The Holy Quran: A Rich Source of Guidance and an Everlasting Miracle

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.

O Allah! Confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.

O Allah! Guide us and grant us acceptance, for You are the Hearing, the Knowing; accept our repentance, for You are the Relenting and the Merciful.

Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Before we delve into the topic of today's lecture, we would like to reaffirm our position regarding the recent developments in Lebanon. We have witnessed the Israeli enemy's brutal and unjust attacks on the Lebanese people yesterday, targeting various areas of southern Lebanon. This brutal aggression is entirely unjustifiable.

Therefore, we reaffirm our steadfast, principled position in supporting our brothers in Hezbollah and the Lebanese people. We are ready to engage in our duty of jihad and stand with the Lebanese people and our brothers in Hezbollah in response to any significant development or full-scale escalation in the situation there. We will not stand by idly. Just as we told our brothers in Palestine that they are not alone, we now say to our brothers in Hezbollah and the Lebanese people: You are not alone. We stand with you, and should the Israeli enemy escalate to all-out war and comprehensive aggression, we will be by your side. If intervention is needed, we are ready.

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Let us now move to the topic of today's lecture, as we will continue our reflection on the blessed verses concerning the story of Prophet Ibrahim from Surah Ash-Shu'ara. We previously discussed the blessed verse recounting the words of Prophet Ibrahim: {'He is the One Who created me, and He [alone] guides me'}[Ash-Shu'ara 26:78].

In calling his people to believe in Allah (the Almighty) as the only true God and His divine message, Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) presented clear proofs that the absolute truth lies in faith in Allah and His oneness and that polytheism is pure falsehood and evident misguidance—an evil that leads to a tremendous loss for humanity.

In this context, he presented a series of arguments, starting with His words: {'He is the One Who created me'}[Ash-Shu'ara 26:78]. Allah is the Creator, the Owner, the Bestower of blessings, and the King. He is the true God, our Lord, the only one worthy of worship. Since we are His servants, His property, how could we direct our worship to anyone other than Him? This is a topic we have discussed in previous lectures.

Guidance: The greatest divine blessing and our deep need for it

{'And He [alone] guides me'}[Ash-Shu'ara 26:78]. Guidance is one of the greatest blessings Allah bestows upon His servants. It is one of the most fundamental needs for all living beings, especially humans, for we need Allah's guidance more than any other living beings. Allah's blessing of guidance stands at the forefront of the blessings we need, given its great importance and immense necessity.

Allah (Glory be to Him) is the only source for true guidance, and no one else can grant us true guidance. Guidance comes only from Allah. We cannot attain guidance from anyone other than Allah. We are in need of Him for guidance because He is the Creator and the One Who knows His creation in its entirety. He is the One Who knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth, the seen and the unseen. He is the One Who has established the laws of life for us here on the earth, and He is the One Who governs the affairs of the entire universe. Man is but a part of this vast world, all of which is under Allah's governance—man and this earth are but a small part of this vast universe, which is owned and governed by Him. Therefore, humans need the guidance of Allah (Glory be to Him), and it is His right to be the One Who guides His creation, to be the One Who guides humanity.

Given the vastness of his life's affairs, the nature of his responsibilities, and his role in this world, man is in urgent need of Allah's guidance. When one reflects on man's responsibilities and how he deals with what Allah has granted him—his faculties, abilities, and all that has been made subject to his use in the heavens and the earth—it becomes clear that departing from Allah's guidance and misusing these blessings leads to corruption and great harm. This brings suffering, not only to the individual but to humanity as a whole. Man's role in life then turns negative, impacting his own life and the lives of those around him. This is because his role is vast, and his responsibilities are great. Man's actions either fall within the realms of good or evil, truth or falsehood, justice and equity or oppression, aggression, harm, and evil. Thus, it is by Allah's wisdom and His power, and within the framework of His dominion and governance, that He grants His subjects guidance through their lives and distinguishes between the righteous and the wrongdoer, the obedient and the disobedient. This distinction extends to their future in the Hereafter, for this worldly life is but a prelude to the eternal, unending life that follows. There is a profound connection between this life and the life to come.

Human existence is part of a divine plan Allah has set for this universe, as He (the Almighty) said, {'For Allah created the heavens and the earth for a purpose, so that every soul may be paid back for what it has committed. And none will be wronged'}[Al-Jathiyah 45:22]. This life is not meaningless, and human existence within it is not aimless—that is to say, it has no significant and sacred goals set by the wisdom, sovereignty, and providence of Allah, the Almighty. Allah—the Ever-Living, the Sustainer—has not left humanity without guidance. We have discussed how vast divine guidance is. For example, innate guidance is one of its forms. It also includes the means and abilities Allah has granted humanity to reason, understand, distinguish, and perceive. This is not to mention the signs Allah has placed throughout the universe to help direct us, to the extent that the universe itself can be seen as an open book.

However, none of this eliminates the need for divine guidance in its educational, instructional, and legislative forms. Man needs legislative, educational, and instructional guidance throughout his life and in all fields. He needs to receive commands, prohibitions, and instructions from Allah (Glory be to Him), and to learn the truth about important matters that he might otherwise misinterpret, thereby risking grave mistakes in life.

This guidance is essential for humanity; it is something that every human needs. Furthermore, guidance that is instilled in human nature or attained through the means of perception, reasoning, and discernment Allah granted or through the signs He established form the foundation for interacting with this other form of divine guidance and align with it.

Therefore, Allah (Glory be to Him) has made guidance—legislative, educational, and directive—an essential part of His fundamental blessings and a central element of His dominion and governance over His servants' affairs: He (the Almighty) declares, {'It is certainly upon Us [alone] to show [the way to] guidance'}[Al-Layl 92:12]. By using the phrase {'upon Us'}, Allah affirms that this is an essential part of His governance, dominion, and sovereignty, as well as His mercy and wisdom.

He also says, {'It is upon Allah [alone] to show the straight way, while there are ways that are crooked'}[An-Nahl 16:9]. This means this responsibility is upon Allah (Glory be to Him). He presents it as an obligation (though nothing is truly incumbent upon Him), thereby making it clear that this matter forms an essential part of His dominion and providence and is rooted in His mercy, wisdom, and might. In other words, it is impossible that He abandons this responsibility and neglects His subjects, leaving them to drift aimlessly through life without guidance, reward, or care. Hence, He says, {'It is upon Allah [alone] to show the straight way'}: It is upon Him to delineate the straight and right path that leads us to the lofty goals and profound outcomes He has ordained for us. {'While there are ways that are crooked'}—this refers to paths that are deviant: If we follow them, they will mislead us, cause us to go astray, and divert us from the lofty goals and profound outcomes.

Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'Ask [them, O Prophet], “Can any of your associate-gods guide to the truth?” Say, “[Only] Allah guides to the truth”'}[Yunus 10:35]. As we previously mentioned, since Allah is the Creator, He alone possesses the power to provide true guidance that aligns perfectly with His divine laws governing this life and creation. He encompasses complete knowledge of His creation—their conditions and circumstances. He (Glory be to Him) is the Knower of the unseen and the seen; He knows what lies ahead for humanity and what their lives require, and more.

This is why divine guidance has been present from the very beginning of human existence. Adam (PBUH) was a prophet who received teachings, commands, and prohibitions from Allah, as He says, {'Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the family of Ibrahim and the family of ʿImran over the worlds'}[Ali 'Imran 3:33]; {'Then his Lord chose him and turned to him in forgiveness and guided him'}[Taha 20:122]. He did not leave him without guidance.

The path of divine guidance and establishing truth continued, as Allah (Glory be to Him) said, {'And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid taghut"'}[An-Nahl 16:36]. He also said, {'There is no community that has not had a warner'}[Fatir 35:24]. Allah's guidance—through prophets and messengers, through divine scriptures and teachings, and through the heirs of divine scriptures who followed them and guided others by them—has continued across generations, culminating in the final era, the approach of the Hour. In this last phase of human life, the Day of Resurrection is closer than ever: {'The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split [in two]'}[Al-Qamar 54:1].

Thus, the finality of prophethood and divine revelation was fulfilled with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&F) and the Holy Quran. This is a magnificent conclusion: The Messenger of Allah is the master of the messengers and the seal of the prophets, and the Holy Quran is the greatest of all divine scriptures. It holds supreme authority on earlier revelations and contains sufficient guidance for the rest of human history until the Day of Judgement. Revealing the greatness of this book, Allah describes it {'as a confirmation of previous Scriptures and a supreme authority on them'}[Al-Ma'idah 5:48]. Sending the Prophet with the Quran to deliver Allah's legislative, directive, and educational guidance is an immense blessing that leaves us no excuse.

The great features of the Holy Quran and the need to remember them

The Holy Quran holds many profound merits that we should always remember, for each one urges us to follow its guidance and appreciate this divine favour. We should also realise the peril of turning away from the Holy Quran, as this can lead to misguidance and misery.

The first feature of the Holy Quran that we must always keep in mind—particularly in the light of our need for Allah's guidance—is that it is from Allah (Glory be to Him). It is His own book and word. Out of His grace, mercy, and wisdom, Allah did not assign this task to any angel—no matter his status—nor even to His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH&F), despite the tremendous qualifications, guidance, and insight He granted him. This matter is more than angels and prophets can handle. Only Allah (Glory be to Him) can provide this vast and far-reaching guidance that we so vitally need throughout our journey in life. The Quran is from Allah; it is His book. This alone should draw our attention to the greatness and significance of the Holy Quran: It is from Allah—His book, His guidance, and His light to His servants.

All we need to recall the greatness and significance of the Quran is to remind ourselves that it is from Allah and recall His Most Beautiful Names. For this reason, the Holy Quran itself draws our attention to this important matter so that we might not forget it. Allah (Glory be to Him) describes the Holy Quran as {'a revelation from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens'}[Taha 20:4]. As you behold the majesty of the universe—the manifestations of divine wisdom, power, and creative brilliance—and marvel at its vast expanse, you should realise that the Quran comes from the very Creator of this universe. Indeed, the Quran is from the Creator of this world, the Creator of the earth, and the Creator of the heavens and all they contain—from the One Who brought into being this vast and magnificent universe. This is His book. These are His words—the words of the One Who created all things.

{'A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens—the Most Compassionate, Who is established on the throne'}[Taha 20:4-5]—that is, the sovereign Who governs the affairs of His servants, His creation, and all of existence. {'To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth'}[Taha 20:6]—this is His book, the book of the One Who owns all that exists in the heavens and the earth, the Sovereign of the heavens and the earth. {'… and whatever is in between and whatever is underground. Whether you speak openly [or not], He certainly knows what is secret and what is even more hidden'}[Taha 20:6-7]: He encompasses all things in knowledge and is fully aware of every human condition, every action, and every word—whether hidden or declared. {'Such is Allah—there is no god except Him. His are the Most Beautiful Names'}[Taha 20:8]. The same holds true when we contemplate His other Beautiful Names that relate to His governance of His creation in all circumstances.

Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'Say, [O Muhammad,] "It has been sent down by the One Who knows the secret within the heavens and the earth. Indeed, He is ever Forgiving and Merciful"'}[Al-Furqan 25:6]. The One Who revealed this Quran to us—blessing us with divine guidance and instructions and presenting us with profound truths through His expansive knowledge—is He Who encompasses all things in knowledge: {'Nothing is hidden from Him, neither in the earth nor in the sky'}[Ali 'Imran 3:5]. He is {'the One Who knows the secret'}, in every sense of the word: He knows everything concealed from us regarding the nature of things—their properties and conditions—and all that concerns them which none of creation knows except through Him, the Almighty. Indeed, His knowledge encompasses all things, and nothing in His guidance contradicts truth or results from conjecture and guesswork. He offers realities, for He is the All-Knowing about everything, the Wise, the Aware.

Allah (the Almighty) also says, {'This is the revelation of the book from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.'} This book is from Allah—not from anyone else. It comes from our Lord, our God, our King, our Creator, our Provider—the One Who gives life and causes death, to Whom belong this world and the next, the One Who holds us accountable, Who rewards and punishes—it is from Allah. With this in mind, we can proceed with His other Beautiful Names.

{'The Almighty'}—the Holy Quran is the book of the Almighty. It comes from Allah, the Almighty, and it is itself mighty. It contains no flaws or weakness, nor anything that falsehood can take advantage of. It leads to might, to the path of Allah—the Almighty, the Praiseworthy—and to what can grant people real strength and might and deliver them from humiliation and disgrace in this life.

{'The Wise'}—the Holy Quran comes from the Wise. By His wisdom and out of His might, Allah does not neglect His subjects. Rather, He establishes proof against them, distinguishing between those who do good and those who do evil, between the obedient and the disobedient, and so on. Everything in His book is rooted in wisdom: There is nothing random, unwise, or misguided in it. Every instruction from Allah comes from wisdom and fulfils the purpose of wisdom, as does everything in the Holy Quran.

Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'This is the revelation of the book from Allah, the Almighty, the Knowing'}[Ghafir 40:2]—by His might and knowledge. He also says, {'This is a revelation from the Compassionate, the Merciful'}[Fussilat 41:2].
Throughout the Holy Quran, it is repeatedly emphasised that its revelation springs from Allah's mercy; the Holy Quran speaks extensively about His mercy and makes clear that its revelation is an expression of that mercy. That is because people are in desperate need of this guidance. They need it to live rightly in this world and to attain salvation in the Hereafter. Whatever Allah (Glory be to Him) has guided us to in the Holy Quran, in every aspect of our lives, springs from His mercy towards us, leading us to what is good and beneficial for us. For this reason, we must always keep this in mind with every one of Allah's commands and instructions.

Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'We have sent down the Quran in truth, and with the truth it has come down'}[Al-Isra 17:105]. It was revealed in accordance with truth, for truth itself requires that Allah should guide His subjects, not leave them neglected or to futility, and that He establish clear proof and set reward and punishment on that basis. And it also came down with the truth, presenting the truth in every aspect of life.

The Holy Quran: A book of immense guidance that leads to the most upright way

Since the Holy Quran is from Allah, it possesses unique merits that reveal its greatness in many ways. One of these is that it is a book of vast guidance. Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'We have revealed to you the book as an explanation of all things, a guide, a mercy, and good tidings for those who fully submit [to Allah]'}[An-Nahl 16:89]. Its guidance is vast—far broader than life itself. The Holy Quran provides what we need for guidance in every field and in every aspect of our lives. Yet no matter how much a person learns from the Holy Quran or how deeply he is guided by it, his understanding of the Quran remains limited because its guidance is immeasurably vast. It is not a book with narrow benefits or small glimpses of guidance that quickly come to an end. Rather, it is broader than life itself, offering comprehensive and sufficient guidance for all.

This is why Allah says, {'Say, “If the sea were to be ink for writing the words of my Lord, the sea would have been consumed before the words of my Lord are exhausted, even though we were to bring another sea like it in addition”'}[Al-Kahf 18:109]. Due to the sheer vastness of guidance and knowledge in the Holy Quran, if the sea were used as ink to write down the Quran's guidance, {'the sea would have been consumed'} before the guidance, knowledge, and sciences in the book of Allah came to an end. Likewise, {'even though we were to bring another sea like it in addition'}, that too would be depleted long before the immense guidance, comprehensive knowledge, and profound truths contained in the words and verses of the Quran could be fully encompassed.

Allah (Glory be to Him) also says, {'If all the trees on earth were pens and the sea [were ink], refilled by seven other seas, the words of Allah would not be exhausted'}[Luqman 31:27]. This verse, too, powerfully illustrates the richness of Allah's guidance in the Holy Quran. Indeed, the guidance He has provided for us is more than enough. Therefore, no one has any valid excuse or justification for turning away from the Holy Quran or for seeking to replace the divine guidance in the Holy Quran with other alternatives that contradict or oppose this book.

There is another remarkable feature of the Holy Quran's guidance, as Allah says, {'Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most upright'}[Al-Isra 17:9]. This means it does not merely guide us to the correct position or action that yields a good outcome, nor does it simply offer the correct way to approach any given matter. Rather, it always provides what is best, finest, and most effective—the very best way for addressing any issue or matter. This is one of the most remarkable aspects of Allah's guidance in the Holy Quran. Allah (Glory be to Him) is the One Who possesses absolute perfection, so what He provides in the Holy Quran is of immense value. He does not present something ordinary, like any idea or method that could be proposed by anyone else. Instead, He always offers the most upright.

That is why Allah says, {'Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most upright'}[Al-Isra 17:9]. It guides to the most sublime and successful in everything. It guides us to the most upright way in all our affairs and the best path for us to follow in life. Indeed, the Holy Quran provides what is best, finest, most perfect, and most sublime in every field and for any matter, issue, or subject it addresses. For this reason, no human being or any other creature can offer anything more sublime, more effective in impact, or more beneficial in outcome than what Allah has presented in the Holy Quran.

Thus, Muslims incur an immense loss when they turn away from the Holy Quran and seek alternatives that deviate from and oppose it. This has led them astray and brought tremendous losses in their political, economic, and social affairs—and even beyond.

The Holy Quran: A blessed book overflowing with divine grace and a light that guides us out of darkness

One of the great features of the Holy Quran is that it is blessed—overflowing with blessings. Allah says about it, {'This is a blessed book We have revealed. So follow it and attain piety so you may be shown mercy'}[Al-An'am 6:155]. Multiple verses described the Holy Quran as blessed, for it is blessed in itself, in its greatness, and its sacred nature; blessed in the vast knowledge and guidance it contains; and blessed in what it offers—the knowledge and sciences it offers are vast.

It is also blessed in its moral and spiritual effect that purifies the soul, as Allah (Glory be to Him) describes it as {'healing for what is in the breasts'}[Yunus 10:57]. It helps a person to heal from moral afflictions that affect and defile the soul. It can heal you from doubt, ignorance, and from immoral vices and tendencies like arrogance, selfishness, envy, and other evils that erode the soul—often referred to as moral afflictions. It purifies and heals your soul from these afflictions, and at the same time elevates you; for it cultivates within you the opposites of these vices, enabling you to attain traits of noble character: truthfulness, loyalty, kindness, purity, chastity, honour, and the like. Thus, the moral and spiritual effect that the Holy Quran has on the soul and its purification is great and blessed.

The Holy Quran also guides us to greater good in the reality of life and grants us the divine care of Allah, the Almighty. When we act upon the Holy Quran and follow its guidance, Allah blesses us and our deeds in this life, granting us greater outcomes for our efforts and increasing the effectiveness of the resources we possess. Blessing is a divine secret that goes beyond mere numbers and the material quantity of things. It is an increase from Allah that amplifies the natural effect of something, with results surpassing what would naturally be expected. It is a divine secret that goes beyond human capacity and numerical value. This serves as a powerful motivation to act upon the Quran, given that it possesses such a great feature.

Another great feature of the Holy Quran is that it serves as a light that illuminates the realities of life, exposes falsehoods, and leads us out of darkness into the light. Thus, Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'There has come to you a light and disclosing book'}[Al-Ma'idah 5:15], He also says, {'This is a book We have sent down to you, that you may take people out of darkness into light, by the permission of their Lord, to the path of the Mighty, the Praiseworthy'}[Ibrahim 14:1].

What Allah presents in the Holy Quran—the facts, knowledge, instructions, and concepts—is light. That is because it brings us the truth, reality, and what truly holds goodness, guidance, and salvation for us. This is precisely what we need, for the other alternatives are nothing but dark alternatives. In other words, what is offered by the sources of misguidance—Satan and his allies—is intended to deceive and lead human beings astray, diverting them from facts, truth, and goodness. However, this is done deceptively through flawed and untrue concepts and ideas. These are considered forms of darkness because they obscure the truth and fact from people, creating a state of inner blindness. As a result, a person fails to be guided by the truth or see what ensures his well-being, success, and salvation.

False concepts, misguided ideas, and all forms of falsehood—across every field—are nothing but darkness. They divert a person from realities, truth, and what is right. Hence, they are strongly warned against. A person who turns toward this path of darkness stumbles through life in confusion, brings misery, harm, and loss upon himself, and ultimately faces the eternal punishment of Allah and unending misery in the Hereafter.

In the course of his life, a person constantly needs a sound and realistic vision, one that enables him to perceive truth as truth and falsehood as falsehood. He needs what allows him to distinguish between matters clearly, where the realities become manifest to him so he can discern what is wrong and what is right, what is sound and what is unsound, what is truth and what is falsehood, what is wisdom and what is foolish, reckless, and misguided conduct—among many other things. This is what Allah offers us through His guidance in the Holy Quran.

When we reflect, for instance, on the state of the Arabs prior to the coming of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&F), and the transformation brought about by his mission with the Quran, we see the depth of their former ignorance. Their religious beliefs were false, rife with superstitions, deviation, and falsehood. Their perspectives on the universe, life, the angels, and other matters were also false. They, for example, imagined the angels to be the daughters of Allah. They associated partners with Allah (Glory be to Him) and denied the resurrection, the Day of Judgement, and the Hereafter—holding on to fundamentally flawed doctrines. In their conduct, they wronged one another, committed crimes, and made oppression a way of life—an integral part of their daily existence. Their behaviours were marked by aggression and criminality: looting, enslaving, acts of tyranny, the burying of infant girls alive, and profoundly negative views towards women. They held numerous erroneous ideas and false perceptions, foremost among them being polytheism, the denial of resurrection, the rejection of Allah's message, and disbelief in divine revelation, among other misguided notions. In the conditions of their daily life, they consumed carrion and animals that—even by basic human instinct—are not suitable for consumption, as they are impure and unwholesome. They even consumed blood and engaged in many practices that were completely contrary to innate human nature, having even denied their own innate instincts.

Before Islam, they had no unified entity that brought them together as one nation with a purpose, a system of life, and great goals to pursue. When Allah sent His Messenger, the seal of His prophets, Muhammad (PBUH&F), he guided them with the Holy Quran and brought them from darkness to light, dramatically changing their reality. He led them through a remarkable transformation: from deep ignorance and entrenched illiteracy to becoming the foremost nation on the earth. By the end of his life, they had become the greatest nation among all nations at that time—a truly tremendous shift. The old beliefs, superstitions, falsehoods, and misguidance were replaced with correct beliefs and great principles.

He transformed them into a nation with a mission based on Allah's message—the most noble project in life. They gained great principles, values, and morals. He rescued women from degradation and restored their human dignity, as they had previously been treated as less than human in Arab society. He changed the entire reality: A nation that was lost in injustice, drunkenness, falsehood, brutality, crime, and corruption became the greatest nation on the earth. This transformation was achieved through this divine light that illuminated their lives. Had we not changed and deviated from that path, we would still be the greatest nation today. While there are still many positives in our Ummah compared to others, it has lost much due to the major changes that occurred over time.

The eternal miracle: The preservation of the Quran and its enduring relevance across all times and circumstances

Another great feature of the Holy Quran is its preservation, which is a tremendous blessing. The Quran is the eternal miracle and proof of Prophet Muhammad's message and prophethood, and it remains preserved for all generations in its text—it cannot be distorted, added to, or reduced. This is a great blessing, as Allah (the Almighty) says, {'It is certainly We Who have sent down the Dhikr [the Quran], and We will certainly preserve it'}[Al-Hijr 15:9]. This is a magnificent blessing, a powerful proof, an amazing sign, and an eternal miracle. It is preserved for all people in every era and generation, despite enemies' attempts to alter and distort it. While some try to distort its meanings, the Quran itself exposes such attempts. It rejects anything attributed to it that does not align with its guidance and light.

In its miraculous nature, greatness, light, wisdom, and perfection, the Holy Quran is as Allah described: {'Say, “If all humans and jinn join together to produce anything like this Quran, they will not come up with anything like it, even if they assist one another”'}[Al-Isra 17:88]. This means that even if all humans and jinn united their efforts to create something like it, This means that even if all humans and jinn united their efforts to create something like it, they would fail—whether in its perfection, eloquence, wisdom, light, knowledge, or guidance.

The Holy Quran is also timeless and adaptable to all eras: It speaks to every time period as if it were revealed specifically for it. When we read it, we don't find it outdated or disconnected from our reality and time. It provides what we need for our era. For example, its assessment of people applies to all eras. When anyone reads the Quranic discourse regarding people—whether the Jews, Christians, believers, non-believers, the pious, or hypocrites—he finds that it speaks as if it were revealed in his era. This also applies to the important truths, the universal laws it discusses regarding causes and effects. People of every generation feel as if it were revealed specifically for them. It neither becomes obsolete nor fails to address changing circumstances until the Day of Resurrection.

This is why Allah says, {'The Word of your Lord has been perfected in truth and justice. None can change His words'}[Al-An'am 6:115]. The passage of time, with all its changes, does not reveal anything in the Quran as untrue, incorrect, or lacking wisdom: {'None can change His words. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing'}[Al-An'am 6:115].

Its guidance is particularly effective for the pious because they are practical in their approach. They return to the Quran, seek guidance from it, and act upon its teachings. Therefore, they benefit from it the most, as Allah describes it as {'a guidance for the pious'}[Al-Baqarah 2:2]. When an individual or society orients themselves towards seeking guidance from the Holy Quran, Allah grants them comprehensive guidance through it, encompassing all their life affairs: Allah (the Almighty) says, {'And as for those who are guided, He increases them in guidance and gives them their piety'}[Muhammad 47:17], and He also says, {'As for those who strive in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our way. And Allah is certainly with the good-doers'}[Al-'Ankabut 29:69].

In this era, Muslims are in dire need to follow the guidance of the Holy Quran in all aspects of their lives, especially in confronting their enemies and addressing the threats they face. They have a pressing need to turn to the Holy Quran for guidance in these matters. Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Holy Quran, {'And Allah wants no injustice to the worlds'}[Ali 'Imran 3:108], and He also says, {'And Allah wants no injustice to His subjects'}[Ghafir 40:31]. He does not want injustice for anyone, let alone for His devotees, the believers, and those who identify themselves as Muslims who believe in His book and messenger. This is not just a mere wish—as we might have regarding certain issues—but rather, Allah has provided in His noble book the guidance, instructions, and directions that build Muslims into a strong, mighty ummah capable of protecting itself from oppression and confronting injustice. Even more than that, Allah wants us to prevent injustice globally, much less being oppressed and unable to defend itself.

Allah has provided enough guidance in the Holy Quran. For example, regarding enemies, the Holy Quran offers an extensive discussion about Satan, the first enemy of humanity, revealing a lot about him:

• the reason for his enmity towards us,
• the depth of this enmity,
• the evil activities through which he targets us and the goals behind them,
• the methods he follows,
• and what can protect us from his influence and evil actions.

Allah (Glory be to Him) tells us in the Holy Quran, {'Surely, Satan is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy. He only invites his followers to become inmates of the Blaze'}[Fatir 35:6]. The Holy Quran speaks at great length about Satan — about his tactics, how we can guard ourselves against him, and how we can put ourselves in a position to receive Allah's support and help and therefore overcome Satan.

He also makes it clear that aligning with Satan brings harm not only to the one who chooses that path but also to others. Whether human or jinn, anyone who follows Satan brings destruction upon himself and loses himself. At the same time, through that connection with Satan, he becomes a source of harm to others because Satan is an enemy that uses his followers to carry out his hostile agenda, which is aimed primarily at humanity.

The Holy Quran speaks powerfully and extensively about Satan's allies—those who have chosen to follow him and have, in doing so, become a source of evil to other people.

Allah willing, we will continue exploring this topic in the next lecture.

We ask Allah (Glory be to Him) to grant us success in seeking what pleases Him. O Allah! Have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, and set free our captives. You are the Hearer of Prayer!

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

 

#Yemen #Sayyed Abdulmalik Al-Houthi #Ramadan Lecture about 6 days