Leave Hatred To Understand Quran

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan speech
Published in Muslim Murasu, October 2011

I have been reading Quran since my childhood days. I used to read a magazine ‘Nizame Quran’ in those days. I did not know Arabic at that time. But I used to read even without understanding. How does the modern community approach Quran? The arguments that Quran is the final book, complete book, lofty book, book that has God’s commands, are not appealing for them. Suicide bombings began to be done in the name of Quran. World got confused about the message of Quran.
To my mind, Quran is a book that explains the creation plan of God. When I said this to a new convert in London, he readily accepted. People are readily taking to this idea.
One of the main complaints by rationalists about God is that if God is all powerful then why is there so much crimes and atrocities in this world. A historian is of the opinion that history of mankind is little more than history of crimes.
God created man and gave him freedom. What you see as sins and atrocities are actually misuse of this freedom by man.
One of my friends used to distribute Quran to whoever he gets in touch with. People gave him the label ‘Quran Man’. Prophet did this same job. Teaching Quran was his main responsibility. Before Hijrath, Prophet sent two Sahabas (companions) to Madinah to understand what will be the response and reaction he would receive when he comes to Madinah. These two companions reached Madinah. When they see crowd anywhere they will go there and start reciting verses from Quran. Inhabitants there understood Arabic. People of Madinah gave the title ‘Mukri’, people who recite, to these two companions. History is repeating. There are Mukris even today. Intention is to spread Quran.
People will be standing in groups on the judgement day. There will be a group of Mukri, people who preached Quran. God will reward them.
But it does not seem to me that people have shown enough interest in spreading Quran over these thousand years. There have been thousands of books written on Quran. But essence, core and spirit of Quran, its internal meanings, remain uncaptured in these books.
There is a group among Hindus called Barnamis. They live in Delhi. Kulthum Shareef is their holy book written by their leader. He had understanding of Quran. There is a line in that book, “Bikar rahi Quran”. It means Quran has remained a bachelor. This is baffling. His choice of words is striking.
“Layamassuhu illal muthaharrun”. Verse 79 in Surah 56, Surah Waqia. It means, none shall touch this but those who are clean.
Some have interpreted this as bodily cleanliness, we should not touch Quran without Ozhu. I have seen people touching Quran with glouse. Some others interpret it as only angels can touch Quran. Only people with clean character can touch it. These are different interpretations about taharrat – cleanliness.
Different people broke away from me for taking soft stand during Gujarat riots, Kashmir problem, Babri Masjid demolition, Israel atrocities etc. Each had different opinion and broke contact with me.
These people have no understanding of Quran. Quran delivers only constructive thoughts. People with antagonistic, counterproductive ideas cannot reach the inner meaning of Quran. Leave hatred, you will understand Quran. Allah is the author of Quran. In His view, all humanity is the same. Allah does not preach hatred among men.
“Alqalq aalullah” – mankind is part of God’s family. We should not forsake constructive ideas, come what may. Prophet faced countless hardships and troubles in Meccah. People there kept the huge dirty intestine of camel on his head while he was prostrating in prayer. They called him Muzammam (condemned) and insulted him.
Those who have negative thoughts won’t understand Quran. But today negative ideas have spread invariably from America to Gulf to India. Each Muslim without any exception is toying with one or the other adverse thought. Come out from destructive mentality. Read this book in the place of its Author. Then you will understand it.
Allah is hundred percent for development, He does not like destruction. People are using cars, constructing villas and flying in planes. They do not remember or thank God. Some have gone to the limit of writing book ‘God is Dead’. Muslims are boiling even before seeing cartoon. They were rioting based on hearsay. Internet displays thousands of books against God. Even if Allah has one percent negative thought, He would have destroyed the world. But He does not do so.