The Importance of The Qur’an in Human Life 

In my post titled “The Vital Role of Revelation (Wahy) in Islam,” I discussed the significance of divine revelation in human life, focusing on the two types of Wahy: the recited and the unrecited. I mentioned that the Qur’an is a form of recited Wahy. Continuing from that, today I will try to present the introduction to the Qur’an, the importance of the Qur’an and its  profound role in human life. I pray to Allah to make this task easy for me and to make it beneficial for you, for myself, and for all of us in this world and in the Hereafter. I will try to represent the importance of the Qur’an as simple as posssible to you. So let us begin, in the name of Allah.

The Importance of the Qur’an

Introduction to the Qur’an

The word “Qur’an” (القرآن) is derived from the Arabic root “قراءة,” which means “to recite” or “to read.”

The Qur’an is the final message sent to humanity by Allah Almighty. Every letter, word, and sentence in the Quran is a revelation from Allah, delivered to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he was 40 years old. Over the following 23 years, various Surahs and verses of the Quran were revealed as needed. It took 23 years for the Quran to be completely revealed. The Quran contains 114 Surahs and 6,236 verses. It serves as a complete code of life for humanity and is the primary source of Islamic law, ethics, guidance, and spirituality. The Quran addresses every issue in human life.

As Allah Almighty states in the Qur’an:

• وَمَا مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ فِي الْاَرْضِ وَلَا طٰٓئِرٍ يَّطِيْرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ اِلَّاۤ اُمَمٌ اَمْثَالُكُمْ ؕ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتٰبِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ اِلٰي رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُوْنَ  There is no creature moving on the earth, nor a bird flying on its two wings, but they are all communities like you. We have not missed anything in the Book. Then, to their Lord all of them shall be gathered.[¹]

• وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِيْ كُلِّ اُمَّةٍ شَهِيْدًا عَلَيْهِمْ مِّنْ اَنْفُسِهِمْ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيْدًا عَلٰي هٰۤؤُلَآءِ ؕ  وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتٰبَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَّهُدًي وَّرَحْمَةً وَّبُشْرٰي لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ  And (think of) the day We shall send to every people a witness from among them (to testify) against them, and We shall bring you (O Prophet) as a witness against these. And We have revealed to you the Book, an exposition of everything, and guidance, and mercy, and glad tidings for the Muslims.[²]

Additionally, the Holy Quran contains the essence of all blessings, goodness, and success for humanity. We must remember that the Quran is the ultimate and final scripture sent by Allah to guide humanity to the path of righteousness and salvation. There is no alternative to it, and it is the only true guide and source of salvation.

Methods of Preserving the Quran: A Brief Overview

As you already know, the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel), peace be upon him, would bring the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Allah. The Prophet would memorize it perfectly and then instruct his companions to memorize it or write it down. Thus, during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the entire Quran was recorded on various materials such as paper, leather, and bone, and many companions memorized it. The Prophet and his companions would regularly recite and complete the Quran in their prayers, particularly during the night prayer (Tahajjud). Some companions would complete the recitation of the entire Quran in 3 to 7 nights of Tahajjud prayer. Additionally, reciting from their written manuscripts during the day and night was a beloved act of worship for the companions, bringing immense peace and joy to their hearts. In this way, Allah preserved the Quran perfectly and exactly as it was revealed, by placing it in the hearts of believers and through its regular recitation in night prayers.

After the passing of the Prophet (peace be upon him), in the year following his death, Caliph Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) ordered the compilation of the Quran from the various materials on which it had been written. Later, during the caliphate of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), copies of the compiled Quran were made and distributed to various regions to ensure that new generations of Muslims could learn and memorize the authentic Quran.

Thus, the Quran has been preserved, both in the hearts of countless believers and in written form, exactly as it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This unique feature of the Quran continues to this day, with millions of Muslims around the world having memorized it in its entirety.

In my previous post on Wahy, I discussed some of the key methods of preserving revelation, focusing on the preservation of the Quran. For your convenience, I have reiterated that content here. I hope you do not find it repetitive.

Key Methods of Protecting the Qur’an

Divine Assurance and Protection

From the very beginning, Allah promised to protect the Qur’an from any corruption. This divine assurance is clearly articulated in the Qur’an itself:

• اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَاِنَّا لَهٗ لَحٰفِظُوْنَ  We, Ourselves, have sent down the Dhikr (the Qur’ān), and We are there to protect it.[³] 

This promise highlights that the preservation of the Qur’an was under the direct care of Allah. By making this promise, Allah ensured that the revelations would remain pure and unaltered.

Oral Transmission and Memorization

During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the primary method of preserving the revelations was through memorization. The Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions took great care to memorize every verse revealed to him. This practice was deeply ingrained in the culture of the time, where oral transmission was a common method of preserving knowledge. The Prophet’s companions, known as the Huffaz, were individuals who had committed the entire Qur’an to memory. This collective memorization provided a robust safeguard against any potential loss or alteration.

Written Documentation

While oral transmission was crucial, the revelations were also meticulously documented in writing. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had scribes who recorded the revelations on various materials, including parchment, leather, and bones. These written records were kept safe and were used as reference points for verification and recitation. The systematic collection of these documents ensured that there was a tangible record of the revelations that could be referred to whenever needed.

Standardization of the Qur’an

The process of standardizing the Qur’an was another vital method of protection. After the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) passing, the first caliph, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), initiated the compilation of the Qur’an into a single book. This effort was driven by the need to preserve the Qur’an in a unified format, especially after the deaths of many Huffaz in battles. The compilation was meticulously carried out, ensuring that every verse was accurately recorded and verified against the oral memorization by the Prophet’s companions.

Rigorous Verification

To further ensure the accuracy of the revelations, a rigorous process of verification was employed. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would frequently recite the Qur’an to his companions and would also review it with the Angel Gabriel. This practice of reviewing and cross-checking the revelations with the Angel Gabriel helped to confirm the accuracy and consistency of the text. It was a safeguard against any potential errors or alterations.

Continuous Recitation and Teaching

The continuous recitation and teaching of the Qur’an played a significant role in its protection. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) placed great emphasis on reciting the Qur’an regularly and teaching it to his followers. This practice ensured that the revelations were kept alive in the hearts and minds of the Muslim community. The emphasis on regular recitation and teaching helped to maintain the purity and accuracy of the Qur’an through generations.

Guardianship of Scholars and Experts

In the centuries following the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) life, Islamic scholars and experts played a crucial role in safeguarding the Qur’an. They dedicated their lives to studying, teaching, and preserving the Qur’anic text. The meticulous work of scholars in the fields of Tafsir (exegesis), Tajweed (recitation rules), and Hadith (prophetic traditions) contributed to the continued protection and accurate transmission of the Qur’anic revelations.

The Unique Characteristics of the Qur’an

The Holy Qur’an possesses numerous extraordinary characteristics. Here, I will highlight just a few of them for you.

Miraculous Nature

One of the most significant characteristics of the Holy Qur’an is its miraculous nature. The Qur’an itself is a miracle. While previous prophets were given various signs and miracles by Allah, those were temporary and specific to their time. The people of that era witnessed these miracles, but subsequent generations did not, knowing them only through narration. However, Allah granted Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the Qur’an as an eternal miracle. Its miraculous nature was evident to his contemporaries and remains evident to people of all eras. In this regard, I will mention a hadith where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) referred to the Qur’an as an everlasting miracle.

• Narrated Abu Huraira:
  The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Every Prophet was given miracles because of which people believed, but what I have been given is Divine Inspiration which Allah has revealed to me. So I hope that my followers will outnumber the followers of the other Prophets on the Day of Resurrection.” [⁴]

Indeed, the Qur’an’s miraculous nature is timeless. People in every era have discovered new miracles within the Qur’an. Modern scientists have uncovered many truths about the human body, the Earth, and the universe that align perfectly with information found in the Qur’an. This harmony between newly discovered facts and Qur’anic verses serves as strong evidence of the Qur’an’s miraculous nature. As time goes on, people will continue to uncover new miracles within the Qur’an. Some will embrace these miracles and let their hearts be illuminated, while others may choose to ignore or dismiss them.

Another aspect of the Qur’an’s miraculous nature is its unparalleled linguistic and rhetorical beauty. The Qur’an is not just a religious text or a book of laws; it is a guide for every believer and every human being. Hence, the Qur’an maintains the highest standard of literary quality in terms of meaning, expression, and language throughout, from the first verse to the last. While this is just one aspect of its miraculous nature, it is a particularly noteworthy one.

The literary excellence of the Qur’an is so high that Allah challenged the eloquent poets, writers, and even the ordinary Arabs of that time to produce a single chapter (Surah) like it. In this context, I present three verses from the Qur’an.

Allah the Almighty says in the Qur’an:

• وَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِيْ رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلٰي عَبْدِنَا فَاْتُوْا بِسُوْرَةٍ مِّنْ مِّثْلِهٖ ۪ وَادْعُوْا شُهَدَآءَكُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ- فَاِنْ لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوْا وَلَنْ تَفْعَلُوْا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِيْ وَقُوْدُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ۚۖ اُعِدَّتْ لِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ  If you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our servant, then bring a Sūrah similar to this, and do call your supporters other than Allah, if you are true. But if you do not – and you will never be able to – then guard yourselves against the Fire, the fuel of which will be men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers.[⁵]

• اَمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ افْتَرٰىهُ ؕ قُلْ فَاْتُوْا بِسُوْرَةٍ مِّثْلِهٖ وَادْعُوْا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ  Or, do they say that he has made it up? Say, “Then, bring a Sūrah like this, and call whomsoever you can beside Allah, if you are true.[⁶]

• قُلْ لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْاِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلٰۤي اَنْ يَّاْتُوْا بِمِثْلِ هٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنِ لَا يَاْتُوْنَ بِمِثْلِهٖ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيْرًا  Say, “If all the humans and jinns join together to produce anything like this Qur’ān, they will not (be able to) come up with anything like it, even if they assist one another.[⁷]

As I mentioned earlier, the Qur’an is a miraculous entity in itself. Each page, each verse, and each word contains various forms of miracles, making the Qur’an more powerful and acceptable. All of this has been achieved through the boundless power of Allah the Almighty.

Preservation

Another unique characteristic of the Qur’an is its preservation. I have already discussed this in detail above, so I won’t delve into it again here. However, I will mention a verse in which Allah eliminates the possibility of the Qur’an ever being distorted. The verse is:

• اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِالذِّكْرِ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ ۚ  وَاِنَّهٗ لَكِتٰبٌ عَزِيْزٌ ۙ- لَّا يَاْتِيْهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهٖ ؕ تَنْزِيْلٌ مِّنْ حَكِيْمٍ حَمِيْدٍ  Surely those who have rejected the advice (the Qur’ān) when it came to them (are the ones who adopted perversity, and are not hidden from Us). And surely, it is an unassailable book. that cannot be approached by falsehood, neither from its front, nor from its behind -a revelation from the All-Wise, the Ever-Praised.[⁸]

Universality

The Qur’an is a universal book. Allah revealed it for all of humanity, unlike other religious scriptures, which were often limited to specific times and specific peoples. The Qur’an, however, is applicable to everyone and remains relevant until the Day of Judgment. While previous divine scriptures revealed by Allah share some similarities with the Qur’an, the Qur’an’s teachings are broader and more comprehensive. Allah speaks about this universality in several places in the Qur’an:

• شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْۤ اُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ هُدًي لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدٰي وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ  The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’ān was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong.[⁹]

• الٓرٰ ۟  كِتٰبٌ اَنْزَلْنٰهُ اِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَي النُّوْرِ ۙ  بِاِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ اِلٰي صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيْزِ الْحَمِيْدِ ۙ  Alif, Lām, Rā. This is a book We have sent down to you, so that you may deliver the people, with the will of their Lord, out of all sorts of darkness into the light, leading them to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.[¹⁰]

In these verses, we see that Allah declares the teachings of the Qur’an to be universally applicable, not just for Muslims but for all people. This is a unique characteristic of the Qur’an.

Abrogation of Previous Scriptures

We know that before the revelation of the Qur’an, Allah had revealed several other divine scriptures. The Qur’an, however, was revealed as the final and complete message, abrogating the previous scriptures while preserving their core teachings. The Qur’an highlights the essential teachings of earlier scriptures like the Torah, Psalms, and the Gospel but also indicates that anything beyond these teachings, found in those scriptures, is man-made and should not be followed. Therefore, Allah describes the Qur’an as a guardian, a protector, and a controller of the previous scriptures.

The Only Guide to Salvation

From the discussion above, it becomes clear that the Holy Qur’an is the only unaltered and perfectly preserved word of Allah, sent as a guide to the truth, goodness, and prosperity for all of humanity. Adhering to it is the only path to salvation. The Qur’an leads people to their desired goals by providing guidance, blessings, success, and salvation. Allah says in the Qur’an:

• يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُمْ مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُوْرِ ۙ وَهُدًي وَّرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ  O men, there has come to you an advice from your Lord, and a cure for the ailments of your hearts, and guidance and mercy for the believers.[¹¹]

• وَهٰذَا كِتٰبٌ اَنْزَلْنٰهُ مُبٰرَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوْهُ وَاتَّقُوْا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ ۙ  And this (Qur’ān) is a blessed Book We have sent down. So follow it and fear Allah, so that you may be favored with mercy.[¹²]

• اِنَّ هٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنَ يَهْدِيْ لِلَّتِيْ هِيَ اَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ الَّذِيْنَ يَعْمَلُوْنَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ اَنَّ لَهُمْ اَجْرًا كَبِيْرًا ۙ  Surely, this Qur’ān guides to something that is most straightforward, and gives glad tidings to the believers who do good deeds that ready for them there is a great reward.[¹³]

There are many more verses in the Qur’an that emphasize the Qur’an as the only source of guidance and salvation for humanity. I will not extend the post further by mentioning them all.

The Importance of the Qur’an in Human Life 

From the above discussion, you must have understood the immense importance of the Holy Qur’an in human life. However, I would like to share a few more thoughts, which you can consider as a summary of this entire discussion.

 The Qur’an is the guide for humanity and the source of all goodness. It contains all the advice, teachings, and remedies for spiritual and psychological ailments. It offers solutions to all aspects of life, from family matters to state affairs. It teaches us how to speak the truth, how to treat others with kindness, and how to build a healthy society where everyone lives in safety and peace, free from hatred and insecurity. It also teaches us to resolve complex issues through discussion and encourages us to unite in doing good, informing us of the benefits of such unity.

Moreover, the Qur’an provides accurate and acceptable solutions to religious beliefs, spiritual growth, and belief in the Hereafter, helping us to improve both our worldly and eternal lives. Reciting the Qur’an brings a unique sense of inner peace that cannot be found elsewhere. Additionally, there are specific virtues associated with reciting the Qur’an, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed us that each letter recited earns ten rewards.

In summary, the Qur’an guarantees a beautiful, peaceful, and balanced life, which is the kind of life we all aspire to lead. Let us pray to Allah for the ability to lead our lives according to the light of the Qur’an. With this prayer, I conclude today’s post. Jazakallahu Khairan (May Allah reward you with goodness).