Importance of the the Quran

The Quran (قرآن) is the final Holy Scripture of God. It is the word of God (Arabic: الله Latin: Allah) verbatim and to the letter revealed to the Noble Prophet of Islam, Muḥammad (مُحَمَّد) [peace be upon him and his progeny], directly or by means of the archangel Gabriel [جِبرائيل]. It is the only Holy ScriptureGospel or the Torah, which Muslims believe they have been distorted and altered greatly. From this point arises the importance of the Quran.

It is the everlasting and living miracle of God’s final prophet, not only because it has been free from distortion but also due to its inimitable eloquence, beauty, and style. The Quran has said that it is a guidance for those who fear God.¹ The Quran itself challenges people to bring its like, even a single surah if they can,² asserting that they will never be able to do so.³

In the Quran, God Almighty has stated:

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

“Indeed We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed We will preserve it.” ⁴

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The Importance and Purpose of the Quran

The importance of the Quran is best comprehended once we have established a good understanding of the purpose of this Holy Book. All the prophets that have been sent by God hold one reason as their objective and mission, that is, the guidance of mankind. With each prophet and apostle, the commands and instructions God has sent with the previous messenger would be completed, as were the books that were revealed to each prophet. Hence, the purpose of each Holy Book can be stated as such:

1. Verification and completion for the books that came before it
2. Guidance for humanity

The Importance of the Quran as Man’s Manual of Life

Since God has intended to guide mankind, it is logical that He should send a book along with the religion in order for the people to seek commandment and guidance from it. From this we can understand the importance of the Quran better. The Quran which is the last Holy Scripture revealed to the last Prophet is both guide and verification as stated in the Book itself. The guidance of mankind would be redundant had God not sent a book in which all His rules and instructions have been existed. Subsequently, when a person sets foot unto the path of monotheism and seeks guidance, they would need a manual whose authenticity and endurance are reliable for reference.

The Importance of the Quran and the Four Books Mentioned by God in the Quran

The importance of the Quran is understood when, as the final Holy Scripture sent by God on to His last Messenger, the it acts as verifier for all other Holy Books that were sent before it. The reason to this is for those who doubt the Quran’s divinity to be able to refer to the previous Scriptures and find within them, proof for the validity and reliability of the Quran.  As we said, according to narrations, the number of the prophets are 124,000 in total⁵ among which a debated number have received Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures that have been mentioned in the Quran are four:

1. Ṣuḥuf [صُحُف] or Scrolls of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)

The Suhuf are books attributed to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, as stated in the Quran:

صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى

“The Scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa.” ⁶

The name of the Scripture revealed to Prophet Ibrahim is unknown; however, a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad indicates that Prophet Ibrahim had received up to ten holy scrolls from God.⁷ No version of these scrolls have been reported to still exist, but as far as the content of that which was revealed unto Ibrahim peace be upon him goes, it is indisputable that they were in harmony with all other books of God. This has been stated as a fact in the narrations from the Noble Messenger and the verse of the Holy Quran.

وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَىٰ صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ

“While the Hereafter is better and more lasting. This is indeed in the former scriptures, the scriptures of Abraham and Moses.” ⁸

2. Psalms (Zabūr زَبور) of Prophet Dawud (David)

The Psalms is the book revealed to Prophet Dawud (David) peace be upon him and is a compilation of poems, supplications and praises. It has been mentioned by God in the Quran as one of the books He has bestowed upon His prophet:

إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا

“We have indeed revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him, and [as] We revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, Jesus and Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon—and We gave David the Psalms.” ⁹

This Holy Book is in Hebrew and is now considered as a part of the Old Testament. The books that have been revealed to the prophets are of two sorts based on the religions that were brought forth or preached by the prophet; they either contained new laws and commands regarding the new religion that the prophet was inviting to or were a supplementary scripture to that which was revealed before it.

The Psalms would fall under the second category due to the fact that Prophet Dawud peace be upon him did not invite to a new religion and was one of many prophets that were among the Children of Israel and the followers of Nabi Musa’s religion which was Judaism. 

In another verse God says in regard to the Psalms:

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ

“Certainly We wrote in the Psalms, after the Torah: ‘Indeed My righteous servants shall inherit the earth’.” ¹⁰

This verse points to Psalms 37 where it has been stated that:

“But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”

What this shows is the harmony between God’s books and how all the religions that have been sent before Islam are preaching the same messages and teachings.

3. Torah (Tawrāh تَوراة) of Prophet Musa (Moses)

The Torah is known to be the Holy Book of Prophet Musa peace be upon him also referred to as the Old Testament by the Christians. Its specific meaning is the Pentateuch which are the five books believed to be revealed to Prophet Musa by the following names:

1. Book of Genesis
2. Book of Exodus
3. Book of Leviticus
4. Book of Numbers
5. Book of Deuteronomy

These books, in addition to the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible known as Tanakh are the Written Torah and that which is narrated in extension to this from rabbinic writings and general Jewish teachings is considered as the Oral Torah.

The Torah has been mentioned in the Quran 18 times by name and other titles. One of the examples that God (SWT) has mentioned the Torah is in verse three of chapter three of the Quran, stating:

نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ

“He has sent down to you the Book with the truth, confirming what was [revealed] before it, and He had sent down the Torah and the Bible.” ¹¹

One of the themes and reoccurring concepts in the Torah is the advent of a Messiah, a savior who will appear and deliver man from darkness and oppression. Many of the verses and stories in this holy book point to this matter and the Quran verifies this notion and the promises made in the Torah by saying:

الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْۚ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۙ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

Those who follow the Apostle, the untaught prophet, whose mention they find written with them in the Torah and the Evangel, who bids them to do what is right and forbids them from what is wrong, makes lawful to them all the good things and forbids them from all vicious things, and relieves them of their burdens and the shackles that were upon them—those who believe in him, honor him, and help him and follow the light that has been sent down with him, they are the felicitous. ¹²

The word Injiīl has been mentioned 12 times in the Holy Quran. Through the verses of the Quran we find that the Christian Holy Book verifies the Torah and that which God has commanded to within the Torah and the teachings of the Prophet whom came before Jesus Christ, Prophet Musa peace be upon him. The Quran has stated:

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿46﴾

We followed them with Jesus son of Mary, to confirm that which was before him of the Torah, and We gave him the Evangel containing guidance and light, confirming what was before it of the Torah, and as guidance and advice for the Godwary.

4. Gospel (Injīl إِجيل) of Prophet ‘Isa (Jesus)

That which is referred to as Injil in the Holy Quran is regarded as a book revealed to Prophet ‘Isa himself. However, the Gospel which Christians refer to as their Holy Book is a narrative done by four companions of the disciples of Christs, all of whom lived decades after what was presumably thought of as the death of Prophet Isa peace be upon him.

Furthermore, the Bible is an assortment of Christian teachings and texts, all of which are considered as sacred, including the Torah known as the Old Testament and that which was compiled by Jewish disciples of Prophet Isa referred to as the New Testament. The Injil has been mentioned 12 times in the Holy Quran. In a verse God has said in its regard:

إِذْ قَالَ اللَّـهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًاۖ وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَۖ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِيۖ وَتُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِيۖ وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِيۖ وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنكَ إِذْ جِئْتَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَـٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

[The Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, “This is not but obvious magic. ¹³

The Importance of the Quran and a Comparison Between It and Other Holy Books

In terms of fundamental teachings and instructions, the Quran and all other divine books that were sent before it have many commonalities. All the above-mentioned books teach their followers to worship the one true God, obey His commands and follow His messengers, to refrain from sins and wickedness, respect the rights of other living creatures and to believe in a life after death. However, some differences exist in these Books that in detail, impact the practices and doctrines of each religion.

The Importance of the Quran as a Miracle

One of the things that highlights the importance of the Quran and indubitably acts as a factor for its prominence above all other books is that it is the only holy book God has sent with the objective of it being a miracle. Every prophet sent by God displayed miracles as a sign and proof for their validity and divine position. Prophet ‘Isa healed the blind and the leper, Prophet Musa’s hand glowed by the command of God in the presence of Pharaoh and parted the sea, Prophet Saleh presented his people with a camel from the core of the mountain.

Aside from being a book of guidance like all other books that came before it, the importance of the Quran can be recognized when one comes to know that it also acts as a proof for the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him due to its miraculous eloquence, knowledge of past and future events, sciences, and timelessness.

The Importance of the Quran and Its Immunity from Distortion

Christian, Jewish, and Muslim scholars all agree on the fact that the Holy Scriptures and texts of Christianity and Judaism have been a victim of distortion and alteration. The Quran however is different from all other holy books because it never has and never will be affected by such impediment as stated in verse nine of Chapter Al-Hijr. This is yet another proof of the importance of the Quran.

The Importance of the Quran as the Final and Most Complete Holy Book

Another aspect that highlights the importance of the Quran as an exceptional book is the fact that it is the last of its kind and the most complete and comprehensive of all divine scriptures. The Quran is the final and updated version of all heavenly books, the same way Islam is the last religion sent by God for the guidance of mankind.

Those who had believed in previous prophets had done according to the obligation that was required of them at that time, therefore with the advent of Islam and the revelation of the Quran, it is upon those who had followed past prophets and had received glad tidings of the final messenger and his Holy Book to answer that call and accept God’s final invitation. This shows the importance of the Quran

Importance of the Quran and Reciting and Learning It for Believers

Prophet Muhammad has said the Quran is better than everything and that its superiority over other books is akin to the superiority of God over His servants.¹⁴ Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (جَعفَرُ الصّادق), the sixth Shiite imam, has also said that the Quran is God’s pact with His servants; therefore, it is worthy that every Muslim individual looks at his pact and reads [at least] fifty verses of it every day.¹⁵

Another very important point that confirms the importance of the Quran is that reciting it has great reward and has been likened to listening to God. Another reason learning and reciting the Quran is so important for believers (مُؤمِنون) is that it contains almost everything that needs to be known, believed in, performed, and refrained from in one’s life.

The Importance of the Quran and Its Teachings

The Quran teaches people many things that are essential for their lives. For example, by reading, reciting, and understanding the Quran, every Muslim and believer must become acquainted with and believe in the five principles and fundamentals of Islam known as Uṣūl al-Dīn (أُصولُ الدين), aka the pillars of Islam.

They are as follows: 

• Tawḥīd or Tawheed(تَوحيد): Monotheism
• Nubuwwah (نُبُوَّة): Prophethood
• Ma‘ād (مَعاد): Resurrection
•  ‘Adl (عَدل): Justice
• Imāmah (إمامَة): Imamate

For the sake of brevity, here we will discuss two of them: Tawheed and Nubuwwah.

The Importance of the Quran and Tawheed

One of the first and most fundamental beliefs that every Muslim must follow is Tawheed, meaning monotheism or belief in only one God. A person who does not believe in Tawheed is not considered as a Muslim even by name. This belief has been repeated many times in various chapters (Arabic: سورة Latin: surah) and verses (Arabic: آیة Latin: ayah) of the Quran. Specifically, there is an entire chapter concerning this belief known by its two names, surah Tawheed and Ikhlas (الإخلاص: pure intention). It is chapter 112 of the Quran in juz (جزء) 30. When one realizes that such chapters teach such important things, one recognizes the importance of the Quran.

Surah Ikhlas reads:

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, most merciful

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿1﴾

Say: He, Allah, is One,

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ﴿2﴾

Allah is He on Whom all depend,

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿3﴾

He begets not, nor is He begotten,

وَ لَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدُ ﴿4﴾

Nor has He any equal.

The Importance of the Quran and Nubuwwah

It is almost impossible for people to know that God exists and know what He wants from them unless there is an intermediary and representative who would inform them about things such as:

• God
• The angels
• The prophets
• The Holy Scriptures
• The Unseen
• The hereafter
• Resurrection Day (Qiyamah)

This shows the importance of the Quran even more. God sent His prophets to people so that they could communicate His words to them and inform them of His existence and what they should and should not do. The total number of prophets that God sent to different nations is 124,000. God sent His final prophet, Muhammad, with the Quran to the people of the Arabian Peninsula to guide them to the straight path and stop them from clinging to their pagan beliefs.

Another point that highlights the importance of the Quran is that it has stressed that obeying God’s prophets, especially His final one, Muhammad and his successors [the twelve imams], is tantamount to obeying God Himself.¹⁶ Knowing such an important matter would not be possible without recognizing the importance of the Quran. Besides, the circumstances of certain Islamic laws have not been fully explained in the Quran. Some of these rulings that have not been explained in detail in terms of the way of performing them are the following:

• Prayer or salat (صَلوٰة)
• Charity or zakat (زَكوٰة)
• Hajj (حَجّ)
• Fasting (صَوم)

Therefore, Prophet Muhammad as the interpreter of the Quran and Apostle of God, has explained the details of these rulings for his nation.

The Importance of the Quran and Hadith

The importance of the Quran can be better understood when we know that in Islam, there are two criteria that are used to interpret Islamic laws and rulings as well as other issues such as moral guidance. The first and more important one is naql (نَقل) meaning transmission, and the second is ‘aql (عَقل),meaning intellect. The Quran and hadith fall under the former category, as they have been transmitted to us; the Quran by God, and hadith by the Prophet and his vicegerents (i.e. the Imams).

The Quran and narrations contain many things that one may not be able to understand only by relying on the intellect. For example, many rulings of Islam are explicitly stated by the Quran and there is no need for intellect to decipher them. Of course, they are not in contradiction with intellect either. Nevertheless, intellect is capable of inferring certain rulings and issues concerning Islamic beliefs from transmission, meaning both the Quran and hadith.

Importance of the Quran: The Quran as Criterion for Authenticity of Hadith

There is a direct relationship between transmission and intellect. That is, intellect must approve transmission and vice versa. Because the Quran is the word of God and there is no doubt over its veracity, intellect can never contradict it. If it seems to do so, it is not genuine intellect.

On the other hand, hadith have been narrated from the Noble Prophet and his pure household through different people. The narrators of hadith sometimes cannot be trusted. That is why any hadith which is narrated by such individuals and goes against intellect or the Quran is considered unauthentic and fabricated.

Therefore, the ones who have narrated the hadith must be trustworthy individuals. If they are not trustworthy yet the content of the hadith seems to be compatible with intellect and the Quran, religious experts have to determine whether those hadith are authentic or not based on specific criteria. However, any narration that contradicts intellect and the Quran, even though it may appear that its narrator is trustworthy, is considered invalid.

Best Interpreters of the Quran

The Prophet of Islam and his pure household are the best interpreters of the Quran. That is because they are infallible, their intellect is perfect, and have God-given knowledge. In this regard, the Quran asserts that whatever Prophet Muhammad says is from God and that he does not say anything based on his own desire. The Quran states this in surah Najm:

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى

“Nor does he [Muhammad] speak out of [his own] desire: It is just a revelation that is revealed [to him], taught him by one of great powers [Gabriel].”

Therefore, one can rely on authentic hadith from the Noble Prophet and his successors to understand the tafsīr [exegesis] or ta’wīl [esoteric interpretation] of the Quran. This shows the importance of hadith and its relationship with the Quran.

Importance of Quranic Education

The Quran is a book that gives us a great deal of information and words of advice as to how we should behave and treat others. It advises us to be wary of God, to be righteous, and to treat one’s fellow brothers and sister in faith with mercy and compassion and to make peace between them. ¹⁷

The Quran commands us to antagonize the enemies of God and not to befriend them. ¹⁸ It tells us that one must always rely on God for all of one’s affairs. ¹⁹ It teaches us to have faith in God and do good deeds. Believing in the Day of Judgment (يَومُ القِيامة) alone should make us be careful with our actions, as on that day, people will be rewarded or punished based on their deeds in this world.

Quran also places great importance on studying, learning, contemplating, and gaining knowledge. It emphasizes this point by stating, “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ Only those who possess intellect take admonition’.” ²⁰ Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him and his progeny] has also laid emphasis on seeking knowledge by saying, “Seek knowledge even if it is in [a far place such as] China.” ²¹

The Most Important Verses in the Quran

There is no doubt that the entirety of the Holy Quran is of most significance and all of its chapters and verses must be taken into high regards. Each verse from the Quran contains levels within levels of complex knowledge and aside from their apparent meaning, there are countless other hidden meaning in each verse as well.

Therefore, one can never exclude a verse or verses from the rest and declare them more important than others, however, narrations tell us that some verses need extra consideration or address issues that we must pay heed to. This said, there are some verses that have been the subject of studies and have formed schools and ideologies within Islam:

Ayatul Kursi (آیَةُ الکُرسی)

Ayatul Kursi or “the Verse of the Seat [of power]” is verse 255 of Chapter al-Baqarah which begins at “الله لا إله إلّا هو” and ends at “وهو العلیّ العظیم”. A hadith from the Noble Prophet reports that Ayatul Kursi contains 50 words and 170 letters. In another narration, when asked of the noblest verse revealed unto him, Prophet Muhammad mentioned Ayatul Kursi to be the greatest verse he received. ²²

اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ الْحَیُّ الْقَیُّومُ لا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَهٌ وَلا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِی السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِی الأرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِی یَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلا بِإِذْنِهِ یَعْلَمُ مَا بَیْنَ أَیْدِیهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلا یُحِیطُونَ بِشَیْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ کُرْسِیُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضَ وَلا یَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِیُّ الْعَظِیمُ

Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Seat [of power] extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Verse of Mubahalah (مُباهَلَه)

Verse 61 of Chapter Aali-Imran otherwise known as the verse of Mubahalah was revealed on the occasion of the opposition of the Christians against Prophet Muhammad. Thus, God commanded him to gather his family members and commence in an act of mubahala to prove their rightfulness. Mubahalah is when two groups of people compete each other, each asking God to inflict punishment on the other. This is a way of showing one’s rightfulness.

The people who were considered as the Prophet’s family and accompanied him in this mission were Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, Fatimah Zahra, the Prophet’s daughter, and their two sons Hassan and Hussain peace be upon them all. This verse is used as proof for the high position of the household of the Noble Prophet, especially Ali ibn Abi Talib who is referred to as the nafs of the Prophet, that is, his own self.

فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِیهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَ نِسَاءَنَا وَ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَ أَنفُسَنَا وَ أَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل‌لَّعْنَتَ اللَّـهِ عَلَی الْكَاذِبِینَ

“Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge that has come to you, say: Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls, then let us pray earnestly and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.”

Verse of Taṭhīr (تَطهیر)

The second part of verse 33 of Chapter Al-Ahzab was revealed to the Noble Prophet in regard to his household, once again proving their distinction over all in the eyes of God; that they have been selected above all of creation for the purpose of guiding mankind with the light of their purity. The importance of this verse is due to the fact that it proves the infallibility of the people of the household, thus, making them the best role model, as they are immune to sins and mistakes.

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَ يُطَهِّرَكمُ‏ تَطْهِيرًا

“Indeed, Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.”

Verse of Authority (اولی الامر)

In verse 59 of Chapter an-Nisa, Allah (SWT) lays obedience towards Him, His Prophet and those of authority as the prerequisite for believing in God. To clarify the position of the Prophet and those of authority furthermore, He places submission to them at the same rank as submitting to God. By doing so, it becomes undebatable for the believers that in order to have their faith reflect into its active aspect, they must hold the authority of the Noble Prophet and those appointed by him as the principle of their religion.   

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا أَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنازَعْتُمْ في‏ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ الرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ذلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَ أَحْسَنُ تَأْويلا

“O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favorable in outcome.”

Verse of Wilayah (وِلايَة)

Verse 5 of Chapter Al-Ma’idah is the concept of wilayah which means authority and mastership. The importance of this verse is best understood when one comprehends the objective and principles of Islam. Furthermore, in this verse God specifies absolute ownership and authority to Himself, His Prophet, and the believers whom give charity while bowing during their prayers. It has been agreed upon in both Sunni and Shia sources that “those who give charity while bowing in prayer” refers to Ali ibn Abi Talib. ²³

إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذينَ آمَنُوا الَّذينَ يُقيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ هُمْ راكِعُون

“Your guardian is only Allah, His Apostle, and the faithful who maintain the prayer and give the zakat while bowing down.”