Re: Re: Here's some related food for thought...
s.o.sJTB said:
This quote is about "killing infidels" is always taken out of context by non-Muslims and extremists.First of all when the Quran(Muslim holy book) mentions Infidels it does so in context of the Idol worshipping Arabs of Mecca. The Quran refers to Christians and Jews as "people of the book" believers in only one god. The revelation in the Quran that was being referred to was presented to the prophet Mohamed during a time of war. The Idol worshipping Arabs in Mecca had declared war on Mohammed and his teaching's of one God, the same monothesitc belifs taught by Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Many other prophets. After Mohammed and his follower's were expelled from Mecca this was the revelation he gave:
"Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight you, but dont be the aggressors, because Allah dosent approve of aggression. Fight them wherever they are found, and drive them out from where they drove you out, because being oppressed is worse than being slaughtered...But if they cease being hostile,remeber that Allah is the forgiving, the source of all mercy. But if they continue to oppress people, then battle them until the oppression is no more and justice and faith in God prevail. If they seek peace, then you seek it as well."(Quran 2:191-194)
I dont believe the story Rick Mathes told...
Your observations about "The Noble Qur'an" are interesting to me for two reasons. First, your observations about Jews and Christians don't agree with what I've read in the Qur'an. Second, it would appear from comparing the book I hold in my hand with the quote that you produced that there are different ways of interpreting the original text. (Boy, does that sound familiar.)
You state, "The Quran refers to Christians and Jews as 'people of the book' believers in only one god." On the contrary, the Qur'an condemns both Jews and Christians for being polytheists, that is, they believe in more than one God, or more than one element of God. Specifcially condemned are belief in Ezra (Jews) and Jesus (Christians) as the son of Allah.
Qur'an Surah 9 Verses 29-33:
29. Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islâm) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jîzya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
30. And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbelievers of old. Allah's curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!
31. They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah, (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah) and (they also took as their lord) Messiah, son of Mary, while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded (in the Torah and the Gospel) to worship none but One Ilâh (God - Allah) Lâ ilâha illâ Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him).”
32. They (the disbelievers, the Jews and the Christians) want to extinguish Allah’s Light (with which Muhammad [there are Arabic characters here I will not attempt to duplicate] has been sent – Islamic Monotheism) with their mouths, but Allah will not allow except that His Light should be perfected even though the Kâfirûn (disbelievers) hate (it).
33. It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammed [different Arabic characters] with guidance and the religion of truth (Islâm), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah etc.) hate (it).
FROM THE FOOTNOTES:
V. 9:29 Jîzya: a tax levied from the non-Muslim people (Jews and Christians, etc.), who are under the protection of a Muslim government.
V. 9:30 (A) Narrated Ibn ‘Abbâs [Arabic characters] : the Prophet [Arabic characters] said, “Allah said, ‘The son of Adam tells a lie against me though he has no right to do so, and he abuses Me though he has no right to do so. As for his telling a lie against Me, it is that he claims that I cannot recreate him as I created him before; and as for him abusing Me, it is his statement that I have a son (or offspring etc.). No! Glorified to Me! I am far from taking a wife or a son (or offspring etc.)’” (Sahih Al-Bukharî, Vol. 6, Hadîth No. 9).
(B) See the F.N. of (V. 4:40) and the F.N. of (V. 68:42) [Given time and space constraints, I cannot copy those lengthy notes here. In summary, they say that on the Day of Resurrection, or the Day of Judgement [sic], the Jews will be condemned for saying they worshipped Ezra, the son of God, and Christians will be condemned for saying they worshipped Jesus, the son of God.]
Although I cannot claim to be a scholar or even a serious student of the Qur’an, it is plain to me that there is a stark contrast between your assertion of the status of Jews and Christians—“people of the book” believers in one god—and the characterization I have quoted which makes them out to be POLYtheists, and lumps them in with all other pagans.
Now, about your quote: Allow me to offer the same passage (you’ve actually quoted portions of verses 190-193) as it appears in the copy I hold.
Qur'an Surah 2 Verses 190-194
190. And fight in the Way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors. [This vers was revealed in connection with Jihâd, but it was supplemented by another (9:36)].
191. And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out form where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (the sanctuary at Makka), unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
192. But if they cease, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
193. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allah (Alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zâlimûn (polytheists, and wrong-doers etc.)
194. The sacred month is for the sacred month, and for the prohibited things, there is the law of equality (Qisâs). Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is with Al-Muttaqûn.
FROM THE FOOTNOTES:
V. 2:190 Al-Jihâd (Islamic holy war) in Allah’s Cause (with full force of numbers and weaponry) is given the utmost importance in Islâm and is one of its pillars (on which it stands). By Jihâd Islâm is established, Allah’s word is made superior, (His Word being Lâ ilaha ill Allâh which means none has the right to be worshipped except Allah), and His Religion (Islâm) is propogated. By abandoning Jihâd (may Allah protect us from that) Islâm is destroyed and the Muslims fall into an inferior position; their honour is lost, their lands are stolen, their rule and authority vanish. Jihâd is an obligatory duty in Islâm on every Muslim, and he who tries to escape from this duty, or does not in his inner-most heart wish to fulfil this duty, dies with one of the qualities of a hypocrite.
V. 2:191 Al-Fitnah: (polytheism, to disbelieve after one has believed in Allah, or a trial or a calamity or an affliction, etc.).
V. 2:194 Muttaqûn: pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much …
I’m having a very difficult time reconciling in my mind the picture painted by the portions of the Qur’an that I have read with the picture that many would like to paint of the religion being peaceful and compatible with other God-fearing religions. The Qur’an specifically denounces Christians and Jews for their beliefs in the character of God—it says the polytheism (
Al-Fitnah, e.g., Christianity and Judaism) is worse than killing. Furthermore, it condemns all those who practice Islam but do not devote their lives to Jihad, the eradication of these polytheists.
Tell me where I’m mistaken, please.
By the way, I obtained my copy of
Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Qur'an in the English Language in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia while I was there to protect their country from invasion by agressors. I'm sure it rubbed them wrong to be saved by infidels.
The parenthetical notes in the above quoted text are as they appear in the book I have. I made no additions or subtractions, intentionally, except for the notes that replaced Arabic text.