Week Three

Sources and Means of

Knowledge

1. Revelation ( :
)
2. Reason ()
3. Nature/ physical world
))
4. Five Senses (
)
5. Intuition ()
2

The Quran as a Source of

Knowledge
An introduction to the the Quran
Definition
Quran is the Book revealed from
Allah to His Messenger Muhammad
(saw) as written in masahif and
transmitted to us from him through
an authentic continuous narration

Definition analysis:
- Quran is the pure speech of
Allah (al-Nisa:42)
- Only the Allahs speech
revealed to Muhammad
- It is an exposition of all things
(tibyan li kulli shay)
- As guidance and mercy
- Nothing is neglected (alNahl:89)
4

 The Quran is the Arabic

words as well as their
meanings (translation is not
a Quran)
Transmitted to us by way of
[ tawatur] (continuous
narration by a large number
of people in each part of the
chain of narration)
5

Revelation & Recording of the

Quran
a) Revelation of the Quran
The Quran was transmitted directly
from Allah (swt) to the Messenger
of Allah through Gibril (not a mere
inspiration)
The Quran was not revealed to the
Messenger of Allah all at once.
It was revealed to him in stages and
sometimes in accordance with
incidents
faced
by
Muslim
6
community.

The wisdom behind revealing it

by stages

1. To allow people to memorize,

understand and implement it
gradually.

)106 : )

It is a Quran which we have
divided into parts from time to
time in order that you might
recite it to men at intervals
7

2.To strengthen the heart of

the Messenger of Allah
(saw), give him courage and
moral support to overcome
the
difficulties
and
challenges he was facing.
Allah said:

)(32 :
8

 Those who reject faith say:

"Why is not the Quran
revealed to him all at once?
It is revealed in stages so
that We may strengthen
your heart thereby, and We
have rehearsed it to you in
slow, well-arranged stages,
gradually. (25: 32)
9

3. Live interaction between the divine

text and the socio-political reality
and daily practice of the people.
Some verses came to deal with:
some situations faced by the
Messenger of Allah;
solve problems faced by Muslim
community;
respond to the challenges put by
disbelievers;
correct the mistakes committed by
the Muslim community, etc.
10

 Those incidents, cases, and

questions are called
occasions for
revelation( ) and
they help those who came
later in a better
understanding and
implementation of those
verses.
The period of revelation
11

The Recording of the

Quran
The Messenger of Allah
used to memorize the
verses revealed to him then
recite them for his
companions who used to
memorize them
There were scribes who
used to record the verses
after their revelation
12

 The original copies of the

written
records
were
preserved in the house of
the Messenger of Allah.
While some other scribes
would record the verses
for
themselves
and
preserve them for their
own use.
13

 The order of the verses within

each surah as well as the order
of the surahs was directed by
Jibril.
During
each
month
of
Ramadan Jibril used to recite
what was revealed in its order
with the Messenger of Allah.
During the time of Abu Bakr
the Quran was compiled in a
single official copy.
The suggestion came after the
battle of Yamamah.
14

The Quran and the other

Revealed Books

Universality:
The previous Books were
local for specific people.
Quran as the last revealed
Book
and
a
universal
message for all mankind
needs to be comprehensive
and eternally preserved.
15

)(48 :



To you we sent the Scripture in
truth, confirming the scripture
that came before it, and a
watcher over it. So, judge
between them by what Allah
has revealed
16

2. The way of preservation

The people of each Book
were entrusted with guarding
it against any distortion or
manipulation

) ...:


(44
17

 It was We who revealed the

Torah; therein was guidance
and light. By its standard have
been judged the Jews, by the
prophets who bowed to Allah's
will, by the rabbis and the
priests; for to them was
entrusted the protection of
Allah's Book, and they were
witnesses thereto (5: 44)
18

 If they fail to do so, Allah sends

another prophet to take people
back to the right way.
Since Muhammad (saw) was the
last Messenger, Allah (swt)
assumed the responsibility of
guarding and preserving His last
Book.

(9 :)
We have, without doubt, sent
down the Message; and We will
assuredly guard it against any
manipulation or change.
19

Preservation of the Quran

The way Quran was preserved:
The Quran was made public from
the very beginning.
The Quran was fully recorded from
the time it was revealed.
The Quran was preserved in the
original form (same language, same
words).
The assurance from God that the
Quran will be preserved till the Day
of Judgment.
20



(42-41 : )

And indeed it is a Book of

exalted power. Falsehood
cannot come at it from
before it or from behind it.
(It is) a revelation from the
Wise, the Owner of Praise.
21

 No one can alter or change any part

of the Quran; not even the
Messenger of Allah himself.

( 43)

( 44)

( 45)

( 46)



.(47 : )

This is a Message sent down

from the Lord of the worlds. And
if the Messenger were to invent
any sayings in our name, we
should certainly seize him by his
right hand, and we should
certainly then cut off the artery
22

The Characteristics of the

Quran
1- Guidance for and mercy
to believers

(2 :)

This is the book; in it is

guidance, sure, without
doubt, to those who fear
Allah.
23

: )







(52

For We had certainly sent

unto them a Book, based on
knowledge, which We
explained in detail, a guide
and a mercy to all who
believe.
24

2. Spiritual/ social healer

(57 : )

O mankind! there has come to

you a direction from your Lord
and a healing for the (diseases)
in your hearts, and for those who
believe, a Guidance and a Mercy.

25

3- Light

(157 :)

So it is those who believe in

him
(the
Messenger),
honour him, help him, and
follow the Light which is
sent down with him, it is
they who will prosper.
26





(8 :" )

Believe, therefore, in Allah

and His Messenger, and in
the Light which We have
sent down. And Allah is
well acquainted with all
that you do.
27

4- Preacher for
believers

(138 : )

Here is a plain statement

to men, a guidance and
instruction to those who
fear Allah!
28

5- Revealing reality and

clarifying doubts

(1 :)

Ta. Sin. These are verses of

the Quran, a Book that
makes things clear.

29

)(15 :



O People of the Book! there has
come to you Our Messenger,
revealing to you much that you
used to hide in the Book, and
passing over much (that is now
unnecessary): There has come
to you from Allah a (new) light
30

6- Miraculous
The Quran is the main
miracle of the Messenger of
Allah and the main proof of
the authenticity of his
prophethood.
The miracles contained in it
are the proof of its
authenticity as the real Book
of Allah
31

 Its miracle is in terms of:

i. Structure
ii. Meaning (the
knowledge contained in
it: historical events,
prediction of what will
happen in the future, and
scientific facts.
32

Challenging the Unbelievers

The miracle is manifested in a
challenge to all mankind to
produce:
a. Another book similar to it:

(33)

.( 34)
Or they say: He has invented
it? Nay, but they do not
believe! Then let them produce
a speech like it, if they are
33

b. Ten chapters similar to

those of the Quran

(13)

.()
Or they say: He has invented it!
Say: Then bring ten surahs, the
like thereof, invented, and call
on everyone you can beside
Allah, if you are truthful!
34

c. One surah similar to those of

the Quran

(23)

.
And if you are in doubt
concerning that which We
reveal to our Messenger
(Muhammad), then produce a
surah like one thereof, and call
your gods and supporters
beside Allah if you are truthful.
35

Types of Knowledge in the

Quran
The Universal Book
Islam is the last and universal
religion;
Human societies are always
open for evolution and
development.
The Quran should: Meet the
needs of all human beings in
different places and different
36

To be able to do so, it should:

Give clear and detailed discourse on
what is important for human life and
cant be known through human
reasoning only (beliefs and ibadat)
Set the core values and principles
which guide human life to the right
way, and safeguard it against any
corruption or deviation from such a
way.
Be flexible to accommodate the
evolution and development of
human life and societies.
37

 Regarding human lifes aspects

which are subject to change
and development, the Quran ,
generally, sets norms,
standards and universal values
which suit all peoples and all
times.
These values and norms should
not be subject to any alteration
or change to ensure the
prevalence of righteousness
38

 In light of these norms,

people are given
freedom to innovate and
adopt whatever systems,
procedures, etc they
may consider as good for
them as long as they
dont breach those
norms and values.
39

Physical and Natural

Sciences
The Quran deals with those
things which are needed to be
known and may not be realized
by man or may not be
understood accurately (man
would speculate about them
only)
Such as:
- The origin of mankind, the
substance and the way of his
first creation, his first
40

- The origin of the earth and the

heavens
In other fields such as:
- astronomy
- Geology,
- Physics,
- Embryology
The Quran just gives some
references for the following
purposes:
41

The aims of scientific references in the

Quran
It is not to give people details
and teach them natural and
physical sciences.
They are signs to prove:
- The existence of God
- The omnipotence and power
of God
- The weakness of men
compared to the power of
the Creator
42

Cont.,

- Indebtedness of mankind
to Allah for all what we
have in life.
- The authenticity of
Prophets and revealed
Books i.e. this Quran
comes from Allah and it is
impossible for a human
being, especially at the
time of Muhammad (
) . to compose it.
43

 For the Muslim who reads

and understands these
references, they serve to
strengthen his or her faith.

.(191:
44

Those who remember and

praise Allah, standing, sitting,
and lying down on their sides,
and contemplate the wonders
of creation in the heavens and
the earth, (with the thought):
"Our Lord! not for naught have
you created all this! Glory to
you! Give us salvation from the
Penalty of the Fire. (3: 191)
45

 For the non-Muslim who

questions the authenticity
or authorship of the
Quran , these references
provide some interesting
answers.

)(53 :
46

Soon will We show them

Our Signs in the (farthest)
horizons, and within
themselves, until it
becomes manifest to them
that it is the Truth. Is it not
enough that your Lord does
witness all things? [41:53]
47

How should we deal with these

scientific facts?

They should be used for the

aforesaid things.
They can be used to have a
better understanding of those
verses dealing with natural
phenomena compared to the
way they were understood by
early Muslims.
48

 We should not over-emphasize

the scientific miracles to the
extent that we hurry to relate
each new scientific theory to
the verses of the Quran .
Such an act may lead to
misinterpreting the texts of the
Quran and changing the
interpretation from time to
time. This may be
counterproductive and cause
49

b) Religious, human and social

sciences
Belief: (Revelation is the only
source)
The Concept of God
The existence of God; the Creator
and Lord of this universe.
The concept of tawhid (Unity of
God)
Since the concept of God was not
new to mankind, the Quran
focuses on correcting the prevalent
50
concepts of God and demonstrating

The Concept of Prophethood

God used to send a prophet to
every people
A brief history of prophets (some
names mentioned)
Revelation
Some revealed books: Suhuf /
Ibrahim, Zabur/ Dawud, Torah
/Musa, Injil/ Gospel/ Esa
Angels
Their nature, character, position
and relation with God (not his sons
or daughters)
51

Day of Judgment
Its existence, what will happen
on that day, Jannah, Jahannam
No specific date is given for its
happening
Ibadat (worship)
Revelation the only source.
The Quran sets the basics of
ibadat and the Prophet gives
details
52

Morality
Revelation the main source
The Quran sets universal ethical
norms and values
Obedience and submission to God,
justice, benevolence, kindness,
generosity, brotherhood, honesty,
truthfulness, sincerity, trust
(amanah), forbearance, patience,
tolerance and forgiveness,
inviting/encouraging people to do
good, and preventing/ discouraging
them from doing bad (munkar)
53

Human and social relations

Revelation is the main source
The Quran deals with the main
principles of these relations:
Relationship among family
members
- between husbands and
wives
- between parents and
children
- marriage, divorce,
inheritance
54

Relations with neighbours

Social relations and interaction
Relations between genders
Etiquettes and manners
Relations with non-Muslims
Relations with animals
Halal & haram:
(Revelation is the only source)
Food, drinks, clothes
55

Law:
-

Family law
Criminal law
Procedural law
Commercial law
International law

56

Economic system
(Revelation provides
guidance to attain and
maintain justice)
Islam sets some norms and
principles along with some
restrictions to ensure the
observance of those norms
and principles (prohibition
of riba, uncertain contracts,
etc.)
57

 Zakat is imposed to secure

the minimum economic and
social justice,
Rich people are exhorted
to spend and promised to
be rewarded for that.
Social welfare (59: 7)

58

Political system
The Quran sets norms
and principles
The establishment of a
government/ central
authority and the duties
of subjects to obey its
commands
59

 The governance should be

based on consultation
() and the right of
people to select their
leaders.
The format of () and
government are left to the
choice of people and are
open for development.
60

History and Civilization

The origin of this universe
The Quran states that this universe
was created by Allah, and gives
short description of that creation
The origin of mankind
The Quran states that the first man
(Adam) was created by God from
dust/ clay (15: 26), (15: 28-29), (17:
61), (23: 12), (32: 7), (32: 9), 38:
71-72)
Eve was created for Adam (4: 1), (7:
189), (39: 6)
61

- Adam was taught the basic

knowledge by God (2: 30-33)
- When Adam and his wife,
mistakenly, disobeyed the
commands of God, they were
sent down from Jannah
(Paradise) to the earth where
they and their children
settled.
62

 History of Messengers of
Allah
- The Quran gives a brief
account of the history of the
most significant Messengers.
- The Quran does not focus
on the details of that history,
instead it focuses on the
lessons that should be
learned from those events.
63

- The Quran pays enough

attention to civilizational
studies by examining the
patterns of rise and fall of
civilizations.
- The Quran wants Muslims to
learn from human experience.
- The aim of this is to guide
Muslims how to build their
civilization and guard it against
social diseases that may lead
64

How should we deal with

the Quran ?
Quran is an authoritative text that

should be followed and

implemented by all Muslims.
Those texts which are clear and
self-explanatory should be
implemented without any further
examination.
Those texts which are open for
interpretation and may impart more
than one meaning can be examined
and construed based on the 65
following principles:

 Grouping of similar texts/

statements which talk on one
topic/category
Analysis and understanding of each
text/ statement in its components
and context
Identification of the rules which
unify the various categories
Identification of the general rules
and purposes which govern the
interaction/ interrelation of various
categories.
66