RE: Qur’an Cake By Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman

I read the post by Adejare Ibrahim, whose writings I have, over the years, both agreed and disagreed with. A woman, “Alhaja,” was filmed during her birthday party eating a cake made in the form of the Qur’an. While some were enraged by the act, others, like Ibrahim, saw nothing wrong in it. Before refuting the “she has done nothing wrong” folks, let us talk about the woman.

From the woman’s appearance, it is obvious that her knowledge of Islam is at the lowest level. Therefore, she is simply sincerely ignorant. Unlike a non-Muslim who might do something similar to disrespect Islam and Muslims, the woman had no such intention. To her, she could be performing a noble act, and it would surprise you how people like her can listen to reason and accept their ignorance.

That said, people should take it easy on her, and those who know better should give her gentle admonitions. To deter others who might act like her, let me quickly refute those who say there is nothing wrong with that act.

Ibrahim wrote:

“During the time of the Prophet, there was nothing like a copy of the Qur’an. Then, the Qur’an was written on slates, bones, leaves, and other objects.

Qur’an was compiled after the death of the Prophet. Moreover, it was not like what we have today. The Prophet did not even know all these electronic prints of the Qur’an.

The woman did not in any way desecrate or violate the sanctity of the Qur’an. The Qur’an lives in the mind and memories. We honour it by learning, reciting, and memorising it.
Flour, sugar, and colour have become sacred objects to some Muslims! Haaaaa”

This argument is faulty. By Ibrahim’s logic, if there were no paper available to sell suya or corn and the next available paper was from the Qur’an, there would be nothing wrong with tearing some pages of it to sell suya or corn. Just as the cake is made of flour, sugar, and colour, so is the mushaf just paper and electronic print. Even better, if the seller is a ḥāfiẓ, the Qur’an lives in his heart already—why care about the paper and electronic print?

There are things common sense dictates — it is not just about right and wrong but mere common sense. What happens if everyone begins to eat cakes in the form of the Qur’an? Allāh will then be designed with flour, sugar, and colour, cut with a knife, and eaten? And yes, what is wrong with eating cake regardless of the form?

If we follow Ibrahim’s logic, since the Qur’an was compiled after the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he knew nothing about electronic prints of the Qur’an, there should be nothing wrong with cleaning your hands with the mushaf or even wiping with it in situations where there is no water?

There are several ways you can celebrate and make yourself happy—avoid foolish acts as much as possible. I hope the woman does not listen to those validating her actions, and if you plan to do something similar, please make a cake in your own form and eat yourself. Or better still, eat Ibrahim.

Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman