Introduction
From a faith perspective, religion comes to provide clarity, guidance, and light in a world of confusion, fears and anxiety. We are
conditioned to accept that it is all clear cut, black and white, right or wrong.
Scriptural citations are made in order to validate particular theological or methodological positions, and an assumption is
automatically made that any disagreement with the position in question amounts to religious corruption, rejection of faith, or even rejection of God himself (i.e. atheism).
The purpose of this brief post is to outline some important points to remember when encountering views or methodologies that are counter to our own. The primary focus of this article is the religion of Islam and the Muslim community.
One Scripture, Many Interpretations
A profound expression attributed to the Prophet's son in law, 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib, says that while the Qur'an is from God, its interpreters are humans. Diversity is a part of the human experience, and creation itself would be a dull ad boring existence if not for the various ways of understanding and applying ideas, arts, and any other item you could name.
For Muslims we are blessed to have a scripture that is universally accepted as being the same text that emanated from the Prophet (FT.1). It is viewed as a text that is totally secure from corruption. It is the most read and scrutinized religious text.
While there has always been differences in interpretation (ft.2), the primary as well as the most of the secondary foundations have
always been accepted. Thus, Shiites and Sunnis accept the Qur'an, Prophet Muhammad (
Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam), the five pillars, the articles of faith, and so forth. Divergence
from these core principles have rightly been viewed with suspicion.
The Qur'anic language itself is largely general. It
deliberately does not always go into specifics. Indeed, the story that forms the second chapter of the text highlights the pitfalls of always looking for precise details. Allah The Almighty asks the Children of Israel to make a sacrifice. They demand the specific details of the animal, so much so that the point of doing that was lost.
With that said, it is also a part of the nature of the Quranic text that it has allowances for the mind to delve into it, to bring out gems of insight, beautiful and profound realizations that impact one's faith, law, and social development.
Unity through diversity
Within the same religious community, even the same sect, differences can emerge. This is part of the development of man. The Qur'an itself states thusly :" And if God has wanted, He would have made you one unit...( Q 5:48).
Allah wants us to benefit from diversity, indeed, unity itself can be achieved when we can accept that differences are fine, so long as the foundational structures are present.
I believe that the trend to make everyone think and act the same, atleast in an Islamic framework, comes from an imperialist mindset. It assumes that we are always right, and other always wrong. It stems from a desire to exercise power, and it is such mindsets that we have to be cautious of.
There is always more grey than black and white. Life and its surrounding circumstances can be very complex and complicated. Our experiences may not be the experiences of others, we are often not privy to the social and religious realities of others.
Allah wants dedication and sincerity, Not Robotic movements
All of us are aware that the Qur'an says that God desires neither blood nor meat, but rather
taqwaa.
Taqwaa is a by product of moral and spiritual intelligence.It has to be cultivated, and that takes time. Knowledge and wisdom likewise takes time to develop. It is actually lifelong. Mistakes can be made along the way, but that is also a means by which lessons are learned.
Conclusion
Islam is a religion that seeks the best for its followers, indeed, for mankind itself. This is why it is not only against the consumption of intoxicants and gambling (waste of resources), it is also against destructive concepts such as racism, sexism, and the like. We seek the preservation of all that makes life worth living, all that makes life safe and happy.
Unity is achievable through diversity, and diversity is likewise achievable by the recognition of the true source of unity, THE LORD OF ALL. The Lord of all has put us in the situations that we are in. He has put us in the environments we are in, and has allowed us to make judgements that are-hopefully- in line with the goals and apsirations of all human beings, justice, peace and security.
Let us avoid sectarian pitfalls, try to stick to the fundamentals of our faith, agree on what we all agree upon, agree to disagree, and move on.
Footnotes
[1] While the religious teaching that the Qur'an was given to the Prophet by God through the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) is disputed by Non Muslims, it should be accepted by all hands that the Qur'an was recited from the Prophet to humans.
[2] The differences in interpretations, at least in the early period, seemed to be more around
Fiqhi issues rather than theological points. There are a variety of interpretative methods that have been employed throughout the ages, approaches to scripture that have yielded great results. A good way to understand the Qur'an, even if reading it in a language other than Arabic, is to read it consistently, take notes, ask those whose knowledge and insight you can trust and respect, and keep in mind that your own relationship to the text will keep changing as your own life expands in experiences.
