With-Love-to-Muhammad

Appendix I 327the world till the teacher of the Qur’ān had been sent. You willfind that at several places the Holy Qur’ān affirms:يُعَلّ‏ ‏ِمُهُمُ‏ الْكِتٰبَ‏ وَالْحِكمْ‏ ‏َةَ‏ 325That is: ‘The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh beupon him) teaches the Qur’ān and its wisdom to the people.’ Atone place it is said:326لاَّ‏ يَمَسُّ‏ هٗ‏ ۤ اِلاَّ‏ الْمُطَ‏ هَّرُ‏ وْ‏ نَؕ‏This means that: ‘The verities and the insights of the Qur’ān arerevealed only to the purified.’Need for Teachers and Fresh Exposition of the Holy Qur’ānThis shows clearly that for the true understanding of theHoly Qur’ān a teacher is needed who is purified by GodAlmighty Himself. Had a teacher of the Qur’ān not beenneeded, there would have been no such need from thebeginning of time. It is idle to assert that in the beginning ateacher was needed for the exposition of the difficult parts ofthe Qur’ān, and that exposition having been made, a teacher isno longer needed. Fresh exposition is needed from time to time.The Muslims are confronted with new difficulties in every age.It is true that the Qur’ān comprises all knowledge but not all itsknowledge is disclosed at one time. It is revealed as difficultiesand problems are encountered. Spiritual teachers, who are theheirs of the prophets and are reflectively invested with theirqualities, are sent to resolve the difficulties that arise in everyage. The reformer whose functions closely resemble the325Sūrah Al-Jumu‘ah, 62:3326Sūrah Al-Wāqi‘ah, 56:80