Handling The Qur’an

The teacher had been asking the class to share their favourite book, or another important book from their family. Dexter sat fidgeting as he listened semi-attentively to the responses his classmates were making, some speaking of photo albums and others of favourite novels.

The teacher asked the children to consider how they cared for those special books – how they handled them, where they put them, whom they shared them with. After several minutes of conversation Dexter was suddenly asked where in the room this special book, the one that the teacher had apparently been talking about, was located. Looking around, trying to force away the embarrassment of having been caught short, Dexter’s eyes spotted the wrapped bundle sitting on the V-shaped stand on a shelf high above all the other books in the room.

He smiled to himself, knowingly, as he recognised the Qur’an. Pointing it out, to the teacher’s delight, he then asked calmly if he might go and wash his hands. Dexter’s amazement flowered fully, however, as the teacher asked the class to quietly pass around some baby-wipes and each to wash their hands; and then, quite wonderfully, Dexter was invited to come and show the class how to unwrap the Holy Qur’an.

Experiencing Islam

The first time that I came into contact with Muslims was when I was at University, taking part in a fairly serious debate between ardent proselytes from both the Christian and Muslim faiths. It was a painful experience, in many ways, as I came face-to-face with the stubborn arrogance that religious conviction can breed in people, of any faith. Only the ardent Atheist has ever shown a rival passion to that day’s interactions.

Until I began training to teach Religious Education I really had tended to avoid Islam. Shocked though I was when I saw the anti-Muslim backlash from 2001, I could not quite bring myself to do much more than avoid the faith that most seems to threaten and rattle my own understanding of life.

What is it that so impresses me about Islam? Simply, the conviction and commitment of the Muslim.

First Contact: Holy Qur’an

The first time that I ever really handled the Holy Qur’an, or at least an Arabic-English parallel translation, was (oddly enough) as I began to prepare for a lesson introducing it to some Year 7 (10-11 year old) students at school.

How strange it was to wash my hands and take the book down from the highest shelf in the room, to unwrap it and to hold it in my hands. Taking my inspiration from Sue Phillips’ ‘experiential’ approach to RE it was there, in that moment, that I committed myself to trying the lesson format described in that opening story above.

For me to treat a book in this way was alien but also exciting, thrilling even. Certainly I had felt similar thrills in other moments of connection with religious practice but this was something unique. It’s hard to explain it, different from the awe of walking through St. Peter’s Basilica or from entering Nottingham Mosque. This was… more personal. A connection.

Watching The Children’s Response

From my own trembling experience with the Qur’an it was time to teach the lesson. It was amazing to hear the children speak about their own precious books, be they novels or photo albums or tomes of knowledge. What was more incredible, however, was to see those students make the connection between the idea of precious books and the way in which the Holy Qur’an is shown respect. There, in the faces of the boys and girls of this class, was written the understanding and emotion of the moment.

What was the effect? A big one.

The lone Muslim student in my class was suddenly elevated from suspected outsider to special guest. From that day forward the attitudes of the class towards Muslims changed, for the better. Far fewer prejudiced remarks, much more respect for their study of Islam. And their behavior in class improved too. Amazing.

What value experience?

Getting your hands into the experience of another faith makes all the difference. I knew this from my small experiences with Buddhism, Orthodox Christianity and Sikhism. I was experiencing it again with Islam… and I continue to seek understanding of this amazing religious faith. Holding the Qur’an, not merely as a book but in the frame of mind of the curious, was for all of us a highly charged experience.

Ever since this lesson I have held onto the principle that intellectual knowledge about a religion is not the whole story; to knowledge needs to be added empathy, a skill best nurtured through experience with other people. Integrating experience alongside story, knowledge and reflection has deepened not only my own understanding but that of my students.

Back to the Qur’an

So what of the Qur’an? There is much yet for me to learn. Much for my students to wrestle with. Yet now, having shared that experience of ‘other’ and ‘special’, we are prepared. And I have a reasonable English translation to dive into reading.

It’s so easy to believe that you know what Islam is all about. Certainly the basics are not hard to pick-up. But my experience has been that Islam provides a total and deep view of life for the believer, in a way that rivals contemporary Christian experience markedly. The devout Muslim is to be respected, not feared or ridiculed. That person is one to be admired.

Where does Muslim belief rest? In the revelation of the Holy Qur’an. In the example of the Prophet himself.

What’s in it for you?

As with so many of my articles I find myself wondering what’s in it for the reader, for you?

Perhaps it’s just a curious story in another person’s life that is worth a couple of minutes to read. Maybe it’s an interesting tale about engaging students in their study of the religions. Hopefully it is a word of encouragement to rise above your assumptions and prejudices, and to go and experience Islam for yourself.

I’m not here to try and make converts – far from it. But I am here to suggest that, in that moment of handling the Qur’an, a lot of the fear and negativity, that I had totally failed to notice creeping into my own life, might similarly be leeched away from your own.

Experience encourages understanding, and understanding brings confidence. Maybe in learning to handle Islam (literally) you will begin to figure out why your prejudices are misplaced.