You're translation of the Quraan is misleading
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I have never seen that connection before...........learn something new everyday..........thanks Bigmo handshake
The other reason for the connection between Quranic values and Western ideals is the fact that some of the Founding Fathers of the U.S. studied the Quran. When I read the Quran for the first time, I was immediately struck by the similiarities between the text and some of the language used in the Constitution, so I researched it and found out about that connection.
It's strongly disputed that they read it as a religious text, but to me, the influence their study of the Quran had on the early structuring of the U.S. is strong and obvious. There's far too much in common for it to be mere coincidence. I like to think that most people know a good idea when they see one, regardless of the source.
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The other reason for the connection between Quranic values and Western ideals is the fact that some of the Founding Fathers of the U.S. studied the Quran. When I read the Quran for the first time, I was immediately struck by the similiarities between the text and some of the language used in the Constitution, so I researched it and found out about that connection.
It's strongly disputed that they read it as a religious text, but to me, the influence their study of the Quran had on the early structuring of the U.S. is strong and obvious. There's far too much in common for it to be mere coincidence. I like to think that most people know a good idea when they see one, regardless of the source.
Peace neb87, hope you're having a good time here at free-minds Would you be kind enough to list down a couple of similarities? It would be of great benefit to me
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Peace neb87, hope you're having a good time here at free-minds Would you be kind enough to list down a couple of similarities? It would be of great benefit to me
The first is in the wording of the Declaration of Independence.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
I'm sorry I'm not well-versed enough in the Quran to point to specific surahs, offhand, but there are many verses that I feel state exactly what is said above. That the right to be treated equally is God-given, and therefore, unalieanable. That as men are created equal, government must be democratic and slavery is inherently wrong (this one took a while). That the people are responsible for ensuring that their government is just and fair and for abolishing it if it isn't. Lastly, aside from the Quran, the Declaration of Independence was the first time in human history that "the pursuit of happiness" is presented as a human right.
As for similarities in the Bill of Rights The most obvious is the First Amendment which guarantees freedom of religion and of free speech. Both Amendments III and IV guarantee privacy in a way similar to how the Quran describes this right. There are similarities present in Amendment VI to how the Quran says people should deal with witnesses in criminal cases; i.e., that the accused has the right to face and question any witnesses against himself and to present witnesses and evidence of his own. Amendment VIII is similar in how it states the punishment must fit the crime and not be excessively cruel.
Just to be clear, Im not presenting any of these beliefs as the exclusive domain of the Quran. The Founding Fathers were scholars who studied most major religions and philosophical works and most of these ideals can be found in all of them. It's just that, as an American, I wasn't taught in school that they studied the Quran along with the Bible, and I was fascinated by the commonalities when I discovered the link.
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Hmm..this is interesting stuff. Thanks!