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Not History or Science, yet a Sourcebook for Both

The Qur’an is not a history book, but it provides some of the best insights humanity has about the past. Nor is the Qur’an a science book in the ordinary sense, even though it gave us some of the most advanced laws of modern science as early as the 7^th Century.

The Qur’an is not a legal treatise, but it provides the foundation for some of the most important laws by which humanity runs its life today. The Qur’an is not a political, military or economic manual or textbook. But based on all the important principles it lays out in all three of those subject areas, it might have been.

Based on what the Qur’an teaches and where the world was when the Qur’an first made its appearance into this world – over 1400 years ago – it is fair to say that the story of the world, ever since, has been pretty much a story of the world trying to catch up with the Qur’an, albeit reluctantly, grudgingly, at a snail pace and, sadly, without giving the Qur’an any credit or recognition.

Some Salient Teachings of the Qur’an 

The Qur’an tells human beings to love God and at the same time also to fear and obey him. And it asks them to treat their parents with respect and their neighbors – even chance encounters – with kindness.

“Fulfill your obligations and contracts!” the Qur’an tells the believers.

The Qur’an commands people to tell the truth and be just and fair to all people under all condition.

The Qur’an says people must work together with others based on what may be common ground among them.

The Qur’an tells the people to cooperate with others in all good things, but refuse to give anyone any cooperation in all things that may be bad. “Do not give anyone your cooperation,” says the Qur’an, “in anything that may be sinful.”

Similarly, says the Qur’an, “Refuse to cooperate with anyone if it is about committing a sin or an act of aggression against others.”

“Read!” is how the Qur’an began its message to the world. Today, after the passage of 14 centuries, the world is living a reading and knowledge dream, if not in the quality at least in the quantity of what it reads.

“How can those who know and those who don’t know be equal?” asks the Qur’an.

“If you don’t know something, go ask those who do,” it says.

Qur’an Literacy: An Urgent Imperative of the Times

Therefore, in the present turbulent times when everyone is saying one thing or another about Islam and Muslims, and about the Qur’an itself, it makes perfect sense for people to pick up a copy of the Qur’an today and read it for themselves.

Since Islam and Muslims have become a world phenomenon in recent past – more than ever before – it is time for the world to become Qur’an literate.

And do so, as the Qur’an says, in the pursuit of truth, fair treatment and justice for all and not for the promotion of personal agendas or for committing verbal, mental, economic, financial, physical or military aggression on others.

END

Copyright © Syed Husain Pasha

 

Write to the author at DrSyedPasha@aol.com 

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