The Message of the Qur’an
By Dr Abidullah Ghazi
Executive Director of
IQRA’ International educational Foundation
Chicago
Islam is a religion of peace and justice. It is the eternal religion of God who sent messengers, prophets, as giver of good tidings and warnings of evil actions. All human beings have received his divine guidance and the message of Islam which, teaches Tawhid, Oneness of God, Oneness of human family, Oneness of all revelations, and Oneness of all Prophetic missions.
It emphasizes personal human responsibility of our actions, and sole judgment of God. The Qur’an gives a universal moral code defining righteous actions and explaining evil deeds. Islam confirms the truth that came before final revelation and enjoins to establish congenial relationship with all human beings.
Qur’an reaffirms the messages which came before it, completes them for all times to come, teaches tolerance and establishes cooperation of all human beings as basis of civic society.
Islam is an idea whose time has come, so the more it is opposed the more it attracts people who seek truth and as more disinformation spreads it increases more inquisitiveness leading to better understanding of Islam.
In situation of adversity, opposition and personal violations Qur’an teaches us patience, perseverance and civic dialogue. Never has Islam faced such challenges as it faces in modern open society and never was there greater opportunity for it to explain its message. In modern information rational, global village there are so many avenues open to get right knowledge and Islam is knowledge-based religion and affirms:
When the Truth comes the falsehood disappears, the falsehood has to go
To all human beings both believers and non-believers the Qur’an invites to understand read, reflect and always use fair judgment.
Following selections are which deal with present disinformation and replaces it with authentic representation by Qur’an. As on 9/11 some unfortunate people have decided to burn the copies of the Qur’an, Muslims must know that it is God’s word and He has promised to safeguard it and it is He Who is using the adversaries of His Message to promote it worldwide; it is an opportunity for us and in North America and across the world to present to the people of good faith and intelligent understanding correct knowledge, enhancing better understanding and supporting human rights to build a peaceful and prosperous world.
- God Is the Lord of All the Worlds
In The Name Of God Most Gracious Most Merciful. Praise Be To God
The Cherisher And Sustainer Of The Worlds. Most Gracious Most Merciful.
The Opening 1:1-3
- Humans Are Created by Single Soul or Cell
O mankind! worship your Guardian-Lord, Who created you from a single Soul, created, of like nature, its mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women – seek righteousness in God, through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you):
al-Nisa 4. 1
- Criteria of Excellence Is Righteousness
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
Al-Hujurat 49:13
- Muslims Heritage of Faith
Say: "We believe in One God, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma`il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: we make no distinction between one and another among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam)."
Al Imran 3: 84
If anyone desires a religion other than submission to God), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost.
Al Imran 3:85
- Role of Muslims Community
Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: they are the ones to attain felicity.
Al Imran 3:104
That was a People that has passed away. They shall reap the fruit of what they did and you of what you do! of their merits there is no question in your case!
Al-Baqarah 2: 134
- The Essence of Civic Society
Cooperate you with one another in righteousness and piety, but cooperate you not one another in sin and transgression: Seek righteousness in God…
Al-Ma’idah 5: 2
Diversity of Humanity
To each among you have We prescribed a Law and an Open Way. If God had so willed, He would have made you a single People, but (His plan is) to test you in what He has given you; so strive as in a race in all virtues.
Al-Ma’idah 5: 48
- God’ Guidance to All Human Beings
And the Unbelievers say: "Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?" But you are truly a warner, and to every people (We sent) a guide.
Al-Ra’d 13:7
- Torah Is the Guidance and Light
It was We who revealed the Torah (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the Prophet who bowed (as in Islam) to God's will, by the Rabbis and the doctors of Law: for to them was entrusted the protection of God's Book, and they were witnesses thereto….
Al-Ma’idah 5: 44
And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear God. Let the people of the Gospel Judge by what God has revealed therein….
Al- Ma’idah 5: 46-47
- The Truth of Earlier Revelations
To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what God has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the truth that has come to you.
Al- Ma’idah 5: 48
Message for All Nations
Those were the (prophets) who received God's guidance: copy the guidance they received;Say: "No reward for this do I ask of you: this is no less than a Message for the nations.
Al-An’am 6:90
Is there any Reward for Good - other than Good?
Ar-Rahman 56:60
Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Return (Evil) with what is even better: then will he between whom and you was hatred become as it were your friend and intimate!
Ha Mim Sajdah 41: 34
God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them:
for God loves those who are just.
Al-Mumtahinah 60.8
- Civic Dialogue with People of the Book
And do not neter into dialogue with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong : and say, "We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our God and your God is one; and it is to Him we submit"
Al-Ankabut 29: 46
- Common Stand with People of the Book
Say: "O people of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you:
that we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him;
that we erect not from among ourselves Lords and patrons other than God."
Al Imran 3:64
- No Profiling and No Ridicule
O you who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it...but fear God: for God is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
Al-Hujurat 49:11
- No Spying and No Backbiting
O you who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it...but fear God: for God is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
Al-Hujurat 49:12
20. No Ridicule
O you who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames….
Al-Hujurat 49:11
21. No Reviling for Anyone
Revile not you those whom they call upon besides God, lest they out of spite revile God in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings.
Al-An`am 6: 108
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