Understanding
the Quran - 1
A Muslim:-
Only the Quran is a categorical reality as to
the nature and inhabitants of paradise. Even then, it is understood that
Quranic descriptions are sometimes symbolical or allegorical rather than
literal.
Critic:-
This is a baseless assertion. In order to
tell what is allegorical and what is not in the Quran you need to be a scholar
on par with al-Suyuti and Abu Hanifa many other great early scholars who
actually wrote based on actual historical investigations of all the possible
interpretations of each controversial verse and doctrine.
You say "it is understood..." It is
understood by whom? This is not scholarly language. This would not even count
as sound journalism if you worked in a newspaper. Only you understand it that
way and you present it as if this is the orthodoxy in Islam by your choice of
words.
Muslim:-
To clarify your last question: It is
understood by all those who know the Quran and follow the way (Sunnah) that
some of the Quran is decisive, i.e., whose meaning is well established, and
some is allegorical, i.e., whose meaning is hidden or not well established.
"He it is who has revealed to you the
Book, in which there are some verses that are Basic (decisive, or of
established meaning) they are the mother (foundation) of the Book; and others
are allegorical. But as for those in whose heart is perversity, they follow
what is allegorical seeking discord, craving for (their own) interpretation of
it; but none know the interpretation of it except Allah and those who are well
grounded in knowledge say: We believe in it; it is all from our Lord; but none
will grasp the message save those who possess understanding." Quran 3:7
Comment:-
The Quran is to be studied and understood by
all Muslims. It is true that the understanding of people varies with their
experiences, studies, the efforts they make to understand and apply the
teaching, their motives, their capabilities, intelligence and insights. But
they can also study the commentaries and explanations of those who are further
advanced such as the scholars and saints.
(1) It seems to me that the decisive verses
are those that contain instructions and rules and statement of facts. But even
these require correct motives and abilities to understand:-
"This is a clear message to be
delivered to mankind that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know
that only He is Allah, the One, and that men of understanding may take
heed." 14:52
(2) The allegorical ones require meditation
and reveal their meaning according to the degree to which spiritual development
has been attained. Verses such as the following apply where the dormant spirit
in man is reactivated:-
"....but none will grasp the message
save those who possess understanding." 3:7
"He brings wisdom unto whom He will,
and he who is brought wisdom is brought much good; but none will remember save
those endowed with understanding." 2:269
"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
"Is he who knows that what is
revealed unto you from your Lord is the Truth like him who is blind? But only
men of understanding heed." 13:19
(3) The Quran also speaks of similitudes that
have been provided for those who have understanding. These could belong to the
first or second category, or perhaps a third intermediate one:-
"Behold! Allah does not disdain to
set forth a similitude even of a gnat, or anything lower or higher; and as for
those who believe, they know that it is truth from the Lord; but as for those
who disbelieve, they say, "What is it that Allah means by this as a
parable? He leads astray many and He guides many;"- but He leads astray
only the evildoers;" 2:26
(This refers specially to Paradise
as the preceding verse shows:-
"But bear the glad tidings to those
who believe and work righteousness, that for them are Gardens beneath which
rivers flow; whenever they are provided with fruit there from they say: This is
what we were provided with before, and they shall be provided with their similitude;
and there are pure companions for them therein, and they shall dwell therein
for ever." 2:25)
"We have displayed for mankind in
this Quran all kinds of similitudes; but most of mankind refuse anything but
disbelief." 17:89
"As for these similitudes, We have
coined for mankind, but none will understand them, save the wise." 29:43
"And We reveal of the Quran that
which is a healing and a mercy for believers though it increases the evil doers
in naught but ruin...and verily We have displayed in this Quran all kinds of
similitudes, but most of mankind refuse aught save disbelief." Quran
17:82,89
"(It is) a Book We have revealed to
you abounding in good that they may ponder over its verses, and that those
endowed with understanding may reflect." 38:30
"Those who listen to the Word (or
advice) then follow the best (meaning) of it; those are they whom Allah has
guided, and those it is who are the men of understanding." 39:18
"Thus do We detail the Signs
(revelations) unto a people who have understanding." 7:32
"Is there not in these a lesson
(evidence or admonition) for a man of understanding?" 89:5
(4) Muslims are required to follow what they
have experience not only through the senses but also deeply in their heart.
This requires observation, study, meditation, and application of the techniques
to expand perception and also a framework within which experiences can be
interpreted in a self-consistent manner.
"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
However, hearing can also refer to the inner
voice, conscience and seeing can refer to insight or consciousness and the heart
can refer to the will or spiritual instincts - i.e. those connected with our
inherent nature such as in the following:-
"Then set your purpose for religion
as a man upright by nature - the nature made by Allah in which He has made men;
there is no altering (the laws of) Allah's creation; that is the right
religion, but most people do not know -" 30:30
"Have they not travelled through the
land? And have they not heart wherewith to feel (understand), and ears
wherewith to hear? For, indeed, it is not their eyes that are blind, but it is
the hearts which are within their breasts that grow blind." 22:46
"Wherefore judge you between them by
what Allah has revealed, and follow not their lusts (prejudices, fantasies,
superstitions); but beware lest they mislead you from part of what Allah has
revealed to you." 5:49
"Whoever judges not by what Allah has
revealed, these are the wrong-doers (the unjust)." 5:45
These last two verses can be understood as
meaning that the framework of reference is objective because it is provided by
the creator of the Universe.
Critic:-
To suggest that all the current religions and
scriptures became to be what they are today gradually through centuries of
perversions, corruptions, alterations and innovations requires the person to also
*explain* this process, especially in terms of the genealogies of central
concepts and tenets of each particular "false" religion and
scripture.
Not only that you have to ask: Why did Allah
permit these claimed perversions to "former Islam" resulting in these
religions? How can we be 100% certain that "latter Islam" is free
from perversion? If it happened in the deep past, why could it not happen 1400
years ago)?
Comment:-
Corruption not only affects the written
scriptures but also the interpretations of these and the popular religion
ignores much of these also.
A little observation and thought reveals that
it is not very difficult to understand.
In the world all information tends to
degenerate with the passage of time, especially when it passes from person to
person. Human beings tend to rationalise, add fantasy and wishful thinking,
self-interest, prejudices, superstition etc and memories fade and become vague.
Things tend to melt back into the uniformity of the background.
Apart from this, the conditions of life
change and this also means that experiences change and language changes. Things
in later times are no longer understood as they were. There is an accumulation
of interpretations and speculations that obscures the original. Even the well
known second law of Thermodynamics ensures this.
There are three stages to be considered:-
(1) The only way information can be preserved
is by recording it on something that is more permanent. Or on something that
can be faithfully reproduced. Techniques to do this have only recently evolved.
(2) But even if we find something that has
remained in tact over the years the question of whether they can be understood
remains. It becomes necessary also to have a preserved method of
interpretation.
(3) Thirdly, it is necessary to have a method
of translating the ideas into a form that can be understood and applied in the
new conditions of life.
Corresponding to these, it can be asserted
that:-
(1) The Quran has been preserved in writing
as well as orally.
(2) The Quran is in Arabic language and the
spread of Islam has also preserved the Arabic language. So it is possible to
recover the original meaning.
(3) The translation of the meaning into a
form that can be understood by modern minds in various localities of the world
has not been very intensive in the past owing to the isolation and degeneration
of Muslims. But there have been various little known attempts in the past, more
in the present, and this process is likely to increase in the future.
Critic:-
Islamic theory has it that the original
religion since Adam was Islam but man perverted it. Innovations were introduced
and holy scriptures were perverted. As a result we have this current situation
of many different religions with many different scriptures.
Comment:-
Religions are originally spiritual impulses
introduced into human affairs. They get mixed with these and though they raise
the spiritual or psychological level of people, they also get corrupted - like
mixtures of nobler and coarser fluids do. This is inevitable. There would be no
point in these spiritual impulses if they did not enter the world to affect it.
They are like solar energy entering earth, warming and transforming it, and
causing vegetation to grow. Or like rain falling from heaven.
"... and in the rain which Allah
sends down from heaven and quickens therewith the earth after its death,.....
are signs for people who can understand." 2:164 Also 6:10. 41:39. See also
57:20
The spiritual impulses are like pebbles
thrown into a pond which forms waves. These expand with time and space but the
energy dissipates. The spiritual impulse turns into cultural and later material
factors. This means that a new dispensation will have to be introduced. This
process continued until mankind matured enough, became adult, the message was
complete and they became responsible for their own development.
The Quran tells us:-
"For every nation there is a
Prophet." 10:48
"Lo, We have sent thee with the
Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a Warner; and there is not a nation but a
Warner hath passed among them." 35:24
"And verily We have raised in every
nation a messenger proclaiming: Serve Allah and shun false Idols. Then some of
them there were whom Allah guided and some of them there were upon whom error
had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequences
for the deniers." 16:36
"Mankind were one community, and
Allah sent unto them Prophets as bearers of good tidings( gospels) and as
Warners, and revealed therewith Scriptures with Truth that it might judge
between mankind concerning that wherein they differ. And only those unto whom
it was given differed concerning it, after clear proofs had come unto them
through hatred of one another." 2:213
"And we never sent a messenger save
with the language (or language system or formulation ) of his folk, that he
might make the message clear for them." 14:4
"And unto thee (Muhammad), We have
revealed the scriptures with the Truth, confirming whatever scripture was
before it and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which Allah hath
revealed and follow not their desires away from the truth. For each We have
appointed a divine law and a traced out path. Had Allah willed He could have
made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you
He made you different. So vie with one another in Good Works. Unto Allah ye
will return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ." 5:48
"Unto each nation (community or
group) have We given sacred rites which they are to perform; so let them not
dispute with thee over the matter but summon them unto thy Lord. Lo, you indeed
follow right guidance." 22:76
"Those unto whom We gave the
scriptures recognise this revelation as they recognise their sons. But lo, a
part of them knowingly conceal the Truth." 2:146
"Muhammad is but a Messenger,
messengers the like of whom have passed away before him. Will it be that when
he dies or is slain, ye will turn back on your heels? He that turns back does
no harm to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful." 3:144
"Such of our revelations as We
abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring in its place one better or the like
thereof." 2:106
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