An Islām Beyond Question and Answer

The Qur’ān as Cure, Guidance, and Mercy

﷽

In my conversation with some friends today an observation was made: the Qur’ān is not a book of question and answer (سؤال وجواب), meaning that it is greater than merely addressing human “problems” from a one dimensional perspective. Instead, the Qur’ān is “a cure for what ails your hearts” (شِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ). What I mean here is that it is greater than merely fielding questions and providing static answers because this “cure” comes in between “admonition” (مَّوْعِظَةٌ), “guidance” (هُدىً), and “mercy” (رَحْمَةٌ). In other words the Qur’ān is neither a crystal ball nor an ATM: it requires engagement, introspection, curiosity, imagination, and humility in order for its message to find a recipient heart.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌۭ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“O mankind, there has come to you an admonition from your Lord, and a cure for what is in the hearts, and guidance and mercy for the believers.” – Sūrah Yūnis, v. 57