بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Khutbah: Why 2 Billion Muslims respect The Quran

By Sh. Abdur Rahman Khan -ICNA

قَدْ جَاءَكُم بَصَائِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِيَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۚ وَمَا أَنَا عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ ‎﴿١٠٤﴾

Indeed, enlightenment have come to you from your Lord. So whoever chooses to see, it is for their own good. But whoever chooses to be blind, it is to their own loss. And I (Muhammad PBUH) am not a guard over you. ^(6:104)

Why 2 billion Muslims respect The Quran

• This Quran is everything that a Muslim needs to know about:
  • Allah Almighty, The Creator of all that exists
  • His greatness, His Names and Attributes, His Oneness and Uniqueness.
  • How to live our life in this world
  • What awaits us in the Hereafter
• It also encompasses understanding its impact on
  • The souls, spirit, and hearts,
  • along with its virtues and the virtues of reciting, learning, teaching, studying, and contemplating it.

What is The Quran

• The Quran is the word of Allah: its letters and meanings.
• It is a revelation that is not created, and it began with Allah and will return to Him.
• It is the greatest miracle, and it is an act of worship through its recitation.
• It starts with the opening chapter, Al-Fatihah, and ends with Surat An-Naas.
• Allah spoke the words, and Jibril heard it from Allah Almighty, and Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), heard it from Jibril.
• The Companions heard it from Muhammad (SAS).
• Allah Almighty says:

 وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ‎﴿١٩٢﴾‏ نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ ‎﴿١٩٣﴾‏ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ ‎﴿١٩٤﴾‏ بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُّبِينٍ ‎﴿١٩٥﴾‏ 

 “And indeed, the Qur’an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds. The Trustworthy Spirit (Jibreel) has brought it down upon your heart, [O Muhammad] – That you may be of the warners – In a clear Arabic language.” (26:192-195)

Greatest Source of Truth

• The greatest source of truth is The Quran- The Book of Allah SWT
• Because of this, everything we do with regards to this Book becomes a source of blessings:
  • Its recitation
  • Listening to it
  • Understanding it
  • Teaching it to others
  • Calling towards it
  • Defending it
• Al-Bukhari and others reported that Rasoolullah SAS said:

خيرُكم من تعلَّمَ القرآنَ وعلَّمَهُ

The best of you are those who learn the Quran in of themselves and they try to teach it to others ^(Al-Bukhari)

• Unfortunately, many people reject this Quran before even reading it as Allah SWT says:

 بَلْ كَذَّبُوا بِمَا لَمْ يُحِيطُوا بِعِلْمِهِ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِـــهــِمْ تَأْوِيلُهُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الظَّالِمِينَ ‎﴿٣٩﴾‏

But no!  They deny without before comprehending it and even before it’s been fully made clear for them.  In the same way, those who came before them also denied (the truth of their revelations). Look at the end of those who wronged themselves. ^(10:39)

What has Allah SWT spoken about His Book?

• Let us see what Allah SWT has spoken about His Kalaam
• Can there is another text in life that can combine of all of the traits of perfection

# 1: It is Light

• The Quran is described as being Noor – light
• Allah said:

قَدْ جَاءَكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ ‎﴿١٥﴾‏

There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book (the Qur’ān) ^(5:15)

• Light in what sense?
  • in every sense of the word
  • light with respect to your vision
  • light with respect to your speech
  • light with respect to what you hear
  • light with respect to the decisions you make
  • light in your life in this world
  • light that dispels darkness
  • light in your hearts
  • light in your finances
  • light in your marital relationship
  • light with your children
  • light in your grave
  • light when you resurrected on the Day of Judgment

Allah SWT says:

يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَسْعَىٰ نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِم بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ‎﴿١٢﴾

On that Day (of judgment) you will see the believing men and women: their light will stream in front of them and on their right (showing them the way to Paradise). (They will be told): “Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow, wherein you will dwell forever! This is the real success ^(57:12)

• light when you are taken to the home of Jannah
• in general, the Quran is light

#2 Its inimitability and a miracle

• It is a Book that is beyond the entire creation to produce one like it
• Allah SWT has challenged the entire man and Jinn to produce one like it

قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَىٰ أَن يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا ‎﴿٨٨﴾‏

Say, “If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants.” (88) 

• Not even one chapter
• Allah SWT says:

أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ‎﴿٣٨﴾‏

Or do they say [about the Prophet], “He invented it?” Say, “Then bring forth a surah like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful.” ^(10:38)

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA) that The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

مَا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ نَبِيٌّ إِلاَّ أُعْطِيَ مِنَ الآيَاتِ مَا مِثْلُهُ أُومِنَ ـ أَوْ آمَنَ ـ عَلَيْهِ الْبَشَرُ، وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ الَّذِي أُوتِيتُ وَحْيًا أَوْحَاهُ اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ، فَأَرْجُو أَنِّي أَكْثَرُهُمْ تَابِعًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

 “There was no prophet among the prophets but was given miracles because of which people had security or had belief, but what I was given was the Divine Inspiration which Allah revealed to me. So I hope that my followers will be more than those of any other prophet on the Day of Resurrection.” ^{(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)}

# 3: Insight

• The Quran is described as being بصائر enlightenment or insight
• The physical eye requires light so that it can navigate its path safely
• Such is the case of the inner eye inside of us
• We need the inner light so that we can navigate between
  • Halal and Haram
  • Haqq and Batil
  • The Sunnah and the Bid’ah
  • What is Aqeedah and what is Khuraafaat (superstitious Belief)
  • What is worship of The Creator and what is worship The Creation
  • Right from wrong
• That in the light required for our inner eyes to see as Allah SWT said:

قَدْ جَاءَكُم بَصَائِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِيَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۚ وَمَا أَنَا عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ ‎﴿١٠٤﴾‏ 

Indeed, enlightenment have come to you from your Lord. So whoever chooses to see, it is for their own good. But whoever chooses to be blind, it is to their own loss. And I (Muhammad PBUH) am not a guard over you. ^(6:104)

# 4: It is Huda- Guidance

• The Quran is described as Huda – guidance for all of mankind

Allah SWT says:

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا ‎﴿١﴾‏

Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner – (1) ^(25:1)

• Everyone has a suggestion to make
• Everyone has an idea to suggest
• Everyone is saying to you have you thought
  • about this particular business idea
  • have you considered this type of relationship
• There are so many doors
  • they are numerous of possibilities
  • Sometimes priorities they are conflicting and you’re thinking to yourself which one do I choose?
  • You are at crossroads
  • Where to go?
  • What to do?
• The Quran said: – هَٰذَا هُدًى  this book is guidance to you

# 5: It is Mobeen- Clear in its instructions

• The Quran has been described as Mobeen – Clear
• It’s clear unlike the words of
  • the Sorcerers
  • The Magicians which are vague dark obscure contradictory which is hard to understand and hard to follow
• The Quran is Mobeen

Allah SWT said:

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ ‎﴿١﴾‏  These are Verses of the clear Book.

طسم ‎﴿١﴾‏ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ ‎﴿٢﴾‏These are the Verses of the Clear Book

• clear with its instructions
• clear in its prohibition
• clear in its commandments
• clear in its predictions
• clear in its threats
• clear in its promises
• Allahu Akbar A Book that is clear

# 6: In this Book we are commanded not to curse at other people’s deities let alone to burn their scriptures

  Allah SWT says:

وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِم مَّرْجِعُهُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ‎﴿١٠٨﴾

And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do. ^(6:108)

# 7: The Quran is a Book of Steadfastness

• The Quran is described as being تثبيت a means of steadfastness or determination
• We have all experienced a time in our life when we feel
  • Demoralized, weak, shaky
  • Hit rock bottom
  • We reach a dead end
  • We cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel
  • Just as we are about to achieve what we so want…we fail
• To survive this state
  • you require some sort of steadfastness and determination
  • what better steadfastness can you find and in the words of Allah
• Allah Almighty said

كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَاهُ تَرْتِيلًا ‎﴿٣٢﴾

As such, (it is sent down in parts), that We may strengthen your heart in this manner and We have revealed it gradually (in stages).‏ ^(25:32)

# 8: Shifaa- Cure

• The Quran has been described as Shifaa-Cure
• How relevant is
  • a healing
  • a cure is in our time
  • tens of millions of people are depressed
  • Only this month scientists conclude that what they say that a chemical imbalance causes depression is wrong
  • It’s a $15B business annually to make wrong drugs
• Sometimes it’s a physical disease that you may be experiencing
  • Maybe you know someone who is physically challenged in one way or another
  • Maybe it is a spiritual illness that you are battling with
  • Maybe it’s Riyaa insincerity – a desire to be seen by people and praised
  • Maybe it is an outward or an inward illness

Allah SWT says:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا ‎﴿٨٢﴾

And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe but it increases the wrong-doers in nothing but loss. ^(17:82)

# 9: Zhikr – A Reminder

• The Quran has been described as –Zhikr – a Reminder
• Our description is that we are Insaan -a human being and it means forgetfulness
• So what is it that a forgetful person needs the most in life- Zhikr a reminder
• Allah SWT said about the Quran

 إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ‎﴿٨٧﴾

it is a reminder for the whole world ^(81:27)

# 10: Barakah – Blessings

• The Quran has been described as – Baraka or blessings
• Have we not complained that there is
  • no barakah in our time
  • no blessing in our wealth
  • no blessing in our children
• Baraka is a secret ingredient which when it mixes with something small it makes it great
• Allah said this Quran is a Book of Baraka

وَهَٰذَا كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ مُّصَدِّقُ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلِتُنذِرَ أُمَّ الْقُرَىٰ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا ۚ

And this (the Quran) is indeed a blessed Book which We have sent down, confirming (the revelations) which came before it, so that you may warn the Mother of All Towns (Makkah) and all those around it. ^(6:92)

# 11: Bushraa – Glad Tidings

• The Quran has been described as – Bushraa good news
• Surely, you’ve asked yourself the question why am I doing this?
  • While people are heading to the theatres you are heading to the Masjid for Salaah
  • While everyone eats while you fast
  • The way I dress makes me different from others
  • While everyone enjoys things in life food and drinks you refrain from them?
• Why am I doing all of this
  • what’s the end
  • what comes next?
• The Quran answers this to us

وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ ‎﴿٨٩﴾‏ 

We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) as clarification for all things and as guidance, mercy and good news for the Muslims (those who fully submit to Allah). ^(16:89)

# 12: لا ريب فيه-A Book in which there is no doubt

الم ‎﴿١﴾‏ ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ‎﴿٢﴾‏

• Is there a religious scripture that combines all of these traits of perfection in one book
• Is there any one of those characteristics that you just heard that you can function without
• By Allah we can’t

This, and much more, why Muslims respect The Quran and when people violate its sanctity, we are not only offended but we will do everything possible in our authority and ability to defend it!