Quran: Surah Ash-Shams (Quran Chapter 91) – SS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Surah Ash-Shams is the 91st chapter of the Holy Quran. Its name means “The Sun.” It is a short surah of 15 verses, revealed in Makkah during the early days of Islam. The surah begins with Allah swearing by many things He created, such as the sun, moon, day, night and the earth.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• State basic facts about Surah Ash-Shams (number of verses, place of revelation and position in the Quran).
• Explain the meaning of verses 1 to 10, including the oaths and the idea of success through purifying the soul.
• Narrate the story of the people of Thamud as told in verses 11 to 15.
• List the main lessons of the surah.
• Describe ways of applying the teachings of the surah in daily life.

What are the background facts about Surah Ash-Shams?

• Surah Ash-Shams has 15 verses (ayat).
• It is the 91st chapter in the order of the Quran.
• It is a Makki surah (revealed in Makkah).
• It comes after Surah Al-Balad and before Surah Al-Layl.
• It is part of the 30th Juz’ (section) of the Quran.

What are the main themes of the surah?

1. Allah’s amazing creations in nature
2. How Allah has given humans the ability to choose between right and wrong
3. The story of the people of Thamud who disobeyed Allah
4. The importance of purifying our souls

What does each verse of Surah Ash-Shams mean?

Verses 1 to 10: Allah’s oaths and human choice

Verses 1 to 4: Oaths by natural phenomena

“By the sun and its brightness,
And by the moon when it follows it,
And by the day when it shows its brightness,
And by the night when it covers it.”

In these verses, Allah swears by the sun, moon, day and night. These are things we see every day that show Allah’s power and wisdom. The sun gives light and heat, the moon follows it with a softer light, the day reveals the world around us, and the night covers everything in darkness. These changes happen perfectly, showing Allah’s perfect planning.

Verses 5 and 6: Oaths by the sky and earth

“And by the sky and He who built it,
And by the earth and He who spread it.”

Allah continues His oaths by mentioning the sky above us and the earth beneath us. Allah built the sky like a roof without any pillars, and He spread out the earth for us to live on. These are more signs of Allah’s greatness.

Verses 7 and 8: The human soul

“And by the soul and He who made it perfect,
Then He showed it what is wrong and what is right.”

These important verses tell us that Allah created each person’s soul and gave it the ability to know good from bad. This is called “conscience”, the feeling inside us that helps us know right from wrong. Allah has put this inside every person.

Verses 9 and 10: Success and failure

“Indeed he succeeds who purifies it (his soul),
And indeed he fails who corrupts it.”

These verses tell us how to be successful in life. Real success comes when we keep our souls clean and pure by doing good deeds and avoiding bad ones. If we do bad things and corrupt our souls, we will fail. Success and failure here depend on having a pure or a corrupt heart and soul. Money and fame do not decide them.

Verses 11 to 15: The story of Thamud

Verse 11: The people of Thamud

“Thamud denied (the truth) through their transgression.”

Here Allah starts telling the story of the people of Thamud. They were an ancient tribe that lived after the people of ‘Ad. They denied the message that Allah sent them through their Prophet Salih.

Verses 12 and 13: The most wicked person and the warning

“When the most wicked man among them went forth (to kill the she-camel).
And the Messenger of Allah said to them: ‘Be careful of Allah’s she-camel and her drinking turn.'”

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These verses tell us how the worst person in the tribe decided to kill the miracle camel that Allah had sent as a sign. Prophet Salih warned them not to harm the camel and to let it drink water on its assigned day.

Verse 14: The crime and punishment

“But they denied him and they killed it. So their Lord destroyed them because of their sin, and made them equal in destruction!”

Despite the warning, they killed the camel. As punishment, Allah destroyed all of them. This teaches us that when people deliberately disobey Allah’s clear commands, they may face punishment.

Verse 15: Allah fears no consequences

“And He (Allah) feared not the consequences.”

The final verse reminds us that Allah is the Most Powerful. When He punishes wrongdoers, He does not fear any consequences because He is the Supreme Authority. This means that no one can question Allah’s decisions or judgments.

What are the important lessons from Surah Ash-Shams?

1. Signs of Allah in nature. The many oaths by natural phenomena remind us to look at the world around us and see Allah’s power and wisdom in His creation. The sun, moon, day, night, sky and earth all work perfectly according to Allah’s plan.
2. Freedom to choose. Allah has given every human being the ability to know right from wrong. We have free will to choose our path. This is a great responsibility.
3. Success comes from purifying the soul. True success is not about money, power or fame. It comes from having a pure heart and soul by doing good deeds and avoiding sins.
4. The danger of disobedience. The story of Thamud shows us what can happen when people deliberately disobey Allah. Their punishment serves as a warning for us.
5. Collective responsibility. The whole tribe of Thamud was punished because they did not stop the wrongdoer among them. This teaches us that we have a duty to encourage good and forbid evil in our communities.

What are the virtues of reciting Surah Ash-Shams?

It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would sometimes recite this surah in his prayers, especially during the Fajr (morning) prayer. Reciting this surah helps us remember important teachings about purifying our souls and recognising Allah’s signs in the universe. When we recite it, we should think about its meaning and try to apply its teachings in our daily lives.

How can we apply Surah Ash-Shams in our lives?

1. Reflect on Allah’s creation: Take time to look at the sun, moon, day and night and think about Allah’s power and wisdom.
2. Listen to your conscience: Allah has given you the ability to know right from wrong. Listen to that inner voice when making decisions.
3. Purify your soul daily: Work on keeping your heart clean by doing good deeds, avoiding sins, seeking forgiveness and remembering Allah.
4. Stand against wrong: Do not be silent when you see wrong things happening in your community.
5. Learn from history: Remember the lessons from the story of Thamud and other nations that disobeyed Allah.

How can students memorise Surah Ash-Shams?

Since Surah Ash-Shams is not very long, it can be memorised with some effort:

1. Break it down: Learn two or three verses each day.
2. Understand the meaning: Knowing what the verses mean makes them easier to remember.
3. Look for patterns: Notice how many verses start with “Wa” (And by…).
4. Listen to beautiful recitations: Hearing the surah recited by skilled reciters helps with memorisation.
5. Recite in prayers: Use the verses you have memorised in your daily prayers.

How does Surah Ash-Shams connect to other surahs?

Surah Ash-Shams is part of a group of short surahs at the end of the Quran that have similar themes. It connects with:

• Surah Al-Layl (The Night), which comes right after it and continues the theme of choices and consequences.
• Surah Al-A’la (The Most High), which also talks about purification and success.
• Surah Al-Balad (The City), which comes before it and discusses the two paths humans can choose.

Evaluation

1. How many verses does Surah Ash-Shams have, and where was it revealed?
2. Name the surah that comes before it and the surah that comes after it.
3. According to verses 9 and 10, who succeeds and who fails?
4. Which Prophet was sent to the people of Thamud, and what did the people do to the she-camel?
5. State two lessons from Surah Ash-Shams.

Assignment

Write a short paragraph on how a student can purify his or her soul daily, using the teachings of Surah Ash-Shams. Also list two things you can do to reflect on Allah’s creation.