The Teaching of Quran
The teaching of Quran
ظهور الأسلام و نزول الوحي و القرآن علي الرسول الكريم
The Quran addresses itself to the universe and shows tolerance to the "AHL ALKITAB" (the Jews and Christians), as long as they are trully devoted to the teachings of the Bible, and this because the Word of God is One in all His books, i.e. the Old and the New Testaments and the Quran. All of these books address themselves to the universe and not a minority of races. The following Quranic passage is characteristic Al Maida: The Table:
In the name of Allah, most Gracious and Merciful
And nearest among them in love
to the Believers wilt thou
Find those who say
"We are Christians"
Because amongst these are
Men devoted to learning
And men who have renounced
the World, and they
are not arrogant
The Quran, first professes the perfect faith
"Al Shahadah", the prayers I believe in Islam: La illaha illa Allah Muhammed rasul Allah
meaning that: there is no other God except God, Mohammed is God's delegate
and then goes on to teach the new institutions (asceticism, regular praying, fasting throughout the month RAMADAN, Al zakah - holy tax, the holy pilgrimage in Mecca) of a) praying, b)fasting, c)Zakah - the holy tax of 2.5% of the annual income of the rich to the benefit of the poor, d) doing on a pilgrimage to Mecca (for those who could afford it) e) marriage, divorce, inheritance and in general, it defines the changes in economic, social, political and moral institutions. What should be emphasixed is that the Quranic teaching apart from moral and religious doctrines, uses the skeptical method, which causes the reader to see, to think, to meditate and to investigate the Universe, God's gift, energy sources and all other graces of God. This method constitutes the foundation of Islamic teaching.
The following phrase is found in the Quran:
"Only Scientists are excellent devouts". The greatest emphasis of all is given precisely on this matter in the Quran, which makes use of numerous scientific terms and provides scientific speculation. By means of its skeptical method, the Quran stimulate meditation upon Destiny, God's justice and will, human responsibility, self-government etc. A philosophical terminology of Logic is used in it, such as mind, intellect, the aesthetic, dialectics, proof and others. It extols moderation of virtue as the excellent of moderations etc. It should be noted that the Quran reflects the culture of that time which was then international. This is proven by the fact that almost a thousand years before the appearance of Islam, the privilege of representing a culture with an international character was a privilege of the older continents, when Alexander the Great put his unionist movement into practice to various people. Then Hellenism dominated the world with the form of a mixture of civilisations that flourished for centuries. During the Byzantine era it was weakened but its torch was still burning in the East. Thus this international spirit will be reborn in Islamism and through it it will illuminate the whole Europe. It is therefore implied that the Quran is not simply any written text but a collection of mental treasures. It is an inexhaustible source of stimulation. It does not contend itself with providing justifications only, but also seeks to find the inaccessible truth of the visible and invisible world.
The Quran is comprehensible by uneducated people as well whereas at the same time the learned men come across questions to be answered after deep speculation. This could be the reason why it is regarded as the starting point of Islamic letters that virtually reflect the international spirit. These texts are approachable to everyone. There are not, however, enough Greek studies that analyse Islam as a unionist movement, such as the ones of Achnaton, Alexander the Great, Jesus Christ and other important unionists in history. The Islamic unionist movement that started as a spiritual one but ended up being a liberating one constitutes the main cultural vehicle of Islamism.
By teaching the Quran, Mohammed (P.B.U.H.) managed before his death -632 AD- to unite all the Arab races in one powerful country, having Medina as its political capital city and Mecca as its religious one. The mosque was not only a place to pray. It was at the same time a house of government, a parliament, a school and a court. The Quranic text was vibrant in the hearts of muslims as a prayer and as a way of life as well. To have knowledge of the Quran proved a muslim Arab's adequacy with regard to education and formation.
The prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H.) struggled to defend Arabia started from Mecca, when he sent some unarmed, persecuted followers of his to Ethiopia as immigrants. In Medina however and from 622 AD onwards, Mohammed's (P.B.U.H.) followers were a lot and capable of defending themselves and repelling the assaults of the Jews and the pagans inhabitants of Mecca. In 6 years the muslims defeated their enemies, conquered Mecca and united the races of central Arabia. The immigrant muslims returned to Medina safe and sound and settled there.
In a peaceful environment now, the teaching of writing and of foreign languages was established under Muhammed's encouragement. He also started to send delegations to the Emperor of Byzantium, Herakleios, the King of Persia, Chosroi, to Makuka in Egypt, the King of Ethiopia, the Arabic tribe chiefs of Byzantium and those of Persia. The content of Mohammed's letter was a call to the One and Only God, the Creator, the Omnipotent and Pantocrator. This was also a invitation for reconciliation and peace among the nations, as well as declaration that the Arabs were now Muslims, i.e. devoted to the One and Only and Omnipotent God and that they were also equal to other people and not their slaves any longer. The Arabic tribal chiefs of Byzantium as well as Chosroi, the King of Persia, killed the muslim delegates. On the contrary, the Emperor of Byzantium, Herakleios, and other leaders (of Egypt, Ethiopia and the tribal chiefs of Persia) responded to Muhammed (P.B.U.H.) positively.
Professor Dr. Amin A. Ezeldin