Ibrahim Rasool
The Quran has a liberating effect on the human mind. It relieves us from social pressures, superstitions, and baseless fears. In the past people felt compelled to fear and worship countless useless things, and the primary objective of the Quran was to give humanity a clear platform for thinking. The Quran heralded change; the prophet (saw), in the light of the Quran, paved the way for the elevation of mankind.
And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth— all from Him. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. [Quran, 45:13]
The Seeds of an Amazing Garden
The Quran planted seeds for the inexorable rise of mankind. It enables us to see things as they really are, dispelling myths, illusions, and distortions.
The main concern for any human being should be to attain mental clarity and a convincing and cogent understanding of things, to know the universe at large and its purpose. The Quran aids us in this quest and walks with us in this intellectual journey. It provides us with spiritual awareness and awakening, which guides us in all our endeavors. Someone having achieved such clarity can live with confidence and hope to scale great heights in this world and the hereafter.
Allah (swt) has established the primacy of the human race among all other creations in clear, categorical terms: We have certainly created man in the best of stature. [Quran, 95:4]
The physical capacities of human beings are formidable. They’re strong and agile, fast and efficient. This gives them an edge over other creatures. But our mental potential is really what puts us in a totally different league, leaving no room for competition from other creatures.
A Mental Creature
Man is fundamentally a mental creature. The intellectual quest and the pleasures arising from it are sublime. Human mental abilities make us indisputably the best among all creations.
But he will fall from grace if he doesn’t have the right attitude. Wise men will stay focused on eternal and permanent things rather than getting distracted with ephemeral, trifling affairs. We are, forever, servants of God. This is the single most important eternal truth for us. Allah (swt) has asserted man’s closeness with Him. Allah (swt) will help man in all his endeavors, worldly and spiritual, provided he has the right attitude.
Man’s distinction owes largely to his mental abilities. The Quran rightly addresses his mental faculties, constantly urging its readers to be curious and contemplative. Every living thing is created from water. [Quran, 21:30] The Quran has asked men who lived fourteen odd centuries earlier to think about such profound phenomena.
It has always demonstrated high hopes for human beings, but we of the scientific era are obliged more than ever before to be curious in understanding the creation and functioning of this world. We have to witness and examine the creations and comprehend the Creator behind them. We have to acquire a comprehensive wisdom.
Opening Frontiers of Wisdom
Every day we’re blessed with new inventions, facilities and abilities. Time is getting more and more elastic for us. Human reach is expanding in all directions with every passing day. Yet unrevealed human potential is staggering. With the Quran to guide us and with scientific inventions to give us perspective, unimaginable frontiers of wisdom open for us.
The Quran has been sent to help man with the right spirit and energy to scale great heights. We ignore this at our own peril. The Quran will guide its faithful reader through this world like a parent kindly and carefully aiding his child to cross a busy road. The Quran makes the path to our destination much easier. Human society can’t survive without the Quran, let alone develop. This is evident in the fact that Allah has promised to guard the Quran.
Allah has sent the Quran as a direction for all of humanity and as a blessing for its faithful readers. We should harness its positive energy and realize our full potential, mentally and physically. Drawing inspiration and courage from the Quran, we can march ahead with confidence.
That is, in essence, going back to our roots.
Ibrahim Rasool’s blog, Muslim Tamil, which seeks to benefit the vast Muslim community in India, can be found here: www.muslim-tamil.blogspot.in.
Wa sakhkhara lakum mafis samawati wal arli jamia minhu. (Allah has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and on earth.) [Quran, 45:13]
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا مِّنۡهُۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (
Jazakallahu khairan,Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya. Amin
May Allah rewarded you for your remembrance.
My dear Sir, As-Salamu Alaykum.
SUBHAN ALLAH, you have done a marvellous attempt to define the QURAN. I must read your article every single day to inspire within myself the
honor of AL-QURAN. ALLAH AZ-ZAWWAJJAL bless forgiveness to your parents and grandparents, ameeen. Peace & blessings of ALLAH be upon our prophet, salle ALLAHU alayhi wa sallam. Tku so much. Tku so much.
As-salaamu ‘alykum wa rahmatul-lah,
This indeed a great article, the true way which us muslims have to think, there are very few who have this mentality, and there should be an increase of such, since this is how the sahabs had thought back in the days, also why Islam had expanded so much, and the golden age came to be known.
Though there a few very dangerous mistakes in this article, I felt the need to point it out, since I have been taught it, so it would be my duty to pass it on, the transliteration of the Ayats, some places are completely off, making the word completely different. Having memorized it, the mistakes regarding the wording sticks out to me more than anything, so forgive me if comes out rude, but since its the words of Allah, and i have been taught the letters and writing, I couldn’t leave it, I will write the correct ones below.
The first one is, “wa Sakhara lakum maa fis-samaawaati wa maa fil-arDi Jamee ‘am-minhu” the ض in the word الارض had been replaced with a L above. This transliteration which I have written would be easier for people to pronounce, it includes the tajweed rules
The second one would be Laqad instead of lakad, in the Ayat mentioned above, “Laqad kar-ramnaa banee aadam” the Q would represent the letter ق which is in the Ayat, though k would mention the letter ك changing the word itself.
The third one written above, had scared me ;), it was written as, “Laqad qalaqnal insana…” The second word is originally Khalaqnal, the first letter being a خ which would be kh. Best way to type that would be, “Laqad Khalaq-nal insaana fee ahsani taqweem”
As for the word , best of creation, “afzalul maqlukath” had also scared me, the first word is a common mistake when people pronounce, the word here is افضل
The best way to put the letter ض would be “dh” the letter Z would represent the letter ز in the Arabic alphabet, therefor changing the word. And the second word would be مَخْلُوقَات, easiest way to put this in transliteration would be, “makhluqaat” .
I hope this helps, and it would be best if it were changed a.s.a.p, for the people who do read this later on. Personally I truly luv this article, would luv to share it with everyone I know, though I won’t be able to change the Arabic.
Forgive me from any rudeness and In-Shaa-Allah everyone can understand my comment here.
Salaam.
Dear Brother,
Your aricleis very inspring and informative. My comment is your surname “Rasool” is reserved for The Prophet Mohammed (SAWS). Please do not misundestand me,grammactically there’s nothing wrong with it however, from the deeni aspects its an issue. Again, a wonderful article thats thought provoking and all inspring. Jazakalah Khairah.( mha)
May Allah subhanahu wa taala guide and help us educate our lives in the way of our Holy Quran insha Allah.
your article,is inspiring to read more and more Quran.thank you for doing so, may allah give all of us the strength, the courage, interest,liking, time,knowledge and to read with understanding theQuran.ameen
SUBHAANALLAH, MAASHAALLAH KEEP UP THE GOODWORK MAY ALLAH (SWT) GIVE US ALL HIDAYA AND REWARD YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS
Salaam.
As for 45:13, whatever is in the earth, and whatever is the heavens are in constant subjugation to God almighty.
Only, they are oriented to help and nourish life on earth -not just human beings.
Regards,
A. Ismail Sait.