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Chapter 1: Acquainting with al-Qur’an. |
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5. al-Qur’an is the key to nobility
Indeed We have sent down for you a Book (Al-Quran) in which there is Dhikrukum (i.e your Reminder or an honor for you). Will you not then understand? [al-Anbiya’ 21:10]
And verily, this (Al-Quran) is indeed a Reminder (honor) for you and your people and you will be questioned (about it) [az-Zukhruf 43:44]
The word (ذكر) in both verses above was translated by ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas radhiallahu 'anh as “nobility” and it was agreed by al-Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari rahimahullah (310H). Based on the verses above, it is clear to us that al-Qur’an is the key to nobility. History proves this. The Arabs were a degraded nation before the revelation of al-Qur’an. On the contrary, after adopting al-Qur’an as their way of life, the Arabs became the noblest nation during their time, even more noble than the Roman and the Greek civilisation.
When Islam spread to other parts or the world and encompassed other nations, they too adopted al-Qur’an as their way of life. As a result, the Muslims throughout the east and the west became a noble nation. They were a respected and exemplary nation.
However a few centuries after this glorious moment the Muslims they began to neglect the teaching of al-Qur’an and tried to look for other remedies. Consequently, from that day on, the table had turned around for the Muslims. They became a degraded nation so synonym to the hadeeth of the Prophet shalallahu 'alaihi wassalam:
Verily Allah raises with this Book (al-Qur’an) a group of people and perishes with it another.[1]
Meaning that one would attain nobility if he adopts al-Qur’an and would suffer from humiliation if he neglects al-Qur’an.
Moreover it is disappointing to see how the Muslims today are struggling to re-gain their glorious moments by further neglecting al-Qur’an and trying out methods adopted by non-muslims. We are using the development enjoyed by the non-muslims as a yardstick to measure success and nobility. We disregard what Allah has sent down as key to nobility. We are somehow confused in finding the true benchmark of nobility. Allah Azza wa Jalla has revealed the true benchmark in His verses:
Whosoever desires honor, power and glory, then to Allah belong all honor, power and glory. [Fatir 35:10]
We should attain the glory above by using al-Qur’an. Rasulullah shalallahu 'alaihi wassalam explained:
“Verily there is special group of people from human for Allah.” The companions asked: “O Rasulullah! Who are they?” Rasulullah said: “They are Ahl al-Qur’an, they are the people of Allah and His people of distinction.”[2]
Taking non-muslims as key to nobility is one of the characteristics of a munafik (hypocrisy)[3] that we should avoid. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala reminds us:
Give to the hypocrites the tidings that there is for them a painful torment. Those who take disbelievers for Auliya’ (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers, do they seek honor, power and glory with them? Verily, then to Allah belongs all honor, power and glory. [an-Nisa’ 4:138-139]
[1] Sahih: Derived by Muslim in his Shahih – hadeeth no: 817 (Book of Prayers: Chapter of the prayer of the taveller and the shortening of it, Chapter of The exellence of one who acts upon the teaching of al-Qur’an and one who teaches it). [2] Sahih: Derived by Ibn Majah and was approved sahih by Mahmud Muhammad Mahmud in his verification of Sunan Ibn Majah – hadeeth no: 215 (Muqaddimah, Chapter of Priority to Learn al-Qur’an and teaching it). [3] It is important to differentiate a munafik from the characteristics of a munafik. A munafik is a person that declares to be a Muslim but in his heart he hates Islam. His actions are characteristic of a munafik. Some people may posses some of these characteristic but their heart does not hate Islam. These people are not munafik but they are someone who possesses characteristics of a munafik. They may have done these actions out of ignorance, misunderstanding or unintentionally. In other words, a munafik will definitely posseses characteristic of a munafik however someone who possesses some characteristics of a munafik is not necessarily a munafik.
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Hafiz Firdaus Abdullah
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