AS-SIRAAT AL-MUSTAQEEM

Contents

Introduction â€“ The Importance of the Book of Qurâ€™an

<ol> <li><a href="content_detail.php?id=1#1">Revelation of the Qur’an</a></li> <li><a href="content_detail.php?id=1#2">Key Elements of the Qur’an </a></li> <li><a href="content_detail.php?id=1#3">The Name Qur’an Means Recitation</a></li> <li><a href="content_detail.php?id=1#4">Islam is True Religion</a></li> <li><a href="content_detail.php?id=1#5">Peace if the Priority</a></li> <li><a href="content_detail.php?id=1#6">Organisation of Qur’anic Revelations</a></li> </ol> Today Islam features widely in the news and almost any newspaper or television, there will be stories about Islam.  Many of these coverage will be accompanies by images of violence in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan or Kashmir.  Often in the non-Muslim world, there are very few people who understand the nature of Islam. As a British Muslim my own religious experiences play an important part in developing this website.  As a PhD student in Islam and law (International Law) I found that there are many misconceptions about the true religion of Islam and understanding Muslims. Today we live in times of turmoil when the Western countries are perceived as being at war with Islam rather than being at war with evil.  The vision of Islam emerging from the media is often that of a hard, uncompromising faith whose adherents will resort to violence in defence of their principles or in order to impose their will on others.  Yet for those more familiar with Muslims and their Islamic traditions, the image of ‘Militant Islam’ lies at odds with a faith that most of its adherents who number, perhaps, a billion worldwide would regard as no less specific in temper than Christianity or any other faith. Islam is the faith or belief that there is Allah (swt) (God) and He chose his messengers, Muhammad (Peace by upon Him (PBUH)) to convey to the world the true word of Allah (swt) (God).  The word Muslims use for God is ‘Allah (swt)’ which is not so much a name as a description of a quality of being; Absolute, the Almighty, The Supreme. <a id="1" name="1"></a>Revelation of the Qur’an When Muhammad (PBUH) was 40 years old a visionary experience of the Angel Gabriel (Jibraeel) called him to be God’s messenger.  From that moment on his life was not his own, his privacy sacrificed so that everything he said and did could set the pattern for others to show them how they should live.  It took 23 years with his family and Companions when the Qur’an was revealed.  During the years of revelation Muhammad (PBHU) dictated everything to others once the visitation had ceased.  The way of the Prophet Muhammad’s life is indicated by the word ‘Islam’ which means to ‘submit’.  Those who practice Islam are therefore known as ‘Muslims’, people who have made commitment to hand over their lives to the disciplined way based on the love and obedience to the will of ‘Allah (swt)’ as revealed in the revelations Muhammad (PBUH)) received, collection known as the Qur’an.  Over the last 14 centuries the Qur’an has been at the heart of Muslim life and the culture.  Muslims all over the world and it is at present world’s fastest growing religion.  As the Qur’an is probably the most used and misused book in the world, not only by Muslims but also by non-Muslim activist and intellectuals. We hope that this website will attempt to give those who need basic, necessary, information on the teachings of the Qur’an that continue to shape and attach weight to the world’s future. We are also making an attempt to explain principles of Islam and how a Muslim should adhere to the way of life in accordance with the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Sunnah.  Muslims strive to bring God consciousness (Taqwa) or fear of Allah (swt) into every area of their daily lives from the important and profound to the mundane tasks; and in this devotion they are striving for the greater pleasure of their Lord, they find their own fulfillment and happiness. <a id="2" name="2"></a>Key Elements of the Qur’an The Qur’an discloses key elements about itself.  Specific words clarify the meanings of its name, the affirmation of Islam as true religion and priority of peace. <a id="3" name="3"></a>(1)     The Name Qur’an Means Recitation: ●       We have sent it down with truth; ●       And with truth has it come down; ●       And we have not sent you (Muhammad (PBUH)); ●       Except as a herald and Warner; ●       And we have divided the Recitation (Qur’an); ●       That you may recite it to humankind at intervals; ●       And we have sent it down by (successive) revelations (17: 105-6)* <a id="4" name="4"></a>(2)     Islam is true Religion ●       The true religion with God is Islam (3:19); ●       If anyone seeks a religion other than Islam; ●       It will not be accepted for him (3:85); ●       Today I have perfected your religion for you; ●       And I have completed my blessing upon you; ●       And I have approved Islam for your religion (5:5); ●       Whomever God desire’s to guide; ●       He expands his breast to Islam (6:125). And finally, in a rhetorical question: Will not he whose breast God has expanded to Islam; Walk upright in a light from his Lord? (39:24). Since the word ‘Islam’ means complete devotion or surrender (to the Will Allah (swt) (God)), the rhetorical question of the last verse lays down the fundamental duty incumbent on each Muslim to ‘walk upright in a light from his Lord’. <a id="5" name="5"></a>(3)     Peace is the Priority ●       God summons humankind to the abode of peace (darrulsalam), both in this life and in the next (10:25). So closely is the concept of peace (Salam) related to surrender (Salam) that the two become interchangeable, from the first revelation till the final Day of Judgment. It is angelic intermediaries who mark the first revelation of the Qur’an and they mark it with greeting of peace.  During the night of power, when the Qur’an is sent to have been revealed in its entirety to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). ●       Angels and the spirit alight; ●       On every errand by God made right; ●       Peace reigns until doom early light (97:45) Similarly, when the faithful enter paradise they will be greeted by angels uttering the phrase, ‘Asslamu-alaikum’ (peace be upon you) (7:46, 13:23-4; 16:32). Everywhere in the Muslim world as also among Muslims living outside the majority of the Muslim regions of Africa, Asia, one uses the greeting ‘Asslamu-alaikum’ to which the response is ‘wa’alykumas-salam’ (and upon you, too, be peace). But the return greeting can also be lengthened.  This habit derives from, even as it reinforces, the Qur’anic command: ●       And when you are greeted with a greeting; ●       Greet with one fairer than it, or return it (4:86) The fairer than it is often spoken if people have not seen each other for a long time.  To make the response ‘fairer than it is often spoken’ if people have not seen each other for a long time. To make the response ‘fairer than it ‘[the original greeting]’, a Muslim may outdo the greeter with a cadenza of good wishes, Wa’alykumas-salam, ‘Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu’ (and on you be peace, and also God’s mercy and (also) His blessing’). In every instance, peach here in this world relates to the peace in the next world.  Chapter 36  (Surah, Ya Sin) attests the clear and every present link.  When the Day of Judgment arrives it will come as: ●       And but single cry, when lo! ●       They are all brought before Us (36:53); ●       And then from Sovereign of the Day of Judgment (‘Maliki Yawm ad-din’) (1:3) will come: ●       Peace!  A word from a Merciful Lord! (36:58) Everyday greeting of peace that unites believer to believe in this world anticipates the peace pronounced by God on the Final Day, the Day of Judgment. Surah Ya Sin, Chapter 36 is often called the Heart of the Qur’an; the reason for this is that it concentrates on 3 important elements: - <ol> <li>Oneness of God (Tawheed);</li> <li>Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); and</li> <li>The Last Day of Ressurection.</li> </ol> The Prophet has recommended and placed heavy emphasis for the Muslims to learn and recite this chapter the most and reflect. Beyond this disclosing its name, affirming Islam and importance of peace, the Qur’an has other key characteristics that deserve mention. <a id="6" name="6"></a>Organisation of Qur’anic Revelations Revelations of sorted out chapters and verses and the causes of each revelation provide context for its content.  The number of revelations exceeds 200.  They came to the Prophet Muhammad via a divine (the Arch Angel Gabriel /Jibraeel).  They are now arranged in 114 Surahs or chapters.  All but one (chapter 9) begins by invoking God’s Name, then qualifies the Name as at once Compassion and Compassionate:  ‘In the Name of God, Full of Compassion Ever Compassionate’.  Different people close to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) heard these revelations.  They remembered the words and repeated them orally.  A few wrote them down.  In all they total at least 6,219 verses.  The contents of Surahs (chapters) and Ayat (verses) are informed by the causes of revelation, that is, and circumstances mark the Prophet’s life and the early Muslim community. They have two major emphasis.  The first and shortest revelation came in the Makkan period (610-622).  Invoking heaven and hell in anticipation of the Day of Judgment, they call polythesists to worship God as One.  They also call Jews and Christians to recognize Muhammad as the seal of prophecy fulfilling for the Arabs and humankind the mission set forth for earlier prophets.  Abraham and the Moses are the principal Prophets from the Torah, John the Baptist and Jesus who are the principal Prophets from the Gospel. The later revelations, because they came after the (Hijrah) flight from Makka to Medina, are known as Chapters from the Median period (622-632).  They share images and the persons, themes and categories from the early, Makkan period but they are at once longer more directed to social, political and military issues.  Certain chapters have several names because they are important for multiple reasons.  ‘Surat Al-Fatihah’ is the first and the most often recited.  Though it is called ‘The Opening’, it is also known as ‘Mother of the Book’ or ‘seven Oft Repeated Verses’.  Chapter 17 is known as ‘the Children of Israel’ but also as ‘the Night Journey’ since its initial verse alludes to the most unusual journey of the Prophet Muhammad (PBHU), he flew on a winged steed from Makka to Jerusalem from Jerusalem to the Highest Heaven, then back to Jerusalem and Makka, all in a single night.  (The journey may have been a dream sequence or an out of body experience but was nonetheless real.  Chapter 112 one of the shortest, is so pivotal and it has been labelled by its dense but complementary themes ‘The Unity’ or ‘The Sincerity’ or ‘the Nature of the Lordship’.   Still other Chapters are known by mysterious letters that occur in the first verse like ‘Ta Ha’ (20), and then the next one is ‘Ya Sin’ (36) and ‘Qaf’ (50).  Through a complex process that had been revealed in verses and chapters became overtime a book.  After the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBHU), Ali his close relative and supporter worked with others to compile them into written text.  Then 20 years later, during the rule of  Uthmaan, the third Caliph or successor to Muhammad (after Abu Bakr and Umar but before Ali), all extant versions were arranged into one ‘standard version’.  So this version remains unchanged to the present day. The earliest copies of the Qur’an were written in a script called Kufic Arabic, which had no vowel signs.  It was for a further 40 years, during the rule of Umayyad Caliph (Abdul Malik)  (685-705), the first written version of the Qur’an with diacritics was produced.  Seven different ways of reciting the Qur’an were also fixed, but that occurred still later, 934 CE.  The same seven forms of Qur’an recitation have remained ever since. References: *  This and all subsequent references are to the chapters and verses of the Qur’an (sometimes not exact/direct quotations have been used but are paraphrases of the overall meaning.  This is to help non-Muslims understand it better). *  CE (Christian Era). *  Muhammad:  A Biography of the Prophet (Karen Armstrong) (Victor Gollancz, 1991)

Saturday 18 Jan 2025