Quranic Studies
What is the purpose of the Quran?
The purpose of the quran is to guide mankind so that they may be led along the path that would bring them to their Maker in a state of complete submission to Him, thus fulfilling the purpose of their own creation. In order to benefit fully from the Quran, one must approach it with humility and with taqwa. Taqwa is being conscious of God at all time.
What are the characteristics of people who believe?
They believe in the unseen: This has a lot to do with Taqwa or maintaining a consciousness of God that leads you to be cautious of the smallest misdeed. This also means that a Muslim also believes in the other unseen things that God has created such as Angels, Jinns, and Shaitan.
They are steadfast in prayer: This responsibility is twofold. First, believers observe all rights of prayer properly and consistently. This includes wudu, recitation, observing timings, positions, directions, intention, focus etc.
The second element of being establishing prayer in our homes, families, and communities. Establishment of prayer is developing masjids, teaching people how to pray properly, and calling people to prayer.
They give charity: Believers give charity to purify their wealth with the intention of performing Allah's will. This also requires that believers humble themselves to understand that the wealth that any person accumulates really belongs to Allah and not to any person. Returning a portion of the wealth is essentially "signing your name on the sandcastle"
They believe in the Revelation: They believe that the words of the Qur'an are true and that they were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). They also believe that Allah communicated with other Prophets in the past and gave some of them the Book as well.
They believe in the Hereafter: Muslims believe that there is reward for following the right path and punishment for failing to do so.
How is establishing prayer beneficial even after death?
When you teach someone how to pray or if you establish prayer in another way such as establishing a mosque or helping someone set a habit, you get blessings equal to those that the person performing the prayer gets. So even if you pass away y0u continue to accumulate blessings.
Explain "people who don't believe and choose not to be guided will not listen or see the truth"
In order to be a disbeliever, one must actively reject the truth. Once a person decides to reject the truth in this manner, they will never turn back to Islam except with Allah's mercy no matter how much you preach.
Why must we tell some people the truth even though they are unlikely to listen to us?
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) charged us with the responsibility of informing people of the truth not making them accept it. Whether a person listens or not is irrelevent, it is our responsibility as a Muslim to inform them. The decision to accept the truth is theirs.
