Essay on Methodology
The Quran is an essential Book in the Islamic religion that provides believers with guidance and counsel on how to be faithful and have a relationship with God (Allah). It is believed to have been compiled by the followers of Prophet Mohamed after his death, and contains revelations given to him by Allah. Indeed, throughout the Book, one is allowed to seek knowledge and understanding by gaining counsel from Allah’s wisdom. Again, the Book extensively preaches about peace and universal connectedness, the need for continuous spiritual nourishment, and, most importantly, the need for human beings to fear Allah and his creation, thereby getting a chance to experience life after death. Hence, approaching the Quran requires one to understand its context, how it acts as a guide to Muslim believers, and how its writings are critical to our experiences in life. Even though many non-Muslims may misunderstand the Quran, determining whether a verse talks in general or about a specific event and many other methodological questions may remove such perceptions and allow one to explore the knowledge within this Holy Book for divine enlightenment.
How can we determine if a verse talks in general, or about a specific event?
Through reasoning, understanding, and seeking revelation from Allah, one can determine if a verse talks ion general or about a specific event. After being a student of the Quran and reading the scriptures regularly, I have managed to realize that all verses have been written to be precise in admonishing human beings, correcting them, and guiding them towards the path of enlightenment. Even though they might seem to be general, they often use specific events to show human beings the benefit of believing in Allah and staying faithful to him. We may consider Quran 2: 153-157 that speaks about the need of believers to seek assistance through patience and prayer as this is the only way to remain faithful to him and to follow the right course. The verse in particular and evokes the need for patience even in suffering. It calls upon the believers to have faith in Allah and be ready to bear all the responsibilities given to them to ensure that their steadfastness is manifested.
Indeed, we can determine that verses are specific or not by thoroughly reading them, interpreting them through the modern-day lens, as well as that of their authors. To ensure that this happens, one needs to have an open mind about Islam as a religion. Accordingly, Quran 59:7 asserts, “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it and whatever he prohibits you from, stay away from it.” This verse is another indication for us to have an open mind when reading the Quran so that we can understand if whatever is written is specific or not. Besides, the Quran further reveals that human beings need to think and reflect upon the verses provided as indicated in (37:138) and (7:184), which purport to show that as human beings, we need to understand the scripture and not just take them at face value. Therefore, by being obedient and knowledge seekers, we can determine whether the information contained in Quran verses is general or specific to an event.
Do we read the Quran through the lens of its original readers or the lens of modern science?
The Quran contains several phenomenological aspects that can only be understood today through the lens of its original readers. Even though many verses that are found in this Holy Book attribute the original authors’ understanding of modern science way before science became what it is today, one must think critically to fathom the knowledge that these people had, and how it impacted the writing and distribution of the Book. Indeed, several aspects I picked while doing the course allowed me to reflect on the modernity of the Quran. Bucaille provides some of the quotes that Mohammed the Prophet is said to have emphasized continuously. They include the compulsory need for Muslims to seek knowledge, the fact that wisdom is the lost property of the believer, and, more importantly, that whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make his path to paradise easy (Bucaille, 2020). In this respect, Islam may be a reflection of the need to incorporate modern science when accessing knowledge that the Quran provides.
To understand why people must read the Quran in the lens of its original readers, one should consider the creation story and how it relates to modern science. In 21:30, it states, “And I created every living thing out of water.” The verse, when viewed through modern science, may sound ambiguous, especially in the manner in which it tries to assert that life had an aquatic origin (Bucaille, 2020). However, a deeper understanding of the Quran shows the Omnipotent nature of Allah, his ability to use his powers to create life out of nothing. Furthermore, Quran 96:1-5 reveals that the Lord created man from a clinging entity and taught him what he did not know. This assertion shows that human beings must not interpret the works of God through modern science but must accept that he is capable of anything. To this end, one has no option but to realize that the Quran can only be read through the lens of its original writers to fathom the nature of God and the power that he possesses over all his creation.
How does the existence of the Jinn improve our understanding of our relationship with Allah?
Sometimes, understanding the role of the Jinn in Islam may give one more reason to read the Quran and learn the mysteries that lie therein. If there is something that I learned during the course, it is that Allah created the Jinn and human beings alike with the sole purpose of worshiping him. In Adh-Dhariyat (56), “And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans, except they should worship Me (Alone).” This statement is full of meaning and asserts that the Jinn do exist and that they are a creation of God with a purpose. Furthermore, I was able to trace the origin of these creatures in the following verse, “Indeed We created man from dried clay of smooth black mud. And We created the Jinn before that from the smokeless flame of fire” (Quran 15:26-27). From the statements above, it emerges that human beings were created after the Jinn, and that the Jinn can be viewed as fiery because of their creation from fire, a reason that may make them invisible
At length, I wanted to understand whether these Jinns are also demons and how they relate to angels. My research drew me to Al-Jinn: 11-14, where I realized that Jinns do exist, and some are just while others are not. This section of the Quran reveals that some have embraced Allah while others have not and that the former have taken purposefully taken the right. Hence, from the scripture, I deduced that even though the Jinn and human beings have the same creator, their powers and abilities are so much different. Such a difference was made possible to allow them to co-exist on earth.
Besides, the Quran gave me a reason to believe that the ability of the Jinns to take different forms is the reason why there have been strange sittings of strange-looking creatures worldwide, as well as the stories told about human possession by demons. Without reading the Quran, one cannot understand this strange phenomenon and may even deny its existence. However, when one develops the urge to read and understand the Quran, they may get great enlightenment that allows them to evaluate strange things that happen worldwide with an open mind. They may then realize just how much power Allah wields over His creation and how he intends that all should be safe, but only if human beings and the Jinn work towards honoring him and being at peace with one another.
Can we view the Quran as a book of guidance, and what does it have to do with how we live and relate with others today?
The scriptures in the Quran are very inspiring and evoke the need to live a faithful life that Allah approves. It introduces itself as a book of guidance for the worlds as reflected in (Quran 3:96) and provides solutions to every form of problem that human beings may experience in this world. In Quran (16:18), the authors assert that “We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything,” a statement that is also supported by the Quran (2:185) that declares, “A guidance for mankind and clear evidence of guidance and discrimination between good and wrong.” When I read these scriptures, I was drawn to realize that human beings may sometimes lack guidance on how to approach life and deal with situations that they face on a daily basis. They might even consider committing criminal offences as a way of escaping from tight situations. However, the Quran clearly states that is has a solution to everything, and that one who reads it gets to understand how to live a life that is not only meaningful but also purposeful. In Quran (29:69), Allah asserts, “And (as for) those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them onto Our ways.” Indeed, this verse is a direct assurance that Allah loves his people and only means good for them. He also assures them that he will not desert them no matter what happens as long as they stay steadfast in their ways and are also willing to sacrifice their happiness for his sake.
Moreover, one must understand they the Quran only wants to ensure that humanity is saved from itself and that people get to experience a connection among themselves and with Allah. Drawing from Quran (14:1), “A book we have sent down to you so that you may bring forth mankind from the darkness into the light.” This verse is meaningful and points towards the direction that we should follow to enjoy an everlasting connection with Allah. It also shows that we must be ready at all times to embrace Allah as a Divine entity capable of deciding our destiny, but only if we are willing to accept his guidance.
Conclusion