We have heard of a man who said: “I shall never speak in ordinary human speech; I will speak only with the words of Allah.” Thus, when he entered his house and wanted his family to buy food, he would say: “Send one of you with these silver coins of yours to the city, and let him find which food is purest, and bring you provision from it.” [al-Kahf 18:19]

The scholars have said: It is prohibited to use the Quran as a substitute for ordinary speech. During my years as a student, I came across a story in Jawāhir al-Adab about a woman who spoke only with the Quran. The people to whom she spoke were astonished, so those around her said to them: “For forty years, she has spoken only with the Quran, fearing that she might slip and thereby incur the anger of the Most Merciful.”

We say: She has slipped now. The Quran must not be made a substitute for ordinary speech. However, there is no harm in a person citing a verse in connection with an occurrence that has taken place, as it is reported that the Prophet ﷺ was delivering a sermon when al-Hasan and al-Husayn came out walking, stumbling over garments they were wearing. He came down, picked them up, and said: “Allah has spoken the truth: ‘Your wealth and your children are but a trial.’” (1) [al-Taghabun 64:15] Thus, citing verses in reference to an event is permissible when the verse corresponds to it exactly.

The sixth volume is complete, by the praise and enabling grace of Allah.

It will be followed, Allah willing, by the seventh volume, which begins with the Book of Pilgrimage Rites.