In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
The Qur’an is the miraculous words of Allah (SWT) which were revealed upon the Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and is passed to the next generations through multiple chains of narration. The Qur’an encourages peaceful coexistence, love and compassion, understanding of non-believers, avoiding violence, and respecting other religions. Through its teachings, it guides Muslims to lead righteous and fulfilling lives while promoting harmony and understanding among different communities. The Qur’an is revered as a divine revelation, guiding individuals towards leading a righteous life.
The Qur’an teaches the principles of monotheism, emphasising faith, worship, and submission to Allah. It imparts moral values such as honesty, kindness, patience and forgiveness. It addresses social justice, charity, and caring for others including the marginalised. The Qur’an provides guidelines for family life, personal conduct, and spiritual growth, encouraging knowledge-seeking and self-reflection. Ultimately, it serves as a comprehensive guide for Muslims to lead righteous and fulfilling lives.
The Qur’an contains many teachings that guide Muslims in their personal and spiritual lives. Tawhid, oneness of Allah is the first of all. The Qur’an places significant importance on the concept of Tawhid, which asserts the belief in the unity of Allah. It emphasizes the rejection of idol worship and highlights the significance of monotheism in Islam. Muslims are equally guided by the Qur’an to engage in various forms of worship and devotion to Allah (SWT). This includes praying regularly, observing fasting during Ramadan, giving charity ot those in need and undertaking the pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Hajj.
The Qur’an promotes compassion, kindness and benevolence towards all creation. The Qur’an stresses treating others with empathy, understanding, and care regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances. The Qur’an emphasizes the significance of justice and fairness in the lives of Muslims. It urges individuals to uphold these principles in their interactions, treating others with equity, impartiality, and righteousness. In equal manner, the Qur’an advises Muslim to embody the twin virtues of honesty and trustworthy in all aspects of life.
The Qur’an teaches that patience and perseverance during times of hardship and adversity are virtues highly esteemed by Allah (SWT). The Qur’an highlights the importance of remaining steadfast and resilient in the face of challenges. It also encourages the spirits of forgiveness and mercy in Muslims towards others who might have wronged them, and they should actively seek forgiveness for their own mistakes and sins against fellow humans and Allah (SWT). The Qur’an emphasizes that mercy and forgiveness are attributes intrinsic to Allah’s (SWT) nature and should be emulated by believers.
The Qur’an serves as a constant source of inspiration for Muslims to seek knowledge, pursue education, and engage in continuous learning. The Qur’an encourages believers to explore the world, reflect upon the signs of Allah’s (SWT) creation, and acquire knowledge that contributes to personal growth, understanding, and the betterment of society. The Qur’an equally emphasizes the values of humility and modesty, urging the believers to steer clear of arrogance and vanity by recognizing the importance of modest behavious and maintaining a humble outlook. This is pointedly connected with the fact that the Qur’an teaches the importance of universal brotherhood and promotes an inclusive and egalitarian society. The Qur’an preaches that all individuals are equal and interconnected members of a larger global community, regardless of their race, nationality, or social status.
The Qur’an teaches peace. It emphasises principles such as justice, compassion, forgiveness and promoting harmony within society. It encourages Muslims to resolve conflicts peacefully and promotes tolerance towards people of different faiths. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Qur’an 2:208, Allah (SWT) states, “O you who believe! Enter perfectly into Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the religion of Islam) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan-Satan. Verily, he is to you a plain enemy.” The Qur’an advocates for self-defense only in situations of legitimate threat, seeking to maintain peace and protect the rights of individuals and communities.
The Qur’an teaches love as a central value in Islam. It emphasizes the importance of showing kindness, compassion, and empathy towards others, regardless of their beliefs or background. The Qur’an encourages Muslims to cultivate love through acts of worship, and devotion, and by maintaining healthy relationships with their families, friends, and communities. Love is seen as an essential aspect of Islam, both in terms of one’s relationship with Allah (SWT) and in their interactions with fellow human beings. The Qur’an does not teach violence. The overall message of the Qur’an emphasizes peace, justice, compassion, and the sanctity of human life. It encourages Muslims to seek harmony, resolve conflicts peacefully, and promote justice and kindness towards all people. Allah (SWT) in Surah Fussilat, Qur’an 41:34-35 says, “Good and evil cannot be equal. Repel evil with what is better and your enemy will become as close as an old and valued friend, but only those who are steadfast in patience, only those who are blessed with great righteousness, will attain such goodness.” While verses in the Qur’an mention warfare and self-defense, they are strictly contextual and limited to specific historical events. It is important to interpret the Qur’an historically, considering its verses in their historical and linguistic contexts, as well as in the light of the broader teachings of Islam.
The Qur’an does not teach or encourage killing of infidels. Rather, the Qur’an encourages Muslims to engage in dialogue, and peaceful coexistence to treat all individuals with respect and fairness, regardless of their faith. Islam promotes religious freedom and upholds the principle of no compulsion in matters of religion, Surah An-Nahl Qur’an 16:125 “Invite (mankind, O Muhammad [SAW] to the way of your Lord [i.e. Islam) with wisdom [i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’an] and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His path, and He is the Best Knower of those who are guided.”
While there are verses that discuss battles and conflicts with the infidels, they are specific to historical events and self-defense situations. The Qur’an strictly prohibits the unjust killing and places great importance on the sanctity of human life. The Qur’an promotes principles of peace, mercy and compassion, urging Muslims to seek peaceful resolution of conflicts and uphold justice. It emphasises the value of all life and strongly condemns actions such as murder, aggression, terrorism and insurgency.
