Introduction

What Do You Know About The Qur'an?

Most people would answer this question as follows: 'The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam.' This is certainly true but in the essence it is a book which Allah has revealed to people and made them responsible with. So, people need to know everything about the content, commands, advices and decrees of the Qur'an. Yet, we encounter an important deficiency at this point. A great many of people do not have much idea about the content of the Qur'an.

There are many superstitions about the Qur'an that are prevalent among people. It is usually hung on the walls of houses within a decorative cover and read usually by older people from time to time. People read it in Arabic, but as they only know how to read Arabic letters without understanding the meaning, most of the time they have no idea of what they have been reading about, and so have no grasp of the content of the Qur'an.

According to these superstitions, the Qur'an is also supposed to afford some very interesting benefits to people. After reading it and performing some strange rituals like breathing hard on another person's face, the reader and his close relatives are believed to be protected from a possible future 'accident or calamity'. The Qur'an is credited with being some sort of amulet that includes talismanic words which protect people.

Some people believe some traditions to have their origin in the Qur'an, although they may be contradictory to the very nature of the Qur'anic message.

Then what is the true nature of the Qur'an? The answer must be derived from the Qur'an itself, as that is where the truth is to be found.

This is a communication to be transmitted to mankind so that they may be warned by it and so that they will know that He is One God and so that people of intelligence will pay heed. (Surah Ibrahim, 52)

We have made the Qur'an easy to remember. But is there any rememberer there? (Surat al-Qamar, 32)

There is instruction in their stories for people of intelligence. This is not a narration which has been invented but confirmation of all that came before, a clarification of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for people who believe. (Surah Yusuf, 111)

That is the Book, without any doubt. It contains guidance for those who guard against evil. (Surat al-Baqara, 2)

These verses and many others emphasise that the real purpose of the revelation of the Qur'an is to encourage people to ponder on such crucial issues as the creation and purpose of life, to inform them about Allah, Who has created them, and to guide them to the right way. The Qur'an is a book that is needed by people with an open mind and soul. Therefore, what is needed in the first place is to correct this wrong point of view about the Qur'an and make people understand that the Qur'an is not a book which is addressed only to the apostle but to all people who consider themselves Muslims. Any person who says: "I'm a Muslim" must read the Qur'an and try to understand the meaning of the verses. Allah has stated its importance with His verse '…and recite the Qur'an distinctly.' (Surat al-Muzzammil, 4) Allah especially stated the importance of reflecting upon verses in the Qur'an as follows:

Will they not ponder the Qur'an?… (Surat an-Nisa', 82)

We have made the Qur'an easy to remember. But is there any rememberer there? (Surat al-Qamar, 17)

Because of not doing what is ordered in the Qur'an, and not learning the religion from its original source, countless prejudices which stem from traditions, have been introduced into Islam. Of course, learning the Qur'an is only an introductory step, since application should follow it. Some people think that they fulfil their religious duties by reading the Qur'an. However, it is not only a matter of learning what is in the Qur'an, but also of putting it into practice and fulfilling the duties ordered in the Qur'an, in short applying the Qur'an to one's own everyday life. As Allah states in His verse; 'I only created jinn and man to worship Me' (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 56), He created all people in the life of this world to worship Him. He revealed the Qur'an as guidance for those who worship Him:

It is a Book We have sent down to you, full of blessing, so let people of intelligence ponder its Signs and take heed. (Surah Sâd, 29)

The Qur'an contains all information that is needed for one's salvation, both in this world and in the hereafter. It informs Allah's commands. We learn the good morals which He is pleased with, the attitudes which deserve punishment, all the facts pertaining to the life of this world and the hereafter, all types of human characters we may encounter, fear of Allah, love of Allah, in short everything we need, from the Qur'an. This book, in which Allah's words are written, describes everything for which we look for an answer. Yet, some people avoid practising, even learning this book which would bring them to life, from "the darkness to the light". However, Allah's commands in the Qur'an show the only way to salvation for all humanity, both in this world and in the hereafter.

It is necessary for a Muslim who has realised the importance of the Qur'an to have a good knowledge of the Qur'an in order to serve Allah as due and to live all his life according to the Qur'an. This book has been prepared to enhance the Qur'anic knowledge of those who aim to honour Allah with the honour that is due to Him, to fulfil their religious duties perfectly as His servants, and to attain His consent, mercy and Paradise.