If you were to, or if you are seeing the Quran' s teaching as an allegory, how..

[Ervin]

Peace.

I think that Quran is true, but I couldn't say that I know 100% that it's supposed to be taken literally.

So, I would like to ask you Do you believe that the right approach is to view the Quran as a allegory/ metaphors or to take it literally?

Thanks

[tlihawa]

Peace.

I think that Quran is true, but I couldn't say that I know 100% that it's supposed to be taken literally.

So, I would like to ask you Do you believe that the right approach is to view the Quran as a allegory/ metaphors or to take it literally?

Thanks

Salaam,
I use both of them. Most of the cases I used my sense to recognize the context of passages, whether it must be taken literally or metaphorically. I think we have to be more flexible and not just stick to one method.

The parable is one of the great tool used in God's scriptures, not just limited to Quran, but also in Torah and Injil.

I learned from Jesus on how to handle the parable things in the scriptures

Gospel of Barnabas
Chapter 17

Jesus answered 'Philip, God is a good without which there is naught good; God is a being without which there is naught that is; God is a life without which there is naught that liveth; so great that he filleth all and is everywhere. He alone hath no equal. He hath had no beginning, nor will he ever have an end, but to everything hath he given a beginning and to everything shall he give an end. He hath no father nor mother; he hath no sons, nor brethren, nor companions. And because God hath no body, therefore he eateth not, sleepeth not, dieth not, walketh not, moveth not, but abideth eternally without human similitude, for that he is incorporeal, uncompounded, immaterial, of the most simple substance. He is so good that he loveth goodness only; he is so just that when he punisheth or pardoneth it cannot be gainsaid. In short, I say unto thee, Philip, that here on earth thou canst not see him nor know him perfectly; but in his kingdom thou shalt see him for ever wherein consisteth all our happiness and glory.'

Philip answered 'Master, what sayest thou? It is surely written in Isaiah that God is our father; how, then, hath he no sons?'

Jesus answered 'There are written in the prophets many parables, wherefore thou oughtest not to attend to the letter, but to the sense. For all the prophets, that are one hundred and forty-four thousand, whom God hath sent into the world, have spoken darkly. But after me shall come the Splendour of all the prophets and holy ones, and shall shed light upon the darkness of all that the prophets have said, because he is the messenger of God.' And having said this, Jesus sighed and said 'Have mercy on Israel, O Lord God and look with pity upon Abraham and upon his seed, in order that they may serve thee with truth of heart.

Peace

[Jafar]

Peace.

I think that Quran is true, but I couldn't say that I know 100% that it's supposed to be taken literally.

So, I would like to ask you Do you believe that the right approach is to view the Quran as a allegory/ metaphors or to take it literally?

Quran is neither TRUE or NOT TRUE.
The same goes for all other title of books / scriptures or sources (Bible, Torah, Veda, Harry Potter, Albert Einstein)

Only statements contained within can be deciphered as either TRUE (Match with reality) or NOT TRUE (Not match with reality) or UNKNOWN/UNDECIDED. Go details on the content and not on the 'wrapping'...

The recommended approach is to gather wisdom from whatever sources, digest it, and keep it only when you think that it is good and beneficial. Use your critical mind and conscience as your main guide and do not let FEAR or THREAT (either from society or other sources) gets in your way.

[Anoushirvan]

So, I would like to ask you Do you believe that the right approach is to view the Quran as a allegory/ metaphors or to take it literally?

Yes, the right approach is to read most of Qur'an (like 90%) metaphorically. But not anyhow.

The correct framework of quranic hermeneutic is the jewish eschatology and the correct methodology is by linking different passages and verses either from Qur'an or from other Scriptures, using parables, metaphors, wordplays based on sound slips between Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic, wordplays based on semantics, allusions, and metathesis (permutation of consonants).

And, all of this would be useless without putting Qur'an in its historical context of the 7th century.