Essence of the Holy Qur’an — Page xii
Essence of the Holy Qur’ a n xii become established. The Holy Prophet's advent fulfilled the most crying need of the time. Both his advent and the revelation of the Holy Qur’ a n were foretold in the previous Divine Scriptures. Prophecies to this effect are to be found in the Scriptures of almost every Faith. The Bible being the best known and most widely read of all revealed Books, and also being its forerunner and in its pristine purity being its counterpart as a Book of Divine Laws, contains the largest number of these prophecies. Some of them are as follows: And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Sinai unto them, he shined forth from mount Paran and he came with ten thousands of saints, from his right hand went a fiery Law for them. (Deut 33:2). I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him (Deut 18:18). Jesus said unto them: Did ye never read in the Scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore, say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder (Matt 21:42, 43). Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you. I have many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you unto all truth, for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak (John 16:7-12). Organization of the Holy Qur’ a n The word S u rah rendered in English as ‘Chapter’ means: i) Rank and eminence; ii) mark or sign; iii) an elevated and beautiful edifice; and iv) something full and complete ( Aqrab & Qur t ub i ). The Chapters of the Holy Qur’ a n are called S u rahs because: i) One is exalted in rank by reading them and attains to eminence through them; ii) they serve as marks of the beginning and the end of different subjects dealt with in the Holy Qur’ a n; iii) they are each like a noble spiritual edifice and iv) each one of them contains a complete theme. The name S u rah for such a division has been used in the Holy Qur’ a n itself (v. 24:2). It has been used in the H ad i th also. The Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said “Just now a S u rah has been revealed to me and it runs as follows” (Muslim). From this it is clear that the name S u rah for a division of the Holy Qur’ a n has been in use from the very beginning of Islam and it is not a later innovation. The Holy Qur’ a n has one hundred fourteen S u rahs (Chapters) and six thousand three hundred sixty verses. According to scholarly opinion it is generally believed the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) received his first revelation—the first five verses of S u rah Al-‘Alaq in Cave