Studying the Quran as a Source of Culture and Knowledge

 

The Quran contains a great deal of information about the prophets who appeared before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them) as well as the different peoples who were destroyed because of their refusal to obey Allah’s laws.

 
If someone wanted to learn about such people as a matter of culture and learning, one can find this needed information in the Quran. Obviously, the historical information stated in the Quran is not meant to teach the Muslims history but is meant for much more than that, as shall be noted below. As Murad advised,

Do not read it merely for intellectual pursuit and pleasure; even though you must apply your intellect to the full to the task of understanding the Quran. So many people spend a lifetime in studying the language, style, history, geography, law and ethics of the Quran, and yet their lives remain untouched by its message. The Quran frequently refers to people who have knowledge but do not derive benefit from it.

[Khurram Murad, Way to the Quran (Leicester, UK: The Islamic Foundation, 1 985), p. 28.]

 

 

In fact, in the history of Islam, many people got distracted by delving into this aspect of the Quran in great detail. They attempted to discover all of the details that they could about the people that Allah talks about in the Quran. That is why one can find in some of the books of Quranic commentary discussions of the following issues: the type of tree from which Adam ate, the type of wood Noah used to build his ark, the names and types of birds that Abraham killed and were brought back to life, the names of the Companions of the Cave as well as the name of their dog, the price for which Joseph was sold, the name of the ruler who debated with Abraham and numerous other details that Allah has left unmentioned in the Quran.

[Ibn Katheer, Tafseer al-Quran al-Adheem, p . 14]

 

 

 

None of that type of information was necessary as everything that the Muslims need for guidance is contained in the Quran. Unfortunately, many did not grasp this point and turned to unauthentic sources to discover the history of the prophets and people mentioned in the Quran. Regrettably, much of the unauthentic information they uncovered found its way into many of the commentaries on the Quran.

 

 

Included in this category of people could be those who read the Quran simply for its linguistic and artistic beauty. They tum to the Quran to read pure and beautiful Arabic and to study the prose of the Arabic language. Or, perhaps, they study the Quran as a type of art. Their Quranic study does not go beyond that; therefore, they miss the true purpose of the Quran.

 

[How to approach and understand the Quran by Jamal al Din Zarabozo, page 88-89]

Be like the bee by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

As people are content with the world, so you should be content with Allaah. As they are delighted by the world, so you should be delighted with Allaah. As they are intimate with their loved ones, so you should seek intimacy with Allaah. As they desire to know their kings and their leaders, and to draw near to them in order for honor and status to be conferred on them, so you should come to know Allaah and seek His love, this will lead to the utmost honor and distinction.

 

Said one of the zuhhad: “I can never imagine that someone could hear about Paradise and Hellfire and can still waste an hour without performing any act of obedience to Allaah; neither remembrance, prayer, reciting Quraan nor an act of charity or kindness.”

 

 

Someone said to him: “I weep profusely.”

 

 

He replied: “That you laugh while confessing your sin is better than weeping yet being puffed-up with pride because of your deeds. For the deeds of a conceited person will never rise above his head.”

 

 

The person then requested: “Please counsel me.”

 

 

So he replied: “Leave the world to those who hanker after it, as they leave the Afterlife to its seekers. And be in this world as the bee: it eats only good, produces only good, and when it rests upon anything it neither ruins it nor deflowers it.”

[Al Fawaa-id, Ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyyah (rahimahullaah), Pg.187]

Precious advice to the People of Qur’aan

 

How beautiful is the advice of Imam al-Aajri in his book Akhlaq Ahl al-Qur’aan – and this is a book which the one memorising Qur’aan can never abandon reading or studying. This book contains lengthy advice which I have taken a portion from. He (the author) says,

“The first thing that he (the student of Qur’an) must do is utilise the taqwa of Allah in secrecy and in openness by developing wara’ (piety) in his eating and drinking, in his sense of dress and in his home, with insight of his era and the fasaad (sins and evil) of his people so that he is cautious against them with regards to his Deen. He is highly devoted over his state of affairs and deeply concerned with correcting what has become corrupt in his matters.

 

He guards his tongue and yet is distinguished by his speech.”

 
And from the advice is also the following:

“If he studies the Qur’aan then he does so with complete understanding and intellect. What concerns him is fully comprehending that which Allah has made mandatory on him to follow  and adhere to, and desisting from what He `azza wa jall has forbid him from.

 

His concern is not ‘when will I finish the Qur’aan?’ But rather his deep concern is:

‘when will I be fully content with Allah and independent of other than Him?’

 

‘When will I be from the Muttaqeen?

When will I be from the Muhsineen?

When will I be from the Mutawakkileen (relying only on Allah)?

When will I be from the Khashi’een (humbled to Allah)?

When will I be from the Sabireen (patient)?

When will I be from the Sadiqeen (truthful)?

When will I be from the Kha’ifeen (fearful)?

When will I be from the Raajeen (hopeful)?

When will I become ascetic in this world?

When will I yearn for the Hereafter?

When will I repent from sins?

When will I recognise the successive blessings of Allah?

When will I thank Him for it?

When will I deeply understand the public address from Allah (i.e. this Qur’aan)?

When will I sincerely comprehend what I’m reciting?

When will I overcome my soul’s desires?

When will I strive for Allah with a true striving?

When will I guard my tongue?

When will I lower my gaze?

When will I protect my chastity and when will I have hayaa’ (modesty/shyness) of Allah with a true and honest hayaa’?

[Akhlaq Ahl al-Qur’an (pg. 79)]

 

 

Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh (rahimahullah) is also reported to say,

“It is not for the carrier of Qur’aan to have a need of anyone from the creation but it should be such that the creation has a need of him.

 

The carrier of Qur’aan is the carrier of the Flag of Islam, it does not befit him that he should indulge in nonsense speech with those who do so, nor should he be so forgetful with those who forget nor should he waste time in play with those who waste time in play.”

[Reported by al-Aajuri (37) and Abu Nu’aym (8/92)]

 

 

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (radhiallahu `anhu) gathered all those who had recited (memorised) Qur’aan – and they numbered near to three hundred –he then began to exalt the Qur’aan, saying:

“Indeed this Qur’aan is enough of a store and reserve for you, and yet it is enough of a burden over you.

 

 

So follow the Qur’aan and do not make the Qur’aan follow you.

 

Surely whoever follows the Qur’aan, it leads him to the gardens of Paradise and whoever makes the Qur’aan follow him, it drives him by the neck and hurls him into the Fire.”

[Al-Darimi (3328) and al-Aajuri in Fadha’il al-Qur’an (pg. 3)]

 

[Taken from: al-asbab al-mueena alal Hifdh, pg- 28-29]

 

See Also: Memorisation of Qur’an is from the special characteristics of this Ummah