shafique wrote:Hey, if believing in logical explanations and interpretations of the metaphorical verses of the Quran makes me a weirdo in your eyes - so be it.
But let me ask you this question:
"What benefit and what practical aspect of Islam would change (i.e. what action I am currently doing will change) IF I were to believe in talking ants?"
My view is that these are peripheral stories and are there to explain Allah's powers and attributes. I take the meanings from these as parables to explain Allah's attributes - and I believe in all of them.
So, explain to me why believing in logic is 'the wrong path'. Where does it lead, and where does the alternative path lead?
Cheers,
Shafique
Come on Shafique push yourself hard to tell us What's so metaphorical about the following verses?
27:15 We gave (in the past) knowledge to David and Solomon: And they both said: "Praise be to Allah, Who has favoured us above many of his servants who believe!"
Walaqad atayna dawoodawasulaymana AAilman waqala alhamdulillahi allathee faddalana AAalakatheerin min AAibadihi almu/mineena
27:16 And Solomon was David's heir. He said: "O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah.)"
Wawaritha sulaymanu dawoodawaqala ya ayyuha alnnasuAAullimna mantiqa alttayri waooteenamin kulli shay-in inna hatha lahuwa alfadlualmubeenu
27:17 And before Solomon were marshalled his hosts,- of Jinns and men and birds, and they were all kept in order and ranks.
Wahushira lisulaymanajunooduhu mina aljinni waal-insi waalttayrifahum yoozaAAoona
27:18 At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it."
Hatta itha ataw AAalawadi alnnamli qalat namlatun ya ayyuhaalnnamlu odkhuloo masakinakum la yahtimannakumsulaymanu wajunooduhu wahum la yashAAuroona
27:19 So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: "O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: And admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants."
Fatabassama dahikan min qawlihawaqala rabbi awziAAnee an ashkura niAAmataka allateeanAAamta AAalayya waAAala walidayya waan aAAmala salihantardahu waadkhilnee birahmatika fee AAibadikaalssaliheena
27:20 And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?
Watafaqqada alttayra faqalama liya la ara alhudhuda am kana minaalgha-ibeena
27:21 "I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence)."
LaoAAaththibannahu AAathabanshadeedan aw laathbahannahu aw laya/tiyannee bisultaninmubeenin
27:22 But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up and) said: "I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.
Famakatha ghayra baAAeedin faqala ahattubima lam tuhit bihi waji/tuka min saba-inbinaba-in yaqeenin
27:23 "I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.
Innee wajadtu imraatan tamlikuhum waootiyatmin kulli shay-in walaha AAarshun AAatheemun
27:24 "I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance,-
Wajadtuha waqawmaha yasjudoonalilshshamsi min dooni Allahi wazayyana lahumu alshshaytanuaAAmalahum fasaddahum AAani alssabeeli fahumla yahtadoona
27:25 "(Kept them away from the Path), that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal.
Alla yasjudoo lillahi allatheeyukhriju alkhabaa fee alssamawati waal-ardiwayaAAlamu ma tukhfoona wama tuAAlinoona
27:26 "Allah!- there is no god but He!- Lord of the Throne Supreme!"
Allahu la ilaha illahuwa rabbu alAAarshi alAAatheemi
27:27 (Solomon) said: "Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!
Qala sananthuru asadaqtaam kunta mina alkathibeena
27:28 "Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return"...
Ithhab bikitabee hathafaalqih ilayhim thumma tawalla AAanhum faonthurmatha yarjiAAoona
http://www.muslimaccess.com/quraan/arabic/027.aspIf prophets were taught to understand the language of birds then why can't they understand the language of other animals? including ants and jinn etc.? It all happens when god says "BE" and it happens! it up to God' decision under what circumstances he wills it, isn't it. For goodness shake he created the entire universe, do you think getting his prophets to understand the language of animals are a harder work than creating the entire universe? Your going after Shirk Shafique....You're limiting God's abilities to your metaphorical limited,inadequate understanding.
So, explain to me why believing in logic is 'the wrong path'. Where does it lead, and where does the alternative path lead?
All Iam saying is that just becouse the entire universe is run through logic (cause/effect),doesn't mean that we can limit what God can do with any of his laws over his creation regardless of his manifest..
In our capacities we are not created to explain everything with our own limited logic, otherwise we would each be a God of our own, wouldn't we? But we know that only him that is "all powerful" not we.., we get power(ilm/knowledge) from him however/whenever and as much as he wants us to perform...
Plus I gave you a link to think and ponder about..
http://theislamshow.weebly.com/teleolog ... ality.html.