One of the greatest things we require to recognize truth is soundness in judgement and so we must understand how to understand. While this was addressed in Disbelievers Reason Against Proof as well as True Finality and A Glance at Our World from the perspective of our independent Pure Reason, we can comprehensively rely on the Quran to help further verify how to properly assess the Quran and belief, since the Quran itself is the greatest call to truth, which we naturally see when evaluating it appropriately. This section focuses on how the Quran further distinguishes itself and makes known truth.
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When we look at the Quran, we are presented with numerous reminders to believe and to reflect upon the world, while examples are provided for us to further our understanding and accept. One thing that the disbeliever does not understand is the way that the Quran is communicated soundly from God Himself. By this, we mean that the Quran is entirely the word of God. But, the disbeliever questions this by thinking that the Quran is man-made, or thinking that if these are God’s words, God would not talk the way He has in the Quran. He thereby anthropomorphizes God.
The disbeliever asserts that he knows how God would approach revelation to humanity more than God himself, or that because the standards for how he thinks revelation should be presented to humanity are different, he disbelieves. Or, upon looking at the examples and calls for reflection in the Quran, rather than recognize them, the disbeliever questions why God would discuss certain subjects in the Quran as He has, or why He has approached certain topics as He has.
Allah (swt) responds to this, and makes a comment on the way that the Quran is communicated as it reflects being from God.
The people at the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had also questioned the Quran in this way. From Ibn Kathir who comments about his tafseer, As-Suddi reported that Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas’ud, and some Companions said “When Allah gave these two examples of the hypocrites:
- “Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see. Deaf, dumb and blind – so they will not return [to the right path].
- Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allah is encompassing of the disbelievers” [2:17-19].
the hypocrites said, ‘Allah is far more exalted than for Him to make such examples.’ So Allah revealed these verses.”
Sa’id said that Qatadah said, “Allah does not shy away from the truth when He mentions a matter as a parable, whether this matter is significant or not. When Allah mentioned the flies and the spider in His Book, the people of misguidance said, ‘Why did Allah mention these things.’ So Allah revealed these verses.
“Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example – that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, ‘What did Allah intend by this as an example?’ He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient” [2:26].
“And present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it – When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthened them with a third, and they said, ‘Indeed, we are messengers to you.’ They said, ‘You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies.’ They said, ‘Our Lord knows that we are messengers to you, And we are not responsible except for clear notification’” [36:13-17]
“Say, ‘Not equal are the evil and the good, although the abundance of evil might impress you.’ So fear Allah, O you of understanding, that you may be successful. O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you. But if you ask about them while the Qur’an is being revealed, they will be shown to you. Allah has pardoned that which is past; and Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing” [5:100-101]
“And it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them – they will not believe. You can only warn one who follows the message and fears the Most Merciful unseen. So give him good tidings of forgiveness and noble reward. Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register” [36:10-12].
Ayat 36:12, Ibn Kathir tafseer
The entire Surah Ar-Rahman is also a call to the burden of proof we undertake if we deny or were to say that we deny Belief.
[Work in Progress]
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