بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Seeking for the truth requires a tool, and efficiency of this tool is critical in order to not let me swerve from the right path. As a man who believe in his own existence I am eager to know why am I here and, what is available to assist me develop my body and soul to a higher and enhanced status.
There are over a billion people in the world who regardless of differences in their race languages or education level firmly believe that Quran is such a book that is capable of such a mission, Quran is in their hearts and there is nothing like it, some don’t understand the language it is written in, but still claim that even looking at it, holding it, and believing in it possess a tremendous power which calms their hearts, but the real Question is not what man says about Quran , yet the real Question and challenge is to know what
Quran says about Quran
One might start with the simple and very usual Questions such as who wrote the Quran. To whom it was given to, and why was it revealed? The first step to answer our Questions is to open the book and our mind, ask for Allah’s help to understand the message.
فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ (16:98)
16:98 NOW whenever thou happen to read this Qur'an, seek refuge with God from Satan, the accursed.
Quran teach us that no man is or can be author of such a magnificent literature.
وَمَا كَانَ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنُ أَن يُفْتَرَى مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلَـكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (10:37)
10:37 Now this Qur'an could not possibly have been devised by anyone save God: nay indeed, it confirms the truth of whatever there still remains [of earlier revelations] and clearly spells out the revelation [which comes] -let there be no doubt about it-from the Sustainer of all the worlds.
This verse confirms that the one and the only author of Quran is Allah and no one including any prophets or any other selected people had any thing to do with it except to convey the message to man kind.
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَى (53:2)
53:2 this fellow-man of yours has not gone astray, nor is he deluded, Asad(53,2)
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى (53:3)
53:3 and neither does he speaks out of his own desire:
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى (53:4)
53:4 that [which he conveys to you] is but [a divine] inspiration with which he is being inspired –
عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى (53:5)
53:5 something that a very mighty one has imparted to him:
ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَى (53:6)
53:6 [an angel] endowed with surpassing power, who in time manifested himself in his true shape and nature,
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَى (53:7)
53:7 appearing in the horizon’s loftiest part,
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى (53:8)
53:8 and then drew near, and came close,
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَى (53:9)
53:9 until he was but two bow-lengths away, or even nearer.
فَأَوْحَى إِلَى عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَى (53:10)
53:10 and thus did [God] reveal unto His servant whatever He deemed right to reveal.
مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَى (53:11)
53:11 the [servant’s] heart did not give the lie to what he saw:
أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَى مَا يَرَى (53:12)
53:12 will you, then, contend with him as to what he saw?
Quran says there was actual physical contact between the prophet and the powerful controller (Malak) .
There are other verses that reiterate the fact that Quran was send to prophet by Allah’s will.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ تَنزِيلًا (76:23)
76:23 VERILY, [O believer,] it is We who have bestowed from on high this Qur’an upon thee, step by step - truly a bestowal from on high!
It is very important to acknowledge that the word of Allah is pure and untouched and no one has the power to add or make any changes to the original text even the one who was entrusted to deliver the message.
وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْأَقَاوِيلِ (69:44)
69:44 Now if he [whom We have entrusted with it] had dared to attribute some [of his own] sayings unto Us,
لَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِينِ (69:45)
69:45 We would indeed have seized him by his right hand,
ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِينَ (69:46)
69:46 and would indeed have cut his life-vein.
فَمَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حَاجِزِينَ (69:47)
69:47 and none of you could have saved him!
وَإِنَّهُ لَتَذْكِرَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ (69:48)
69:48 And, verily, this [Qur’an] is a reminder to all the God-conscious
these verses make us to realize that even the messenger would be the subject of Allah’s wrath in case of transgressing the bonds of prophet hood.
The language of Quran is chosen to be Arabic by Allah. How ever it is explained in the several verses that this language is not a common Arabic and requires thoughts and contemplating upon
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ (12:2)
12:2 behold, we have bestowed it from on high as a discourse in the Arabic tongue, so that you might encompass it with your reason
other wise just because one’s mother tongue is Arabic, that is not a free ticket of understanding Quran, one must be able to step out of the ordinary binderies and expand his knowledge to have a better appreciation of the message,
Quran is here to stimulate our mind, not to put it to sleep.
Other qualification which is required from the reader is intention. Without being eager to learn and implement the command of Allah it is wasting of ones time to read this or any other book.
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَّقَالُوا لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ أَأَعْجَمِيٌّ وَعَرَبِيٌّ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاء وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى أُوْلَئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ (41:44)
41:44 Now if We had willed this [divine writ] to be a discourse in a non-Arabic tongue, they [who now reject it] would surely have said, “Why is it that its messages have not been spelled out clearly? Why - [a message in] a non-Arabic tongue, and [its bearer] an Arab?” Say: “Unto all who have attained to faith, this [divine writ] is a guidance and a source of health; but as for those who will not believe - in their ears is deafness, and so it remains obscure to them: they are [like people who are] being called from too far away
Allah is explaining to us that any other language would be unable to convey the message of Allah in the most proficient way, however writing this book in Arabic or non Arabic would not make the slightest difference to whom his intentions are less than sincere. This is only for those with good intention and seekers of guidance and healing. That would be like hearing but not listening and between them and the call of Allah would be a great distance.
It is disappointing to notice there are some who proclaim themselves as special group of people who have the ability to interpret and understand Quran and they are the only ones capable of explaining Quran to others, and it is best for others to follow their instruction and not to go directly to the word of Allah in order to go astray. they create other sources of knowledge beside Quran to justify their action, and it is even more disturbing to see there are Moslems who admit to such a instruction and will not exploit the abilities that Allah has bestowed on them to seek the truth .
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَـذَا مِنْ عِندِ اللّهِ لِيَشْتَرُواْ بِهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُمْ مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ (
2:79 Woe, then, unto those who write down, with their own hands, [something which they claim to be] divine writ, and then say. "This is from God," in order to acquire a trifling gain thereby; woe, then, unto them for what their hands have written, and woe unto them for all that they may have gained!
وَلاَ تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولـئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُولاً (17:36)
17:36 And never concern thyself with anything of which thou hast no knowledge: verily, [thy] hearing and sight and heart - all of them - will be called to account for it [on Judgment Day]!
We should not stop and create a mental block for ourselves, we should inquire about the knowledge for ourselves this doesn’t mean to disregard the work of many scholars who spend many years looking to find the truth, but it means to treat the word and understanding of man as it should be. We have to be skeptical and always try to improve upon it or in many cases at least confirm it by the Quran.
Quran is sent to mankind and not to selected groups who claim are the only ones worthy and able to grasp its meaning.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ
2:185 It was the month of Ramadan in which the Qur'an was [first] bestowed from on high as a guidance unto man and a self-evident proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern the true from the false. Hence, whoever of you lives to see this month shall fast throughout it.
As we learned in this verse Quran is send to man kind not a special elite group and therein we can find the instruction very clear for guidance.
Other verses in Quran introduce this book as not only clear but easy to understand if we only make an effort.
الَرَ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَقُرْآنٍ مُّبِينٍ (15:1)
15:1 Alif. Lam. Ra THESE ARE MESSAGES of revelation -of a discourse clear in itself and clearly showing the truth.
طس تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْقُرْآنِ وَكِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ (27:1)
27:1 Ta. Sin. THESE ARE MESSAGES of the Qur’an - a divine writ clear in itself and clearly showing the truth
الر تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ (12:1)
12:1 Alif. Lam. Ra. THESE ARE MESSAGES of a revelation clear in itself and clearly showing the truth.
Lets not make any mistake about the nature of this book ,as it was explained before this book and verses in it are clear and easy to understand only if you clear your mind of all the preconceptions and make an attempt to learn.
It is very similar to a slice of bread which will not give you energy until you make an attempt to eat and digest it, once you take the primary steps it will be easy and clear and raises your awareness of the truth.
مَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَى (20:2)
20:2 We did not bestow the Qur'an on thee from on high to make thee unhappy.
Because the author of Quran and the creator of mankind is the same, it is only logical to assume that the instruction in this book are according to the nature of human and is aimed to improved our life .
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (30:30)
30:30 AND SO, set thy face steadfastly towards the [one ever-true] faith turning away from all that is false in accordance with the natural disposition which God has instilled into man [for,] not to allow any change to corrupt what God has thus created this is the [purpose of the one] ever-true faith; but most people know it not.
Allah is explaining that the direction of this religion is based on the nature of our creation, so we should turn to his religion in order to be happy and prosperous.
Quran says by taking the necessary steps which includes good intention, pursue of knowledge, and pondering on the verses Quran makes it very easy to understand.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ (54:17)
54:17 Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind who, then, is willing to take it to heart?
It is only expected from the book of Allah to have all the necessary instruction and information to save the mankind from darkness and direct to the world of light.
وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ (39:27)
39:27 THUS, INDEED, have We propounded unto men all kinds of parables in this Qur’an, so that they might bethink themselves; [and We have revealed it]
وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَـذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ فَأَبَى أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِلاَّ كُفُورًا (17:89)
17:89 For, indeed, many facets have We given in this Qur'an to every kind of lesson [designed] for [the benefit of] mankind! However, most men are unwilling to accept anything but blasphemy
Unfortunately it is evident among many Moslems that they will take these verses very lightly and are under influence of groups that believe the word of Allah is not efficient by itself and is necessary to attach many other Hadith to make the verses understandable.
It is like Allah was short of words, pen, or paper that left it up to people to complete his word.
وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَّا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ (31:27)
31:27 And if all the trees on earth were pens, and the sea [were] ink, with seven [morel seas yet added to it, the words of God would not be exhausted: for, verily, God is almighty, wise .
Clearly Allah doesn’t need help to complete his work.
Quran tells us this book and the verses in it are so unique impossible to be reproduced or changed ,it is protected by the all mighty Allah himself and challenges all the creatures known and unknown to man to do their out most best to make even one chapter like the one in the book of Allah
وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ
شُهَدَاءكُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (2:23)
2:23 And if you doubt any part of what We have, bestowed from on high, step by step, upon Our servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah of similar merit, and call upon any other than God to bear witness for you -if what you say is true!
The challenge is just to bring one chapter like what you see in Quran.
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (10:38)
10:38 And yet, they [who are bent on denying the truth] assert, "[Muhammad] has invented it!" Say [unto them]: "Produce, then, a surah of similar merit; and [to this end] call to your aid whomever you can, other than God, if what you say is true !
Even though the challenge of the 2 above verses seem to be the same but there is a difference. The first verse is calling upon all those who have some doubts about the authenticity of these verses including those who believe but yet not completely satisfied, and the second verse is aimed at those who completely are in opposition of the book of Allah, Allah is asking them to produce something like it if they can.
The book even goes further and against all the conventional wisdom which encourages man to have blind faith, encouraging us to examine all the verses very closely and find any contradiction which will be the proof of its falsehood ness.
أَفَلاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللّهِ لَوَجَدُواْ فِيهِ اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا (4:82)
4:82 Will they not, then, try to understand this Qur’an? Had it issued from any but God, they would surely have found in it many an inner contradiction!
قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى أَن يَأْتُواْ بِمِثْلِ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنِ لاَ يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا (17:88)
17:88 Say: "If all mankind and all invisible beings would come together with a view to producing the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce its like even though they were to exert all their strength in aiding one another!"
again unlike many other books that have been changed or modified to fit the time or lifestyle of people ,Quran promises to us that ,because this is the word of Allah and is in accordance with the nature of mankind will never be changed, and for eternity be invulnerable.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ (15:9)
15:9 Behold, it is We Ourselves who have bestowed from on high, step by step, this reminder? and, behold, it is We who shall truly guard it [from all corruption].
قُرآنًا عَرَبِيًّا غَيْرَ ذِي عِوَجٍ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ (39:28)
39:28 as a discourse in the Arabic tongue, free of all deviousness, so that they might become conscious of God
Quran is protected by Allah and free of any falseness.
Now we need to know that what messages does this book bears. What about those who will not accept it as the word of Allah? Are the believers of this religion to force others to their own system of thoughts and belief?
وَأَنذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَن يُحْشَرُواْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ لَيْسَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلاَ شَفِيعٌ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ (6:51)
6:51 And warn hereby those who fear lest they be gathered unto their Sustainer with none to protect them from Him or to intercede with Him, so that they might become [fully] conscious of Him.
هَـذَا بَلاَغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُواْ بِهِ وَلِيَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَابِ (14:52)
14:52 THIS IS A MESSAGE unto all mankind. Hence, let them be warned thereby, and let them know that He is the One and Only God; and let those who are endowed with insight take this to heart!
This book carries the message of oneness of Allah and is only to warn man kind of the life after and ask us to be aware of circumstances of our deeds.
مَّنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً (17:15)
17:15 Whoever chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and whoever goes astray. goes but astray to his own hurt; and no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another" burden Moreover. We would never chastise [any community for the wrong they may do[ ere We have sent an apostle [to them].
Allah is telling us in Quran that every one is only responsible for our own and we are not to impose our will on any one, we only have the right to advertise our belief, and announce peace on those who do not accept.
نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍ فَذَكِّرْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ (50:45)
50:45 Fully aware are We of what they [who deny resurrection] do say; and thou canst by no means force them [to believe in it]. Yet none the less, remind, through this Qur’an, all such as may fear My warning.
We as Moslems should denounce violence and introduce the message of Quran only the way Allah wants not by force and compulsion.
ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ (16:125)
16:125 CALL THOU (all mankind] unto thy Sustainer's path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the most kindly manner for, behold, thy Sustainer knows best as to who strays from His path, and best knows He as to who are the right-guided.
Salam
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