towards better understanding of the quran
TRANSCRIPT
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TowardsbetterUnderstandingoftheQuran
Author
:
Shaikh
Muslim
Bhanji
Introduction
Chapter1:QuranDescribesItself
Chapter2:TheExcellenceofQuranaccordingtoMasoomeen(a.s.)
Chapter3:Qurans
Power
of
Attraction
Chapter4:QuranasaMiracle
Chapter5:TheIllustrativeThemesoftheQuran
Chapter6:TheCentralThemeoftheHolyQuran
Chapter7:MethodsusedbytheQuraninTrainingHumanbeing
Chapter8:Revolutionary
Transformation
in
the
Society
through
the
Quran
Chapter9:TheEssentialityoftheStudyoftheQuran
Chapter10:IsQur'anUnderstandable?
Introduction
AllpraiseisforAllahWhosentdowntheQur'antoHisservantandmessengerProphet
Muhammad(saww)sothathemaybeawarnertotheworlds.BlessingsbeonProphet
Muhammad(saww)whowassentasawitness,andabearerofgoodnewsandawarner,and
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asoneinvitingtoAllahbyHispermission,andasalightgivingtorchthroughQuran.Blessings
beonhisprogeny(Ahlulbayt),fromwhomAllahkeptawaytheuncleanlinessandwhomHe
purifiedathoroughpurifying,andwhomAllahmadethetrueinterpretersoftheGlorious
QuranaftertheProphet(saww).
HolyQuranisacompletecodeoflifeTheQuraneMajidistheWordofAllah(swt)asrevealedtoHisProphetMuhammad(saww)
formansguidance.TheQur'ancomprehendsthecompletecodefromtheAlmightyCreator,
forthehumanbeingstoliveagood,chaste,abundantandrewardinglifeinobediencetothe
commandmentsofAllah,inthislifeandtogainsalvationinthenext.Itisindeedthe"chartof
life"foreveryman,anditisthe"constitution"oftheKingdomofHeavenonEarth.
Quranisformankind,a"compass"intheturbulentvoyageoflife,asithasexplaineditselfin
thefollowingverses:
...Indeed,therehascometoyoulightandaclearbookfromAllah;WithitAllahguideshim
whofillfollowHispleasureintothewaysofsafetyandbringsthemoutofutterdarknessinto
lightbyhiswillandguidesthemtotherightpath.(5:1516).
Historically,itisQur'anwhichtransformedthesimpleshepherdsandwanderingBedouinsof
Arabiaintothefoundersofempires,thebuildersofcities,thecollectorsoflibraries.Ifa
systemofreligiousteachingsisevaluatedbythechangeswhichitintroducesintothewayof
life,thecustomsandbeliefsofitsfollower,thenQur'anasacodeoflifeissecondtonone.It
isnotstrangethen,thatmorestudiesonQuranictopics,translationsandmorecommentaries
oftheHolyQur'anhavebeenpublished,thanthatofanyotherbookclaimedtobetheDivine
Revelation.
WhatisQuran?However,beforedealingwithanyothertopicsintheQuranicstudies,e.g.itsauthenticityas
thewordofGod,itisofparamountimportancetohaveaglimpsetowardsbetter
understandingofthebookitself:TheGloriousQuran.WhatisQuran?Whatisthisbook
about?Whatareitscontents?Howisitamiracle?Whymillionsofbelieversstilltakethis14
centuriesoldbookastheirsourceofguideandsalvationintheirlives?Howisitdifferentfrom
anyotherthousandsofbookspennedbydifferentauthors?WhatissouniqueaboutQuran?
IstheQuranabookofhistory,orofpoetry?Orisitabookaboutscienceandnatural
phenomena?IsitabookaboutSocialmannersandspiritualityorabookaboutGods
Creation?IsitabookofLaw?Whatisitsgeneraltheme?
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$$Section[QuranDescribesItself]
Chapter1:QuranDescribesItself
LetusstartbyreflectinguponwhatQuranhastosayaboutitself.
TheQur'anintroducesitselfastheguidancefortheworlds(3:96);andthemanifestlight(4:174).
AccordingtoQuran,AllahhaslaiddownsolutionofeveryhumanproblemintheQuranvery
clearly.Quransays:andWehaverevealedtheBooktoyouexplainingclearlyeverything(16:89).
AlsoHehasdescribedtheQur'aninthesewords:.......aguidanceformankindandclear
evidenceofguidanceanddiscrimination(betweenwrong).(2:185).
TheQur'anis,accordingly,aguidance,anevidence,adiscriminationbetweenrightandwrongand
amanifestlightforthepeopletoguidethemarightandhelptheminalltheirneeds.Isit
imaginablethatitwouldnotguidethemarightinitsownmatter,whileitistheirmostimportant
need?
AgainAllahsays:And(asfor)thosewhostrivehardforUs,Wewillmostcertainlyguidethem
onto
Our
ways.
(29:69).
Which
striving
is
greater
than
the
endeavor
to
understand
His
Book?
And
whichwayismorestraightthantheQur'an?
Lo!thisQuranguidestothatwhichismostupright.(17:9)
TheHolyQuranisabookwhichbysoundreasoningbestowsinsightuponman.Itshowstheright
pathtomanbygivingtheaccountsoftheProphetsandthenations.Itmotivateshimthrough
parables,exhortationsandadmonitions.
Sucharesomeofthestoriesoftheunseen,whichWehaverevealeduntoyou,beforethis
neitheryou
nor
your
people
knew
them.
So
persevere
patiently,
for
the
end
is
for
those
who
are
righteous.(11:49).
TheQur'andescribesitsotherfunctionasthepresentationofthePropheticmission,whichis
aimedatguidanceofhumanity,bydeliveringitfromdarknessandleadingittowardslight:
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Thisisthebook,initisguidanceforsurewithoutdoubt,tothosewhofearAllah.(2:2)
TheyareinvitedtothebookofAllahtosettletheirdispute.(3:23)
Wehavesentdowntoyou(OMuhammad)intruthsothatyoumightjudgebetweenmenas
guidedby
Allah.
(4:105).
AndthisisabookwhichWehaverevealedasablessing,sofollowitandberighteous,thatyou
mayreceivemercy.(6:155).
Abookrevealeduntoyou,sothatyourheartbenotinanydifficultyonthataccount,(sothat)
withityoumaywarn(thesinful)andteachthebelievers.(7:2).
ThisQuranisnotsuchascanbeproducedbyotherthanAllah,onthecontraryitisa
confirmationof(revelations)thatweresentbeforeit,andafullexplanationofthebook,wherein
thereisnotdoubtfromtheLordoftheworlds.(10:37)
AndWesentdownthebooktoyoufortheexpresspurposethatyoushouldmakecleartothem
thosethingsinwhichtheydiffer,andsothatitshouldbeaguideandmercytothosewho
believe.(16:64).
Wehaverevealedforyou(Omen)abookinwhichthereisamessageforyou,willyouthennot
understand.(21:10).
Thesearetheversesofthebookthatmakethingsclear.(26:2).
...AbookwhichWehavesentdownuntoyouwithfullofblessingssothattheymaymeditateon
itssignsandthatmanofunderstandingmayreceiveadmonition.(38:29).
VerilyWehaverevealedthebooktoyouintruthforinstructingmankind.Hethatreceives
guidancebenefitshisownsoul,buthethatstraysinjureshisownsoul.(39:41).
$$Section[TheExcellenceofQuranaccordingtoMasoomeen(a.s.)]
NopeniscapableofdescribingtheexcellenceandmagnificenceoftheGloriousQuran.This
statementisabsolutelycorrect,becausewhiledescribingtheHolyQuran,ProphetMuhammad
(saww)himselfsaid:ThesuperiorityoftheSpeechofGodoverotherspeechesislikethe
superiorityofGodoverHiscreatures.
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Chapter2:TheExcellenceofQuranaccordingtoMasoomeen(a.s.)
AyatullahAl
Marja
Marhum
Syed
Al
Khui
(r.a.)
said:
What
can
aperson
say
in
describing
the
eminenceoftheQurananditsglory?Whatcanhesaytoexplainitsexcellenceandsublimity?
HowcanacontingentbeingperceivethegreatnessofthespeechoftheAbsoluteBeing?What
cananauthorwriteaboutthissubjectandwhatcanaspeakersay?Canalimitedbeingdescribe
anythingthatisunlimited?
ItissufficientgreatnessfortheQuran,andsufficienteminenceandglory,thatitisthespeechof
theAlmightyGod,andthemiracleofHisnobleProphet(saww),andthatitsversesarethe
guaranteefortheguidanceofhumanbeingsinalltheirconcernsandcircumstancesandatall
times.Thisistheirguaranteetoreachthefinalgoalandthegreathappinessnowandlateron.
Indeed,itisbettertohandovertheelucidationoftheexcellenceoftheQurantothose
comparabletotheQuran.TheyareProphetMuhammad(saww)andAHLULBAYT.Theyarethe
personsmostknowledgeableaboutitsstatus,andthebestabletopointoutitsloftyprestige,and
theyareitspeersinexcellenceanditsassociatesinguidance.
Absolutelytrue!LetusleavetheMasoomeen(as)toexplaintoustheexcellenceoftheQuranas
theyaretheteachersoftheQuran.Allah(swt)taughttheQur'antoHisProphetandappointed
himastheteacheroftheBook:
TheFaithful
Spirit
has
descended
with
it
upon
your
heart
that
you
may
be
of
the
warners,
in
plain
Arabiclanguage(26:1934);andWehaverevealedtoyoutheReminderthatyoumaymakeclear
tomenwhathasbeenrevealedtothem,andthathaplytheymayreflect(16:44);...anApostle.
..whorecitestothemHiscommunicationsandpurifiesthem,andteachesthemtheBookandthe
Wisdom(62:2).
Prophet(saw)describesQuran
Therefore,letusponderandreflectuponwhattheProphet(saww),theteacheroftheQuran,
saidabouttheexcellenceoftheHolyQuran.Hesaidaboutitinasermonthus:
Y""...Therefore,whenmischiefcometoconfuseyoulikethesegmentsofdarkenednight,then
holdfasttotheQur'an;
Y"asitistheintercessorwhoseintercessionshallbegranted;
Y"anditisacredibleadvocate;
Y"andwhoeverkeepsitbeforehim,itwillleadhimtotheGarden;
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Y"andwhoeverkeepsitbehind,itwilldrivehimtotheFire;
Y"anditistheguidethatguidestothebestpath;
Y"anditisabookinwhichthereisexplanation,particularizationandrecapitulation;
Y"anditisadecisive(word),andnotajoke;
Y"andthereisinitamanifest(meaning)andanesoteric(one);
Y"thus
its
apparent
(meaning)
is
firm,
and
its
esoteric
(one)
is
knowledge;
Y"itsexterioriselegantanditsinteriordeep;
Y"ithas(many)boundaries,anditsboundarieshave(many)boundaries;
Y"itswondersshallnotcease,andits(unexpected)marvelsshallnotbeold.
Y"Thereareinitthelampsofguidanceandthebeaconofwisdom,andguidetoknowledgefor
himwhoknowstheattributes.
Y"Therefore,oneshouldextendhissight;andshouldlethiseyesreachtheattribute;sothatone
whoisinperditionmaygetdeliverance,andonewhoisentangledmaygetfree;
Y"becausemeditationisthelifeoftheheartoftheonewhosees,astheonehavingalight(easily)
walksindarkness;therefore,youmustseekgooddeliveranceand(that)withlittlewaiting.
Afterhisdeath,theProphetappointedhisprogenyAhlulbayttocarryonthisworkafterhim to
explainthetruemeaningofQurantothepeople.Itisclearfromhisunanimouslyaccepted
tradition:
Iamleavingbehindamongyoutwopreciousthings;aslongasyouholdfasttothemyouwill
nevergoastrayafterme:TheBookofAllahandmyprogeny,myfamilymembers;andthesetwo
shallneverseparatefromeachotheruntiltheyreachme(on)thefountain.
AndAllahhasconfirmed,inthefollowingtwoverses,thisdeclarationoftheProphetthathis
progenyhadtherealknowledgeoftheBook:
Allahonlydesirestokeepawaytheuncleanlinessfromyou,OpeopleoftheHouse!andtopurify
youa(thorough)purifying(33:33);MostsurelyitisanhonouredQur'an,inaBookthatishidden;
Nonedotouchitsavethepurifiedones(56:7779).
NowletusseewhatAhlulbaythavesaidabouttheexcellenceofQuran:
AllamaMajlisiinvolume19ofhismultivolumeworkBiharalAnwarhasreportedthat:AlHarith
alHamadanirelatedthefollowing:
Ienteredthemosqueandsomepersonswereindeepcontroversyaboutsomehadithtraditions.
IwenttoAlibinAbiTalibandsaid:Areyouawarethatpeopleatthemosqueareindisputeover
hadith?Hesaid,Sotheyhavedoneit!Isaid,Yes.
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He(as)said,IhaveindeedheardfromtheProphet(saw)saying,Thereshallbesedition(fitna)
afterme.Iasked:Howdoweavoidthat?
He(theProphet,saw)said:TheBookofGod,theBookofGod.
Y"In
it
is
the
information
about
those
who
were
before
you
and
what
will
come
after
you,
and
it
willbethejudgeamongyou.
Y"Itisthefinaldecisionandnotajest.(86:1314)
Y"ItisthatwhichnoteventhemightcouldforsakewithoutbeingshatteredbyGod.
Y"Whoeverseeksguidanceinanythingotherthanit,Godwillleadhimastray.
Y"ItisthefirmropeofGod.
Y"Itisthewiseremembrance(3:58).
Y"Itisthestraightpath.
Y"Withit,heartswillneverdeviate,norwillthetonguesutterconfusion.
Y"Scholarswillneverhavetheirfullofit;itwillnotwearoutfromconstantuse,norwillits
wondersbeexhausted.
Y"Itisthatwhichwhenthejinnsheardit,theycouldnothelpsaying:Weheardamarvelous
Quran(recitation).(7:21)
Y"Whoeveruttersitspeaksthetruth,whoeverrulesbyitisjust;whoeverabidesbyitwillreceive
hisjustreward;andwhoevercallsforitshallbeguidedtothestraightpath.Followit.
ImamAliDescribesQuranInanotherplace,theCommanderoftheFaithfulAliibnAbiTalibdescribestheQuranasfollows:
ThenGodrevealedtohim(theProphets.a.w.w.)theBook.
Y"Itisalightwhoseradianceshallnotbeextinguished;
Y"Alampwhoseflameshallnotdie;
Y"Anoceanwhosedepthshallnotbefathomed;
Y"Apathwhichshallnotleadastray;
Y"Ablazewhosebrillianceshallnotbedarkened;
Y"Acriterionwhoseevidenceshallnotbesuppressed;
Y"Anelucidationwhosecornerstonesshallnotbedemolished;
Y"Acurewithwhichthereisnofearofailments;
Y"Apowerwhosesupporterscannotbedefeated;
Y"Atruthwhosehelperswillnotbeforsaken.
Y"Thus,itisthesourceoffaithanditsprosperity;
Y"Itisthefountainheadofknowledgeanditsvastness;
Y"Themeadowofjusticeanditsflowingstreams;
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Y"ThesupportofIslamanditsfoundation;
Y"Thevalleysofthetruthanditsfields;
Y"Anoceanthatshallnotbedrainedbythosewhodrawuponit;
Y"Aspringthatshallnotbeexhaustedbythosewhodrawfromit;
Y"Awateringplacethatshallnotbedepletedbythosewhocometoit;
Y"A
station
whose
road
the
travelers
do
not
miss;
Y"Asignpostwhichthewayfarerswillalwayssee;
Y"Thehilltopsthatcannotbebypassedbythosewhoseekthem.
Y"Godhasmadeitthequencherofthethirstofscholars,
Y"Avernalseasonfortheheartsofthejurists,
Y"Adestinationforthepathoftherighteous,
Y"Acureafterwhichthereisnomalady,
Y"Alightwhichdoesnotalternatewithdarkness,
Y"Aropewhoseknotsarefirm,
Y"Astrongholdwhosepeakisimpregnable.
Y"Itispowerforwhoevercultivatesit,
Y"Peaceforwhoeverdwellsonit,
Y"Aguidanceforwhoeverfollowsit,
Y"Alaudableactforwhoeverembracesit,
Y"Anargumentforwhoeverspeaksforit,
Y"Awitnessforwhoeverfightsforit,
Y"Asharpinstrumentforwhoeverbaseshisargumentsonit,
Y"Asupportforwhoeversupportsit,
Y"Ameansofdeliveranceforwhoeveremploysit,
Y"Asignforthediscriminating,ashelterforwhoeverseekshealing,
Y"Asourceofknowledgeforwhoeverhassense,
Y"Andthebestnarrativeforitstransmitters,
Y"Andameansfortheonewhositsinjudgment.
Subhaanallah!Thisbrilliantorationreviewsmanyimportantpointswhichcallforcareful
reflection.Forinstance,bysayingthattheQuranisalampwhoseflameshallnotdie,ImamAli
(as)means,ashedoesinmanyotherstatementsinthisoration,thattheQuranisabookwhose
significationshallnotbeexhausted.ItwillremainfreshandnewuntiltheDayofResurrection.A
versemayhavebeensentdownregardingaspecificoccasionorcommunity,yetitsrelevanceis
notlimitedtothatoccasion,person,orcommunity;rather,itssignificationandapplicabilityare
general.
RegardingtheverseForeverypeoplethereisaguide(13:7),alAyyashireportsthefollowing
discussionwithAbuJafar(ImamalBaqir(as):
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TheImamsaid,Aliistheguide,andtheguideisalwaysoneofus.
Isaid,Thenyouforwhommaymylifebeasacrificearenowtheguide.
Youareright,saidtheImam(as).TheQuranlivesandwillnotdie;theversesliveandwillnot
die.If
averse
were
to
die
with
the
death
of
the
persons
concerning
whom
it
came
down,
then
the
Quranwouldhavedefinitelydied.Rather,suchaversewouldcontinuetoapplytothosewhoare
aliveasitdidtothosewhodied.
AnothertraditionreportsthatImamalSadiq(as)said,Certainly,theQuranlives,andhasnot
died;anditisexistentjustasthedayandthenightandthesunandthemoonareexistent.Andit
willexistforthelastamongusasithasexistedforthefirst.
$$Section[QuransPowerofAttraction]
Chapter3:QuransPowerofAttraction
AnotheraspectoftheQuranwhichservestoindicateitsuniqueandexceptionalnatureisthe
remarkableandinexhaustibleattractionthatitexerts.
Today,
more
than
fourteen
centuries
after
the
revelation
of
the
Quran,
the
captivating
sound
of
therecitationoftheQurancanstillbeheardinallthedifferentpartsoftheworld,leavingits
impressiononheartsandminds,andtransformingthespiritsofallwholistentoit.
Itsappealoverwhelmsthesoulandbringstearsflowingfromtheeyesandmakestheheart
tremble.
ThosetowhomWegavetheBookbeforethis,believeinit,and,whenitisrecitedtothem,they
say,'Webelieveinit;surelyitistheTruthfromourLord;evenbeforeitwewereofthosewho
surrender.(28:5253)
Thisayahdescribesagroupofpeoplewhoundergoastateofvenerationandawewhenthe
Qur'anisrecitedbeforethem.TheyaffirmfaithinallthecontentsoftheBook,declareeverything
inittobenothingbuttruthandtheirvenerationofitcontinuestoincrease.
Theninanotherverse,agroupofChristianswhobelievedandbecameMuslimsonhearingthe
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Qur'anaredescribedinthesewords:
AndwhentheyhearwhathasbeensentdowntotheMessenger,youseetheireyesoverflow
withtears,becauseofthetruththeyrecognize.Theysay,"OurLordwebelieve;sodoYouwriteus
downamongthewitnesses."(5:83)
Inanotherplace,whiledescribingthebelievers,theQur'ansays:
Godhassentdownthefairestdiscourseasabook,consimilarinitsoftrepeatedparts,whereat
shivertheskinsofthosewhofeartheirLord;thentheirskinsandtheirheartssoftentothe
remembranceofGod...(39:23)
TheraysofattractionexertedbytheQuranwasnotconfinedtoMecca,itsbirthplace,butspread
outwardsfromMeccatogetherwiththemovementoftheMuslims.Tomentionsomeexamples:
theraysofQuranshoneintheheartofKingNajjashi,intheChristiancourtofEthiopia,thanksto
therecitationofJafarbinAbitalib,despitetheunfavorablesituationprevailingthereandthe
pressurebroughttobearbytheopponentsofislam.
EquallytheyshoneinMadina,thebasefortheformationofanewSociety,wheretheQuranwas
recitedbyMusabbinUmayr.
IbnHishamwritesinhislifeoftheProphet:Sostrongwastheheartfeltdesireofthepeopleto
heartheQuranthatevensomeoftheunbelieversoftheQurayshwouldsecretlygonearthe
Prophetshouseatnight,remainingthereuntildawn,inordertolistenthroughoutthenightto
thepleasingmelodyoftheQuranasrecitedbytheMessengerofGod.Thishappenedmany
times.(SiratIbnHisham,Vol.I,p.386)
SothatthepeoplewouldnotfallundertheinfluenceofQuranseloquenceandpowertoattract,
thenonbelieverswouldinstructagroupofpeopletogoandmakeanoise,towhistleandclap
theirhands,whiletheProphetwasrecitingtheversesofQuran.
Thepolytheistssaid:DonotlistentotheversesoftheQuran,andmakeanoisewhiletheyare
beingrecited,perhapsyouwillthustriumph.(41:26)
$$Section[QuranasaMiracle]
Chapter4:QuranasaMiracle
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ToeveryProphet,Allahgavesomemiracles,butgonearetheProphetsandtheirmiracles.The
HolyProphetMuhammad(saww)isthelastprophetandAllahgavehimatimelessmiracle,and
thatmiracleistheHolyQuran.
IthasoftenbeenarguedthattheQur'anisnotonlythefirstbook,andthehighestlinguistic
achievement,oftheArabiclanguage,butthatitisalsoProphetMuhammad'sstrongestargument
againstthosewhodoubtedhisMessage.Thequestionthatneedstobeaddressedhereconcerns
thereasonwhyaholybook,acompositionoflanguage,shouldbehailedasIslam's(andProphet
Muhammad's)strongestmiracleandargument.Thepointhassometimesbeenmadethatother
prophetshadmoretangiblemiracles.InthecaseofMuhammad,however,themiraclewasnot
comparabletoProphetMussasstafforProphetIssashealingpowers,butwasmorethanthat.
TheHolyQuranisindeedamiracleinmanyaspects,someofwhicharedescribedherebelow:
A)TheExclusiveeloquenceoftheQuran.
B)TheInimitableQualityoftheQuran.
C)TheScientificMiracleoftheQuran.
D)TheAccuracyoftheHistoricalRecordsintheQuran.
E)ThePredictionsintheQuran.
F)TheChallengeoftheQuran.
SincetheabovepointsalsoconstituteevidencesontheauthenticityoftheQuranasthewordof
Allah(swt),theyarediscussedindetailintheQuranResourcePaperno.2,underthetitleof
AuthenticityoftheHolyQuran.
$$Section[TheIllustrativeThemesoftheQuran]
Chapter5:TheIllustrativeThemesoftheQuran
AnotheraspectofthenoveltyoftheQur'anlanguagehastodowithitsthemes.Thesethemes
andtopicsrepresentacleardeparturefromthosewhichhadbeenhithertofamiliartotheArabs.
AsTahaHusaynexplained:
Itdoesnotdealwithanysuchthingsasruins,camels,orlongjourneysinthedesert;nordoesit
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describelongingforthebeloved,love,oreulogy,topicsmostfamiliartopreIslamicArabs.But
ratherittalkstotheArabsaboutsuchthingsastheonenessofGod,Hislimitlesspower,His
knowledge,whichisunattainable,Hiswill,whichisunstoppable,andHiscreationofheavenand
earth.
Thispassage
underscores
yet
another
innovative
aspect
of
the
Qur'an,
namely
the
presentation
of
novelthemesthroughanabundanceofexamplesallaimedatillustrationandpersuasion.Theuse
ofillustrationisoneofthemosteffectivestylistictechniquesoftheQur'an.Onecanhardlyreada
versewithoutexperiencingtheimpactofthistechnique.
TheartofnarrativestylerepresentsanotherinnovativeaspectoftheQur'an.Itrelatesin
astoundingdetailthestoriesofProphetNuh,Ibrahim,Yusuf,Musa,andIssa,amongothers.It
presentsthedialoguesthattookplaceinsuchstoriesandtheclaimsandcounterclaimsmadeby
eachoftheopposingparties.StorytellingmaynothavebeentotallynovelinpreIslamicArabia
giventhesignificantquantityofparables,epics,andmythsthatwereinheritedfromthatperiod.
Whatwasnovel;however,wasthetypeofintegrated,elaboratestoryinvolvingsuchessential
itemsastheme,plot,welldevelopedcharacters,anddenouementwhicharetobefoundinthe
Quran,whichrefersitselftothebenefitintellingsuchstories:
Wedorelateuntoyouthemostbeautifulstories,inthatWerevealuntoyouthis[portionofthe]
Qur'an.Beforethisyoutoowereamongthosewhoknewitnot.(1:3)
$$Section[TheCentralThemeoftheHolyQuran]
Chapter6:TheCentralThemeoftheHolyQuran
WhatisthecentralthemeofQuran?SincetheadventofIslamandtherevelationoftheQur'anintheearlyyearsoftheseventh
centuryAD,theMuslimHolyBookhasbeenthesubjectofmanyextensiveanalyticalstudies.The
focusof
the
great
majority
of
these
studies
has
been
the
theological
and
legislative
aspects
of
the
HolyBook,fortheQur'anprovidesMuslimswithdetailedguidanceontheireverydayproblems.
Togetherwiththesayings,actions,andrecommendationsofMuhammad,theQur'anhasbeen
theultimatesourceoflegalauthorityforMuslimsoverthepastfourteencenturies.
Muslimscholarshavealsopainstakinglyexamined,analyzedandinterpretedthevariousversesof
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theHolyBook,detailingtherequirementstheQur'animposesonMuslimsinorderforthemto
achievespiritualpurity.Thus,inadditiontoitslegislativeandtheologicalvalue,theQur'anhas
alsoservedasasourceofspiritualguidanceforthefollowersofIslam.
HolyQuranisacompletecodeoflifeHowever,wecannotclaimthattheCentralThemeoftheHolyQuranisonlylegislationand
spirituality;ashumanlifeismorecomplexandmultidimensional.SinceIslamisacompleteway
ofhumanlifeandQuranbeingitssourceofguidance,toascribetheQurantobejustthebookof
legislationandspiritualityonlywillbemisleading,becausetheQur'anhasdealtwithavastrange
ofsubjects.
ContrarytotheopinionofsomepeoplewhoconsidertheHolyQurantobeofspiritualbenefit
only,ortobeconfinedtoworship,prayersandmorals,weshouldpointoutthatonyonetwelfth
(500verses)relatestoproblemsofJurisprudence;whilethelargerpartofitdealswithmatters
pertainingtovariousissuesincludingsocial,political,administrative,historical,cultural,faithand
otherrelatedmatters.
AmongtherecurringthemesoftheQur'anisabouttheuniverseitselfanditsCreator.Another
themetreatedbytheQur'anisthepurposeoftheuniverseanditscreation.Amongtheother
generalissuesdealtbytheQur'anisthequestionabouthumanbeing:Ismanadespicable
creature,orapersonalitywithnobilityanddignityetc.?
TheothersubjectdealtwithintheQur'anistheissueofhumansociety:Isthesocietyconsidered
tobeprimaryandtheindividualassecondary,orwhetheritsubordinatesthesocietytothe
individual?Aresocieties,accordingtotheQur'an,subjecttolawsgoverningtheirlifeanddeath,
theirriseanddecline,oraretheseconditionsapplicabletoindividualsalone?
TheQur'andealswithnumerousotherissues.OneofthemisthepointofviewoftheQur'an
aboutitself.TheotherissueisrelatedtotheProphet(saww)anditsmannerofintroducingand
addressinghim.Anotherissueisitsdefinitionofabeliever(mu'min)andhischaracteristicsandso
on.
Furthermore,eachofthesegeneralissuespossessesvariousbranchesanddivisions.Forexample,
whendiscussingmankindanditssituation,itisnaturaltospeakaboutmorality.Or,when
speakingaboutsociety,theproblemofhumanrelationshipsalsounavoidablyentersthe
discussion.Thesameistrueofsuchnotionsas"enjoininggoodandforbiddingevil,"andthe
problemofsocialclasses.
Nowthequestionis:WhatisthentheQuransgeneraltheme?Ifpondereduponthemultifaceted
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contentsinsidetheQuran,onecansafelyreachtotheconclusionthatthecentralthemeandaim
pursuedbytheQuranisthetrainingofthehumanbeingasabeingconsciousofhisduties.The
mainaimoftheQuranisthereforetoreinforceandacceleratethespiritualascension,together
withallthequalitiesofhumanbeing,towardastateoftrueloftinessandthedignityofwhichthe
humanbeingisworthy.
Inanotherwords,wecansaythatthemainpurposeofQuranistoexpoundtruthsthatare
relevanttothelifeofthehumanbeingandtheexaltationofhisbeingandconducivetohis
attainingalifeoftruehappiness.
ImamAmirulMuminiinAlibinAbitalib(as)narratedthefollowingdua,fromwhichwecanderive
veryclearlythattheHolyQuranisthechartoflifeforman.Heprayed:OAllah!expandmy
breastwithQuran,actuatemybodywithQuran,enlightenmysightwithQuran,liberatemy
tonguebyQuran,andhelpmetomouldmylifeaccordingtoQuran,solongasYoumakemelive.
$$Section[MethodsusedbytheQuraninTrainingHumanbeing]
Chapter7:MethodsusedbytheQuraninTrainingHumanbeing
Assaidearlier,theaimpursuedbytheQuranisthetrainingofthehumanbeingasabeing
conscious
of
his
duties.
Now,
the
emergence
of
such
a
being
requires
a
comprehensive
reform
of
thehumanbeing,involvingvariouschangessuchasthenegationoffalsevaluesandmeaningless
criteria,andfosteringofacreativeenergeticspiritwithinhim.TheQurancanthusbesaidtomelt
thespiritofhumanbeingsandpourthemintoanewmould,wheretheyacquireadifferent,richer
andmorevaluableform.
AlthoughthismaybesaidtobetheprincipalaimoftheQuran,itsummonsthehumanbeing
insistently,attheverysametime,toreflectandtoponder,andtoacquirearealisticviewofthe
world;itguideshimontothepathofthought,ofteachingandlearning.
Themethod
used
by
the
Quran
in
training
human
being
is
that
of
Inductive
Method,
i.e.
the
processofderivinggeneralprinciplesoflifebyusinglogic,reasonandfacts.AccordingtoQuran,
therearefoursourcesofhumanknowledgethroughwhicheternaltruthcanbederived,andthey
are:
1)Reasonandlogic.
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itselfwhenitbegantocreatethenucleusofauniversalsocietyoutofascatteredanddisunited
peoplethatlackedallscienceandfreethoughtanddidnotevenseektounifyitsconstituent
tribes;andwhenitbegan,moreover,tofoundauniquely,vastandspiritualcivilization.
Allthefactorsforchangingtheworld,forputtingforwardaninternationallawwiththesloganof
unityamong
races,
peoples,
and
social
classes,
for
creating
amovement
for
the
liberation
of
thoughtandtheennoblingofknowledge,werederivedfromtheverytextoftheQuran,fromthe
culturethatemergedfromtheQuranandfromtheIslamicorder.Islamneverreliedona
governmentorapowersituatedoutsidethesocietyithaditselfbroughtintobeing.
Eventheaggressors,forexampletheMongols,whoattackedtheIslamiclandsandtriumphed
overtheMuslims,thankstotheirmilitarysuperiority,losttheirdominanceintheendwhenthey
wereconfrontedwiththespiritualpowerofIslam,andtheyadoptedthereligionofthepeople
theyhadconquered.Thishistoryofnationsdoesnotrecordanyotherexampleofavictorious
aggressoradoptingthereligionofthepeopleithaddefeated.
HolyQurancanshapethedestinyofthehumanraceasawholeTherefore,Quranisspeciallyessentialforthosescholarswhoareinterestedinthestudyofman
andsociety,sincethisbookhasbeeneffectivelyinstrumentalnotonlyinmouldingthedestinies
ofIslamicsocieties,butalsoinshapingthedestinyofthehumanraceasawhole.
Abriefglanceoverhistorywouldbeenoughtoprovidesufficientproofoftheclaimthattherehas
beennosuchbookthathaseverinfluencedhumansocietiestothemagnitudeoftheQur'an.Itis
forthesamereasonthattheQur'anautomaticallystepsintotheprecinctsofsociological
discussions,andbecomestheelementalconstituentofthesubjectsofresearchinthisdiscipline.
Thismeansthatanydeepstudyandprofoundresearchinthefieldofworldhistoryofthelast
fourteenhundredyears,isimpossiblewithouttheknowledgeoftheQur'an.
Smithwritesinhis MuhammadandIslam:TheteachingsoftheQuran,whichmentions
knowledgeandthepeninitsopeningverses,broughtaboutatremendoustransformation.Islam
proclaimedstudytobeareligiousduty,andmadetheblankinkofthescribeandthescholartobe
superiortotheredbloodofthemartyr.
ThankstotheteachingsoftheQurananditsemphasisonthecultivationofknowledge,countless
scholarsmadetheirappearanceandwroteinnumerablebooks.Differentscientificdisciplines
werederivedfromtheQuranandspreadacrosstheworldbyMuslimthinkers.Theworldwas
illuminedwiththelightoftheQuranandcultureofIslam.
$$Section[TheEssentialityoftheStudyoftheQuran]
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Chapter9:TheEssentialityoftheStudyoftheQuran
ThestudyandknowledgeoftheQur'anisessentialnotonlyforScholarsandPhilosophers,butfor
everyone:anordinaryperson,astudent,aworker,atrader,alearnedpersonaswellasforall
faithfulbelievers.
ThestudyoftheQur'anisessentialforeverycommittedMuslim,sinceitisthemainsourceand
foundationofthereligiousthoughtandfaith.Whatsoevergivesmeaning,essenceandsanctityto
hisexistenceliesintheHolyQur'an.
The
Qur'an
is
not
just
like
other
religious
books
which
are
content
to
discuss
the
problems
of
existenceofGodandcreationincryptictones,orlikethosewhichmerelyconveyaseriesof
simplemoraladviceandcounsels,sothatthosewhobelieveinthemarehopelesslylefttosearch
forguidanceinothersources.Itisabookwhereallessentialingredientsoflifecanbefound.
Unlikeotherbooks,theQur'andiscussesandformulatesalltheideasandviewsthatareessential
foramanslife,besidecommunicatingthetenetsoffaith.SincetheQuranisbookoflife,italso
laysdownalltheprinciplesoflifeincludingthatofmoralandethicalvaluesforthepurposeof
individual,socialandfamilialexistence.Unfortunately,thestudyofQuranhasbeenleftfor
Scholarsandlearnedpeopleonly.
$$Section[IsQur'anUnderstandable?]
Chapter10:IsQur'anUnderstandable?
ButtheimportantquestionwhichisoftenaskediswhethertheQuranisunderstandablebyan
ordinaryreader,
or
it
requires
scholarly
background
to
comprehend
its
meaning?
Hasthisbookbeenintroducedforthepurposeofstudyingandunderstandingit,orwhetheritis
justforreadingandrecitingandobtainingrewardandblessing?ThestudentofQuran,possibly,
maywonderatraisingofsuchaquestion.TohimitmayappearbeyonddoubtthattheQur'anis
meantforthepurposeofknowingandunderstandingit.
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Nevertheless,inviewofvariousundesirablecurrents,whichduetonumerousreasonscameinto
existenceintheMuslimworldregardingthequestionofunderstandingoftheQur'an,andwhich
hadanimportantroleinbringingaboutthedeclineofMuslims,Ishalldiscussthenecessityof
studyingandunderstandingtheQuraninbrief.
IsthepurposeofQurantoobtainthawabonly?
TherearesomepeoplewhothinkthattheQur'anistobereadmerelyforthepurposeof
obtainingspiritualreward(thawab)withoutneedofunderstandinganythingofitscontents.They
continuouslyrecitetheQur'an,butiftheyareevenonceasked:"Doyouunderstandthemeaning
ofwhatyouarereading?"theycannotanswer.TorecitetheQur'anisessentialandgood,being
regardedasthefirststepnecessaryforcomprehendingitscontents;andnotmerelyasameans
forgainingDivinereward.
Regrettably,therootsofthosedegenerateanddangerousnotionsstillpersistinoursocieties.SoI
consideritnecessarytoelaborateonthistopic.
Qur'anmustbereadandstudiedwiththeintentionofeducatingoneself.TheQur'anitself
clarifiesthispoint:
AbookWehavesentdowntoyou,blessed,thatmenpossessedofmindmayponderitssigns
endsoremember.(38:29)
OneofthefunctionsoftheQur'anistoinstructandtoteach.Forthispurpose,theQur'an
addresseshumanreasonandspeaksinlogicalanddemonstrativeterms.
Infact,notonlythebelieversandthefaithful,buteventheinfidelsareinvitedbyittocontemplate
overitsverses.TheQur'andemandsthatitversesshouldbefirstcontemplatedover,before
forminganyadverseopinionagainstthem.Addressingtheopponents,itsays,whytheydon't
ponderovertheQur'an,whatsortofheartstheypossess,theyareasifshutcloseandsealed:
What,dotheynotpondertheQur'an?Orisitthattherearelocksupontheirhearts?(47:24)
TheQur'analsosaysinoneofitsverses:
(Thisis)aBookWehaverevealedtoyouaboundingingood,thattheymayponderuponthe
verses.
Thatis,WehavenotsenttheQur'antobekissed,embracedandputonthenichetogatherdust,
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butformentoreadandtocontemplateaboutitscontents:
Thatthoseendowedwithunderstandingmayponderitssignsandsoremember.(38:29)
AyatullahMurtadhaMutahharisays:ScoresofversesinQuranemphasizetheimportanceof
contemplationin
the
Qur'an
and
interpretation
of
the
Qur'anic
verses,
although
not
an
interpretationbasedonpersonalcapricesandbias,butajust,truthfulandbalanced
interpretationfreeofalltracesofselfishinterests.
IfwetrytocomprehendtheQur'aninanhonestandunbiasedway,itisnotatallnecessaryto
solveallproblemsthatwefindinit.InthisregardtheQur'anissimilartoNature.InNature,too,a
numberofmysterieshaveneitherbeensolvedyet,norcantheybesolvedinpresentconditions,
yetarelikelytobesolvedinthefuture.Moreover,instudyingandunderstandingnature,manhas
totailorhisideasinaccordancewithNatureitself.HeisforcedtointerpretNatureinaccordance
withitsreality.HecannotdefineNatureintermsofhisowncapricesandinclinations.
TheQur'an,likethebookofNature,isabookthathasnotbeensentforaspecificageandtime.
Haditbeenotherwise,allthesecretsoftheQur'anwouldhavebeendiscoveredinthepast;this
heavenlyBookwouldnothavepresenteditscharm,freshnessandvitality.Butweseethatthe
possibilityofcontemplation,reflectionanddiscoveryofnewdimensionsisinexhaustibleinthe
caseofthisHolyBook.
ThisisapointthathasamplybeenemphasizedandclarifiedbytheProphetandtheImams.Ina
tradition,itisrelatedfromtheProphet(saww)thattheQur'an,likethesunandthemoon,will
presentitsmovementandcontinuity;thatis,theQur'anisnotstaticormonotonous.
In'UyunakhbaralRida,fromImamRidha(as),itisquotedthatImamJa'farSadiq(as)wasasked
aboutthesecretofitthatasthetimepassesandthemoreitisreadandrecited,theQur'an
increasesinitsnoveltyandfreshnessdaybyday.TheImamSadiq(as)answered:Becausethe
Qur'anisnotforanexclusiveageorforanexclusivepeople.
TheQuranisforallthelearnedaswellastheordinarypersonTheQur'anhasbeensentforallagesandforallhumanbeings.Itissocomposedthatinspiteof
changesinknowledge,outlookandapproachthroughvarioustimesandages,itsurpassesall
learningandknowledgeinallages.Whileitencompassesmysteriesandabstruseintricaciesfor
thereaderofeveryage,atthesametimeitpresentsagreatfeastofmeaningsandideasthatcan
satiatetheneedsofeveryoneandeverytimeinaccordancewiththecapacityofthatparticular
age.
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ThustheQuranisforall:thelearnedaswellastheordinaryreader.Tomakethisconceptclear,
wecancomparetheQurantoanocean.Thelessearned,likechildren,collectpebblesandshells
fromitsshores.TheScholarsandthinkers,likepearldivers,bringoutfromitthehighest
philosophy,wisdomandrulesofperfectwayofliving.
SelectedReferences:
HolyQuran,TranslatedbyM.H.Shakir(AnsariyanPublications)
TafseerAlMizan,ByAllamahMuhammadHusseinTabatabai.
TheHolyQuran:Text,TranslationandCommentarybyS.V.MirAhmedAli(TahrikeTarsileQuran)
TheSealoftheProphetsandhisMessage,ByMujtabaMusaviLari,TranslatedbyHamidAlgar.
LessonsfromQuran,ByMuhsinQaraati(IslamicSeminaryPublications)
TheBible,TheQuranandScience,ByDr.MauriceBucaille.
AuthenticityoftheQuran,ByIslamicEducationPanel,Tanzania.
UnderstandingtheUniquenessoftheQuran,ByAllamaMurtudhaMutahhari
Islam,theQuranandtheArabicLiterature,ByElsayedM.H.Omran.