Surat Al-Isra (الإسرَاء) (The Night Journey) that is also called Bani Israel (بنیٓ اسرآئیل) was revealed in Mecca.  This Surat refers to a very important event that happened to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).  In one night, the Prophet (PBUH) was transported from Mecca to Jerusalem in what is known as Al-Isra and then ascended from Jerusalem to the seventh heaven in what is known as Al-Miraj.  While the Miraj journey is obviously more miraculous than Al-Isra journey, we find that the Quran has a Surat entitled Al-Isra but there is no Surat entitled Al-Miraj.  This should make us wonder about the importance of Al-Isra.

In order to understand the importance of Al-Isra and thus the main theme of this Surat and the relationship between its two names “Al-Isra” and “Bani Israel”, we need to recall the main event that happened when the Prophet (PBUH) arrived to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.  This event has been described in several books of Tafseer such as Ibn Kathir (تفسير ابن كثير) and also in books of hadith such as Ahmad and Al-Tabarni and others (مسند الإمام أحمد و الطبراني البيهقي وغيرهم).  The account was narrated by Anas Ibn Malik (أنس بن مالك) who reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

دخلت بيت المقدس فاجتمع ناس كثير ، ثم أذن مؤذن وأقيمت الصلاة فقمنا صفوفا ننتظر من يؤمنا ، فأخذ بيدي جبريل عليه السلام ، فقدمني فصليت بهم . فلما انصرفت قال جبريل : يا محمد ، أتدري من صلى خلفك ؟ ” قال : ” قلت : لا . قال : صلى خلفك كل نبي بعثه الله عز وجل ” .

When the Prophet (PBUH) arrived to Al-Aqsa Masjid in Jerusalem a call for prayer was made and many people gathered and stood in lines for congregational prayer. Jibril advanced me to lead the prayer and I did.  After I finished, Jibril asked me do you know all those who prayed behind you. I said, No. He said:  They are all the Prophets that Allah sent.

 The selection of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to lead the prayer for all the previous Prophets indicates that he is now taking the leadership over the divine message and the responsibility to deliver it to all nations.

Throughout history, a divine message was transferred from one Prophet and his nation to another.  The scripture went from Adam to Noah to Ibrahim to Musa (Moses) to Isa (Jesus) (PBU them all).  The last nation to be in entrusted with the divine message was Bani Israel but they also failed in preserving it and fulfilling its commands.    Now, the divine message is transferred to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his nation. This suggests that the main theme of Surat Al-Isra is the divine book itself which is the Quran and the importance of valuing and treasuring it.

The word Quran came in the Quran 67 times in 48 Surat.  Even in large Surat such as Al-Baqara, Al-Nisa, Al-Maeda and Al-A’raf the word Quran was mentioned in them only once. But, in this Surat Al-Isra, the word “Quran” is mentioned 12 times emphasizing the theme of the Surat.

The use for the name Bani Israel as another name for Surat Al-Isra reflects the transfer of the divine message from Bani Israel to the nation of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the shift from the divine book, the Torah, that Allah revealed to Prophet Moses to the divine book, the Quran, that Allah revealed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).  (Note:  The Torah is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).

Surat Al-Isra starts with the key event of Al-Isra, Allah says:

سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسۡرَىٰ بِعَبۡدِهِۦ لَيۡلاً۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡأَقۡصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهُ ۥ لِنُرِيَهُ ۥ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ (١)

“Glorious is He Who took His servant (Mohammad) by night from the sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) to the farthest Mosque (Al-Masjid Al Aqsa) whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We show him some of our signs.  Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” (Al-Isra 17:01).

Immediately after mentioning the event of Al-Isra, Allah directs our attention to the Book that was given to Prophet Musa as guidance to Bani Israel, Allah says.

وَءاتَيْنَآ مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لّبَنِى إِسْرٰءيلَ أَلاَّ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِى وَكِيلاً[ (2).

 “And We gave Moses the book and We made it a guidance to the children of Israel (saying), “Do not take anyone other than Me as a trustee.” (17:02)

Then the Surat moves to describe the failure and the transgressions of Bani Israel who inherited the scripture.  The mention of the transgressions of Bani Israel starts with verse 4, Allah says:

وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَىٰ بَنِى إِسْرٰءيلَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِى ٱلأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً[ (4)

 “And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Book that you will surely spread mischief in the earth twice, and you will become tyrant and extremely arrogance.” (17:04)

Immediately after discussing Bani Israel’s transgressions, Allah mentions the Quran, Allah says:

إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ يَہۡدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقۡوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرً۬ا كَبِيرً۬ا (٩) وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأَخِرَةِ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمً۬ا (١٠)

“Surely this Quran guides to that which is most upright and gives glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that for them there is a great reward. (9) And for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made ready for them a painful punishment.” (17:9-10)

 These verses are pivotal in the Surat.  They highlight the turning point when Allah’s book that He revealed to prophet Moses for Bani Israel was now superseded with a new book which the Quran that was revealed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to deliver to his followers who are the whole world.  Allah points out that while the book that was revealed to Prophet Moses was upright, the Quran is most upright.

One notes that there is no mention for the revelation that was given to Prophet Jesus who is the last prophet from Bani Israel and the one who preceded Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).  The reason appears to be that Prophet Jesus did not receive a separate book than the Torah which is the book that was received by Prophet Moses.  The word book (كتاب) is used explicitly in the Quran to refer to only three books:  the Quran, the Torah and the book of records that every human being will receive on the day of Judgment.  The Quran does not explicitly designate the Injil, bible (الانجيل) that was received by Prophet Isa (Jesus) as a divine book.  It appears that Prophet Isa received revelations in the form of clear signs (البينات) that were documented by his followers in the form of historical accounts in the books of the New Testaments. The New Testaments may be equivalent to the books of Seerah in Islam but nothing equivalent to the Torah or the Quran.  Allah says:

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَقَفَّيۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ بِٱلرُّسُلِ‌ۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَا عِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ

“Indeed, We gave Musa (Moses) the Book and followed him up with a succession of Messengers; and We gave ‘Īsā (Jesus), the son of Mary, clear signs.” (Al-Baqara 2:87) (Note that Allah did not say that Jesus received a book, rather Allah said that he received clear signs)

 The following verses clearly suggest that the one book that was received before the Quran is the book that was received by Prophet Moses.  Allah says:

 قَالُواْ يَـٰقَوۡمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا ڪِتَـٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ يَہۡدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ (٣٠)

“They (the Jinn) said: “O our people! we have heard a Book (the Quran) sent down after Musa (Moses), confirming what came before it, it guides to the truth and to a straight path.” (Al-Ahqaf 46:30) (Note that the Jinn did not refer to any book for Jesus.)

فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِنۡ عِندِنَا قَالُواْ لَوۡلَآ أُوتِىَ مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰٓ‌ۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَڪۡفُرُواْ بِمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۖ قَالُواْ سِحۡرَانِ تَظَـٰهَرَا وَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِكُلٍّ۬ كَـٰفِرُونَ (٤٨) قُلۡ فَأۡتُواْ بِكِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ أَهۡدَىٰ مِنۡہُمَآ أَتَّبِعۡهُ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ (٤٩)

“But when the truth came to them from Us, they said: “Why has he (Mohammad) not given the like of what was given to Musa (Moses)? Did they not disbelieve in what had been given to Musa (Moses) before? They said: “both [the Torah and the Quran] are works of magic that support each other!” And they said: “In both we are disbelievers.” (48) Say (O Muhammad): “Then bring a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than these two [the Torah and the Quran], that I may follow it, if you are truthful.” (Al-Qasas 28:48-49) (Note that Allah is only referring to two books, the Torah and the Quran)

Following the verse referring to the Quran, Allah introduces another book in verses 13 and 14.  This book is one that every human being will receive on the day of Judgement.  Allah (SWT) says

وَكُلَّ إِنسَـٰنٍ أَلۡزَمۡنَـٰهُ طَـٰٓٮِٕرَهُ ۥ فِى عُنُقِهِۦ‌ۖ وَنُخۡرِجُ لَهُ ۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ ڪِتَـٰبً۬ا يَلۡقَٮٰهُ مَنشُورًا (١٣) ٱقۡرَأۡ كِتَـٰبَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفۡسِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكَ حَسِيبً۬ا (١٤)

“And We tied up every man’s fate to his neck, and We will bring out for him, on the Day of Judgment, a Book that he will find wide open.  (13) (It will be said to him) Read your Book! It is enough this day that you make out an account against yourself.” (17:13–14).

As we move in the Surat to the second quarter starting with verse 23, it presents ten commandments that are consistent with the pure human intuition. These commandments are:

1/ Being dutiful to one’s parents; Allah says:

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡڪِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ۬ وَلَا تَنۡہَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلاً۬ ڪَرِيمً۬ا (٢٣) وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرً۬ا (24)

 “And your Lord has decreed that you should worship none but Him and that you be kind to your parents.  Whether one or both reach old age in your presence, do not say to them, “uff” (an expression of discomfort) nor scold them and address them with respectful words. (23) And submit yourself to them in humility out of compassion, and say, “My Lord, be merciful to them, as they raised me when I was small.” (17:23–24). 

(Note: There are two words used in the Quran referring to parents, they are “walidyn” (والدين) and “abawayn”(ابوين). “walidyn” (والدين) is used to emphasize the mother because she is the one who “Waladatk” delivered you and “abawayn”(ابوين) is used to emphasize the father because he is the one has the responsibility to support you.)

2/ Using money for the common good; Allah says:

وَءَاتِ ذَا ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ حَقَّهُ ۥ وَٱلۡمِسۡكِينَ وَٱبۡنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرۡ تَبۡذِيرًا (٢٦) إِنَّ ٱلۡمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوٓاْ إِخۡوَٲنَ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ لِرَبِّهِۦ كَفُورً۬ا (27)

 “Give the relative his right and the needy and the wayfarer; and do not squander (your wealth) recklessly.  (26) Surely the squanderers are brothers of Satans and the Satan was ever ungrateful to his Lord” (17:26–27).

3/ Wisdom in spending by balancing between miserliness and squandering; Allah says:

وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلاَ تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ ٱلْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَّحْسُوراً[ (29).

 “And do not keep your hand shackled to your neck, (miser) nor extend it to the full extent (spendthrift), let you become blameworthy and destitute.” (17:29).

4/ Trust in Allah and know that your children will come to this life with their fortunes, Allah (SWT) says

وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَـٰقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُم إنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْئًا كَبِيرًا[ (31).

“And do not kill your children in fear of poverty; We provide for them and for you (too); surely the killing of them has been a great sin” (17: 31)

5/ Maintain your decency and protect the human lineage, Allah says:

وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ ٱلزّنَىٰ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاء سَبِيلاً[ (32)

“And do not come near to fornication. It is indeed shameful deed and an opening to the road of evil.”(17: 32).

6/ Protection of human lives, Allah (SWT) says:

وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱلله إِلاَّ بِٱلحَقّ[ (33)

“And you shall never kill any human soul that Allah has prohibited, except for just cause.” (17:33).

7/ Protecting the wealth of the orphans:

وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلاَّ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ[ (34).

 “And do not go near the wealth of the orphan except to make it better…” (17:34).

8/ Honesty in business dealings

وَأَوْفُوا ٱلْكَيْلَ إِذا كِلْتُمْ وَزِنُواْ بِٱلقِسْطَاسِ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِ..[ (35)

“And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with the straight equitable balance… (17: 35).

9/ Mind your own business and don’t reach conclusion on things that you don’t have full knowledge:

وَلاَ تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولـٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُولاً[ (36).

“And do not pursue what you have no knowledge of; surely hearing and sight and the heart, each one shall be answered for (in the Hereafter). (17:36).

 10/ Be humble:

وَلاَ تَمْشِ فِى ٱلأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ ٱلأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ ٱلْجِبَالَ طُولاً[ (37).

“And do not walk in the earth with arrogance; surely you can neither pierce the earth, nor attain the height of mountains.” (17:37).

Allah concludes these commands by saying:

ذٰلِكَ مِمَّا أَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْكَ رَبُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْحِكْمَةِ.. (39

“This is of the divine Wisdom that your Lord has revealed to you…” (17:39).

All these revealed commands constitute great wisdom and lead to a decent existence here and in the Hereafter. Nevertheless, whoever disregards them and follows commands by others is guaranteed a long stay in hell as Allah (SWT) says:

وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ مَعَ ٱلله إِلَـٰهًا ءاخَرَ فَتُلْقَىٰ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَلُومًا مَّدْحُورًا (39).

“And do not make up with Allah any other god, lest you will be cast in Hell blameworthy and forever rejected” (17:39).

(Note: Appendix 1 provides a comparison between the Torah’s ten commandments and the Quran’s)

Following these commands, the Surat returns to discuss attributes of the Quran and informing Muslims that all the good they ever need is made clear in the Quran, yet the disbelievers will continue to reject it:

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءانِ لِيَذَّكَّرُواْ وَمَا يَزِيدُهُمْ إِلاَّ نُفُورًا[ (41).

“And surely We have explained things in various ways in this Quran, so that they may become mindful, yet it increases nothing in them except aversion.” (17:41).

One of the attributes of the Quran is that it acts as a shield of protection for those who read it, Allah says:

وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ ٱلْقُرءانَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ ٱلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلأَخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًا  (45).

“And when you recite the Qur’an, We place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter an invisible veil (protecting you).” (17:45).

 The Surat proceeds to recommend certain special times that we gain multiple rewards by reciting the Quran during them; Allah says”,

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْءانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا[ (78).

 “Establish the prayer between the decline of the sun and the darkness of night and recite the Quran at dawn; surely the reading of the Qur’an at Fajr is ever witnessed (by special angels assigned to everyone)” (17:78).

 وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَاماً مَّحْمُودًا[ (79).

“And during the night, perform an additional prayer for you; your Lord will place you in a position of honor and glory.” (17:79).

 These Ayat indicate that the best times for reading the Quran are in the Fajr prayers (the dawn prayer) and in the night prayers (Tahajud, Qiyam).

 Allah then mentions that the Quran is a source of healing and mercy, Allah says:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ۬ وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ‌ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارً۬ا (82)

“And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and mercy to the believers; but it adds nothing to the unjust but loss.” (17:82)

 In the whole Quran, Allah used the word (شِفَاء) “cure” twice, one associated with the Qur’an in this verse and the second is associate with honey in Surat Al-Naml.  While honey provides physical cures, the Quran provides both physical and spiritual cures.  The healing power of the Quran on both the physical and psychological systems of people have been reported in several papers ^(1-6).

Because the Quran is the final revealed message of Allah to mankind, Allah wanted to put an end to the claims by the disbelievers that it is manmade by giving them a challenge:

قُل لَّئِنِ ٱجْتَمَعَتِ ٱلإِنسُ وَٱلْجِنُّ عَلَىٰ أَن يَأْتُواْ بِمِثْلِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءانِ لاَ يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا (88).

“Say.  If the entire mankind and the jinn were to get together to come up with the like of this Quran, they would not come up with anything like it, even if they were supporters of one another” (17:88).

 Close to the end of the Surat, Allah gives the assurance of the truthfulness of this Quran and explains the form of its revelation, as He says:

وَبِٱلۡحَقِّ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ وَبِٱلۡحَقِّ نَزَلَ‌ۗ وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرً۬ا وَنَذِيرً۬ا (١٠٥) وَقُرۡءَانً۬ا فَرَقۡنَـٰهُ لِتَقۡرَأَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكۡثٍ۬ وَنَزَّلۡنَـٰهُ تَنزِيلاً۬ (١٠٦)

“And with truth We have sent it (the Quran) down, and with truth it descended; and We have not sent you (Mohammad) except as a bearer of good tidings and a warner.  (105) And We have divided the Quran in portion, so that you may recite it to the people gradually and We have revealed it to you in stages.” (17:105-106).

 Then Allah describes the reaction of those who have knowledge of the Torah when they hear it and how they get overwhelmed by its words. Allah says:

قُلۡ ءَامِنُواْ بِهِۦۤ أَوۡ لَا تُؤۡمِنُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦۤ إِذَا يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡہِمۡ يَخِرُّونَ لِلۡأَذۡقَانِ سُجَّدً۬ا (١٠٧) وَيَقُولُونَ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِن كَانَ وَعۡدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفۡعُولاً۬ (١٠٨) وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلۡأَذۡقَانِ يَبۡكُونَ وَيَزِيدُهُمۡ خُشُوعً۬ا ۩ (١٠٩

Say, “Believe in it or do not believe in it. Surely when it is recited to those who were given the knowledge before it, they fall on their faces prostrating. (107)  And they say, highly Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord was sure to be fulfilled. (108) And they fall down on their faces weeping, and it increases them in humility.” (Al-Isra 17: 107-109).

 The end of Surat Al-Isra is connected to the beginning of the following Surat, Al-Kahf.  After Surat Al-Isra that ends with a Sajdah (prostration) that enables us to feel the impact of the Quran on our heart, comes Surat Al-Kahf, that starts with us expressing our gratitude to Allah for the blessing of the Quran; it starts with:

ٱلْحَمْدُ لله ٱلَّذِى أَنْزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجَا (1

“All praise be to Allah Who has sent down upon His servant the Book and has not allowed any crookedness in it.” (Al-Kahf 18:01)

 References:

1. “The Impact of Listening to, Reciting, or Memorizing the Quran on Physical and Mental Health of Muslims: Evidence from Systematic Review.”, Wan Nor Atikah Che Wan Mohd Rozali, et. al., International Journal of Public Health, 2022, 67:1604998
2. “The effectiveness of listening to the Holy Quran to improve mental disorders and psychological wellbeing: Systematic review and meta-analysis.” By Alaa Abd-Alrazaq . et al., (2020)  (https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-44376/v1 )
3. “Investigating the effect of listening to the Holy Quran on the physiological responses of neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units: A pilot study”, By Arina Qolizadeh, Zahra Tayebi Myaneh, and Farnoosh Rashv. Advances in Integrative Medicine, 2019, Vol 6, Issue 4 (Elsevier)
4. “The Effect of Listening to Holy Quran Recitation on Anxiety: A Systematic Review”, by Ashraf Ghiasi and Afsaneh Keramat, Iran J. Nursing and Midwifery Research, 2018 23(6)
5. “Effects of listening to Holy Qur’an recitation and physical training on dialysis efficacy, functional capacity, and psychosocial outcomes in elderly patients undergoing haemodialysis: by Bechir Forth, et al., Libyan Journal of Medicine, 2017, 12 (1)
6. “Sound waves of recitation of Holy Quran” (https://kaheel7.net/?p=3969&lang=en)

 

Appendix 1:  The Ten Commandments

(!)The Torah (Old Testament) Exodus 20	Quran – Surat Al-Isra (17)
1.    You shall have no other gods before Me. 2.    You shall make no idols. 3.    You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.	1.    Worship none but Him
4.    Keep the Sabbath day holy.	(*) Maintain the Friday prayer (62:9)
5.    Honor your father and your mother.	2.    Be kind to your parents.
6.    You shall not murder. 7.    You shall not commit adultery. 8.    You shall not steal.	3.    Never kill any human soul 4.    Do not come near to adultery 5.    Give full measure
9.    You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.	(**) Do not witness to falsehood. (25:72)
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; wife, nor his properties.	(***) never stretch your eyes towards the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them. (Taha 20:131)
	6.    Do not be niggardly and do not be wasteful 7.    do not kill your children 8.    Do not draw near the orphan’s wealth 9.    Do not pursue what you have no knowledge of 10. Do not walk in the earth with arrogance

 

(*) Surat Al-Jumua *62)

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (٩) فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

O you who believe, When the call is proclaimed for the Salat (prayer) on Friday hasten to the remembrance of Allah and Salat (prayer)] and leave off business that is better for you if you but know! (9) Then when the Salat (prayer) is ended, disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much, so that you may be successful (Al-Jumua 62:9-10)

(**) Surat Al-Furqan (25)

وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡشُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ هَوۡنً۬ا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلُونَ قَالُواْ سَلَـٰمً۬ا (٦٣)

وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَنفَقُواْ لَمۡ يُسۡرِفُواْ وَلَمۡ يَقۡتُرُواْ وَڪَانَ بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ قَوَامً۬ا (٦٧) وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدۡعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا يَزۡنُونَ‌ۚ (٦٨)

وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَشۡهَدُونَ ٱلزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّواْ بِٱللَّغۡوِ مَرُّواْ ڪِرَامً۬ا (٧٢)

وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُڪِّرُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ لَمۡ يَخِرُّواْ عَلَيۡهَا صُمًّ۬ا وَعُمۡيَانً۬ا (٧٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا (٧٤)

   The (righteous) servants of the Beneficent are those who 1) walk on the earth humbly, and 2) when the foolish ones address them, they reply: Peace; (25:63)

   And those who, 3) when they spend, are neither extravagant nor miserly; and there is ever moderate between the two; (25:67) And those who 4) do not invoke any other god along with Allah, and 5) do not kill a person whom Allah has forbidden except in (course of) justice, 6) nor commit adultery; (25:68)

   And those who 7) do not witness to falsehood, and 8) when they pass near senseless play, pass by it with dignity. (25:72)   And those who, 9) when they are reminded of the signs of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat. (25:73) And those who 10) say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the pious. (25:74)

(***) Surat Taha (20:131)

وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيۡنَيۡكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعۡنَا بِهِۦۤ أَزۡوَٲجً۬ا مِّنۡہُمۡ زَهۡرَةَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا لِنَفۡ (١٣١)

“And never stretch your eyes towards the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them, this is merely glamour of the worldly life.” (Taha 20” 131)

 

(!) Torah (Old Testament)

Exodus 20 (21st Century King James Version)

20 And God spoke all these words, saying:

2 “I am the Lord thy God, who have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

4 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me,

6 and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.

7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work;

10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

12 “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 “Thou shalt not kill.

14 “Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 “Thou shalt not steal.

16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

17 “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.”