With Love to Muhammad (sa) - The Khatam-un-Nabiyyin — Page 327
Appendix I 327 the world till the teacher of the Qur’ ā n had been sent. You will find that at several places the Holy Qur’ ā n affirms: َ وَاﻟْﺤِمكَْﺔ َ اﻟْﻜِﺘٰﺐ ُ ﻳُﻌَﻠِّﻤُﻬُﻢ 325 That is: ‘The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of All ā h be upon him) teaches the Qur’ ā n and its wisdom to the people. ’ At one place it is said: َؕ اﻟْﻤُﻄَﻬَّﺮُوْن َّ اِﻻ ۤٗ ﻳَﻤَﺴُّﻪ َّ ﻻ 326 This means that: ‘The verities and the insights of the Qur’ ā n are revealed only to the purified. ’ Need for Teachers and Fresh Exposition of the Holy Qur’ ā n This shows clearly that for the true understanding of the Holy Qur’ ā n a teacher is needed who is purified by God Almighty Himself. Had a teacher of the Qur’ ā n not been needed, there would have been no such need from the beginning of time. It is idle to assert that in the beginning a teacher was needed for the exposition of the difficult parts of the Qur’ ā n, and that exposition having been made, a teacher is no longer needed. Fresh exposition is needed from time to time. The Muslims are confronted with new difficulties in every age. It is true that the Qur’ ā n comprises all knowledge but not all its knowledge is disclosed at one time. It is revealed as difficulties and problems are encountered. Spiritual teachers, who are the heirs of the prophets and are reflectively invested with their qualities, are sent to resolve the difficulties that arise in every age. The reformer whose functions closely resemble the 325 S ū rah Al-Jumu‘ah, 62:3 326 S ū rah Al-W ā qi‘ah, 56:80