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).

105029

Surah . Marriage . Qur'an . Dowry

I have heard that it is possible to ask for a Quran Surah in Mehar for marriage. Is that correct and, if so, what are its benefits?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 2 days ago

Bismihi ta'ala

In an Islamic marriage contract, it is necessary to stipulate a nuptial gift, or what we call sidāq or mahr, and it can be anything that has a value, like teaching to recite Quran, or a copy of a Quran, etc.

There are many benefits of having such a mahr and not demanding high mahr. There is a statement from the holy Prophet (s.a.w.) that says the best of the women of my ummah is she with the less mahr.

Mahr is not a sign of love, or a security bond, but only a gesture and token of truthfullness, and anything spiritual will of course carry many benefits in this dunya and in akhirah.

With prayers for your success.

104601

Divorce . Qur'anic Verse . Qur'an . Polygamy

Does the verse 66:5 in the Quran apply to specific wives and, if so, which ones? Why did the Prophet (SAWA) not divorce them for better wives?

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 3 days ago

The two wives who were condemned in the verses 3, 4 and 5 in Sura 66 are Hafsa daughter of Omar and 'ayisha daughter of aabu Bakr. This fact is mentioned in Tasfeer al-Tabari and Tafseer al-Qurtubi, and all other Tafseer books.

Why did the Prophet not divorce them? Allah (SWT) wanted to make them a test for verifying the faith and obedience of Muslims. They became the leaders of the enemies of imam Ali (AS) especially in the battle of Camel. Real believers followed Imam Ali (AS) while many Muslims went astray by joining the army of A'yisha to fight against Imam Ali (AS).

Distinguishing good Muslims from others needed a leadership for the good Muslims which is the leadership of Imam Ali, and a leadership for others which was A'yusha, Hafsa and their group.

Wassalam.

104595

Sunni-Shi'a . Qur'an . Bihar al-Anwar . Tahrif

Are there traditions in Shia books such as Bihar Al Anwar that suggest that the Quran is distorted? If so, how can their presence in those books be explained?

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 1 week ago

There are some hadith along those lines. It has been suggested that these are forged hadith. In some cases, when the ayah is presented differently, with insertions, it has been suggested that this may have been an explanation or gloss by the speaker which was later misunderstood as a quotation of the entire ayah.

It is true that there are a few hadith along these lines both in Sunni and Shi'i texts.

Sunni-Shi'a . Qur'an . Bihar al-Anwar . Tahrif

Are there traditions in Shia books such as Bihar Al Anwar that suggest that the Quran is distorted? If so, how can their presence in those books be explained?

Quran is intact with out any distortion whatsoever. There are narrations in Sunni books like Bukhari, Muslim, Al-Tirmithi, Al-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah, Muwatta' Malik, Musnad Ibn Hanbal and other well known books claiming stories about distortion in some Suras of Quran. Our authentic evidence that Quran is intact, made our leading Ulama reject any narration contradicts with the fact that Quran is intact even if it the narration is mentioned in a Shia book. Such narrations in Shia books are much less than in Sunni books and some of them were copied from Sunni books. Such narrations are either fabricated or misunderstood.
Bukhari in Hadeeth number 4608 narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab different words in Quran which never recited by the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). Bukhari narrated in Hadeeth number 6327 and 6328 from Umar ibn al-Khattab a claimed verse on stoning the old man and old woman. Such verse is not in Quran but Umar said it is. These are just few examples of long list of such rejected Sunni narrations on this matter.

'The fact which we believe in according to most authentic evidence from Ahlul Bayt (AS) is: Quran is intact and preserved and protected by Allah (SWT) from distortion.

Wassalam.

102498

God (Allah) . Qur'an

Why has Allah mentioned himself as 'We’ in many places in the Quran?

It is generally held that "We" in the Qur'an is the "royal we", to express Allah's grandeur and status, similar to how kings refer to themselves as "We" rather than "I" in proclamations.

"We" is usually used in the Qur'an in verses which emphasise Allah's rule and command whereas "I" is used in verses which express Allah's nearness or care, and a direct relationship - for instance, "call upon me and I shall respond to you".

Sometimes "We" seems to shift to "I", or vice versa, for rhetorical effect. (That is, to make the power of the language stronger.)

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Earth . Contradiction . Qur'an . Surat Fussilat

Many verses in the Quran state that the heavens and the Earth were created in six days but in Sura Fussilat verses 9-12 it seems to mention eight days. Isn't this a contradiction?

Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He is a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa Open... Answered 1 month ago

Salaam
Verse 9 of Surah Fussilat says: "The earth was created in two days" and verse 10 says: "The mountains, blessings and food of the earth were created in four days"; Following these verses, the creation of the heavens is also mentioned in "two days". It may be thought that the sum of these is eight days. But we must note that the two days mentioned in verse 9 are also part of the four days mentioned in verse 10; In this way, in the first two days, the earth was created and in the next two days, other characteristics were added. In fact, verse 9 speaks of the creation of the earth, and verse 10 discusses the total stages of the creation of the earth and its preparation for life.
translated from the Persian website of Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi

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Human . Qur'an . God (Allah) . Qareen

The Quran mentions the word Qareen in several contexts. What exactly is a Qareen? Is a Qareen something everyone is born with or something that Allah connects to a human as a result of negligence of Allah?

Qareen in Arabic means accompanying person. Qareen can be a Shaitan as it is mentioned in Quran ( He who neglects remembering Allah, We will keep with him a Shaitan who will be accompanying him (Sura 43, verse36).

Qareen can be a bad companion who makes bad things in the shape of good. (Sura 41, verse 25).

There is no evidence that everyone is born with a Qareen, though it is mentioned in Some Sunni books to justify their claim that human being is not free in his will.

'The followers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) believe that every human being has full free will to do or not to do that is why he is responsible about his acts.

Those who forget about Allah (SWT) and neglect remembering Him, Shaitan will be with them as a Qareen.

'Wassalam.

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Qur'an

I have heard that saying "Sadaq Allah al-Azeem" after reciting the Quran is an innovation. Is that true?

Bismihi ta'ala

The description that has been mentioned in the holy Quran is "sadaqa Allah" (Surah Aal 'Imran, 95), and the part of ayatul-kursi "al-'Ali al-'Adheem" (Surah al-Baqarah, 255).

Among Sunni jurists, they believe it is a good "bid'ah". For Shi'a jurists, its a general dhikr that is recommended to mention, whether it be sadaqa Allah al-'Adheem, or sadaqa Allah al-'Ali al-'Adheem, in which the latter would be better, due to the Quranic description.

Unfortunately, some Sunni Muslims believe that when the Shia say "al-'Ali al-Adheem", they are referring to Imam Ali (a.s.), which is far from any truth.

And Allah knows best.

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Qur'an

How should we understand the concept of the seven heavens as mentioned in the Quran?

It is not a concept but a fact to believe that Allah created every thing in the universe including skies, earths, stars, planets and galaxies. Seven skies created by Allah (SWT) are mentioned in Quran in many verses (2:29 and 41:12 and 65:12 and 67:3 and 71:15). Allah, The Glorious has created the color spectrum as seven and layers of the earth as seven and many other phenomena in this universe in seven. He knows the wisdom behind it and we are unable to understand it due to our limited thinking abilities. We believe in His Absolute Wisdom, Absolute Knowledge, and Absolute Mercy and we have no doubt that every thing He creates is based on full wisdom.

Wassalam.

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Qur'an . Qur'anic Verse . Polygamy . Spiritual Wayfaring

Could you please explain Quranic verse 33.33 as some people say that it is the wives of the Prophet (s) who are the ones being purified?

The verse 33:33 was revealed informing about the Infallible progeny of the Prophet (SAWA). Hadith al-Kisaa' stated that the Prophet (SAWA ) kept the kisa (cloak) on Ali (as), Fatima (as), Hassan (as) and Hussain (as) and said: O Allah, theses are my Ahlul Bayt, so keep filth away from them and purify them real purification.. None of the wives of the Prophet was allowed to join them. This authentic Hadeeth is narrated in Sunni books like:

Saheeh Muslim 4450

Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal 2903 and 16374 and 25300 and 25339 and 25383 and 25521 and more.

Tirmithi 3129 and 3130 and 3719 and 3809.

Nasa'ee in Sunan Al-Kubra v.5 p.107 and v.5 p.112

al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan al-Kubba v.2, p.149 and v.2 p. 142

It was also narrated in Shia books by:

· Sheikh al-Tusi in his book al-Amaali

· Tafsir al-'Ayyashi

· Tafsir Furat al-Kufi

· Tafsir al-Qummi by Ali ibn Ibrahim

· The book of Sulaym ibn Qays

· Kitab al-Khisal by Sheikh al-Saduq

Wassalam.

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Coronaviruses . God (Allah) . Qur'an

How can we understand the Covid-19 pandemic from an Islamic perspective? Is it a test by Allah (swt) as enunciated in the Koran 2:155?

No doubt, every suffering and hardship we face has a reason behind it which can be warning us from bad deeds. COVID-19 is no exception. The whole world is suffering from different types of injustice and sinful acts committed by millions of people and governments. Nothing is making them leave injustice and wrong deeds. Bad deeds are increasing through the social and e media. Billions of Dollars are been wasted on weapons while millions of human beings are not finding enough food and medicine. Injustice can never go with out punishment or at least warning before the major punishment. It is a warning to every single and all human beings and a warning to the rulers who do injustice.

May Allah protect us from sinful acts and save us from the punishment.

'Wassalam.

99864

Arabic . Qur'an . Transliteration

I have been reading Quran in English phonetic transliteration since a couple of years now. Is it okay to recite in this way and does it offer the same rewards as someone reading the Quran from the Arabic script?

It is ok to recite that way. After all, there have been many Muslims who can't read at all and still recite from memory.

Still there is a certain blessing that the actual Arabic script of the Qur'an is said to hold and it is narrated that looking at the Qur'an is a type of worship; my understanding is that this involves the actual Arabic letters. So it is good to learn to read the Arabic script if you can. There are a lot of self-study materials available today.

But if you can't, that is also ok too.