READING The Koran

We felt that we had to return to the same topic that we have discussed in our previous chapter entitled “The SPIRIT of The Koran” and give further explanations, as it was misunderstood by some dull-witted people.

In our day, being able to read the words in Arabic letters (even without knowing their meaning) is assumed to be “reading the Koran”… Some people however, consider reading Koran translations (ma’al) as “reading the Koran”… These are only the preliminary stages of “reading” the Koran…

Yet, in my opinion, such forms of readings cannot be regarded as “READING” the Koran!

As we have referred to “READING” the System…

We can also refer to “READING” the Koran…

How is it possible to really READ the Koran?

READING the Koran is only possible through perceiving “the SPIRIT of the Koran”!

What does it mean to perceive the “the SPIRIT of the Koran”?

What is the purpose for which the Koran al-Karim has been revealed to mankind?

What kinds of benefits does the Koran al-Karim provide for the people to whom it has been revealed?

What kind of a life does the Koran al-Karim prepare for those to whom it has been revealed?

What kind of qualities does the Koran al-Karim reveal to people to whom it has been revealed?

Do the signs in the Koran al-Karim that were revealed, involve an aim that man should live showing respect for the rights of fellow human beings yet live a progressive life permanently, or have they been revealed aiming towards a regressive life for mankind?

If we can answer these questions correctly, we will have placed the first stepping stone towards understanding “the SPIRIT of the Koran” whereby, the rest of the stones will fall into place until a staircase is built which leads us to open the door of “READING” the Koran al-Karim.

As a result of our misunderstanding, the Koran has been locked in chains and turned into a holy book from ancient times!

Yet, with regard to its “SPIRIT” and its “OBJECTIVES”, the Koran upholds such properties as to enlighten and guide mankind as long as humanity exists: it is therefore a Book ABOVE TIMES!

Limiting the Koran al-Karim to the progressions and reforms it brought to the societies it was revealed to, by saying “its service for humanity has finished at that point and is out-dated, therefore it is a book belonging to that period only of those ancient times”, is an injustice (zulm) to the Koran. This injustice results from the inability to perceive the “SPIRIT of the Koran” and to READ the Koran!

While the Koran suggests giving one fortieth of your possessions within the framework of Zakat (alms), it does not in any way restrict one from giving one twentieth of it! The former is to be understood as the minimum and not the “end all” of alms per se…

While having no inheritance rights at all, women were allowed half of the share given to a man as a minimum amount, by the Koran… However, if you decided to give a share equal to that of a man, it would never contradict with the “SPIRIT of the Koran”. Besides, the Koran does not restrict this, but instead it welcomes progression in accordance with its SPIRIT!

I mean that, the rights and reforms brought by the Koran need to be considered as the minimum, not the maximum, and it cannot be taken backwards. There is neither a sign in the Koran nor an indication from RasulAllah that progress cannot be made towards a maximum of rights!

As a result of the failure in understanding the "SPIRIT of the Koran", the Koran is not READ and thus, people hold onto its surface verbalism, literal meaning. The unfortunate consequence is that the given message is lost!

What's more, upon RESTRAINING the Koran al-Karim with a dull-witted understanding, it is wrongfully concluded that “the Koran can not be applied to our days”!

When need arises to create a law, the main factor in its establishment is in fact the spirit of such a law. An adequate fashion of rendering (statement) is determined in connection with that spirit, that is the prospect of thought, and it is verbalized and therewith an article of law is brought into existence… When a judge needs to exercise this law, he establishes a connection between the given event and his own perspective of judicious reasoning about that event and makes a judgment based on the main reason that the law was formed.

If a judge sets his opinion about an event by considering only the law within the surface verbalism rather than respecting the spirit of that law, he is most likely to misjudge! A judicial decision must be based not on the literal aspect of a law but on its spirit!

Laws exist along with their spirits. If they are taken in mere verbalism, DEVIATIONS from the goal will take place! The conscience of a judge is there to insure the judicious reasoning of an event is based on the spirit of law!

In the same way, to be able to “READ” the Koran also, it is necessary to consider the purpose for which the verses regarding a particular event were revealed, and the benefits that these verses aim to provide to man and women. All the evaluations must be based on these facts.

The Koran al-Karim has provided the greatest revolution in the history of mankind. Due to the inability in perceiving this SPIRIT of the Koran al-Karim, looking at only the words of the Koran on the surface and commenting that “that’s all it has given to humankind, it does not give anything beyond these, but bring restrictions,” is the greatest blindness and darkness (oppression).

It cannot be described other than as an ulterior motive to deviate from the reality by imposing a perspective as if “Islam affirms slavery”, while in fact the Koran al-Karim regards deliverance of a slave as one of the greatest ibadat (practices) and so aims at ending slavery in a society where it was common.

It is an enormous injustice done to the Deen-i Islam and is a plain result of not understanding the “SPIRIT” of the Koran to disapprove of it through assuming it as an assertive and coercive religious understanding, while Islam does not condone using force in any point except putting an end to violations of human rights, and while the known sign to the Rasul that “you are not one to force them”!

Democracy can only be found within the principals of Deen-i Islam in the most comprehensive sense; because the Koran al-Karim does not allow pressure to be put on people in any regard.

The Koran al-Karim ADVISES mankind on essential ideas they need so that their future may bring them peace and blessings. It informs mankind of what is to come hereafter and what they need to do, and notes that those who follow its practices will find reward. And it warns those who do not, about the regrets that they will fall into in the afterlife because of the conditions that will be encountered, and that they will never be able to turn back from there nor make up for the past… After this point, neither a person nor a government has an authority to FORCE anybody to practice them, with respect to the “SPIRIT” of Deen-i Islam… As a matter of fact, every person will appraise and attach importance to those proposals with their own mind and reasoning, and will practice as they wish without anyone’s pressure, and will finally reach their result!

The unknowing and ignorant persons’ false convictions, which are acquired due to their inability to read the “SPIRIT” of the Koran al-Karim, can never be connected with the Deen of Islam!

There cannot be an excuse made for staying away from Islam and the Koran, because of being overwhelmed with false interpretations of those who cannot “READ” the Koran al-Karim!

Every INDIVIDUAL is responsible for READING the Koran and learning Deen-i Islam personally, for their own future. To make excuses for the mistake that it was the practice of other Muslims in my surroundings, is of no importance. Learning the Deen by following the Koran, rather than by following the Muslims is essential (fard) for everybody. Those who fail to do so will suffer its consequences in the Hereafter (akhirat).

Therefore, we must now realize that…

It is the most rewarding (helpful) practice for a person to READ, appreciate and make use of the Koran al-Karim, that has been revealed to make women and men, namely all the believers, become aware of the fact that they have been created as a “caliph” and experience its effect; through letting them know the conditions of life beyond death and teaching them the ways of having a wonderful life of beauties beyond death. One who practices it will have its benefits, and one who disregards it, will suffer the result of his negligence in the Hereafter.

Neither the One who is denoted by the name “ALLAH”, nor RasulAllah Mohammed Mustafa aleyhessalaam is in need of our belief and our practices as the requirements of our beliefs, because all proposals have been made to the PERSON individually and concern their own future…

Happy are those who can “READ” the Koran and live its effect…

4.10.1998