By Ustadh Tamseel Ahmed
It would not be an exaggeration to state that the Qurʾān is a book that has been served by billions over time. Men and women of great intellect have dived in this ocean of infinite pearls. Every century has witnessed fresh contributions and the potential for explanations seem endless. I can only imagine the importance this book held with the early generations of muslims where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself was present.
How the streets of Makkah and its walls were resonating with the sounds of recitations by those who were the first humans to hear the Qurʾān’s words webbed into sentences with unparalleled novelty.
Sitting 14 centuries later we can conclude from our perspective, while only Allāh is the true Judge, that they were the worthy recipients of this scripture.
As explained by Shaykh Abū Al-Ḥasan ʿAlī Al-Nadwī, if the trolley men pushing the rail-push-trolley are strong then the trolley goes further. The earlier generations pushed the trolley of our religion so well that we are still riding the momentum. The question remains, what will we do to this trolley? Add momentum for the next generations or add dead weight and friction.
They were few in Makkah and a few more in Madīnah but they were influential. They were transformed and they transformed others. One lesson is drawn that those who give significance to the Qurʾān, Allah gives significance to them. In light of that lesson our condition is explainable.
Steps to rectification demands we incorporate the Qurʾān daily in our lives through recitation, reflection, application, learning and teaching. This was their focus, what is ours?
How well did the poet, Iqbal, say this;
ﻣﯿﺮے ﻗﺮآن ﮐﻮ ﺳﯿﻨﻮں ﺳﮯ ﻟﮕﺎﯾﺎ ﮐﺲ ﻧﮯ
Who is there who has embraced my Qurʾān in their hearts?
ﻣﯿﺮے ﮐﻌﺒﮯ ﮐﻮ ﺟﺒﯿﻨﻮں ﺳﮯ ﺳﺠﺎﯾﺎ ﮐﺲ ﻧﮯ
Who is there that has beautified their foreheads with my Ka’abah?
ﺗﮩﮯ ﺗﻮ آﺑﺎ وہ ﺗﻤﮩﺎرے ﮨﯽ ﻣﮕﺮ ﺗﻢ ﮐﯿﺎ ﮨﻮ
They were surely your ancestors but what are you?
ﮬﺎﺗﮫ ﭘﺮ ﮬﺎﺗﮫ دﮬﺮے ﻣﻨﺘﻈﺮ ﻓﺮدا ﮨﻮ
With hand upon hand, what are you waiting for?
