Thread by @SiriuslyCold

A thread.

First-hand information means reading and understanding the Qur'an for yourself.

Obviously, this has to be in a language familiar to you.

95% (or more) of Muslims only recite the Qur'an in Arabic without understanding the meaning at all.

What they know of religion often only comes from their parents or religious teachers, and lately, YouTube ulamas.

As a result, they tend to suppress their intellect and conscience when confronted with what they were told are religious edicts - even if those do not sit right with either logic, or conscience, or both - and it makes them feel uncomfortable to uphold.

One example of this is child marriage; which is "allowed" based on a hadith that says the Prophet married his wife Ayesha at 6.

Another example is the punishment for apostates and blasphemers, which is not mandated at all in the Qur'an.

There are numerous examples of these.

A lot of times, when Qur'an verses are quoted to them in a language they understand, they find it strange - and resist it, or find excuses to uphold their adopted or inherited understanding.

A lot of times, when Qur'an verses are quoted to them in English or Malay, they find it strange - and resist it, or find excuses to uphold their adopted understanding.

For example, ch9 v31 gives an example of Jews who acquired their religion from the writings of their clergy, and Christians who have raised the stature of Jesus alongside God.

It says this is "associating others with God" and that it is considered polytheism.

Much of Muslims religious beliefs come from the writings of their Imams - for example, Muslims in Malaysia adhere to Imam Shafie, and although they say we can adopt other schools of thought, it is limited to either of the 4 imams of the Sunni schools.

Clearly, this is flouting the warning given in ch9 v 31, and when confronted with this verse, Muslims say "ah, that was God talking about the Jews"

This behaviour was also foretold in the Qur'an

Essentially Muslims have gotten an inherited version of Islam. When they are reminded of this, they say - we will follow our inherited version (instead of the Qur'an)

Someone suggested it was a preposterous idea to follow the Qur'an

Again, the Qur'an already warns us

This is why the Qur'an says to look at the evidence, ponder the message, think about it and check with your conscience and intellect, which is your God-given ability to tell between right from wrong.

Merely "believing" the words you are reading is not allowed, although we are told that if we find something to be true, we are not to turn away, cover it up, or deny it in any way.

This is also how the Qur'an claims there is no compulsion - because you are already equipped to tell right from wrong, and the right path is clear from the wrong one, it would be ... stupid to choose the wrong path.

This is merely common sense.

So if you claim to be a Muslim, and your religion is based on the Qur'an, it *should* be a book you understand for yourself first.

17:36 And do not uphold what you have no knowledge of. For the hearing, eyesight, and heart, all these you are responsible for.

/thread

Muslims can only make Islam a way of life if they read the Quran, the authoritative source on their faith, in a language they know instead of just reading Arabic script that they don’t understand, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

malaymail.com/news/malaysia/…

Some Muslims who did not understand the true teachings of the Al-Quran have resorted to commit acts that are prohibited in the faith, such as killing others, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

thestar.com.my/news/nation/20…

Someone asked me if I could speak Arabic.

No, I don't. And I don't think it's necessary either... there are many people who claim to understand Arabic who do not understand the Qur'an, or are even Muslims.

There are enough translations and tools today to understand the Qur'an, which is only a reminder [3:58, 6:90 etc] of the message embedded in you.

After all, God Himself teaches (55:2) and explains (75:19) the Qur'an, and that isn't some voice in the sky speaking Arabic, is it?

This idolatry of Arabs and the Arabic language has to stop if people are going to have a chance at understanding the Qur'an, without self-righteous Arabic speakers denigrating their efforts at understanding the Qur'an through translations.