Do Islam Bashers Misinterpret the Quran?
01 Nov, 2008
Muslims often claim that those of us who talk about the messages of the Quran misinterpret them and as such, we are Islam bashers. To put this issue to rest, I am quoting hereunder two verses from the Quran and ask Muslim readers of this forum to interpret them for our benefit.
2:256: There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
47:4: Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; at length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost.
Please explain what the above two verses are saying and if their messages are any different from what they appear to give us. Thanks to all who will be helping us clearly understand the above messages of the Quran.
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Name: These are two contradicting ones in hte same book
Date: Saturday November 01, 2008
Time: 06:07:48 -0500
Comment
These are two contradicting ones in hte same book.what more is needed for absurdity and irrationality than this.Mohammad might have suffered from personality disorder which involves disorganised thinking.
Name: koran is as confusing as ever
Date: Saturday November 01, 2008
Time: 07:05:33 -0500
Comment
koran is very confusing book,it has contradictions,it says allah is merciful,then says allah puts non believers in hell fire.what merciful god will do this ? this itself proves koran is full of contradictions,
Name: koran is full of contradictions and so was muhamed
Date: Saturday November 01, 2008
Time: 07:09:39 -0500
Comment
koran is very confusing book,it has contradictions,it says allah is merciful,then says allah puts non believers in hell fire.what merciful god will do this ? this itself proves koran is full of contradictions, some time koran says there is no compulsion in religion and then says kill the non-believers.also...was muhamed himself a real muslim ? did he get circumsiced...did he himself read out the kalima 3 times to become a muslim ? no one has answers to this.
Name: Eric
Date: Saturday November 01, 2008
Time: 12:00:37 -0500
Comment
In this context (47:4), the Quran uses the term "unbelievers" with the intention of signifying the Quraish, as opposed to all "unbelievers" in the Arabia, or the rest of the world. This surah (47) was revealed just before the war with the Quraish, but the circumstances had arisen to show that war was inevitable. This passage (47:4) actually comments on the only time when it is acceptable to take prisoners of war, upon which it is necessary to release them (and thus condemns the common practice of slavery where people could be seized anywhere and then sold). I don't want to go on at length, but let me also say that I have always found the Yusuf Ali translation of the Quran to be problematic, as his language is often very confusing. I much prefer the Maulana Muhammad Ali translation, as it provides a clearer read in English.
Name: lw1 to Eric
Date: Saturday November 01, 2008
Time: 16:19:45 -0500
Comment
Re (47:4) If Allah wanted 'unbelievers' in this sura to signify only Quraish, what prevented him from naming the Quraish?
Name: Truth Seeker
Date: Saturday November 01, 2008
Time: 17:34:24 -0500
Comment
Eric writes" This surah (47) was revealed just before the war with the Quraish, but the circumstances had arisen to show that war was inevitable." Question is: Is it recorded in the Quran and is this verse applicable today or not? If it is not, then why it should remain in the Quran?
Name: Un-Islamic mind
Date: Saturday November 01, 2008
Time: 17:44:23 -0500
Comment
Eric: [This surah (47) was revealed just before the war with the Quraish, but the circumstances had arisen to show that war was inevitable. Eric accepts the fact that this verse says exactly what we read in it. So the Islam bashers have not twisting this verse to malign God, Islam and its prophet!
Name: blagger
Date: Saturday November 01, 2008
Time: 20:16:20 -0500
Comment
If the quran is meant to be a guide for all mankind and for all times and places, what should it matter the circumstances of any particular revelation?
Name: Tanstaafl
Date: Sunday November 02, 2008
Time: 20:56:41 -0500
Comment
Anybody can be a prophet if their predictions are accurate. I predict that Muslim scholars will not post in response to this challenge.
Name: Eric
Date: Monday November 03, 2008
Time: 16:29:59 -0500
Comment
If a news article reads ???Americans are going to vote on for their next president on November 4th???, we all know that the use of the term ???Americans??? does not in-fact mean all citizens of the United States, but rather all those who are registered to vote. Even so, not all registered voters will actually cast their ballot. The definition of ???Americans??? narrows when the articles later reads ???Americans elected so-and-so president???, since not all registered voters who cast their ballots voted for that president. Does the news article need to go into detail about these specifics, or can it assume that the reader of the article is knowledgeable enough to understand the context? I pose the same question about all religious verses, in the Quran or otherwise. There is a certain context to Quranic verses, which admittedly, some Muslims don???t understand. It is out of this ignorance that problems arise. To apply a verse like this out of its context is an injustice to the Quran. Some sections of the Quran articulate enduring principles, but others are time-specific. It???s a story after all.
Name: ExMuslim
Date: Monday November 03, 2008
Time: 21:31:48 -0500
Comment
Eric, stop fooling yourself. Quran is a book of eternal guidance. Why would time-specific legislations, relevant to 7th-century, be there in a book of eternal guidance? Do you think Allah and Muhammad were such idiots.
Name: Truth Seeker
Date: Tuesday November 04, 2008
Time: 11:50:18 -0500
Comment
Eric: "There is a certain context to Quranic verses, which admittedly." Does it not mean that the certain verses are not applicable today? Does it not also make the Quuran a book for the time it was supposedly revealed to Muhammad by Allah?
Name: lw1 to Eric
Date: Wednesday November 05, 2008
Time: 14:23:31 -0500
Comment
Let us put this in context.At present there is a choice of lot more communication , e.g.radio,TV, newspapers, Internet & mobile phones as opposed to the 7th century onwards when muslims believe Quran was revealed to Mohammed.So at present with mass communication and freedom of speech, people have achance to understand what American means. Quran does not allow freedom of speech.Your understanding is opposite of what muslims understand when they read the Quran.You say some muslims don't understand these verses, and you have suggested these verses are meant to signify Quraish. How many muslims agree with you? Also if you believe Allah is all-knowing, he would known about the misunderstanding and resultant bloodshed, so why did he not name the Quraish? If you believe Quran is a story, then every word doesn't have to be true as some muslims believe.
Name: kmgy
Date: Saturday November 08, 2008
Time: 12:24:28 -0500
Comment
The Koran is an evil inspired book promoting the gospel of hate and murder. It is like a deceptive detour sign diverting humanity from the true path of righteousness to the path of destruction.
Name: Mr Brown to Iw1
Date: Sunday November 09, 2008
Time: 00:35:24 -0500
Comment
The Qur'an is not a story. Yes, all educated Muslims will agree with Eric, that the verse was revealed at a specific time, namely a time of war, if the time of a legitimate war (Issued by the leader of a Muslim state, which is not present in our day and age) begins then the verses will be applicable again. The 2 verses are talking about 2 different contexts. Like the verse says, "thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom"
Name: Mr Brown to Iw1
Date: Sunday November 09, 2008
Time: 00:47:50 -0500
Comment
Unlike the Bible: Numbers, chapter 31, verses 17-18: "So now put every male child to death, and every woman who has had sex relations with a man. But all the female children who have had no sex relations with men, you may keep for yourselves." Joshua 6:20 is very interesting too.
Name: dd
Date: Sunday November 09, 2008
Time: 02:44:29 -0500
Comment
"It???s a story after all. " The quran is not just a story book, the muslims will behead you for telling that lie :). It is the book that is used by al-queda and other islamist organizations to lure muslims to become suicide bombers. They don't use the nursery rhyme book or grandmas fairy stories book. They use the quran to do the recruiting. So do you still want to maintain that quran is just another story book?