Studying Islam

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[quote]In my opinion,the "understanding Islam approach" presents the explanation of religion, which for me, is the true representation of Islam. This approach is logical and is also research orientated.

"Understanding Islam" refers to the original approach of understanding Islam as understood by the companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which was revived by the prominent scholars Hameed Uddin Farahi (d.1930), Amin Ahsan Islahi (d.1997) and Javed Ahmad Ghamidi ( b.1951). The approach is taught and promoted by the Al-Mawrid institute of Islamic sciences in Pakistan. 
 
This approach of understanding Islam entails an understanding of Beliefs and practices of Islam, based fundamentally on the Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
 
It encompasses an understanding and interpretation of the Qur'an, primarily from within the Qur'an, emanating from its theme, context, sequence and language. It involves an understanding of the Qur'an which also acknowledges interpretation of the verses in the light of the time of revelation and the phase of the Prophetic mission of religious propagation, both of which are determined primarily from within the Qur'an. Sources that are external to the Qur'an are considered to be secondary to its interpretation. It defines  The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ,as those Abrahamic practices and rituals that were  revived and where appropriate, adapted by the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and instituted among his followers as integral part of God's religion.

I quote the need for this approach from their booklet.
 
Every Muslim is aware that the Qur’an has a pivotal role in our religion.

And hold fast to the rope of God together and do not become disunited…. (3:103)

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has explained that the Book of God is the rope of God that stretches from Heavens to Earth.

The natural outcome of this directive is that whenever Muslims encounter a difference of opinion, we resort to the Qur’an to find its solution.  Unfortunately the irony is that we have gross difference of opinions concerning the interpretations of the Qur’an itself, in many instances providing contrasting explanations about its directives. This also occurred because Muslims based their Qur’anic interpretations on unsubstantiated Ahadith, different philosophies and mysticism. They also resorted to blind following of individual interpretations by religious scholars and were reluctant to question their understandings and interpretations. Furthermore the society did not encourage Intellectual inquisition towards the then accepted interpretations and beliefs about religion, to question them was looked upon as being un-Islamic.

In addition to intellectual differences, the more serious issue raised by this multiplicity of interpretations of the Qur’an is that this forms the basis of the vast majority of sectarianism in Islam. Different religious groups have interpreted Qur’anic verses in different chosen ways to justify their beliefs and approaches. Each sect has adopted its own interpretation because isolating a verse from its context can associate multiple meanings to it.

Understanding Islam approach based on the thinking pioneered by Imam Farahi, aspires that when the Qur’an is interpreted in light of its theme, context and sequence, with a firm grasp of its language and taking into account the time of revelation and the phase of the prophetic mission, it reduces possibilities of different understandings from the Qur’an because it uses the Qur’an itself as the first scale for understanding the Qur’an.

According to Imam Farahi:

"There is no justification or place for more than one interpretation in the Qur’an”.

Amin Ahsen Islahi in his Qur’anic commentary, Tadabur-i-Qur’an, writes:

"I have given the complete and required importance to the coherence of it’s (i.e. The Qur’an’s) text. Hence I have utilised the same diction and assertions in its entirety. In fact, I was forced to use the same diction and assertions, because after applying coherence, (The Qur’an) does not allow you to wonder in various valleys (i.e. different conclusions). The true fact becomes explicit right in front (of one’s eyes in such a manner) that unless you are ignorant or blind you would not be able to deny it."

The text of the Qur’an will not accept multiplicity of explanations. This fulfils the obligatory and essential basis for the claim of the Qur’an that it is a balance in whose scales, everything must be weighed in order to ascertain the extent of truth; and criterion or distinguisher of good and evil which like a sieve sifts out good from evil.[/quote]

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