I do a good bit of reading on Al Islaam from books, articles, and lectures authored to explain to Muslims and non-Muslims alike what diyn Al Islaam is, and how it should be practiced.  Via the internet I've read supposed questions and responses on a wide range of subjects written to Mufti's (persons who give fatwaa's (decisions) on Shariy'at (Islaamic law)), Imaams, and others who are supposed to be authorities and knowledgeable on Al Islaam.  From those sources and from conversations between Muslims I began to recognize a common thread among them.  I've also been intrigued for some time now about the lack of success, unity, and consensus of opinion within diyn Al Islaam.  And I've been disturbed by certain acts attributed to Muslims that appear to be in direct contradiction to Al Qur'aan.  Once again; the common thread became visible.  Observing all the confusion within the Islaamic Ummaat (nation, community, etc.) worldwide one would have to admit something is very wrong.  If Muslims are truly following the word of Allaah, Al Qur'aan, how can these confusions and conflicts exist?  The obvious conclusion is; they are not following Al Qur'aan!

The common thread I spoke of is amazing to me.  It is a methodology of using Al Qur'aan to legitimize not following Al Qur'aan; I call it the Aayat Qudus (Sacred or Holy Verses).  These are verses which are in Al Qur'aan that Muslims use to legitimize their disobedience and wrong-doings.  Simple put; the Aayat Qudus are the justification for Al Qur'aan not being enough for Muslims.  It allows them to disobey Allaah because they believe that the Aayat Qudus supersede all the other verses in Al Qur'aan.  Muslims have reinterpreted - on their own - the Aayat Qudus to be commands from Allaah for them to use sources other than Al Qur'aan.  To use Al Qur'aan to not follow Al Qur'aan is a concept that is mind boggling, arrogant, and ignorant!  The Aayat Qudus are the following verses.

 

و اطيعوا الله و الرسول لعلكم ترحمون

And obey Allaah and The Deliverer that you may obtain grace  3:132

 

ياايها الذين ءامنو اطيعوا الله و اطيعوا الرسول و اولى الامر منكم  فان تنازعتم فى شىء فردوه الى الله و الرسول ان كنتم تؤمنون بالله و اليوم الاخر  ذالك خير و احسن تأويلا

O you who believe obey Allaah and obey The Deliverer and those in command among you,

if you disagree in anything refer it to Allaah and The Deliverer if you believe in Allaah and the last day, that is better and best for it's interpretation  4:59

 

و من يطع الله و الرسول فاولآءك مع الذين انعم الله عليهم من النبيين و الصديقين و الشهدآء و الصالحين  و حسن اولآءك رفيقا

All who obey Allaah and The Deliverer are with those who the grace of Allaah is upon them from The Receivers and the Truthful and the Witnesses and the Righteous, and excellent are they as company  4:69

 

من يطع الرسول فقد اطاع الله

Those who obey The Deliverer certainly obey Allaah  4:80

 

لقد كان لكم في رسول الله اسوة حسنة

You certainly have in The Deliverer of Allaah an excellent pattern (example)  33:21

 

و مآ آتاكم الرسول فخذوه و ما نهاكم عنه فانتهوا  و اتقوا الله  ان الله شديد العقاب

and take what The Deliverer gives you and deny yourselves what he withholds from you,

and reverence Allaah, verily Allaah is strict in punishment  59:7

 

The last verse, 59:7, is a correct translation but it has been reinterpreted - by many Muslims - to mean and take what The Deliverer gives you and deny yourselves what he forbids you.  Muslims will not only reinterpret 59:7 as such, they will tell you that is what it means.  I have also seen the verse reinterpreted and written that way in some English editions of The Qur'aan.

When I see or hear of something being done or said that is not consistent with what is in Al Qur'aan, and I question it, I can be sure that one of the Aayat Qudus will be used as an argument for legitimacy and more often than not it will be more than one of them.  For now, I will not go into what the other sources are, because if you are a Muslim you are probably already aware of many of them and they will be dealt with elsewhere, the subject here is the use of verses in Al Qur'aan to not obey Al Qur'aan.  The Aayat Qudus are used to legitimize, Deliverer, Receiver, Muhammad being above Allaah!  Did you notice that none of the verses in the Aayat Qudus mention Muhammad by name?  The title of Deliverer is used, but not a persons name, and they do not say, this Deliverer (haadza Rasuwl) either.  I understand this to mean, Muhammad is included, but he is not the one, the only one.  Al Qur'aan's words are explicit; and do not place Muhammad, or any Deliverer, or any Receiver, above Allaah.  The last verse, 59:7, is in reference to a particular incident and this can be discerned by the verses directly preceding and following it, when taken together they allow for the reasonably accurate pinpointing of the incident.  The verse is directly referring to spoils that may come into your possession during times of war and of their distribution.  Its commands are; to not be greedy for the spoils, whatever amount The Deliverer allots to a person to be content with it, not to covet more out of envy of what someone else may have been given.  They direct that the spoils are not to be distributed only to the influential and wealthy, making them wealthier, while the needy remain in that condition.  It's really sad; the true message has been overshadowed by reinterpretation from one of refraining from greed and envy, doing good to others, being charitable, and caring for the less fortunate, to one of Muhammad being the authority and decision maker of what is halaal (lawful) and haraam (unlawful).

 

و الي الله ترجع الامور

and to Allaah is returned the decisions  8:44 

(the Arabic word used is umuwru which is plural and defined as; affairs, matters, commands, etc.)

 

Careful scrutiny of the Aayat Qudus, or others of a similar nature, would show that obedience is due to all of The Deliverers and Receivers of Allaah. How could any intelligent person believe otherwise?    Were that not the case humankind would not have to obey any of Allaah's revelations, scriptures, commands, and guidance, because they all were sent down to his Deliverers and Receivers.  Allaah's Deliverers and Receivers received his revelations and informed the people of them, but they also followed them, they had no holy exemption.  The Deliverers and Receivers were the examples to the rest of the peoples of what is meant by obeying Allaah; that is what they did and, they were already know to the peoples.  The Deliverers and Receivers were not strangers to the people; they had already lived among them for years before being chosen by Allaah for their roles in the societies of man.  That was the sun'a of all Deliverers and Receivers, they obeyed Allaah.  That is how humankind received the Suhuwf (Scripture), Tawraat (Torah), Dzubuwr (Psalms), Injiyl (Gospel), and Al Qur'aan (The Recitation); from Ibrahiym (Abraham), Muwsaa (Moses), Daawuwd (David), Iysaa (Jesus), and Muhammad, throughout mans existence here on earth.  Would Allaah choose, then send, Deliverers and Receivers to humankind, entrusting them with his word, unless they were excellent examples, except for Muhammad?  Would Allaah say, I sent them, but don't take any of them as uswatun hasanatun (an excellent example) for emulation, except Muhammad; because they aren't?  If that were the case; then throughout the history of humankind Allaah only sent flawed Deliverers and Receivers with his word (ridiculous), and anyone who died before the time of Muhammad being chosen as a Deliverer, or died during his time but did not have the opportunity to become acquainted with him or his message, also had only flawed Deliverers and Receivers coming to them with the word of Allaah.  Realistically, none of those peoples could be held accountable for their wrong-doings; it would have been Allaah's fault, he was the one who sent those flawed, unacceptable, Deliverers and Receivers to them.  Good old common sense is a wonderful blessing; too bad it isn't used anymore!

 

و مآ ارسلنا من رسول الا ليطاع باذن الله

And we sent no Deliverer except to be obeyed by the permission of Allaah  4:64

 

تنزيل الكتاب من الله العزيز الحكيم

Sent down The Decree from Allaah the Mighty the Wise  39:1

 

I believe confusion exists in the minds of many Muslims with respect to Al Qur'aan's usage of the word kitaab.  The word kitaab is extensively used in Al Qur'aan and most English editions interpret it as book.  Those who do not read Arabic, as well as those who do but do not study, believe verses interpreted such as verse 39:1 (above) actually are referring to a book as we know one to be, with front and back covers, and having paper pages between the covers, with text on the pages.  That wasn't what was sent down to The Deliverers and Receivers.  A book, such as that, did not descend from the heavens miraculously appearing in the arms of The Deliverers and Receivers; they received the revelations of Allaah in the form of inspired directions, decrees, from our Lord.  These inspired directions and decrees descended and entered their souls, it wasn't a book.  They were the inspired words of our Lord which were sent down to them that are being referred to when the word kitaaba is most often used in Al Qur'aan.  And what The Deliverers and Receivers spoke to the people were kitaab (directions and decrees) and those are what were to be obeyed, the kitaab of Allaah.  Consequentially; obey The Deliverer means obey the kitaab of Allaah!  I am Allaah, I am God, I am sending you my Deliverers and Receivers, do not obey any of them, wait for Muhammad to show up, then when he arrives, obey him!   In the minds of too many Muslims that is exactly what they believe and would have the rest of us accept and believe also.  If you can accept and believe that you probably also believe that a camel can go through the eye of a needle!  This type of mind set is not unique to Muslims, it's a disease affecting the whole of humankind, and it's malignant, infectious, and spreading rapidly.  The disease is non-thinking; people do not think anymore, they do not reason, their heads are useless objects balanced atop their necks.  Fortunately, this disease does have a cure, use you brains.  Al Qur'aan, as were all of Allaah's revelations were not meant to just be read, they were also meant to be studied, and obeyed.  And just as man needs food to nourish his body and sustain his existence so too does he need the guidance from all of Allaah's revelations, as food for his soul's nourishment and to sustain its existence!

What has gradually happened is that the only verses in Al Qur'aan that are of any real importance in the lives of Muslims are the Aayat Qudus.  As for the rest of the verses in Al Qur'aan, the over six thousand remaining verses, their only purpose is for recitation during salaat (prescribed prayer) and on various occasions.  When Allaah gives the direction in Al Qur'aan to qul (say) and Muslims qul something different the reason is, Aayat Qudus!  And when Allaah says in Al Qur'aan to i'mal or i'maluw (do) and Muslims i'mal something different the reason is, Aayat Qudus!  When Al Qur'aan plainly states to say or do something, do Muslims change and conform to what Allaah has said?  Hardly; they continue in their ways and continue to disobey Allaah because of, Aayat Qudus of course.  That is why I labeled those six as qudus, they are absolutely sacred to Muslims, and they are emblazoned in their hearts.  Those six are more sacred to them than the first chapter (Al Faatihat) in Al Qur'aan, the chapter which the majority of Muslims recite in each and every salaat, and more than once per salaat, because they believe their entire salaat is invalid without its recitation.  The Aayat Qudus are dearer to and carry more weight with Muslims than Allaahu Akbaru (Allaah is Greater).

Mufti's issue fatwaa's calling for the killing of someone because of something objectionable the person may have said or written, Aayat Qudus.  That was not the sun'a of Muhammad.  Muslims who claim they are fighting in Jihaad (struggle, exertion, etc.) intentionally blow themselves up with explosives, killing and maiming innocents, women, children, and who are not fighting them, believing they will be rewarded for their acts with Paradise and virgins, because of Aayat Qudus.  Muslims are killing Muslims in direct contradiction to Al Qur'aan, Aayat Qudus.  Muslims are destroying houses of worship (Masaajid, Synagogues, Churches, and others) and religious monuments, Aayat Qudus.  Muslim women are being physically abused (by husbands, relatives, and non-relatives); they are oppressed, and discriminated against, Aayat Qudus.  Muslim men can do practically anything they desire while Muslim women are ignored and suppressed, Aayat Qudus.  Muslim men can become divorced by the simple pronouncement of three words, yet Muslim women have to beg to be divorced, and if it is to be granted she must first return the mahr (marriage gift from the prospective husband given to the prospective wife, though it is not in Al Qur'aan), Aayat Qudus.  In the Islaamic Ummaat men have all the power, Aayat Qudus.  Therefore; the Aayat Qudus are absolutely essential to the survival of Muslims, especially the men.  Muslims have lost their true sense of pride and mutual respect, Aayat Qudus.  That might partially be the reason for this next aayatun.

 

و قال الرسول يارب ان قومى اتخذوا هاذا القرءان مهجورا

And The Deliverer will say O my Lord verily my people have taken this The Qur'aan as nonsense  25:30

 

Muslims have become very adept at stretching the truth to suit their own desires but the only truth that counts is the word of Allaah, period!

Can it be that Muslims are being misguided?  Absolutely, I believe they are.  I believe that Al Qur'aan is the first and last authority and judgment in Diyni Allaahi for Muslims.  I also believe that no one else's word/s, no other source/s, can be higher than that of Allaah, Al Qur'aan.  Imagine if you will how different life would be for Muslims, as well as for the rest of the world, if Muslims made Al Qur'aan, the whole of it qudus rather than merely six verses.  Confusion, turmoil, they would be at a minimum and what might remain could be easily corrected through peaceful consultations as Al Qur'aan prescribes.  Peace and harmony having been thus planted could take root, grow sturdy, and flourish.  That's the world of Al Islaama Diynan, that's the world of Diyni Allaahi!

My brothers and sisters, we need to examine what we say and do, who and what we obey and follow, we need to be as sure as possible we are on the, Siraatun Mustaqiymun (straight path).  If that isn't what we're on; then we are on the same path as (Al Qur'aan 1:7) The Ghaaszibun (who displease Allaah), and The Daalliyn (who go astray).

 

و كلمة الله هى العليا  و الله عزيز حكيم

and the word of Allaah it is supreme, and Allaah is Mighty Wise  9:40

 

هو الاول و الاخر و الظاهر والباطن  و هو بكل شىء عليم

He is the first and the last and the manifest and the hidden, and he has knowledge of all things  57:3