“Islam began as something strange
and will revert to being strange as it began,
so give glad tidings
to the strangers.”
~ Sacred Tradition of Islam [1]
The unprecedented attack by the godless, wealth-worshiping, greedy and oppressive colonialist European forces and its hegemony over every part of the globe had an extra-ordinary impact on the Muslim lands and life. For the last hundreds of year or more, the traditional lives of Muslims have been under tremendous attack both from inside and outside, their religion and their religious laws, their way of understanding and practicing Islam was not only destroyed forever but also transformed in a mysterious way. This trend continue in our days and has taken a new turn in recent time in post 9/11 world reality. War on Terror, al-Qaeda, ISIS and economic sanctions are some of the outcome of this phenomenon.
Perhaps history's greatest scholar of Islamic Eschatology ('ilmu akhiruzzaman), Sheikh Imran Hosein's lecture titled Mysterious Transformation of Muslim World in Past 100 Years is a very important take on this subject where he highlights how this mysterious transformation has occurred. You may watch this lecture via YouTube here.
One of the arena in which this attack was quite effective and perhaps had the most powerful impact is the area of disconnecting Muslim from the Qur'an, the Final Revelation and Law from God to mankind. Qur'an is the core of Islam, it is the Final Revelation until the Day of Judgment, a Book of Law, a Book of Guidance, a Book of Solace, a Book that guides to Right and points to Wrong, a Book that reveal Divine Will, a Book of Wisdom for humanity, a Book that support Previous Revelation and renews the Laws of Abraham, a Book of Criterion, a Book of Constitution and a Book of Mercy and Healing.
And yet, this mysterious transformation of the Muslims manage to deceive the Muslims in such way that now majority of the Muslims have not read the book with understanding, those who are literate haven't read it cover to cover in their mother tongue, they no longer ponder on it, no longer feel its as a book that guides both individual and community, no longer turn to it for guidance. As a result it has been very easy for those who wish to control and deceive Muslims to make them turn their back on this Book. It is a clear betrayal to God, a blasphemy in its clearest form for Muslims.
As a result Muslims across the globe, no exception whatsoever, now accept haram as halal (like interest based banking, secret ballot voting system, bogus paper money or currency with no intrinsic value and secular laws written by man replacing Laws given by God) without even realizing that this is blasphemy (shirk) in the eye of God. The result is plain and clear. Muslims are oppressed, controlled, the natural resources under their land is now looted, they are drowned in haram, they no longer honor the Law of God and communicated by the Messenger, poverty is everywhere, paper money creating massive poverty and oppression, they are now ruled everywhere by political prostitutes whose qibla is Washington and London, they no longer understand that Islam is not a just private religion but also religion that guides socio-political-econmic structure of society.
The Messenger of God categorically transmitted in very clear language that his followers must hold tight to Qur'an, then they will not go to astray, that they will not be misled by fasad and fitna if they do so. Even the Qur'an itself which is the right guidance epitomized and preserved for mankind reassure the same:
"O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow right guidance, no harm can come to you from those who err" (Qur'an 5:105)
And yet Muslims have let go of the Qur'an. The false scholars of Islam with deficient understanding of the Deen, who are also manufactured in the madrassa factories created by those colonialists as well have misguided and been misguiding the Muslims on behalf of their masters in London and Washington and Riyad.
Qur'an was meant to be read with understanding. There can be no doubt about it. Those who have not yet grasped the basic understanding of Quranic Arabic (which is classical Arabic) should and must read the Qur'an in a language that they understand. Failing to do so only keep people in dark ignorance and keep them from receiving the Nur of Allah for guidance, mercy, healing, ability to recognize right from wrong and much more. Only less than 15% of entire Muslim population are Arab, rest are Non-Arab and hence Arabic is not their mother tongue. Most of these Muslim make sound from the Qur'an but totally neglect its meaning, its guidance, its advice and admonishing, its warning and its guiding light (nur) and what is very strange is that the so called religious authority actually keep encouraging them to remain in ignorance about Qur'an and keep babbling and thus prevent them from the Path of God.
Those who hindered (men) from the Path of Allah, and would seek to make it crooked, and they were coverers of truth regarding the Hereafter. 7:45
This Ramadan the author of this article took a personal project to read the Qur'an cover to cover in his own mother tongue. Yes it was a translation but the effect was amazing. Qur'an is a very interesting Book. Its meaning has to be understood as a whole, it has to be understood with system of meaning - ie. in totality, not in isolation. Only when one read cover to cover with understanding, this system of meaning can begin to apply.
While reading the Qur'an the author took note the individual revelations (Ayah) where Allah clearly mentions why Qur'an was revealed and for whom. Here the author is sharing those Ayah or Signs / Verses of the Qur'an which will make it clear to every reader that Qur'an was not revealed for parrots to recite it mechanically, it was not revealed to simply force memorize on Children, in-fact if Prophet (s) was alive he hardly would approve the force memorization of Qur'an upon children as young as four, five or six years old. Thats not Sunnah, thats not his practice. Qur'an was not revealed to be kept as decoration or to be read to the dead. Qur'an is a Living Book by God Who is Every Living and Who never Dies to Guide the living people.
If anyone read the Qur'an cover to cover with moderate amount of attention, he or she will have a very clear idea why Qur'an was revealed. The author urges anyone who is reading this to pick up a good translation of the Book and read it cover to cover in a language which is most near to them in terms of understanding.
Here are the list of Ayah the author came across during his reading of the Qur'an during this Ramadan of 1436 Hijri. May Allah illuminate our mind and heart so that we may be guided to the right path.
WHY QUR'AN IS REVEALED AND FOR WHOM? LET QUR'AN SPEAK FOR ITSELF
Qur'an is Guidance and Mercy. How Can Guidance Be Received Without Clear Communication of What is Revealed?
And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muhammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe. 16:64
The Pure Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to those who have submitted to Allah. 16:102
Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward. 17:9
Qur'an is Here to Explain Things Out. Ignorant People Will Miss Those Explanations Sealed with Divine Wisdom
And surely, We the Divine Authority have explained in this Quran that they (mankind) may take heed, but it increases them in nothing except aversion. 17:41
And We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And when you mention your Lord in the Qur'an, they turn back in aversion. 17:46
Understanding is a Key to Unlock Guidance
And We have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)? 54:17, 22, 32, 40
Allah has repeated the same verses 4 times in the same Surah to wake us up and still we are deep in slumber.
It was Meant to Be Internalized with Time and Practiced
And (it is) a reading which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have revealed it progressively. 17:106
Clear Communication is Expected. Language and Meaning goes Hand in Hand. Those Who Choose to Remain Misguided Remains So by the Design of the Reality
And We did not send any messenger except in the language of his people to state clearly for them, and Allah sends astray [thereby] whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. 14:4
Examples are Meant to Broaden Understanding. If one doesn't Care to Understand through Arrogant Ignorance then it defeats the Purpose of Qur'an where Allah gives examples one after another for Man to help Realize the Reality of Things
And certainly We have explained in this Quran every kind of example, and man is most of all given to contention / strife. 18:54
And We have certainly diversified for the people in this Qur'an from every [kind] of example, but most of the mankind refused [anything] except disbelief. 17:89
Qur'an is Meant to Give Good News to Pious and Warn the Deniers of Truth. How Can one Receive that Without understanding What is Communicated?
So surely We have made it easy in your tongue only that you may bear good tidings thereby to the pious and warn thereby an obstinate people. 19:97
(All) praise is due to Allah, Who revealed the Book to His servant and did not make in it any crookedness - straight-forward, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to bring unto the believers who do good works the news that theirs will be a fair reward. 18:1-2
And before this was the Scripture of Moses as a guide and a mercy. And this is a confirming Book (the Qur'an) in the Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings to the people of faith. 46:12
Remembrance is Invalid if what to be Remembered is Missed All Together through Ignorance
This (Qur'an) is a blessed Reminder that We have revealed: Will you then reject it? 21:50
Thus do We narrate to you (some) of the news of what has gone before; and indeed We have given to you a Reminder from Ourselves. 20:99
Those Who Mechanically Make Sound from the Qur'an has not give the Right Due to the Qur'an and this is equivalent of their turning Away from Guidance
And if the Truth had followed their desires, verily the heavens and the earth and whosoever is therein had been corrupted. Nay, We have brought them their Reminder, but from their Reminder they now turn away. 23:71
Allah Ask Us to Pay Attention to the Signs mentioned in the Qur'an which are Clear / Manifest / Profound. Can anyone pay attention if they don't even get the literal meaning, let along ponder deeply the many layers of inner meanings?
A chapter which the Divine Authority have sent down and which the Supreme Authority have ordained in it have We sent down Clear Signs, in order that you may pay attention. 24:1
Qur'an is a Warning and Admonition. How can one receive that without understanding what God is admonishing about or warning against?
And certainly We have sent to you clear communications and a description of those who have passed away before you, and an admonition to those who are God-conscious. 24:34
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will pay attention. 16:90
This (Qur'an) is a Guidance and for those who reject the Signs of their Lord, is a grievous Penalty of abomination. 45:11
Nay, verily, this (Qur'an) is an admonition. So whosoever will may heed. 74:54,55
Verily in this (Qur'an) is an instructive warning for whosoever fears (the Lord). 79:26
For it is indeed a Message of instruction: 80:11
Those Who Recite the Scripture and Do Not Act Upon it, God admonishes them for their senselessness. So Those Who pronounce Qur'an mechanically with no understanding are an extreme case of senselessness
You enjoin piety and righteousness on the people and you forget (to practice it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture! Have you then no sense? 2:44
So thesis of the author here is that Qur'an must be understood and people with literacy has no excuse to simply make sound from the Qur'an and claim that they are reading it. Comprehension is part of what it means something to be READ. Otherwise its called babbling (to utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds). To Be Continued
End of Part 1 (Coming up Part 2 with More Quranic Verses that Shed Light on Why Qur'an is Revealed)
By Sadiq M. Alam
26/27 Ramadan 1436
Dhaka, Bangladesh
# Ref:
[1] Saying of the Prophet Muhammad (sa), as narrated by Hadith Collection of Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra)
#Helpful Resources:
* Corpus Quran - Quran Dictionary
* Online Translation of the Quran
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