Abdul Rasool Syed
THE Holy Qur’an was revealed in the holy month of Ramzan as the book of guidance. Its subject is human being. It addresses all of the issues that a man is faced with regard to his creation as well as his day-to-day affairs. From political to social and from economic to moral, almost all of the aspects of human life, we find a mention of, in the book of guidance (Quran). But unfortunately, we don’t read this book of Hidaya (guidance) with translation. Consequently, we are deprived of the spirit for which it was descended from the heavens. We just use part of it to solemnize our nuptial knots and funeral rites. The Holy Qur’an was not revealed only to entertain these necessities of human life rather the purpose of its revelation is quite bigger than what it is commonly used for in our society. It provides the panacea for all the sufferings of human beings. Our problems can only be resolved if we read this last divine scripture with translation.
It is also noteworthy that learning Quran is dead easy. It does not entail any rocket science for on many occasions in this Holy Scripture, it is mentioned that we have made it easy for those who reflect and want to benefit from the guidance, enshrined in it. Hence, we are supposed to have deep perusal of this book of gems so that we could learn unparalleled wisdom and a divine blueprint to lead our life, independent of worries and woes. The Holy Quran itself reveals about the purpose of its revelation in the following words: “A guidance and a mercy unto the righteous ones.” (surah luqman verse 3) This verse clearly tells us that the Qur’an is meant to be guidance for the entire human race, but it is a mercy only to the “righteous ones.” Who are the “righteous ones?” This is also answered in Sura Baqarah, verses 3 and 4: “Those who guard against evil, believe in the unseen, are steadfast in their prayers, spend out of what we have provided for them and who believe in that which was revealed unto thee and that which was revealed before thee, and are certain of the hereafter.”
The religion of Islam is superior to any other in that it guarantees happiness in a man’s life hereafter, if he/she abides by the universal law as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an. For Muslims, Islam is a belief system with moral and practical laws that are inculcated in the Quran for all human beings. Allah says in the Qur’an in Sura Bani-Israel, verse 9:“Indeed this Qur’an guides to the path which is clearer and straighter than any other.” In addition, the Quran’s message is universal. It addresses to whole mankind. Therefore, in Sura Al-Qalam, verse 52, it says: “It is nothing but a reminder to the world.” Surely, the world is inhabited by all creeds and race and so the book remains the source of guidance to all the people of the world. The word ‘mankind’ has been mentioned at least six times in the Qur’an. To add, The Quran uses the word ‘people’ to address the universal message of Islam. There are 513 times that the Qur’an uses the word people in various verses. The terminology that the Qur’an uses clearly indicates that the Qur’an is not for Muslims but to the whole mankind.
The Quran’s manifesto is thus there for all to see. Willy-nilly, it has been accepted by the whole world. The world swears by its ideals and in fact cherishes the values sponsored by it. It is also true that here, as elsewhere; there is a great deal of discord between our professions and performance. It is also true that in sphere of practice, the teaching of Quran is least followed by those who call themselves Muslims. No book in the world down the ages has been adored more than the Holy Quran has been by the Muslims. The respect that they show for the book, however, is not the only response that is demanded by the book. Far more important is the claim of the Quran that the guidance furnished by it should be understood and applied to the details of our daily conduct. If the Quran is book of hidaya, is it not obligatory for all of us to know what is contained in it and what it has enjoined upon us.
It is reported that once Hazrat Ali (RA) highlighting the importance of Holy Quran as a book of guidance remarked: “Read the Holy Qur’an carefully because, it is the most sublime of all Holy Books; try to understand and study it diligently, because it is the best food for thought; enlighten your mind with its teachings, because it’s divine is the best cure for diseased mentally; and read it with sincerely good intentions. Because it contains very useful and instructive episodes from the history of man.” He continued in saying that the Qur’an is the best guide in the realm where glory of God dwells: “It contains the best of everything that can give satisfaction for a super mind. It is the greatest source of knowledge for mankind. It purifies one’s idea and broadens the vision.” To encapsulate, the Holy Quran is unmatched book of guidance for it provides antidote to all the ills that human species might suffer, hence, its learning with translation is inseparable sine qua non not only for the Muslims but also for the whole humanity. The language of the Quran is quite simple—therefore such is its miracle that it can be easily understood by the sophisticated ones. May Allah enable us to gain as much from his divine book as possible!
— The writer, an Advcate, based in Quetta Balochistan.
