Fazlur Rahmans Major Themes of the Quran - Essay Example

The Quran according to Fazlur Rahman The Quran is the Holy Scripture with which Muslims associate with worldwide. It is a book that is used as a guideline towards understanding the teachings of Prophet Mohammed. There have been extensive studies on the particular subject of Quran with both Muslims and non-Muslims writing extensively on the Quran. Earlier Western studies on the Quran are broadly categorized into three main themes; works that seek to trace the influence of Jewish or Christian ideas on the Quran, works that attempt to reconstruct the chronological order of the Quran, and those that seek to describe the content of the Quran with either the whole of specific parts. The book Major Themes of the Quran by Fazlur Rahman attempts to unravel the intricacies of the Quran with special focus on themes such as God, prophecy, modern society, and disclosure as concerns a stout Muslim and a western scholar (Rahman 19). The Quran is a document aimed at man, with an indication as the guidance for humankind. It has a reference of God’s proper name as Allah, with the name appearing over 2500times in the Quran. His existence as per the Quran is functional as the creator and sustainer of the universe and man. In addition, He is the giver of guidance for man, judges out man individually and collectively as well metes out to him merciful justice. God is the dimension that makes other dimensions possible, giving meaning and life to everything else. He is the all-enveloping, infinite, and the only infinite being. Without God’s activity, the activity of nature and man are wrong, purposeless, and wasteful. The Quran, therefore, emphasizes and re-emphasizes the power and majesty of God (Rahman 23). Concerning the purpose of man, the Quran emphasizes that a man was created specifically to serve God in accordance with his command and through choice. God, therefore, in his outgoing mercy provides man with the necessary knowledge to realize just and fair ends. The choice of whether to use the knowledge and power for good or evil is, therefore, the crucial test for man. The Quran does not prove God but points to him from the existing universe. God is the only one who has created the laws by which nature works. The Quran invites man to make discoveries on the laws of nature and to use it for human good. The Quran proposes that man is God’s creature just like any other created being. However, he is distinguished from the rest of natural creation in that after fashioning him, he breathed his own spirit into him. Man is given free choice in order to fulfill his mission as God’s representative. The Quran highlights verses that speak of God’s sealing up man’s hearts, putting blinds on their eyes, casting chains up to their chins so that they cannot look down and ponder. The idea behind the sealing of hearts is more of a mental assumption that that if one does good,the chances of repeating the same increases and of committing the opposite decreases accordingly (Rahman 20). With the constant repetition of the action, good or evil,it becomes more scarce for one to act vice versa or even think of and hence their eyes are blinded as they do evil, doing good produces conditioned reflex that evil has no control over (Rahman 20). The Quran often speaks as though man consciously chooses for himself right or wrong ways, follows them, and God only passes judgment upon his actions. Accordingly, it states that when man takes a direction, God entrenches him in it and so human beings make it easy for him who gives wealth, guards against evil, and confirms goodness. Of importance in this context, is that the Quran is not just descriptive but primarily prescriptive. The letter and spirit in which it is written is meant to change the character of men and necessary for information (Rahman 22). It is aimed at enrich the spiritual well being of humanity as well as promoting togetherness in the society. The psychological impact and moral proposition in its message have one major goal, which is influence positively the man’s behavior. (Rahman 23). In dealing with humankind, the Quran condemns not only the pride and self-righteousness, but also the utter despair that it describes as the sign of unbelievers who reject the truth. The Quran is particularly interested in three types of knowledge pertaining to man. This includes physical sciences that are the knowledge concerning nature that is made submissive to him (Rahman 34). History and geography is the area of knowledge where the Quran asks men to tour and disover the earth thereby see what is beyond civilization and finally, personal knowledge, which is scientific knowledge, based on observation by eyes and ears. The Quran seeks to establish a viable social order on earth that is based on justice and ethics. Concerning the society, man is regarded as significant while the society is a necessary instrument for his creation. Man is therefore part of society. The goal of the Quran in ethical and egalitarian social order is announced with a severe denunciation of the economic disequilibrium and social inequalities prevalent in a contemporary society (Rahman 29). Rahman (31) teachings stresses on the importance of enhancing equality in the society. Concerning personal wealth, the Quran urges Muslims to invest in the cause of Allah, creating a credit with God so that God may repay manifold. It states that the expenditure on the needy is like a single grain that grows seven ears of corn, each year containing a hundred or more grains. Those who spend for the sake of showing off or seeking recognition from the recipients are like rocks upon which there is a thin layer of soil but which is washed away by strong rains (Rahman 25). In essence, the Quran advises Muslims against investing in ventures that are solely aimed at making profit. However, those that spend for the sake of God are like the soil on the highlands, which after watering bring forth plenty and even in the absence of rains become recipients of dew to grow a crop. Further, it states that Satan inspires one through the fear of poverty for investing in the society but, on the other hand, God promises one forgiveness and prosperity for such investment. About distributive justice, the Quran proposes that wealth should not circulate among the rich. Consequently, it is a common practice among the Muslims to help the less fortunate members of the society. The categories of expenditure include social welfare comprising a relief from indebtedness, wages of administrative service, diplomatic, expenditure, defense, education, health, and communications. At the social-political level, the Quran aims to strengthen the basic family unit comprising of parents, children, and the grandparents on one hand the larger Muslim community on the other hand (Rahman 45). The Quran prohibits dissension and clicking whether in groups or political parties. They must not degenerate into forces of divisive community. On general equality between men and women, the Quran, says that women have rights commensurate with duties they owe, but men posses a degree higher. It, therefore, envisages division of labor and a difference in conducting core functions. In addition, it prohibits the marriage of widows with their stepsons. The kind and generous treatment of women are laid out. Concerning inheritance, the Quran prescribes shares for daughters and other females, but lays down the share of the daughter as half that of a son. Work Cited Rahman, Fazlur. Major Themes of the Quran. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2009. Print. Read More