Taking a Fresh Look at the Qur'an
Tuesday September 25, 2007
Categories: Islam
"Ramadan is the (month) in which the Qur'an was sent down, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)." (Qur'an 2:185) Aside...
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About Hungry for Ramadan
The last update to the Hungry for Ramadan blog was in October 2007. We welcome your comments about Ramadan and Islam in general in our Muslim forums.
Shahed Amanullah, a frequent Beliefnet contributor, is one of the country’s foremost Muslim journalists. He has harnessed the power of the Internet to spread a positive view of Islam. Amanullah is the editor of altmuslim.com, a Muslim news website, and founder of Halalfire Media, a network of Muslim-themed websites with more than five million annual visitors. Through his work Amanullah has tapped into a strong force of online activism. He lives in Texas with his wife and two sons, and looks forward to the spiritual rewards of Ramadan every year.
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Shahed,
A good point here -- soundbites of scripture on Fox News don't do much for anyone's understanding, but at the same time, maybe you're glossing over the fact that the Qur'an presents some troubling verses to modern readers. Yes, mercy is a theme, but so is punishment for unbelievers. And that's not even to mention some of the verses on women! Even reading things in context doesn't always solve the problems.
You're absolutely right. I didn't mean to gloss over those verses, only to point to a larger narrative that can provide some comfort and greater understanding. Understanding those particular verses in the larger context will take a great deal more time and study - in the meantime, I prefer to isolate them within the larger context of the Qur'an.
Aside from reading the Qur'an during Ramadan i also read about the Qur'an. I'm currently reading UNDERSTANDING THE QUR'AN, which goes into the themes and styles. The author also clears up those nasty misconceptions, ie. the Qur'an allowing wifebeating and killing infidels.
for non-Muslims I usually recommend a book about the Prophet (pbuh). I recently read IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PROPHET by Tariq Ramadan and thought it was really well done. I suggest non-Muslims to read that first before picking up the Qur'an, especially an english translation one... they will indeed have a heart attack if that is their first introduction to the Muslim text!
a great Qur'an is THE MEANING OF THE HOLY QUR'AN by Yusuf Ali. i love his commentary and the history in it is remarkable.
oof.. is it maghrib yet?!?!
I have been guilty of picking and choosing some of the Suras for particular purposes. But never the more violent portions. The same is true for Bible readings. I do try to read the Nativity Sura, it is only the third from any authorized "scripture". It adds an interesting and very human note to the proceedings. I have read most of the Qur'an. Each time I go looking for a portion or sura I get swept into more and more of it. We would all do well to be more than passingly familiar with this book.
On the picking and choosing theme, it was NOT the son Ishmael that Abraham was told to sacrifice. It was Isaac.
It appears the Qur'An was "sent down" with a completely different story. Once Isaac is replaced by Ishmael, the path of correctness goes in a completely different direction. Now, it is the right of Muslims to state that it was Ishmael, but the Torah existed thousands of years before Mohammad was even born.
Without Isaac, the Qur'An makes Jacob, that is to say "Israel," of no importance and worse, it completely obliterates the rights of both Jews and Christians - who share the same Biblical stories all the way to the Gospels - from having ANY legitimacy at all.
Muslims have a strange position on which to claim authenticity. Zeal and passion does not replace cold hard facts. So, if new revelations can replace Biblical truth, then Muslims should become Mormons. They have a Prophet getting Biblical truth fron an angel dating closer to today than Mohammad. If one prophet can supercede another than we can change immutability at will.
Now look at the Middle East and the world from Mohammad to this very second . . .
Hmmm, where do we read "Now do not be deceived, even if an angel of light were to bring you a different Gospel . . ."
The Apostles saw Mohammad coming. And Joseph Smith etc., etc., etc..
As an English speaker, and a non-Muslim, I have been interested in reading the Quran, but there are many translation options to choose from. I would like to try to strike a balance between precise translation of the text, while still maintaining a sense of style and "readability." Does anyone have any suggestions for a particular translation that is particularly good?
Thanks!
Donny, Does the Torah not say "First born" in regards to Abraham's son and the sacrifice? Was not Ishmael born first?
Donny speaks of "FACTS". Please do a bit of research. As God ordered that Ibrahim sacrifices his son, ISAAC WAS NOT BORN AS YET. Ibrahim replied "I can not sacrifice my son, MY ONLY SON...... It is a fact that Ishmael was born first..
Sima
Liz,
Try the translation by Muhammad Asad, "The Meaning of the Qur'an." Asad was an Austrian Jew who converted in the 20's, and his interpretation in English attunes particularly well to someone raised in Western culture.
Liz,
I would reccomend the English Translation by Maulana Muhammad Ali which is available in most Border bookstores or may be ordered from the website www.muslim.org.
The translation is very close to the Arabic, yet is rendered in idiomatic English which preserves the scriptural and dignified tone of the original. The extensive footnotes are superb.
Abuljude and Norman,
Thank you for the suggestions! I will be looking for them next time I am at the bookstore.