Picture this, your non-Muslimfriend came to you and wanted you to help him to answer a question. So, heasked you the question,” Hey can you help me what is the meaning of this? Heshowed the word of one of the chapters in the Quran. You will start feeling alittle anxious and a question pop in your head which is “What am I going toanswer him!?”

When it comes to this matter, manydid not seem to care. If you are in the situation such as above, would you ratherfeel ashamed? A non Muslim friend seeking your help and you cannot find theanswer just because you did not know the Quran. I do feel ashamed. In fact youshould be ashamed. A Muslim does not know how to explain the Divine Revelationsto other peoples should be ashamed.

Well, society nowadays inhibits the growth of understanding Quran in the modern world. I believed that the educations which kids and teenagers received these days do not shape up what does the Quran had been revealed to the mankind for the last 1400 years. The society however did what the Quran forbids to do. This is the type of human who only follow their desire. This is indeed the characteristics of human beings that had been revealed in one of the chapters in the Quran. Allah the Most Merciful had revealed in the Quran, Surah Al Furqan: 43 and 44

أَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـهَهُ هَوَاهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ وَكِيلاً - أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ إِنْ هُمْ إِلاَّ كَالاٌّنْعَـمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلاً ﴾

(43. Have you seen him who has taken as his god his own vain desire Would you then be a guardian over him) (44. Or do you think that most of them hear or understand They are only like cattle -- nay, they are even farther astray from the path.)

The Quran stated that whoever solely follows his own desire is worse than the cattle and even astray from the right path. Of course one with healthy mind would verily think this ayat as a reminder for himself. That’s why the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had been sent to be a blessing to the whole universe while the Quran is the reminder to those who fears of Allah. Allah has stated His Glorious Book: Surah Taha:3 and Surah Al Anbiya’:107,

﴿إِلاَّ تَذْكِرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَى ﴾

3.(But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah).)

In his Tafsir, Ibn Kathir stated that Allah revealed His Book and sent His Messenger as a mercy for His servants, so that the person who reflects may be reminded. Thus, a man will benefit from what he hears of the Book of Allah, it is a remembrance in which Allah revealed what He permits and prohibits. His saying,

﴿وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـكَ إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَـلَمِينَ ﴾

107. (And We have sent you not but as a mercy for the `Alamin.)

Here Allah tells us that He (Allah Azza wa Jalla) has made Muhammad a mercy to the `Alamin, i.e., He sent him as a mercy for all of them ﴿peoples﴾, so whoever accepts this mercy and gives thanks for this blessing, will be happy in this world and in the Hereafter. But whoever rejects it and denies it, will lose out in this world and in the Hereafter. Ibn Kathir then continues "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, mercy will be decreed for him in this world and in the Hereafter; whoever does not believe in Allah and His Messenger, will be protected from that which had happened to the nations of earthquakes and stoning.''

Why the ignorance does happen?

The easiest factor to spot is the language of Arabic itself. Many of us did not know the language. In our society, one who goes to maahad or other schools will choose to learn Arabic. While the others, probably learn other languages such as French, Spanish, Japanese etc. It is not wrong to study other languages but without Arabic you cannot learn the Quran. You can read it but understanding the Quran is far from it. I set up a parable to you:

Picture that you are going to sit for an exam and you are given one book only to study for the exam. To your surprise, you does not know the language used in that book. Can you understand the book? Of course the answer will be no.

I am constantly learning Arabic. I did not know much but to tell you the truth, Arabic is different from other language. For example, one word can make other words and the vocabulary is vast. Arabic is the most beautiful language and that’s the reason why Quran, the Divine Revelations that Allah, the most Benevolent and Most Merciful have revealed the Quran in Arabic. In the Quran, Allah has stated in Surah Fussilat:3

﴿كِتَـبٌ فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـتُهُ قُرْءَاناً عَرَبِيّاً لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

3. (A Book whereof the Ayat are explained in detail a Qur'an in Arabic for people who know.) Ibn Kathir stated that:

                                                                                                          ﴿كِتَـبٌ فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـتُهُ﴾

(A Book whereof the Ayat are explained in detail) means, its meanings are clear and its rulings are sound and wise.

﴿قُرْءَاناً عَرَبِيّاً﴾

(a Qur'an in Arabic) means, because it is a clear Arabic Qur'an, its meanings are precise and detailed and its words are clear and not confusing.

﴿لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

(for people who know.) Means, this clear style will be readily understood by scholars who are thoroughly versed in knowledge.

A simple ayat but deep in meaning for those who take this as a reminder.

It is okay if you learn Arabic for the sake of understanding the Quran. It’s not wrong and even good for you although you cannot speak in Arabic. At least you have the desire in your heart into understanding the Quran. Muslims do know that the Quran is the Divine Book that was sent by Allah to the ummah Muhammad (pbuh). Are you not going to follow the guidance of the Creator Himself? Allah said in the Quran: Surah Al Anbiya’:50

وَهَـذَا ذِكْرٌ مُّبَارَكٌ أَنزَلْنَـهُ أَفَأَنْتُمْ لَهُ مُنكِرُونَ ﴾

(50. And this is a blessed Reminder which We have sent down; will you then deny it?)

But sadly these days, we did not see the excellence characteristics that was lay down by the Quran. Whether it is individual, society and the nation itself have failed to follow the teachings and the guidance from the Holy Quran. They were tricked by this world, they were sought to believe that the wealthy possession which they owned in this world will be brought in the Hereafter. It is only you deeds in this world that can save you. Allah stated in the Quran:Surah Al Kahfi:46

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَـقِيَاتُ الصَّـلِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلاً ﴾

(46. Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds that last, are better with your Lord for reward and better for hope.)

Strive towards it

We now know that the lack of knowledge of Arabic language is the reason why many Muslims failed to understand the Quran and Sunnah. Mainly because they cannot interpret, understand and keep the teachings of the Quran firm in their hearts. The reasons why I write this article are to inject you with the spirit of wanting to learn the Quran. At a very young age, you can learn a lot of things. You can learn music, arts, and sports. But why not you learn the Quran and the Guidance from the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)?

I remember a Hadith:

Verily Allah record good and evil, then explain both of them. Hence who intend to made good, then does not do ,Allah records for it a virtue (reward), and if it is done ,hence jot down ten good (reward), and maybe added to seventy multiply folding or more than that. And when someone intend would make evil, hence it was not done, Allah record for her a virtue (reward).and if the ill-will is implemented, then Allah write for him an evil."

(H.R Bukhari and Muslim) 

Allah the Almighty has given His Blessings to us. If you understand the hadith, let us all strive towards doing good deeds in our life even when we intend or niat in ourselves to do good deeds.

Allah stated in the Glorious Book of the Holy Quran:Surah Al Isra:97.

﴿وَمَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِهِ وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا مَّأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا ﴾

(97. And he whom Allah guides, he is led aright; and whomever He leaves astray can never find helpers other than Him, and We shall gather them together on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their abode will be Hell; whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.)

In other verses, Allah said in Surah An Nur:46

﴿لَّقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ ءَايَـتٍ مُّبَيِّنَـتٍ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴾

(46. We have indeed sent down manifest Ayat. And Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path.)

According to Ibn Kathir, Allah states that in this Qur'an He has revealed many clear and unambiguous rulings, words of wisdom and parables, and that He guides people of understanding, insight and intellect to ponder and understand them.

Which one is better? You choose.

﴿قُلْ أَذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ أَمْ جَنَّةُ الْخُلْدِ الَّتِى وَعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَزَآءً وَمَصِيراً - لَّهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَآءُونَ خَـلِدِينَ كَانَ عَلَى رَبِّكَ وَعْداً مَّسْئُولاً ﴾

(15. Say: "Is that better or the Paradise of Eternity which is promised to those who have Taqwa'' It will be theirs as a reward and final destination.) (16. For them there will be therein all that they desire, and they will abide (therein forever). It is upon your Lord a Wa`dan Mas'ula(a binding pledge).)

Conclusion

The Quran is the Book which leads mankind into the right path. Quran is the cure for one who is still looking for the answers regarding life itself. One should grab this opportunity to grab the chance to believe, to read, to understand, to memorize, and to follow its guidance. What more possibly other reasons that prevent one from understanding the Quran? Is it one was occupied with his job? Is it one wanted this world? One was must remember who is the Giver of all things of all the provisions in the heavens and the earth themselves.

Al Quran is the cure for you. Al Quran will treat your sickness in your heart. Al Quran will lead you towards the right path. It is unfortunate for anybody who turns away from the teachings of the Quran.

﴿وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلاَ يَزِيدُ الظَّـلِمِينَ إَلاَّ خَسَارًا ﴾

Surah Al Isra’:(82. And We send down of the Qur'an that which is a cure and a mercy to the believers, and it increases the wrongdoers in nothing but loss.)

﴿لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـباً فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ

Surah Al Anbiya’:(10. Indeed, We have sent down for you a Book in which there is Dhikrukum. Will you not then understand?)

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullah.

Thank you for reading.