Quran is the best guide for rational thinking, a just social
system and scientific statements. The claims, to say the least,
are exaggerated. The proponents range from Islamo-Fascists to
Apologetic Modernists. We find, now and then, interesting
examples of pseudo-modernist analyses as articles and
speeches. The following is an attempt to clarify the Humanist
position while Qur'aan is approached in a series of short
articles.
When A Humanist Approaches Qur’an -I
Abdul Majeed. U.P.
Muslim modernists are always eloquent while inviting
Rationalists to look at the argumentative nature of Qur’an. What can Qur’an’s
status be when its appeal to rationalism and humanism is considered? In the
chapter 'Al-furquan' (25:73, Qur’an) one can see:
“Those who, when they are
Admonished with the signs
Of their Lord, droop not down
At them as if they were
Deaf or blind;”*
In the context of detailing the virtues of Believers, Allah
admonishes to open their ears to assess the worth of the signs and open their
eyes so that they see the context in to which His words about the Signs fit in.
This verse directs Muslims to be analytic and not dogmatic; doesn’t it?
1. (a) There are assertions, but………………
Let us examine the following verse (4:171, Ch: 'Nisa'):
“O people of the Book!
Commit no excesses
In your religion; nor say
Of God aught but the truth.
Christ Jesus the son of Mary
Was (no more than)
An apostle of God,
And His Word,
Which He bestowed on Mary,
And a spirit proceeding
From Him: so believe
In God and His apostles.
Say not “Trinity”; desist;
It will be better for you;
For God is One God;
Glory be to Him:
(Far exalted is He) above
Having a son. To Him
Belong all things in the heavens
And on earth.And enough
Is God as a Disposer of affairs.”(*)
On a superfluous consideration, Allah’s question may seem to be rational.
What use is served by a son since He is almighty and omnipotent?
Will you venture to suggest that there is no wrong in having a son- not as
a helping hand, but just a son? If you did so, you stepped in to the danger
zone.
You might be having some doubts in your mind: Why should Allah engage
Angels( Malaa’ika) for delivering His messages to prophets and transport the
souls of the dying if Allah is Self Sufficient as the One and Only God ?Isn’t
HE enough as a disposer of affairs? Let us grant, for arguments’ sake, that the
above verse descended from Allah. What is wrong if there are two more Gods with
all the good qualities of Allah minus just two, namely: the One and
Omnipresent? Won’t they be tolerant enough to exist in co-operation and
goodwill? There is a hint in the Quran somewhere else that they will fight like
humans! What we see in the above quoted verse is that He positively dislikes
the very discussion on those lines. One is led to the conclusion that the
creation of the concept of Allah is made possible by attributing exaggerated
qualities of human beings and exaggerated conceptions that are possible for
human beings. But the sum total of it all mocks human reason. The picture lies
shattered in incoherent pieces!
Allah has angels, but He has not fathered children; You may understand that
much and never utter the word “Trinity”.
Enough for you humble lot with limited knowledge!
And how about it if there is not even one, not to say of two or
three?
The devout get over excited. They lose their rhyme and reason.
They are HURT!
Will a Scripture upheld by some of its adherents as the supreme model of
rationality sanction such violent responses?
I think this is a problem worth examining by all Muslims.
*The translation of all verses from Quran is that of Abdullah Yusuf Ali
As reprinted in the 2006 edition
By Kitab Bhavan,
1784, Kalan Mahal,
Darya Ganj,
New Delhi,
110002.
( to be continued)
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