Understand Qur’an Academy’s Huge Resources!!

بسم الله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

Since a long time, Understand Qur’an Academy has been doing immense work in the service of Al Qur’an al Kareem. Presenting its’ huge resource book with links to all courses, all books, all videos, all tests, all downloads etc. MaShaaAllah.

The Integrated Encyclopedia of the Qur’an

بسم الله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

The Integrated Encyclopedia of the Qurʾān (IEQ) is an amazing work, MaShaaAllah!                  A meaningful addition to Qur’anic Studies!

Click on the the link given below and enjoy browsing this free online English language encyclopedia of the Qur’an:

Creative and Critical Thinking Questions based on Surah al Kahf, Verses 1 to 8

بسم الله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

This is the second in the series of Surah-based Project Work. The first one was from Surah al Waaqi’ah verses 1 to 26.

The contents of Surah al Kahf are spread over 6 chapters in Grade 10 textbooks followed in the UAE. This one is the first set of Questions, alhamdulillaah.

Innovative & Critical Thinking Activities based on Surah al Waqi’ah

بسم الله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

Surah-based Project Works are really good in terms of student learning, understanding and application.

Presenting here some Innovative & Critical Thinking Activities based on Surah al Waqi’ah: Verses 1 to 26. This can be given as a Project work for those interested in Qur’anic Studies (In UAE, by the way, this is meant for Grade 9 students)

“There is no such thing as Uthmaanic Script”!

While discussing about the font or the print style of the Qur’an, Muslim individuals or websites normally refer to ‘Uthmaanic script. This is actually a misnomer.

The respected doyen of Arabic language, Dr V Abdur Rahim, says that “There is no such thing as Uthmaanic script. It is Uthmaanic Orthography, i.e., spelling system”.

So while translating Rasm Uthmaani, we need to translate as ‘Uthmaanic Orthography, and not as Uthmaanic script! For, there is a vast difference between the terms script and orthography. 

Qur’an: Significance in the Order

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

The Qur’an was sometimes revealed to respond to various events and incidents. Sometimes it was revealed to support the Prophet who was faced with many questions, whether by Muslims or non-Muslims, and hardships. Other times was revealed for legislation and for putting rules to govern the social, economical, and political life of Muslims.

The first verses to be revealed, according to the most correct opinion of scholars, are the first five verses of Surat Al-`Alaq, which happens to be Chapter 96 of the 114 chapters of the Qur’an. 

Issue of abrogation

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

The issue of abrogation in the Qur’an has remained a widely researched area of study regarding the divine book¹. In technical parlance, abrogation is called ‘Naskh’. If one casts a deep look at the works of the scholars who have presented their views on this issue, one can easily discern the following three schools of thought:

Abrogation in the Qur’an

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Abrogation is translated from the Arabic word naskh which literally means “to erase; to compensate.” Its technical definition is “to repeal a legal order through legal argument”. In other words, sometimes Allah enforces a legal edict that is relevant only to a particular situation. Later, in His infinite wisdom, He annuls the order and enforces a new one in its place. This action is known as “abrogation” (naskh), and the replaced order is then termed “abrogated” (mansukh) while the new replacing order is called the “abrogator” (nasikh).

The Qur’an’s Disjointed Letters Revisited

Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the final revelation sent down by Allah, the Creator, to humankind. This revelation started in the year 610 CE. It continued to be sent down to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) over a period of 23 years and a few months. These 23 years of revelation resulted in a book of 114 surahs (chapters) containing 6,236 ayahs (verses).

Non-Arabic Words in the Qur’an

The early Arabs used words of non-Arabic origin due to the impact of other cultures on them. The Arabs, like any other people, used names that were alien to their culture but those words were easily integrated with the passage of time, and they became part of Arabic words that can be easily subjected to the well known rules of Arabic grammar.

Moderation in the Qur’an

By Hammudah Abdallati

One characteristic of the Qur’an is moderation or harmony between the divine and human, the spiritual and the material, the individual and the collective, and so on. The Qur’an pays due attention to all facts of life and all needs of man, and deals with them in such a way as to help man to realize the noble objectives of his being. For this approach of moderation, the Qur’an calls the Muslims a “middle nation” (Al-Baqarah 2:143), and with this “middleness” they are called the best people ever evolved for mankind, as they enjoin the right, combat the wrong, and believe in God (Aal `Imran 3:110).

How the Mus’haf is divided into 30 Parts

It is important, here,  to note that the division of the Mus’haf during the time of Prophet Muhammad (sal-lal-lahu-alaihi-wa-sallam) was only based on chapters (Surahs). The Juz-wise division, that is given below, was introduced during later period. The purpose was – and is – to help the Huffaz, the memorisers of the Qur’an, to keep track of their learning and following it up for periodic recitations.

History of the Qur’an

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

In this Book, the Holy Prophet’s life, the history of the Arabs and the events which occurred during the period of the revelation of the Quran have not been mingled with the Divine Verses, as is the case with the Bible. The Quran is the pure word of God. Not one word therein is not divine. Not a single word has been deleted from its text. The Book has been handed down to our age in its complete and original form since the time of Prophet Muhammad. From the time the Book began to be revealed, the Holy Prophet had dictated its text to the scribes. Whenever some Divine Message was revealed, the Holy Prophet would call a scribe and dictate its words to him.

Evolution of the Sciences of the Qur’an, Part 2

By Hassen A Laidi

After the Era of the Companions

It was through the efforts of such Companions as the four Caliphs, Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn Mas’ood, Zayd bin Thaabit, Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari, Ubay bin Ka’b and ‘Abdullaah bin Az-Zubayr, may Allaah be pleased with them, among others, that all of the knowledge related to the Quran was transferred and conveyed to the Taabi’een (the second Muslim generation after the companions) and from them onto the rest of the Ummah (Muslim Nation).

Evolution of the Science of the Qur’an, Part 1

By Hassen A Leidi

The Era of the Companions:

The Quran is the final revelation sent by Allaah to Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (may Allaah exalt his mention). It is an eternal miracle that grows in clarity and strength with time and each new scientific discovery. It was revealed over nearly twenty-three years, during which the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam taught it and explained it to his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them. He sallallaahu’ alayhi wa sallam also answered all of their questions and did not die before completely delivering the message of the Quran, making it clearly understood.

At the same time, the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, were very keen to memorise, understand and practice it. Due to their mastery of Arabic, the purity of their minds and hearts, and because they had witnessed the Quran being revealed under many circumstances and in response to diverse events, they were able to accumulate much understanding and knowledge of the Quran.