The diversity of the Qur’an’s interest to deal with almost all aspects of human life is the most significant feature of Islam as way of life. To this aspect of a Muslim’s life, the Qur’an is the principal manual.
No other civilisation on earth is nourished and sustained eternally, by such a revealed lifestyle. Approached systematically, almost all practices of life for a Muslim, can be derived from an authentic legal texts of the Qur’an.
The Hadith meaning, words, actions or reinstatement of the Prophet, only explains the applied meaning of the Qur’an. To this end, the Qur’an and Hadith work hand-in-hand. This is clearly stated in the verse 16:44 of the Qur’an. As its applied explanation thus, the Hadith is the integral part of the Qur’an.[1]
Other than explaining its applied meaning, an authentic Hadith will never contradict the Qur’an. When the Qur’an is approached professionally, scholarly and holistically, there will never be a need to deduce a ruling from a Hadith that is not authentic.
A professional scholar of the Qur’an is the one who can relate the Qur’an in its holistic and applied meaning, to the life and living of the believes, the humanity at large, at all times in all places.
To discover this aspect of the Qur’an, it invited the scholars (أهل الذكر), “to deeply contemplate” in the provisions of the Qur’an: “Don’t they deeply and factually contemplate in the meanings of the Qur’an? Had it been from the sources other than God, they would have found in it many contradictions and discrepancies” (أفلا يتدبرون القرآن، ولو كان من عند غيرالله، لوجدوا فيه اختلافا كثيرا).[2]
This feature of the Book rewards the practice of a true believer to be authentic on the one hand, providing a deep satisfaction in his mind, on the other. Should a practice need validating, the principle behind and the authenticity thereof can be easily audit trailed.
Where a practice fails to pass through the broader and the flexible sieve of original admissibility (أصل الأشياء الاباحة), such a practice is taken to be disallowed. To this end, the Qur’an is outstanding: “Declare O Prophet! Who prohibited the benefit from the beauty and the good provisions of life which God produced for his servants?” (قل من حرًم زينة الله التي أخرج لعباده والطيبات من الرزق؟)[3]
The institution of the Khilafah, meaning as a socio-political state-craft (الاستخلاف في الأرض), must act as deputy of God on earth, for all citizens under its rule, is a direct theme of the Qur’an[4]. The divine appointment of the Muslims as a nation: “The best nation on earth provided that your existence is beneficial to the humanity in general” (كنتم خير أمة أخرجت للناس), provides a great duty statement [5].
By its direct meaning, a Muslim individual or a socio-political state must exist for the benefit of all the subjects under its rule regardless of their faith or no faith. This mission, or call it a dream of it, has always been driven by the revealed Book.
Living a human life will always be interesting. However, living a regulated life which is dictated by the revealed and authentic guidelines and enjoying it at the same time, is bound to be exciting one! The Qur’an is the sole leader of it!
Given its deep-rooted originality in the Qur’an, Muslims will never be deprived of their rights in determining their own political future and rule. Entertaining such a right however, must be dedicated to facilitate the decent living of all fellow humans under this political setting.
Through this notion of ‘a best Muslim nation existing to benefit the humanity at large’ (خير أمة أخرجت للناس), the absolute ownership of all the creation on earth and the heavens has been linked with the God their Sole Creator.
As their sole Benefactor thus, the Qur’an declared that He will also audit all their actions and affairs: “To God alone belongs all that exist in the heavens and on the Earth. To Him alone alos, all their affairs will be audit trailed” (ولله مافي السماوات والأرض، والي الله ترجع الأمور)[6]
The faith as such makes the believers conduct their lives within the revealed guidelines of the Creator. Khilafah as a state-craft, is a divine political institution the root of which is grounded deep in the Qur’an. It is therefore bound to be part and parcel of the Muslim identity on earth.
Investing genuine effort to establish it, will always attract the interest of the believers. By the very statement of the Qur’an itself however, this institution must also yield the benefit for the humanity in general. Failing this criterion, will make the political institution itself and the invested efforts to achieve it a total waste [7].
The history of sufferings over centuries, both by Muslims and those scared by their Islamic identity ie the Islamophobia, is the proof that the confrontation is never the way forward. Nor is there a need for it.
The sea of ignorance regarding Islam as a faith, its institutions and the conducts that the Qur’an sanctions towards its ideological adversaries, lie at the core of this fear and misunderstandings.
To alleviate the multitudes of sufferings of the both camps, making an effort, facilitating an all-inclusive, accommodating and genuine understanding of Islam, to those scared from it, would be a very small price to pay.
[1] The Qur’an 16:44.
[2] The Qur’an 04:82.
[3] The Qu’ran 07:32.
[4]. The Qur’an 24:55 & 02:30.
[5]. The Qur’an 03:110
[6] The Qur’an 03:109.
[7]. The Qur’an 03:110.
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