Sura Al Ikhlas
Quran Tafsir by Dr Wasim Ahmed
Feb 19 2011
Notes by Jaihoon
• Although the Sura is named Al Ikhlas, the word ‘Ikhlas’ does not appear anywhere in the Sura. It is otherwise usual for the name of the Sura to appear
• It was only when humanity had entered the stage of intellectual maturity that the concepts of unity of God as outlined in Sura Ikhlas was revealed.
• The short Sura, called Jawamiul Kalim (accumulated with meanings), has described Allah, without not fully describing Him.
• Rather than we bring Quran to our low level, we need to rise to the level of Quran
• Ikhlas is to devote / commit everything for something or someone. We have to devote our sincerity, loyalty and love for Allah.
• Action of a human is triggered by the questions of What and Why. Here WHAT is related to Allah and WHY is the proof of his existence. When the KNOWLEDGE of both are known clearly, then hiss faith is ingrained like a stone.
• ALLAH is a noun which has neither plural nor feminine. It is both a a subject and object. It refers to a being who loves and can be loved.
• Truth, like a diamond, has to be sought by hardwork, sacrifice and devotion.
• Ahad is referring to Unity, the one and only being.
• Samad is like a solid rock behind which we seek shelter from all sorts of harm.
• Humans are weak and in need of protection. So although Allah is Ahad, he is also Samad, which means He will protect man and HIS slave need not knowck on any doors beside HIS.
• Allah is bey Hamey – without anybody. (Persian). But HE is also Ba Hama – present with all to protect them.
• The attributes of Allah, including His Mercy, compassion, Power, are always with Him.
• Allah has all the perfections. He is absolute. Perfection necessitates Oneness.
• Man is by nature in search of Perfection. Therefore only the ONE can quench his thirst.
• Truth, only when complete, makes sense.
• Quran, being the word of God, remains fully charged throughout the ages. Its battery never drains out for kindling the human hearts
• Translation, of Quran, is both an opportunity and a state of helplessness.
• Father and son are interdependent on one another, biologically and psychologically. Allah is free from such dependencies.
• People go for associating partners to Allah due to heedlessness and thereby demean themselves.
• Quran does not take a chance by leaving anything which may create the slightest doubt about the Unity of Allah.
REFLECTIONS
One might better enjoy the light of Quran more as a guide, than as a reference. There are no particular viewpoints in the former whereas the latter kills the fire of intellectual and spiritual freedom which Quran freely inspires in its audience.
1. The finality of Thinking
The philosophy of Islam has always been “innalladheena aamanoo, wa AMILU salihaat’, not those believe and THINK good. Although thinking is a means to do the good, its over emphasis will make the believer shy from the field of action. Islam did not dream of being merely an intellectual exercise. Islam aims ultimately at the spiritualization / purification of the heart, not rationalization of the mind.
Blind imitation of worn out western ideals to amplify the mind over the heart is inimical to the true spirit of Islam. Unfortunately, this is a common fetter found over those who grew from the cradle of rationalist understanding of islam, although intellectually exciting, where Islam is reduced to idea-concepts than action. ‘Islam emphasized the deed, more than the idea’. The Quran asks us to THINK only as a means to purify our hearts with the remembrance of Allah and ACT in the way of Allah.
2. Remove the Person, Idea is important
Although not directly referred to in the lecture, another commonly heard outcry is the superimposition of the Idea of Islam over the Person of Prophet. Sadly, the proponents of this approach try to remove the personal entity of Prophet from the historical growth of Islam. For such minds, Prophet is merely a ‘postman’ who delivered the message and is unimportant thereafter. The Person and actions of Prophet is the driving force behind the culture of Muslims and the entire life of a believer is solely centered in imitation of his lifestyle.
Bottom line, the lecture is incredibly enlightening for the mind and a few pinches of spirituality here and there would only make the dish more ‘mouth-watering’.