Foreword
The Qur’ān: Essential Teachings is intended to complement and supplement the Islamic Foundation’s two earlier publications – (i) The Qur’ān: Basic Teachings by Khurshid Ahmad, T.B. Irving and M.M. Ahsan and (ii) Way to the Qur’ān by Khurram Murad. Like the above mentioned works, the present one too, seeks to prepare the reader mentally for embarking on a sustained, fruitful study of the Qur’ān.
Contained in the present work is a fairly elaborate explanation of twenty Qur’ānic terms and concepts with a view to highlighting the Qur’ānic viewpoint on some major issues of faith, religious obligations and social life. The author, associated for many years with the Foundation’s projects on the Qur’ān, has drawn material from both classical and modern Qur’ānic scholarship. His main objective is to present before readers the Qur’ānic guidance in a simple jargon-free language. So doing, he refrains from indulging in any philosophical or juridical debate. It is earnestly hoped that the present work will be read with much profit by general readers and succeed in its aim of conveying effectively the message of the Qur’ān to those who are unable to study the Qur’ān in its Arabic original. May Allah Subḥānahū wa-Ta‘ālā enable the Foundation to embark upon other useful projects for spreading far and wide the meaning and message of the Qur’ān.
I take this opportunity to thank Br. Abdur Rashid Siddiqi for his valuable suggestions and the Foundation production team, especially Br. Naiem Qaddoura and Br. Nasir Cadir. May Allah reward the author and the team in both the worlds.
| Leicester, UK | M. Manazir Ahsan |
| 1425 H/2004 CE | Director General |
Transliteration Table
Consonants. Arabic
initial: unexpressed medial and final:
Vowels, diphthongs, etc.
Short:
long:
diphthongs:
Almighty Allah
Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Unique. He does not give birth. Nor was He given birth to. There is no one equal to Him.
(al-Ikhlāṣ 112:1-4)
CENTRAL to the Islamic worldview is the concept of Allah. Throughout the Qur’ān His numerous features, creative power and perfect knowledge are described. In many aḥādīth too, the Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is seen throwing light on His attributes. The reference above from Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ offers the quintessence of His unique being. Unlike other sūrahs al-Ikhlāṣ does not deal with any other theme or issue of this world or the Next. Rather, it focuses exclusively on Him. His first and foremost attribute is that He is the only true God. It thus does away with all false notions of polytheism. Equally significant is His uniqueness. There is nothing like Him. All human language fails to give an idea of His being. His uniqueness consists also in His attributes. All that He has accomplished and keeps on doing is simply beyond anyone’s capacity or imagination. Many earlier communities, including the Hindus and Christians, had developed fallacious views about His being. The Qur’ān dismisses such erroneous views, asserting that in His nature, person and attributes, no one is equal to Him.
On studying the following passage one gets a better idea of some of His attributes, especially His all-embracing power and authority. The verse is therefore, known as “Āyat al-Kursī”, the verse describing His throne:
Allah! There is no god besides He. He is the Ever-Living, Self-Subsisting and Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep can ever seize Him. His is whatever is in the heavens and on earth. Who can intercede with Him, except with His permission? He knows whatever was before them and whatever shall be after them. And they do not encompass anything of His knowledge, except what He wills. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth. And He does not feel any fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High, the Supreme.
(al-Baqarah 2:255)
This verse vividly demonstrates His divine majesty and providence. Furthermore, one gets the distinct impression that He is the only force in the entire universe, which demolishes any notion of a plurality of gods. In the same vein is the emphasis placed on His eternality, without any beginning or end. He is not some Christ-God who faced crucifixion. Rather, He is Almighty, supporting all that exists. No one can boast of closeness with Him. Islam does not admit the concept of an intermediary who can recommend someone’s case to Him. He is so perfect that He does not need any rest or sleep. This particular point assumes greater significance in that it refutes the Jewish and Christian idea of God “resting” on the seventh day after His exertion in creating the universe. (Genesis 2:2-3)
In keeping with its assertion that all the excellent names denoting perfection and unsurpassable glory belong only to Allah, the Qur’ān employs a host of names for Him, indicating as these do His varied and perfect attributes. The following passage, abounding in such names, brings to the fore some of His outstanding attributes.
He is Allah. There is no god besides He. He knows all things, both hidden and open. He is the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. He is Allah. There is no god other than Him. He is the Sovereign, the Holy, the source of peace and security, the Guardian of faith, the Protector, the Almighty, the Irresistible, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah. Exalted is He above the partners they attribute to Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner, His are the excellent names. Whatever is in the heavens and on earth glorifies His praise. He is Almighty, the Wise.
(al-Ḥashr 59:22-24)
Allah the Almighty, the All-Knowing. He forgives sins, accepts repentance, is severe in punishment and the Lord of power. There is no god but He. To Him is the final return.
(al-Ghāfir 40:2-3)
Whatever is in the heavens and on earth declares the praise and glory of Allah. He is Almighty, the Wise. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. It is He Who gives life and death and has power over all things. He is the first and the last, the manifest and the immanent. And He has full knowledge of everything.
(al-Ḥadīd 57:1-3)
Of His numerous attributes, those that are prominent include His absolute power and authority, His all-embracing knowledge, and total control over life and death. In recognition of these, all that exists in the universe praises and glorifies Him. Man, gifted with free-will, may choose to affirm or deny Him. However, man is blessed with intellect which guides him to believe in and serve Him. His knowledge and creative power are emphasised throughout the Qur’ān:
To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth. Whatever you reveal or conceal of what is in your minds, Allah
