Re: Quran
Assertion:-
"Nay, but it (the Quran) is a clear revelation in the hearts of those who are endowed with knowledge, and none deny Our revelations save the wrongdoers (or unjust)." 29:49
The acceptance of the Quran does not depend upon blind belief but on perception and understanding of the truth at a deeper level where a type of resonance is produced. (Quran 29:49). But this depends on motives - whether one wishes to understand and is receptive or has desire, prejudice, predisposition, ideas or fantasy that conflicts with acceptance of the Islamic teachings and practices.
"Verily, those who disbelieve (the Quran), it is the same to them if you warn them or if you warn them not, they will not believe. Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and on their hearing; and on their eyes is dimness, and for them is grievous woe." Quran 2:6
Critic:-
In fairness, I totally agree that ultimately it is a question of perception and understanding. What I want to know is why we are supposed to take these Quranic verses that supposedly agree with science and therefore are miraculous, and take them at face value, but the moment that we find some areas where it disagrees with science, it is immediately said that we do not know what those verses mean, it is a mystery. We always seem to know what itis really talking about when it appears to agree with science, but when it disagrees, then surely those verse must be a mystery, and have other hidden meanings.
How do you live with this sort of subjective duplicity?
Answer:-
(1) Truth is always truth and
(2) There can be no contradiction between truths.
(3) But people can see and interpret things differently.
The Quran has a depth of meaning and different people understand it differently to different depths.
It is an axiom that the Quran is from God and therefore true. This means that if there is a contradiction between how the Quran is understood and something else such as Science then there are only four possibilities:-
(1) That other idea is false.
(2) The Quran has been misunderstood.
(3) That other idea has been misunderstood.
(4) Whether or not it agrees with science there are still deeper meanings in the Quran.
If you read the criticisms in the light of these facts, do not the objections sound wholly absurd?
The fact is that knowledge is a much wider concept than Science, which is a special kind of knowledge that has arisen only recently. It is also a word whose meaning keeps changing. Islam has its own sciences and its own way of formulating the knowledge that it contains.
Islam is concerned with the process of living and adjustment to Reality, and therefore, with Values. It is concerned with knowledge that is mainly conducive to spiritual growth. This knowledge cannot be formulated in modern scientific language. If it had been presented in modern scientific form how could it have been understood by the people among whom the Quran came? Apart from this the Quran is not a dry textbook, but has a form of its own that is designed to have a psychologically transforming effect, to induce certain kinds of experiences. It is spiritual nutrition that needs to be assimilated. Nor does it spoon-feed ideas. The readers are required to study, ponder, meditate and apply it in order to attain understanding and enlightenment.
"Allah has revealed the best of announcements (messages), a Scripture self-consistent in its various parts, repeating, whereat do shudder (or thrill) the skins of those who fear their Lord, so that their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of Allah. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith He guides whom He wills; and as for him whom Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide." 39:23
"And when the Quran is read, then listen thereto with attention, and keep silence, that haply you may obtain mercy. And remember thy Lord within thyself humbly and with awe, below thy breath, in the morning and in the evening; and be not of those who are neglectful." 7:204-205
"And follow (or pursue) not that of which you have no knowledge; verily, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, of all of these it shall be asked (to give an account)." 17:36
Given the perception that the Quran is from God, The Islamic position is wholly self-consistent. But those who have not experienced this fact, cannot see it because they are wholly trapped in superficial verbal formal thinking. That is why Muslims think it is futile to argue with disbelievers? There is a seal on their hearts. Quran 2:6-7
But this is not to say that all those who profess to be Muslim come to Islam through experience of its truth or know, understand or apply the Quran. There are different degrees and levels of understanding and those who accept and make the necessary effort can rise in their level of understanding and spiritual excellence. These two are inter-dependent.
"O you who believe! Respond unto Allah and His Messenger when He calls you to that which quickens you; and know that Allah comes in between a man and his own heart; and that He it is unto Whom you shall be gathered." 8:24
"Therefore when We have recited it (the Quran), follow its recitation. Nay, more, it is for Us to explain (and clarify) it." 75:18-19
Critic:-
If the Quran is clear and transparent to the average Muslim, why the constant need to explain or clarify the meaning of certain verses? For me the Quran is a fairly slim volume, containing divine revelation, so why the need to write a 30 volume commentary? Are there so many Qur'anic contradictions that it needs an oceans-of-ink, scholarly and unscholarly, to decipher the true intent?
Answer:-
(1)Increasing Sectarianism and personal opinions shows that there are many points of view and controversies.
(2) There are differences in the amount of study, knowledge and application and differences of understanding between people of different levels of intelligence.
(3) Discussion and arguments on this and other news groups and in the wider world shows that there are many misunderstandings and a great number of questions that need to be answered. There are constant attacks on Islamic teachings from non-believers.
(4) A great many of these questions have arisen because of differences of languages and value systems, and the clash of cultures - the world has shrunk owing to technological progress, causing great interaction and inter-dependence between people.
(5) The development of philosophy, science, technologies, education, social organisations have caused changes in the conditions of life, bringing new experiences and concepts.
(6) There are new problems to be dealt with owing to the increase in psychological, social and environmental problems.
So we can conclude that though the Quran was clear to people at the time of Prophet who was able to explain all things, it is certainly not clear to people to day.
It is no longer sufficient to read the Quran (especially in translation). It has to be explained. Nor is it sufficient for a great number of educated people to explain it in the simple and seemingly naive terms as in the past. There has to be a deeper and much more sophisticated exposition in future. It is this that requires many volumes.
The Quran is not like other books. It is written to have an effect, to induce an experience, to appeal to the spirit in man, to consciousness, conscience and will. To non-believers it is a book like others written or compiled by human authors that lived centuries ago. To Muslims it is the timeless Word of God, applicable now, something that transforms when understood and absorbed, and not paper and ink. When the Prophet was asked to read it was certainly not a material book. It was revealed as a recitation, the rhythms of which also have their effect. The nature of the Quran is described in the following verses:- 2:185, 4:105, 5:48, 8:24, 43:3-4, 68:52, 81:27-29, 85:21-22 .
The Quran was composed to be read and understood in a certain way. There are instructions in the Quran as to how it should be read. If it is not read according to these instructions then what is being read is NOT the Quran.
"Those unto whom We have given the Scripture, who read it with a right reading, those believe in it. And whoso disbelieves in it, those are the losers." 2:121
"This is indeed a noble Quran in a Book kept hidden which none touches save the purified, a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds." 56:77-80
The Quran is not, therefore, like that which non-Muslim Western scholars and critics suppose. Their studies concern the vessel not the content. Though their researches might bring something useful to light, they cannot invalidate the Quran as they suppose.
The Quran states that it will be preserved and that anything that is caused to be forgotten will be replaced with something similar or with what is better. And it contains no contradictions. These statements are not included in the Quran frivolously as they could be easily refuted by arguments. Moreover, this is not a circular argument as some people suppose - it is not the Quran speaking about itself, it is the promise of God. The Quran is exactly as it is meant to be. If research uncovers fragments that should be included in the Quran then obviously they have been preserved and the time is ripe for them to be discovered.
Certainly the Quran is interpreted differently by different people according to their interests, knowledge, experiences and levels of intelligence. This was always so and is so today. In order to achieve understanding and settle disputes guidance should be sought from God, the Prophet and those who have better knowledge and authority. If things in it are read as contradictions then a mistake in interpretation has been made and this should be rectified. The Quran was expounded and demonstrated by the Prophet, transmitted by his companions, and there have been a series of teachers from the beginning. There have been commentaries by the learned, scholars and saints and a chain of transmission both oral and written. The verses of the Quran do have multiple meanings and that is how it is constructed to be. In fact, we have to distinguish between three aspects of the Quran - (a) Its objective existence, (b) its interpretation and (c) its application. The Quran deals with Universals and Eternals and has great depths of meaning that need to be explored through study, meditation and reasoning. It is not static and requires us to seek knowledge and understanding and expand our capacities.
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