Jazaki Allah khair sr. Asma for a wonderfully written article.

Students moved by class on literary beauty of Qur’an
By Asma Ahmad, IFN Staff Reporter

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Visibly moved, students who diligently attended the first-ever seminar on the literary characteristics of the Qur’an for a non-Arabic speaking audience could not stop talking about the experience afterward. “This course completely picked up my perception of the Qur’an, shook it as an earthquake would move the earth, and smashed it back down to the ground,” wrote one student in an anonymous survey about the three-day class. “My prayer has changed, my love for the book of Allah has skyrocketed, and my faith in its divinity has been multiplied.”

About 150 people attended the class, held Feb. 13-15, at Cal State Long Beach. It was organized by the Bayyinah Institute, a national educational organization whose goals are to make learning Arabic and the Qur’an affordable and accessible.

Bayyinah founder and instructor Nouman Ali Khan took the audience on an awe-inspiring linguistic journey through the Qur’an, exposing them to its unique literary features.

These included, among others, the choice of words; integral relationship between the beginning and end of ‘surahs’ or chapters; coherence and harmony between surahs; and the use of allegorical references, metaphors, and imagery.

It is known that at the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), even his enemies would secretly listen to his recitation of the Qur’an in awe.

If they, too, were mesmerized by the literary beauty of the divine message, Khan said, it is unfortunate that Muslims today are so unaware of its marvel.

Attendee Jaafar Husain from Corona agreed.

“This course offers a perspective on the language of the Qur’an that most of us don’t pay attention to,” he said.

The 30-year-old instructor, previously little known in Southern California, seemed to have swept away his audience with his presentation.

“I was extremely impressed with his level of knowledge,” Husain said. “It is a gift of Allah to us that He raises amidst us such people.”

Khan, who does not come from an Arab background, formally started his Arabic studies in Chicago in 1999 with Dr. Abdus-Samie, founder and formal principal of Qur’an College in Faisalabad, Pakistan. He then supplemented with self-study from classical and contemporary texts.

The young father of four now focuses all his energies toward Bayyinah.

“The Qur’an is stunning in its beauty, captivating in its words, overpowering in its message, enchanting in its harmony and baffling in its subtlety,” Khan explained. “This treasure must be shared with all Muslims.”

Khan founded Bayyinah in 2005 in New York. The institute offers students courses around four major tracks within Arabic study; beginners, Qur’anic, standard and classical Literature taught as weekend seminars, 10-day evening sessions and online.

Next year, Bayyinah plans to offer a 10-month Arabic immersion program, which will graduate students at par with Madina or Al Azhar students, Khan said, without having to go overseas.

Bayyinah has currently partnered with the national AlMaghrib Institute, offering its students Arabic courses to fulfill their degree requirements.

The next Bayyinah seminar due to take place in Southern California this summer will focus on ‘tajweed’ or proper pronunciation and recitation of the Qur’an.

On the Web:
www.Bayyinah.com
www.Understandarabic.com
www.bayyinahsessions.com