Necessity of Understanding the Quran Part-6

Approach to Understand the Quran, Beware of Ignorant and Hypocrites

While reading/understanding the Quran we should always avoid the extremes, that one cannot understand and learn from it without an expert and also the other extreme that one can understand and learn everything of the Quran by own. To understand Quran, the best way is to learn Arabic and understand it. But even though the original version of the Quran is in Arabic, one can get a lot of meaning and understanding out of a translation in any language.

So, one can read the Quran in the language they understand. As far as understanding of Quran is concerned, while reading, certain level of basic understanding is clear to everyone in general. But there are certain deeper levels of meanings which are accessible to scholars and people who have devoted themselves to learning them. One can reach out to experts, expert here means the person who has devoted themselves to the knowledge of the Quran, a sort of specialization. One should not get carried away by someone’s place of birth, activities, looks, outfits, fame, and followers. Also, after reading few translations of Quran, one should not engage in delivering ruling of Islam. One has to expertise in it and to become an expert, it may take life and not all can become expert.

There are lots of translations available and we get confused as to which translation to pick up. In this regard, one can start with any translation that is readily available and it is good to read translations of at least two or more sources.Sometimes after understanding the Quran we may come across certain things which we might have learnt wrongly in past, in such case we should not feel embarrassed to acknowledge that they are wrong. We should be grateful that at least Allah guided us with the correct understanding and a day came in our life when we found out that what we are doing was wrong.

Although, It is always helpful to take guidance from experts and books to understand the Quran. But while reading any book on Islam or consulting any expert of Islam it is advised not to be a blind follower. Always verify their explanation in the light of Quran and Authentic Hadith with the context.

I reiterate here do not get carried away by their place of birth, degrees, activities, looks, outfits, fame, and followers. Allah has warned us to be beware of ignorant, hypocrites and their books etc as an expert source. Let us ponder over few Ayats of Quran on similar contexts.

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayat 170

When it is said to them: “Follow what Allah hath revealed:” They say: “Nay! we shall follow the ways of our fathers.” What! even though their fathers Were void of wisdom and guidance?

Allah says in Surah Nisa 4: Ayat 59

“O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger,

and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.”

Allah says in Surah Al-Araf 7: Ayat 3

“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.”

Allah says in Surah Al-A’raf 7: Ayat 199

“Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant.”

Allah says in Surah Al Baqarah 2: Ayat 79

“Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: “This is from Allah,” to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.”

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqrah 2:Ayat 78

“And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book, but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture”.

Allah Says in Surah Al Imran 3 Ayat 77-78

77.      As for those who sell the faith they owe to Allah and their own plighted word for a small price, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter: Nor will Allah (Deign to) speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He cleans them (of sin): They shall have a grievous penalty.

78.      There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (As they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, “That is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah: It is they who tell a lie against Allah, and (well) they know it !

Allah Says in Surah Al Ahzab 33 Ayat 66-67

66.    The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say: “Woe to us ! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger !”

67.    And they would say: “Our Lord! We obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us as to the (right) Path.

Allah says in Surah Maidah 5: Ayat 44

“It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah´s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah´s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.”

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayat 41 and 42

41.     And believe in what I reveal, confirming the revelation, which is with you, and be not the first to reject Faith therein, nor sell My Signs for a small price; and fear Me, and Me alone.

42.      And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is).

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayat 159

“Those who conceal the clear (Signs) We have sent down, and the Guidance, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book,-on them shall be Allah´s curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse,-”

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayat 170

“When it is said to them: “Follow what Allah hath revealed:” They say: “Nay! we shall follow the ways of our fathers.” What! even though their fathers Were void of wisdom and guidance?”

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayat 208

“O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.”

Allah says in Surah Jasiyah 45: Ayat 18

“Then We put thee on the (right) Way of Religion: so follow thou that (Way), and follow not the desires of those who know not.”

Allah says in Surah Al-Maun 107: Ayat 4,5 and 6

4.      So woe unto those performers of Salat (hypocrites)

5.      Who are neglectful of their prayers,

6.      Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men)

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Whoever says (something) about the Qur’an without knowledge, then let him take his seat in the Fire.” Hadith:Tirmidhi 2950.

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Note: 

• Please ignore and discard anything in this write up which is not in coherence with the Quran and Authentic Hadith.
• Ayats of the Quran mentioned in this write up is referred from the translation of the Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.