1. The Holy Quran Miracle of Miracles

2. What is the Quran? The Verbatim word of God الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِنْ لَدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ “... (This is) a Scripture whose revelations are perfected and then expounded. (It cometh) 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 Quran argues that the only thing that prevents mankind from following their intellect are spiritual diseases. Quran The Quran 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. Quran The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has said: “These hearts rust just as iron rusts; and indeed they are polished through the recitation of the Quran.” Spiritual Purification

7. What is the Quran? Quran’s Revelation and Compilation ◦ The Holy Quran 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 Surahs (similar to chapters) and over 6000 Ayahs (literally signs)

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

9. The Quran is Timeless and Universal … وَأُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنُ لِأُنْذِرَكُمْ بِهِ وَمَنْ بَلَغَ ۚ … “…This Quran has been revealed to me that I may warn you and whomever it may reach," (6:19) وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ “It is but a reminder to the worlds.“ (68:52)

10. The Quran has an inner and an outer dimension وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ "And serve God and ascribe none as a partner to Him.” 4:36 أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ … “Have you then considered him who makes his desire as his god,.. 45:23

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

12. Clear and ambiguous ayahs (verses) General and Specific ayahs (verses) Abrogating and Abrogated ayahs (verses) Understanding the Quran

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 See next page for translation

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 knows 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. Examples: 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 General and Specific ayahs (verses) 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 Quran Does the Quran incite violence? Quran o Peace is always the default option in the Quran. 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 General and Specific ayahs (verses) 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 Quran as a Whole How does the Quran portray women? o The story of Adam and Eve in the Quran : 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 Quran : o Mary (peace be upon her) has a revolutionary, independent role in society o Chastity

20. Looking at the Quran 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 (the Quran) that you may explain to mankind what has been revealed for them…” 16:44

22. Reciting the Quran 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 وَيُضِيءُ لأَهْلِ السَّمآءِ كَما تُضِيءُ الْكَواكِبَ لأَهْلِ الأَرْضِ. Imam ‘Ali (as): “The house in which the Quran is recited and Allah, The Noble and Grand, is remembered will receive numerous Divine blessings, the Angels will be present, and Satan will be distanced from there. In addition, that house will shine for the people of heaven, just like the stars shine for the people on the Earth.”

23. Reciting the Quran قالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ ( صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ): إِذا أَرَدَتُمْ عَيْشَ السُّعَداءِ وَمَوْتَ الشُّهَداءِ وَالنَّجاةَ يَوْمَ الْحَسْرَةِ وَالظِّلَّ يَوْمَ الْحُرُورِ وَالْهُدى يَوْمَ الضَّلالَةِ فَأَدْرُسُوا الْقُرآنَ فَإِنَّهُ كَلامُ الرَّحْمنِ وَحِرْز مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ وَرُجْحان 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 Quran. Surely it is the word of the Merciful, a protection from Satan, and one of the weightiest on the scale of (good) deeds (on the Day of Judgement).”

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

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

26. Contemplating/Applying the Quran 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 يَرْجُو وَيَسْأَلَهُ الْعافِيَةِ مِنَ النّارِ وَمِنَ الْعَذابِ. Imam al-Saadiq (as): “It is advisable for the person who is reciting the Quran that when he reaches to a verse from the Quran in which there is a request for something that he ask Allah for that thing, or when he reaches to a verse of the Quran 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 Quran قالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيُّ ابْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ ( عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ): تَعَّلَمُوا الْقُرآنَ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْحَدِيثِ وَتَفَقَّهُوا فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ رَبِيعُ الْقُلُوبِ واسْتَشْفُوا بِنُورِهِ فَإِنَّهُ شِفاءُ الصُّدُورِ وَاحْسِنُوا تِلاوَتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْفَعُ الْقَصَصِ. Imam ‘Ali (a.s.): “Learn the Quran for it is the best of narrations, and understand it thoroughly for it is the blossom of the hearts. Seek cure with its Light for it is the cure of the hearts. Recite it well for it is the best of narrations.”

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

29. The Law of Gradual Seizure وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ “And those who reject Our revelations - step by step We lead them on from whence they know not.” (7:182-3)

30. 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 On account of their arrogance in the land and their plotting of Evil, but the plotting of Evil will hem in only their authors. Now are they but looking for the way the ancients were dealt with? But no change will you find in Allah's way, no turning off will you find in Allah's way (of dealing). (35:43)

31. 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 “Surly 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)

32. 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 touches you, and you have no guardians besides Allah, then you shall not be helped.” (11:113)

33. Thank you And May Allah Bless you