I'v been reading the Qur'an (in English) for the past few weeks. How can I know if it is truly from God? I don't read enough Arabic to make a judgment on whether someone could write a Suryah as impressive as one from the Qur'an. It seems to give that as the test of it's truthfulness, i.e., try and duplicate it. But I don't understand much Arabic and I doubt if I ever will be able to be fluent.
So what is the test of its truthfulness? How can I, someone who does not speak Arabic, ever know if it is from God, or if it is from a man?
(O Prophet! Why do you fobid that which Allah has allowed to you)
Thank you for your response. I have not read anything about honey, but my own reading of Surah 66 would indicate that God was demonstrating that what God has ordained mere prophets, however revered, are not to dismiss.
rabimansur: I totally sympathise with your experiences.
I was born a Muslim, but never had a true grounding in knowledge or the Qur'an, as I think is the predicament of many born Muslims today, much to the detriment of themselves and others.
I had never read the Qur'an fully, subhanallah, and based on the words and actions of people rather than my own knowledge, pretty much "left" Islam for a period when I was not praying and essentially became an agnostic. During this period I was, confused, disillusioned with religion, and lost in myself.
I then picked up the Qur'an and started reading it during this Ramadan. It is the translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. I am trying to finish it before Ramadan insha'Allah and it is opening my eyes to the "real" Islam, not the the one portrayed by so-called Muslims or the television or the newspapers. It is also translated in a language I can understand, unlike certain translations in King James I "Bible English". It is also the case that many translators try to take too many liberties with the text which this one alhamdulillah doesn't. It is a joy to read.
I agree that it is hard for non-Arabic speakers such as us to truly comprehend the beauty of the Qur'an: all we can get is a translation, but we should strive to find a decent translation as we can and this one is both highly recommended by scholars and written in modern English (though I would still recommend using another translation alongside with more footnotes, Yusuf Ali for example).
The verse that has clinched the deal for me is, as my username suggests: 21:30 (though in reality 21:30-33), from the Surah: "The Prophets". In several verses the Qur'an talks about the big bang, the fact we are all made from water, the fact mountains stabilise the earth and finally how the sun and moon follow orbits. These ideas, as well as many other scientific concepts embedded within the Qur'an, make Islam truly unique in this way; there is no way the Prophet (saws) could have predicted this.
But as someone mentioned, different people are guided in different ways. Everyone can quote you a hundred ayahs but you may not be convinced. God guides those whom he wills. But I would definitely recommend the above translation of the Qur'an as it is for me, the closest I will get to the beauty of the Arabic until I can understand the Arabic itself.
Also want to add that this is an amazing site with many interesting discussions that I hope to be a part of in future.
Shukran Omar 21:30, I will look for that translation. I am about half way through reading the Qur'an using Maulana Muhammad Ali's translation at this point ... will keep reading.
One thing you will see is that the Quraan doesn't have any incorrect information! This is truly amazing as there are many scientific facts in the Quran as brother Omar pointed out above. If the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had made it up from himself or had copied beliefs about the earth, sun, moon, embryo, etc from those present at that time, then there would be as many (if not more) incorrect information in the Quraan as there are correct information. But that is not the case. Any information present in the Quraan is proven today to be scientifically correct. That alone proves that the Quraan is the Book of God and could not have been written by man.
I came to this site for the same reasons (to learn if Islam and the Qu’ran were the word of God). At a point in time I made my decision and announced that decision on this site so that no one would be deceived as to my intent. One of the verses that swung it for me was 33:53. Of course we humans have the ability to see the same thing and come up with different conclusions. So why am I still here - because I am still learning.
What exactly didn't you like in this verse? If you didn't like the part about God saying that ppl shouldn't stay for too long in the Prophet (SAW)'s house, then why not? What is wrong with that order? The Prophet (SAW) was very kindhearted and didn't tell the ppl sitting unnecessarily to leave his house even when he was tired. So Allah revealed that verse, ordering the ppl to come only at the appointed time and leave after the meal is over.
About the part ordering the believers not to marry the Prophet (SAW)'s wives after him. There can be several reasons for that. First the Prophet (SAW) gave lots of sacrifices for spreading Islam, for our sake. If he hadn't done that difficult, life-threatening job, we wouldn't have Islam today. So shouldn't some wish of his be fulfilled in return? If he didn't like that anyone should marry his wives after him (that's how much he loved them) shouldn't that wish be fulfilled in return for all the sacrifices he made. (If you sacrificed everything for someone and that person didn't fulfill some wish of yours would you regard him to be loyal?)
Additionally you are an unbeliever and don't understand the love and reverence we muslims have for the Prophet (SAW). We're ready to sacrifice everything for the pleasure, happiness, and comfort of the Prophet (SAW) so if he wanted us to do something (but didn't order us) even then we would do it willingly just to keep him happy.
Another thing is that you need to keep into consideration how the Prophet (SAW)'s wives would feel about remarrying. Do you think that after the Prophet (SAW) they would want to marry any other human being? I don't think so. Even today if a woman married a king and he died, most likely she wouldn't want to marry anyone less than a king! (Even the Prophet (SAW)'s son-in-law Uthman (R) didn't want to remarry after the death of his wife (the Prophet's daughter) so the Prophet (SAW) offerred to him his other daughter and he married her.) So how can you expect that the Prophet (SAW)'s wives would want to marry anyone else after the Prophet (SAW)? So God didn't just take into consideration the Prophet (SAW)'s wishes but also his wives'.
Shukran Omar 21:30, I will look for that translation. I am about half way through reading the Qur'an using Maulana Muhammad Ali's translation at this point ... will keep reading.
Ali is NOT a Muslim, he is an Ahmadiyyan. he does not believe that Isa ibn Marriam is the Messiah, therefore outside the fold of Islam. although his translation IS interesting, i found Muhammad Asad's to be the most eyeopening.
Had the non-believer known of all the Mercy which is in the Hands of Allah, he would not lose hope of entering Paradise, and had the believer known of all the punishment which is present with Allah, he would not consider himself safe from the Hell-Fire http://www.muftimenk.co.za/Downloads.html
Ali is NOT a Muslim, he is an Ahmadiyyan. he does not believe that Isa ibn Marriam is the Messiah, therefore outside the fold of Islam. although his translation IS interesting, i found Muhammad Asad's to be the most eyeopening.
O.K. I understand. I haven't placed too terribly much reliance on his commentary. But I do like the lay out of the book because it is easier for me to look at the Arabic portions too even though I don't read very much Arabic.
O.K. I understand. I haven't placed too terribly much reliance on his commentary. But I do like the lay out of the book because it is easier for me to look at the Arabic portions too even though I don't read very much Arabic.
for the longest time, i enjoyed the layout of the English in his translation. it seemed sectioned into nice little parts. i just couldn't figure out why he said the Jesus was dead in the intro. THEN i found out why!
btw, the Asad that i have also includes the Arabic AS WELL AS the transliteration.
his lectures are very inspiring. his Arabic is Phenomenal, his enthusiasm is unbounded and he has a unique ability to "currentize" the Qur'an.
the one entitled Reasons of Revelation from 2005 is a great intro type history on the way the Qur'an was revealed.
Had the non-believer known of all the Mercy which is in the Hands of Allah, he would not lose hope of entering Paradise, and had the believer known of all the punishment which is present with Allah, he would not consider himself safe from the Hell-Fire http://www.muftimenk.co.za/Downloads.html
Shukran!
I am looking forward to Asad's work to arrive in the mail. Looks like a very user-friendly layout.
Peace
When I started reading the Qur'an it was the best experience I had in my life.
You start obsearving the creation. It was as if I saw the sun for the first time,as If I didn't notice it before.
I also had the most beautiful dream I'll never forget. I was walking with my friends in the dark.It was a tranquil peaceful night then I saw the Qur'an in the sky. I exclaimed "how will the scientists explain this" then it moved down from the sky. My best friend was surprised and touched it but it slowly came to my hands then a light encompassed me and I felt so good........
When it was dark you feel so good praying.It's the best moment in your life.
The first translation you read becomes your shelter so you should get naother translation.
When I started reading the Qur'an it was the best experience I had in my life.
You start obsearving the creation. It was as if I saw the sun for the first time,as If I didn't notice it before.
I also had the most beautiful dream I'll never forget. I was walking with my friends in the dark.It was a tranquil peaceful night then I saw the Qur'an in the sky. I exclaimed "how will the scientists explain this" then it moved down from the sky. My best friend was surprised and touched it but it slowly came to my hands then a light encompassed me and I felt so good........
When it was dark you feel so good praying.It's the best moment in your life.
The first translation you read becomes your shelter so you should get naother translation.
Wow that is awesome. One thing I have noticed since I started reading the Quran is I am paying a lot of attention to the moon. I never did that before. It seems so quiet and big at times now. I like to go out at night and just look at the moon.
Wow that is awesome. One thing I have noticed since I started reading the Quran is I am paying a lot of attention to the moon. I never did that before. It seems so quiet and big at times now. I like to go out at night and just look at the moon.
I so know what you mean!!!!!
I would watch the sunset a lot. The verse that made wonder a lot was the one that says he raised the sky without any pillars holding it. Yeah the night becomes very peaceful.
I would watch the sunset a lot. The verse that made wonder a lot was the one that says he raised the sky without any pillars holding it. Yeah the night becomes very peaceful.
I can totally identify with that.
I have been reading the Qur'an in my conservatory which has a glass ceiling. Whenever I read verses about the lowest heaven being adorned with stars or about how the sky is a canopy without supports like you mentioned, it really resonates with me. Also, when it rains the rain really hits the glass hard and then reading verses such as where God compares the resurrection of humans as similar to the way the rain brings the earth back to life, it is very powerful. :sunny:
I was just sitting there as the rain came down the other day. It was so loud that I couldn't hear myself reading Qur'an even in my head! I had to stop and just say subhallah because it was just one of those moments when you feel really small and in awe of the world.
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