The Holy Quran |
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THE GREATNESS AND STATUS OF THE HOLY QURAN
THE CHALLENGE OF QURAN
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The
Holy Quran is the centre and pivot the Holy Prophet’s (saw.) message. It
has related the realities and knowledge in such a way that all obstacles
in the belief of monotheism, divine worship, prophet hood, etc are
dispelled. The Holy Quran itself says in Surah Bani Israel, Verse 9: “Surely this Quran guides to that which is the most upright and gives good news to the believers who do good that they shall have a great reward.” It is beyond the power of man to comprehend or even to describe the greatness and importance of what the Quran holds for us. It is a world of untold treasures of knowledge and wisdom to guide us on the pathways of life, of thought and action; of deep insights to capture our imagination; of radiant light to illumine the deeper reaches of our soul; of profound emotions and glowing warmth to melt our heart and bring tears running down our cheeks. It is the Quran, and only the Quran, which can lead us on and on to success and glory in this world and the Hereafter. It is the only weapon to help our frail existence as we struggle against the forces of evil and temptation in this world. It is the only light, as we grope in the darkness, with which to find our way to success and salvation. It is our only sanctuary as we are tossed around in the stormy sea of life. The Quran is Allah’s greatest blessings for us. THE GREATNESS AND STATUS OF THE HOLY QURANThe Holy Prophet (saw) says, The superiority of Quran over all other words is like the superiority of Allah over His creatures. (Beharul Anwar, vol.89, H.18) As mentioned earlier it is beyond the power of man to understand and describe the status and importance of Quran. Come let us see the splendid and eloquent manner in which Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) has described the Quran. Then, Allah sent to him the Book as a light whose flames cannot be extinguished, a lamp whose gleam does not die, a sea whose depth cannot be sounded, a way whose direction does not mislead, a ray whose light does not darken, a separator (of good from evil) whose arguments do not weaken, a clarifier whose foundations cannot be dismantled, a cure which leaves no apprehension for disease, an honor whose supporters are not defeated, and a truth whose helpers are not abandoned. Therefore, it is the mine of belief and its centre, the source of knowledge and its oceans, the plantation of justice and its pools, the foundation stone of Islam and its construction, the valleys of truth and its plains, an ocean which those who draw water cannot empty, springs which those who draw water cannot dry up, a watering place which those who come to take water cannot exhaust, a staging place in moving towards which travellers do not get lost, signs which no treader fails to see and a highland which those who approach it cannot surpass it. Allah has made it a quencher of the thirst of the learned, a bloom for the hearts of religious jurists, a highway for the ways of the righteous, a cure after which there is no ailment, an effulgence with which there is no darkness, a rope whose grip is strong, a stronghold whose top is invulnerable, an honour for him who loves it, a peace for him who enters it, a guidance for him who follows it, an excuse for him who adopts it, an argument for him who argues with it, a witness for him who quarrels with it, a success for him who argues with it, a carrier of burden for him who seeks the way, a shield for him who arms himself (against misguidance), a knowledge for him who listens carefully, worthy story for him who relates it and a final verdict of him who passes judgments. (Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 197) Every statement of this sermon is manifesting the greatness, status and knowledge level of Allah’s Book. The sentence, “It is a lamp whose gleam does not die” clarifies that its science and knowledge will never fade or diminish. It is not a conversation which will be antiquated with the passage of time or its value get reduced. The Quran is not like human school of thought whose worth and merit are reduced with the passing of seasons and whose scientific importance abates. With the passage of each period, its defects are exposed and its drawbacks are manifested. But, the Holy Quran is a guide and leader in all times, never affected in any epoch or era. The sentence, “springs which those who draw cannot dry up, a watering place which those who come to take water cannot exhaust”, indicates towards its indestructible eternal knowledge. The simile to a spring points out that the source of all real knowledge is the Quran. Rivers of different science flow from it. It is an ocean whose depth is unfathomable apart from its apparent greatness. Just as the ocean will never dry up, the emanation of knowledge and sciences from the Quran will never cease. Allah has not confined Quran to a particular era (that the people of other times may become needless of it). Nor has He restricted it to a special group (that others may be unable to derive benefit from it). It is new in every era; it is fresh for everybody and will continue to remain so till the Day of Judgment. The Challenge of Quran“Say, If men and the jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Quran they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were supporters of others.”(Bani Israel: 88) When the Holy Prophet (saw) proclaimed his message and invited all nations and people towards his religion, his proof was the Holy Quran. He stepped ahead with its support and c challenged the opponents. He guided in them in such a manner that there was no proof left and finally declared, “If you do not accept this Quran is 6the book of Allah, then bring a like of it.” And if you cannot being the whole book, at least bring a part of it. “Or do they say, He has forged it. Say: Then bring ten forged chapters like it and call upon whom you can besides Allah if you are truthful.” (Hud: 13)
Finally, the Quran even went to the extent of saying that if you can’t bring even a part of it, then bring a riposte to only one of its chapter. “And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed on Our servant, then bring a chapter like it and call your witnesses other than Allah h if you are truthful And if you do not (manage to) do it, and you will never do it, then be afraid of the (hell) fire whose fuel are men and stones.” (Baqarah: 23, 24) When the Holy Prophet (saw) commenced his mission, almost everybody opposed him. They were obstinate in their enmity against Islam despite their false beliefs and faulty creed. There enemies have used every tactic in the book against Islam and are still continuing to do so. But history is a witness that they have not been able toy bring the like of even one chapter of the Holy Quran thereby proving that it is beyond human capabilities to live up to the challenge of Quran. Thus, this is the best proof of the reality of the Holy Prophet (saw) and that it is a heavenly book. A Beautiful IncidentHisham Ibm Hakam narrates that four atheist viz. Ibn Abil Awjaa, Abu Shaakir Deisaani, Abdul Malik Basri and Ibn Muquffa (each of whom possessed mastery in literature) gathered in the Ka’aba and began mocking at the haajis and ridiculing the Quran. At that moment, Ibn Abil Awja thought of a plan. He proposed that each one of them should start writing the reply to one fourth of Quran, to prove its invalidity. Thus, when we meet again next year , our answer to Quran should be completed. If we succeed, then the prophethood of Muhammed (saw) will automatically be refuted which will result in the demise of Islam and our viewpoint will prevail. Promising to meet the coming year, they departed company. When they met again the nextyear, each one of them questioned the other, Ibn Abil Awjaa: “That day I parted company from you, I have been reflecting only upon one verse. Then when they despaired of him, they retired, conferring privately together.” (Yusuf: 80) but I could neither augment its eloquence nor increase its concepts. I did not get the time to even deliberate upon the other verses.” Abdul Malik Basri: “I have been pondering over the following verse form that day last year. “O people! A parable is set forth, therefore listen to it; surely those whom you call upon besides Allah cannot even create a fly, though they should all gather for it and should the fly snatch away anything form them, they could not take it back, weak are the invoker and the invoked.” (Hajj: 73) Despite all efforts, I could not produce a reply.” Abu Shaakir Deisani: “I have been thinking incessantly about the verse, “If there had been in them any gods except Allah, they would both have certainly been in a state of disorder” Anbiya: 22) Ibn Muquffa: “Friends! This is not the word of man. The day I left from home, I have been thinking about the verse, And it was said: O earth, swallow down your water and O cloud clear away; and the water was made to abate and the affair was decided and the ark rested on the Judi and it was said: Away with the unjust people.” (Hud: 44) I failed to comprehend the verse completely, leave alone fabricating a like of it.” Hisham ibn Hakam says that at that very moment, Imam Sadiq (as) happened to pass near them and was reciting the following verse, “Say, If men and the jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Quran they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were supporters of others.”(Bani Israel: 88) All four of them stared at each other in amazement and confessed, ‘If indeed Islam is the true religion, then none other than Jafar ibn Muhammad (as) is the successor of the Holy Prophet (saw).’ Expressing their helplessness and inability, they departed
(Ehtejaaj, p. 306; Behaarul Anwaar, Vol. 92, P. 16,
H 15, Quran and Experimantal SciencesThe Holy Quran is not a human book that it narrates problems related to science, mathematics, astronomy, etc. in different sections. When we find the discussions related to these subjects in it, its greatness increases. This is an indication towards that reality that its light will never be exhausted. There is no book in the universe which does not get antiquated with the passage of time. Every new discovery and invention reduces the value and significance of the previous discoveries and inventions. It overcomes the defects and lacuna found in the prior works. There are innumerable theories and hypotheses which have been totally sidelined by modern theories. But history is a witness to the fact that the greatness or importance of Quran has not diminished. Not a single statement from it has been rendered null and void. None of its knowledge has become old. Moreover, man himself will attest to the fact that after centuries of progress, when humanity has scaled new heights in science, it has only managed to acquire some proximity to the language of the Holy Quran. In the words of Imam Sadiq (as), its verses appear novel in every era. Here, we shall present a few Quranic verses to prove our point. “Those who disbelieve in Our communications, We shall make them enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins that they may taste the chastisement; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (Nisa: 56) This verse says that when the skins of the hell in mantes will be burnt, Allah will replace them that they may taste painful chastisement. Today, medicine has proved that the nerves which feel the pain are in the skin, the portion underlying it, lacks this sense of pain. Therefore, when a person’s body catches fire and upper portion of the skin gets burnt, the lower strata does not feel the pain. Many inner parts of the body like brain do not possess the sensation of pain. A renowned medical expert, Arthur C Guyton writes, “Pain receptors are available only in the upper strata of the skin, in the upper portion of the bones, in the veins and the joints. Apart from there, they are not found in many of the inner parts of the body.” (Text Book of Medical Physiology, p 593, Saunders, 1986) Quran and AstronomyThe style of Quran is simply unique when it discusses about astronomy. About fourteen hundred years ago, the Book of Allah has refuted the dominant Ptolemaic theory. Ancient scholars believed that the earth is flat and not round. Planetary fissures are impossible. This theory was prevalent till the time of Galileo and Copernicus and nobody could dare to even think of refuting it. Thus, in the sixteen century A.D., during the period of ‘Inquisition’, the opponents of this ancient theorem, were handed out barbaric sentences. So, in 1663 A.D., Galileo was imprisoned that the earth is round and the sun is the centre of the solar system around which the planets revolve as opposed to the Ptolemaic theory to which the Church subscribed. He was condemned as being anti- Church and hence an apostate. But the Quran, not being a modern book of sciences, yet its verses bear a unique freshness by each passing day and never get archaic. Kindly pay attention to the following verses. “And you see the mountains, you think them to be solid, and they shall pass away as the passing away of the cloud the handiwork of Allah Who has made everything thoroughly” (Naml: 88) The above verse indicates at the motion of the earth and the mountains while also stating that we do not feel its movement and consider it to be stationary. “The One Who has made the earth as a cradle for you.” (Taha: 53) Like the first verse, this also hints at the earth being non- stationary. Just as the slow, easy movement of the cradle provides rest to a baby, the slow motion of the earth grants comfort to its inhabitants, The Ptolemaic theory believed that it is impossible for fissures to appear in the universe. In other words, passing through the clouds and reaching to space is impossible. This theory was considered so authentic that in recent times when man stepped on the moon for the first time, nobody believed it. But the Holy Prophet (saw) discussed the concept of ascension in the ignorant environment of Arabia fourteen hundred years ago. In one night, Allah took his servant, Muhammed (saw), from Masjidul Haraam to Masjidul Aqsa and from there onwards to the heavens. Obviously, the belief of physical ascension of the Holy Prophet (saw) is in direct contrast with the ancient theory of astronomy. Physical ascension automatically implies that the skies were split and the Prophet (saw) passed through them. Moreover, the following verse also makes it amply clear that the heavens can be transcended, “O assembly of the jinn and the men! If you are able to pass through the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass through; you cannot pass through but with authority.” (Rahman: 32) Although this verse is concerning the Hereafter, yet it indicates to the fact that if man possesses the power then he can transcend the skies. Thus, even this verse refutes the firm belief of ancient astronomy. Quran and Embryology“Then We made him a small life germ in a firm resting place, then We made the life germ a clot; then We made the clot a lump of flesh, then We, made (in) the lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We caused it to grow into another creation, so blessed be Allah, the best of the creators.” (Mominoon: 13, 14) After extensive research on the subject, today embryology has only managed to confirm what the Holy Quran explained in a manner most beautiful fourteen centuries ago. We present hereunder extracts from the book of renowned researcher and scientist, Keith Moore: “In the holy book of the Muslims (Quran) it is mentioned that the human zygote is formed from the male sperm and the female ovum. In this book, man’s creation is said to made form a drop of water (sperm). Also, it is said it is sown in the womb like a seed- grain for six days (Blastocyte) is implanted after six days in the womb). It resembles a leech in shape and is like chewed flesh. Sometimes, it also seems to possess teeth marks on it (Somatocyte).” (The Developing Human, 1998, Saunders Company) Amazingly, Quran has discussed about these facts when even centuries after its revelation, there were no methods of knowing the inner mechanism of the womb. There are few such examples in the Holy Quran. If we search truly, we will find Quran as a guide in every field. Human sciences, social sciences, ethical values, individual and social laws, material and spiritual progress, economic issues, political principles and regulations, or whichever field of knowledge it may be, wherever we step, we will find that Quran is a guide for all human in all generations. As days pass by, man grows more in need of Allah’s book. The Teacher of the Holy Quran?While benefiting from the Quran, often the question has crops up, ‘What is the way to understand its teachings, to gain proximity to Allah, and to acquire a higher status? Can any and everybody reach to the same depths of the book? Or, whatever we have understood from the Quran, is it right or wrong? For, we find many a times in history that people have presented Quranic verses in support of their false beliefs. Wishful and self – supporting interpretations of the Holy Quran have deviated a considerable number of people while very wise person will testify that the reality by it is only one. It does not go by the whims and desires of the people. The Holy Quran itself says, “Nay these are clear communications in the hearts of those who are granted knowledge” (Ankaboot: 49) Who are these people whose hearts possess the Holy Quran? Under this verse, Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) says to Muhammed Ibn Fudhail “It refers only to the (infallible) Imam’s (as)” (Tafseer e Burhan, P, 255, H 5) The Holy Quran commands us to refer to those who possess divinely gifted knowledge whose hearts are full of divine teachings and recognition, who is the door of the Prophet (saw)’s knowledge, who will be with the Quran till the day of Judgment and it can never de disassociated from them. We conclude our discussion with the below mentioned verse of the Holy Quran, Allah, the Wise says, He it is Who has revealed the Book to you, some of its verses are clear, they are the basis of the Book, and others are ambiguous; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity, they follow the part of it which is ambiguous, seeking to mislead, and seeking to give it their own interpretation, but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and Rasekuna fil Ilm (firmly rooted in knowledge). (Ale Imran: 7) |
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