1. The Holy Qur’an Miracle of Miracles

2. What is the Qur’an? The Verbatim word of God الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِنْ لَدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ “…(This is) a Book, whose signs (ayaat) are made decisive, then are they made plain, from the Wise, All- aware” (11:1)

3. “…so indeed there has come to you clear proof from your Lord, and guidance and mercy” (6:157) Guiding the intellect through logical premises to sound conclusions (An example): The Argument for Creationism: “Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth…” (52:35) A Book of Guidance Guiding the Intellect

4. “…these are insights from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.” (7:203) The intellect acknowledges a realm beyond the material. However, it also acknowledges that it cannot fathom it completely. A Book of Guidance Beyond The Limits of the Intellect

5. “O mankind! there has come to you indeed an admonition from your Lord and a cure for what is in the hearts, and guidance and mercy for those who believe…” (10:57) The Qur’an argues that the only thing that prevents mankind from following their intellect are spiritual diseases. The Qur’an prescribes cures for these spiritual diseases. A book of Guidance Spiritual Purification

6. قالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ ( صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ): إِنَّ هذِهِ الْقُلُوبَ لِتَصْدَأُ كَما يَصْدَأُ الْحَـدِيدُ وَ إِنَّ جَلائَها قَراءَةُ الْقُرآنِ. The Messenger of Allah (prayers of Allah be upon him and his family) has said: “These hearts rust just as iron rusts; and indeed they are polished through the recitation of the Qur’an.” Spiritual Purification

7. What is the Qur’an? Its Revelation and Compilation ◦ The Holy Qur’an was compiled during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ◦ It was written in Arabic as it was revealed, using the exact words uttered by the Prophet, whom he in turn had received from Gabriel. ◦ Gabriel would take the Words of God and ‘cast them upon the heart of Prophet Muhammad’ ◦ Same language, structure and wording maintained up till now ◦ Composed of 114 surah (similar to chapters) and over 6000 ayat (literally signs)

8. The Authenticity of the Qur’an No likeness to the Qur’an has ever been produced Therefore, there is only one version of the Qur’an worldwide today, used by all Muslims. The Qur’an displays many scientific, numerical and historical miracles ( For more detailed information visit http://ihic.org.au/Book.aspx?id=69)

9. The Qur’an is Timeless and Universal “This Qur'an has been revealed to me that I may warn you and whomever it may reach," (6:19) “It is nothing else but a reminder to the worlds.“ (68:52) Ayat 6:151-152

10. The Qur’an has an inner and an outer dimension "And serve God and ascribe nothing as a partner to Him.” 4:36 “…he who makes his desire his God.” 45:23

11. A Comparison with other Holy Books The Qur’an’s approach is thematic, not chronological. The role models the Qur’an presents are virtuous. The Qur’an makes no claims that have been scientifically disproven or are logically impossible.

12. Clear and ambiguous ayat General and Specific ayat Abrogating and Abrogated ayat Understanding the Qur’an

13. Clear and Ambiguous هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

14. Clear and Ambiguous "He it is who has revealed to you the Book in which are clear revelations, (that is, verses whose meaning is immediately clear and which Muslims use for guidance). They are the substance of the Book and others which are allegorical. But those in whose heart is doubt indeed follow the allegorical seeking dissension by seeking to explain it. None knowest its explanation except God and those who are of sound instruction say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord.” (3:7)

15. Clear and Ambiguous الرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىٰ "The Beneficent, One who is established on the throne," (20:5) وَجَاءَ رَبُّكَ "And your Lord came," (89:22) لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ "Nothing is as His likeness," (42:11)

16. General and Specific Ayat فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكُمْ جَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانًا مُبِينًا “…then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and against these We have given you a clear authority.” (4:91)

17. Misconceptions Does the Qur’an incite violence? o The default option in the Qur’an is always peace. o However, failing peace, war is endorsed, with strict rules of warfare: o Peace treaties should be made if there is an inclination to peace from the enemy o Peace treaties are absolutely upheld o Enemies who surrender are not to be harmed o Members of the enemy’s army who decide to become neutral (i.e. not join either side) are not to be harmed

18. General and Specific Ayat سَتَجِدُونَ آخَرِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَأْمَنُوكُمْ وَيَأْمَنُوا قَوْمَهُمْ كُلَّ مَا رُدُّوا إِلَى الْفِتْنَةِ أُرْكِسُوا فِيهَا ۚ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَعْتَزِلُوكُمْ وَيُلْقُوا إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ وَيَكُفُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكُمْ جَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانًا مُبِينًا “You will find others who desire that they should be safe from you and secure from their own people; as often as they are sent back to the mischief they get thrown into it headlong; therefore if they do not withdraw from you, and (do not) offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and against these We have given you a clear authority.” (4:91)

19. Looking at the Qur’an as a Whole How does the Qur’an portray women? o The story of Adam and Eve in the Qur’an: o Eve is not created from Adam’s rib. o Adam and Eve carry an equal share of the blame for disobeying God. o Upheaval of discrimination against women in society o Female role models in the Qur’an: o Mary (peace be upon her) has a revolutionary, independent role in society o Chastity

20. Looking at the Qur’an as a Whole o Women’s rights: o Strict rules regarding divorce to protect women o Clear rules of inheritance and rights of ownership for women, giving women financial independence o Strict rules on domestic life, including punishments for men who engage in physical and psychological abuse against women

21. Referring to the Ahlul Bayt وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ "And we have revealed to you the Remembrance that you may explain to mankind that which has been revealed for them…” 16:44

22. Reciting the Qur’an قالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيُّ ابْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ ( عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ): أَلْـبَيْتُ الَّذِي يُقْرَأُ فِيهِ الْقُرآنَ وَ يُذْكَرُ اللّهُ عَزَّوَّجَلَّ فِيهِ تَكْـثُرُ بَرَكَتَهُ وَ تَحْضُرُهُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَ تَهْجُرُهُ الشَّياطِينَ وَ يُضِيءُ لأَهْلِ السَّمآءِ كَما تُضِيءُ الْكَواكِبَ لأَهْلِ الأَرْضِ. Imam ‘Ali (as): “The house in which the Qur’an is recited and Allah, The Noble and Grand, is remembered will receive numerous Divine blessings (barakah), the Angels will be present, and the Satans will be distanced from there. In addition, that house will shine for the people of the sky, just like the stars shine for the people on the Earth.”

23. Reciting the Qur’an قالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ ( صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ): إِذا أَرَدَتُمْ عَيْشَ السُّعَداءِ وَ مَوْتَ الشُّهَداءِ وَ النَّجاةَ يَوْمَ الْحَسْرَةِ وَ الظِّلَّ يَوْمَ الْحُرُورِ وَ الْهُدى يَوْمَ الضَّلالَةِ فَأَدْرُسُوا الْقُرآنَ فَإِنَّهُ كَلامُ الرَّحْمنِ وَ حِرْز مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ وَ رُجْحان فِي الْمِيْزانِ. Prophet Muhammad (saw): “If you want ease and success in this world, the death of a martyr, to be saved on the Day of Loss, a shade on the Day of heat, and guidance on the Day of straying, then take lessons from the Qur’an. Surely it is the word of the Merciful, a protection from the Satan, and one of the weightiest on the scale of (good) deeds (on the Day of Judgement).”

24. Reciting the Qur’an قالَ الإِمامُ جَعْفَرُ ابْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الصّادِقُ ( عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ): مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرآنَ وَ هُوَ شاب مُؤْمِن إِخْتَلَطَ الْقُرآنُ بِلَحْمِهِ وَ دَمِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ اللّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرامِ الْبَرَرَةِ وَ كانَ الْقُرآنُ حَجِيزاً عَنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ. Imam al-Sadiq (as): “One who recites the Qur’an and is a believing youth, the Qur’an becomes mixed with his flesh and blood, and Allah - The Noble and Great - will place him with the noble, devoted Angels. The Qur’an will act as a barrier (between him and all evil) on the Day of Judgement.”

25. Contemplating/Applying the Qur’an قالَ الإِمامُ عَلِيُ بْنُ الْحُسَينِ ( عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ): آياتُ الْقُرآنِ خَزائِن فَكُلَّما فَتَحَتْ خَزانَة يَنْبَغِي لَكَ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ ما فِيها. Imam al-Sajjad (as): “The verses of the Qur’an are treasures, and every time a treasure is opened up, it is desirable that you look at what is inside it.”

26. Contemplating/Applying the Qur’an قالَ الإِمامُ جَعْفَرُ ابْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الصّادِقُ ( عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ): يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرآنَ إِذا مَرَّ بِآيَةٍ مِنَ الْقُرآنِ فِيها مَسْأَلَة أَوْ تَخْوِيف أَنْ يَسْأَلَ اللّهَ عِنْدَ ذلِكَ ما يَرْجُوا وَ يَسْأَلَهُ الْعافِيَةِ مِنَ النّارِ وَ مِنَ الْعَذابِ. Imam al-Sadiq (as): “It is advisable for the person who is reciting the Qur’an that when he reaches to a verse from the Qur’an in which there is a request for something that he ask Allah for that thing, or when he reaches to a verse of the Qur’an in which there is talk about the punishment, that he ask Allah for protection from the fire of Hell and the punishment.”

27. Studying the Qur’an قالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيُّ ابْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ ( عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ): تَعَّلَمُوا الْقُرآنَ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْحَدِيثِ وَ تَفَقَّهُوا فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ رَبِيعُ الْقُلُوبِ وَ اسْتَشْفُوا بِنُورِهِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفاءُ الصُّدُورِ وَاحْسِنُوا تِلاوَتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْفَعُ الْقَصَصِ. Imam ‘Ali (as): “Learn the Qur’an for it is the best of narrations, and understand it thoroughly for it is the best blossoming of the hearts. Seek cure with its Light for it is the cure of the hearts. Recite it beautifully for it is the most beneficial of narrations.”

28. Learning the Laws of the Qur’an

29. The Law of Tests وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ “And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient.” (2:155)

30. The Law of Gradual Seizure وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ “And (as to) those who reject Our communications, We draw them near (to destruction) by degrees from whence they know not. And I grant them respite; surely My scheme is effective.” (7:182-3)

31. The Law of Reflection اسْتِكْبَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ السَّيِّئِ ۚ وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ ۚ فَهَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ الْأَوَّلِينَ ۚ فَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا ۖ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا “(In) behaving proudly in the land and in planning evil; and the evil plans shall not beset any save the authors of it. Then should they wait for aught except the way of the former people? For you shall not find any alteration in the course of Allah; and you shall not find any change in the course of Allah.” (35:43)

32. The Law of Helping the Believers و لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَاءُوهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا ۖ وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ “And certainly We sent before you messengers to their people, so they came to them with clear arguments, then We gave the punishment to those who were guilty; and helping the believers is ever incumbent on Us.” (30:47)

33. Helping Oppressors وَلَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَ “And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you, and you have no guardians besides Allah, then you shall not be helped.” (11:113)