[Slideshare] fardh'ain(2012)-lesson#3-criteria-al qur'an(23-march-2012)-part1

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,
MOST
COMPASSIONATE,
“A BEGINNERS’ COURSE ON
MOST MERCIFUL ISLAM”
EED
- Lessons on Fardhu ‘Ain in English for Adults
H
TAU ALAH conducted by Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail
A a
RIS
N # 3
LE SSO t 1)
r
(pa
Every Friday night IT CAN ALSO BE A
@ 8pm – 10pm REFRESHER COURSE
Wisma Indah, 450 FOR MUSLIM PARENTS,
“CRITERIA” Changi Road, EDUCATORS, IN
#02-00 next to CONTEMPORARY
Al-Qur’an: Proof of Masjid Kassim SINGAPORE.
Muhammad’s Prophethood. OPEN TO ALL

Using textbook & curriculum he has developed especially for
Muslim converts and young Adult English-speaking Muslims.

“To seek knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (male & female)”

UPDATED MARCH 2012
All Rights Reserved© Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2011) 1

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, FARDHU’AIN: CONDUCTED BY
MOST
COMPASSIONATE, USTAZ ZHULKEFLEE HJ ISMAIL
MOST MERCIFUL LESSONS FROM TEXTBOOK
“Beginners’ Manual on Islam”

Lesson #3

2
All Rights Reserved© Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2011)

• “Allah” : Arabic proper noun; name for God, it refers
to the One and Only, the Unique Creator, Lord
Sustainer of the Universe, Who Alone is God – there
is none besides Allah.
• No equivalent translation in non-Semitic language.


• “Muhammad s.a.a.w.” : Arabic name meaning “the
Praised One”; he is the Chosen, Unlettered Prophet,
the servant and Messenger of Allah, the Awaited
Seal of Prophethood after whom there will be no
more prophet sent.


“There are many miracles of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
to be offered as the evidence, and the greatest and most
outstanding of them is still available to be considered by
anyone (even today, until the Day of Judgement ) is without
doubt, the Qur’an .... ”
5

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,
MOST
COMPASSIONATE,

“The Criteria
MOST MERCIFUL

for a Holy
Book”
- a case for the Qur’an
by :
Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail
Singapore.

TO VIEW ON BLOG http://criteriaforaholybook-quran.blogspot.com/
6

INTRODUCTION AND
A BRIEF BACKGROUND


Avoiding the Fallacy termed as “circular reasoning”:

Q: How do you know that your doctrine is true?
A: Because it is written in this Book!
Q: What makes you believe that that Book is truly from God?
A: Because I have faith in it!
Q: How do you get that faith?
A: Because I read that (same) Book!
Q: But how do you know that that Book is truly from God!?
A: Because I have faith!
Q: But how do you get that faith?
A: I read the Book!!……?


• Any inter-faith discussion has to firstly contend with the issue of
proving, with evidence and reasoning, the basis for acceptance of a
“Book said to be from God”, before assigning it as the authority for
reference regarding doctrines.
• To regard that a “Book is from God” requires that we have to
provide for certain reasoning or rationale (criteria) for accepting
that conclusion.
• The objective question to consider firstly is, “How can we agree
that a particular book can be relied upon as authoritative?”
• “What would you insist that such a Book must have, to convince
you that it is indeed of Divine authorship?”


#1
THE CRITERIA

CLAIM ITSELF TO
BE FROM GOD

The Book itself must make the claim,
and not what people attribute to it
based on whatever reasons.

10

“And this, too, is a divine writ which We (God) have bestowed
from on high – blessed, confirming the truth of whatever there
still remains [of earlier revelations] – and [this] in order that thou
(O Muhammad) mayest warn the foremost of all cities and all
who dwell around it.”
(Qur’an: Al-An’am: 6: 92)


“We (God) sent down the Qur’an in Truth, and in
Truth has it descended : and We sent you but to give
glad tidings and to warn (sinners). It is a Qur’an which
We have divided (into parts from time to time) in
order that you (O Muhammad) might recite it to men
at intervals : We have revealed it by stages”
(Qur’an : Bani Isra’il : 17: 105)


#2
THE CRITERIA

UNIQUE AND
INIMITABLE

A Book from God must be unique so that it is
distinct from other books. Thus, inimitability
(not possible for any to produce another like
it) is an important quality.

14

“And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed from
time to time to our servant, then produce a Surah like
thereunto ; and call your witness or helpers (if there are any)
besides God, if your (doubts) are true”

(Surah al-Baqarah : 2: 23)


“This Qur’an is not such as can be produced by other than God.
On the contrary it is a confirmation of revelations that went
before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book wherein there
is no doubt - from the Lord of the Universe”

(Surah Yunos : 10: 37)


 To the Arabs at the time of Muhammad s.a.w. then, it
was their language (Arabic), linguistic and literary skills
in composing odes and poetry which were held in
highest regard.
 This was their greatest accomplishment, which they
have honed and it marked them out as Arabs.
 And it is to this that the ‘miracle’ nature of the Qur’an
was highlighted to them to be especially tested.


 Many of these celebrated poets of the Quraysh, like:

Musaylama al-Kadz-dzab,

Thulaihah ibn Khuwailid al-As’ady,

An-Nadhor ibn Harith,

Mutanabby, Ibn al-Muqoffa etc.,

attempted but could not succeed but their attempts were
even denounced by their own peers, when compared to
the style, eloquence, exquisite beauty and profoundness
of the Qur’an.

And standard of Arabic language used by people had
declined since that golden era. Thus it would become near
impossible for any to respond to this challenge ever again.

One well known poet at the time, Walid ibn Mughirah
(himself a respected leader of the Quraysh), even admitted
to his peers, after hearing Muhammad’s recitation of a
portion of the Qur’an saying, that these could not be the
work of mortals - whether it be of man or spirits – echoing
precisely a verse in the Qur’an:


“Now this Qur’an could not possibly have been
devised by anyone save Allah (God): nay indeed, it
confirms the truth of whatever there still remains
[of earlier revelations] and clearly spells out the
revelation [which comes] – let there be no doubt
about it – from the Sustainer of all the worlds.”
(Qur’an: Yunus: 10: 37)


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.“
(Qur’an: Isea’: 17: 88)


R
S IDE
N
T CO
S
FIR

“The Striking Calamity - What is the Striking Calamity? And what
can make you know what is the Striking Calamity? It is the Day
when people will be like moths, dispersed, And the mountains will
be like wool, fluffed up.”
(Qur’an: al-Qari-’ah: 101: 1-5)


R
S IDE
N
T CO
S
FIR


R
S IDE
N
T CO
S
FIR

“The Inevitable Reality - What is the Inevitable
Reality?
And what can make you know what is the Inevitable
Reality?
Thamud and 'Aad denied the Striking Calamity.
So as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the
overpowering [blast]. And as for 'Aad, they were
destroyed by a screaming, violent wind .”
(Qur’an: al-Haqqa: 69: 1-4)


R
S IDE
N
T CO
S
FIR

“Which Allah imposed upon them for seven nights and eight
days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen
as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees. Then do you see
of them any remains?”
(Qur’an: al-Haqqa: 69: 5-8)


E
P AR
OM THIS
,C
EN WITH
TH M
E
TH

"The elephant. What is the elephant?
And what can make you know what
is the elephant? He has a ropy tail and a long trunk."


“And no question do they bring to thee but We
reveal to thee the Truth and the explanation thereof”
(Qur’an: al-Furqan : 25: 33)


If they say: “Muhammad wrote it !”


If they say: “Muhammad wrote it !”

[O Muhammad] thou hast never been able to recite any divine
writ ere this one [was revealed], nor didst thou ever transcribe
one with thine own hand – or else, they who try to disprove the
truth [of thy revelation] might indeed have had cause to doubt [it].
Nay, but this [divine writ] consists of messages clear to the
hearts of all who are gifted with [innate] knowledge – and none
could knowingly reject Our messages unless it be such as
would do wrong [to themselves].”
(Qur’an: al-Ankabut: 29: 48-49)


If they say: “Why has not the Qur’an been revealed to him all at once?”


If they say: “Why has not the Qur’an been revealed to him all at once?”

“Those who reject Faith say: ‘Why is not the Qur’an revealed
to him all at once?’ Thus is it revealed that We may
strengthen thy heart thereby, and We rehearsed it to thee in
slow well-arranged stages, gradually”
(Qur’an: al-Furqan: 25: 32)


If they say: “Why an Arabic Qur’an?


If they say: “Why an Arabic Qur’an?

“Now had We willed this [divine writ] to be a discourse in a
non-Arabic tongue, they would surely have said, ‘Why are not
its verses explained in detail? What! (a book) not in Arabic
and (a messenger) an Arab?’ Say: ‘It is a Guide and a Healing
to those who believe”
(Qur’an: Fussilat: 41: 44)


If they say: “Muhammad may have received it from the Devil !”

“No evil ones have brought down this (revelation). It would
neither suit them nor would they be able to produce it!”
(Qur’an: ash-Shuara: 26: 210-211)


If they say:” He was taught by a Jew or a Christian!”

“We know indeed that they say ‘It is a man that teaches him’
(but) the tongue of him they wickedly pointed to is notably
foreign, while it (Al-Qur’an) is Arabic, pure and clear”
(Qur’an: an-Nahl: 16: 103)


If they say: “It is a fraud!”

“Say: ‘Truth has arrived, and falsehood neither creates
anything new, nor restores anything”
(Qur’an: Saba’: 34: 49)


#3
THE CRITERIA
CONTAINS
ABSOLUTE
PRINCIPLES
All principles which the book contains must
be absolute (not affected by time) and
remain as true today as they will remain
true in the future and as they had proven
true in the past.

42

 If one is truly objective (in the sense of seeking justice) and is
sincere in analysing the history of the Arabs and in comparing
their condition before with that after the revelation of the
Qur’an, it would become obvious that their society underwent
a drastic change – one that was quite revolutionary.
 Their customs, trends, worldview and accepted norms were in
fact overturned and replaced with fundamental principles
quite unknown to them before this, and since then it has
continued to be adhered to even till today.

 Moreover, these principles can justifiably be said to be too
advanced for that time, so that they cannot be explained
away as having their origin in human and societal influences
current at that time.
 ONE OF THE EXAMPLE – “BANNING INTOXICANTS” :


 Moreover, these principles can justifiably be said to be too
advanced for that time, so that they cannot be explained
away as having their origin in human and societal influences
current at that time.
 ONE OF THE EXAMPLE – “BANNING INTOXICANTS” :

“O You who have attained to faith! Intoxicants, and games of chance,
idolatrous practices, and the divining of the future are but a loathsome
evil of Satan’s doing: Shun them so that you may be successful “
(Qur’an: Ma’idah: 5: 90)


And today, the dangers of alcoholism, substance abuse and
drug addiction are well acknowledged scourge, whereas the
Qur’an has, not only explicitly warns mankind against it
since 1400 years ago, it has since then started a movement
towards eradicating this menace and has been successful in
producing the biggest society of teetotallers with an
uncompromising stance towards it – “shun them” totally,
not even imbibing of even a drop of it.


Today, over 1.5 billion Muslims as the rule, abstain from
every alcoholic drink and intoxicant on religious grounds,
because it has been forbidden by God (as Haram), explicitly
recorded and preserved in the original religious text or
scripture.

Although there may be few exceptions of disobedient
Muslims, yet no other religion has been as successful as
Islam in advocating sobriety as a religious obligation.


#4
THE CRITERIA

CONTAINS NEITHER
DISCREPANCY NOR
INACCURACY

God is perfect in His Wisdom and
cannot be the author of discrepancies
and/or inaccuracies.

48

“Do they not consider the Qur’an with care ? Had
it been from other than Allah, they would surely
have found therein much discrepancy”
(Surah An- Nisa’ : 4: 82)


#5
THE CRITERIA
CONTRIBUTES TO THE
WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE
OF ALL LEVEL

Unlike other books which appeal to or
benefit only certain classes of people
according to their intellectual levels, the
Book of God is meant for all classes of
people. Only God’s Wisdom is capable of
producing such a Book.
51

“All praise is due to God (Allah), who has bestowed this
divine writ from on high upon His Servant (Muhammad),
and has not
allowed any deviousness to obscure its meanings:
[a divine writ] unerringly straight, meant to warn
[the godless] of a severe punishment from Him, and to
give unto the believers who do good works the glad tiding
that theirs shall be a goodly reward – [a state of bliss] in
which they shall dwell beyond the count of time.”
(Qur’an: al-Kahf: 18: 1-3)


Applying to the Qur’an the usual categorizations for Books
would be impossible for this is no ordinary book, because:
 Simple devotees refer to it, yet it is not merely a book on
devotions;
 legists formulate legal rulings from it, and yet it is not merely a
book of laws;
 educationist derived wisdom from it and yet it does not only
speak about education;


would be impossible for this is no ordinary book, because :
 theologians are guided by its principles, and yet it is not
merely a book on theology;
 it mentions past history and indicate to contemporary men the
remnants of past civilization to be discovered, visited and
studied, yet it is not a book on history or archaeology;


 it points to the signs in the universe and provide principles for
contemplation and reflection for thinkers and philosophers,
yet it is not a book on philosophy;
 it highlights laws of natural phenomenon long before man
develops serious study of natural sciences, from which it only
confirms observations made by the book, yet it is not a book
on science;

 those who have the aesthetic appreciation for beauty in
language and expression are enthralled by its recitation, yet it
is not a book on poetry;
 Arabic linguists and grammarians use its standard for
correctness and eloquence, yet it is not a book on grammar;


 those seeking solace and spirituality finds in it companionship
and guidance towards their spiritual upliftment, yet it is not
merely a book on spirituality;
 it has inspired and transformed a whole civilization through all
classes of people who then manifested the effect it has on
them in almost every field of human endeavour.


Perhaps the closest categorization would be ‘an
encyclopaedia’, yet it even transcend this when we
realise that this book contains only just over 6,000
verses – and has never needed any re-edition.

Only one category is possible, and that is, it is a
book of God for the guidance of mankind.

Only God’s Wisdom is capable for its authorship.


#6
THE CRITERIA

SOME PROPHECIES
PROVEN TO BE TRUE

Proof of God’s knowledge is in the truth of
His prophecies. Although there are many
which have not yet come to pass, still there
must be some prophecies which can validate
this unique attribute of God in the Book.

60

“Truly did God (Allah) fulfil the vision for His Messenger: Ye shall
enter the Sacred Mosque, if God (Allah) wills, with minds secure,
heads, shaved, hair cut short, and without fear. For He knew
what ye knew not and He granted besides this a speedy victory.
It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the
Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion: and enough is
God (Allah) for a Witness.”

(Qur’an: Surah Fath: 48: 27-28)


NOTE:
NOTE

 This verses were revealed when Muslims were a
disregarded group, oppressed and weak, living in
Madinah after being forced to migrate there, and
then had to face several invasions by the Quraish.
Yet the prophecy came of the Prophet’s imminent
entrance into Makkah, as well as the conquest and
triumph of Islam over the Makkans.

[Slideshare] fardh'ain(2012)-lesson#3-criteria-al qur'an(23-march-2012)-part1

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