Qur'an: The Perfect Book of God

Role of the Qur'an in Spiritual Life

This is the Book; there is no doubt in it, a guidance for those who fear Allah. Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them. And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of what is yet to come. -(Al-Baqara, 2: 3-5).

For today's sermon, I have specially chosen to speak on the subject of Ibaadat (worship/ acts of worship - of Allah). This is why I have read these few verses of Surah Al-Baqara. By introducing the Quran, the first thing which Allah (swt) has said: “This is the Book; there is no doubt in it.” The point to be noted here is that Allah is referring to The Book, His Book, such a Book which is perfect, wherein there is no trace of error. It contains lots of meanings. It is such a Book which is far away from you but if you fulfill certain conditions, then this very Book can come near to you.

Afterwards the word “Zaalikal” - This is - indicates also the value of the Quran, and contains several prophecies. It also refers to the perfection of the Quran. In fact, all past prophets foretold the advent of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and they said that he shall bring a Great Book. Al-Kitab (literally ʻThe Book’) here means a promised Book awaited by all nations since ages. And today this Book is before us. Another explanation is that this Book, which is far away from you, can become closer to you. And there is no doubt in this. That is, there is no doubt in the fact that this Book can come closer to you. Now, when we read “La Rayb” together with “Zaalikal”, then it defines this Book as a perfect one, wherein no doubt resides in it (in its truthfulness - that it contains only the truth) and that it is a guide for all pious people (those who fear Allah). 

If you read this Book without Taqwa, then doubt shall ever be your lot. It is indeed an extraordinary Book. It is a doubt-free Book for those who have Taqwa, and doubtful Book for those deprived of Taqwa, in that which those who do not have the fear of Allah, those who are not pious, then this Book will remain ever a source of doubts for them (i.e. the truth within the Book shall remain ever sealed and inaccessible to them). On the other hand, those who fear Allah, this Book dissipates all their doubts. Thus, we see how in a small/ short verse; nay, even before the end of the verse itself, see how many subjects Allah has broached.

But that which is sure, without the least doubt is that all guidance (and guides) which we have receive and shall continue to receive, it is from this Book itself that we shall obtain it. Therefore, firstly, in connection with Ibaadat, the reading/ recitation of the Book of Allah is so fundamental that I need to awake your consciousness on it. As far as I have analyzed and according to the reports which I receive from the various countries, there is very little people who read the Quran every day, and when I ask about the children, only few children read the Quran on a daily basis. If a special attention is not given to this fundamental practice (i.e. Quran recitation/ reading), then all problems concerning Tarbiyyat on which I have talked shall remain stagnant, and these talks shall not be realized. 

It is with the Quran that all problems shall find their solutions and it is with the support of the Quran that we shall be able to care for our future generations. Without the Quran, we won't be able to do anything. And there are two aspects of the Quran: It is a guide/ guidance but it is not a guide/ guidance also. It is guidance for the pious, those who fear Allah only. As for those who don't have Taqwa, the Quran goes far away from them. It may seem as close to them, but it is in fact really far from them. And as long as this Book does not come close, then the problems of this world shall not be resolved.

Nurture a Relationship with the Qur'an

All members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam throughout the world must give this a special attention. If you remain far away from the Quran, then all the rest of activities shall be to no avail (they shall not be of any profit). The majority of our people are mature. They are people who have love for religion, but they had been taught that as long as there is no love for the Quran, then love for religion shall be meaningless.

Therefore, it is very important to enable them to develop love for the Quran. If love for Quran is not present, then all other efforts shall be in vain, because the first introduction brought by Allah is His introduction of: The Book. A Book which has been awaited by all nations. Since the creation of the world, everyone had waited for this Book. But when the Book came, then how many of the people turned their faces away from it and went away!

Be Wary of the Prophet's Complaint

The Quran says about Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) that he (pbuh) shall complain to Allah: O Allah, my people did not pay heed to the Quran and neglected it.

You must not become such people who, on the Day of Judgement, Hazrat  Muhammad (pbuh) complains about you and say: O Allah, these are those who turned their faces away and let go of the Quran.

Therefore, today, to recognise the Tarbiyyat of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam of each country, one sole way to do it is to see whether this complaint of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) applies (or shall apply) for you or not? Now, we need to see how many of you shall be counted among either group (those who kept the Quran close to them, or those who neglected the Quran) on the Day of Judgement? Do you want to be counted among those people about whom Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) shall complain or do you want to be counted among those about whom Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) shall say: O Allah, these are my people who did not let go of the Quran. This indeed is of paramount importance and the life of Ibaadat is (indeed) the Quran.

Qur'an and Everyday Life

Before worship, there is the Quran itself. That is, at the time of Tahajjud (before Salat-e-Fajr), Allah (swt) says that one must strive to recite the Holy Quran. During Ibaadat, there is the recitation of the Quran and after Ibaadat also there is the recitation of the Quran. Therefore, to create the habit to recite the Quran and to make people reflect on its meaning, this is the basis of Tarbiyyat and it is the key itself of Tarbiyyat. Without this, Tarbiyyat cannot be done. And this is the aspect which majority of missionaries, Sadrs, Amirs and Naib Amirs completely neglect. You see great mosques, great programmes which Jamaat (especially the Jamaat of the Promised Messiah (as)) organise, you see people from far away countries come to assist such events with enthusiasm and interest and to participate in then for few days.

But this voyage/journey of few days is not the voyage/ journey which is necessary for that unique voyage to the hereafter. For the voyage/ journey to hereafter, it is necessary that you do daily voyages, and the provision for all these daily travels is the Quran. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has described a Mumin (believer) in this way. He did not say that a believer sleeps for 355 days and then wakes up and travel for 5 or 10 days. No! But he gave the example of believers as if they are travelling every day. The believer travels a little in the morning, a little in the afternoon, and a little in other free moments that he enjoys, instead of losing time in vain things like watching television (TV serials, movies etc.), all such things which do not bring about a good Tarbiyyat.

On the contrary these movies/ films can destroy your Iman (faith) and drag you away from Allah and the Quran; and thus Satan gets the opportunity to make you further become attached to these things, and enable these things to destroy your faith, by embellishing them in your eyes. Thereafter, they become attracting and interesting and you want to go after them. You thus need to do this voyage with the Quran. There is no place for Satan in this voyage and it is through this voyage that you shall be able to facilitate your way to the hereafter. But it is necessary that this voyage be done every single day, Insha-Allah.

Read the Holy Quran and make your wives and children also read the Quran. You shall find therein peace and tranquillity of mind in yourself and your home, between you and your family and all people around you.

There shall be a change in your own selves and the light (Nur) of Allah shall illuminate you. Your home itself shall change (for the better) where there shall be the light of Allah everywhere. Journey with the Quran and this shall change your lives completely, but you need to know how to do this voyage; this is also very important. It must be a voyage made with lots of concentration, sincerity and love, and you must not take it as a burden in your daily lives. The voyage with the Quran must form part of your everyday lives, in such a way that Allah shall be pleased with you and you do this voyage only for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of any other creature.

Therefore, seek the pleasure of the Creator, Insha-Allah. It is indeed a vast subject. Allah (swt) knows best how many sermons I need to do on this subject, i.e. to explain about this voyage. Insha-Allah, we continue next Friday. May Allah bless you all and help you to come closer to the Quran and enable you in your everyday lives to become closer and closer to the Quran and reap its blessings, whereby the Quran become truly yours; those who are truly Muttaqi. Insha-Allah, Ameen.

---Friday Sermon of 27 October 2017(06 Safar 1439 AH) delivered by Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.