ALLAH’s greatest favour to the
mankind is his guidance contained in the Books of revelation. The pure, The
Perfect and the most useful knowledge come only from ALLAH, The Wisest and The
Greatest.
(2:146-147, 4:163, 53: 1-6)
As a Muslim we believe on all revealed books of ALLAH (SWT).The holy Quran is
the only Universal Book that has remained unchanged in the past fourteen hundred
years. It has ALLAH’s Message in clear Arabic that is valid for all times and
conditions. The other holy books, which revealed on other Prophets before
Muhammad (pbuh), had lost the original message of ALLAH, by their followers.
ALLAH (SWT) has taken the responsibility to protect Quran Himself. ALLAH (SWT)
says in Quran Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be
its guardian.
(Sura Al-Hijr ,15:09)
The Theme of the Quran
The main topic of The Holy Quran is the “man (human), and his ultimate goals in
life. ”It contains principles, ideas, and directions about all areas of human
activities as well as life after death. Quran speaks to all of mankind on a
general basis without regard to race, tribe, color, social position, financial
condition or genealogy. The theme of The Quran has consists of three important
dimensions that teach us basic beliefs; Tawhid (oneness of ALLAH) , Risalah (
Prophets of ALLAH), and Akhira (Day of Judgment, and life after death). It
neither condemns nor tortures the flesh nor does it neglect the soul. It does
not humanize God, nor does it deify man. Everything is carefully placed where it
belongs in the total scheme of creation.
The Quran also lays a heavy emphasis upon reason and understanding. In these
spheres of human understanding, the Quran goes beyond just satisfying the human
intellect; it causes one to reflect on implications. There are Quranic
challenges and prophecies. One of the most exciting fields in recent years has
been the discovery that, of the significant amount of scientific information in
the Quran, including the event of the Big Bang, embryological data, and other
information concerning astronomy biology, etc., there is not a single statement
that has not been borne out by modern discoveries In short, the Quran fulfills
the heart, the soul, and the mind.
Interesting Statistics of The Quran
The Quran has thirty parts, (paray or Ajza), 114 chapters (Surahs) and 6236
verses (Ayatain or Ayah). The longest chapter of the Quran is Suratul-Baqarah
with 286 verses and the shortest surah is Suratul-Kawther (Kosar) which has just
three verses. The chapters that revealed when the Prophet Muhammad was living in
Makkah are known as Makki and those revealed in Madinah are called Madni. The
Quran was revealed over a period of 22 years 5 months and 14 days. The first
revelation was sent on Muhammad in 610 CE, and it was Suratul- Alaq. The last
verse that was revealed in 632 CE, shortly before the demise of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) is the third verse of Suratul- Ma’aida,
This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you,
and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. (5:3)
How Quran was recorded
Scholars refer Quran as a Miracle, which was sent down on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
over the twenty three years, through Angel Jirbra’il. Prophet Muhammad, who
didn’t aware of reading and writing skills used to memorize ALLAH’s messages (Surahs).
He made it sure that every revelation (Wahee) was recorded in his own
supervision, right away, word by word and without any single mistake. Prophet’s
secretary, Zaid Bin Thabit (Sabit – RA) used to record Surahs exactly as the
prophet (pbuh) told him. He would read back to him what he had recorded. It is a
miracle that after fourteen hundred years no one can prove a single dot that had
been changed.
The Quran from a Heart to Hearts
The Muslims, who memorized The Quran by heart in early days, were called Hafiz-Quran.
More important though, there were at that time, tens of thousands of his
companions ("Sahabi" in Arabic) who memorized the complete Quran from the
instruction of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Even the prophet
himself (peace be upon him) used to recite it with angel Gabriel once a year and
in the last year of his life he recited it two times just before the month in
which he died. Today, thousands and thousand of Huffaz (plural of Hafiz) are
reciting Quran all over the world.
The Compilation of the Quran
After the demise of the last prophet in 632 (CE), it became extremely important
to compile all of the Surahs and Ayah in one volume. Muhammad’s (pbuh) best
friend (Sahabi) Umar (RA), suggested to Khalifa (predecessor of the Prophet))
Abu Bakr (RA) to do so. Up to then, the Quran was written down in pieces in
order as they were revealed. A committee was formed under Zaid Bin Thabit (RA)
to collect the scattered material of Quran to form it as a book. After careful
checking and rechecking the work was completed.
After Khalifa Abu Bakr’s demise, Umar (RA) became Khalifa; he kept the copy of
Quran with Hafsah (RA) the widow of Prophet (pbuh). Later on many schools were
formed to teach the Quran throughout the Muslim territories.
The Quran and its final standard form
As the Islam spread to more parts of the world, Muslims in various places
recited it in their local dialect and there arose a possibility of confusion and
misunderstanding. To avoid this, the third Khalifa Uthman (Usman-RA) ordered the
preparation of one standard version of Quran to be written in the dialect of the
Quraish. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was from the Quraish tribe, so it was felt
that this was the right dialect for recitation of the Quran. This time Copies of
revised and standard Quran were sent to the different parts of the world with a
teacher to teach how to recite Quran correctly. It made possible the uniform
recitation of the Quran.
Two original copies made in Khalifa Usman (RA) are still exists today, one in
Istanbul (Turkey) and the other at Tashkent (Russia). One photocopy of it can be
found in The National Library of Karachi, in Pakistan.
The Best Description of The Quran
Hazrat Ali (RadiALLAH Anhu), the cousin of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
said about Quran
"The Book of God. In it is the record of what was before you, the judgment of
what is among you, and the prophecies of what will come after you. It is
decisive, not a case for levity. Whoever is a tyrant and ignores the Quran will
be destroyed by God. Whoever seeks guidance from other than it will be
misguided. The Quran is the unbreakable bond of connection with God; it is the
remembrance full of wisdom and the straight path. The Quran does not become
distorted by tongues, nor can it be deviated by caprices; it never dulls from
repeated study; scholars will always want more of it. The wonders of the Quran
are never ending. Whoever speaks from it will speak the truth, whoever rules
with it will be just, and whoever holds fast to it will be guided to the
straight path."
[At-Tirmidhi – Tirmizi]]
The Quran on the Quran
“Hence, indeed, We made this Quran easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing
to take it to heart.” (Quran 54:17, 22, 32, 40 [self repeating])
“Will they not meditate on the Quran, or are there locks on the hearts?” (Quran
47:24)
“Surely this Quran guides to that which is most upright and gives good news to
the believers who do good works that they shall have a great reward.” (Quran
17:9)
“Surely We have revealed the Reminder (Quran) and We will most certainly guard
it (from corruption).” (Quran 15:9)
“Praise be to God Who has revealed the Book (Quran) to His slave (Muhammad) and
has not placed therein any crookedness.” (Quran 18:1)
“And certainly We have explained in this Quran every kind of example; and man is
most of all given to contention. And nothing prevents men from believing when
the guidance comes to him, and asking forgiveness of their Lord, except that
what happened to the ancients should overtake them, or that the chastisement
should come face to face with them.” (Quran 18:54-55)
“And We reveal (stage by stage) of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy
for believers and to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss.” (Quran
17:82)
“And if you are in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto Our slave
(Muhammad) then produce a Surah (chapter) of the like thereof, and call your
witnesses besides God if you are truthful.” (Quran 2:23)
“And this Quran is not such as could be forged by those besides God, but it is a
verification ( of revelations) that went before it and a fuller explanation of
the Book – there is no doubt – from the Lord of the Worlds.” (Quran 10:37)
“So when you recite the Quran, seek refuge in God from Satan the Outcast.” (Quran
16:98)
https://www.ALLAHsquran.com/
At –Tirmidhi
Al-Quran
Islam Guide and Teachings
by Ghulam Sarwar.