Transcript Islamic Studies Courses in De Anza, Mission, Chabot, and Ohlone Colleges Designed and Taught By Hafiz M.

Islamic Studies Courses in
De Anza, Mission, Chabot, and Ohlone
Colleges
Designed and Taught By
Hafiz M. K. Siddiqi, Ph.D.
First Major Source of
Islam
The Holy Qur’an
First Revelation
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Prophet Muhammad pbuh received the first revelation
of the Holy Qur’an from 96/1-5, as confirmed in the
following chapter
We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the night
of power, (in the Holy month of Ramadan) and what
will explain to you what the night of power is? The
night of power is better than a thousand months.
Wherein come down the angels and the Spirit by
God’s permission on every errand: Peace! This until
the morning. 97/1-5
Read in the name of your Sustainer who
has created, created man out of a germcell. Read for your Sustainer is the most
Bountiful one who has taught (Man) the
use of pen, taught man what he did not
know. 96/1-5
This was the most powerful beginning of
a civilization which reached three
continents of the world within first
century
The Holy Qur’an
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It has 6349 Ayaat/verses (Ayah, singular),
It has 30 equal parts (Juz, Ajzaa’),
It has 114 Surahs (Chapters)
It was first revealed in the month of Ramadan
Its main subject is guidance to the humankind
Its main theme is God consciousness
It is the answer to the question: How should I behave
in order to accomplish success in both worlds
Famous Names of the Qur’an
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Qur’an: Reading, recitation, collection 2/185,
17/9, it contains the best and most relevant of
all previous messages
Furqan: Criterion between the right and wrong
25/1, 2/185, 36/2
Tanzil: Revelation, 26/192
Dhikr: Reminder, 15/9
Nur: Light, 4/174
Kitab: Book/scripture, 2/2
Verily this Qur’an shows the way to
all that is most upright…17/9
Maw’idhah: Admonition. Shifaa’: Cure. Huda:
Guidance, Rahmah: Mercy, 10/57
Mubarak: Blessed. Musaddiq: Confirming the
truth of previous revelations, 6/92
Azeez: Sublime, Powerful, 41/41
Majeed: Holy, 85/21
Basheer: Herald of glad tidings. Nadheer:
Warner, 41/4
Makiyyah and Madaniyyah
Makkiyyah: The portions, segments, and verses
which were revealed before migration to
Madinah, in the first 13 years of the mission of
prophet Muhammad pbuh, in Makkah or
elsewhere
Madaniyyah: the portions, segments and verses
revealed after the migration in last 10 years in
Madinah or elsewhere
The revelation of the Qur’an
The Holy Qur’an was revealed in piece-meal
in a period of 23 years of the mission of
Prophet Muhammad pbuh, to make its
memorization, understanding and practicing
Easy. The heavenly guidance was coming to
cover the events on the ground, answer the
questions, and provide the wisdom for the
Humankind.
Angel Gabriel
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Angel Gabriel used to bring the messages of Allah
swt to Prophet Muhammad pbuh
His duties were: A. To convey the divine message
B. To wait until the Prophet had memorized the
verses/revelation C. To review the revealed
messages annually in the month of Ramadan
D. To give reference number of Surah and Verse
In the year of the death of Prophet, Angel Gabriel
reviewed the whole Qur’an twice
Kuttabul-Wahy (writers of
revelation)
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There were over thirty companions of Prophet
Muhammad pbuh, who were assigned the duty
of writing the Holy Qur’an as and when it was
received by the Prophet. 5-6 of them were
always present near the Prophet (24/7).
The writers of revelation were not allowed to
write Hadith (Prophet’s sayings, actions, and
approvals) or any thing else.
Famous Qur’anic Terms
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Hafiz/Huffaz: a person who renders the whole
Qur’an to his memory
Qari/Qurraa’, Muqri/Muqri’oon: a person who
professionally recites the Holy Qur’an, and has
completed his education in Qur’anic sciences,
especially in Tajweed: the discipline of reading
Qur’an with all the rules, regulations, and
styles of chanting.
Terms in daily use
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Subhanallah: God is glorified, used when
praising something or someone
Takbeer: to say Allahu Akbar (God is greatest)
instead of applauding for someone, especially
in the Mosque’s gatherings
Al-Hamdulillah: Praise be to God, when
thanking Him for His numerous bounties
In Shaa Allah: God willing, when you want to
do something in future
Terms……
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Maa Shaa Allah: this is how God willed, to praise
someone and also to protect from evil eye
Barakallahu Feekum: God bless you, this prayer can
be said to anyone to appreciate him/her
Jazakallahu Khayra: May God reward you with best
rewards
Assalamu Alaykum: peace be with you, this is Islamic
greeting, the answer is: Wa ‘Alaykumus Salam Wa
Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh: peace, mercy and
blessings of God be upon you.
Occasions for recitation
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The Holy Qur’an is recited in every important
occasion in the Muslim world and wherever
Muslims live
The most important occasion is the Holy
month of Ramadan (9th month in Islamic lunar
calendar year) being the anniversary of the
revelation of the Holy Qur’an
In 5 daily, and all other regular, and special
occasion’s prayers
Occasions…..
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At the birth, death, wedding, conferences, at
the purchase of a new house, beginning of a
child’s education, graduation, peace and war
times, at natural disasters etc.
Muslims are recommended to read it at the
beginning of each day after the morning prayer
for a short while.
At the time of sickness its reading is combined
with the medicine for its healing power
General Topics of Qur’an
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Shari’ah, Siyasah, Khilafah: Islamic legal, political,
and caliphate system
Ibadaat: devotional deeds, including the five pillars of
Islam
Akhlaq: Islamic ethical system
Mu’amalaat: Dealings with Muslims and nonMuslims, relationships with family, friends etc.
Etiquettes of eating, drinking, wedding, socializing,
visiting, and fighting in self defence, and more…
The Holy Qur’an stresses on reason
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Its emphasis on reason as a valid way to faith
as well as its insistence on the inseparability of
the spiritual and physical spheres of human
existence, differentiate it from all other sacred
scriptures.
The guidance of Qur’an is not limited to the
spiritual good of the hereafter but equally and
frequently includes the good of this life too
The Qur’an was recorded and
memorized simultaneously
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In Arabia, the people had the habit of memorizing due
to their prevailing oral culture, so there were 100’s of
1000’s of people who had memorized the Holy
Qur’an in the life time of Prophet Muhammad pbuh
That oral culture is continuing without any gap till
today. There were millions of Muslims in every single
frame of history in the Muslim world who had
memorized the Holy Qur’an completely
Similarly, the written copies of the Qur’an without a
single letter difference, were available everywhere
Ultimate manifestation of Allah’s
Grace to man
However often individual Muslims may have
misread this answer, and however far many of
them may have departed from the spirit of its
message, the fact remains that to all who
believed and believe in it, the Qur’an
represents the ultimate manifestation of Allah’s
Grace to man, the ultimate wisdom, and the
ultimate beauty of expression: in short, the true
words of God. (The message of the Qur’an: Muhammad Asad).
The concept of Oneness as a
foundation of Islam
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The Holy Qur’an’s Tawheed/Oneness concept
is extremely powerful and appealing to the
human mind: One Universal God, One
Universal Humanity, and One Universal
Divine message/truth conveyed by all the
prophets and messengers
Qur’anic thesis is that all life, being Godgiven, is a unity and all aspects of it, material
or spiritual, are intimately connected
Authorship of The Qur’an
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The first person who recited the Qur’an was
prophet Muhammad pbuh, in 7th century C.E.
If someone authors a book, he/she will proudly
claim the authorship, but the Prophet did not
claim it, he said it is Allah’s words
Internal and external evidence has proven that
there is no author but Allah swt (God): 96/1,
1/1, repeated 114 times, 57/16, 56/77-80, 25/1,
4/105, 2/185, 15/9, 16/44, 26/192-194
The Challenge of The Qur’an
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“Say if all humankind and all Jinns were to
gather together to produce the like of this
Qur’an, they could not produce the like
thereof, even if they backed up each other with
help and support” 17/88
The style: Every verse gives the impression
that it is from God: 49/13, 95/4, 51/49, 50/16
The word: Qul: Say, was repeated in 340
verses as a imperative command
The Holy Qur’an……
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Allah’s address to the Prophet: “We sent
down (the Qur’an) in truth, and in truth
has it descended, and we sent you but to
give glad tidings and to warn. (It is) a
Qur’an which we have unfolded
gradually so that you might read it out to
the humankind by stages, seeing that we
have bestowed it from on high step by
step as (one) revelation. 17/105-106
Qur’anic response to those who
doubt
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If you bring them not a revelation, they say do you
not seek to obtain it? Say: “I only follow whatever is
being revealed to me by my Sustainer; this is a means
of insight from your Sustainer, and a guidance and
grace unto people who will believe. 7/203
And (thus it is:) whenever our clear signs are
rehearsed unto them, those who do not believe that
they are destined to meet us, say, bring us a discourse
other than this, or alter this one, say: it is not for me
on my own accord to change it, I only follow what is
revealed to me, if I were to disobey my Lord, I should
myself fear the penalty of a great day. 10/15
The Qur’an…….
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The Holy Qur’an kept answering the pagans in
all their concerns with divine knowledge and
wisdom, see the following verse: “Say: if Allah
had so willed, I would not have conveyed it to
you, nor would He have made it known to you.
Indeed a whole life time I have dwelt among
you before this (revelation) will you not then
use your reason?” 10/16
The Holy Qur’an……
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And you were not able to recite a book before this
(Book came) nor are you (able) to transcribe it with
your right hand, in that case, indeed, would the
talkers of vanities have doubted. 48/29
It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to
him except by inspiration or from behind a veil or by
sending a messenger to reveal with His permission,
whatever He wills, for He is most high, most wise
42/51
Prophet’s meetings with Jews and
Christians
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Allah says: “ We know indeed that they say, it
is a man that teaches him”. The tongue of him
they wickedly point to is notably foreign,
while this is Arabic, pure and clear. 16/103
Waraqah son of Noufal, cousin of Prophets
wife: Khadijah.
The Monk Bahirah of Busra in the southern
region of al Sham.
Guarantee of preservation
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We have without doubt sent
down the message and we will
assuredly guard it (from
corruption). 15/9
Sample Readings
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Allah/God: 112/1-4, 42/11, 2/255, 59/22-24
Humankind: 4/1, 49/13, 23/52-53, 21/92
Message/Religion: 42/13, 4/163-165
Righteousness: 2/177
The believers: 23/1-11, 25/63-77
Repel evil with good: 41/33-36
Forgiveness of God: 39/53
Important commandments: 17/23-39
Stories of prophets: 19/16-40, 28/1-50, 21/51-73