10-The Swine in Quran

Continuing from the previous post, the Quran is not a dietary book. What we eat cannot guide us towards righteousness. The Quran is instructing the reader to think deeply about what is written. It is appealing to their sense of reason and directing them to contemplate on its themes such as justice, truth, and egalitarianism. …

9-Food for thought what Quran says about eating

Around 200 verses in the Quran mention the words food, eat, and drink. Why is a “Book of guidance” so painstakingly concerned about our dietary intake? Could what we eat and drink actually impact our virtue or lead us to righteousness? Well according to the status quo, the answer is yes. Yet we should ask …

8-Surah Fatiha and Jewish History

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (All) praise is (due) to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Sovereign of the Day of Judgement. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those upon …

7-Juxtaposition of Heaven and Earth in The Quran

Juxtaposition is a literary device wherein the author places a person, concept, place, idea or theme parallel to another. The purpose of juxtaposing two directly or indirectly related entities close together in literature is to highlight the contrast between the two and compare them.Literary-devices.com This is exactly how the Quran introduces two opposing concepts to …

6-The Quran is not literal

And the Messenger said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have rendered this Quran a thing abandoned.Quran 25:30 Is the Quran meant to be read literally? Most Muslims follow a literal and historical translation of the Quran. When a verse was revealed, before or after the hijra, and why it was revealed, circumstances surrounding the …

5-The significance of root words

Languages are constantly evolving, new words are introduced into the vocabulary by way of colloquialism and slang every generation. Here are some examples of evolution in the English language: https://ideas.ted.com Nice: This word used to mean “silly, foolish, simple.” Far from the compliment it is today. Naughty: Long ago, if you were naughty, you had …

4-Confirmation bias fogs Quran

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him. Leo …

3-Quran addresses the rational mind

Why is it so that so many Muslims are afraid to speak publicly and criticize Islam and its traditions? Because the Sharia laws of blasphemy and apostasy can actually get you killed. These laws were canonized into Islam centuries ago to censure and stifle free speech and free thinking in the Muslim world. Secularism.org reports: …

2-Horizontal reading of Quran

Once your head is cleared of all preconceived notions, the next step is a horizontal reading of the Quran. A horizontal reading, or a comparative reading, is a method of textual analysis used by Biblical scholars to compare multiple accounts of a similar event, side by side, cross-referencing for contradictions. /Horizontal_reading. In other words, reading …

1-Preconceived notions and hadith

In Quran verse 15:9, Allah says "Indeed, it is We who revealed the Quran and indeed, We will be Its guardian." What exactly does this mean? If He guarded the Quran why do Muslims go to hadith (tradition) for explanation? Surely it cannot mean He only guarded the words, as the status quo suggests. A …