The Glorious Quran; Eternal Miracle of the Noble Messenger (PBUH)

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL Praise be to Allah, the Custodian of guarded knowledge, perfect wisdom, absolute power, encompassing mercy, prevailing goodness and great favour who revealed the qur’aan upon the best of the messangers. He sent it (Al Qur’an) as (a source of) mercy to the whole worlds, a (source of) light to the follower and as a miracle to His trust-worthy messenger. Whoever upholds it, attains his desire. Whoever transgresses its boundaries and loses its right has lost his worldly life and the hereafter. I praise Him (Allaah) the exalted, the High. I equally thank Him over His great favours. I bear witness that there is no deity (worthy of worship) except Allaah the One without partner and that Muhammad(SAW) is His servant and messenger the best of His creatures who has been specially chosen, may Allaah be pleased with him, his companions and those who followed them in righteousness till the Day of Recompense. Having said that, Dear Muslims, I enjoin you and I to fear Allah in accordance with the verse: " يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا (70) يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا " (الأحزاب :71) Allah says: " He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment. " (33: 71) . Oh worshippers of Allaah, this is the 3rd gathering in Rabiu-th-thaani while we are still in the teaching of the messenger (SAW). We have discussed in the previous jummah prayer, the miracles of the messenger (SAW). Today, by the grace of Allaah, we shall centre our discussion on The Glorious Qur’aan: the Eternal Miracle of the Noble Messenger (SAW). My beloved and esteem (audience), the meaning of the miracle of the Qur’aan include inability of the Arab and non-Arab to produce the like of it (Qur’aan). That shows the authenticity of the Prophet (SAW) in his propagation of the mission. Surely, the Qur’aan is none of his (Muhammad’s) words neither is it the making of anybody rather, it is Alaah’s words. The glorious Qur’aan is the greatest of the Prophet’s miracles because it is an everlasting miracle. Its wonders are inexhaustible like every other miracle before it passed away as time passed. Nothing remains of them except the mention (of them). On daily basis, its proofs are on the increase, renewing its miracles. Allaah says: " لَا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ " (فصِّلت :42) Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise(Q41:42). Miracle of the Qur’an Every miracle of the Prophets; Abraham, Moses and Jesus, - whether physical or having spiritual meaning,- was a type (of miracle) perceivable by sight and thereafter can be pondered over; but not a kind of miracle that is through thinking and cannot be felt except by critical thinking even if it is openly manifested without any element of doubt; yet they were events that happened but not remained and nothing remained of them except narrations about them. They (miracles) are not known with sure knowledge except one who witnessed it. However, the miracle of Muhammad (SAW) is of the latter description. It was not an incidence that occurred and passed away without a trace except with oral transmission; rather, it was a phenomenon that inform generations. Mankind can see and read it in all generations. Thus, we say, it is appropriate for the message of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) for its generality to the generations, and for his (Muhammad) status among the messengers and his position in human existence until the Day of Resurrection. Through the Glorious Qur’aan we Know Miracles of the Earlier Prophets Surely, occurrence of miracles of earlier prophets was not known clearly except from the Qur’aan. It is Qur’aan that documented the miracles of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (May the Peace and blessing of Allaah be on them). If Qur’aan did not record them, mankind would not have known them. When some of the current popular scriptures mention some of the earlier miracles, they narrate them with defects, based on non-factual matters. An example is their narration that Prophet Lut was drunk and slept with his two daughters. Whatever is similar to this written about some of the prophets is not an acceptable narration of them and their miracles. Other miracles of the Prophet - peace be upon him: We say : The miracle of Muhammad - peace be upon him - was the Qur’an, yet Allah performed other miraculous things through him which surpass the ordinary such as his knowledge of the metaphysical, recognising the cry of the date-palm trunk, the crying of the camel, Al-israa wal Miraaj, but these were not challenging except the Qur'an. The Mushrikun (polytheists) did not find any of those as towering challenges as the Qur’an. Miracle suitable for the eternal timeless message : And why is the Qur’an the miracle of Muhammad - peace be upon him? And why is he (pbuh) not expecting followership except through it (revelation)? The Prophet said: "There is no Prophet except that he is given what people will belief in, I was given revelation which is revealed to me, and I hope to be the most in followership on the day of Resurrection" And this answers the question above because the Prophet’s message (pbuh) is eternal message and he being the seal the Prophets. Thus his miracle must fit this great responsibility which not bounded by time. The eternal miracle : The Qur’an is an eternal miracle which challenges all generations to produce its kind even if men and jinns come together in this effort and assist one another as mentioned by Allah in the Qur’an. It remain the proof for the Prophet (pbuh) in his mission, the documentation of his legislation, the recourse in times of dispute, the just judgement, the straight path devoid of crookedness, whoever treads it reaches and is guided. The status of the Qur'an in Islam: The Qur’an adequately suffices as a way out of crisis and tribulation, protection from deviation and credible recourse for reference: Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Ali bin Abi Talib - may Allah be pleased with him and honour him in the paradise - He said: 'As for me, I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying: "Indeed there comes a Fitnah (crisis and tribulation)" So I said: "What is the way out from it O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Allah's book. In it is news for what happened before you, and information about what comes after you, and judgement for what happens between you. It is the Criterion (between right and wrong) without jest. Whoever among the oppressive abandons it, Allah crushes him, and whoever seeks guidance from other than it, then Allah leaves him to stray. It is the firm rope of Allah, it is the wise remembrance, it is the straight path, and it is the one that the desires can not distort, nor can the tongues twist it, nor can the scholars ever have enough of it, and it shall not become dull from reciting it much, and its amazement does not diminishes. It is the one that when the Jinns hear it, they did not hesitate to say about it: 'Verily, we have heard a wonderful Recitation (this Qur'an)! 'It guides to the Right Path, and we have believed therein.' Whoever speaks according to it then he has said the truth, and whoever acts according to it he is rewarded, and whoever judges by it he has judged justly, and whoever invites to it then he guides to the straight path." It was narrated by al-Harith Hamdhani in the collection of Tirmidhi, many scholars of hadith have graded this hadith of Harith as good, including Ibn Abdul-Barr. In the same context is the hadith narrated from Abdullah bin Mas’ud - may Allah be pleased with him: "Verily this Qur'an is Allah’s banquet, therefore learn from Allah’s banquet to the extent of your capability. Verily this Qur’an is the rope of Allah, and the reflective light, and the beneficial healing, a protection for he who holds firm to it, safety for he who applies it, it is not crooked as to demand straightening, it does not deviate as to require reproach, its wonders never seizes. Recite it, Allah will reward you for its revelation with ten folds of goodness for every letter." Quran: the origin of all credible information: In the Qur’an, scholars derive inexhaustible support and an Islamic wealth that does not run out. It contains judgment of all issues including what has happened and what have not, all in it is truth, well being of the world and the hereafter. Every known goodness has its origin in the Quran worthy of premising on it for Allah Has not left mankind in vain. Allah said: {مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ} [الأنعام: 38] { We have not neglected in the book a thing } [cattle : 38 ] . In it is the information of the past and stories of all the Prophets and their people. It is equally a complete resource material which encapsulates every of the reveal books to the Prophets, including guiding parables, directing sermons, complete values for humanity in grasping the essence of life. It also comprises of a full scale knowledge including– anthropology, psychology, cosmology, astronomy and geology, as it also calls mankind to knowledge which they knew not. Allah said: {وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَى بَلْ لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا} [الرعد: 31] “And if there was any qur'an by which the mountains would be removed or the earth would be broken apart or the dead would be made to speak, [it would be this Qur'an], but to Allah belongs the affair entirely.” (13: 31) Allah also described the Qur’an with all its central responsibilities and the attached honour and excellence thus: {اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُتَشَابِهًا مَثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ} [الزمر: 23] “Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.” [ 39: 23 ] . Aspects of the miracles of the Qur'an: Imam Qurtubi listed ten of : 1 – Wonderful organic structure different from other systems of language structure and eloquence including the Arabic structure, also different from poetry. Allah said: ( وَمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ [يس: 69] ) And We did not give Prophet Muhammad, knowledge of poetry, nor is it befitting for him. (36:69). 2 – Distinguished style. 3 – An unmatched eloquence compared with what could emanate from any mortal. Allah said: {ق وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ} ... إلى آخرها [ق: 1] . “Qaf. By the honored Qur'an... (54: 1 to the end of the Surah) Also Allah gave a similitude on that thus: ({وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ} [الزمر: 67]) {They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. } (39:67) to the last verse of the Surah. 4 – The amazement of the Qur’an to have included all the spoken Arabic dialects among the Arabs with grandeur attention to its letters and words formation. 5 – The ability of the Qur’an to talk about things that happened in the beginning of creation till the time of its revelation to an unlettered Prophet, including stories of the Prophets and their people, the perished nations, the questions posed by the people of the book to him on the companions of the cave, Prophet Musa and Khidr, Dhil-Qarnain. 6 – Fulfillment of Allah’s promises in physical reality; including the general promises such as the promise of Allah’s victory to the Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him, and promise of expulsion of those expelled. Secondly is the promise based on conditions, such as the word of Allah: {وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ} [الطلاق: 3] {And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him.} (65: 3) 7 - Informing about the unseen future which is not seen unless by revelation, such as the promise of triumph of Islam over other religions: {هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ} [التوبة: 33] It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion. (9: 33) 8 – The ruling concerning the lawful and the prohibited. 9 – Amazing wisdom beyond the common experience. 10 – Complete harmony between its open and secret contents. Allah said: {ولَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا} [النساء: 82] “Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction. “ (4:82) SECOND KHUTBAH All praises are due to Allah, Who says: " مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ " (المائدة : 32) Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors. (5:32) Peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his household, companions and those who follow them till the day of recompense. Thereafter, In the world today, human life have become so cheap in the hands of men but in the view of Islam, a life is highly value which the Allah have not permitted being tampered with except with legitimate reason. Look at the number of innocent souls of Qur’an memorizers, great scholars and the pious ones killed in countries like Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Chechnya, Kashmir, Libya, Nigeria and others: " وَما نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ " (البروج : 8 ) . “And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy," (85: 8) . The issue of Boko Haram today is not at all an easy task in the northern Nigeria, where a large number of innocent souls of the citizenry have been killed by a criminal group who regrettably claim Islam, however have nothing relating to Islam. Last week, some people invaded a village in one of the villages in Maiduguri- they claimed they are Boko Haram - and commenced sporadic shooting on residents of this village as well as their cattle, setting ablaze their houses. Same incident was witnessed in Adamawa. Brothers in Islam listen to the interpretation of a Dr. Wahbah Zuhailiy on verse (Q5: 32): “the particular mention of the children of Israel is relevant due to their determination to kill the Messenger of Allah- peace be upon him- and the leading cadre of his companions. Murder is forbidden in all the laws, except on three events: Apostasy after faith, and adultery committed after modesty of marriage, and killing unjustly and oppressively.” Also the statement: (أَوْ فَسادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ) (or corruption in the land) meaning- worshipping other than Allah. It also mean: robbery. Killing a soul is similar to killing all humanity, while to save a person is similar to saving all humanity. The verse also benefits to clarify that Allah’s legislation is sometimes premised on an earlier event as Allah said: (مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ كَتَبْنا) (Because of that, We decreed) meaning that this injunction is based on the earlier sins. Oh Allah descend peace; flowing with continuous tranquility and security upon Nigeria and all other Muslim nations. O Allah accept the worship of the pilgrims of hajj and Umrah, and grant us all Your pleasure, And the last of our call will be, "Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!"