The story of Adam and Iblis is often read as a story about obedience and disobedience. Yet perhaps it is something much deeper. Perhaps it is a story about the difference between knowing what something is made from and understanding what it is made for. The Qur’an tells us that …
Introduction Worship (ʿibādah) is often understood as the performance of religious rituals such as prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage. While these practices are indispensable components of Islam, the Qur’an presents a much broader understanding of worship. Worship is not confined to sacred times and sacred places; it is the very …
Introduction The dominant assumption among modern readers is that the Qur’anic terms qaryah (village) and madinah (city) refer to geographical realities. A village is simply a small settlement, while a city is a large urban center. Yet a careful reading of the Qur’an suggests that these terms may carry a much deeper …
The Qur’an presents reality through a profound distinction: أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ “Surely, to Him belong creation and command.” (7:54) This verse identifies two fundamental dimensions of existence: عالم الخلق: the world of creation, where things are brought into being and given physical existence. عالم الأمر: the world of command, …
For some time now, I have made it a habit to arrive at the mosque about thirty minutes before the Friday khutbah. I do so deliberately. While the khutbah is an important part of Jumu’ah, it is essentially a monologue. I wanted to create an opportunity for dialogue. Those minutes …
بقلم الدكتور صافي قصقص مقدمة: لماذا نعيد النظر في ترجمة القرآن اليوم؟ في زمن تداخلت فيه الثقافات، وتنوعت فيه وسائل التواصل، وأصبح النص القرآني في متناول كل إنسان عبر شاشة هاتفه، برزت ترجمة معاني القرآن كحاجة ملحّة لا غنى عنها. لكن السؤال الذي يطرحه القارئ العربي اليوم: لماذا هذا …
The Qur’an presents one of the most profound distinctions ever made about reality: “Unquestionably, His is the creation (khalq) and the command (amr).” (7:54) This verse is often read as a simple statement that God creates and governs. Yet it points to something much deeper. It suggests that reality itself …
The Verse “There is no compulsion in religion. Truth has become clear from error. Therefore, whoever rejects all forms of tyranny over conscience and believes in God has grasped the firmest handhold, one that will never break. (Qur’an 2:256) The Arabic text: لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ …
What follows is a contemporary reflection on Surah Al-Falaq. It is not offered as the final or exclusive meaning of the surah, but as an attempt to explore how its guidance speaks to the forms of darkness, manipulation, oppression, and moral challenges that confront humanity today. Before proceeding, it is …
Introduction The expression ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān (the Sciences of the Qur’an) typically evokes a familiar collection of disciplines: the occasions of revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), Meccan and Medinan revelations, canonical readings (qirāʾāt), clear and allegorical verses (muḥkam and mutashābih), abrogation (naskh), the miraculous nature (iʿjāz) of the Qur’an, and the counting of …
