Approaching the Quran or any book for that matter from a literal perspective is a feature of modern scholarship. This satisfies the craving to make sense out of the world through the method of obtaining hard evidence about a subject or literature.
The Quran, however, is not a book of simple straight forward information. It is a book that speaks on various levels of spiritual development to the person reading it. Therefore two people reading the same passage will get information from the Quran on the level at which their own self will allow them to receive its message.
Reciting in Slow Rhythmic Tones
To truly read the Quran certain facts must be considered. Facts like the Quran stating, “…and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.” (Quran 73: 4)
There is something about the human being that responds to rhythmic tones. In music the response is the desire to move or dance in a repetitive pattern. Some rhythmic tones cause humans to sit quietly and drift off to a meditative state or sleep.
The rhythmic tone of the Quran is designed to place one in a meditative, yet at the same time, contemplative state.
A Book Designed to Make Things Clear
Once in this state the outside world tends to be shut out and the message seems to reveal itself. The Quran states “…these are the symbols (or Verses) of the clear Book. (Quran 12:1)
As such as this verse implies the Quran does not ask the human to find reference material or outside sources to make it clear. On the contrary, it asks the human to read and consider it for clarity about the inner self and outer world.
Thus it by its admission makes everything clear.
Through Beautiful Stories Is the Inner World Revealed
The Quran goes on to say that within it is something beautiful. "We [God] have sent it down … in order that ye may learn wisdom. We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee this Qur'an: ... " (Quran 12: 2-3)
The beauty in the stories, which differ from literal attestations (dos and don’ts) of the Quran, is that they carry within them a myriad of meanings that reveal themselves to whomever they wish.
To teach their people, the ancients used to tell stories in order to deliver a message of importance. Each person heard the story and understood it at their level of maturity and comprehension. As such, no two people learned from the story the exact same message. However their souls were fed in a way that each were taught what they needed to learn, and grew in knowledge and wisdom. The stories in the Quran follow this prescription for the benefit of any soul that allows itself to be fed.
As such the Quran must be allowed to place the reader into a contemplative state. Then the reader must approach it for clarity. Lastly the reader must read the most beautiful of stories and identify what it implies for their life.
In retrospect, it can be put forward that the idea of whether something happened historically and related in a holy book, word for word, as a historical record is completely irrelevant.
Stories and storytellers may base their stories off of historical figures but the meaning of the story is far more important than turning over old stones in the desert to check for their accuracy in an effort to develop a chronology of history.
Sources:
- Abdullah Yusef Ali. The Holy Quran: Translation with Arabic Text
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