Monday, August 24, 2009 Islamia/The Brunei Times 5
Mind
‘‘...In Which the Quran was Revealed”
as well as going over previous sec-
tions of revelation from the previous
years.
The Prophet would recite and
AFP
Jibril would listen carefully, and Al-
Abu Isa Ni’matullah of Allah’s Words in the Quran surah of asbab an-nuzul (the reasons for
lah decided what would stay in the
“W
Fatir: 29-30) the revelation of the Quran).
hoever recites a letter
3
So the reciting of the During Ramadhan, Quran affirmed, and what would be
from the Book of Al- removed from the Quran either to-
Quran is a ‘business deal’ Jibril would come to
lah, he will get a hasa- tally or as an abrogation.
with Allah that returns the Prophet and re-
nah (reward), and every hasanah At the same time, the explanation
a profit that will never vise the Quran with
comes with ten more like it. I don’t of the meanings of the Book of Allah
perish, continuing him every night,
say that ‘Alif, Lam, Mim’ is a letter but were also revised between Jibril and
all the time and as is narrated in
rather ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘Lam’ is a letter the Prophet.
never ending, the two authen-
and ‘Mim’ is a letter,” the Messenger It is famously narrated that as
but in Ramad- tic collections
of Allah said. Ramadhan would start, Imam Malik
han it is even of Bukhari and
In the Sahih of Imam Muslim, it would leave the reading of Hadith
more greater Muslim on the
is narrated on the authority of Abu and would turn to concentrate on
and empha- authority of
Umamah that the Messenger of Allah the reading of the Quran from the
sised, for the ibn Abbas who
also said, “Recite the Quran for verily mus-haf.
Prophet used said, “The Mes-
it will act as an Intercessor on the Day It is narrated from a group of the
to increase his senger of Allah
of Judgement for it’s companions Salaf such as Ibrahim An-Nakha’i and
attention to used to be the
(those who regularly recite it).” Al-Aswad and others that they would
the Quran in most generous
Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim nar- make a khatam (completion) of the
this month, for of people, and it
rate on the authority of ‘Aisyah that Quran once every three nights.
a number of rea- was in Ramadhan
the Prophet of Allah said, “The pro- In Ramadhan they would fin-
sons: when Jibril would
ficient reader of the Quran is in the
1 The beginning come to meet him ish the Quran every two nights, and
company of the noble and obedient when the last ten days of Ramadhan
of the revelation that he would at be
Angels, and the one who recites the would start, they would finish the
of the Quran was in the his most generous.
Quran with difficulty, stuttering, then Quran every night.
month of Ramadhan, on He would meet him ev-
for him is a double reward.” Therefore in Ramadhan we saw
the same night that the Angel ery night to revise the Quran
Indeed Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla has the descent of the Quran from the
of Jibril came to the Prophet of with him. Also, the Messenger
commanded the believers to con- Lauh al-Mahfuz to the lowest heav-
Allah with the statement of His Lord, of Allah was more generous than a
tinuously recite His Book, and has low- en, and the beginning of revelation
“Read! In the Name of your Lord, who strong flowing wind.”
explained that this is the habit of the est heaven of the upon the Messenger of Allah, and
has created. He has created man Bukhari also narrated that in the
righteous and truthful. For Allah says, Earth, as narrated by ibn ‘Abbas and Jibril coming to revise and review the
from a clot. Read! And your Lord is year the Messenger of Allah passed
“Verily, those who recite the Book of also confirmed and agreed upon by Quran with the Messenger of Allah.
the Most Generous. Who has taught away, Jibril reviewed the Quran with
Allah, and perform the Prayer, and the Salaf, then it was sent down to For these reasons, there is no
by the Pen.” (surah Al-‘Alaq: 1-4) him two times.
spend out of what we have provided the Bayt al-‘Izza (the House of Might doubt that the Muslim must increase
This night was during Ramadhan Therefore, it is clear that Rama-
for them, secretly and openly, they in the Lowest Heaven of Earth) on his attention to the blessed Book of
and the story of the descent of Jibril dhan used to be the specific time
hope for an (undoubted) trade-profit the night of Laylatul Qadr during Ra- Allah in this great month, and turn to
can be found in the collections of where the Quran was revised be-
that will never perish. That He may madhan, then it was revealed upon it for mercy, guidance, and healing,
Bukhari and Muslim. tween Jibril and the Messenger of
pay them their wages in full, and give
2 ItwasinRamadhanthattheQuran the Prophet of Allah in stages with Allah Muhammad every year, giving as the Prophet, and the Salaf as-Sa-
them more out of His Grace. Verily, respect to the different situations he lihin (the Pious Predecessors) used to
was sent down from the Lauh al- an opportunity to review all that had
He is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Appre- faced, as is well known in the science do. Islamic Network
Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet) to the been revealed in that particular year
ciating (of good deeds).” (translation
Scholars Islampaedia
Imam Hanafi’s Learning Style The Most Gracious,
The Most Merciful
A bu Hanifah grew up as a very religious young
man, and he memorised the Quran when he
was very young. He also began to learn hadith so
numerous debates with different groups. But then
he felt that such debates were largely a waste of
time, and could not bring benefit to anyone. So he
A llah introduces Himself as Ar-Rahman, the Most Gracious, Ar-
Rahim. He says, “And (Prophet) Ayyub, when he called out to
his Lord: ‘Great harm has afflicted me, and You are the Most Merciful
that he would know how to conduct his life and turned to the study of fiqh or Islamic jurisprudence. of the merciful’. ” (translation of Allah’s Words in the Quran surah
business in accordance with Islam. Kufah was a city where different trends of Al-Anbiya’: 83)
He was clear in his mind that he would carry on knowledge had converged. Abu Hanifah aimed to All beings, including human, exist in a state of need. Oxygen to
with his family business, which brought affluence achieve full understanding of four trends of fiqh breathe, water and nutrients for our bodies’ physical functions, for
to his family. His intelligence was evident at an scholarship: 1) Umar’s fiqh based on what benefits example. The list is endless, for an infinite number of details are es-
early age. In his youth, he was involved in debates people; 2) Ali’s fiqh based on deduction and a sential for maintaining each person’s physical existence.
with the adherents of various beliefs and philoso- thorough understanding of the fundamentals of Everything they need for their bodies and their survival has
phies, relying mainly on his natural instinct. Islamic law; 3) Abdullah ibn Mas’ud’s fiqh based on already been provided and put to use.
This gave him a good training that was to analogy; and 4) Ibn Abbas’ thorough knowledge of Oxygen is essential for survival, but who provides the right ratio
stand him in good stead in his later pursuit of the Quran. of oxygen in the atmosphere? Or, who places the system that takes
Islamic studies which he started at the advice of He learnt from different scholars, but he had a in this oxygen and processes it so that it can be conveyed to each
Amir Al-Sya’abi, one of the most distinguished teacher to whose company he committed himself. cell? This vital need being the foremost, every detail is designed
scholars of the generation following the Prophet’s That was Hammad ibn Abu Sulaiman, a highly in its most perfect and feasible form. At this point, we encounter a
companions. Al-Sya’abi said to him, “You should distinguished scholar who had studied under Al- superior wisdom that designs all details and the infinite compassion
better pursue knowledge and attend the circles of Sya’abi and Ibrahim An-Nakha’ie, two of the most that the Owner of this wisdom—Allah, the Most Merciful—shows to
scholars. I can see in you a man with an alert mind distinguished scholars of the second Islamic genera- us. Allah’s mercy is not limited to meeting people’s physical needs.
and penetrative understanding.” tion. Abu Hanifah also learnt fiqh from other schol- Allah created people, placed them in the most suitable place, and,
Since debate was his main hobby, now he ars, particularly during his pilgrimage trips. He did in return, only asked them to serve Him. He also told people how
began to concentrate on beliefs, learning them in the pilgrimage almost every year, absenting himself to do this and sent down books and Prophets for this very purpose.
depth. only when there was an unavoidable reason. On This way, Allah made Himself known and called them to religion
He then travelled frequently to the other cen- these trips he met numerous scholars and he learnt and moral excellence. These are obvious signs of our Lord’s infinite
tre of learning, Basrah, where he was involved in much through them. Adil Salahi/IMPACT
mercy. Harun Yahya