Sohaib Sultan writes in his book, “As a final message, the Koran provides guidance not only for a specific community or time, but for all of humanity.”
Indeed, he is correct. The Quran provide guidance for all humans.
Sohaib Sultan’s book is titled, “The Koran for Dummies”. Based on the contents of the book, the appropriate title should be, “The Koran, scholars, Hadith and Sunnah for Dummies”.
He states, “At times, to fully understand the Koran, you have to venture to outward sources. The most important of these sources is Prophet Muhammad, the primary interpreter and teacher of the book. Throughout this book, I refer to the sayings of Muhammad to expand on basic ideas presented in the Koran. Sometimes, I also refer to the words of Muhammad’s close companions and famous scholars of the Islamic tradition.”
Thus, Sohaib Sultan, chooses to associate (in Arabic shirk or ‘to share’) God’s words in the Quran with words of scholars to derive meanings of the Quran.
Belief in God dictates that you believe God. Does Mr. Sultan believe God in the following?
- The Quran is the only source of law or the only criterion per 6:114
- The Quran is a fully detailed scripture per 6:114, 10:37
- The words of God in the Quran are complete per 6:115
- No words can abrogate God’s words in the Quran per 6:115 and 10:37
- Quran is Hadith per 7:185, 12:111, 39:23, 45:6, 52:34, 68:44, 77:50
- The Quran is the only acceptable Hadith per 77:50, 45:6, 7:185
- The Arabic word sunnah (system) refers only to God’s sunnah and never as the Prophet’s sunnah per 17:77, 33:62, 48:23
- That God is the Teacher of the Quran per 55:2
The first books of Hadith were written 200+ years after the revelation of the Quran and the death of Prophet Muhammad. The source of “sayings of Muhammad” is not Prophet Muhammad but the scholars who wrote the Hadith books.
QUOTES FROM THE BOOK, AND OUR COMMENTS
“In submission to God, people are free through servitude to other people and to their own lower desires (9:31)”.
They have set up their religious leaders and scholars as lords, instead of GOD. Others deified the Messiah, son of Mary. They were all commanded to worship only one god. There is no god except He. Be He glorified, high above having any partners. [9:31]
Some translate “their religious leaders and scholars” as “rabbis/scholars and monks”. The message in the Quran is clear – religious leaders and scholars cannot be made lords instead of God. The very fact that words of religious scholars are upheld as a religious source instead of words of God in the Quran, is setting up the religious scholars as lords instead of God.
“Any commentator or interpreter of the Koran must have mastery of the Arabic language that enables him or her to tap into the Koran’s inner and outer meanings.”
If we made it a non-Arabic Quran they would have said, “Why did it come down in that language?” Whether it is Arabic or non-Arabic, say, “For those who believe, it is a guide and healing. As for those who disbelieve, they will be deaf and blind to it, as if they are being addressed from faraway.” [41:44]
The ‘mastery’ of Arabic language has not helped scholars in believing God in the questions raised above. By God’s grace there are numerous tools in the web for any person to look at various translations/transliterations and words of the Quran, without any mastery of the Arabic language.
“Tafsir means “explanation” or ‘interpretation’”
Indeed, the Arabic word “Tafsir means “explanation”. However, there are 20+ verses which state God explains the revelations (2:230, 2:242, 3:103, 4:26, 5:75, 5:89, 6:46, 6:55, 6:105, 6:126, 7:32, 7:58, 7:174, 9:11, 10:5, 10:24, 13:2, 16:89, 17:12, 24:18, 24:61, 30:28, 57:17, 75:19) and none which say the messenger or Muhammad explains the revelations or verses of the Quran. God is the only Teacher of the Quran (55:2) and one of God’s means of communication with humans is through inspiration (42:51). God thus explains the Quran to the sincere.
“Sunnah is Practice or way of Prophet Muhammad.”
The Arabic word sunnah (system) refers only to God’s sunnah and never as the Prophet’s sunnah per 17:77, 33:62, 48:23.
“Islamic scholars argue that the greatest way to praise Muhammad is to follow in his footsteps on the path of living life according to divine will.”
There is no commandment in the Quran to praise Muhammad. Our religion is about God and to worship God alone. All praise belongs to God.
“Keeping circumstances behind revelations in mind.”
Circumstances behind revelations is fiction. The Quran condemns sects (6:159, 30:32, 42:14). The Islamic world is divided into various sects. These sects have no disagreements about the Quran but differ vigorously on their respective ‘circumstances behind revelations’. These ‘circumstances behind revelations’ constitute their respective hadith through which they draw the conclusion they desire about the Quran.
“Abrogation. The Koran recognizes this phenomenon when it says, “None of our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar” (2:106)”
Here is the correct translation of verse 2:106.
When we abrogate any miracle, or cause it to be forgotten, we produce a better miracle, or at least an equal one. Do you not recognize the fact that GOD is Omnipotent? [2:106]
The Quran is explicit. No words of God can be abrogated.
The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient. [6:115]
You shall recite what is revealed to you of your Lord’s scripture. Nothing shall abrogate His words, and you shall not find any other source beside it. [18:27]
“The declaration is that, “I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.””
The declaration in the Quran does not have Muhammad’s name next to God’s. This ‘double shahaada’ was fabricated by the scholars about 70-100 years after prophet Muhammad’s death. Anyone can verify this by searching for early Islamic coins which had the correct declaration which did not include Muhammad’s name.
God bears witness that there is no God except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute God; there is no God but He, the Almighty, Most Wise. [3:18]
When they were told, “Laa Elaaha Ella Allah [There is no other God beside God],” they turned arrogant. [37:35]
You shall know that: “there is no other God beside God,” and ask forgiveness of your sins and the sins of all believing men and women. God is fully aware of your decisions and your ultimate destiny. [47:19]
“The fourth pillar of faith is almsgiving, known as zakat. Every financially able Muslim must give to the poor and needy in society once every year.”
Verse 6:141 commands us to give ‘due alms’ on the day of harvest. For most of us the day of harvest is when we get our paycheck. Thus zakat should be paid as we make income. Giving zakat once a year has no Quranic basis.
“Ablution (page 175) – 8 steps”
Mr. Sohaib Sultan lists eight steps for ablution while the Quran lists 4 steps.
O you who believe, when you observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), you shall: (1) wash your faces, (2) wash your arms to the elbows, (3) wipe your heads, and (4) wash your feet to the ankles. [5:6]
The obvious question here is which god other than God has sanctioned the eight steps?
“The Koran describes Prophet Muhammad as a mercy to mankind (21:107) and the best example to be followed in worshipping God (68:4).”
We have sent you out of mercy from us towards the whole world. [21:107]
You are blessed with a great moral character. [68:4]
The messenger of GOD has set up a good example for those among you who seek GOD and the Last Day, and constantly think about GOD. [33:21]
As for the one who maintained her virginity, we blew into her from our spirit, and thus, we made her and her son a portent for the whole world. [21:91]
Verse 33:21 simply refers to Prophets Muhammad’s exemplary conduct in the Battle of Trenches. The battle is mentioned in verses 33:9 through 33:27.
“Prophet Muhammad, who was illiterate…”
Muhammad Wrote God’s Revelations With His Own Hand. He was literate.
“None shall touch it but those who are pure” (56:79)
None can grasp it except the sincere. [56:79]
Only the sincere can grasp the Quran. This verse has nothing to do with touching the Quran.
“Death penalty for adultery”
The Quran does not support death penalty for adultery. This is another example of fabricated laws by scholars.
“Cutting hands for thieves”
“Punishing theft (..only the right hand should be cut-off per the scholars)”
The thief, male or female, you shall mark their hands as a punishment for their crime, and to serve as an example from GOD. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise. [5:38]
When she heard of their gossip, she invited them, prepared for them a comfortable place, and gave each of them a knife. She then said to him, “Enter their room.” When they saw him, they so admired him, that they cut their hands. They said, “Glory be to GOD, this is not a human being; this is an honorable angel.” [12:31]
The same Arabic word is used in 5:38 and 12:31. Obviously the women did not cut their hands (no one can). The Quranic commandment is to mark the hand not cut it off as fabricated by the scholars.
“Hijab”
There is no support of Hijab as a covering for women in the Quran.
“The Islamic tradition also believes, like the Christians, that Jesus will return towards the end of time to fight the antichrist.”
This has no support in the Quran and is a fabrication of the scholars.
“All messengers are also prophets, but not all prophets are messengers.”
According to the Quran, all prophets are messengers, but all messengers are not prophets.
“Muhammad’s divine mission:
- impart revelation
- purify souls
- to teach the book
- to teach the wisdom (sunnah)”
The Prophet’s sole mission was to deliver Quran, the whole Quran, and nothing but Quran (3:20; 5:48-50, 92, 99; 6:19; 13:40; 16:35, 82; 24:54; 29:18; 42:48; 64:12).
“The Quran says that obedience to Prophet Muhammad is in fact obedience to God (4:80).”
Whoever obeys the messenger is obeying GOD. As for those who turn away, we did not send you as their guardian. 4:80
Obeying God and His messenger.
“Inheritance”
It is decreed that when death approaches, you shall write a will for the benefit of the parents and relatives, equitably. This is a duty upon the righteous. [2:180]
The Quran commands us to write a will. The Quran inheritance laws only apply if one dies intestate (without a will). Unfortunately, the scholars have nullified this Quranic law and the writing of Will in most “Islamic countries.”
… All this, after fulfilling any will the deceased has left, and after paying off all debts. [4:11]
“4:59 for ‘forming a political identity”
“Islamic State”
“These social teachings make it impossible for Muslims to separate their religious lives from social responsibilities (6:162-164). The Koran teaches that such a distinction is wrong, and preaches that not only individuals, but also social institutions, should serve God as a means of producing an equitable society.”
O you who believe, you shall obey GOD, and you shall obey the messenger, and those in charge among you. If you dispute in any matter, you shall refer it to GOD and the messenger, if you do believe in GOD and the Last Day. This is better for you, and provides you with the best solution. [4:59]
Say, “My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe [6:162].
“He has no partner. This is what I am commanded to believe, and I am the first to submit.”[6:163]
Say, “Shall I seek other than GOD as a lord, when He is the Lord of all things? No soul benefits except from its own works, and none bears the burden of another. Ultimately, you return to your Lord, then He informs you regarding all your disputes.” [6:164]
There is nothing is this verse or any verse in the Quran that justifies a political identity nor an Islamic state.
“Searching for Rulings and principals
Islamic jurists use four basic sources to extract the laws that form Shariah
-The Koran
–The prophetic tradition (Sunnah)
–The consensus of the scholars (Ijma)
–Juristic analogy (Qiyas)”
The only source to extract laws is the Quran which is complete perfect and fully detailed. Please see the questions posed in the beginning.
“Usury”
Usury is forbidden in the Quran, not interest. The ‘Islamic’ world has created a sham interest free banking.
“However, scholars point out that the greatest reverence Muslims can show to the Koran is believing in the message and following its teachings with complete submission to God.”
“Rejecting the Truth
To be ignorant or truly misinformed about the teachings of the Koran is one matter. But, to understand the Truth of the Koran and to know it to be the word of God, and to still continue rejecting it, is a grave sin.”
We could not agree more. Will Mr. Shohaib Sultan accept and submit to the word of God in the Quran?
“Therefore, the term Muhammadanism, which some people use to describe the Koranic message, is not only incorrect, but also offensive to Muslims.”
…or will Mr. Shohaib Sultan base his religion on human words written centuries after Muhammad and attributed to him… does Muhammadanism seem inaccurate?
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Mr. Shohaib Sultan and others who believe like him have a favorite question, “”If the Quran is complete and fully detailed (as claimed by God), where can we find the number of Rak`ahs (units) in each contact prayer (Salat)?”
Here is the answer. The Quran is fully detailed for religious law. The Quran does not detail rituals of religious duties.
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We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone, they run away in aversion. [17:46]
When GOD ALONE is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion. But when others are mentioned beside Him, they become satisfied. [39:45]