Translation
Thereafter, We [God] granted the Children of Israel safe and secure places to live and provided them with good sustenance. They were united until knowledge (of mutual rights and obligations) were given to them (through the Torah and the prophets). Indeed, your Sustainer God will provide judgment on the Day of Resurrection regarding matters that they held divergent views.483
If you are in doubt about what has been revealed (Qur’an) to you (through Prophet Mohammad), then ask those who read the Book (previous revelations) before you. Do not be among the doubters (agnostics and atheists) since the truth has come your Sustainer God. Also, do not be among those who reject (actively oppose) the message of God since you will not succeed. Indeed, those who have proven to be unfaithful as God had willed (due to their persistent denial and rejection) will not benefit from guidance though they will be offered repeatedly to observe and reflect until they are face to face with the severe outcome (of their stance and conduct).484
Interpretation
483 While the followers of Moses were united in opposition to the oppression of Pharaohs, once they achieved security and freedom, and the guidance came in the form of Ten Commandments and other details, there were discords that Moses and Aaron had to deal with in the immediate aftermath of Exodus and in the long history of the Jewish people. But this is true of all major faith groups in the world in the past, and today as well. Discord within Christianity between the Catholic Church and the Protestant movement (especially the Evangelical Church nowadays), the clerical abuse in the Catholic Church, and the rise of nationalists in America and Europe fueled by religious rights are well documented. Muslims today are torn by the Shia–Sunni divide and discord, terrorism by ISIS and Al-Qaeda, political and religious corruptions, abuse of national wealth for the benefits of the few, and widespread misunderstanding of what Islam is all about and what the Qur’an teaches on human condition and human priorities.
484 Just like the People of the Book were reminded that in their opposition to Prophet Mohammad and his followers, they should consult their own book (the Torah, the Bible), it has become equally imperative for the Muslims in their discord among themselves and in their ambivalence about other faith groups (especially People of the Book) that they read the Qur’an as if they have never read it before and take a fresh look at the guidance of the Qur’an in the context of the twenty-first century, so that they can not only address the agnostic and atheistic trends in the world, but also narrow the religious divides of Shia and Sunni, remove cultural baggage and outdated definitions, understand Islamic values and principles, and reduce illiteracy, corruption, and economic challenges in their communities and societies.
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REFLECTION
The Qur’an repeatedly talks about the danger of the outdated and blind following of previous generations and the exploitation of revelations, and God’s guidance for the self and narrow interests at the expense of the larger humanity. By pointing out the errors committed by various and previous faith groups, it reminds us that Muslims need to do the same to maintain and evolve their own sense of faith and human goodness. That can happen only if they read their own book with sincerity, intellectual curiosity, humility, and keeping alignment with truth and justice for all.
ACTION
The intention of this series is to encourage Muslims in particular and people of faith and goodness in general to explore the message of the Qur’an as the last revelation from God and to integrate our collective gift of human knowledge and divine knowledge to better shape our personal lives and communal existence, where we live and in the global village.