Discussion regarding Rehman in the group "Quranic Discourse".

My learned Brother - I am a very insignificant person with meager academic qualification. But my thirst
to know more about the Quran is not less than any academically qualified person. When I say something
I have sufficient knowledge of it otherwise I dont unnecessarily prattle for the sake of one-upmanship.
If I am wrong I do have the moral courage to admit my mistake and amend it as I dont carry the crown
of celebrity on my head. I do not believe in polemics either.

My comments are very much to the point. I stick to it without deviating from the topic. But the problem
is that they are not based on the conventional lines so they either go unnoticed or they take time to sink
in.

You are right I have my own concept based purely on Al-Quran. I dont believe in preconceived themes
while translating Al-Quran. Preconceived themes have tremendously damaged the message of Quran,
whether it is the theme of Shaan-e-Nuzool by traditionalist or the idea of Nizam-e-Rabbubiat coined by
Allama Parvez and others. I dont have any preconceived concepts; my concepts are purely based on the
Quranic context, common sense and lexicons. One more thing I want to make clear I dont have a
Mullah Mentality.

I never said Rehman means education. I am repeating what I mean, Whenever the word Rehman is
mentioned in the Quran it signifies or indicates some hidden process of knowledge, guidance and
education. If we carefully study the context of the preceding or the following verses where the word
Rehman, Rahim, Rehmat are mentioned, we will often see that the context seek to address about
knowledge or guidance. I and Brother Taher Anwar also have provided some references to you
regarding the same.

I dont deny the root and the lexical derivative meanings of the word Rehman, Rahim and Rehmat have
shades of Mercy, Graciousness, Compassionate, Beneficial, favorable, pity, nourishment like in mothers
womb etc. But what I am emphasizing is that we cannot ignore the context of the Quran and just be
over-dependent on the lexical meanings. We cannot understand many vibrant terms of the Quran only
on the basis of lexicons and this is a sign of complacent behavior of many theoretical intellectuals who
have buried the message of the Quran under the debris of so called linguistic correctness. Why cant we
probe further to know why only the word Rehman and its derivatives are connected with knowledge,
guidance and education and why not other attributes of Rabb?

Some examples of how the word Rehman connects with guidance or knowledge in the Quranic context.

(I) Surah 1: 1-7 (2) 2:163-164 (3) 17:107-108 (4) 19: 43-44, 58 (5) 20:2-5(6) 26:2-5 (7) 36:15 (8) 41:2-3 (9)
43:36-37 (10) 55:1-4 (11) 59: 21-22 (12) 13:30

The verse18:65 clearly support the concept that the nourishment of Rahman is Rehmat and that Rehmat
is knowledge [ilm] and not Mercy as suggested by lexicons. So why are we over looking this contextual
meaning from the Quran in lieu of lexicon meanings?

Now coming to the main topic of discussion i.e. verse 43:81

Say: If Rehman ever brings forth [knowledge]; I would be the first to serve.

Verse 43:80 talks about talking in private, messengers and their script...Note: the job of the Rehman is
often connected with bringing of Knowledge and moreover the word Waladun is indefinite in verse
43:81 so it is not talking about Jesus Christ as some people assume that the verse is directed towards
Christian beliefs of the Divine Son.

Interpreting Waladun as son is copying the biblical concept...if we know the function of Rehman [one
who educates 55:1-4] there is no need to write knowledge in the bracket.

If the knowledge is from the Rehman I would be the first to serve - this is the essence of the above verse
43:81.

Now coming on to the word Subhaan, the basic lexical meaning of which is swift in travelling/
swimming/gliding that surpasses everyone. It also means to be busy or occupied. Other meanings are
free from imperfection or impurity, worthy of praise, greatness, extraordinary, glorify, praise etc.

One of the meanings of Subhaan is possessor of abundant knowledge [Edward William Lexicon page no.
1291]. As per my understanding the word Subhaan means possessor of abundant knowledge, this
contextual meaning emerges through the understanding of verse 2:32. This meaning perfectly gels with
all other verses of the Quran.

2:32

They said: "You are Possessor of Abundant Knowledge [Subhaan], we have no knowledge except what
You have made us learn. Indeed, it is You are the All-Knowing, the Wise.

If we study the above verse 2:32 carefully it also confirms the meaning of Subhaan from the lexical point
of view as well as the above Quranic context.

So when I understand verse 43:80-83 I take this contextual meanings which makes sense of the entire
message.

43:81- Say: If Rehman ever brings forth [knowledge]; I would be the first to serve / implement.

43:82 The possessor of abundant knowledge [Subhaan] is Rabb of the Samawaat and the Al-Ardh,
Rabb of the Authority, above what they ascribe.

My humble request to the readers is to re-evaluate or recheck their respective understandings and have
an unbiased approach to the study of the Noble Quran.

Salaam.