In a candid question-and-answer session recorded in 2019, Sheikh Bahauddin Adil addressed the painful reality of the Qur’an desecrations reported in several European countries: copies of the Holy Book deliberately burned, trampled and treated with contempt in order to provoke fitna (discord) among believers.
The gravity of the provocation
Sheikh Bahauddin reminded us that the Qur’an belongs to no individual or nation; it belongs to Allah alone. Believers are entrusted with its preservation and should see the sacred text as a divine trust, not a worldly possession. Burning copies, throwing them on the ground and stepping on them are therefore not merely political statements but deliberate assaults on the heart of Islam.
Responding with wisdom and patience
In the face of such hostility, the Sheikh outlined a three-step approach rooted in the prophetic tradition:
- First, try to put the wrong right with your hands.
- If that is not possible, speak the truth calmly and clearly.
- If even speech is not enough, reject the wrong in your heart and remain steadfast in faith.
Reacting with force or anger, he stressed, only feeds the aggressor’s narrative. A calm and compassionate stance preserves the dignity of the Muslim community and leaves room for Allah’s mercy.
The living Qur’an in the hearts of believers
The Sheikh gave a striking example: a five-year-old child who had memorised the entire Qur’an and, when asked about a particular verse, could point to its exact place without hesitation. The true safeguard of the Holy Book lies not in printed copies but in hearts that carry it.
Who are the “kara cahiller”?
Sheikh Bahauddin described the “kara cahiller” (the benighted) as people who, despite modern appearances or academic titles, remain trapped in a medieval mindset. He warned against equating technological progress with spiritual superiority: some people hold degrees yet cling to ignorance, like villagers who have never left their fields, narrow in outlook and quick to despise what they do not understand.
He also criticised the hypocrisy of claiming intellectual freedom while burning another faith’s scripture. A civilised person may disagree with a book’s ideas, but reads, criticises and engages with it rather than destroying it. The same courtesy is due to the Qur’an, whose sanctity no act of vandalism can erase.
Trust in Allah’s ultimate justice
The Sheikh concluded that every attempt to eradicate the Qur’an will fail, because the divine word lives on in sincere believers. Even when copies are damaged, Allah’s mercy remains, and He will judge those who knowingly spread hostility. Our response is to remain patient, uphold the truth with humility and trust in the Almighty’s perfect justice.
For further reflection on these teachings, we invite you to explore our Library of classical Sufi texts and contemporary commentaries.
