Wehib Abdulwase Kurtu
All praise is due to Allah, Subhānahu wa Ta‘ālā—Who molded His beloved Messenger (PBUH) with the Qur’an and made him a walking embodiment of it among the people.
To the Messenger (PBUH) whose life was the Qur’an in motion — may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who transformed a once-nomadic Arabian society into a unique and radiant civilization through the divine guidance of the Qur’an.
May Allah’s mercy also be upon that noble generation — the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) — who carried this divine message to the world and upon those who followed their footsteps with sincerity, all through the light of the Qur’an
From Plotting to Prostration: The Power of Revelation
Once, the Prophet (PBUH) made this heartfelt supplication: “O Allah! Strengthen Islam with one of the two men most beloved to You—Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattāb!” (Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi)
Allah answered this prayer through Umar ibn al-Khattāb. On his way to eliminate the Prophet (PBUH ) and suppress the rising movement of Tawhīd, Umar learned that his own sister and brother-in-law had embraced Islam. He stormed into their home. After a fierce confrontation, he encountered verses of the Qur’an—and his heart surrendered.
That moment not only transformed Umar’s life, but through him, transformed the world. With the sword of wisdom drawn from the Qur’an, he helped steer a new civilization.
The First Golden Generation
They secluded themselves in the house of al-Arqam to study the Qur’an, part of them migrated to Abyssinia, twice, and then in mass to Madinah. They opened Makkah not with arrogance but humility; joined the Prophet (PBUH) in his Farewell Pilgrimage —the only Hajj he performed.
They did all this not by learning from the great centres of ancient civilization-Athens, Rome, Byzantium, Mesopotamia, Persia, China, or Egypt. Their forefathers were largely forgotten, living in jahiliyyah (ignorance) and tribal conflict. Their livelihoods relied on trade (summer-winter trade routes) and pilgrimage services. Even when Abraha and his soldiers came with elephants to destroy the Ka‘bah, they left its fate to Rabb al-Bayt, the Lord of the House.
Pre-Islamic Social Ties and the Arrival of Light
They had strong oral traditions and tribal customs, including the Fudul Agreement—an early form of justice. But these values lacked moral elevation and divine purpose. When injustice plagued them, they didn’t turn to Saba’, Heraclius, or the Persian court—but rather sailed to Christian Abyssinia, seeking sanctuary under a just king.
It wasn’t until the Messenger of Iqra’—the one sent with the command “Read!”—descended with revelation that their society shifted 366 degrees. One generation, within 23 years, was completely transformed. Whoever sat with the Prophet (PBUH) began to embody the Qur’an. He transformed hearts—and those hearts changed the world.
The Tābi'īn: Continuing the Flame
The impact of the Qur’an did not end with the companions. It was preserved in hearts, recorded on parchments, and eventually compiled into books. The Sunnah—a living commentary of the Qur’an—was preserved by scholars without formal institutions.
Non-Arabs became arabized by the Qur’an, migrating to Makkah and Madinah. Names like Imam Bukhārī, Muslim, Ibn Mājah, An-Nasā’ī, and At-Tirmidhī became pillars of Hadith preservation. They showed how the Qur’an was lived in real lives. Among them, Imam Mālik and others stood as lights of knowledge.
Fiqh Schools and the Legal Framework
To ensure Islam remained relevant across time and space, the four great Imams—Abu hanīfah, Mālik, Ash-Shāfi‘ī, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal—established schools of thought rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Without official backing or institutional budgets, they taught under the shade of mosques, and their schools continue to serve Muslims across the globe.
Umayyad & Abbasid Civilizations: A Qur’anic Backbone
The Umayyads ruled from Damascus and extended Islamic rule into North Africa and Spain (Andalus).The Abbasids, despite internal power struggles with the former, established Baghdad as a hub of knowledge. They founded Bayt al-Hikmah (House of Wisdom), and soon places like Al-Zaytūna in Tunisia and Al-Qarawiyyīn in Morocco opened their doors to seekers of knowledge and Al Azhar in Egypt. These were , without exaggeration, more than the Harvard, Oxford, and Sorbonne of our time—rooted in the Qur’an.
Illuminators of Knowledge
Though often overshadowed in modern discourse, scholars like Ibn Sīnā, Al-Ghazālī, Ibn Khaldūn, Al-Bīrūnī, and Ar-Rāzī—all steeped in Qur’anic scholarship—lit the path for future knowledge. They neither fought with rulers nor isolated themselves from the Ummah. Their brilliance flowed from Qur’anic roots.
Merchants of Light: Yemeni Traders
Yemeni Muslim traders, through honesty and Qur’anic ethics, opened the Far East.
From India to Indonesia, from China to Sri Lanka—they spread Islam not with swords, but with sincerity. Their conduct was a reflection of the Qur’an, and their legacy lives on.
Today… A Dimming Glow?
Despite international and regional Qur’an competitions and the rise of Hifz centres, can we really say we are made in the Qur’an today?
Indeed, we are numerous. We possess vast lands and territories, abundant wealth, and heritage. But we lack the soul of the Qur’an in our systems and societies. Yet, hope remains—because Allah reminds us through parables:
“And your Lord inspired the bee, ‘Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and [in] that which they construct. Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you].’ There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed, in that is a sign for a people who give thought.”
(Surah An-Nahl: 68–69)
Indeed, we were once made the best of nations by virtue of the Qur’an. That status remains—If we return to it:
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” (Āl-‘Imrān:110)
Let us reclaim our identity. Let us become once more — Made in Qur’an.
— Wehib Abdulwase Kurtu is an Ethiopian writer and translator based in Qatar.
