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Letter Exchange 13: Why Will Quran Mislead You?

The following Queries were mailed to us by a fellow visitor, student and seeker of truth. Below is an article-version of the email exchange.
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  1. Shias criticize Umer's claim, in the episode of the pen and the paper incident, where he said, "The Quran is sufficient for us". Is the Quran not sufficient for us? Are you telling me that the Quran which Allah sent is incomplete and insufficient as a guide?
  2. No one can Touch the Quran but the purified ones! I think that this is with respect to wudu and one's personal cleanliness. No one should touch the Quran until they are clean. What do you say?
  3. We can comprehend the Quran. Then what is this protection, which you have talked about?

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You should reflect on your question yourself. I do not need to quote the whole incident again, but does not the Prophet of Allah, tell the people to get him something to write, so he can write three things, after following which no Muslim would go Astray? If these things were a part of the Quran, then Rasool (SAW) did not need to write them down. The Rasool (SAW) is telling that Quran is not sufficient, he should write three additional things for them, while Umer says that Quran is sufficient for him?

If Quran had been sufficient for us, Allah would not send us a Prophet along with it. Quran is a book in the end, and you cannot read the book until you have sufficient light under which to read it. Rasool (SAW) was that light. After the demise of Rasool (SAW), was the light taken away, or did it continue in the form of the Ahlulbayt? Read the answer to the questions below to understand what i meant to say.

To quote from the Quran itself, which you claim is sufficient for you!

This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard (against evil).
Quran [2:2]

Quran will guide those only, who guard against evil. Everyone else, who may recite and hifz the Quran as many times as he wants to, will remain unguided until he tries to guard against evil. That was rule number one.

Say: Then Allah's is the conclusive argument; so if He please, He would certainly guide you all.
Quran [6:149]

There can be possibly no argument against the Quran. But only if Allah pleases, only then will this Quran guide everyone.

And thus have We revealed it, being clear arguments, and because Allah guides whom He intends.
Quran [22:16]

With it Allah guides him who will follow His pleasure into the ways of safety and brings them out of utter darkness into light by His will and guides them to the right path.
Quran [5:16]

Say: Have you considered if it is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, and a witness from among the children of Israel has borne witness of one like it, so he believed, while you are big with pride; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
Quran [46:10]

Guidance will come to he who Allah intends to. To see how this works, read enigma of guidance.

Every sect today, claims that they have derived their teachings from this very Quran. The non Muslims are using the same Quran to find faults and discrepancies in it to prove it non-divine. Quran will help you in what you want to do with it. It will guide you if you want to be guided, and only then you will accept that it might not be a sufficient source. If it were, Seerah of Rasool (SAW) would be useless to us.

Anyhow, read the questions later on as to know why a layman cannot understand the Quran, although the Quran claims it is simple, easy for everyone to understand.

The verse you talk about is;

But nay! I swear by the falling of stars; And most surely it is a very great oath if you only knew; Most surely it is an honored Quran, In a book that is protected, None shall touch it save the purified ones.
Quran [56:75-79]

Allah is swearing. Allah does not need to swear. Because we swear for the sake of Allah, or, I will say "Allah kee qasam", in order to prove that what I am saying is true. Allah doesn't lie. Why does Allah have to swear? Allah swears and takes a promise, and tells us that the oath is very great, "only if we could know about it", only then we would have realized it.

Before i proceed, it is important to know what the hardcore Ibne Kathir states.

And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know.) meaning, `this is a great vow that I -- Allah -- am making; if you knew the greatness of this vow, you will know the greatness of the subject of the vow,' (That (this) is indeed an honorable recitation.) means, verily, this Qur'an that was revealed to Muhammad is a Glorious Book, (In a Book Maknun.) meaning glorious; in a glorious, well-guarded, revered Book. Ibn Jarir narrated that Isma`il bin Musa said that Sharik reported from Hakim, that is Ibn Jubayr, from Sa`id bin Jubayr, from Ibn `Abbas that about: (Which none touches but the pure ones.) he said, "The Book that is in heaven.'' Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas about: (Which none touches but the pure ones.) that `the pure ones' means: "The angels.'' Similar was said by Anas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ad-Dahhak, Abu Ash-Sha`tha' Jabir bin Zayd, Abu Nahik, As-Suddi, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and others. Ibn Jarir narrated that Ibn `Abdul-A`la said that Ibn Thawr said that Ma`mar said from Qatadah about: (Which none touches but the pure ones.) that he said, "None can touch it, with Allah, except the pure ones. However, in this life, the impure Zoroastrian and the filthy hypocrite touch it.'' And he said, "In the recitation of Ibn Mas`ud it is: (It is not touched, except by the pure ones.) Abu Al-`Aliyah said: (Which none touches but the pure ones.) "It does not refer to you, because you are sinners!'' Ibn Zayd said, "The Quraysh disbelievers claimed that the devils brought down the Qur'an. Allah the Exalted stated that only the pure ones touch the Qur'an, as He said:(And it is not the Shayatin who have brought it down. Neither would it suit them nor they can (produce it). Verily, they have been removed far from hearing it.)(26:210-212)''
Tafsir Ibne Kathir, Tafsir of Surah 56, Verses 75 - 79

So your interpretation about the Wudu, is too illogical to accept. The Quran speaks about it's protection. From what, with what? There have been events in this world, where copies of the Quran have been burnt and mutilated. Is this the protection Allah is promising?

If the purification you take is physical, then the touching is also physical and so is the protection. I can touch the Quran whenever I want to , without wudu or cleaning myself. Allah doesn't say, that no one should touch the Quran until they purify themselves. Allah says, no one can touch the protected book, until and else they are the purified ones. Allah is not giving an order, but giving a verdict.

When people burn the Quran, does Allah fail in his promise for the protection? I tell you;

  1. No one could  read my mail except Person A.
  2. No one should read my mail except Person A

Can you see the difference? In the first example, I have given my decision. Even if one tries to, no one can succeed on free will, to read my mails, because I have declared it. In the second one, I am giving my order, to be implemented by people based on free will. If your sister wants to, she can read my email, but she should not as it is my order. In the first part, if your sister wants to read my email, she cannot, because I have protected it with a password which only you know.

And the only way to know this password is to be of the purified ones. Either you purify yourself through your own actions and faith, or Allah chooses you to be one of the purified ones.

Human mind is evolving. Humans were not mentally advanced 10 thousand years ago. The mental brain and intellect of man increased with time. This is one of the reasons why prophets of the old did not bring whole of the Islam at once. People thousand years ago cannot understand black holes and relativity and nuclear physics, just like we will not be able to understand the studies of tomorrow. What people studied in masters a decade ago, we were taught in bachelors. And what we studied in bachelors today, will be taught in inter a decade later. Quran and it’s understanding by “normal” men will evolve and continue to shed more light. This is the miracle of Allah and this is how Quran is for all times. If Allah uses the word understand except of touch, then many dimensions will be closed down for ever.

I can understand the Quran. You can Understand the Quran. Surah al Hamd, he Allah is one.. we all understand it. But we cannot touch it. Mawla Ali said that if he started to write a Tafseer on Surah al hamd, it would take him 10 days, and a papers in such quantity that they will be so heavy that it would require 700 camels to lift them, Only to write what bismillah mean.

The fact remains. You can touch the Quran without or with wudu. You can understand the Quran as you believe your Molvi. But no one can touch the Quran, kept hidden, except the purified ones.

 I disagree. We cannot comprehend the Quran. If we could, we did not require Rasool (SAW) to teach it to us, we could have read it on our own and understood it and comprehend it. Thus Allah would have sent the Quran and not it’s teacher, who could touch it the way we cannot.

Today, there are scores of sects in Muslims, all sects follow the Quran, yet they contradict each other. This is a prove that no one is comprehending the Quran, because if they did, they would all reach the same conclusion. If you understand a book and I understand a book, and we reach two different conclusions, it means that one of us, or both of us failed to understand the book, because the book is the same, its meaning is the same, the difference is in our understanding and comprehension.

There are many things in the Quran, which no one in the world today can explain. A common example is the huruf ul muqatat, which are before the start of certain surahs;

Alif Lam Mim.
Quran [2:1]

Why are they there, what do they mean and what iss their significance, no one knows. How can then we claim to comprehend it all?

He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.
Quran [3:7]

No one can understand the Quran Completely, no one can touch it, except the purified ones. That is the reason why the Shias follow the Ahlulbayt (the purified ones) after the demise of Rasool (SAW), because we believe that is the right source of guidance in the absence of Rasool (SAW).

Today, you and I can purify ourselves to a limited extent, and we can thus understand some things of the Quran better than other people, who are just there for earning money etc. I am sure when you read the Quran, you will feel that you understood something so obvious in it , which others ignore even after reading it daily!! This is because you are trying to purify your self to an extent and Allah is there to help you.

But Quran will be touched only, by those who are the purified ones. No one else can claim to do so. This is why, besides Ali (AS), no one else claimed to Ask him anything, because he could touch the Quran completely.

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: When the time of the death of the Prophet approached while there were some men in the house, and among them was 'Umar bin Al-Khatttab, the Prophet said, "Come near let me write for you a writing after which you will never go astray." 'Umar said, "The Prophet is seriously ill, and you have the Quran, so Allah's Book is sufficient for us." …..
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92, Hadith 468

This is the psychology of Umer. Rasool (SAW) wanted to write three things so that people will not go astray. It was umer who said the Quran is sufficient for the People. Rasool (SAW) did not see Quran alone, sufficient, that is why he left behind the purified ones also!

Yazid b. Hayyan reported…. One day Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) stood up to deliver sermon at a watering place known as Khumm situated between Mecca and Medina. He praised Allah, extolled Him and delivered the sermon and. exhorted (us) and said: Now to our purpose. O people, I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Lord and I, in response to Allah's call, (would bid good-bye to you), but I am leaving among you two weighty things: the one being the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it. He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said: The second are the members of my household I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family……
Sahih Muslim Book 031, Number 5920

The Quran and the Ahlulbayt were left behind by the Prophet (SAW). Why did he, If the Quran alone was necessary?

Allah does not guide the unjust! Try to be just and you will start to purify yourself. The more you purify yourself, the more you will be given the understanding of Religion. The Ahlulbayt are the purified ones. No one can know the Quran more than them, better than them, completer than them. This is why the Shias refer to the Ahlulbayt, their teachings and traditions to understand the Quran, and Islam.

If you want the Quran to guide you, then be just, do actions to purify yourself, from sins and your own evil, and refer to Muhammad (SAW) and the Ahlulbayt (AS). If not, then the Quran will mislead you, to your own destruction, because you were not sincere with your ownself, because you wanted to recite it for Sawab, or to get the hooris of paradise, or your parents compelled you to do so, but not to understand it, follow it and implement it in your life.

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