As a guide for humanity, the holy book of the Quran is expected to remain relevant to the changing times (shalih lii kulli zaman wa makan). Its teachings, which contain principles, are believed to offer answers to every issue and challenge that humanity may face, both in the present and in the future.
Since its revelation, the Quran has declared itself a book with progressive views on human issues. Commands to free slaves, restrictions on marrying more than four wives, the emphasis on honoring orphans, defending the oppressed, and more, are evidence that the Quran is a progressive book. These views were later embraced by Western societies in later years.
Because the Islamic community adheres to the Quran, it became the victor of its time, as stated by Robert N Bellah:
“There is no question but that under muhammad, Arabian society made a remarkable leap forward in social complexity and political capacity. When the structure that took shape under the prophet was extended by the early caliphs to provide the organizing principle for a world empire, the results is something that for its time and place is remarkably modern. It is modern in the high degree of commitment, involvement, and participation expected from the rank and file members of the community. It is a modern the openness of its leadership positions to ability judged on universalistic grounds and symbolized in the attempt to institutionalize a non-hereditary top leadership. Even the earliest times certain restrains operated to keep the community from wholly exemplifying these principles, but it do so closely enough to provide a better model for modern national community building than might be imagined,”
However, a question arises: Is the Quran, which was revealed 14 centuries ago, still relevant in addressing contemporary and future issues and challenges? The context of the issues faced then and now has evolved significantly. For example, Syahrur’s concept of “milkul yamin,” which once sparked controversy in Islamic countries.
In the past, the permission for “milkul yamin” was based on humanitarian values, allowing slaves to experience intimate relations as a fundamental human need. However, today, slavery has been abolished. This means that the concept of “milkul yamin” is no longer applicable. Reinstating this concept would be a regression of human civilization.
So, are the verses that speak of “milkul yamin” no longer “relevant” due to the absence of its legal context? This highlights the importance of understanding the Quran not only as a book of laws but also, in the words of Fazlur Rahman, as a book containing moral spirit.
If one limits their understanding to the Quran as a legal text, many verses in the Quran may no longer seem relevant today because of the significant differences between the context of their revelation and contemporary issues. Therefore, to grasp the Quran comprehensively and align it with the evolution of time, a commentator must capture the moral spirit within a verse.
For instance, when examining the verse on “milkul yamin” from a moral perspective, it reveals a fundamental message of human equality. In that era, this perspective was remarkably progressive, challenging the prevailing disparity between slaves and free individuals. In essence, both were creations of God.
These values of equality must be understood and embraced as the moral spirit of a verse. Consequently, a progressive Muslim thinker must maintain the continuity of their progressive thinking. In the future, humanity will face new issues and challenges that may not find direct parallels in the Quran or Hadith. However, by grasping the moral spirit of the Quran, these new issues and challenges can be addressed and the misconception of the Quran’s obsolescence can be refuted.