Between Memorization and Reflection: A Qur’anic Call to Renew Our Relationship with Revelation
In an age of rapid transformation and mounting challenges, the need to revisit our relationship with the Qur’an becomes increasingly urgent—not out of harsh critique, but out of sincere love and a desire to keep this sacred book a living source of guidance and renewal in our daily lives.
God Almighty has taken upon Himself the task of preserving the Qur’an, as He says:
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will preserve it.” (Qur’an 15:9)
Preservation of the Book is a divine responsibility. Our responsibility, however, is to contemplate, reflect, and act.
God commands us:
“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, that they might contemplate its verses.” (Qur’an 38:29)
“Do they not contemplate the Qur’an?” (Qur’an 4:82)
Contemplation is not a luxury; it is a Qur’anic obligation, a condition for understanding the message and transforming it from memorized verses into lived values, from recitation into civilizational consciousness.
Yet, in many cultural spaces across the Arab and Muslim world, we still find a deep fear of intellectual renewal and of questioning, even when it is for the purpose of understanding. Not because people don’t recognize the need, but because they fear the “ripples” that even a small pebble might cause in the stagnant waters of inherited thought.
These fears are understandable, but they cannot justify stagnation. Islam is a religion of reason and renewal, not of repetition and blind imitation. The Qur’an warns us against following inherited ways without insight:
“We found our fathers following this path, and we are following in their footsteps.” (Qur’an 43:23)
Centuries ago, the philosopher Ibn Rushd (Averroes) was declared a heretic and watched as his books were burned. One of his students wept, and Ibn Rushd said to him:
“Son, if you are crying for the books, don’t. Ideas have wings—they fly to those who appreciate them. But if you are crying for the state of the Arabs and Muslims, know this: even if you turned the oceans into tears, they would not be enough.”
These words still resonate. Ideas do not die—but they need hearts that listen, minds that reflect, and communities that embrace renewal.
A Call for Renewal, Not Rejection
We do not need to sever ties with our traditions. We need to reconnect with them through contemplation, courage, and a renewed commitment to the Qur’an as a source of guidance, not just recitation.
Let us revive the courage to ask questions, the humility to learn, and the wisdom to act. Let us restore the Qur’an to its rightful place: a book of life, not just of ceremony. And let us make contemplation a collective project, one that enlightens minds, unites hearts, and restores our compass of mercy and justice.