Claire Khaw wants people to read the Koran, forget god, and only take those laws from the Quran which are directly applicable without having to believe in the supernatural, that is why she calls her philosophy "Secular Koranism". She recommends everyone buy a koran, and highlight those segments capable of being put into legislation while ignoring all the bits about heaven and hell and other mystical mumbo-jumbo. Link to Claire's blogs and her book below:
https://www.amazon.com/Secular-Koranism-moral-legal-system-ebook/dp/B0C735M428/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22LONFSJXOUNK&keywords=claire+khaw&qid=1700229287&sprefix=claire+khaw%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1
Beyondism (here) founded by Raymond B. Cattell, asks humans to sift through all of the world's belief systems and steal what is good and leave and weed out from ourselves what is wrong. I found two lists of advisory commandments from the Quran below. I will admit, much of this is good advice (even if it would be hard to put most of this into legislation) and so as a Beyondist, I don't mind stealing some of this.
But just because I steal some of this does not mean I am a Koranist or am excusing Islam, even a murderer may have some kind of virtue we may copy. There are far worse things in Islam that I am not posting here that would need to be rejected, and I don't agree with all of this so-called positive list of Islamic advice. For example, while I do believe capitalism can lead to abuse, I am not 100% sure banning usury is the best idea, especially now that our whole world economy is dependent upon it.
But another thing I want to say is that not all of this good advice should be used all the time. There is a place for getting angry, having rude speech, not speaking mildly, being disrespectful to your parents, spying, withholding charity, not forgiving, lying, breaking oaths, not accepting truces, not being patient, and more. While these may be good advice generally, they don't work in every instance, and so they cannot be taken as a total guide to life. Sometimes you need to call a spade a spade and talk about a person in rude and unkind terms in order to get a point across or to damage their reputation so they cannot continue to hurt people. Sometimes when your enemy offers a truce, it is a setup to get your guard down, and sometimes the enemy does not deserve mercy anyway, they've done too much, they are not actually sorry, just scared of retribution which they deserve.
The Quran does seem to have some good advice, but so do the Bible and the Vedas, but we should not adopt these systems wholly as they are, Beyondism would teach that they all have their deficiencies and we need to pick and choose what works based upon sound logic but also testing... how do these morals affect Islamic society, how do Muslim nations function because of these rules? From my perspective, Islamic societies leave much to be desired, and they are not at the top of the word, so something must be off. Take what you can from Islam, but don't become a Muslim... Beyondism is the strong religion of the future, it has all the best of Islam minus all the problems.
https://messageinternational.org/100-commandments-and-doctrines-from-the-quran/
1. Do not be rude in speech (3:159)
2. Restrain anger (3:134)
3. Be good to others (4:36)
4. Do not be arrogant (7:13)
5. Forgive others for their mistakes (7:199)
6. Speak to people mildly (20:44)
7. Be moderate in your bearing and the volume of your speech (31:19)
8. Do not ridicule others (49:11)
9. Be dutiful to parents (17:23)
10. Do not say a word of disrespect to parents (17:23)
11. Do not enter parents’ private room without asking permission (24:58)
12. Commit to writing any transaction involving the taking or giving of loans (2:282)
13. Do not follow anyone blindly (2:170)
14. Grant more time to repay if the debtor is in hard times (2:280)
15. Don’t be involved with usury or interest (2:275)
16. Do not engage in bribery (2:188)
17. Do not break any promise (2:177)
18. Keep and fulfil all trusts (2:283)
19. Do not mix the truth with falsehood (2:42)
20. Judge with justice between people (4:58)
21. Stand out firmly for justice (4:135)
22. Wealth of the dead should be distributed among his family members (4:7)
23. Women have the right of inheritance (4:7)
24. Do not take for yourself the property of orphans (4:10)
25. Protect orphans (2:220)
26. Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly (4:29)
27. Facilitate peace between those in conflict (49:9)
28. Avoid being suspicious (49:12)
29. Spend wealth in charity (57:7)
30. Encourage feeding of the poor (107:3)
31. Seek out the needy and help them (2:273)
32. Do not spend money extravagantly (17:29)
33. Do not invalidate charity by bragging about your generosity (2:264)
34. Honor guests (51:26)
35. Enjoin virtue to others only after practicing it yourself (2:44)
36. Do not engage in or spread corruption (2:60)
37. Do not prevent people from going to houses of worship (2:114)
38. Never engage in fighting as an aggressor but only in defense (2:190)
39. Do not engage in compulsion regarding religion (2:256)
40. Believe in all prophets (2:285)
41. Do not have sexual intercourse during the menstrual period (2:222)
42. Do not commit adultery (17:32)
43. Choose leaders based on their merit (2:247)
44. God does not burden a person beyond his capacity; nor should we (2:286)
45. Do not become divided (3:103)
46. Think deeply about the wonders of nature and the creation of this universe (3:191)
47. Men and women have equal rewards for their deeds (3:195)
48. Do not marry those related to you by blood (4:23)
49. The man is the protector and supporter of the family (4:34)
50. Do not be miserly (4:37)
51. Do not envy others (4:54)
52. Do not support or be an advocate for those who betray their trusts (4:105)
53. Support one another in virtue and piety, not in sin or enmity (5:2)
54. Be just and do not let hatred swerve you from justice (5:8)
55. Do not consume dead animals, the blood of animals, or pork (5:3)
56. Avoid intoxicants and alcohol (5:90)
57. Do not gamble (5:90)
58. Do not insult other people’s deities (6:108)
59. Be honest; don’t cheat in any of your dealings (6:152)
60. Eat and drink but be not excessive (7:31)
61. Wear good clothing during prayer times (7:31)
62. Protect and help those who seek protection (9:6)
63. Strive for purity (9:108)
64. Never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy (12:87)
65. Know that Allah forgives a wrong done out of ignorance if the person repents and corrects himself (16:119)
66. Inviting others to the way of God should be done with wisdom and graciousness (16:125)
67. No one can bear another person’s sins (17:15)
68. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty (17:31)
69. Avoid vain talk (23:3)
70. Respect other people’s privacy, especially in their own homes (24:27)
71. Know that God provides security and peace to those who worship Him and act virtuously (24:55)
72. Be modest and humble (25:63)
73. Strive for reward in the Hereafter but do not neglect your affairs in this world (28:77)
74. Invoke not any other deity along with God (28:88)
75. Do not engage in homosexuality (29:29)
76. Enjoin the right and forbid the wrong (31:17)
77. Women should not display or flaunt their beauty and charms (33:33)
78. God forgives all sins when the sinner repents and turns to Him (39:53)
79. Repel evil by something that is better (41:34)
80. Decide affairs by consultation (42:38)
81. Know that there should be no monasticism in religion (57:27)
82. Those who have knowledge will be given a higher rank by God (58:11)
83. Treat non-Muslims in a kind and fair manner (60:8)
84. Stay away from greed and stinginess (64:16)
85. Do not ignore or push away the needy (93:10)
86. Pardon and forgive the mistakes of others (3:135)
87. Establish prayer and give in charity (31:4)
88. Know that the bounty of God is better than anything man can amass or hoard (10:58)
89. God puts love and affection between the hearts of those who believe in Him (8:63)
90. Those who purify their souls succeed, and those who corrupt their souls fail (91:10)
91. Those who believe in God find satisfaction in remembering Him (13:28)
92. Those who believe and do good are given joy and peace of mind (13:29)
93. Enjoin patience and compassion (90:17)
94. Know that God gave humans hearing, sight, intelligence, and affections so that they might be grateful (16:78)
95. Compete with one another in doing good (21:90)
96. Know that God created the universe with meaning and purpose (3:191)
97. Guard your modesty (23:5)
98. Know that being just is next to piety (5:8)
99. Fight when necessary to defend yourselves but do not aggress (2:190)
100. Know that it is only righteousness that makes a person noble (49:13)
Don’t lie (22:30)
Don’t spy (49:12)
Don’t exult (28:76)
Don’t insult (49:11)
Don’t waste (17:26)
Feed the poor (22:36)
Don’t backbite (49:12)
Keep your oaths (5:89)
Don’t take bribes (27:36)
Honour your treaties (9:4)
Restrain your anger (3:134)
Don’t spread gossip (24:15)
Think good of others (24:12)
Be good to guests (51:24-27)
Don’t harm believers (33:58)
Don’t be rude to parents (17:23)
Turn away from ill speech (23:3)
Don’t make fun of others (49:11)
Walk in a humble manner (25:63)
Respond to evil with good (41:34)
Don’t say what you don’t do (62:2)
Keep your trusts & promises (23:8)
Don’t insult others’ false gods (6:108)
Don’t deceive people in trade (6:152)
Don’t take items without right (3:162)
Don’t ask unnecessary questions (5:101)
Don’t be miserly nor extravagant (25:67)
Don’t call others with bad names (49:11)
Don’t claim yourselves to be pure (53:32)
Speak nicely, even to the ignorant (25:63)
Don’t ask for repayment for favours (76:9)
Make room for others at gatherings (58:11)
If enemy wants peace, then accept it (8:61)
Return a greeting in a better manner (4:86)
Don’t remind others of your favours (2:264)
Make peace between fighting groups (49:9)
Lower your voice and talk moderately (31:19)
Don’t let hatred cause you to be unjust (6:108)
Don’t ask too many favours from people (2:273)
Greet people when entering their home (24:27)
Be just, even against yourself & relatives (4:135)
Speak gently, even to leaders of disbelief (20:44)
Don’t criticize small contributions of others (9:79)
Don’t call the Prophet how you call others’ (24:63)
Try to make peace between husband & wife (4:128)
Don’t call the Prophet from outside his rooms (49:4)
Oppression/corruption is worse than killing (2:217)
Preach to others in a good and wise manner (16:125)
Don’t accuse others of immorality without proof (24:4)
Consider wives of the Prophet like your mothers (33:6)
Don’t raise your voice above that of the Prophet’s (49:2)
Don’t call someone a disbeliever without knowing (4:94)
Seek permission before entering someone’s room (24:59)
Know your enemies can become your close friends (41:34)
Don’t wrongly consume the wealth of the vulnerable (4:29)
Don’t turn your cheek away from people in arrogance (31:18)
Forgive others, as you would like Allah to forgive you (24:22)
Seek Prophet’s permission when leaving his gathering (24:62)
Don’t hold secret meetings for sin, rather do so for piety (58:9)
Don’t order others to do good while forgetting it yourself (2:44)
Be patient with your teacher & follow his instructions (18:67-69)
Don’t frown, turn away or neglect those who come to you (80:10)
If unable to help a needy person, at least speak nice words (17:28)
Be lenient to those under you, and consult them in matters (3:159)
Verify information from a dubious source before acting upon it (49:6)
Don’t remain in the Prophet’s home unnecessarily after a meal (33:53)
Those who can should continue to spend on those less fortunate (24:22)
Don’t enter homes without permission & return if refused entry (24:27-28)
Don’t sit with those who mock religion until they change the subject (4:140)
Say it’s not appropriate to talk of slander when it’s mentioned to you (24:16)
If required to ask the Prophet’s wives, then do so from behind a screen (33:53)
Divorce in an amicable manner instead of keeping & harming your wife (2:231)
Punish in an equivalent manner to how you were harmed or be patient (16:126)
Differences in color & language are signs of Allah, not means of superiority (49:13)
Don’t take women by force, nor take back bridal gift without a valid reason & live with them in kindness (4:19)
"Beyondism is the strong religion of the future, it has all the best of Islam minus all the problems."
ReplyDeleteHow so?