Role of the Qur'an in Ismailis Lives

[Answers128]

Can someone explain to me why the Quran does not play a central role in the Ismaili religion? It certainly plays a central role in Islam. I understand that Ismailis believe the Aga Khan interprets the Quran in a way for them. Or that it is interpreted for modern times. But how is that reconciled with the fact that in the Quran itself it says that the Quran was made for believers to read it themselves, not through intermediaries?

Thanks.

[star_munir]

Can you justify your statement. If believers were able to understand Quran by themselves then what was there need to send Prophet also cant God just reveal only book to explain the believers the message of God and Quran is in Arabic yet the people of that time need Prophet to explain them the word of God then why there is not any need now to explain the message of God as according to current times.

[kmaherali]

The undermentioned first two statements in the preamble to the constitution state the importance of the Quran and the need for it to be interpreted by the Imam.

Constitution


BISMI-LLAHI-R-RAHMANI-R-RAHIM

Whereas

(A) The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims affirm the Shahadah 'La- ilaha illallih, Muhammadur Rasulu-llah'. the Tawhid therein and that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Salla-llahu alayhi wa-sallam) is the last and final Prophet of Allah. Islam, as revealed in the Holy Quran, is the final message of Allah to mankind, and is universal and eternal. The Holy Prophet (S.A.S.) through the divine revelation from Allah prescribed rules governing spiritual and temporal matters.


(B) In accordance with Shia doctrine, tradition, and interpretation of history, the Holy Prophet (S.A.S.) designated and appointed his cousin and son-in-law Hazrat Mawlana Ali Amiru-l-Mu'minin (Alayhi-s-salam), to be the first Imam to continue the Ta'wil and Ta'lim of Allah's final message and to guide the murids, and proclaimed that the Imamat should continue by heredity through Hazrat Mawlana Ali (A.S.) and his daughter Hazrat Bibi Fatimat-az-Zahra, Khatun-i-Jannat Alayha-s-salam).

The following is an authoritative statement made by the 48th Imam on the fluid nature of the Quran and it's openness to many interpretations.

"According to the Sunni school the majority of Muslims the Prophet's religious authority came to an end at his death, and he appointed no successor to his secular authority. According to Sunni teaching, the faithful, the companions of the Prophet, the believers, elected Abu Bakr as his successor and his Khalif; but Abu Bakr assumed only the civil and secular power. No one had the authority to succeed to the religious supremacy, which depend on direct Divine inspiration, because the Prophet Mohammed and the Koran declared definitely that he was the final messenger of God, the Absolute. Thus, say the Sunnis, it was impossible to constitute an authority similar to that of the Papacy; it remained for the Faithful to interpret the Koran, the example and the sayings of the Prophet, not only in order to understand Islam but to ensure its development throughout the centuries. Fortunately the Koran has itself made this task easy, for it contains a number of verses which declare that Allah speaks to man in allegory and parable. Thus the Koran leaves the door open for all kinds of possibilities of interpretation so that no one interpreter can accuse another of being non-Muslim. A felicitous effect of this fundamental principle of Islam that the Koran is constantly open to allegorical interpretation has been that our Holy Book has been able to guide and illuminate the thought of believers, century after century, in accordance with the conditions and limitations of intellectual appreciation imposed by external influences in the world. It leads also to a greater charity among Muslims, for since there can be no cut-and-dried interpretation, all schools of thought can unite in the prayer that the Almighty in His infinite mercy may forgive any mistaken interpretation of the Faith whose cause is ignorance or misunderstanding."

Since the Quran is so important to Muslims, it cannot be left to each individual to interprete it as he likes. This would lead to chaos and confusion, hence the need for authoritative intepretation of the Imam.

[zubair_mahamood]

Can someone explain to me why the Quran does not play a central role in the Ismaili religion? It certainly plays a central role in Islam. I understand that Ismailis believe the Aga Khan interprets the Quran in a way for them. Or that it is interpreted for modern times. But how is that reconciled with the fact that in the Quran itself it says that the Quran was made for believers to read it themselves, not through intermediaries?

Thanks.

1st of all who said you Quran don’t play central role in the Ismailis lives?

2nd where in Quran did u find this fact “Quran was made for believers to read it themselves, not through intermediaries????? It would be interesting to know how did I missed this versa of Quran …… I would be thankful to you if you tell me where u found this in Quran

I don’t know whether you know these facts that Imam’s decisions are based on Quran….. Prophet Muhammad was a channel of communication between Allah and Believers, and all Muslim scholars interpret Quran to Believers based on there interpretation of Faith…

Zubair Mahamood

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[star_munir]

I agree with your first and third point but I disagree with your second point.