Understanding the Quran Flashcards
Lexical meaning of the Quran
‘A recitation’
Derived from the root word ‘qaraa’in’ meaning to be similar to something else
It is a proper name with no associated meaning
Technical meaning of the Quran
The inimitable speech of Allah revealed to the Prophet (pbuh) recorded in masahif having reached us through mutawatir, the recitation of which is an act of worship
Al Razi on the inimitable speech of Allah and the preservation of the Quran
Allah preserved the Quran by making it inimitable (mu’jiz) standing apart from speech of mankind.
People are unable to expand or summarise as it would change the literary form of the Quran.
Over how many years was the Quran revealed
23 years
what are the stages of revelation of the Quran
- The revelation of the whole Quran to the Well preserved Tablet (Lawh al Mahfudh)
- Descent of the whole Quran from the well preserved tablet to the lowest heaven (bayt al Izzah) in Ramadan
- Piecemeal revelation over 23 years via Gabriel to the Prophet (pbuh)
What is the Well preserved tablet
Lawh al Mahfudh
a creation of light that contains all which Allah has decreed to happen, it represents the knowledge and wisdom of Allah
what are the 2 main sources of religious guidance
Quran
Sunnah - prophetic example
What are the hadith
reports/records of the words, actions and approvals of the Prophet (pbuh) ie his way of life
what are the hadith qudsi
‘divine hadith’
tradition where the Prophet (pbuh) relates what Allah says but differs from the Quran
what does qudsi mean
divine origin
How does the Quran differ from hadith qudsi?
- Wording of the Quran is directly from Allah
- Quran was revealed through Angel Gabriel
- The Quran is inimitable in nature
- The Quran has to be transmitted through mutawatir chains
- The recitation of the Quran is a form of worship
what are musahif
physical copies of the Quran
what is mutawatir
large and continuous transmission
what is i’jaz
inimitability
Describe the 3 meanings behind the first revelation of the Quran from when the prophet (pbuh) was asked to read
‘I will not read’
‘I do not know how to read’
‘What shall I read?’
what do the vast majority of scholars believe to be the first revelation of the Quran
Sura al Alaq
in Cave of Hira
What is another school of thought regarding the first revelation of the Quran, which Sura?
Jabir ibn Abdillah relates the first revelation was that of Sura al Muddaththir
What are thought to be the last revelations of the Quran?
- Sura al Baqarah - ‘fear the day in which you will be returned to God’
- Sura Taubah - Al Suddi
‘God is enough for me’ - Sura Taubah - Ubayy ibn Ka’b
‘There has come to you a prophet from amongst yourselves’ - Sura al Baqarah - Al Bukhari
‘When the victory of God arrives’
Why are there multiple thoughts about the last revelation of the Quran?
None of these opinions can be traced back explicitly to the Prophet (pbuh), those who held these positions did so through their own reasoning. Plus, they all had different last memories/experiences that they individually heard the Prophet (pbuh) say
Why was the Quran revealed over 23 years
so ‘that We may strengthen your heart’
how has the Quran been preserved
oral (memorisation) and written
what is the first and most stringent method that the Quran was preserved
oral transmission
The Prophet (pbuh) on oral preservation of the Quran
He (pbuh) used to fear forgetting the Quran that he applied himself to it studiously
The companions on oral preservation of the Quran
the Prophet (pbuh) wanted to hear others reciting it, in order to reflect and perfect it
3 phases/eras of written preservation of the Quran
era of the Prophet (pbuh)
era of Abu Bakr (RA)
era of Uthman (RA)
Era of the Prophet (pbuh) - written preservation
The Prophet (pbuh) passed away while the quran had not yet been GATHERED in a book
the quran had been written in its entirety during the lifetime of the Prophet (pbuh), true or false
true, it just had not been gathered in a single book
The written preservation of the Quran during the era of the Prophet (pbuh)
- the conversion of Umar - sister had a written copy of sura Ta-ha
- Prophet (pbuh) calling for writing material to be brought
- material being kept for the scribes
Why was no single copy of a Book left by the Prophet (pbuh)
due to the way the Quran was uniquely revealed
- the revelation did not descend at once
- some verses were changed in the course of the 23 years of revelation
- the ayas and suras were not revealed in the order we recite them today
- the Prophet (pbuh) lived only a few days following the final revelation
- there was no chance of dispute about the Quran arising during the time of the Prophet (pbuh)
Era of Abu Bakr (RA) for the written preservation of the Quran
the Quran was collected in Suhuf - this was the first time the Quran was collected together between 2 covers
what are Suhuf
loose pieces of parchments used to write on
How did the initiative to preserve the Quran in a written way come about
after the Battle of Yamamah, a lot of people who learnt the Quran by memory were killed
Umar RA prompted this idea but Abu Bakr RA said ‘how can we embark upon something the Prophet (pbuh) never did’
the 2 conditions for acceptance in collecting Suhuf
Testimony along with 2 witnesses that the material presented for recording has been written in the presence of the Prophet (pbuh) together with the agreement of the Companions
Testimony from memory alone was enough to be recorded as a written copy, true or false
false
Who was in charge of overseeing the collection of Suhuf and why
Zaid ibn Thabit - brightest and most intellectual of the companions
- young
- good morals
- intelligence
- extensive experience
- attending the final revision of the Quran by Gabriel (AS) with the Prophet (pbuh) in Ramadan
‘State archives’
the order of the ayat within each sura as well as the suras themselves was fixed
but the sheets were still in a loose arrangement
the manuscript on which the Quran was collected remained with Abu Bakr until he passed away, true or false
true
Then with Umar until he passed away and finally with Hafsah (Umar’s daughter)
Umar RA on the written compilation of the Quran
he did not further the coding of the Quran but rather instituted the process ofteaching and spreading the Quranic revelation
Which era was the mushaf composed
era of Uthman RA
‘The Collector of the Quran’
what is mushaf
a copy of the Quran
‘those things collected together in one place’
‘Save this nation before the differ about the Book as the Jews and Christians did before them’
Era of Umar RA
What was the reason for composing the Mushaf
the Prophet (pbuh) had, out of necessity, taught different Arab tribes how to recite the Quran in their own dialects due to the difficulty faced in requiring them to abandon their native dialects this led to arguments over pronounciations and recitation leading to conflicts amongst new adherents to the religion
Stages of the Uthmanic compilation
- The suhuf in the possession of Hafsah was obtained
- Uthman ordered Zaid ibn Thabit and 3 others to make duplicates
- any difference regarding the Quran was orderd to be written in the dialect of the Quraysh
- the final copy was recited in the assembly of the companions
- final copies of the agreed script were sent to various parts of the muslim lands (5-8 in number)
- all other copies were destroyed
- all copies of the mushaf were sent together with trained reciters to ensure it was in accordance with the agreed script
- the mushaf was largely free of vowels, diacritical dots and verse separators
What is the definition of swar (chapters)
‘an elevated pain’ or a ‘fenced enclosure’
explain the meaning of swar/chapter
- the chapters of the quran elevate the state of one that recites them
- the chapter encloses a number of verses
- the chapters serve to mark out the changing portions of the Quran just like the different phases of the moon
definition of aya/verse
a sign
a wonderful occurrence
a lesson
a collection of different things
miraculous nature of an aya
points to the veracity and truthfulness of the one that brought the message
it inspires a sense of amazement and wonder in people due to the meaning it contains
Who arranged the sequence of the verses
the prophet (pbuh)
Who arranged the sequence of the chapters
some say it was the prophet (pbuh) (majority)
others say it was his companions
last verse revealed?
‘And fear a day when you will be returned back to Allah…’
placed between the Verse of Usury and of Debt
what are al-Muqatta’at
the ambiguous openings of surahs with arabic letters
= onomatopoeia
breaking/cutting up
how many chapters start with muqatta’at
29
What are the purposes of muqatta’at
- it is hidden knowledge, a secret that Allah has reserved to himself
what do they muqatta’at letters mean
- they indicate some of the names of Allah or the prophet (pbuh)
- they were revealed to bewilder the disbelievers
- they point to man’s limited knowledge
- they are a literary device to attract the attention of the listener in keeping with the tradition of pre-Islamic poets
What is the overall conclusion of muqatta’at
they illustrate the inimitable wondrous nature of the Quran
clear / muhkam
refers to any wording the meaning of which is understood and the explanation is clear
unclear / mutashabih
that which is obscure as to the intended meaning
clear is muhkam/mutashabih
muhkam = clear mutashabih = unclear
example of a clear verse
when you owe money, write it down
qati ad-dalalah
definitive meaning
example of an unclear verse
‘the Most Gracious is firmly established upon the Thone (of authority)’
dhanni ad-dalalah
conjectural
doubtful
Can one reach an understanding of the meaning of an unclear verse
according to ibn Masu’d, none except Allah can know the meaning of such verses
according to another narration, one can arrive at an understanding of unclear verses
what is mantuq
that which is expressed clearly and audibly
an understanding derived directly from the wording itself
what is mafhum
that which is understood
refers to an understanding derived from the implied meaning rather than the direct wording itself
example of mantuq
‘if he cannot afford it, he should fast three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return, making 10 days in all’
example of mafhum
‘…and do not say to them Uff’
not only should you not say Uff, but all other forms of harm of similar level are prohibited
How can one start to understand the Quran
looking at the circumstances in which different sections were revealed
Theme of Makkan revelations
“O Mankind”
time of persecution, remaining steadfast and patient in the face of oppression
Theme of Madinian revelations
“ya ayuha al mu’minoon”
marked by the call to believers to establish justice
What are the 3 criteria to classify verses and chapters into Makkan and Madinan
- geographical location of revelation
- audience addressed
- classification relative to the Hijra from Makkah to Madinah
What are the benefits of knowing whether the revelation was Makkan or Madinan
it aids undertaking commentry (tafsir) by providing context
it outlines the gradual method of calling mankind to truth
it provides a clear insight into the Prophetic Sirah and its close relationship with the Quranic revelation
what are the reasons for revelation (asbab al nuzul)
- one revelation with multiple reasons
2. one reason with multiple revelations
What are the benefits of asbab al nuzul
it is a powerful means by which to understand the meanings of the Quran
it provides an insight into the underlying wisdom of the revelation
If the Quran addresses “O Mankind” is this Makkan or Madinan
Makkan - “O Mankind”
Madinan - “O Believers”
Everything before/after the Hijrah is considered to be Makkan
before the Hijrah - Makkan
after the Hijrah - Madinan
what is abrogation
bringing an end to a law
Technically it refers to the process by which the rulings of some sections of the Quran are replaces by others
the theory of abrogation (an-naskh)
naskh can mean to remove or to replace or copy
Example of abrogation
the case of wine consumption
the wisdom of the gradual phasing out of alcohol consumption sheds light on the way in which God takes into account the weak and fragile nature of humans and manifests His mercy
What are the benefits of knowing al-Naskh
it is a pre condition for explaining the tafsir and application of Islamic law
Which verse relies on the application of the theory of abrogation
the Verse of the Sword
read the textbook for more info
the meaning of idolators
- those who have breached the Treaty
- Those who have declared war against you
- specifically the jahili Arabs and no-one else
what is tafsir
the process by which one understands the Quranic message
what does ‘ta’wil’ mean
to return back to
explaining the Quranic meanings in the light of general rules and diligent study
3 main reason for the science of tafsir
- to make it clear to those who may not know clear Arabic
- the context of the verses are required for their understanding
- the language may have multiple meanings…
what is tafsir bil m’athur
commentary by means of passed down narrations
‘commentating on the Quran through reliance on what is related from an earlier authority and in particular the first 3 generations of Islam’
types of tafsir (2)
- commentary through recorded narrations = al/m’athur
2. commentary through examined research = al-Ra’y
types of al ma’thur commentary
- Prophetic commentary - the most authoritative
- Commentary of the companions
- the followers
caution in the use of tafsir through al ma’thur
- breaks in the chain of many narrations makes it difficult to verify their authenticity
- there is a well documented genre of fabricated reports in tafsir
- non-verifiable biblical sources
is it allowed generally to relate traditions Biblical in origin
yes, such as the names of Yusuf AS 12 brothers
provided that they do not contravene established Islamic texts and that one does not hold them to be incontrovertibly truthful
define al Ra’y
commentating on the Quran through personal exertion (ijtihad) relying on the skills that the person undertaking the commentary is in need of
ie undertaken through the use of language analysis, logical understanding and reflection
what are the prrofs that tafsir through examined research (al Ra’y) is permitted
- the verses which exhort mankind to ponder over the meaning of the Quran
- it is established that the companions differed upon the meanings of the Quran and that they only did so based on each having a personal understanding of the text
- the Prophet (pbuh) for Ibn Abbas
what is tafsir al Ishari
interpreting verses of the Quran in a way other than what is apparent due to subtle indications which may be apparent to people with a spiritual disposition
It can be seen as a subset of commentary arrived through examined research but differs in that it is not diligent research but rather a heightened spiritual state
conditions of the subtle commentary (al Ishari)
- there should be an established religious principle pointing to the meaning given
- the commentary accord with the rules of the Arabic language
- that it not be claimed that this is the sole intending meaning
what are the two types of translation
literal and by meaning
define literal translation and comment on the rules
each individual word is translated to its equivalent in another language this is not possible always as
- the Quran is inimitable in nature
- the Arabic language is used to directly arrive at rulings and judgements through the literal and implied meanings
what is translation by meaning
the overall meaning is transferred into a different language while attempting as much as possible to remain faithful to the original text
conditions placed on a translator of the Quran
- translator is a muslim
- have expertise in classical Arabic and the language being translated to
- knowledge of linguistic rhetorical and grammatical peculiarities of Arabic
- familiarity with other Islamic sciences
- reliance on authentic Quranic commentaries which clarify the meaning of the text
- clarification that the work produced is not a translation but a a ‘translation of the meanings contained in the Quran’
etiquette when learning and memorising the Quran
sincerity - perfect and rectify ones character and cultivate a sense of serenity and self assurance
etiquettes of listening to the Quran
being in a state of silence and pay attention to it
etiquette when preparing to recite Quran
purity
choosing the best time and place
using siwak and general dental cleanliness
etiquettes when reciting Quran
reciting in a slow rhythmic manner
reflection and humility
