Quranic interpretation question for those knowledgeable

[Bluth Corporation]

I was reading in my textbook for my "Early Islamic History" class (Ruthven, Islam in the World, 3E) and came across a quote from the Quran that intrigued me; it reads, in translation (yes, I'm aware of the linguistic and theological issues associated with translating from the Arabic):

Unto every one of you We have appointed a law and way of life. And if God had so willed He could surely have made you all one single community; but in order to test you by means of what He has vouchsafed unto you. Vie, then, with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return; and then He will make you understand all that on which you were wont to differ.

My interpretation of that is this: All followers of a given faith (at least, an Abrahamic faith) who follow what God has handed down to their particular belief community are in the right, even if what they follow differs from what God has handed down to a different belief community. God created these differences as a test of faith, to see who might stray from what God has told them is the "one true way" (or whatever you wish to call it) in favor of what others claim was revealed to them as the "one true way"; the differences will be resolved and explained as part of a believer's reward in Heaven.

My professor, who isn't so much a scholar of Islam as she is a scholar of Middle Eastern history, admits that she's not entirely sure of the correct interpretation, so I ask those of you here who are in the know: am I way off base, or am I heading down the right track?

I'm not a candidate for conversion or anything, so please don't waste your time; but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in understanding Islam's teachings.

[Bluth Corporation]

bump

[NotRust]

I'm not knowledgeable on the subject, but it sounds like the Muslims were trying to justify why their God wasn't immediately accepted everywhere by everyone.

[RightLeaningChristians]

Unto every one of you We have appointed a law and way of life.

And if God had so willed He could surely have made you all one single community;

but in order to test you by means of what He has vouchsafed unto you.

Vie, then, with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return;

and then He will make you understand all that on which you were wont to differ.


Do you know which Surah this is?


It seems as though he is referring to the People of the Book.

[Alsatian Knights]

Okay, gonna try to do this without a horrible pun.

The main thing you have to remember about Holy Scripture is that its not some set in stone interpretation, one passage may mean 100s or different things to 100s of different people. The way I see that passage is this: God has given you a wonderful device by which you can use to better your life, had He wanted to make things easier he would have given Us everything we have ever needed, however a spoiled people is a decadent people who will soon stray from the path, so there fore we must cooperate with one another to better our lives. If you find that your can not accomplish this, take faith in God for he is with you always.

[RightLeaningChristians]

"Given this knowledge, what are Muslims to do? What are the implications of this fact? How are Muslims and non-Muslim supposed to interact? They are supposed to "know one another":

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl elucidates what it really means to "know one another

Once we "know one another," we can then work together in the spread of Godliness - justice, mercy, compassion, love, and beauty - on this earth for all to enjoy. The Qur'an makes this exact demand of people:

The Arabic word used in the verses, fastabiqu, literally means "to race." Thus, we - Muslims and non-Muslims - should race, or alternatively, compete with one another - not in gaining converts from each other's communities - but in doing good on this earth."


Taken from Here.