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:

HI!
All.
I am writing from bombay.  A hindu friend of mine once posed a question on me which left me quite baffled..

She said that " You'll ( we all muslims) believe that everything is mentioned in the Quran.  There are chapters regarding divorce,non-believers etc etc. Then why doesnt Quran talk anything about Haj, Namaaz and other things which are considered so important in Islam.. Infact in the whole Quran there isnt any word such as Haj, Namaaz etc. etc.

Pls answer my question asap

(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:

Mention in Quran about Hajj, Prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever 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.

My beloved brother, the problem with the believers today is that they do not read the Holy Quran with understanding themselves; and when some non-muslim challenges them even on basic things, we are unable to satisfy their query.

Ref: the mention of Hajj in the Holy Quran

Not only does Allah mentions the great pilgrimage of Hajj several times in the Holy Quran, there is a Surah in the Glorious Quran (Chapter 22) named Surah Al-Hajj!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verses 96-97:Undoubtedly the first House of Worship ever to be built for mankind is the one which is at Makkah. It was blessed, and made the center of guidance for all the peoples. In it are clear Signs; there is a spot where Ibraheem used to worship; and it is the Santuary, and whoever enters it becomes safe and secure. Allah has, therefore, a right on the people that the one, who can afford to reach the house, should perform Hajj there. And the one who disobeys (this commandment should know that) Allah is Self-Sufficient, and does not stand in need of anyone.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 197-200:The months for Hajj are well-known to all. Whoever makes up his mind to perform the Hajj during these fixed months, let him totally abstain from all sorts of sexual indulgence, wickedness, and wrangling during the Hajj; and remember that Allah knows whatever good you do. Take necessary provisions for Hajj, and piety is the best of all provisions! So refrain from disobeying Me, O men of understanding. And there is nothing wrong if you also seek the bounty of your Lord during the pilgrimage. Moreover, when you return from Arafat, stay at Mashaar-e-Haraam (Muzdalifa) and remember Allah. And remember Him just as He has enjoined you, for you had gone astray before this. Then return from where others return, and ask Allah’s forgiveness. Most surely He is the Forgiving and the Merciful. And when you have performed your Hajj rites, remember Allah as you had been remembering your own forefathers, or with even greater zeal.

There are several other places where Allah mentions the pilgrimage of Hajj, and if you require us to give you all the references, please do write to us and we shall provide the same to you. Besides, there are literally hundreds of hadiths on the issues of Hajj, as narrated by the noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Ref: the mention of Namaaz in the Quran.

The Quranic term for prayer or Namaaz is ‘As-Salaah’, and the term ‘salaah’ is mentioned in excess of seventy times all over the Quran! Please advise us if you want us to give you all the references where the term ‘As-Salaah’ is mentioned in the Quran.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Verses 78-79:Establish the ‘salaat’ from the declining of the sun to the darkness of the night, and be particular about the recital of the Quran at dawn; for the recital of the Quran at dawn is witnessed. Besides this, offer Tahajjud prayers at night. This is an additional prayer for you. That time is not far when your Lord may exalt you to a laudable position.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 153:O you who have believed! Seek help with fortitude and As-Salaat, for Allah is with those who show fortitude.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 74 Surah Muddaththir verses 41-48:(On the Day of Judgment, The People of Paradise) will ask the criminals, “What has brought you into Hell?” The criminals will reply, “We were not of those who offered the Salaat, and we did not feed the poor, and we used to join with those who indulged in idle talk against the Truth, and we used to belie the Day of Recompense, till the Inevitable overtook us!” At that time, no intercession of the intercessors shall avail them anything.

My beloved brother, there is not an issue regarding guidance, which is not mentioned in either the Quran, or the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). Every single issue regarding guidance and the Way to live an Islamic life is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah.

We humbly advise you to read the Glorious Quran with understanding, so that the next time anyone asks you a question on Islam; you are prepared to answer the person from the sources of Divine Knowledge. The Glorious Quran is extremely easy reading, and once you have the basic knowledge of the Quran; no one will ever be able to challenge you in the knowledge of Islam, and leave you baffled or speechless.

It is indeed an era of shame and disgrace for the believers, that the mushriks are able to challenge our beliefs, and because we have not read the Divine Message which our Lord has revealed for our guidance, we are left baffled and speechless! If we do not read, understand, study, follow and obey this Glorious Message that our Merciful Lord has revealed, we will be held severely accountable in the Court of Allah on the Day of Judgment! If we do not read and understand the Glorious Quran, how on earth will we ever be able to accomplish and undertake the duty that Allah Subhanah has laid upon the believers: that is, to invite all of mankind to this deen of Truth called Islam.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 16, Surah An-Nahl Ayat 125:Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and excellent admonition and argue with people in the best manner. Your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Way and who is Rightly guided.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 110:You (muslims) are the best community which has been raised for the guidance of mankind. You enjoin what is right, and forbid what is evil and you all believe in Allah Alone.

My beloved brother, please give this article to the friend who asked you the question on Islam; and invite her to read the Quran, so that Allah may have mercy on her, and if He wills, guide her to Islam. And if possible, ask her to prove it to you from her holy scriptures, be they the Puranas, or the Vedas, or the Upanishads, etc. that there is more than one God who created this Universe and everything that is in existence; and I guarantee you, she will not be able to prove it and will be absolutely baffled and speechless, especially if she has never read her scriptures. And if she has any knowledge of the scriptures of Hinduism, she will have to bear witness to the Truth; that there is only One God Who Created everything that is in existence, and He Alone deserves our worship!

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 in Islam,

Burhan