AS UNIT K WORLD RELIGIONS 2 | ISLAM: 1 - THE WAY OF SUBMISSION | 1 - THE QURAN THE QURAN The Quran is unique amongst

the heavenly-revealed books in that it has been faithfully preserved since its revelation in the 7th century CE. For the Muslims, it represents a link between man and his Creator, a book of guidance and wisdom in the form of laws, admonitions, parables and rational argument. About this great bounty and blessing of mankind, God says:

O men! there has come to you indeed an admonition from your Lord and a healing for what is in the breasts and a guidance and a mercy for the believers. (Yunus 10:57)

THE USE OF THE QURAN IN WORSHIP The Quran itself directs the Muslim about the manner and method of worship. In certain acts of worship, the method is as taught by the Quran and explained by the prophet (S); in other acts, portions of the Quran are recited. Looking at the usage of the Quran in the daily prayers: In the daily prayers (salat) that Muslims must pray five times every day, they are required to recite portions of the Quran. In the first and second units of the salat, the complete chapter Fatiha is recited, followed by a portion of any other chapter (Sunni) or another complete chapter (Shia). The Quran itself speaks of prayer in several contexts. The following are some examples: Salat protects the reciter from evil and vice (29/45); it strengthens the belief and leads to certainty (15/98-99); it is the best investment (with zakat) for the hereafter (35/29-30); the purpose of salat is to remember God (20/14); it must be prayed with reverence (23/2)

The Times of Prayer In Suratu Hud, three timings are mentioned; these are for the morning prayer (subh) and evening prayer (maghrib), which are denoted by the phrase tarafayin nahar (the two ends of the day), and the night prayer (isha) which is denoted by the phrase, zulfan minal layl (the first hours of the night):

And keep up prayer at both extremes (start and end) of the day and in the first hours of the night; surely good deeds take away evil deeds this is a reminder to the mindful. (Hud: 11/114)

AS UNIT K WORLD RELIGIONS 2 | ISLAM: 1 - THE WAY OF SUBMISSION | 1 - THE QURAN In Suratu Rum, the maghrib, fajr, isha and zuhr prayers are mentioned. According to the verse, the time for zuhr is midday.

Therefore glory be to Allah when you enter upon the time of the evening and when you enter upon the time of the morning. And to Him belongs praise in the heavens and the earth, and at nightfall and when you are at midday. (al-Rum, 30/17-18)

In Suratu Isra, the time for the afternoon prayers (asr) is mentioned:

Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and the morning recitation; surely the morning recitation is witnessed. (al-Isra, 17/78)

The Friday (Jumua) Prayers The Friday prayers are congregational prayers that Muslims hold every Friday in lieu of the zuhr prayer. It has two sermons in place of the first two units of zuhr, and then a truncated two-unit prayer. The purpose of the sermon is to inspire and remind the Muslims about their duties towards God and each other, and also inform them of the plight of Muslims in other regions as well as to address local and current concerns. The Quran says the following about this important prayer:

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O you who believe! when the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trading; that is better for you, if you know. But when the prayer is ended, then disperse abroad in the land and seek of Allah's grace, and remember Allah much, that you may be successful. (al-Jumua, 62/9-10)

TASK: Research Jumua (Friday) prayers on a Friday and the type of sermon (khutba) that might be given based on the Quran. THE USE OF THE QURAN IN EVERYDAY LIFE Muslims are recommended to recite the Quran regularly and ponder over the meanings of the verses the Quran says:

Do they not then meditate on the Quran? And if it were from any other than Allah, they would have found in it many a discrepancy. (al-Nisa, 4/82)

AS UNIT K WORLD RELIGIONS 2 | ISLAM: 1 - THE WAY OF SUBMISSION | 1 - THE QURAN

Do they not then reflect on the Quran or are there locks on their hearts? (Muhammad, 47/24)

The Prophet (S) greatly recommended that the verses of the Quran be memorized. He is reported as saying, The best of you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it to others.1 He also said that those who had recited more of the Quran and collected and memorized more of it, were more deserving to lead the other Muslims in prayer.2 The Prophet (S) greatly encouraged people to memorize and refresh their memories of the Quran. Muslim reports that he said, Try to refresh your memories of the Quran for it is more apt to escape from mens minds than a hobbled camel.3 There is a great emphasis to recite the Quran in the month of Ramadan. In this regard the Prophet (S) has said: For everything there is a high season, and the season for the recitation of the Quran is the month of Ramadan. THE USE OF THE QURAN AS A SOURCE OF LAW Although the Quran is not a book of laws as such, it is one of the primary sources of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) There are approximately 500 verses regarding rulings, after removing repetitions, there are some 200 unique verses -about various laws Some examples are: Wudhu (5:6) Fasting (2:183-184) Haj (2:196) Respect to parents (17:23) Against Abortion (6:151) IMPORTANCE OF THE QURAN FOR MUSLIMS It follows from the nature and authority of the Quran that it is the most holy thing a Muslim can possess:
1 2 3

A Muslim should not handle a copy of the Quran unless he or she is ritually pure; this also applies to reciting it. Most Muslims will keep their Quran wrapped up so that it does not become polluted. A Muslim should not recite the Quran in an unclean place or in questionable contexts. They will always keep it on a shelf higher than all other books; they will not read it without first washing their hands.
Bukhari, Sahih, vol. 6, bk. 61, no. 545. al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 89. Muslim, Sahih, bk. 4 no. 1724.

AS UNIT K WORLD RELIGIONS 2 | ISLAM: 1 - THE WAY OF SUBMISSION | 1 - THE QURAN Muslims will not eat, drink, or involve themselves in casual conversation whole reading the Quran and will never let it rest below their navel. In the Mosque special Quran stands are provided so that you can read the Quran whilst sitting on the floor without the Quran itself touching the floor. Before reciting any portion of the text, a Muslim should first take refuge by uttering the formula: I take refuge with God from the accursed Satan after which is recited, whether or not it happens at that place in the text: In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. At the close of the recitation, one should say: God Almighty has spoken truly. The phrase of refuge-seeking before the recitation and the closing phrase testifying to the divine truthfulness constitute a sort of verbal ritual enclosure or sanctuary around the recited text, preserving it from evil promptings and insincerity. Each sura is recited in the name of God, not the name of Muhammad. (Muslims believe that each sura is a sign of Gods compassion and mercy because he had not left them alone to get on with their lives, but has given them the Quran so that they know how to live). And therefore it follows that Muslims have to read, understand and follow the Quran.

Popular uses of the Quran There are many ritual uses of the Quran, beyond recitation in prayer and devotion. On the popular level, the Quran is often used as a protective device against evil spirits and influences: A passage from it may be written on paper and enclosed in an amulet which is hung from the neck. Or a complete mushaf will be mounted in a prominent place in a private car or taxi. Or a sick person may be given a potion made by mixing water with the ink that has been used to write a Quranic charm. Drinking this dissolved ink is thought by some to help heal through the great baraka (spiritual power) of the Quran. The last two suras of the Quran are called the two Charms and are legitimately used to ward off the evil of sorcerers and witches. In the Quranic world-view, magic is real and threatening. It must sometimes be countered with magical means, of which the Quran is most potent. Black magic is condemned, as is any magic that invokes any power other than Gods. The power in any event is Gods and not, strictly speaking, the practitioners. The rituals of Muslims social relations include phrases and expressions mined from the Quran:

AS UNIT K WORLD RELIGIONS 2 | ISLAM: 1 - THE WAY OF SUBMISSION | 1 - THE QURAN The Muslim greeting is from the Quran (e.g., 6:54, 16:32): al-salamu alaykum (Peace be unto you), and is normally reserved for use among Muslims exclusively. The common phrase that accompanies any human intention concerning the future is insha Allah (if God wills) When someone has been complimented or praised, the speaker should immediately exclaim ma sha Allah (What God has willed!). When someone is asked how his or her health is, the answer is alhamdu li-llah (praise be to God)

COMPARISONS OF THE QURAN WITH THE HADITH AND THE SUNNA Quran: The unchanged words of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S). Hadith Qudsi: (Sacred tradition): These are the words of God as reported and paraphrased by the Prophet (S). Other Prophets (A) also experienced these words. Hadith: Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Prophet (S). Another definition is anything related to the Prophet (S) other than the Quran (Ibn Hajar). Khabar: Similar to hadith but can include reports and sayings of the companions (sahaba) and those who followed the companions (tabiin). Athar: These are generally reports that are attributed to the companions and successors. Sunnah: (Customary practice): This is the established practice and manners of the Prophet (S). After the Quran, the sunnah is the main source of Islamic law.