Ramadan Lecture: 29 (The Qur’an as a Source of New Knowledge)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “The wonders of the Qur’an will never come to an end and this book will never cause boredom for its readers. Therefore, read it.” 

The growth of academic disciplines and new genres is normally seen as a result of cultural development. But sometimes critical environments and emergent needs of a society make some genres to emerge. In early centuries of Islam, the growing interest of the Non-Arabs, particularly the Persian speaking people, in the Holy Qur’an made the Quranic sciences to emerge. 

In very early days a newly convert Persian speaking Muslim was noticed who have read the verse:

."????? ??????? ???????? ????? ?????????????? ? ???????????? ?....."              

(…..that Allah has disowned the polytheists, and so did His Messenger). Surah: 9, Verse: 3. He read the word rasul with kasrah of lam: "?? ??????????" which means: Allah has disowned the polytheists and His Messenger. The matter was immediately referred to the Caliph ‘Ali bin Abi Talib R.A. who was a great scholar of the Qur’an among companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him. The Caliph R.A. summoned Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali d. 69 AH; and, asked him to define: Ism (noun), fi’l (verb), harf (article), and the articles of conjunction: waw, etc.

In view of the needs of the society, the philological, hadith and Qur’an studies emerged and developed under patronage of the Islamic state. The Holy Qur’an persuaded the believers to ponder about the nature and creations of the Almighty Allah. The Qur’anic verse reads:

."??????????? ????????? ??? ????????? ????? ??????????? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ? ???????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????"

(We (Allah) will show them Our proofs on the horizons, and in their very souls, until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient that your Lord (Allah) is witness over everything?!!!) Surah: 41, Verse: 53.

The human beings, in the Holy Qur’an are reminded, again and again, about the Divine Design that all the potentials of the universe and the celestial spheres have been made subservient for the mankind. Out of many such verses, a Qur’anic verse reads:

"?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ????????????? ????? ??? ????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????? ????????? ??????????? ? ?????? ???????? ??? ????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ????????"

(Do you not see how Allah has placed at your service everything in the heavens and the earth? How He showered you with His blessings, both outward and inward? Yet among the people is he who argues about Allah without knowledge, without guidance, and without an enlightening Scripture). Surah: 31, Verse: 20.

The Qur’an has further made an appeal to the human mind and consciousness for seeking knowledge by saying:

."???? ???? ????????? ????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??? ??????????? ? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ????????????"    

Say, "Are those who know and those who do not know equal?" Only those possessed of reason will remember. Surah: 39, Verse: 9.

In many Qur’anic verses, the knowing people have been regarded as the seeing and the ignorant as blind. For example, following verse reads:  

."????? ????????? ??????????? ????????????"

(Not equal are the blind and the seeing).Surah: 35, Verse: 19.

After the advent of Islam it has been very hard persuasion of Muslim scholars and scientists to study the nature and the natural phenomenon; therefore, ‘Allamah Muhammad Iqbal proclaimed: "The birth of Islam is the birth of inductive intellect", i.e. experimentation.

The readers are reminded that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is reported to have named the first night of the month Shawwal (following Ramadan), when moon is sighted for ‘Eid, as: "???? ???????" (the Night of Reward) and that it should not be wasted in doing preparations for ‘Eid only. The supplications and worship in this night will be recompensed more than other nights.

For those who do not pay any heed to the dictates of the Qur’an , the Holy Qur’an has illustrated their position in a comprehensive and most impressive way:

."?????????? ??? ??????? ???????????? ???????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ??? ?????????"

(Truly it is not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts are blind which are in their breasts). Surah: 22, Verse: 46. 

Dear readers! The Holy Qur’an is comprised of 6236 verses, which deal with the natural phenomenon and provides a complete guidance about all walks of life, whether psychological or social, in life of human beings. It should also be remembered that the Holy Qur’an is the text and the conduct of Muhammad, peace be upon him, is its practical manifestation.

More than 750 verses of the Holy Qur’an or parts thereof deal with natural laws which induce human beings to make the potentials of the orbit subservient; and, there is also a reminder for scholars and the researchers of the Muslim youth in it.

For details and further explanation in the Urdu language, please click the following link: 

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3az79k_lecture-29-qur-an-e-karim-sarchashma-e-ulum-prof-dr-m-akram-chaudhary-former-vice-chancellor-and-a-f_school

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpCWsN7enSM&list=PLCRJJ1gnWed9-M3H1OXAU96-7MofbqUVR