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The 6 aims of the Quran

The 6 aims of the Quran
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November 01, 2024
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In Surat al Isra, Allah Almighty says:

‫إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ یَهۡدِی لِلَّتِی هِیَ أَقۡوَمُ وَیُبَشِّرُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ ٱلَّذِینَ یَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ أَجۡراً كَبِیراً. وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا ألِيماً

Indeed, this Quran guides to what is most upright and gives glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that for them there is a supreme reward, and that those who do not believe in the Hereafter—We have prepared for them a painful punishment. (17: 9-10)

The Quran is the final revelation, sent by Allah Almighty through Angel Jibril to the Final Messenger, who was the best of creation (peace be upon him). The final verse that was revealed is:

‫ٱلۡیَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِینَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَیۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِی وَرَضِیتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمَ دِيناً

Today I have perfected your religion for you and have completed My blessings upon you, and I have approved Islam as a religion for you. (5:3)

After this no messenger would come, so Allah perfected this message.

‫وَأَنزَلۡنَاۤ إِلَیۡكَ ٱلذِّكۡرَ لِتُبَیِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَعَلَّهُمۡ یَتَفَكَّرُونَ

And We sent down to you the Reminder, that you may clarify to mankind what was bestowed upon them from on high, and that they may reflect. (16:44)

The divine message is full of clarity and it will be there until the end of time for people to reflect and apply.

In his beautiful book, “The Jewels of the Quran”, Imam al Ghazali summarised the aims (maqasid) of the Quran as six objectives – he said the core purpose is inviting people to know Allah.

1. Being introduced to the divine

First, we are introduced to Allah by Allah Himself. By knowing Allah’s names and attributes and actions (aqeedah) we come to know Him.

2. Showing the path (sirat) to Allah

Secondly, Allah introduces us to the path. This means there is a journey and we are travellers on this path. So the Quran clarifies the route and directions to the final destination – Heaven or Hell.

This path involves devotion and detachment, as Allah said, “And devote yourself completely to Him” [73:8], meaning to cut oneself off from everything else and turn solely to Him. Turning to Allah is done by consistently remembering Him, and detaching from anything that distracts is achieved by opposing one’s desires, purifying the heart from worldly concerns, and attaining spiritual success, as Allah says, “He has succeeded who purifies it (the soul) and remembers the name of his Lord and prays” [87:14-15].

Remaining on the road involves two things: adhering to the remembrance of God Almighty, and refraining from what distracts us from God, and this is the journey to God.

This is the journey to Allah, without physical movement on the part of the traveller or the One travelled to, as they are already near each other, as Allah says, “We are closer to him than his jugular vein” [50:16].

3. Revealing the final destination (reward or punishment)

This means knowing the joy and bliss awaiting those who reach Allah, symbolised by the word “paradise,” the highest reward being the vision of Allah. It also covers the disgrace and torment for those veiled from Him due to neglect of the path, symbolised by “hell,” with the severest punishment being separation from Allah. May Allah protect us from that, as He says, “Nay! Surely they will be veiled from their Lord that Day. Then surely they will enter the burning flame” [83:15-16].

This section also discusses the various stages of the fate of each group, from resurrection, to reckoning, the scales, and the bridge, which have clear outward forms that inform the general understanding.

The essence of the path consists of two things: commitment (to the remembrance of Allah) and detachment (from distractions).

Allah has given us free will to choose. Free will comes with consequences.

وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ

And say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “˹This is˺ the truth from your Lord. Whoever wills let them believe, and whoever wills let them disbelieve.” (18:29)

4. Describing the stories of the righteous and the disbelievers

The states of those on the path are represented by the stories of the prophets and pious people, such as the stories of Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Haroun, Zakariyya, Yahyah, Eesa, Maryam, Dawoud, Suleman, Yunus, Lut, Idris, Khidr, Shuaib, Ilyas, Muhammad (peace be upon them all), Jibril, Mika’il, and the angels.

The states of those who deny and turn away are illustrated by stories like those of Nimrod, Firaun, the people of Lut, the tribe of Thamud, the people of the thicket, the deniers in Makkah, idol-worshippers, Iblis, and the devils. The purpose of this section is to instill caution, provoke reflection, and provide reminders.

5. Refuting the arguments of disbelievers

There is an ongoing battle between truth and falsehood until the end of time. Allah explains the truth and makes it prevail.

The Quran recounts the states of deniers and exposes their ignorance and disgrace by clear argument. The objective is to reveal the falsehood of their beliefs and prevent others from being misled. In relation to the truth, it aims to clarify, affirm, and demonstrate its power.

Allah defines the conditions of those who turn away and reject the call, as well as the manner in which He punishes and reprimands them; its purpose is to reflect and instil fear in those who want to trangress.

The Quran alternately encourages us to be good by promising reward and deters us from behaving badly by warning us of punishment. These are the Quranic styles of targheeb and tarheeb.

Allah uses these different styles to motivate believers and to warn disbelievers of the consequences of their choices.

6. Guidance on how to prepare for the journey

Ghazali discusses the concept of preparing one’s home and being ready with the necessary provisions and weapons to fend off thieves and robbers. Imagine the journey at the Ghazali’s time through the desert street robbery… this is the context. And on our journey we have the Shaytan and his army stealing from us from our salah and good deeds and intentions.

Ghazali explains that this world is a station for those journeying towards God, and the body is a vehicle for this journey. If one neglects to look after their home and body, their journey will not be successful.

For proper spiritual detachment and connection to Allah (which is the ultimate journey), it is necessary for the body to remain healthy and for the continuity of the human race. Both of which require measures for preservation and protection from harm.

Improve your relationship with the Quran

I think the more we learn and understand the Quran the closer we will be to Allah. The only way we can improve our relationship with Allah is through the Quran. He choose us to receive His message and this is a great honour. Blessed are the ones who receive His call and even more blessed are those who respond to it.

There is no doubt the Prophet (peace be upon him) had the best character of all creation and the manifestation of the Quran. As narrated in Sahih Muslim, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “His character was the Quran” (Kana khuluquhul Quran). This hadith highlights that the Prophet (peace be upo him) embodied the teachings, values, and guidance of the Quran in his daily actions, speech, and behaviour. It showed that his life was a practical example of the Quranic principles.

Learning – understanding – loving and living the Quran

By following his footsteps (peace be upon him), we can implement the Quran in our lives. It is not just about memorising or reciting the Quran, but educating our selves and our families about the meanings of the Quran. It is not just loving the Quran, but living the Quran. So, we need to learn the Quran, and understand the Quran in order to apply the Quran in our lives. You cannot apply the Quran unless you understand the Quran and you cannot live the Quran unless you love the Quran. These are interconnected points. You cannot jump to living the Quran, without fulfilling the steps that precede it.

We ask Allah Almighty to make us among those whom He is pleased with and those who reflect upon the Quran and invite others to the Quran. Ameen.

Based on the Khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim 1st November

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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