By Nurul Sabrina

Let’s read the meaning of verse 2 in Surah Al-Bakarah (The Cow):

This is the Book! There is no doubt about it—a guide for those mindful ˹of Allah˺. Isn’t it impressive that Allah started of Chapter 2 of the Qur’an about the holy Qur’an itself and the verse already explains that Al-Qur’an is the truth and a guidance for human kind!

Let’s dive into 3 things which إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ (In sha Allah) opens one’s heart to start reciting the Qur’an and they are:

Evidence in Al-Qur’an
Beauty of Qur’an and Arabic Language
Al-Qur’an is Eternity Relevancy

Evidence in Al-Qur’an

Was there a time in your life where you question to yourself why are you on this Earth?

If you ever had, you aren’t alone! Ever since I was a little girl, the mini me have tonnes of questions and was curious about life and how the world was created as how we see it now.

Mini me till now loves to look at the skies, moon, sun rise, sunset and stars. I love galaxies and even had a book on it along with planets and solar system.

Would you believe me if I say that Allah answers your queries and it can be found in the Qur’an Let me share with you a verse from the Qur’an about galaxy. Surah Fussilat (Explained in Detail) verse 11 (41:11)

ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌۭ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًۭا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ ١١

Then He turned towards the heaven when it was ˹still like˺ smoke, saying to it and to the earth, ‘Submit, willingly or unwillingly.’ They both responded, ‘We submit willingly.’

Figure 1: The photo depicts from New Zealand stargazing source of Tarantula Nebula during my visit in New Zealand

The smoke in Surah Fussilat verse 11 refers to an opaque highly dense and hot gaseous composition. Above picture of Tarantula Nebula is a cloud of gas and dust.

The Qur’an covers various topics from way of life to laws to explaining science and many more.

Therefore, the Qur’an has the information and answers one has and these are all from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَ.

Beauty of Al-Qur’an and Arabic Language

The little me used to question why was the Qur’an in Arabic.

My question was answered when I was a student in University where Al-Qur’an came down when the Arabs was at the level of eloquence in Arabic language.

At the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Arabs used to compose beautiful and excellent poetry.

When the Qur’an was revealed to the Arabs through our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَ challenged the Arabs to produce a chapter like the chapters of the holy Qur’an.

None has yet to meet the challenge even with as little as 10 words (Referring to Surah Al-Kawthar (The Abundance), Chapter 108 of the holy Qur’an)

Next, Arabic language is very rich where it has very systematic rules of grammar and word formation. I learnt these rules when I was learning basic Arabic Language in University. Here is an example of word formation:

By default, a noun is masculine / مُذَكَّر (Mudhakkar) except those that carry a feminine / مُؤَنَّث (Mu’annat).

Nouns end with ta’marbutah (ة/ـة) are considered as feminine with some exception cases such as male name: Talhah (طلحة)

One who loves language would be able to appreciate the words of Allah i.e. Al-Qur’an.

Fun Fact about Al-Qur’an

Al-Qur’an demonstrates semitic coherence. Semitic coherence in the Qur’an is where the key message of the whole discussion was situated at the centre. An example in surah Yusuf.

For more examples and understading of coherence in Al-Qur’an: Coherence: Evidence of the Quran’s Literary Depth – Understand Al Quran Academy

Al-Qur’an is Eternity Relevancy

Al-Qur’an is relevant to everyone in every nation and era (including the jinn as there are jinn that are Muslim too!) The Qur’an remained the source of evidence, inspiration, wisdom and healing for all humanity.

Let’s talk about the past, most of the stories reminds us of Allah. The importance of faith, perseverance and consequences (i.e. going against Allah)

Example of faith and perseverance would be Firaun’s wife Asiya. She became a Muslim shortly after Prophet Musa عليه السلام publicly defeated Firaun’s sorcerers (Surah Ash-Shu’ara (The Poets) verse 45, 26:45)

فَأَلْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ ٤٥

Then Moses threw down his staff, and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their (The Sorcerers) illusion!

When Firaun knows about Asiya’s faith, he tortured her. This was her Dua (Surah At-Tahrim (The Prohibition) verse 11, 66:11)

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًۭا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ١١

And Allah sets forth an example for the believers: the wife of Pharaoh, who prayed, “My Lord! Build me a house in Paradise near You, deliver me from Pharaoh and his ˹evil˺ doing, and save me from the wrongdoing people.”

Asiya was one of the earliest Muslim martyrs.

For present, many of the things from the Qur’an were only discovered by modern science. It is interesting how sciences are mentioned in the Qur’an from formation of the world to the formation of the rain to human reproduction.

The first discovery and understanding of human reproduction process is in 1677 and Qur’an has mentioned this in 1400s.

Let’s read the process of the reproduction of human from Surah Al-Mu’minun (The Believers) verses 12 to 14.

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن سُلَـٰلَةٍۢ مِّن طِينٍۢ ١٢

And indeed, We created humankind from an extract of clay,

ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ نُطْفَةًۭ فِى قَرَارٍۢ مَّكِينٍۢ ١٣

then placed each ˹human˺ as a sperm-drop in a secure place,

ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا ٱلنُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْمُضْغَةَ عِظَـٰمًۭا فَكَسَوْنَا ٱلْعِظَـٰمَ لَحْمًۭا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَـٰهُ خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقِينَ ١٤

then We developed the drop into a clinging clot, then developed the clot into a lump ˹of flesh˺, then developed the lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.

Lastly for the future, in the Qur’an, Allah provides description of Jannah (Heaven), Qiyammah (The End of times) and Jahanam (Hellfire) where Allah covers what will happen in the future.

I believe all of us are looking forward to enter Jannah.

Thank you for reading thus far. Let me end of with a verse regarding the description of Jannah where إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ all of us and the Martyrs will meet in Jannah آمين (Amiin). Surah Ar-Ra’d (The Thunder) verse 23-24, 13:23-24).

جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍۢ ٢٣

the Gardens of Eternity, which they will enter along with the righteous among their parents, spouses, and descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, ˹saying,˺

سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ ٢٤

“Peace be upon you for your perseverance. How excellent is the ultimate abode (a place of residence; a house or a home)!”

A big thanks to Ustaz Sameer for having this outlet for reflection on Al-Qur’an.

And a big thanks to my beloved parents who provide ideas and be my second pair of eyes for this writing.