Quran - 01 - What is the Qur’aan?

الم - ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

"Alif-Laam-Meem - This is the Book (this Qur'an) in which there is no doubt, a Guidance for the God-Conscious." [Al-Baqarah 2:1-2]

A Muslim is obligated to believe in the Quran in its entirety. It is a pillar of eemaan (faith) to believe in all the Divinely revealed books of which Quran is the last revelation. Allah himself has preserved this Book and is the only known book of its kind that is memorised in its entirety by millions of people.

 

Quran is a Book of guidance for those who are Allah-conscious.

Allah describes this book further in Quran as follows:

هُوَ الَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمَـتِ إِلَى النُّورِ

“It is He Who sends down manifest Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to His slave (Muhammad) that He may bring you out from darkness into light  [al-Hadeed 57:9]

وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَـبَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ

“And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’aan) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allaah as Muslims)” [al-Nahl 16:89]

Our approach to Quran will determine what we benefit or otherwise from it. Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over a period of 23 years. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ first received revelation while he was resident in Makkah and became a Prophet. This Meccan period lasted 13 years. He later migrated to Madinah (formerly known as Yathrib) where he died in the 10th year after migration.

The of Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ  companions' attachment to Quran is a shining example to us of how the Quran should be appreciated. They lived at the time when revelation came to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and they strove to follow the guidelines of Quran and live it.

The key element from Quran as highlighted by the verses above is one of guidance. Those who are keen to be guided will find it in Quran which is the light. Those who submit themselves will have no doubt that Quran is from Allah and will accept it as their source of guidance.

 

Muslims need to learn Quran and learn about Quran, i.e. A Muslim must learn to read Quran - preferably in Arabic which is the language in which the Quran was revealed, but he/she may also read it in his/her own language to get some basic understanding. Learning to read from a teacher is the correct method of doing so and also to have a teacher expanding on the understanding of the text.

There are also other aspects which is beneficial to know about such as the manner of revelation, reasons for revelation (relative to particular verses), preservation of Quran and certain gems from Quran in its uniqueness and confirmation of it being divine.

Quran is the Word of Allah and it being from Allah, our Creator, our Lord, it is the most important of all words and texts. Muslims submit to every letter of Quran for every letter in Quran is relevant. The understanding, at all times, is that the Quran is Arabic and that the translations itself are not the words of Allah. The more one consumes of something, the more one will become the embodiment of it and our lives will be beaming lights when we consume of the light and guidance, Quran.

 ******************************************************************************************************

We are commanded to fast in the month of Ramadan because Quran was revealed in this month. 

*******************************************************************************************************