THE QUR’AN
The Qur’an a medium-sized book as far as its volume is
concerned. It comprises 114 chapters or surahs. The Quran is a
revealed book: it is not authored by a human being. It is the actual
word of God in human language. The Qur’an began to be revealed
to the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, through the
angel Gabriel, in A.D. 610, while the Prophet was sitting in
seclusion in the cave of Hira at the top of the Mountain of Light,
two miles from Makkah. Thus the scriptures were not revealed in
book-form at one point of time. Their various parts were revealed
as the occasion demanded. It was later compiled in Madinah
during the last days of the Prophet. The entire revelation was
completed over a period of 23 years. The last passage was
revealed to the Prophet while he was addressing a gathering at
Mount Arafat after performing his last Hajj in A.D. 622.
WAHY (REVELATION)
The Qur’an is composed of verbal revelations made to Prophet
Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam (on whom be peace) during a
period of twenty three years at Makkah (610-622) and Madinah
(622-632). The arrangement of the Qur’an is not in accordance
with the chronological order of the revelation. The first revelation
was verses 2-6 of Chapter 96. The last chapter revealed was
chapter 110.
FORMS OF REVELATION
The Quran is composed of wahy matlu, the recited words, and the
traditions (ahadith) are composed of wahy Ghair Matlu.
The Quran states:
- He (Muhammad) does not speak out of his own fancy.
This is no other than an inspired revelation. He is
taught by one who is mighty in power and vigorous.
(53:1)
The external inspiration or wahy matlu has been divided into three
categories.
1. Wahy Quran, that which was given by the mouth of the angel
Gabriel and which reached the ear of the Prophet after he knew
it that it was Gabriel who spoke to him.
2. Isharatul Malik : that which was received from Gabriel, but not
by word of mouth. On such occasions the Prophet said: ‘The
Holy Ghost has breathed into my heart.’
3. Ilham or Wahi Qalbi: That which was made known to the
Prophet by light of prophecy.
THE COLLECTION OF THE QUR’AN
The Qur’an is a book of revelations from God. Today it exists in
the form of a book consisting of 114 chapters. They were sent
down by the angel Gabriel, bit by bit according to the demand of
circumstances.
The revelations started in 610 while the Prophet was in seclusion
in a cave of Hira mountain, two miles from Makkah. The entire
revelation was completed over a period of 23 years. The last
passage was revealed when the Prophet was addressing a gathering
at Mount Arafat after performing farewell pilgrimage in A.D. 622.
The Qur’an was not revealed all at one time. It was revealed
gradually over a period of twenty three years. When any part of the
Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet he used to recite it to his
companions. Since the verses of the Qur’an were recited during
prayer the companions had to memorize them in order to recite
them in their daily prayers.
AL-FATIHA (THE OPENING) AND THE LAST
TEN CHAPTERS OF THE QURAN
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Universe, the
Compassionate, the merciful Master of the Day of
Judgement. You alone we worship, and to You alone we
turn for help, Guide us to the straight path. The path of
those whom You have favoured, not of those who have
incurred Your wrath. Nor of those who are gone astray.
God’s power and mercy is visible everywhere in the world around
us. God has not only created us He has also provided each and
everything we require in this world. God has sent us in this
meaningful world with a purpose. Besides giving us a conscience to
be able to distinguish between right and wrong. He has also shown
us the right path where truth is distinct from error. He has sent His
messengers to guide us along the right path. We have to always
remain grateful to God serving Him in full obedience. We have to
strive to earn his pleasure and to refrain meticulously from
incurring his displeasure. We should keep praying to God Who is
the ‘Master of the Day of Judgement to have mercy on us to show
us the true path; and to help us to avoid the path of those who
went astray.
Al Fil (The Elephant) 105
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Have you not considered how God dealt with the Army
of the Elephant? Did He not confound their stratagem
and send against them flocks of birds which pelted them
with clay-stones, so that they became like the withered
stalks of plants which cattle have devoured?
This chapter, comprising five verses, was revealed at Makkah. It
takes its title from the reference to the elephants of the army of
Abraha, the Christian King of Ethiopia.
Abraha, who ruled Yaman in the 6th century A.D., set out for
Makkah with the purpose of destroying the Kabah. He headed an
army of sixty thousand men along with one dozen elephants.
Tradition says that when Abraha was within a short distance of
Makkah, his elephants refused to advance any further. At that point
in time, swarms of flying creatures flew over them, showering them
with small stones. This caused an epidemic of sores and they fled.
Many of them, including Abraha himself, died on the way back.
The Kabah was thus saved from destruction by God’s special
succour.
This incident occurred in A.D. 570, the year of the Prophet
Muhammad’s birth. This was a sign that whoever set himself
against the Prophet or his mission would be destroyed like the
army of the elephants.
o the Lord and worship
Him.