Quran, embodiment of knowledge

Quran, embodiment of knowledge
BY MJ MOHAMMED IQBAL
Ibn Masud said: "If one wish to acquire knowledge, select the (Holy) Quran as it is embodiment of the knowledge."
The Holy Quran is a relief and answer to every thing for human beings from cradle to grave in all respects. The Almighty said: "And remember, when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am creating a mortal out of potter's clay of black mud altered. So, when I have made him and have created into him of My spirit ..." (15:28-29)
The Quranic verse mentioned above reveals in a very condensed form the entire spiritual relationship between God and His human creation. He says He made the human being out of the elements and then breathed life into the body. The Quranic words used here are significant. Allah uses the word "nafas" (soul) for His own breath, and He uses the word "ruh" for His own soul. These same words are used to mean the human breath and human soul -- confirming the fact that we are, that mankind is originally from Allah, of Allah, for Allah, and in the end will return to Allah.
Of all of the physical realities that have a bearing upon health, that which is least often considered in medicine and healing is the breath. The breath has the following important relations with health.
According to Islamic scholars, breath is the agent upon which the divine permission is borne; breath is responsible for conveying the divine attributes from the heart to the various centres of the mind, body, and soul; breath creates equilibrium and harmony of the temperaments of the body; breath carries life-supporting elements from the exterior of the body to the interior physiological functions; and breath is the life force to survive and is the regulator of joy, sadness, delight, anger, jealousy, and other emotions. Both the quantity and quality of breath have a definite and direct effect upon human health.
Recite Book
The Holy Quran, in addition to all else that it may be, is a set of breathing practices, which has immense benefits if applied properly. In fact, the very first command of the Almighty was to recite the Holy Quran. The first verses that were revealed by Gabriel to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) were as follows:
"Recite! In the name of Thy Lord, who createth man from a drop of sensitised blood. Recite! And thy Lord is most bounteous, who teaches by the pen, teacheth man that which he knew not."
The command
The Arabic word "iqra" is rendered here as "recite" because it means to read from some book, from actual letters. Now, the Prophet (PBUH) was an ummi (an unlettered one who could not read or write), so the command seemed puzzling, even terrifying, to him at the time. But the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was able to memorise each of the verses as it came to him, and thus could "read" it from his memory, although actual physical written copies were produced during the lifetime of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

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