Knowledge and Quran

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ لَوۡلَا يُكَلِّمُنَا ٱللَّهُ أَوۡ تَأۡتِينَآ ءَايَةٞۗ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّثۡلَ قَوۡلِهِمۡۘ تَشَٰبَهَتۡ قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ قَدۡ بَيَّنَّا ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لِقَوۡمٖ يُوقِنُونَ ١١٨

And those who have no knowledge say: ‘Why does not Allah speak to us (face to face) or why does not a sign come to us?’ So said the people before them words of similar import. Their hearts are alike, We have indeed made plain the signs for people who believe with certainty.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah verse 118

• The demand that Allah should speak to them directly was too absurd even to be answered. The question dealt with here concerns the demand for a sign that would convince them of the truth. In response, it is pointed out that many signs do exist, but all such signs are to profit only those who are inclined to believe, but not those who have no knowledge

هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِنۡهُ ءَايَٰتٞ مُّحۡكَمَٰتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَٰبِهَٰتٞۖ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡ زَيۡغٞ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَٰبَهَ مِنۡهُ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ ٱلۡفِتۡنَةِ وَٱبۡتِغَآءَ تَأۡوِيلِهِۦۖ وَمَا يَعۡلَمُ تَأۡوِيلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُۗ وَٱلرَّٰسِخُونَ فِي ٱلۡعِلۡمِ يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ كُلّٞ مِّنۡ عِندِ رَبِّنَاۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ٧

It is He who has sent down to you the Book. In it are verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book; and others not entirely clear. So, as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation, they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah and seeking for its hidden meanings, but none knows its hidden meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: ‘We believe in it; the whole of it is from our Lord’ And none receive admonition except men of understanding.

Surah 3 Al-Imran Verse 7

• Clear verses (Muhkamat) are the verses of Al-Ahkam (commandments), Al-Faraid (obligatory duties) and Al-Hudud (laws for the punishment)
• Not entirely clear verses (Mutashabihat) include the abrogated Ayah, parables, oaths, and what should be believed in, but not implemented
• It is obvious that no way of life can be prescribed for man unless a certain amount of knowledge explaining the truth about the universe, about its origin and end, about man’s position in it and other matters of similar importance, is intimated to him. It is also evident that the truths which lie beyond the range of human perception have always eluded and will continue to elude man; no words exist in the human vocabulary which either express or portray them. In speaking about such things, we necessarily resort to words and expressions generally in connection with tangible objects. In the Quran too, this kind of language is employed in relation to supernatural matters. At best, such expressions may serve to either bring man close to or enable him to formulate some view of reality, even if it is a faint one. The more one tries to determine the precise meaning of such verses, the more their ambiguities proliferate. Those who seek the truth and do not hanker after the satisfaction of their egocentric quest for exotic superfluities will be satisfied with the dim vision of reality derived from these verses. They will focus their attention instead on the clear and lucid ‘core’ verses of the Quran. It will be left to those who are either out to make mischief and mislead people to devote their attention to hair-splitting discussions about the contents of the ‘ambiguous’ verses

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ قَآئِمَۢا بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۚ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ١٨

Allah bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He always) maintains His creation in justice. La ilaha illa Huwa, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

Surah 3 Al-Imran Verse 18

• This Ayah emphasizes the great virtue of those who have knowledge.
• Allah bears witness, and verily, Allah is sufficient as a Witness, and He is the Most Truthful and Just Witness there is, Who knows directly all the realities of the Universe.
• After Allah, the most trustworthy testimony is that of the angels, for they carry out the administration of the universe; and then the people with knowledge

إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِتَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِمَآ أَرَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُۚ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلۡخَآئِنِينَ خَصِيمٗا ١٠٥ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرِ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا ١٠٦ وَلَا تُجَٰدِلۡ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمٗا ١٠٧

Surely, We have sent down to you (O Muhammad, pbuh) the Book (this Quran) in truth that you might judge between men by that which Allah has shown you (i.e. has taught you through divine revelation), so be not a pleader of the treacherous. And seek the forgiveness of Allah. Certainly, Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And argue not on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Verily, Allah does not like anyone who is a betrayer, sinner.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verses 105-107

• In these verses the Muslims are strongly censured for supporting criminals for no other reason than either family or tribal solidarity and were told that they should not allow prejudice to interfere with the principle of justice for all
• ‘…who deceive themselves’ – whoever commits a breach of trust with others in fact commits a breach of trust with his own self first – for the powers of his head and heart have been placed at his disposal as a trust. It is only after a man has already carried out this cruel suppression of conscience within himself that he is capable to commit acts of sin and iniquity outwardly

لَّٰكِنِ ٱلرَّٰسِخُونَ فِي ٱلۡعِلۡمِ مِنۡهُمۡ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلِكَۚ وَٱلۡمُقِيمِينَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَۚ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ سَنُؤۡتِيهِمۡ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمًا ١٦٢

But those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what has been sent down to you (Muhammad, pbuh) and what was sent down before you, and those who perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and believe in Allah and in the Last Day, it is they to whom We shall give a great reward.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verse 162

لَّٰكِنِ ٱللَّهُ يَشۡهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيۡكَۖ أَنزَلَهُۥ بِعِلۡمِهِۦۖ وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَشۡهَدُونَۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا ١٦٦

But Allah bears witness to that which He sent down (the Quran) to you (O Muhammad, pbuh); He has sent it down with His Knowledge, and the angels bear witness. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Witness.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verse 166

يَٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ قَدۡ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ كَثِيرٗا مِّمَّا كُنتُمۡ تُخۡفُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَيَعۡفُواْ عَن كَثِيرٖۚ قَدۡ جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٞ وَكِتَٰبٞ مُّبِينٞ ١٥ يَهۡدِي بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَٰنَهُۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَٰمِ وَيُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ١٦

…Indeed, there has come to you (O people of the Scriptures) from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad, pbuh) and a plain Book (this Quran). Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will to light and guides him to the Straight Way.

Surah 5 Al-Mai’dah Verse 15-16

• ‘ways of peace’ – meaning, ways of safety and righteousness. Safety here denotes safety from false perceptions and outlook, safety from misdeeds and their consequences. Whoever seeks guidance from the Book of Allah and from the example of the Messenger (pbuh) can find out how to keep himself safe from errors at each of life’s crossroads

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَسۡ‍َٔلُواْ عَنۡ أَشۡيَآءَ إِن تُبۡدَ لَكُمۡ تَسُؤۡكُمۡ وَإِن تَسۡ‍َٔلُواْ عَنۡهَا حِينَ يُنَزَّلُ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ تُبۡدَ لَكُمۡ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٞ ١٠١ قَدۡ سَأَلَهَا قَوۡمٞ مِّن قَبۡلِكُمۡ ثُمَّ أَصۡبَحُواْ بِهَا كَٰفِرِينَ ١٠٢

O you who believe! Ask not about things, which if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if you ask about them while the Quran is being revealed, they will be made plain to you. Allah has forgiven that, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Forbearing. Before you, a community asked such questions, then on that account they became disbelievers.

Surah 5 Al-Ma’idah Verses 101-102

• A Hadith states: ‘The worst criminal among the Muslims is he who asks if a matter is lawful (or not), and it becomes unlawful because of his asking about it’
• The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Leave me as I have left you, those before you were destroyed because of many questions and disputing with their Prophets’
• An authentic Hadith also states: ‘Allah, the Most Honoured, has ordained some obligations, so do not ignore them; has set some limits, so do not trespass them; has prohibited some things, so do not commit them; and has left some things without rulings, out of mercy for you, not that He forgot them, so do not ask about them’
• There are some people who make unnecessary inquiries, cause elaborately prescribed, inflexibly determined and restrictive regulations to be added to the law. Some others, where such details are in no way deducible from the text, resort to analogical reasoning, thereby turning a broad general rule into an elaborate law full of restrictive details, and an unspecified into a specified rule. Both sort of people put Muslims in great danger. For, in the area of belief, the more detailed the doctrines to which people are required to subscribe, the more problematic it becomes to do so. Likewise, in legal matters, the greater the restriction, the greater the likelihood of violation.
• The ‘community’ refers to the Jews who asked such questions and were given the answers. They did not believe the answers, so they became disbelievers because of that. This occurred because these rulings were made plain to them, yet they did not benefit at all from that, for they asked about these things not to gain guidance, but only to mock and defy

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَإِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ قَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا مَا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَآۚ أَوَلَوۡ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا وَلَا يَهۡتَدُونَ ١٠٤

And when it is said to them: “Come to what Allah has revealed and unto the Messenger”. They say: “Enough for us is that which we found our fathers following”, even though their fathers had no knowledge whatsoever and no guidance.

Surah 5 Al-Maidah Verse 104

وَأَنذِرۡ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَن يُحۡشَرُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ لَيۡسَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ وَلِيّٞ وَلَا شَفِيعٞ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ ٥١

And warn therewith (the Quran) those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, when there will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him, so that they may fear Allah and keep their duty to Him.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verse 51

• Those who are too deeply immersed in the allurements of earthly life to think either of death or of their being brought to stand before Allah for His judgement can hardly benefit from such admonition. Likewise, such admonition can have no wholesome effect on those who cherish the illusion that because of their attachment to some holy personage who will intercede on their behalf, they will come to no harm in the Hereafter. The same applies to those who believe that someone has already obtained their redemption by expiating their sins. The Prophet (pbuh) is therefore asked to disregard such persons and to attend to those who are conscious, those with no false illusions. Only these people are amenable to admonitions and can be expected to reform themselves

وَذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لَعِبٗا وَلَهۡوٗا وَغَرَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۚ وَذَكِّرۡ بِهِۦٓ أَن تُبۡسَلَ نَفۡسُۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيّٞ وَلَا شَفِيعٞ وَإِن تَعۡدِلۡ كُلَّ عَدۡلٖ لَّا يُؤۡخَذۡ مِنۡهَآۗ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُبۡسِلُواْ بِمَا كَسَبُواْۖ لَهُمۡ شَرَابٞ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡفُرُونَ ٧٠

And leave alone those who take their religion as play and amusement, and whom the life of this world has deceived. But remind (them) with it (the Quran) lest a person be given up to destruction for that which he has earned, when he will find for himself no protector or intercessor besides Allah, and even if he offers every ransom, it will not be accepted from him. Such are they who are given up to destruction because of that which they have earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful torment because they used to disbelieve.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verse 70

وَمَا لَكُمۡ أَلَّا تَأۡكُلُواْ مِمَّا ذُكِرَ ٱسۡمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡهِ وَقَدۡ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِلَّا مَا ٱضۡطُرِرۡتُمۡ إِلَيۡهِۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرٗا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهۡوَآئِهِم بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ ١١٩

…And surely, many do lead (mankind) astray by their own desires through lack of knowledge. Certainly, your Lord knows best the transgressors.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verse 119

أَوَ مَن كَانَ مَيۡتٗا فَأَحۡيَيۡنَٰهُ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُۥ نُورٗا يَمۡشِي بِهِۦ فِي ٱلنَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُۥ فِي ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ لَيۡسَ بِخَارِجٖ مِّنۡهَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٢٢

Is he who was dead (without faith, by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and faith) and set for him a light (of belief) whereby he can walk amongst men – like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief) from which he can never come out? Thus, it is made fair seeming to the disbelievers that which they used to do.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verse 122

فَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَهۡدِيَهُۥ يَشۡرَحۡ صَدۡرَهُۥ لِلۡإِسۡلَٰمِۖ وَمَن يُرِدۡ أَن يُضِلَّهُۥ يَجۡعَلۡ صَدۡرَهُۥ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجٗا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّجۡسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ١٢٥

And whomsoever Allah Wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam; and whomsoever He Wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky. Thus, Allah puts the wrath on those who believe not.

Surah 6 Al-Anam Verse 125

• Narrated Muawiyah: I heard the Prophet (pbuh) saying: ‘If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion (the understanding of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, pbuh). I am just a distributor, but the grant is from Allah. (And remember) that this nation (followers of Islamic monotheism) will remain obedient to Allah’s orders and they will not be harmed by anyone who will oppose them (going on a different path) till Allah’s Order is established (Day of Judgement)’

وَلَقَدۡ جِئۡنَٰهُم بِكِتَٰبٖ فَصَّلۡنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ هُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٥٢

Certainly, We have brought to them a Book (the Quran) which We have explained in detail with knowledge – a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verse 52

• The Quran has spelled out in some detail what constitutes the fundamental reality, explained the attitude that man ought to adopt, and laid down the fundamentals of the way of life that he ought to follow. The details laid down in the book in this regard are based on sound knowledge rather than on conjecture and fancy

سَأَصۡرِفُ عَنۡ ءَايَٰتِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ كُلَّ ءَايَةٖ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ سَبِيلَ ٱلرُّشۡدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلٗا وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ سَبِيلَ ٱلۡغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلٗاۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا وَكَانُواْ عَنۡهَا غَٰفِلِينَ ١٤٦

I shall turn away from My Ayat (verses of the Quran) those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right, and (even) if they see all the Ayat (proofs, signs) they will not believe in them. And if they see the way of righteousness (monotheism, piety and good deeds), they will not adopt it as the Way, but if they see the way of error (polytheism, crime and evil deeds), they will adopt that way, that is because they have rejected Our Ayat and were heedless (to learn a lesson) from them.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verse 146

• Allah says “I shall deprive the hearts of those who are too proud to obey Me, and arrogant with people without right, from understanding the signs and proofs that testify to My Might, Law and Commandments”. Sufyan bin Uyaynah commented on this Ayah, “(Allah says) I shall snatch away comprehension of the Quran from them and turn them away from My Ayat”
• It is Allah’s law that evil-doers do not and cannot take any lesson from the otherwise instructive events which they observe. The arrogance mentioned here refers to man’s delusion that he is on a higher plane than Allah’s creatures and servants

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُصۡلِحِينَ ١٧٠

And as for those who hold fast the Book and perform As-Salat, certainly We shall never waste the reward of those who do righteous deeds.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verse 170

• ‘hold fast’ – adhere to its teachings, implement its commands and refrain from its prohibitions.

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ فَٱسۡتَمِعُواْ لَهُۥ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ ٢٠٤

So, when the Quran is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verse 204

• Ibn Jarir reported that Ibn Masud said: “We would give salams to each other during Salah. So, this Ayah of Quran was revealed”

قُلۡ هَٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِيٓ أَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِيۖ وَسُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ ١٠٨

Say (O Muhammad, pbuh): “This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e., to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allah). And Glorified and Exalted be Allah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers)”.

Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 108

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ حُكۡمًا عَرَبِيّٗاۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعۡتَ أَهۡوَآءَهُم بَعۡدَ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِيّٖ وَلَا وَاقٖ ٣٧

And thus, have We sent it (the Quran) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic. Were you (O Muhammad, pbuh) to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which has come to you, then you will not have any Wali (protector) or defender against Allah.

Surah 13 Ar-Rad Verse 37

هَٰذَا بَلَٰغٞ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُواْ بِهِۦ وَلِيَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ٥٢

This (Quran) is a message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is the only One Ilah (God-Allah) and that men of understanding may take heed.

Surah 14 Ibrahim Verse 52

فَإِذَا قَرَأۡتَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ ٩٨ إِنَّهُۥ لَيۡسَ لَهُۥ سُلۡطَٰنٌ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ٩٩ إِنَّمَا سُلۡطَٰنُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَوَلَّوۡنَهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِهِۦ مُشۡرِكُونَ ١٠٠

So, when you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one). Verily, he has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord. His power is only over those who obey and follow him (Satan), and those who join partners with Him (Allah).

Surah 16 An-Nahl Verses 98-100

• ‘seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan’ – This does not simply mean that before starting to recite the Quran one should simply utter the words ‘I seek refuge with Allah from Satan’. Seeking refuge should not merely involve a man’s tongue but also his heart. Also, practical efforts to keep oneself secure against uncalled-for doubts and suspicions need be taken. One should never forget that Satan’s greatest wish is that man should always remain deprived of obtaining guidance from the Quran. Hence, whenever a person turns to the Quran, Satan leaves no stone unturned to prevent him from deriving guidance from it and to directing his thoughts instead along erroneous paths. One should, therefore, be highly vigilant while studying the Quran and should constantly invoke Allah’s help lest one fail to be directed to the guidance it embodies owing to Satan’s machinations. If someone fails to obtain guidance from the Quran he will obtain guidance from nowhere

ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِۖ وَجَٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ ١٢٥

Invite (mankind, O Muhammad, pbuh) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His path; and He is the Best Knower of those who are guided.

Surah 16 An-Nahl Verse 125

• Wisdom (Hikmah) – Ibn Jarir said: “That is what was revealed to the Prophet, pbuh, from the Book and the Sunnah”
• ‘fair preaching’ – meaning, with exhortation and stories of the events that happened to people that are mentioned in the Quran
• In calling people to the truth one should bear in mind two things – wisdom and fair preaching.

• Wisdom requires that one should be conscious of:

1. The predilections and biases of the people
2. Mental capacities and circumstances of the people
3. Context in which the message is given to the people
4. Diversities between different individuals and groups to whom the message is being addressed. This should be followed by a reasoned discourse that penetrates the hearts and minds of the persons concerned

• Fair preaching (good counsel) – this denotes two things:

1. One should not be content with merely trying to convince people with the help of rational arguments. Instead one should also appeal to the nobler emotions of man – as in evoking the instinctive repugnance to evil
2. Counselling people in such a manner that one’s deep sympathy, compassion and concern for the people in question does not go unnoticed by them. The act should not emanate from the presumption of one’s own superior status, or of the inferior status of the audience

• ‘…in a way that is better…’ – Those who seek to promote the cause of Allah should be extremely cautious about allowing any discussion to degenerate into a polemical or intellectual bout. The purpose of the discussion too should not be able to render the other party speechless or to establish one’s superior eloquence. On the contrary, one’s discourse should:

1. Be gracious and refined
2. Reflect the person’s higher moral stature and courteous disposition
3. Appeal to good sense
4. Be so couched as not to arouse obstinacy, adamance and egotistical feelings in the audience
5. Straightforward and elegant

However, as soon as one realizes that the other party has been so provoked as to cling, out of sheer obstinacy, to his viewpoint, one should put an end to the discussion. For continuing it any further might cause the other person to veer away even further from truth

وَلَا تَقۡفُ مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡبَصَرَ وَٱلۡفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنۡهُ مَسۡ‍ُٔولٗا ٣٦

And follow not that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of those ones will be questioned (by Allah).

Surah 17 Al-Isra Verse 36

• Follow not – means:

• Do not say (anything of which you do not know)
• Do not accuse anyone of that of which you have no knowledge
• Do not bring false witness
• Do not say ‘I have seen’, when you did not see anything, or ‘I have heard’, when you did not hear anything, or ‘I know’, when you do not know (for Allah will ask you about all that)

In conclusion, it means that Allah forbids speaking or acting without knowledge and only on the basis of suspicion, which is mere imagination and illusions

كَذَٰلِكَ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآءِ مَا قَدۡ سَبَقَۚ وَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَٰكَ مِن لَّدُنَّا ذِكۡرٗا ٩٩ مَّنۡ أَعۡرَضَ عَنۡهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَحۡمِلُ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وِزۡرًا ١٠٠

…And indeed, We have given you from Us a Reminder (this Quran). Whoever turns away from it, verily they will bear a heavy burden on the Day of Resurrection.

Surah 20 Ta-Ha Verses 99-100

• ‘turns away from it’ – this means anyone who:

• Denies the Quran
• Does not follow the commands of the Quran
• Seek guidance from other than the Quran

• ‘burden’ – here means sin

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ قُرۡءَانًا عَرَبِيّٗا وَصَرَّفۡنَا فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلۡوَعِيدِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ أَوۡ يُحۡدِثُ لَهُمۡ ذِكۡرٗا ١١٣ فَتَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡحَقُّۗ وَلَا تَعۡجَلۡ بِٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يُقۡضَىٰٓ إِلَيۡكَ وَحۡيُهُۥۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدۡنِي عِلۡمٗا ١١٤

And thus, We have sent it down as a Quran in Arabic, and have explained therein in detail the warnings, in order that they may fear Allah, or that it may cause them to have a lesson from it (or to have the honour for believing and acting on its teachings). Then High above all be Allah, the True King. And be not in haste (O Muhammad, pbuh) with the Quran before its revelation is completed to you, and say: “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge”.

Surah 20 Ta-Ha Verses 113-114

وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦ فَتُخۡبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٥٤

And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it (the Quran) is the truth from your Lord, so that they may believe therein, and their hearts may submit to it with humility. And verily, Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to a Straight Path.

Surah 22 Al-Hajj Verse 54

• Allah made Satan’s evil designs a means of testing people so that those who are righteous may be distinguished from those who are evil. In the nature of things, those whose minds have been corrupted derive wrong conclusions from such things and thus in turn become a means of misleading them. As for those whose minds are straight those very things lead them to confirm the truthfulness of Allah’s Prophets and His Books.
• ‘Allah is the Guide’ – means, in this world and the Hereafter. In this world, He guides them to truth and helps them to follow it and to resist and avoid falsehood; in the Hereafter, He will guide them to the straight path which leads to the degrees of Paradise, and He will save them from the painful torment and the dismal levels of Hell

لَّقَدۡ أَنزَلۡنَآ ءَايَٰتٖ مُّبَيِّنَٰتٖۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٤٦

We have indeed sent down (in this Quran) manifest Ayat. And Allah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.

Surah 24 An-Nur Verse 46

• ‘Ayat’ – refers to proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, clear and unambiguous rulings, words of wisdom and parables, lawful and unlawful things, and set the boundaries of Islamic religion, that make things clear (showing the right path of Allah

وَيَوۡمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيۡهِ يَقُولُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي ٱتَّخَذۡتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلٗا ٢٧ يَٰوَيۡلَتَىٰ لَيۡتَنِي لَمۡ أَتَّخِذۡ فُلَانًا خَلِيلٗا ٢٨ لَّقَدۡ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ ٱلذِّكۡرِ بَعۡدَ إِذۡ جَآءَنِيۗ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ خَذُولٗا ٢٩ وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوۡمِي ٱتَّخَذُواْ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ مَهۡجُورٗا ٣٠

And (remember) the Day when the Zalim (wrong doer, oppressor, polytheist) will bite at his hands, he will say: ‘Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh) Ah! Woe to me! Would that I have never taken so-and-so as a khalil! He indeed let me astray from the Reminder (the Quran) after it had come to me. And Shaitan is to man ever a deserter in the hour of need’. And the Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh) will say: ‘O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Quran’.

Surah 25 Al-Furqan Verses 27-30

• ‘my people deserted this Quran’ – the Arabic word mahjur has more than one meaning. Taken as a derivative of hajr, it means that which is ignored. There are various forms of ignoring (deserting or forsaking) the Quran, as:

1. Rejecting it and not believing in it
2. Not pondering over its meaning nor trying to understand it
3. Not acting upon it i.e. neither following its commandments nor heeding its prohibitions
4. Turning away from it in favour of poetry or songs or idle talk or some other way

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ وَجَٰهِدۡهُم بِهِۦ جِهَادٗا كَبِيرٗا ٥٢

So, obey not the disbelievers, but strive against them (by preaching) with the utmost endeavour with it (the Quran).

Surah 25 Al-Furqan Verse 52

• ‘utmost endeavour’ – has three connotations:

1. To exert one’s utmost, sparing no effort
2. To launch a vigorous struggle to which all one’s resources are devoted; and
3. To engage in a pervasive striving in which one leaves nothing to chance but to which one pays attention to all its fronts devoting one’s available resources

هُدٗى وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٢ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ هُمۡ يُوقِنُونَ ٣

These are the verses of the Quran and (it is) a Book (that makes things) clear; a guide and glad tidings for the believers. Those who perform As-Salat and give Zakat and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter.

Surah 27 An-Naml Verses 2-3

• ‘a Book clear’ (Kitab Mubin) means:

• That it expounds its teachings, instructions and commands in clear terms
• That it clearly indicates the difference between truth and falsehood
• That it is also clear that it is evidently the Book of Allah

• Quran (and its Verses), however, provide guidance and give good news only to those who are possessed of the following charecteristics:

• They have faith, which means they accept the invitation of the Quran and Muhammad (pbuh) to believe in One True Allah as their only Lord and as their sole object of worship. They accept Quran as the Book of Allah and recognize the Prophet (pbuh) as the true Prophet and, hence, their guide and leader, and believe in the Afterlife and in their accountability to Allah.
• They not only recognize the truth but are inclined to obey and follow them. The first sign of acceptance of these teachings being the establishment of Salah and paying of Zakah

Those who fulfil these two requirements are guided by the Verses of the Quran to the Straight Path

• Those who do not believe in the Hereafter cannot walk along the path prescribed by the Quran. That is because they are only able to decide about the standards of good and evil in the light of tangible results observable in this world, as opposed to what will ensue in the Hereafter

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عِندِيٓۚ أَوَ لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَهۡلَكَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ مَنۡ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُ قُوَّةٗ وَأَكۡثَرُ جَمۡعٗاۚ وَلَا يُسۡ‍َٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ ٧٨ فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فِي زِينَتِهِۦۖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا يَٰلَيۡتَ لَنَا مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِيَ قَٰرُونُ إِنَّهُۥ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٖ ٧٩ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ وَيۡلَكُمۡ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٞ لِّمَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗاۚ وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّٰبِرُونَ ٨٠ فَخَسَفۡنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ مِن فِئَةٖ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنتَصِرِينَ ٨١

He [Qarun (Korah)] said: “This (the treasures and wealth) has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess”. Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected. But the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account). So, he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: “Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given? Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune”. But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: “Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth)”. So, We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.

Surah 28 Al-Qasas Verses 78-81

أَوَ لَمۡ يَكۡفِهِمۡ أَنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَرَحۡمَةٗ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٥١

Is it not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book (the Quran) which is recited to them? Verily, herein is mercy and a reminder (or an admonition) for a people who believe.

Surah 29 Al-Ankabut Verse 51

• Narrated Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘There is no Prophet who was not given some miracles that would make the people believe in him. What I have been given is revelation which Allah reveals to me, and I hope that I will have the greatest number of followers on the Day of Resurrection’
• Narrated Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Allah does not listen to anything as He listens to the Prophet reciting the Quran in a nice, loud and pleasant tone’. Sufyan said, “This saying means: The Prophet (pbuh) regards the Quran as something that makes him dispense with much worldly pleasure”
• Narrated Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Not to wish to be like except two men: A man whom Allah has taught the Quran and he recites it during some hours of the night and during some hours of the day, and his neighbour listens to him and says, “I wish I had been given what has been given to so-and-so, so that I might do what he does”; and a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it (according to what Allah has ordained) in a just and right manner, whereupon another man say, “I wish I had been given what so-and-so has been given, for then I would do what he does”’

بَلِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُم بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٖۖ فَمَن يَهۡدِي مَنۡ أَضَلَّ ٱللَّهُۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّٰصِرِينَ ٢٩

Nay, but those who do wrong follow their own lusts without knowledge. Then who will guide him whom Allah has sent astray? And for such there will be no helpers.

Surah 30 Ar-Rum Verse 29

• When a man neither exercises his own reason and common sense nor is prepared to give heed to the advice of others, Allah places a curse on his ability to think straight. After that, whatever ordinarily enables a rational being to arrive at the truth increasingly drives that obstinate lover of falsehood towards the mire of error. Again, when a person is disposed to the truth and seeks Allah’s guidance, Allah facilitates his quest commensurate with the extent of his quest’s genuineness. By the same token, when a person is disposed to error and insists on following such a course, Allah grants him the means whereby he might progressively pursue that path. This increasingly drive away him from the truth

تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ ٢ هُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٗ لِّلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٣ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ هُمۡ يُوقِنُونَ ٤ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدٗى مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٥

These are the verses of the Wise Book (the Quran). A guide and a mercy for the Muhsinun. Those who perform As-Salat and give Zakat and they have faith in the Hereafter with certainty. Such are on guidance from their Lord, and such are the successful.

Surah 31 Luqman verse 2-5

• The Quranic verse guides people to the Straight Way and represent Allah’s mercy to mankind. However, it is only those who adopt good conduct and who seek righteousness and virtue that can benefit from Allah’s guidance and mercy.
• Three chief qualities of Muhsinun (doers of good) have been identified, as all good proceeds from them:

1. They establish Prayer as a result of which they develop consciousness of Allah, and their sense of being Allah-fearing becomes second nature
2. They pay Zakah, which strengthens in them the spirit of sacrifice and selfless concern for others. It also helps them suppress excessive love of worldly objects and prompts them to earnestly seek to please Allah
3. They also have firm belief in the Hereafter which imbues them with a sense of accountability so that they do not behave like unbridled animals

Viewed in this context, these doers of good are not those who would do good works accidentally and who feel equally free to commit evil. On the contrary, the three qualities mentioned above institute in them a system of belief and morality from which good works follow as a matter of course. Whenever they lapse and commit some evil, it is by way of accident. They are not then impelled towards evil because of any driving factor inherently rooted in their belief system

وَيَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَيَهۡدِيٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ ٦

And those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed to you (O Muhammad, pbuh) from your Lord is the truth, and that it guides to the path of the Exalted in might, the Owner of all praise.

Surah 34 Saba Verse 6

أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٰتٖ مُّخۡتَلِفًا أَلۡوَٰنُهَاۚ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ جُدَدُۢ بِيضٞ وَحُمۡرٞ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٞ ٢٧ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ مُخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَۗ إِنَّمَا يَخۡشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡعُلَمَٰٓؤُاْۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ ٢٨

See you not that Allah sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colours, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colours and (others) very black. And of men and Ad-Dawab (moving living creatures, beasts), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving.

Surah 35 Fatir Verses 27-28

• The more a person is unaware of the attributes of Allah, the more he will be fearless of Him. Contrary to this, the more a person is aware and conscious of Allah’s powers, His knowledge, His wisdom, His vengeance and His omnipotence and His other attributes, the more he will fear His disobedience. Thus, in fact, knowledge in this verse does not imply knowledge of academic subjects like philosophy and science and history and mathematics, etc. but the knowledge of divine attributes, no matter whether one is literate or illiterate. The one who is fearless of God is illiterate merely as regards to this knowledge even if he has all the knowledge of the world. And the one who knows the attributes of God and fears Him in his heart, is learned even if he is illiterate. In the same connection, one should also know that in this verse the ulama does not imply the scholars in the technical sense, who are termed as religious scholars because of their knowledge of the Quran and Hadith and Fiqh and philosophy. They will prove true to this verse only when they possess fear of God in their hearts. The same thing has been said by Abdullah bin Masud, thus: Knowledge is not due to much narration of Hadith but due to much fear of Allah. And also by Hassan Basri, thus: The scholar is he who fears Allah though he has not seen Him, and turns to what is approved by Him and keeps away from what makes Him angry. Ibn Abbas said, “The one among His servants who knows about Ar-Rahman, is the one who does not associate anything in worship with Him; the one who accepts as lawful that which He has permitted and accepts as unlawful that which He has prohibited. He obeys His commands and is certain that he will meet Him and be brought to account for his deeds”.

ثُمَّ أَوۡرَثۡنَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصۡطَفَيۡنَا مِنۡ عِبَادِنَاۖ فَمِنۡهُمۡ ظَالِمٞ لِّنَفۡسِهِۦ وَمِنۡهُم مُّقۡتَصِدٞ وَمِنۡهُمۡ سَابِقُۢ بِٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَضۡلُ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ ٣٢

Then We gave the Book (the Quran) as inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose. Then of them are some who wrong their own selves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allah’s leave, foremost in good deeds. That (inheritance of the Quran) – that is indeed the great grace.

Surah 35 Fatir Verse 32

• The Ayah refers to the Ummah of Muhammad (pbuh) who are divided into three categories:

1. One who are careless about doing some obligatory actions and who commit some forbidden actions. They can enter paradise only by the intercession of the Prophet (pbuh) and if forgiven by Allah.
2. Ones who fulfil their obligations and avoid things that are forbidden, but they may neglect some good deeds and do some things which are disliked. These will have easy accounting and will enter Paradise by the Mercy of Allah.
3. Ones who do obligatory actions and things which are encouraged, and who avoid doing unlawful and disliked actions, and avoid some actions which are permissible. These will enter Paradise without being brought to account

• The scholars are the most fortunate of people with regard to this blessing, and the most entitled to this mercy. Narrated Abu Darda that the prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever follows a path to seek knowledge, Allah will show him the way to Paradise. The angels lower their wings being pleased with the one who seeks knowledge. Whoever is in the heavens and the earth, even the fish in the sea, ask for forgiveness for the scholar. The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like that of the moon over all other heavenly bodies. The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, for the Prophets did not leave behind Dinars and Dirhams, but they left behind knowledge; and whoever receives it, receives an abundance of good fortune’

أَمَّنۡ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيۡلِ سَاجِدٗا وَقَآئِمٗا يَحۡذَرُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَيَرۡجُواْ رَحۡمَةَ رَبِّهِۦۗ قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ٩

Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like the one who disbelieves)? Say: ‘Are those who know equal to those who know not?’ It is only men of understanding who will remember.

Surah 39 Az-Zumar Verse 9

• Narrated Anas: The Prophet (pbuh) entered upon a man who was dying, and said to him, ‘How do you feel?’ He said, “I am both afraid and hopeful” The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘These (fear& hope) do not co exist in a person’s heart at times such as this, but Allah will give him what he hopes for and protect him from that which he fears’
• Narrated Tamim Ad-Dari that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever recites one hundred Ayat in one night, it will be recorded as if he prayed all night’

فَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ ضُرّٞ دَعَانَا ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلۡنَٰهُ نِعۡمَةٗ مِّنَّا قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمِۢۚ بَلۡ هِيَ فِتۡنَةٞ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٤٩

When harm touches man, he calls to Us; then when We have changed it into a favour from Us, he says: ‘Only because of knowledge (that I possess) I obtained it’. Nay, it is only a trial, but most of them know not!

Surah 39 Az-Zumar Verse 49

يَعۡلَمُ خَآئِنَةَ ٱلۡأَعۡيُنِ وَمَا تُخۡفِي ٱلصُّدُورُ ١٩

Allah knows the fraud of the eyes and all that the breasts conceal.

Surah 40 Ghafir Verse 19

• Allah tells us about His complete knowledge which encompasses all things, great and small, major and minor, so that people will take note that He knows about them and they should have the proper sense of shyness before Allah.
• ‘fraud of the eyes’ – refers to:

• A wink and a man saying that he has seen something when he has not seen it, or saying that he has not seen it when he did see it (Ad-Dahhak)
• When the eyes look at something, whether it wants to commit an act of betrayal or not (Ibn Abbas)

• ‘breasts conceal’ – refers to:

• If you were able to, whether you would commit Zina with a woman or not
• Insinuating whispers

فَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ فَرِحُواْ بِمَا عِندَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ ٨٣

Then when their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were glad (and proud) with that which they had of the knowledge (of worldly things): And that at which they used to mock, surrounded them (i.e., the punishment).

Surah 40 Ghafir Verse 83

• …which they had of knowledge…- That is, they took their philosophy and their science, their law, their secular sciences and their mythology and theology invented by their religious guides as the real knowledge, and regarded the Knowledge brought by the Prophets of Allah as worthless and therefore paid no heed to it.

۞شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحٗا وَٱلَّذِيٓ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَا وَصَّيۡنَا بِهِۦٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓۖ أَنۡ أَقِيمُواْ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُواْ فِيهِۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ مَا تَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِۚ ٱللَّهُ يَجۡتَبِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يُنِيبُ ١٣ وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوٓاْ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ وَلَوۡلَا كَلِمَةٞ سَبَقَتۡ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗى لَّقُضِيَ بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُورِثُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ لَفِي شَكّٖ مِّنۡهُ مُرِيبٖ ١٤

He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islam) which He ordained for Nuh (Noah), and that which We have inspired in you (O Muhammad, pbuh), and that which We ordained for Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus) saying you should establish religion (i.e., to do what it orders you to do practically), and make no divisions in it (i.e., various sects in religion). Intolerable for the Mushrikun, is that to which you (O Muhammad, pbuh) call them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills, and guides unto Himself who turns to Him in repentance and in obedience. And they divided not till after knowledge had come to them, through selfish transgression between themselves. And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord for an appointed term, the matter would have been settled between them. And verily, those who were made to inherit the Scripture [the Taurah (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] after them (i.e., Jews and Christians) are in grave doubt concerning it (i.e., Allahs true religion Islam or the Quran).

Surah 42 Ash-Shura Verse 13-14

• …the same religion… - The verse clearly states that Muhammad (pbuh) is not the founder of any new religion (deen), nor was any of the Prophets a founder of a separate religion, but it has been one and the same religion which all the Prophets have been presenting from Allah from the very beginning, and the same is being presented by Muhammad (pbuh). In this regard, the first name mentioned is of the Prophet Noah, who was the first Prophet after the Flood. After him the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has been mentioned, who is the last of the Prophets; then the Prophet Abraham has been mentioned, whom the Arabs acknowledged as their guide, and last of all, the Prophets Moses and Jesus have been mentioned to whom the Jews and the Christians attribute their religions. This does not mean that only these five Prophets had been enjoined this religion, but what is meant to be said is that all the Prophets who came to this world, brought one and the same religion and the names of the five illustrious Prophets have been mentioned only as examples through whom the world received the most well-known codes of divine law. Whatever shariah (law) was given by Allah to the community of a Prophet, was the deen for that community, and the establishment of the same deen was the object during his Prophethood. And since now is the period of the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) Prophethood, the shariah which has been given to the Ummah of Muhammad (pbuh) is the deen of this time, and to establish the same is to establish the deen. As for the difference of the shariah, it does not mean that the shariahs sent by God were mutually contradictory, but it means that in their details there have been some differences owing to the different environments, take, for instance, the Prayer and the Fast. The Prayer has been obligatory in all the shariahs, but the qiblah of all the shariahs was not the same, and there was a difference in its times and rakahs and elements as well. Likewise, the Fast was obligatory in every shariah, but the month long fasting of Ramadan was not there in the other shariahs. From this it is not correct to conclude that the Prayer and the Fast as such are included in the establishment of deen but performing the Prayer in a particular way and observing the Fast at a particular time is excluded from it. However, the correct conclusion that one can draw is: To perform the Prayer and observe the Fast according to the rules and procedures that had been appointed for the people in the shariah of every Prophet amounted to establishment of deen in his time. In the present age the establishment of the deen is that these acts of worship be performed according to the procedures enjoined in the Shariah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The same is true about all other Shariah commandments as well.
• …till after knowledge had come to them… - The divisions were created not because Allah had failed to send the Prophets and the Books, and therefore, the people could not know the right way and so invented their own separate religions, sects, schools of thought and systems of life, but divisions appeared after knowledge had come to them from Allah. Therefore, Allah is not responsible for it, but the people who abandoned the clear principles of religion and commands of the Shariah and created their own creeds and religions are themselves responsible for it. The motive for creating the divisions was not good, but they resulted from the desire for ostentation, love of an independent entity, mutual rivalry and stubbornness, the urge to humiliate and defeat one another, and greed for worldly wealth and position. When the clever and ambitious saw that if the godly people followed the true religion honestly, there would only be One God before whom the people would bow, there would be one Messenger whom they would acknowledge as their guide and leader, there would be one Book which they would turn to and there would be a clearly defined creed and code of life which they would be following. In such a system there could be no place of distinction for themselves, on the strength of which they could have their own leadership flourish so that the people should rally round them, and bow to them and also make rich offerings to them. This was the real cause which became the motive of the invention of new creeds and philosophies, new ways and rites of worship and new systems of life, and diverted a large part of humanity from the highway of divine religion and misled them into blind alleys. Then the mutual disputes of the factions and their religious, economic and political conflicts gave rise to intense bitterness, which in turn led to bloodshed and violence among humanity.

فَٱسۡتَمۡسِكۡ بِٱلَّذِيٓ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٤٣ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذِكۡرٞ لَّكَ وَلِقَوۡمِكَۖ وَسَوۡفَ تُسۡ‍َٔلُونَ ٤٤

So, hold you (O Muhammad, pbuh) fast to that which is revealed to you. Verily, you are on a Straight Path. And verily, this (the Quran) is indeed a Reminder for you and your people, and you will be questioned (about it).

Surah 43 Az-Zukhruf Verses 43-44

• ‘questioned’ – means, about the Quran, and how you acted upon it and what your resonse to it was

وَلَا يَمۡلِكُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٨٦

And those whom they invoke instead of Him have no power of intercession – except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly, and they know.

Surah 43 Az-Zukhruf Verse 86

• The observation in this Verse encompasses several ideas:

1. Only those who testify to truth out of knowledge will be able to intercede
2. The ones who intercede will be able to do so only with regard to those who had consciously testified to the truth
3. Those who claim that their idols/deities enjoy such power and authority that they will secure the deliverance of everyone, irrespective of their belief and deeds, are in gross error

• The Verse also lays down two important principles:

1. A testimony of truth without knowledge may be acceptable in this life. However, Allah does not admit it. Anyone who utters the Islamic creedal statement testifying the Oneness of Allah and the Messenger ship of the Prophet (pbuh) will be considered a Muslim in this life unless he publicly indulges in acts of unbelief. However, Allah will reckon only those as true believers who consciously recognise the implications and pre-requisites of their faith and of Islam’s basic creedal statement
2. Knowledge is central to evidence. Without knowledge, one’s testimony will not be admitted. This truth comes out from the Prophet’s observation: ‘If you have witnessed this happening as you see the sun, you may go ahead with your testimony, otherwise you should not’

• Narrated Abdullah that the Prophet (pbuh) said one statement and I said another. The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah, will enter Hell (Fire)’. And I said “Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allah will enter Paradise”

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحُكۡمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ١٦ وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم بَيِّنَٰتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُوٓاْ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقۡضِي بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ ١٧

And indeed, We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, and the understanding of the Scripture and its laws, and the Prophethood; and provided them with good things, and preferred them above the Alameen (mankind and jinns) (of their time, during that period). And gave them clear proofs in matters [by revealing to them the Taurat (Torah)]. And they differed not until after the knowledge came to them, through envy among themselves. Verily, Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they used to differ.

Surah 45 Al-Jathiyah Verses 16-17

هَٰذَا بَصَٰٓئِرُ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٞ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُوقِنُونَ ٢٠

This (Quran) is a clear insight and evidence for mankind, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who have faith with certainty.

Surah 45 Al-Jathiyah Verse 20

أَفَرَءَيۡتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٖ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمۡعِهِۦ وَقَلۡبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ غِشَٰوَةٗ فَمَن يَهۡدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱللَّهِۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٢٣ وَقَالُواْ مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنۡيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحۡيَا وَمَا يُهۡلِكُنَآ إِلَّا ٱلدَّهۡرُۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ ٢٤

Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilah (god)? And Allah left him astray with knowledge and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allah? Will you not then remember? And they say: ‘There is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live and nothing destroys us except Ad-Dahar (time)’. And they have no knowledge of it, they only conjecture.

Surah 45 Al-Jathiyah Verse 23-24

• To take one’s lust as god means that one fully becomes the slave of one’s desire, as in:

• This person has made his base self his deity. He does all that his base self asks for. In so doing, he fails to observe the limits of the lawful and the unlawful laid down by Allah (Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari)
• Such a person obeys the propmptings of his base self so religiously as one should serve Allah (Abu Bakr Al-Jassas)
• He is led by his base self and follows it blindly. In other words, he looks after his self with a devotion that one consecrates to Allah (Zamakshari)

If someone behaves as described above, he is the servant of his unbridled desires, no matter whether he verbally calls them his god or not and whether he worships them as idols or not

• ‘astray with knowledge’ – This has two possible meanings:

1. Notwithstanding a person’s knowledge, Allah directed him to error for he was a slave of his own desires
2. In view of Allah’s Knowledge that one deifies one’s desires, Allah pushes him into error and misguidance

• ‘Will you not then remember’ – it becomes evident from the context of the verse that those who are bent on unbridled gratification of their desires are none else than those that deny the Hereafter. Such people look upon the idea of the Hereafter as so many shackles and fetters upon their freedom. Even a learned person, who is devoid of this consciousness (that denial of the Hereafter is fatal for morality and that what can restrain and keep under control is his belief in accountability in the Hereafter) is apt to behave like a brute
• ‘…they only conjecture’ – Swayed by their own base desires, it is the disbelievers’ wishful thinking which prompts them to deny the reality of the Hereafter

فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ وَمَثۡوَىٰكُمۡ ١٩

So, Know (O Muhammad, pbuh) that La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask for forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest.

Surah 47 Muhammad Verse 19

• ‘So know’ – It is essential to know a thing before saying or acting upon it

وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُۥۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ ١٦

And indeed, We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).

Surah 50 Qaf Verse 16

نَّحۡنُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِجَبَّارٖۖ فَذَكِّرۡ بِٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ ٤٥

We know best what they say. And you (O Muhammad, pbuh) are not the one to force them (to belief). But warn by the Quran him who fears my threat. Surah 50 Qaf Verse 45

وَذَكِّرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٥٥

And remind (by preaching the Quran, O Muhammad, pbuh), for verily, the reminding profits the believers.

Surah 51 Al-Dhariyat Verse 55

فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ٢٩ ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ ٣٠

Therefore withdraw (O Muhammad, pbuh) from him who turns away from Our Reminder (the Quran) and desires nothing but the life of this world. That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord it is He who knows best him who goes astray from His path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.

Surah 53 An-Najm Verses 29-30

• ‘what they could reach of knowledge’ – seeking this life and striving hard in its affairs is the best knowledge of the disbelievers that they have acquired. Their aim and knowledge are concentrated on this life; this is the goal of those who have no goodness in them. There is also a reported supplication: “O Allah! Make not this life the greatest of our concerns nor the best knowledge that we attain”

أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةُ ٥٧ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ ٥٨ أَفَمِنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ ٥٩ وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ ٦٠ وَأَنتُمۡ سَٰمِدُونَ ٦١

The Day of Resurrection draws near. None besides Allah can avert it. Do you then wonder at this recitation (the Quran)? And you laugh at it and weep not, wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements.

Surah 53 An-Najm Verses 57-61

• ‘wonder’ – here means doubting that it is true

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمۡ تَفَسَّحُواْ فِي ٱلۡمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفۡسَحُواْ يَفۡسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُواْ فَٱنشُزُواْ يَرۡفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ دَرَجَٰتٖۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٞ ١١

O you who believe! When you are told to make room in the assemblies, (spread out and) make room. Allah will give you (ample) room (from His Mercy). And when you are told to rise up, rise up. Allah will exalt in degrees those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge. And Allah is Well Acquainted with what you do.

Surah 58 Al-Mujadilah Verse 11

• Allah teaches His servants good manners and orders them to be kind to each other when they are sitting together.
• Narrated Abdullah bin Umar that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘One of you should not remove someone from his place and sit in it, but instead, spread out and make room’ A Hadith also states: ‘A man should not leave his place for another man, but rather spread out and make room and Allah will make room for you’
• ‘rise up’ – refers to:

• Get up for Jihad
• Called to any type of good

• ‘knowledge’ – Narrated Umar: “Surely, your Prophet (pbuh) has said ‘Verily, Allah elevates some people and degrades others, on account of this Book’ (referring to the Quran and the knowledge it provides to people)

بَلۡ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ أَن يُؤۡتَىٰ صُحُفٗا مُّنَشَّرَةٗ ٥٢ كَلَّاۖ بَل لَّا يَخَافُونَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ ٥٣ كَلَّآ إِنَّهُۥ تَذۡكِرَةٞ ٥٤ فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ ٥٥ وَمَا يَذۡكُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ هُوَ أَهۡلُ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ وَأَهۡلُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ ٥٦

Nay, every one of them desires that he should be given pages spread out. Nay! But they fear not the Hereafter. Nay, verily, this (Quran) is an admonition. So, whoever will (let him read it), and receive admonition (from it)! And they will not receive admonition unless Allah wills; He (Allah) is the One, deserving that mankind should be afraid of, and should be dutiful to Him, and should not take any ilah (god) along with Him, and He is the One who forgives.

Surah 74 Al-Muddaththir Verses 52-56

• ‘pages spread out’ – means, book coming from Allah revealed to them (disbelievers) each, with a writing that Islam is the right religion, and Muhammad, pbuh, has come with the truth from Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the earth

إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذۡكِرَةٞۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلٗا ٢٩ وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا ٣٠

Verily, this (the Quran) is an admonition, so whosoever wills, let him take a path to his Lord (Allah). But you cannot will, unless Allah wills. Verily, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Surah 76 Al-Insan Verses 29-30

إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٧ لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمۡ أَن يَسۡتَقِيمَ ٢٨ وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٩

Verily, this (the Quran) is no less than a Reminder to the Alamin (mankind and jinn). To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight. And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allah wills – the Lord of the Alamin.

Surah 81 At-Takwir Verses 27-29

وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلۡيُسۡرَىٰ ٨ فَذَكِّرۡ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ ٩ سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخۡشَىٰ ١٠ وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا ٱلۡأَشۡقَى ١١

And We shall make easy for you (O Muhammad, pbuh) the easy way. Therefore, remind (men) in case the reminder profits (them). The reminder will be received by him who fears (Allah). But it will be avoided by the wretched.

Surah 87 Al-Ala’ Verses 8-11

• ‘easy for you the easy way’ – meaning, ‘We will make good deeds and statements easy for you, and We will legislate such laws for you that are easy, tolerant, straight and just, with no crookedness, difficulty or hardship in it’
• ‘Therefore, remind in case the reminder profits’ – From here we get the etiquette of spreading knowledge, that it should not be wasted upon those who are not suitable or worthy of it. Hazrat Ali said “You do not tell people any statement that their intellects do not grasp except that it will be a Fitnah (trial) for some of them”

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