The Quran's Functionality to an Individual

October 26th, 2009

The Quran's Functionality to an Individual

Final Research Paper

Muhammed H.

THE QURAN'S FUNCTIONALITY TO AN INDIVIDUAL

Religions have a specific way in which they convey messages to their followers. In the Abrahamic religions, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, the Holy Scriptures were brought to humanity by the efforts of the prophets which were considered as the words of the divine. For Muslims the Quran is the Holy Scripture brought to them by the Prophet Muhammad over a period of approximately twenty three years . The Arabic word "Quran" takes on two significant definitions. Quran as a verbal noun translates literally into "recite" or its equivalent "a lesson" in the Syriac . These definitions are of importance since they make a direct link to the follower, in that they are telling one to recite and to learn. The religious text holds such prestige that many devote their entire lives deciphering its meaning and attempting to live by its teachings. Muslims consider the Quran more than a text or Holy Scripture; they consider the Quran a guide to live a successful, prosperous, happy, and dignified life. There are many that argue contrary to this ideology, stating that religious texts sever no purpose and that they only deludes the mind from reality. It has also been argued by such individuals, that religious texts were constructed by intelligent individuals either to fulfill a niche that was absent in society, or to execute a scheme in order to achieve a personal agenda . The Quran today is a functional text severing three key functions for Muslims regardless of the preconceptions one may have on the reasons why the text exists. It provides one with a psychological framework; it defines deviance and teaches one how to stray from it, and teaches one how to integrate into society. The Quran provides an individual with a psychological framework which serves as the fundamental base for understanding and decision making; which is not constrained by fixed boundaries but is rather encouraged to be expanded cognitively while adhering to religious conduct. The Quran defines deviance and provides one with tools, methods, and instructions in order to keep themselves from being labeled deviant. However it allows one to maintain their identity stating that one must not always conform to society's expectations. Further the Quran also teaches one how to integrate in society through means of respect, understanding, and education. The Quran as well as other religious texts serve purposes far beyond religious law and conduct. The texts provide an individual with the fundamentals to live a comfortable, well integrated life allowing them to make rational decisions.

The human mind is a fascinating organ. It has allowed the engineering of modern marvels and the development of theories in life, natural and human sciences which explain the world as we know it. It has the power to destroy the world, or to help preserve it. The human mind sorts through outsized amounts of data daily. An individual is only capable of sorting, organizing and understand such large amounts of data if a foundation or psychological frame to begin on is present. The reading and understanding of the Quran provides for such a foundation aside from the obvious religious one. The text endorses the religion of Islam and provides the bases for communication within the religion. For example, the Quran tells Muslims to fast from an hour before sunrise until sunset in the holy month of Ramadan , and that males are not permitted to stare at the opposite sex. This is an act of devotion and sacrifice, it has been demonstrated that such acts are based on notions of understanding and conformity. Further such understanding and conformity can only arise from cognitive analysis of the situation; this can only be achieved if a platform exists in which an individual is able to make decisions off of. To expand, it is an instinct for humans to eat when they are hungry, and it is natural for the opposite sex to gaze upon each other. However there is a restricting factor that prevents this from occurring. If one is educated with moral standards and claims, then one has a pre-notion to act in a certain manner based on their discretion. However if fear of judgment is added in with the education an individual has a stronger appeal and justification to behave in a notion that is in conformity to what they have been taught. This is because being judged in a positive light is appealing to all individuals. The Quran uses both the methods of education through moral standards and claims, using fear of judgment to further solidify its contents. This provides an individual with a bias in judgment since that individual will always relate to what he or she has been taught or experienced when making a decision. The Quran further promotes one to continuously reason and think; this is demonstrated in a quote,

"Read, in the name of thy Lord who createth, createth man from a clot. Read and thy Lord is the Most Bounteous, Who teacheth by the pen"

These verses encourage individuals to seek and expand their knowledge. This is not to say that all Muslims inclusively follow such customs, nonetheless this demonstrates how the text forms ones psychological platform and how one is permitted to expand their ideology, knowledge, and moral grounds, without negative ramifications.

"There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way." The Quran defines deviance and makes it clear throughout the text what acts are considered deviant. However an individual can be considered deviant if in a society where female genital mutilation is considered to be a social law, and that individual disobeys this law. By going against female genital circumcisions, the individual abides by their moral code and thus avoids moral deviant behavior. Considering current social and moral laws clearly that individual's choice is acceptable. Therefore being labeled deviant is not always appalling. In such cases the text is flexible enough to allow one to maintain social identity. For example in a rally which was held in Washington in defense of sexual deviance raised an argument among people with regards to the nature of this phenomenon and its significance. Some argued that their deviant inclination is something they were born with, that it was coded in their genetics and nature, just as some people were born with an inclination to the other sex; they were born with an inclination to their own. But the Quran denies this when it tells us that the people of Loote were