Books In Brief The Qur Anic Worldview

This is a carefully reasoned, positive, and largely reflective work. Looking back at the various stages of Islamic historical development, AbuSulayman puts forward a thesis that focuses on the recovery of what is termed the Qur’anic worldview. By this is meant an ethical, monotheistic, and purposeful perspective on the world and those within it. Our faith will only be complete when we have become utterly sincere in our love for God, a love expressed in a pure, passionate love for goodness and truth in this world. It was the strict internalization of this perspective and close adherence to the principles of the Qur’an which AbuSulayman contends, played a key factor in galvanizing the devout and intensely God-conscious followers of fledgling Islam to achieve the successes that they once did, the profound historical and global impact of which is still the subject of much study and admiration today. The rebirth of Islamic identity through this Qur’anic worldview is the key requirement of our times and a prerequisite for any future healthy and viable development of Muslim societies.

This is a carefully reasoned, positive, and largely reflective work. Looking back at the various ‎stages of Islamic historical development, AbuSulayman puts forward a thesis that focuses on the ‎recovery of what is termed the Qur’anic worldview. By this is meant an ethical, monotheistic, and ‎purposeful perspective on the world and those within it. Our faith will only be complete when we ‎have become utterly sincere in our love for God, a love expressed in a pure, passionate love for ‎goodness and truth in this world. It was the strict internalization of this perspective and close ‎adherence to the principles of the Qur’an which AbuSulayman contends, played a key factor in ‎galvanizing the devout and intensely God-conscious followers of fledgling Islam to achieve the ‎successes that they once did, the profound historical and global impact of which is still the subject ‎of much study and admiration today. The rebirth of Islamic identity through this Qur’anic ‎worldview is the key requirement of our times and a prerequisite for any future healthy and viable ‎development of Muslim societies.‎

This is a carefully reasoned, positive, and largely reflective work. Looking back at the various stages of Islamic historical development, AbuSulayman puts forward a thesis that focuses on the recovery of what is termed the Qur’anic worldview. By this is meant an ethical, monotheistic, and purposeful perspective on the world and those within it. Our faith will only be complete when we have become utterly sincere in our love for God, a love expressed in a pure, passionate love for goodness and truth in this world. It was the strict internalization of this perspective and close adherence to the principles of the Qur’an which AbuSulayman contends, played a key factor in galvanizing the devout and intensely God-conscious followers of fledgling Islam to achieve the successes that they once did, the profound historical and global impact of which is still the subject of much study and admiration today. The rebirth of Islamic identity through this Qur’anic worldview is the key requirement of our times and a prerequisite for any future healthy and viable development of Muslim societies.

This is a carefully reasoned, positive, and largely reflective work. Looking back at the various stages of Islamic historical development, AbuSulayman puts forward a thesis that focuses on the recovery of what is termed the Qur’anic worldview. By this is meant an ethical, monotheistic, and purposeful perspective on the world and those within it. Our faith will only be complete when we have become utterly sincere in our love for God, a love expressed in a pure, passionate love for goodness and truth in this world. It was the strict internalization of this perspective and close adherence to the principles of the Qur’an which AbuSulayman contends, played a key factor in galvanizing the devout and intensely God-conscious followers of fledgling Islam to achieve the successes that they once did, the profound historical and global impact of which is still the subject of much study and admiration today. The rebirth of Islamic identity through this Qur’anic worldview is the key requirement of our times and a prerequisite for any future healthy and viable development of Muslim societies.

This is a carefully reasoned, positive, and largely reflective work. Looking back at the various stages of Islamic historical development, AbuSulayman puts forward a thesis that focuses on the recovery of what is termed the Qur’anic worldview. By this is meant an ethical, monotheistic, and purposeful perspective on the world and those within it. Our faith will only be complete when we have become utterly sincere in our love for God, a love expressed in a pure, passionate love for goodness and truth in this world. It was the strict internalization of this perspective and close adherence to the principles of the Qur’an which AbuSulayman contends, played a key factor in galvanizing the devout and intensely God-conscious followers of fledgling Islam to achieve the successes that they once did, the profound historical and global impact of which is still the subject of much study and admiration today. The rebirth of Islamic identity through this Qur’anic worldview is the key requirement of our times and a prerequisite for any future healthy and viable development of Muslim societies.

The Qur’an and Sunnah are the two primary sources of Muslim faith, life, law and morality. The Qur’an is for Muslims the foundation of their faith and the Sunnah is the framework of their morality. Together they constitute the two sources of the law (Shari’ah) of God, a guide to prosperity and happiness in this life and to the bliss of the hereafter. Although the Qur’an and Sunnah are materially and formally two independent sources, they are inextricably bound in a dynamic relationship. The rulings and precepts (ahkam) of the Qur’an constitute the law (shar’) of God. They are supplemented by the precepts of the authentic Sunnah, which possess authority second only to the precepts of the Qur’an. The Qur’an commands Muslims, “Whatever the Messenger gives you, that you must take, and whatever he forbids you, you must desist therefrom....” (59:7).

This book is a journey into the heart of an Islamic worldview. It asks challenging questions of far-reaching consequence, addressing matters such as the Qur’an and revelation; rituals and symbols embraced; nature of God, of humans, and of our knowing; dignity of the human, sacredness of life, and more. It precludes easy, prescribed answers, preferring instead thoughtful reflection on two basic questions: What does it mean to love God? What does it mean to be a good person? Carefully crafted responses are presented by a group of scholars from Qur’an Studies, Worldview Studies, Women’s Studies, Cultural Studies and Religious Education. It uncovers a dynamic understanding of Islam; one that meets challenges of the present, counters harsh criticisms, and breathes new life into a rich and longstanding tradition that continues to impact the lives of billions of people around the world.

The Holy Qur'an is for Muslims the most reliable source for a correct understanding of the teachings of Islam and knowledge of this religion. The comprehensiveness of the Qur'an, which includes topics such as the origin of the human race, the purpose of creation, the missions of the prophets and their accounts, resurrection and afterlife, ethical teachings and norms, as well as laws and precepts governing individual and social conduct, and many other topics besides, is such as to satisfy every human being's thirst for revealed knowledge in a world bewildered by materialist worldviews.Although the Arabic Qur'an is the most widely read and recited of books throughout the Muslim world, its teaching and message are not accessible to the great majority of non-Arab Muslims except through the medium of translation. Even in languages which have competent translations of the whole Qur'an, topically arranged selections of translated verses can be most helpful as vital aids to a better understanding of Islamic teachings on various issues.In addition to works that introduce non-Muslims readers to the role of the Qur'an in the formation of Islamic culture and spirituality and those which describe its major themes, topical selections of verses and passages are also useful to make the book's contents accessible to many readers who lack the time and or motivation required to explore the Islamic scripture in its entirety. In fact, topical selections are even more essential for non-Muslims who, while curious to obtain a first hand acquaintance with its contents, often find the arrangement and style of the Qur'an to be daunting and lack the patience to navigate a text which loses in translation much of the linguistic excellence and audible beauty and resonance of the Arabic original. The present selection does not claim to be exhaustive, as the range of topics dealt with in the Qur'an, or those which may be of significant or even urgent relevance for certain readers, is much greater than can be covered in a book of modest length and scope as the present one.