Explore Exalted Qualities of the Holy Quran

Quranic Teachings

Lofty Attributes of the Noble Quran

Mawlana Rashid Ali Attari Madani

It is sufficient for the rank and glory of Allah’s lofty Book, the noble Quran that it is the speech of Allah Almighty, the Creator of the universe. However, if we reflect on the attributes of this speech, its rank and grandeur is emphasised even more. Some attributes are such that have been mentioned once, whereas some attributes have resemblance from the perspective of meaning, but context, repetition and difference of words diversify its meaning and characteristics.

Take note of some of the characteristics of the Quran mentioned herein:

The noble Quran, a Book without blemish and free from doubt

This divine speech is free from all kinds of deficiencies and doubts. The disbelievers amongst the Arabs, despite being great adept linguistics, could not find any defect in it. The noble Qur'an described this perfection as follows: ذٰلِکَ الْکِتٰبُ لَارَیْبَ ۚفِیْہِ ۚ That exalted Book in which there is no doubt.^[1] There is nothing crooked with the Qur'an, there is neither manipulation of information, nor is their imbalance in the teachings, Allah Almighty states in Surah Al-Kahf:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیْۤ  اَنْزَلَ عَلٰی عَبْدِہِ الْکِتٰبَ  وَ لَمْ  یَجْعَلْ  لَّہٗ عِوَجًا ؕ(ٜ۱) قَیِّمًا  لِّیُنْذِرَ بَاْسًا شَدِیْدًا مِّنْ لَّدُنْہُ وَ یُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ الَّذِیْنَ یَعْمَلُوْنَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ اَنَّ  لَہُمْ  اَجْرًا حَسَنًا ۙ(۲)

All praise is for Allah Who revealed the Book upon his chosen one and did not place any crookedness therein,  upholding the benefit of people, a balanced Book, that it may warn of severe torment from Him, and gives glad tidings to the believers who perform deeds of righteousness that for them there is excellent reward ˹of Paradise˺;^[2]

There is no conflict in the knowledge and teachings of the Qur'an. If there were any discord between them, then its opponents would have made a clamour. The new-born researchers and orientalists of the past and the present read one verse of the noble Quran, leave one perspective and raise objections which are false and baseless. The noble Quran has openly challenged:

اَفَلَا یَتَدَبَّرُوْنَ الْقُرْاٰنَ ؕ وَ لَوْ  کَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَیْرِ اللّٰہِ لَوَجَدُوْا فِیْہِ اخْتِلَافًا کَثِیْرًا (۸۲)

So do they not reflect upon the Quran? And had this Quran been from anyone other than Allah, they would certainly find therein many contradictions.^[3]

Curriculum of the straight path which guarantees success

One of the great specialities of the noble Quran is that it brings those who seek the right way to the straight path, giving complete guidance to those who seek truthfully. It can be said then that the noble Quran is the curriculum of the straight path which guarantees success. In Surah al-Baqarah, it is stated:[4] ھُدًی  لِّلْمُتَّقِیْنَ ۙ(۲) and in Surah Banī Isrāˈīl it is mentioned: اِنَّ ھٰذَا  الْقُرْاٰنَ  یَہْدِیْ  لِلَّتِیْ ھِیَ اَقْوَمُ Indeed this Quran guides to the path which is the straightest ^.[5]

The noble Quran: a synthesis of brevity and detail

In every language and culture, we find the style of  conciseness and comprehensiveness in speech and explanation, such that there should be brevity and detail. However, the beauty and  excellence with which this is found in the noble Quran is matchless. The noble Quran itself mentions this virtue:

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.[6]

 At another place, it is stated: کِتٰبٌ فُصِّلَتۡ اٰیٰتُہٗ This Arabic Quran is a book whose verses have been stated in detail for the people of knowledge..^[7]

The noble Qur'an: protected from insertion of falsehood

No one can add a single word from himself into the noble Quran, nor can he remove a single word from it. Some of those of evil intent, due to their ignorance and feeble thought, say that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم compiled this noble Quran alongside a Christian or a Jew. معاذاللہ Even now, some foolish people say that the noble Quran has error in it, معاذاللہ.  The noble Quraan was protected at the time of revelation and after its revelation. Its words are preserved and its meanings also. If there was any deficiency anywhere, the teachings of Islam would have been scattered and full of conflict, like those of the false religions. Allah Almighty states: لَّا یَاْتِیْہِ  الْبَاطِلُ مِنْۢ بَیْنِ یَدَیْہِ وَ لَا مِنْ خَلْفِہٖ ؕ تَنْزِیْلٌ مِّنْ حَکِیْمٍ حَمِیْدٍ (۴۲) Falsehood cannot come to it from in front of it nor from behind it; ˹the Quran is˺ revelation from One Most-Wise, Most-Praiseworthy.^[8]

The noble Quran is far from the reach of falsehood and falsehood cannot find any way towards it. It is protected from conflict, change, deficiency and excess, and Satan does not have the power of disposal over it. The matter which the noble Quran announces as true, no one can make it false, and that affair which the noble Quran announces as false, none cane make it true. The noble Qur'an has been sent down by the Lord, who possess all wisdom and is worthy of all praise.^[9]

In Surah al-Kahf, Allah Almighty states: لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِکَلِمٰتِہٖ ۚ۟ وَ لَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْ دُوْنِہٖ  مُلْتَحَدًا (۲۷) No one can change His words—and you will never find any refuge other than Him.^[10]

Inn Surah al-Ḥijr, Allah Almighty says: اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّکْرَ  وَ  اِنَّا  لَہٗ  لَحٰفِظُوْنَ (۹) Surely, We revealed this Quran, and surely We preserve it.^[11]

The noble Quran is a source of blessings and mercy

The noble Quran is a blessed Book. Its blessings are both tangible and intangible. It grants faith and protects against the ailments of disbelief and polytheism and makes people civilized by protecting them from immorality. In the same way, it also heals physical diseases and protects against the effects of evil, it is stated in Surah Al-AnꜤām: وَ ہٰذَا کِتٰبٌ اَنْزَلْنٰہُ مُبٰرَکٌ And this is an auspicious Book (the Quran) which We have revealed.^[12] وَ ہٰذَا کِتٰبٌ اَنْزَلْنٰہُ مُبٰرَکٌ فَاتَّبِعُوْہُ وَ اتَّقُوْا لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ (۱۵۵)ۙ And this is an auspicious Book (the Quran) which We have revealed, so follow it and adopt piety that you may be endowed with mercy. ^[13]

It is stated in Surah al-Anbiyāˈ: وَ ہٰذَا ذِکْرٌ  مُّبٰرَکٌ اَنْزَلْنٰہُ ؕ اَفَاَنْتُمْ  لَہٗ مُنْکِرُوْنَ (۵۰) And this is Sacred Remembrance which We have revealed. So do you deny it? ^[14]

In Surah Banī Isrāˈīl, it is mentioned: وَ نُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْاٰنِ مَا ہُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَّ رَحْمَۃٌ  لِّلْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ And We reveal in the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the people of faith.^[15]

The noble Quran extracts from disbelief and deviance

The noble Quran extracts people from the darkness of disbelief and aberration towards the light of faith and guidance. Allah Almighty states: الٓرٰ ۟ کِتٰبٌ اَنْزَلْنٰہُ اِلَیْکَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَی النُّوْرِ ۬ۙ بِاِذْنِ رَبِّہِمْ اِلٰی صِرَاطِ الْعَزِیْزِ الْحَمِیْدِ ۙ(۱) Alif Lām Rā. This is a Book which We have revealed to you that you may bring the people out of the darkness towards the light, with the command of your Lord, towards the path of the Exalted, the Most Praiseworthy. ^[16]

In Surah al-Māˈidah, it is mentioned: یَّہْدِیْ بِہِ اللّٰہُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَہٗ سُبُلَ السَّلٰمِ  وَ یُخْرِجُہُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَی النُّوْرِ بِاِذْنِہٖ Through ˹it,˺ Allah guides the one who follows His pleasure to ways of salvation; and He takes them out of darkness towards the light with His command.^[17]

In Surah al-Ḥadīd, it is stated:ھُوَ الَّذِیْ یُنَزِّلُ عَلٰی عَبْدِہٖۤ  اٰیٰتٍۭ بَیِّنٰتٍ لِّیُخْرِجَکُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ  اِلَی النُّوْرِ ؕ It is He who reveals clear verses to His chosen one that he may bring you out of darkness towards the light..^[18]

In Surah al-Ṭalāq, Allah Almighty declares: رَّسُوْلًا یَّتْلُوْا  عَلَیْکُمْ  اٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ مُبَیِّنٰتٍ لِّیُخْرِجَ  الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ مِنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ  اِلَی النُّوْرِ ؕ A Messenger who recites the clear verses of Allah to them that he may bring forth those who believe and do righteous deeds from the darkness towards the light.^[19]

The noble Qur'an: a great treasure for the people of intellect

The noble Quran is such a wonderful Book that those whose intellect is sound receive counsel and goodness from it. Whoever does not know the truth after reading and understanding the noble Quran is indeed deprived of intellect, because such people seek something else instead of seeking the truth from the noble Quran:

ھُوَ الَّذِیْۤ اَنْزَلَ عَلَیْکَ الْکِتٰبَ مِنْہُ اٰیٰتٌ مُّحْکَمٰتٌ ھُنَّ اُمُّ  الْکِتٰبِ وَ اُخَرُ مُتَشٰبِہٰتٌ ؕ فَاَمَّا الَّذِیْنَ فِیْ قُلُوْبِہِمْ زَیْغٌ فَیَتَّبِعُوْنَ مَا تَشَابَہَ مِنْہُ ابْتِغَآءَ الْفِتْنَۃِ وَ ابْتِغَآءَ تَاْوِیْلِہٖ ۚ؃ وَ مَا یَعْلَمُ تَاْوِیْلَہٗۤ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ ۘؔ وَ الرّٰسِخُوْنَ فِی الْعِلْمِ یَقُوْلُوْنَ اٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ۙ کُلٌّ مِّنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا ۚ وَ مَا یَذَّکَّرُ اِلَّاۤ اُولُوا الْاَلْبَابِ (۷)

It is He, Who sent down the Book to you, some of its verses have a clear meaning; they are the foundation of the Book, and the other verses are those that have ambiguity in meaning. So as for those who carry deviation in their hearts so they follow that which is unclear from the verses desiring to spread discord ˹among people˺ and seeking ˹false˺ interpretation, even though their correct interpretation is only known by Allah. And those who are profound in knowledge, they say, “We have believed in this, all ˹this˺ is from our Lord,” and none attain advice except the possessors of insight.^[20]

In Surah al-RaꜤd, Allah Almighty states: اَفَمَنْ یَّعْلَمُ اَنَّمَاۤ  اُنْزِلَ  اِلَیْکَ مِنْ رَّبِّکَ الْحَقُّ کَمَنْ ہُوَ اَعْمٰی ؕ اِنَّمَا یَتَذَکَّرُ اُولُوا الْاَلْبَابِ (ۙ۱۹) So is the one who knows that whatever was revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, like one who is blind? Only the intelligent accept advice.^[21]

In Surah Ṣād, Allah Almighty mentions: کِتٰبٌ  اَنْزَلْنٰہُ  اِلَیْکَ مُبٰرَکٌ  لِّیَدَّبَّرُوْۤا اٰیٰتِہٖ وَ  لِیَتَذَکَّرَ  اُولُوا الْاَلْبَابِ (۲۹) An auspicious Book which We have sent down to you that people may reflect upon its verses and the intelligent may attain advice.^[22]

In Surah al-Muˈmin, Allah Almighty declares:ھُدًی وَّ ذِکْرٰی لِاُولِی الْاَلْبَابِ  (۵۴) Guidance and counsel for the possessors of insight.^[23]

To be continued in the next issue.