THE EMBODIMENT OF AL-QUR’AN
The Embodiment of the Quran (pbuh)
by AbuBakr Karolia
“A WALKING QUR’AN”, EMBODYING THE LAWS OF ALMIGHTY Allah (Exalted and Majestic)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) has been said by his wife, Aisha (May Allah (Exalted and Majestic) be pleased with her) to be like “a walking Qur’an”, embodying the Laws of Almighty Allah (subhaana wa taalah).
The character and behaviour of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) embodies the practical message of Islam. The Nobel Qur’an is a guide, covenant, criterion, a balance and a healing (shifa) for humanity and the “Walking Qur’an” represents a noble character, which is a symbol of the Book of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) represents Islam and is the essence of this message and the value, wisdom, practice and object of the Rasul (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was totally for the pleasure of Allah (Exalted and Majestic).
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Allah (Exalted and Majestic) clarifies in the Noble Qur’an in Surah 2 Al Baqarah the Cow Verse 2 -5 that:
“This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who are conscious of Allah (Exalted and Majestic) (Taqwa).“Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;”
“And who believe in the Revelation sent to you, and sent before your time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter”.
“They are on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will succeed.”
A MUTTAQEE CHARACTER
The above verses of the Noble Qur’an tell us that it is a guidance for those that yearn to establish Taqwa (Allah consciousness or cautious awareness of Allah), who believe in the unseen, are steadfast in prayer, spend charity, and believe in all the revelations from Allah and in the Hereafter. Taqwa (Allah consciousness or cautious awareness of Allah) is related to the beginning and the end of wisdom and the establishment of piety, righteousness and the transformation of the self, towards a perfected self.
These verses direct humankind towards a conduct that expands and develops true leadership, prosperity and happiness. This is the perfect character inspired from the guidance of the Glorious Qur’an and in total submission to Allah (Exalted and Majestic) and develops a disposition, described by Aisha (R) as the “Walking Qur’an”.
Let us consider the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) noble character who submitted to his Lord, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and the reasons why he was the seal of the Prophets (Khataman Nabi) and who will take up his station as the intercessor for humankind in the Hereafter.
On that faithful day in the Hereafter, humankind will necessitate a person who will appeal to the Almighty Allah (Exalted and Majestic) for their case in His court. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) will represent the original Islam as his character that personified a “universal man” who acknowledged, recognized, submitted and pleased Almighty Allah, the Lord of the Cosmos.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him), as the intercessor in the courts of the Hereafter will be honoured and the divine tribute and respect will be upon him and he will be recognized as the finest creation that fulfilled the covenant, testimony and the original promise that was made by the soul (Ruh) to Almighty Allah (Exalted and Majestic).
A MERCY (RAHMA) FROM ALLAH
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was described as the perfect man (Insan-al-Kamil). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) is the ideal model of Muslim virtue and piety for the believer. He is also the archetype and representative of the institution of Prophethood. His message was not for a single nation or community but was for humankind.
In Surah 21 Al Anbiyah, (The Prophets), Verse 107 we read:
“And We have not sent you but as a Mercy to the worlds.”
The above verse portrays the universal nature of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) mission and attributes to him a character of compassion, understanding and kindness. His temperament and disposition had to be a universal quality for it to be honoured by humankind. His was the character that was appreciated and accepted by Muslims as the final and Last Messenger of Allah (Exalted and Majestic).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was recognized in Makkah as the trustworthy (Al Amin) which gave him the credibility to carry the legacy of Prophethood. The Arabic word “Zuhud” describes the character of all the Prophets. A person who is a “Zuhud” is one who lives a simple, humble and an enlightened life, worshipping the Creator. He values his Iman (belief) and his life is based on a Tauheedi (the unity of the Creator) system, establishing a consciousness of Allah (Taqwa) and assisting humankind.
Surah 68 Al Qalam Verse 4 confirms the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) character as beautiful and inspiring:
“And Most Certainly, thou (O Muhammad) are of most sublime and exalted character.”
THE PROPHETS (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) INTELLECTUAL ENDEAVOUR
Qadi Ayad (1118 C.E. /496 AH- 1166 C.E. /544 AH) an Imam in Tafsir and Hadith, a faqih in usul (a Jurist), a scholar in the Arabic language was from Ceuta under Spain, then an enclave of Morocco. In his magnum opus Ash Shifa, describes a biographical account of the life of Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) character by his acuteness, eloquence, his nobility, his intellect, forbearance, decency, excellent conduct, his compassion and his justice amongst other qualities. We read about the immense value placed on him by His Lord and his nobility in this world and the Hereafter.
Qadi Ayad says when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) died he knew everything about the Shariah (Divine Laws) and its sciences without any room for doubt about its authenticity. His knowledge of the hidden realms of the heaven, earth and Allah’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) creation and his elaboration of Allah’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) Names and Attributes, the preconditions of the Last Day, the matters of the next world, the states of the happy or the wretched and other things had an absolute certainty regarding them.
A WITNESSER AND A WARNER
Allah (Exalted and Majestic) acknowledges the responsibility of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and describes this tribute beautifully in the Noble Qur’an as follows:
Surah 33 Al Ahzab, (the Clans) Verse 45/46:
”O Prophet! Truly We have sent you as a Witness and a Bearer of Good News as well as a Warner, – “And as one who invites to Allah’s (grace) by His leave, and as a lamp spreading light.”
These verses endowed the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) with all the ranks of nobility and every praiseworthy quality. He is a witness to his community by the fact that he has conveyed the message to them. He is a bringer of good news as a lamp that spreads light to those that accept his judgement, love him, obey him and is a Warner to those that rebel against the Creator.
THE PROPHET (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) WAS THE ACTUALIZED QUR’AN
When one studies the Glorious Qur’an, one immediately realizes that one cannot separate the Character of the Qur’an from the Character of the Rasul (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him). The Noble Qur’an teaches a person how to organize, discover, and transform him/herself.
Humankind has been chosen to bear responsibility and to realize their real position in the world within the cosmology of creation. The range of a person’s freedom is within the guiding principles of the Quran al Kareem and the example of the Prophet who was called the “Walking Qur’an”. He was the epitome of the Glorious Qur’an and a potential man who had all the good qualities actualized by himself as the “walking Qur’an”.
Allah (Exalted and Majestic) in Surah 51 Al Dahriyat Verse 56 tells us that:
“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except that they should worship Me (Alone).”
We learn from the above verse that Allah (Exalted and Majestic) created all creation to worship Him. Therefore, the purpose of human existence is to worship Allah (Exalted and Majestic). The one who perfected the worship of Allah was the Messenger of Allah. He was created to know Allah better then anyone. He was not created to be the master of Allah’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) creation but to be a servant and messenger of Allah (Exalted and Majestic). Therefore, it is the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him), as a bondsman to Allah (Exalted and Majestic) (ubudiyah), who carried the final message of the Creator, was judged as the best of creation.
A BELOVED FRIEND OF ALLAH
A renowned teacher Shaykh Hamza Hanson Malik of the Zaytuna Institute, in California tells us that the name of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) is a passive tone and a noun that means the most oft praised. This is the station of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) that Allah (Exalted and Majestic) praises him, and he is praised in every tongue in the world.
The messenger of Allah was given the title “Habibullah” or the beloved of Allah (Exalted and Majestic). This is a very superior station as it reflects the Muhabbah (love and friendship) of Allah (Exalted and Majestic) on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him).
The Qur’an al Kareem attributes to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) honour and is a testimony of his character, which is appreciated by Muslims worldwide. Surahs in the Great Qur’an as Yâ-Sîn (Surah 36), Al-Muzzammil (the enshrouded one, Surah 73) and Al Muddaththir (the cloaked one, Surah 74) are named after him, demonstrating his position and station that was documented in posterity for mankind to witness and to uphold him as the last messenger from Allah (Exalted and Majestic).
Surah Yâ-Sîn in particular is known as the “heart of the Noble Qur’an” and there are many words of wisdom and a healing within it. The Wise Quran calls the Rasul, “Yâ-Sîn” and confirms him as a Messenger on a straight path seeking and submitting to the Mighty and Merciful Lord and Creator.
Surah 36 Yâ-Sîn, Verse 1-5 authenticates and confirms the Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) station:
“Yâ-Sîn“By the Qur’an, full of Wisdom,-
“Thou art indeed one of the Prophets
“On a Straight Way.
“It is a Revelation sent down by (Him), the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was called by other names as Ahmed, Al Hassir (the gatherer), Al Aaaqib (one who comes last), Al Mutawakkil (One who puts his trust in Allah (Exalted and Majestic) etc, but the most venerable name is Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) that carries such affection, reverence and nobility by Allah (Exalted and Majestic) in the Glorious Qur’an and it is incomparable to any name or human being ever created.
Surah 47 in the Noble Qur’an is named after the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and called Muhammad (may the Almighty sent peace and salutations upon him). This Surah acknowledges a direct recognition by Allah (Exalted and Majestic) Who appreciates His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and confirms his status and state of certainty.
In Surah 33 Al Ahzab (The Clans) Verse 56 Allah (Exalted and Majestic) declares:
“Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe! Send your blessings on him too, and salute him with all respect.”
The above verse illustrates a personification and an example of love and friendship (muhabbah). It is Allah’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) Sunnah to send salutations to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and commands believers to do the same with respect. Therefore, it is essential knowledge to love the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him), to emulate him and to replicate his love of Allah (Exalted and Majestic) and Allah’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) love of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him).
Love of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) is what differentiates the believers in the perfection of their Iman (belief). Love for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) means to acknowledge, cherish and elevate all the potential goodness and greatness that Allah (Exalted and Majestic) has created within man.
Allah (Exalted and Majestic) beautified the outward character of the Rasul (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and gave him the quality of respect to balance it. The Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) disposition was gentle and soft and was a mercy (Rahma) from Allah upon him. He was an essence of sweetness and the people who spent time with him adored and fell in love with him. He smile was a charity (sadqah) and was most welcomed by those that met him.
THE PRACTICAL MAN
In the Encyclopaedia of the Seerah a scholar Afzalur Rahman states that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) of Islam led a comprehensive and a perfect life. He was a married man, had children and in this sphere of life he left unique principles of human relations between husbands and wives and between parents and children. He further states that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was a trader and in business transactions and the economic field he gave unparalled ideas for the establishment of a balanced and exemplary economic system for the benefit of humankind.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) as an ideal man and in the light of his speech (Hadith) and action (Sunnah) provided a perfect example for humankind in every area of human endeavour. His teachings have been documented in detail and serves as a moral quality which has been adopted as a way of life which must be put into practice as a salvation for humankind. The next few paragraphs tell us about his practical wisdom and action that are appreciated by all who study and emulate the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) life and example.
When we study the Seerah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and in particular when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) signed a treaty or truce and made a pledge, despite the fact that it was difficult on Muslims, such as the Truce of Hudaibiya (628 C.E./6AH), he honoured every word of it. The extraordinary patience and insight he showed in negotiating the truce with the envoys from Makkah, notwithstanding their procrastination and being pedantic, showed how very dear peace was to his heart.
The Truce showed the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) foresight and diplomatic insight as it seemed to have been a defeatist and a demoralising exercise. It was due to this Truce that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) captured the hearts of the Meccan people during the relative period of peace that enable communications and discussions to take place with those who appreciated the Islamic message and became Muslims.
HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN
The Rasul (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was very kind towards women and they were treated very badly in those days. As a young man, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was greatly distressed when he heard about the burial of newly born daughters. He objected and pleaded to the clans and chieftains of the Arabs to outlaw this evil practice. When a person entered Islam, he made it an exposition of an assurance for his followers to never practice any form of infanticide. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) said that, “If a man has daughters and he takes good care of their upbringing, the fire of hell will not touch him”.
He did not distinguish between men and women and treated them both alike in all matters of life. He paid as much attention to the education of women as to that of men and even developed a close relationship with many women. He gave them dignity, equal to men in the community. In his sight, women and men were equal members of the society, each contributing to its growth, prosperity and development in their own sphere and in their own way, being neither superior nor inferior to the other. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) established a standard for women’s rights that was unequaled anywhere.
LOVE OF CHILDREN
In the Madina Mosque, the Prophet enjoyed meeting children – boys and girls – in groups. He told them about the Lord of the Universe and His angels, how Allah (Exalted and Majestic) responds to one’s prayers and His command that the children should respect and obey their parents. His followers some times brought him fruits from their orchards and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) shared them with the children in the Mosque. He loved his grandsons, Hassan (R) and Hussein (R), and his granddaughter, Imamah (R). He taught them Qur’anic verses and was pleased with their recitation. If he heard a child weeping, he made it a point to find out from its parents the reason for this and gave it affection and sympathy. He always loved children and treated them with immense gentleness and kindness.
TOWARDS ALLAH’S (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) CREATION
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was also against cruelty to animals and birds. “They are Allah’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) creation”, he told his followers. He saw a camel, weak, bent and hungry. He urged its owner to take proper care of it. He praised the man who drew water from a well and gave it to a thirsty dog. During a journey, the Prophet saw one of his companions pick up a little bird from its nest in a tree. When its mother started moaning and crying, he ordered the bird’s return to its nest. The Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) concern for animals goes beyond the prevention of physical cruelty, but enjoins on the human species to take over the responsibility of all creatures to be their active protectors.
A noble example of chivalry was displayed when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) entered Makkah after the conquest of the city. In his hour of triumph, he did not claim credit for the victory and attributed it to Allah (Exalted and Majestic) completely. During the 23 years of his Prophethood, he experienced inexplicable behaviour and violence from the leaders of the city towards him and his followers. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) showed tremendous leadership, wisdom and courage by granting a general amnesty and forgave all the outrages against him and Islam. This action stands out in the annals of history and it is a wonderful example of respect for people and property during adverse conditions and war. His orders to his commanders and companions (R) to respect the sanctity of the city and its people thus laid a foundation for the establishment peace and the rise of Islam.
THE LIVING QUR’AN
One of the finest lessons for present day Muslims is to emulate the idea of the “walking Quran” by not only reading, reciting or studying the Qur’an but to live it, which is what will provide solutions for our problems and heighten our relationship with our Creator. The Noble Qur’an is a pristine Book that has withered the storms and tribulations of history and remains a shining light of guidance for humankind.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was a man, but no ordinary man, he was a gift from Allah (Exalted and Majestic) and we must accept this wonderment with thankfulness (Sukr). He was a perfect, righteous character because his Iman (belief) was sound and rooted in Taqwa (Allah consciousness or transcendental awareness of Allah). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) represented Allah (Exalted and Majestic) and spoke on behalf of Him.
Allah (Exalted and Majestic) revealed the Noble Qur’an to the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) over a period of 23 years, attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) as his miracle and is the True Words of Allah, a primary source of Guidance and the Final Message for humankind. This miracle was one, which was to last for all time, therefore assigned to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) as his everlasting miracle.
Modern scientific minds require a scope of knowledge and confirmation that must be conclusively established and verifiable for suitable study and research. The Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) life has been documented in detail which has provided an interesting challenge for historians and sociologist to examine and benefit humankind from his teachings.
The guiding principles of the Wise Qur’an that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) practicalised provided a secure standard for humankind. His success must be analysed to find solutions for contemporary societies and to appreciate the rich heritage that provided an ethos that was Divinely Guided and established hearts that were joyous and contented.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) provided and set unparalleled standards for the well-being and safety of his community. He provided a social environment and structure where people felt secure and happy. He provided them with a belief system that developed individuals and societies that were successful in this world and the Hereafter.
The study of the life and history (Seerah) of the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) has shown staggering clarity of the mysteries of the Universe and the power of his intellect encompasses the reality of the seen and the Unseen. The noble example and character of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) filled the vacuum in humankind’s spiritual make-up which only divine guidance or Prophethood could fill.
The Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) display of positive virtues brought a profound feeling of spiritual discovery, which changed and influenced the world forever. The impact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) had on the social, economic and political milieu, shaped a better world and confirmed him as one of the greatest leaders and human beings ever to grace the earth. His legacy continues to be studied, respected and vibrantly influences humankind for its progression and survival.
THE NOBLE QURAN, A GUIDE TO SELF KNOWLEDGE AND TRANSFORMATION
At the “sermon of the mount” (632 C.E./10AH), the Rasul (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) conveyed words of caution and advised Muslims to follow the path of the Quran ul Kareem and his way (Sunnah) so that they will never be led astray. This is the Shariah (Divine Laws), which represents the character of the “walking Qur’an”.
He was a monotheistic character, which exemplified this unity and oneness of Allah (Exalted and Majestic) (Tauheed) and established a testament of belief on behalf of the Creator. A testament that confirms a person as a Muslim (one who submits to Allah (Exalted and Majestic) is to accept unconditionally, to acknowledge, recognise and to testify that:
There is no God accept Allah (Exalted and Majestic) and to further testify that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) is the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) (Final Rasul) of Allah (Exalted and Majestic).
This testament from an Islamic point of view verifies a most important statement of belief (Iman) in the unity of Allah (Exalted and Majestic) and the Unity of Prophethood, -Adam (peace be upon him) to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him)-, the Unity of humankind, the Unity of Religions, and the Unity of the Final message of the Lord of the heavens and earth for all time.
It is essential to appreciate that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) groomed and reflected a correct behaviour from the guidance of the Qur’an-ul-Kareem, which was his transformation. This self-transformation was a mirror to his companions who through self-knowledge, self-discipline and a pleasing behaviour based on the teachings of Islam established a foundation and the best society in Madinah-ul-Munawwarah, the City of Light that reflected its light to the far corners of the world.
Muslims worldwide must acknowledge, recognise and appreciate this profound unity, which is to hold fast on to the rope of Allah (Exalted and Majestic), to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and not be divided. This unity was the behaviour of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and it was his worship (Ibadah) as it must be ours. He complied with the message and the injunctions of the Qur’an al Kareem and that was how he lived. He is an example for all Muslims, and must be comprehensively followed and appreciated.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) of Islam taught, practised and was the Living example of the Qur’an al Kareem, the final book of Allah (Exalted and Majestic). He was the final Messenger of Allah (Exalted and Majestic) who represented humankind and all the worlds and he perfected his character, embodying Allah’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) laws and described as the “walking Qur’an”. The values have not changed and it is the perfect way and the conduct of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him). This is our heritage and we must live it. We should be “Walking Qur’ans”.
May Allah (Exalted and Majestic) Bless the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) and send salutation upon him, his family, his companions (R) and his followers (Ummah).
Innal llaha wa Malaa’ikatahu Yu salluna allan nabiyi. Ya Ayyuhal ladheena aamanu sallu alaihi wasallimu tasleema.
Allah-humma sallie alaa Muhammadeen wa aala aali sayeedana Muhammadeen wa bariek wa sallam.
(T/P3/R01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
Sources:
2.http://muslimvillage.com/
