Page 14 - Those Who Do Not Heed The Qur'an

WHY PEOPLE AVOID

THE QUR'AN

s soon as we are born, we have an appetite for learn-
ing. Childhood is a time of exciting investigation
A A and discovery about the world. As we grow, this ex-
citement dulls and gives way to habit—customs and traditions
based on the "received wisdom" of our elders. We tend to accept this
"received wisdom" unconditionally, and so lose the ability to inves-
tigate and think critically. We accept that what our society says is
bad, is bad, and what it says is good, is good. We do not examine
why bad is bad or good is good.
Strikingly, it is in religion in which this process of relying on the

wisdom of elders is most pronounced. People tend to follow their
religion that is really a conglomeration of traditions, customs, false
information and misguided behaviour that have accumulated over
time. What they follow often has different rules, prohibitions and
conceptions of morality. One of the most troubling results of this
process is that it creates amongst people a prejudice against the true
religion. Even in Muslim countries, there are supposedly religious
practices that are really just customs having no basis in the Qur'an
or the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace.) All this causes some people to distance them-
selves from the true religion. Even those who are normally open-