BASIC TEACHINGS OF THE QUR'AN

From: www.astudyofquran.org

The most fundamental messages in the Qur'an which apply to all mankind are: belief, prayer, and good deeds. The verses which contain the above themes are among the most frequent in the Qur'an. In order of frequency the following divisions can be made:
(i) Belief and good deeds
(ii) Prayer and good deeds
(iii) Prayer only
Two important conclusions can be drawn from the above.
1. 'Belief' and 'good deeds' are absolutely the basic requirement in Islam. Numerous verses confirm this. To believe in Allah is the primary requirement, and in this sense we must also believe in Allah's revelations, His messengers and the Day of Judgement.
(2:177) It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East and West; but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the prophets; and giveth his wealth, for the love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and those who ask, and set slaves free; and is steadfast in prayer and invests in zakat. And those who keep their treaty when they make one and are patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. Such are the Allah-fearing (muttaqeen).
2. Prayer is important, but has little value on its own without the good deeds. As a matter of fact every good deed is an act of obedience to Allah (ibadat, see Section 11.2) and even the work we do to earn our living, as long it is done honestly, is ibadat. The following verses give weight to the above assertions:
(4:95) Those of the believers who sit still, other than those who have a (disabling) hurt are not on an equality with those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives. Allah hath conferred on those who strive with their wealth and lives a rank above the sedentary. Unto each Allah hath promised good, but He hath bestowed on those who strive a great reward above the sedentary.
(3:200) O ye who believe! Endure, out do all others in endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to Allah, in order that ye may succeed.
(4:124) And whoso does good works, whether male or female, and he (or she) is a believer, such will enter paradise and not the least injustice will be done to them.
(34:4) That He may reward those who believe and do good works. For them is a pardon and a rich provision.
Note: The Qur'an has many similar verses as above, including: 2:227; 5:9,93; 7:153; 4:57,122,124,173; 17:9; 18:2,30; 19:96; 20:75,112; 22:14,23,56; 24:55; 25:70; 29:7,9,58; 30:15,45.
The following two sections are taken from chapter seventeen of the book entitled Educational Philosophy of the Holy Qur'an, by Dr. Mahar Abdul Haq. The verses quoted from Dr. Haq are summarised, as he has done, instead of using the full verses. Also, the verses with similar implications have been classed together.
Section 6.1 takes a selection from the Qur'an which instructs us how to behave with family, friends, neighbours, relatives, acquaintances, and foreigners, as well as instructing us on our mode of living. Section 6.2 gives a selection of verses on human rights. The Qur'an is the first charter of liberty ever given to mankind. It enjoins the Islamic Order (Deen) to protect these rights irrespective of cast, creed, colour, gender, occupation or any other arbitrary differentiation.
All the verses used in these sections are absolutely clear, without any ambiguity, and yet we concern ourselves more with the allegorical verses which we have no knowledge of. Note Allah's Word on this:
(3:7) He it is who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations -- They are the substance of the Book -- and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt, they pursue that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension, by seeking to explain it. None knows its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Sustainer; but only men of understanding really heed.