Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 12:13:32 MST
From: gunsaymm@arizona.et.byu.edu (Mehmet M. Gunsay)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.turkish
Distribution: world
Organization: Brigham Young University, Provo UT USA
Subject: A few words about QUR'AN


Hi everyone,

It seems like there is a tendency on the net to post articles about a specific
subject, once someone starts an argument about that subject.  For the last 
couple of weeks, or maybe I should say months, this was (and still is) the 
case for Qur'an.  Well, after giving it a thought and doing some research, I
thought I too should join the crowd.  While reading a book written by a Western
scholar (interestingly enough), I came across this quote by mystic Jalal al-Din
al-Rumi, who is well known simply as "Mevlana" in Turkiye.  I thought this 
was the perfect answer to be given to some of the folks, wasting their time
in vain trying to find some faults in Qur'an.  Well, here is the quote, hope 
you enjoy it, although I know some won't:

"The Koran is a bride who does not disclose her face to you, for all that you
 draw aside the veil.  That you should examine it, and yet not attain happiness
 and unveiling, is due to the fact that the act of drawing aside the veil has 
 itself repulsed and tricked you, so that the bride has shown herself to you
 as ugly, as if to say, "I am not that beauty."  The Koran is able to show
 itself in whatever form it pleases.  But if you do not draw aside the veil and
 seek only its good pleasure, watering its sown field and attending on it from
 afar, toiling upon that which pleases it best, it will show its face to you
 without your drawing aside the veil."

For all those crazy about a reference, this quote was from "An Introduction to
Islam" by Frederick Mathewson Denny, page 163.

So I hope those, as I said, who waste their precious time trying to find errors
in Qur'an (like Mr. Kaka, or was it Kaya, whatever), would take my advice and go  enjoy this life to its fullest meaning, instead of vainfully wasting it because,
this is the only LIFE you are going to have.  You can read Sura 63 in Qur'an 
to see what is awating you in the other life, of course I doubt you even believe
in that.  Also here is an idea to people like Mr. Kaka (Ooops, did it again, I 
meant Mr. Kaya), if an illiterate man like prophet Muhammad (S.A.V.) can write
a marvelous book like Qur'an (which is full of errors as some foolish people
claim), so can you educated people, don't you think?  Come on, and give it a
try and let's all see what you come up with.

By the way, I wrote this article in English so that everyone can read it, not
to prove that I am English literate!  Before I forget, since Mr. Kaya (did it
right this time) is very interested in knowing if people have actually read the
Qur'an instead of its interpretation (or tefsir), YES, I have read the whole
Qur'an.  Just thought you might want to know.

So, Turkish people, let's get on with the real issues, such as the issues 
concerning our nation and country, what we can do to develop our country and
that kind of stuff.  For example, once there was a couple of articles about
a Turkish student association international, and that was it.  We never
heard from those guys after then.  At least I didn't, although I even sent
some e-mail to those guys.

Peace,

Murat Gunsay
(refrain from his imitations)