Part 4

 بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ الرَّ‌حِيمِ

What is the Qur'an

ii
Divine Master-Work

   قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَىٰ أَن يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هَـٰذَا الْقُرْ‌آنِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرً‌ا

الاسراء - 88

Speak! Even though ALL the visible and invisible powers must be gathered in order to create (a book) like this Qur'an, they will NEVER be able to do that, even if they support each other!

 The Mystical Journey in the Night - 88

The Greatest Discovery in History about

the Holy Qur'an 
 

This special part is about one of my discoveries concerning the Qur'an which is the most important and the greatest discovery, at least, in the history of  Islam!

Muslims believe the Qur'an is the Greatest Miracle of The Final and Ultimate Prophet , Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is not merely because of the Divine Messages, as the Spirit of the Qur'an, but also the very construct of the language, as the Body of the Qur'an. 

More than 1400 years has passed since the Qur'an was born. The Islamic theologians and the commentors, like all other Muslims, have always considered the Qur'an as a straight-forward " Text " without any specific or hidden pattern or meaning.

The Genuine Interpretation of the Qur'an

 

There are different kinds of interpretations of the Qur'an. However, the most reliable and advanced of them is the interpretation of the Qur'an by itself (or تفسیر القرآن بالقرآن). Here is a short description of this kind of Interpretation from Wikipedia;   

Interpretation of the Qur'an with the Qur'an is very common because of the close interrelatedness of the verses of the Qur'an with one another. The Qur'anic verses explain and interpret one another, and therefore constitute the highest level of authenticity. Many verses or words in the Qur'an are explained or further clarified in other verses of the Qur'an. One example of this kind is Tafsir al - Mizan by the Iranian  Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Tabataba'i.

According to this method of the interpretation, the Qur'an is such a " Text " that different verses of it, interpret each other. This is actually in harmony with the unique character and status of the Qur'an which I explained in the part 2. That's why the Qur'an itself has brought up the general issue of it's context and Interpretation;

 و لقد صرفنا فی هذا القران للناس من کل مثل و کان الانسان اکثر شئی جدلا

الکهف - 54

And surely We have brought up and explained issues of every subject for humanity in this Qur'an. Yet, Man is disputing it in most cases!

 The Cave - 54
 

و لایاتونک بمثل الا جئناک بالحق و احسن تفسیرا

الفرقان - 33

So they will not bring up an issue which We didn't send to you based on the Truth (in the Qur'an), which is also the best and most beautiful interpretation.

The Criteria - 33

However, this modern interpretation, despite being the right method of interpretation and a genuine one,could not afford significant understanding of the Qur'an. Because, this method was unfortunately used to a limited extent. Besides, it was mostly used in order to support the presumption and pre-understanding of the verses by the commentators (مفسرین) rather than to discover the true meaning of the words, and eventually new realities in the Qur'an.

 The purification of Mind

 So in order to understand the Qur'an it needs a purification of the interpretation. This means, we should purify us from all presumptions and pre-understandings. We are not allowed to impose any idea on the Qur'an. Ideas would naturally appear in the Qur'an. We are not allowed to guide the Qur'an towards our own presumptions or pre-understandings. Simply because it will not work with the Qur'an. 

 انه لقران کریم فی کتاب مکنون لایسمه الا المطهرون

الواقعه - 77 الی 79 

Surely this is, THAT Blessing of the Qur'an, in Sacred and Secure Form which nobody is able to touch without being pure.

The Reality (Event) - 77 to 79


But this is, in no way, an easy task. Surely some of the commentators (مفسرین) tried to do that. However, the power of Mind is so strong that it makes it in some cases almost impossible to get rid of the presumptions or pre-understandings. 

But, in general, nobody confesses and even knows this. The problem is how to meet the Qur'an? We believe that we meet the Qur'an, merely because it is there. But in reality we meet our own presumptions or pre-understandings through the Qur'an. And because that will not work, the Qur'an will remain a mystery.

So in order to meet the Qur'an, it needs a serious and profound purification. This will lead to the liberation of the Qur'an from our perceptions and imagination.

 *****************

The next task is to know " what kind of book the Qur'an is "? Due to our perception and imagination, we consider the Qur'an as simply a " book ", although a divine One. But yet, in reality, we basically consider this " book " like other man-made books.

For instance, we consider this " book " as a " text ". And its Arabic language as a human language . Don't we? These two important elements are enough to consider the Qur'an like other human books.

The Unique Language of the Qur'an

The language of the Qur'an is " Arabic ". But why ?!

It is said that obviously because Muhammad was an Arab and the environment of  Revelation was Arabic. And, also due to the perfection of the Arabic language. Finally, because of the Sacred Divine Energy of the Arabic language.

I am agree with all of them, yet there is one important consideration concerning the perfection the Arabic language. In my opinion, despite the high quality of the Arabic language and its crucial role in the creation of the Qur'an, yet the Arabic language, like other languages in the history of humanity, has its own debility and weaknesses.

The Qur'an has chosen the Arabic language. However, in order to create the Master-Work, the Qur'an came with an initiative and invented its own unique language based on Arabic as the material. This has made the language of the Qur'an as a specific " Divine Language ".

The outcome is; the " Qur'anic Arabic " and the " Classical Arabic " as two distinguishable languages. (by " classical Arabic " means the traditional or conventional Arabic). This is of crucial importance regarding the understanding of the Qur'an. That's why the Qur'an itself emphasizes its Own Arabic Language; 

 قرانا عربیّا غیر ذی عوج لعلهم یتقون

الزمر - 28

The Arabic of this Qur'an is unambiguous, direct, clear and explicit. Hopefully you hold onto the principles and disciplines (of this Arabic).

The groups - 28

The Arabic words « غیر ذی عوج »means;non-crookedness and non-deviation or non-devious.

This show that this is a new and different " Arabic " in comparison with the " Traditional Arabic " which like most other derivative, man made languages are « عربیّا ذی عوج », i.e  the opposite to the words     « غیر ذی عوج » as it is mentioned above.

و هذا لسان عربّی مبین

النحل - 103

And this is the Clarifying and Enlightening Arabic! 

The Bee - 103 

Even here the verse indicates that there must exists a different Arabic which is « عربی غیر مبین » i.e non-clarifying and non-enlightening.

Otherwise, why did Muhammad mention this repeatedly and emphasize it to fellow Arabs. The divine teaching of « لعلهم یتقون » which asks us to hold onto the principles and disciplines regarding this Qur'anic language, is also a clear indication of this. 

This divine guidance tells us to keep these two Arabic languages distinguished,  separated and to not mix them. Yet, we, due to our  ignorance and human weakness, fail to hold onto these Rules. Once we do that, we will be guided in the right way;

 ذلک الکتاب لاریب فیه هدی للمتقین

البقره - 2

This is THAT Book which undoubtedly guides those who hold onto the principles and disciplines.

 The Caw - 2 

In a way, it is concerning this Arabic language, that the Qur'an ask us to think about;

 انا جعلناه قرانا عربیّا لعلکم تعقلون

الزخرف - 3 

We have changed it into an Arabic Qur'an in order to make you to think about it.

The Gold Adornment - 3

In conclusion, both the conventional and invented (artificial)Arabic, together have made the language of the Qur'an  A Unique Divine Language.

 The Formless Language

One of most important characteristic of the Qur'anic Arabic is, the lack of pattern in comparison with all other languages. That makes the very language of the Qur'an formless.

This formlessness of the language provides the Qur'an huge potentiality for various interpretations. That's why the prophet Muhammad said that in this material world everything will be old fashioned except the Qur'an! Or, in any circumstances, the Qur'an has something new to tell you! Why? Because of it's formlessness.

Now this new and unique language of the divine; based on a human language with Arabic on one side, and our ignorance and habits on the other hand;  caused enormous misunderstandings and wrong-understandings of the Qur'an.


We failed to liberate ourselves from not only the pattern of the classical Arabic, but of any human language as well. That's why we should never understand the Qur'an by the pattern of any traditional and classical language; above all with Arabic with regards to it's grammar and the meaning of its words.

However, the Qur'an has its own unique pattern which is still far from being easily known and understood, despite some progress having been made.

Now, in order to understand the Qur'an, there is only one way, and that is to return to the Qur'an thoroughly in searching for the real meaning of it's Arabic words. At the same time, it is to refuse imposing any other meaning from outside onto the Qur'an. This is surrendering to the Qur'an or the way of being Muslim.
 
We should not even turn to dictionary books in order to understand the Qur'an. Because the most reliable dictionary book in order to understand the Qur'an, is the Qur'an itself. Nor is there another reference book to the Qur'an than the Qur'an itself.

In our time, as it has always been, some fellow Muslims consider verses to reject Re-incarnation and support Resurrection. Ironically some other fellow Muslims consider exactly the same verses to show completely the opposite!!
And nobody dare say;

wait a minute, something is wrong here! We just cannot go on with this circle forever! Which part understand the verses correctly and WHY ?

This website is about to answer this question forever.

 The Qur'an

as

A Complex Living Organism of Words!

In my opinion, this is the biggest discovery in the history of Islam but also in the history of the religions and divine books in general. This discovery is hard to explain. But it can be understood best by experience. However, I will do my best to shed some light on it.

According to my opinion, the Qur'an is not a " text " but " The Texture ", or it is not a " book " but " The Book ". This means, the Qur'an is a literary unity regardless of its contents.

And its structural design of  literature is essential . That makes the body of the Qur'an in which each " word " is as a living cell . In other words, the Qur'an should be considered a living organic system of words , a living Book, a new creature!

That makes the Qur'an a Unique Masterwork in the history of literature and art, in general.

With a Living Book , this means the Qur'an, due to its formless language and its complex texture of literature, both combine to always give new answers to new circumstances, and also has a completely independent existence in itself.

 The Meaning and the Role of Words

This means we have to find not only the meaning of the Qur'anic words, solely within the Qur'an as the body, but more important the Role of the words in the design and literary texture of  the Qur'an. Which is so far an unknown concept!

In a text, the meaning of the words are important. However, in a texture, not only the meaning of the words is important, but  the role of their very physical usage in the structural design of  literature, may also be crucial. 
 
We are neither allowed to perform a surgery on the body of the Qur'an by changing or replacing the physical words, nor to change or replace or impose the meaning of the words, except according to the rules and principles considered by the Qur'an itself.

Any transplantation in the form of words or ideas from outside influences to the Qur'an would prevent the "body of the Qur'an" to work properly. And the result may even lead to chaos in the meanings of the entire Qur'an.
 
That's why we do not have the right to make a presumption, nor to take any position on it at all. The only responsibility we have is to be a witness to the appearance of ideas in the Qur'an. 

After more than 1400 years after the birth of the Qur'an, we Muslims, in general, have not realized, nor recognized the Qur'an as a Literary Machine System or an Independent Living Creature . 

Realizing this fact, will revolutionize our understanding of the Qur'an which leads us to discover new realities.

 The Structural Interpretation of the Qur'an

Based on this new discovery, an idea for a new kind of Interpretation has been born. The structural interpretation of the Qur'an.This new kind of Interpretation is actually the evolution of the current kind of Interpretation, which is Interpretation of the Qur'an through the Qur'an(or تفسیر القرآن بالقرآن).

However, in my opinion the structural design of  literature of the Qur'an needs some kind engineers or architects, rather than the traditional commentators, to be understood! 

In the upcoming parts, you will develop a deeper understanding of this extraordinary discovery and its new interpretation. The final proof of Re-incarnation in the Qur'an is based on this new unique interpretation. So please be patient!

Finally I would like to suggest the opening of an Independent Institute of Qur'anic Studies and Research. 
  


Think about this!