Night 1: Verses 1 – 3

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

Tonight, we begin our journey through Surah Al-Fajr — a Surah that invites us to reflect deeply
on time, on life, on the universe, and ultimately, on our return to Allah.

Allah begins this Surah by taking an oath:

"By the dawn" — wal-fajr.

What is the dawn? It is not just the rising of the sun. It is a powerful symbol of hope and
renewal. It is the moment when darkness begins to fade and light takes over. In our own lives,
dawn is a reminder that the darkness of hardship, of evil, of difficulty, even of materialism —
will not last forever. Fajr gives us hope that one day, these dark clouds will lift, and we will enter
the light — the light of the next world, the light of clarity, the light of Allah’s mercy.

Every new dawn is also a reminder that Allah is in control. Each morning we are given life again.
When we wake up, Allah has returned our soul to us. And this is not a random event. It is a gift,
a chance, a blessing. What are we doing with this chance? Do we use our days to get closer to
Him? Do we wake up with purpose? Do we thank Him for the blessing of life?

The Prophet (s) taught us to begin the day with this beautiful dua:
"All praise is due to Allah who gave us life after having caused us to die, and to Him is the
return."

The call to action is clear:

The dawn is not just a beautiful moment. It is a call. It is the time for Fajr prayer. It’s a moment
of discipline. A moment to begin our day with the remembrance of Allah. How many of us truly
honour this moment? How many of us fight the comfort of our sleep to answer Allah’s call?

The Surah continues:

"And by the ten nights" — wa layalin ‘ashr.

Most scholars agree — these are the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah. A time that Allah Himself
glorifies in this verse. A period beloved to Him. The time of Hajj. The time of sacrifice. The time
to rush towards good, to avoid evil, to fill our days and nights with ibadah and remembrance.
These nights are not ordinary. They are a divine invitation. Do we take advantage of the sacred
times Allah has gifted us? Or do we let them pass like any other day? Allah is swearing by them.
How much are we valuing them?

And then Allah says:

"By the even and the odd" — wash-shaf’i wal-watr.

What does this mean? In this universe, Allah has created everything in pairs — the even. And
Allah is One — the odd. This verse draws our attention to the very order of existence: there is
the created and there is the Creator.
There is the possible, and there is the Necessary.

Some scholars also point us to the prayers of the night — the even rak’ahs of Shaf’ and the odd
rak’ah of Witr.
The night prayers — Salaatul Layl — are a key to spiritual growth. If we want to taste closeness
to Allah, if we want the ma’rifah — the deeper understanding that others may not have — then
we must not neglect these prayers.

Look at how Allah structured the oaths: He began with the dawn — the light of the soul. Then
the ten nights — sacred moments. Then the even and the odd — balance, worship, and deep
spiritual opportunities.

These are keys to attaining that light. These are keys to understanding. These are doors to
closeness.

So tonight, we take this with us:

Value your mornings. Rise for Fajr and start your day with purpose.
Be aware of the sacred times Allah has gifted us, and seize them with action.
Commit to the night prayers, even if it is one rak’ah. Start building that spiritual connection.

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.

 Night 2: Verses 4 – 5

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

Tonight, we continue our journey through Surah Al-Fajr. After swearing by the dawn, by the ten
nights, and by the even and the odd, Allah now says:
"And by the night as it departs."

The departing of the night is a quiet, almost unnoticeable event. But it always happens. It is
Allah’s way of telling us that the end of hardship is subtle, but it is certain. Just like the night will
always give way to the morning, no difficulty lasts forever. No darkness is permanent.

There are so many powerful examples from our history where the darkest nights eventually
broke into the brightest dawns.

When the world was drowning in ignorance, when darkness covered the earth, the Prophet
Muhammad (S) emerged as the dawn — the light of Islam cutting through the gloom.

When the world will be darkened again — filled with corruption, transgression, and injustice —
the rise of Imam Mahdi (A) will be the final break of dawn. His coming will tear apart the long
night of oppression.

And when Imam Husain (A) stood on the plains of Karbala, in a world covered by the black
curtains of deceit, his revolution became the light that exposed tyranny, that shattered the lies,
and unveiled the truth. That was a new dawn, a new beginning for humanity.

Every true revolution against injustice throughout history is a kind of fajr — a break of dawn.

But sometimes, this break of dawn is not global. Sometimes, it happens within our own hearts.
When a sinner feels that first light of awareness, that first spark of regret, that first movement
towards repentance — that too is fajr. That too is a new beginning.

There is a beautiful connection between the first oath — the fajr, the dawn — and this last oath
— the night as it departs. It’s a message of hope. It’s a message that no matter how long or dark
the night, light will come. Change is possible. Growth is possible. Return is possible.

The departing night is also a special time. It is the time for secret worship, for du’a, for quiet
reflection. In Surah Muzzammil, Allah tells us that waking up at this time resonates with the
soul. It is the best time to receive spiritual blessings because the mind is calm, the body is
rested, and the heart is not yet busy with worldly tasks.
Even in this world, research shows that successful people often wake up at 4am. But Allah had
already taught us that the departing night holds great power — not just for worldly success, but
for spiritual success.

Allah then asks:

"Is there an oath in this for those of reason?"

Allah does not take oaths without purpose. He swears by the dawn, by the nights, by the even
and the odd — not to fill the Qur’an with beautiful words, but to wake us up.

Why does Allah take oaths?

To draw our attention. To make us reflect. To remind us of His truth, His power, His glory, and His
wisdom.

The Qur’an does not ask us to believe blindly. It asks us to think, to reflect, to reason.

What is reason? At its core, reason is that which holds us back — from indecency, from injustice,
from stepping outside of our limits.
Anyone with intellect will see that the order of the night and day, the balance in creation, all
point to the power and wisdom of Allah.

Do we still need other signs? Do we still doubt about the Hereafter and that Allah will hold us
accountable? Do we still delay change?

The one who uses their intellect can see the truth clearly, and can distinguish it from falsehood.

So tonight, let’s take these action points home:

Trust that no hardship will last forever. Your fajr is coming.
Make time for secret worship at the end of the night, even if it is just a few minutes of du’a
or reflection.
Be people of reason. Use your intellect to reflect deeply and live purposefully.

May Allah make us among those who see the signs and respond to them.

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.

 Night 3: Verses 6 – 9

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

Tonight, we reflect on verses 6 to 9 of Surah Al-Fajr.

These verses introduce us to powerful nations from history — ʿĀd, Iram, and Thamūd — nations
that were mighty in their time but were eventually destroyed because of their arrogance,
oppression, and moral failure.

1. A Wake-Up Call: "Have You Not Seen…?"

Allah begins with a question: "Have you not seen…?"

It’s not just asking us to read about history — it’s asking us to really look, to think, to reflect.
Even if we haven’t physically seen the ruins of ʿĀd, we are being called to see with the eyes of
the heart.
Are we truly seeing, or are we blind to the spiritual consequences of where our society is
heading?

2. The Story of ʿĀd: Power Doesn’t Last Forever

The people of ʿĀd were an ancient Arab tribe, descendants of Prophet Nūḥ.
They were strong. They were skilled. They built massive structures with lofty pillars — symbols
of their wealth and pride.
But their strength made them arrogant.
They said, "Who is stronger than us?"
Their hearts were filled with the illusion of invincibility.
But power that makes you forget Allah is not a blessing. It’s a trap.
Even today, we hear the same language — nations boasting about their armies, people proud of
their wealth and influence, societies thinking they are above consequences.

When we begin to think, "We are above accountability," we are already walking towards
destruction.

3. The Prophet’s Mercy Was Rejected

Prophet Hūd (a) warned the people of ʿĀd.

He called them to worship Allah, to avoid injustice, to live with gratitude.
But they mocked him. They dismissed his guidance.
Allah never destroys a people without giving them many chances. Their destruction came only
after they repeatedly rejected the truth.

So we have to ask ourselves: How do we respond to reminders and guidance today? With
humility? Or with annoyance?

4. Unmatched, But Still Destroyed

Allah says about Iram: "The like of whom was never created in the lands."
They were unmatched.
Their strength, their engineering, their civilization — no one at their time could compare.
Yet none of this saved them.
Worldly power does not impress Allah. Righteousness does. Justice does. Humility does.

When power becomes a source of pride, when success makes us forget our purpose, we are
following the same path as Iram.

5. The Warning Hidden in History

The Qur'an is full of gentle, yet firm warnings.

Allah is not just telling us stories.
He is showing us the ruins of those who came before us as signs.
The people of Thamūd were expert builders. They carved entire homes into the mountain rocks
— solid, grand, impressive. They thought these stone structures made them secure.
But the very rocks they carved became their graves. Their pride became their downfall. Their
valley — which once gave them comfort — became a place of destruction.

Material success doesn’t guarantee moral success.

Do we see the same signs today?

Skyscrapers, powerful nations, unmatched technology.
But is there justice? Is there humility? Or are we walking the path of those before us?

6. Tonight’s Reflections:

Take this home:

Never let your achievements become pillars of pride that disconnect you from Allah.
When you receive reminders — whether through Qur'an, advice, or life’s challenges — pause
and reflect. Don’t rush to dismiss them.
Look at the world around you — are we building with humility or arrogance?
Be honest about what you admire: is it righteousness, or is it just power and success?
The people of ʿĀd, Iram, and Thamūd are not just stories of the past — they are mirrors for us
today.

Let us not become blind to the lessons that history is trying to teach us.

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.