COMPREHENSION OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

The Glorious Qur’an is the last Divine Message from the Creator to the mankind, not to the Muslims only!

When Adam and Hawwa were asked to go on earth, Allah said in Surah Ta’ha’ Ayah 123: “Get out of here all of you; you are each other’s enemies. When My Guidance comes to you, those who follow it will not go astray nor will they endure any misery.” So from the time of creation of human race, the Creator promised to send Guidance and directed the mankind to follow it. Hence to follow the “Guidance” one has to read, understand, ponder over it and practice it to attain salvation. At numerous places, Allah has encouraged human beings to think and ponder over the contents of this Divine Message. Detailed below are some of the Ayahs:

Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 219: “This is how Allah explains for you His Guidance so that perhaps you will think.”

Suarh al-Baqarah Ayah 266: “This is how Allah explains to you His evidence so that you may think.”

Suarah al-Imran Ayah 191: “It is these who speak of Allah while standing, sitting, or resting on their sides and who think about the creation of the heavens and the earth and say, “Lord, you have not created all this without reason.”

Surah al-An’am Ayah 50: “(Muhammad), tell them, “I do not claim to have all the treasures of Allah in my hands, or to know the unseen, nor do I claim to be an angel. I follow only what is revealed to me (from Allah).” Say to them, Are the blind and the seeing equal?” Why then do you not think?”  

Surah al-A’raf Ayah 176: “… (Muhammad), tell them such stories so that perhaps they will think.”

Surah al-A’raf Ayah 184: “Thus, do We explain the evidence (of the truth) for the people who reflect.”

Surah al-Ra’d Ayah 3: “It is Allah who spread out the earth and fixed mountains and placed rivers therein. He made a pair of every fruit and made the night cover the day. This is evidence (of existence of Allah) for the people who think.”

Surah al-Nahl Ayah 44: “We have revealed the Qur’an to you so that you can tell the people what has been revealed to them and so that perhaps they will think.”

Surah al-Nahl Ayah 69: “From out of their (bees) bellies comes a drink of different color in which there is a cure for human being. In this there is evidence (of the truth) for the people of understanding.”

Surah al-Rum Ayah 21: “His creating spouses for you out of yourselves so that you might take comfort in them; and His creating love and mercy among you. In this there is evidence (of the truth) for the people who (carefully) think.”

Surah al-Zumar Ayah 42: “Allah preserves the souls when they die as well as those which did not die during people’s sleep. He withholds those souls which He has decreed to die and releases the others for an appointed time. In this there is evidence (of the Truth) for the thoughtful people.”

Surah al-Jathiya Ayah 13: “He has also made subservient to you all that is in the heavens and the earth. In this there is evidence (of the Truth) for those who use their minds.”

Surah al-Hashr Ayah 21: “Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and rent asunder for fear of Allah. These are parables which We tell to people so that perhaps they will think.”

Surah al-Muhammad Ayah 24: “Is it that they do not think about the Qur’an or are their hearts sealed?”

The Glorious Qur’an was revealed in four stages:

                Surah al-Rahman Ayah 1-4: “The Beneficent (Allah) has taught the Qur’an to                              (Muhammad). He created the human being and taught him intelligible speech.” Allah                  revealed Qur’an on the light of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)

                Surah al-Buruj Ayah 21-22: “What is revealed to you is certainly a Glorious Qur’an                  that exists in a Well- guarded Tablet.” The second revelation was from the light of                            Muhammad to the Tablet.

                Surah al-Qadr Ayah 1: “We revealed the Qur’an on the Night of Destiny.” The                            complete Qur’an was revealed   on the heart of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)

                Surah al-Insan Ayah 23: “(Muhammad), We revealed the Qur’an to you in gradual                    steps. In the end, it was revealed step by step as needed on the heart of the Noble Prophet                    (s.a.w.a.s.) and he narrated to the Muslims.

Ideally, for a comprehensive understanding of the Glorious Qur’an, one should have command of the Arabic language, but for practical purposes, one may read it in his mother tongue translation. Further, one should have knowledge of the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) which leads to the Traditions (Ahadees). The cardinal principle as recommended by the Infallible Imams, is that any tradition purported to be reported by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) should be compared with the Glorious Qur’an; if it is in agreement with the Glorious Qur’an then accept it, otherwise reject such Tradition.  Qur’anic Ayahs interpret one another; hence look for such Ayahs which elaborate other Ayahs.

Sources used:

 The Glorious Qur’an

 Spiritual Journey of the Mystics                                                by Haj Mirza Jawas Maliki Tabrizi

Understanding the Uniquness of the Qur’an                               by Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari (r.a.)

Towards Better Understanding Qur’an                                       by Shaikh Muslim Bhanji