Abuse of Scripture

We believe that the Quran is God’s Word and that it is therefore authoritative for us in matters of faith and practice. The Quran indicates the great truths of who God is, how we can relate to Him, how we can understand ourselves and the world. In short, the Quran contains the words of life. Believers use it to guide them in recognising God’s will, from the monumental to the mundane. We read it to gain hope as well as to gather truth. It affects our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour. In short, the Quran is our pipeline to heaven: without it, we are adrift, unprotected in a hostile place. Ironically this final testament is also misconceived, misunderstood and abused to a great extent.

[15:91] They accept the Quran only partially. 

[25:30] The messenger said, “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.” [17:45] When you read the Quran, we place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter an invisible barrier. 

In the world media, many articles continue to perpetuate misinformation

and repeat the same common misconceptions, thus giving a distorted picture of what Islam is about, and what the Quran actually says.

These misconceptions are nourished and spread in the world due to false practices followed by so-called Muslims and absurd verdicts issued by Islamic scholars from time to time. Some of the misconceptions related to Quranic teachings are as follows:

1. Jihad: The true meaning of jihad is widely misunderstood. Jihad is an Arabic word which literally means striving or struggling, especially with a praiseworthy aim. It can have many shades of meaning in an Islamic context, such as struggle against one’s evil inclinations, an exertion to convey the message of God, or efforts toward the moral betterment of society, though it is most frequently associated with the Holy War. Some fanatic Islamic groups refer to it as armed struggle against unbelievers. The term has gained additional attention in recent decades through its use by terrorist groups. The word jihad appears frequently in the Quran with and without military connotations, often in the idiomatic expression

“striving in the path of God (al-jihad fi sabil Allah)”. In the modern era, the notion of jihad has lost its philosophical relevance and instead given rise to an ideological and political discourse. God has clearly forbidden aggression, but the fanatic Islamic groups fail to understand the following verses.

[2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors.

[2:193] You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors.

2. Prophet Mohammed is the founder of Islam: Generally Islamic scholars think that the prophet Muhammad from Arabia was the first to introduce Islam. The word “Islam” can be translated as “submission” (to God). A “Muslim” can be translated as one who surrenders or submits (to God). According to the Quran, everything in the universe, willingly or unwillingly, has ultimately submitted to God, thus the basic concept of Submission to God

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