Introduction

The Divine Promise to the human species at the time of its exit from the heavens – Q.02:38- 39 – was held through ages of human history. It started with Adam, continued through Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and culminated with Muhammad. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them.

The foundations of Faith are, prima facie, based on the Absolute Supremacy of One Divine Being. The teachings of all Scriptures came from the same Divine Source with the purpose of providing guidance for a life of righteousness within societies along a Straight and Optimal Path
– Qur’an 06:126, 07:16; and The Torah/Proverbs 4:23-27.

The Qur’an is the grand finale of all Divine Revelations and the Ultimate Truth. Allah, The Exalted and The Almighty, guaranteed to preserve its Sacred Arabic Text in its entirety and original form safe from any satanic change – Q.15:09.

Enriched with themes, history, law, images, symbols, language, recitation and a unique literary style – it is a master piece of a revelation that has been bestowed on humanity as a matchless text signifying the very name it carries – Al Kitab – The Book.

As The Qur’an was being revealed on to the last of the Prophets - Prophet Muhammad, in the Arabic language, he would dictate it to his appointed companions to serve as scribes over the 23- year period of its phased-revelation.

The Qur’an contains the narratives of past nations and the events of future generations to facilitate comprehension of the meaning and value of the Qur’anic Message. It also sets out examples and analogies for people so that they may reflect and take heed - Q.39:27. Its message transcends the boundaries of place and time to address humankind across all generations, all civilizations - from the time of its revelation in year 610 until Allah decides to ‘fold up’ His Creation and ‘inherits’ the universe – Q.15:23; 03:180.

The Qur’an is a Sacred Arabic Text from the 7 Century and it remains dynamic, ever-living and ever-relevant to our needs and situations of the 21 Century and beyond.

It is so because it deals with human nature and its predilections that have not changed over time. Thus, The Qur’an persuades us to believe in Allah - The One and Only God – who is worthy of our worship and obedience. Once the seed of belief and its correlates settle in the heart, it manifests itself in the form of deeds, dealings and speech of righteousness, which find ways to multiply in society in the form of character building, exercising self-restraint, showing tolerance, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, speaking for justice and upholding it if it be against our own self, parents and relatives, etc., and thus, add on to our ‘deeds and dealings’.

We learn from the sacred history that Noah could not save his son from Allah’s Wrath; Abraham could not help his father against Allah’s Verdict; Lot could not protect his wife from Allah’s Punishment; and Muhammad could not save his own uncle from going astray and incurring stern punishment in the Hereafter. Indeed, Allah pronounces in most unambiguous terms that at the Time of Final Judgment – Q.31:33 - neither a parent could help his/her child, nor could a child help his/her parent.

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So who would be there to seek the right of exercising ‘intercession’ with Allah for you, me and us? None! The only thing ‘beneficial’ would be our ‘deeds, dealings and speech of righteousness’ emanating from the ‘True Faith’ which shall be weighed for an award – Q.101:06-11.

May Allah make this book a source of guidance for those who seek guidance. Indeed, it is only in Allah’s control to guide whoever He Wills to and whoever seeks the Path of Guidance – Q.28:56.

Whatever I have been able to achieve in this study is the result of Allah’s Guidance and Grace. And whatever imperfections and oversights exist, I seek His Forgiveness and Mercy for humans tend to err.

Badr Hashemi,
North Carolina, USA.
First Ramadan 1444 - 22nd March 2023.