Is the Qur'an Relevant to Muslims only?
By Dr Aslam Abdullah
Las Vegas, CA
Is the Qur'an only for Muslims? If God is the Lord of the worlds (1:1) and the Prophet is described as the messenger for the worlds (21:107) and the Qur'an is introduced as a reminder to the worlds (68:52), then what is the relevance of the Qur'anic message to the world? How can the world, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, benefit from the universal message of a universal and compassionate God? Can non-Muslims practice divinely revealed values without acknowledging their original source and without adhering to the total divine call?
Introduction
The Qur'an, Muslims believe, is the final testament God revealed for human beings through Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century. They believe that that the Qur'an affirms everything that was revealed to all the previous messengers in the past, including Prophets Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus. The Qur'an recognizes the principle of inclusiveness when it says: “I have come to you, to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.” (3:50) The Qur'an also acknowledges that divine message has been sent to all in all languages and the Qur'an affirms the continuity of the divine message.
“O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was (already) with you, before We change the face and fame of some (of you) beyond all recognition, and turn them hind wards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers, for the decision of Allah Must be carried out.” (4:47)
The Qur'an acknowledges the common thread in all the divine messages when it says: “The same religion He has established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which you call them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him). (42:13)
The Muslims believe that the guidance in the Qur'an is for all time, and for all people. Even though many Muslim scholars have often differed on the issue of giving a copy of the Qur'an to non-Muslims, quoting the Qur'anic verse that says “none shall touch but those who are clean," (56:79) yet more serious among them believe that the verse refers to the purity and sanctity of the divine message emphasizing the fact that it is revealed by the one who is absolutely authentic (Allah) and delivered by the one who is sacred and pure (Angel Gabriel) and delivered by the one (Prophet Muhammad) who is innocent from committing any wrong in communicating the message.
In fact, the Qur'an addresses human beings directly 306 times and more than two thousand times in its over 6,000 verses while it addresses Muslim men and women by name in only 42 times. How can anyone refuse to share a copy of the Qur'an to non-Muslims? In fact, the first revelation that the prophet received was first recited by the Prophet to non-Muslims.
Regardless, the Muslim scholarship, by and large, has inadvertently turned the Qur'an into a manifesto for Muslims only and that too for reading purposes, making the argument that Qur'an is a book of guidance for Muslims primarily. Is there nothing for the non-Muslim creation of God in the book Muslims attribute to a Merciful and Compassionate God of all. Can a non-Muslim make use of the guidance of the Qur'an while still remaining outside the fold of Islam? Can Islam be practiced by non-Muslims in its normative sense without adhering to its form ritual structure?
Contrary to what some Muslims might believe the fact is that many human beings, regardless of their relationship with Islam, have on their own reached to the conclusions that the Qur'an was introduced to the world through revelation. In a way, many non-Muslims have shown a better understanding of the message of the Qur'an even without fully identifying with Islam than many Muslims.
For instance, the empiricism in modern natural and social sciences is a known reality of our epistemology. The Qur'an announced this maxim clearly when it said: “And pursue not that of which you have no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be inquired into (on the Day of Reckoning). (17:36) In other words one must use all methods of inquiry to come to a conclusion and decisions in all aspects of life must not be based on superstitions and hearsay.
There are five major divine ideas expounded in the Qur'an that human beings have now begun to realize as the essence of their humanity. They were there in other religious scriptures and they are defined in details in the Qur'an, yet, humanity as a whole waited for almost 7,000 of its recorded human history to acknowledge their legitimacy and validity.
These ideas have constantly provided guidance to reformers and idealists regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds all over the world for centuries. What is ironic is that while acknowledging the supremacy of these ideas many Muslim groups and leaders in the Muslim world have often negated them through their writings or actions. Those five ideas are: oneness or unity of humanity, dignity of human beings, universalization of natural resources, justice and peace. No human society can live in a state of stability and progression without accepting these ideas and making efforts to live by them.
Oneness of humanity
The Qur'an places emphasis on the oneness of human beings. It introduces the idea of common human origin and ancestry at four different places and says that humans have their origin in a single cell or soul.
“O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single soul, created, of like nature, the mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.” (4:1)
“It is He Who hath produced you from a single soul: here is a place of sojourn and a place of departure: We detail Our signs for people who understand.” (6:98)
“It is He Who created you from a single soul, and made the mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her (in love). When they are united, she bears a light burden and carries it about (unnoticed). When she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah their Lord, (saying): "If Thou gives us a goodly child, we vow we shall (ever) be grateful." (7:189)
“He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. such is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Center)?” (39:6)
Thus the purpose is to ensure that the unity of humanity is never compromised and the differences that exist among people are resolved through a process of mutual understanding on the basis of ideas that are divine revealed.
“Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. Allah by His Grace guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guided whom He wills to a path that is straight.” (2:213)
The Qur'an acknowledges the diversity in humanity but described it as a functional aspect of existence and not structural.
“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 Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that has come to you. To each among you we have prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah 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. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which you dispute; (5:48)
The Qur'anic assertion about the oneness of humanity is a powerful message for all those who still want to live in their own tribal, national and ethnic cocoons without any respect and regard for the other. The Qur'an does not want one to cancel one's identity by birth but wants that identity to enhance inclusiveness rather than exclusiveness.
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (49:13)
The idea that despite differences in our DNAs and fingerprints, we all have a common origin and can relate with each other accepting every human as part of our extended family, whether we are able to trace our bloodlines or not, is in itself a powerful unifying idea, an idea whose time has finally come in a world that is shrinking every day. (Continued next week)
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