A good and thoughtful friend of mine expressed concerns regarding the
use of Quranic verses in many of the opinion disputes and arguments
these days. He definitely has legitimate concerns that worry me too.
But I only partially agreed with him as I see some legitimate uses as
well. I may be trying to split hairs, especially in the middle of the
opinion and verbal war going on these days about the situation in Egypt,
but I think I still have a point to share. And here it is:
"
I
agree with you totally on most of your statements. But I have only a
partial, or qualified; agreement with your final sentence regarding
avoiding the use of Quranic verses.
Of the Quranic verses, there are verses that could be abused: for
example, using verses to hint that one group is the group of the
believers (or God's favorite) or that the other is not. That is God's
judgement. Another example is using verses that God used to express
His, the Almighty, judgement of communities or individuals in the past
or on the Day of Judgment is a transgression against God.
BUT,
and it is a big but, Quranic verses are also the most effective reminder
of the moral principles or fairness, justice, the need for coherence in
making moral judgements (i.e., avoiding double standards, or AL-tatfeef
التطفيف), the need to rethink our stances and opinions in view of what
we thinks is right (Al-Taqua التقوى), or of the need to testify to the
truth according to conscience and not desires (Al-hawa الهوى), and even
the need to avoid excessive anger and to practice tolerance and
encourage coexistence. Using these verses as a reminder of our moral
responsibility is A MAJOR goal and use of the Quran: it is a REMINDER to
those that think of it as a reference for morality.
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