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ADMONITIONS FROM THE QURAN |  |
It is God who has revealed the Book to you in which some verses are CRYSTAL CLEAR statements. These are the essence of the Book, while others are allegorical (open to interpretation). Those whose hearts are perverse, follow the unclear statements in pursuit of their own mischievous goals by interpreting them in a way that will suit their own purpose. And no one knows its true interpretation except God. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book. The whole of it is from our Lord:" ... (Ali Imran3/7)
Muhkam is an Arabic word meaning decisive. Mutashabih is another Arabic word meaning allegorical. The meaning of the decisive verses is crystal clear and they are fundamentals of the Quran. On the other hand the real meaning of the allegorical verses is not known by the most of the people. Even though there is no clear indication which verses are the decisive ones, Islam scholars maintain that those pertaining to faith and pious deeds, permissible and forbidden acts and the histories of the past nations must be the fundamental ones. There are some decisive verses that, while not completely understandable in the beginning, become fully transparent in the next parts of the Quran. Hud 11/1: "…The Quran whose verses are made decisive, perfectly constructed , and then fully explained in detail. It is from the God who is All-Wise…" So, the Holy Book has to be read and analysed carefully.
Opinions about Mutashabib (allegorical) verses relate to the following: 1) The time of Doomsday, 2) Certain characters such as Elif lâm mîm, 3) Verses of similar meaning, 4) Verses which are open to different interpretations, 5) Some words of ambiguous meaning, 6) Complex legal issues.
The Holy Quran is the perpetual guide to believers until Doomsday. Over time, as the science of astronomy has progressed in the present age, allegorical verses are clarified. One of these was the discovery almost forty years ago that the sun moves in an orbit. Yasin 36/38: "And The sun moves in its orbit. This is the dispensation of the mighty, all-knowing (God)." The Quran stated this scientific truth centuries ago however this was an allegorical verse until this discovery transformed the allegorical verse into a fundamentally decisive verse. There are more examples in the Quran that some allegorical verses have become basic fundamental verses.
The Quran states that the allegorical verses need to be re-interpreted in line with the spirit of the messages of the fundamental verses and in the light of scientific developments.
THE QURAN WAS SENT TO ALL MANKIND
The Holy Quran was sent for the salvation and bliss of all mankind not only for people who live in Saudi Arabia. Saba 34/28 : "... (O Prophet), We have sent you to mankind, to give them good news and forewarn them..." The Quran was revealed in Arabic and the fundamental decisive verses were clearly stated. However, The process of learning Arabic is too long and difficult to allow most people to be able to read the Quran in its original language. Ibrahim 14/4: "And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them." People who live in non-Arabic countries of the world must follow Islam by reading the decisive verses of the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet (habits and practices) in translation. Baqarah 2/185 : "... God wants ease for you and does not want any hardship for you..." The salvation of man lies in learning and living by the divine laws. Nisa 4/175: "God will surely admit those who believe in Him and hold fast to Him to His mercy and bounty, and will guide them on to a straight way. "
JIHAD IN THE QURAN - WAR IN THE QURAN