Qur'an

The Quran (القرآن‎, romanized: al-Qurʼān, literally meaning "the recitation"), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God (Allah). It is widely regarded as the finest work in classical Arabic literature. The Quran is divided into chapters (Arabic: سورة sūrah, plural سور suwar), which are subdivided into verses (Arabic: آية āyah, plural آيات āyāt).

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Qur'an . Wudu (Ablution)

Is it not allowed to touch and read the Quran without Wudhu?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 week ago

It is allowed to read Quran with out Wudhu as far as you do not touch the writing of the Quranic text. Touching the Quranic text with out Wudhu is not permissible at all, but touching the Quran is allowed as far as you do not touch the Quranic text.

It is always recommended to be with Wudhu, especially when reading Quran.

Wassalam.

63706

Qur'an . Female Genital Mutilation

Has female genital mutilation been an old and common practice in history? If so, why did Allah not make it explicitly Haram in the Quran?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 2 weeks ago

There is historical evidence that some people practiced it in ancient times. I'm sure you can find some reliable historical sources on this subject using the Internet!

(It is good to avoid the temptation of making generalizations about the past, people have lived in many places for many thousands of years, and in many cases we have little or no written/archaeological evidence about how they lived. What can be said is it is recorded or alluded to in some places.)

Many things are not discussed directly in the Qur'an as much of the Qur'an is about general principles and not specifics. The Qur'an also does not discuss male circumcision. Perhaps one could apply the general principle of not causing harm.

There are some Shi'a hadith indicating that circumcision is for males only and not for females.

63577

Law . Prophets . Mut'a (Temporary marriage) . Qur'an

Did Mut'a exist in the law of the earlier Prophets or was it a new law introduced in the Qur'an?

Temporary marriage is the solution for sexual needs of human beings who are unable to have permanent marriage . It is the way to save them from sinful acts.

As the need was existing all the times, no doubt, the prophets have guided people to the same solution.

Wassalam.

63583

Surah . Christianity . Qur'an

I am a Christian who wants to read the Qur'an. Instead of just reading the first Surah and working through to the last one, would you recommend a different order of reading that would be more appropriate?

What is beneficial for one person may be different from what is beneficial from another. However, my own thought is that it may be good to start from the middle of the Qur'an (really you could just open it to the middle and see what catches your eye). The reason for this is that the earlier surahs contain more passages related to the historical situation of the Muslim community at the time, and the later surahs contain more metaphorical language.

If you have a particular interest in the story of Jesus or the Virgin Mary in the Qur'an, you could also start with Surah Maryam (Surah 19) and Surah Al-i Imran (Surah 3), although you should keep in mind that these surahs cover other topics as well.

You could also consider starting with the following surahs:
* Surah Yusuf (12), which contains the Qur'anic treatment of the story of Joseph and is strongly focused on that narrative.
* Surah al-Qasas (28), which discusses Moses and Pharaoh
* Surah al-Kahf (18), which tells of the seven sleepers of the cave

These might be good choices to start with because they are strongly narrative-focused and there is shared material between the Christian and Islamic traditions, although there are some differences in the Qur'anic treatment of these narratives.

In any case, the most important thing is to have a good translation. I have been very impressed by _The Study Qur'an_, ed. S. H. Nasr. It is the best translation I have seen, and also has excellent footnotes. It is a bit heavy due to the essays in it, but one should not be intimidated because the actual text of the Qur'an is not that long.

Happy reading! If you have specific questions on specific verses, you could ask here.

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Dhikr . Muslims . Qur'an . Radd-e-Mazalim

Is it allowed to offer the rewards (Thawab) of Quran recitation, Dhikr or other forms of good deeds with the intention of "Radd-e-Mazalim" to Muslims and non Muslims who are alive?

It is useful to do so to ease ourselves from the responsibilities which we have for others who were been wronged by us. It is mentioned in Hadeeths that if you can not gain the pardon of people whom you have wronged, then pray for them and seek forgiveness for them and gift them the reward of good deeds.

But this is not Radd-e-Mazalim, as Radd-e-Mazalim is an estimated amount paid on behalf of people who have rights on us and the amount must be given to the poor people.

Wassalam.

63019

Qur'an

How does one respond to those who allege that there are inconsistencies, contradictions and mistakes in the Koran?

If it is important to your faith, someone else's faith, or that person, you can discuss it with them on a case-by-case basis and research or consult others on specific questions if you are not sure about them.

However, if the person who is saying this does not have a solid grasp of the Arabic language and is relying on translations or anti-Islam websites, their views about what the Qur'an says are likely to be flawed.

There is an enormous amount of material about the Qur'an online, possibly you will find many online resources about the issues they are bringing up.

At the end of the day, everyone has their own opinion on things. Someone who wishes to find fault in something will find fault in it no matter how even if they have to use their imagination. So if someone is extremely biased and just taking potshots, it might be better to leave the matter and only look into things that pertain to your own faith or understanding.

While the lack of contradictions in the Qur'an is part of its miraculous nature and a "proof" for it, at the end of the day, what is most important is the message of the Qur'an (divine unity, ethics, the nature of this life and the next, divine guidance, etc). This is what uplifts human beings..

The human being has the inner capacity to recognize the truth. If that message works for someone then debates over whether or not there are contradictions in the Qur'an are a secondary matter. However if someone absolutely rejects that message, or is not open to it at all, then proving that there are no contradictions/errors in the Qur'an will not make them a person of faith.

62843

Hair . Hijab . Qur'an

Why do women have to cover their hair as part of Hijab? Does the Qur'an mention it as a necessity?

Yes, Quran is very clear in Hijab that hair , head and neck must be covered وليضربن بخمرهن على جيوبهن ( Sura 24, verse 31).

We have also many authentic Hadeeths in this regard from the Prophet ( SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS)
Wassalam.

60145

Qur'an . Lawh Mahfuz

What does the Loh-e-Mahfuz encompass? Other than the Quran, what else is considered to be part of it?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 month ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The Lohe mahfuz is an expression of God's unchanging Knowledge as it pertains to the creation. It is the reality that the revealed Qur'an is a manifestation of.

May you always be successful.

62627

Earth . Qur'an

Does the Quran say anything to suggest that the Earth is flat or otherwise?

Quran never said that the earth is flat as some ignorant claim, on the contrary, Quran says والأرض بعد ذلك دحاها )( Then after that He made the earth like an egg) (79:30). Dahwah دحوة means in Arabic an egg. Some people translate this verse wrongly claiming that it means spreading it like a flat surface. They need to refer to original word Dahw and Dahwah.

We also read in Quran يكوّر الليل على النهار ويكوّر النهار على الليل(39:5) : He who makes the night like a ball turning on the day, and daylight like a ball turning on the darkness of the night.

Those claim that earth is flat have misunderstood the meanings of Quranic verses.

Wassalam.

61562

Hadith . Qur'an

Can you explain the concepts of Wilayat-e-Takvini and Wilayat-e-Tashrihi with examples? How are they supported by the Qur'an and Hadith?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 1 month ago

as salam alaikum

Absolute wilayah belong to Allah and He has authority over all His creation. He creates as He wishes and He gives authority to whoever He wills in order to establish His own authority.

In some theological treatises two types of wilayah have been mentioned:

- Wilayah Takwiniyyah: that is creational authority like direct intervention and control over things and affairs in the creation. The human power to walk, to climb, to carry heavy loads, etc. are all examples of this authority.

- Wilayah Tashri'iyyah: that is legislative authority like the right or duty to establish a specific ruling or take a particular decision after a legitimate approval or consultation.

In theological debates the discussion around these arguments focused on the limits of the wilayah in relation to the Prophet and Imams, peace be upon them.

Miracles are instances of wilayah takwiniyyah that Allah bestowed upon His prophets; it is however a divine act beyond ordinary human faculties. As far as the legislative aspect, it is known that the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, was subject to specific rulings only for him with the exclusion of the rest of the Ummah. Yet, the rule was from Allah and not from himself.

Some scholars have claimed that Allah has given total or partial authority to the Prophet and Imams, peace be upon them, for the administration of the world and that they have control over it, at least partially, with His permission. They base their opinion relying on certain hadith and some intellectual concepts. This is the maximum extent of the concept of wilayah takwiniyya in relation to the Prophet and Imams.

Other scholars however reject such view and consider it against the Qur'an, implicitly or explicitly, based on conjectures and weak ahadith.

With prayers for your success.

62206

Conversion to Islam . Qur'an

I converted to Islam a few years ago, but I did so before reading the Quran or learning to pray. I still struggle to read the transliteration and believe I have some kind of mental block. Is there anything I can do that will help?

as salam alaikum

perhaps a good teacher of Qur'an may help you in your situation. Sometimes when we are faced with learning without proper support we get frustrated as we are not moving the way we are aiming for.

You may also consider to learn Qur'an directly from Arabic language without transliteration or latinized versions. The Arabic Qur'an is the word of Allah and it purifies you, even if initially you don't understand the meaning. By being aware that Allah is speaking to you, peace and serenity should fill the heart.

So initially it is good to learn to recite with proper tajwid and memorize what you can; but you need a good teacher for that, especially at the beginning stage. Nowadays there are courses available also online although the traditional way is always preferable in ordinary circumstances.

Never be frustrated for what it takes, for each person there is a path to follow and no one is better than the other except in taqwa. In other words it is the quality of your sincerity that counts the most, not the quantity of your actions or the apparent result.

With prayers for your success.

61060

Arabic . Qur'an

I am trying to learn to read in Arabic so I can truly understand the faith. But how do I go about doing this? Who do I talk to and are there tutors who can teach me how to understand what I'm reciting in the Qur'an?

as salam alaikum

learning Arabic language to truly understand your faith is praiseworthy and highly recommended. You can check the available courses in your area or even online in this regard. However to better reach your aim you should try to give preference to "Classical Arabic" or "Qur'anic Arabic" courses rather than "Modern Standard Arabic".

With prayers for your success.