CONSEQUENCES OF MISINTERPRETATION
Quran Ki Chaar Buniyadi Istlahein (English trans: Four Key Concepts of the Quran) is a significant work produced under this interpretative approach, presenting a “broad and complete” concept of Deen (religion). In concluding the discussion on ibadah (worship), it states:
“Those who accept a limited interpretation of the Quran’s message will follow it incompletely and inadequately.”
However, sadly, as per my study, the attempt to present the Quranic message as comprehensive and complete has, in itself, become a means of limiting it. Due to an incomplete understanding of Deen presented based on this interpretation, a proper relationship could not be established between nature and the religion of nature. As a result, the effects and outcomes of Deen could not manifest properly.
Consider an electric lamp: if its plug is not correctly placed, and you press the switch, the lamp will either emit dim light or burn out and turn off, or perhaps only the filament will glow red. But if the plug is correctly positioned, the lamp will fully illuminate and provide a continuous light. In this analogy, the plug represents God’s Deen, the socket symbolizes human nature, and the hand placing the plug represents one’s perception. If the perception is flawed, it results in an outcome similar to that of a hand failing to properly fit the plug into the socket.
This situation parallels the present discourse: a single misalignment has prevented a true connection between human nature and God’s Deen, resulting in the absence of genuine manifestations of devotion to God in people’s lives. Although this flaw was subtle, Deen is so delicately structured that even a slight deviation disrupts its entirety—just like a complex machine where a minor fault affects its overall function. Consequently, based on this interpretation, individuals shaped by it are observed by its very proponents to lack the essence of Deen. Here, I will highlight some aspects of this issue, beginning with theoretical aspects, followed by practical ones.
