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Quran is the last and final revelation of Allah, revealed to the last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). The Holy Quran is the most positive book in this world. It’s a proclamation to humanity. It’s a fountain of mercy & wisdom. It’s a warning to the heedless. And assurance to those who are in doubt. A solace to the suffering. And hope to those who are in despair. Do you think it’s possible to derive all these benefits from the Holy Quran unless you read, understand, ponder over the meaning, implement and put it to practice? Alhumdulillah, the Holy Quran is the most widely read book in the world. But unfortunately it’s also the book, which is maximum read without understanding. That’s the reason, the relationship of the Muslims with the Quran has weakened, and it has left us with only paying outwardly respect to it, and we have not derived the real benefit and guidance for which it was revealed. What a tragic misfortune it is, if you get the Quran and you went away empty handed. Souls untouched, hearts unmoved, and life unchanged.
The Honor
Allah says in the Holy Quran in Surah Al-Imran 3: 110 that “you are the best of people evolved for mankind”. Allah is calling us “Khairah ummah”, the best of people, evolved for mankind. But natural, reason for this is given in the same ayah where Allah says, “because you enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong and you believe in Allah”.
The reason why Allah is calling us “kutum khairah ummah”, i.e., the best of people, is because we enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong and we believe in Allah. We can only enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong if we know what is good and what is wrong. If we do not know what is good and what is wrong, how can we enjoin the good and forbid the wrong. The word Quran is derived from Arabic root word “Qara” which means a collection to read, a book meant to be read, to be recited, and to be proclaimed. The Quran calls itself the Furqan, which means the criteria to judge between right and wrong. Therefore, in order for us to proclaim the Holy Quran, in order for us to use the Holy Quran as criteria to judge right from wrong, it is compulsory for every Muslim to read the Holy Quran with understanding. Let us analyze, what are the various reasons that Muslims give for not reading the Holy Quran with understanding.
Arabic is Alien Language
The most common of all the excuses is that we do not know Arabic as a language. Today, the world’s population is approximately 5 billion. Out of which more than 20%, more than a billion Muslims are there. And amongst the Muslims, about 15% are Arabs. And beside Arabs, only a few Muslims know Arabic as a language. That means more than 80% of the Muslim world do not understand Arabic as a language. The moment a child is born, he does not know a language. He learns the language from the mother, that’s his mother tongue so that he can converse with the family members. He learns the language of the locality so that he can communicate with the people living around him. He learns a language in which he is educated. Every human being, at least knows two or three languages, and some might know 5 or 6 languages while the others are linguist. I do know for a person to learn a language, its much more easier during the childhood. But age is never a barrier to do any good work. And I cannot resist giving you the example of Dr. Maurice Bucaille. Dr. Maurice Bucaille is a French scientist and surgeon who was given the French academy award of medicine. And he was selected to do research on mummy of Manapta; the body of Pharaoh which is mentioned in the Bible. And Dr. Maurice Bucaille being a Christian, he was conversant with the story of pharaoh given in the Bible and that pharaoh drowns in the pursuit of Moses (Pbuh). During one of the visits of Dr. Maurice Bucaille to Saudi Arabia, he was told that Holy Quran mentions in Surah Yunus 10: 92 that Allah says that “we shall save the body of Pharaoh; we shall preserve the body of Pharaoh as a sign for posterity, as a sign for humankind.
Dr. Maurice Bucaille was surprised that how can this book the Holy Quran mentions this fact 1400 years ago, which we discovered recently? This inspired Dr. Maurice Bucaille to read the translation of Holy Quran. He was so impressed that though being a Christian, at the age of 50, he learnt Arabic as a language to understand the Quran better, to understand the Quran directly. And after his research, he wrote a book “The Bible, The Quran and Science” which says that all the scientific phenomenon mentioned in Holy Quran, they are in perfect conformity with the latest researches of Modern science. While most of the same scientific phenomenon mentioned in the Bible is absolutely unaccepted by the scientist. The main point to be noted here is, that Dr. Maurice Bucaille though being a Non Muslim; he learnt Arabic at the age of 50 so that he could understand the Holy Quran. I do not expect each and every adult Muslim to be as enthusiastic, to be as interested as Dr. Maurice Bucaille and learn Arabic at an elderly age, but surely, every Muslim can make an effort. And INSHAllah, most of us will be successful. But even if a person does not know Arabic as a language that should not discourage him from reading the Quran with understanding. Because today ALHUMDULILLAH, there are various translations of Holy Quran available in almost all the major languages of the world. And according to Maulana Abdul Majeed Daryabaadi, he rightly said that the Holy Quran is the most untranslatable book in this world. Because the language of the Holy Quran is so divine, its noble, its pure, its miraculous, its unsurpassable, its intelligible, which makes it the most difficult book in the world and infact an impossible book to be translated into various other languages. The language of the Holy Quran is so rich, that each word requires several words or at times even sentences to translate. Many Arabic words have several meanings. And many a times, more than one is applicable for that Ayah (verse). The beauty of the original Arabic text cannot be translated into any other language. But inspite of this difficulty, there are several scholars throughout the world, who have translated the Holy Quran into various other languages of this world. Even though you cannot grasp the 100% message of the Holy Quran, and in depth knowledge of the Holy Quran by reading the translation, yet you can acquire the majority, the maximum of the basic message, which the Quran gives you even if you read the translation of the Holy Quran. You should read the translation of Quran in the language you understand best. If you know English, read in English; if you know Urdu, read Urdu translation; if you know Hindi, read it in Hindi; read it in the language you know the best. Irrespective of the language whether it is English, Urdu, Telugu, Hindi, Gujrati, Tamil etc; read it in the language you know the best, in your mother tongue.
No Time for Research
Many of us say that we are so busy in our studies, in our profession, in our business and the materialistic involvement; that the time does not permit us to read the translation of the Holy Quran. The majority of us have spent years and decades in schools, colleges and universities to acquire a mere degree and we have read volumes and volumes of books, even memorized portion of these books just to acquire a mere degree. Which may or may not help you in this world. How much time does it take to read the translation of Holy Quran. If the Holy Quran is read like any other normal book which will take a couple of days. But our beloved prophet (Pbuh) said, its mentioned in the Hadith of Tirmidhi: Hadith no. 4016 that “anyone who reads the Holy Quran in less than three days he had understood nothing.” So if you read the Holy Quran slowly, with understanding, you will be able to complete it in a week’s time. If you read one Para, one part of Holy Quran every day, then you will finish the Holy Quran in one month. Imagine, if a person comes to the Holy Quran and does not acquire anything; it’s a tragic misfortune. The degree that you acquire for which you spent years and years of study may or may not help you in this world. We know many people who are graduate and post graduates and who are jobless. There are many graduates who have changed their stream for livelihood, thus wasting all the years of their education. But natural, education is important. But it is not more important than the Holy Quran. And anyone, after having the Holy Quran goes to any other source he is only running after mirages.
The Holy Quran says in Surah Baqarah 2: 1-2 “alif laam mim, zaalikal kitabu laraiba fee…..” which means “this is the book in which without doubt there is guidance for those who fear Allah”. Allah promises that in this book, there guidance for you without doubt. The Holy Quran says in Surah Kahf 18: 54 that “we have explained in detail in this Holy Quran, for the benefit of humankind, several similitudes; but man in most things is contentious” The Holy Quran says in Surah Al-Zumar 39: 27 that “we have put forth for the human being, every kind of parable in order that they may receive admonition”. The Holy Quran promises you that it will give you benefit in this world as well as in the hereafter. Suppose you have a close friend who lives in Germany and if he comes and spends a week with you in Hyderabad and spends a couple of weeks. He can only speak in broken English and he is hardly able to converse with you, but he is a close friend of yours. When he goes back to Germany, he writes you a letter in German. But natural, since you cannot understand German neither can you read it; what will you do? In order to know what your friend has mentioned in the letter, you will have the letter translated. You would be eager to know what your close friend has mentioned in this letter. So cant we Muslims take the trouble to know what our lord Allah has mentioned in the last and final revelation in the Holy Quran. We Muslims we say that we love Allah more than anyone else in this world, more than anything else in this world; but do we actually mean it. Verbally we say but do we mean it. For our friend, we can have the letter translated. We will take all the pain to know what is mentioned in that letter. And we see to it that we either have the letter translated or we will go to a person who can explain you the message what is given in that letter. So can’t we take the trouble of knowing the Holy Quran, we don’t have to translate the Holy Quran, because it has already been translated and there are several translations available in the market. You only have to take the effort of reading it.
Quran: A Source of Guidance
There is a very common misconception amongst the Muslims that the Holy Quran was revealed only for the Muslims and that it was not meant for the Non Muslims. Therefore no Muslim should give the Holy Quran to the Non Muslim. Infact the Holy Quran says Surah Ibrahim 14: 1 that “Alif laam ra, this is the book which we have revealed to thee so that thou may lead mankind from the depth of darkness to light. The Quran does not say that Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet (Pbuh) to lead the Muslims or the Arabs out of darkness, but to lead the whole of humanity out of darkness. The Holy Quran says in Surah Ibrahim 14: 52 that “here is a message for whole of humankind, let them take warning here from, let them know that there is only one Allah and let the men of understanding take heed”
The Holy Quran says in Surah Baqrah 2: 185 that “Ramadhan is the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed as a guidance to the humankind, to judge right from wrong. The Holy Quran says in Surah Al-Zumar 39: 41 that “we have revealed to thee (that is prophet pbuh) the Holy Quran to instruct the humankind”. It does not say to instruct the Muslims or the Arabs, but to instruct whole of humankind. The Holy Quran says in Surah Al-Qalam 68: 52 which says, “This is nothing but a message to all the world”. The Holy Quran says in Surah Takwir 81: 27 that “verily this is no less message to all the worlds”. It does not say only to Muslims, but all the worlds. And our beloved prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was not send only for the Muslims or the Arabs, but the Holy Quran says in Surah Al-Ambiya 21: 107 “we have sent thee not but as a mercy for the whole of humankind.” As a mercy to all the creatures. As a mercy to all the worlds. The Holy Quran says in Surah Saba 34: 28 that “we have sent thee as a universal messenger, giving glad tidings and warning them against sins; but most of human beings yet do not know.”
Myths amongst Muslims
There are many Muslims who will argue from the Holy Quran and say that the Holy Quran should not be given to Non Muslims because it is mentioned in Surah Waqiah 56: 77-80 that “this is the Quran most honorable, a book well guarded. None shall touch it except those who are pure and this is the revelation from the lord of the worlds.” Quoting this ayah, they say that no one can touch it except those who are pure and these Non Muslims are impure, they are unclean therefore these Non Muslims should not touch the Holy Quran. People have misunderstood the meaning of this ayah. This ayah does say “none can touch except those who are pure”. The Arabic word “Kitabim maknun” does not refer to the Holy Quran, which we have in this world, in a book form. And it refers to this book form, and if the Arabic word “Mutah hareen” mentioned in the Holy Quran only refers to the body cleanliness then any Non Muslim can go in the market, and very well purchase a copy of Holy Quran for about 100 to 150 rupees and touch the Holy Quran and the Quran would be proved wrong. If you analyze, the Arabic word “Kitabim maknun” refers to the “Lohe mahfuz” which is present in the Heaven. And “Mutah hareen” refers to something which is free from uncleanliness, free from impurity; something, which is free from sins and evil. But natural, it refers to the pure angels, who are free from sins and impurity. The Quran actually means that no one will be able to touch the “Lohe-mahfuz” that’s there in heaven except the angels. Some Muslims might compromise that okay, if you give the Holy Quran to the Non Muslims, don’t give the Arabic text, and only give the translation. I have got no objection if someone gives only the translation, but personally I prefer giving the Holy Quran along with the Arabic text and the translation because if the translator of the Holy Quran makes a mistake, it can be verified from the original Arabic text. And that mistake will not be attributed to Allah.
There are basically two opnions in this regard. And both opnions or Fatwaas have been issued by Top level Ulemas. Some say that one should not give Qur’an with arabic text to a Non-Muslim and they base their argument on a hadith in which Prophet (Pbuh) forbade carrying of Qur’an when travelling to a Non-Muslim land.
The second opnion is opposite, that you can give Arabic text with translation to Non-Muslim. There are several authentic arguments presented for this.
Firstly, if the translator of the Holy Quran makes a mistake, it can be verified from the original Arabic text. And that mistake will not be attributed to Allah.
Secondly, if suppose Allah holds us accountable on the day of judgment for giving the Arabic text of the Holy Quran to the Non Muslim, we will be in the good company of our beloved prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). Because our beloved prophet (Pbuh), he dictated letters to the Non Muslim kings, inviting them to Islam. And in those letters, he even mentioned Quranic ayats. Such letters were given to several Non Muslim kings like the king of Abyssinia, the emperor Hercules, the emperor of Persia, the king of Yemen, the king of Egypt; to several Non Muslim kings. Some of them Alhumdulillah accepted Islam; some of them even tore the letter, while some even trampled it beneath their feet. So if Allah holds me responsible for giving Arabic text to the Non Muslims, I will be in the company of my beloved prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). And one such letter, which he wrote to the emperor, is present in one of the museum in Istanbul. It contains an ayah from the Holy Quran from Surah Al-e-Imran 3: 64 where Allah mentions “say to the people of the book, come to common terms between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, that we associate no partners with him, that we erect not amongst ourselves lords and patrons other than Allah; and if then they turn back, say we bear witness that we are Muslims bowing to the will of Allah. So our beloved prophet (Pbuh) dictated letters to Non Muslim kings, in which ayahs of Holy Quran were mentioned.
Thirdly I would like to ask a question to these Muslims who say that the Arabic text of Holy Quran should not be given and only the translation should be given to the Non Muslims, I want to ask them that which translation of Holy Quran would they give to the Arab Non Muslims. There are more than 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians. That means they are Christians since generations. Which translation of the Holy Quran would you give to these Non Muslims?
Fourthly, Qur’an says in several places that it is for the entire mankind, for all human beings. So if it is for all mankind, then how can we restrict it from going into the hands of Non-Muslim because unless they read it and understand it, they will not be guided.
Is Understanding of Qur’an only for Scholars?
Many Muslims say that the Holy Quran is only meant to be read and understood by Aalims, i.e. the scholars and if a common man reads the Holy Quran with understanding, he will be misguided. But the Holy Quran says, it’s mentioned in Surah Al-Qamar 54: 17, 22, 32, 40 that “we have indeed made the Quran easy to understand, then is there anyone who wants to receive admonition? Allah says that “and we have made the Quran easy for you to understand & remember, is there any that shall not receive admonition”. Allah says that it is easy for us to understand. Some Muslims say you will get misguided. Who will you believe in? Allah or these Muslims? The Holy Quran repeats several times that the reason for its revelation. It’s mentioned in Surah Baqrah 2: 242 “Laa allakum taakheelun”. “So that you may understand”. The Holy Quran says in Surah Al-Hijr 15: 1 that “Alif laam raa; these are the ayahs of the revelation of Quran that makes things clear. Allah says that the revelation of Holy Quran makes things clear. But some Muslims say it confuses people, it misleads people. Who will you believe, these Muslims or Allah? But at the same time, Holy Quran also mentions in Surah Nahl 16: 43 that “if you realize it not, ask those who posses the message”. The Quran repeats the same message in Surah Furqan 25: 59, which says “ask of those who have knowledge, ask of those who are well acquainted with things.” So if there is any doubt, the Holy Quran says ask the person who has knowledge, ask the person who has information. You can very well go to an Aalim. What is the meaning of the word “Aalim”? It means a person who has “Ilm”, it does not only mean those people who has gone to a Dar-ul-uloom and have spent 7 years or 14 years. If suppose the Holy Quran speaks about Science and you have difficulty in understanding it, whom will you go to? Will you go to a cobbler or a barber? Who will you go to? You will go to a scientist. Because a scientist is an “Aalim” in the field of science. If the Holy Quran speaks about medicine, you will not go to a person who has gone to Dar-ul-uloom and have spent 7 years or 14 years, but surely you will go to doctor, who is an “Aalim” in the field of medicine. If the Quran speaks about certain matter, and if you want to know when it was revealed and the Arabic grammar, you will not go to a scientist or a doctor, but you will go to a Maulana who has spent several years in Dar-ul-uloom because that Maulana is an “Aalim” in the field of revelation of Quran, in the history of Holy Quran, in the Arabic grammar. So if you have doubt, ask a person who is expert in that field. Ask an “Aalim”.
Several years ago, there were a group of Arab students, who collected all the data given in the Holy Quran dealing with embryology. And they followed the guidance given in the Holy Quran in Surah Nahl 16: 43 & Surah Furqan 25: 59, which says, “that if you are in doubt, ask the person who knows”. And they presented all the data that they acquired from the Holy Quran to professor Dr. Kieth Moore who happens to be the chairman of the department of anatomy in the university of Toronto, Canada. Professor Dr. Kieth Moore he read the translation of all the ayahs that was presented to him dealing with embryology and he said that majority of the information given in Holy Quran is matching perfectly with the latest discoveries in the field of embryology. But he said that “there are a few ayahs of the Holy Quran, which I cannot say that they are right, neither can I say they are wrong because I myself do not know about it”. Embryology has not commented on those facts, which are mentioned in the Holy Quran. Two of these ayahs were the first two ayahs which were revealed of the Holy Quran that is from Surah Alaq 96: 1-2 which says “read, recite or proclaim; in the name of thy lord who created; who created the human beings from something which clings, a leech like substance”. Professor Dr. Kieth Moore said “I do not know whether the embryo in the initial stages it looks like a leech or not”. So he went in his laboratory, and under a very powerful microscope, he analyzed the early shape of embryo and compared it with the photograph of a leech and he was astonished at the striking resemblance. And when he was asked about 80 questions, regarding the embryology mentioned in Holy Quran and Sahih Hadith, he said that “if these questions were asked to me 30 years ago, I would not be able to answer even 50 % because embryology is a new branch of medicine which has developed recently in the past 30 years”. And the information mentioned in Holy Quran has been verified recently in the past 30 years. And whatever information he got, the additional information from the Quran and the Hadith, he incorporated in his third edition of his book “The developing Human” for which he got an award for the best medical book written in that year by a single author. Later on that book was translated in various languages of the world and even today it is the best text book referred for the M.B.B.S students, those who do medicine if you want to score marks, you refer to the book “The Developing Human” by Professor Dr. Kieth Moore. Professor Dr. Kieth Moore said that I have no objection in accepting that Holy Quran is the divine revelation and I have no objection in accepting that prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is the messenger of Allah.
Qur’an is a manual of Instructions
Whenever we purchase any new equipment, any new gadget; but natural along with that equipment, along with that gadget you get the instruction manual. Suppose you purchase a videocassette recorder. Along with it you get the instruction manual, which says, “if you want to play the cassette, insert the cassette and press the play button and so on”. I would say “don’t drop it from height, it will get damaged”. “Don’t immerse it in water, it will spoil”. The dos and don’ts, the good and bad for the V.C.R are given in that manual. And more complicated the machine, the more requirement of an instruction manual. If you allow me to call a human being a machine, then it is the most complicated machine on this planet. It’s more complicated than the most advanced computer. Don’t you think it requires an instruction manual? The last and final instruction manual for the human beings is this, the Holy Quran. The dos and don’ts for the human beings is mentioned in the Holy Quran. It tells you what is good and what is bad for you. It shows you how to lead your life. But natural, when you get the instruction manual, you see to it that you understand the manual. And if it is in foreign language, you will see to it that you translate it or ask someone to explain it to you. Therefore, it is compulsory for every human being to read the Holy Quran with understanding. Previously when automobiles were introduced in the India for the first time; we dint know how to drive. So that moment you purchase a car, the company along with the car gives you a driver. It provided you with a driver. There was a rich Nawab, who purchases a new car. And along with the car, the company provided him with the driver. One day the nawab tells his driver to keep the car ready and that “I want to take my wife begum sahibah for shopping”. So the driver tells him, nawab saheb, the car is out of order. So the Nawab saheb gets angry and he says “I want the car to be in working condition immediately”. So the driver replies “Nawab saheb, in order to make the car in working condition, I need 10 kgs of pure honey, 20 ltrs of pure milk, 30 kgs of pure ghee, and 40 kgs of basmati rice.” So the Nawab gives the material, the driver takes it and gives it to his wife. And then the car is back into working condition now. I am asking you a question, that today, if your driver tells you that he requires 10 kgs of pure honey, 20 ltrs of pure milk, 30 kgs of pure ghee, and 40 kgs of basmati rice; what will you do? You will kick him out of the job. Even though you are not a mechanic, you very well know that a car does not run on these materials. It works on petrol on gas. So similarly, if all the Muslims know the basic message of the Holy Quran, no Muslim will take you for a ride. If the Muslim understands the message of Quran, there will not be so many differences of Opinions. The reason we have problem in our community today is because we don’t read the Holy Quran with understanding. Suppose the car gets spoilt once in a year, you can very well go to a mechanic. Similarly if while reading the Holy Quran, if you have any difficulty, Quran say ask an expert. Got to a person who has knowledge and clarify your doubts.
But there are some Muslims who give an argument that suppose you possess a temporary license, you don’t know how to drive the car properly, and you have temporary license. And then if you have an accident and then you bang up the car. Then the police will give you less punishment than the one who has permanent license. Therefore it is better that the Muslims don’t understand the Quran and then if they commit sin, then Allah will give them less punishment. But if you know what is there in Holy Quran, and you then commit sin, then Allah will give you more punishment. And therefore its better that we remain ignorant and commit sins, than knowing everything and then committing sins. Beautiful logic, on the face of it, beautiful logic. The best way for a ‘daee’ is to agree to the argument and then prove them wrong. I tell them, I agree with you. That if suppose a person possessing a temporary license and he bangs up the car, police will give him say 1000 rupees fine. And suppose a person having permanent license he bangs up the car, he is fined 2000 rupees. I agree with them. But if you analyze, that the person who knows how to drive a car, who is having permanent license, the chances that he may bang up the car in one year is say maybe one. But the chances that a person who does not know how to drive a car and who has temporary license, the chances that he will bang up the car is 50 times in one year. So at the end of the year, the person having permanent license will end up paying just 2000 rupees, while the person having temporary license will end up paying 50*1000=50,000 rupees.
Rewards of Recitation are not Enough
We Muslims, we are experts in giving excuses. There are some Muslims who say that reading the Holy Quran without translation in Arabic is useless. The Holy Quran says in Surah Nisa 4: 171 that “Do not commit excesses in your religion”. There are several Ayahs in the Holy Quran as well as in hadith, which clearly specify that even if you recite only the Arabic portion, surely you will get reward. No doubt about it. Those who say that only reciting in Arabic without translation is useless, they are absolutely wrong. There are several Quranic ayahs, several hadith, which do say that you will get rewards if you recite the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran also says in Surah Ankabut 29: 45 that “recite what we have revealed to you by inspiration”. That means you will get rewards. And there are Hadiths like its mentioned in Tirmidhi Hadith no. 1003, which says that if anyone recites even a single letter of the word of Allah, he will get blessings which will be tenfold.” And “alif laam mim” is not one letter, alif is one letter, laam is one letter, mim is one letter. That means for every letter of Holy Quran if you recite you get Ten rewards. There is no doubt about it. But I am asking you, are these rewards enough to transport a human being into Jannah? The amount of sins we do in a day, the amount of mistakes we commit in a day, do you think these ten, ten, ten rewards will be sufficient to transport us to Jannah? If recite the Holy Quran, understand it and implement it in your life, INSHAllah, you will get multiple times more rewards.
There are Muslims who do “Qatm-e-Quran”, once twice ten times in Ramadhan. Alhumdulillah, they will get their rewards. But I tell them, instead of reading the entire Quran only in Arabic twice, its preferable to read once along with translation, along with understanding. You will multiple times more rewards. Why? Because our beloved prophet (Pbuh) said, its mentioned in Ibn Majah chapter 16, Hadith 219 that “if a person learn one ayah of Holy Quran, it is better than offering Hundred Rakahs of Salaah”. It means that if you learn, if you understand one ayah of Holy Quran it is better than offering Hundred rakahs of Salaah. And in every rakah you have to minimum recite Surah Fatiha that contains 7 ayahs. Therefore, in a 100-rakah Salaah, you will have minimum 700 ayahs. If you learn one ayah of Holy Quran with understanding it is preferable than reciting 700 ayahs. That’s what our beloved prophet (Pbuh) said. And the Holy Quran says in Surah Sad 38: 29 that “Quran is a book which we have revealed full of blessings, so that you can meditate on those ayahs, and the men of understanding will receive admonish.” The Holy Quran says in Surah Jumaah 62: 5 that “the similitude of those who were given the Mosaic Law is like a donkey which carries tons of books, but it understands it not.” The holy Quran says that the Jews were given the Mosaic Law, but they did not practice that law, it is as though they are like donkeys carrying tons and tons of books, but it understands it not. For example if there is a person who goes to France to acquire a degree in science. And the medium of instruction is French, which he does not understand. He religiously attends the lecture and at the end of the year he gets the question paper. And since the person can read English and the script of English and French language is same he can pronounce the words but he cannot understand it. For every lecture he attends, he gets a “P”, “P” means a present. He appears for the examination and he gets “P”, here “P” does not mean pass, it means only present. And when the results are out, do you think he will pass the examination. He did not understand the question paper, who will he pass the examination. Similarly the Holy Quran says in Surah Al-Mulk 67: 2 that “Allah has created life and death so that he may test which one of you are good in deeds”. This life that you are leading in this world is an examination, is a test for the hereafter. And the rule for this examination is mentioned in Holy Quran. Only by reciting the Holy Quran without understanding, you will not know what are the rules for this examination and if you don’t know the rules of this examination how will you pass this examination. Its compulsory to pass an examination you should know the rules and regulations. The portion of your test. We Muslims are only satisfied by giving outwardly respect to the Holy Quran. He kisses the Holy Quran and keeps it on the top most shelves. Alhumdulillah, it is good that we give respect to the Holy Quran; but do not give so much outwardly respect that it will defeat the very purpose of its revelation, that is guidance. To keep the Holy Quran so much on top that it is difficult to reach it. And very often it accumulates dust. The Quran is a guide that has to be used daily. And anything that you use daily, you see to it that it is accessible easily and you keep it in a place, which is easy to reach. You should give respect to Holy Quran, but don’t make it difficult to approach it.
Easy Access to Qur’an
Many Muslims keep the Holy Quran in the most expensive, very beautiful box and they tie it up very securely. So that if a person wants to read the Quran, he will think Ten times. Even if he thinks of reading it, the thought of retying it back will discourage him from reading it. Many of our Muslims have misconceptions about Quran that we cannot read it while standing, we cannot read it while traveling, you cannot read it at workplace; wearing a footwear touching the Quran is not allowed etc. We have many misconceptions. To respect the Holy Quran is very important, but do not give so much outwardly respect that it will defeat the very purpose of its revelation that is guidance. Intentionally if anyone disrespects the Holy Quran he will surely be held accountable. Allah will hold him accountable if he intentionally disrespects the Holy Quran. Otherwise, respect the Holy Quran and derive the knowledge and guidance from it for which it was revealed. There are Muslims who read the Holy Quran but they do no derive guidance from it. If you go to the Arab countries, when you go to the mosque a bit early before Salaah time. Most of them pickup Quran and read it. But natural since they know Arabic as a language, they don’t have to read the translation. In our Indian mosques, you hardly see anyone reading Quran even if there is time for Salaah. You only see a people in first row reading it. But if suppose you happen to sit in second row and start reading Quran, there is someone who is bound to come and tell what are u doing, don’t you see someones back is towards the Quran, it is Haraam! You are reading Allah’s kalaam and someones back is facing it, it is Haraam! In the “Masjid-e-Haram”, Mecca; regularly have classes where they teach the students to recite the Quran as well as to memorize the Holy Quran. And majority of students face the back of their colleagues. It’s for convenience, not intentionally that they want to show the back. Its not disrespecting the Quran, because they are reading the Quran, they are memorizing the Quran.
Suppose any one reads in the Mosque the Holy Quran with his back facing “Qibla”, he will have tough time in India. These are the misconceptions that are there in Muslim ummah unfortunately. There was an Indian imam whose Qirat was very good and he was there in Saudi Arabia. So one of the Arabs he heard the Qirat of Maulana and asks him to lead the Magrib Salaah. The Indian imam he reads the Salaah with beautiful Qirat. After he ends the Magrib Salaah, one of the Arab Muslim, he starts smiling at him. So the imam wonders why is this Arab smiling at me so he asks the Arab brother why he is smiling at him. So the Arab said, your Qirat was wonderful. But in your Salaah, why did you put Yusuf (Pbuh) in the pit and you did not take him out of the pit before the Salaah finished. The Holy Quran says in Surah Muhammed (Pbuh) 47: 24 that “do they not earnestly eager to understand the Holy Quran or are there hearts locked up”. The Quran says in Surah Baqarah 2: 159 that “those who conceal the clear signs we have sent down, and guidance, after we have made clear for the people in the book, on them shall be Allah’s curse and the curse of the cursers”. The holy Quran also says in Surah Furqan 25: 30 that “and the messenger will say oh my lord, these are my people who took the Holy Quran for foolish nonsense.” This ayah referred to the Quraish people, but many commentators say that it is also applicable to the Muslim ummah. Imagine, Allah says that messenger will give shahada, will give witness that these are people who took Holy Quran for foolish nonsense. It is compulsory for every Muslim to understand the Holy Quran. And there are many ways of reading Quran with understanding. One is the “TazakureQuran”, that is reading Quran with superficial understanding. Read the Quran but you understand the superficial meaning. This is very much possible, even by reading the translation of Holy Quran. The other type is “TadabureQuran” which means pondering over the Holy Quran, thinking over the meaning of Holy Quran. This can be done to a certain level by reading the translation of Quran. But for deeper pondering of Holy Quran, it is compulsory a person should know very good Arabic. A person can completely read the Holy Quran and superficially understand it. But noone can ever say that he has done complete pondering over the holy Quran, noone can ever say that he has understood the complete Quran, each and every ayah of it, in depth. The Holy Quran is a book which people never get tired of reading. The more you read it, the more knowledge you get, the more guidance you get. The holy Quran is such a book which people will never get bored of reading it. It is compulsory that every home has an Arabic Quran and since most of us don’t know Arabic as a language, therefore we should compulsorily have the translation in the language we know best. It is compulsory to read the Holy Quran with understanding
-By Mir Imran Ali
