In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

Controversial American preacher Yusuf Estes explains his understanding of the opening Verses of Soorah al-Baqarah, saying:

…Baqarah is the first real chapter after the seven-verse prayer. It’s labeled number two, but it’s understood to be the actual meat of the Quran, where it comes in. Now here it says, “Thalik al-kitaabu laa rayba feehe,” I want to mention something, this is a small point, but it’s something worth noting – that the word here “thalik” does not mean “this”, it means “that”. If you say “this” you say “hatha”, when you say “thalik” you mean “that”. So technically, there’s already a mistranslation when we say, “This is the book wherein there is no doubt, thalik al-kitaabu laa rayba feehe”. Actually, it means the Book which is with Allah. There is no doubt in the book that is with Allah…

…So if we understand this, it becomes easier for us to realize that the Quran, the Speech of Allah, the recitation, is with us presently, not in a written format, as much as it is in the hearts and the memories of the people today…

Source: “The Bible and the Quran,” produced by Huda TV (2008) from the series called, “Lifting the Fog.”  On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HKrVpxLFP4 at precisely 14:20 to 15:05 and 23:55 to 24:15 (uploaded on August 17, 2011).

Important Commentary

Yusuf Estes uses this Arabic explanation of the words “hatha” (this) and “thalik” (that) to conclude that the Quran is not with us in a written format.  This is in contradiction to the consensus of Ahlus-Sunnah who agreed that the Quran is what is recited orally, memorized by heart, and written in our mushafs.

Imam Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree (d.310) said:

The Speech of Allah, the Mighty and Honored, is not created, no matter how it is written, no matter how it is recited, no matter where it is recited, whether it is found in the heavens or on earth, wherever it is memorized, whether it is written in al-Lowh al-Mahfooth (Preserved Tablet) or drawn on the boards in children’s classrooms, whether it is engraved on a stone, written on a paper, memorized by heart, or recited verbally. Whoever says otherwise, or claims that a Quran on earth or in the heavens is not the same Quran we recite with our tongues and write in our mus-hafs, or believes otherwise, whether he hides it or speaks openly with it as his Religion, such a person is a disbeliever in Allah, subject to capital punishment. He is free from Allah, and Allah is free from him…” (Sareeh as-Sunnah, p.18)

Imam al-Laalakaa’ee (d.418) said:

It is recited in the mihrabs (by the leaders of congregational prayer), written in the mus-hafs, and memorized in the chests of men. It is not a narration or a representation of the Quran. It is one Quran, not a created thing, not something invented and developed. Rather, it is one of Allah’s Attributes, who continues to speak (with it). Whoever says otherwise is a stray disbelieving innovator who opposes the beliefs of the Sunnah and the Jama’ah. (Sharh Usool Ali’tiqaad, 2/364)

Yes, Allah refers to the Quran as “that Book”, proving its lofty status. However, He also refers to the Quran as “hathal-Quran” (this Quran) in many Quranic passages as well. To name a few: 6:19, 10:37, 12:3, 17:9, 25:30, 43:31. This totally nullifies this baseless claim, that one reference to the Quran with “thalik” means the Quran is only with Allah.

Subhan Allah, look at the stupidity that is the result of ignorant people trying to explain the Quran, without knowledge of Arabic or any principles of Tafseer to help them!

Denying that what is written in the mushaf is the Quran is from the blasphemy of some of the Jahmiyyah Cult, considered disbelief by the scholars of Islam, as shown above, and as explained in great detail in this informative e-book:

The Teachings of Yusuf Estes About the Quran (PDF)