Bab al-Qur'an al-Majeed

The Glorious Qur'an

been speaking from eternity. As for those noble Prophets about whom He said that they heard, He always knew them, and always knows them. Just as He will know all circumstances until the Day of Judgement. Yes, Hazrat Musa (AS) is a temporal being and all the events that occurred in his time are temporal. But God Ta'ala was aware of all these matters that have happened or will happen. In this way, whatever events occurred before the Noble Prophet ﷺ, they were present in Ilm-e-Ilahi. Thus, Ilm-e-Ilahi is Qadeem (eternal), and exactly this is "Kalam-e-Nafsi" which is Qadeem. However, when we describe it, our description is temporal (hadith). But because of our temporal description, no effect can fall on the Kalam-e-Nafsi of God Ta'ala. And because of the description's being temporal, the news that is described cannot become temporal. The simple answer to all these from Syedha (RA) is that, the thing about which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not tell us, it is not necessary for us to know. Thus, engaging in futile and useless debates like this is wasting one's life. A man should say such things that benefit himself or others. And regarding matters in which there is neither one's own benefit nor another's good, it is better to remain silent about such futile talk. But, gentlemen! Today speaking nonsense and babbling is also considered a perfection. He who chatters a lot is considered an (Orator). An orator, a speaker, is acknowledged. But if asked right after the speech about what the summary of this speech was? You will not even remember anything. Just wow! Wow! Good it became, but there was no benefit to anyone. Speaking excessively is useless. لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ.

بَابٌ فِى الْقُرْاٰنِ الْمَجِيْدِ Regarding the Glorious Quran

وَقَالَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى - وَاِنَّهٗ لَكِتَابٌ عَزِيْزٌ 0 لَّا يَاْتِيْهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهٖ ط تَنْزِيْلٌ مِّنْ حَكِيْمٍ حَمِيْدٍ 0 (آیت ۴۱ - حٰم السجدة) *Translation:- The statement of Allah Ta'ala is: "And undoubtedly this Book is one possessing such might and honor that falsehood cannot approach it from before it, nor from behind it (in all the rulings). It is a revelation from Allah Ta'ala, Who is All-Wise and Praiseworthy."* وَقَالَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى : حٰم (١) وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِيْنِ (٢) اِنَّا جَعَلْنٰهُ قُرْاٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ (٣)۔ (آیت ۱ تا ۳ - الزخرف) *Translation:- And Allah Ta'ala says: "I swear by this manifest Book (which contains every ruling clear and manifest) that We have made it an Arabic Quran, We have revealed it in the Arabic language, so that you may use your intellect and understanding."*

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The Arabs had great pride in their language. Allah Ta'ala revealed the Noble Quran to them in order to make them acknowledge their own inability to speak it. Those Arabs who used to say to other nations regarding language, in comparison to themselves, that they are "Ajam" (dumb), "Mooki" (mute), were rendered so helpless that despite the efforts of all their scholars, they could not compose even a single verse and had to admit that "this cannot be human speech". وَقَالَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى : وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَاهُمْ بِكِتَابٍ فَصَّلْنٰهُ عَلٰى عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَّرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُّؤْمِنُوْنَ۔ (آیت ۵۲ - الاعراف) *Translation:- And this too is the statement of Allah Ta'ala that "And We have brought them a Book, We have conveyed it to them. In it, elaboration has been done with knowledge. It is a complete guidance and a mercy (but for whom?) for those people who believe."* عَنْ عُثْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرُكُمْ مَّنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْاٰنَ وَعَلَّمَهٗ وَ فَضْلُ الْقُرْاٰنِ عَلٰى سَائِرِ الْكَلَامِ كَفَضْلِ اللّٰهِ عَلٰى خَلْقِهٖ - وَذَاكَ اِنَّهٗ مِنْهُ - (هب عن عثمان فى الاسماء وَالصِّفَاتِ - كنز جلد اول) Vocabulary:- خَيْرُكُمْ : the best among you, possessing goodness - مَنْ : who, whichever. Used also in the sense of a question or for a person - مَنْ ! : from - تَعَلَّمَ : gained education, acquired knowledge - قُرْاٰنٌ : to read, place of reading - الْقُرْاٰنُ : the Speech of Allah, Noble Quran - عَلٰى : upon - اَوْپَر : upward - اِلٰى : up to, towards, until - سَائِرِ : all, entirety - وَذَاكَ : and this because - اِنَّهٗ : indeed it - مِنْهُ : from Him.

Translation:- Hazrat Uthman Ghani (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best person among you is the one who learns to read the Quran and teaches it (acquires correct knowledge of it himself and imparts correct teaching to others) and the excellence of the Quran over all other speech is like the excellence of God over His creation. And this is because it is from Him." (It is manifest from Allah Ta'ala). (This hadith is in the chapter of Asma wa Sifat narrated by Bayhaqi) عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْقُرْاٰنِ فَاتَّخِذُوْهُ اِمَامًا وَّقَائِدًا - فَاِنَّهٗ كَلَامُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ الَّذِيْ هُوَ مِنْهُ وَاِلَيْهِ يَعُوْدُ - فَاٰمِنُوْا بِمُتَشَابِهِهٖ وَاعْتَبِرُوْا بِاَمْثَالِهٖ - (ابن شاهين فى السُّنَّةِ وَابْنُ مَرْدَوَيْهِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَّضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ) - (كنز ج ١) Vocabulary:- عَلَيْكُمْ : upon you it is obligatory, binding - فَاتَّخِذُوْهُ : so take it, grasp it, hold onto it - اِمَامًا : Imam, leader - قَائِدًا : leader, guide, pilot - يَعُوْدُ : returns, goes back - مُتَشَابِهَاتٍ : such verses whose meaning does not easily come to understanding - meaning there are clear rulings in the Kalam of Allah Ta'ala, i.e., principal verses, and the meaning of some verses is similar to other verses. In general, there is disagreement in interpretations regarding the Mutashabihat. In such instances, for the presence of...

...it is clarified by the sayings of the Generous Prophet ﷺ, which are called Ahadith. And if it is not fully clarified even by the Ahadith, then the actions and sayings of the Sahaba (RA) or the respected figures after them who are called Tabi'i, or the people after them who are called Taba Tabi'i, or through the Ijtihad of the scholars of the time, the complexity of the issues is removed. *I'tabiru!*: Take advice, take heed. *Amthal*: Plural of mathal (example). Ibn Shaheen: The patronymic (kunyat) of Hazrat Abu Jafar Umar bin Ahmad al-Baghdadi. Ibn Mardawayh: The patronymic of Hazrat Abu Bakr bin Musa al-Isfahani.

Translation:- It is obligatory upon you to make the Qur'an your guide and leader, because it is the word of the Lord of the Worlds which originated from Him and will return to Him (the origin and destination of the Noble Word is Allah Almighty Himself), so you people should bring Iman on its "mutashabih" (ambiguous) injunctions (without questioning "how and why") and take heed from the examples given in it.

(This hadith was narrated by Ibn Shaheen in Kitab as-Sunnah and by Ibn Mardawayh from Hazrat Ali (RA) and this hadith is also in the first volume of Kanz al-'Ummal)

Whether it is the mutashabihat (ambiguous verses) of the Qur'an or any other Fiqh issue, if it cannot be generally understood clearly, it is not good for everyone to derive an arbitrary meaning. On such occasions, one should turn to a religious scholar and inquire. In legal matters, everyone's opinion is not considerable. Its correct interpretation can only be done by the lawmakers, or lawyers can understand and explain it. Similarly, a patient's diagnosis can only be done by a hakeem (physician) or a doctor. Otherwise, "a half-hakeem is a danger to life." Similarly, the confusion of religious issues can only be resolved by a religious scholar. Otherwise, "a half-mullah is a danger to Iman." An ignorant person will sink the very boat of Iman.

Couplet: "He himself is lost, who will he guide" (meaning he himself is astray, who will he guide).

الْقُرْآنُ هُوَ النُّوْرُ الْمُبِيْنُ وَالذِّكْرُ الْحَكِيْمُ وَالصِّرَاطُ الْمُسْتَقِيْمُ - (عب عن رجل - کنز ج 1) *The Qur'an is the clear light and the wise remembrance and the straight path. (Narrated by 'Abd from a man - Kanz vol 1)*

Translation:- The Noble Qur'an is a clear light and a remembrance full of wisdom and a straight path. ('Abd refers to Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Iman).

Clear light, meaning such light by which everything is seen clearly. The injunctions of the Qur'an are similarly evident. The academic eloquence and advice in every verse of it has no match, and insha'Allah never will. When a person begins to walk on the straight path, he is saved from going astray or suffering the hardships of the path.

كَأَنَّ الْكِتَابَ الْأَوَّلَ يَنْزِلُ مِنْ بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ عَلَى حَرْفٍ وَاحِدٍ وَنَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ مِنْ سَبْعَةِ أَبْوَابٍ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ - زَاجِرٌ وَآمِرٌ وَحَلَالٌ وَحَرَامٌ وَمُحْكَمٌ وَمُتَشَابِهٌ وَأَمْثَالٌ - فَأَحِلُّوْا حَلَالَهُ وَحَرِّمُوْا حَرَامَهُ وَافْعَلُوْا مَا أُمِرْتُمْ بِهِ وَانْتَهُوْا عَمَّا نُهِيْتُمْ عَنْهُ - وَاعْتَبِرُوْا بِأَمْثَالِهِ وَاعْمَلُوْا

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بِمُحْكَمِهِ وَآمِنُوْا بِمُتَشَابِهِ وَقُوْلُوْا آمَنَّابِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا - *(Ibn Hazm, Ibn Jarir, Farak and Abu Nasr as-Sijzi in Al-Ibanah from Ibn Mas'ud - Kanz vol 1)*

Vocabulary:- *Ka'anna*: as if. *Al-Kitab al-Awwal*: the first book, the previous book. *Muhkam*: such Quranic verses which are not difficult to understand. *Mutashabihat*: such Quranic injunctions whose explanation was given by the Prophet ﷺ or his Sahaba (RA). The word *sab'ah* is also used in the meaning of many and numerous. And its literal meaning is seven (7). *Zajir*: one who rebukes and reprimands. *Amir*: one who commands. *Ma umirtum*: what you have been commanded. As you have been commanded. *Intahu*: stop, do not do, refrain.

Translation:- The book of previous times used to be of one type and for one purpose. The words in it were also of one type and the Qur'an has been revealed consisting of many chapters. It also has numerous letters. The Qur'an rebukes regarding bad things, and gives commands for Halal actions and to avoid Haram. Its injunctions are clear as well as *mutashabih* (not easily understood). Examples are also given in it. Therefore, consider its Halal matters as Halal and understand the Haram as Haram. And do only those things which you have been commanded to do and refrain from what you have been forbidden. And take heed from the examples given in it. Keep acting upon its *muhkam* type of injunctions. And regarding the *mutashabih* type of injunctions (instead of raising objections and making imaginary guesses) bring Iman and say, "We have brought Iman (with a true heart), all these injunctions, the entire Qur'an, has come from our Lord."

(This hadith was narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (RA) by Ibn Hazm, Ibn Jarir, Farak and Abu Nasr Sijzi in "Ibanah" and it is also in Kanz al-'Ummal)

لَيْسَ الْقُرْآنُ بِالتِّلَاوَةِ، وَلَا الْعِلْمُ بِالرِّوَايَةِ وَلَكِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ بِالْهِدَايَةِ وَالْعِلْمَ بِالدِّرَايَةِ - (الدیلمی عن انس - کنز جلد اول) *The purpose of the Qur'an is not merely recitation, nor does knowledge mean merely narrating, rather the Qur'an is guidance and knowledge is understanding.*

Translation:- The purpose of the Qur'an is not merely recitation (memorizing like a parrot is useless) nor does knowledge mean merely narrating any hadith word for word (without understanding), rather the Qur'an is guidance from head to toe and knowledge means "dirayah", that is, to take the correct meaning of a thing, to be aware of the reality of that thing.

(This hadith was narrated by Daylami from Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) and is also in Kanz al-'Ummal volume 1)

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الْقُرْآنُ ذُوْ وُجُوْهٍ فَاحْمِلُوْهُ عَلَى أَحْسَنِ وُجُوْهِهِ - (ابونعیم عن ابن عباس) *The Qur'an has many aspects, therefore apply it to its best aspects.*

Vocabulary: *Dhu*: owner, one with. *Wujooh*: plural of *wajh*, reason. *Dhu Wujooh*: one with many reasons, one with many meanings, one with many aspects. ("Abu Nu'aym" is the patronymic of Hazrat Ahmad bin Abdullah al-Isfahani).

Translation:- The Noble Qur'an has many aspects, therefore always apply it to its best aspects. To unnecessarily stretch the meaning of a verse towards some unbeneficial aspect, or to make guesses from the heart in the explanations of things which Allah Almighty has stated concisely in the Qur'an is not correct. For example, there are *Huroof-e-Muqatta'at* in the Noble Qur'an whose correct meaning is known only to Allah and His Messenger. Why should we get tangled in their explanations and interpretations? Similarly, some nations have been mentioned without any name or specification. It is not appropriate to specify a particular nation from them.

(This hadith was narrated by Abu Nu'aym Hazrat Ahmad bin Abdullah al-Isfahani from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (RA))

إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِاخْتِلَافِهِمْ فِى الْكِتَابِ - (مسلم عن عبد اللہ بن عمر - کنز ج 1) *Those before you were destroyed only because of their disagreement regarding the Book.*

Translation:- The nations (Ummahs) that were before you were destroyed because of disagreeing about the Book of Allah of their respective times.

(Hazrat Imam Muslim has narrated this from Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) in his Sahih Muslim. Kanz al-'Ummal volume 1)

كِتَابُ اللّٰهِ هُوَ حَبْلُ اللّٰهِ الْمَمْدُوْدُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ - (ش و ابن جریر عن أبی سعید - کنز ج 1) *The Book of Allah is the extended rope of Allah from the sky to the earth.*

Vocabulary: *Habl*: rope. *Mamdood*: long/extended. *Min as-sama'i ila al-ardh*: from the sky to the earth. *Sh*: stands for Ibn Abi Shaybah.

Translation:- The Book of Allah Almighty (the Noble Qur'an) is such a long rope that hangs from the sky to the earth.

(This hadith was narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah and Ibn Jarir from Abu Sa'id (RA). Kanz al-'Ummal volume 1)

Those ascending hang onto the rope, grab it and climb up. Here sky means the sky of the world where every living soul has to go after death. Thus, whoever makes the Qur'an his guide will easily succeed in the questioning and answering of Qiyamah. And his eternal life will be spent with great joy. Walhamdulillah (And all praise is for Allah).

O friends! The Noble Qur'an descended upon the Prophet ﷺ through Hazrat Jibreel (AS). During the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, every year in the month of Ramadan, Hazrat Jibreel (AS) would recite and the Prophet ﷺ would listen. Then the Prophet ﷺ would recite and Hazrat Jibreel (AS) would listen.

Since the reading and listening of the Noble Qur'an has been mentioned. Therefore, what was the nature of this reading? In this regard, it seems appropriate to shed a brief light on the science of Tajweed.

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"Ilm-e-Tajweed": Meaning, reading each and every word and letter of the Qur'an with its correct (1) makhraj (articulation point) (2) sifat-e-huroof (characteristics of letters) (3) wasl (joining) (4) waqf (pausing) and (5) ibtida (starting) according to the prescribed principles is called "Ilm-e-Tajweed" and the one who reads in this way is called a Qari. Nowadays, a "Qari" has been so degraded that even someone ignorant of the principles screams a little while reading and starts calling himself a "Qari".

Ilm-e-Qira'at (Tajweed) is an authentic science which, although all the Sahaba (RA) heard from the Noble Prophet ﷺ, but in the art of Qira'at, the chain of narration of Qira'at continues from the following honorable Sahaba (RA): Hazrat Uthman Ghani (RA), Hazrat Ali Karam Allah Wajhah, Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (RA), Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (RA), Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka'b (Ridwanullah Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een). And its famous seven Imams are: (1) Hazrat Nafi' Madani (RH) (2) Hazrat Ibn Kathir Makki (RH) (3) Hazrat Abu 'Amr Basri (RH) (4) Hazrat Ibn Amir Shami (RH) (5) Hazrat Asim Kufi (RH) (6) Hazrat Hamzah Kufi (RH) (7) Hazrat Ali Kisa'i (RH). Each of them has two narrators or students. In the method of recitation of these seven Imams, there are some differences at certain places, and that difference is only of vowels (A'rab and Harakat) or the substitution of some letters sharing the same articulation point. Meaning, some Imams elongate the madd, some read it moderately or short, and some incline it towards a kasrah. And each of these methods was heard from the Noble Prophet ﷺ. As is narrated in the hadith of Bukhari from Hazrat Umar (RA) in which Hazrat Umar (RA) once heard Hazrat Hisham bin Hakim (RA) reciting Surah Al-Furqan in prayer in a manner which Hazrat Umar (RA) had not heard. So when Hazrat Umar (RA) finished the prayer, he asked him, and Hazrat Hisham (RA) said that I heard it like this from the Prophet ﷺ. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (RA) brought him to the Prophet ﷺ and presented the matter. The Prophet ﷺ made Hazrat Hisham (RA) recite that Surah and then made Hazrat Umar (RA) also recite the same Surah. Both read in their respective ways. The Prophet ﷺ said regarding both, "This Surah was revealed like this". Then the Prophet ﷺ said:

إِنَّ هٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ أُنْزِلَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَاقْرَؤُا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ *(Meaning, undoubtedly the Noble Qur'an was revealed in seven ways. Whoever finds whichever way easy for him should read it like that. - Tajreed al-Bukhari).*

Those who recite according to these seven ways are called "Qari-e-Sab'ah". And later, three more students were also counted among the Imams of Qira'at due to their excellence, because of which they are called "A'imma-e-'Asharah" and those who recite according to these ten ways are called "Qari-e-'Asharah". In short, despite the differences in the method of recitation of these honorable figures, there came no difference whatsoever in the meaning and concept of the Qur'an. And this difference is absolutely not such that it would change the meaning and concept of the Qur'an.

O friends! The Qur'an has reached us through our ears, not our eyes. Meaning, we heard it from our teacher and they heard it from their teacher. In this way, chain by chain up to the Noble Prophet ﷺ, everyone first heard their teacher recite, then recited and made them listen. Moreover, the Prophet ﷺ did not give us a written Qur'an. Rather, as soon as Hazrat Jibreel (AS) would come and recite the Quranic verses to the Prophet ﷺ, the Prophet ﷺ would recite them and the Sahaba (RA) would memorize them verbally then and there, and only those Sahaba (RA) would write to whom the Prophet ﷺ gave permission to write. And some were also entrusted with the service of writing the revelation (Kitabat-e-Wahi). It should also be remembered that Allah Almighty has taken the responsibility of protecting the Qur'an. Not a single letter of it has decreased, nor can there be an addition to it. Letters aside, even if someone reads a vowel (zabar or zer) incorrectly, by the grace of Allah...

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