When The Stars Prostrated: Meditations On Surat Yusuf

The following is an explanation of some verses from the Mighty Book of Allāh. I wrote it because, while reciting the Noble Qur’ān, I pass by some verses and some of the treasures therein come to mind; thus, I wanted to illustrate those treasures. This goal was achieved—and all praises belong to Allāh—with the writing of this book; and while editing the book, I thought to write concerning some other verses as well.

This book contains speech on verses from chapters in the Qur’ān—all of the suwar which appear before al-Mufaṣṣal. Most of the verses cover one topic in that particular sūrah, and sometimes more than one topic is discussed in that sūrāh. As for al-Mufaṣṣal—which begins with Sūrah Qāf—the topics cover a range of 15 various subjects. I derived benefit in what I wrote from the books of tafsīr by Ibn Jarīr, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr, ash-Shawkānī, and ash-Shinqīṭī (may Allāh have mercy upon them).

The beauty of the Qur’an is such that its miracles cannot truly be understood until one contemplates every verse of every surah; this alone makes tafsir one of the most amazing sciences of Islam. Surah Al-Mulk is a chapter of the Quran which would be recited every night by the Prophet (peace be upon him), in its midst are deep meanings which highlight the purpose of our creation, as well as entailing the message of Islam. In this book, the author takes the reader on a wonderful journey through the gardens of the first surah in the 29th Juzz of the Qur’an.

About the Author: Dr. Philips was born in 1947 in Jamaica, but grew up in Canada, where he converted to Islam in 1972. He completed a diploma in Arabic language and a B.A. degree in 1979 from the College of Islamic Disciplines at the Islamic University of Madinah, an Islamic university in Saudi Arabia. At the University of Riyadh College of Education he completed his M.A. in Islamic Theology in 1985, and in 1994 he completed his Ph.D in Islamic Theology in the department of Islamic studies at the University of Wales. He later taught Islamic education and Arabic language in private schools in Riyadh for over ten years. Because of his opposition to Saudi Arabia’s position in the Gulf War, he had to leave the country and for three years he lectured M.Ed. students in the Islamic Studies department of Shariff Kabunsuan College (SKC) in Cotabato City, Mindanao, the Philippines. Islamic Information Center Since 1994, he has founded and directed the Islamic Information Center (which is now known as Discover Islam) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is known as a prolific speaker and author on topics relating to Islam, including audio lectures and books. Presently, he is a lecturer of Arabic language and Islamic Studies at the American University in Dubai and ‘Ajman University in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. He frequently appears at the Islamic Research Foundation in Mumbai, India, on lecture tours. He has also founded the Distance Learning Program called Islamic Online University, which offers a four year degree in Islamic Studies plus a variety of short courses. Dr. Philips is something of a pioneer as a person of Western origin achieving the status of a scholar of Islam inside the tradition.