By: Saqib Muhammad Khan Senior Faculty Member, DAPS Holy Quran As the Final Guidance By: Saqib Muhammad Khan Senior Faculty Member, DAPS

The Presentation includes: Introduction to the Holy Quran Divinity & Authenticity of the Holy Quran Structure of the Holy Quran Scope of the Holy Quran Conclusion

Holy Quran The Ultimate Divine Book Holy Quran is the Ultimate Divine Book which was revealed upon the Holy Prophet ﷺ or the guidance of whole humanity. The Quran is the final version of the same Message that Allah had sent earlier to mankind through many of His Rusul (Messengers). The Holy Quran is the source of all Islamic religious beliefs and practices. It is the most read and the most quoted book in the world. This is the only Book, which has been memorized by millions of people by heart since its revelation.

The Divinity & Authenticity of the Holy Quran This is absurd and unthinkable to suspect on the authenticity and divinity of the Holy Quran. About its divinity Almighty Allah states: وَ اِنَّہٗ لَتَنۡزِیۡلُ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹۲﴾ؕ نَزَلَ بِہِ الرُّوۡحُ الْاَمِیۡنُ ﴿۱۹۳﴾ۙ عَلٰی قَلْبِکَ لِتَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الْمُنۡذِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹۴﴾ۙ “And undoubtedly, this Quran has been sent down by the Lord of the worlds. The trusted spirit has descended with it. On your heart that you may warn.”

The Divinity & Authenticity of the Holy Quran اِنَّاۤ اَوْحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ کَمَاۤ اَوْحَیۡنَاۤ اِلٰی نُوۡحٍ وَّالنَّبِیّٖنَ مِنۡۢ بَعْدِہٖ “Indeed, We have revealed to you (O Beloved Prophet) such a revelation as We revealed to Nuh and the Prophets after him.” About those who suspect its divinity, Holy Quran challenges them to prove their suspect and claims that they can never do so; وَ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمْ فِیۡ رَیۡبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلٰی عَبْدِنَا فَاۡتُوۡا بِسُوۡرَۃٍ مِّنۡ مِّثْلِہٖ ۪ وَادْعُوۡا شُہَدَآءَکُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللہِ اِنْ کُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾ “And if you have any doubt as to what We have sent down upon Our (exalted) servant, then bring just one chapter like it and call upon all your helpers besides Allah, if you are truthful. But if you fail to do so - and surely you are bound to fail then guard yourselves against the Fire whose fuel are men and stones, which has been prepared for the infidels.”

Structure of the Holy Quran The Quran was revealed in small portions over a period of 23 years. There are 114 Chapters in the Quran. Each chapter of Quran is called a Surah. Each Chapter is divided into various Verses. Some contain more verses while others less.  Surah al-Baqarah, the second chapter of the Quran, is the biggest of all. It contains 286 Ayat (Verses). The shortest Surah of the Quran is Surah al-Kauthar. It contains only three Verses. The Quran is also divided into thirty almost equal portions. Each of these portions is called a Juz in Arabic.

Structure of the Holy Quran The Quran was revealed to the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم in small portions. Some portions of the Quran were revealed in Makkah while other portions of it were revealed in Madinah. The Chapters that were revealed in Makkah, are known as Makki. The Chapters revealed in Madinah after Hijrah(Migration), are known as Madani. The Makkan period of revelation was from 610 AD to 622 AD.

Structure of the Holy Quran The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم received the first Wahi in 610 AD, in the small cave in the mountain of Hira. That mountain is now known as Jabl Nur (Mountain of Radiance). It is located about two and a half miles (Four Kilometers) away from the Ka’bah in the city of Makkah. In the first Wahi, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم received the first five (Verses) of Surah (Chapter) al-‘Alaq (The Clot).

Structure of the Holy Quran The Madani period was from 622 CE to 632 CE. Eighty-six(86) Chapters were revealed in Makkah, and twenty-eight (28) Chapters were revealed in Madinah. Makki Suwar contain4417 Verses, Madani Suwar contain 1819 verses. The total number of Ayat (Verses) in the Hoy Quran is six thousand two hundred thirty six (6,236).

Structure of the Holy Quran The last revelation of the Quran was the two hundred eighty-first Ayah (Verse) of Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow). Surah al-Fatihah, the first Surah (Chapter) of the Quran was the first complete chapter to be revealed and Surah an-Nasr (The Help) was the last. Verses of the Quran are not arranged in their chronological order of revelation. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم used to set the place of various Chapters and Verses himself.

Scope of the Holy Quran The Holy Qur’an discusses an enormous range of topics: It tells us about God, His attributes, man's position in the universe, man’s aim in life, how to attain that aim, and how he stands in relation to God and to his fellow-beings. It gives details of what one should believe and how it should be put into practice. The next life is described in it in full. Histories of previous nations and their Prophets, as well as many events from the life of the Holy Prophet ﷺ are also given in the Holy Qur’an.

Scope of the Holy Quran The Holy Qur’an, being the primary source of Islamic jurisprudence, has enunciated the basic principles according to which the Islamic laws governing all aspects of human mortality are established. The Holy Qur’an, as it is the direct revelation from Allah, is also the first source of Islamic laws. Hence, it is natural that whenever legal experts decide to know any Shariah law, they seek it in the Holy Qur’an first. In other words, it is the first medium through which we get to the Shariah Laws. The Holy Qur’an is also an authority for the authenticity of Sunnah, Ijma (consensus) and Qiyas (Analogy) the other three sources of Shariah laws.

Scope of the Holy Quran It gives arguments to disprove false beliefs of all kinds, and answers all sorts of questions and objections raised about its teachings and about the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Guidance, laws and regulations on everyday subjects such as family life, business dealings, the law, war and peace, women's rights, hygiene, government and democracy, is also described in the Holy Book. When dealing with any topic, the Holy Qur’an gives reasons, arguments and evidence to support its teachings, and it challenges those who disagree with it to produce proof of their views.

Conclusion The Holy Qur’an contains the most comprehensive divine instructions mainly to provide guidance to mankind till the Day of Resurrection. It enables mankind to distinguish between truth and falsehood and to acquire spiritual prosperity in this life as well as in the Life Hereafter. It is the final authority for all Muslims, and the laws described in it are final. Legal experts frequently refer to these when they set out the best way of life for their people.

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