By Abdur Rab on 1/9/2010 6:00 PM

Abstract. The kind of approach to the subject of divine will and human freedom that dominates the religious outlook (belief system) of Muslims is that major events such as life, death, livelihood, etc., if not all that happens, are divinely preordained, fixed, and inevitable — i.e., unalterable by human effort. Such a belief is encouraged by the Hadith literature and the opinions of some Muslim theologians. However, the Quran does not support this belief. This article demonstrates, in light of the Quran, that this idea is a major misconception. The Quran strongly upholds human freedom, responsibility, and accountability. Destiny, of course, plays a part in human life. But that part often gets overemphasized to the virtual exclusion of human freedom. The truth is, as it has been throughout the history of human civilization, that man is largely the architect of his own destiny. If that is not the case, the whole foundation of religion falls apart.

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By Abdur Rab on 9/28/2009 8:02 PM

As promised in my opening statement on this blog, below I provide you with a 
brief summary of my book, Exploring Islam in a New Light: An Understanding from the Quranic Perspective (A second revised edition is titled "Exploring Islam in a New Light: A View from the Quranic Perspective" published by Brainbow Press in 2010).

 

The book is a renewed attempt to provide a new, comprehensive vision of Islam. It makes a compelling case for a reformed Islamic practice that follows only the Quran, and rejects the widely revered Hadith literature. It seeks to promote a new way of thinking about a reformed Islam—one that can reconcile all Muslims and create the civil, moral Islam the Quran dictates.

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By Abdur Rab on 7/24/2009 6:43 PM

Religion, or call it “deen” if you will, is arguably often the least understood, or the most misunderstood, and probably the most contentious, subject. Part of the reason is, of course, that there have been different prophets and books and teachings by their names, and partly because of the fact that with the coming of each religion, false prophets or religious clerics emerged on the scene, who deliberately introduced new things into the religion. Because ideas die hard, the followers of earlier religions though superseded by later ones generally stick to their own books of such teachings. Interpretations of religions vary even more. There are multiple interpretations of the same religion, even  among followers who have grown in their intellect and wisdom. However, differences in religious understanding tend to narrow when wisdom grows to a certain level. Since the source of religion is God and divine revelation, all prophets must have brought the same message, and religion with God always must have been, or must be, the same one (3:1; 41:43; 42:13; 6:115).

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