Is the idea of "Qur'an alone" a way of escaping some horrible truth?
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After months of experimenting with this Quran-only form of Islam, listening to many different interpretations, I have come to the conclusion that Quran is actually meant to be followed in conjunction with Hadiths/in light of Islamic history. There is a good reason why early scholars did what they did. This movement, by it's contradictory nature, is bound to fail sooner or later.
I also like the analogy you give "a way of escaping from a horrible truth".
Yeah but Sunni Islam is what got many of us here in the first place. You are right why early scholars did what they did but there is more to it than just rituals and halal and haram stuff. Its also about the state. An absolute monarchy ruled by an authoritative dictator. Something the Quran can never allow.
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Yeah but Sunni Islam is what got many of us here in the first place. You are right why early scholars did what they did but there is more to it than just rituals and halal and haram stuff. Its also about the state. An absolute monarchy ruled by an authoritative dictator. Something the Quran can never allow.
Apart from the fact that Sunni Islam uses very few of Quranic principles in its Sharia.Even its arkaan al-imaan (pillars of faith) adds something to the Quranic reference (4/136).
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Apart from the fact that Sunni Islam uses very few of Quranic principles in its Sharia.Even its arkaan al-imaan (pillars of faith) adds something to the Quranic reference (4/136).
I agree. There are challenges in Quranist Islam but I think its naive to compare that with Sectarian Islam. There are serious issues when we look at Sunni/Shia Islam. We must never forget that. And looking at Mali now and Tunisia and Egypt and Iraq and even Nigeria or Somalia we must remember that sectarian Islam has serious problems with it. A case can be made that at least too much diversity and differences of opinions is still much better than violence, intolerance and dictatorships and sectarian rivalries. Remember the Quran has no problems with differences (ikhtilaf) but has problems with seperations(iftiraq). Its when we allow differences to lead us to seperate from each other and create rival sects and start fighting each other that we get ourselves into trouble.
Anyways if you ask me I think that at lest Quranist Islam can give those who want a less ritualistic and sectarian Islam an option to be part of something rather than just hide from religion as many Muslims do because they can not stomach sectarian Islam.
I think that the push of democracy and modernity is going to make it hard for Sunni and Shia Islam to survive. Like you just said, Shariah law is a huge obstacle. The fact that Quranist Islam has no concept of apostasy law and religious coercion and offensive wars can not be ignored. These are all crucial when we talk about democracy and modernity. As time goes by the sectarian Islam will be even more on the wrong side of history.
There is no comparison between Quranist Islam and setarian islam when it comes to freedom. They are opposite extremes. Thats no small matter as the world is moving more and more towards more freedom and individual rights. Its only going to get more like that.
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Being Quran alone, for me, is based upon the pattern which we see in the historical evidence of all of God's monotheistic revealed religions.
Zorostrianism Original Revelation Gathas. Taught belief in God, a future last day and judgment, and the doing of what is right. Later extra scriptures were added and it's priests have changed the religion to be unrecognizable from the original teachings. I.E. Some now say that unless you are born to the Aryan Iranian race that you cannot be a Zorostrian.
Judiasm Original Revelation Torah. Taught belief in God, a future last day and judgment, and the doing of what is right. Later, oral traditions were added and the Torah itself has been altered. The prophet Jesus's mission and revelation addressed this issue! The prophet Jesus was against oral tradition and the alterations to the Torah.
Christianity Original Revelation Injeel. Taught belief in God, a future last day and judgment, and the doing of what is right. Later, Paul, or someone claiming to be Paul, created fictional narratives based partially on the true revelation of Jesus. Even later, Priests, created their own interpretation of the altered revelation. The mission of the prophet Muhammad seems to have been to combat the newly created false narratives about Jesus and the false oral traditons and Torah alterations that infected and corrupted the revelation of Moses.
Islam Original Revelation Quran. Taught belief in God, a future last day and judgment, and the doing of what is right. Later, Scholars, created and/or distorted the original teachings through oral traditions.
Based upon a historical analysis of open source and freely available information the only conclusion which I can draw from this is that every time God reveals His true religion to mankind it is shortly corrupted! Satan is always quick to attack revealed religion! Quran alone is, therefore, the only sure way to go!
There is additional data which exists if one looks closely at the teachings of the Hopi, the ancient Chinese "Way of Heaven", and many other religions which bear the marks of having been revealed by God but later corrupted.
Also, a little thought to chew on, in the book of Revelation we are told that two prophets, who have not yet died, will return to earth before the day of judgment. I have a feeling that this is true and that their mission will be to make the final correction to all revealed religions before the final Judgment.
Peace unto you!
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I like your summary czmead. I'd also add that non-Muslims wouldn't point out that the Quran says few believe and then look at what's happened to some of these religions in comparison to an original message and the nature of the message in the Quran. However, if the Quran stated most believe and in fact they didn't, they'd point it out. Then they accuse Muslims of dismissing things they don't wish to believe in!
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After months of experimenting with this Quran-only form of Islam, listening to many different interpretations, I have come to the conclusion that Quran is actually meant to be followed in conjunction with Hadiths/in light of Islamic history. There is a good reason why early scholars did what they did. This movement, by it's contradictory nature, is bound to fail sooner or later.
I also like the analogy you give "a way of escaping from a horrible truth".
But why did SCHOLARS have to write additional books? Isn't that Gods job? And why did the scholars have to wait so long? Shouldn't they have done this during the life of Prophet Muhammad? Or during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr or Umar at least if it was commanded by God? Why did they have to wait until all these men died and a whole new Caliphate took power? And most importantly... Why is there no mention of following Hadith books in the Quran itself?
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Hi Aamer,
I agree with you 100%.
With that said I think people like traditions. It links people with the past and the future (if the tradition continues). People feel a part of a tradition and keeping it alive. The way traditions are propagated is to build structures such as Oral laws the promote the tradition. And of course the rulers promote the traditions they like. The question then becomes.... "What traditions should continue?" If those traditions continue how should the others be put away?
Just some crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace -
Following the commandements in the Qur'an alone believing in Allah (SWT), worshiping Him alone, sharing your money with the poor, fasting Ramadan, and going to Hajj, doing good deeds and sharing positivity, ...etc is enough. As for the Ahadith, I consider them "historical evidence" instead of "divine sayings"!!! Many ahadith are VERY misleading! take for example this so-called Hadith Qudssi (divine saying!)
http//www.sacredhadith.com/pictures/qudsi6.jpg
Do you believe in this nonesense?!!!
The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. will say And what did you do about them? He will say I fought for You until I died a martyr. He will say You have lied - you did but fight that it might be said He is courageous. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. will be a man who has studied knowledge and has taught it and who used to recite the Quran. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. will say And what did you do about them? He will say I studied knowledge and I taught it and I recited the Quran for Your sake. He will say You have lied - you did but study knowledge that it might be said He is learned. And you recited the Quran that it might be said He is a reciter. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. will be a man whom Allah had made rich and to whom He had given all kinds of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. will say And what did you do about them? He will say I left no path in which You like money to be spent without spending in it for Your sake. He will say You have lied - you did but do so that it might be said He is open-handed. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire.
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?The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. will say ?And what did you do about them?? He will say ?I fought for You until I died a martyr.? He will say ?You have lied - you did but fight that it might be said ?He is courageous.?? And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. will be a man who has studied knowledge and has taught it and who used to recite the Qur?an. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. will say ?And what did you do about them?? He will say ?I studied knowledge and I taught it and I recited the Qur?an for Your sake.? He will say ?You have lied - you did but study knowledge that it might be said ?He is learned.?? And you recited the Qur?an that it might be said ?He is a reciter.? And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. will be a man whom Allah had made rich and to whom He had given all kinds of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. will say ?And what did you do about them?? He will say ?I left no path in which You like money to be spent without spending in it for Your sake.? He will say ?You have lied - you did but do so that it might be said ?He is open-handed.?? And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire.?
While what is said here isn't doctrinal I must say that this does contain a good warning for ensuring that we be careful of our intentions. A good deed done for a purely selfish reason, in my understanding, is still wrong.
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But why did SCHOLARS have to write additional books? Isn't that Gods job? And why did the scholars have to wait so long? Shouldn't they have done this during the life of Prophet Muhammad? Or during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr or Umar at least if it was commanded by God? Why did they have to wait until all these men died and a whole new Caliphate took power? And most importantly... Why is there no mention of following Hadith books in the Quran itself?
God doesnt write books, people do.
God inspires only people He has chosen to perform solely the duty of proclamation.
Some people dont like that, and want to share in that duty without being authorized.
Some people like that, but still want to share in that duty, while thinking they are authorized.
Some people are gullible or evil, and follow the above mentioned.
Some people were born in a society where the above mentioned are influential, and follow them.