Toward Understanding Islam in Qur'an

This article is a call for a "RETURN TO THE QUR'AN," that is, a "RE-CONVERSION FROM the FABRICATED ISLAM TO the REVEALED ISLAM." 

Peace!

I believe that the time has long come to draw a definitive line between INVENTED (FAKE) ISLAM and REVEALED (AUTHENTIC) ISLAM. 

To gain this awareness, I humbly recommend the following:

I. Let's overcome the obstacles!

To turn toward the REVEALED RELIGION OF THE QUR’AN, we must take these decisive first steps:

• Let us stop mindless recitations of Qur’an: As Muslims who are not Arab and whose mother tongue is not Arabic, let us cease repeating the Arabic text of the Qur’an like parrots, pronouncing its words without grasping a single meaning from it.
• Let us abandon ritualistic traditions: The Qur’an is not a "Book of the Dead"to be recited solely for thawab (merit) or blown upon the deceased. Doing so does not benefit the deceased by a single penny.
• Let us accept the fact that the Qur'an addresses the living, not the dead: The Qur'an is "THE BOOK OF THE LIVING." It is not expected of us to read it to ask for mercy for the dead, but to guide those who are alive. 
• Let us feel the Qur’an at the bottom of our Hearts: Let us engage with the Qur’an in our MOTHER TONGUES to truly comprehend what our Lord is communicating to us.
• For reading the Qur'an in our own mother tongue and regularly is the key to unlocking all the doors to its world of meaning: Let us make our reading of the Qur'an in our mother tongue, whether a little or a lot, but as a daily and continuous practice.

II. Let's set our minds free!

If we can succeed in restraining our stubborn selves (el-nefsü'l-emmare - ألنفس الأمارة) and overcome the nonsensical memorizations that religious dogmatism has imposed upon us, we will undoubtedly realize that the Quran is not an incomprehensible BOOK. 

• Rationalism over Arabism: We must embrace the intellectual legacy of Imam-i A’zam Abu Hanifa who is the pioneer in rationalism over Arabism. 
• Justice over Tyranny: We must internalize very well the message of Chapter Al-Mâ’ûn of Qur’an and the courageous struggle of Abu Dharr, one of the Prophet’s earliest and closest companions.
• Purity over Corruption: We must identify very well how the cursed Umayyad influence and their dynasticist "religionism" distorted the original essence of Islam.

III. LET US BROADEN OUR HORIZONS!

Let us focus on understanding the fundamental characteristics of the revealed Religion. To do so:

* Let us embrace rationalism and move away from Arabism and Arab-centric religious interpretations: That is, let us follow in the footsteps of Imam al-Azam, the pioneer of rationalism in the Islamic world and even in the world of other divinely-revealed religions, and respond to the longing for that Great Imam and commemorate his memory. 

* Let us prioritize justice over oppression: Let us learn the message of Chapter Mâûn of Qur’an and the epic struggle of Abu Dhar, one of the closest companions of Prophet Muhammad, against the cursed Muawiya's religionist fanaticism. 

* Let us say "Enough with corruption" and focus on cleansing ourselves from filth: Let us accurately diagnose how the universal religion of Islam was distorted by the dynastic religionist rule initiated by the cursed Umayyads. 

IV. Let's not hesitate to ask questions!

Let us ask our inner selves, stripped of all pride and hesitation:

"Which Islam are we truly Muslims of?"

Is it the REVEALED RELIGION found in the pages of the Qur’an, or the INVENTED RELIGION fabricated by the hands of men?

V. LET US WONDER HOW AND TO WHAT EXTENT THE FABRICATED RELIGION IS DIFFERENT FROM THE REVEALED RELIGION!

To distinguish revealed Islam from the fabricated one, let us first WONDER what kind of CALAMITY the "fabricated religion" is. 

If we do not feel this curiosity, we will never realize that the Islam imposed on us by the dynastic religionist rulers is, to a large extent, not the revealed Islam, but a religion invented and constructed later on.

VI. THIS CURIOSITY SHOULD LEAD US TO ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

* What is piety and what is religionist fanaticism? Who is called pious? Who is called a religionist fanatic?

* What are the differences between the belief that Allah is one and unique in both His essence and attributes (i.e., the belief in Tawhid - الإيمان التوحيدي) and SHIRK (including its hidden forms)?

* What does "DECEIVING WITH ALLAH” mean, and HOW (through what schemes and fabrications) are PEOPLE DECEIVED WITH GOD?

* To a large extent, how has the fabricated religion, constructed with FABRICATED HADITHS, corrupted and altered the fundamental commands and prohibitions of the Qur'an?

* Why and how (through what schemes and fabrications) have reason (rationalism) and the Quran been excluded in the Islamic world?

* How does the Quran describe the "EVIL SOCIETY"?

If we sincerely want to learn the answers to these questions, we will find Prof. Dr. YAŞAR NURİ ÖZTÜRK and other true Islamic scholars who write and speak only about TRUTH and REALITY on the subject of RELIGION, and we will be ENLIGHTENED by reading and listening to them. 

In this way, we will be cleansed of the filth and rust of fabricated religion and will be reacquainted with true Islam as found in the Qur'an.

O Muslims! Wouldn't you like to relearn and live Islam as it was REVEALED in the Qur'an?

I think you should!

BECAUSE WHAT YOU WILL LEARN THIS WAY IS WORTH THE EFFORT...!

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED...!

With love and respect,

Abdullah Erdemli

Lucerne - Switzerland

Important note: The late Prof. Dr. Yaşar Nuri Öztürk has provided us with the answers to the above 6 questions and more, through books and speeches that are both highly detailed and easy to understand. 

Now it's up to you to read, listen, and learn with curiosity…!

Go for it…!