Street Prophets

Ramadan Day 5: Verses from the Quran

by lauramp

Sun Oct 09, 2005 at 04:25:47 PM PDT

Each day during Ramadan, I am presenting a verse from the Quran with a few thoughts or comments. An introduction to this series is here. Inshallah (God willing), I hope that this may be of benefit to any who are interested in learning a bit more about Islam and Muslim belief.

Quran 4:94:

O you, those who have faith, when you go out in the path of Allah, make things clear and do not say to someone who offers you peace: "You are not a believer" - you seeking the life of the world, and with Allah is much wealth. You were like that before, then Allah gave His favor to you. So make it clear. Surely Allah is aware of what you do
Sadly, many Muslims today act as though this verse had never been revealed, constantly calling others "unbeliever" and seeking by this to lord it over them or make themselves feel superior.

Perhaps this is true in other religions as well. Certainly, with the recent "religion wars" at Daily Kos, we saw that for many, the image of a religious person is someone who is intolerant and condemnatory.

But this is the opposite of what a person of faith should really be like, and we are warned against it. We should not act like our religious faith is a gift to God. It is a gift from Him and if He had not given us this light and guidance, we would be lost.

The "life of the world" is always contrasted in the Quran with the life of the Hereafter. It implies seeing only what is in front of us and not looking at what is beyond. The world is transient and whatever we have amassed here, we will all too soon be taken from it (i.e., in death). So a person who seeks the life of the world is like one chasing after mirages and does not collect anything of truly lasting value.

When we are greeted with peace we should return it or better (verse 4:86 slightly before this one says this explicitly). We should reach out to others of conscience and good will and draw them near to us, instead of driving them away.


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  • A beautiful verse (0 / 0)

    Thank you for these verses and these insights.  We can all learn so much from one another, if we would just listen.

    I'm not sure of the conventional greetings for Ramadan, but may your fast be acceptable to God, and may your Ramadan be a season of blessing.

    by Liberal Protestant on Sun Oct 09, 2005 at 06:48:42 PM PDT

    • Ramadan greetings (0 / 0)

      Those greetings are perfect! Traditionally Muslims greet during Ramadan by saying "Ramadan mubarak" (May you have a blessed Ramadan) or "Ramadan kareem" (May you have a joyous Ramadan).

      "Riches does not mean having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment." (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)

      by lauramp on Sun Oct 09, 2005 at 07:36:09 PM PDT

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  • Peace to you, Lauramps (0 / 0)

    and thank you as well for this introduction.

    by under the bodhi tree on Sun Oct 09, 2005 at 07:02:19 PM PDT

  • Thank you, as always (0 / 0)

    This is my goodnight cue.

    Rocks and people are alike in many ways. They both age, are imperfect and come in different shapes and sizes - my son

    by one bite at a time on Sun Oct 09, 2005 at 08:35:40 PM PDT

  • Thank you (0 / 0)

    Trungpa stated this situation in "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism"

    We have come here to learn about spirituality.  I trust the genuine quality of this search but we must question its nature.  The problem is that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality.  Ego is constantly attempting to acquire and apply the teachings of spirituality for its own benefit.  The teachings are treated as an external thing, external to "me," a philosophy which we try to imitate.  We do not actually want to identify with or become the teachings.  So if our teacher speaks of renunciation of ego, we attempt to mimic renunciation of ego.  We go through the motions, make the appropriate gestures, but we really do not want to sacrifice any part of our way of life.  We become skillful actors, and while playing deaf and dumb to the real meaning of the teachings, we find some comfort in pretending to follow the path.

    There are stages of spirituality.  One of those stages is the sense that  we  are better than them,  because we perform this or that thing that proves we are superior.  Of course, this is usually antithetical to the actual teachings of whatever path we ascribe to.  Alas, on the journey, it is a stop.  Getting past that prideful place is difficult.  and the struggle to be free is not easy.  

    I know some very pious people, in different faiths, who judge others harshly.  

    Not to be superior or nothing, but not judging others is a  necessary step in the ultimate surrender of ego to the Infinite.

    The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals. Kalhil Gibran

    by x on Mon Oct 10, 2005 at 12:15:58 AM PDT

  • Thank you again... (0 / 0)

    and an off topic question.  I missed days three and four over the weekend. I clicked on the lauramp link but it did not pull up past diaries as it does on kos...

    How do I get to the old diaries?

    Yes, I was the guy in the kilt at Yearly Kos.

    by Andy Ternay on Mon Oct 10, 2005 at 09:05:47 AM PDT

  • Love the verse & your reflections (0 / 0)

    It reminds me of something I heard years ago; a Catholic friend was talking about really living his faith, and he said that what made him fully aware of his intentions and actions, the way that he related to and communicated with other people, was something a priest said to him: "You may be the only bible some people ever read."

    Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. -Philo of Alexandria

    by vansterdam on Mon Oct 10, 2005 at 10:45:08 AM PDT

    • beautiful thought (0 / 0)

      That's a great saying. One of the Prophet Muhammad's wives described him saying "His character was the Quran", meaning that his character fully embodied the teachings of the Quran.

      I think this is getting at the same thing that you mentioned.

      "Riches does not mean having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment." (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)

      by lauramp on Mon Oct 10, 2005 at 11:30:39 AM PDT

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      • Hmm... (0 / 0)

        I replied "Yes, I think so too!", and somehow it wound up upthread where it makes no sense at all... But yes, I definitely agree.

        Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. -Philo of Alexandria

        by vansterdam on Mon Oct 10, 2005 at 11:37:44 AM PDT

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