THE QUR’AN…THE INCREDIBLE LITERATURE…

Subject: THE QUR’AN…THE INCREDIBLE LITERATURE… Thu May 14, 2009 1:22 am

THE QUR’AN…THE INCREDIBLE LITERATURE…

Division of the Text

Aayah and Surah: Aayah actually means ‘sign’. But in the
Qur’an it means the shortest division of the Qur’anic text. The revelation is
guidance from Allah to mankind and it is therefore not at all surprising to
find that its smallest divisions are called the aayaat (the guiding signs).
Since Qur’an is not poetry, the term verse is not appropriate.

Surah means literally row or fence. But in the Qur’an it
denotes the passage-wise division of the Qur’anic text, like a chapter or part
set apart from the preceding and following text.

The Qur’an has 114 suwar (pl.) of unequal length, the
shortest consisting of three and the longest of 286 aayah. All Surahs begin
with the words ‘Bismillaahir-Rahmaan-i-Raheem’, also called the ‘basmallah’,
except Surah 9, At-Taubah. These words were part of the Qur’an and not later
additions.

All 114 suras in the Qur’an have names, which serve as a
sort of heading. The names are often derived from an important or
distinguishing text from the sura itself such as al-Baqara or al-Anfal. In
other cases it is one of the first few words with which the sura begins, such
as Ya-sin, Ta-ha etc.,

Order and Arrangement

Both the order of the aayah within the Surah and the
arrangement of the Surahs were finally determined by the Prophet (sallallaahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) under guidance from the angel Jibreel. The angel Jibreel
visited the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) twice in the year of his
death, and revised the text with him.

Other Divisions of the Texts

Juz’ (plural ajzaa’). This literally means part or portion.
The Qur’an is divided into 30 portions of approximately equal length for easy
recitation during the thirty nights of a month, especially in the month of
Ramadhan. It is usually indicated by the word and its number alongside, such as
Juz’ 30 beginning with Surah 78.

Copies of the Qur’an printed in the Middle East in
particular have each juz’ subdivided into four ahzaab (singular - hizb)
indicated by a sign. For example Surah 2:74 is the beginning of the hizb of the
Qur’an indicated by the figure 2. Each of the ahzaab is again subdivided into
quarters indicated as first quarter of the hizb, half of the hizb and three
quarters of the hizb etc.

Language and Vocabulary

The language of the Qur’an is Arabic. The Qur’an itself
gives some indication about its language.

We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an in order that ye
may learn wisdom. [Surah 12:2]

In another place the language of the Qur’an is called ‘pure
Arabic’ (arabiyyun mubeen) This (tongue) is Arabic, pure and clear. [Surah
16:103]

The question that naturally arises is: ‘Why was the Qur’an
revealed in Arabic, and not in any other language?’ The first and perhaps the
most obvious reason is already referred to in the Qur’an, namely that because
the messenger who was to announce this message was an Arab, it was only natural
that the message should be announced in his language.

Had we sent this as a Qur’an (in a language) other than
Arabic they could have said: why are not its verses explained in detail? What?
(a book) Not in Arabic and (a messenger) an Arab? Say It is a guide and healing
to those who believe....” [Surah 41:44]

Another important reason concerns the audience which was to
receive the message. The message had to be in a language understood by the
audience to whom it was first addressed, namely the inhabitants of Makkah and
the surrounding areas.

Thus we have sent by inspiration to you an Arabic Qur’an:
that you may warn the mother of the cities and all around her - and warn (them)
of the Day of Assembly of which there is not doubt (when) some will be in the
Garden and some in the Blazing Fire. [Surah 42:7]

Understanding the Qur’an:

The Qur’an contains revelation from Allah and the true
nature of the revelation is to guide mankind from darkness to light.

A book which we have revealed unto thee in order that you
might lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light - by the leave of
your Lord - to the way of (Him) the Exalted in power, Worthy of all praise.
[Surah 14:1]

The revelation came in the language of the Messenger
(sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his people in order that it might be
understood.

We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic that ye may be able to
understand (and learn wisdom) [Surah 43:3]

In the process of understanding a message two steps are
essential.

a) To receive the message correctly and completely, in this
case to receive its words correctly and completely;

b) To decode it, to grasp the meanings of the message
received.

Only the combination of the two elements, namely reception
and decoding, lead to proper understanding of the message.

It is not correct to assume that understanding the Qur’an in
order to take guidance from it depends upon direct knowledge of the Arabic
language, since there are numerous Arabic speaking people who do not understand
the message of the Qur’an. Rather the Qur’an tells us that right guidance comes
only from Allah.

This is the guidance of God: He gives that guidance to whom
He pleases of His worshippers... [Surah 6:88]

However, to understand the language of the Qur’an is a
prerequisite to fully grasp its meaning. Hence many Muslims whose native
tongues are not Arabic have learned this language. Others, who have not done
so, make use of translations which for them are an indirect means of knowing
the language. The translations of the meaning of Qur’an have been rendered into
their mother tongues so that they may familiarise themselves with the message
from Allah. This message can be understood by all human beings who are willing
to listen, for the Qur’an is not difficult, but easy;

We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to remember; but is
there any that remember it? [Surah 54:17]

Non-Arabic Words in the Qur’an

There is some difference of opinion among scholars whether
the language of the Qur’an includes expressions which are not Arabic. Some
(among them At-Tabari and Baqillani ) hold that all in the Qur’an is Arabic and
that words of non-Arabic origin found in the Qur’an were nevertheless part of
Arabic speech. Although these words were of non-Arab origin the Arabs used and
observed them and they became genuinely integrated in the Arabic language.

However, it is conceded that there are non-Arabic proper
names in the Qur’an, such as Israeel, Imraan, Nooh, etc. Others have said that
the Qur’an does contain words not used in the Arabic language, such as:

- Al-Qistas (17:35), derived from the Greek language;

- As-Sijjil (15:74) derived from the Persian language;

- Al-Ghassaaq (78:25) derived from the Turkish language;

- At-Tur (2:63) derived from the Syriac language;

- Al-Kifl (57:28) derived from the Abyssinian language.

Some scholars have written books on the topic of ‘foreign
vocabulary in the Qur’an’ such as As-Suyuti, who complied a small book
“Mutawakkili” of As-Suyuti with a list of 118 expressions in different
languages.

For more
information about this topic, feel free to click this web link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaS5NsvZ4yM

Reported on the authority of Jabir Ibn.Abdillah, that the Nabi Sallallahi alaihi wassallam said:

“LAA
TA’ALLAMUL ‘ILMA LITUB-HUU BIHIL ‘ULAMA’, WA LAA LITUMAARU
BIHIS-SUFAHA’ WA LAA THAKAY-YARUU BIHIL MAJAALISA, FAMAN FA’ALA DHALIKA
FANNAA RANNAAR...”

WHICH
MEANS: “DO NOT ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO SHOW OFF TO THE SCHOLARS,
NOR IN ORDER TO DISPUTE WITH THE FOOLISH PEOPLE, NOR CHOOSE SELECTED
SEATS IN GATHERINGS, FOR WHOEVER DOES SO, THE FIRE.. THE FIRE…”

Allahu akbar..Allahu akbar..Allahu akbar...

in the service of islam,
ALI-ZIAD N.A. SALI
( aznas0429@yahoo.com )