📖 AL-FURQĀN (الفرقان): The Criterion of Truth and Falsehood in Islam
Al-Furqān (الفرقان) is a term with profound significance in Islamic theology. It carries the meaning of discernment or ’the Criterion,’ often used to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Etymology and Definitions
Etymology: Derived from the Arabic root “فَ رَ قَ” (f-r-q), which encompasses meanings related to separation, distinction, and division.
Key Applications in Islamic Thought
- Title of Sūrah XXV of the Qurʾān: Al-Furqān involves verses emphasizing the Qur’an as a divine guide to differentiate right from wrong.
- A Title for the Qurʾān: In Sūrah Al-Baqarah (2:181) and Sūrah Āli-ʿImrān (3:3), the term Al-Furqān signifies the Qur’an itself as a criterion.
- Referring to Other Scriptures: The term is also used to describe the Taurāt (Torah) revealed to Moses, stressing its role in delineating moral and ethical boundaries.
- Historical Reference - Battle of Badr: Seen in Sūrah Al-Anfal (8:42), referring to the Battle of Badr as “Yawm al-Furqān”—a decisive victory with significant delineation between good and evil.
- Ṣūfī Mystical Context: Sūfī mystics interpret Al-Furqān as the ability to distinguish spiritually between truth and error.
Cultural and Theological Insight
The usage of Al-Furqān highlights its role in Islamic theology to demarcate clearly between the permissible (halal) and impermissible (haram), truth and deceit, echoing similar principles found in Scriptures such as the Torah. The confluence with the word “perek” or “pirka” in Jewish tradition exemplifies cross-religious parallels and shared etymological roots.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms:
- Criterion
- Distinction
- Separater
Antonyms:
- Confusion
- Ambiguity
- Obscuration
Related Terms and Concepts
- Qurʾān: The central religious text of Islam, considered the manifestation of Al-Furqān.
- Hidayah (هداية): Guidance that complements the notion of the Qur’an as Al-Furqān.
- Taurāt (تورات): Referenced within the context of scriptural discernment.
- Al-Haqq (الحق): The Truth, philosophically connected to Al-Furqān.
- Yawm ad-Dīn (يوم الدين): The Day of Judgment, linked to ultimate discernment between good and evil.
🎓 Exciting Facts and Quotations
Exciting Fact: The designation of divine texts as Al-Furqān solidifies the notion that scriptures serve a critical role in moral discernment, inspiring various interpretive traditions within Islamic jurisprudence.
Quotations:
- “Blessed is He who sent down the criterion to His servant, that it might be a warning to the nations.” — Quran 25:1
- Nasr: “The Qur’an is indeed the Furqan preceding humankind in judgment, measuring their eternal quests.”
📚 Recommended Literature
- “The Qur’an and its Interpreters” by Mahmoud M. Ayoub
- “God and Man in the Qur’an” by Izutsu Toshihiko
- “Revelation and Reason in Islam” by Hazrat Maulana Wahiduddin Khan** Journals and reviews such as the “Journal of Qur’anic Studies”
May these insights serve as guideposts in your quest for knowledge, delineating the pathways between enlightenment and misconception—much as Al-Furqān serves its adherents in the intricate tapestry of faith.
Yours in innate curiosity, Yusuf Al-Hakim
