Importance of the Qur'an and Revelation of the Quran to Muhammad - Essay Example

Importance of the Qur’an Introduction The Qur’an is the reflection of the basic principles of Islam. The main aimof this religion is to unite people and to build a healthy society. There is a long and thorny path to faith and devotion paid to Allah, still the modern Muslims try to find out the essence of this Holy Book otherwise it is hard to serve to God. The Sunnah or interpretation of the Qur’an by the prophet Muhammad is a perfect opportunity to penetrate into religious depth of Islam. From the beginning, Islam set out to build a society. Both common practices and common ideals are relevant to the modern society. Islam is harmonizing human relations. Importance of the Qur’an The Qur’an explains the need for salvation and the way how it is important to be saved. The followers of Islam should realize not only “unseen”, but also accept Allah’s rules and follow them. Therefore, five basic pillars outlined in the Qur’an should be followed by the adherents of Islam. The Qur’an is the guidance for the followers. They direct their actions with respect to God’s paths. To perform Five Pillars and other activities under the guidance of Allah is a way to reach salvation and reveal truth of the existence on the Earth. To follow Qur’an is to understand the essence of the Islamic religion, because it is very important to realize the essence of faith. Muslims are people, which are acting in accordance with the directions of Islam. These rules and guidelines can be found in the Qur’an. To fit in the organic part of the humanity is to become a natural and careful person, which is attentive for the Islamic regulations outlined in the Qur’an. There is a deep and a profound intention of Muslims, which is to embody this Holy Book: “Behind all the stress on practice is the recognition that the Koran must become flesh and blood. It is not enough for people to read the Koran or learn what it says. They have to embody the Book. It must become the determining reality of what they do (islam), what they think (iman), and what they intend (ihsan)” (Murata & Chittick 1994, p. 3). Revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad The Prophet Muhammad had more knowledge of Allah than anyone else. He claimed that he knew everything in the heaven and in the Earth. There is no doubt that the truth of being was revealed to him in the words of God. Shariah is taught by God and the Prophet equally. The former is the inspirer of the latter. For Muslims to follow the Sunnah is to do the same deeds, as the Prohet Muhammad did himself. The Qur’an is said to be received by the Prophet from God. To receive the Qur’an for the followers of Allah means to memorize it, recite it and reproduce the main points of it. A great emphasis in the Islamic religion is made on the Qur’an memorization, because it is the basis for the Islamic education. Everyday every Muslims has an opportunity to renew oneself. There is a need to determine a degree of Muslims’ faith degree. For this purpose, truly devoted followers of the Islamic religion should observe verses from the Qur’an, understand and follow them. Learning, which were gained from the Prophet, were perfectly embodied by the Muslims in their daily practices. They have many opportunities to follow teachings of the Prophet. The Sunnah is the source of Shariah practices. Moreover, both the Qur’an and the Sunnah contribute much to relationships development among the Muslims. There is a basic teaching, which is to my mind is the main intention of the Qur’an:"When time is for you, give thanks to God, and when it is against you, have patience" (Qur’an online). Therefore, faith in God and patience are the most remarkable features of the Islamic religion. These beliefs are promoted both by the Prophet and God. Qur’an describes itself There are some controversial verses found in the Qur’an. For example: Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)?  Had it been from other than Allah, they would  surely have found therein much discrepancy (Qur’an 4:82). Muslims underline that the Qur’an reflects the words of God. He was the one, who said those words. It is often claimed that there are many mistakes and misunderstandings in this Holy Book. From the first lines, it is evident that: “This is the book in which there is no doubt" (Murata & Chittick 1994, p. 9). From the perspective of the Muslims, the Absolute reality is revealed for them only through their understanding of this unquestioned reality. The Qur’an considers the Universe as a book. This is a very interesting approach and it can be criticized for sure. Still, it is appropriate to believe in the pure essence of Allah’s words reflected in the Qur’an. These words are divine and no human creature is able to reproduce these words in such a magnificent and enchanting manner. Importance of Qur’an for Muslim faith and practice As for me, I think that there is a need for every religion to have its own Holy Book. Otherwise it is impossible to follow divine guidelines devotedly. It is relevant to mention that the Qur’an inspires to believe in Allah, but also to be a patient and a devoted follower of the Islamic religion and be patient in the modern world. To my mind, the Islamic religion shapes not only my way of thinking, but also my way of life. I try to analyze all my actions and ask myself, whether Allah agrees upon my actions or not. Moreover, the Qur’an is the guideline of life and living for all Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad is the interpreter of divine messages and the Sunnah plays another important role for me. In my life, these two Holy Books direct my actions and I think that it is important not only to follow those guidelines, but also to be careful in clear understanding of the principles written in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Five basic pillars In accordance with Murata and Chittick: “correct practice makes people Muslims and that, for most people, correct belief follows upon correct practice” (p. 9). There are five basic pillars of “correct practices”. These are: testimony, worship, fasting, almsgiving and pilgrimage. The first pillar is the acknowledgement and acceptation of God’s reality and the prophecy of Muhammad. The name of this practice is the Shahadah (or “testimony”). Thus, it is important for Muslims to acknowledge their faith in Allah, in his words and teachings: He is with you wherever you are. (Qur’an 57:4) God is Witness of what they do. (Qur’an 10:46) The second pillar is to perform salat, which is the central pillar for the Islamic religion. This can be explained by the importance of witnessing God’s reality and pray for him. Salat is loved by God than any other human action. Therefore, it is necessary to pray several times a day. Salat accompanies Muslims several times a day and in such a way, Allah’s followers try to please him and underline their adoration of God. The third pillar is Zakat or "alms tax" and the fourth pillar is "to fast during the month of Ramadan ", which are discussed further on in detail. The fifth pillar is pilgrimage to the House of God. Every year Mecca is full of pilgrims and it there are different rituals taken at that place. There is a need for every Muslim to turn into a pilgrim at least once in his life. During previous years Hajj was a difficult journey for Muslims and they went there on foot or by camel. It was not a kind of vacation, as it is now. Muslims have an opportunity to travel to Mecca in order to learn something from other Muslims. 2 pillars and importance of their practices The third pillar is Zakat or "alms tax." Thus, annual profit is to be paid to the poor people. There are eight subcategories of the needy people, to whom zakat should be given: “ the needy, the poor, those who collect the zakat, those whose hearts are to be reconciled to Islam, captives, those in debt, those who are fighting in God's path, and travelers” (Murata & Chittick 1994, p. 19). Muslims have a chance to purify their earnings by sharing it with the needy people. If to compare zakat with the Shahadah or praying, the former does not look like an obligatory practice. Thus, it is more appropriate to develop relationships with God and then with individuals. To my mind, this is a way to purity. This pillar is especially important in the modern world, when the practices of earning money are more important than other activities. Zakat purifies the soul of the Muslim, as well as his earnings. The fourth pillar is "to fast during the month of Ramadan". There are different specific practices during Ramadan. There is no option of eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual activity during this period. Muslims should follow these practices devotedly. Otherwise, there is no a positive outcome reached during fasting. I think that it is rather hard to fast during Ramadan in case an individual does not understand the real intention and the final goal of this practice. Thus, a human’s soul and body are purified during the month of fasting. It is also important to take into account that inner purification leads to a better understanding of Allah and his teachings. Thus, Ramadan is a way to Allah. Conclusion Five Basic Pillars are obligatory directives for Muslims. Their lives should be developed with respect to those practices. In order to understand a final goal of the Qur’an or Islam, it is appropriate to take into account the basic claims of Allah and the prophet Muhammad. To act with respect to their actions and teachings is a blessing for the Muslims all over the world. As for me, both the Qur’an and the Sunnah can be two basic guidelines of my life. Works cited Hallem, Abdel, M.A.S. The Qur’an. 2008. Sachiko, Murata, and Chittick, William, C. The vision of Islam. Paragon House, 1994. Qur’an. Web. http://en.quran.nu/. 23 May 2012. Read More