Dear readers,

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) attached great importance to learning, teaching and reading Qur’an.

"The most virtuous among you are those who learn and teach Qur’an." [Bukhari]

"The most supreme worship in my community is to read Qur’an." [Abu Nu'aym]

"In a house where Qur’an is not read, beneficence will decrease, malice will increase, and narrow circumstances will be inflicted." [Dar al-Qutni]

"Decorate your houses with salat and recitation of Qur’an." [Itqan]

The goal of learning and reading Qur’an is to understand it and follow its provisions, recommendations and guidance. It is understood again from the statements contained in the book which separates truth from falsehood that the reason for the descent of Qur’an in Arabic was for the community into which it descended to understand it, and that it was the task of Rasulullah (s.a.w.) to explain those parts of it which people failed to understand.

"We have sent it down as an Arabic Qurán, in order that ye may learn wisdom." [Yusuf, 2]

"We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them" [Nahl, 44]

Those who obey Qur’an will reach peace with it

Surely, the goal of the explanations made by the Prophet regarding Qur’an is to ensure that people know and follow Allah's rules, commands, recommendations and guidance which will take them to blessings and make them decent and dignified people. With these rules, Allah (s.w.t.) ensures that those who believe in him and seek his assent will reach salvation.

"There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book." [Maida, 15]

"Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light,- guideth them to a Path that is straight." [Maida, 16]

As for those who do not follow these rules, they will suffer various troubles both in the world and in the hereafter.

Dear readers, a significant part of the troubles that people suffer result from their yielding to the whims and desires of their ego. What takes people to prosperity and benevolence and ensures their eternal happiness is to believe in their Rab (Allah) and follow his messengers, that is, to yield to the desires and wants of Allah (s.w.t.) instead of those of their egos.

Those who love Allah (s.w.t.) should follow his messenger

Therefore, our Rab insists we obey His Sublime Personality and His Prophet, and follow His judgments and His book which declare His commands, recommendations and guidance.

"Say: If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins" [Al-i Imran, 31]

"Say: Obey Allah and His Messenger: But if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith." [Al-i Imran, 32]

"And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it" [An’am, 155]

"Follow (O men!) the revelation given unto you from your Lord, and follow not, as friends or protectors, other than Him. Little it is ye remember of admonition." [A'raf, 3]

Dear readers, humans are not aimless and they will be responsible about whether they comply with the judgments of Qur’an. This responsibility applies to every sane person of full age. In our day, however, Qur’an has become a document which is frequently recited in graveyards and mosques but about the judgments of which only a few people are knowledgeable. Recently, a hodja effendi on a TV show was telling how Al-Ghazali described this situation. As it is a good example, I want to share it with you:

Now think of a farm-household chief. This person sends an instruction to his workers about the works to be performed. The workers receive the instruction. They read the message which states "such place will be watered, furrows will be opened here and seedlings will be planted there..." and they constantly repeat reading it but do not perform any work. Now, if you were the boss, would you keep such workers in your farm who read your instructions but do not fulfill them? Please think about it and answer.

Humans are responsible regarding the judgments of Qur’an

Dear readers,

Humans are obliged to fulfill the judgments of Qur’an which was descended to them as a guidance and blessing, and they will be called to account as to whether or not they have followed it.

"The (Qurán) is indeed a reminder, for thee and for thy people; and soon shall ye (all) be brought to account." [Zukhruf, 44]

And what are these judgments? First of all, the principles of faith including, primarily, the existence and oneness of Allah. These principles are clearly described in Qur’an and it is stated that those who deny these facts are in a deep perversion:

"Any who denieth Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messenger, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray." [Nisa, 136]

As for fate, that is, the fact that everything that will happen is predestined and will unfold in accordance with the will of Allah (s.w.t.) in the progression of time:

"No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a Book before We bring it into existence." [Hadid, 22]

Faith is the foundation of all goodness

So humans are obliged to believe in, accept and approve these. All the blessings for human begin with this faith. As this concept of "faith" is a starting point for the divine training which will bring humanity to high decency and dignity, believing in these principles is the foundation of religion, and any other deeds of those who deny them will not be taken into consideration:

"The parable of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day: No power have they over aught that they have earned." [Ibrahim, 18]

Humans are responsible from abiding by prohibitions

People will also be responsible regarding whether or not they have abiden by the "prohibitions" stipulated in Qur’an. Some of them are arranged in successive order in the surah of Al-Isra:

"Make not thy hand tied (like a niggard's) to thy neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that thou become blameworthy and destitute. " [Isra, 29]

"Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is an indecent (deed) and an evil way." [Isra, 32]

"Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. " [Isra, 33]

"Give full measure when ye measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight:" [Isra, 35]

"And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for surely the hearing, the sight, the heart, all of those shall be questioned of (on the Day of Reckoning)." [Isra, 36]

"Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for thou canst not rend the earth asunder, nor reach the mountains in height." [Isra, 37]

Humans are also responsible from obeying the commands

People will also be responsible about whether or not they have obeyed the "commands" and "recommendations" of Qur’an. I want to give a few examples:

"So serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for My remembrance." [Ta-ha, 14]

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you," [Baqarah, 183]

"And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah." [Baqarah, 110]

Dear readers, because these provisions that contain the rules for proper lifestyle for humans are the keys to an internal happiness, they are extracted from valuable sources and given in the article entitled "The Golden Rules of an Eternal Happiness"[1] of this weak servant.

To be a good human is to live in accordance with Qur’an

To be good is to obey Qur’anic judgments and live in compliance with the principles stipulated by Qur’an. This is expressed in the following verse:

"It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and give Zakat (regular charity); to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic." [Baqarah, 177]

Dear readers, the best, the clearest, the most objective and impartial criteria of the concepts of "good" and "evil" which not based on the whims of human ego are given in Qur’an. Humans are also obliged to obey these rules. Never any change occurs in these rules of Allah:

"(This was Our) way with the messengers We sent before thee: thou wilt find no change in Our ways. " [Isra, 77]

Be entrusted to Allah.

[1] http://ulukus.blogspot.com.tr/2007/05/golden-rules-of-perpetual-happiness.html