{"id":310,"date":"2019-08-10T14:58:06","date_gmt":"2019-08-10T14:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.islamunraveled.org\/wp\/?p=310"},"modified":"2019-08-10T15:19:05","modified_gmt":"2019-08-10T15:19:05","slug":"my-lord-my-people-have-deserted-this-quran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.islamunraveled.org\/wp\/my-lord-my-people-have-deserted-this-quran\/","title":{"rendered":"My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For several years now years there seem to be some disputes among submitters. I\u2019d like to start by asking you, \u201cAre there major differences among submitters?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, today\u2019s submitters do have differences of belief. Some are minor\nand some are major. Minor differences are to be expected, since we are all\nhuman. We will focus on the cause for the major differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually differences originate because of a simple reason.  Among submitters the differences originated because\nof the meaning of two words: Quran and Hadith. We agree that we should follow\nthe Quran; but we disagree on what the Quran is or what constitutes the Quran.\nWe agree that we should disregard Hadith; but we disagree on what Hadith is or\nwhat constitutes Hadith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are commanded to utilize the Quran alone. What does Quran alone mean to you?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verses 6:114 -115 among numerous other verses provide us the\nfoundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[6:114] Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of\nlaw, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed? Those who received\nthe scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully.\nYou shall not harbor any doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[6:115] The word of your Lord is complete, in truth\nand justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The verses make it clear that the source of law for our religion\nis God, Who has given us a fully detailed scripture, the Quran, which is His\nword and as 6:115 points out, God\u2019s words are complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, when we express a point of view about our religion, we should support that point of view, from the words of the Quran. Quran alone means supporting a point of view based on God\u2019s words in the Quran. When we express a point of view, we are essentially saying, \u201cthis is the law according to the Quran\u201d.

Can you give me an example of what you mean?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The age of 40 is a good example. We simply point to verse 46:15\nwhen telling someone of the law, that anyone who dies before the age of 40 goes\nto Heaven. The source of law being the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You do acknowledge that information came through Dr. Rashad Khalifa, right? If it were not through him, we would not have known about it?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, absolutely. We thank God for sending His messenger to bring\nforth embedded information from within the Quran which included, besides the\nage of 40, when to pay the zakat, the reminder to worship God alone as well as\nthe mathematical miracle of the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khalifa\u2019s source was the Quran, a book of law, a Statute Book.  For Statutory Law, explanations and teachings can never become the source of law. Even though the information came from Dr. Khalifa, the source of law always remains the Quran. For the age of 40, Dr. Khalifa referred to the source 46:15 and so should we. Similarly, for zakat, we should refer to 6:141.

So, what do you see as the essential differences between Quran as the Word of God and other information coming through and from Dr. Khalifa?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quran is the source of law. We have information from Dr. Khalifa, but his words, his teachings, his explanations cannot become a source of law. No other words can be a source of law. Dr. Khalifa, the messenger of God, made it clear that we should not go by what he says but go by the Quran.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The differences among submitters originates because of disagreement\non the meaning of the word Hadith and specifically the meaning of the word Quran.\nAs you know, definition is one of the first items tackled in the study of any\nsubject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, so let\u2019s start with Hadith. How would you define Hadith? What is the meaning of Hadith?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quran provides the definition and meaning of the Arabic word\nHadith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

…Which Hadith, besides this do they believe in?\n7:185, 77:50<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let them produce a Hadith like this if they are\ntruthful. 52:34<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, let Me deal with those who reject this\nHadith; we will lead them on whence they never perceive. 68:44<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an honorable Quran. In a protected book. None\ncan grasp it except the sincere. A revelation from the Lord of the universe.  Are you disregarding this narration (Hadith)? 56:77-81<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we look at these verses, there are two obvious conclusions \u2013 first,\nthe Quran itself is a hadith and secondly, we cannot accept any other hadith\nother than the Quran itself. These two conclusions are within the confines of\nthe Quran since God\u2019s words are complete and are the only source of law. The definition\nand meaning of the word Hadith in the Quran is much broader than some\nsubmitter\u2019s and traditional Muslim\u2019s belief that Hadith is only the sayings of\nProphet Muhammad. The key is that no other words or no other hadith other than\nthe Quran is acceptable as a source of law. The only acceptable hadith is God\u2019s\nwords in the Quran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Dr. Khalifa used to point out, BELIEF\nin God dictates that we BELIEVE God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good, now Let\u2019s get to the Quran. How will you define the Quran?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all agree that the Quran, the final scripture was given to\nProphet Muhammad 1400 years ago, in Arabic language. Per verse 13:37, God\n\u201crevealed these laws in Arabic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khalifa, who brought to our attention, the Quran as The Final\nTestament, had this to say about the Quran in the Introduction in his\ntranslation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe prophet Muhammad, God’s messenger … delivered\nthis Final Testament\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Dr. Khalifa introduced the newly published translation in\n1989 in Masjid Tucson, he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRemember it is the message, not the messenger. The\nmessage came and will be with us till the end of the world, this, the Quran.\nAnd the Prophet Muhammad was the one who received and delivered it\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That seems clear enough. So, what seems to be causing the problems among Submitters on this understanding of what the Quran is?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believe it or not, submitters have different definitions and\ndifferent understandings of the word Quran<\/em>. When it is proclaimed,\n\u2018Quran, the whole Quran, and nothing but the Quran\u2019 what constitutes the Quran\nis either limited or wide open for some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That seems strange. What about traditional Muslims? Do they have different understandings of the word Quran?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The traditional Muslims have no doubt about what the Quran is.\nThey accept the Quran as received and delivered by Prophet Muhammad and accept\nit as God\u2019s word and the Final Scripture. However, they don\u2019t accept that it is\nthe only source of law nor as the only acceptable Hadith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The traditional Muslims have no doubt what the Quran is. They\nsimply opt either not to study it or not to obey God\u2019s words in the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK, let\u2019s get back to submitters and their understanding of the word Quran. How does it differ from the traditional understanding of the word?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are different definitions or understandings of the word\nQuran held by various submitters. Even though some uphold these definitions or\nunderstandings by what they say and write, they will not explicitly acknowledge\nso. When asked, quite a few are not even willing to define what they mean when they\nsay, the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what are those definitions and understandings?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definition one<\/strong>:   Quran given to Prophet Muhammad, which consists of 6346 and is in the Arabic language. This was the clear understanding or definition upheld by the messenger as we just saw and as the world has known for 1400 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definition two<\/strong>: The Quran includes the 6346 numbered and translated verses in Dr. Khalifa\u2019s translation of the Quran, separate and distinct from subheadings, footnotes, appendices, etc. I uphold Dr. Khalifa\u2019s translation of the verses. When I give a point of view about our religion, I point to the contents of the translated verses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definition three<\/strong>: This is where it becomes interesting. According to this definition, the Quran is the Authorized English Version, translated from the Original or known by the acronym AEVQ for submitters. Any word in this translation from cover to cover is considered \u2018the Quran\u2019. Dr. Khalifa\u2019s translation contains the English Translation of the verses of the Quran with each verse numbered and separated. In addition to the translated verses, Dr. Khalifa has sub-titles, footnotes, appendices, an Introduction, an index, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I must acknowledge, that it did not occur to me that every word of\nthe AEVQ could possibly be considered the Quran, or word of God or a source of\nlaw. Here is an example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, in a public discussion, the following was written by a member\nof a group discussion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>However, he was instructed by God to clarify\nthe laws that were corrupted 14:44, 5:19, 24:47, 28:50<<<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m confused, what does that mean?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God Sends His Commands Through His Messengers<\/em>
[14:44] You shall warn the people of the day when the retribution comes to them. Those who transgressed will say, “Our Lord, give us one more respite. We will then respond to Your call and follow the messengers.” Did you not swear in the past that you will last forever?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God Sends Instructions Through His Messenger<\/em>
[24:47] They say, “We believe in GOD and in the messenger, and we obey,” but then some of them slide back afterwards. These are not believers.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God Sends His Teachings to Us Through His Messengers<\/em>
[28:50] If they fail to respond to you, then know that they follow only their own opinions. Who is farther astray than those who follow their own opinions, without guidance from GOD? GOD does not guide such wicked people.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key here is that this person, in order to support a point of\nview, referred to four verses. However, the point he is making is not directly\nsupported by the verses he lists, but rather by the subheadings immediately\npreceding them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we look at those verses, it becomes clear that the apparent\nsupport for the point being made is not by the words of the translated verses,\nbut by the sub-headings. In this case the words of the sub-headings are\nconsidered the source of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To remove any doubt that the words of the subheadings and the\nwords of verses are considered one and the same as the source of law, the person\nwrote the following in the same note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>Therefore, the Quran\nAlone and the messenger of Covenant confirm each other. <<<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that brings the next question. So, what about Quran being all we need?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several people have added to the Quran or what constitutes the\nQuran. For example, this person claims to follow the Quran and nothing but the\nQuran. The truth of the matter is that the individual has made the subheadings\nand footnotes as part of the Quran. Thus, the crucial commandment in 6:115 that\nthe \u201cThe word of your Lord is complete\u201d and \u201cNothing will abrogate His words\u201d is\ndiscarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have one more definition of the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definition Fou<\/strong>r:  This definition of the Quran will include the AEVQ (cover to cover) plus audios, videos, newsletter and books by Rashad Khalifa with one exception. Ironically, Rashad Khalifa\u2019s book, \u201cQuran, Hadith & Islam\u201d is not included in this definition. If it were, it would expose their pretense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you might notice, this definition has several components. And\nunfortunately, I must point out that quite a few uphold this definition in one\nform or another and readily support a point of view by one of the components in\nthis definition rather than exclusively by God\u2019s words in the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a question is asked, some quote Rashad Khalifa or explanations\nby Rashad Khalifa, rather than referring to Quran verses. And if I might add, this\nis contrary to our experience with the messenger who always pointed to verses\nof the Quran for the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yikes, I catch myself doing this at times, so thanks for the reminder! So, you are saying that some among submitters proclaim that they uphold the \u2018Quran, the whole Quran, and nothing but the Quran\u2019, but what they uphold is different from the Arabic Quran that the world has known for 1400+ years? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, that is correct. They do not uphold the Arabic Quran nor the\ntranslated verses of the Arabic Quran. And the irony here is that they have\nchosen not to uphold right after God\u2019s revelation of the miracle of the Quran providing\nproof that each word of Arabic Quran is a Proven Word of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The source for the messenger was always the Quran. One only needs\nto look at the verses reproduced in the last few Submitters Perspectives in the\nmessenger\u2019s lifetime, to notice that they were translated directly from the\nArabic rather than reproduced or copied from the AEVQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we alter the basics of a religion, we alter the religion. If we\nconsider the Quran anything other than the mathematically structured Quran\nrevealed in Arabic language, then our source of law is no longer the Quran\nalone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fundamental difference in beliefs among people in our\ncommunity originates because some have chosen to modify the very basic meaning\nof what the Quran is. They have chosen to add-on to the Quran and in so doing\ntheir claim of upholding the Quran alone is bogus. As mentioned before, they\nare unwilling to even give their definition of the word Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, it should be pointed out, that by choosing to add-on to the\nQuran they have crossed a line which no traditional Muslim has crossed. The\ntraditional Muslims consider the Quran as sacred, as it is, and do not consider\nany words outside the Quran as part of the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took only 19 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad for\nthe corruption of religion by adding false verses in the Quran. Their first\nstep of corruption was to alter or add-on to the Quran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d like to add to your statement that Dr. Khalifa translated verses differently in the translation and the SP. He also translated them differently in the appendices. <\/em><\/strong>
What do you think is the cause for these add-ons to the Quran?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The belief that the messenger was infallible and that his words\nare infallible. Thus, when there appears to be an inconsistency between the\nQuran and the messenger’s words, the precedence is given to the messenger\u2019s\nwords as a source of law. This has led some to proclaim that they do not verify\nIF the messenger is correct but THAT he is correct, even though the messenger\nconsistently reminded us to go by the Quran and not by what he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can see how some might conclude that you are making Rashad Khalifa unimportant or inconsequential<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary, I encourage everyone to study Dr. Khalifa\u2019s work.\nThey should study it in light of the Quran rather than studying the Quran in\nlight of what they think Dr. Khalifa meant to say. All that is being asked is,\nplease provide reference to God\u2019s words in the Quran when giving a point of\nview. The submitters who have redefined the Quran cannot support their point of\nview solely by God\u2019s words in the Quran. They cannot abide by verses 6:114-115\nand per 17:46, \u201cwhen you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone, they run away\nin aversion.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By God\u2019s grace I made a decision to only support a point of view by\nGod\u2019s words in the Quran and it has served me well. As we go from stage to\nstage, this is a decision a submitter should make at some point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very good points. Let\u2019s briefly now talk about Quranists? Who are the Quranists? Are they submitters?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQuranists\u201d refers to those who claim to follow only the Quran,\nexcept that they don\u2019t do so. The calling card of a Quranists is doing three\nSalats instead of five in a day. They base it on distorting verse 11:114. No\ntranslation supports their distortion of 11:114, which is based on setting\naside Arabic language meaning, grammar and rules. Instead of sticking to the\ntruth in the Quran, they draw conclusions to match their opinions. They thus\nabuse the Quran in the same way by using it to confirm THAT they are correct,\nnot IF they are correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any concluding comments?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submitters should examine their own definition of the Quran and seek\nto give a point of view from only the words of the Quran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will conclude with two verses. Verse 6:19 that proclaims God\u2019s\ntestimony is the greatest and anyone else\u2019s testimony is idolatry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Say, “Whose testimony is the greatest?”\nSay, “GOD’s. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran has been\ninspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear\nwitness that there are other gods beside GOD.” Say, “I do not testify\nas you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry.” 6:19<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And verse 25:30, a phenomenon we are witnessing of the desertion\nof the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The messenger said, “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of the above, in any way, means that any of Dr. Khalifa\u2019s work should be cast aside nor does it mean that a thorough study of his should not be done nor does it mean that anyone should be discouraged from study of his works\/ videos, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It simply means, that when a point of view is advocated, can support from the words of the Quran be provided. The source remains the Quran (Statute Book). Explanation does not become a source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED LINKS<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Admission Test Q&A<\/a>
Idolatry Q&A<\/a>
Obey God and His Messenger<\/a>
Rashad Khalifa on Quran alone<\/a>
Reversion to Idolatry<\/a>
Supporting a point of view from the Quran<\/a>
Quran Text<\/a>
Appendices in Rashad Khalifa Translation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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