Congratulations on the coming of the blessed month of Ramazan. Starting today we are going to present you a daily program to introduce the holy Qur’an through this divine scripture itself. Hope you’ll enjoy this series.

One of the important events of the month of Ramazan is the revelation of the holy Qur’an, the final divine scripture. In the first years of the advent of Islam Muslims were keen to memorize the ayahs of Qur’an and fully understand the meanings and purports of those ayahs to put them in practice in their life. But this trend was gradually slowed down especially with the deviation of the course of the Islamic community from its right path. As a result there remained just a surface of the Qur’an and the letter and spirit of this constructive book was forgotten. This was the beginning of the fall and backwardness of the Islamic world. The glory of the Islamic world was broken and the unity of Muslims round the core of Qur’an was shattered. Hence, the Islamic countries lost their dignity and turned into submissive and abject elements before arrogant and ungodly rulers. A brief look at the Islamic communities in the contemporary era reveals the real status of this life-inspiring book among Muslims. The only way of restoring the glory of the Islamic world is the unity of Muslims and the only way to realize this unity and getting rid of the foreign hegemony is to return to the holy Qur’an.

The Messenger of Mercy, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), said, “Whenever the atmosphere is gloomy so that it is difficult to differentiate truth from false take refuge in the Qur’an…. He who puts the Qur’an in front it will lead him to the divine paradise. And he who turns his back to it, it will take him to the hell. The Qur’an is the guidance which leads to the best of ways…. In the Qur’an there are the lamps of guidance and enlightening epicenters of wisdom.”

One of the outstanding features of the Qur’an is that each and every need of the human community has been met in it. Almighty God asserts this in ayah 89 of surah Nahl, “We have sent down the Book to you as a clarification of all things and as a guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims.”

This ayah makes it clear that Muslims need nothing if they have the Qur’an and this book provides the answers for every question and solution for every problem. According to ayah 9 of surah Isra, the Qur’an guides to the most upright path. Exactly for this reason it crosses beyond time boundaries and provides response to all human needs.

 The fifth infallible successor of the Prophet of Islam, Imam Mohammad Baqer (Peace upon him), says, “Indeed God has not omitted anything needed by human being except He has sent it down in His Book and clarified it for His apostle.”

Undoubtedly, human beings differ in cognizance and understanding the Qur’an. Imam Hussein (AS) said, “The Book of God has four sections: phrases, references, subtleties and realities. Phrases are for all people, references are for the select, subtleties are for the friends of God and realities are for the messengers.”

The Shia and Sunni exegetes have taken into consideration various aspects of the Qur’an. Some of them have expounded this Book in terms of philosophy and wisdom; while others have interpreted it scientifically. A third group has focused on the political and social aspect of this divine book. There are others, too, who study the moral and spiritual aspects of the Qur’an. Yet, an important part of the Qur’an revolves round the concept of the philosophy of history and the historical laws which do not change in time or place. These include the laws pertaining to the clash of right and wrong, good and evil, light and darkness and so on.

Next time we will continue our discussion. God bless you.

RM/SS