What I’m Learning and Loving in the Quran

Peggy Fletcher Stack writes for the Salt Lake Tribune (27 January 2012) about her attempt to read the Quran entitled "What I’m learning and loving in the Quran":

"Every year during the Islamic 30-day holy month (which begins in July this year), in addition to fasting from dawn to dusk, millions of Muslims read the entire 600-page Quran. That’s a mere 20 pages a day, but I couldn’t do it.

It’s not that the book is boring or hard to read. In fact, I find it fascinating.

I was moved by the volume’s approach to forgiveness, including these verses in Quran 3:135-136: “Those who, when they have committed illegal sexual intercourse or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah [God] and ask forgiveness for their sins — and none can forgive but Allah — and do not persist in what [wrong] they have done, while they know.”

I was amazed to learn how many of the familiar figures from Jewish and Christian texts make appearances in this Muslim scripture — Adam, Abraham, Noah, David, Moses, Mary, Jesus and more.

I was intrigued by the role Satan plays. He is an evil figure who tempts humans but takes no bows for winning any souls to his side.

On Judgment Day, according to Quran 14:22, Satan will say to those who choose to follow him: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves.”

Despite popular misperceptions about forced conversions, the Quran 2:256 says, “There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path.”

You can read the full article here.