All the messengers of Allah (s.w.t.) are valid

Dear readers,

Just like one must believe in Allah, His angels and books for a proper and absolute faith, it is similarly compulsory to believe that the messengers of Allah (s.w.t.) who communicated them to us are valid.

"The first prophet is Adam (a.s) and the last is Mohammad Mustapha (s.a.w). Many prophets lived in between them. Only God knows the number of those messengers. Twenty seven of them whose names are known are listed below:

Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Hud, Salih, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Lot, Shuaib, Moses, Joshua, Aaron, David, Solomon, Jonah, Elias, Elisha, Ezekiel, Zechariah, John, Jesus, Muhammad Mustapha (s.a.w). The twenty five other than Seth and Joshua are mentioned in Qur’an. Other than these, the names Ezra, Luqman and Dhul-Qarnayn are also mentioned in Qur’an but although some claim that these three and also Tubba and Khidr are prophets, some others claim that they are walis." (1)

Dear readers, as I mention when the occasion arises, the universe is a divine order and nothing it contains is aimless, arbitrary and accidental. Allah (s.w.t.) has created nothing in vain and similarly he does not say anything in vain.

"Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between! " [Sad, 27]

# Everything is as it should be in the universe

Now I want to attract your attention to something. Let's say you got up in the morning. You had your breakfast. You came by your car in order to go to work. You checked the level of gasoline and the pressure of tyres. And you also wanted to check the engine oil. You opened the hood. You looked into everything. Would you see there anything unnecessary or functionless? Each piece there is interconnected with others and organized so as to fulfill a certain function. Each piece has been manufactured with certain characteristics for fulfilling its function in the best way. Some of them are of steel, some of them rubber, and some plastic…

Dear readers, when the incapable human beings place everything in order in a simple mechanism such as an automobile, how can Allah, who is the Creator of human beings, their intellects, thoughts, knowledge, behaviors and works, ever create anything aimless and functionless in the order that He has established? I humbly explained these in detail with some examples in a series of articles starting with the writing entitled "Understanding the Divine Order -1- ". There is a perfect order and organization in the universe. Everything in the universe is interconnected with each other. Everything has been created for a certain purpose and they all have been equipped with some certain design and features for fulfilling their specific functions.

# Prophets were also equipped with some special characteristics

So the prophets who were sent to tell people about their own Creator, to teach them the provisions of the Creator for separating truth from falsehood, in short, to provide them with a divine training in order to enable them to reach a moral dignity were also created so as to possess some certain qualities. These characteristics as identified by our scholars of Islamic law are:

"1 - Reliability: Prophets are reliable persons in every sense.

2 - Righteousness: Prophets are righteous in their words and works.

3 - Communication: All of the commands and prohibitions and all the provisions relating to social ethics that they communicate are nothing other than the revelations and news communicated to them by Allah.

4 - Justice: Prophets are just. They never tyrannize or commit any unfairness.

5 - Innocence: Prophets never commit any sin, minor or major.

6 - Intelligence: Prophets are very intelligent and very understanding people.

7 - No Dismissal: Prophets are never dismissed from prophethood either in the world or in the hereafter." (2)

These characteristics are not gained subsequently but these outstanding individuals are born from their mothers with these characteristics so to say.

# Prophets should not be distinguished from each other

Dear readers,

All of our prophets since the time of Adam (pbuh) are distinguished individuals assigned to familiarize people with Allah, who is the only Creator, keep people away from bad behaviors and ensure the dominance of the rules of proper living in accordance with His divine order. So prophets should not be deified. They are all human beings just like us. However, as explained above, they are a source of mercy possessing extraordinary characteristics. Humanity, either religious or irreligious, has learned all social ethics, all humane values from them. So we should not distinguish them from each other.

"The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.""  [Baqarah, 285]

On the other hand, our Lord has made some of them superior to others as stated in the verses:

"We made some prophets to excel others. " [Isra, 55]

"Those messengers We endowed with gifts, some above others: To one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honor);"  [Baqarah, 253]

Especially Rasulullah (s.a.w.) has been honored with the introduction of the most perfect judgments in parallel to the development of humanity. He has gathered in himself the highest virtue that humanity can ever reach. Therefore, those who follow him actually follow the highest form of Islam which has been communicated to the humanity as a religion since the time of Adam (pbuh). In short, whoever follows him will be saved as highlighted in Qur’anic verses:

"We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures. "  [Anbiya, 107]

"We have not sent thee but as a (Messenger) to all mankind, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men know not."  [Saba, 28]

"Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing: And surely thou hast sublime morals."  [Qalam, 3-4]

"Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect."  [Ahzab, 56]

Therefore, one should always recite salawats (respect and honoring) for Rasulullah (s.a.w.).

# Following the messenger of Allah (s.w.t.) in our daily life

We should always follow him in our daily life. This is the most important thing for us. Many think that following him only means to grow a beard like him, dressing like him and wearing a turban like him. Actually, such behaviors were a necessity of the social environment in which Rasulullah (s.a.w.) lived and they are traditional behaviors which can change according to time and place. Following him really means to follow the divine judgments which make humans real humans such as to not lie, keep our promises, be loyal to our debts, be patient, not commit adultery, not misappropriate, perform the prayers, bestow upon our parents, learn sciences, weigh rightly, give alms, eat and drink legitimate things, continue visiting our kins and relatives, not gamble, not accept bribes, not become arrogant, not criticize people maliciously, fast, avoid from speaking wrong and forbidden words, not break any heart, protecting and supporting poor people, etc., and these are the good behaviors of all times. Those who follow him will reach divine blessings, leave behind ordinary human characteristics (lack of humane values) and attain the dignity and honor of being a real human.

"follow him that (so) ye may be guided."   [A’raf, 158]

"He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah."  [Nisa, 80]

"Say: "If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins:"  [Al-i Imran, 31]

It is clearly understood from the last verse that loving Allah (s.w.t.) and becoming honored with His sublime love is only possible by following His beloved messenger. But we should follow not only his personal sunnah called "Sunnah az-Zawaid" but also his divine sunnah explained above and called "Sunnah al-Huda", otherwise we will end up despicable people who are dressed like the Prophet but who are devoid of dignity and decency.

Be entrusted to Allah.

------------------------------- 
[1] Ahmet Cevdet Pasa, ----. Faideli Bilgiler, 16.baski. Hakikat Ltd.Şti. Yayinlari:1, Cagaloglu, Istanbul. s.5 (1994)
[2] http://www.cocukpinari.com/index.php/content/view/116/26/

The situation of those who turn away from Qur’an

Dear readers,

Qur’an is a very valuable source which separates truth from falsehood and which cannot be invalidated by any document neither in the past nor in the future.

"Those who reject the Message when it comes to them (are not hidden from Us). And indeed it is a Book of exalted power.  No falsehood can approach it from before or behind it:"   [Fussilat, 41-42]

Qur’an is a guidance of righteousness and salvation. Those who do not believe in and turn away from it cannot get free of troubles.

"Such is the guidance of Allah. He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide."   [Zumar, 23]

"When thou dost recite the Qurán, We put, between thee and those who believe not in the Hereafter, a veil invisible:"  [Isra, 45]

"Those who reject Our Signs, We shall lead them gradually to ruin, while they known not;" [A’raf, 182]

Acting based on delusions and prejudices, some people talk through their hats regarding the religion of Allah (s.w.t.) although they do not know Qur’an or have any fundamental information about it. Allah (s.w.t.) declares about them:

"And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book, but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture."  [Baqarah, 78]

# One should not be blind to truths

Dear readers, Allah (s.w.t.) has created two huge realms including a visible material one and an invisible spiritual one. Two great orders... The Creator, owner, arranger and manager of these orders is Him. He is the one who has established their rules. He is the only sovereign over these orders. Allah (s.w.t.) has created humans as a small realm that carries elements from both of the realms, made him His caliph on the world, equipped him with a blessing like "intelligence" which He has not bestowed to any other living being, "morally" uplifted him by training him with His messengers and books, and rendered him arranger and manager over the earth by teaching him the methods of acquiring and processing "information". Qur’an tells us the laws of His spiritual order which bring humans to maturity. The Sustainer of All the Realms wants humans to understand these orders that He has truly created and established rules for, to also understand his Sublime Personality, to not become blind to truths and not destroy the order that He has established in the universe.

"Now have come to you, from your Lord, proofs (to open your eyes): if any will see, it will be for (the good of) his own soul; if any will be blind, it will be to his own (harm):"  [An’am, 104]

"Do no mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order, " [A’raf, 56]

"And O my people! give just measure and weight nor withhold from the people the things that are their due: commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief."  [Hud, 85]

# Turning away from Allah's statements is cruelty

Those who deny and turn away from the verses of Allah (s.w.t.) are cruels. It is clearly stated in many Qur’an verses that such cruel people will be punished with a punishment of a very foul nature:

"and none but the unjust reject Our Signs."   [Ankabut, 49]

"And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it … Now then hath come unto you a Clear (Sign) from your Lord,- and a guide and a mercy: then who could do more wrong than one who rejecteth Allah's Signs, and turneth away therefrom? In good time shall We requite those who turn away from Our Signs, with a dreadful chastisement, for their turning away. "  [An’am, 155-157]

"Nay, they charge with falsehood that whose knowledge they cannot compass, even before the interpretation thereof hath reached them: thus did those before them make charges of falsehood: but see what was the end of those who did wrong! "  [Yunus, 39]

# Allah (s.w.t.) will not remain a mere spectator to the destruction of the order that it has established

Dear readers, even we incapable servants do not want any order that we establish on the face of the earth to be destroyed, and we even place sanctions to any destroyers, then how can it be expected that Allah, who is the Creator of everything, who manages everything and possesses an absolute power to do anything He likes, would be a mere spectator to the destruction of the divine order that He has established? There are many who misunderstand, get spoiled and continue their cruelties and shamelessness with impunity due to the fact that Allah, as a manifestation of his attributes of patience and benevolence, delays so many things in the hope that they might correct their errors. Beware!.. Allah (s.w.t.) is not like us his weak servants, and He will not forget his promises.

"Thy Lord never doth forget." [Maryam, 64]

Every promise of Him is real. And no power exists to contradict their application. Therefore, let us not become one of those miserables who destroy the divine order, inflict troubles upon themselves and others, deprive themselves of the divine benevolence, and recognize no law or rule. Let us not be like them and let us not be among those who are sentenced to violent punishments promised for them because they turn away from divine laws. Allah (s.w.t.) does not tyrannize anyone. Human beings tyrannize themselves by acting impertinently. Just like in the case of a naughty child who does not listen to advices, asks for trouble, and finally finds it.

# Each statement of Qur’an is truth

Dear readers,

For a proper faith, it is necessary to believe that the Psalm, the Torah, the Bible and Qur’an are all true divine documents sent by Allah. Particularly, as I told in my previous writings, one should not be in doubt that Qur’an, the accuracy and protection of which has been guaranteed personally by Allah (s.w.t.) and which is the latest and the most reliable source of the religion that has been communicated to humanity by various prophets since the time of Adam (pbuh) is the word of the Creator, that it confirms the previous books, and that each information it contains regarding visible and invisible realms is the truth.

"We sent down the (Qurán) in Truth, and in Truth has it descended: "  [Isra, 105]

"(Qur'an is ) a detailed exposition of all things, and a Guide and a Mercy to any such as believe."  [Yusuf, 111]

Dear readers, Qur’an contains information about the attributes of Allah (s.w.t.), about the efforts taken by the prophets to tell humans about Allah (s.w.t.) and His judgments which lead to benevolence, about what is benevolent and good for humans and the most reliable criteria regarding humane behaviors, and about such subject matters as invisible beings, angels, the world of souls, the conditions in the end of days and the hereafter, etc.

# One should not try to measure spiritual values with mind

One should not attempt to evaluate these with mind. As I mentioned occasionally before, mind is a mechanism that functions in the material realm, which is a visible divine order, and based on the data coming from this realm. It performs its comparisons with the criteria of this realm. The invisible realms created by Allah, however, function with completely different criteria and values. The objects and events there are different than those in the material realm, and its laws are completely different. We call it the spiritual realm, because it only involves a semantic value, from a worldly perspective. In order to enable us to grasp the events there, even if to a partial extent, Allah (s.w.t.) has bestowed us the realm of dreams as an example. The truths of the afterlife realm, on the other hand, are completely different from that in human imagination. It is not possible to fully grasp and understand them with the worldly perspective of humans. The position of humans to their dreams and imaginations is similar to the position of the afterlife realm to the material realm of humans. The world life is like a continuous dream of humans. Therefore, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said:

"Humans are asleep, they wake up when they die."  [Safar-i Ahiret]

Therefore, it is necessary to accept each and every word of Qur’an as truth, and it should be believed and acknowledged as it is. The mutashabih verses which necessitate interpretation should be adopted in the way explained by Rasulullah (s.a.w.) and scholars of the Followers of Sunnah.

# There is no contradiction and inconsistency in any work of the Creator

Dear readers, some impertinents circulate some messages in the Internet which assert the existence of contradictory religious behaviors of humans and which seem to criticize such contradictions from the perspective of Allah (s.w.t.) but they actually try to display the Sustainer of the Realms as an incapable and contradictory being. When people live according to the rules of Allah (s.w.t.) and look at everything with His light, then they understand that no contradiction and inconsistency exist in any work of the Creator and that, on the contrary, His rules are universal truths which cover all the times. As I referenced in my previous writings, it is stipulated in Qur’an verses:

"Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that is between them;"  [Maryam, 65]

"(This was Our) way with the messengers We sent before thee: thou wilt find no change in Our ways."  [Isra, 77]

"Do they not consider the Qurán (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy."  [Nisa 82]

How can inconsistencies ever exist in the eternal works and words of a Creator who possesses an infinite knowledge? Doesn't He have all the knowledge of everything that He created?

Dear readers, Qur’an is the word of truth. Allah (s.w.t.) and his beloved prophets never lie. Everyone knows that Rasulullah (s.a.w.) never used any lie even in any of his jokes. For this reason, one should not ever be doubtful in the slightest extent about the truth of Qur’an and the statements that it contains. Each information it offers should be accepted as the truth and the Sustainer of the Realms should be trusted with a full faith.

Be entrusted to Allah.

Qur’an was revealed to be followed

Dear readers,

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) attached great importance to learning, teaching and reading Qur’an.

"The most virtuous among you are those who learn and teach Qur’an."  [Bukhari]

"The most supreme worship in my community is to read Qur’an."  [Abu Nu'aym]

"In a house where Qur’an is not read, beneficence will decrease, malice will increase, and narrow circumstances will be inflicted."  [Dar al-Qutni]

"Decorate your houses with salat and recitation of Qur’an."  [Itqan]

The goal of learning and reading Qur’an is to understand it and follow its provisions, recommendations and guidance. It is understood again from the statements contained in the book which separates truth from falsehood that the reason for the descent of Qur’an in Arabic was for the community into which it descended to understand it, and that it was the task of Rasulullah (s.a.w.) to explain those parts of it which people failed to understand.

"We have sent it down as an Arabic Qurán, in order that ye may learn wisdom. "  [Yusuf, 2]

"We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them"  [Nahl, 44]

# Those who obey Qur’an will reach peace with it

Surely, the goal of the explanations made by the Prophet regarding Qur’an is to ensure that people know and follow Allah's rules, commands, recommendations and guidance which will take them to blessings and make them decent and dignified people. With these rules, Allah (s.w.t.) ensures that those who believe in him and seek his assent will reach salvation.

"There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book, "  [Maida, 15]

"Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light,- guideth them to a Path that is straight."  [Maida, 16]

As for those who do not follow these rules, they will suffer various troubles both in the world and in the hereafter.

Dear readers, a significant part of the troubles that people suffer result from their yielding to the whims and desires of their ego. What takes people to prosperity and benevolence and ensures their eternal happiness is to believe in their Rab (Allah) and follow his messengers, that is, to yield to the desires and wants of Allah (s.w.t.) instead of those of their egos.

# Those who love Allah (s.w.t.) should follow his messenger

Therefore, our Rab insists we obey His Sublime Personality and His Prophet, and follow His judgments and His book which declare His commands, recommendations and guidance.

"Say: If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins"  [Al-i Imran, 31]

"Say: Obey Allah and His Messenger: But if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith."  [Al-i Imran, 32]

"And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it"  [An’am, 155]

"Follow (O men!) the revelation given unto you from your Lord, and follow not, as friends or protectors, other than Him. Little it is ye remember of admonition."  [A'raf, 3]

Dear readers, humans are not aimless and they will be responsible about whether they comply with the judgments of Qur’an. This responsibility applies to every sane person of full age. In our day, however, Qur’an has become a document which is frequently recited in graveyards and mosques but about the judgments of which only a few people are knowledgeable. Recently, a hodja effendi on a TV show was telling how Al-Ghazali described this situation. As it is a good example, I want to share it with you:

Now think of a farm-household chief. This person sends an instruction to his workers about the works to be performed. The workers receive the instruction. They read the message which states "such place will be watered, furrows will be opened here and seedlings will be planted there..." and they constantly repeat reading it but do not perform any work. Now, if you were the boss, would you keep such workers in your farm who read your instructions but do not fulfill them? Please think about it and answer.

# Humans are responsible regarding the judgments of Qur’an

Dear readers,

Humans are obliged to fulfill the judgments of Qur’an which was descended to them as a guidance and blessing, and they will be called to account as to whether or not they have followed it.

"The (Qurán) is indeed a reminder, for thee and for thy people; and soon shall ye (all) be brought to account."  [Zukhruf, 44]

And what are these judgments? First of all, the principles of faith including, primarily, the existence and oneness of Allah. These principles are clearly described in Qur’an and it is stated that those who deny these facts are in a deep perversion:

"Any who denieth Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messenger, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray."  [Nisa, 136]

As for fate, that is, the fact that everything that will happen is predestined and will unfold in accordance with the will of Allah (s.w.t.) in the progression of time:

"No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a Book before We bring it into existence."  [Hadid, 22]

# Faith is the foundation of all goodness

So humans are obliged to believe in, accept and approve these. All the blessings for human begin with this faith. As this concept of "faith" is a starting point for the divine training which will bring humanity to high decency and dignity, believing in these principles is the foundation of religion, and any other deeds of those who deny them will not be taken into consideration:

"The parable of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day: No power have they over aught that they have earned."  [Ibrahim, 18]

# Humans are responsible from abiding by prohibitions

People will also be responsible regarding whether or not they have abiden by the "prohibitions" stipulated in Qur’an. Some of them are arranged in successive order in the surah of Al-Isra:

"Make not thy hand tied (like a niggard's) to thy neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that thou become blameworthy and destitute. " [Isra, 29]

"Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is an indecent (deed) and an evil way." [Isra, 32]

"Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. " [Isra, 33]

"Give full measure when ye measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight:" [Isra, 35]

"And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for surely the hearing, the sight, the heart, all of those shall be questioned of (on the Day of Reckoning)."  [Isra, 36]

"Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for thou canst not rend the earth asunder, nor reach the mountains in height." [Isra, 37]

# Humans are also responsible from obeying the commands

People will also be responsible about whether or not they have obeyed the “commands” and “recommendations” of Qur’an. I want to give a few examples:

"So serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for My remembrance. "  [Ta-ha, 14]

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you,"  [Baqarah, 183]

"And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah."  [Baqarah, 110]

Dear readers, because these provisions that contain the rules for proper lifestyle for humans are the keys to an internal happiness, they are extracted from valuable sources and given in the article entitled "The Golden Rules of an Eternal Happiness"[1] of this weak servant.

# To be a good human is to live in accordance with Qur’an

To be good is to obey Qur’anic judgments and live in compliance with the principles stipulated by Qur’an. This is expressed in the following verse:

"It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and give Zakat (regular charity); to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic."  [Baqarah, 177]

Dear readers, the best, the clearest, the most objective and impartial criteria of the concepts of "good" and "evil" which not based on the whims of human ego are given in Qur’an. Humans are also obliged to obey these rules. Never any change occurs in these rules of Allah:

"(This was Our) way with the messengers We sent before thee: thou wilt find no change in Our ways. " [Isra, 77]

Be entrusted to Allah.

----------------------------------

[1] http://ulukus.blogspot.com.tr/2007/05/golden-rules-of-perpetual-happiness.html

Qur’an is not a fabrication

Dear readers,

As I stated in my previous article, numerous atheists and enemies of Islam have been intensely desirous of altering Qur’an, distorting it, raising doubts in the hearts of Muslims because Qur’an is the fundamental and the securest source of Islam. But can the truth ever be hidden? One of those attacks is a claim which is allegedly based on some hadiths and which asserts that Satan has tempered with Qur’an by adding it some false statements. As you will remember, they also published a book entitled "The Satanic Verses". Certainly, such a claim can only be made by some impertinents who consider Allah (s.w.t.) to be incapable as themselves although Allah (s.w.t.) is free of all incomplete and deficient attributes. See the messages of the following verses:

"When He decreeth a matter, He saith to it: "Be," and it is."   [Baqarah, 117]

"And Our Command is but a single (word),- like the twinkling of an eye."  [Qamar, 50]

Does ever a Creator who is capable of fulfulling his command in the blinking of an eye allow Satan to temper with his book with fake statements? The following verses were given as an answer to such baseless claims 14 centuries ago:

"Never did We send a messenger or a prophet before thee, but, when he framed a desire, Satan threw some (vanity) into his desire: but Allah will cancel anything (vain) that Satan throws in, and Allah will confirm (and establish) His Signs: for Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom:"  [Hajj, 52]

"That He may make the suggestions thrown in by Satan, but a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease and who are hardened of heart: verily the wrong-doers are in a schism far (from the Truth): "  [Hajj, 53]

Therefore, I do not consider it necessary to dwell upon on this baseless matter.

# Qur’an verses cannot have been fabricated

Dear readers, Qur’an has made no concessions from its literary beauty although it has offered effective solutions based on simple principles to material and spiritual illnesses of people and societies resulting from their self-indulgence. It cannot have been fabricated.

"Say: "If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qurán, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support."  [Isra, 88]

"There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and a Guide and a Mercy to any such as believe."  [Yusuf, 111]

"This Qurán is not such as can be produced by other than Allah. 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 Worlds." [Yunus, 37]

"Or do they say, "He forged it"? Say: Bring then a Sürah like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can besides Allah, if it be ye speak the truth!"  [Yunus, 38]

"Or do they say "He has forged it?" Say: "If I had forged it on me were my sin! And I am free of the sins of which ye are guilty! ay: He is your Lord."  [Hud, 35]

# Some characteristics of Qur’an

Dear readers,

The Holy Qur’an is a miraculous book in the strictest sense. In a hadith-i sharif which was reported by Haris el-A'ver and which states that the way to freedom from seditions is through following Qur’an, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said that:

"The Book of Allah (s.w.t.) is the way to salvation from troubles. It contains information regarding the circumstances of your predecessors and also information regarding the circumstances to occur after you and in the end of days. It also contains provisions regarding the circumstances that will happen among you. It is a measurement for separating truth from falsehood. Everything in it is significant, it does not contain any aimless statement."

"Whoever plays the fool by not believing in and acting based on it will be destroyed by Allah. Whoever searches for the right way except in it will be led away by Allah. It is the unbreakable rope of Allah. It is the dhikr full of wisdom, it is the straight path. It protects its followers from self-indulgence and confusion. Scholars can never get enough of it."

"Its frequent repetition does not bore, neither decreases its savor. Its astonishing excellent sides do not end or finish. It is such a book that whoever brings a knowledge from it tells the truth. Whoever acts based on it becomes successful. Whoever rules based on it rules justly. Whoever is called to it is called to the straight path. You, A'ver, should learn these beautiful words."  [Tirmidhi]

# Some formal characteristics of Qur’an

Allah (s.w.t.) has made Qur’an easier so that humans can learn and memorize it. That is to say:

• Similar expressions, statements, idioms and series of words are often repeated so that humans can memorize them easily.

• In order for new learners to not have much difficulty, the beginning sections are easier to read. In the ending sections, where social matters are addressed more, richness of vocabulary gradually increases. However, as learners reach a certain level when they get to these sections, they do not have much difficulty following them.

• Although Qur’an is revealed as a prose, its sentences and clauses often end in rhyming words and therefore the reading feels poetic and produces a pleasure as in reading poems.

• In some parts, not only sentence and clause endings but also whole sentences consist of rhyming words and this adds a certain joy to the reading.

• In Arabic, some syllables are pronounced shorter, some longer and some very long. And this contributes a great harmony to the recitation of Qur’an when reading it aloud. Especially when recited in some certain modes (maqams) such as Saba and Huzzam, both the reciter and listeners get a great spiritual pleasure of it.

These completely relate to the stylistic characteristics of Qur’an. As I occasionally mentioned in my previous articles, the main goal here is to understand Qur’an and follow its provisions, commands, recommendations and admonitions.

Allah (s.w.t.) commands in a verse:

"And We have indeed made the Qurán easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?"  [Qamar, 17]

# Qur’an was sent to an illiterate prophet

Dear readers, Allah (s.w.t.) descended Qur’an to an illiterate (ummi) prophet so that even those who pursued illegitimate goals would not doubt it. This situation is explained in the following verse:

"And thou wast not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: In that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted."  [Ankabut, 48]

Although Qur’an descended in 23 years, there is no any inconsistency in its content. If it was a document created by the hands of an incapable human being who forgets in the morning what he ate in the previous evening, then there would be lots of conflicts and inconsistencies in this document which addressed so many subject matters in such a long time.

"Do they not consider the Qurán (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy."   [Nisa, 82]

Be entrusted to Allah.