( 33 ) INTRODUCTION OF THE QURAN ( SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE QURAN ) THE QURAN CLAIMS TO BE THE WORD OF GOD. A NON MUSLIMS READER MAY NOT ACCEPT THIS, BUT HE MUST KEEP IN MIND AND MUST RESPECT IT, FAILING WHICH HE WILL GAIN NOTHING BY HIS STUDY EXCEPT FRUSTRATION. THE QURAN REACTS TOWARDS ONE WHO STUDIES IT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE QURAN. IF HE STARTS WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS A FABRICATION, HIS STUDY WILL AVAIL HIM NOTHING EXCEPT TO CONFIRM HIS PRECONCEIVED BIAS.A STUDENT MUST FREE HIS MIND FROM ALL PREJUDICE AND BE SINCERELY EAGER TO LEARN AND TO APPRECIATE A SEEKER SHOULD EXPECT WISDOM FROM ALLAH AND SHOULD MAINTAIN AN ATTITUDE OF REVERENCE. THE QURAN EXPECTS UNDERSTANDING AND REFLECTION AND AN OPEN MIND FROM ONE WHO SEEKS TO DERIVE BENEFIT FROM IT. IT RESPECTS THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE READER AND ASSUMES THAT HE WILL EXERCISE IT. IT IS FULL OF METAPHORS, SMILIES AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF VARIOUS TYPES. IT DRAWS ATTENTION REPEATEDLY TO NATURAL PHENOMENA AND ARGUES FROM THE PHYSICAL AND MATERIAL TO THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL. ..................to be continue........................
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:28:52 +0000