Is quran really easy to understand?
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Hi everyone, This has been bothering me a while. As I see it there are various interpretations and understanding of the quran. From translations to the true locations and everything in between there seems to be different opinion. Even for those who seek the truth the confusion is only growing. If quran was made easy to understand why is this so? What is the essence of the message? Why is that instead of uniting quran creates more division ? What truly was the purpose of such a venture?
Qur'aan is the only text that facilitates reading and comprehension. Which text is the best for reading pleasure? Reading involves visual fixation on successive locations across the page. The par excellence text is therefore that which might control saccades rapid jerk-like movements of the eyes that direct the gaze to a new location and redeploy the region of high visual acuity centered on the fovea.
Reading is an intensive process in which eyes quickly move to assimilate text. Very little is actually seen accurately. Around the fixation point of gaze only four to five letters are seen with 100% acuity. Please peruse a little text of Qur'aan. Did you notice that there is no fixation point of gaze where there are more than five letters on a single location? The text of Qur'aan is superbly arranged with choice of words that the fixation point of gaze has only four to five letters. Where there is a cluster of more than five letters, the syllable system of Arabic and the provision of vowel between boundaries of words with consecutive vowel-less consonants, help retain 100% acuity at every fixation point of gaze. Thereby the text of Qur'aan controls the saccadic eye movements of the reader to subserve vision by redirecting the visual axis to a new location.
Humans also do not appear to fixate on every word in a text, instead fixate to some words while apparently filling in the missing information using context. The notable exception is when one is in smooth pursuit.
Grand Qur'aan is rendered easy, open and facilitative for reading, comprehension and saving in memory to recall, take lesson and to relate
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@Mazhar Very interesting stuff you're posting here. It raises a question though. Can someone who only reads translations of Quran and uses arabic references to research dubious parts of the translation never reach full comprehension then?
I would find that hard to believe. I'm not denying what you are saying is a plausible mechanism intrinsic to Quran, but I'm questioning how crucial it is to help you comprehend it. I think there is more to it.
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Yes. But it is a divene book. It is written in such a way that it will remain ever new as it was at the time of revealation. To understand the Quran, history of pre-islamic Arabia, the biography of the prophet Mohammad(SAS), and history of revealation and preservation of the Quran is very important. A few very good books on the biography of the Prophet are
- Muhammad, his life based on earliest sources by Martin Lings
- Biography of Mohammad and rise of Islam, by Willium Muir.
To understand the various verses of the Quran the knowledge of present development in science and the universe a are also important. If you don't creation how can you appreciate the creator, how great He is. This is the main problem with our Islamic Educational Institutions now. By simply memorising the Quran and Hadith one can not be a scholar(Ulama). That is why they are misinterpreting the Quran and has deviated from the path of Islam. I appreciate your querry and request every muslim to try to understand the Quran. I mention here a part of farewel sermon of the prophet
"Verily I have left amongst you that which will never lead you astray, the Book of Allah, which if you hold fast you shall never go astray. And beware of transgressing the limits set in the matters of religion, for it is transgression of (the proper bounds of) religion that brought destruction to many people before you. " May Allah bless you, guide you to the right path. Thank you again
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Yes. But it is a divene book. It is written in such a way that it will remain ever new as it was at the time of revealation. To understand the Quran, history of pre-islamic Arabia, the biography of the prophet Mohammad(SAS), and history of revealation and preservation of the Quran is very important. A few very good books on the biography of the Prophet are
- Muhammad, his life based on earliest sources by Martin Lings
- Biography of Mohammad and rise of Islam, by Willium Muir.
To understand the various verses of the Quran the knowledge of present development in science and the universe a are also important. If you don't creation how can you appreciate the creator, how great He is. This is the main problem with our Islamic Educational Institutions now. By simply memorising the Quran and Hadith one can not be a scholar(Ulama). That is why they are misinterpreting the Quran and has deviated from the path of Islam. I appreciate your querry and request every muslim to try to understand the Quran. I mention here a part of farewel sermon of the prophet
"Verily I have left amongst you that which will never lead you astray, the Book of Allah, which if you hold fast you shall never go astray. And beware of transgressing the limits set in the matters of religion, for it is transgression of (the proper bounds of) religion that brought destruction to many people before you. " May Allah bless you, guide you to the right path. Thank you again
I really dont think Prophet Muhammad's biography written by humans can be taken as credible because of all that he says, she says stuffs.
However, I am fully in agreement with you on the fact that it would be impossible for one to understand Quran without much knowledge about how the world works. Quran touches upon various topics including science and laws. There is no educational institute out there which can make someone master of every topic because of the amount details associated with each. We must also keep in mind bounded rationality of Herbert Simon. According to it, 'rationality of individuals is limited by the information they have, the cognitive limitations of their minds and the finite time they have to make a decision'. Quran is highly divine. It is the book of Allah who knows the ground and sky better because he is their creator. We have very limited knowledge and thus, it wont be easy for us to get to every bit of what is in Quran.
I wasnt a science student. Hence, stuffs about the universe and biology found in Quran were very Greek to me. I was raised with the belief that religion and science could not be mixed. It all changed once my dad began reading the Quran in language he could understand. Note that he probably went through the antihadith verses, but they did not get in his head for which he remained Sunni. He was taken mainly by the Physics he found in Quran because that is his real specialization. He is an electrical engineer in love with math and physics. My sis on the other hand, is a biologist for which her focus went on Biology she found in Quran. My passion is in economics and society. Hence, thats what I focus on when I read the Quran verses. I was actually spoonfed physics and biology of Quran by Dr.Bucaille's The Bible, The Qur?an and Science.
What I described above came to my head just two days ago ) Now I just believe that the mainstream clerics practice fallacy every time they tell people they are better at understanding Quran than everyone else. Quranists don't claim to be all knowers. But it would be best to keep in mind bounded rationality when it comes to interpreting the verses.
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Hi everyone, looking at all the replies my initial suspicion in only growing. That quran is easy to understand is a misnomer. Most of the current translations only confuses people.it is anything but clear and not at all structured. The subjects are mentioned in very haphazard manner. The idea that one needs to be grounded on history and sahih hadith to understand quran is also not correct. Since the entire history seems to be made up for whatever reasons. The science of quran has been debunked several times . The belief that quran explains or contains scientific facts is only an urban legend. The idea that somehow quran will open up magically to those who seek is also suspect. If it is true then I haven't seen or heard anyone with the true divine knowledge. Which again brings us back to crux of our discussion what exactly was the purpose of quran? Seems jafar has a point. We may not be the intended audience of the quran and that may be why we all get so worked up and muddled looking for answers. Maybe because there is none..
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Hi everyone, looking at all the replies my initial suspicion in only growing. That quran is easy to understand is a misnomer. Most of the current translations only confuses people.it is anything but clear and not at all structured. The subjects are mentioned in very haphazard manner. The idea that one needs to be grounded on history and sahih hadith to understand quran is also not correct. Since the entire history seems to be made up for whatever reasons. The science of quran has been debunked several times . The belief that quran explains or contains scientific facts is only an urban legend. The idea that somehow quran will open up magically to those who seek is also suspect. If it is true then I haven't seen or heard anyone with the true divine knowledge. Which again brings us back to crux of our discussion what exactly was the purpose of quran? Seems jafar has a point. We may not be the intended audience of the quran and that may be why we all get so worked up and muddled looking for answers. Maybe because there is none..
You seem to have appointed yourself as the spokesman for "ALL". And you also seem to be unable to read, because you answer nothing and discard anything that does not fit your first assertions in this forum and you just repeat them once more. If Qur'an does not have anything to offer you, you seem yourself to have very nothing to offer as far as any understanding of anything at all goes.
Good luck to yourself with yourself.
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Peace Shogunsami.
Do not conclude anything yet!!!!!
Looking at some of the replies ,they are far from resolving anything about Qoran?
Now let us look at what Qoran "clearly"- says in some verses
The day will come when we will raise from every community a witness from among them, and bring you as the witness of these people. We have revealed to you this book to provide EXPLANATIONS FOR EVERYTHING, and guidance, and mercy and good news for the Muslimeen.
..We did not leave anything out of this book..
In their history, there is a lesson for those who possess intelligence. This is not fabricated Hadith; this (Quran) confirms all previous scriptures, provides the DETAILS of EVERYTHING, and is a beacon and mercy for those who BELIEVE.
"This Quran could not possibly be authored by other than God.It confirms all previous messages, and provides a FULLY DETAILED scripture. It is infallible, for it comes from the Lord of the universe."
This is the straight path to your Lord. We have DETAILED the revelations for people who TAKE HEED
We have given them a scripture that is FULLY DETAILED, with knowledge, guidance, and mercy for the people who believe.
Say, 'Whose testimony is the greatest?' Say, 'God's. He is the witness between me and you that THIS Quran has been inspired to me, to preach to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods beside God.' Say, 'I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry.
But be very careful! Qoran provides nothing for some people? Only confusion and more confusion and difficulties and...
I will divert from My revelations those who are arrogant on earth, without justification.Consequently, when they see every kind of proof they will not believe. And when they see the path of guidance they will not adopt it as their path, but when they see the path of straying they will adopt it as their path. This is the consequence of their rejecting our signs/Ayats/proofs, and being totally heedless thereof.
Those who possess NO KNOWLEDGE say, "If only God could speak to us, or some miracles could come to us!" Others before them have uttered similar utterances; their minds are similar. WE DO MANIFEST THE MIRACLES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ATTAINED CERTAINTY.Yes indeed ,some will find Qoran "Easy" others will find it "Difficult"?
God points out the PATHS, including the wrong ones. If He willed, He could have guided all of you.
It is called "you are free to choose"?!!!!
GOD bless you .
Peace. -
Hurtful obviously has a problem understanding English. Seems he or she is quick to judge. Obviously I don't have anything to learn from the likes of you. If you cannot answer without beating around the bush that means you have nothing to answer.
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The science of quran has been debunked several times . The belief that quran explains or contains scientific facts is only an urban legend.
Don't fall for debunkers bro. This is what they debunked.
Their version And verily We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six Days, and naught of weariness touched Us. (Qur'an 503
Their idiotic explanation Modern scholars have criticized the bible for it's claim that the Earth was created in six days. This has been waved off as just another myth concocted by an ancient people to explain how the world was created. The Qur'an has made the same mistake regarding the amount of time needed to create the earthReal version And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six periods, and there touched Us no weariness.(Qur'an 503
What they are doing is debunking only the "mistranslations" and not real science.
Couple of days ago I noticed some atheist on this forum was proudly saying that Quran was wrong to say that humans are made from soil because his science says men are made from carbon. rotfl
What he didn't read it is that earth and us are made from the same elements that scientists tag as star dust which actually is carbon forming from helium fusion. Note that I left out the details of the process.
Bottomline is that take the so called debunkers with grain of salt. I am sure they still proudly think that science confirms there are 7 colors in the rainbow. Unfortunately, it has been proven wrong. Our science is still very much behind. So keep an open mind.
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@reel http//old.richarddawkins.net/discussions/596593-debunking-islam-s-ludicrous-claims-to-scientific-prescience.
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Claiming quran contains scientific miracles is anew age invention. It's transposing science on inferred verses of quran. I wonder why no one discovered anything worthwhile using quran? This only works for new age evangelist out to fool gullible people. See science says so and so , this was mentioned in quran 1400 years ago. Isn't this alone the proof that this is the word of god. Now once the gullible people are in the net, then the process of exploitation starts. Since quran is the word of god you need to do this and this, so and so etc. this process is intellectual dishonesty at best. Through such short cuts people will stop asking the hard questions. I wonder why lord of the worlds has to resort to such chutzpah to convince the masses. No I simply cannot believe that. From what I know quran is a book asking lot of questions seldom giving answers.
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From you discussion I feel that some of you are really interested in understanding the Quran by yourself instead of following the belief"The interpretation of the Quran by only a few selected scholars(ulamas) are acceptable" laid down by our earlier scholars. This is the belief on which Islamic madrassas are founded. Our ulemas explainBayan) in such a manner that nobody is allowed to question, because according to them questioning about quran is not prohibited. But in actual practice they don't have the capability to answer the questions. Only by memorising the Quran and a few hadiths no body can be a scholar. That is the reason that they are misinterpreting the Quran and hadith and taking the path of terrorism. If anybody understands even a small part(a few verses) of the Quran he will never be an extremist. Regarding their misinterpretation of hadith recently I have already posted a short articlle on the subject in this website
Had we been allowed to question from our childhood or if our ulema would have asked after every bayan(lecture) "have you understood what I explained" we would have certainly understood the Quran.
Now coming to the point, it is not necessary that you understan all the suras of the Quran. The main quality of a religious book is that it should be able to through light on three main subjects. (1) Creation of the world(Universe) (2) nature of God(Allah) nad (3) origin of human being on earth. I am studying on the subject and have found that out of religious books of all other religions what Quran says about all these three subject is most correct and is in accordance with the recent discoveries of science. We have failed to present it to the others as we ourself do not understand it, Those people who have understood the Quran have already accepted Islam. I pray for Allah's blessing on you all with a verse from the Quran
" For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in detail,- a guide and a mercy to all who believe." -
Peace Hogunsami.
You said
I wonder why lord of the worlds has to resort to such chutzpah to convince the masses. No I simply cannot believe that. From what I know quran is a book asking lot of questions seldom giving answers.
Are you implying that Qoran is from the Lord of the worlds? Or otherwise?
Do you know who the Lord of the worlds is?
If you do, then you better believe His words!!!!
If you do not, then why are you bothered at all? Simply dismiss all of Qoran and leave it to those who want to believe in it!
Is the matter not as simple as that?
GOD bless you.
Peace. -
@Mazhar Very interesting stuff you're posting here. It raises a question though. Can someone who only reads translations of Quran and uses arabic references to research dubious parts of the translation never reach full comprehension then?
I would find that hard to believe. I'm not denying what you are saying is a plausible mechanism intrinsic to Quran, but I'm questioning how crucial it is to help you comprehend it. I think there is more to it.
One needs to be a critical reader. Read the translations/exegeses as a critical reader and you will conclude but to throw them all in the waste paper basket.
After reading critically about more than two dozens exegeses, I lamented what type of scholars were they that a man of ordinary prudence like me could detect hundreds of mistakes, redundancy, contradictions, vagueness in the target language texts in Urdu and English.
Just put on top line the translation of George Sale and John Rodwell and then downwards all the translations . See them criticqlly, there is nothing new, all worst example of plagiarism.
Qur'aan has used a very small vocabulry of Arabic language. Anyone who has a passion to listen the voice of the Author and the Relayer of Qur'aan, he can learn the Grammar of Qur'aan in just a months time. I learnt it all at my own, no school, college, professional background in Arabic language.
First exercise is to visually recognize all the words of Qur'aan differentiating them as noun and verb. You can do it in just two hours by remembering a dozen prepositions and particles.
The moment you acquire the skill to visually recognize the nouns and verbs and the phrases prepositional phrase, possessive phrase, and adjectival phrase you will find it easy to parse a sentence. Parsing of the sentence is what will give you understanding of semantics.
For learning Arabic grammar you will only need to revisit English grammar book; regards what is a preposition; how prepositional phrase is related to other element in a sentence; and so on.
Proclamation of Allah the Exalted Qur'aan is rendered facilitative for learning and comprehension by its transcription in Arabic
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@reel http//old.richarddawkins.net/discussions/596593-debunking-islam-s-ludicrous-claims-to-scientific-prescience.
They are debunking claims made by Harun Yahya and others who don't have phds?
Why dont you go over https//archive.org/details/TheBibletheQuranScienceByDr.mauriceBucaille instead? And who says these are all miracles? They are facts of life.
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The Qur'an is no more difficult to understand than, for instane, the parables in the Gospels, but the Qur'an touches all levels of spiritual and mental development. Those who do no have more than a very low level of either, will cringe at those parts that are way over them if they do not have the necessary humility or objectivity as to themselves concerning their real level.
On the other hand, if one trusts the Qur'an, by study and reasoning will get to understand more and more of the less obvious teachings of the Qur'an.
Many times, in fact, those teachings are very obvious, but it is because of our own previous mislearning that we do not understand. If we are able to get read of those mislearnings and takenforgranted worng "truths" the Qur'an is so plain that it is shocking.
So yes, the Qur'an is easy to understand in those things that are at our level of spiritual and factual knowledge and objectivity.
However, it is not for diletantes and know-alls. They waste their and other people's time parading their ignorance where it is not so much appreciated.
Salaam
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You seem to have appointed yourself as the spokesman for "ALL". And you also seem to be unable to read, because you answer nothing and discard anything that does not fit your first assertions in this forum and you just repeat them once more. If Qur'an does not have anything to offer you, you seem yourself to have very nothing to offer as far as any understanding of anything at all goes.
Good luck to yourself with yourself.
I must say this is the impression I also get.
It is unfortunate that not once has the OP referred to any objective evidence.
Also, the alleged debunking of scientific information in Quran is primarily related to the debunking of Hadith-based Quran interpretation.
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I must say this is the impression I also get.
It is unfortunate that not once has the OP referred to any objective evidence.
Also, the alleged debunking of scientific information in Quran is primarily related to the debunking of Hadith-based Quran interpretation.
I acknowledge that that answer you quoted of mine is nto particularly "charitable". On the other hand, may be I have become hardened to this kind of thing and I guess I do not feel, wrongly or rightly, that patience with it, is not so much appreciated.
Obviously I am sure that those who answer do not not for the sake of the OP but for other people who indeed may want to learn. I am sorry if my impatience rub those the wrong way. But thanks, wakas, for your understanding.
Salaam
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Hi everyone, looking at all the replies my initial suspicion in only growing. That quran is easy to understand is a misnomer. Most of the current translations only confuses people.it is anything but clear and not at all structured. The subjects are mentioned in very haphazard manner. The idea that one needs to be grounded on history and sahih hadith to understand quran is also not correct. Since the entire history seems to be made up for whatever reasons. The science of quran has been debunked several times . The belief that quran explains or contains scientific facts is only an urban legend. The idea that somehow quran will open up magically to those who seek is also suspect. If it is true then I haven't seen or heard anyone with the true divine knowledge. Which again brings us back to crux of our discussion what exactly was the purpose of quran? Seems jafar has a point. We may not be the intended audience of the quran and that may be why we all get so worked up and muddled looking for answers. Maybe because there is none..
Many fell into the trap of worshiping a humanly written books as an idol...
Namely (for a few) Quran, Tanakh, Gospel, Hadith and any combination of it...Quran might NOT open up magically to those who seek..
But God definitely will gives answer to those who asked the question.. and will give clue to those who ponder and will give revelation to those who seek out...
God's message will be delivered in 'very customized manner', to ensure easy understanding of those who received the message..
And it's working up until today and into the future...The most ridiculous claim that the religious / books worshiper has made so far is that God has STOPPED the revelation...
And his/her holy human made idol/book is the LAST revelation.
Which is totally not true...Salam / Peace
