CHAPTER 2:
THE EXCELLENCE OF THE FOLLOWERS OF THE HOLY QUR’AN
Members of the Advisory Council of Hadrat ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him), the second Caliph of
Islam, were always the ‘Ulema’ (the Learned in religion) whether they are old or of young age. Abu Huraira
(Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) said: Anyone who is most versed in Allah’s Book should act as an Imam for the people; but if they are
equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has most knowledge regarding the Sunnah; if they are equal
regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest of them to emigrate; if they emigrated at the same time then the
oldest of them.
In another version it is reported: No man must lead another in Prayer where the latter has authority, or sit in
his place of honor in his house, without his permission.” Muslim transmitted it.
Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) said : Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had
each pair of those killed at the Ghazwa of Uhud wrapped in a single garment and asked which of them knew more of the Holy Qur’an. When one of them was pointed out to him, he had him put first in the side of grave. Bukhari transmitted it.
Abu Musa Ash’ari (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah
upon him) as saying: The respect of a Muslim who is of an old age and a follower of the Qur’an leads to the
pleasure of Allah provided the follower of the Qur’an is not a transgressor and unfaithful to the Holy Qur’an
CHAPTER 3:
THE OBLIGATION TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND REFLECT UPON THE HOLY QU
AND A WARNING TO THE HEEDLESS
The Holy Qur’an says:
“And We place upon their hearts veils lest they should understand it, and in their ears a deafness.” (1
In another verse the Almighty Allah says:
“Lo! the worst of beasts in Allah’s sight are the deaf, the dumb who have no sense.” (8: 22)
Again the Holy Qur’an says:
“But he who turneth away from remembrance of Me, his will be a narrow life, and I shell bring him b
to the assembly on the Day of Resurrection.” (20 :124)
Abu Musa Ash’ari (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of A
upon him) as saying: The similitude of that guidance and knowledge with which Allah, the Exalted a
Glorious, has sent me is that of rain falling upon the earth. There is a good piece of land which receiv
rainfall (eagerly) and as a result of it there is grown in it herbage and grass abundantly. Then there is
hard and barren which retains water and the people derive benefit from it and they drink it and make
animals drink. Then there is another land which is barren. Neither water is retained in it, nor is the gr
grown in it. And that is the similitude of the first one who develops the understanding of the Religion
Allah and it becomes a source of benefit to him with which Allah sent me. (The second one is that) w
acquires the knowledge of religion and imparts it to others. (Then the other type is) one does not pay
attention to (the revealed knowledge) and thus does not accept guidance of Allah with which I have b
sent. Bukhari and Muslim transmitted it.
‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of
be upon him) as saying: Be merciful to others and Allah will be merciful to you. Forgive when other
wrong thee and Allah will forgive you your sins. There is destruction for a man in whose words and
exists contradiction and also for those who persist upon their deeds willfully. Ahmad transmitted it.