Aug 22, 2005

And He taught Adam the nature of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell me the nature of these if ye are right." 2:31
This koranic verse shows us the superiority of human being over all creatures , at the same time why he is highly responsible.Knowledge is the reason behind being so responsible,this knowledge had been given to Adam who represent the human being as such (including male &female).
Adam here was not representing the only male side(perspective) of human being.
How does phenomenlogy relate to Koran?
Phenomenology is a method which guide us to retrieve the original meaning (the nature of the things/the essences) which were given to Adam. phenomenolgy make it possible to reach to these natures(called Names by Koran).
How does Koran relate to phenomenology
Koran is application of this goal,return to the essences, applied in the domain of religion .Koran identified the essenc of religion as absolute submission to God only & the path to this target is Islam. there is many verses which prove this claim,You can find them by yourselves.
Second property which make koran related to phenomenology is the issue of heart,which is source of intentionalty,which make our action & words meaningful.Koran put great emphasis on heart ,regard it the reason behind distortion of reading ,understanding &interpretation:
Allah hath sealed their hearing and their HEARTs, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom.2.7
In their HEARTs is a disease, and Allah increaseth their disease. A painful doom theirs because they lie.2.10
Then, even after that, your HEARTs were hardened and became as rocks, or worse than rocks, for hardness. For indeed there are rocks from out which rivers gush, and indeed there are rocks which split asunder so that water Soweth from them. And indeed there are rocks which fall down for the fear of Allah. Allah is not unaware of what ye do.2.74
And they say: Our HEARTs are hardened. Nay, but Allah hath cursed them for their unbelief. Little is that which they believe.2.88
And those who have no knowledge say: Why doth not Allah speak unto us, or some sign come unto us? Even thus, as they now speak, spake those (who were) before them. Their HEARTs are all alike. We have made clear the revelations for people who are sure.2.118
And of mankind there is he whose conversation on the life of this world pleaseth thee (Muhammad), and he calleth Allah to witness as to that which is in his HEART; yet he is the most rigid of opponents.2.204
Allah will not take you to task for that which unintentional in your oaths. But He will take you to task for that which your HEARTs have garnered. Allah is Forgiving, Clement.2.225
And when Abraham said (unto his Lord): My lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: Dost thou not believe? Abraham said: Yea, but (I ask) in order that my HEART may be at ease. (His Lord) said: Take four of the birds and cause them to incline unto thee, then place a part of them on each hill, then call them, they will come to thee in haste. And know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.2.260
He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations. They are the substance of the Book. and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose HEARTs is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed.3.7
Our Lord! Cause not our HEARTs to stray after Thou hast guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Thy Presence. Lo! Thou, only Thou art the Bestower.3.8
Allah ordained this only as a message of good cheer for you, and that thereby your HEARTs might be at rest. Victory cometh only from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.3.126
And that He might know the hypocrites, unto whom it was said: Come, fight in the way of Allah, or defend yourselves. They answered: If we knew aught of fighting we would follow you. On that day they were nearer disbelief than faith. They utter with their mouths a thing which is not in their HEARTs. Allah is best aware of what they hide.3.167
Those are they, the secrets of whose HEARTs Allah knoweth. So oppose them and admonish them, and address them in plain terms about their souls.4.63
Except those who seek refuge with a people between whom and you there is a covenant, or (those who) come unto you because their HEARTs forbid them to make war on you or make war on their own folk. Had Allah willed He could have given them power over you so that assuredly they would have fought you. So, if they hold aloof from you and wage not war against you and offer you peace, Allah alloweth you no way against them.4.90
(They said:) We wish to eat thereof, that we may satisfy our HEARTs and know that thou hast spoken truth to us, and that thereof we may be witnesses.5.113
Of them are some who listen unto thee, but We have placed upon their HEARTs veils, lest they should understand, and in their ears a deafness. If they saw every token they would not believe therein; to the point that, when they come unto thee to argue with thee, the disbelievers say: This is naught else than fables of the men of old.6.25
If only, when our disaster came on them, they had been humble! But their HEARTs were hardened and the devil made all that they used to do seem fair unto them!6.43
Say: Have ye imagined, if Allah should take away your hearing and your sight and seal your HEARTs, who is the God who could restore it to you save Allah? See how We display the revelations unto them? Yet still they turn away.6.46
We confound their HEARTs and their eyes. As they believed not therein at the first, We let them wander blindly on in their contumacy.6.110
That the HEARTs of those who believe not in the Hereafter may incline thereto, and that they may take pleasure therein, and that they may earn what they are earning.6.113
Such were the townships. We relate some tidings of them unto thee (Muhammad). Their messengers verily came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but they could not believe because they had before denied. Thus doth Allah print upon the HEARTs of disbelievers (that they hear not).7.101
Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, having HEARTs wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle nay, but they are worse! These are the neglectful.7.179
O ye who believe; Obey Allah, and the messenger when He calleth you to that which quickeneth you, and know that Allah cometh in between the man and his own HEART, and that He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered.8.24
When the hypocrites and those in whose HEARTs is a disease said: Their religion hath deluded these. Whoso putteth his trust in Allah (will find that) lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.8.49
That is because Allah never changeth the grace He hath bestowed on any people until they first change that which is in their HEARTs, and (that is) because Allah is Hearer, Knower.8.53
And (as for the believers) hath attuned their HEARTs. If thou hadst spent all that is in the earth thou couldst not have attuned their HEARTs, but Allah hath attuned them. Lo! He is Mighty, Wise.8.63
O Prophet, Say unto those captives who are in your hands: If Allah knoweth any good in your HEARTs He will give you better than that which hath been taken from you, and will forgive you. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.8.70
The hypocrites fear lest a surah should be revealed concerning them, proclaiming what is in their HEARTs. Say: Scoff (your fill)! Lo! Allah is disclosing what ye fear.9.64
They are content that they should be with the useless and their HEARTs are sealed, so that they apprehend not.9.67
The road (of blame) is only against those who ask for leave of thee (to stay at home) when they are rich. They are content to be with the useless. Allah hath sealed their HEARTs so that they know not.9.93
The building which they built will never cease to be a misgiving in their HEARTs unless their HEARTs be torn to pieces. Allah is Knower, Wise.9.110
And whenever a surah is revealed, they look one at another (as who should say) : Doth anybody see you? Then they turn away. Allah turneth away their HEARTs because they are a folk who understand not.9.127
Then, after him, We sent messengers unto their folk, and they brought them clear proofs. But they were not ready to believe in that which they before denied. Thus print We on the HEARTs of the transgressors.10.74
And all that We relate unto thee of the story of the messengers is in order that thereby We may make firm thy HEART. And herein hath come unto thee the Truth and an exhortation and a reminder for believers.11.120
For him are angels ranged before him and behind him who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their HEARTs; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.13.11
Who have believed and whose HEARTs have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do HEARTs find rest!13.28

4 comments:

saminkie said...

Dear Dr. Ali,
Am impressed by how deep you go in thinking in most of your lines, and every time I read your blog I like it more.
Regarding Adam and how he represent female and male, give us a prove for that, cause when your read that story you feel that Eve is only created later for the pleasure of Adam....
Can you prove your point of view..
Yours sincerley, Sami

Ali Tareq said...

I am thankful for your comment which reflect your deep understanding.
My dear Sami female &male are just social ,cultural conditioning.There is biological male &female but from phenomenological point of view they have the smae consciousness which enable them to reach mutual understanding.your identity can be changed by behaviour of others,if you brought up in family deals with as a female you will be a female ,we become male rather than being male(phenomenologically speaking)although you had the biological body of male.This issue is very important in postmodern era,i hpoe we discuss it later on.

Anis said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anis said...

Brothers, very interesting discussion. I would ask the question if the whole of mankind can be reduced to Adam. I am not decided as yet whether I am in favour or against this notion, but I can say that Adam was the first of us, he was therefore the one about whom Allaah was talking when He said that He was placing a vicegerent in the Earth...about whom He, arguably, said this even before Adam was created. I would say that he held the prominent status that a first born son in Abrahamic faiths holds. Also, seeing how many times he is mentioned in the Qur'aan is an indication that he was much loved by Allaah.

Sometimes I get the feeling when reading the Qur'aan that Allaah recognises us through our relationship with Adam especially when He says ‘O sons of Adam’ time and time again. It is a bit like when you go to see a relative of your dad's; when they see you they ask you if you are the son of so and so and then they ask you what your name is. But you still respect them regardless.

In this way, Adam represents the whole of humanity…can mankind be reduced to Adam?

What are your thoughts?