Quranic Context

What is the Quranic context?

Mostly, we think of the flow of the verses within a chapter of the Quran as connecting with each other and thus defining the Quranic context. Often times, a particular event that took place at a particular time is taken as the context. It is not wrong but, how do we exactly define “the context of the speech of God”?

By definition, the Quran defines itself as the Speech of the Creator of the universe. If one is questioning about his/her existence, then there must be a guide out there to answer these questions. If I am made with the ability to ask questions, then I must be given the answers by the One that Makes me. Therefore, the Quran provides answers to human inquiries and serves as a form of verbal guidance which allows us to make out something of our life here in this universe. But the pre-requisite is to have questions otherwise seeking guidance without feeling the need to be guided can NEVER make any sense.

It is known that Prophet Moses asked for guidance in the wilderness when he got lost and then he got light. What is light? Light is the news about the necessary existence of the Creator of the universe for the person who is questioning and searching for or seeking guidance. The light from God should not be the direction of his path to a place geographically. He was to be appointed as a prophet to carry the universal message of God for all human kind.

Quran is inimitable, what does it mean? 

Mostly, it is understood that the inimitable part has to do with the eloquence of the Quran. That is, no one can produce the style and poetic form of the way the Quran is compiled. This may be true as well, but how many people are able to appreciate it? However, one can argue that there are some well written books out there impeccably composed in their structure and usage of vocabulary words. So, what aspect of the Quran is, in fact, inimitable then? 

• The message it brings and presents about an Absolute Source giving existence to things out of nothing.
• The inner dialogue that It enables you to establish within yourself: What can be the Source of existence of the universe?
• The main message It is based on: How do you explain the existence of the universe and the things within it?

Thus, in its presentation, the Quran helps one answer their human existential questions.

52:33 “Or do they say, “He himself has composed this [message]”?  Surely, they are not willing to believe!

Prophets lived in this world only to spread the truth. People who have made up their mind either by rejection (not wanting to submit) or not wanting to believe (deniers) keep making excuses to justify their views. The common claim is that the Speech of God is a man-made speech and since it is a man-made speech, it is from within this universe. By definition, the Speech of God is Absolute, i.e. not of the nature of this universe. These people do not want to believe in what the Quran wants to teach i.e. life in this universe is transient and life is given existence for the conscious being to acknowledge what the Creator of the universe is.

52:34 “Then, let them then produce a discourse like it, if they speak the Truth.”

Since the Quran itself claims to be inimitable, Its Speaker itself challenges the deniers to bring or produce a book that provides an interpretation of existence as clearly and convincingly as the Qur’an does. If the deniers (in order not to believe) claim that a person has composed the Quranic message, then they should be able to justify their claim by producing a discourse like the Quran.  It means that no one can come up with an idea that explains the existence of things in this universe equal or better than the Qur’an does.

Again, the main message of the Quran is based on who or what is the Creator of the universe and what the purpose of creation is:

• There is a Creator; everything is created by this Creator. (You have to confirm for yourself: there must be a Creator).
• There is nothing but is created by this Creator.
• Do things come into existence by themselves or a Conscious Cause wills them to exist?

No one can challenge this message.  In Its message no one can come up with either an equal message or something better than that: Is there a Creator?  Should there be a Creator? What is the purpose of existence? No one can challenge the Quranic message!!

52:35 “Were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators?”

If a man has composed the Quranic message, then how do you explain the existence of man? Can anyone demonstrate that things exist by themselves?  If something exists and its source of existence cannot be demonstrated within itself, then we cannot conclude that things exist by themselves.  The Source of existence of things is what we are looking. Can anyone show that things came into existence out of nothing? Show me one thing that gives existence to itself or another thing in this universe.  Example: Are the parts of the building the Builder of the building? Or the Builder puts them there to make the building?

• No one can show that anything in the universe has the quality to give existence to another thing. A thousand times no!

52:36 “Did they create the heavens and the earth?  Surely, they are not certain!”

The argument follows: “how do you explain the source of existence of the things around you?” Since the deniers can provide no sound answers, they fail in their claim.

The main teaching of the Quran is that nothing can be the Creator (lailaha) and everything is in need of a Creator (illallah).  Everything is created by the One who created the whole universe. There is no Creator in the universe or nothing has the power to give existence to anything else.

20:2 “We have not sent down the Quran upon you to cause you distress.”

The Speaker in the Quran claims: “Nothing that I present to you will be antagonistic to your human nature”. Now, you have to check for yourself whether there is a contradiction between what the Quran says, what your human side says and what the universe says. If there is a clash between any of them you will be in distress. The main source of distress for human being as presented in the Quran is “existential distress” or “existential meaninglessness.”

What is the meaning of struggling in this world?

If I think my existence is worth the whole universe, then I am the addressee, the guest of the Creator of the whole universe.  Again, Quran’s meaning does not cause any distress as far as human existential questions are concerned. The rest is “artificial distress” influenced by society. Example: someone hurts your feelings according to your expectations. Again, it is very human to feel distressed. However, when you are facing an existential crisis, the Speech of God helps alleviate that distress.

20:3 “But only as a reminder for someone who acts cautiously”

For those people who are very cautious of not making a mistake in their interpretation of their being and are afraid of misinterpreting their being, then the Quran speaks to those individuals as a reminder.

Main teachings of the Quran is to teach you your existence i.e. who you are and why you are here?

• If you are cautious of your existence, then read the Quran as a guide to explain your existence under its guidance.

20:4 “It is a revelation from Him who has created the earth and the lofty heavens.”

The Speaker in the Quran claims: “I am giving you guidance where you will be fully satisfied with your existence”.  Now, you have to check for yourself: If the Quran is guidance from the One who created your questions, then answers come from the One who created the question.

Any interpretation of the Quran which is not based on the Quranic context does not answer human existential questions.

Finally, every moment everything comes into existence and gets taken away from existence. How come the things in the universe are brought into existence? Why am I here on Earth and what is expected of my existence? Without these fundamental existential questions, the Quranic message within Its context does not make sense.