Basic Questions on Quranists
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Gabriel,
Personally I believe the Quran used familiar names and stories to illustrate different morals and lessons. And at least in some cases the relation between the Quran and earlier scriptures is purely imagined.
I think the problem has been that scholars have used earlier scriptures to "fill in the blanks" in the translations and interpretations. But what actually needs to be done is that the Quran is translated using only itself as a source, without the presumption that it is just an extension or newer edition of the Bible, and then see if any connections emerge. -
Peace,
There's an interesting view of Quranists like what Basma Khalifa of submission.org have written; i paste here below
Satan is currently furious that his scheme has been exposed by our generation, and that the truth is unveiled will prevail by God's will and support. He has developed new approach, exclusively for our group of believers knowing that we are finally engaged in the learning process as qualified students for one Teacher and one easy, perfect, and straightforward source. He has established a Satanic perspective for 551-2 mainly to divert us from the clear truth and fill our hearts with confusion and uncertainty. The Satanic twist of 551-2 he introduces is that " The Most Gracious, Teacher of Quran" means God teaches a certain verse or command to each one of us differently. Based on that, not only different understandings/interpretations of a given teaching are quite possible but also are quite welcome!!! So, instead of upholding personal opinions and interpretations of the scholars through his old, "follow the leader" scheme, we are filling up our memories with the different understandings and interpretations of fellow believers through the new twist of 551-2! His ultimate goal has been always the same deviation far from the truth from God, confusion, and uncertainty that lead to regressed souls.
also Basma adds
"The Most Gracious- Teacher of Quran" and "it is we who explain it" are straightforward statements to ENSURE the source of the meanings and teachings. They are to DIRECT us to what is constructed in black and white by God and to KEEP us guarded against different opinions, different sources, and different understandings. God is our Teacher, because the text book is one and it is His.
There is a crucial difference between understanding the meaning of a verse, and offering a personal perspective or an application for that verse. Understanding a verse means the mental precess to comprehend what is expressed by God in that verse. A personal perspective is one's personal ideas that are combined and offered to create a meaningful relationship to that verse. Personal perspective of a verse doesn't affect in the least the understanding of the meaning delivered by God. Meanings expressed and delivered by God through His words and verses are not changeable and should not perceived differently. We grow in knowledge and grasp a new meaning when we pay attention to more specific values of God's words and overcome our personal limitations or, at times, blindness. This doesn't mean that God's verses have different understandings, it means something is newly revealed to us in the light of Quran that we have never known or paid attention to before (20114, 5101). The words of the Most Gracious establish the absolute, and concrete truth, in an accurate and efficient logic. God states that He authored His teachings without any ambiguity as the absolute truth and the only source of guidance. Hence He is the Clarifier and Teacher.My issue with this view is this, Why then have submission.org, Rashad Khalifa and now Basma have to TEACH and PREACH their own views and interpretations of the Quran?? Why not just leave the people to read the Quran and let them learn, with God's guidance and leave them be?? Its absolute that there is a true meaning of the Quranic verses but its also true that we, will have different perceptions, views, and understanding of the verses. Basma says NO! Different views will not be tolerated. Arent they two different things? Our understanding of the verses and the true meaning of the verses?
Perhaps so that the hadeeth have been exposed as such, but i digress as a matter of principle, then if we were to follow the view of this type of Quranists, then this website, and submission.org should not exist in the first place.
Free-minds.org holds many different views and state them here, we discuss, elaborate, bounce ideas. Im not saying outright that the Quranists view of this is wrong....however lets elaborate this as such. Let me repeat and repaste what she wrote
"The Most Gracious- Teacher of Quran" and "it is we who explain it" are straightforward statements to ENSURE the source of the meanings and teachings. They are to DIRECT us to what is constructed in black and white by God and to KEEP us guarded against different opinions, different sources, and different understandings. God is our Teacher, because the text book is one and it is His.
And interestingly, when I sent Basma an email to ask about a verse, she was happy to reply and elaborate her understanding of it!! Hah. Now this is the most amusing part......allow me to paste
Muhammad Forbidden from Explaining the Quran
Do not move your tongue to hasten it.
It is we who will collect it into Quran.
Once we recite it, you shall follow such a Quran.
Then it is we who will explain it.You (the command is expressed in plural tense for humanity in the Arabic text) shall all follow what is revealed to you from your Lord; do not follow any idols besides Him. Rarely do you take heed.
This too is a blessed scripture that we have revealed; you (the command is expressed in plural tense for humanity in the Arabic text) shall follow it and lead a righteous life, that you may attain mercy.Now 1) Rashad Khalifa interpreted with his views, that Muhammad was forbidden to explain the Quran. 2) Basma khalifa negates this and claims the command is to ALL humanity.3) Out of reverence for her father,whom many believe is a messenger, does not SIMPLY edit their version of the translation 4) Why does she then have to EXPLAIN this verse since IT IS CLEAR FROM THE QURAN ITSELF, DIRECTLY FROM GOD?4) Isnt this hypocrisy and contradiction of the highest order or am i missing something here?
Different views of this, are welcome, until a good refutation of this appears.