Paradise of those closest to Allah, and the people on the Right Hand, as well as a frightening description of the final destination of the people on the Left Hand. The message of the Surah is that while many people will enter Paradise, there is a special level of Paradise for the exceptionally righteous and that each of us should strive to be among this group.

The Juz ends with Surah Al-Hadeed, a Madinan Surah which is followed by a series of Madinan Surahs in the next Juz all of which share the theme of Islamic Law and its application. Surah Al-Hadeed reminds us of the importance of charity and truthfulness, and warns of a terrible fate for the hypocrites in the Afterlife. It also reminds us that this world is temporary and that the Afterlife is what we should be racing towards.


Source: Themes of the Qur'an by Abu Muawiyah Ismail Kamdar