Reverting to only the Qur’an &
Sunnah!
Why is everyone going around
killing each other? What has become of our Ummah? What happened to the society
the Khair-ul-Qurun established and the values they upheld? What of the peace
and harmony that Islam spread? When and where did this bloodshed and
devastation infiltrate into our Ummah? Why are we all fighting, especially
amongst each other? Do we as educated Muslims ever concern ourselves with these
questions and the reasons thereof; beyond drawing room, facebook or network
conversations? Do we reflect on how we can individually correct or impact this?
Do we feel no responsibility or burden thereof when innocents are killed,
especially children? What has happened to our inner selves and emotions? What
has driven us to such desensitization, such insensitivity and callousness? Do
we no longer think? Are we, the educated masses, no-longer a people of
rationale? What is our rationale? Where do we as Muslims find the core of what
is True or False, valid or invalid, good or bad, right or wrong? Who determines
our basic values?
If we haven’t been asking
ourselves these questions or thinking on these lines, I think it is about time
we did it. How much more bloodshed and loss of lives will it take for us to
finally feel the pain of all the injustice, wrongdoing and brutality going on
around us. For those of us who have been thinking on these lines and perhaps
even making somewhat of an effort to denounce or condemn all this, must
recognize that whatever we have been doing is obviously not even close to being
enough; had it been so, then taking into consideration the amount of people
condemning these acts, it would have in the least, brought about some reduction
in these events. Albeit gradual, yet nonetheless at least the slightest
decrease or retardation in the stupefying pattern of climb or increase would
have come about. However on the contrary it is only on an astounding rise and
there is nothing gradual about it. We need to do something drastic within our own
selves to halt this progress. We need to fix something within us at an
individual level first and foremost to be able to make a difference at an
eventual global level. For this we need to recognize and ascertain what are the
fundamentals of our beliefs and rationale and who has determined them for
us.
As per the injunctions of the
Qur’an, I believe the dire need of the time is to go back to the basics; for
that is where the solution to our problems rests, especially that of a
sectarian nature. We need to go back to our roots, before the Islamic sectarian
divide began and unify at the core. Leaving aside all historic events or
references or issues or concerns that we may or may not be able to even verify
or validate.
Holy Qur’an;
Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 59: “O you who believe, obey Allāh, and obey the Messenger
, and those entrusted with authority amongst you. Then if
there arises any dispute about anything, refer the dispute to Allāh and the
Messenger 
, if you truly believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That
would be the best way and most suitable for final determination.”
, if you truly believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That
would be the best way and most suitable for final determination.”
Explanation: The Arabic word 'ati' means obey. In the above
aayah, Allāh commands the believers
to obey Allāh, and obey the
Messenger , and those entrusted with authority (olil-amr) amongst you.
The above verse is extremely clear whereby Allāh
says:
, and those entrusted with authority (olil-amr) amongst you.
The above verse is extremely clear whereby Allāh
says:
'Ati-Allāh'
meaning 'obey Allāh'
'wa ati-ar Rasool' meaning 'obey the Messenger '
'
'wa olil-amr minkum' meaning 'and those entrusted with
authority amongst you.'
Allāh does not say 'wa ati olil
amr minkum'. The command 'ati' (obey) is not placed independently before the
'olil-amr'. And anyone who knows even basic Arabic grammar will confirm with
you that because the word 'ati' (obey) is not placed before 'olil-amr' (those
entrusted with authority), then it becomes a 'mashroot' (condition), that you
have to obey those entrusted with authority amongst you, ONLY IF THEY OBEY ALLĀH AND THE MESSENGER !
!
Then Allāh states
in the same aayah, that if there arises a dispute about anything, refer the
dispute back to Allāh (the Qur’an)
and the Messenger
(His Sunnah or Way). If
you truly believe in Allāh and the
Last Day.
(His Sunnah or Way). If
you truly believe in Allāh and the
Last Day.
Hence for the time being, we need
to revert only to the Qur’an and the Sunnah; i.e. that which Allāh has taken upon Himself to
protect!
Holy Qur’an;
Chapter 5 Surah Al-Maidah verse 3: “…This day I have perfected your religion
for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your
religion.”
Explanation: This ayah embodies a clear statement that the
deen has been completed and thus has no need of addition or deletion.
Furthermore the Qur’an
reiterates that:
Holy Qur’an;
Chapter 53 Surah An-Najam verses 3- 4: “hedoes not speak of hisown desire but it is a revelation sent down to him.”
does not speak of hisown desire but it is a revelation sent down to him.”
Allāh praised the Prophet Muhammad by saying in the
Qur'an:
by saying in the
Qur'an:
Holy Qur’an;
Chapter 68 Surah Al-Qalam verse 4: "And verily, you
have an exalted standard of character."
It is our belief that
the Prophet Muhammad
was an
embodiment of the Qur’an. He
was
a perfect personification of Allāh’s
Word and Command. We believe that he delivered the Message
of Allāh not only in word but also through his
actions. Furthermore,
we believe that anyone who has the remotest of doubt concerning this matter, is
not a believer, and has undoubtedly either not yet entered the fold of Islam or
has in fact taken himself out of the folds of Islam.
was an
embodiment of the Qur’an. He was
a perfect personification of Allāh’s
Word and Command. We believe that he delivered the Message
of Allāh not only in word but also through his actions. Furthermore,
we believe that anyone who has the remotest of doubt concerning this matter, is
not a believer, and has undoubtedly either not yet entered the fold of Islam or
has in fact taken himself out of the folds of Islam.
The History of the Protection of the Quran
Allāh says:
Verily, it is we who have sent down the Dhikr (Quran) and surely, we will guard
it (from corruption) (15:9)
The revelation of Quran was from Allāh and until the day of Qiyamah Allāh (swt) has vowed to safeguard the Quran from any sort of corruption. For this very reason, 14 centuries have passed and the beauty of the words and the orders of the Quran have remained the same. In the past, many rulers and kings have passed who tried with all their efforts to alter the order and words of the Quran, yet not a single verse has been changed despite all this.
The revelation of Quran was from Allāh and until the day of Qiyamah Allāh (swt) has vowed to safeguard the Quran from any sort of corruption. For this very reason, 14 centuries have passed and the beauty of the words and the orders of the Quran have remained the same. In the past, many rulers and kings have passed who tried with all their efforts to alter the order and words of the Quran, yet not a single verse has been changed despite all this.
A European research has stated: ‘We
have firm belief that the Quran (its text) are the very words spoken by
Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam), just as the Muslims have a firm belief that it is ‘Word of
God’.
In every era, the scholars who specialise in the Quran and its knowledge have always been large in number. And millions of memorisers of the Quran all over the world do not differ in their recitation of this Holy Book. Allāh has made the memorising of the Quran so easy that a young boy of 10 years old who cannot memorise 3-4 pages of his mother tongue, today, is able to memorise 30 chapters of the Quran. Allāh has not vowed to safeguard the revelation of any of the other Holy scriptures. Therefore we see that not only a sentence, but the very language in which they were revealed has been altered. The truth of the above stated verse of the Quran is apparent throughout the World to see. (Tafsirul Uthmaani)
Allāh says: … ‘if Mankind and Jinn were together to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like thereof, even if helped by one another.’ (17:88)
Allāh revealed the Quran to Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) through the angel Jibrail (as). At that time the collection and safeguarding of the Quran was placed on the memorisation of Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) from what was revealed to him. In the beginning when revelation would be received, Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would repeat the words quickly revealed to him. Allāh revealed the verses:
… ‘Move not your tongue concerning the Quran, O Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam)! To make haste therein. It is for Us (Allāh) to collect it and give you the ability to recite it’. (75:16-17)
On one side revelation was received and on the other side the Quran was placed into the mind and heart of Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). Apart from Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) there were many companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) who were also memorisers of Quran and as revelation would be received. Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would call for the scribes of Quran and get that portion written down. There was not even the smallest amount of fault by Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) in its recitation, even so, every year in the blessed month of Ramadan, Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would recite the portion of Quran revealed to him to Jibrail (as). In the year Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) passed away he had recited the memorised Quran to Jibrail (as) twice instead of the regular one recitation during Ramadan (Fathul Bari, Vol 9, p36).
Other than that, many of the companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) would have a great zeal to learn and memorise the Quran that each one would want to excel the other in this task. Some women also took the memorisation of the Quran as dowry instead of the usual gold and silver. And in the Mosque of the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) the voices of those teaching and memorising Quran became so loud that Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) had to order that they lower their voices. (Manhilul Irfan, vol 1, p234)
The Quran being the word of God, had such an effect on the people that even the non-Muslim arabs were also affected by its eloquence and inimitability. This can be deduced from the following narration:
Amar bin Salma (Radhi Allāh Unho) was a young companion in the time of Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). His house used to be situated near a spring and this would mean that many travellers would pass by this place. He states that he would ask the Muslim travellers who passed by if they had heard any of the Quran that was revealed to Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). When they would recite the newly revealed verses, he would memorise them and states that he, in this manner, memorised a large portion of the Quran even before becoming a Muslim. (Bukhari)
The king of Ethiopia was a devout Christian, when a few verses of Surah Maryam were recited before him, he could not find comfort until he accepted Islam and brought Iman. In the same way, when Umar ibn Khattab (Radhi Allāh Unho) set out with the mission of assassinating the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam), when a few verses of Surah Ta Ha were recited in front of him. Instead of wanting to kill the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) he was ready to accept Islam and sacrifice his life in the service of Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam).
In the time of Abu Bakr Siddique (Radhi Allāh Unho) a large number of those companions that had memorised the Quran were martyred. At this incident Umar Farooq (Radhi Allāh Unho) gave the advice that the Quran should be compiled from those that have memorised it and those that had written it down, in one text as a book. This is due to the fact that the Quran was written by many different companions and each portion was kept with the scribe. Abu Bakr Siddique through this advice ordered Zaid bin Thabit (Radhi Allāh Unho) who were himself a great scribe of Quran, together with Umar Farooq (Radhi Allāh Unho) to compile the Quran with the assistance of the other companions.
In the Quran, Allāh challenges many times to the people to try and bring a verse like thereof. It has been proven that the Quran is such a book that over 23 years it was revealed to Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) and over the years has changed tribes, nations and countries and the like of it will not be seen until the Qiyamah.
May Allāh guide to respect, revere and act upon the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) as the Sahaba, Tabi’en and Pious predecessors did, for this is itself a means of safeguarding the teachings of the Quran. Ameen!
In every era, the scholars who specialise in the Quran and its knowledge have always been large in number. And millions of memorisers of the Quran all over the world do not differ in their recitation of this Holy Book. Allāh has made the memorising of the Quran so easy that a young boy of 10 years old who cannot memorise 3-4 pages of his mother tongue, today, is able to memorise 30 chapters of the Quran. Allāh has not vowed to safeguard the revelation of any of the other Holy scriptures. Therefore we see that not only a sentence, but the very language in which they were revealed has been altered. The truth of the above stated verse of the Quran is apparent throughout the World to see. (Tafsirul Uthmaani)
Allāh says: … ‘if Mankind and Jinn were together to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like thereof, even if helped by one another.’ (17:88)
Allāh revealed the Quran to Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) through the angel Jibrail (as). At that time the collection and safeguarding of the Quran was placed on the memorisation of Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) from what was revealed to him. In the beginning when revelation would be received, Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would repeat the words quickly revealed to him. Allāh revealed the verses:
… ‘Move not your tongue concerning the Quran, O Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam)! To make haste therein. It is for Us (Allāh) to collect it and give you the ability to recite it’. (75:16-17)
On one side revelation was received and on the other side the Quran was placed into the mind and heart of Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). Apart from Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) there were many companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) who were also memorisers of Quran and as revelation would be received. Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would call for the scribes of Quran and get that portion written down. There was not even the smallest amount of fault by Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) in its recitation, even so, every year in the blessed month of Ramadan, Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) would recite the portion of Quran revealed to him to Jibrail (as). In the year Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) passed away he had recited the memorised Quran to Jibrail (as) twice instead of the regular one recitation during Ramadan (Fathul Bari, Vol 9, p36).
Other than that, many of the companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) would have a great zeal to learn and memorise the Quran that each one would want to excel the other in this task. Some women also took the memorisation of the Quran as dowry instead of the usual gold and silver. And in the Mosque of the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) the voices of those teaching and memorising Quran became so loud that Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) had to order that they lower their voices. (Manhilul Irfan, vol 1, p234)
The Quran being the word of God, had such an effect on the people that even the non-Muslim arabs were also affected by its eloquence and inimitability. This can be deduced from the following narration:
Amar bin Salma (Radhi Allāh Unho) was a young companion in the time of Nabi (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). His house used to be situated near a spring and this would mean that many travellers would pass by this place. He states that he would ask the Muslim travellers who passed by if they had heard any of the Quran that was revealed to Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam). When they would recite the newly revealed verses, he would memorise them and states that he, in this manner, memorised a large portion of the Quran even before becoming a Muslim. (Bukhari)
The king of Ethiopia was a devout Christian, when a few verses of Surah Maryam were recited before him, he could not find comfort until he accepted Islam and brought Iman. In the same way, when Umar ibn Khattab (Radhi Allāh Unho) set out with the mission of assassinating the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam), when a few verses of Surah Ta Ha were recited in front of him. Instead of wanting to kill the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) he was ready to accept Islam and sacrifice his life in the service of Muhammed (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam).
In the time of Abu Bakr Siddique (Radhi Allāh Unho) a large number of those companions that had memorised the Quran were martyred. At this incident Umar Farooq (Radhi Allāh Unho) gave the advice that the Quran should be compiled from those that have memorised it and those that had written it down, in one text as a book. This is due to the fact that the Quran was written by many different companions and each portion was kept with the scribe. Abu Bakr Siddique through this advice ordered Zaid bin Thabit (Radhi Allāh Unho) who were himself a great scribe of Quran, together with Umar Farooq (Radhi Allāh Unho) to compile the Quran with the assistance of the other companions.
In the Quran, Allāh challenges many times to the people to try and bring a verse like thereof. It has been proven that the Quran is such a book that over 23 years it was revealed to Nabi Karim (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) and over the years has changed tribes, nations and countries and the like of it will not be seen until the Qiyamah.
May Allāh guide to respect, revere and act upon the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) as the Sahaba, Tabi’en and Pious predecessors did, for this is itself a means of safeguarding the teachings of the Quran. Ameen!
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