Engaging The Qur'an (Frequently Asked Questions FAQs)

                        In the name of God, The Most-Compassionate, The Ever-Merciful

By the grace and blessing of Allah Subhaanahu wa ta'alaa, we have recently released a work entitled Engaging The Qur'an. The more it's release has become noticed by the reading public, the more inquiries are made! Thus, we have decided to address the bulk of those often asked questions in the present article.

Question #1 Does Engaging The Qur'an cite any of the traditional commentaries (Tafaseer) ?

Answer # 1- Yes, Engaging The Qur'an does in fact give, as sources for its arguments, citations from the books of Tafseer.  Readers will notice references to Al-Kashshaaf by the great linguist Az-Zamakhshari, Al Baydawi's commentary, Ibn Katheer's work (called Tafseer Al Qur'an Al 'Adheem) and others. 

Question #2-  Is this a book that covers the entire Qur'an in explanation?

Answer # 2-No. It contains 55 chapters, addressing several subjects, however, it does have a detailed commentary with fresh conclusions of some of the most popular sections of the Qur'an.  Titles of such chapters include Kursiyy: The Divine Throne (regarding Q 2:255), Divine Light (regarding Q 24:35), Back to Basics (on Q 1:1-7), Joseph: The best of stories, applicable to modern Muslims (on the entirety of Soorah Yusuf ), and more. 

Question #3 Is this a book for Non-Muslim readers?

Answer # 3 - Yes. It is  largely directed towards a Non-Muslim audience. It deliberately chooses language and a style that those with no previous exposure to Islam would be able to understand. It addresses misconceptions such as those related to war, jihad, Taqiyyah, the (so-called) Islamic Dilemma, and much more.

Question # 4-Why should Muslims read it?

 Answer #4 - In truth, it's content is for everybody, but it does contain some level of content relevant for the practical application of the Islamic message, such as the third  chapter  entitled Zakaat: A fresh look at its application, Inquiries on Salaah, A fish out of water: Being Muslim in a Non-religious society, and much more.

Question #5 -Where can it be purchased?

 Answer: For now, it is on sale in hardback and E-book versions on Amazon.com. At the top of this article, one will find a QR code, which will allow a quick scan to read sample pages, or obtain the book in hardback or E-book version.

Question #6- Are there sample pages available to read?

Yes. On Amazon.com

Question #7- Is there a bibliography available?

Answer: Engaging The Qur'an provides evidence for its assertions in its footnotes, which spans from the Qur'an itself, Hadeeth, Prophetic biography (Seerah), as well as Western academics. While this edition does not have a separate  bibliography, one will find a diversity of sources cited. 

Question #8- What is the main goal of the book?

Answer: #8-  To make the Qur'an understandable but also applicable in the modern world. It invites the readers to interact with the scripture with fresh eyes, not to blindly accept all of the conclusions within the book! 

Question #9- Are the Quranic texts referenced with original Arabic ?

Answer #9- Yes. With some exceptions, all Quranic texts (as well as a number of Prophetic ahadeeth) have the Arabic text and the English translation.

Question #10- Which English translation of the Qur'an was used for this work?

Answer #10- For the most part, the translations in the work are my own translation of the Arabic text. We did consult a number of established  English-language Qur'an translations, and have noted  within the work where other translators were used. In addition, we have explained in detail the choice of certain words and concepts. 

                                                                                                                                

                                                                      

Islam In America part 1 ( Slideshow, Audio and video recording of session, complete with Q & A)

      the name of God, The Most Compassionate, The Ever-Merciful.

You will find below a video which summarizes the slideshow of our presentation, the first of three scheduled, on Islam in America. Keep in mind that the intention of the 1st session is to introduce information that will be conveyed more clearly in the sessions scheduled to come. 

You will also find below links to the bulk of the presentation, largely in audio format. 

Video one (Part "A")

Q and A session for video one

A brief introduction to the work "Engaging The Qur'an"

 

A brief introduction to the work 'Engaging The Qur'an"

Much of my intellectual work has been dedicated to the Islamic scripture, its understanding and application, particularly in a world which is more or less dominated by Western thought. An honest reader will testify to that, even if the conclusions we reach are controversial.

We have- by the grace and blessing of Allah (subhaanahu Wa ta'alaa)- published this unique work in a very presentable, professional fashion. It has been made accessible to everyone, in both E-book and Hardback formats. 

It contains 55 chapters, nearly 100 footnotes, and is designed not only to answer the most important questions about the faith, it also contains unique conclusions on some of the most popular Quranic texts. It is also deliberately fashioned to be readable for anyone, regardless of their previous exposure to Islam.

Although just newly published, we have already received some feedback from readers. Some of them are found below

" ..It's pretty interesting thus far. I like how you wrote concise sections...You definetely  accomplished (making it easy for Non-Muslim readers)..." 

" Very good book reading it now MashaAllah"

"Alhamdulillah you inspire me."

"It's a very good book congratulations."

To obtain this work, go to the following link. Click here or simply type "Engaging the Qur'an by Shamsuddin Waheed" on Amazon.com 

Term & Age limits: a short musing on political and religious leadership

 Introduction

For our readers, I think it is safe to say that in general, United States president Donald Trump's term in office, particularly the second (and current) term has been marked with chaos, irrational actions and statements. Foreign policy has been a mess, an illegal war upon Iran, with shifting rationale and goals, whose main beneficiary is of course Israel.  His supporters, in a similar vein, totally ignore the EPSTEIN FILES and seemingly have even elevated him to a Christ-like status, as illustrated in the defense given by Pastor John Marks Burns (an advisor to President Trump himself) of a golden statue of Trump, unveiled recently at a Miami golf-course.

These, and his many famously other actions, have prompted me to think on many topics, among them the impact of age on a leader. This question has also been posed (at least in my mind) in other areas that have little political impact, such as within the religious and social realms. In particular, of late I have been in rather deep study of a particular figure's published thoughts on Islam, in particular scriptural understanding. I am the first to admit that there is a great amount of freedom in terms of analysis and conclusion, on the hermeneutics of Scripture, even within Islam, and while I consider myself open-minded and fair in my judgement, some of the conclusions made by this particular figure are far beyond the pale in terms of not only the boundaries of normative Islam, but even of rational and reasonable thought! In respect to the overarching good works that that particular figure has done, I will not name him, but in all honesty I think that, just as with President Trump, some level of cognitive dysfunction has created  these negative consequences. 

Term limits

In an American context, particularly for the highest office of the land, the  maximum amount of time to serve has been two terms, each term being four years.  The 22nd amendment to the United States constitution has been officially in place in order to prevent the emergence of a dictator. Of course, other nations have their own rules, many of which have no term limits for their leaders.

I believe there is great wisdom in this approach, particularly in a nation whose history is as complex as that of the United States. The USA was founded as a rebellion against the tyranny of the British royal family, as well as a safe haven for  victims of  religious persecution within Europe.  

Should there be age limits?

On the global scene, both political and non-political contexts, there has not been an age cap for leaders. Advanced age is traditionally associated with wisdom and experience, generating respect and veneration. Obviously, the format of the above varies from culture to culture.

From an Islamic perspective, meaning from the Qur'an and Prophetic statements (ahadeeth), I cannot find any set-in-stone texts on an age cap. This makes sense when we consider that the Islamic guidance is more on a general level, leaving specific questions such as that to be answered by the social norms and healthy mechanisms that exist within a particular society.

What about an "elderly" political/social system?

This is actually a more interesting question. If we were to take Italy, as an example, it is a nation in which at least a quarter of its population is deemed "elderly", second only to Japan. It is logical that a generation of people, with entrenched mindsets and an established political order, would be slow to accept change, even if such change is positive. It is also understandable that both the leadership and the general population would be reluctant to hand over the keys to others. 

In such a context where younger people are either not present or are a political minority, perhaps the best course would be to simply wait for nature to take its course. Nothing lasts forever, including centers of power. This is taught to us not only from history, but also from the Qur'an. 

"and to every 'ummah' a time limit (has been decreed).(ft.1)"  (Q 7:34)

Sooner or later, the systems fall to a fresh and more relevant way of thinking and doing.  This can have application in the context of those who hold the keys in the social and religious realms. In the case of politics, where figures and ways of thinking are often entrenched, where corruption and narcissism are prevalent, it is usually the case that such a system will break down under its own Fasaad! This was precisely the case with the Roman empire, and even as recently as the British empire (which occupied most of the globe, to the extent that the maxim "the sun never sets on the British empire" was born) and the Soviet Union. 

What about religion?

In terms of religious leadership and community, much of what has been said above also has application. However, admittedly it can get as murky as even within secular political intrigue. Those who hold the keys may have done great work with sincerity, while it can also be the case that there were insincere or hidden  interests behind their actions. Delusions can also emerge, where individuals manifest mentalities and complexes that are dangerous in one sense or another. 

If we are focusing on religious theology or practice (Ie. addressing perceived errors or distortions that are based on delusions or age-induced cognitive issues), it can be addressed in such a manner that does not generate conflict or present a disrespectful picture. This is true of our perceptions of other religions as well! 

However, it is good to keep in mind issues of age and cognitive issues, and approach situations with mercy, understanding and wisdom.

As much as possible, we should not give keys to those who demonstrate extreme cognitive issues. The Qur'an itself says this in connection to wealth (Q 4:5), but it can be applicable to other areas of power as well. In the case where the system itself has not aged well, perhaps a new system would be needed, one which bypasses the one in place. In other words, rather than overthrowing something, do something else that has its own independence and address the needs where the older system has neglected! 

May Allah give us intellect, mercy and wisdom! Ameen! 

(ft.1) In this context, I have long understood "ummatin" in this Quranic verse to refer to a center of political or civilizational power.

"This is the third letter I have sent you" ( A reply to an anonymous Christian missionary)

 

Introduction

Over the years, in every Muslim community I have been active in, the mosque would receive phone calls, messages via various channels, and occasionally anonymous letters from Christian sources wanting to "save our souls". Sometimes, the letters will have packages that are actually useful for me as an individual with interests in religion (one example is a copy of the New Testament in Arabic), while other times will be deceptively packaged content (such as polemical literature disguised as Islamic literature, complete with Arabic or Quranic style font), and, more often than one may think, insulting messages on the answering machine. 

The image above arrived this morning. It is the 1st page of a three-page letter, filled with religious rhetoric and disparaging remarks. There was no return address or contact information for the writer. The postmark is from out of state, and I suspect the letter was sent to every mosque the writer could find.  It is not of a professional nature, the writer is clearly more emotionally-oriented than factual, nonetheless I have decided to make a reply here. It is unlikely the author of the letter will ever come across my reply, and of course the author did not intend myself specifically to be the recipient, however for the purpose of this composition, we will reply as if I was the intended person to receive the author's message. After all, I do work as a Muslim Imam, in a Muslim communal context, so it is reasonable to share a reply. The heading in bold print is from the letter. 

"This is the third letter I have sent you."

Thank you for taking the time to write to me.  I have seen similar letters to this one, but since you have never left your contact information, I cannot in fact verify if I have indeed received your messages. It may be prudent to actually engage your audience in a respectful fashion, in a professional manner. Think of it as marketing. You wish to sell me a product, to convince me to buy it. Leaving a letter on my door, without a return address, phone number, email or even a name, will ensure that I am never even given an opportunity to purchase the product you are selling.

"Islam is completely demonic. I have given you much more information than you need..you have been a slave to doctrines of demons as well as your congregation."

Interesting comment, but contrast that to the Qur'an. It is a book which actually tells its readers to supplicate God before its reading by the words "I seek refuge with God from Satan the rejected enemy." ( See Q16:98).

It is a faith that teaches regular prayer and Charity, discipline and sobriety, honest dealings in business and a generous nature.  This does not mean Muslims are angels, but it does mean that your description of our faith as being "completely demonic" is simply a false, hyperbolic statement not even closely related to reality.

"I have studied more than you...I have looked at it close enough and studied for and against..."

I understand that you don't know me that well, but in all honesty, I doubt you have studied Islam "more than me". What books have you read? What teachers have you engaged with? What degree have you attained? Have you been able to study the primary sources in the primary language ( Arabic)?  Please answer these questions, that way we can determine if you have in fact studied Islam more than I have. 

Just for your information, I have studied other religions, their doctrines and texts as well.  We will get into that later in this article. 

" I have gone much deeper in my search for truth than you have ever contemplated...you have never looked for truth or proof, or you would not be a Muslim. Islam is guilty and you are guilty by association."

I can say with honesty that I am a student of truth. I try my best to understand and present truths, even about other religions, philosophies, even political views. I don't intentionally misrepresent what others think, and I try to understand from the primary sources. To go further, those whom I have been blessed to encounter in my life, from Non-Muslim backgrounds, I can say that at least 85% of them are people highly educated in religious matters, some of whom having even been pastors, monks and other Christian clergy, who, upon their own study of Islam, became convinced of its veracity and subsequently its most dedicated and vocal defenders. 

Since your assertion is about "me", seemingly you hold the view that I have never really studied the Bible, for example, please see the images below, which has only one of the shelves in my home with Bibles, Bible commentaries and the like. Other places within my home have even more works on the Bible, Jewish and Christian theology, history, and so forth. I also have many Christian friends, some of whom are clergy, with whom I have engaged in deep discussions. In addition, I have engaged the polemics and often even the antagonistic missionaries, directly. Face to face. Not through anonymous letters or internet debates. In public and private, these interactions have taken place. Moreover, again referencing converts to Islam, in general they are people who have engaged religious texts and doctrines on a deeper level, and their research has led them to view Islam as the path of guidance that emanates from God. 

You assign "guilt " to me, followed by me being "guilty by association", but you don't make clear what I am guilty of. 

'"No one can win me to Islam"

I have never tried to win you to Islam, and I doubt any other Muslim has tried either. This is because that while we freely admit that Islam is a missionary religion, the fact is is that the majority of Muslims, even active, religious Muslims, are frankly too busy with our own issues, with no time and no interest to chase after you, seeking your conversion. Ultimately, guidance is God's job (Qur'an  6:71), not mine!

"The Quran says Jesus is not God in the flesh, that Jesus was a Prophet, Jesus never claimed to be a Prophet.." 

True, Islam teaches that God is alone and cannot be conceived in human terms. However, the Bible contains many passages using the term "prophet" to refer to Jesus, for whom (as a Muslim) we ask God to grant him peace. Matthew 21:11 (NIV) asserts that the people of Jerusalem referred to him as "Jesus the Prophet". Even the Arabic language N.T. that I own, provided by a missionary package to a mosque, uses the same term "haadhaa Yasoo'un Nabi" ("This is Jesus the Prophet"). Other places where this title is used include Luke 7:16,  John 6:14, Luke 4:24, as well as in the writings attributed to Paul. 

"Islam says Jesus was not crucified, but another took his place: ridiculous, childish tales. You have to be a moron to believe that."

Insulting us won't win us over. Yes, Qur'an (Q 4:171) says that Jesus was not crucified, but it does NOT claim another took his place. Some people think that, but that is not what the Qur'an says. For more information on this, I would kindly refer you to the following discussion, which took place between Christian YouTube personalities Brian Davilla, Evan Raugust and myself

Click here (Why trust the Qur'an)

In short, Islam teaches that all of us are responsible before God for our actions, no one can pay for our sins, let alone the "son of God" as portrayed in mainstream Christianity.

Conclusion

This reply is not meant to be polemical in nature, nor does it intend to be insulting. Despite our differences, we respect Christians and have no problems with them believing and practicing their faith as they see fit. The purpose of this reply is to generate food for thought, for all readers. We hope that will be accomplished. Unlike the author of the anonymous letter, we are very transparent and accessible. In fact, my image is below, just to show that we have no fear in these regards.  We welcome dialogue, be it in the comment section of this article or elsewhere. Our contact information is widely available. May God deliver guidance to us all. 

                                                                                               

Insight into the Qur'an ( Academic presentation)

Note: The above video is from my slideshow presentation on "Insights into the Qur'an", delivered at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). 

Some images can be found from our Youtube channel.

see here 

Clips from the presentation can be found in our playlist

see here

Gas lighting, Moving the goal posts, arrogance and stupidity- thoughts on the newest war

 To the surprise of no one, Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran in an open manner, bombing a number of cities, generating casualties, the most significant being the assassination  of Supreme leader Ayatullah Ali Khameini.  Iran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones at various places within the Middle East which play host to United States bases, and of course on Israel itself.  How the military side of things plays out in the immediate future is impossible to predict with precision, but it should be noted that the mechanisms of how we have arrived at this point be studied from various angles, with as much fairness as possible.

In short, we have arrived at this stage for a number of reasons, summarized as follows.

(1) In the very recent situation, protests against skyrocketing inflation (itself a byproduct of U.S. economic sanctions) were infiltrated with what can be politely referred to as rioters, burning everything from police stations, mosques, homes and much more, leading to thousands of deaths. 

(2) The Iranian authorities described such persons as agents of the United States and Israel, with an agenda of creating enough social chaos to collapse the Iranian government. The Internet was temporarily shut down in Iran in order to limit the abilities of the rioters to coordinate, a move which seems to have worked. Both The US and Israel, in various official and unofficial public communications, acknowledged their hand in these things, attempted to circumvent the Iranian move (by the use of smuggled Starlink terminals). Indeed, US president Donald Trump directly called for Iranians to move against the government and stated "help is on the way." Thus, another pretext was used in an attempt to justify military attacks on Iran by the United States. 

(3) When this failed (although it did lead to the deaths of thousands), The Trump administration changed tactics, threatening attacks to disable Iran's "ambitions " to possess Nuclear weapons. For those who have kept up with these issues over the years, this was laughable. Not only was the nuclear sites attacked by the United States in the so called 12-day war, Iran has for decades maintained that they are against nuclear weapons, but only want to utilize Nuclear technology for domestic purposes. More importantly, a treaty was already in place by  The Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) an agreement which the United States unilaterally withdrew from upon Trump's second term. See Here New York Times perspective

(4) In any case, peace talks took place, albeit in unusual circumstances, mediated by the government of Oman. It is in this context, while talks are still under way, that Israel and the United States simply launched attacks anyway. Recent behavior of the Israelis show that war still occurs, in the most treacherous ways, and that at core neither agreement, morality or common sense would be utilized. This is demonstrated by the Israeli attack on Doha, Qatar itself, targeting Hamas leaders while in peace talks with them In September 2025.  The fact that the United States did NOT defend Qatar from an attack (despite the presence of their air force as well as defense technology) shows that at core, neither the US nor Israel can be trusted at all! 

(5) The peace talks mediated by Oman was on the nuclear question, which even Iranian officials were saying that progress was being made. Then, the Trump administration demands it be on missile technology. The goalposts keep moving because the claims to want diplomacy and peace was all subterfuge. The desire is NOT peace, but rather the total overthrow of the Iranian authorities. 

(6) Common sense demonstrates that the Iranians would respond, and have done so by launching attacks on U.S. bases and other military targets that are based in the region,  such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, The United Arab Emirates, and of course Israel itself. The long-term impact of such actions have yet to reveal themselves, but it is obvious that the world economic system will be devastated should Iran choose to close the Straits of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil travels.

The above is simply common sense, a straightforward analysis that can be easily understood. Indeed, we can say that even the Trump administration has -by and large- been open with stating its overall agenda of death and destruction, using only thinly disguised excuses as  pretext to present justifications. 

Gaslighting

The false justifications mirror past accusations which led to other conflicts, such as the assertions that Iraq had to be invaded  by the United States in order to remove "weapons of mass destruction" (WMD) in 2003. This is an example of gaslighting in the sense that we have been expected to have forgotten this pattern in recent history. False pretexts exist throughout the history of wars, especially conflicts directed against Muslim nations. 

The false justifications in the current conflict have been built up particularly in social media, with the most ridiculous accusations directed towards Iran, such as sanctioning pedophilia, hatred against local Christians and Jews, and much more. As a student of history, theology and related topics, I have been particularly annoyed at these assertions, which are obviously mostly directed towards American politicians and public which is mostly uneducated in these fields. 

Arrogance

The American push against Iran-directed by Israel- is a reflection of a bigger attitude of "Might Makes Right" as well as White privilege. That class in power, the same with deep connection to the late Jeffrey Epstein, sees themselves as better than everyone else, that any actions they initiate are for the benefit of the planet. This class has become emboldened in recent years, to the extent that U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth directly said that the United States is not obligated, nor will follow "stupid rules of engagement" or engage in "politically correct wars."

Recently, the United States Ambassador to Israel-Mike Huckabee- in an interview asserted that Israel has a God-given right to "take" the entire Middle East. Although the Trump administration publicly distanced itself from that statement, it simply is a reflection of already held views in that circle.

Ultimately, these actions and attitudes are poorly thought out, leading to nothing except  continued wars that bring no benefit. It is the average people who will suffer the most. I believe that the recent trends in American society to present minorities such as the Somalis (in Minnesota and Ohio) as villains has been initiated in order to provide easy scapegoats, to distract average citizens by directing their anger towards visible minorities. Indeed, it would seem that ICE actions, even President Trump's own comments in his recent State Of The Union address, are meant to facilitate this nonsense. 

An Islamic take on these issues

Firstly, the Qur'an has told us that when those who are guilty of flagrant violation of the rules of conduct give us information, that information needs to be subjected to scrutiny before believing and acting on it (Q 49:6). Similarly, the Qur'an has described these forces as those who will proclaim with the loudest voices that they are a class which only wants the best for mankind, rejects any reasonable pleas to reasonable behavior, but rather attempt to manipulate the public via all the media mechanisms at their command (Q 2:9-16).

For average apolitical audiences, it is necessary to exercise a healthy skepticism, stay informed, but perhaps most importantly to not allow the toxic thinking patterns of the Epstein-type class to infiltrate our hearts and minds. Tyranny will not last forever. Eventually, the system of oppression, hatred, racism and arrogance will collapse, and it will collapse largely as a result of its own actions. In the meantime, never believe what this class of abusers say, at least not without verification. Be safe, be active, and develop the tools needed for as much independence as possible.  In a broader sense, Muslims-in particular powerful Muslim nations- need these reminders as well, especially in light of sectarian and ethnic conflicts, as we have seen between the brother nations of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Disunity only benefits the Epstein types who have been widely reported to have engaged in sexual abuse, murders, political and social manipulation, and even some levels of child sacrifice See here

Wa Billaahit Tawfeeq.