METHODOLOGY FOR STUDY OF THE QUR'AN
by Sheikh Imran Nazar Hosein
Preparation for study through promptly
acting in accordance with what is
understood in the Qur’ān
“The likeness of those who are entrusted with the (Law of) the Torah, yet applied it not, is as the likeness of the ass carrying books. Wretched is the likeness of folk who (thus) betray the revelations of Allah. And Allah guides not wrongdoing folk.”
(Qur’ān, al-Jumu’ah, 62:5)
He Who sent down the Qur’ān to Nabī Muhammad (s) also sent down the Torah to Nabī Mūsa (Moses (a). Those of the followers of Nabī Mūsa who received the Torah, and studied it, and did not act in accordance with its guidance, incurred the divine wrath to such an extent that He likened them in the above verse to donkeys with a load of books on their backs.
The student who embarks on a study of the Qur’ān is thus advised to always try to act promptly in accordance with its guidance in order to qualify to receive knowledge from He Who is the source of all true knowledge.
A particularly obnoxious example of this Israelite failure to act in accordance with the divine guidance sent down in the Torah is the prohibition of Ribā (i.e. lending and borrowing money on interest). The Qur’ān has referred to their abandonment of divine guidanceprohibiting Ribā:
“They took usury although it had been forbidden to them, and they (thus) wrongfully devoured of other people’s possessions. And for those from among them who [continue to] deny the truth We have readied grievous suffering.”
(Qur’ān al-Nisā, 4:161)
If those who betrayed the Torah by failing to act in accordance with its guidance, are likened to a donkey with a load of books on its back, is it possible that those who fail to act in accordance with the guidance in the Qur’ān would be considered to be any different? Can such a people qualify to be guided by Allah Most High as they attempt to study the Qur’ān? The very last revelation in the Qur’ān to come down with Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad (s) was the revelation commanding the total and complete eradication of Ribā. The most well-known form of Ribā is usury, i.e., ‘borrowing and lending money on interest’. But there is also Ribā in the bogus and fraudulent Zionist-sponsored monetary system of paper, plastic and electronic money. The revelation warned of a declaration of war from Allah and His Messenger against those who refused to give up Ribā:
“… And if ye do not, then be warned of war (against you) from Allah and His Messenger …”
(Qur’ān, al-Baqarah, 2:279)
Nabī Muhammad (s) went on to curse all four, and to declare that they were all equally guilty – the one who takes Ribā, the one who gives Ribā, the one who records the transaction, and the two witnesses. (For references for all of the above, see my book entitled The Prohibition of Ribā in the Qur’ān and Sunnah.) No Muslim can possibly succeed in studying the Qur’ān while still borrowing or lending money on interest. Some Muslims remain blissfully ignorant of the fact that they have borrowed money on interest from so called Islamic Banks who lend money on interest by deception. The Bank sells on credit at a price higher than the cash price while declaring, falsely so, that it is engaged in Murābaha. When credit price is higher than cash price, the difference between the two would be Ribā. The Bank refers to that difference in price, again falsely so, as mark-up. I describe it as Ribā through the back door!
to be continued .....
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