I want to ask Mr. Javed Ahmad Ghamidi some questions regarding the compilation of the Holy Qur’an.
Does any verse of the Holy Qur’an state that arrangement of the Holy Qur’an is same as given it by the Holy Prophet (sws)?
Please also comment on the narratives that demonstrate two separate compilations of the Holy Qur’an; the one by the committee appointed by Abu Bakr (rta) presently in use and the other accumulation executed by ‘Alī (rta). I find the chronological arrangement very useful. It can help explain the reasons behind the revelation of a teaching at a specific time and what gradual aspects it had.
Answer
In our opinion, the Holy Qur’an currently in use is the same as arranged and compiled by the Holy Prophet (sws) under the direct divine guidance. This arrangement has been made in a way that no external sources are required to understand its teachings. Regarding this issue, in his book ‘mīzān’ our mentor Javed Ahmad writes:
Move not your tongue concerning the (Qur’an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to recite it. (Q 75:16-7)
The divine strategy of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an as told in these verses is as follows:
Firstly, it is clarified to the Holy Prophet (sws) that the best way of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an is the one under procedure, gradual divulgence. But you must not worry about its security and compilation. The order in which it is currently unfolded will later be modified. Then Allah Almighty would make necessary changes and will add or remove whatever He liked. Then it will be taught to you in a way that you will never forget any portion of it and it will be handed over to you in its final state.
Secondly, it is clearly explained to the Holy Prophet (sws) that the second reading will be conferred to him in the form of a complete book and he will be obliged to follow that very reading. Then he would not be allowed to recite it according to the previous order.
Thirdly, it has been declared that any necessary explanations would be included in it and thus this book would be handed over to the Prophet (sws) by its author properly arranged and explained in perfect manner. (Mīzān, p.27-28)
The above quoted passage claims that the current arrangement of the Holy Qur’an is given by the Holy Prophet (sws) and its violation is sternly forbidden. It has also been amplified that everything regarding its arrangement or wisdom has been elaborated in this format and we do not need any narrative or the reference to the context provided in the individual narratives of the asbāb genre to understand it.
As for the narrative regarding compilation of ‘Alī (rta), they can be rejected in the light of the above verses. How can the attribution of violation ascribed to Alī (rta) be accepted when the Holy Qur’an has strictly ordered the believers to stick to the given arrangement of the Holy Qur’an?
Mr Talib Mohsin was born in 1959 in the district Pakpattan of Punjab. He received elementary education in his native town. Later on he moved to Lahore and passed his matriculation from the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Lahore. He joined F.C College Lahore and graduated in 1981. He has his MA in Islamic Studies from the University of Punjab. He joined Mr Ghamidi to learn religious disciplines during the early years of his educational career. He is one of the senior students of Mr Ghamidi from whom he learnt Arabic Grammar and major religious disciplines.
He was a major contributor in the establishment of the institutes and other organizations by Mr Ghamidi including Anṣār al-Muslimūn and Al-Mawrid. He worked in Ishrāq, a monthly Urdu journal, from the beginning. He worked as assistant editor of the journal for many years. He has been engaged in research and writing under the auspice of Al-Mawrid and has also been teaching in the Institute.
