Learning From the Holy Quran: Its Significance and Logical Relevance

By Kazi Wadud Nawaz, New Age Islam

9 November 2023

The Anticipated Scientific “Theory Of Everything ‘, Einstein’s General And Special Theory Of Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, String Theory, Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution, Theories Of Biological Evolution- All These Scientific Theories Are Most Powerful Cognitive Tools For Understanding Secrets Of Divine Creation Matter, Life And Consciousness. The Spiral Evolutionary Transformation Of “Ayat-E- Mutashabih” Into “Ayat-E Muhkam” And Vice-Versa Seems To Be Manifested In The Natural Process Of Mutual Transformation Of Events At Mini, Micro And Nano Level Into Macro Level Realities. And Herein Lies The Logical Relevance Of The Holy Quran

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The Holy Quran is a book of revelation and the knowledge derived from it is a revealed knowledge manifesting the absolute and Eternal Reality. Whereas the knowledge derived by human being from other sources is partial and relative. Science at any stage of its historical evolution upholds a relative truth. From the viewpoint of Quranic Theory of Knowledge, Faith is the foundation of all knowledge. Human endeavour towards unravelling the mysteries of divine creation is the greatest worship and the knowledge related to it is the best knowledge. Quranic knowledge deals with mysteries of divine creation and that’s why it is called the book of greatest wisdom. Shariah Laws that aims at   regulating Islamic Society and human life in line with basic human nature are extension of this knowledge.

Allah has revealed the Holy Quran for the whole of mankind just to appraise him of the aims and objectives of divine creation.

· “This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah;” [Verse:2:2]

·         These are clear evidences to men and a Guidance and Mercy to those of assured Faith. [Verse: 45:20]

·         Had We sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain you would indeed have seen it humbling itself and breaking asunder out of fear of Allah. We propound such parables to people that they may reflect. [Verse 59:21]

·         Recite in the name of your Lord Who created, created man from a clot of congealed blood. Recite: and your Lord is Most Generous, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he did not know. Nay, surely man transgresses; for he believes himself to be self-sufficient. Surely to your Lo rd is your return [Verses: 96:1-8]

The above four verses have clearly proclaimed the significance of learning from the holy Quran. The divine instruction for reading as mentioned in the verses (96:1-8) is a clear instruction for mankind to learn from the book of nature and the holy Quran. As evident from the verse 2:2, Faith and Righteousness (Taqwa) are keys to access the treasure of Quranic knowledge.

 For the Believers Al-Quran is clear evidence of the existence of Allah and they need no other evidence. The Holy Quran is the treasure of knowledge for the believers. It deals with mysteries of divine creation and system of universal governance, and regulatory mechanism of ethical dimensions of basic human nature.

As a path-finder it is the greatest divine mercy for the believers. Allah has built up mountains with solidified stones but His mercy makes the fountain flow piercing its iron-hearts. Similarly, the Holy Quran melts down the iron hearts of mankind and makes tears flow down his eyes in endless streams. Al-Quran touches the innermost corner of human heart stirring deep at the root of basic human nature resulting in unprecedented changes in his thoughts and consciousness. This is what happened in the early days of Islamic Civilization. The mental reaction of Hazrat Umar (R.A) and many other Sahabis ( R. A) prior to  conversion to Islam proved the truthfulness of verses:59:21 and 29:23.

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

We have made the Qur'an easy to derive lessons from. Is there, then, any who will take heed? (54:22)

And verily, We have made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember. Then is there anyone who will receive admonition? (54:32)

The Divine steps taken to make the Holy Quran easy to understand for mankind are as follows

1.      We have indeed propounded for mankind all kinds of parables in this Qur'an that they may take heed. (39:27)

2.      Linguistic artistry and melodious note have made the Holy Quran easy to learn it by heart even for the children. This is the only Book instilled so deeply in the heart of millions and there is no second one. So far as linguistic uniqueness of the Holy Quran is concerned, Allah says that

“Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble in threat [ Verse:39:23]

3.      Contrary to the Jewish tradition of searching and understanding the creator in relation to causal connections of unknown realities the Holy Quran instructs mankind to search for the creator in the light of known realities instead of groping in the darkness. This is the greatest lesson of the Holy Quran.

·         All these are to serve as eye openers and as a lesson to every being who is prone to turn (to the Truth). [Verse-50:8)

·         Will you not then, see? In heaven is your sustenance and whatever promised for you “[Verse: 51:20-22]

 To facilitate human understanding of Ultimate Reality and acceptance of divine guidance Allah has made the Holy Quran easy to understand. But out of our lust and ignorance we try to make it difficult to access.

Building up Islamic Value – based Institutions at family, society, national and international level, needs creative study and pragmatic research on the Holy Quran.

Materialistic world-outlook has turned mankind into slaves of selfish desire. Inculcating Taqwa or highest form of Islamic morality at social and national level needs integration of science and spirituality in education and culture. Islam never permits any adulteration of religious values, education and culture.

The Holy Quran calls all the rejecters of divine signs and Books of Revelation to be blind, deaf and dumb. The Holy Quran says:” They have hearts but they cannot realize, they have eyes but they cannot see, they have ears but they cannot hear, they are like beasts, or even worse than that, they are reckless and won’t care at all.”

Allah has created man and the universe with a definite purpose. Any event however trifling it might seem occurs for achieving specific divine purpose as an integral part of pre-destined divine planning. The Verse-65:3 proclaims:

“---- For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: verily for all things has Allah appointed due proportion.”

Any divine creation however, small or big are instrumental in serving the divine purpose. Harnessing one tyrant to reign down another and orienting conflicting diverse antagonistic forces, to serve a predestined divine objective, constitute a vital divine strategy for restoring check and balance in universal governance.

So according to the Holy Quran, whims of blind nature cannot be the guiding force of universal governance and creative evolution. Allah has proclaimed in the Holy Quran, “:(O man) Can’t you see that I have created the universe perfectly with truth, any moment He can wipe you out off the face of the earth and bring up a new creation in your place.” [Verse: 14:19]

This Truth, as the constituents of the Universe can be realized only through integration of the Holy Quran and Science. Natural Science reveals the innate truth of the material world that is ‘Ayat-e-Muhkam’ in Quranic term. The Ultimate Nature of Things can be realized only through integration of the two; Ayat-e-Muhkam and Mutashabih   science and spirituality.

Allah has clearly declared in QuranicVerse-41:53 –

Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things? [41:53]

The above verse is a clear reference to the evolutionary development of human cognition of the truth of the Holy Quran and Mysteries of all divine creation to be unravelled step by step by latest discoveries of modern science. Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity and subsequently Max Planck’s Theory of Quantum Mechanics might pave the way towards unravelling the mystery of creation an d emergence of life on earth and anywhere in the universe.

The modern scientific theories of Relativity, Astrophysics, Cosmology etc. are likely to unravel the mystery at macro-level, whereas Biology, Genetics, Micro-Molecular and Quantum Biology- all are likely to contribute at micro-level. Integration of the two might result in Unified Theory of Creation in future.

On the question of Matter and Consciousness Max Planck, the father of Quantum Mechanics said, “I regard consciousness as fundamental; I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness.” This amply castigates materialist assertion that ‘Consciousness is derivative from Matter.”

According to the Holy Quran the knowledge of Allah, the Universal Consciousness, envelopes entire realm of the material universe. And the Holy Quran is a mirror that reflects that light on to the human consciousness for creative regulation of human life. But this is possible only through creative integration with the vast treasure of evolving scientific knowledge of all ages in future.

There is no contradiction between science and the holy Quran. But the problem lies with our limitations in cognizing the essence of the Quranic Verses.  The Holy Quran is vehemently opposed to materialistic interpretation of any scientific discovery.

The Quantum Approach of modern science has revealed that polytheistic function of diverse natural forces is the manifestation of monotheistic dominion of a unique universal consciousness.

The present trend of scientific development tends to lead human consciousness towards freedom from polytheistic bondage and bring it under monotheistic chain of command likely to be explained by the proposed “Theory of Everything” from scientific point of view, manifesting Tawhid or Unity of Allah as described in the Holy Quran.

The Anticipated Scientific “Theory of Everything ‘, Einstein’s general and special theory of Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, String Theory, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, Theories of Biological Evolution- all these scientific theories are most powerful cognitive tools for understanding secrets of divine creation matter, life and consciousness. The Spiral Evolutionary transformation of “Ayat-e- Mutashabih” into “Ayat-e Muhkam” and vice-versa seems to be manifested in the natural process of mutual transformation of events at mini, micro and nano level into macro level realities. And herein lies the logical relevance of the Holy Quran

 

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