Quran: Humanity’s Only Hope
The inherent limit of human understanding is the greatest obstacle in understanding the Quran. The All-knowing author of the Quran informs us of the realities of the physical and metaphysical realms. Faced with this, the reader of the Quran, despite his vast learning and intelligence, feels intellectually powerless and out of his depth. All of our knowledge is limited to what we acquire during some stage of our short lives through painstaking labour. Even then, the sum total of this knowledge is confined to a branch or aspect of all human learning. In modern times knowledge has shrunk even more; specialisations in one’s own field has resulted in the loss of scholars who have a universal knowledge base. The sheer explosion of human learning in the last century perhaps makes it impossible for a single human being to combine all knowledge in one mind. To fully comprehend the Quran we must pool together the research undertaken by all branches of science.
The outcomes of knowledge can only be fully appreciated if all those who have struggled and toiled utilise the fruits of their labour for the benefit and welfare of the whole of humanity. However, knowledge in the hands of the advanced nations has become a means of reinforcing their superiority. The weaker nations of the world are prevented from acquiring this learning to ensure that they are never in a position to challenge the powerful nations. It is true that various countries in the world participate in researching some branches of science, but the majority of extremely intelligent human beings are not entitled to enter the higher learning that gives honour, status and seeks to understand the universe through deploying sophisticated technological means.
Why do Western scholars not recognise the value and importance of the Quran in the way that Muslims do? The reason for this is absolutely plain. The quest for God, to include Him in your own life and that of the Cosmos, acknowledging His power and dominion is not seen as a priority of the Human Race. They are shying away from making the most vital decision, and make no attempt to find out how the conditions of Earth were made adaptable for human dwelling. For argument's sake let us accept that all this could have been the result of random events; the tragedy is that no branch of learning or research has taken this question seriously or objectively critiqued the alternative views on this. At times these views are mocked, ridiculed and dismissed because those who hold them are seen as backward and intellectually inferior.
The truths of religion are not judged on their own merits but on the abject conditions of those who believe in it. In modern times, Judaism and Christianity struggle to produce followers who live up to their noble teachings. But this does not undermine the moral ideals of these religions. In the same way Islam too is devoid of individuals possessing depth of intelligence and character who are able to absorb the sublime intellectual values of Islam and at the same time are characterised with sincere devotion to God. As individuals and as a society we are removed from grasping the true benchmarks of religion in general, and Islam in particular. Shallow thinking, ignorance and blind following of Mullahs who have cheapened religious ideas, have transformed Islam from a religion rooted in intellect and wisdom to a religion of empty rituals performed mechanically. Islam today is riddled with attitudes more commonly associated with cults and secret societies. The dominant religious traditions regard education as a means to personal status and a tool to spread sectarian bigotry. By setting up narrow-minded and partisan educational institutions they are transforming sincere Muslims into emblems of fear and terror, wrenching compassion for humanity and noble character traits from their hearts.
The Quran does not permit such extreme hatred and blind aggression. It exhorts us to exercise extreme caution even when fighting for God. The rules of military Jihad are firmly rooted in moderation and respect for humanity. It deplores and strictly opposes the manipulation of these rules to justify the indiscriminate killing of humanity outside the rule of law. Islam cannot be categorised under the popular slogans of our times. It is beyond modernity and tradition, conservatism and progressive liberalism. The foundation of Islam is the Quran. In every age this book has been the classic of its time, providing authority and certainty. Although objects and means change with time, human nature remains constant. The human being of today is not that different from his ancient counterpart in terms of ethical values and ideals. He is not modern in this. During all ages Man has been modern; or to put it in another way, he is as old as he was in ancient times in relation to his humanity.
Sadly, the direction of knowledge diverted away from refinement of the Self. Despite gaining mastery over objects, we have been unable to create a standard for the improvement of our base habits and character traits. We failed to establish institutions (with the exception of the Sufis) which would allow us to change the make-up of the darker side of the human self. Science proved helpless in curtailing our uncontrollable appetites and gluttonous passions. Nobody has discovered a cure for selfishness. The outcome in human terms has been disastrous; greed and the lust for power and fame have gone beyond any reckoning. The concept of self-awareness disappeared and was replaced by the fire of self-interest whose flames raged far and wide. The standards required to enter paradise were gradually lowered, yet those who yearned for it vanished. In contrast, the clamour and rush to enter the ranks of Hell is remarkable! In the words of the Prophet there are only two camps to choose from: Iman or Kufr, belief or disbelief.
The situation in the Muslim world is that although there is no outright rejection of faith, there is a huge gulf between belief and practice. Hypocrisy is the tool and path leading to Kufr. The religion of Islam has been damaged by this. So when the question of guidance of humanity arises it is rare that the name of Islam is mentioned. Real men of God are few but the cheerleaders of Mullahism are many; shallow men prostrating to God are in abundance but where are the worshippers infused with sincerity towards God? Men with well groomed features, flowing beards, elegant turbans, who worship greed and wealth are plenty. The Quran has been reduced to chants and litanies recited in memorial services for the dead. Its understanding has become captive to the machinations of the destructive Self. Mullahs are mushrooming in profusion, but ordinary people are still thirsting for spiritual fulfilment. The world of Islam is bewitched. The magical minds of the wizards of the West produced false gods of modernity which captivated the imagination of the Muslims. In the name of innovation and modernisation the Samiri (sorcerer who led the Israelites astray by carving the golden calf) of the present age has created new citadels that cannot be breached by ordinary minds. There is nothing that can break this spell, except the Quran.
The Quran is the genuine magical tablet of the universe, the only book that provides all the answers. Without it, you cannot sustain any theory, idea or conclusion that seeks to provide a comprehensive and unified explanation of reality. The paths of philosophy and science ultimately hit a brick wall. In the imagery of the Quran this caravan of superficial knowledge, despite thousands of explanations and interpretations, is like a group of travellers on a ramshackle ship in the midst of a raging sea and violent storm. Holding onto a broken rudder they drift along through torrential rain, lightning and thunder. The momentary flash of lightning provides them with a glimpse of their surroundings, and seconds later they are plunged back into the depths of darkness.
All theories are incomplete and are unable to provide a universal explanation of everything. The Quran alone offers a ‘Theory of Everything’. The highest authority in all matters must be accorded to God. The attention of existent things needs to be turned to the One who has Absolute Existence. Rise and fall, profit and loss, past, present and future, ideas and imaginings, ignorance and awareness, Heaven and Earth, self and cosmos, fear and depression, anxiety and worry, complacency and urgency, business and art, good and evil, illumination and darkness; in fact every issue or question of the world and the cosmos gains clarity and meaning through Him. The dialectics of debate rarely lead to complete understanding; nor do the investigations of philosophy quench Humankind’s thirst for certainty. All metaphysical reality is reduced to abstract concepts fuelled by conjecture. Understanding ultimate reality unaided is beyond the intellectual apparatus of Man.
The Quran instils certainty about the Real Creator - an understanding which is free from speculation and doubt. The great project of Life on Earth becomes a meaningless and futile endeavour if we ignore the fundamental reality of this Force (God) which animates the whole of existence. It is like a man who has lost the use of his mind and lives out his life without any purpose or recollection of who he is and what he was supposed to be doing. No greatness or honour can be conferred to a person who has lost the use of his higher faculties. Any attempt to refer to such an individual with accolades of glory is nothing but empty words. In the same way, all sublime thoughts and goals acquire meaning, and thus honour, when they are connected with God. Without Him they are like glorious flowers in full bloom growing in the desert with nobody to admire or appreciate their beauty. Eventually they wither away and crumble into dust, as though they had never existed!
The situation of Man is somewhat similar. He grows and blossoms in all his glory and then, in a single instance he ceases to exist. I sometimes wonder about the mindset of Man and what drives him to compete for celebrity and status when at the back of his mind he knows that it will all go up in a puff of smoke. Caught in the vortex of mutual appreciation and flattery, what is it that Man values as he gets ready to breathe his last? I don’t know for certain, but I can say with complete conviction that the grandeur and fame showered upon the corpse after death brings no real benefit to it. Life is pointless without reference to a higher power (God). We cannot change the inevitable outcome of death even if we were to bring together the collective intelligence and resources of the entire species. The flicker of death forever casts its shadow on life. Throughout life, evil appears to be the selection of the aggressor whilst good seems to be the choice of the faint-hearted, even though they both culminate at the same point – death. Despite this, grasping the good holds more appeal and promise than indulging in evil.
It is difficult to state the pre-requisite knowledge needed to understand the Quran. However, we must be careful not to obstruct anyone, whatever their background or level of intelligence, from reading the Quran. The nature of the Quran is that it gradually descends and ‘reveals’ itself to its readers in direct proportion to their purity of intention and capacity to receive. One of the most important characteristics of a great scholar is that he judges people according to their intellectual capacities. He does not expect those of limited experience and intelligence to respond intellectually and nor does he hope to receive an ignorant response from the learned. Consequently he pitches his message in line with the intellectual capacity and experience of his listeners. God is the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible realms of reality (Alim-ul-Ghaib wa-Shahada). He understands the outward and the inner aspects of Mankind, and is intimately aware of the levels of understanding and experience of every single human being.
All those who approach the Quran benefit from it. The All-Wise Creator has placed within His book something for everybody. There are many who are only able to phonetically recite the words of the Quran and have no understanding of the meanings contained within it. Such people benefit immensely from simply reciting the words of the Holy Book and will experience a wonderful sense of serenity. Those who merely want to focus on improving their outward actions and their lifestyle will find that the Quran has provided them with a framework to achieve this aim. Beyond this there are some who seek a broad and general understanding; such people will find the Quran to be the greatest guide to wisdom and guidance compared to any other book. For intellectuals and scholars, the Quran is an abundant resource which informs their research and investigations. As a result of their diligent study, God opens up for them specific meanings in the Quran. Besides all these groups of people there are a few who approach the Quran purely to know God and seek His good will and pleasure at all times. Their study of the Book opens up to them channels of inspiration from God.
The Quran raises the level of human understanding and insight to an unprecedented degree. It provides solace for the seekers through its sublime conception of the divine. First and foremost it is the Book of Knowledge. It places an extraordinary emphasis on knowledge to the extent that it exhorts the noblest of beings, stationed in the most sublime rank of Prophethood, Muhammad (PBUH) to beseech God and declare: ‘My Lord increase me in knowledge’.
And say, "O My Lord! advance me In knowledge (20:114)
It praises those who question and reflect, proclaiming that they are the ones chosen by theQuran. Equally it reviles those who follow faith blindly, dogmatically and without thinking. God declares in the Wise Book
For the worst of beasts (people) In the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb,- those who do not use their intellects (8:22)
These are the people who deliberately suspend their faculties of reason and intellect. They approach the speech of God in a feeble-minded manner characterised by blind imitation which paralyses their minds. This is the state of the vast majority of educated Muslims. The Quran is a focal point for their devotion but not of their reflection and study. Contemporary Muslim scientists, philosophers and scholars harbour a secret fear that if they were to apply the same rigorous standard of research required of other fields to the Quran, it would not be able to withstand such a critique. The intellectual arrogance of this claim is staggering. They are not prepared to give the Quran a fair chance, or even test their assumption of deficit in the Quran. They proceed straight to judgement! There are some intellectuals who feel they are doing a favour to God by reading His book and giving it their consideration. In their minds they believe that they are making a huge sacrifice by aligning themselves with God and the Quran. In the Indian Subcontinent, religious scholars who claim to be intellectuals have cast themselves as self-sacrificing martyrs to whom God should be grateful for defending His Book. The study of the Quran did not lead them to uncover the limits of their knowledge but instead it drove them to make outrageous claims of superiority: that they were the revivers of religion (Mujadid) and the Pole which upholds it (Qutb). The last few decades have rarely produced a scholar of the Quran who did not display a wish to lay the foundations of a personal Islamic empire or who did not create vast organisations in the name of the Quran or Mysticism (Tasawwuf) centred on himself. It appears that the poison of pseudo scholarship seeped into their blood stream and an insane obsession to seek personal greatness by exploiting religion enveloped their outlooks.
A psychological analysis of the minds of these scholars clearly reveals that they have strayed far from the path of balance. Instead of instilling the majesty of the Quran, they focused on establishing their personal authority in the minds and hearts of their followers. The Islamic movements that have arisen over the last century have all claimed that the Quran is the basis of their ideologies. However, after a short while the insane desire to single-handedly bring about a revolution, whose focal point is the personality of the founder himself, overshadows everything else. The desperate situation of many Muslim countries has made it easy for ego-driven scholars to offer quick fix solutions and promises of glory to the masses who verge on the brink of despair. The belief that the Mehdi will come and solve all our problems is a product these religious salesmen are keen to sell. It is the best-selling Islamic ideology of this age as it appeals to our sense of complacency and requires us to do nothing except wait.
These expert scholars of the Quran rely on many defective interpretations of the Wise Book to support their personal Islamic revolutions, irrespective of the context and stage of development of the Muslim Ummah. This misuse of the Quran is the worst example of political exploitation to gain control over the lives of ordinary people. Entire generations of respected and esteemed commentators of the Quran were not driven by this hunger for power, but instead they imparted their insight, wisdom and teachings to the community of Islam and then journeyed on to their Lord. The Quran should never be understood through the filter of one’s personal inferiority complex; nor can the Quran be approached by preconceived notions that are then projected on to its verses. Islamic schools of thought are plagued with bigotry and sectarian hatred because their followers do not hesitate to force their partisan interpretations onto the Quran, using it as a tool to score party political points. This dishonest approach to the Quran has won them a few blind and bigoted followers, but the higher teachings of the Quran have been assigned to oblivion and obscurity. Furthermore, they block others from the sincere understanding of the Quran by claiming they have a monopoly over its interpretation. The intellectual capacity of all people is not the same. It is impossible to accept that there are no other individuals, besides these ego-scholars, who possess the higher levels of intellect and understanding to comprehend the Quran.
The Quran states that God raises the rank and status of whomsoever He wills and that above every person of knowledge there is another who surpasses him. The sectarian groups of today shower accolades and mighty titles on their most minor scholars in an attempt to psychologically create a feeling of inferiority and inadequacy amongst ordinary Muslims. They refer to the most ordinary translators of the Quran as geniuses and masters in order to instil respect, loyalty and blind acceptance. The master and his followers are both blind adherents. The objections and criticism which applies to one also applies to the other. The only difference is the point of reference. Where there is a range of intellectual capacity within people, the phenomenon of blind following is usually present. Contemporary scholars of the Quran are the least balanced. They adopt abnormal approaches to life and pass these onto their followers. The Quran encourages its readers to ponder deeply and after a lengthy period of reflection to arrive at a conclusion. In contrast the Quran experts of today pass judgement with haste and do not permit any questioning of their process. Emotional attachment and response has seeped into every atom and fibre of the Indian Subcontinent. This fanatical approach causes immense damage to the objective style of thinking adopted by the Quran.
People have a tendency to measure the majestic author of this Mighty Book with the benchmark of their limited intelligence and personal views. They limit their focus on the Cosmic Book to a few mundane issues related to personal life, dress and relationships. I accept that these matters are mentioned in the Quran and we should not ignore them, since Islamic society depends on such laws to regulate the affairs of people. However, we must not ignore the whole and focus only on its constituent parts, nor lose sight of the wood because of our focus on individual trees. As a Muslim it is important to be aware of the rituals of religion, but is it true that the entire message of the Quran starts and finishes with these external aspects? Is it the case that a Muslim on his death bed will only be worried about his prayers and fasting or should he also be concerned about the purity of his heart, the depth of his understanding, and the development of his spirituality? Do we apply the same superficial benchmark to other disciplines? For instance, would we be content with a pharmacist who has read the contents page of a book on pharmacy and is able to read the labels of medicines but has no understanding of the properties of any of the drugs he is prescribing to the general public? Is it right that a student studying for an MA degree continues to focus on the lessons that he learnt as a youngster? Is there no difference in understanding between a Post Graduate student and a child in primary school?
No other field of study suffers from the intellectual destitution that characterizes our approach to religion. Those at the helm have constructed narrow boundaries around their minds and have condemned everyone else to stay within those limits. We do not get beyond the surface aspects of our faith. Have the students of the Quran understood the goal of the teachings of this Noble Book? The love and recognition of God, His proximity and devotion has not been able to go beyond the length of the Mullah’s trousers. Why are the teachers of Quranic sciences unable to instil a deep rooted love of God in the hearts of their students? Is it possible to perceive the magnanimity and nobility of character in the believers which, in the words of the Quran, produces a divine light which marches in front of the servants of God acting as their guide? We do not notice the barren womb of this age producing spiritual masters such as Junaid of Baghdad, Bayazid of Bistam, Abdul Qadir of Jilan, Ali Hujweri, , Moeenuddin Chishti and Baba Farid. The teachings of the Quran produced such amazing individuals. In contrast, the understanding of the Quran by power-hungry scholars churns out hordes of narrow-minded bigots whom we see lurking on street corners clad in towering turbans, immaculate dress and with raised trouser lengths that reveal their anklebones as a mark of their piety.
The most prestigious organisations of the world undertake a careful process of recruitment and selection involving sophisticated tests designed to identify the best brains and abilities. These are the measures we take to ensure the smooth running of a small enterprise in a very small world. Do you imagine that God, most Sublime and Exalted, would select the feeblest-minded people who dress in the outward clothing of Islam to oversee the management of the Quranic system upon which the entire cosmos depends? Such people cannot be regarded as your intellectual equals, let alone be entrusted with the reins of leadership of Mankind. It is not befitting that they don the cloak of stewardship of the Earth or be considered worthy of providing direction and vision in religious or worldly affairs.
The Quran has cause for complaint. It was the benchmark for those who remembered God day and night, shed tears in awe and wonder, and whose hearts were infused with the love of the sublime. They took on the colours of God; they did not dismiss as insignificant anything on Earth or in the cosmos; they exercised their faculties of reason and intelligence, pondered over the creation of the universe, the heavens and the alternations of night and day to understand the principles that Govern creation. They were able to gain mastery over the winds and subjugate the clouds and rain; they pinpointed the hidden treasures of the Earth; they were constantly engaged in the exploration of the signs and symbols scattered in the cosmos; they were ever grateful to the wisdom contained in the Book which guided their investigations; and they paid their debt of worship to God in a manner which was befitting His majesty.
These men of letters, scientists, intellectuals, souls driven by the desire to explore could not satisfy their thirst for knowledge except through the Quran. They never tired of reading the Quran as its meanings were inexhaustible. The divine cloak of knowledge enveloped them. These believers (Mumin) and submitters (Muslims) were so dear to God that he disclosed to them the paths of hidden knowledge. Such was their knowledge of the Book that, like Asif bin Barziyyah, they had mastery over fusion and diffusion of matter. With a mere gesture of their finger, an illuminating lamp would burst into flame. From the fingers of the Messenger of God (PBUH) fountains of fresh water would flow. Even angels and the Jinn would bow their heads in submission to their leadership. The throne of Suleyman and the winds were under their control. From behind the clouds angels saluted them in admiration.
This is not the stuff of fantasy and make-believe. This is the reality of those who surrender themselves to God ( Arabic : Muslim), who adore their Lord; who are the inheritors of the Book; who are the stewards of God on Earth (Khalifat-ullah fil Ard). We are referring to the followers of Muhammad, the Messenger of God, and of the students of the Quran. All the miracles referred to before are no longer witnessed today. Yet the resource that enabled these feats, namely the Quran, is still with us today. It is a question about our engagement and approach to the Quran, the Book of Reality. Our superficial contact with the Quran makes the flowing fountains of human potential seem like a mirage in the desert. The sacred paths have become covered with debris. Unity has been sacrificed at the altar of sectarianism. Madness has gripped the Muslim Ummah. Faith and morality are no more than folk tales. The resources of faith are sold in the marketplace. Knowledge of God is confined to the length of the beard and the cut of one’s collar.
Can we reclaim the lost legacy for which we were created?
Everything around us has crumbled. Doubt has encircled every certainty. But one thing has been preserved; a treasure that none has been able to pillage, a book that has stood the test of time and survived unadulterated, undistorted and unscathed. It is the speech of God; His overwhelming evidence, an invincible argument. It is the source of all wisdom and knowledge, conferring honour and dignity to those who submit to Him (lit. Islam and the Muslims). It reveals the secrets of the universe and the Self. It is the criterion which defines the priorities of thought and life. It is the key that opens the door to the love of God and the Prophet (PBUH). It is a discourse which unravels the most complex of enigmas. Its elegant and inimitable style captivates and delights. It promotes the ideal of intellectual humility and develops loftiness of thought. It enables Man to attain his full human potential. When you return to the Quran, distances will diminish and events will turn in your favour. The mercy of God will burst forth from the storehouses of Heaven. The sun will dispel the dark shadows of loss and failure. The movements of the planets will become compliant, and the Heavens and the Earth will await the command of the Deputy of God on Earth.
However, the blessings of the Quran are not the sole preserve of the Muslims. The Quran speaks directly to humankind. It provides the argument that dispels doubt and ushers in certainty. It contains the data that will enable us to verify the claim of God. The time has come for the whole of humanity to objectively evaluate the Quran. God has made and presented His argument.
An English Edition of Muqaddama-tul-Quran (pp.198-208)
THE ARGUMENT: with reference to the Quran
by: Prof.Ahmad Rafique Akhtar
An English Edition of Muqaddama-tul-Quran by Prof.Ahmad Rafique Akhtar
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