On The Virtues of The Qur'an

IMAM'S ARTICLES

Imam Dr. Shaheed Coovadia

11/4/20221 min read

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

(On The Virtues of the Qur’an -فِي شَرَفِ الْقُرآنِ )

دَعْنيِ وَوَصْفِيَ آيَاتٍ لَهُ ظَهَرَتْ ******* ظُهُورَ نَارِ القِرَى لَيْلاً عَلَى عَلَمِ

Let me describe to you the ayaat (signs/verses) that appeared to him (Muhammad SAW) ******** Clearly visible like beacons lit at night on the high hills (to welcome and guide guests)

فَالدُّرُّ يَزْدَادُ حُسْنًا وَهُوَ مُنْتَظِمٌ ******* وَلَيْسَ يَنْقُصُ قَدْرًا غَيْرَ مُنْتَظِمِ

(Like) pearls, each one’s beauty is increased when strung together; ******** Yet its value is not lessened when alone, unstrung

فَمَا تَطَاوَلُ آمَالُ المَديحِ إِلَى ******* مَا فِيهِ مِنْ كَرَمِ الأَخْلاَقِ وَالشِّيَمِ

What hope can the one who tries to praise them have ******** Of doing justice to their noble traits and qualities?

آيَاتُ حَقٍّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَانِ مُحْدَثَةٌ ******* قَدِيمَةٌ صِفَةُ المَوْصُوفِ بِالقِدَمِ

Verses of truth from the Most Merciful - revealed in time, ******** Yet Eternal - the attribute of the Pre-eternal One

لَمْ تَقْتَرِنْ بِزَمِانٍ وَهْيَ تُخْبِرُنَا ******* عَنْ المَعَادِ وَعَنْ عَادٍ وَعَنْ إِرَمِ

They are not bound by time, but bring us tidings of ******** The Last Day, and also of (the people of) ‘Ad and Iram

دَامَتْ لَدَيْنَا فَفَاقَتْ كُلَّ مُعْجِزَةٍ ******* مَنَ النَّبِيِّينَ إِذْ جَاءَتْ وَلَمْ تَدُمِ

They have endured to our time, and outstripped every miracle ******** Brought by other prophets, which came but did not endure

مُحَكَّمَاتٌ فَمَا تُبْقِيْنَ مِنْ شُبَهٍ ******* لِذِي شِقَاقٍ وَمَا تَبْغِيْنَ مِنْ حَكَمِ

Verses so clear that no obscurity can remain ******* For any denier, nor are they in need of being judged

مَا حُورِبَتْ قَطُّ إِلاَّ عَادَ مِنْ حَرَبٍ ******* أَعْدَى الأَعَادِي إِلَيْهَا مُلْقِيَ السَّلَمِ

Even the staunchest enemy that has ever attacked them ******** Could only retreat eventually from the battle, begging for peace

رَدَّتْ بَلاَغَتُهَا دَعْوَى مُعَارِضِهَا ******* رَدَّ الغَيُورِ يَدَ الجَانيِ عَنِ الْحُرَمِ

Their very eloquence refutes the claim of any opponent, ******** The way an honorable man wards off the assailant’s hand from that which is sacred

لَهَا مَعَانٍ كَمَوْجِ البَحْرِ فِي مَدَدٍ ******* وَفَوْقَ جَوْهَرِهِ فِي الْحُسْنِ وَالقِيَمِ

They have meanings like the sea’s never-ending waves, ******** Then go far beyond its jewels in their beauty and value

فَمَا تُعَدُّ وَلاَ تُحْصَى عَجَائِبُهَا ******* وَلاَ تُسَامُ عَلَى الإِكْثَارِ بِالسَّأَمِ

Their wonders are infinite and inestimable, ******* Their constant repetition never ends in weariness or boredom

قَرَّتْ بِهَا عَيْنُ قَارِيْهَا فَقُلْتُ لَهُ ******* لَقَدْ ظَفِرْتَ بِحَبْلِ اللهِ فَاعْتَصِمِ

The one who recites them is filled with delight, and I say to them, ******* ‘Truly you have seized the rope of Allah - so hold on to it!’

إِنْ تَتْلُهَا خِيفَةً مِنْ حَرَّ نَارِ لَظَى ******* أَطْفَأْتَ حَرَّ لَظَىَ مِنْ وِرْدِهَا الشَّبِمِ

If you recite them, fearing the heat of the blazing Fire, ******** You have extinguished the heat of the blaze by their cool, sweet water

كَأَنَّهَا الحَوْضُ تَبْيَضُّ الوُجُوهُ بِهِ ******* مِنَ العُصَاةِ وَقَدْ جَاءُوهُ كَالحُمَمَ

They are like (the the waters of) the Hawd (Pond in Heaven), which makes radiant the faces of the disobedient, ******** When they arrive there with faces gloomy, like coal

وَكَالصِّرَاطِ وَكَالمِيزَانِ مَعْدَلِةً ******* فَالقِسْطُ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا فِي النَّاسِ لَمْ يَقُمِ

And like the Siraat (Bridge to Paradise) and the Balance Scales in justice; ******** True justice among men cannot be established by any other way

لاَ تَعْجَبَنْ لِحَسُودٍ رَاحَ يُنْكِرُهَا ******* تَجَاهُلاً وَهْوَ عَيْنُ الحَاذِقِ الفَهِمِ

Do not be surprised if an envious person refuses to acknowledge them, ******** Feigning ignorance, even though more than capable of comprehension

قَدْ تُنْكِرُ الْعَيْنُ ضَوْءَ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ رَمَدٍ ******* وَيُنْكِرُ الفَمُ طَعْمَ المَاءِ مِنْ سَقَمِ

For the eye, when it is inflamed, may not see the true light of the sun, ******** And, when the body is ill, the mouth may not taste the sweetness of the water.