We are ?people of the book?, not ?Muslims?
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I sometimes think that the biggest issue with sunnis, which may lead in the extreme case to terrorism, is some kind of moral arrogance, the idea that they are morally superior to other people, this because they follow true islam.
The Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad about 14 centuries ago.
At this time, there were people called ?people of the book?, which were the descendants of people to which God has previously revealed the book.In the Quran, we see that, although some of the people of the book are good people, most of them are bad.
I think that in light of the Quran, the people who call themselves ?Muslims? today should rather call themselves ?people of the book?.
This is because they are in the same situation as ?people of the book? in the Quran ; i.e people whose ancestors have received the book.In that context, they would feel more concerned about all the verses that criticize the ?people of the book?.
It would make them less arrogant, less sure they own the truth.What do you think ?
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What's the aim in that? making people less arrogant? Arrogance doesn't come embedded with sunnism. lots of people have arrogance regardless of beliefs.
Some of the people of the book were believers some were not.
I don't think giving a new name or changing name identity will do much. if people wanted to read and reflect they can, could and maybe would.
Peace
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In their minds they believe that the 'people of the book' are not believers and will end up in hell. So why would they adopt such a label for themselves. All they need to do is to come towards the book that has been sent to them and read it. Their desertion of the book may have something to do with their arrogance.
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In The Quran, there are (at least) 2 groups
• The ones that are currently receiving the message of God (the Quran), and thus are in the right path
• The ones who belong to people who have received the message of God centuries before.
To which group are the people who today follow the Quran (be it with hadith or not) closer?
In my opinion, we are closer to those who are called ?people of the book? in the Quran.
Because like them, we are following a message of God that was revealed centuries before.And as a consequence, we should be cautious of not falling in the same traps as the ?people of the book?, and be more humble about our faith.
We should see all critics made to ?people of the book? in the Quran as warnings for us.Does it make sense ?
If it makes sense, anyone who claims to follow the Quran (regardless of whether he follows hadiths) should easily admit it.
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I have not carefully studied the verses about how people of the book were distorting the message of God they had.
But here is an opinion about it
Gary Miller (Abdul-Ahad Omar) believes that the Qur'an criticizes the handling of scripture by some Jews and Christians rather than their holy books. According to Gary Miller, Qur'an only makes the following three accusations
• "The Qur'an says some of the Jews and Christians pass over much of what is in their scriptures."
• "Some of them have changed the words, and this is the one that is misused by Muslims very often giving the impression that once there was a true bible and then somebody hid that one away, then they published a false one. The Qur'an doesn't say that. What it criticizes is that people who have the proper words in front of them, but they don't deliver that up to people. They mistranslate it, or misrepresent it, or they add to the meaning of it. They put a different slant on it."
• "Some people falsely attribute to God what is really written by men."
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahrif
http//www.missionislam.com/comprel/gospelsmean.htmMany people of this forum may think the same can be said about traditional muslims and the Quran.
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I sometimes think that the biggest issue with sunnis, which may lead in the extreme case to terrorism, is some kind of moral arrogance, the idea that they are morally superior to other people, this because they follow true islam.
The Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad about 14 centuries ago.
At this time, there were people called ?people of the book?, which were the descendants of people to which God has previously revealed the book.Salaamun alaika,
As far as I know there is no "At this time" in The Quran for ?people of the book? reffering to a special point in time.
In the Quran, we see that, although some of the people of the book are good people, most of them are bad.
You did not state the following but I just want to comment on this.
The Quran never uses Ahl AlKitaab in a negative way. Sure there are verses with something like this "the kafaru from Ahl AlKitaab", but it does not mean "Ahl AlKitaab" are bad people, it simply means some of Ahl AlKitaab are bad. Just like there are verses like where some of al-naas (=people in general) are bad.
Because a lot of people associate automatically "Ahl AlKitaab" with jews and christians they tend to see it more negative then when al-naas is used.I think that in light of the Quran, the people who call themselves ?Muslims? today should rather call themselves ?people of the book?.
This is because they are in the same situation as ?people of the book? in the Quran ; i.e people whose ancestors have received the book.As per my current understanding everyone who holds "alkitaab" as their "law" is from "Ahl AlKitaab". Thus sunni's, shia, ahmadia, etc etc etc (all 73 sects ) are al from "Ahl AlKitaab". And most people on this forum also, including myself.
In that context, they would feel more concerned about all the verses that criticize the ?people of the book?.
It would make them less arrogant, less sure they own the truth.Like I said above The Quran only criticize a fraction from Ahl AlKitaab, never all of them, it always says "some from Ahl AlKitaab" or "The ones kafaru from Ahl AlKitaab" etc.
What do you think ?
I just told you what I think
Salaam,
Bender -
In their minds they believe that the 'people of the book' are not believers and will end up in hell. So why would they adopt such a label for themselves. All they need to do is to come towards the book that has been sent to them and read it. Their desertion of the book may have something to do with their arrogance.
I think you missed the point that they were trying to make. In Allah's eyes they had departed from "the book" but in their own eyes they were just and correct.
His point isn't that they should automatically consider themselves one way or another, but to take heed and learn that people can think they are yet just and correct but be departed from "the book" in the eyes of Allah.
In short, the crux of his question is if a sect or denomination of a religion assumes they are just and correct in the eyes of Allah and they are not walking in humility and being very mindful of the warnings given in "the book" that the same negative situation can happen to them as well.
This was an absolutely correct principle and his suggestion will enable many to be rightly guided who are presently assuming they are just and correct in the eyes of Allah. The very first indication that someone has departed from Allah is if they posture themselves to others as being "beyond reproach".
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I sometimes think that the biggest issue with sunnis, which may lead in the extreme case to terrorism, is some kind of moral arrogance, the idea that they are morally superior to other people, this because they follow true islam.
The Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad about 14 centuries ago.
At this time, there were people called ?people of the book?, which were the descendants of people to which God has previously revealed the book.In that context, they would feel more concerned about all the verses that criticize the ?people of the book?.
It would make them less arrogant, less sure they own the truth.Moral arrogance a.k.a "Holier than thou" attitude is an issue with nearly all religious / sectarian people.
Including people on this forum the so-called 'quran alone'/'quranist'.Those religious / sectarian people, sees that they're the only 'enlightened' people and they need to 'spread their teaching' to those filthy barbarians who are not among their group.
Arrogance is a BIG issue, telling them that you behave just like 'the people of the book in the Quran' or 'the jewish rabbi in the Gospel' or 'the Egyptian Pharaoh and his cohort in the Torah' usually makes them more angry with you because you've touched their ego / pride.
There's no 'silver bullet' for arrogance, having said that the idea is worth to try, some of them might come to their senses while most of them might not...
Yet the most important thing is how we can avoid to turn into 'arrogant' ourselves?
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Salam / Peace