Introduction

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compas­sionate. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad is His final messenger.

May peace and blessings be upon him, his family, his noble companions, and all those who follow his righteous path until the Day of Judgment.

The Qur’an is a divine revelation from Allah and serves as a timeless guide for humanity. It is not just a book for recitation but a compre­hensive manual that provides wisdom, moral values, and laws that shape human life in all aspects.

The Qur’an answers funda­mental existential questions: Who created us? Why are we here? How should we live our lives? What happens after death?

Allah affirms in the Qur’an:

“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah” (Qur’an 2:2).

Many Muslims increase their engagement with the Qur’an during the month of Ramadan, a month in which the Qur’an was revealed. However, the Qur’an’s message extends far beyond Ramadan; it should be the guiding light in our daily lives, influencing our thoughts, actions, and deci­sions.

The Meaning and Names of the Qur’an

The word Qur’an comes from the Arabic root “Qa­ra’a”, which means “to read” or “to recite”. The Qur’an is called this because it is meant to be continuously recited, reflected upon, and acted upon. It is not just a book for passive reading but for active learning, understanding, and implementation in all facets of life.

The Qur’an is known by several names in the Islamic tradition, each revealing an essential characteristic of the book:

• Al-Qur’an: Meaning “The Recitation”, emphasizing that it is a book to be recited regularly, in prayer and out­side of it.

• Al-Furqan: Meaning “The Criterion”, which dis­tinguishes between truth and falsehood. It provides moral clarity and guidance on what is right and wrong.

• Adh-Dhikr: Meaning “The Reminder”, because it constantly reminds human beings of their purpose in life and their accountability before Allah.

• An-Nur: Meaning “The Light”, as it illuminates the path of righteousness and removes the darkness of igno­rance.

• Al-Kitab: Meaning “The Book”, signifying that it is a complete and preserved scripture meant for all time.

• Ash-Shifa: Meaning “The Healing”, as it provides spiritual, psychological, and even physical healing to those who turn to it with sincerity.

These names indicate that the Qur’an is more than just a collection of verses; it is a divine guide, a moral com­pass, a source of healing, and a light that dispels darkness.

The Revelation of the Qur’an: A Divine Message for Humanity

The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a pe­riod of 23 years through Angel Jibreel. The revelation took place in two distinct phases:

• The Makkan Phase (13 years): The chapters revealed in this period focused on faith in Allah, monotheism, the resurrection, and moral values. Since the early Mus­lim community was small and persecuted, these revelations gave them spiritual strength and perseverance.

• The Madinan Phase (10 years): The revelations during this period were more detailed and addressed laws, governance, social justice, and community life. The Muslim community had grown in Madinah, and legal rulings on marriage, inheritance, and commerce were introduced to regulate societal affairs.

* The writer is the Metro­politan Chief Imam of Kpone Katamanso

To be continued…

 By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai – 1 BN Michel Camp, Tema  

 But the fruit of the Spir­it is love ………… – Galatians 5:22 (NIV)

 Imagine if all the trees in the world were fruit trees? And they all bore fruits of love? And those who see these fruits of love could eat of it, and give to everyone else un­til it became the staple meal for everybody? Were this to be the case, maybe the so-far elusive utopia that we think is impossible will become a reality. Maybe we would have less sickness and pain in the world. And just maybe it would be alright for this world to last forever.

What is certain though is that this kind of world we envision is attainable, if not on this earth, in heaven. And that heaven begins here, where you and I are. Jesus said: “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is with­in you.” – Luke 17:21. The kingdom of God “is within” us when we seek first the king­dom of God and His righteous­ness – when we surrender to the lordship of Christ and do His will. When we do so, we will be able to bear the fruits of love and enjoy heaven here on earth. That is the clearest evidence we can give that we are citizens of heaven though we live on earth.

Love is both a gift and a fruit. The two come from the same source, the Triune God—the Three Co-Eternal Godhead—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These Three work together as one to ensure that we get the full benefit of love, first as a gift that we receive, then as a fruit that we are expected to bear.

As a gift, the God of love gave Himself to us in the Person of His only begotten Son -John 3:16. When our Lord Jesus Christ departed, He sent His representative— the Holy Spirit—to come and dwell in as many as receive Him and want Him to stay in them – John 16: 7, 13.

As a fruit, God the Father is the Gardener who prunes and tends the plant. God the Son is the Vine to which the branches are connected. God the Holy Spirit, the sap that connects us (the branches) to the Vine, vitalises the branch­es and allows us to blossom and bear fruits. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Re­main in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:1,4.

Why Love?

Bearing the fruit of love is more than a feel-good experi­ence. It is a divine command that is aimed at making us more like God. It involves sacrifice, tears, and often heartache. It can be hard but it is attainable.

Not loving others empties us of the essence of our humanity, and reduces our potentials to grow more into God’s likeness. It rips the thread that runs through the fabric of our common humanity and leaves holes and gaps that destroy the texture and beauty of what was once beautiful. The more afraid we are to love, the less human we become, and the more demonic we grow to be.

History reveals very clearly the impact of the absence and presence of love. On the one hand, where there’s no love we have hate and the wars and genocides that stem from it. There’s also poverty, hunger and homelessness, including the sad testimonials of neglect and abuse. The absence of love results in gossip, slander, jealousies and pettiness continue to inflict pain and alienate people from communities where they might thrive.

On the other hand, with love comes forgiveness and kindness—two vital ingredi­ents of love that have pref­aced healing, renewal and restoration. Love has revived hope and prolonged life, re­built bridges of friendship and transformed minds and hearts of individuals and groups.

God loves us too much to let us suffer and die with­out achieving our optimum. That is why He told us to love. Strictly for our own good, by the One who made us and knows us best. It’s a command that won’t expire because He Himself is love – 1 John 4:8. It’s an instruction that won’t fade away, for as Paul observed, “three things will remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13.

To be continued…  

• By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author