As such, by not limiting the rights he brought to humans and leaving it open for further development, Muhammad (saw) has evidently established the fact there is no need for another book after the Quran and thus another Nabi. Thereby ascertaining he is the last of the Nabis.
To conclude, in terms of its Risalah-based verses, the Quran has brought valuable information about life after death and the path to knowing Allah. In terms of its Nubuwwah-based verses, the Quran developed and updated human rights to the maximum extent according to that time and age, yet defined this as the threshold, without limiting the potential for development.
This primary principle, according to my understanding, is the spirit of the Quran, as it confirms the infinite validity of the ‘Book’ and the indubitable fact there is no need for another book.
To confine the message of the Quran to the reforms it made addressing the communities of the time of its disclosure, thus limiting its benefits by claiming it in fact belongs to that time, is a grave misconception. This is the direct result of not understanding the spirit of the Quran and thus not being able to read it.
While the Quran says to give one-fortieth of one's possessions as alms, it does not forbid giving one-twentieth! This figure is only a threshold – a minimum.
Allowing women the right to inherit half a share when previously they had none, does not in anyway mean they cannot be given more. Again, this is merely the minimum. Giving equal share to men and women does not go against the spirit of the Quran; in fact, it is what the spirit of the Quran advises!
In short, the rights that are defined in the Quran constitute a starting point, with no verse or hadith claiming they cannot be increased.
When we fail to perceive the spirit of the Quran, we fail to correctly READ it, and thus get we stuck on the literal meanings of its verses and fail to recognize its actual message.
And then, with this congested perception, we claim the Quran is outdated and not in line with current times!
To construe the verses that claim freeing a slave is the biggest worship – keeping in mind enslavement was an established cultural practice in those communities – as ‘Islam gives consent to enslavement’ can be nothing but perversion of the truth driven by ulterior motives.
To claim Islam is a compulsive and suppressive religion when it does not accept any form of compulsion and even warns the Rasul, “You are not an enforcer upon them”, is a great injustice and a clear representation of the failure to grasp the spirit of the Quran.
Democracy in its widest sense is contained only in the principles of Islam, for the Quran does not impose any form of enforcement upon anyone.
The Quran only makes suggestions to enable bliss and tranquility to people's lives, it tells them those who apply these suggestions will benefit while those who do not will incur a loss that cannot be compensated...
Apart from these suggestions, neither individuals nor any government has any right to enforce its application upon anyone, according to the spirit of the religion of Islam. Each person is liable to evaluate these suggestions with their own logic and intellect, to act without being under the force or suppression of anyone, and face the consequences alone.
The incorrect judgments of the ignorant and heedless due to incorrectly reading the spirit of the Quran are not binding upon anyone. On the other hand, staying away from Islam and the Quran because of these misconceptions is not an excuse.
The responsibility to read the Quran and learn the religion of Islam lies with the individual. The path to learning Islam is through the Quran, not through the actions and words of ‘Muslims’. Therefore, the consequences of incorrectly interpreting Islam is binding upon the individual.
So, if the Quran has come to make men and women recognize their vicegerency potential and teach them how to fulfill its necessity, and to inform them about the conditions of the eternal life and how best to prepare for it, then most assuredly, to read and correctly evaluate the Quran is one of the most beneficial things one can do. He who does so will reap its benefits; he who doesn't, will live its consequences.
Neither the One referenced with the name Allah nor the Rasul of Allah, Muhammad (saw), needs our faith or deeds. Everything we do is for our own lives, both current and future.
Blessed are those who ‘READ’ the Quran and live their lives accordingly...
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