What Did Mohammed “READ”

We like arguing best, but we dislike most searching for the truth about our arguments. Most of our arguments arise from our hearsay or information picked up from others. We do not even consider how logical, wise and reasonable our ideas and words are...

Now, I would like to draw your attention to a point that we have never really considered or investigated the truth of.

People wonder if Hazrat Mohammed (peace be upon him) were literate! What did Hazrat Mohammed (peace be upon him) READ?

Having been divided into two groups, people of different views quarreled about whether the Hazrat Mohammed (peace be upon him) were literate or illiterate, whether he knew how to read and write or not, for ages.

Some say, he did not know how to read and write, he was illiterate, so he was “ummi.” Others say, he knew it. However, “ummi” means something else.

For a moment, just recall and think of the information about his time...

Was Hazrat Mohammed (peace be upon him) given any written text into his hands, when he was addressed to “READ” (iqraa)!

Hence, there is some other important point that we should pay attention to:

What was really required with the sign of “READ,” to be “READ,” as there never was a written text given into the hands of RasulAllah?

Let us briefly discuss about that matter if you will, since this issue made us write a complete book on, entitled “WHAT MOHAMMED READ.”

The word, “READING” basically carries two meanings. Firstly, it means an “understanding (recognition) of what is looked at based on a look.” Secondly, it means “an evaluation (assessment) of what is seen based on an observation.”

“Looking” and “seeing” are different from each other. Everyone “looks at,” but only some are able to “see!” “Basar” (the eye) looks at, but “basirat” (insight - perception) sees! That is, the analysis of what is seen by assessing and interpreting it —this is the real sense in “seeing!”

You may listen to something. But you need to have a powerful mind, reasoning and discernment in order to understand and assess what you have listened to. Likewise, “seeing” what is looked at, is another ability! Here, “reading” not only means to decipher and solve (analyze) a written text one looks at, but it also means “seeing” what you have observed and “evaluating” your observation by means of picking new meanings from it through a powerful mind and reasoning...

How shall then are we to understand the addressing “READ” to Hazrat Mohammed since we are not talking of a “reading” written text here?

I shall now try to explain it by an example: Football commentators or sports critics often speak of the following characteristics of trainers of teams: “The imprudent coach could not read the match!..” or “The coach read (interpreted) the first half very fine and his tactics worked for his team in second half!”

So, “reading,” in addition to interpreting any written text, also means “comprehension of our observations as to how, why and where it is for and what kind of a purpose it serves.”

Therefore, the addressing “READ” at the RasulAllah Mohammed (peace be upon him), was a requirement to READ the SYSTEM and ORDER that “ALLAH” created.

Here, we are to consider only one of the following options regarding the who is asked to “READ”:

It is either a requirement only from Hazrat Mohammed (peace be upon him), meaning, that does not concern us at all and it is none of our business to “read!” In that case, it would be nonsense to try to understand and comprehend what the Koran and RasulAllah communicated! What is for us is only to perform what we were told blindly and brainlessly, same way as an educated creature...

Or... “READ” is an addressing to all his “ummat” made in the person of Hazrat Mohammed (peace be upon him). That is, every believer in Hazrat Mohammed is requested to “READ!” If that is the case, all the believers are assigned to “READING the ORDER of ALLAH and the SYSTEM OF LIFE ALLAH created.”

This feature must be considered seriously and properly understood...

What is the SYSTEM that we are requested to READ?..