Taa-Haa (Taa-Haa)
Verse 114
Table of Contents
114. “So high exalted is Allah, The Ture Sovereign; and do not make haste (O Apostle) with the Qur’an before its revelation is completed unto you, and say: ‘My Lord! increase me in knowledge’.”
Through the phrase:
“Do not make haste (O Apostle) with the Qur’an”
it can be deduced that the Prophet (S) had known the whole verses of the Qur’an from before its gradual revelation and had been acquainted with them. This itself is a clear evidence that the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet of Islam twice.
Once it was sent down to him in a lump, and the second revelation was in the form of a gradual revelation. Thus, the Prophet of Allah (S), who had received the whole Qur’an at once on the Night of Qadr, was acquainted with what was gradually being revealed to him before its revelation.
There is a fundamental difference between the act of haste /ta‘jal/, on one side, and the Qur’anic term/ sari‘u/1 (be quick) and /sabiqu/2 (be you foremost) which have been divinely admired, on the other side. The goodness of ‘being quick’ and ‘being foremost’ is in a circumstance where all the affairs have been considered and arranged.
Therefore, opportunities must be utilized. But ‘haste’ is used for the circumstance where the time of action has not come yet, or the matter needs to be searched and we do not observe it, then we have made haste.
The origin of ‘haste’ is sometimes the negative qualities, such as: impatience, pride and vanity. These qualities, of course, are blameworthy and they are aloof from the holy being of the Prophet (S).
And, sometimes, it is because of the intense love and interest for receiving a matter, and sympathy for protecting something. In this case, haste is counted a good thing. The haste of the Prophet (S) in receiving the revelation had been of this kind, i.e. an amorous reception, and an anxiety for the protection of revelation.
Therefore, this verse says:
“So high exalted is Allah, The Ture Sovereign; and do not make haste (O Apostle) with the Qur’an before its revelation is completed unto you, and say: ‘My Lord! increase me in knowledge’.”
When the Prophet (S), with that abundant knowledge and spiritually full of cognizance, is enjoined to seek increase of knowledge from Allah until the end of lifetime, the duty of others is completely clear.
In fact, from the view of Islam, there is no limitation for earning helpful knowledge. Amassing things, in many affairs, is blameworthy; while it is admirable concerning knowledge. Excess is bad, but excess in knowledge does not have any meaning.
However, Allah sent Moses (as) to Hadrat Khidr to be taught. So Moses (as) asked him for permission and said:
“Shall I follow you so that you teach me right conduct of what you have been taught?”3
But Allah Himself undertook teaching the Prophet (S) and told him to say:
“My Lord! Increase me in knowledge”.
The first teacher foreverything is Allah, the All-knowing, and the Omniscient.
The Qur’an says:
“He taught Adam all the names…”4
Also, it says:
“The Beneficent” “It is He Who has taught the Qur’an.” “He has taught him an intelligent speech.”5
The holy Prophet (S) in a tradition has said:
“If a day passes in me wherein my knowledge is not increased, that day is not blessed for me.”6