How is the Qur'an a proof against its carrier?
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The questioner : How is the Qur'an a proof against its carrier?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence, on the Day of Judgment:
The Qur'an is the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), which He revealed to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be a warning to all mankind, and He made its hearing a binding proof. So He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:[At-Tawbah 9:6].
So whoever hears the words of Allah and knows the Arabic language, the proof has been established against him. And when the proof is established against him, he must either act in accordance with it and what this proof requires, or he must contradict it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 2437Sahih (Darussalam).
And it is incumbent upon the one who reads the Qur'an, if he does not understand its meaning, to seek understanding of it from the scholars. For Allah did not reveal the Noble Book merely for it to be read, but for it to be reflected upon and acted upon. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:[Sad 38:29].
What harms people today is that they do not think about knowing the meanings of the Noble Qur'an, except for a few. You will find that most Muslims read the Qur'an as an act of worship for its recitation and to seek its reward, but they do not reflect upon it, nor contemplate it, nor ask about its meaning. So they are on the same level as the unlettered. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:78].
So Allah the Exalted made those who do not know the Book except as hopes, meaning except as recitation, unlettered. So a person must reflect upon the meanings of the Book of Allah and take admonition from what is in it, so that the Qur'an becomes a proof for him, not against him.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence, on the Day of Judgment:
The Qur'an is the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), which He revealed to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be a warning to all mankind, and He made its hearing a binding proof. So He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah
وإن أحد من المشركين استجارك فأجره حتى يسمع كلام اللهSo whoever hears the words of Allah and knows the Arabic language, the proof has been established against him. And when the proof is established against him, he must either act in accordance with it and what this proof requires, or he must contradict it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
the Qur'an is proof, either for you or against you
القرآن حجة لك أو عليكAnd it is incumbent upon the one who reads the Qur'an, if he does not understand its meaning, to seek understanding of it from the scholars. For Allah did not reveal the Noble Book merely for it to be read, but for it to be reflected upon and acted upon. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كتاب أنزلناه إليك مبارك ليدبروا آياته وليتذكر أولو الألبابWhat harms people today is that they do not think about knowing the meanings of the Noble Qur'an, except for a few. You will find that most Muslims read the Qur'an as an act of worship for its recitation and to seek its reward, but they do not reflect upon it, nor contemplate it, nor ask about its meaning. So they are on the same level as the unlettered. Allah the Exalted said:
And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming.
ومنهم أميون لا يعلمون الكتاب إلا أماني وإن هم يظنونSo Allah the Exalted made those who do not know the Book except as hopes, meaning except as recitation, unlettered. So a person must reflect upon the meanings of the Book of Allah and take admonition from what is in it, so that the Qur'an becomes a proof for him, not against him.