God's Writ in the Qu'ran

saidmirza

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God’s Writ: A written set of commands from God to mankind

“Is it other than God I should seek as judge when He it is that sent down to you the Writ set out and detailed?”
And those to whom We gave the Writ know that it is sent down from thy Lord with the truth; so be thou not of those who doubt.
And perfected is the word of thy Lord in truth and justice; there is none to change His words; and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
(The Qur’an 6:114-115)

Introduction​

All praise be to God for guiding me to the truth and granting me the resources for the commission of this work. Our Lord: take us not to task if we forget or err. Excuse us, forgive us and have mercy upon us; You are our Protector. Help us against the deniers.

alif lām mīm
That is the Writ about which there is no doubt, a guidance to those of prudent fear:
Those who believe in the Unseen, and uphold the duty, and of what We have provided them they spend;
And those who believe in what was sent down to thee, and what was sent down before thee, and of the Hereafter
they are certain:
Those are upon guidance from their Lord; and it is they who are the successful.
(The Qur’an 2:1-5)

The Qur’an, God’s final revelation, contains within it God’s Writ: a written set of commands from God to mankind. It is the duty of each and every believer to follow the Writ of God exclusively. The importance of this imperative cannot be overstated; God assures success to those who follow His Writ in this life and the hereafter.

In this work, I have organized (and where necessary, explained) God’s various commands in His Writ as they relate to specific matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, commerce etc. I believe this work will be of benefit to a sincere believer who has made the decision to implement the Writ of God in his personal and communal life. This work is not an exhaustive compilation of all the commands present in God’s Writ; God willing that will be done later.

I wish to thank Brother Gerrans for allowing me to use his translation in this work.

Brother Gerrans’ full translation of the Qur’an (The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation) and his accompanying commentary is available for free here: https://reader.quranite.com

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This is an excerpt from "God's Writ in the Qur'an: A Guidance for the God-fearing" available for free here: https://willyounotreason.com/books.php
 
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1. GOD’S WRIT​

God it is who has sent down the Writ with the truth and the balance. And what can make thee know that the Hour might be nigh!
(42:17)
Most translators of the Qur’an, in accordance with its ordinary usage, translate the word al-kitab as the Book. However, the Qur’an uses this word in a specific sense; a pan-textual analysis of al-kitab reveals it to mean the Writ i.e. a written set of commands from God to mankind. In other words, what God means by the word al-kitab is His written commands which He has mandated be followed and not simply the Book.

The Writ vs the Book​

Consider the following verses in which the translation of al-kitab as the Writ fits perfectly and gives a better understanding of the verse (as opposed to a generic translation of the Book).

Then are you those who kill your own, and turn a faction among you out of their homes, assisting one another against them in sin and enmity; and if they come to
you as captives, you ransom them, but unlawful for you was their expulsion. Do you believe in part of the Writ and deny part? Then what is the reward of him among you who does that save disgrace in the life of this world? And on the Day of Resurrection they are sent back to the harshest punishment; and God is not
unmindful of what you do.
(2:85)

In the above verse, God is chiding the children of Israel for denying (not implementing) part of the al-kitab which they possess i.e. they are in violation of one of His commands present in the Writ given to them: to not expel one of their own.

Mankind was one community; then God raised up prophets as bearers of glad tidings and warners, and sent down with them the Writ 6 with the truth, that He
might judge between men concerning that wherein they differed. And there differed therein only those who were given it, after clear signs had come to them, through sectarian zealotry between them. But God guided those who heeded warning to that of the truth concerning which they differed, by His leave; and God guides whom He wills to a straight path.
(2:213)

In the above verse, God says that He sent down with the prophets “the Writ with the truth, that He might judge between men concerning that wherein they differed.” This judgment will be on the Day of Judgment (when all men will be resurrected). Therefore, what is meant here is that God has sent down the Writ (a written set of commands) and mankind will be judged on the Day of Judgment on the basis of this Writ.And they measured God not with the measure due Him. And the earth altogether will be His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! And exalted is He above that to which they ascribe a partnership!

And the Trumpet will be blown, and whoso is in the heavens and whoso is in the earth will fall down thunder struck save whom God wills. Then will it be blown
again; and then will they be standing, looking on.
And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord; and the Writ will be set up, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be concluded
between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.
And every soul will be paid in full for what it did; and He best knows what they do.
(39:67-70)

The above verse confirms our understanding: God will judge mankind on the Day of Judgment on the basis of His Writ; the same Writ which he has sent down to His prophets throughout the ages. Imagine the state of those who were unaware of the existence of God’s Writ —
let alone that they had to follow it! I hope this shows you how critical understanding and following God’s Writ really is.

Hast thou not considered those given a portion of the Writ? They are invited to the Writ 9 of God, that it might judge between them, then a faction of them turns away; and they are averse,
(3:23)
We have sent down to thee the Writ with the truth, that thou mightest judge between men by what God has shown thee; and be thou not an advocate for the
treacherous;
(4:105)

The above two verses make it clear that the function of the Writ is to enable the prophet (and by extension, the believers) to judge between men. In other words, the prophet (and messenger) Muhammad was commanded to judge between men using God’s Writ present in the Qur’an (which was revealed to him). The significance of this will be discussed later.

Why is this important?​

You might be wondering what the point of the above discussion is? Why does it matter if al-kitab means the Writ instead of the Book? It is important because if we understand al-kitab to simply mean the Book, we lose sight of the point of the al-kitab; that it represents God’s
commands to mankind. Our entire success (in this life and the hereafter) hinges on following God’s commands in His Writ. Consider the opening verses of the second chapter of the Qur’an:

alif lām mīm
That is the Writ about which there is no doubt, a guidance to those of prudent fear:
Those who believe in the Unseen, and uphold the duty, and of what We have provided them they spend;
And those who believe in what was sent down to thee, and what was sent down before thee, and of the Hereafter they are certain:
Those are upon guidance from their Lord; and it is they who are the successful.
(2:1-5)
God makes it clear that the Writ is guidance and that those who follow this guidance will be the successful. Muslims have abandoned God’s Writ in favor of the Sharia Law. God has not let this perfidiousness of Muslims gone unpunished as is evident by their sad state of affairs today.

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This is an excerpt from "God's Writ in the Qur'an: A Guidance for the God-fearing" available for free here: https://willyounotreason.com/books.php
 
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The Qur'an, as per me, represents the final exposition and culmination of the concept of dharma. In Sanskrit, dharma derives from the root dhr-, meaning "to hold" or "to support," and is related to the Latin firmus, which means "firm" or "stable." This connection emphasizes the idea of something steadfast and reliable. Consequently, dharma signifies what is established or firm, often referring to "writ" or "law." In this sense, the Qur'an is indeed a writ, as noted by Sam Gerrans.

In Chapter 2, Verse 176, the Qur'an states: "For it is that God sent down the Writ with the truth, and those who differ concerning the Writ are in extreme schism."

While other scriptures may explore the significance of karma (action) through complex metaphysical frameworks, the Qur'an provides a clear and direct explanation of the rewards and punishments for our earthly actions in the Hereafter:

Chapter 17, Verses 9 -10 :

This Qur’an guides to what is most upright, and brings glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds, that they have a great reward,

And that those who believe not in the Hereafter: — We have prepared for them a painful punishment.


Chapter 99, Verses 7 & 8:

"And whoso does the weight of an atom of good will see it. And whoso does the weight of an atom of evil will see it."
 
There is the concept of salah in the Qur'an which brother Gerrans has correctly translated as duty. In the Jewish world-view this is referred to as mitzvah (commandment from God to be performed as a religious duty.)

I do not know much about the Hindu tradition but Brother Gerrans referred to salah as dharma (if I remember correctly). Can you elaborate on how the Hindu religion views the terms din (which in Arabic means a transaction i.e. we submit to God and He protects/takes care of us) and salah?
 
The Hindu religion is hierarchical by design. At the top are the Brahmins, who act as intermediaries between followers and the Gods. They have positioned themselves as the sole authorities on religious scriptures and rituals, sometimes manipulating these to serve their own interests. The establishment of polytheism in Hinduism is a tactic to maintain their dominance by diversifying religious practices and rituals, which reinforces their status. As a result, lower castes, especially the Shudras, have historically been marginalized and exploited.

From a religious standpoint, Hinduism functions as a transaction between followers and Brahmins rather than a direct connection with the divine. Hence the concept of "Din" in Hinduism is distorted or corrupted by this hierarchical system.

However, from a philosophical and textual perspective, "Din" and "Duty" (similar to Salah in Islam) are expressed through the concept of "Dharma." Dharma includes:
  • Personal Dharma (Svadharma): Each person has unique duties based on their age, gender, stage of life (Ashramas), and personal circumstances. Duties vary for students, householders, retirees, and renunciates.
  • Duty in Relationships: This can be referred to as "Samskara" and "Rita" in Hindu tradition. Samskara encompasses the social and familial responsibilities and rites of passage that shape one's role in society. Rita refers to the ethical order and the moral duties one has in relation to others.
  • Spiritual Duty: This is often associated with "Bhakti" (devotion) and "Sadhana" (spiritual practice). Bhakti refers to devotion to God, while Sadhana encompasses the various spiritual disciplines and practices aimed at achieving spiritual growth and liberation (moksha).

The Varna System (caste hierarchy) does not equate to Dharma in any ways and is highly corrupted. Therefore, focusing on the broader concept of Dharma in contemporary discussions is more relevant.
 
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