Let the Quran shape our Beliefs

On the discussion if angels are a designation or a form of creation, TS asked: What difference it makes for you if they  are made of light or Noor?  

Answer: One of the most serious mistakes people make when reading the Quran is that they try to read it according to their beliefs, and do all sorts of intellectual jugglery to make it read as per what they think it should mean. Among the most misread verses are those where it states that the angels were ordered to prostrate or submit to Adam and Iblis refused. Just to comply with a non-Quranic belief that angels are a separate creation, created from light or Noor, people resort to stories about how a jinn was with the angels and so on. Once you accept that, the way is opened for misinterpretation of other verses as well. 

If we believe the Quran to be guidance from Allah, and if we believe that the Arabic text is in its pristine form, as revealed, then we must let the Quran shape our beliefs rather than our beliefs telling us how to interpret the verses of the Quran. 

MSA brought up the question about Iblis, stating that it would be the key to unlocking the mystery, to which I responded with my understanding that angels are a designation and not a separate form of creation 

SA asserted that it is written in the Quran that angels are created from light. Perhaps I'm missing that verse. Hence I ask him to show me the verse so that I can correct my understanding. 

Actions speak louder than words

To my reply to Punishment for Adultery according to Quran, some one commented: "We dont need to listen to what moslems are saying because what they are doing speaks louder."
Answer: The only thing sure about life is that we'll meet death someday_ can we afford the luxury of just writing off religion on the basis of what others are doing or saying??
We all have 24 hours each day and we can either spend it criticizing others, and dismissing them, or use the time seeking knowledge and going to the source of all scriptures to discover the truth for ourselves.
I'm a born muslim, and I grew up in a society with many plusses and minusses. Religion and culture, poverty and charity, pride and humility, fanaticism and liberalism, and many other contradictory practices. I am glad that I was introduced to the Quran early on and could see that many practices were rooted more in culture than in religion, and somehow, the two were so inter-twined that many people were unaware of what was what, and social expediency also adding a further twist to it.
Another thing that bothered me was that I knew very little about other religions. Hence I started exploring what other religions were really all about. I'm glad that I discovered Study Circle and grateful to all those who shared their perspective of their religion and helped me think from different angles and understand better.
Reading the original texts of different religions has led me to believe that all stem from the same source, all have gems of wisdom, and all have been used as tools by certain people to oppress and exploit others. Thus, I do not base my beliefs on the practices of others. My beliefs are based upon what I honestly and sincerely consider to be the truth, based upon whatever little research that I'm able to do, and I pray that I be guided to truth. Amen.

Will Christians go to heaven with Muslims?

Question: Will Christians go to heaven with Muslims?
Answer: As far as I understand the Holy Quran, all true believers will go to Heaven, inshAllah, while all who know in their hearts the truth, yet reject, will go to Hell. The rest to whom it is not clear, and they are still searching, sifting religions and seeking the truth, I don't know. But Allah knows what is in the hearts, and He is the best judge. He gives life and food and clothing and the comforts of this world in varying amounts to all, but guidance is given only to those who seek. We humans have been endowed with free-will, and Allah wants us to acknowledge and worship Him without any compulsion. That is why, guidance is for only those who seek it. Allah sent many prophets throughout the ages to inform, guide, give glad tidings and warn humanity. The source and the message was always the same. In the Quran, Allah speaks very highly of some Jews and Christians, informing us of how pious they are. Yet, the Quran is also replete with examples of how people throughout the ages have rejected the message, how the message has been changed/modified/corrupted, and what are the pitfalls that one must be careful of.
Daily, in our prayers, we recite the opening passage of the Quran (Surah Fateha) in which we pray for guidance and to be protected from following the path of those earn the wrath of God or who go astray.
http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=1
Being labelled a muslim/ christian/ jew/ hindu or anything else, or being born in a certain religion doesn't really seem to make any difference. The basic test is of the individual heart and soul. Those who truly believe, actively seek guidance, and try to live their life according to the guidance, in piety, ever aware of the presence of God, and the surety of returning to Him, of the Judgement and the Hereafter, will go to Heaven as that is the promise of God.
Holy Quran 5:119 Allah saith: This is a day in which their truthfulness profiteth the truthful, for theirs are Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they are secure for ever, Allah taking pleasure in them and they in Him. That is the great triumph.
http://can-you-answer.com/Truthfulness.htm

Beliefs of the Mind

Question: I know the "beliefs" of Islam, just as i know the "beliefs" of Christianity..............but, they are "beliefs of the mind"..........and, what one "believes" is not proof or actually "knowable".............not facts, but what one chooses to accept as "truth"...........so many contradictions in both Islam and Christianity............too many things in both that are based on myth or legend.............thus, the pronouncements of both are suspect and i cannot accept them as "divine"................i cannot hold to the "beliefs" of either

Answer: Beliefs are belief only unless they can stand a myriad of tests and still remain valid. The source of Islamic beliefs is the Holy Quran. If this book is from God, then it must be scientifically, mathematically, morally, ethically, historically, linguistically correct and true. It has proven to be so. Thus, we take it as the source of guidance. There is a myriad of other [Islamic] literature that is indeed contradictory, confusing and at times, one wonders how can it be from God…… thus we cannot, should not and do not take them as books of guidance….. after all, all those books are works of humans, not God. Only the Arabic Quran is the exact word of God.