IMPORTANCE
During the last decade (i.e., the
sixties), international qir’aat competitions have become a regular feature in
the Muslim World. These competitions, in which well-known qura’ from different
countries have been participating to display their remarkable talents for the
recitation of the Qur’an, have served a number of purposes. The large audiences
who have been listening spell-bound to the recitations of the world-famous
qura’ have always been moved by the unique melody, eloquence, and grandeur of
the Qur’anic diction. This may have, temporarily, strengthened their belief in
the Divine origin of the Qur’an. Moreover, these competitions have popularized
tajweed (i.e., the art of reciting the Qur’an with correct pronunciation) in
Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The Muslim children in these countries today
can recite the Holy Book with much better accent and intonation than they could
possibly do a few years ago.
Without intending to
minimize the importance
of reciting the Qur’an correctly, one might ask the question: Have these
competitions helped bridge the gulf that yawns between us and the Qur’an today?
Or, have they established a real contact between us and the book of Allah
(SWT)? The answer to these questions is: “No.”
Unfortunately, the great objective of
establishing a real contact between us and the Qur’an has not been achieved
even by the different religious seminars and symposia which have been held in
our country and elsewhere during the recent years. The savants and scholars who
participated in the discussions at these conferences and colloquia have
generally dwelt at such topics as the greatness of the Qur’an, its beauties and
marvels etc., but no attempt has been made to consider the fundamental
questions:
l
What
are our obligations towards the Qur’an?
l
And
how can we discharge these obligations?
So far as the glory and greatness of
the Qur’an is concerned, we believe it is indescribable and its adequate comprehension is beyond the reach of human
mind. It is
best known to
the Lord of the
heavens and the earth Whose word it is, or to His blessed Messenger (SAW) to
whom it was revealed.*
[*The actual appreciation of the
exalted status of Holy Qur’an is beyond the
reach of human intellect and imagination, so much so that the Qur’an itself uses a similitude to give us an approximate idea
of its own greatness. Almighty Allah (SWT) says: “Had We sent down this Qur’an
on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rent asunder
by the fear of Allah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind
that they may reflect.” (Al-Hashr 59:21)]
Therefore, instead of making a
presumptuous attempt at describing its unique merits, the most pertinent thing
for us to do is that we should clearly understand our duties and
responsibilities towards the Qur’an and then see whether or not we are
conscientiously fulfilling these
duties and responsibilities. If
we find that we are not doing so, we should seriously think about the line of
action we should adopt for their fulfillment; and then adopt the line without
any further delay because our very salvation depends on our efforts in this
direction. Paying pompous compliments to the Qur’an will not be enough and it cannot
be a substitute for actually discharging our obligations towards the Holy Book.
Now what are these obligations? Or,
in other words, what does the Qur’an demand of us?
The Qur’an makes five demands of
every Muslim. Put in a simple language, these demands are as follows:
A Muslim is required:
1. to believe in
the Qur’an;
2. to read it;
3. to understand
it;
4. to act upon its
teachings; and
5. to convey its
message and teachings to others.
We will now ponder over these demands
or obligations in some depth along with a brief explanation of the terms in
which they have been expressed in the Qur’an itself, so that besides getting a
clear idea of his duties towards the Qur’an, the reader may also become
familiar with basic Qur’anic terminology.
