REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By: Ahmad Syafii Maarif

I don't know if there are any Holy Books other than Qur'an that is prepared to be accepted or rejected by every smart person in human history. (See al-Baqarah:23; al-Isra:107). The challenge will apply until the end of the world. With a limited knowledge on Qur'an, this Resonance will try to explain three related matters as a part of my anxiety since I attended college in Chicago University in 1979 to 1982.

While I was in Chicago, the late Fazlur Rahman opened my mind and my heart on the meaning of Qur’an for Muslim and entire humanity. His former student in Chicago, Professor Frederick Danny, wrote about Rahman: “His mind changed, his position evolved but his central coordinate was always the Qur’an.” For Rahman, Qur'an has a comprehensive view toward the world. Any ad hoc approach will not reveal the view fairly. For Mr and Mrs who are willing to understand more about Rahman's view on Qur'an, you can read his preface: Major Themes of the Qur'an (first published in 1980). Many discussed his work as we can see in Google.

As time goes by, my mental burden was getting heavier. I could see a way out, but it was attacked by bitter fact. I had read many translations of Qur'an, but still a giant question remained: Why people fail to understand the noble Qur'an? Why people who admit having faith do not consider its main command? Many questions emerged. Two is enough for this discourse.

We will focus our talk in verse 10 of al Hujurat. In time, we will continue to verse 13. Al Hujurat is a surah which was revealed in Madinah around the 9th year of the Hijra. The translation of the verse 10 is "The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy." In this context, every believer has only one choice: become brothers. Period!

However, we have seen in every period of history that many Muslim choose a wrong path by fighting and holding war. The answer is uncontrolled ego, temporary interest and lust. When ego, interest and lust defeat the power of God's word, we are betraying Qur'an. But why do we still admit that we have faith? We can wrap those three bad adjectives with a blanket of nationalism, just like what happen between Iran and Saudi Arabia. In this case, the dominant is hegemonic behaviour, not because of the difference in religion.

In small scale, the cause of fracture between Muslim parties and groups in Indonesia is not far from those three factors: ego, interest and lust. Ironically, it is sometimes sugar-coated with religious verses quoted irresponsibly. It is hard to give in egoism to the will of revelation. If revelation cannot guide the collective behaviour of Muslim, what is remained? No more left.

We have 1.6 billion Muslim in the world. It is a part of universal humanity, but the role is still in the back of civilization. Many factors, both internal and external, play in this sad situation, whatever people use to measure. We have a big gap between Qur'an and Muslim. The little example explained what we mean. Many examples remain.

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