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Islam, the final eternal message of Allah to
humanity, addresses the human intellect in order to be convinced of
its genuine truth. To be convincing to all people at all times, this
final message is based on scientific reasoning that fits the
evolving scientific knowledge of all generations.
Such a message is the only one fit to be a
"universal" message, and the "only one"
remaining undistorted as revealed 14 centuries ago. Previous
messages, were based on materialistic miracles, witnessed only by a
limited group of the respective prophet's contemporaries. Each of
these messages were sent to suit only that particular
"nation", in terms of time or place.
The essence of Islam is to incite the human
brain to think, observe, analyze, and reach sound conclusions. The
very first words revealed to Muhammad carried an instruction to
learn: "Read!" as well as a precise reference to a
biological concept. Man is created from what clings, a clot clinging
leech-like. This in Arabic means something that clings, referring to
the clinging of a sperm to the ovum to start ovulation, or the
subsequent clinging of the resulting zygote to the uterine wall.
These first few verses end with a reminder of the bounties of Allah
in guiding man to knowledge. They can be translated as follows:
Read! In the name of
your Lord Who created. Created Man from what clings, a clot clinging
leech-like. Read! And your Lord is the Most Honorable, Who taught by
the pen. He taught Man what he did not know." (Quran 96:1-5)
All throughout the Quran, repeated
references to scientific notions and facts are the main tools of
motivating the intellect towards sound firm belief and noble values.
This is as well as motivating the intellect towards a specific way
of life. This is for the welfare of both the individual and society.
That the Quran is the word of Allah is
self-proven through examining the Quran. The notions implied thereof
(scientific, historical, psychological, and legislative) are far
beyond that of any human being, when revealed and for centuries to
come. The style, including the semantics, rhetoric, grammatical
structure, eloquence, and internal music of the Arabic Quran is a
standing challenge to all humanity and forever. The Quran can be
translated as follows:
Then let them come
up with a discourse like this [the Qur'an], in case they are
sincere. (Quran 52:34)
Like of this Qur'an,
they would not come up with its like, even if they were backers of
one another. (Quran 17:88)
The Quran motivates the intellect by
* Urging us to think. The Quran can
be translated as follows:
So have they not
pondered over the saying, or did there come to them that which did
not come up to their earliest fathers? (Quran 23:68)
So give good tidings
to My bondmen. Who listen to the saying [and] so closely follow the
fairest of it. Those are they whom Allah has guided, and those are
the ones endowed with intellects. (Quran 39:17-18)
* Arguing with evidence. The Quran
can be translated as follows:
Is not He [Most
Charitable] Who begins creation, [and] thereafter He brings it back
again, and Who provides you from the heaven and the earth? Is there
a god with Allah? Say: "Offer your proof, in case you are
sincere." (Quran 27:64)
If there were in
both of them gods except Allah, indeed they would [both] suffer
corruption. All Extolment be to Allah, the Lord of the throne, above
whatever they describe. (Quran 21:22)
Will they not
contemplate the Quran? And if it had been from [any where] other
than the providence of Allah, indeed they would have found in it
many difference(s). (Quran 4:82)
* Inviting us to reflect on the creation.
The Quran can be translated as follows:
Surely in the
creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the
night and the daytime there are signs indeed for ones endowed with
intellects. The ones who remember Allah, upright and seated on their
sides, and meditate upon the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Our Lord, in no way
have You created this untruthfully. (Quran 3:190-191)
* Urging us to seek knowledge. The
Quran can be translated as follows:
He brings [the]
wisdom to whomever He decides; and whoever is brought [the] wisdom,
then he has been brought much charity; and in no way does anyone
constantly remember except those endowed with intellects. (Quran
2:269)
And in no way did We
send [even] before you, except men to whom We revealed. So ask the
population of the remembrance, in case you do not know. (Quran
16:43)
* Respecting science and scientists.
The Quran can be translated as follows:
Say: "Are the
ones who know equal to the ones who do not know?" Surely only
the ones endowed with intellects would remind themselves. (Quran
39:9)
And in no way does
anyone know its interpretation except Allah. And the ones firmly
established in knowledge say: "We have believed in it; all is
from the providence of our Lord." And in no way does anyone
constantly remember except the ones endowed with intellects. (Quran
3:7)
* Telling us that the universe is
controlled by precise laws. The Quran can be translated as
follows:
Surely We created
everything by a determined estimate. (Quran 54:49)
And He created
everything, so He has determined it in an [exact] determination.
(Quran 25:2)
The sun and the moon
[run] to all-precisely reckoned [courses]. And the stars and the
trees prostrate themselves. And the heaven, He raised it up, and
laid down the balance. (Quran 55:5-7)
The Quran dispels all sorts of
superstitions:
* Auguring. The Quran can be
translated as follows:
And in case an
odious [thing] afflicted them, they would augur ill by Musa and the
one with him. Verily their bird [of augury] is surely only in the
meeting with Allah, but most of them did not know. (Quran 7:131)
It is also narrated
in the hadith that Prophet Muhammad said:
The sun and the moon
do not eclipse due to the death or birth of anyone. They are two
signs of Allah's, so, pray when you see them.
* Unscientific thinking. The Quran
can be translated as follows:
And the poets, the
misguided closely follow them; have you not seen that they wander in
every valley, and that they say what they do not perform? (Quran
26:224-226)
* Baseless claims. The Quran can be
translated as follows:
He [Hud] said:
"Abomination and anger from your Lord have already befallen
you. Do you dispute with me over names you have named, and your
fathers, [for] in no way has Allah ever sent down regarding them any
all-binding authority? So, await, surely I will be with you among
[the ones] awaiting." (Quran 7:71)
And they have taken
to themselves gods, apart from Him, that create nothing and
themselves are created and possess for themselves neither harm nor
profit; neither do they possess death, nor life, nor uprising.
(Quran 25:3)
* Blindly following ancestors, leaders,
and clergy. The Quran can be translated as follows:
Surely they came
upon their fathers erring. So they are made to hurry in their
tracks. And indeed before them already erred away most of the
earliest [people]. (Quran 37:69-70)
They have taken to
themselves as lords, apart from Allah, their doctors and their monks
and Al-Masih (Jesus), the son of Maryam; and in no way were they
commanded to worship [anyone] except One God; there is no god except
He; all extolment be to Him, [He is] above whatever they associate
[with Him]. (Quran 9:31)
Now the fruit of
using the intellect to reach honest sound conclusions is a firm
belief in
-
The
presence of Allah, the origin of all existence
-
His
attributes
-
His
bounties on all creatures on this earth
-
The
Quran as the final Word of Allah
A Muslim having such a clear vision
would:
* Know and remember Allah. The Quran
can be translated as follows:
Surely in the
creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the
night and the daytime there are signs indeed for ones endowed with
intellects. The ones who remember Allah, upright and seated and on
their sides, and meditate upon the creation of the heavens and the
earth: "Our Lord, in no way have You created this untruthfully.
All extolment be to You! So protect us from the torment of the
Fire!" (Quran 3:190-191)
* Willingly and continuously submit to
His doctrine. The Quran can be translated as follows:
And in no way should
a male believer or a female believer, when Allah and His Messenger
has decreed a command, have the choice in their command. (Quran
33:36)
* Beware of disobeying Him. The
Quran can be translated as follows:
Is he who is
devoutly [praying] at various times of the night, prostrate and
upright, being wary of the Hereafter, and hoping for the mercy of
his Lord [the same as the disbeliever]? (Quran 39:9)
* Be patient and enduring of the
difficulties of life. The Quran can be translated as follows:
You who have
believed, seek help in patience and prayer, surely Allah is with the
patient. And do not say of whomever are killed in the way of Allah:
"[They are] dead." No indeed, they are alive but you are
not aware. And indeed We will definitely try you with something of
fear and hunger, and diminution of riches, and selves, and products;
and give glad tidings to the patient. Who, when an affliction
afflicts them, say: "Surely we belong to Allah, and surely to
Him we are turning." Upon those are the prayers from their
Lord, and mercy; and those are they [who] are the right-guided.
(Quran 3:155-157)
* Trust and hope in the hereafter.
The Quran can be translated as follows:
So, as for him whose
book is brought to him in his right hand, he will then say:
"[Now], here you are! Read my book. Surely I expected that I
should meet my reckoning." (Quran 69:19-22)
* Nabil
Haroun is a specialist in the comparative religions and the
originator of the Web site Islam
for Everyone.
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