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3 Allah has given patience precedence over prayers in the following verse, "Seek help in patience and prayer. And truly this is hard except upon the true believers who humble themselves [to Allah]" (al-Baqara 45). Al-Haitami states that Allah has mentioned the most important aspect'fi rst (patience), followed by another important aspect (prayer). Al-Haitami also mentions the following "And We made from among them [the Tribes of Israel], leaders giving guidance under Our command, when they were patient and believed with certainty in Our signs" (al-Sajdah 24). Al-Haitami notes that Allah states the cause as, "when they were patient," and not, "when they prayed.'.4 Al-Qaari comments that patience is a dhiyaa' for the person in the grave. In other words, if a person has patience, meaning he fulfills the 1 Al-Nawawi, Sharh sahih, vol. 3, p. 1 0 1 . 2 Al-Sabbaagh, p. 59. The same cannot be said for a small amount of light (noor). 3 Al-Haitami, Fath, p. 188. 4 Al-Haitami, Fath, p. 189. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi obligatory and avoids the forbidden, Allah will reward him by giving him light in the darkness and compact space of his grave.1 "The Quran is either an argument for or against you." In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) makes it clear that the Quran is either a proof for someone or a proof against him. There is no third, neutral party. One must be from one group or the other. This is similar to what Allah has said in the Quran, ;Ii .... J "i .,Ill JJ. - ':J\ ૨1 ୋ_; -g:, ૩}JJ ୵):, ;w 8 A ,,,. ,,,. ,,,. ,..,, ,,,. .,,,. "And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe. And it increases the wrongdoers nothing but loss" (al-Israa 82). This verse shows the diametrically opposite results that come about through the Quran. If a person turns to it with belief and seeks its guidance, it is a healing and a mercy. However, if a person ignores the Quran and refuses to follow it, that does not harm the Quran in any way. Indeed, that only harms the person himself. The Quran will then come as a witness against that person and will lead him to the Hell-fire. Commenting on this verse, Qatada stated that no one sits with the Quran except that it will either increase or decrease him.2 In other words, any time one listens to the Quran, it will either increase his faith and blessings or it will cause him greater harm due to his neglect of it. One of the early scholars stated that a person may be reading the Quran while the Quran is cursing him. For example, in the Quran, Allah curses the wrongdoers while the person himself is reading the Quran and not applying it. He is, therefore, one of the wrongdoers. He is reading his own curse and not even realizing it. 3 One of the early scholars stated that no one sits with the Quran and stands up from it while remaining the same as he was before. Either he profited from it or he lost due to it. And then the person recited the above verse.4 The Companion ibn Masood stated that if a person puts the Quran in front of him, as a guide, it will lead him to Paradise. If he puts it behind him, not using it as a guide, it will take him to the Hell-fire. On another occasion, he said, "The Quran will come on the Day of Resurrection. It will intercede for its companion and will be a guide to Paradise. Or it will come as a witness against him and drive him to the Hell-fire."5 1 Al-Qaari, vol. I , p. 320. 2 Quoted in al-Qurtuhi, vol. 10, p. 321 . 3 Cf., al-Sahhaagh, p. 68. 4 Quoted in ihn Rajah, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 26. 5 Quoted in ihn Rajah, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 27. Hadith #23: "Purification is Half of Faith . . . " Abu Musa al-Ashari, another Companion, stated, "This Quran will be a reward for you or it will be a burden upon you. Follow the Quran and do not have the Quran follow you up. For one who follows the Quran, he will descend with it into the gardens of Paradise. And for one who is followed up by the Quran, he will have it take him by the back of his neck and he will be thrown into the Hell-fire."1 The Quran is First and Foremost a Book of Guidance In the opening verses of surah al-Baqarah, at the beginning of the Quran, it is explicitly mentioned that the Quran is guidance. This demonstrates the major goal of the Quran: to guide humanity to the Straight Path with all of its connotations. As Abdul Hameed Siddiqi wrote, This explains the main purpose of this Divine Book. This Book is primarily meant as a Book of right guidance for humanity.