The Structure of the Qur’an

The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters (Surahs), classified into Makkan and Madinan chapters:

•86 Makkan Surahs – Re­vealed in Makkah before migration, primarily focusing on faith, monotheism, and the Hereafter.

•28 Madinan Surahs – Re­vealed in Madinah, covering laws, governance, and socie­tal justice.

Each chapter contains divine instructions, address­ing spiritual, moral, and legal matters.

The Qur’an itself testifies about its revelation:

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion…” (Qur’an 2:185).

The first revelation occurred in the Cave of Hira, where Prophet Muhammad was commanded:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created—Created man from a clinging sub­stance. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous—Who taught by the pen—taught man that which he knew not” (Qur’an 96:1-5).

This event marked the beginning of divine communi­cation between Allah and His final messenger.

The Quran as a book of Justice and Morality

“Indeed, Allah commands you to act with justice, to do good, and to give to relatives, and He forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed.” (Qur’an 16:90)

This text is often recited in Friday sermons (Khutbah) as a reminder to believers about the core values of Islam: justice, kindness, family ties, and avoidance of immorality and wrongdoing. It serves as a comprehensive command for ethical and moral behavior in both personal and societal affairs.

The Quran Commands Mod­esty in Dress code

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah For­giving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 33:59)

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse was revealed as a directive for Muslim women to wear the jilbab—a long, loose-fitting outer garment— that covers their bodies when they go out in public.

Allah commands the Prophet to instruct his wives, daugh­ters, and all believing women to adopt a modest dress code to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments) instructs Muslim women to cover themselves in a way that distinguishes them as modest and chaste women.

That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. This means that mod­est dress helps identify believ­ing women as respectable and pious, preventing harassment or harm from ill-intentioned people.

Allah’s Mercy in the Com­mand

The verse ends with (And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful), showing that Allah’s commands are for the pro­tection and honor of women, and those who struggle with observing them can seek His forgiveness and guidance.

The Qur’an as a Guide for All of Humanity

The Qur’an is not restricted to any race, nationality, or social class. It is a universal book meant to guide all of humanity—men and women, the rich and the poor, Arabs and non-Arabs. Allah says:

“And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” (Qur’an 54:17).

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Qur’an 21:107).

This means that no one is excluded from the mercy of the Qur’an. It is a guide for the lost, a source of hope for the despairing, and a moral code for all societies.

* The writer is the Metro­politan Chief Imam of Kpone Katamanso

 By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai – 1 BN Michel Camp, Tema

But the fruit of the Spir­it is love ………… – Galatians 5:22 (NIV)

The tendency of us human beings is to love only those that we find convenient to love. And that I guess it makes sense, but it does only in our selfish nature. The question then is: Is it really possible to love everyone?

We will not get the chance to meet every one of the 7 billion plus people living here on earth, but chances are high that each of us will get the opportunity to meet at least 100 people in our lifetime. Of the figurative 100 people we’re likely to meet in our lifetime, how many have we actually connected through the chord of love? How many have we loved, as Christ commands? Or has our focus been on only the loving, the lovely, and the loveable?

If we want to be truthful, we will admit that some people are downright hateful, and make better enemies than friends. Nothing will make us happier than to just avoid or ignore them when they’re around us, and to try to forget that they exist as soon as they’re out of our sight. Jesus knows about such hateful people in the world for He had a lot of enemies and suffered at their hands. He knows how easy it is to concentrate on the easy peo­ple. It’s why He reminds us:

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mis­treat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If some­one takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them with­out expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. – Luke 6:27-35 (NIV).

Who then are the enemies that come to mind? The ones that have gossiped about us, stolen from us, killed our loved ones, cheated us of our rights, made attempts to kill us, do not wish us well at all, and done or possess all the bad things that define an enemy from a friend?

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back,” is what Jesus is telling us.

Unfortunately for us, no matter how hard we try, we can’t by ourselves love people the way God wants us to do. We’ve been too hurt and are too scared to really let go and love people as we ought. Too many people have done too many bad and unforgettable things to our dead ancestors and living relatives, to us in our childhood that still hurt us. We have heard a lot of horror stories about what happened to neighbors, colleagues and friends’ friends. We have read novels and watched too many movies. Hence, by age thirty-five most people have usually worked out an accept­able formula of those to love. Yet none of these changes God’s command to bear the fruit of love.

God knows that our formula isn’t good enough for what He knows He has deposited in us. He knows that we are also capable of loving those who are not our friends, and He called our attention to loving beyond duty, really stepping out of our comfort zones to where we would allow God to love others through us, including our enemies. He re­minds us: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do noth­ing.” – John 15:5. Bearing the fruit of love is possible only through Christ, a provision that’s been made for us.

Stay blessed!

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By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author