Islam and Modern Life — Page 10
10 The Quranic Emphasis on Knowledge and Reason First, let us take the historical proof of it. I shall presently draw attention to the basis on which I base this well - known and well - accepted proposition. The historical proof is this. That though unfortunately, and most regrettably, many of our doctors o f law have been occupied, after spirituality began to decline, in what would in lay language be described as hair - splitting. Now, to promote it , t he very first revelation that came to the prophet of Islam began with the word, Iqra, read. He himself was unlettered, illiterate. It also means convey, proclaim. That also means the propagation of knowledge. And a verse later, this is chapter 96, verses 4 and 5. ِا #ۡ %َ ۡا َو َر ُّﺑ َﻚ ا -ۡ. َ /ۡ %َ ُم ۙ ﴿ ۴ ﴾ ا َّﻟ ِﺬ ۡي َﻋ َّﻠ َﻢ ِﺑ ﺎ ۡﻟ َﻘ َﻠ ِﻢ ۙ ﴿ ۵ ﴾ َﻋ َّﻠ َﻢ ا -ۡ. ِ ۡﻧ َﺴ ﺎ َن َﻣ ﺎ َﻟ ۡﻢ Bَ ۡﻌ َﻠ ۡﻢ ؕ ﴿ ۶ ﴾ Convey or proclaim or read for thy lord is the lord of great generosity or great dignity. He translated both ways. And the proof of it, that he is the lord of great dignity, God is the lord of great dignity or God is the lord of great generosity, is he tea ches man by the pen. Teaches him what he does not know. That the greatest blessing of God, in the very dawn of Islam, when Islam was beginning, the very first day’s revelation that came to the holy prophet, draws attention to the generosity, to the dignity of God,