THE WORD OF GOD
From The Scriptures
The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between CE 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition, and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level.
Translated from Arabic and commentary by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
It is We who have ordained death for all of you; and We cannot be prevented from replacing you by others like yourselves or changing your forms and re-creating you in forms that you know nothing of. You have certainly known the first creation. Why, then, do you not take heed? Have you thought about what crops you plant? Is it you who cause them to grow or do We? If We so pleased, We could turn your harvest into chaff. Then you would start lamenting, ‘We are ruined, nay, we are deprived [altogether].’
Have you considered the water that you drink? Is it you who cause it to descend from the clouds, or do We? If We so pleased, We certainly could make it salty. Why, then, are you not grateful? Have you thought about the fire that you kindle? Did you produce the tree that serves as fuel or do We? We have made it to be a reminder and a benefit for the wayfarers. So glorify the name of your Lord, the Supreme. (56: 60-74)
For one who ponders over these events, there are countless lessons. In them there is proof of a second life after the present life. Similarly, there is a sure indication in them that He who has given things can also take them away. Then, there is the example of water. Reservoirs of water are mostly found here in the shape of seas containing salt water. About 98 percent of the water is found in seas and one tenth of its volume is made up of salt. It is a miracle of God’s law that when water vapour rises from the sea, pure water rises and the salt is left below. The fact is that the system of rain is a huge universal desalination process. Had this natural arrangement not been in place, all of the water in the world would have been brackish just like sea water.
Nay, I swear by the setting of the stars—and, indeed, that is a most mighty oath, if you only knew—that this is indeed a noble Quran, in a well-guarded preserved Book, which none can touch except the purified. It is a revelation sent down from the Lord of the worlds. How can you regard this discourse with disdain? Do you make its denial your means of livelihood? (56:75-82)
The snow on mountain peaks, the water flowing in rivers would all have been extremely salty. In spite of the vast stores of water on the earth, the non-availability of fresh water would have presented an insurmountable problem for humanity. If man gave this matter consideration, his heart would be full of praises for God.
The word ‘mawaqi’ is the plural of ‘mauqa’a’. Its meaning is the place of falling. Here, the mawaqi of stars probably means the orbits of stars. In this universe, there are countless big stars. They are revolving in their respective orbits with extreme precision.
This is a happening so great as to be awesome. A person who gives serious consideration to this system functioning in space, will be compelled to admit that the Creator of this universe is unimaginably Mighty. Then the Book coming from such a Creator should also be certainly great, and the Quran is undoubtedly such a great Book. The Quran reached the Prophet through the angels in exactly the same condition as it was in the preserved tablet (lawh mahfudh) and it is still intact in that same condition today. There is no other book of ancient times which has been so perfectly preserved. This in itself is proof of the Book’s (the Quran’s) greatness. The misfortune of one who does not obtain guidance from such a book is incalculable.
Verse 79 of Chapter 56 needs further elaboration as it is often misconstrued.
It is invariably brought as a proof by those who claim that a person must make ablutions before touching the Quran. In fact, regarding the pure ones referred to in the verse, a renowned commentator of the Quran Ibn Kathir says: “They are the angels; this was believed by a few Companions of the Prophet. The Pagans of Quraysh alleged that the Quran was brought down by devils and so God informed them that none touches it except the pure as mentioned in another verse of the Quran in chapter 26: verses 210-211. It was not the devils who brought down the Quran; neither are they worthy of it, nor are they capable of it.”