VOLUME 1 / LESSON NO: 7 - ABOUT THE HOLY QUR'AN
Q 1: What is the Holy Qur'an?
A. The Glorious Qur'an is the word of Allah (Kalaam Allah) which Allah has gifted to His Beloved Prophet Hazrat Mohammed (may Allah's choicest blessings & peace be upon him). To believe in what it contains is a part and parcel of our faith.
Q 2: How do you know that the Holy Qur'an is the Speech of Allah?
A. The Holy Qur'an is itself a convincing proof of it being the Speech of Allah. It declares and challenges infidels and disbelievers that "if you are in some doubt about what we have sent to Our chosen bondman, then bring one chapter like it". All the enemies of Islam - particularly the eloquent poets of Arabia - put their heads together and strove hard to produce something like it but they failed miserably; they could not bring forth a single chapter, not even a single verse like it. Thus, the Holy Qur'an is an open and everlasting miracle and a challenge to infidels and disbelievers till the end of time.
Q 3: What is the distinction of the Qur'an?
A. The ever-living miracle of the Glorious Qur'an is that the believers & even their children can commit the entire Qur'an to their memory. Contrary to this, other revealed books could not be memorized by the followers of the books except the Prophets to whom the said books were revealed.
Q 4: In how many days was the Holy Qur'an sent down?
A. The Holy Qur'an was sent down in 23 years. Its verses were sent down either singly or in batches as the need arose.
Q 5: How much reward does a believer get for reciting the Glorious Qur'an?
A. Our kind master Hazrat Mohammed Mustafa (may Allah's choicest blessings & peace be upon him) said, “He who recites a letter of the Qur'an gets one goodness which is equal to ten good deeds” and stressed "I do not say that "Alif-Laaam-Meeem" is one letter but ‘Alif' is a letter, ‘Laam' is another letter and ‘Meem' is another letter."
Q 6: What does Islam say about a believer who does not learn the Holy Qur'an?
A. The Holy Prophet has said "the chest (of a believer) which has nothing of the Qur'an in it is like a deserted house".
Q 7: What are the basic rules of reciting the Holy Qur'an?
A. The believer should in the state of ablution (Wudu), and sit at a clean place preferably in mosque facing the Qibla (Holy Ka'bah) placing the Holy Qur'an before himself, on a raised surface. He should begin reciting the Glorious Qur'an preceded by "A'oozu bil-Laahi Minash Shaietaa-nir Rajeem" (I seek refuge with Allah from the Devil, the accursed) and "Bismil-Laahir Rahmaa-nir Raheem" (Allah, beginning with the name of, the Most Affectionate, the Most Merciful) with sincerity and humility. Show no haste but recite carefully and with calmness. Mind it! The mouth should be free from every kind of smell like onion, garlic etc and other hasty comments or invalid talks...
It is sinful to touch the Holy Qur'an without ablution. Listeners should be attentive and respectful to the recitation.
Q 8: How should we dispose of an old worn-out & illegible copy of the Qur'an?
A. A copy of the Holy Qur'an which is worn out and is no more legible, should be buried, wrapped up in a piece of clean cloth, at such a place that is not trodden by human beings and animals. It is better to bury it in a grave-like ditch so as to save it from the earth.
Q 9: Are copies of the Holy Qur'an with correct text available?
A. Yes, the copies of the Holy Qur'an with correct text - without the slightest difference - are available everywhere. It is safe from being changed or corrupted as Allah Almighty is Himself its Protector.
Q 10: What is the divine wisdom in the revelation of the Holy Qur'an?
A. Allah Almighty has sent down the Holy Qur'an to guide His servants to the right path so that they may know Allah and His Apostle, follow their commands and abstain from evils.