IN SEARCH
OF THE MESSAGE
51:55 - But teach
(thy Message): for teaching benefits the Believers.
وَذَكِّرْ
فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {55}
INTRODUCTION.
FROM THE QURAN :
English Translation (by Abdulla
Yusuf Ali)
“ The tremendous impact that this
work has made upon the English reading Muslims (as well as many non-Muslims) of
the world, has never been greater than it is today, and shall continue
insha-Allah
- for generations to come. It has enabled interested readers
of English who do not have a proficiency in reading and comprehending Quranic
Arabic to greatly enrich their understanding of the meaning and the incomparable beauty and perfection of
the Glorious Quran. It has given them a more authentic and reliable translation
from which they could make a serious study.
It is the duty of every Muslim
man, woman or child, to read the Quran and understand it according to his own capacity. If anyone
of us attains to some knowledge or understanding of it by study, contemplation
and the test of life, both outward and inward, it is his duty, according to his
capacity, to instruct others and share with them the joy and peace which result
from contact with the spiritual world.
The English language being widely spread over the world, many people interested
in Islam will get their ideas of the Quran from English translations. It is
good that qualified Muslims should make the attempt to present the picture which their own mental and spiritual vision
presents to themselves.
How much greater is the joy and sense of
wonder and miracle when the Quran opens our spiritual eyes! The meaning which
we thought we had grasped expands. New worlds are opened out. As we progress,
still never and again newer worlds “swim into our ken:. The miracle
deepens and deepens and almost completely absorbs us. And yet we know that the
‘face of Allah’
- our final goal has not been reached. (Surely we) are fellow
riders on a steed of research in a field that is unlimited in scope and sublime compared to all ordinary knowledge.” (Abdulla Yusuf Ali ).
29:45 - “Recite what is sent of
the Book by inspiration to thee, and
establish regular prayer: for prayer restraints from shameful and unjust deeds;
and remembrance of Allah
is the greatest (thing in life without doubt). And Allah
knows the (deeds) that
ye do.”
NOTE; 3471 - “The TILAWAT
of the Quran implies: rehearsing or reciting it, and publishing it
abroad to the world; (2) reading it to ourselves; (3) studying it to understand it as it should
be studied and understood (2:121); (4)
meditating on it so as to accord our knowledge and Life and desires with
it. When this is done, it merges into real
Prayer, and Prayer purges us of anything (act, plan, thought, motive, words) of
which we should be ashamed or which would work injustice to others. Such Prayer
passes into our inmost life and being, for then we realize the Presence of
Allah,
and that is the DHIKR (
or remembrance), for remembrance is the bringing to mind of things as present
to us which might otherwise be absent to us. And that is the greatest thing in
Life. It is subjective to us: it fills our consciousness with Allah.
For Allah
is in any case always present and knows all.”
This
is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without
doubt, to those who fear Allah; (al-Baqarah 2:2)
IN SEARCH OF THE MESSAGE - is the book I wish to present to the
readers.. I have not attempted to reproduce the entire Quran by any means. They are extracts from the Quran
compiled under different subjects. This
should enable the readers to see the
Quranic injunctions more vividly, thus creating lasting impressions in their
minds; without having to search for them all over which may sometimes turn out
to be futile and frustrating. This should therefore serve as a ready reference
to the seekers of divine knowledge, at least on some vital subjects.
I have aired
no views of my own, but followed
the direct translations of the Quran by late Abdulla Yusuf Ali and arranged them in alphabetical order - from A – Z - under various subjects that
have come to my mind as useful to the Readers, in this service to Islam,
and I do that only for Allah’s
sake.
“The Quranic literature is
voluminous that no single man can compass a perusal of the whole. Its meaning
is so manifold we should be wise to concentrate on the matters that immediately
help us”. Hence, this is an effort to guide - ‘in the application of spiritual
truths to our own times and our own lives, and we must use every kind of
knowledge, science and experience which we possess without obtruding on
irrelevant matters.’ (A.YusufAli).
In this regard, I have, to the best of my ability, collected and collated
the various subjects that fell within my ken, and grouped them together,
stressing special points of view, by means of the Commentaries, Hadiths, and
Fiqh-us-Sunnah - where necessary. For
example, under “Virtue”, I have collated the many verses that speak of virtuous
deeds to enable the reader to understand this more clearly. This tends to bring
about repetitions of the verses and their notes, elsewhere in the Book. Such
repetitions are intended to assist the readers to understand the spiritual
matters from different angles.
Similarly, I have endeavoured to illuminate the readers’ minds on other
topics by incorporating such items as:-
(a) Differences, discord,
dispute, divided, distort, Hinder, Sects etc.
(b) Virtues, Wisdom, Good
Deeds, Goodness, Manners, etc.
(c) Invite, Preaching, Proclaim, Recite, Rehearse, Teach, Call etc.
(e) Serve, Strive, etc.
(f) Mission of Islam - under 35 Sub-Heads. Etc.
I wish to make it clear that I am
not a scholar of the Quran by any means
It is the constant reading of the
Quran ( for over three decades) which seized my heart with the desire to
carry its teachings in its own instructive style, in our efforts to understand
the precepts of the Quran.
OF
THE MESSAGE – (FROM THE QURAN)
21:10
- We have revealed for you (O men!) a book in which is a Message for you: Will ye
then understand?
21:50
- And this is a blessed Message
which We have sent down: Will ye then
reject it?
21:106.Verily
in this (Quran) is a Message for
people who would (truly) worship Allah. 2761
Note:
2761 - The culmination of Allah’s
Revelation is in the
Quran, which confirms previous Scriptures, corrects the errors which men
introduced into them, and explains many points in detail for all who seek right
worship and service to Allah
- whether they inherit
the previous Books (“People of the Book”) or not. It is a universal Message.
51:55
-But teach (thy Message): for teaching benefits the
Believers.
71:5
- Then spread
abroad a Message 5866
Note: 5866 – (5) they gave a Message, through which just men were
justified through repentance, and evil men were warned of their sins.
96:1- Proclaim!
(or Read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher Who created 6203 6204 اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ
رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ {96:1}
Note: 6203-Iqraa – read or recite or rehearse
or proclaim aloud Allah’s Message when he must stand forth to the
world and declare his mission.96:1
Note: 6204- The
declaration or proclamation was to be in
the name of Allah and not for any personal benefit to the prophet. It was the
call of Allah for the benefit of erring humanity.96:1
96:3-
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful
اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ {3}
96:4-
He Who taught (the use of) the Pen 6206 الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ {4}
Note:6206- The Arabic words for “teach” and “knowledge”
are from the same root. It is impossible
to produce in a Translation the complete orchestral harmony of the words for “read”, “teach”,
”pen” – (which implies reading, writing, books, study, research), “knowledge”
(including science, self knowledge, spiritual understanding),and “proclaim”, an
alternative meaning of the word for “to read”. This proclaiming or reading
implies not only the duty of blazoning forth
Allah’s message, as going, with the prophetic office, but also the
duty of promulgation and wide
dissemination of the Truth by all who
read and understand it. The comprehensive meaning of qaraa refers not only to the particular person and occasion but also gives a universal
direction. And this kind of
comprehensive meaning, as we have seen , runs throughout the Qur-an for those,
who will understand.
96:5-
Taught man that which he knew not. 6207 عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ {5}
Note:6207-Allah
teaches us new
knowledge at every given moment. Individuals learn more and more day by day;
nations and humanity at large learn fresh knowledge at every stage. This is
even more noticeable and important in the spiritual world. 96:5
97:1- We
have indeed revealed this (Message) in the night of Power: 6217إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ {97:1}
Note:
6217- It is Allah’s
Power dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance, by His
Revelation, in every kind of affair
.97:1
97:3-The
Night of Power is better than a thousand Months. 6218 لَيْلَةُ
الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ (97:3)
Note:
6218- One moment of enlightenment
under Allah’s
Light is better than thousands of months or
years of animal life, and such a moment converts the night of darkness into a
period of spiritual glory. 97:3
97:5
- Peace!... This until the rise of Morn! 6220 سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ {97:5}
Note:
6220- When the Night of spiritual darkness is dissipated by
the glory of Allah,
a wonderful Peace and a sense of Security arise
in the soul, and lasts on until this life closes, and the Glorious Day of the
new world dawns, when everything will be on a different plane, 97:5
فَلَعَلَّكَ
بَاخِعٌ نَفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ
أَسَفًا {18:6}
18:6- Thou wouldst only perchance fret thyself to death
following after them in grief if they believe not in this Message. 2331
Note: 2331- In a
reasonable world the preaching of a
reasonable Faith like that of Islam would win universal acceptance. But the world is not altogether reasonable.
It caused great distress to the unselfish; Preacher of Islam that his Message met with
so much opposition. He wanted to point the way to salvation. He only got, in the Makkans period ,abuse
from the chiefs of the Makkans-abuse and persecution, not only for himself but
for the Truth which he was preaching. A
heart less stout than his might have been appalled at what seemed the hopeless
task of reclaiming the world from falsehood, superstition, selfishness, wrong,
and oppression. He is here consoled, and
told that he was not to fret himself to death; he was nobly doing his duty,
and, as after-events showed, the seed of Truth was already germinating, although this was not visible at
the time, besides, these “chiefs” and “leaders” were only strutting in false
plumes: their glory was soon to fade for ever. 18:6
قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي
لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا
بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا {18:109}
18:109 - : If the ocean were ink
(wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord. Sooner would the ocean be
exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like
it, for its aid.”2453
Note;
2453 - The Words and Signs and Mercies of Allah
are in all Creation, and can never be fully set out in human
language, however extended our means may be imagined to be. 18:109
وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ
وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ
اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {31:27}
31:27 - And if all the trees were
pens and the Ocean (were ink), with seven Oceans behind it to add to its
(supply), yet would not the Words of Allah
be exhausted (in the writing): for Allah
is exalted in power, full of wisdom.3616
Note: 3616 - WORDS
OF ALLAH;
His wonderful Signs and
Commandments are infinite and cannot be
expressed if all the trees were made into pens, and all the wide Ocean,
multiplied seven times, were made into ink. Any Book of His Revelation would
deal with matters which man can understand and use in his life: There are
mysteries beyond mysteries that man can never fathom. Nor would any praise that
we could write with infinite resources be adequate to describe His power, glory
and wisdom. 31:27
فَإِنْ
تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ آذَنْتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَاءٍ ۖ وَإِنْ أَدْرِي أَقَرِيبٌ أَمْ بَعِيدٌ مَا
تُوعَدُونَ {21:109}
21:109 - But if they turn back
say: “I have proclaimed the Message
to you all alike and in truth; but I know not whether that which ye are
promised is near or far”.2764
Note:2764 - ‘If you do not realize
the significance of the Message, I
at least have done my duty. I have given the Good News for the Righteous and
the Warning for the Unjust, without favour or partiality, and without abating
one jot of the truth, openly and squarely for all. Do not ask me when the Good
News and the Warning will be fulfilled. That is for Allah
to decide, not for me or for you to know.’ 21:109
فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ ۗ
وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُقْضَىٰ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُ ۖ
وَقُلْ رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا {11420:}
[20:114] High
above all is Allah, the King, the Truth! Be not in haste with the Qur'an before
its revelation to thee is completed, but say, "O my Lord! advance me in
knowledge."2639
2639 Allah
is above every
human event or desire. His purpose is universal. But He is the Truth, the
absolute Truth; and His kingdom is the true kingdom, that can carry out its
will. That Truth unfolds itself gradually, as it did in the gradual revelation
of the Qur-an to the holy Prophet. But even after it was completed in a volume,
its true meaning and purpose only gradually unfold themselves to any given
individual or nation. No one should be impatient about it. On the contrary, we
should always pray for increase in our own knowledge, which can never at any
given moment be complete.( see-20.114)
رَبَّنَا لَا
تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ {3:8}
3:8 - “Our Lord! Let not our
hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us Mercy from Thine Own
Presence. For Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure.”
رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا
مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ {3:53}
3:53 - “Our Lord! We believe in
what Thou hast revealed, and we follow the Messenger; then write us down
among those who bear witness.”
Every care and effort have been
taken to be as precise and perfect in the production of this Book, made only for Allah’s
sake, as is humanly possible.
I do not however, claim to be above flaw or imperfection. If I am right, it is from Allah;
if wrong, it is from
me. I hope the readers will bear with me for any flaws found in the contents. I
ask Allah
to protect us and you
from any errors and from all that displeases Him. In the name of Almighty Allah and His chosen
Prophet Muhammad (
.) I dedicate this publication.
.
All
Praise is due to Allah
, the Creator of all, the Giver of everything, and He is far
exalted above what others ascribe to Him.
And may Peace and Blessing be upon the perfect worshipper of Allah
, the final Messenger Muhammad (
) and all those who follow him.
O our Lord! Accept this humble dedication.
Abdul Rahemen Abedeen
Colombo,
Sri Lanka.
hijri
1429
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