Spirit of Islam, Nov-Dec 2021

Indeed, We have made the Quran easy to learn lessons from. Is there anyone who would receive admonition? (54: 32) The religion of Islam is easy, beautiful and simple. The Quran says: God desires ease for you, not hardship. (2: 185) This verse explains that Islam is easy to follow and rather encourages us to create ease in religion. Unfortunately, some Muslims are under the misconception that the more stringent they are in following religion, the more pious they become. This is totally in contradiction to what Islam teaches us. The misconception is a result of a lack of understanding of religion and at times drives some people away from religion, mainly because of the way it is presented to them. One of the main features of Islam is that it is a balanced religion. Whenever the Prophet had to choose between two options, he always chose the easier. Moreover, the language of the Quran has been made easy and free from ambiguity. A point is brought home by making use of references to phenomena from nature and history. A verse from the Quran says: We have set forth to men all kinds of parables in this Quran so that they may take heed: a Quran in Arabic, free from any ambiguity—so that people may be mindful. (39: 27-28) One very important point that must be considered here is that the religious text of the Quran as revealed by God to the Prophet is preserved in its original form. Higher Criticism has proved beyond any doubt that the Quran indeed is present in exactly the same form as it was revealed fourteen centuries ago. Therefore, one can, with full conviction, derive lessons and guidance from it. This preservation of the original text of the Quran is no ordinary matter. It is God-ordained. The Quran says: It is We Who have sent down the Reminder and We will, most surely, safeguard it. (15: 9) There are competent religious scholars (or ulema) who after spending a lifetime studying these texts in original Arabic, present the pristine teachings of Islam for the common man. Any Muslim can become a religious scholar after undergoing the due process of learning the Islamic texts. The Quran is present in exactly the same form as it was revealed fourteen centuries ago. Therefore, one can, with full conviction, derive lessons and guidance from it.