One of my Boy Scouts was complaining to another adult leader that I am grumpy. He appeased the lads’ anxiety by saying, “He’s not grumpy. He just has a very low tolerance for ignorance.” It was meant in jest, but was so close to the mark as to be true. I do have a low tolerance for ignorance, but I do have a high tolerance for the ignorant. They can be taught, but I am beginning to wonder.

There is a self-proclaimed “Man of God” about these parts with a congregation not much larger than my eight children and ten grandchildren who wants to burn the Qur’an. He would love to be named here…I won’t. 

I will not get into his politics, or the psychology of book burning. I want to focus on one question asked of this man. “Have you read the Qur’an?”

His answer, “No.” 

Ignorance, pure ignorance, and that has lead to his hate. We fear the things we don’t understand, and hate the things we fear. Read the book. I did.

It was many years ago when I was searching religions that I read the Qur’an. Muslims believe that the book cannot be translated and the most sacred form is in the original Arabic. One meaning of the word Qur’an is “recitation”. The book was not written for many years after Muhammad’s death, but was memorized by thousands of followers and recited to each other and to the prophet. I do not read Arabic, so my copy is in English. I am certain there was something lost in the translation, but I got the understanding I sought.

The Qur’an is divided into one hundred and fourteen chapters called sura. The sura are composed of a set of ayat, or verses. The text is poetic and lyrical. The book itself gives instruction as to how it should be read. In Qur’an 73:4, it says, “...and recite the Qur’an in slow, measured, rhythmic tones.” It is like reading a song about peace and love, and moderation in all things. Nowhere does it sing of murder, or war as a means to bring about the spread of Islam. 

The word jihad does occur several times and is a noun meaning “struggle”. It is most often used as an idiomatic expression meaning, “striving in the way of Allah.” I have known Muslims in business and socially and I have asked what the word means to them. One devout man explained, “Jihad means one’s personal struggle to become like God.” He went on to say, “We should all be so engaged.” Amen.

If we all strived to live as our God, wouldn’t this be a wonderful world? Outside of Satanism, I know of no religion that teaches hate. Books and religions are open to interpretation. There are factions that arise, become political, and hate each other as they interpret various writings or teachings. This is also born of ignorance.  

History is drenched in the blood of acts done in the name of God as Christians have hated Muslims, Muslims hated Jews, Protestants hated Catholics, and back and forth, and around again. Why? Ignorance. We fear what we don’t understand, and we hate what we fear. Death to ignorance, death to fear, death to hate. Read a book.

David Wilson Atwood is a local writer whose human-interest columns offer a unique perspective. He may be contacted, at www.starchasers.us or david@starchasers.us.