First Major Source of Islam The Holy Qur’an Islamic Studies Courses in De Anza, Mission, Chabot, and Ohlone Colleges Designed and Taught By Hafiz M. K. Siddiqi, Ph.D. First Major Source of Islam The Holy Qur’an

First Revelation Prophet Muhammad pbuh received the first revelation of the Holy Qur’an from 96/1-5, as confirmed in the following chapter We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the night of power, (in the Holy month of Ramadan) and what will explain to you what the night of power is? The night of power is better than a thousand months. Wherein come down the angels and the Spirit by God’s permission on every errand: Peace! This until the morning. 97/1-5

Read in the name of your Sustainer who has created, created man out of a germ-cell. Read for your Sustainer is the most Bountiful one who has taught (Man) the use of pen, taught man what he did not know. 96/1-5 This was the most powerful beginning of a civilization which reached three continents of the world within first century

The Holy Qur’an It has 6349 Ayaat/verses (Ayah, singular), It has 30 equal parts (Juz, Ajzaa’), It has 114 Surahs (Chapters) It was first revealed in the month of Ramadan Its main subject is guidance to the humankind Its main theme is God consciousness It is the answer to the question: How should I behave in order to accomplish success in both worlds

Famous Names of the Qur’an Qur’an: Reading, recitation, collection 2/185, 17/9, it contains the best and most relevant of all previous messages Furqan: Criterion between the right and wrong 25/1, 2/185, 36/2 Tanzil: Revelation, 26/192 Dhikr: Reminder, 15/9 Nur: Light, 4/174 Kitab: Book/scripture, 2/2

Verily this Qur’an shows the way to all that is most upright…17/9 Maw’idhah: Admonition. Shifaa’: Cure. Huda: Guidance, Rahmah: Mercy, 10/57 Mubarak: Blessed. Musaddiq: Confirming the truth of previous revelations, 6/92 Azeez: Sublime, Powerful, 41/41 Majeed: Holy, 85/21 Basheer: Herald of glad tidings. Nadheer: Warner, 41/4

Makiyyah and Madaniyyah Makkiyyah: The portions, segments, and verses which were revealed before migration to Madinah, in the first 13 years of the mission of prophet Muhammad pbuh, in Makkah or elsewhere Madaniyyah: the portions, segments and verses revealed after the migration in last 10 years in Madinah or elsewhere

The revelation of the Qur’an The Holy Qur’an was revealed in piece-meal in a period of 23 years of the mission of Prophet Muhammad pbuh, to make its memorization, understanding and practicing Easy. The heavenly guidance was coming to cover the events on the ground, answer the questions, and provide the wisdom for the Humankind.

Angel Gabriel Angel Gabriel used to bring the messages of Allah swt to Prophet Muhammad pbuh His duties were: A. To convey the divine message B. To wait until the Prophet had memorized the verses/revelation C. To review the revealed messages annually in the month of Ramadan D. To give reference number of Surah and Verse In the year of the death of Prophet, Angel Gabriel reviewed the whole Qur’an twice

Kuttabul-Wahy (writers of revelation) There were over thirty companions of Prophet Muhammad pbuh, who were assigned the duty of writing the Holy Qur’an as and when it was received by the Prophet. 5-6 of them were always present near the Prophet (24/7). The writers of revelation were not allowed to write Hadith (Prophet’s sayings, actions, and approvals) or any thing else.

Famous Qur’anic Terms Hafiz/Huffaz: a person who renders the whole Qur’an to his memory Qari/Qurraa’, Muqri/Muqri’oon: a person who professionally recites the Holy Qur’an, and has completed his education in Qur’anic sciences, especially in Tajweed: the discipline of reading Qur’an with all the rules, regulations, and styles of chanting.

Terms in daily use Subhanallah: God is glorified, used when praising something or someone Takbeer: to say Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) instead of applauding for someone, especially in the Mosque’s gatherings Al-Hamdulillah: Praise be to God, when thanking Him for His numerous bounties In Shaa Allah: God willing, when you want to do something in future

Terms…… Maa Shaa Allah: this is how God willed, to praise someone and also to protect from evil eye Barakallahu Feekum: God bless you, this prayer can be said to anyone to appreciate him/her Jazakallahu Khayra: May God reward you with best rewards Assalamu Alaykum: peace be with you, this is Islamic greeting, the answer is: Wa ‘Alaykumus Salam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh: peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.

Occasions for recitation The Holy Qur’an is recited in every important occasion in the Muslim world and wherever Muslims live The most important occasion is the Holy month of Ramadan (9th month in Islamic lunar calendar year) being the anniversary of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an In 5 daily, and all other regular, and special occasion’s prayers

Occasions….. At the birth, death, wedding, conferences, at the purchase of a new house, beginning of a child’s education, graduation, peace and war times, at natural disasters etc. Muslims are recommended to read it at the beginning of each day after the morning prayer for a short while. At the time of sickness its reading is combined with the medicine for its healing power

General Topics of Qur’an Shari’ah, Siyasah, Khilafah: Islamic legal, political, and caliphate system Ibadaat: devotional deeds, including the five pillars of Islam Akhlaq: Islamic ethical system Mu’amalaat: Dealings with Muslims and non-Muslims, relationships with family, friends etc. Etiquettes of eating, drinking, wedding, socializing, visiting, and fighting in self defence, and more…

The Holy Qur’an stresses on reason Its emphasis on reason as a valid way to faith as well as its insistence on the inseparability of the spiritual and physical spheres of human existence, differentiate it from all other sacred scriptures. The guidance of Qur’an is not limited to the spiritual good of the hereafter but equally and frequently includes the good of this life too

The Qur’an was recorded and memorized simultaneously In Arabia, the people had the habit of memorizing due to their prevailing oral culture, so there were 100’s of 1000’s of people who had memorized the Holy Qur’an in the life time of Prophet Muhammad pbuh That oral culture is continuing without any gap till today. There were millions of Muslims in every single frame of history in the Muslim world who had memorized the Holy Qur’an completely Similarly, the written copies of the Qur’an without a single letter difference, were available everywhere

Ultimate manifestation of Allah’s Grace to man However often individual Muslims may have misread this answer, and however far many of them may have departed from the spirit of its message, the fact remains that to all who believed and believe in it, the Qur’an represents the ultimate manifestation of Allah’s Grace to man, the ultimate wisdom, and the ultimate beauty of expression: in short, the true words of God. (The message of the Qur’an: Muhammad Asad).

The concept of Oneness as a foundation of Islam The Holy Qur’an’s Tawheed/Oneness concept is extremely powerful and appealing to the human mind: One Universal God, One Universal Humanity, and One Universal Divine message/truth conveyed by all the prophets and messengers Qur’anic thesis is that all life, being God-given, is a unity and all aspects of it, material or spiritual, are intimately connected

Authorship of The Qur’an The first person who recited the Qur’an was prophet Muhammad pbuh, in 7th century C.E. If someone authors a book, he/she will proudly claim the authorship, but the Prophet did not claim it, he said it is Allah’s words Internal and external evidence has proven that there is no author but Allah swt (God): 96/1, 1/1, repeated 114 times, 57/16, 56/77-80, 25/1, 4/105, 2/185, 15/9, 16/44, 26/192-194

The Challenge of The Qur’an “Say if all humankind and all Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support” 17/88 The style: Every verse gives the impression that it is from God: 49/13, 95/4, 51/49, 50/16 The word: Qul: Say, was repeated in 340 verses as a imperative command

The Holy Qur’an…… Allah’s address to the Prophet: “We sent down (the Qur’an) in truth, and in truth has it descended, and we sent you but to give glad tidings and to warn. (It is) a Qur’an which we have unfolded gradually so that you might read it out to the humankind by stages, seeing that we have bestowed it from on high step by step as (one) revelation. 17/105-106

Qur’anic response to those who doubt If you bring them not a revelation, they say do you not seek to obtain it? Say: “I only follow whatever is being revealed to me by my Sustainer; this is a means of insight from your Sustainer, and a guidance and grace unto people who will believe. 7/203 And (thus it is:) whenever our clear signs are rehearsed unto them, those who do not believe that they are destined to meet us, say, bring us a discourse other than this, or alter this one, say: it is not for me on my own accord to change it, I only follow what is revealed to me, if I were to disobey my Lord, I should myself fear the penalty of a great day. 10/15

The Qur’an……. The Holy Qur’an kept answering the pagans in all their concerns with divine knowledge and wisdom, see the following verse: “Say: if Allah had so willed, I would not have conveyed it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. Indeed a whole life time I have dwelt among you before this (revelation) will you not then use your reason?” 10/16

The Holy Qur’an…… And you were not able to recite a book before this (Book came) nor are you (able) to transcribe it with your right hand, in that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted. 48/29 It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to him except by inspiration or from behind a veil or by sending a messenger to reveal with His permission, whatever He wills, for He is most high, most wise 42/51

Prophet’s meetings with Jews and Christians Allah says: “ We know indeed that they say, it is a man that teaches him”. The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear. 16/103 Waraqah son of Noufal, cousin of Prophets wife: Khadijah. The Monk Bahirah of Busra in the southern region of al Sham.

Guarantee of preservation We have without doubt sent down the message and we will assuredly guard it (from corruption). 15/9

Sample Readings Allah/God: 112/1-4, 42/11, 2/255, 59/22-24 Humankind: 4/1, 49/13, 23/52-53, 21/92 Message/Religion: 42/13, 4/163-165 Righteousness: 2/177 The believers: 23/1-11, 25/63-77 Repel evil with good: 41/33-36 Forgiveness of God: 39/53 Important commandments: 17/23-39 Stories of prophets: 19/16-40, 28/1-50, 21/51-73