Answer:

These kind of claims are nothing new. During the time of Messenger of Allah, Muhammad(pbuh) and when Qur’an was revealing to him, many polytheists, unbelievers and sinners are used these kind of sayings in their propaganda which are also mentioned in historical documents and Siyer-i Nabi. Allah the Almighty indicates that Holy Qur’an is not a poetry as through following verses:

وَمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنْبَغ۪ي لَهُ اِنْ هُوَ اِلَّا ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْاٰنٌ مُب۪ينٌ لِيُنْذِرَ مَنْ كَانَ حَيًّا وَيَحِقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى الْكَافِر۪ينَ

 We did not teach him(Muhammad) poetry, nor it was necessary for him. It is nothing but a reminder and explanatory Quran. To warn whoever is alive, and to become definite for deniers that the word of Allah is descended. (Surat Yā-Sīn 36/69-70)

 The Holy Qur’an is not a poetry and there is no poetry inside of it. Also, It is revealed that Umar ibn al-Khattāb told to people about how he believed in Islam and became Muslim as following sentences explain:

“One night I got out to drink. When I could not find anywhere, I decided to go on Kaaba to tawaf it. When I arrive there, I saw the Messenger of Allah who was performing salah; and I wanted to listen him while he was reciting the Qur’an so I got under sheets of Kaaba and came right in front of him. In my mind I was thinking that “this is poetry like people of Quraysh Tribe was saying”; and at that moment he said this verse:

وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَاعِرٍ قَل۪يلًا مَا تُؤْمِنُون 

And it is not the word of a poet; little is it that you believe. (Surat Al-Ĥāqqah 69/41) 

And when I was thinking that “he is a clairvoyant and he is making up these words”, he read the following verses:

وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْاَقَاو۪يلِ  لَاَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَم۪ينِ  ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَت۪ينَ  فَمَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ اَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حَاجِز۪ينَ 

If he (Muhammad) had fabricated against Us some sayings, We would have seized him by force, then We would have cut off his aorta. And none of you could  save him. (Surat Al-Ĥāqqah 69/44-47)

He was answering the every question which was passing through my mind so that my heart softened and my eyes got glassy. That way Qur’an led me to accept Islam; which is settled in my heart all the way. Lastly, he finished reading it and went towards his home. I went behind him as well. At the street of his home he sensed and recognized me. He thought that I was going to oppress  him  so he called me ‘O Umar What is going on!’ – I said ‘I came to obey the Allah, his Messenger and whatever he brought to us.’ He stroked around my heart and prayed. After that he said “With the Wisdom of Allah” and he went(entered) to his home.”

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1. Classical source: Ahmad b. Hanbal, 1/17; Ibn Hisham Sirah an-Nabawiyyah, c: 3, s. 166

1. Alternative source: Mehmet Azimli says this story  of Umar is more valid and accurate comparing  to other rumors, Look for more info: Mehmet Azimli, Siyeri Farklı Okumak, Ankara Okulu Yayınları, Ankara, 2010, s. 115 vd.)

Answer:

At the resources of hadith books and rumours, we could not locate in any where of Messenger of Allah’s sayşings that indicate return of Gabriel to earth ten times or more after the death of Prophet Muhammad .

According to Islamic perspective Prophet Muhammad is the last Messenger who was sent to mankind and Gabriel is known as the angel who brought the divine inspiration to him. Thats is why the job of angel Gabriel is completed in a way; unless Allah the Almighty commands for more from him. In addition to that angels come down to earth to complete the given commandments of theirs. So if Allah permits, surely angels can come back to earth. Because Gabriel is an angel and if new  duties are given to him thats when he can come down to earth more likely. This situation can be related with the Surat Al-Qadr:

  سورة الْقَدْرِ

 اِنَّاۤ اَنْزَلْنَاهُ ف۪ي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ  وَمَاۤ اَدْرٰيكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ  لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ اَلْفِ شَهْرٍ  تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلٰۤئِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ ف۪يهَا بِاِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ اَمْرٍ  سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتّٰى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ

  Indeed, We landed the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. From where you know what is the Night of Decree?  The Night of Decree is better than thousand months. The angels and the Spirit near them descend therein by permission of their Lord for  each commandment. Peace! it is till the break of emergence of dawn. (Surat Al-Qadr 97)

]]> http://www.islamandquran.org/fatwas/angel-gabriell-comes-back-ten-times-more.html/feed 0 http://www.islamandquran.org/fatwas/what-are-the-different-meanings-of-the-word-al-kitabin-the-holy-quran.html http://www.islamandquran.org/fatwas/what-are-the-different-meanings-of-the-word-al-kitabin-the-holy-quran.html#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:02:32 +0000 Alpay http://www.islamandquran.org/?p=2557 Question : I read the article about “The book and The Wisdom” from the writings of Prof.Dr. Abdülaziz Bayındır.  When I was looking  to Surat ‘Āli `Imrān-verse 48  and at Surat ‘Āli `Imrān-verse 110;  some words  got my attention such as: “Wisdom”, “Torah”, Injil(Gospel) and “The  Book”. What is the meaning of “Al-Kitab” at these verses? I know that the Torah was sent before the times of Jesus Christ; but except that one, were there any other books came to the Messengers of Allah? “Al” is used as an affix and the book (kitab) word is used in its single form, so those things made me more curious, would you give me an explanation ?

 Answer:

At the Surat ‘Āli `Imrān,verse 48 and Surat Al-Mā’idah,verse 110 words such as the Torah, Gospel and Al-Kitab are mentioned all-together  so that there is a significant difference between using  the “al-kitab” word at these verses and at Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 151. At the verse(in Baqarah), ” al-kitab” points out the Holy Qur`an. At the other 2 verses which you mentioned “al-kitab” word does not indicate the Holy Qur`an. As a meaning that fits the most is “the writing”(holy book). At those verses Jesus Christ (pbuh) is mentioned and the word Gospel is found in the following text that is why we gave this kind of a meaning . On the other hand at the some verses of the Holy Qur`an, the things which were unknown to a man, are taught by the books(writings). There are examples as: “Who taught (to write) with the pen, Taught man that which he knew not” Surat Al-`Alaq 96/4-5. Another example is : “(And) taught him eloquence“ at the Surat Ar-Raĥmān 55. There was a clue in Al-Baqarah Surat so it pointed out the Holy Qur`an. If there is no clue in the verse, that means a holy book is mentioned there. Also every Messenger teach the Wisdom from the book which is given to them.

Related verses from the Holy Qur`an are:

وَيُعَلِّمُهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرٰيةَ وَالْاِنْج۪يلَ

He will teach him the writing, true knowledge and the Torah and the Gospel.

( Surat ‘Āli `Imrān 3/48 )

اِذْ قَالَ اللّٰهُ يَا ع۪يسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَت۪ي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلٰى وَالِدَتِكَ اِذْ اَيَّدْتُكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَاِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرٰيةَ وَالْاِنْج۪يلَ وَاِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطّ۪ينِ كَهَيْـَٔةِ الطَّيْرِ بِاِذْن۪ي فَتَنْفُخُ ف۪يهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِاِذْن۪ي وَتُبْرِئُ الْاَكْمَهَ وَالْاَبْرَصَ بِاِذْن۪ي وَاِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتٰى بِاِذْن۪ي وَاِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَن۪يۤ اِسْرَاۤء۪يلَ عَنْكَ اِذْ جِئْتَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ اِنْ هٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُب۪ينٌ

The Day when Allah will say: “O Jesus son of Mary! Remember My favor on you and on your mother, when I strengthened you with the holy Spirit; you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity, and when I taught you the writing, the wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel; and when you create a thing out of clay like the form of a bird by My permission, then you breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission, and you healed the born blind and the leprous by My permission; and when you brought forth the dead from the grave by My permission; and when I rescued you from the children of Israel; because when you came to them with clear proofs, those who disbelieved among them said: This is nothing but clear magic.” (Surat Al-Mā’idah 5/110)

كَمَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا ف۪يكُمْ رَسُولًا مِنْكُمْ يَتْلُوا عَلَيْكُمْ اٰيَاتِنَا وَيُزَكّ۪يكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ

We have sent among you a messenger to complete our goodness. He recites you our verses, improves you and teaches you the Book and the wisdom; he  teaches you that which you did not know. (Surat Al-Baqarah 2/151)

Answer:

There is no verse or hadith about holding the Qur’an at lower levels of the belly or putting it on the ground. But according to our cultural norms and values, putting the bread or the Qur’an on the floor; will be disrespectful to them. Because in a way, you are not showing your respectful manners to the things which are given to you by Allah, the Almighty.

Being real respectful to the Qur’an is reading it with full of understanding and putting the textual meanings to our minds so that we can do our duties right. If we don’t do any of these, and start to learn from it, that means we are not doing our works within the perspective of Holy Qur’an.

The basis of religion is belief and the basis of belief is approval of the heart. Heart is the inner-world of human where he is fully free. No belief can be put across forcefully. Not even the most authoritative regimes can succeed it. The 256th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah explains this:

“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Al-Baqarah/ The Cow 2:256)

People cannot be forced to worship, because worships require niyyah (to intent). Niyyah is the decision to do something sincerely. “Deeds are in accordance with niyyah (intentions).” Only, the person who does the worship and Allah exactly know why a it is being performed. Since worships cannot be done without niyyah, there shall be no compulsion in worships. You could force someone to do the prayer (salat) but that would mean nothing but kneeling and rising if the person has not intended to pray.  That doesn’t work.

Therefore, nobody can be forced to become Muslim or behave like a Muslim.

Telling and teaching Islam to our children does not mean to put pressure on them to practice. Wandering around with private parts exposed causes trouble  other than belief and therefore attempting to prevent this, does not count as compulsion in religion.

We must keep on representing Islam to everybody, especially to our relatives at every occasion. The Glorified Allah commands:

“And enjoin prayer (salat) upon your family and be steadfast therein.  We do not ask you for subsistence; We do give you subsistence, and the outcome is for those who protect themselves.” (Ta-Ha 20:132)

سُوۡرَةُ البَیّنَةلَمۡ

 يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأۡتِيَہُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَةُ (١)

رَسُولٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتۡلُواْ صُحُفً۬ا مُّطَهَّرَةً۬ (٢) فِيہَا كُتُبٌ۬ قَيِّمَةٌ۬ (٣) وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡہُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَةُ (٤) وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ‌ۚ وَذَٲلِكَ دِينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمَةِ (٥) إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَآ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمۡ شَرُّ ٱلۡبَرِيَّةِ (٦) إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمۡ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡبَرِيَّةِ (٧) جَزَآؤُهُمۡ عِندَ رَبِّہِمۡ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدۡنٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِہَا ٱلۡأَنۡہَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَآ أَبَدً۬ا‌ۖ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَنۡ خَشِىَ رَبَّهُ ۥ (٨)

Al-Bayyina

1.Those who disbelieve and  reject (the Truth), among the People of the Scripture and among the Polytheists (Al-Mushrikun), were not going to leave (their way), till the Beyyine-Clear Evidence came to them.

2.A Messenger from Allâh, reciting scriptures kept pure and holy.

3.Wherein are written correct and straight laws (from Allâh).

 4.And the people of the Scripture divided not until after there came to them The Clear Evidence.

5.And they have been commanded no more than: to  worship only Allâh – none but Him Alone worshiping with sincere devotion and perform regulary As-Salât ( the praying) and give Zakât(the charity): and that is the right religion.

6. Verily, those who reject the Truth from among the people of the Scripture and  polytheists (Al-Mushrikûn) will abide in the Fire of Hell eternally.Verily,they are the worst of creatures.

7. Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds – they are the best of creatures.

8. Their reward from their Lord is ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity), beneath which rivers flow,

They will abide therein forever, Allâh will be pleased with them, and they with Him.

That is for him who fears his Lord.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

1.Woe to every slanderer and backbiter,

2. Who gathered wealth and counted it,

3. Thinking that his wealth would make him last forever!

4. By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into the crushing fire.

5.And what will make you know whaat the crushing fire is?

6. (It is) the Fire of (the Wrath of) Allah kindled (to a blaze)

7. Which leaps up over the hearts.

8.Verily, it shall be closed upon them,

9.(They will be punished in fire) In columns outstretched.