LIVING THE QUR’AN IN AMERICA

Dr. Syed Hasanuddin Ahmad

Peoria, Illinois

Ayat and order of their revelation of surah An-Nisa very clearly show the role of the Qur’an that it played in building an Islamic society and its gradual development. It leads humanity step by step and with dignity from the pit of degradation to the top of human civilization in spite of meeting hurdles of base and lowly desires, treacherous incidents, forced battles and false propaganda against its commands and teachings.

The Qur’an is Word of Allah. It challenges all those who have doubt in it to compose one like it (At-Toor 52: 33-34).

أم يَقُولُونَ تَقَوَّلَهُ بَل لاَّ يُؤمِنُونَ . فَليَاتُوا بِحَدِيثٍ مِّثلِهِٓ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ

فَاتُوبِسُورةٍ مِّن مِّثلِهِ . . .

This challenge is not just for a book in Arabic, but a book parallel to it in any language. Moreover it is the only book which has influenced human social, cultural and political life so much that an ignorant and barbaric society not only changed itself but was able to put very deep and everlasting effect on the face and body of entire humanity.

Human Wisdom: Allah knows human and his qualities very well. If he would have given enough wisdom to man to deduce from his observations around him and come to his Creator, he would have left man on his own to try to reach to his Creator and not sent messengers and books to guide him to straight path.

Allah knew well that the wisdom given to man was not sufficient to guide him to the desired path. That is why he had sent messengers and books to people to record his writ (4: 165)

رُّسُلاً مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَ مُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللهِ حُجَّةُۢ بَعدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا

Then what is the function of wisdom? Its basic and most important function is to accept teachings of messengers and books, and then derive its conclusions from its environment in the light of what it has learnt from the messengers and books. In deed a human wisdom is free to deduce its own results against one already derived by another human wisdom. It asks man to ponder over its teachings, and realize his duties (59: 21)

لَو أَنزَلنَا هَٰذَا القُرءَانَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّن خَشيَةِ اللهِ وَ تِلكَ الأَمثَالُ نَضرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعلَّهُم يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

This deduction must be within the bounds set by Allah and his messengers. Islam is a rational code of life. It addresses wisdom of man to accept its teachings and commandments. It does not resort to miracles that are beyond human scope of wisdom. Islam guides wisdom to work on the right track. Islam gives hints to wisdom to ponder that (Al-Anbiya 31),

وَجَعَلنَا مِنَ المَآءِ كُلَّ شَىءٍ حَىٍ أَفَلا يُؤمِنُونَ

Its topic is man himself. Its objective is to invite mankind to right path that leads to his Creator. It has never deviated from its topic and objective.

لَقَد أَنزَلنَا إِلَيكُم كِتاَبًا فِيهِ ذِكرُكُم أَفَلا تَعقِلُونَ

The correct way of studying the Qur’an is to first clear our mind from all previously conceived ideas and notions, and then start to study to know what it teaches. It is a book that can guide a person to right path if he seeks its guidance. On the other hand, if some one wants to confirm his own set ideas, then it misguides the person. In order to really fully understand the book one has to read it many times, and compare its teachings with other notions and philosophies with clear mind (3: 7)

وَمَا يَعلَمُ تَاوِيلَهُ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِى العِلم يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّن عِندِ رَبِّنَا وَ مَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُولُواالأَلبَابِ

It is one of many miracles of the Qur’an that while its text and teachings reflect prevalent conditions of the time, they are equally good as guide for all the time to come. Humanity will never find it wanting. (4: 44-45, 51)

أَلَم تَرَ إِلَىَ الَّذِينَ أُتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الكِتَابِ يَشتَرُونَ الضَّلاَ لَةَ وَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن تَضِلُّو السَّبِيلَ

أَلَم تَرَ إِلَىَ الَّذِينَ أُتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الكِتَابِ يُؤمِنُونَ بِالجِبتَ . . . ءَامَنُوا سَبِيلاً

The Qur’an does not only teach how to worship, or how to reform your character, but its teachings encompass all the aspects of human life. The Qur’an demands total submission to its guidance from its followers.

What then should be the mission of a man of wisdom? (2: 143), (3: 104, 110)

وَلتَكُن مِّنكُم أُمَّةٌ يَدعُونَ إِلَىَ الخَيرِ . . .

Women and men are of same specie. They are spouses of each other. They complement each other. They seek their rights from each other (4: 1-4)

يَٰٓأَيُّهَاالنَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَفسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَ خَلَقَ مِنهَا زَوجَهَا وَ بَثَّ مِنهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيرًا وَ نِسآءً وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ الَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالاَرحَامَ إِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ عَلَيكُم رَقِيبًا

Spending, rights of others (4: 36-39)

وَاعبُدُواالله وَلاَ تُشرِكُوا بِهِ شَيئًا وَ بِالوَالِدَينِ إِحسَانًا وَ بِذِى القُربَىٰ وَاليَتَٰمَىٰ وَالمَسَاكِينِ وَالجَارِ ذِى القُربَىٰ وَالجَارِ الجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالجَنبِ وَابنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَت أَيمَانُكُم إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ مِن كَانَ مُختَالاً فَخُورًا . أَلَّذِينَ يَبخَلُونَ وَ يَأمُرُونَ الَنَّاسَ بِالبُخلِ وَيَكتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَاهُمُ اللهُ مِن فَضلِهِ وَ أَعتَدنَا لِلكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا

Political and social setup (4: 58-63)

إِنَّ اللهَ يَأمُرُكُم .....

Qur’an orders justice and fairness in the society irrespective of relationship or wealth (4: 135)

يَٰٓأَيُّهَاالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالقِسطِ شُهَدَآءَ للهِ . . .

Purpose of Jihad (4: 75).

وَمَا لَكُم لاَ تُقَاتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَالمُستَضعَفِينَ . . .

It does not allow its followers to choose and discard its commandments (2: 85).

أَفَتُؤمِنُونَ بِبَعضِ الكِتَابِ وَ تَكفُرُونَ بِبَعضٍ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفعَل ذَالِكَ مِنكُم إِلاَّ خِزىٌ فِى الحَيَٰوةِ الدُّنيَا وَ يَومَ القَيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّالعَذَابِ

Whatever aspects of life they may be, its followers have to find solutions from it. If a solution is not available from it, then its followers must consult each other and derive a conclusion that is not repugnant to its teachings as enunciated by Sunnah. Even in the state of war it gives guidance (4: 71), (9: 38)

يَٰٓأَيُّهَاالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا خُذُوا حِذرَكُم ثُبَاتٍ أَوِانفِرُوا جَمِيعًا

Qur’an just does not give orders, but it convinces people that it is a book of their Creator (4: 84)

Qur’an advises its followers to migrate to safeguard their faith and way of life (4: 98-100).

أَلَم تَكُن أَرضُ اللهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا

وَمَن يُهَاجِر فِى سَبِيلِ اللهِ يَجِد فِى الاَرضِ مُرأغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَ سَعَةً

Qur’an gives reasons of defeat and calamity (3: 152), (9: 25)

وَلَقَد صَدَقَكُمُ اللهُ وَعدَهُ إِذ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذنِهِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَشِلتُم وَ تَنَازَعتُم فِى الاَمرِ وَ عَصَيتُم مِنۢ بَعدِ مَآأَرَاكُم مَّا تُحِبُّونَ

Qur’an opens doors of repentance (4: 17-18).

إِنَّمَا التَّوبَةُ عَلَى اللهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعمَلُونَ السُّوٓ ءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُولَٰٓئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللهُ عَلَيهِم وَ كَانَ اللهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

Honor and respect is for Allah, his messenger and the believers (63: 8).

أَلَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الكَافِرِينَ أَولِيآءَ مِن دُونِ المُؤمِنِينَ أَيَبتَغُونَ عِندَهُم العِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ العِزَّةُ للهِ جَمِيعًا