Description
As noted on its cover, this book addresses a central issue in Islam that has rarely been examined with the necessary rigor: the “reversion” (or turning away) that occurred following the passing of the Great Prophet. It explores how the religion—originally a call to morality and freedom of belief, intended for the entire world—was transformed into a political caliphate and an authoritarian state that sought to subjugate others through wars waged “in the name of God.” This shift began at the *Saqifah* (the gathering where the Prophet’s successor was chosen), and its repercussions persist to this day.
The author argues that God Almighty alluded to this reversion in the Holy Quran, stating: “Muhammad is no more than a messenger; messengers have passed away before him. If he were to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [revert to your former ways]?” In this work, the reformist scholar Al-Nil Abu Qurun discusses various themes related to these pivotal transformations—including the distinction between the *‘Arab* (Arabs) and the *A‘rab* (nomadic/Bedouin Arabs); the shifts in the lunar calendar that altered the timing of acts of worship; the concepts of *suhbah* (companionship with the Prophet) and *jihad* (struggle) in the path of God; and numerous other contentious issues.
Much like his previous works, this book challenges the traditional understanding of the Quranic text—as well as the interpretations and inherited traditions passed down through the ages. Yet, the scholar Abu Qurun continues his intellectual project with quiet, persistent, and unwavering resolve—a project he has articulated in detail in his earlier books, such as *The Children of Israel in the Land of Kush*, *Revisions in Islamic Thought*, *A Prophet from the Land of Sudan*, *Belief in Muhammad as a Healing for the Conscience*, *Islam and the State*, and *The Essence of Life*, among others.
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