. J (cont.)

It is neither the Book explaining the fundamentals of physical sciences nor the laws of medical science, it is meant to guide people to the path of righteousness. This book is in fact a visible expression of a very favourable response from the Lord for the supplication made to Him in the concluding part of surah al-Fatiha that Allah, in His infinite mercy, should direct the humanity on the right path. 2 Although this point should be quite obvious, it is something that is often forgotten. People have a tendency to turn to the Quran for reasons other than trying to receive the guidance of how to believe and live. People read it for the sake of barakah (blessings) or to cure illnesses. Some read it as some sort of intellectual journey, learning about the past, metaphysics or to get some temporary spiritual high. When this occurs, and the Quran is not looked upon first and foremost as a book of guidance, the true blessing and teaching of the Quran is lost, although people might still continue to read it.3 It also should be noted that the guidance that it gives covers all realms of human life. In other words, it is not simply a guidance related to ritual matters. It guides man in its relation to his Lord, to other humans in society, and even to himself. The fundamental and guiding principles for social, political and financial life are all encompassed as part of its teachings and guidance. The most important guidance it contains is the guidance related to knowing one's Lord and one's relationship with his Lord. Allah has made all of 1 Quoted in ibn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 28. 2 Abdul Hameed Siddiqi, The Holy Quran: English Translation and Explanatory Notes (Lahore, Pakistan: Islamic Book Centre, n.d.), vol. I , p. 1 1, fn. 5. 3See the author's "How to Approach and Understand the Quran" (I), al-Basheer (Vol. 5, No. 2, July-August 1991), pp. 1 1-14, for a more-detailed discussion of this point. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi these matters very clear in the Quran. If a person sincerely turns to the Quran and sincerely seeks this guidance from the Quran, this Quran will be a proof or witness for him on the Day of Judgment. However, if a person turns away from the Quran and does not bother to benefit from what the Quran has to offer him, then the Quran will be a proof against him on the Day of Judgment. Allah's revealing of the Quran is one of the greatest blessings that He has bestowed upon mankind. There is virtually no excuse for anyone's not benefiting from the Quran. The meaning of the Quran is clear. Its message to all of mankind is clear. If a person does not turn to it, learn it and apply it, he will be misusing one of the greatest blessings from Allah. On the Day of Resurrection, he will have no argument on his behalf. Instead, it will be the Quran that will be a witness against him. On the other hand, if a person turns to the Quran and benefits from this great blessing in a proper way, it will be a witness or proof for him on the Day of Judgment. He had followed the guidance that came from Allah and this was all that was required from him in this life. In the Hereafter, the Quran will be his guide to Paradise. "And everyone goes out in the morning and sells himself, either freeing or destroying himself." This part of the hadith is stating an important aspect of reality. Every day a human is faced with a new situation. Every morning he gets up, he is going to do something. Every day he is either going to obey Allah or he is going to disobey Allah. In essence, every day he is going to be setting himself free from the Hell-fire or leading himself to the Hell-fire and his own destruction. Like the stance toward the Quran, there is no third option. Every day of a person's life, he is either doing something that will set his soul free or he is doing something that will destroy himself. Even the person who sits and seemingly does absolutely nothing is, in reality, actually leading himself to some result. Allah says in the Quran, ,,,. ., J ., ,.,, .... ';Z.... ,,.. / ;:i:i ,,.,,,.. ,,,. ..,. ;.. / - ;.. / ț ' ; .എI L, J...l.o• ୴ '_a_j\j ' L..ǯ\ l l.ALi ɉ ഏ- :- J ഐI..> ഑if "Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes); as for him who gives and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, and believes in a reward [from Allah], We will make smooth for him the path of ease [goodness]. But he who is greedy and thinks himself self-sufficient, and belies Hadith #23: "Purification is Half of Faith . . . " the good reward, We will make smooth for him the path for evil" (al-Lail 410).