QURANIC UTOPIA?
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Hello Mr. Yuksel,
Let's first check the Quran and enumerate some of the characteristics of Islam, the system of peace, submission and surrender to God alone.
Islam
? is a system with universal principles, which are in harmony with nature (383; 3330; 3543).
? requires objective evidence besides personal experience (386; 2111; 2124; 7430).
? demands conviction not based on wishful thinking or feelings, but based on reason and evidence (1736; 4174; 842; 10100; 1117; 7430-31).
? esteems knowledge, education, and learning (3528; 4162; 9122; 2254; 2740; 2944,49).
? promotes scientific inquiry regarding the evolution of human kind on earth (2920).
? stands for liberty, accountability, and defiance of false authorities. (6164).
? stands for freedom of expression (2256; 1829; 1099; 8821-22).
? requires consultation and representation in public affairs (4238; 512).
? promotes a democratic system where participation of all citizens is encouraged and facilitated (5811).
? prohibits bribery, and requires strict rules against the influence of interest groups and corporations in government (218.
? requires election of officials based on qualifications and principles of justice (45.
? promises justice to everyone, regardless of their creed or ethnicity (5.
? acknowledges the rights of citizens to publicly petition against injustices committed by individuals or government (414.
? encourages the distribution of wealth, economic freedom and social welfare (2215, 597).
? promotes utmost respect to individuals (532).
? relates the of the quality of a society to the quality of individuals comprising it (1311).
? recognizes and protects individual right's to privacy (4912).
? recognizes the right to the presumption of innocence and right to confront the accuser (4912).
? provides protection for witnesses (2282).
? does not hold innocent people responsible for the crime of others (533.
? protects right to personal property (285,188; 429; exception 2429; 596-7).
? discourages non-productive economy (2275; 590; 3130).
? encourages charity and caring for the poor (6141; 7156).
? unifies humanity by promoting gender and race equality. (4913).
? values women (3195; 4124; 1697).
? values intellect (590).
? offers peace among nations (262; 2135-136, 20.
? considers the entire world belonging to all humanity and supports immigration (497-9.
? promotes peace, while deterring the aggressive parties (608,9; 860).
? pursues the golden-plated brazen rule of equivalence, that is, retaliation with occasional forgiveness (4220; 1733).
? stands for human rights and the oppressed (475).
? encourages competition in righteousness and morality. (1690)
? stands for peace, honesty, kindness, and deterring from wrong doing. (3110)
? expects high moral standards (2563-76; 3112-20; 231-11).
? asks us to be in harmony with nature and environment (3041).These are highly desireable but unachievable Utopic Ideals. Utopia is something that humanity will always yearn for but Utopia will always remain an ideal that humanity strives for...but some of the things you have listed above is already available in the west without the need of the Quran...
But tell me Mr. Yuksel why is that the world was able to aknowledge and absorb the brilliance of the Greek Learning (via ironically through Arabic Translations of Greek texts) (and learning of the other ancient cultures) and create many new things - the world even took many of the the Judaic and later Rabbianic notion of ethics and social justice and incorporated them into their own ethical and social systems, especially in the systems of the West, but why has the Utopic Quranic ideals failed the Muslim societies so miserably? You say quranic ideals have been distorted and that is clearly the case but why have the world failed acknowledge the value of original Quranic Ideals? The world was able to make sense of the cunieform text of the ancient sumerians and hieroglyphs of the ancient Egyptians and yet the world has failed to grasp this one book in Arabic which has its roots in ancient Aramaic and Hebrew.
Could it be that Quranic Ideals does not no longer address the need of humanity?
Regards,
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This is a cautionary post for those who intend to respond to this racist joke who cannot seem get over his bias. Please analyse the following
These are highly desireable but unachievable Utopic Ideals. Utopia is something that humanity will always yearn for but Utopia will always remain an ideal that humanity strives for...but some of the things you have listed above is already available in the west without the need of the Quran...
Notice how 'utopic ideals' is called 'unachievable'. Continuing....
But tell me Mr. Yuksel why is that the world was able to aknowledge and absorb the brilliance of the Greek Learning (via ironically through Arabic Translations of Greek texts) (and learning of the other ancient cultures) and create many new things
Plato (arabic aflatun) is acknowledged to be one of the great philosophers (north-whitehead said that 'western philosophy is but footnotes to plato). He preached the notion of idealism, that the real world is but an imperfect manifestation of the ideal forms 'up there'. He illustrated this through the notion of the cave.
Apparently its ok for Plato to define idealism and still be brilliant, but al-quraan cannot define man's ideal without a baptism of fire from this person.
Constructive criticism is a beautiful thing, but our man here isnt constructive but rather irrationally destructive. He still thinks the Quran talks about 'dhimmis' and that in itself is proof of this.
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This is a cautionary post for those who intend to respond to this racist joke who cannot seem get over his bias. Please analyse the following
Evaluation of Quran is a racist joke?
Hey man you called me a softy liberal before -)These are highly desireable but unachievable Utopic Ideals. Utopia is something that humanity will always yearn for but Utopia will always remain an ideal that humanity strives for...but some of the things you have listed above is already available in the west without the need of the Quran...
I wrote some things like Freedom of Speech, available yes. But still not ideal of Freedom of speech is it?
Plato (arabic aflatun) is acknowledged to be one of the great philosophers (north-whitehead said that 'western philosophy is but footnotes to plato). He preached the notion of idealism, that the real world is but an imperfect manifestation of the ideal forms 'up there'. He illustrated this through the notion of the cave.
Plato's Idealism still remains Ideals but world has absorbed plato's learning and moved on.
Apparently its ok for Plato to define idealism and still be brilliant, but al-quraan cannot define man's ideal without a baptism of fire from this person.
I said perhaps Quran's Ideals no longer addresses the need of humanity thats why it has failed muslim societies. Do you think that is why it has failed? If not - why has it failed?
Constructive criticism is a beautiful thing, but our man here isnt constructive but rather irrationally destructive. He still thinks the Quran talks about 'dhimmis' and that in itself is proof of this.
Ah I see you are still wounded. But hey let's address this issue. Why the world has failed to absorb Quranic Ideals?
Regards,
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Evaluation of Quran is a racist joke?
Hey man you called me a softy liberal beforeYou mean to tell me 'liberals' have no cultural tinge to thier thinking?
I wrote some things like Freedom of Speech, available yes. But still not ideal of Freedom of speech is it?
Who determines what 'ideal' is? You, who ask others to translate the quran for you?
I said perhaps Quran's Ideals no longer addresses the need of humanity thats why it has failed muslim societies. Do you think that is why it has failed? If not - why has it failed?
No longer addresses needs of humanity? So now humanity doesn't need food anymore?
Tell me, what makes a society a 'muslim' society?
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I said perhaps Quran's Ideals no longer addresses the need of humanity thats why it has failed muslim societies. Do you think that is why it has failed? If not - why has it failed?
the quran has not failed . it is the unquranic systems that failed .
peace.
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SaLaM LT
First Quran then the other scriptures, were and still are the best thing that happened tothe world. To bad the world screwed it. Quran has never stopped addressing the world's issues, but rather, the world has stop seeing the need to look at the Quran for answers to their problem. They rather go on Jerry Springer Show.
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I think this question is quite moot. Why has the world chosen to disregard several other works that describe utopia? In fact, why do human beings generally disregard anything that remotely sounds like idealism? Personally I think it is because the world is corrupt and perfection cannot exist when people do not care. It is not the fault of writers who write about utopia that nobody cares. It is the reaponsibility of human beings to at least try to get to utopia, but nobody cares.
Ex. Why has the United States disregarded the need for a new energy source, so that it can stop using oil? Well, maybe it's because too many people are making money off of the system as it exists now and not many people care. So, the idealism that can be reached is ignored.So, it is not the Quran's fault that it speaks of idealism and nobody listens.
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The world was able to make sense of the cunieform text of the ancient sumerians and hieroglyphs of the ancient Egyptians and yet the world has failed to grasp this one book in Arabic which has its roots in ancient Aramaic and Hebrew.
The world (or specifically the west / romanic world) has grasped a lot of ideas and concepts from the Quran, although indirectly thru the mouth of moslems and (medieval) islamic culture in general. Some examples
- Pure monotheism (Unitarian Xtians)
- Salvation thru faith and also good deeds/works (Protestant Xtians)
- Age of reason (science prevails, ending the dark ages)
- Equality for All / Egalitarian Society (Feudalism doomed)
- Anti-slavery
Here's one example.
090.010-20
And shown him the two highways?
But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep.
And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?-
freeing the bondman;
Or the giving of food in a day of privation
To the orphan with claims of relationship,
Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.
Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion.
Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.
But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand.God keep his promise, He reward those who really took the steep path, whatever his/her religion or belief.
Allah knows best
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Peace,
A Utopia is heaven isn't it? Somewhere where death does not exist etc etc. I think the principles that the books from God prescribe can very well be achieved and societies in the past have, and they have flourished too.
It looks like mquran and lotetree are married, constantly arguing! Have I missed something while I have been off the forum?
Nural
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Salaam Nural,
I'm their friend but I chat with them one at a time lol
Peace
Sis Majidah