Ahmed Versi
This month saw the visit to the UK of a six-year-old boy who is not only a hafiz of Qur’an but also has a unique command over the meaning of the ayah (verses). Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai, whose mother tongue is Persian, is also fluent in the Arabic language and is a master of the Arabic grammar. In his travels to Saudi Arabia during Hajj, Bosnia and now Great Britain, the scholars of Qur’an have been amazed by his deep knowledge and understanding of the Qur’an. Shaykh Abdul Rahman of Saudi Arabia is claimed to have said: “Sayyid Muhammad Husayn is a great miracle of the Qur’anic knowledge and the history of Islam and no one has ever witnessed such a prodigy.” Amongst his many achievements he has also memorised 800 ahadith (sayings of the Prophet (pbuh)) and the poetry of Sa’di and Mohtasham Kashani.
During his busy schedule, The Muslim News had an hour’s exclusive interview with Muhammad Husayn. It was the first time that I interviewed a young lad of six years. I had met him last October in Bosnia during a conference on Human Rights in the Qur’an. I was not able to interview him in Sarajevo as his schedule was very tight. He had arrived a few hours earlier from the long journey from Tehran. But he looked fresh and was alert. My prayers were answered when I was invited to a press conference on February 11 in al-Hussain Mosque in Kilburn, north-west London. I thought I would not be able to ask him many questions with other journalists present, however, to my pleasant surprise, I was the only journalist who turned up and so I had him all to myself.
The burning question that I had been waiting to ask was how he was able, at such a tender age, to not only memorise the entire Qur’an by heart, but also able to understand, analyse and interpret the ayahs. “He was just two years old, when I first realised his talent, says his father, Muhammad Mahdi. Muhammad Husayn learnt by listening to his mother, Aminah, who is also a hafizah. Muhammad Husayn had already at that age memorised, on his own, the thirtieth portion of the Qur’an. He memorised the verses by listening once or twice. However, he would, and still does, read the Qur’an daily in order to help him retain what he memorises. Muhammad Husayn replied to me by quoting from the Qur’an: “We will make you recite so you shall not forget.” (A’la:6). He has photographic memory but he also has the ability to understand and convey the meanings of the Qur’an. One of the unique characteristic of Muhammad Husayn is that when he answers any question, he always answers quoting from the Qur’an. He does so even with his family and friends (he can communicate like any other children but uses the Qur’an whenever he can). “When he is in a meeting, speaking with scholars and ulama, he uses the Qur’anic language, when he is with his family and friends, he also uses the Qur’anic language, but with the latter not always,” explains his father. His father used sign language to explain to him the meaning of the ayahs. He would read one verse, then use a sign language or a combination of signs for complicated words. After many hours of training, Muhammad Husayn would, at the tender age of two and half years, be able to recite to his father the relevant verse when Muhammad Mahdi made the appropriate signs. Muhammad Husayn has learned about 800 signs. During the interview, Muhammad Mahdi asked me to pick any ayah and he used sign language. Muhammad Husayn then recited the verse just by watching the signs. So why isn’t he like other hafiz in that he wants, at such a young age, to understand the verses? Muhammad Husayn once again quotes from the Qur’an after a lot of thought: “that is better for you and purer” (Mujadilah:12). He only quotes what is relevant to the answer. So in this case he quoted a phrase from ayah 12: dhalika khayrun lakum wa’athar. However, then the father intervenes and explains what his son means. “When one speaks through the language of the Qur’an and understands it, one therefore speaks in a pure and more proper way. And those who speak from the Qur’an speak less but their meaning is more complete.”
So does he just learn the religious sciences, or does he also study other subjects? Muhammad Mahdi replies: “He studies the Qur’an, ahadith and Arabic. I teach him Qur’an and tafsir (interpretation), and he has two professors who teach him Arabic literature and Arabic grammar and another two teachers who teach him other non-religious sciences.” What subjects does he prefer, the Islamic sciences or the other subjects and why? Muhammad Husayn answered: “about new creation” (bi khalkin jadid) (Ibrahim:19). His father elaborated: “He means he also likes to learn other sciences as well.” The boy added: “and men, altogether” (wannasi ajma’in) (Hud:119).
His father added: “He likes all sciences (of mankind).” Why? Muhammad Husayn replied: “language of his people” (bilisani qawmihi) (Ibrahim:4). Muhammad Mahdi explained: “One should learn different languages (and so different sciences of knowledge).”
Is the Qur’an then just for reading and pondering? Muhammad Husayn reacted quickly: “so recite as much as can easily be done of it, and establish (regular) prayers and pay the poor-rate” (fa’aqra’u maatayassara minhu, wa’aqimussalaata wa’aatuzzakata) (al-Muzammil:20). His father said this means that the Qur’an shows the way to implement good works in their lives.
Other than studying, does he have any extra-curricular activities? Does he play with children of his age and does he play with toys? “he may enjoy himself and sport” (yarta’ wayal’ab) (Yusuf:12), Muhammad Husayn replied.
Which was his favourite part of the Qur’an? He liked stories of Prophet Yusuf (p) and Ya’qub (p), quoting form the Qur’an: “We narrate you the best of narratives” (nahnu naqussu ‘alayka ahsanal qasasi) (Yusuf:3). The Qur’an says it is the best of the stories, added his father. Muhammad Husayn then added: “most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect”(inna fi dhalika la’aayaatin liqawmin yatafakkarun) (Ra’d:3). His father explained that the Qur’an encourages us to reflect on events mentioned in the Book.
Most of us do not even know what career to follow even after GCSE’s. But I thought I would ask anyway. “What would you like to do when you grow up?” Muhammad Husayn answered: “on you is only to deliver (the Message)” (in alayka illal balaagh) (Shura:48). His father elaborated: “He wants to do what Prophet Muhammad (p) had done, that is to give the message of Islam to the people.”
During his stay in England, he visited various centers, including, Regents Park Mosque in London, Islamia School in Brent, London, Islamic Unity Society, SOAS, London, Mahfie Ali, Harrow, Middlesex, Birmingham Central Mosque.