Tabyeen
Unfortunately, under the present
conditions, this
universal proclamation of Allah’s Message, which is expected
of the Muslim Ummah, seems to be a far cry or an unattainable ideal, because things have come to such a pass that the Ummah to whom this great and honorific duty was assigned has itself
grown ignorant of the Qur’an. Today, the Muslim Ummah itself
needs to be instructed in the Book
of Allah (SWT) which
it
has practically forsaken. Hence what is urgently required under the
present situation is that a movement for learning and teaching
the
Qur’an should be launched
among the Muslims themselves
so that they may develop a fresh attitude of devotion to, and
interest in the study of the Qur’an. May Allah (SWT) grant us
the
strength to carry out this task. Ameen!
As it has been pointed out in the beginning
of this discussion, a higher form
of tableegh
(communication)
is tabyeen (exposition). The message of the Qur’an is not only to
be communicated but its meanings are
also to be explained and interpreted to the people. In Qur’anic terminology, this has been called tabyeen, Hence tableegh and
tabyeen appear together in
the
title of this section. It will be seen
that
the exposition of
the Qur’an demands that one who undertakes this task should talk
to his audience at their own level so that the truths of the Qur’an
are
brought home to them and, secondly, explain to them the
implications and arguments of different ayahs and
Surahs.
It will be noted that the Qur’an calls itself Bayan (a plain statement).
This is a plain
statement to mankind, a guidance
and instruction
to those
who
are God-conscious…. (Aal
Imran 3:138)
The Qur’an frequently
characterizes itself as mubeen (clear), and its
ayaat as
bayyinat and mubayyinat (clear
signs
or manifestations). It also points out that to explain and interpret the Divine Scriptures is the responsibility
of the prophets and
their followers to whom these are vouchsafed. The Holy
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is
addressed on this point in the
following
words:
…and We sent down
unto you (O Muhammad!) the Reminder,
that you may explain clearly
to mankind what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought. (Al-Nahl 16:44)
It has been stated about the Jews and Christians
that they were
bound by a covenant to explain the Book of
Allah (SWT) to
mankind:
And (remember)
when Allah took a covenant from the People
of the Book to make it (the Revelation) known and clear to
mankind, and not to hide it…. (Aal Imran 3:187)
When they did not fulfill this covenant and, on the contrary,
tried to conceal the truth,
they
were accursed:
Verily, those who conceal
the
clear signs We have
sent down, and the guidance
after We have made it clear for the people
in the Book, on them shall be Allah’s Curse and the curse of
those entitled
to curse. (Al-Baqarah 2:159)
It may
be noted that tabyeen has different forms.
Its
simplest form consists in expressing
the
plain meanings of the
Qur’an in an easy, straightforward manner in
the common language of the people. Naturally, the medium
to be used for
explaining the
Qur’an
to the
people has
to be their own
language.
And We
sent
not
a messenger except (to teach) in
the
language of his own people, in order to make things
clear to them…. (Ibrahim 14:4)
Tabyeen in its highest form is rather a job with a challenge. One who resolves upon fulfilling
his duty of explaining
the
Qur’an in this sense of the term will not merely translate its text, but he will try to unfold the knowledge and wisdom
contained in this
great Book
and bring
out the implied
meanings and subtle significance of its ayaat and Surahs. He will explain the mode of inference and deduction adopted by
the Qur’an and repudiate
effectively,
with the
help
of Qur’anic
arguments, the
false notions and misleading views prevalent among
the
people. He will endeavor to establish the truth
of the Qur’an and its
teachings, reasoning convincingly
at the highest plane of thought accessible to the people in a particular age according
to
its intellectual advancement.
Regarding the question as to how
can we discharge our responsibility of explaining the Qur’an and
bringing its message home to the people, we can say
that
for tabyeen in its simplest form
we
should publish translations and
commentaries of the Holy
Book in all the important languages of the world and circulate them
widely.
So far as our obligation for
tabyeen in its highest form is concerned, it cannot be properly
and adequately discharged, as we have already suggested, unless we set up all over the Muslim
world a network of such
universities and academies as may concentrate on Qur’anic
study and research, assigning it the central place in the scheme
of their disciplines. Through
standard institutions
of this type we
shall be able to explain the teachings of the Qur’an
to the
people of the modern
world.
Source:The Obligations Muslims owe to The Quran (Book by Dr. Israr Ahmad)
The
animal that is being sacrificed for Qurbani should be respected and
treated in the best possible manner. The Qurbani animal must qualify in
terms of specification, quality, age and being free from defects. The
following domesticated animals are permitted for Qurbani:
