The Quran is a divinely revealed book. The Quran was revealed over a period of 23
years, firstly while Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was resident in Makkah and then continued
while he was resident in Madinah. The textual sequence of the completely
revealed Book does not follow the chronological revealed sequence.
The Quran is a majestic book and was, no
doubt, revealed by a majestic being. Such is the wisdom and majesty of the
author of the book that He introduces Himself in the opening chapter of Quran.
He further gives insight into this Glorious Book touching on subjects of creation,
worship, purpose of life, death, the Hereafter and much more.
Allah says in Quran:
الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ
All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence [Quran - Fatihah - 1:2]
Although the word "Lord" is used as
a translation, it is but one of the many meaning that the word "rabb"
has. Amongst the many meanings of the word, other than "Lord", it
also means master, possessor, nourisher,
cherisher, sustainer. Simply put, Allah is the Lord, the One on whom we are all
dependent. He further defines our dependence and mastery over all by saying
that He, Allah, is Lord of all that exists.
Allah
reminds us in Quran that we were made aware of Allah even before our birth.
وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ
بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَہُمۡ وَأَشۡہَدَهُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ
أَنفُسِہِمۡ أَلَسۡتُ بِرَبِّكُمۡۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰۛ شَهِدۡنَآۛ أَن
تَقُولُواْ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا ڪُنَّا عَنۡ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ
And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam,
from their loins, their seed and made them testify as to themselves (saying):
"Am I not your Lord'' They said: "Yes! We testify,'' lest you should
say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we were unaware of this.' [Quran
- 'A'raaf - 7:172]
Allah, the All-Wise, All-Knowing, had prepared
us prior to birth for what was/is to come. The same "Rabb" who
created us has now revealed Quran to us. Considering that the Quran in its
completed form is not how it was revealed chronologically, the placement of the
introduction of the author, our creator, can only have been done by the One who
is All-Wise. In getting to understand the opening verses (nay, let us say
ayaat) we will know that the author is a Supreme Being. We were all created
with this Fitrah - "primordial human nature" - as Allah has already
clearly introduced Himself to us before birth ("Am I not your Lord'' They said:
"Yes! We testify...'') and each and every human being knows this.
Who is this God that we worship that we have
not seen? Science, for so long considering it to be independent of a God and
having come up with so many theories that have led many to become atheists
while some,by the Grace and Mercy of Allah, have been guided by their
discoveries to believe in Allah, the Supreme. Interestingly, just recently, a
leading scientist, Michio Kaku, claimed to have found proof that there is a
greater intelligence controlling everything (http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/42042/20160613/world-renowned-scientist-michio-kaku-proves-existence-god.htm)
The pagan Arabs, at the time of Prophet
Muhammad ﷺ , were used to seeing their gods and could
not understand the concept of a unseen god. They looked for similarities to
beautiful things they like and images that they had. Muslims were speaking so
much of this God, but can He be described. Allah Almighty has many names of
attributes for He is the supreme being. Allah revealed a short chapter in
response to the questions being asked:
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
(١) ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ (٢) لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ (٣) وَلَمۡ يَكُن
لَّهُ ۥ ڪُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (٤)
Say: He is Allah, the One! (1)
Allah, the eternally Besought of all! (2) He begetteth not nor was begotten.
(3) And there is none comparable unto Him. (4)
[Quran - Ikhlaas - 112:1-4]
Detailed analysis of this chapter will take
much time and space and best be left for another time. Suffice to say that the
word "samad" describing Allah cannot be efficiently translated but we
can use one understanding of it and that is to know that all of creation is in
need of Allah. Many other faith attach "child/ren" to Allah Almighty
but He clarifies this that He creates but does not beget, not is he or has he
ever been begotten, i.e. He does not have a father nor mother. And then finally
we get to understand that as much as one tries to imagine Allah, He is not like
that because there is absolutely nothing comparable to Him.
The detail of this surah will be like talking
about one-third of Quran for Prophet Muhammad
ﷺ
told us that Surah Ikhlaas is equal to one0third of Quran.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to the sahabah, “Assemble in my
presence, for I will recite to you one-third of the Quran.” When they had
assembled, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came out to them and recited surah
Al-Ikhlas, and then he returned to his home.
The sahabah began speaking to one another about it. Someone said, “I think a revelation has just
come to Him from the heavens. That is
why he went back inside.” Then the Prophet ﷺ emerged from his
home and said, “I told you that I would recite one-third of the Qur’an. That is indeed one-third of the Quran.” [Sahih Muslim]
Learning the Quran is a ideal way to get close
to Allah for He is the author of this Glorious Book.
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Did you know?
1. Angel Gabriel (AS) was sent to bring the message of Quran to Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him
2. Quran is the word of Allah
3. Quran confirms that Jesus (peace be upon him) was neither crucified nor killed but was ascended to heaven.
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