Explore the Exalted Qualities of the Holy Quran

Teachings of the Holy Quran

The Holy Quran’s exalted qualities

Rashid Ali Attari Madani

Reading, listening to, and understanding the Holy Quran’s qualities further increase one’s awe for it. Due to being preoccupied with worldly matters and enticed by worldly knowledge, many do not have passion to recite the Noble Quran and understand it. This renders it a must for us to highlight the qualities and virtues of the Holy Quran in various ways, and to encourage people to recite and comprehend it.

In last month’s issue, we spoke about seven qualities of the Holy Quran. We will mention more herein:

Divine speech

We believe the Holy Quran is the speech of Allah Almighty. The Holy Quran even mentioning once that it was revealed by Allah Almighty is enough for one to believe in it. Yet, many matters, despite being already known, are mentioned repeatedly to firmly imprint them in the mind and allow one to always reflect upon them.

Although we have faith in it, we must also keep in mind that its statements are most superior, nobody or nothing has any priority over its words, and acting upon it is essential. 

As mentioned in al-ShuꜤarāˈ:

وَ  اِنَّہٗ   لَتَنْزِیْلُ  رَبِّ  الْعٰلَمِیْنَ (۱۹۲)ؕ

And indeed, it (the Quran) is a Revelation from the Lord of all the worlds.[1]

In al-Zumar:

تَنْزِیْلُ  الْکِتٰبِ مِنَ اللّٰہِ  الْعَزِیْزِ الْحَکِیْمِ (۱)

The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Most-Exalted, the Most-Wise.[2]

The light and proof of Allah Almighty

The Quran is the light of Allah Almighty. Its proofs are faultlessly irrefutable and its verses clearly exhibit the truth.

In al-Nisāˈ:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَکُمْ  بُرْہَانٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّکُمْ وَ اَنْزَلْنَاۤ اِلَیْکُمْ نُوْرًا مُّبِیْنًا (۱۷۴)

O People! Indeed, there has come to you a clear proof from your Lord, and We sent down to you a radiant light.[3]

The Rope of the Most-Gracious

In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty instruct us to hold fast to the truth and to not become divided. He refers to the Holy Quran as His Rope and commands us to cling to it:

وَ اعْتَصِمُوْا بِحَبْلِ اللّٰہِ جَمِیْعًا وَّ لَا تَفَرَّقُوْا ۪

 Hold fast onto the rope of Allah, all together, and be not divided;[4]

The awe-inspiring Book

As the Holy Quran is the speech of Allah Almighty, it also contains the attribute of divine might. It contains such power and authority that even mountains cannot withstand it.

In al-Ḥashr:

لَوْ اَنْزَلْنَا ہٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنَ عَلٰی جَبَلٍ لَّرَاَیْتَہٗ  خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْیَۃِ اللّٰہِ ؕ وَ تِلْکَ الْاَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُہَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّہُمْ یَتَفَکَّرُوْنَ (۲۱)

Had this Quran been revealed upon a mountain, you would certainly see it humbled, broken to pieces from the fear of Allah. And We state these examples for people that they may reflect.[5]

Quranic linguistics

The language of the Holy Quran is Arabic, which is the most eloquent, esteemed, and comprehensive in meaning of all. It being Arabic is another one of its amazing qualities.

کِتٰبٌ فُصِّلَتْ اٰیٰتُہٗ  قُرْاٰنًا عَرَبِیًّا لِّقَوْمٍ  یَّعْلَمُوْنَ ۙ(۳)

This Arabic Quran is a book whose verses have been stated in detail for the people of knowledge.[6]

In al-ShuꜤarāˈ:

بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِیٍّ مُّبِیْنٍ (۱۹۵)ؕ

In illuminating Arabic language.[7]

In al-Zumar:

قُرْاٰنًا عَرَبِیًّا غَیْرَ ذِیْ عِوَجٍ

An Arabic Quran without deviation[8]

The Holy Quran has been made easy to memorise and understand

The linguistic attributes of the Holy Quran include the ability for it to be recited, memorised, and understood easily. This is why no book is memorised more than it.

In Maryam:

فَاِنَّمَا یَسَّرْنٰہُ بِلِسَانِکَ

So We have made it easy upon your tongue[9]

In al-Dukhān:                                                          

فَاِنَّمَا یَسَّرْنٰہُ  بِلِسَانِکَ لَعَلَّہُمْ یَتَذَکَّرُوْنَ (۵۸)

So We made it (the Quran) easy upon your tongue that they may attain advice.[10]

In al-Qamar:

وَ لَقَدْ یَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْاٰنَ  لِلذِّکْرِ  فَہَلْ مِنْ مُّدَّکِرٍ (۱۷)

And indeed We have made the Quran easy to remember (or for advice), so is there any memoriser (or one who would attain advice)?[11]

The Compendium of examples

One of the Holy Quran’s qualities is that it contains every possible style, method, and example for the guidance of mankind.

وَ لَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِیْ ہٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنِ مِنْ کُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۫ فَاَبٰۤی اَکْثَرُ النَّاسِ اِلَّا کُفُوْرًا (۸۹)

And We have stated all kinds of examples in this Quran—so most people refused to accept anything but ungratefulness.[12]

In al-Kahf:

وَ لَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِیْ ہٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ کُلِّ مَثَلٍ ؕ وَ کَانَ الْاِنْسَانُ اَکْثَرَ  شَیْءٍ  جَدَلًا (۵۴)

 We have certainly provided all types of examples in this Quran for the people; but man is more hostile than anything else in creation.[13]

An Explanation for Everything

The Holy Quran contains mention of everything. Allah Almighty has spoken of every type of knowledge within it, but a person’s ability and capacity determines how much of it they can attain. Islamic scholars and jurists have written countless voluminous works in explanation of the Holy Quran, yet more knowledge continues to spring forth from it.

In al-AnꜤām:

مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِی الْکِتٰبِ مِنْ شَیْءٍ

And We have not left anything out of this Book.[14]

In al-Naḥl:

وَ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَیْکَ الْکِتٰبَ تِبْیَانًا  لِّکُلِّ شَیْءٍ

And We have revealed this Book to you which is a clear statement of everything,[15]

The source of unmatched explanation

The explanations, meanings, words, and verses of the Holy Quran are wonderous, inimitable, and perfect. Those who opposed its matchlessness have been challenged in several ways, but none of them could respond.

A challenge to bring a likeness of the Holy Quran was issued in Banī Isrāˈīl:

قُلْ لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْاِنْسُ وَ الْجِنُّ عَلٰۤی اَنْ یَّاْتُوْا بِمِثْلِ ہٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنِ لَا یَاْتُوْنَ بِمِثْلِہٖ وَ لَوْ کَانَ بَعْضُہُمْ لِبَعْضٍ  ظَہِیْرًا (۸۸)

Say, “Were humans and jinn to unite upon this that they bring forth an equivalent of this Quran, they will not bring forth its equivalent even if they help each other.”[16]

Leading linguists and orators of Arabia were unable to do this.

The Holy Quran then challenged them to bring ten chapters if they could:

اَمْ یَقُوْلُوْنَ افْتَرٰىہُ ؕ قُلْ فَاْتُوْا بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِّثْلِہٖ مُفْتَرَیٰتٍ وَّ ادْعُوْا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰہِ  اِنْ کُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِیْنَ (۱۳)

Do they say, “He (the Prophet) fabricated it (the Quran)?” Say, “So bring forth ten chapters (sūrahs) like it, invented, and call upon whomsoever you can apart from Allah, if you are truthful.”[17]

Those who spoke against the Holy Quran day and night could not even bring ten chapters like what it contains. It then challenged them to bring just one chapter:

وَ اِنْ کُنْتُمْ فِیْ رَیْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلٰی عَبْدِنَا فَاْتُوْا بِسُوْرَۃٍ مِّنْ مِّثْلِہٖ ۪ وَ ادْعُوْا شُہَدَآءَکُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰہِ  اِنْ کُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِیْنَ (۲۳) فَاِنْ لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوْا وَ لَنْ تَفْعَلُوْا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِیْ وَقُوْدُہَا النَّاسُ وَ الْحِجَارَۃُ  ۚۖ اُعِدَّتْ لِلْکٰفِرِیْنَ (۲۴)

And if you are in doubt about this Book which We sent down upon Our chosen person, then bring forth a chapter (surah) like it, and call upon all your helpers other than Allah if you are truthful. Then if you cannot do this—and you will never be able to do this—then fear the Fire whose fuel is humans and stones; it has been prepared for the disbelievers.[18]

This was also mentioned in Yūnus:

قُلْ فَاْتُوْا بِسُوْرَۃٍ مِّثْلِہٖ وَ ادْعُوْا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰہِ  اِنْ  کُنْتُمْ  صٰدِقِیْنَ (۳۸)

 Say, “So bring forth a chapter like it and call upon whomsoever you possibly can other than Allah if you are truthful.”[19]

They were challenged to bring even one statement that could match the Holy Quran:

اَمْ  یَقُوْلُوْنَ تَقَوَّلَہٗ ۚ بَلْ  لَّا  یُؤْمِنُوْنَ (ۚ۳۳)  فَلْیَاْتُوْا بِحَدِیْثٍ مِّثْلِہٖۤ   اِنْ  کَانُوْا صٰدِقِیْنَ (ؕ۳۴)

Or, they say, “He has invented it.” In fact, they do not believe. So let them bring forth a statement like it if they are truthful.[20]

Influential speech

The Noble Quran bears powerful and influential speech. There is no contradiction in its statements. It contains beautiful repetition for ease of memorisation. It contains all knowledge, carries various forms of encouragement and warning, and brings about humility and concentration in the reader.

He who hears or recites it is overcome with emotion due to the promises, warnings, glad tidings, and punishments mentioned therein.

In al-Zumar:

کِتٰبًا مُّتَشَابِہًا  مَّثَانِیَ ٭ۖ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْہُ جُلُوْدُ الَّذِیْنَ یَخْشَوْنَ  رَبَّہُمْ ۚ

the best Book, similar and repeatedly recited; the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble due to it.[21]

The Book of wisdom

It is a book of wisdom. Halal, haraam, limits, and rulings were detailed in such amazing fashion, that onlookers do not tire of reading them. Sometimes, matters are mentioned briefly, while at other times comprehensively. In other instances, further explanation follows an initial concise mention.

الٓرٰ ۟ کِتٰبٌ اُحْکِمَتْ اٰیٰتُہٗ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِنْ لَّدُنْ حَکِیْمٍ خَبِیْرٍ ۙ(۱)

Alif Lām Rā.  This is a Book comprising of verses full of wisdom, which are then explained from the Court of One Most-Wise, Most-Aware.[22]

In al-Qamar:

حِکْمَۃٌۢ  بَالِغَۃٌ

This Quran is complete wisdom,[23]