Author: Syed Abulhasan Nadwi (RA) Translation: M. Qasim
Guidelines and Methods for interpreting the Holy Quran (1st Part)
Preface:
الحمد لله رب العالـمین والصلاة والسلام علی سید الـمرسلین وخاتم النبیین محمد وآله وصحبه أجمعین ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلی یوم الدین .
Almighty Allah created humanity and made its existence in need of material and spiritual things. Undoubtedly, just as the human body needs water, food, etc. to continue living, the human soul also needs spiritual food, and just as the human body suffers from pests, diseases, and problems, the human soul is also the target of pests, diseases, and adversities. Yes, man is a combination of body and soul, any school that pays attention to only one aspect of man and ignores another dimension has definitely committed a crime against man and has not recognized him.
The mistake of the materialistic schools is that they only consider the material dimension of human beings and either deny or ignore the spiritual dimension. And therefore, they felt no need for the teachings of the prophets and considered themselves exempt. History and experiences testify that the dark days of mankind begin when he considers himself to be unnecessary from divine revelation and only wants to continue living with the help of reason and experience.
Indeed, since Allah Almighty is the creator of man and is aware of all his dimensions, he showed kindness to humanity and favored him by sending the prophets and finally by sending the Holy Prophet and the revelation of the Holy Qur’an.
How could Allah’s mercy and kindness allow him to provide all the material facilities for human’s physical needs but leave his spiritual needs unanswered and leave him alone without giving him instructions for life, I wish humanity would understand and He appreciated the divine messages.
What a flock of others! Unfortunately, Muslims themselves have become indifferent to the teachings of the Qur’an and the message of this eternal book due to the evil propaganda of the enemies of humanity and the insinuations of the devil, and many people objected to it and used this verse as an example.” وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا” Whoever rejects my advice (Qur’an) will definitely have a very short life. [Taha: 124]
If we realistically measure the life of Muslims on this verse, is not it true that today Muslims are troubled and worried? Hasn’t the political life of Muslims been disrupted? Are they not defeated and oppressed? Are they not considered backward and oppressed? Don’t the enemies force them? Don’t Jews and Christians humiliate and mock Muslims? Don’t countless political, social and moral dangers threaten their lives? Undoubtedly, the causes of all these disorders are the complaints of Muslims from the book of Allah and the true religion.
Of course, objections have many forms and forms. Some people have a weakness in their belief and they have objected in some way from the point of view of belief. Correct understanding of the Qur’an and deliberation are indifferent. In any case, turning away from the Holy Qur’an in any form leads to deprivation and misery, and nothing can replace it.
The rights of the Qur’an are on the shoulders of Muslims
If we refer to the Qur’an itself, we see that the Qur’an has five demands from every Muslim:
1- Faith and bowing
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ- The Messenger of Allah believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so did the believers. [Al-Baqarah: 285]
2- Recitation of verses.
الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ أُولَٰئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ -Those to whom we have given the book read it as it deserves to be read. [Al-Baqarah: 121]
3- understanding and thoughtfulness
كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ-It is a blessed book that We have sent down to you so that people may meditate in its verses and so that the wise may take advice. [Sad: 29] أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا They do not think about the verses in the Quran, or their hearts are locked. [Muhammad: 24]
4- Acting on the Qur’an and implementing its instructions in life
Qur’an is a book of action. Those who do not follow the commands of the Qur’an and do not implement them in their lives are considered transgressors and sinners in the eyes of the Qur’an. وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ-And whoever does not believe in what Allah has revealed, they are the disobedient. [Al-Maedah: 47].
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever considers the prohibited things of the Qur’an as halal has not believed in it.
5- Publication of Qur’an culture and invitation to it.
هَٰذَا بَلَاغٌ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنْذَرُوا بِهِ-This is a message for people to be warned. [Ebrahim: 52] The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: Deliver it from me, even if it is only one verse
If Muslims pay attention to the Qur’an in these five areas and fulfill these five rights of the Qur’an, an amazing transformation and revolution will definitely occur in their lives. The secret of the success of Muslims at the beginning of Islam was that they fulfilled the rights of the Qur’an in all the above fields and were proud, they always kept in mind this hadith of the Prophet of Islam, who said: “Through this book, Allah bestows blessings and pride on some peoples and humbles others.
The poet of the East and the mystic of Islam refers to this fact in the poems of the revolution of creation:
گر تو میخواهی مسلمان زیستن
نیست ممکن جز به قرآن زیستن
فاش گویم آنچه در دل مضمر است
این کتابی نیست چیزی دیگر است
If you want to live as a Muslim
It is not possible to live except by the Quran
I will reveal what is in my heart
This is not a book; it is something else
It is a great pleasure that the contemporary generation, especially the young and the educated, have turned to the Qur’an after being confused and witnessing various disturbances, and many of them have turned to research and research in the field of the meanings and teachings of the Qur’an, which undoubtedly heralds a bright future. It makes people hopeful. But in this regard, it is inevitable to mention one thing, and that is that many of those who are interested in Quranic knowledge are those who consider themselves to be independent from established scholars, or are engaged in arbitrary studies, or to understand the Quran, they resort to the writings of those who are themselves from the light of the Quran. It is not very useful and they are caught in some kind of deviations. It is here that one should get acquainted with the principles and principles of understanding the Qur’an, and in the light of the guidance of those who have reached knowledge, the present book, which is the result of the efforts of Imam Seyyed Abul Hasan Nadwi, may Allah have mercy on him, takes a step in this direction.
Hazrat Syed Abul Hasan Nadwi (may Allah have mercy on him) is someone who benefited from the men of Allah in understanding the Holy Quran and the grace of great men such as Hazrat Syed Hussain Ahmad Madani (may Allah have mercy on him), Imam Tafsir Maulana Ahmed Ali Lahori, may Allah have mercy on him, Maulana Haider Hasan Khan, may Allah have mercy on him, and Sayyed Sulaiman. Nadwi, may Allah have mercy on him, has been blessed and has received a lot of knowledge from the Qur’an with the special blessings of Allah.
This heartwarming work of Hazrat Allamah Nadwi (may Allah have mercy on him) in this turbulent era is a shining light for the seekers of Quranic knowledge, with the help of which, Allah willing, they will be able to establish a good relationship with the Quran and achieve true happiness and bring happiness to humanity through Quran, Sahim and Saeed.
Getting to know the Qur’an from the language of the Qur’an
In the light of what the Qur’an has said about itself, one can understand its various characteristics and dimensions and learn about its greatness and miracles which generally seem to be hidden.
Yes, when we examine several verses of the Qur’an that are in the introduction of the Qur’an itself, we see that it opens a new gate of knowledge for us. In this regard, verses from the Holy Quran are mentioned with necessary explanations.
The Holy Qur’an is a definite and unquestionable science
The greatest miraculous and superhuman characteristic of the Holy Qur’an is its certainty
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ This book has no doubt in itself. [Al-Baqarah: 2]
وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“The details of the rulings include, there is no doubt about it, it is from the Lord of the worlds. [Younes: 37].
وَإِنَّهُ لَكِتَابٌ عَزِيزٌ(41) لَا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ ۖ تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ(42)
A book is precious, vanity and futility do not come in front of it, nor behind it; It has been revealed from the Lord with wisdom and praise.[Fosellat:41-42]
In this feature, no words of human words and no books of human writing share and cannot share. Because the source of the Qur’an is “divine knowledge” and the means of its revelation is “divine revelation”. This source is pure and free from any defects, doubts and mistakes, suspicions and estimations, conflicts and differences, everything in it is definite and certain, visible and visible, identical and final; Allah’s knowledge is not gradual and growing, indeed, his knowledge is eternal like his other attributes.
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“He is the first of all, and He is the last of all, and He is the hidden, and He is the All-Knowing.” [Al-Hadid: 3].
His knowledge encompasses everything
إِنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا
“Indeed, your God is Allah, the one who is no God but him, who encompasses everything with his knowledge. [Taha: 98].
وَأَحَاطَ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ وَأَحْصَىٰ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عَدَدًا
” Almighty Allah surrounds all their circumstances and knows the number of everything perfectly. [Jin: 28].
There is no way to make mistakes and forget about him:
قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّي فِي كِتَابٍ ۖ لَا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنْسَى
“(Hazrat Musa) said: Their (previous people’s) knowledge is with my Lord; My Lord does not make mistakes and does not forget. He is the one who knows even intangible things and immaterial objects completely, and not a single particle of the universe is beyond his knowledge. [Taha: 52].
عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ ۖ لَا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا أَصْغَرُ مِنْ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَا أَكْبَرُ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ
“He is the Knower of the Unseen, not a particle of His knowledge is hidden, neither in the heavens nor on the earth, neither small nor great, but all is revealed in the Book. [Shaba: 3].
The divine book is taken from the divine knowledge:
فَإِلَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ بِعِلْمِ اللَّهِ وَأَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
“So, if they don’t respond positively to your call, then they will know that the Holy Qur’an was revealed to their knowledge, and there is no Allah but Allah, so will you surrender?” [Hood: 14].
وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَاهُمْ بِكِتَابٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
“And We have sent down to them a book in which we have explained everything through knowledge, and that book is for those who have faith, guidance and mercy. [Al-Araf: 52].
For this reason, the divine book is far from any kind of conflict and difference, because conflict and difference are the result of ignorance and lack of knowledge, or the result of a little or a lot of inner knowledge and analogies, or forgetfulness, neglect, falsehood, and slander, and surely divine knowledge is from all The defects are clean, so his word is also immune from any conflict and difference.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا
“Don’t they think in the Quran? If the Qur’an was from anyone other than Allah, they would see a lot of difference in it. [Al-Nasa: 82].
Sometimes it happens that the main source of a science and information is very clear and safe, but the media that communicates it to people is not reliable and trustworthy, as if the science was damaged in the middle of the way when it was moving from the origin to the destination. And it was not preserved, but this is not the case with the Qur’an, but as the Qur’an itself specifies, the means of knowledge of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is revelation, and it was completely preserved and protected, and there was no possibility of any interference in it.
192وَ إِنَّهُ لَتَنْزِیلُ رَبِّ الْعالَمِینَ 193نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِینُ 194عَلى قَلْبِکَ لِتَکُونَ مِنَ الْمُنْذِرِینَ 195بِلِسان عَرَبِیّ مُبِین
“And this Qur’an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds, the trustworthy angel Gabriel (pbuh) brought it to your heart in the Arabic language so that you may be among those who warn. [Al-Shaara: 192-195].
وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ(3) إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ(4)
“What he says is not the desire of his ego, but what he says is a revelation that is sent to him. [Al-Najm: 3-4].
قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِنْ رَبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
“You say: The Holy Spirit has brought it to the truth from your Lord to stabilize the hearts of the believers and to be a guide and good news for obedient servants. [Al-Nahl: 102].
إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ(19) ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِنْدَ ذِي الْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ(20) مُطَاعٍ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ(21)
“This Qur’an, the book of Allah, was brought by a precious, powerful, valuable angel to the owner of the throne, whose instructions are enforceable and trustworthy. [Al-Takwir: 19-21].
2- Humanities and its position
Now, if you look at human sciences in contrast to divine science, you will see that its source is not flawless, because its foundation is often based on suspicion and analogy, and its tools are not powerful despite their limitations.
The explanation that the best mediators of human knowledge are the five senses, because the knowledge that humans acquire through the five senses are considered self-evident.
The basis of intellectual sciences is also based on sensations, in this way, a person achieves intellectual results with the help of information obtained from the five senses, but the problem arises when the five senses themselves sometimes have problems.
After the five senses, it is the turn of intellect, the problem of intellect is that the difference in its degrees is infinite. Another problem that exists in human sciences is that man cannot surround himself with information and sensations at the same time.
Apart from that, there are countless issues in the material world that have not yet been resolved; And the difference of opinion, which has no limits, is gradually necessary for the progress of human science, and the limits of progress are not clear. If the boundary of science is clear, it is considered as the reason for its deficiency, and if its limit and boundary are not definite, it is the reason for its lack of perfection, and in any case, it is not free from defects and doubts. This is the state of the material world, which, however, humans have some of the tools of knowledge related to it. But the metaphysical world, which is beyond the material world and is far wider than it, is completely outside the scope of human science. Man has no definite knowledge about his truth and is unaware of his beginning and end. The beginning of this world and its end are a closed secret for him, but the intellect is unable to rationalize its truth.
Again, this is where a human being cannot gain detailed knowledge of things that cause happiness or unhappiness through pure suspicion or analogy and his nature without Allah’s help.
Humans commit countless mistakes in legislation and formation of political and moral systems, and due to different sources, the laws they make contradict each other.
Based on these laws, nations will fight with each other, many demands and interests will be in conflict with each other.
And due to the fact that human science is not complete and certain, human laws will inevitably go through many stages of experience and testing, and the series of accepting and rejecting, comparing and preferring will continue continuously, countless movements will be established, and humanity will never reach peace.
Yes! The source of these disturbances is human science, which is flawed and based on suspicion, but humans trust it, and this itself is a form of oppression and rebellion. Almighty Allah says in this regard.
وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا “And the knowledge that has been given to you is very little. [Al-Isra: 85].
وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ إِلَّا ظَنًّا ۚ إِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ “And most of the people follow illusion and suspicion, suspicion is not useful in knowing the truth. Verily, Allah is well aware of what they do. [Younes: 36]. إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا “They follow illusions and guesses, and there is no use in reaching the truth.” [Al-Najm: 28].
3- The Quran is solid and detailed
The Holy Qur’an is completely clear, specific, definitive and detailed about the principles and generalities of religion and what is necessary for the salvation of the hereafter and the welfare of man in this world.
As he says: أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا “Should we seek a judge other than Allah when He is the One who has brought to you the book that explains in detail. [Al-An’am: 114].
وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَاهُمْ بِكِتَابٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ “And for our research, we brought them a book that we explained clearly with science and knowledge. That book is a source of guidance and mercy for believers. [Al-Araf: 52].
الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِنْ لَدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ A. Lam Ra. This is a book whose verses are strong and have been explained in detail by Allah, who is wise and knowledgeable. [Hood: 1].
وَمَا كَانَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنُ أَنْ يُفْتَرَىٰ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنْ تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“And this Qur’an is not as if someone other than Allah made it to his own liking, but it is a confirmation of all the revelations that were revealed before it and it is a commentary of the book. There is no doubt about it. It is from the Lord of the worlds. [Yunus: 37].
But it should be known that from the point of view of Islam, religion does not have a narrow and exclusive concept as it is perceived in other religions. In the Islamic worldview, man is a slave and servant of Allah, and he is not free from Allah’s servitude and obedience in any part of his life. His every work, even his rule and reign (which is in contrast to slavery) is considered a manifestation of his obedience. Indeed, this worldview of separation between religion and politics has no meaning, and indeed, from the Almighty Allah, who is the master and owner of this slave and servant, he has been provided with complete instructions and rituals in the form of the Qur’an, in the light of which he can lead a successful life. Indeed, this way of life does not need any political comments.
The Qur’an is divided and authoritative
Being religious is one of the distinguished qualities of the Qur’an, which is named as Qaim Maqam.
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا “Blessed is the One who sent down the Book of Reconciliation to His servant so that he may be a warner for the worlds. [Al-Furqan: 1].
Indeed, the Holy Qur’an has distinguished between guidance and misguidance, faith and disbelief, Islam and ignorance, Allah’s pleasure and lack of it, certainty and suspicion, and lawful and forbidden in such a way that no similar distinction can be seen in any of the holy books. For example, he has stated the difference between monotheism and polytheism so clearly that there is no possibility of any possibility or mistake in it, and it really indicates its miracle.
قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ “The path of guidance is clear from going astray. [Al-Baqarah: 256].
لِيَمِيزَ اللَّهُ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ and this is because Allah wants to separate the impure from the pure. [Al-Anfal: 37].
لِيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَيَّ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ “Also because someone who is perishable after the completion of the proof will perish and the one who can survive after the completion of the proof will live. [Al-Anfal: 42].
5-The Holy Qur’an is the confirmation of the previous books and their guardian
In this regard, three points should be considered:
1- The principles and generalities of religion are common and unanimous in all the holy books and the teachings of the prophets. And this is confirmed in the Quran.
2- The heavenly books came before the Holy Qur’an for a limited period of time and were preserved until that period, and none of them were permanent.
3- Quran is the last book and it is for eternity. And it includes all the principles of religion and will be protected until the Day of Resurrection.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ”It is true that we revealed the Qur’an, and we will protect and preserve it. [Al-Hajr: 9].
Yes, the Holy Quran is the confirmation of the previous books and the benchmark of their main teachings. For this reason, any material from the previous books that is in accordance with the Qur’an is valid and safe, and anything that is contrary to it is perverted and not protected.
Several verses in the Holy Qur’an indicate that the Holy Qur’an is the authenticator of the previous books. In the following verse, two attributes of the Qur’an (Musadeq and Muhaiman) are mentioned.
وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ -And We have sent down the Book to you in truth, while it confirms the books before it and is a guardian over them. [Al-Maedah: 48].
6- The Holy Qur’an guides hearts to health and calls them from darkness to light
يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا كُنْتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ ۚ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُبِينٌ(15) يَهْدِي بِهِ اللَّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلَامِ وَيُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ(16)-“
A light and a clear book have come to you from Allah. Through it, Allah guides those who seek His pleasure to the ways of salvation and health, and by His will, He brings them from the darkness to the light and shows them the right path. [Al-Maedah: 15-16].
الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ(1) اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ(2)
A. Lam Ra. This is the book that we have sent to you so that you can bring people out of darkness by the decree of their Lord and lead them to the light and the way of the Mighty and Praiseworthy Allah, to whom belongs everything that exists in the heavens and the earth. [Abraham: 1-2].
هُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
He is the one who sends down the clear signs to his servant to bring you out of darkness and bring you to the light. Indeed, Allah is kind to you. [Al-Hadid: 9].
اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
“Allah is the friend of the believers who takes them out of darkness and brings them to the light, and Satan is the friend of the disbelievers who takes them out of the light and brings them to the darkness. They belong to the fire and will always remain in it. [Al-Baqarah: 257].
For the best way of life, the Holy Qur’an opens straight and smooth paths for humanity, which are far from any kind of danger and extremes and interprets these paths as “sabul al-salam” (paths of peace), which truly does not have a better interpretation than that. And there is no better word to describe and explain the word “Sabl Islam” than the word itself.
The ways of health and prosperity are actually the alleys of the same great highway (Sarat) that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is responsible for introducing to the servants.
وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ “(And He has announced that) this way is my right way. Go on this way and do not go on other ways, because they will scatter you from His way. [Al-An’am: 153].
In this regard, an important point is worth noting, and that is that the Holy Qur’an has always used darkness instead of light, this is because if there is no light and light of revelation, there will be so much darkness that there is no limit. And man will face darkness at every stage of his life.
If we remove the light of true religion, nothing will remain in this world except darkness. Of course, not one darkness, but countless darknesses.
Examine the world, all the ways to Allah, missing; Religions, customs of anger and inanimate; People’s beliefs about ignorance and illusions; knowledge and knowledge, analogy and suspicion; Society and transactions based on injustice and inconsistency, law in politics is all experience and experiment, governments and governments, coercion and aggression. Yes, in the midst of these disturbances, the example of a person lost his way is what the Quran says.
ظُلُمَاتٌ بَعْضُهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ إِذَا أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ لَمْ يَكَدْ يَرَاهَا
“Darkness is on top of darkness so that they are piled together, the darkness is so dark that a person cannot even see his own hand.” [Eleanor: 40].
Indeed, in this sea of darkness and the terrible sea of darkness, only Allah is the bright tower and the light, from whose rays the earth and the sky are illuminated.
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth.” [Eleanor: 35].
For this reason, in front of “darkness” (innumerable darknesses), the singular word “light” is used. If there is no light from the only source, nothing will be lighted.
وَمَنْ لَمْ يَجْعَلِ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُورًا فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ نُورٍ “And whoever has not been given light by Allah will not have any light.” [Eleanor: 40].
Indeed, those who, by means of the Holy Qur’an and prophetic light, have come out of the world of darkness, neglect, and misguidance and step into the world of light and clarity, will definitely achieve a new life; They feel that they have acquired eyes and insight, then all the ways of life will be clear to them and the “peace be upon them” and the straight path will be clear in their eyes, every step of their journey of life will be raised in the light of Allah’s light. And as long as they are guided by the right, they will not make mistakes.
Undoubtedly, these two states (initial state or darkness and the next state or light) are infinitely different from each other. The Holy Quran has depicted this difference like this:
أَوَمَنْ كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَنْ مَثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِنْهَا
“Are these two people equal? One of them was dead, then We gave him life, and then We placed for him a light with which he could walk among people, and the other is in a heap of darkness, and there is no way out. He doesn’t have it.” [Al-An’am: 122].
Almighty Allah has promised to give such a light to the followers of the Holy Quran as he says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَآمِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ
“O believers! Fear Allah and believe in the mission of His Prophet, so that Allah will give you two shares of His mercy and grant you a light with which you can walk and forgive your sins. [Al-Hadid: 28].
The words:) He walks happily to walk (indicate that this light is not only for the Hereafter, but the owners of this light also have the light of insight and the power of discernment in all matters of life.
They do all the work in the light of divine revelation and the guidance of the Holy Prophet. Almighty Allah helps them in every field with “Furqan” (power to distinguish between good and bad). Their way of life is completely different from the life of unbelievers. Their special feature is that their life is not based on analogy and experience, but on revelation and mission. The following verse mentions this special feature and privilege.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا “O believers! If you fear Allah, Allah will give you the power to distinguish between right and wrong. [Al-Anfal: 29].
For this reason, Allah Almighty has named the Holy Qur’an with the titles of light, vision, guidance, vision, preaching, healing and blessed remembrance.
6-The Holy Qur’an is a full-view mirror in which different people and owners of thoughts and actions can fully see their faces in it, of course, sometimes explicitly and sometimes by pointing, and sometimes while mentioning people and sometimes directly as it says:
لَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَابًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
“As a result of our research, we have sent you a book in which your situation is mentioned. Do they not use reason? [Al-Anbia: 10].
Expressing an event
The famous muhaddith of Shaykh al-Islam Abu Abd Allah Muhammad bin Nasr Maruzi Baghdadi (202-294 AH), who is a student of Imam Ahmad Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him), has narrated this incident in his book “Qiyam al-Lil” which helps a person to understand the above verse and follows the way of the Salaf. About the understanding of the Qur’an and thinking about it, it implies:
Tabi Jalil al-Qadr and the famous Arab general “Ahnaf bin Qays” heard this verse one day while he was sitting: لَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَابًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ “As a result of our research, we have sent you a book in which your situation is mentioned. Do they not use reason? [Al-Anbia: 10].
He shook his head and said to bring me a copy of the Holy Quran so that I can see which group I belong to and with whom I am similar. He opened the Holy Quran and passed by men whose description is like this:
كَانُواْ قَلِيلٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ مَا يَهۡجَعُونَ ١٧ وَبِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ هُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ ١٨ وَفِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقّٞ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ ١٩﴾”They sleep a little at night and ask for forgiveness in the morning, and everyone has a share in their property (whether they ask for it or not). [Al-Zariyat: 17-19].
His eyes fell on another group that had this status:
تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّهُمۡ خَوۡفٗا وَطَمَعٗا وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ) ١٦)
“Their sides are far from the bed, while they call upon their Lord with fear and hope, and they spend on others from what We have provided for them. [Al-Sajda: 16].
He looked again at another group that has been praised like this:
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمۡ سُجَّدٗا وَقِيَٰمٗا (٦٤)
“(Those who spend the night prostrating and standing in the presence of their Lord) [Al-Furqan: 64].
He continued walking and saw a group who were introduced as follows:
ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلۡكَٰظِمِينَ ٱلۡغَيۡظَ وَٱلۡعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ١٣٤”Those who spend their wealth in comfort and hardship in the way of Allah, and suppress their anger, and forgive people’s faults, and Allah loves the righteous. [Al-Imran: 134].
He saw another group that had this condition:
وَيُؤۡثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِهِمۡ خَصَاصَةٞۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ “And they prefer others over themselves, even though they themselves are in need of that thing, and those who are protected from selfishness are saved.” [Al-Hashr: 9].
He did not get tired and continued to visit and observe, he reached a group that had these morals and attributes.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُواْ هُمۡ يَغۡفِرُونَ ٣٧
“And those who refrain from major sins and actions contrary to chastity, and when they are angry, they shorten and pass away. [Al-Shuri: 37].
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَجَابُواْ لِرَبِّهِمۡ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَمۡرُهُمۡ شُورَىٰ بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ ٣٨
“And those who obey their Lord and pray in a good manner, and their deeds are done in consultation, and they fulfill some of what We have given them.” [Al-Shuri: 38].
When Ahnaf bin Qays arrived here, he was amazed and said: By Allah! I am aware of my situation, I am not seen among these groups, then he chose another way and continued his journey. He saw a group who were like this:
إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُوٓاْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ ٣٥ وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِكُوٓاْ ءَالِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٖ مَّجۡنُونِۢ ٣٦
“When they were told that there is no deity other than Allah, they turned away and said: Should we abandon our Gods according to a crazy poet?” [Al-Safat: 35-36].
In the same way, he looked at the people who were introduced like that:
وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَحۡدَهُ ٱشۡمَأَزَّتۡ قُلُوبُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۖ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمۡ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ ٤٥ “And when only Allah is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter sink, and when people other than Him are mentioned, they immediately rejoice.” [Alzmer: 45].
Again, he passed by another group who were questioned:
مَا سَلَكَكُمۡ فِي سَقَرَ ٤٢ قَالُواْ لَمۡ نَكُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ ٤٣ وَلَمۡ نَكُ نُطۡعِمُ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينَ ٤٤ وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ ٱلۡخَآئِضِينَ ٤٥ وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٤٦ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰنَا ٱلۡيَقِينُ ٤٧
“What brought you to Hell? In response, they will say: We did not pray, we did not give food to the needy, and we used to mix truth and lies with people like us, we spread rumors, and we called the Day of Resurrection a lie until death came. [Al-Mudassar: 42-47].
He continued his efforts, turning the pages of the Holy Quran. to find his place, until he finally stopped on this verse:
وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ خَلَطُواْ عَمَلٗا صَٰلِحٗا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٌ ١٠٢
And there are others who confess their sins. They have mixed good deeds with bad deeds. Soon Allah will pay attention to them with His mercy. Truly, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. [Al-Toba: 102].
At this time, this sentence came out of his mouth: Yes! Yes! Undoubtedly, this is my case.
7-Eternal guide for mankind
One of the miraculous dimensions of the Holy Qur’an is that it mentions nations and people who are not perishable due to their special morals. In the field of crimes and misdemeanors, he did not mention those rare crimes that are only sometimes committed by some special people. Rather, he has stated the many crimes and sins. In the light of these facts, it can be said that the Holy Quran is a living and eternal book, for it there is no difference between the past and the present, the new and the old, the address of the Quran is the same for every civilization and every time, its call is always new and according to the requirements of the present. It is a full-view mirror of human nature and an eternal guide for the human race. What is interesting said by the person who revealed it.
وَلَقَدۡ أَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَٰتٖ مُّبَيِّنَٰتٖ وَمَثَلٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوۡاْ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ وَمَوۡعِظَةٗ لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ ٣٤
“We have sent down to you the clear verses and the conditions of those who left before you, and an admonition for the pious. [Eleanor: 34].
وَلَقَدۡ ضَرَبۡنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٖ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ٢٧
“And We have told the people of every kind of example and story in this Qur’an so that it may be a reminder for them. [Alzmer: 27].
لَقَدۡ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمۡ عِبۡرَةٞ لِّأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثٗا يُفۡتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصۡدِيقَ ٱلَّذِي بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ وَتَفۡصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ وَهُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ ١١١
And for those who have wisdom, there is a lesson in the stories of the prophets. The Qur’an is not a word woven with lies, but the Qur’an confirms what is before it, explains everything in detail, and is a source of guidance and mercy for the believers. [Yusuf: 111].