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Insight Into TheQuraan

Presented by

HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA

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The internal and external means ofunderstanding the Quraan are mostly of anacademic and technical nature. I believe noone can gain true benefit from the Quraanwithout bearing them in mind. However, theseare only means and tools in this venture. In warthe most important condition for victory is themorale and courage of the soldier. Ademoralised soldier lacking courage cannot

fight even if equipped with the best of weaponsand provided with the most advancedtechnology.

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Similarly, though it is important to bearacademic tools in mind in order to gain insightinto the Quraan, even more important is thecondition of a persons heart. Without awholesome heart, a persons entire effort will

prove a fruitless exercise.

I would like therefore to say a few words abouthow to watch the condition of ones heart andkeep it pure and straight.

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1. Sincerity Of Intention

The first and foremost requisite for thisis the intention of a person approaching theQuraan. By this I mean that a person shouldapproach the Quraan only to seek guidanceand for no other purpose. He must not have any

ulterior motive. Otherwise he will not only bebarred from its blessings but would instead, Ifear, be driven even still farther away from it. If aperson writes on the Quraan courting fame asan exegete and a scholar of the Quraan or togain money, he may attain these but he willsurely thereby deprive himself of the trueknowledge of the Quraan.

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Similarly, if someone has some peculiarviews and he approaches the Quraan

solely to search for some arguments to supporthis standpoint, he may succeed in finding somespecious arguments for his purpose. This,however, he will achieve at the risk of closing the

door to a true understanding of the Quraan.Allah has revealed the Quraan as a book of

guidance and has placed an inherent desire inevery human heart to seek guidance. So when a

person approaches the Quraan seekingguidance, he will find such guidance andbenefit from it depending on his effort and thegrace of Allah.

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But if he approaches it with any otherbase motive and wants to use the

Quraan to that end, then in accordance withthe principle for everyone according to hisintention, he will gain from it whatever he waslooking for. It is because of this characteristic of

the Quraan that Allah has said, He leaves astray thereby many and guides thereby many,but then adds, and He leaves astraynone but the depraved (al-Baqarah, 2:26). This refers to

those who wilfully deviate from the straightnatural path and seek to pervert guidance intoerror and light into darkness.

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This explains the underlying principleby which a person is blessed or

deprived of the Quraans blessings. Allah givesto people what they earnestly seek. One whoinsists on worshipping idols even when in theKa,bah, the House of Allah, is indeed not fit to

enjoy the celestial joy of monotheism,worshipping the One True God. Such a person islike one who only gathers thorns from a rosebush, the beauty and fragrance of its flowers

are lost upon him. Similarly, a person who, in hisperversity, turns a wholesome remedy into alethal portion can never be cured. He can onlyhope for an increase in his sickness.

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The Quraan refers to this condition inthese words:

These are the peoplewho have bought error at the price

of guidance; so their trade has

brought no gain, nor have they

reached the right Path.

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2. Accepting The Quraan As ASublime Book

The second requisite is that one shouldapproach the Quraan as a most sublime andglorious book. Without an appreciation of the

importance and nobility of the Quraan, aperson cannot be motivated to put in the effortnecessary for its in-depth understanding and theappreciation of its subtleties and wisdom.

It may sound strange to some people to beasked to presume that a book is glorious andsublime even before they read and understoodit.

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But a little reflection is enough to showthat having an a priori positive opinion

about the Quraan is not such a strangedemand. The Quraan has a most glorioushistory behind it. Whether one believes in it ornot, it is a fact that this book brought about in

human life the greatest single revolution everwitnessed in history. No other book hastransformed life as completely as this book hasdone. The Quraan has left a deep impact onevery area of human activity throughout theworld. It transformed thinking and ideas, culturesand civilisations, laws and constitutions, andreligious disciplines and beliefs.

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It is also a fact that a large segment ofthe worlds population believes in this

book as the word of God revealed verbatimfrom the Preserved Tablet in the heavens. Tothem it is a miracle the like of which cannot beput together by men or jinn.

A book with such clear evidence of its historicalimpact, past and present, and with such aglorious background must surely be animportant document. Thus it is necessary for a

person to grasp its message and comprehend itproperly to appreciate its sublime nature andposition.

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Some people have many misconceptionsabout the Quraan which make it almost

impossible for them to focus on its study as itreally deserves and gain any real benefit from it.These misconceptions are common both amongbelievers and non-believers in the Quraan.

Those who deny its Divine origin do admit that ata certain period in history this book was indeedhelpful in affecting certain reforms. However,they assert that time has moved on and we are

now living in a different phase of human historyand that while this book was useful for the desertArabs, it no longer relevant in resolving intricateproblems of modern times.

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As for those who believe in it, a greatmajority regard it as just a legal code of dosand donts, prohibitions and permissions. And asthese legal commandments have alreadybeen codified separately in the form of Islamic

fiqhor jurisprudence, this book is now nothingmore than a revered relic. Others among themregard it as a collection of certain sacred wordsand supplications to be recited and repeated

but which requires no serious thought,consideration or contemplation.

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A great many among them use it only torelieve the dying from the pangs of death oras a means of blessing their dead. Many

others among them believe it to be a kind oftalisman for avoiding misery and distress, andthere, their interest ends. It is impossible forMuslims with such erroneous ideas to gainany real benefit from the Quraan.

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3. Readiness To Change AndEmbrace The Quraanic Guidance

The third requisite for truly benefitting from theQuraan is that the person undertaking its studymust have a firm resolve to change himselfinfact, to be ready for a moral and spiritualtransformation, in the light of its teaching.

On studying the Quraan closely, one often findsthat its demands go directly against ones

personal likes, dislikes and desires. When onefinds ones life-pattern, ones inner and outwardlife, incompatible with what is set out in theQuraan, a sincere and resolute person would

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try to conform with the teachings ofthe Quraan to the best of his powers

and ability. Such a person is ready and willing tobear all hardships, offer any sacrifices and faceany difficulties on his way to re-organising his life.Depending on the sincerity and determination of

such a person, he will be blessed with help andsupport from God in achieving his lofty goals.

On the other hand, a person of weaker will, onfinding this conflict between his life and the

Quraan, is unable to remove the disparity andbridge the gulf that separates him from theQuraan. He feels that if he were to try toconform to the Quraanic ideals, he would have

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to be reborn mentally and intellectuallyand suffer a total transformation and also

that he will be completely alienated from hissocial milieu.

He is afraid that if he were to work for thecauses that the Quraan requires of him, he will

not only forfeit his privileged position and statusin society, but may as well bring upon himself itscollective wrath, risking imprisonment andsometimes even death. That he might be

deprived of all his possessions if he were tofollow strictly Quraanic laws on what is lawfuland what is not, in earning his livelihood.

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Only persons of fortitude can resolutelyface and overcome all these diverse

obstructions on the path to the Quraan. Theweakling at this point turn aside and decide topursue other goals.

Some who are not particularly bothered toconceal their weakness say that though correctand upright, the path of the Quraan is verydifficult for them and they would rathercontinue in the footsteps of their forefathers as

they had always been doing. They go wherevertheir desires take them. There are others who intheir eagerness to masquerade their moralweakness as strength and their hypocrisy as

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faith, use diverse techniques to deceiveand hide their real motives and weakness.

Some use the excuse of being in an emergencyor of being in a helpless state to justify forthemselves what is unlawful and forbidden.

Others offer false and spurious interpretations as

truth while yet others seek refuge under cover ofthe demand of exigency and practicalexpediency. Some of them distort and changethe scripture as previously done by some priests

and rabbis.Some others try to find a way by compromisingthe demands of Islam with those of unbelief or

kufr. They accept whatever of the Quraanic

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teachings suit them and ignore the onesthat do not agree with their whims and

desires.

All this is mischief, and its followers court disaster.The only way to success and peace for thehuman being is to mould his life in accordance

with the teachings of the Quraan, and to havethe moral courage to pursue this course withfortitude and steadfastness and to be ready forany sacrifice in its course.

For a time Allah does indeed test the resolve ofa person, but if he steadfast and honest, thedoor to success gradually opens up before him.

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If one door is shut on him, others open up.If he is expelled from one social

environment, another one is ready to welcomeand received him. If one country refuses to givehim refuge, some others open their doors to him.The Quraan describes the phenomenon in

these words: Wallazeena jaahadou feenaalanah-diyannahum Subulanaa; wainnaLLaaha lama-al-

Muhsineen.As for those who strive in Our way, We

will certainly take them onto Our paths, and

indeed Allah is with those who are good in deeds.(al-Ankabout, 29:69)

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4. Pondering over the Quraan studyingit with open mind & receptive heart.

Seriously pondering upon the Quraan andits substance is yet anotherthe fourthrequisite to understand and gain insight intoits wisdom. The Quraan emphasises this at

several places. Thus, for instance, it asks:

Afalaa yatadabba-

rounal-Quraana am alaa quloubin aqfaaluhaa? Then, do

they not give serious thought to the Quran, or do

they have locks on their hearts?(Muhammad, 47:24).The Companions of the Prophetthe firstaudience of the Quraan studied andpondered over it continually.

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Those who are prominent amongthem for their study and contemplation

of the Quraan were also highly regarded fortheir understanding and insight into the Quraan.Some Companions have reported that theyspent years in studying certain portions of theQuraan in one case, a full eight (8) years onunderstanding surah al-Baqarah alone. Therealso formed circles to study the Quraan andwould gather to discuss and to benefit from eachothers knowledge and insight. The Prophet, (pbuh)

showed a special interest and according tosome reports, he preferred these study circles tothose of dhikr, where people gathered tocelebrate the remembrance of Allah.

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Reciting the Quraan merely as a piousact without understanding its meaning or

message is not the way of the Companions ofthe Prophet, (pbuh).

This was a latter-day innovation when someMuslims began using the Quraan as a means of

attaining blessings rather than a book ofguidance for their practical life. Instead ofseeking its guidance in various situations in life,they employed it to bless their vain and false

pursuits, however evil or hideous, as a kind oftalisman, even when engaged in somethingdirectly in contravention of its core messageand teachings.

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It is ironic indeed that the Quraan thatplaces so much emphasis on pondering andserious study of its contents in order to gain anyreal benefit, is also perhaps the only book that is

read without any serious thought or attention toits message or substance.

Ordinarily, when studying a book, most peoplewould first prepare themselves mentally. In the

case of the Quraan they usually close theirminds the moment they open it up to read.

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5.Supplication to allah for guidanceand help

The fifth requisite to benefit from the Quraan isthat when confronted with any difficulties in thecourse of its study, one should not bediscourage, lose heart or think negatively and

raise objections. Instead, one should refer allsuch difficulties and problems to Allah seekingHis help and guidance. One is sometimesoverwhelmed while pondering over the

Quraan by a sense of an awesome weightymessage that is difficult to bear. Or, sometimesone is confronted with a knotty problem that isdifficult to resolve satisfactorily.

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When faced with such practical andintellectual problems, the best method

a tried and trusted methodis to continuallysupplicate to Allah for help and guidance whilecontinually studying and trying to understand.Reciting the Quraan calmly, distinctly and

slowly, especially in the last hours of the night, isparticularly useful. A frequent recitation of thefollowing supplication, reported in hadith, is alsouseful:

O Allah, I am Your servant, the son of Your servant and of Yourmaid-servant! My forelock is in Your hands; Your judgment about

me prevails; and true indeed is Your judgment of me. I beseech You

by all Your names, by which You named Yourself, or which You

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revealed in Your Book, or which You have taught anyone ofYour creatures, or which You have preferred in the knowledge

of the Unseen that is with You to make the Quraan the

sweet spring of freshness and the joy in my heart, the light of

my breast, a healing for my grief and a remover of my anguish

and distress.

As far as the Quraanic wisdom is concerned,

it is almost impossible to access withoutkeeping vigil in the final watches of the night.

Thank you