The challenge in achieving proper understanding of the Qur'an and of Islaam itself is not nearly so much in what is in the book, as in what both fail to include and to be.
Ironically enough, given their self-imposed mission and particularly their main strategy, both suffer mainly from falling short of what they purport to be.
There are indeed parallels with Christianity, but they end up highlightning how incomplete and flawed Islaam is, out of its own fault. Christianity is not quite as determined in forbiding itself from ever being a functional religion. It is not quite as obsessed with God for the sake and glory of monotheism. It is not quite as taken by hubris (another grim irony).
Because the Qur'an is ultimately a rulebook for dealing with its God and with the separation between believers in its message and Other People, it does not actually aim to be scripture, no matter how oblivious to that simple fact so many Muslims and so many of the critics of Islaam end up being. A scripture has religious intent. The Qur'an does not meddle in religious matters, although it makes an impressive effort at telling otherwise.
Insistence does not always attain results. Islaam falls short by its own stated parameters, because it is hopelessly confused by its own message, which suffers from teaching worship of monotheism and calling that religion.
Monotheism is not religion, and it is not even particularly healthy for religiosity. But it is superb as fertile ground for fanaticism and social illness, and it shows.
The Sira, the Hadiths and various personal, social and cultural circunstances sometimes aggravate those flaws. But far more often, it seems to me, they actually attempt to compensate for them, often to great success. Alas, that only means that Islaam needs its own heretics to save its worth and viability. Going back at least to the Battle of the Camel, the best and wiser among Muslims have a hard time trying to find reasons not to leave it entirely.
I believe the Quran and Islám with the appearance of Prophet Muhammad marked a huge and essential milestone for the evolution of humankind. A marked step was from that of individualism which Christ taught towards the establishment of the nation state which the Dispensation of Muhammad achieved with constitutions such as the Constitution of Medina, the very first such charter in the world recognising officially, as citizens other religious minorities.
The Quran is the first fully authentic historical record of the fight for religious freedom, now a cornerstone of human rights throughout the entire planet backed up by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thus is what Muslims really died and fought for under the constant threat of genocide by the Meccans for believing in one God.
The Quran forbids all forms of violence except in self defence, calls its followers to return good for evil and to seek peace with all. (These are all verses I can find if required)
Terrorists are not true Muslims. They do not obey the Quran’s calls to peace and goodwill but use mainly fabricated hadiths which have nothing whatever to do with Muhammad or the Quran.
Mullás and religious leaders with political ambitions for both power and wealth manipulate those who are naive and gullible to commit atrocities but oddly never offer themselves up as a sacrifice.
What the world sees of terrorism on the nightly news comes neither from Muhammad nor the Quran but from evil Mullas who treat themselves as gods and have no real allegiance to Muhammad or the Quran who incite death and destruction.
We Baha’is believe that every religion has its Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and this includes Islam.
Their own hadiths predict that winter. We Baha’is don’t follow hadiths as accurate unless they have been quoted in our Writings. This one was quoted.
The Qur'an Project
38. The Prophet Muhammad said, “There will come a time on the people when there will re- main nothing of the Islam ex- cept its [ism] name and nothing will remain of the Qur’ān except its [rasm] outward form. Their masjids will be full of people/very well built but will be empty of guidance. Their scholars will be the most evil under the heavens; from them [fitnah] turmoil will emanate from them and to them will it return.”
Source: Baihaqi, Shu’bul Iman no. 2/788
So there was a time when the Sun of Islam shine brightly and Baghdad became the Centre of Learning for all the world.
Now it’s Sun has set and the Sun of Bahá has risen over the horizon and as it shines brighter peace and unity will be restored to our world and then it will set and so on.
Just because we are living in the winter of any religion does not mean it did not bring many blessings, benefits and progress to humanity. But once it’s Sun does set it ceases to exercise any great beneficial influence over the world anymore.
