Towards Better Understanding of the Quran

8/13/2019 Towards Better Understanding of the Quran

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Presentedbyhttp://www.alhassanain.com & http://www.islamicblessings.com

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.

Documents

Towards Better Understanding of the Quran