QUR'AN

 
QUR'AN
Tuesday, 30 August 2016, 11:33 AM

All responses are strictly those of Sh. Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali during the live sessions with Kawthar Learning Circle students.

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The presence of Laylatul Qadr from the beginning of time
by KLC Administrator - Tuesday, 30 August 2016, 11:39 AM
 

Q:
You mentioned in the lecture that Laylatul Qadr has been here since the beginning of time; however, previous nations did not know about it. Why did Allah choose to inform us about this blessed night and not the previous nations? Did the previous Prophets also not know about it or were they the only ones that knew but were asked to keep it to themselves? Since the angels and rooh descend to the khalifa on earth, I would presume that they descended to the previous Prophets, but do we know how much Allah swt told them about laylatul Qadr?

A:
"Laylatul Qadr is one of the blessings of Allah for people in akhir al-zaman. In the same way that Allah blessed humanity with the Quran in this particular time, Allah also blessed humanity by telling them about Laylatul Qadr and the merits of it. Even for the Prophet, Quran says, "What made you know what is Laylatul Qadr"; it is something very special/ great that not everyone can understand. Whether previous Prophets knew about Laylatul Qadr or not, I did some research on this but do not remember the conclusion I reached."


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Types of Ayat - Muhkam and Mutashabah
by KLC Administrator - Tuesday, 30 August 2016, 11:41 AM
 

Q:

You have mentioned that the holy quran as a book is a manifestation of something with higher value in the um elketab (which is a form of the quran that is beside Allah swt).  Does that apply to all the ayat from the holy quran ? or only the muhkam ayat ? As the holy quran states that the muhkam ayat are um elketab (does that mean they are coming from um-elketab) :

هو الذي انزل عليك الكتاب منه ايات محكمات هن ام الكتاب واخر متشابهات فاما الذين في قلوبهم زيغ فيتبعون ما تشابه

Could you please elaborate about the muhkam and mutashabah and how should we understand the differences between these ayat ? because as you have mentioned the holy quran has a different form beside Allah swt, is that form includes mutashabah ayat or only muhkam ?

Could you also mention a little about the abrogated ayat (mansokha) and are they also part of the um-elketab or the version of the holy quran that is of higher value or only these ayat that are muhkama and not mansokha and represent the fundamental principles ?


A:

Quran, as a whole, is a reality that comes from Umme el-kitab. The muhkamat are the basis and main points of reference for the Quranic references. Inside the Quran, the main parts are muhkamat, but the Quran itself is coming and originating (and still there) from Al-Lawh al-Mahfooth. The entire Quran, including muhkamat, mutashabihat, 3am, khas, is from the same reality which is in Al-Lawh al-Mahfooth or Umme el-kitab.

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Different Modes of Revelation
by KLC Administrator - Tuesday, 30 August 2016, 11:43 AM
 
Q:

One might say that if Allah (swt) wished, He could have sent revelation in one way all the time for all the Prophets. Or at least, if He wished, He could have sent revelation to our Prophet (p.b.u.h.f.) in the same way always?

What is the meaning/significance/wisdom of sending wahy to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.f.) in these different modes? Are there any spiritual lessons in that for ourselves?

A:

Not all Prophets received the same modes of communication. For example, Gabriel did not come to all Prophets; it was more common for him to visit the Prophet Mohammed. In addition, there are many different factors or conditions (i.e. age, time) that determine which method of revelation Allah chooses at that time. Will the Prophet be receiving a message that is long or short? Simple or detailed? Sending the Qu'ran was the most demanding and difficult type of revelation.