The Way of Islam by R. da - Costa Vaughan - HTML preview

APPENDIX

A SHORT LANGUAGE-PROFILE OF ISLAM AND ALLAH'S

PLAN

The Qur'an (Koran, as many say it) is Islam's starting point. The Qur'an states that it was sent purposefully by God or Allah to Arabs [26:195] in Arabic--. This was done to make it clear so that there would be no doubt that Arabs were favored. [39:28] "It is a Qur'an in Arabic without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against Evil."

In several instances, the Qur'an clearly confirms that Arabs and Arabic will lead the way to truth without crookedness [12:2] "We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may learn wisdom." It also states that unbelief and wickedness  are hateful to the faith.

The Arabic text requires no interpretation on these points. for there being no crookedness in the way, and for its declaration that it is bringing wisdom to an heretofore ignorant world. The oft-repeated boast of Arabs and Muslims is that all that came before Islam's gift of wisdom to the world was ignorance--if not outright folly.

Specifically and prior to their acceptance of Islam and its dictates, the Qur'an [9:97] denounces the desert Arabs. "The Arabs of the desert are the worst in Unbelief and hypocrisy, and most fitted to be in ignorance of the command which Allah hath sent down to His Messenger."

Again, the Arabic is straight-forward. .The point here is that Islam, Arabs and Arabic are all symbiotic if not synonymous. If any interpretation may be appended, it would be that there would be no Islam if it were not for Arabs and the Arabic tongue.

Indeed, the Qur'an straight-forwardly says [16:103] "This is Arabic, pure and clear." It is the textual forerunner and repetition exactly of the Arabic in this section's opening paragraph.

The Qur'an cannot be clearer when it declares [42:7] "Thus have We sent by inspiration to thee an Arabic Qur'an..."  Arabs and the Arabic language are at the root, heart and soul of Islam as the foregoing all serves to show.

While there are now many translations of the Qur'an in various languages, the Arabic Qur'an remains straight-forward. Many non-Arab believers who receive the Qur'an in their native non-Arabic tongue have received tutoring that can only be called "doctored" or tailored and in several ways also somewhat deceptive.

The issue of ignorance and intelligence is very frequently addressed textually in the Qur'an, in Arabic. Interpretations that come by way of translations in other languages open the door to slanted or crooked "misunderstandings" that easily may be characterized as deceptive practices. Consider the following--as an example:

Sura 6:111 in the Qur'an states: and comes into English as "And We gathered together all things before their very eyes, they are not the ones to believe, unless it is in Allah's plan. But most of them ignore (the truth)." Quite a few nuances, connotations and detailed meanings get lost by the unquestionably "accurate" but less than complete translation.

In the full context of the Qur'an, this short text scathingly indicts those who are ignorant, or as the Arabic was rendered into English "them (who) ignore (the truth)." The "truth" of course is the Qur'an and the Muslim way. The text also says that Allah has a plan. In that plan there are those whom Allah has preordained as "they (who) are not the one's to believe."

A person comes to believe only when Allah set it as so as part of his "plan." The actual Arabic says, if rendered word-for-word in English, "only if Allah wills it." The word "plan" as such does not occur here, but does in other places such as Sura 3:54 where Allah is described as the Supreme or most powerful planner.

There is still more. In the full context of the Qur'an, readers or intelligent readers are told that Allah has put here for our eyes--examples. Among these "rehearsal examples" there are those designed, destined and set apart to be unbelievers as a living lesson for those who can intelligently read the signs.

It was from things such as this that were set out in the "clear Arabic" that prejudice based on religion, color and other signs gained Qur'anic force in the world. What is gathered and set before our very eyes is not always as it seems to many who accept Islamic propaganda.

For "those who know" (as the Qur'an calls them) so much of the teachings and text was neither benign nor beneficial for the ignorant or unintelligent نَوُلهَجْيَ.

ALLAH HAS A PLAN

Believers are told that Allah has a plan. Sura 3:54 is quite clear. . The Arabic says, "And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah."

Native speakers of Arabic boast that a person needs to know Arabic to appreciate, follow and understand the Qur'an. The boast is justifiable and the conceit that accompanies the boast is well merited. Allah’s Grand Design and Allah’s will and power are inherently tied to His plan. That plan or plot is very much in play as knowledgeable believers see it. Its machinery of implementation has gained renewed force again in our day in this twenty-first century.

There is some controversy about the methods sanctioned by Islam to ensure that Allah’s drive and plan or prevails in line with Sura 3:54.

We who are outside can take a lesson from the question posed by Sura 7:99. It is aimed at ignorant unbelievers: and asks or more so truly declares: "Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah?- but no one can feel secure from the Plan of Allah, except those (doomed) to ruin!"

As rabble-rousers consider Allah, the plotter and planner, they may clearly see the Arabic Qur'an providing textual bases for artful machination, craftiness, deceit, stratagem, ruse and a conscious laying of snares to keep us unbelievers and outsiders in the dark—vulnerable and unenlightened.