Date: 10th June 2013

WHAT IS QURAN?
Nahmaduhu wa nusalli ala Rasoolihil Kareem ama ba'd fa audhubillahi min ashshaitani arrajeem Bismillahi Arrahmani Arraheem We praise Him and send darood upon His noble messenger. Rabbish rahli sadri wa yas-sir li amri wahloul uqdatam mil-lisaani yafqahu qawli O my Lord! expand me my breast; Ease my task for me; And remove the impediment from my speech, So they may understand what I say Rabbi zidni 'Ilma O my Lord! advance me in knowledge Why are we studying Quran? To please Allah Swt, to better ourselves, to benefit ourselves, so that we can come closer to Allah, we can be successful in this Duniya and in the Aakhira. A Scholar has said - Al Ilmu Saeedun Wal Kitaabatu Qaeedun Knowledge is like an animal that you want to catch and writing is what that harnesses that animal, that knowledge. You have to be ready and alert. And if you dont catch it on time, its going to go away, you have lost that opportunity. And if you dont write it down, youre going to lose it. Meaning of the word Quran Quran means Recitation. Grammatically, its a Noun. We have heard the words Qira'a / Qaar'i Qaar'i Recitor Qira'a Recitation Qur'an is the Recitation that which is read, that which is meant to be recited. For every letter you recite of the Quran, you earn 10 hasanaat. In reading Qur'an there is benefit. But complete benefit we get when we understand it. 1st Meaning of Quran:Root Letters: Qaaf/Raa/Hamza Derived from the word: Qara'a/Yaqra'u' Meaning: to read, to recite, Recitation 'An sound at the end (Quran, Rahman, Akshaan, Gabbaan) gives the meaning of excessiveness, something that is done a lot. So, Qur'an is that which is recited a lot, again and again. 2nd Meaning of Quran:Root Letters: Qaaf/Raa/Noon Derived from the word: 'Qar'ana' Meaning: to join together So, Qur'an is that which is joined/ combined together. In Qur'an, many Surahs, chapters, lessons, admonitions, stories, Verses, so a lot of good stuff is joined together, they are collected. Hajj Qiraan a person combines his Hajj with Umrah What is Quran? A book that guides us to the right path A book that has the words of Allah Swt in it.

Qur'an shows us how to live our lives in a more peaceful manner, in a more righteous manner It guides to virtue It addresses human needs and provides solutions, gives you answers to your questions, to your problems This is the speech of Allah Swt, it is the Arabic Qalaam/Speech of Allah. Allah revealed it to Prophet Muhammad Sws, through the Angel Gibriel, in wording and meaning. Meaning not just the words but also the understanding of it was taught to Prophet Sws. It has been preserved in the Mushat from the very beginning and has reached by Mutawatir transmissions; meaning many many people have passed down the Qur'an, that is why it is authentic, there's no doubt about it. Allah Swt also tells us about Qur'an in his own words in Surat usShura Ayaat 192-196 - Indeed this Qur'an is a revelation of the Lord of the worlds. The trustworhty spirit meaning the angel Gibriel, he has brought it down. Allah Swt chose the best angel to bring down the Qur'an; upon your heart, meaning the heart of Prophet Sws; so that you would be of the Warners. The reason behind the revelation of Qur'an is to warn people. Warn them about the punishment/anger of Allah, about failure, loss in the Hereafter. So, the Qur'an is here to save us. It's a warning. In a clear Arabic Language. Why Allah Swt did revealed Qur'an? To guide mankind. Surah Ibrahim Ayat No. 1, This is a book which we have revealed to you, so that you may take people out of the Darkness into the light. Light is Qur'an; Darkness is life without Qur'an. Darkness is scary, you are very vulnerable in it, you can get harmed very very easily, a person could end up making huge mistakes, this is why it is essential that we understand Qur'an. To the path of the one who is mighty and praiseworthy; which is the path of Allah Swt. Who are the Recipients of Qur'an? All Mankind, all people - regardless of their age, their gender, their color, their nationality, their ethnicity, their race, nothing matters. Allah says We have sent down the Qur'an to you, for the people. Prophet Sws was supposed to convey the Qur'an to all the people, all of mankind. Which is why we see, that in Mecca, when Prophet Sws was there, there were many people who were free, many people who were slaves, many people who were rich and many people who were poor, There were people who were from the tribe of Quraysh, those who were very elite, and there were those who were freed slaves, for e.g. Sahib ar rumi, who was a Roman slave. Similarly, We have people like Bilal Radiallahuanho from Habasha. So we see, people from different different backgrounds, but the Qur'an was for all of them. How was the Qur'an revealed? Slowly, gradually, over a period of 23 years, it was given to Prophet Sws through Wahi, Revelation. Allah Swt says in Surah Israa Ayat No 126 - That this Qur'an which we have separated by intervals, so that you may recite it to the people over a long period and we have sent it down progressively. Whenever an Ayaat was revealed, it was relevant to the situation Prophet Sws or the Muslims were facing. So when it came, it was very meaningful, relevant for them, to apply it. It was easier for Prophet Sws, for the Companions to implement it. So, Allah Swt, out of his Mercy, revealed Qur'an over a period of 23 years, gradually - because it is the Way of Allah. He created Heavens and the Earth also in 6 days. You can remember it better, you can benefit, implement. When was the Quran revealed? in the month of Ramadan, Allah Swt chose the Blessed month of Ramadan, and on the night of Lailatul Qadr, Allah Swt chose a very blessed month, a very blessed night, when you do something at a very special time, it

shows that what you are doing is very special. Allah Swt has given a lot of honour to this book. He chose the best angel to send down the Quran, and the person, the human being who recieved this Qur'an, Muhammad Sws , the best of all people. It was revealed through Wahi in the form of Surahs as well as Ayaats. Surah Chapter, wall, barrier, Literally means an enclosure, something that encloses something else within it, or fencing Root Letters - Seen/Waw/Raa Derived from the word 'Saaraa/Yasuroo' Sara/ Yasuroo - to surround something with a wall or a railing. Why Surah of Quran is called Surah? What does it enclose within itself? Particular idea, lessons, ayaat, verses, there is a particular set of Ayaats that the surah has enclosed within itself. Specific set of Verses which teaches many concepts, many themes. Another meaning - an elevated plane, a piece of land that is raised up high from the rest of the land around it, you can see it from a distance, something on the height is of high status, honorable, respectable, So, Quran, all of its Surahs are important. The Surah of the Qur'an is not an ordinary Surah, every Surah is elevated, deserves our attention/reflection, deserves that we must reflect upon it and act upon it. From the same root, Siwaar/ Asaweer Bracelet they adorn/decorarate, they beautify a person. Several times, a bracelet is made of Gems or pearls that are joined together. Every Surah is full of gems 114 Surahs are arranged in specific manner. Ayaat A sign/ indication A lesson A miracle A verse/ sentence An admonition An Ayaat is a verse of the Qur'an, and it's a miracle from Allah, and as you study it, you'll realize that miracle. How eloquent it is, how profound it is, how meaningful it is, how relevant it is, how beautiful it is, from the words to the meaning, the content the style, everything is so beautiful. It contains lessons for mankind, so that people can benefit from them, and also it's an admonition for the believers as well as for the Disbelievers, there is a lot of advice, lessons There are in total, 6236 Verses, made of Lafz. Laf'z Root Letters - Laam/Faa/Zaa Meaning Lafaza - To throw something out, to emit Laf'z is that which is spoken, or enunciated. 77,437 words in Qur'an, made of Harf/Huroof (Letters) Har'f Meaning - Edge of something. It has something inside. So Arabic letters, they may appear just a letter but they have oceans of meaning inside it, they are very deep, meaningful, they convey a whole lot of meaning. There are 323,671 letters in Qur'an. Har'f, it has a Haraka (vowel sound) on it.

Haraka Meaning - movement, to move something. In order to recite the Qur'an, we have to move our mouths. Three basic Harakaats Fatha, Kasra, Damma Juz Meaning - A portion or a part of a whole, a part that completes something. Qur'an has 30 parts/Juz Ta'awwud - A'udu Billahi Minash Shaytaan nir Rajeem A'udu Meaning - I seek refuge A I; Udu - Refuge Root Letters - Ain/Waw/Dhaal Derived from the word 'Azha/Ya'uzu'; which means to seek the protection of someone against some danger Billahi Meaning - Bi With; Allah - Allah Swt In Arabic, 'Bi' has 17 different meanings. 'Allah' is Ismul Jalala - Exclusive Grand name of Allah Swt Allah - Root Letters - Hamza/Laam/Haa Min - From/ against Shaitaan - Root Letters - Sheen/Taa/Naa Meaning Shatana - to be far, to oppose the Truth. Shaitaan is far away from Allah Swt's Mercy, Truth. Ar Rajeem Meaning - The accursed Root Letters - Raa/Jeem/Meem The word 'Rajam' means to stone, to throw stones at someone to drive them away, to push him away, to expel So, Shaitaan is expelled. We recite Audu Billahi Minashshaytaanir Rajeem to expel, to push him away, to remove him far away from us. Different Names of Quran 1. Furqaan - Criterion. It's from Faraqa - to separate, to distinguish, Furqaan gives you the ability to distinguish/ separate between what is right and what is wrong. It tells you what is good and what is bad, it tells you what is beneficial and what is harmful. What will lead you to success and what will lead to failure? What will lead to the pleasure of Allah and what will lead you to the displeasure/ Anger of Allah. And sometimes when we look around us, there are so many things people do things, one person is doing the thing one way, and other person is doing the thing other way. What's the better way? What's the best way? It is the way that is shown to us in Qur'an, because this Qur'an is from Allah Swt, He knows us; the way that He has shown is the best for us. So the Qur'an gives us the Criterion. Allah Swt tells us in Surat ul Furqaan - Blessed is the one that has sent down the Furqaan, the Criterion upon his servant. 2. Adiksh - Remembrance, reminder. So the Qur'an is a reminder as well. Qur'an will remind you of what you are supposed to do. We all know we should be patient, we know that we are supposed to fulfill our promises, we know that we should have trust on Allah, we know about many things, but what happens? We forget sometimes. We dont realize how important these things/ virtues/ actions are. Which is why we get carried away, we are like Oh forget it, I cant be bothered with this. Qur'an reminds you of its importance/ relevance/ how much Allah Swt likes that virtue, so this is why Qur'an is important. Allah says - This Qur'an is a reminder for you - o Prophet Sws, and also for your people. Think about it, the Prophet Sws did he not know the religion from the beginning till the end. Of course, he did. He was the one, on whom the religion was revealed to. But Allah Swt says, it is a reminder for

you! If He needed a reminder, do we not need it more? Yes we do. And this Qur'an how important is it? You have learnt about the virtues of the Qur'an, the exalted status of the Qur'an, Allah Swt says in Qur'an And with this Qur'an people should rejoice! People should be excited. Allah Swt says this is something that you should be happy about, that you rejoice about. Because it is better than all that the people can gather/ collect. It is the best that you could ever take for yourself. Allah Swt says that this is a reminder that is blessed. Mubarak is something that is full of Khair, many many blessings. This is what Quran is! It is full of blessings, and we will see those blessings, benefits, as we study Qur'an. We have revealed it, we have sent it down. Those who study this Qur'an, what did Prophet Sws say about those people - Verily, Allah has chosen people amongst mankind, chosen - select few, certain people who are very special to Him, they are the people of the Qur'an, they are the people of Allah and his chosen ones. Who are the people of the Quran? People, who learn it, teach it, implement it, recite it, memorize it, and understand it. Prophet Sws said, the best among you is one who learns the Qur'an and teach it. Qur'an - the words of Allah, the one who knows us when we are alone, the one who sees us when we are in front of everybody, who knows what's going on in our heads, the one who knows us inside out. We are studying his book. It is something very serious, because the Qur'an is either Ihhujjallaka wa alika - it is either argument for you or against you, meaning, on the Day of Judgment the Qur'an will either come pleading for you, so that you can be successful, you can be granted Jannah, or it will come complaining about you. It means - For some people, Quran will say O Allah, enter him into Jannah. Why? She read the book, she understood it, she implemented, she passed it on, but some other people Qur'an will be Hujja against them, that yes, they studies but they forgot, they learnt but they never implemented. So, yes we should be excited about what we are doing, but also realize it's seriousness. And only when we realize its seriousness, can we do this work properly. So with this in our mind, with gratefulness, with thankfulness, and also with the realization of its importance, lets begin the study of Qur'an.