Page 50 - Hussein Revivalism14

Article

Quran Is Not for

Muslims Alone

Mike Ghouse

First of all, God is not only the God us into many tribes, communities, the guidance is there, the guidance
of Muslims and no where he claims nations and by extension faiths, ideas, that leads to live in peace, and without
that in holy Quran. He is the creator shapes, and colors -- and all of us can fear of the other. He says I have sent a
of the universe(s), which is within trace back our origins to a singular peacemaker to every nation and every
and beyond our imagination. Quran couple referred to as Adam and Eve. tribe.
is a book of guidance to preserve Given that diversity, we are bound What does God want? Like a mother
the cohesiveness within and what to have conflicts and compete for who wants her children to live well;
surrounds us; people and the the resources. So, he adds, the best a teacher who wants his students
environment. ones among you are those who will to do well; and the chef who wants
The very first verse in the Quran reads, take the time to know each other, his patrons to enjoy his food.... God
(1:2) “[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord he knows that knowledge leads to wants every one of his creation to live
of the worlds” and the very last chapter understanding and understanding in harmony. He emphasizes the idea
opens with this line, (114:1) “Say, "I to acceptance and appreciation of repeatedly (over 18 times) -- if you take
seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,” different points of view. care of his creation (neighbor), you
and there is a whole lot in between. God does not miss a beat in need not worry; your rewards are with
God chose to address the entire communicating with his creation, and him. Just to make sure we understand
mankind, and rightfully so. Quran is tells us not to compel others to be this precisely, he says, whether you are
for the whole humanity and not just like you (2:256) let it come from their a Jew or a Christian and by corollary
Muslims exclusively. hearts for common goodness, and other, if you take care of your neighbor,
Nothing in the universe will survive if let others be others and you be you I will take care of you (2:62). Mind you,
it goes off balance and is not intact. (109:6). Indeed, when you respect the he is very clear, he has never said,
Thank God everything is created otherness of others, and accept the "Muslim Neighbor," but just neighbor
in balance and harmony, “And the God given uniqueness to people, then to be inclusive of all humanity.
heaven He raised and imposed the conflicts fade and solutions emerge to The concepts of universalism are
balance…” (55:7-13) with billions of live in harmony. loaded in the phrases like God of
other elements interconnected and Had he willed, he could have made us the Universe, "Rabbul Aalameen"
interdependent on each other to all into a single community or created and Mercy to Mankind "Rahmatul
function cohesively. all of us precisely alike (5:48), but he Aalameen ".
In fact, the entire creation can be chose to create each one of us to be The best way to understand the holy
broadly classified into Matter and Life. unique with our own thumb print, eye Quran is to remember, "If it is not
Planets, stars, seasons and plants are print, DNA, taste buds, belief buds, about justice, mercy and creating
programmed to function obediently races, nations and ethnicities. harmony" go back and read it several
(55:5-6) with precision, whereas God loves us all, and no one is times, three verse before and three
humans were not put on an auto-pilot, deprived of his love; he has reached afterwards, and read at least three to
they were instead given a free will out to every human through a peace four times to understand it better.
to manage and maintain their own maker, messenger, prophet, reformer,
balance, and of course there was the a wise man or simply a good friend To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker,
guidance for everyone. that brings sense to living. The creator one who seeks to mitigate conflicts
offers a variety of guidance to the and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-
God says (49:13) that he has created mankind, no matter where you live, existence of humanity.

50 Hussein Revivalism