Below are the keystones of the methodology we follow at Suleymaniye Foundation:
The Method of Discovering the Explanations of the Qur’an Verses
The Grand Qur’an is a self-explanatory Divine Book that has a miraculous method that allows discovering the built-in explanations of all verses in the Qur’an. The detailed explanation of each verse is placed in other relevant verses so that, It becomes a clear Book without needing another resource to clarify It. The Qur’an emphasizes that it is a work that can be accomplished by a group of experts rather than one person.
This method is called the Wisdom (al-Hikmat). When the Wisdom is used, no one will have to revere or obey other people who claim the authority to explain God’s Books. Further detail and relevant Quranic verses about this science can be found on the following link:
The Science of Discovering the Explanations of the Qur’an Verses (Method of Hikmat)
Nature and Religion
The Qur’an includes the signs (aayah) of God which have been sent down by Him. When we study the Quran correctly in the framework of the method God decrees, the inferences humans can make out of the verses are in full compliance with nature, because nature consists of the signs (aayah) created by God. Indeed, every creation, including ourselves, is a sign (ayat) of God.
The natural order that God has established on the earth is in perfect harmony with the commands He has decreed in His books. God has set the order and then has sent divine books as guides to be followed in order to maintain and preserve this natural order. This is the direct relation between creation and religion:
“Set your face directly to this religion, the natural order (fitra) set by God. He has created mankind in accordance with it. There is nothing to replace that which God has created. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.” (The Romans 30:30)
The Example (Sunnah) of Messenger Muhammad (PBUH)
The Example of Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) is the best example where we can observe the harmony between nature and religion. Allah the Almighty has decreed:
“Surely there is a good example for you in the Messenger of God, for all those who look forward to God and the Last Day, and remember God much.” (Al-Ahzaab/The Allies; 33:21)
The Example (Sunnah) of Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) was the applied form of the Qur’an. The practice cannot be understood without comprehending the essence. Therefore, the life of the Messenger must be interpreted in its unity with the Qur’an, and the narrations related to his name (the hadith) must be compared to the verses in the Qur’an before being taken for granted.
The Qur’an, as the Final Link of the Revelation Chain
God has sent down many Scriptures for people and charged many prophets with the duty of communicating these Scriptures. Their essence was always the same: submission to God, namely “islam”. So, there has been only one religion since the creation of humankind. God calls it “islam” in the Quran, and says that the Quran is the “completion of the religion”. The Qur’an is the final divine Book that completes the revelation chain of the upright religion established by God.
The Qur’an does not deny or disregard the previous Scriptures, but rather attests confirmation to them. Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) had also approached the people of previous Scriptures by putting forward the similarities between the Qur’an and those Scriptures. He emphasized that the Qur’an attests confirmation to them. While inviting nonmuslims to Islam, we must follow his path.
Further reading about the relations of divine books with each other can be found on the link below:
The Qur’an as the Final Link of the Revelation Chain
