We are in the best days of God and have a valuable opportunity to recite the Qur'an and ponder upon its profound teachings to cleanse our souls. The noble Qur'an is the book that the more one studies its delicate purports the more he gets familiar with its realities.

The Prophet of Islam says, "The Qur'an guides to the best way. It is a book in which there is explication, enlightenment and acquisition. It has an external and an internal. Its external is the decree and its internal is the knowledge. Its external is beautiful and its internal is profound. The Qur'an has principles and every principle of it has a root and principle. Its wonders are endless and its realities are always fresh. Its ayahs are the beacon of guidance and spring of wisdom."

Undoubtedly, such a book has not been sent down for the mere purpose of reading. The noble Qur'an consists of the loftiest teachings in the field of cognizance of God, mysteries of monotheism, dispositions of the divine messengers, secrets of the Unseen World, the laws governing the human communities, knowing man and the end of his affair, the accounts of the past and future peoples, social, economic and political systems, etc. To be brief, it contains whatever is needed for human life both in this world and the world after.

Obeying the Qur'an releases man from the yoke of the oppressors and captivity of ignorance, superstition and devilish desires. The Qur'an is full to the brim with perpetual criteria for differentiation of right and wrong.

Have you ever seen a person in pitch dark? Everything looks the same for him because it is impossible in darkness to distinguish objects or choose the way. Now if a ray of light, though a weak one, comes to the help of man, he will discern the straight way from deviation. The Qur'an calls itself as a guiding and illuminating light. Ayah 174 of surah Nisa' reads, "O mankind! Certainly a proof has come to you from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a manifest light."

In view of the Qur'an whatever is needed for man's growth and sublimity is called light. Wisdom is the most important force for human guidance and the noble Qur'an always stresses it and reveres the wise. This book calls on its audience to think deeply over its ayahs. The usage of the words like thinking, reflection, wisdom and knowledge implies the fact that the Qur'an cannot be fathomed out without full contemplation. Today, scientists and scholars of various fields have come to the conclusion that there are myriads of secrets in this divine book. God says in ayah 29 of surah Saad, "A blessed Book that We have sent down to you, so that they may contemplate its signs. And that those who possess intellect may take admonition."

God says that the aim of revelation of the Qur'an is, for the people, not to be content with a series of sacred words and not forget the ultimate goal. That's why contemplating the divine ayahs (signs) is the method of the Qur'an toward admonition. This will lead to cognizance of realities.

The noble Qur'an, rebuking those who expect their hearts to become fresh and lively without contemplating the divine ayahs, urges them to contemplate and reflect on the ayahs of the Qur'an. Imam Ali (AS) says, "Reflect on the ayahs of the Qur'an as reflection on the Qur'an is the spring of hearts."

Certainly, the highest state of communion with the Qur'an is to practice its teachings. This divine book includes very precious guidelines for the individual and the society. Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, says, "If we believe that practicing the Qur'an is the basis and axis of revival of the Qur'an, and it is not limited to recitation, we should make our society Qur'anic, we should make our deeds Qur'anic, we should believe in the Qur'an and deem the promise of the Qur'an as right and true."

The noble Qur'an is not an ordinary word. It is the word of God which has been sent down to the Prophet without any waywardness. It is the word of truth from God who has no equal or similar. The bringer of the Qur'an was Archangel Gabriel and the recipient was the pure heart of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings and greetings of God upon him and his progeny). These two have a very lofty position. These very facts can make us think deeply on the status of the Qur'an.

Usage of intellect is a prerequisite for reflection on the Qur'an. Furthermore, removal of stains from the heart is another prerequisite for understanding and practicing the Qur'an.

Ayah 7 of surah Al-e Imran clearly says who are capable of understanding the verses of the Qur'an, "It is He who has sent down to you the Book. Parts of it are definitive verses, which are the mother of the Book; while others are metaphorical. As for those in whose hearts is deviance, they pursue what is metaphorical in it, seeking sedition and seeking its interpretation. But no one knows its interpretation except Allah and those firmly grounded in knowledge; they say, 'We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord.' And none takes admonition except those who possess intellect."

The great philosopher of the 17^th century, Molla Sadra, says, "I studied a lot of books on wisdom so that I thought that I was a great figure. But towards the end of my life I thought of reflecting on the Qur'an and the narrations of the Prophet and his Ahl al-Bayt (Blessings of God upon them). I was sure that my past career was baseless as I was standing in the shadow instead of light. I was very sad so that the divine mercy took my hand and familiarized me with the secrets of the Qur'an. I began to interpret and contemplate the Qur'an. I knocked at the door of revelation. The doors were open and the curtains went aside. I saw the angels addressing me, "Peace be upon you! You are welcome! Enter it to remain forever."

We hope that we, too, will contemplate the divine verses to march in the way of paradise. Amen!

RM/ME