Some quote Qur’anic verses to correct or inspire or admonish. Some quote them as ammunition for their viewpoints, as support for cherished philosophies, some as adornments for vague sentiments, as buttresses for ideological perspectives, or as crutches on which to hang ferocious politics. Some wield verses as weapons to counter disliked viewpoints, to punish or to silence or to bully and badger into obedience. Some quote in support of the supposed “truth” of their views - whether conservative views or neo-conservative views, liberal views or fanatical views, progressive views or puritanical views, traditional views or radical views, unitary views or sectarian views. Some quote to bend men’s inclinations to their own interpretations, their own opinions. Some regard the Qur’an intellectually, some regard it emotionally, some approach it as a writ to be obeyed literally, some regard it as poetic suggestions optional to follow - we pick and choose, modify and alter to a form and interpretation that pleases us, bending the Qur’an to our will, our wish, to the shape of our nafs rather than shaping our nafs to the form of the Qur’an.
“Why do you admonish others among mankind and yet neglect your own souls while you read this Book; do you not comprehend (have you then no sense)?” (Qur’an 2:44)
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