Fulfilling the Need of Safeguarding the Holy Qur’an — Essence of Islam Vol. 3
Introduction
In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 3), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Fulfilling the Need of Safeguarding the Holy Qur’an, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.
Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 5: Prophethood in Islam
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Need for Teachers and Fresh Exposition of the Holy Qur’an | Next: Divine Promise of Khilafat »
discovered is that a great portion of the teaching of the Prophets is metaphysical and can only be understood and appreciated through practical demonstration, and can be illustrated only by those who have the personal experience of it…. If Allah the Glorious has so willed that this portion of the teaching of His Book should not be confined to the early ages, then He must have arranged for the teachers of that portion to be available at all times, since the portion of the teaching which relates to personal experience cannot be comprehended except through teachers who have experienced it. Therefore, if after the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) teachers who were guided by the reflection of the light of Prophethood had not been available, it would mean that God Almighty, having removed from the world at an early stage those who understood the Holy Qur’an truly and correctly, deliberately let the Qur’an become useless. But this would be contrary to His promise:
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ
“Verily, We Ourself have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:10)
That is: ‘It is We Who have sent down the Qur’an and We shall continue to safeguard it.’ I am unable to understand that if those with complete understanding of the Qur’an and belief in its certainty through personal experience have all passed away, then how has the Qur’an been safeguarded? Does safeguarding it mean that the Qur’an, beautifully inscribed, would be preserved forever locked in safes like treasures that lie
Prophethood in Islam 163 buried under the earth and are of no use to anyone? Can anyone imagine that this is the true meaning of this verse? If so, there is nothing extraordinary about it. Rather, such a claim is laughable and amounts to inviting ridicule from the enemies of Islam. Of what use is the safeguarding which does not serve the true purpose? It is quite possible that a copy of the Torah or the Gospel may be found which has been similarly safeguarded. There are thousands of books, which have continued to exist entirely unaltered and which are for certain the writings of a particular person. There is no particular merit in such preservation, and such safeguarding of the Qur’an would be of no benefit to the Muslims. It is true that the safeguarding of the text of the Holy Qur’an is greater than that of all other books and is in itself extraordinary, but we cannot imagine that God Almighty, Who always has a spiritual purpose, meant only the safeguarding of the text of the Holy Qur’an. The very word dhikr [remembrance] clearly indicates that the Holy Qur’an will be preserved forever as a remembrance, and its true dhakirin133 will always be present. This is confirmed by another verse, which says:
بَلۡ هُوَ ءَايَٰتُۢ بَيِّنَٰتٞ فِي صُدُورِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ ۚ وَمَا يَجۡحَدُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَّا ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
“Nay, it is a collection of clear Signs in the hearts of those who are given knowledge. And none but the wrongdoers deny Our Signs.” (Surah Al-‘Ankabut, 29:50)
‘The Holy Qur’an is composed of clear signs in the bosoms of those who have been bestowed knowledge.’ This verse clearly means that the believers have been bestowed knowledge of the Holy Qur’an and they act upon it. As the Qur’an is preserved in the bosoms of the believers, the verse: 133 Those who learn the Qur’an, act according to it, and recite it to others. [Publisher]
135
means that it would not cease to dwell therein…. Secondly, reason demands that for the teaching and understanding of Divine books, it is necessary that, like the advent of the Prophets, recipients of revelation and persons equipped with spiritual knowledge should also continue to appear from time to time. Similarly, when we study the Qur’an and deliberate upon it we discover that the availability of spiritual teachers is part of the Divine design. For instance God has said:
أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَسَالَتۡ أَوۡدِيَةُۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحۡتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيۡلُ زَبَدٗا رَّابِيٗا ۖ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيۡهِ فِي ٱلنَّارِ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ حِلۡيَةٍ أَوۡ مَتَٰعٖ زَبَدٞ مِّثۡلُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَٱلۡبَٰطِلَ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذۡهَبُ جُفَآءٗ ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ فَيَمۡكُثُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ
“He sends down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood bears on its surface swelling foam. And from that which they heat in the fire, seeking to make ornaments or utensils, comes out a foam similar to it. Thus does Allah illustrate truth and falsehood. Now, as to the foam, it goes away as rubbish, but as to that which benefits men, it stays on the earth. Thus does Allah set forth parables.” (Surah Al-Ra‘d, 13:18)
(Part Number 13) ‘That which benefits people endures in the earth.’
The Prophets who strengthen people’s faith through miracles, prophecies, verities, insights and the example of their own righteousness, and benefit the seekers after truth, are obviously the greatest benefactors of mankind. And it is also obvious that they do not remain upon the earth for a long time and pass away after a short existence. Yet the purport of this verse cannot be contradictory to this reality. Therefore, with reference to the Prophets, this verse means that they continue their beneficence by way of reflection. God Almighty at the times of need raises a servant of His who becomes their example reflectively and thus continues their spiritual life. It is for this purpose that God has taught the prayer: 137 135 ‘Verily, We Ourself have sent down this Exhortation, and surely We will be its Guardian.’—Al-Hijr, 15:10 [Publisher]Prophethood in Islam 165 ‘O Allah, guide us along the straight path, the path of those servants upon whom Thou has bestowed Thy favours….’
Not only has He taught this prayer, but has also promised in another verse: 138‘Those who strive in Our path—which is the right path— We will surely guide them along Our ways.’ It is clear that the ways of God Almighty are those that have been disclosed to the Prophets.
[Shahadat-ul-Qur’an, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 6, pp.339-352]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 3, p. 162]
Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 5: Prophethood in Islam
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Need for Teachers and Fresh Exposition of the Holy Qur’an | Next: Divine Promise of Khilafat »