Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have been reading your articles and some of the articles you mentioned that they ( bohras ) are teaching you from the books of dai ul islam or nahjul balagha and not Quran. I have been asking what kind of books are this and whether this books brings you closer to allah.You have been replying to other question where they have insulted you and have replied them and this question you are trying to avoid or are afraid to answer.Anyway if you don't reply to this question than please remove my name from your listing.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

ANSWER:

Other books in Islam

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Firstly, we would like to assure you that we do not avoid any questions received on this forum, nor are we afraid of anything other than Allah Alone, the All Mighty, All Powerful. We have received hundreds of questions on this forum, and we put them all in a queue. Then our scholars do the appropriate research (if needed) and prepare an answer for each question. The truth is brother, this is the first time we have received this question from you, and it is our honor and pleasure to reply to your query, for the Pleasure of Allah Alone.

‘Daim ul Islam’ (Pillars of Islam) is a book written by an author named Qadi Al-Noaman bin Muhammed bin Mansur bin Ahmad bin Hayyun Al Tamimi Al Magribi. The book is divided into two volumes: the first volume deals with belief, faith, and rituals. The second volume deals with legal matters. Qadi Al-Noaman served four Fatimid Caliphs in Cairo, namely Mahdi, Qaim, Mansur and Muizz, and died in 974 AD or 363 years after Hijra.

Among other things, the author has tried to prove the superiority of the Fatimid Caliphs as Imams, and 70% of the first volume deals with this belief. This book forms the basic constitution and legal framework for the Shiite sects like the Ismaelis, Dawoodi Bohras, etc.

‘Nahjul Balaaga’ is a compilation of the various sermons, letters, orders and sayings of Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him). The name of the compiler was Abul Hussan Syed Mohammed Razi. He was born in Baghdad during the year 970 AD or 359 after Hijra. Historians record that he died at the age of either forty-five or forty seven years.

Regarding your query if these books bring one closer to Allah, the truth of the matter is that the only Book that brings one closer to Allah is the very Book of Allah itself, the Glorious Quran! Man does not need any other book, other this one Book of Allah, to comprehend and understand the attributes of Allah; and thus live his live in submission and fear of Allah. This is how one can get closer to Allah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 49 Surah Hujurat verse 13: O mankind, We created you from one man and one woman, and then divided you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honorable amongst you in the sight of Allah is he who is most pious (God Fearing) of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All Wise.

There is huge misconception in the Islamic world, whereby some people advise and recommend that to understand the message of the Holy Quran, it is imperative that one must read some other books first! This is an absolute fallacy, and an attempt by some unscrupulous leaders and self-proclaimed holy men to subjugate and keep the people away from the simple and clear guidance of the Holy Quran. There is absolutely nothing crooked or contradictory in the Holy Quran, nor has Allah tried to hide hints and innuendoes in each aayah of the Quran for us to decipher! The Glorious Quran is a Message of guidance for muslims and non-muslims alike.

The Holy Quran are the very words of our Lord and Creator, Allah Subhanah, and are a clear guidance for the whole of mankind. The Quran was revealed to the desert nomads and illiterate people of Arabia, and they had absolutely no difficulty in understanding it. So much so, that within a hundred years of the Prophet (saws) death, they had taken this Message and propagated it to all corners of the known world of the times.

Allah Himself states that the Quran is clear and very easy to understand; and if anybody, whoever he might be, says or preaches that the Quran is impossible to understand, and it is imperative to read other books first, to understand the simple and direct message of the Holy Quran, is a LIAR! And chances are, he has an agenda which could take one away from the guidance and mercy of Allah.

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185: Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood."

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 44 Surah Dukhan verse 58: We have made this Book easy in your own tongue so that they may ponder and take good counsel.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verses 1-3: Haa Meem. By this lucid (clear or open) Book. We have made it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand it.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 12 Surah Yusuf verse 1-2: These are the verses of the Book that makes its object perfectly clear. We have sent it down as a Quran in Arabic, so that you may understand it well.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89: We have sent down to you this Book, which makes everything plain, and is a guidance, blessing and good news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 19 Surah Maryam verse 97: (O Mohamed), We have made this Quran easy, and sent it down in your tongue so that you should give good news to the pious and warn the stubborn people.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Ha Mim As Sajdaah verse 2-4: This is a Revelation from the All Compassionate, the All-Merciful Allah. A Book whose verses are well expounded, an Arabic Quran for the people who want to understand, and a giver of good news and a warner.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 1-2: All praise is for Allah Alone, Who has sent down this Book to His Servant (Mohamed (saws), and assigned nothing crooked to it. This Book says everything directly, so that he may warn the people of the severe chastisement of Allah and give good news to the believers, who do righteous deeds, that they will have an excellent reward.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 99: We have sent down to you Revelations that clearly expound the Truth, and none but the disobedient reject them.

May Allah guide you and us all to read and understand the Message sent for our guidance by our Lord and Creator, the All Merciful Allah. May Allah guide us all to the Siraat al Mustaqeem (Straight Path of Islam). Ameen.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Siraat al-Mustaqeem

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan