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Students can explore the beautiful art of Islamic calligraphy by attempting to recreate selected pieces. This activity encourages artistic expression and appreciation for Islamic cultural heritage.

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Create a classroom calendar marking important Islamic months and holidays. Students can research and present on the significance of each month or holiday, fostering a community understanding of Islamic traditions.

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Organize a storytelling session where students can share and listen to parables from Islamic teachings. This promotes moral reasoning and understanding of Islamic values through engaging narratives.

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Before we introduce five parables of the Quran, here's a short explanation about the Quran itself:

What is the Quran?

The Quran is the Holy Book of Muslims, a sacred text divinely revealed over a twelve year period to the Prophet of Islam, who is also considered the last prophet for mankind. As the verses ("surahs") were revealed to the prophet, he would pass them on, and even during his lifetime everything was being memorised by heart by some of his closest companions, something which for Muslims is a testament to how the Quran has been perfectly maintained throughout the centuries. Later of course, everything was transcribed, with a checking process in place that meant that those who had memorised it, oversaw that it was written without errors.

The Quran has been presented as one of the miracles of Prophet Muhammad, and it is worth mentioning that the beauty and poetry of the language in the Quran has been said to be unrivaled. The Prophet who was himself illiterate, unable to read, had these same verses revealed to him.

The Egyptian scholar and poet Mustafa Sadiq al-Rafe'ie (1880-1937 AD), said of the Quran that "since human history was first recorded, no book can be found that has had as many commentaries, interpretations, books, and words written on it to the extent of that written on the Quran, not in a similar manner or even close to it."

What is the purpose of the Quran?

One of the objectives of the Quran is to guide the people and to take them out of the darkness into light. For example, Ali Ibn Abu-Talib, the Fourth Caliph, cousin of Prophet Muhammad, and husband of his daughter, said, "And know that this Quran is an adviser who never deceives, a leader who never misleads and a narrator who never speaks a lie (...) no one will need anything after [guidance from] the Quran."

The Quran itself explains its purpose;

This is the Book, there is no doubt in it, a guidance to the Godwary.(Quran, Chapter Al-Baqarah; 2: 2)

One of the other purposes of the Quran is to establish justice on earth, which is an objective that all the prophets and messengers sent to mankind have shared.

Certainly We sent Our apostles with clear proofs, and We sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that mankind may maintain justice.(Quran, Chapter Al-Hadid; 57:25)

Islamic studies

The range of subjects that fall under the heading of Islamic Studies is large, and for the purpose of this article, we are interested mainly in the stories in the Quran. Individual subjects however range from "Tafsir" (exegesis, interpretation ofthe Quran) to Islamic History, Islamic Philosophy, Islamic Jurisprudence, and beyond. Looking closely at the stories, or parables in the Quran, does involve methods from the interpretation of the Quran.

Interpretation of Quran

There are numerous well-known interpretations of the Quran, and scholars are still engaged in producing more interpretations. Some of the famous authors of interpretations of the Quran include the scholar and historian Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (839-923 AD) and Isma'il Ibn Kathir (1301-1373 AD).

The greatest stories from the Quran; famous Islamic parables

The stories in the Quran have specific purposes; if we remember that the Quran was sent to mankind to provide guidance, of course that also means that the stories in the Quran have deep meaning and lessons from which we can learn. The reader possibly knows the word "parable" from the Gospels. From the Greek parabolē meaning comparison, there are famous parables, and the literary form of parable has been used since ancient times.

The stories in the Quran consist of stories about the messengers of God, about honest as well as evil characters, with the story of Moses being the longest one. The story of Prophet Joseph is another, and often referred to as the most beautiful story, it consists of one hundred and eleven verse, elaborated in greater detail than in the Bible. The Quran itself states that this story is excellent "ahsan".

In the Quranic stories, the reader learns of past rulers and nations, and the moral failings that brought their downfall. The "didactic purposes" of the Quranic stories have been explained as -

Explaining the facts

Thinking

Issuing an ultimatum

Perseverance

Tranquillity

Serving as an example

1. The parable about charity

This parable about charity is as follows;

The parable of those who spend their wealth in Allah's way is that of a grain which grows seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. Allah enhances several fold for whomever He wishes, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.(Quran, Chapter Al-Baqarah; 2: 261)

It is worth mentioning that according to agricultural scientists, one stalk of grain can produce no more than 30 to 40 grains; an interpretation of this is that "the growth of the seed of charity seventy gold is a distinction which the seed of charity has over all the seeds in the world." So this verse also describes the effects of donations.

The parable continues with the description of those who do not spend their wealth in the way of God,

A commentary on this is that it is refers to factors that invalidate a donation.

2. The parable about faith

This parable contains a famous phrase that has entered common usage across the languages and nations.

This metaphor is also found in the Gospels (Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, Luke 18:25). Whereas in the Gospels, the metaphor appears to be used to suggest that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, in the Quran the metaphor is explained to refer to the disbelievers, who are arrogant towards God's signs.

3. The Parable of mirage

This surah is named "Al-Nur", because the word "nur", the Arabic for "light", is mentioned in this surah seven times; this particular verse is explained as giving examples for the deprivation of disbelievers from the light of divine teachings.

4. The Parable of the Mountains

You see the mountains, which you suppose to be stationary, while they drift like passing clouds.(Quran, Chapter Al-Naml; 27: 88)

There are different commentaries on this verse; at the least, what can be said is that the mountains, which we consider stationary, move fast, which then also refers back to the fact that the land upon which the mountains are, moves fast. We should remind ourselves in this context that the earth upon which are the mountains, moves at around 30 kilometres per minute around its own axis, and that it orbits around the sun at a speed of per minute.

This verse is also referred to as one of the scientific miracles of the Quran, given that the knowledge of the movement of the Earth was not available until the end of the sixteenth century.

This subject matter of this verse is also explained as the punishment of enemies of the truth on the day of resurrection.

5. The Parable of the Spider's Home

The word "Ankabut" means spider, which explains the title of this surah, with the parable of the same name contained within. In the Tafsir of the Quran by Ibn Kathir for example, he comments on this verse, that "this is an example given by Allah, the Almighty, of the idolators who revere gods besides Allah...they are like the spider's house, in its weakness and frailty, because by clinging to these gods they are like a person who holds on to a spider's web and does not gain any benefit from that."

Concluding remarks

Hopefully this article has served as an introduction to a variety of different topics, including Quran studies, Quran interpretation and Islamic studies. We hope the reader can now answer questions such as 'What is a Quran Surah?', 'What do the Quran's verses explain?', 'What are some different interpretations of the Quran?'

Only a few of the famous "Tafsir" of the Quran have been mentioned, and hopefully this has given the reader the impetus to read further. Understanding Quran and learning Quran are a common part of a Muslim's education, and for the Non-Muslim too there is much material of interest, especially if that person is looking for moral guidance, and stories that are designed to communicate lessons in morality to people.

The Story of the Seven Sleepers in the Quran

7 Oldest Transcripts of the Quran in the World!

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Five Parables in the Quran - HAQ | Stories in Quran, Parables of the Quran, Stories from Quran, Quranic Tales, Prophetic Stories

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Five Parables in the Quran Before we introduce five parables of the Quran, here's a short explanation about the Quran itself: What is the Quran? The Quran is the Holy Book of Muslims, a sacred text divinely revealed over a twelve year period to the Prophet of Islam, who is also considered the last prophet ...

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Host a demonstration and workshop on the proper way to perform Salat (prayer), including the specific movements and recitations involved. This encourages respect for Islamic practices and offers hands-on learning.

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Students work in groups to research and create a presentation on famous Islamic architectural wonders, such as the Alhambra or the Blue Mosque. This activity enhances research skills and appreciation for Islamic contributions to world culture.

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Using craft materials, students can create a visual representation of the Five Pillars of Islam, including what each pillar stands for. This hands-on activity helps students internalize the core principles of Islam.

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Facilitate a class discussion on Islamic teachings related to environmental stewardship. Students can explore how being eco-friendly aligns with Islamic values, promoting awareness of environmental responsibility.

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Aspects of Environmental Ethics: An Islamic Perspective

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Mohammad Shomali gives an Islamic perspective on how we should interact with the environment that surrounds us, and looks at the vices to which we are most likely to succumb.

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In groups, students can create short plays or skits about the lives and teachings of various prophets in Islam. This encourages creative expression while deepening understanding of Islamic history and beliefs.

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Islamic Contributions to Science Project

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Islamic Contributions to Science Project

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Students can embark on a project to research the significant contributions Muslims have made to various scientific fields. This activity highlights the longstanding Islamic tradition of inquiry and scholarship.

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Science in the medieval Islamic world - Wikipedia

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Science in the medieval Islamic world was the science developed and practised during the Islamic Golden Age under the Umayyads of Córdoba, the Abbadids of Seville, the Samanids, the Ziyarids, Buyid Persia, Tamerlane's Transoxiana, the Abbasid Caliphate and beyond, spanning the period c. 800 to 1429.

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Organize a cooking demonstration or a class potluck featuring dishes that adhere to Islamic dietary laws. This is a fun, engaging way to learn about Islamic culture and cuisine.