Introductory Reply to Akhtar Sherazi (On his write-up

http://www.scribd.com/doc/86613538/49-QUESTIONS-ABOUT-NAMAZ-AKHTARSHIRAZI)

Questioning & its Scope: Quran teaches What, How and Why to Question
The Quran taught its men what to question, how and why. You can not question about anything (especially religious affairs) for the mere sake of questioning to puzzle others which is a cause of fury unto Allah [51:12] [79:42-43] [20:105] [17:85] [7:187] and a Muslim should question only to know the real fact and not to puzzle the people [18:83] [2:189,215,217,219,220,222] [8:1] [5:4] A Muslim is supposed to question as to what he really doesnt know. The Quran declares: Ask those possessing knowledge and information if you know not [16:43] [21:7]. When Quran was being revealed upon Muhammad (PBUH) during His lifetime, the believers used to question Him about many things frequently but Allah gave direction in this regard that while questioning, the believers should be very careful and proportionate and they should not ask about such things which will bring more hardship to them. The Quran states: O ye who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble and grief. But if ye ask about things when the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be made plain to you; May Allah Forgive those (questioners); And Allah is Oftforgiving, Most Forbearing [5:101]. Allah has put before us an example of Bani-Israel (Children of Jacob) who frequently questioned Allahs Apostle Moses (PBUH) not actually to learn about DEEN, rather to puzzle and ridicule the Prophet. The Quran says: Do you want to question your Prophet just the way how Moses was questioned of old? And whoever substitutes his faith (Imaan) with disbelief (Kufr), hath undoubtedly strayed from the even way [2:108] So, A Mumin should always keep in mind the instructions of the Quran regarding the form, purpose and procedure of questioning, otherwise there remains every possibility of slipping.

Address them as Muslims, not as the Sectarians like Shiah, Sunni and likewise
You (Mr. Akhtar Sherazi) said to the readers to ask their Sunni and Shia Imams to answer your queries. It is not a good linguistic art. I, as a reader, am neither Sunni nor Shia; rather I am a Muslim. Now to whom should I probably go? Please be advised that Islam

advocates its mens identity as Muslim and nothing else like sectarians. The Quran says: Who is better in speech than he who calls humanity to Allah, does righteous deeds and say I am one of the Muslims? [41:33] Say (O Muhammad!): Verily, I am commanded to pay servitude to Allah with sincere devotion and submission And I am commanded to be the first of Muslims. [39:11-12] (My Muttaqun Servants are) those who believe in our signs (Ayats or Verses) and became Muslims. [43:69] Proclaim (O Muhammad): Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds. No partner hath He (Allah) and this am I commanded and I am the first of the Muslims. [6:162-163] (Abram kept praying with Ishmael) Our Lord! Make us two Muslims (surrendering our will) to you, and of our progeny a people Muslim (surrendering their will) to you and show us our place for the celebration of (due) rites and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning (with forgiveness), Most Merciful. [2:128] Such call does not suit a Dayee (Who calls men to Allah). The Dayees have to be very careful while addressing others. The Quran instructs Moses and his brother Haroon when they were going to Pharaoh to call him to Allah: And (both of you) speak to him (Pharaoh) mildly (with esteemed language), perchance he may take warning or fear (of Allah). [20:44] As Allah knows everything, He also knew that Pharaoh will not receive Hidayah but still He ordained Moses along with his brother to be mild in speaking to him. All Apostles of Allah addressed their respective sinning peoples as My People with a tone of affection [7:59,85,73] [11:61,84] [23:23] though among them, there were many guilty of various vicious acts from minor offences to serious crimes. So, Muslim is our first and last identity and there is nothing in between.

A Manifest Paradox
If the Quran is, as the author Mr. Sherazi argues, a Constitution and, at the same time, an Inventory of all the necessary provisions together with minor details, then this is a good PARADOX. A Constitution usually doesnt contain all the necessary laws, rules and regulations. It, as a supreme law, only holds, in a nutshell, the principal guiding principles to manage and control other administrative, legislative and judicial organs. The legislative body is empowered to enact laws by and only subject to the provisions of the Constitution where the Constitutional Supremacy prevails but where prevails the Parliamentary Supremacy, the Constitution may further be kept in abeyance by the Legislature. So, perhaps Mr. Sherazi is not aware enough while calling the Quran

Constitution or he is mistakenly expecting to get all the necessary provisions from this Constitution. Besides the Constitutional mandates, the state has to seriously take into account many more Rules, Regulations, Orders, Customs and Conventions. If anybody opines that the Constitution is the only tool to run a state and all the other supplementary sources of law will essentially be dumped into dustbin, then his intelligence quotient (IQ) is sure to be undermined. The Quran has, at best, some more verses than 6000. If you want it to stipulate every single guiding principle in details, then it will surely outnumber crores of pages which is not intended by Allah in the least. Citation and Sensation are different things. Mere citation does not prove sensation. The Quran is declared to be scientific in nature by the Quran itself but it does not necessarily mean that it is a Book of Science. The Quran presents the ultra-rated touching poetic sentiment but, therefor, its not a book of prosody. So, if the Quran is, as per Mr. Sherazis definition, a Constitution, then it is all about foolish nonsense to want it to contain each single detail of needed provisions and if it contains, on the other hand, all such necessary detailed provisions claimed to have contained by the author, then it is not worthy of being a Constitution.

The true interpretation of the phrase of Quran

The phrase following verse:

as an attribute

is used as an attribute of Quran by Allah (SWT) in the

And We have sent down to thee this Book (Quran) as an EXPLANATION FOR EVERY AFFAIR or, in other words, EXPLAINING EVERY AFFAIR, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims. [16:89]

The word is, as per the viewpoint of Arabic Lexicon, a verbal noun which may be used as noun meaning EXPLANATION or present participle meaning EXPLAINING to qualify a particular object. Thus the phrase connotes that the Holy Quran has its own version of Explanation for every affair with respect to human life or its a Book Explaining every human affair from its ideological perspective, not necessarily meaning that every object as well as subject-matter relating thereto is contained therein which is not also mathematically possible. Each and every word of the Holy Quran is significant and smartly chosen by Allah (SWT) and hence the verbatim and literary significance thereof must be taken into account while popping out in the furtherance of interpretation. We have to bear in mind that in interpreting the words and phrases of the Holy Quran, we have to upgrade out thinking pattern from abstract fiction to concrete formulation as it is a Light [64:8] which is manifest [4:174] and full of wisdom [36:2]. It is primarily a Book of Guidance for the total humanity in general (2:185) and for the Believers including Muttaqun, Muhsinun and men of understanding in particular [27:2] [31:3] [40:54] [27:77] [2:2] [3:138] [45:20] [7:52]

[16:102] [16:64] [16:89]. And there is no light (of Hidayah) for the blind (with eyes), deaf (with ears) and dumb (with tongue) in this Book [2:18] [7:179]. But, unfortunately, in terms of translation, Mr. Sherazi translated this verse in the following words We have revealed the complete code of life for the entire humanity in his write-up which is an altogether wrong translation both in words and spirit and which changed the letter of the law of the verse. I dont know how he could do this job or whence he derived this group of words to mean this verse.

Legal Status of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the light of Quran

The Holy Quran is the first in ranking among all the valid documents of Islam and of utmost evidentiary value in the eye of Islam. This Book is of first priority which is declared BURHAN by Allah (SWT). Allah dictates: O mankind! Verily there hath come to you a BURHAN (convincing proof) from your Lord; For We have sent unto thee a light (Quran) that is manifest. [Quran 4:174]. Burhan is an Arabic terminology which signifies a phenomenon that is invincible and impossible to make yield. Burhan denotes here the Holy Quran. The Quran is the only proof to be accepted without any argument or delay. It is the ever remaining Open Challenge for the rejecters of Islam. The Quran says: And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses (helpers, if there are any) besides Allah, if you are true with your doubts. But if you cannot, and of a surety you cannot, then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones,- which is prepared for those who reject Faith. [2:23-24] The Quran is the only Book which is completely uncontaminated from any sort of pollution or toxic element (poison) and can never be put in question. This is the only unparalleled Book which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was ordained to preach. The Quran itself declares: O Messenger! Proclaim (the message) which has been sent to you from your Lord. If you did not, you would not have fulfilled and proclaimed His message. And (For this purpose to be served) Allah will defend you from men (who mean mischief). [5:67] This is the only Book in favour of which Allahs Apostle (PBUH) will criminally accuse the people for their non-readership of this Book. The Quran further declares in this context: And (on the judgment day) the Messenger (of Allah) will say: O my Lord! Truly my people took this Qur'an for just foolish nonsense. [25:30] So, the Holy Quran is the only valid authority of Islam to pen through all the other books. This is why it must be given the utmost preference. Allahs word is the highest (of alls) in ranking as He is the Creator and the rest are the created [9:40].

He is the only creator of all that is in the Universe [6:73] [13:16] [4:1] [2:29] [35:3] [16:17]. To Him merely belongs all that is created [20:6] [30:26] [25:2] [2:107]. He is the only valid authority to make laws, decrees, orders and decisions for His creation [6:57] [40:12] [28:88] [12:40,67] [30:4] [3:154]. He is the real sovereign being with infinite power and invincible will [6:162] [114:1-3] [21:23] [85:16] [11:107] [5:1]. Now comes the case of Hadith. Allah (SWT) has given certain duties, rights and jurisdiction to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which can never ever be ignored and kept in abeyance. If anybody disregards the jurisdiction in terms of legality and validity conferred on Muhammad (PBUH) by Allah, he will definitely be out of the fold of Islam. Lets see what the Quran says as to the legal status of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Firstly, the Quran lays down the provision that Muhammad (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah upon whom the final message (Quran) is revealed [76:23] [3:144] [48:29] [33:40]. Secondly, the Quran affirms that Allahs Messenger never speaks out of his own desire or whim; rather whatever he speaks is the inspiration sent down to him by Allah. He (Muhammad) does not say (aught) of (his own) desire. It (whatever he speaks) is no less than the inspiration sent down to him [53:3-4]. Thirdly, the Quran dictates that the Messenger of Allah must be followed and obeyed with complete effect. The Quran says: We sent not a messenger but to be obeyed subject to the leave of Allah. If they had, only when they wronged themselves, come unto thee and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oftreturning (with pardon), Most Merciful [4:64]. And obey Allah and the Messenger that ye may obtain mercy. [3:132] Then the Quran declares that whosoever disobeys and disagrees with Allahs Messenger, he will be lobbed into the Hell-Fire. If anyone counters the Messenger even after guidance has been made manifest to him and follows a path other than that of the believers, We shall cast him into the path he has chosen and land him in Hell and how evil it (Hell) is as a refuge! [4:115]. Then the Quran obliges us to accept all the dictates, orders and decisions of Allahs Messenger; otherwise Allah will inflict on us devastating torment. Accept what the Messenger assigns to you and refrain from committing what he forbids you; And fear Allah for Allah is strict in Punishing. [59:7]

Allahs Messenger is the administrative, legislative and judicial head of Islamic Statehood as a representative of Sovereign Allah whose decisions, decrees and verdicts are final and cannot be appealed against until or unless they contradict any provision of the Quran. Whoever turns away from his decisions passed or orders made or falls victim to hesitation in any case after it has been resolved by him, then he is no longer Mumin (and hence not Muslim as well). The Quran observes: But nay, by thy Lord (Allah), they cannot be believers until they make thee judge in all disputes between/among them, and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions but accept them with the fullest conviction [4:65]. So, the Holy Quran, being the word of Allah, and the Authentic Hadith, being the word of Allahs Messenger, are the principal authorities of Islam. The Quran is absolute sou moto while the (Authentic) Hadith is absolute subject to the provisions of the Holy Quran. This is why the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) declared My word cannot repeal Allahs word but Allahs word can repeal mine. I am astonished enough to see the Mr. Sherazi dare treat Allahs Messenger (PBUH) in so ignored a way that he refused to accept any interpretation of His to the Quranic Text in respect of religious rites and rituals. Perhaps, he thought of Prophet Muhammad as somebody like the titular Rex or Regina of the United Kingdom who indeed does not Rule, rather Reigns. If the Quran is the only resort of Islamic theology, then why did Allah send a man, in addition, named Muhammad as Prophet? Whats the use of Prophet if the Text (Revelation of Allah in the format of a Book) is the only source of legality to be driven?? Why didnt Allah ever send any Bare Text throughout the revelation history and why did He always attach a human Prophet to the Text??? Is the Prophet sent for nothing or for mere interpretation of the Text???? If mere interpretation of the Text was, Say for argument, the prime cause behind the sending of human Prophet along with the Text, then why did Allah always sent to man Prophets from amongst men and why not from angels????? An angel may also carry out the duty of interpreting the Text very well and for this purpose to be served, a man (as a Prophet) is not a must. The issue as to why Allah didnt send down any angel as Prophet was also raised by the pagans during the life-time of Prophet (PBUH). The Quran discloses this fact as under: The chiefs of the Unbelievers among his (Muhammads) people said: "He is no more than a man like yourselves, his wish is to assert his superiority over you; if Allah had wished (to send messengers), He could have sent down Angels; never did we hear such a thing (as he says) among our ancestors of old. [23:24] Allah gave a rejoinder to those pagans just like a harsher blow on their cheeks in the following verse: Say (O Muhammad), If there were settled, on earth, angels walking about in peace and quiet, We would certainly have sent down to them from the heavens an angel as a messenger. [17:95]

This vividly proves that Allah sent to man Prophets from among men so that they may be followed along with the Text as a Practical Specimen thereof. The Quran declares: Verily, in the Messenger of Allah, there is a beautiful life-pattern (of conduct) for you and also for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day (Judgment Day) and who engages much in the Remembrance of Allah [33:21]. The whole profile of Muhammad (PBUH) was all Applied Quran and He was the Living Quran or Mobile Quran walking on the earth. He was the Human Specimen of the Textual Quran, not any Titular King of a state. To be detached from the instructions and obedience of Prophet (PBUH) in the name of following the Bare Text of the Holy Quran is a clear violation of the provisions of the Quran itself and will only pave the way for decline and deviation from the right track. May Allah grant us proper understanding of Islam.

A Message & An Appeal

My message is to the author of the questionnaire Akhtar Sherazi. I want him to be informed that I am, by the infinite mercy of Allah, ready to accept his challenge and will, In Sha Allah, answer his every query on Salah but at first, I want him to clarify whether he admits the legal status as well as administrative, legislative and judicial jurisdiction of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) given by the Quran itself. As he is always seen to advocate the dictates and provisions of the Holy Quran, I strongly hope that he will accept everything the Quran obliges him to do. If he admires and accepts the jurisdiction of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to such extent as is prescribed by the Quran, then I will treat him as a Mumin and tread the way fitting to a Mumin while answering. But if he disregards the jurisdiction of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in determining the scope of Islamic Code, which trend is seen to be prevalent throughout his write-up and which is the underlying basis of all his arguments, then I will treat him as a man other than a Mumin (in the light of the verses of the Holy Quran cited above) and approach the way suitable for such men while answering. My appeal is to the Muslim Readers. Dear brothers and sisters of Islam, dont be misled to see the arguments placed by Akhter Sherazi on Salah. Dont lose your faith and trust in Allah. We will, In Sha Allah, prove, as per the provisions of the Quran and Hadith which are the principal authorities of Islam, that Mr. Sherazi is no hard nut to crack. I got astonished to see a man named Muslim outweigh and, to a more extent, discard the legality of the Hadith and role of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Islamic theology whereby a Mumin remains no longer Mumin. You will be aware to know that many baptized members of Christian Church are, now-a-days, launching their mission with a view to derailing the Muslims from the Highway (Shariah) of Islam by puzzling their ordinary segment with the arguments prepared to attack the sustainability of Islam. There are enough reasons to smell a rat in the arguments made by Mr. Sherazi as his pattern of questioning predicts something different. Indeed, he, by questioning about Salah on the very ground that its ins and outs are not embodied in the Quran, posed a note of interrogation on the legality of Prophethood in enacting delegated legislation in line with the supreme law or, in his opinion, the Constitution as a part of interpretation of

laws for religious necessities. If the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) can be detached from the Quran, he shall further be able to make all the other principal pillars (like Sawm, Zakat, Hajj etc) of Islam Questioned. If the Holy Hadith of Prophet (PBUH) loses its validity and applicability, then the total structural order of Islam shall collapse. Dear brethren of Islam, bear in mind that it is the Quran which made the obedience of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) tantamount to that of Allah. The Quran declares: He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad), obeys Allah and if anyone turn away (from the obedience of the Messenger), We did not send thee (O Muhammad!) as a guard over them [4:80]. If Mr. Sherazi cherishes good intention with his questionnaire, then he is most welcome but if he otherwise appears, then we would like to remind him that the pillars of Islam are too strong to be uprooted by thousands of Sherazis. Alhamdulillah, all praises be to Allah Who made Islam invincible. May Allah help us foil every blueprint against Islam (AMEEN!) Selimul Quader, Dated: 03.04.2012