Remembering

Now we've already learned a lot of what we need to know in Arabic to be able to make the Sala.

If we know Fatihah and Ikhlas we know enough to pray.

But although Fatihah is used in every rakat

we don't have to use Ikhlas all the time in every prayer.

It's better to know some different surahs to put in its place.

So most people start by learning some of the short surahs that we find near the end of the Qur'an,

though most of these short surahs came to the Messenger

at the beginning of the time when he first started to hear God's words,

when he was still living in Makkah.

And because they are so short,

and young brains remember things easily,

it shouldn't be too difficult to maybe learn ten of them before you leave Level 2.

Especially as you can use them in your prayers every day,

which helps you not to forget them once you've learned them.

And there are some muslims who think it best

to always recite a complete surah in any raka,

so that makes it even better

to start learning the Qur'an with short suras.

But which ones to learn?

Perhaps it's best to start with the ones that you most like the sound of,

the ones that you find most beautiful to listen to,

and then you can try to make them sound equally beautiful yourself.

Or you can start with the very shortest sura,

number 108,

known as Kawthar,

which has only got ten words.

But of course there are some suras that are better known than others,

and you might prefer to learn some of those,

perhaps 'The Four Quls',

that's Ihklas which you already know

plus the three other suras that begin with 'Qul'

the word meaning 'Say'.

And there are so many wonderful and beautiful short suras to choose from,

perhaps 'Asr, number 103,

which says how important it is to tell the truth

and have patience.

Or number 107, Ma'un,

which says it's not enough just to pray,

that we also have to help our fellow humans with charity.

The choice is up to you,

but whatever you choose,

these words will stay with you

for the rest of your life.

This is the start of a wonderful journey unlike any other,

a journey through the words of God sent down to earth

for you along with the rest of humankind,

the words of Allah that were revealed to Muhammad the Messenger,

the glorious and bountiful Qur'an.