Explore the Grand Attributes of the Quran

Teachings of the Holy Quran

The Grand Attributes of the Quran

Rashid Ali Attari Madani

Reading, listening to, and understanding the linguistic eloquence, inimitability, blessings, wonders and attributes of the Quran increase one’s awe for it, and encourage one to take practical action. In this age of busyness and fixation with worldly knowledge, a significant number of people do not recite the Quran passionately or attempt to understand it. This is why we must highlight the attributes and virtues of the Quran in various ways, and to encourage people to recite and comprehend it.

In the previous month’s issue, we spoke about select attributes of the Quran. Its list of attributes is endless and could not be described even by voluminous works. Yet, for the sake of concluding this topic, we are presenting its final part below.

(1) The Hub of Truth

The Quran was revealed with the truth. This means it commands justice, fairness, beautiful character, and good actions. It prohibits injustice, oppression, bad manners, and evil actions.[1] The esteemed and beloved personality to whom it was revealed was given the titles mubashhir (giver of glad tidings) and nadhīr (a warner) by Allah.

وَ بِالْحَقِّ اَنْزَلْنٰہُ  وَ بِالْحَقِّ نَزَلَ ؕ وَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنٰکَ  اِلَّا  مُبَشِّرًا  وَّ  نَذِیْرًا (۱۰۵)ۘ

And We have revealed the Quran with the truth.  And We sent you not except as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner.[2]

(2) The Distinguisher between truth and falsehood

A significant attribute of the Quran is that it distinguishes between truth and falsehood, misguidance and guidance, darkness and light, as well as between knowledge and ignorance. Allah mentions these attributes throughout the Quran, such as in Sūrat al-Furqān:

تَبٰرَکَ الَّذِیْ نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلٰی عَبْدِہٖ لِیَکُوْنَ  لِلْعٰلَمِیْنَ  نَذِیْرَا ۙ(۱)

The Possessor of Infinite Blessings is He Who revealed the Criterion to His chosen one that he becomes a warner for all the worlds.[3]

Similarly, it is stated in Sūrat al-Ṭāriq:

اِنَّہٗ  لَقَوْلٌ  فَصْلٌ (ۙ۱۳)

Indeed, it is a decisive Word.[4]

(3) The light that opens the eyes

The Quran draws conclusions, explains matters, corroborates the truth, and rejects falsehood in such a manner that it opens the eyes of humankind, gives spiritual vision to those distant from the light of guidance, and fills the hearts of the believers with light.

It is stated in Sūrat al-Jāthiya:

ھٰذَا بَصَآئِرُ  لِلنَّاسِ وَ ھُدًی  وَّ  رَحْمَۃٌ لِّقَوْمٍ  یُّوْقِنُوْنَ (۲۰)

These are illuminating signs for mankind, and guidance and mercy for the people who are certain.[5]

(4) Caller to Paradise and salvation

One of the grand attributes of the Quran is the greatness of its invitation towards goodness and truth. It calls towards Paradise and everlasting bounties, and responding to its proclamation is to walk the eternal path. Just as the jinn said to their people after hearing the Quran:

قَالُوْا یٰقَوْمَنَاۤ  اِنَّا سَمِعْنَا کِتٰبًا  اُنْزِلَ مِنْۢ  بَعْدِ مُوْسٰی مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَیْنَ یَدَیْہِ یَہْدِیْۤ  اِلَی الْحَقِّ وَ اِلٰی طَرِیْقٍ مُّسْتَقِیْمٍ (۳۰)

They said, “O our nation! Indeed we have heard a Book which has been revealed after Mūsā confirming the earlier Revelations, guiding to the truth and towards the straight path.[6]

It is mentioned in Sūrat al-Jinn:

قُلْ  اُوْحِیَ  اِلَیَّ  اَنَّہُ  اسْتَمَعَ  نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوْۤا  اِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْاٰنًا عَجَبًا  ۙ(۱) یَّہْدِیْۤ  اِلَی الرُّشْدِ فَاٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ؕ وَ لَنْ نُّشْرِکَ بِرَبِّنَاۤ   اَحَدًا ۙ(۲)

˹Dear Beloved Prophet˺, say, “It has been revealed to me that a group from the jinn listened attentively (to my recitation) and said, “We heard an extraordinary Quran. which guides towards morality, so we have believed in it, and we will certainly not ascribe anyone as a partner to our Lord.[7]

(5) Admonisher and adviser

The foremost purpose of the Quran is guidance, and this entails the use of various means. At times, glad tidings are given. Sometimes, there are warnings. In other places, there is discussion of bounties or mention of punishments. This lofty book also contains admonishment, advice and wisdom-filled words:

ہٰذَا بَیَانٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَ ھُدًی وَّ مَوْعِظَۃٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِیْنَ (۱۳۸)

This is a statement for humanity and guidance, and advice for the righteous.[8]

Allah states:

وَ لَقَدْ  اَنْزَلْنَاۤ  اِلَیْکُمْ اٰیٰتٍ مُّبَیِّنٰتٍ وَّ مَثَلًا مِّنَ الَّذِیْنَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ  وَ  مَوْعِظَۃً   لِّلْمُتَّقِیْنَ (۳۴)

And We certainly revealed clear verses to you and the state of those who have passed before you and advice for the pious.[9]

He also declares:

وَ  اِنَّہٗ  لَتَذْکِرَۃٌ  لِّلْمُتَّقِیْنَ (۴۸)

Certainly, it is counsel for the pious.[10]

In this manner, this attribute is referenced many times.

(6) A universal message of guidance

The Quran being a message of guidance is one attribute, and it being universal, i.e. a message of guidance for the entire universe, is another distinct attribute. It is a message of guidance for people of every nation, religion, tribe and place, and is in fact, a message of guidance for jinn as well as humans.

تَبٰرَکَ الَّذِیْ نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلٰی عَبْدِہٖ لِیَکُوْنَ  لِلْعٰلَمِیْنَ  نَذِیْرَا ۙ(۱)

The Possessor of Infinite Blessings is He Who revealed the Criterion to His chosen one that he becomes a warner for all the worlds.[11]

اِنْ  ھُوَ   اِلَّا  ذِکْرٌ   لِّلْعٰلَمِیْنَ (۸۷)

This is only advice for the inhabitants of the worlds.[12]

وَ مَا ھُوَ  اِلَّا ذِکْرٌ  لِّلْعٰلَمِیْنَ (۵۲)

And yet, it is but counsel for all the worlds.[13]

اِنْ  ھُوَ  اِلَّا ذِکْرٌ  لِّلْعٰلَمِیْنَ (ۙ۲۷)

It is but advice for all the worlds.[14]

(7) A pure scripture

The Quran is a pure scripture of honour and respect, which is mentioned by Allah in the following manner:

فِیْ  صُحُفٍ مُّکَرَّمَۃٍ (ۙ۱۳) مَّرْفُوْعَۃٍ  مُّطَہَّرَۃٍۭ (ۙ۱۴)

In revered scriptures. Elevated, Purified,[15]

رَسُوْلٌ مِّنَ اللہِ یَتْلُوْا صُحُفًا مُّطَہَّرَۃً  ۙ(۲)

A Messenger from Allah who recites pure scriptures.[16]

(8) Turning away from the Quran is complete loss

The attributes of the Quran are complete wonders. Proximity to and belief in it is a source of blessings, whilst turning away and abandoning it is complete loss.

وَ لَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ اَھْوَآءَھُمْ بَعْدَ الَّذِیْ جَآءَکَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۙ مَا لَکَ مِنَ اللہِ مِنْ وَّلِیٍّ وَّ لَا نَصِیْرٍ (۱۲۰)ؔ

 And ˹O listener˺  if you will comply with their wishes, even after knowledge has come to you, then for you, there will neither be a saviour nor a helper against Allah.[17]

وَ لَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ اَھْوَآءَھُمْ مِّنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَکَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ  ۙ اِنَّکَ اِذًا  لَّمِنَ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ (۱۴۵)ۘ

And ˹O listener˺ if you follow their wishes, even after knowledge has come to you, then you shall indeed be among the transgressors.[18]

(9) Glad tidings and warnings

The Quran gives glad tidings and warnings at the same time; it speaks of gardens and bounties for the people of faith and God-consciousness. It bears warnings of punishment for the disobedient.

لِتُبَشِّرَ بِہِ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ  وَ  تُنْذِرَ  بِہٖ  قَوْمًا  لُّدًّا (۹۷)

that you may give glad tidings with it to the pious and warn contentious people through it.[19]

وَ یُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ الَّذِیْنَ یَعْمَلُوْنَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ اَنَّ لَہُمْ اَجْرًا کَبِیْرًا ۙ(۹)

and gives glad tidings to the believers who perform righteous deeds that there is a great reward for them;[20]

(10) Verifier of the previous books

One significant attribute of the Quran which sets it apart and makes it a source of mighty proof, is the fact it confirms the previous heavenly scriptures. It also highlights the tampering of the Jews and Christians in said previous books.

وَ اَنْزَلْنَاۤ اِلَیْکَ الْکِتٰبَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَیْنَ یَدَیْہِ مِنَ الْکِتٰبِ وَ مُہَیْمِنًا عَلَیْہِ

And We revealed to you the true Book confirming the earlier Books, and it is a guardian over the (old) scriptures.[21]

(11) Fortress for the people of truth

The Quran is a veil between the people of faith and the people of disbelief. Just as what occurred when the verse “تَبَّتْ یَدَا” was revealed, and Abu Lahab’s wife came to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم carrying a stone, whilst he sat with Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ. She was unable to see the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, so she asked Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, “Where is your leader? I heard he has condemned me.”

Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq responded, “He does not speak with poetry.”

She walked away whilst saying, “I brought this stone to strike his head with.”

Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, “Did she not see you?”

He replied, “An angel was a barrier between me and her.”

This verse was then revealed:

وَ اِذَا قَرَاْتَ الْقُرْاٰنَ جَعَلْنَا بَیْنَکَ وَ بَیْنَ  الَّذِیْنَ لَا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْاٰخِرَۃِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُوْرًا (ۙ۴۵)

˹Dear Beloved Prophet,˺ when you recited the Quran, We placed a concealed veil between you and those who disbelieve in the Hereafter.[22]

In the way that Allah placed a barrier between the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and Abu Lahab’s wife, the Quran is also a veil between us and the disbelievers. It is the protector of faith and a fortress of Islam. Remaining steadfast upon it, adhering to it firmly, acting upon it, adopting its doctrine and beliefs, fulfilling its commands, spreading its message, propagating its ideology, and attempting to understand it strengthens the veil between belief and disbelief, and safeguards the people of faith.

May Allah, for the sake of His unique Book, protect our faith and grant us ability to internalise that which it contains.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ