The Qur'an: A Manifestation of Allah's Mercy
The Qur'an is Allah's generous gift to humanity, a great manifestation of His name the All Merciful, Most Merciful. The Qur'an is the main source from which people will learn about the true religion. The Qur'an is the word of Allah, Who created the universe from nothing, has perfect knowledge of everything, and has infinite mercy. The Qur'an is a blessing from our Lord:
… A revelation from the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful, a Book whose verses have been explained in detail, for people who know, as a Qur'an in Arabic. (Surah Fussilat, 2-3)
We have sent down the Book to you so that you can make clear to them those things about which they differ, and as a guidance and a mercy to believers. (Surat an-Nahl, 64)
On that Day, We will raise up among every community a witness against them from among themselves and bring you as a witness against them. We have sent down the Book to you, making all things clear and as guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims. (Surat an-Nahl, 89)
We have brought them a Book elucidating everything with knowledge, as guidance and a mercy for believers. (Surat al-A'raf, 52)
Allah, in a great manifestation of His mercy, sent down books to teach people, explain His decrees, and reveal Himself to them. Through His own words and wisdom, He showed them what they did not know. When these holy books were corrupted, He sent new messengers and revealed that the Qur'an would be protected until the Day of Judgment.
We have sent down to you a
Book containing your Reminder.
So will you not use your intellect?
(Surat al-Anbiya, 10)
The Qur'an is Allah's last divinely revealed book, and Allah's protection of it is a mercy to humanity:
Nor can you say: "If the Book had been sent down to us, We would have been better guided than they were." For a Clear Sign has come to you from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Who could do greater wrong than someone who denies Allah's Signs and turns away from them? We will repay those who turn away from Our Signs with the worst kind of punishment, because they turned away. (Surat al-An'am, 157)
The Qur'an's simple and clear style enables everyone to understand its perfect wisdom. Therefore, they can learn from the Qur'an's contents by reading and understanding the wisdom within the Qur'an concerning life in this world and the Hereafter:
"We have sent down to you a Book containing your Reminder. So, will you not use your intellect?" (Surat al-Anbiya, 10) and "We have not omitted anything from the Book" (Surat al-An'am, 38).
The Qur'an, which contains clear truths and is a sure guide to the straight path, reveals the truest knowledge on every truth that Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Therefore, those who live by the Qur'an and the Prophet's sayings (hadiths) will obtain Allah's mercy and guidance:
This Qur'an guides to the most upright Way and gives good news to the believers who do right actions that they will have a large reward. (Surat al-Isra, 9)
This is clear insight for humanity and guidance and mercy for people with certainty. (Surat al-Jathiyya, 20)
Those who choose the Qur'an and our Prophet's way (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) will lead a life that is not like that of the unbelievers. For example, they are not anxious, discontented, fearful, worried, despairing, pessimistic, or overcome by panic in difficult situations. They always conform to Allah's decrees, regardless of the surrounding circumstances.
Their every decision, word, and action indicates that they follow the Qur'an's moral teachings. As a result, they always have a clear conscience and experience the ensuing spiritual contentment, well-being, and joy that Allah, in His mercy, grants those who live according to the Qur'an's moral teachings:
O humanity! Admonition has come to you from your Lord, as well as healing for what is in the breasts and guidance, and mercy for the believers. (Surah Yunus, 57)
In the Qur'an, Allah speaks clearly about truth and error so that those on the straight path can listen to their conscience, avoid their hearts' selfish desires, and thereby obey His decrees in order to find the truth. The Qur'an is full of wisdom, and thus can be easily understood by people of every age and every level of education.
Every well-intentioned and sincere person whom Allah has guided to the straight path can easily understand its message and implement it in their thoughts and actions. This is yet another wonderful manifestation of Allah's name All-Merciful and Most Merciful: "The Qur'an was sent down as guidance for humanity, with Clear Signs containing guidance and discrimination. " (Surat al-Baqara, 185)
The Qur'an's moral teaching correspond to the innate nature of human beings, all of whom He created and are objects of His endless mercy and compassion. Everyone who does not realize this fact lives in a state of material and, more importantly, spiritual anxiety.
If the truth were to follow their whims and desires, the heavens and Earth, as well as everyone in them, would have been brought to ruin. No indeed! We have given them their Reminder, but they have turned away from it. (Surat al-Muminun, 71)
But only those who fear and respect Allah and His power, who sincerely submit to Him and prefer the Hereafter to this world, take advice and counsel from the Qur'an:
We did not send down the Qur'an to you to make you miserable, but only as a reminder for those who have fear [and respect for Him]. (Surah Ta Ha, 2-3)
This is an important secret of the Qur'an. People do not need to have great intelligence or skill to understand the Qur'an; it is enough that they are sincere and well-intentioned. The All-Merciful's mercy will allow all people to understand everything. Allah reveals the straight path to His sincere servants and allows them to attain salvation by practicing the Qur'an's moral teachings.
The Qur'an has been sent to all humanity, but it guides to the straight path only for those who fear and respect Allah and who believe in the Hereafter. As mentioned earlier, it is a proof of His compassion for His sincere servants:
"Am I to desire someone other than Allah as a judge, when it is He Who has sent down the Book to you clarifying everything?" Those to whom We have given the Book know it has been sent down from your Lord with truth, so on no account be among the doubters. (Surat al-An'am, 114)
When the Qur'an is recited, listen to it and be quiet so that,
hopefully, you will gain mercy.
(Surat al-A'raf, 204)
On that Day, We will raise up among every community a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against them. We have sent down the Book to you making all things clear, and as guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims. (Surat an-Nahl, 89)
Those are the Signs of the Wise Book. Guidance and mercy for the good-doers. (Surah Luqman, 2-3)
O humanity! Admonition has come to you from your Lord and also healing for what is in the breasts, and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Surah Yunus, 57)
Allah tells us that the Qur'an is a book of counsel for all people, a guide to the straight path for sincere believers who respect His power, and a book that contains sublime wisdom and gives true knowledge of the past and the future. Its incomparable style pierces the veil that hides the human propensity for error. Since it is eternally valid, all believers are determined to follow its decrees and the Prophet's (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) example.
The Qur'an is Al-Furqan, the distinguisher between right and wrong, truth and falsehood: "Right guidance has become clearly distinct from error" (Surat al-Baqara, 256) Therefore, believers do not try to find a middle road between its moral teachings and a life of ignorance; they follow only the Truth: the Qur'an.
Knowing that the Qur'an manifests His name All Merciful, Most Merciful and thus proves His endless mercy toward all people, they obey Allah's command to cling to its moral teachings:
So hold fast to what has been revealed to you. You are on a straight path. It is certainly a reminder to you and to your people, and you will be questioned. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 43-44)
That is the Book, without any doubt. It contains guidance for those who guard against evil. (Surat all-Baqara, 2)
