Quran’s Role
The Quran was revealed during the first half of the 7th century CE. The world of that time was vastly different from the world we live in today. A reflection on the difference between the two linguistic eras reveals that this transformation is largely linked to the intellectual revolution brought about in human history by the Quran and the movement it inspired.
At that time, various political, social, and economic issues plagued Arabia. But the first command given in the Quran was neither political nor economic. It was simply: “Read.”
This meant that the Quran explained that the true beginning of any reform work is knowledge. The building of knowledge and awareness is the foundation upon which all reform must be built. This is the only truly effective method. If one begins from anywhere else, the results will never be deep or lasting.
The history after the Quran confirms that this was indeed the correct starting point. A complete revolution took place in the Arab world as a result, and its effects eventually spread across the known world. Because the movement began with knowledge, all other good things followed naturally.
The second key message the Quran emphasised was freedom of thought. At that time, for thousands of years, the world had been under the rule of royal dictatorships. People were forced to think like their kings and accept their views as the final truth. This rule of force had closed the doors of human development for centuries. Growth in knowledge and thinking is only possible when people have the freedom to reflect and form their own opinions—and this freedom was absent in ancient times.
The Quran (2:193) refers to this system of forced thinking as a fitnah (a great trial). It made it a duty for those influenced by the Quran to stand against such systems and to work towards building one based on intellectual freedom. This revolution was also achieved through the influence of the Quran. The Quran created an atmosphere where every person was free to use their mind. Even an ordinary person could speak openly against a ruler or caliph. This marked the beginning of a new intellectual process in history, which, step by step, brought the modern era of freedom of thought.
Before the revelation of the Quran, nature was regarded as sacred and held in reverence. People believed it should only be worshipped or respected, not explored or altered. This mindset hindered scientific investigation and mastery over the natural world. The Quran taught that nature was created for humans—to be studied, understood, and utilised for their benefit. (Quran, 45:13)
This Quranic teaching profoundly influenced people. For the first time in history, the idea of understanding and controlling nature took hold. People began to investigate nature, and after centuries of study, the revolution known today as the scientific revolution emerged.
Before the Quran, humanity was divided into high and low classes. The Quran strongly declared that all human beings are equally created by God. In the sight of God, all humans are the same. This message of human equality from the Quran deeply touched people and slowly transformed their thinking. This process continued over centuries, until a new social age emerged where all human beings were recognized as equals with equal rights.
Before the Quran, war was widely seen as the only way to achieve goals. As a result, one group was always fighting another. The Quran introduced God as a God of mercy, and the Prophet as a Prophet of mercy. It promoted values like peace, patience, and avoidance of conflict, and showed that the power of peace is greater than the power of war. In this way, for the first time in history, the path of peaceful struggle was opened.
The Prophet of Islam used this peaceful method to bring about a revolution in which so little blood was shed that it can be called a bloodless revolution.
Thus, a new thinking movement emerged in history—not based on violence, but based on non-violence. This movement continued, and finally in the 20th century, the idea of peaceful struggle was accepted around the world.
The Quran contains many verses that emphasize reflection and thought (tafakkur wa tadabbur). That is, people are urged: Think. Use your mind. Discover the secrets of the heavens and the earth.
The Quran opened people’s closed minds. It replaced blind following with rational thinking. People’s mental horizons expanded. On one side, their minds awakened, and on the other, they began to uncover the hidden laws of the universe and make use of them.
This intellectual revolution started in Makkah, spread to Madinah, then to Damascus, followed by Baghdad. It flourished further in Spain, and eventually reached different parts of Europe, until its influence extended across the entire world.
The Quran has left a deep imprint on the intellectual history of humanity. The truth is, without including the Quran, the intellectual journey of humanity and the history of its development cannot be fully understood.
All India Radio, New Delhi,
24 September 1996.
