Qur’an’s solution to contemporary challenges facing the Muslim world

Crescent International

Shawwal 22, 1446 2025-04-20

Daily News Analysis

by Crescent International

That the Muslim world is beset by many problems and challenges is not in doubt.

How to overcome them is the major challenge facing Muslim intellectuals and activists worldwide.

This is an area in which Imam Muhammad al Asi has great expertise.

As mufassir of the noble Qur’an, The Ascendant Qur’an: Realigning Man to the Divine Power Culture and translator of the meanings of the Qur’an by the same title, he spoke at length about this issue on April 19 in Richmond Hill (a suburb of Toronto).

He explained what Allah says about the struggle of many prophets and how they challenged the tyrannical powers of their time.

With the Qur’anic basis, Imam al-Asi then set out to highlight what is currently happening in the Muslim world.

Gaza and Palestine are foremost in the minds of Muslims because of zionist Israel’s genocidal war on the Palestinian people.

Locating their anti-human behaviour in the Qur’an, Imam al-Asi pointed out that after Prophet Ibrahim (as) had endured many trials and tribulations, Allah gave him the glad tidings of making him the Imam (leader) for all social beings.

Taking nothing for granted, Prophet Ibrahim asked: “what about my progeny (biological offspring)”, whether they too will inherit the mantle of leadership?

Allah’s response is very revealing: “My covenant does not extend to evildoers [the violators of justice]” (2:124).

Implicit in this response was the fact that some biological offspring of Ibrahim (as) will become dhalimeen (oppressors).

The evidence is there for anyone with even an iota of understanding of what is happening in Gaza, Palestine and the broader West Asia region.

Imam Al-Asi explained at length the meaning of the word “abd”, erroneously translated as servant or slave.

Based on this faulty understanding of the word, ibadaah is translated as “worship”.

The Qur’an scholar explained that abd means to conform to Allah’s commands.

Insaan, the social being, is free to accept or reject Allah’s divine guidance but must be prepared for the consequences of his choice.

Those who call themselves Muslims are not free to do as they please.

As conforming subjects of Allah, they must comply with the commands of the Creator and Sustainer.

Elaborating on the point further, Imam Al-Asi said that in our daily Salat, we recite “iyyaka na‘bodu wa iyyaka nasta‘een” (Surah al-Fatihah: 04).

The proper understanding of this ayat is: “To You alone do we conform, and from You alone do we seek help”.

It is such clarity that is essential to understanding the Qur’an in order to seek guidance from it to solve the myriad problems facing Muslims in the world today.

Imam Al-Asi said that during the Prophet’s time, his main focus was on the liberation of Makkah before the Muslims moved onto liberating Masjid al-Aqsa.

He stressed that Makkah, where the Bait al-Haram—the sacred House of Allah— is located, should be a sanctuary for all the dispossessed, the refugees and homeless people of the world.

That it is not clearly shows that Makkah has been emptied out of its proper role in the affairs of Muslims.

The manner in which the current occupiers of Makkah and al-Madinah have reduced the two holy sanctuaries to places of empty rituals is directly responsible for what has beset the Muslim world.

The road to Al-Quds goes through Makkah and al-Madinah.

As long as the present occupiers control these two sacred cities, there is little chance of Muslims liberating Masjid Al-Aqsa.

The noble Qur’an, as the Book of guidance till eternity, will provide guidance only if Muslims understand its message beyond rituals.

This is what Imam Al-Asi has done in his translation and tafsir.

There was a lively question and answer session that followed Imam Al-Asi’s presentation.

It could have continued much longer but time constraint prevented that from continuing.

Informal discussion continued long after the formal session ended.

Copies of Imam Al-Asi’s translation, The Ascendant Qur’an were available for sale.

Most participants had already obtained copies earlier.

Those who had not done so, were able to obtain them during the program.

Some participants even obtained multiple copies to gift to relatives and friends.

For information about how to obtained copies of The Ascendant Qur’an, please contact us at:

office@icit-digital.org