Islam: the plain truth – told as never before.
This is not a new Islam. This is the way it should always have been.
… and now we have a reliable exposition of the Quran to explain this.
THE QURAN NME
Challenging traditional interpretations
Whatever your belief,
this is a compelling read.
The Quran, Muslims believe, is God’s word and the final expression of His message to all people, whatever their belief, race or background.
Others may not share this view but will recognise it as one of the world’s most important books, gaining ever-increasing influence.
For this reason alone,
it is worthy of study.
Paigham Mustafa’s work archive is held at the British Library and additionally at:
The Bodleian Library Oxford University
The Cambridge University Library
The National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Wales
Trinity College Dublin Ireland
Paigham Mustafa is available to users of the national libraries and is preserved for the benefit of future generations as part of the nation’s heritage. His books are also recorded in their online catalogues and are available as an essential research resource
The OIBI is an independent Muslim public policy research institute promoting fresh inquiry and creative solutions for a contemporary and diverse British society. www.oibi.org.uk
Paigham Mustafa’s book The Quran:
God’s message to mankind received wide press coverage and the Sunday Times said:
The Sunday Times –
News Review
RELIGION AND ISLAM
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
To take Islam as a religion means its fundamental position as a social and economic model has not been understood.
WHY BELEIVE IN GOD?
When intelligent people look at the absurdities and futility of religion they often reject God, when in reality they should reject religion.
Strip religion, any religion, of its rites, rituals and dress codes, and you are left with core universal values.
A fractured society separated by religion, race or nationalism is a breeding ground for nefarious elements that create nothing but fear and turmoil.
All people need the same enduring universal values. Common values remove
barriers and bring people together – whatever their background; if individuals
are good then, unfailingly, society will also be good.
The Permanent Values that advance individuals and society are taught in the Quran. The fact that there is such a complete guidance means a quick route to achieving peace and security – without trial and error.
Society is civilised only when its weakest
and most vulnerable are left not wanting.
The Quran encourages people to establish a balanced society with individuals who look after each other’s interests.
WITHOUT UNITY THERE CAN BE NO PEACE
Divisions based on religion, tribalism, nationalism, racism and anything that causes egregious maleficence, must be reconciled.
In the absence of a universal way of life, humankind must remain divided into mutually hostile groups. Under such conditions, there can be no enduring peace, no permanent security for the individual and no shared and lasting prosperity and happiness in the world.
The Quran, for this reason, constantly draws attention to the unity of humanity.
The Quran destroys the notion of superiority based on religion, nationality or race and clearly states that the best amongst you are those foremost in good conduct. The Quran verse 49:13
The greatest delusion of people is that after death there is nothing – the false security of thinking that for all our greed, corruptions and selfish acts we are not going to be held accountable.
3 Questions
Taking Islam as a religion means its fundamental position has not been understood. Religions are defined by the rites and rituals that need to be performed for salvation, but the Quran decrees no such things. Islam is not a religion; it is a socio-economic system that creates an environment to develop the Self, the human personality. It helps the transformation of an individual’s character by overcoming the challenges of life. Individuals are ultimately defined only by their conduct and not by their dress, diet, rituals, customs or traditions. Common universal values, as decreed in the Quran, remove barriers and bring people together whatever their background. This is because when individuals are good then, unfailingly, society will also be good.
The word ‘muslim’ – an Arabic word, like algebra, alcohol and sugar, and now in common English use – is not a label or a title but a description of a person recognised by the high standards of probity he or she maintains. Conscientious people will recognise in the Quran the universal values which can be defined as the Permanent Values. They may already live by these high standards and have exemplary characteristics even before they find the guidance of the Quran. They may in fact already be muslims, those who harmonise with Permanent Values, even though they are described, not as muslims, but by another equally appropriate term.
If a person already has his or her values aligned with the Quran, then why do they need to follow its guidance? While it may appear that an individual’s values are in agreement with the Quran, it is the Quran alone that embodies the complete Permanent Values and Absolute Laws that harmonise with God’s system, and provides them in a framework that a person may not be able to. This ensures that a full and complete calibration of values can take place by impressing the Self with the divine blueprint.
