In Ramadhan 1432 H, we commemorate two historic events: Nuzulul Qur`an on the 17th day of Ramadhan and Indonesia`s Proclamation Day on 17th of August 2011.
The two historic moments remind us of the atmosphere on Indonesian independence day proclaimed by Soekarno-Hatta on the 17th of August 1945 in the holy month of Ramadhan.
The country proclaimed its independence from Dutch colonial rule on the 17th of August 1945 which coincided with 9th day of Ramadhan, 1364 Hijriyah.
According to the Qur`an, Ramadhan is the month in which the Qur`an was revealed to mankind to guide him in his moral conduct and judgment.
The celebration of Nuzulul Qur`an is important not only because of its history but because it determines the Muslim way of life. Every Muslim must conduct his life according to the rules prescribed by the Qur`an.
The Qur`an itself is divided into 30 suras or chapters altogether comprising 6666 verses. It was first revealed by Allah SWT to His last Prophet Muhammad SAW through the angel Gabril (Jibril) during the prophet`s 40-day solitary meditation in the Hira cave in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
The word of God was then repeated by the Prophet in a series of revelations in different places overa period of 22 years, 2 months, and 22 days.
The Qur`an is the word of God and in it is God`s demand to His adherents to follow His orders and set up His law as a guide for those who willingly seek His guidance.
The Qur`an is a beneficial and guiding light, a Book to explain all things, to guide, forgive, and bring good tidings to all Muslims. The Qur`an is also called `Al-Kitab` (The Book), Al-Furqan (judgment between Right and Wrong) and `Adz-Dzikir` (the Message). It also contains other information for example on the Arabic grammar (Nahwu), on division of family inheritance (faraidh), on history (tarih), on rhetoric (ma?ani). The are also information on various knowledge such as medicine, economics, astronomy, logic, mathematics, and so on.
Balanced words
According to Prof.DR HM Quraish Shihab, a specialist on the interpretation of the Qur`an, and chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (IUC), the Qur`an is literally the word of God and not created by Prophet Muhammad SAW. The evidence can be seen in the balance of the dictions.
The word `hot` in the Qur`an is mentioned four times and its opposite, the word `cold` is also mentioned four times. The word `angel` is mentioned eighty eight times and its opposite `satan` is also mentioned the same number of times.
Similarly the word `world` is mentioned 115 times and so is its opposite, `the hereafter`. Whilst the words `live` and `die` are both mentioned 125 times.
Other unique evidence is the mentioning of the word `days` which is mentioned 30 times, that is the same number as the are days in a month. And, the singular form `day`, 365 times, the same number of days in one year. Whilst the word `month` is mentioned 12 times corresponding with the number of months in a year.
Since the first time, the Qur`an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad SAW, the contents had never been changed. According to a chapter (Al-Hijr: 9) in the Qur`an, God guarantees that the Message will be guarded from any alteration.
In his book What is Al-Qur`an, published in 1989, Imam As-Suyuthi points out to three main points in the Qur`an: `tauhid`, `tadzkir`, and `ahkam`.
`Tauhid` is understanding of the existence of all from the Creator down to His creatures together with their characteristics. `Tadzkir` concerns God`s promises and threats to mankind, the existence of heaven and hell and man`s internal and external purity. And, `ahkam` sets out guidelines concerning for example duties, orders, business, and prohibitions.
Nation building
Since the Republic of Indonesia --- its width of 1.919.440 kilometers2 and the population of 237.556.363 (2010 census) --- proclaimed its independence on 17th of August 1945, a such moment is as the recent Nuzulul Qur`an celebration on the 17th of August 2011. It is a long enough time in the nation building.
But, what`s the result ?, the answer is, that since the country got its independence of 66 years ago, as evaluated by ulemas and Islamic intellectuals, that the country`s nation building hasn`t yet realized the Qur`an values totally in the nation daily life , especially in realizing an impartial and prosperous nation.
The Nuzulul Quran is a moment of mandkind freedom of polytheism (ke-musyrik-an) and age of pagan ignorance preceeding the Islam era (ke-jahiliyah-an) to purity of oness of God (tauhid) and light of Islamic truth. The proclamation of independence is a moment of freedom of the Indonesian nation from colonization to freedom and sovereignty as a nation.
In the Preamble of Constitution 1945, the original text from `Jakarta Charter` is declared, "For gift from Allah the Almighty and is urged by a noble wish, for freedom of life in nationality, so the Indonesian populace express its freedom".
In the context of efforts of realizing the Nuzulul Qur`an values in our daily life mainly in the nation building, we should always remember the verse of The Holy Qur`an, in the surah Al-A`raf, verse 96, as translated by the Indian famous ulema, A. Yusuf Ali, in The Holy Qur`an (Translation and Commentary): "If the people of the towns had but believed and feared God, We should indeed have opened out to them (all kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (the truth), and We brought them to book for their misdeeds".
MZ/M012/HAJM/F001
Reporter: M Zuhair Ag
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
