Is Fasting applicable for us ?
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Salam,
I have two questions which I believe maybe useful in determining whether fasting is applicable for those of us who uphold the Quran.
According to my understanding, it makes no sense to consider fasting to be prescribed to rejecters of the book.
my opinion is that it should be during fall/ autumn in the Northern Hemisphere during the September Equinox when most locations on earth will have more or less equal day and night and days can be still quite hot
Well, what I do is study my deen. And practice is according to my latest understanding. Because, if the evidence that I have is pointing to Ramadan in January, and I dont fast in January, am I not disobedient ? There has always been scribes and scholars who walked the wrong path and misled many, it isnt my fault that the so called muslims are walking the opposite direction. I am only to worry for myself. I am not responsible for others, and others wont be accountable for my actions. One of the most fairest statements that boost my morale is
"God does not burden a soul except with what it can bear....."
"...God does not burden any soul more than He has given it..."So, having such a just Master, this slave is striving to please the Master with his level best performance. I am sure, Allah will not punish me for things that I am incapable of grasping )
May Allah increase you in knowledge
PEACE
------------------------ Student of Allah
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Peace
SOA,
The opposite of "upholding the Quran" is not "Rejecting the Quran". There are people who uphold other books without rejecting the Quran, for instance the Sunni and Shias. For them fasting is compulsory along with hundreds of rules and regulations which governs fasting. Also there are monotheist Christians and Jews who do not reject the Quran.
Kgwithnob and Riz
The issues are not raised for personal benefit. They are based on the Quran. If the Quran commands to fast, difficulty should not matter and billions all over the world do it during the heat of summer and cold of the winter. Even children and the old fast without much difficulty.
By rushing to conclusions, none of you brothers have tried to answer objectively, the two issues I have raised.
Also for, any month is fine for Ramadan just proves that we do not have evidence for the month.
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Peace
I have two questions which I believe maybe useful in determining whether fasting is applicable for those of us who uphold the Quran.
The main verses on fasting in the Quran, verses 2183-184 is addressed to ?Oh, you who believe?. I presume the people who are addressed by this phrase are the ones who heeded the call of the Messenger and believed during the time of the Messenger. Being a direct address, this may not include every human being who believed or each one of us who came to contact with the Quran in different ways and started believing in it. The usage of this phrase many times in the Quran points to this fact and some verses show ?believers? as distinct to other groups such as People of the Book, while the Quran mentions there were believers among such groups as well. In this sense fasting maybe prescribed to people during the Prophets time who heeded him and similarly people of the previous messengers and not to all of us.
According to 2185, fasting is prescribed for persons who witness or become evident of the month of Ramadan. None of us know with certainty, which is the month of Ramadan, although there have been many opinions put forward. For instance, my opinion is that it should be during fall/ autumn in the Northern Hemisphere during the September Equinox when most locations on earth will have more or less equal day and night and days can be still quite hot. But, then again my opinion is not fool proof evidence for the month of Ramadan just as all other opinions put forward, hence the evidence of the exact month of Ramadan is questionable. Maybe the month of Ramadan is obscured from us because the non applicability of fasting on us.
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=14793.msg149363;topicseen#msg149363
Peace warner,
That's an interesting take. I hadn't thought that before. I also find it interesting that we are not told to fast as a repetitive command as , say, we are told to implement As-Salat. There is also Maryam's fast and how greatly it defers from the 'ramadan-fast'.
What basis do we have for there to be a particular fasting month/period to begin with? Does The Quran command us so, or does it confirm a preconception of ours? It makes little sense, I might say, if you also take geography into account, etc.
That being said, are you insinuating that all the 'o you who you believe' verses are intended towards those with The Prophet? Wouldn't that make a lot of the Quran null and void, in essence? Why can't we the, followers of the message, also be denoted as 'o who you believe'?
I was just checking the 'o who you believe' verses, as a general It seems to indicate a present tense in most cases, yes, but what of verses like 443, 56, 590, etc? Do they not apply to us?
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Salam Warner,
The opposite of "upholding the Quran" is not "Rejecting the Quran".
Sorry I didnt complete my sentence there I almost knew that this was coming
About the points raised. They surely are interesting, but to be honest. When I do some mental maths about the consequences of throwing out everything that was not specifically and directly addressed to me, it starts becoming less attractive. One will almost certainly find out a way to not obey any commandment. lol.. probably some will come up with ideas such as , one needs not do anything, all of those things in the Quran are either addressed to his people or the foreign people in his time. Together Allah called them mankind. Not us. Anyways, I am talking without reason now, just know that my strange thoughts are just my opinions. So keep on studying the topic, God willing, you will be guided.
PEACE
--------------------- Student of Allah -
...There has always been scribes and scholars who walked the wrong path and misled many, it isnt my fault that the so called muslims are walking the opposite direction. I am only to worry for myself. I am not responsible for others, and others wont be accountable for my actions...
Highlight above is from me.
How about the ?VICE & VIRTUE? principles within our faith?
1690,
Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed.
3117,
O my dear son! Establish worship and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and persevere whatever may befall thee. Lo! That is of the steadfast heart of things.
3104,
And there may spring from you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency. Such are they who are successful.
3110,
Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the People of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers; but most of them are evil-livers.
3114,
They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency, and vie one with another in good works. These are of the righteous.
579,
They restrained not one another from the wickedness they did. Verily evil was that they used to do!
7157,
Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him they are the successful.
971,
And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.
9112,
(Triumphant) are those who turn repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who praise (Him), those who fast, those who bow down, those who fall prostrate (in worship), those who enjoin the right and who forbid the wrong and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah - And give glad tidings to believers!
2241,
Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish worship and pay the poor-due and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity. And Allah's is the sequel of events.
Peace,
Khalil -
Salaam Jack
While we can discuss the verses you quoted separately on a broad discussion on verses with " Oh, you who believe", probably later, I find the verse 2183 different from these verses due to "...decreed upon you"....to the group of people the verses addresses.
I presume most misunderstandings on the Quran is due to these issues of applicability to the period, the situation and various groups which it addresses, which may not necessarily be applicable to us.
A study of verses which address different groups, situations or applies to the particular period, will lead to better understanding of the Quran. This is not an inquiry to make parts of the Quran redundant based on our whims or our assumed suitability to the modern situations and society, but to ascertain from the Quran, to whom and under what circumstances certain commands and verses have been revealed.
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Salam sister
In my response above I explained this should not be an exercise to throw out verses from the Quran but an attempt to understand the audience. The issues I raised is not to discourage anyone from following verses addressed to different audience and also it is not an attempt to say "if it is addressed to another it is not applicable for me" without understanding the context and the verse clearly. For instance Quran says it said to the Children of Israel that "...if you kill a person, it is as if you have killed the whole mankind...." and surely there is lesson to be drawn for anyone form this verse, believer or not.
Instead of the mental math you can as a good student search all verses addressed to " oh you who believe" ( well its not many, not even a 3 digit number) and check how much would this change our understanding of the Quran. Also you should read verses addressed directly to, Kafiroon, Chidren of Israel, People of the Book, etc.
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Salam sister
In my response above I explained this should not be an exercise to throw out verses from the Quran but an attempt to understand the audience. The issues I raised is not to discourage anyone from following verses addressed to different audience and also it is not an attempt to say "if it is addressed to another it is not applicable for me" without understanding the context and the verse clearly. For instance Quran says it said to the Children of Israel that "...if you kill a person, it is as if you have killed the whole mankind...." and surely there is lesson to be drawn for anyone form this verse, believer or not.
Instead of the mental math you can as a good student search all verses addressed to " oh you who believe" ( well its not many, not even a 3 digit number) and check how much would this change our understanding of the Quran. Also you should read verses addressed directly to, Kafiroon, Chidren of Israel, People of the Book, etc.
Salam,
I am not claiming to be the best at understanding the Qur'an. You see, I strive to understand the message in its entirety. Personally, I dont limit myself to "O you who believe" phrases. Allah gives examples of the successful ones in the book without saying "O you who believe" in places. Lets say, for example
"Surely, the submitting males, and the submitting females, the believing males, and the believing females, the dutiful males, and the dutiful females, the truthful males, and the truthful females, the patient males, and the patient females, the humble males, and the humble females, the charitable males, and the charitable females, the fasting males, and the fasting females, the males who keep covered their private parts, and the females who similarly keep covered, and the males who commemorate God frequently, and the commemorating females; God has prepared for them a forgiveness and a great recompense."
For better understanding of the point I am making, let us consider this chapter that I was reading the other day. Chapter 90.
9010 And We guided him to both paths?
9011 He should choose the better path.
9012 Do you know which is the better path?
9013 The freeing of slaves.
9014 Or the feeding on a day of great hardship.
9015 An orphan of relation.
9016 Or a poor person in need.
9017 Then he has become one of those who have believed, and exhort one another to patience, and exhort one another to kindness.
9018 Those are the people of the right.The way I understood these ayaats is different from looking after "O you who believe" verses. When Allah uses examples to tell me and make it plain for me to chose the path of the successful ones, the ones on whom Allah is pleased, I prefer to take the examples more broadly and not to limit it to the time and place and situation of the revelation. Otherwise, I fear, like the hadither cults, I may end up discarding much of the Qur'an as non-relevant or abrogated. Pray for me that Allah guides me to success.
May Allah be pleased be with you
PEACE
---------------------- Student of Allah -
Peace,
It's for who make the affirmation to fast; if you do you do and if you don't you don't.
2185 so who shahida (i.e. declares/asserts) from you al-shahra so he should fast it.
Not all shahida are visual, e.g. shahida/declaration by a shhidun/person who speaks out.
1226-27 washahida shhidun from her family --
"If is his shirt torn from the front then she has spoken the truth, and he from the liars;
and if is his shirt torn from the back so she has lied and he from the truthful." -
Something that interested me was when an oath is broken we are advised to fast for three days. There is as far as I know at least one other case in the Quran where a certain number of days are specified for fasting. Maybe in the period of ramadan, the number of days one is meant to fast is purely based on that. For example, I broke an oath and thus need to fast three days come ramadan and should only carry out this fast when i witness the month of ramadan.
This may sound coincidental but one of the reasons i'm writing this post was because i broke an oath and i intended to fast three days, however i could not do so there and then and it got held back all the way until the summer solstice. I wasn't intending on fasting in the summer solstice at all and was completely unaware of when it was but still, it just coincidentally happened that the timing got right for me to fast then.
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Salam,
I am not claiming to be the best at understanding the Qur'an. You see, I strive to understand the message in its entirety. Personally, I dont limit myself to "O you who believe" phrases. Allah gives examples of the successful ones in the book without saying "O you who believe" in places. Lets say, for example
"Surely, the submitting males, and the submitting females, the believing males, and the believing females, the dutiful males, and the dutiful females, the truthful males, and the truthful females, the patient males, and the patient females, the humble males, and the humble females, the charitable males, and the charitable females, the fasting males, and the fasting females, the males who keep covered their private parts, and the females who similarly keep covered, and the males who commemorate God frequently, and the commemorating females; God has prepared for them a forgiveness and a great recompense."
For better understanding of the point I am making, let us consider this chapter that I was reading the other day. Chapter 90.
9010 And We guided him to both paths?
9011 He should choose the better path.
9012 Do you know which is the better path?
9013 The freeing of slaves.
9014 Or the feeding on a day of great hardship.
9015 An orphan of relation.
9016 Or a poor person in need.
9017 Then he has become one of those who have believed, and exhort one another to patience, and exhort one another to kindness.
9018 Those are the people of the right.The way I understood these ayaats is different from looking after "O you who believe" verses. When Allah uses examples to tell me and make it plain for me to chose the path of the successful ones, the ones on whom Allah is pleased, I prefer to take the examples more broadly and not to limit it to the time and place and situation of the revelation. Otherwise, I fear, like the hadither cults, I may end up discarding much of the Qur'an as non-relevant or abrogated. Pray for me that Allah guides me to success.
May Allah be pleased be with you
PEACE
---------------------- Student of AllahSalam
You can not seriously claim that the highlighted words in 3335 above mean ?men and women who fast for 30 days in the month of Ramadan?. Saum means abstinence, and there are many urges and pleasures, a believer may abstain from, on the service of God, and every usage of this word would not necessarily have to mean ?abstain from food during Ramadan?. Also made me wonder why the verse excludes ?men and women who establish salat, men and women who bring forth refinement?.
Even when I reiterate that verses with specific address do have not to be discarded arbitrarily, you keep harping on this at a selective oversight.
Many verses can be sighted in the Quran for specific address, an interesting example for such, is the verses directed at the wives of the Messenger and the confusion caused by some sects in trying to follow these commands as if they apply to every woman.
Also it is very important to mention that there are many verses on war and fighting with the People who reject/ Disbelievers and Mushrikoon which are very specific, and the misunderstanding and fatwas surrounding these verses has led to the word Muslims synonyms with hostility and the Quran a Book of war.
Take for instance verse 551, ?O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Nasara for friends. They are friends one to another. And whoso among you takes them for friends is indeed one of them. Verily, Allah guides not the unjust people.?
This is a specific address verse misunderstood by many to be applicable for all times causing much disharmony. Also if this verse is applicable to all of us, can we identify the Nasara with certainty ? Would the Nasara include all Christians or only some sects? Also will it be contradictory if there are some Christians who are not friends with the Jews and in some cases enemies of each other . I have Jewish and Christian friends, does this mean I am one of them and unjust ?
Also this leads to other questions such as, who are the People of the Book ? Can we take the Sunnis and the Shia as friends? Would the Sunni and Shia be included in ?Oh you who believe?? They certainly think they are at the exclusion of some of us who follow only the Quran.
I presume some verses of the Quran were never meant for us to be understood or followed since they are not addressed to us. Most of our never-ending, no-solution-at-sight debates, arguments and differences are due to the misconception that the whole of the Quran is addressed to us and we have to understand and follow each and every instruction no matter who it is addressed to.
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Peace All,
I think without doubt that fasting is meant for all, not just those present at the time. I think the things we should be concentrating on are; the length of the fast and the time of the fast. I for one believe strongly that the length of the fast is for the count, which I believe to be 10.
Layth's argument for Winter in December is very strong.
Another thing that baffles me is the line that says; those of you who witness Ramadan. It always makes me ask who of us might not witness Ramadan? Why might some of us not witness Ramadan? I think this question contains a lot if we can answer it.
Peace -
Peace
There is a very important aspect to the verse 2183 which supports what I said above, but, so far, I could not get around to communicate it in a proper manner. It is based on the logic of the verse. A meaningful sentence should adhere to logic in its content and context and the Quran never fails in this aspect.
Let?s look at 2 183 once more
?O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,?
According to the verse fasting was prescribed for ? O you who believe? and also prescribed for ? those before the O you who believe?. For the logic of the verse to prevail the ?those before you? should correspond with ? O you who believe?, and if it does not correspond then the logic of the verse fails. Technically one group should correspond with the other in some or most aspects to qualify as "those before you". Lets apply this to both opinions ; specific address and general address.
The logic perfectly sustains when the verse is addressed to the ?specific group of believers who were with the Messenger?. In that case the verse correctly communicates and corresponds that fasting is prescribed for the ?believers who were with this Messenger????just as it was prescribed for the ?believers who were with the earlier Messengers?. Here we simply cannot contest the logic of the verse.
But if the verse is addressed to ?all believers?, and then the ?those before you? does not make sense in this verse (and becomes redundant too) since we cannot find a corresponding "those before you" to "all believers". For instance, let?s try to make sense out of mentioning, that fasting is prescribed for ?me and Jack? (believers) and also to mention that it was prescribed for ?those before me and jack (believers)?. Firstly, in this case the question arises who are these ?those before us? corresponding to ?Me and Jack? (believers). Believers before the believers? Are these the ?people who believed before me and Jack? or ?believers who have died as at now?? Why say ?those before you? here, if the verse is applicable to all believers ?. When you take the complete verse into consideration expecting to communicate the meaning of general address the verse loses its logic and the meaning .
If the verse wanted to communicate that fasting for all the believers there was no reason to mention that it was prescribed to ?those before you?.
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Salam Warner,
I see what you are saying, but it hardly makes sense to me the way I understand self-restraint. Obviously, self-restraint has not been made limited to fasting by my interpretation.
2183 O you who believe, fasting has been decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you, perhaps you may be righteous.
To me, it doesnt mean that we dont have to fast, the way I interpret "as it was decreed for those before you" is that the idea is nothing completely new. The prescription did not originate in the Qur'an, it was prescribed in the previous books given to the people before the Qur'an. So in the verse, the author is prescribing fasting to the believers as he prescribed in the previous publications.
The examples of what and when to eat , and what not to do, I get them from the following verse.
2184 A few number of days; however, if any of you is ill or traveling, then the same number from different days; and as for those who can do so but with difficulty, they may redeem by feeding the needy. And whoever does good voluntarily, then it is better for him. And if you fast it is better for you if only you knew.
2185 A month of aspiration, in which the Qur'an was revealed; as a guide to the people and clarities from the guidance and the Criterion. Therefore, whoever of you witnesses the month, then let him fast therein. And whoever is ill or traveling, then the same number from different days. God wants to bring you ease and not to bring you hardship; and so that you may complete the count, and glorify God for what He has guided you, that you may be thankful.
2186 And if My servants ask you about Me, I am near answering the calls of those who call to Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they may be guided.
2187 It has been made lawful for you during the night of fasting to approach your women sexually. They are a garment for you and you are a garment for them. God knows that you used to betray your souls so He has accepted your repentance, and forgiven you; now you may approach them and seek what God has written for you. And you may eat and drink until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of dawn; then you shall complete the fast until night; and do not approach them while you are devoted in the temples. These are the boundaries of God, so do not transgress them. It is thus that God clarifies His revelations to the people who they may be righteous.
Anyways, I was wondering one thing, how would a sunni/shia (hadither) website respond to your proposition ? I am glad that we fear Allah more than what others think of our interpretations.
May Allah increase you in knowledge.
PEACE
------------------ Student of Allah
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Highlight above is from me.
How about the ?VICE & VIRTUE? principles within our faith?
1690,
Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed.
3117,
O my dear son! Establish worship and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and persevere whatever may befall thee. Lo! That is of the steadfast heart of things.
3104,
And there may spring from you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency. Such are they who are successful.
3110,
Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the People of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers; but most of them are evil-livers.
3114,
They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency, and vie one with another in good works. These are of the righteous.
579,
They restrained not one another from the wickedness they did. Verily evil was that they used to do!
7157,
Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him they are the successful.
971,
And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.
9112,
(Triumphant) are those who turn repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who praise (Him), those who fast, those who bow down, those who fall prostrate (in worship), those who enjoin the right and who forbid the wrong and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah - And give glad tidings to believers!
2241,
Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish worship and pay the poor-due and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity. And Allah's is the sequel of events.
Peace,
KhalilSalam khalil,
You misinterpreted what I said. Let me clarify again and see if you agree.
What I said is, its not my fault that people chose to commit shirk despite the clear message. It isnt my fault that the Qur'an is clear but they abrogate many verses to make way for their hadiths. So, I wont be questioned about them. I never meant that I would stay totally silent about it, that would be evil. I can not support the Concealing of the clear and detailed Ayaats of Allah, thus the inviting people to read the scripture, online blogs,discussions,websites,youtube channels,articles etc. So, what I meant is, Allah wont throw me in the fire because of someone elses inclination towards satanic teachings, I believe that "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."
If what I meant was that I will keep it all to myself and support the satanic pied pipers, this website would not have "Student of Allah" as a member . )
PEACE
------------------------------- Student of Allah
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Salam Dawn,
Another thing that baffles me is the line that says; those of you who witness Ramadan. It always makes me ask who of us might not witness Ramadan? Why might some of us not witness Ramadan? I think this question contains a lot if we can answer it.
Because the month of aspiration (Ramadhan) is anchored to a specific period - winter, and revolves around a specific night. Thus, if you are in the southern hemesphere, you cannot witness the month; similarly, if you are on another planet (hypothetically) or a space station, you cannot witness it.
This verse lends more evidence to the fixing of Ramadhan rather than the sunni/shia floating ramadhan which simply counts the 9th lunar months - making all people on earth and even in space (around earth) able to witness the month.
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Salam Student
Although on the face of it, the verse seems to suggest what you are inferring, logically it?s not correct. If the verse addresses ?you and me? then logically ?all believers before you and I? should be included in the ?those before you?.
The logic of verses sometimes cannot be understood unless you pay attention. There is an excellent article on the Quranic logic here http//www.free-minds.org/quran-self-reference.
I will list out few verses below which will show how the Quran sustains the logic in a verse without confusing one part of the verses with the other. i.e. How the Quran clearly identifies two sets of corresponding groups without mixing and overlapping one set with the other and also keeping the meaning of the verse intact.
221 O Mankind ! Adore your Guardian-Lord, who created you and those who came before you, that ye may have the chance to learn righteousness;
(Also, you will notice below if the verse 2183 wanted to bring out the meaning you inferred, it could have, addressed and identified the two group in a manner similar to the following verses.)
3186
You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you and from those who ascribe partners to Allah, but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.22) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs, and that is from the great matters, .55
This day good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers1094
And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee. Verily the Truth from thy Lord hath come unto thee. So be not thou of the waverers.2 4
who believe in the Book We have sent down to you (i.e. the Qur'an) and in the Books sent down before you, and firmly believe in the Hereafter.In the Quran, it can be understood that commands such as salat , zakat, charity and many others is applicable to everyone, also much righteous good work and abstaining from many evil deeds. At the same time there are commands and instructions for specific groups (sets of people) as well. While we can draw lessons and guidance from the whole of the Quran, we must keep in mind for whom certain verses are addressed to and under what circumstances.
