Craving Change? Here's the Qur'an!

He must have tasted the beauty of Qur'an, don't you think? On the other hand, a British parliamentarian stood in parliament house, held the Qur'an, and said that this has been memorized, so getting rid of the Qur'an itself will not help, but those who keep it in their hearts and minds are the real targets!

The question is, can the Qur'an really touch someone's heart? How so? Do Muslims know this about Jefferson? How many? If Muslims knew that their teachings were used in this way by Jefferson, would they have a stronger stand in the world?

Let's see what some Australian youth think about this.

Tasnim, 17

Palestinian/Australian

Allah revealed the Qur'an to all humankind regardless of their linguistic, cultural, or religious background. The Almighty did not specify one nation (i.e. Arabs). Muslims around the world come from many non-Arabic backgrounds, each group according to its own cultural peculiarities. this is enough to prove that Islam and the Qur'an is not guidance for Arabs only, but that it can be understood and applied to suit the life of any individual, in any circumstances, and in any century.

The Qur'an can definitely have an impact on people's lives if they read, contemplate, and understand it. The Qur'an contains many stories, instructions, and advice to those who are open-minded and search for the true meaning of life. Almighty Allah states, [Is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you [Muhammad] the Book that is recited to them? Indeed in that is a mercy and reminder for a people who believe](Al-`Ankabut 29:51).

The Qur'an is a sacred book that not only works as a constitution outlining the laws that Muslims should adhere to in their daily life, but it is also known for the way it is beautifully recited in Arabic and the inner peace one attains upon listening to it.

There are two verses of the Qur'an that have a major touch on my heart, and they are self-explanatory.

First Verse [Believers are they whose hearts tremble with awe whenever Allah is mentioned, and whose faith is strengthened whenever His messages are conveyed unto them, and who in their Sustainer place their trust](Al-Anfal 8:2).

Second Verse [Had We bestowed this Qur'an, from on high, upon a mountain, you would indeed see it humbling itself, breaking asunder for awe of Allah. And [all] such parables We propound unto people, that they might [learn to] think](Al-Hashr 59:21).

A person that has never been caressed by the beauty of the Qur'an has probably not attempted to try to understand or appreciate the miracle of the Qur'an and the purpose of its revelation.

I really don't believe there is a secret to it, a person will not be affected by it unless he or she really understands it and acknowledges that it is the greatest blessing and one of the innumerable bounties Almighty Allah has bestowed upon humankind.

Tafseer[exegesis of Qur’an and Sunnah] lessons are a really effective way to get close to the Qur'an and, as a result, get closer to Almighty Allah, which is surely every Muslim's ultimate wish.

The fact that a previous US president used the Qur'an as a guide to shape legislation proves to Muslims and non-Muslims alike that the Qur'an is not a historical book that has lost its true value in a modernized world. It also demonstrates how the Qur'an has practical guidelines to effective law making.

The laws created by the Muslims during the caliphate were all made in the light of the Qur'an and Sunnah, and that was a period — actually, there were several Islamic civilizations within that period — when the Islamic civilization was at its peak. If more Muslims were aware of this fact, undoubtedly they would have a more solid stand in front of the rest of the world.

Louay, 16

Lebanese/Australian

I think the Qur'an has all the answers for a lot of the problems that we are facing in our current time today.

People can have a flick through it, and they will be able to pick up something interesting and lively.

I don't think it is fair to say that you have to be Arab to understand the Qur'an. That is why these days we have, al-hamdu lillah, translations of the Qur'an in languages you didn't even think existed!

Seyma, 19

Turkish/Australian

I remember the first thing that ever attracted me to the holy Qur'an. It was when I went through the index and had a read of the names of the surahs; I felt they were totally symbolic and that they sounded as if they had a deeper meaning.

After the "name attraction," I began to read some of the tafseer found online, and it was amazing to read about the meaning of the short surahs that are recited every day in the five daily Prayers. It got more interesting when there turned to be a whole story behind the verses and the surahs.

The Qur'an is a living constitution. It was one for yesterday, it is for today, and it will forever be, in sha' Allah. The fact that a US president using the Qur'an for such a purpose has sent chills to my spine.

Muslims in the past were the leaders, the caretakers, the right givers, and the best of all; the winners! For sure we would be standing in a total different shelf number if we all knew this about Jefferson.

The least one can do is to make du`aa' (supplication) to Almighty Allah to grant us that gift of being able to reflect upon the fascinating teachings the Qur'an offered and still offers today.

Fatimah, 15

Egyptian/Australian

Almighty Allah has specifically chosen the Qur'an to be recited in the Arabic language. So to be able to speak Arabic is no doubt an advantage, and it helps in understanding the general meaning of the Qur'an — most of the time anyway. This, though, does not necessarily mean that non-Arabic speaker will have a problem in finding out what the rich teachings are.

Al-hamdu lillah, these days we are able to find many books and online tafaseer (publications containing Qur'anic exegesis) that can provide a general, as well as a detailed, meaning of the Qur'an.

Personally, this has helped me become more aware of how great the Qur'an is and the sort of power it had on the people of the past even when they remained disbelievers. This comes down to my favorite surah, An-Najm (Arabic for "The Star").

I especially enjoy the early part of it, as these verses describe what had happened with Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Night Journey (Al-Israa').

Also, these were the verses that he (peace and blessings be upon him) had read upon the people of Quraish and were instantly so touched by it that when the verse read was ordering them to make sujud (prostration), they all did! It is miraculous, subhan Allah.

Almighty Allah says, [And whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest] (Ar-Ra`d 13:28).

This clearly shows that everyone can be affected by reading the Qur'an. Understanding it gives it extra flavor. Yet, by just reading it can provide complete satisfaction and rest to the heart, and it is known that the heart is the station for further reflection.

Hena, 15

Pakistani/Australian

I don't speak Arabic at all. Yet, after reading the Qur'an for so many years, I came to realize that there are words that recur in every page; after finding out about some of the meanings, it turned out that these passages or pages had a story to tell.

Examples of words were like Nar, Jahannam, Jaheem (Hellfire), kafir, (disbeliever), Munafiqun (hypocrites), and Jannah (Heaven).

These are just words, far away from the full meaning of the verses, but still I felt that it has assisted me in shifting my mood when I read, because every time the words change, the topic and the group of people that Almighty Allah talks about change too.

Sometimes in the same page, I get to experience fear, mercy, and love. When reading further with the meaning, I become astonished when I come across the endless communication skills used by Almighty Allah to convey His message through the prophets sent to the different groups of people in the past.

Sources:

"How Thomas Jefferson Read the Quran. " Web Islam. 30 Jan. 2007. Accessed 25 Sept. 2007.

"Al-Qur'an - The Great and Holy Book. " Batkhela. Accessed 25 Sept. 2007.

Shayma Alshakshir is studying professional writing and editing at Victoria University of Technology (VUT). She is involved with the VUT's student magazine and with voluntary community work including youth and tajweed classes. She can be reached at: youth_campaign@iolteam.com