In the name of Allāh,
the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Peace and Blessings of Allāh on Mohammad.
DEDICATED TO
Allāh–the Glorious and the High,
Lord of the worlds
AND TO
Mohammad–who brought the world
to our feet and eternity to our arms.
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QUR’AN –EVIL VERSES
There are a number of verses that critics of Islam charge are evil. Needless to say verses are used out of context or without knowledge as to the background to which they were revealed or without studying the Qur’an (or maybe because of all the three defects).
Muslims, as well as those who seek truth for the truth, would do well to have a copy of Muhammad Ali’s translation of the Qur’an as MA has explained Arabic words/terms and gives an explanation to which verses were revealed as well as the time frame of the revelation of Surahs/Chapters; also his preliminary notes are a King Solomon’s mine of information. Muhammad Ali’s translation of the Qur’an can be viewed (and perhaps downloaded) online: www.muslim.org.
The following is a compilation of verses that have been met with from critics.
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CONTENTS
1. Qur’an 2:65; 5:60; 7:166. Allāh turned Jews into apes and swine:
2. Qur’an 2:143; 3:110. Muslims are the best nation.
3. Qur’an 2:216. Allāh requires Muslims to undertake armed Jihad:
4. Qur’an 2:282; 4:11. Woman is only half the worth of a man in terms of witness and inheritance:
5. Qur’an 3:14. Deepens feelings of guilt and humiliation of women.
6. Qur’an 3:28. Muslims to not befriend non-Muslims:
7. Qur’an 3:118. Not to take outsiders for intimate friends:
8. Qur’an 3:169; 4:74; 4:95; 9:111. Islamic fanaticism, zealotry, and terrorism are rooted in the Qur’an.
9. Qur’an 4:3; 23:5-6; 33:50; 70:22-30. Islam allows polygamy; sex with children/orphans; and unmarried sex with slaves.
10. Qur’an 4:4. Ujur/Dowry/Mahr is payment for sex.
11. Qur’an 4:24 is not about marriage but sex/rape -Qur’an allows rape.
12. Qur’an 4:34. Allows beating of wife.
13. Qur’an 4:56. Disbelievers will be roasted.
14. Qur’an 4:76. Muslims to fight disbelievers.
15. Qur’an 4:88-89. Muslims not to take disbelievers for friends, kill them where you find them.
16. Qur’an 4:91. To kill non-Muslims wherever they find them.
17. Qur’an 5:33. Allows torture.
18. Qur’an 5:38. Allows dismembering the thief.
19. Qur’an 5:51. Muslims not to take Jews and Christians for friends
20. Qur’an 8:12. Allāh puts terror into disbelievers.
21. Qur’an 8:17, 9:52. Muslims gain victory by Allāh’s hands. 22. Qur’an 8:60. Be prepared for war.
23. Qur’an 8:67 sanctions assassinations.
24. Qur’an 9:5. Fight and kill disbelievers wherever you find them.
25. Qur’an 9:14. Fight unbelievers, Allah will punish and disgrace them.
26. Qur’an 9:28, 9:95. Idolaters are unclean.
27. Qur’an 9:29. Kill Jews, Christians and Unbelievers. Dhimmis to pay jizya.
28. Qur’an 9:38-39. Muslims urged to fight Unbelievers.
29. Qur’an 9:73. Muslims to be harsh with Unbelievers.
30. Qur’an 9:111: Islam allows suicide mission in its Jihad.
31. Qur’an 19:83. Allāh sent devils against disbelievers.
32. Qur’an 21:44; 28:58; 13:41; 33:27; 46:27; 59:2. Allāh takes lands of the Unbelievers.
33. Qur’an 22:19-22. Torture in the Hereafter.
34. Qur’an 24:2. Flogging adulterers.
35. Qur’an 24:33. Allows forgives Muslims for using slave-girls for prostitution -Islam allows prostitution.
36. Qur’an 33:4. Allows marriage to adopted son’s wife.
37. Qur’an 33:26-27. Rewards for killing People of the Book.
38. Qur’an 33:36. Muslims not allowed to decide for themselves; independent thinking not allowed.
38A. Qur’an 33:50. Enslavement of women prisoners of war
39. Qur’an 47:4. Allows kidnapping for ransom.
40. Qur’an 48:29. Mohammad was hard against Disbelievers.
41. Qur’an 60:1. Muslims not to befriend enemies.
42. Qur’an 60:4. Muslims in a permanent state of war with non-Muslims who refuse to accept Islam.
43. Qur’an 61:10-12. The Qur’an promises rewards for waging jihad.
44. Qur’an 65:4. Allows marriage to pre-adolescent girls.
45. Qur’an 66:5. Tells wife she can be replaced.
46. Qur’an 98:6. Some non-Muslims destined for Hell.
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1. Qur’an 2:65; 5:60; 7:166. Allāh turned Jews into apes and swine.
Qur’an 2:65: “And indeed you know those among you who violated the Sabbath, so We said to them: Be (as) apes, despised and hated.”
Response:Jesus (and as Christians say that Jesus is God then God) cursed to death a blameless and innocent fig tree for not having any figs; figs He should have given it–(Mark 11:12-21). Contrasted to Jews being guilty of violating their Sabbath.
Jesus (and as Christians say that Jesus is God then God) castigated the people of Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida and consigned them to a worse hell than the Sodomites just because they did not heed His teachings and repent–(Matt. 11:20-24). Contrasted to Jews who had violated the Sabbath which they covenanted with God.
PALESTINIANS homes, lands, and country were stolen from them –they were slaughtered and bombed and their habitations mined to prevent them from returning– and they are forced to live like caged animals (in Gaza) and are suffering all manner of indigni-ties for more than six torturous decades now –a monumental and grotesque obscenity which no sane man and woman would accept for himself and herself– and critics bellyache about Allāh turning Jews into “apes” and “swine” for their violating the Sabbath; and Palestinians did not violate or transgress against Jews for their homes, lands, and country to be stolen and yet made to suffer inhumanities. (Rather than try to find non-existing evil verses in the Qur’an these critics need to step onto the podium of dignity and immortalize their names in the cause of the Palestinians and advocate and vociferate for the return to Palestinians of their homes, lands, and country).
Soon after Allāh freed Jews from Pharaoh’s bondage and slaughter and after seeing the power of Allāh as demonstrated through Moses as miracles to Pharaoh, Jews turned to idolatry –making a golden calf and worshipped it– and in the wilderness Allāh provided them sustenance of manna and quail; Jews were arrogant to Moses –telling him to go and fight the enemy while they will sit and wait for him– and in spite of their “stiffnecked-ness” Allāh let them possess the land He had promised to their Holy Fathers. And yet Jews violated the Sabbath.
Some may say that Allāh turning Jews into “apes” and “swine” for their violating the Sabbath was just a “slap on the wrist.”
However, Jews were not turned into actual apes. Muhammad Ali comments:
“65a. The root meaning of sabt (from which Sabt, meaning Sabbath, is derived) is cutting off (R). The Sabt or the Sabbath is so called because the Jews ceased thereon from work (T). The Jews and the Christians observed a particular day for religious worship, and they were forbidden to do any work on that day.…The commandments regarding the observance of the Sabbath by the Jews are manifold, but we find the Jews so persistently violating them that the later prophets openly reproved them for it (see next note).
65b. Mjd explains this in the following words: They were not transformed or metamorphosed; it is only a parable which Allah has set forth for them, the like of what He has set forth in likening them to asses (62:5), i.e., their hearts were transformed, not that they were metamorphosed into apes (IJ). The verse that follows (which reads: “So We made them an example to those who witnessed it and those who came after it and an admonition to those who guard against evil”) lends support to this explanation as a monkey could not afford a lesson to the generations that came after the metamorphosis had taken place. R observes in explaining this verse: It is said that He rather made them morally like apes. Compare also 5:60: “they are those whom Allah has cursed and upon whom He brought His wrath and of whom He made apes and swine, and who serve the devil. These are in a worse plight and further astray from the straight path”. This description of the same people clearly shows that it is men who imitate apes and swine that are meant. See also 4:47: “Or (We shall) curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers”. Now, in the case of the Holy Prophet’s opponents from among the Jews, who are referred to in the words, We shall curse them, there was no metamorphosis, but here it is stated that the same curse must overtake them as overtook the Sabbath-breakers. A reference to Deut. 28 will show that the curses which Moses prophesied for them meant their being scattered among the nations of the earth, and this was the fate which overtook the Prophet’s enemies from among the Jews. Qiradah is the plural of qird, meaning an ape, and among the Arabs the ape is a proverbially incontinent animal, they say more incontinent than an ape (LL). Turning to the Bible, we find that the Israelites became apes, in all the senses in which that word is used in the Arabic language, by violating the Divine command-ments: “Thou hast despised Mine holy things, and hast profaned My Sabbaths. In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains; in the midst of thee they commit lewdness. In thee have they discovered their father’s nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution. And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father’s daughter …And I will scatter thee among the heathen and disperse thee in the countries” (Ezek. 22:8–15).”
And Malik Ghulam Farid comments: “The word “apes has been used figuratively meaning that the Israelites became abject and mean like the monkeys, the transformation being not in body or form but in character and spirit. “They were not actually transformed into apes, only their hearts were changed” (Mujahid). “God has used the expression figuratively” (Kathir). Had the Qur’an meant their physical transformation into apes the word Khasi’ah would have been used and not Khasi’in which is used for rational beings. By the use of this word it is intended to point out that just as apes or monkeys are abject and despised animals, similarly the Jews will always remain humiliated in the world and, in spite of their great resources in wealth and education, will never be able to gain any stronghold on the earth; the root meaning of the word signifying abjectness and humiliation as well as groveling in the dust.”
And Qur’an 5:60 states: “Say: Shall I inform you of those worse than this in retribution from Allāh? They are those whom Allāh has cursed and upon whom He brought His wrath and of whom He made apes and swine, and who serve the devil. These are in a worse plight and further astray from the straight path.” And Muhammad Ali comments:
“Those who are spoken of as having been made apes and swine are the Jews. See 2:65b as explaining the significance of these words. It is remarkable that, though the people spoken of here are in both places the same, they are on one occasion called simply apes and on the other apes and swine. In addition, the same people are here spoken of as serving the devil. The concluding words that the people who were thus made apes and swine and the servants of the devil are “in a worse plight and further astray from the straight path”, are conclusive as establishing the fact that they were still men, because apes and swine could not be said to be straying from the straight path. The next verse makes this plainer, for these very apes and swine are there described as coming to the Messenger with unbelief and going away with unbelief.” And this next verse as MA notes states: “And when they come to you, they say, We believe, and surely they come in unbelief and they go forth in it. And Allāh knows best what they conceal.”
Thus, contrary to popular belief, Jews were not transformed into actual apes and swine.
The question for the critics, including Christians, is, whether literally or figuratively wouldn’t you prefer to be turned into apes for transgressing the ordinance of God than to be torn by bears or to be eaten by beasts? Here is what the Biblical God did (and as Christians say that Jesus is God here is what Jesus did):
-“And he (Elisha) went up from thence to Bethel…there came forth LITTLECHILDREN…and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up thou BALD HEAD…And he (Elisha) turned back, and looked at them, and CURSED them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth TWO SHE BEARS out of the wood, and TARE FORTY AND TWO CHILDREN of them”–(2 Kings 2:22-24).
–“They (Jeshurun and his children) have moved me (God) to jealousy with that which is not God…I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them…I will also send the TEETH OF BEASTS upon them, with the POISON OF SERPENTS of the dust. The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs”–(Deut. 32: 15-25). Hallelujah!
2. Qur’an 2:143; 3:110. Muslims are the best nation.
Response: Qur’an 2:143 states: “And thus We have made you an exalted nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you. And We did not make that which thou wouldst have to be the qiblah but that We might distinguish him who follows the Messenger from him who turns back upon his heels. And it was indeed a hard test except for those whom Allāh has guided. Nor was Allāh going to make your faith to be fruitless. Surely Allāh is Compassionate, Merciful, to the people.” To which Muhammad Ali comments: “The word in the original is wasat, which signifies the middle part of anything; and therefore, as being removed from either extreme, it signifies the best part of a thing, according to LL, who translates ummat wasat as meaning a just, equitable or good nation; that is, one not inclining to either extreme. The commentators explain wasat as meaning equitable and exalted (Rz, AH, Kf), and this sense fits the context. By making the Ka‘bah their qiblah, Allāh had made it known that they were the people, the Muslim nation, for whom Abraham had prayed (v. 128), and therefore they were the inheritors of all those Divine blessings which had been promised to the seed of Abraham.”
Regarding Qur’an 3:110, Allāh says: “You are the best nation raised up for men: you enjoin good and forbid evil and you believe in Allāh And if the People of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are believers but most of them are transgressors.” Muhammad Ali explains: “Not only are the Muslims the chosen people of God, who are now called upon to be the standard-bearers of Truth in the world, but they are at the same time declared to be the best of the people that had ever been chosen for this purpose. This was no doubt due to the excellence of that Great Teacher who thoroughly purified them of the worst vices and made perfect the light within them. No prophet ever found a people in a worse condition, and none ever raised his people to such eminence. Note that the excellence of the Muslim people lies in their enjoining good and forbidding evil and in their great faith in Allāh. If they lose these characteristics, they lose their excellence as well.”
Unlike Jews who plume themselves as God’s “chosen people” to the exclusion of others –Jews consider themselves to be the “most superior of all races” not because of piety– Muslims come not from one race of people but from all races. That Muslims enjoin good and forbid evil and believe in Allāh: Muslims enjoining good also requires Muslims doing good, and Muslims forbidding evil also requires Muslims avoiding evil; And belief in Allāh incorporates belief that Allāh is One and Only; the Eternal, Absolute on Whom all depend; He begets not nor is He begotten; and there is none like Him; belief in all His Angels; all His Revealed Books; all His Prophets; belief in the Resurrection and Judgment. (It is to be noted, Allāh tells us to believe in all His “Revealed” Books; but some of the doctrines that are passing under God’s name are not Divine revelations, and thus Allāh also tells us what not to believe, such as inherited sin, vicarious atonement, Divinity of Jesus –son of God, Trinity, Mariolatry– karma, reincarnation, dualism, and polytheism’ “chosen people” to the exclusion of others). Muslims is the only “nation” that worships Allāh!
(As noted above, Jews consider themselves to be the “most superior of all races” not because of piety. Ismail Zayid notes: “The Jewish “KHUZARI BOOK, which is approved by the office of education. In the introduction to the book Dr. Tzifroni writes: “The nation of Israel is a chosen nation because of its race, its education and the climate of the land in which it was brought up. The race of the Israeli people is the most superior of all races.””1 And Hitler was pilloried for his view that Germans is the master race. If supremacy is based on race, residency, and knowledge; then Palestinians/Arabs are the “most superior of all races”; having resided in Palestine for six thousand years, is the best nation, as Allāh says in His Qur’an that Muslims are, and has given Muslims knowledge that brought light to the world –at a time when Jews and everyone else were running around with flint tools and torches. This mentality of “the most superior of all races” –a mis-shapen mentality unworthy not only of the enlightened Twentieth century but unworthy of all centuries– may very well be said to be the nucleus of Apartheid –mental, physical, and spiritual.
3. Qur’an 2:216. Allāh requires Muslims to undertake the noble armed Jihad: “Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it, But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you.”
Response: Isn’t it “good” to fight to eradicate evil? Since it is good to fight to eradicate evil then isn’t this fighting good for you? If you do not think it is good to fight to eradicate evil tell it to the Allies of World War II; tell it to America for chasing Al-Qaeda and Talibans (though Talibans did not do any “evil” to America); tell it to the British for going half way round the globe to boot Argentina off the disputed Falklands Island. If you believe fighting isn’t good to prevent crime tell America she needs to close the shops of the FBI and CIA. And whether his war is justified or not, since the fallen human soldiers receive the highest honor of his land why can’t the Muslim soldier striving in the cause of justice be rewarded with the highest honor from Allāh?
4. Qur’an 2:282; 4:11: Woman is only half the worth of a man in terms of witness and inheritance:
Response: (See WOMEN items #2, 6). And what witnessing capability do Jewish and Christian women have? They have none! Zero! Zilch! Squat! Kadoodle! In fact, the Muslim woman has greater witnessing capacity than the Christian man. See CHRISTIANITY-WOMEN OF and WOMAN-TESTIMONY HALF OF MAN’S).
5. Qur’an 3:14. Deepens feelings of guilt and humiliation of women. “Decked out fair to men is the love of lusts –Women, children, heaped up heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and tillage.”
Response: Isn’t it the truth that “Women, children, heaped up heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and tillage” are things that men “love” and “lusts” after? (Survey the world and find out). That women is the fitnah more detrimental to men;” all this means is that men will lust after women and would likely do anything to have her; and without doubt sex is the most sought after pleasure by men of all age groups, from puberty upwards. And maybe even before puberty.
And figurative or not, the Biblical God not only “decked” out Israel with gold but anointed her: “I anointed thee with oil…I clothed thee also with broidered work…with fine linen…with silk…I DECKED thee also with ornaments…bracelets…chain on thy neck…a jewel on thy forehead…earrings…beautiful crown …Thus was thou DECKED out with GOLD AND SILVER…But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornication on everyone that passed by; his it was…Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of MY GOLD AND OF MY SILVER…and madest to thy self images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them”–(Ezekiel 16:9-17). Clearly, beauty and riches can lead one into corruption. In fact, as the Christian woman viewed as a transgressor, and “defiler” and betrayer of man, there cannot be a greater trial for man than such a woman.
The Muslim woman has no right to harbor feelings of guilt and humiliation. If the Muslim woman feels this, then either she does not know Islam or Islam has not yet entered her heart. Islam esteems womanhood as the symbol of purity and motherhood as the gateway to Paradise. In contrast, it is the Christian’s teaching that all the trials, misfortunes and woes that befall men come from women. (See CHRISTIANITY-WOMEN OF).
Interestingly, Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din responding in his Open Letters To The Bishops Of Salisbury & London over mis-statements on Islam: “I read in Dean Farrar’s famous Life that Christianity “ennobled man, elevated woman, and lent a halo of innocence to the life of the child.” When and where did Christianity accomplish these things before the modern times? Modern ideas and ideals have come from sources other than Christianity. A religion that teaches that every child is born in sin rather robs him of innocence than lends him a halo. These writers should know better and respect history more. They should think twice on the implications of the doctrines of their own religion before making such assertions. The Christian tenet of original sin involves an assumption which ennobles neither man nor child, neither can the principle of he Immaculate Conception elevate motherhood.”(p.71). It may be submitted that instead of lending the child a “halo of innocence,” the doctrine of inherited sin has fastened onto the child two little horns on his and her forehead and a barbed tail on their behinds.
6. Qur’an 3:28. Muslims to not befriend non-Muslims: “Let not the believers take the disbelievers for friends rather than believers. And whoever does this has no connection with Allāh –except that you guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully. And Allāh cautions you against His retribution. And to Allāh is the eventual coming.”
Response: Whereas Allāh says to not befriend the disbelievers, the Jewish’s God says to enslave “heathen;” and the Christian’s God says to enslave “heathen,” treat those who doesn’t agree with you as enemies and slay these enemies who do not want you to rule. Which group of people will you want to avoid, Muslims or Jews and Christians? However, as stated at the beginning, verses of the Qur’an are to be understood against the background to which they were revealed. Muhammad Ali explains:
“The Muslims, being in a state of war with the disbelievers, were forbidden to look to their enemies to guard their interests or for help of any kind. The clear statement made in 60:8, 9 settles the point beyond all doubt: “Allāh forbids you not respecting those who fight you not for religion, nor drive you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly.…Allāh forbids you only respecting those who fight you for religion and drive you forth from your homes and help (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends with them”. Auliya’, which I translate as friends here, is the plural of wali, which is derived from a root meaning he held command or had charge of or superintended a thing, and it accordingly means the manager of a thing or of the affairs of another, and the guardian or maintainer of an orphan, and the guardian of a woman who gives her away in marriage. It also means the executor or heir of a deceased person (LL). According to R, it indicates nearness in respect of place, relation, and religion, and in respect of friendship and help and belief, etc. The word therefore includes all relations or nearness. A man may also be said to be wali-Allah, as meaning one near to Allah or a friend of Allah….It is as if it were said: Do not look to them for guarding your interests, rather guard yourselves against them.”
And in Qur’an 60:7 Allāh says: “It may that Allāh will bring about friendship between you and those of them whom you hold as enemies. And Allāh is Powerful; and Allāh is Forgiving, Merciful”–(Qur’an 60:7). To which Muhammad Ali comments: “This verse makes it clear that the prohibition against friendly relations with the disbelievers was only temporary, to be operative only so long as the war continued. The friendship prophetically referred to here was brought about after the conquest of Makkah.”
Further, Muslims are not allowed to use deceptive tactics and pretend to befriend non-Muslims fro any purpose. Muslims are required to make peace with the enemies even in the face of possible deception by the enemy: “And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it….And if they intend to deceive thee, then surely Allāh is sufficient for thee”–(Qur’an 8:61-62).(See ISLAM & LYING).
In contrast, it is Christianity that counsels its followers to use deceptive tactics and pretend to befriend infidels as practiced by PAUL –who used “lie” and “guile” and “craft” to spread his anti-Christ “son of God” doctrine– and as taught by Jesus to save his followers from being thrown in jail:“Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison”–(Matt. 5:25).This injunction of Jesus gives Christians a hole so big to accommodateevery conceivable lie and deception for any situation the battleships Iowa Jima and Lincoln can sail side by side through it. And with mega-space to spare. With this permission Christians can even frame an innocent person all the way to the executioner’s needle just so they would not be thrown in jail. They can even frame their mother.
Sure the Bible says not to bear false witness, but clearly this is superseded by Jesus (who is said to be son of God and even “God”) for “Christians” to have no borders when it comes to saving their hide. In fact, when it comes to saving the Christian’s hide from being tossed into jail the Christian’s son of God (and God) gives him and her full license to lie through his gums to even send his/her mother down the creek, and without any paddle. And Jesus came some five hundred years after Moses.
Even Jesus lied; telling his followers: “Go ye up unto this feast, for my time is not yet full come,” “But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret”–(John 7:8-10). Clearly, Jesus did not want to go with them, and lied that he would be going later; and soon as they had gone from him he left for the feast. Surely as son of God and “God” Jesus would have known whether his time to “go up” had come or not.
Another instance of the Biblical God engaged in “lying” is noted in 1 Kings chapter 22, where God had a “lying” spirit to “lie” to King Ahab. (SeeISLAM & LYING).
7. Qur’an 3:118. Not to take outsiders for intimate friends: “O you who believe, take not for intimate friends others than your own people: they spare no pains to cause you loss. They love that which distresses you. Vehement hatred has already appeared from out of their mouths, and that which their hearts conceal is greater still. Indeed We have made the messages clear to you, if you understand.”
Response: Muhammad Ali explained: “As the context shows, the Jews assisted the enemies of Islam to make war upon the Muslims, so the Muslims were warned against close and intimate relations with them; see 60:8, 9. And Qur’an 60:8-9 states: “Allāh forbids you not respecting those who fight you not for religion, nor drive you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly. Surely Allāh loves the doers of justice;” Allāh forbids you only respecting those who fight you for religion, and drive you forth from your homes and help (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends of them; and whoever makes friends of them, these are the wrongdoers.” And Muhammad Ali comments: “This verse (verse 8) and the one (verse 9) that follows, revealed as they were at a time when the relations between the Muslims and the disbelievers were most strained on account of the existence of a continual state of war between the two parties, settle conclusively that friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, as such, are not prohibited. It is in the light of these verses that all the verses forbidding friendly relations with the disbelievers should be read, because here the true principle is revealed in unmistakable language, allowing friendly relations with one class of disbelievers and prohibiting such relations with those of another class.”
Would you be friends with those who fight you for your religion and drive you out off your lands or those who help others do this to you? Only the fool would. And are not those who commit injustice against others the enemies of God? The Jewish and Christian’s God consider as enemies even those who provoked him: “And again the ANGER of the Lord was kindled against Israel”–(2 Samuel 24:1); “God is ANGRY with the wicked everyday”–(Psalm 7:11); The Israelites “have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto ANGER;” “Because of all the evil of the children of Israel (Jacob) and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to ANGER;”–(Isaiah 1:4; Jeremiah 32:32).
In contrast whereas Allāh prohibits friendship with those who transgress against you, the Biblical God (and as Christians say Jesus is God, Jesus) says to kill those who try to call you to the worship of unknown Gods and those who do not want you to rule:
-“And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt….If thy brother…entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers…thou shalt surely kill him”–(Deut; 13:5-16).
-“If there be found among you…man or woman…And hath gone and served other gods, and worshiped them, either the sun or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded…Then thou shalt bring forth that man or that woman …and shalt stone them with stones, till they die”–(Deut; 17:2-5).
-“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and SLAY THEM before me” (even though they might not militate against him)–(Luke 19:27. Perhaps this is the teaching of Jesus that spawned the murderous Crusades).
Further, Allāh says to “let not hatred of a people incite you to transgress”–(Qur’an 5:2); to give justice and even against one’s self and relations–(Qur’an 4:58, 105, 135; 7:29; 57:25); to fight on behalf of non-Muslims–(Qur’an 22:39-40); that zakaat (compulsory charity) is for the poor and the needy, without distinction of race or creed, the wayfarer, and the financially bondaged–(Qur’an 9:60; 90:12-16); and to look after the welfare of the orphan–(Qur’an 2:220; 4:2, 6, 10, 127; 17:34). If this is not “kindness, respect, or affection to those who disbelieve” then what is.
8. Qur’an 3:169; 4:74; 4:95; 9:111. That Islamic fanaticism, zealotry, and terrorism are rooted in the Qur’an.
Response: Qur’an 3:169: “And think not of those who are killed in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they are alive being provided sustenance from their Lord.” Is there any one better to serve than God? Didn’t the Israelites slaughtered and occupied the lands of others in the service of God? and how were they rewarded? Wasn’t Jesus serving God when he commanded that his enemies who did not want him to rule be brought and slain? and how was Jesus rewarded? according to the Gospels he is sitting “on the right hand of God.” (Luke 19:27; Mark 16:19. God sitting on the right hand of God??? This is one of the lunacies that Christians want Muslims and others to mutilate our intelligence and follow).
-Qur’an 4:74: “So let those fight in the way of Allāh who sell this world’s life for the Hereafter. And whoever fights in the way of Allāh, be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward.” It is without doubt that all devotees of God are expecting a better life in the Hereafter. And makes sacrifice(s) to attain the best/highest rewards of this coming life. Is there a higher cause to fight for than in the cause of truth and justice? Do soldiers not kill and get killed? Whether a soldier in the service of his country is slain or victorious is he not honored, and even rewarded? Where then is the “fanaticism, zealotry, and suicide terrorism” in Muslims making the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of truth and justice and receiving the rewards of the Hereafter?
-Qur’an 4:95: “The holders-back from among the believers, not disabled by injury, and those who strive hard in Allāh’s way with their property and their persons, are not equal. Allāh has made the strivers with their property and their persons to excel the holdersback a (high) degree. And to each Allāh has promised good. And Allāh has granted to the strivers above the holders-back a mighty reward.” Are draft-dodgers and deserters equal to the soldiers who face the enemy? Are these dodgers and deserters rewarded as the soldiers are?
-Qur’an 9:111: “They fight for God’s sake; they kill and are killed as a rightful promise from Him.”–(Qur’an 9:111).
To charge that Allāh Who gives man freedom and requires only the teaching of the Qur’anic message (not forcing it) and enjoins justice even against one’s self and to not let hatred of people cause us to transgress, to not act corruptly in the earth, and that all religions are for him, that He would enjoin fanaticism, zealotry, and terrorism is a betrayal of one’s gross ignorance of Islam or bigotry. Or both!
9. Qur’an 4:3; 23:5-6; 33:50; 70:22-30. That Islam allows polygamy; sex with children/orphans; and unmarried sex with slaves.
Response:
Qur’an 4:3; 23:5-6; 33:50; 70:22-30. (See also Islam-polygamy; Islam-concubinage and Islam-slaves/slavery).
Qur’an 4:3 states, “And if you fear that you cannot do justice to orphans, marry such women as seem good to you, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you will not do justice, then (marry) only one or that which your right hands possess. This is more proper that you may not do injustice.”
Obviously, those who charge that Islam allows marriage/sex with “orphan” girls did not consider the possibility that these “orphans” were of marriageable state.
These Qur’anic verses (4:3; 23:5-6; 33:50; 70:22-30) speak about whom your right hands possess; this phrase relates to captives of war but it does not mean that the Muslim man can have sex with female captives outside of marriage. Slave girls are to be taken in marriage only.
-Sura 4:3-4 allows the Muslim man to marry up to four wives: “MARRY such women as seem good to you, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you will not do justice, then (marry) only one or that which your right hands possess. This is more proper that you may not do injustice. And give women their dowries as a free gift.”
Clearly, Muslims are instructed to MARRY either a free believing women or a war-captive; and to even give them “dowries.” This verse clearly sanctions marriage between Muslims and their female captives.
This is made even clearer in verse 25 which states: “And whoever of you cannot afford to MARRY free believing women, (let him marry) such of your believing maidens as your right hands possess …So MARRY them with the permission of their MASTERS, and give them their dowries justly.”
Clearly, the charge that Islam allows Muslims to have illegal sex with their captives is baseless. In fact, the Prophet Mohammad taught: “The man shall have a double reward who has a slave-girl and he trains her in the best manner and he gives her the best education, then he sets her free and MARRIES her”–(Bokhari Vol. 4 #655; & 3:720).
-Sura 23:5-6 says: “Successful indeed are the believers, who are humble in their prayers…And who restrain their sexual passions –except in the presence of their mates or those whom their right hands possess.” (Sura 70:22-30 says the same as 23:5-6).
The claim that these verses of Suras 23 and 70 being Makkan Suras allowed sex with slave women is also baseless.
Whereas Suras 23 and 70 were revealed towards the end of the early Makkan period, Sura 17 which is of the mid early Makkan period requires Muslims to not even do the things (such as touching, amorous speech and intense/sultry gazing) that lead to zina (sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other; and which includes both adultery and fornication).
Here is the verse (17:32): “And go not nigh to adultery/ fornication: for it is a shameful deed. And an evil, opening the road (to other evils),” and Sura 25 which is also of the same Makkan period says in verses 68 (speaking about those who will inherit paradise): “And they who call not upon another god with Allāh ….nor commit adultery/fornication.”
These Suras (23, 70, 17 and 25) are of the Makkan period and it would be poor cerebration to surmise that Allāh would require abstention from illegal sex and also enjoin the commission of illegal sex. Muhammad Ali explains Qur’an 23:5-6:
“Furuj, plural of farj, indicates the part of a person which it is indecent to expose (LL), particularly the pudenda. In this sense hifz al-farj means generally the observing of continence, or the restraining of sexual passions. The words au ma malakat aimanu-hum, of which a literal rendering is given in the translation, usually indicate slaves. It should be noted that this chapter is a Makkan revelation, and the conditions under which slave-girls could be taken as wives were given later at Madinah; see 4:25a. If the reference here is to sexual relations, the permission regarding those whom their right hands possess must be read subject to the conditions of 4:25. It may be added that slave-girls, when taken as wives, did not acquire the full status of a free wife, and hence they are spoken of distinctly. It may, however, be added that hifz al-farj in a wider sense means the covering of parts of the body which it is indecent to expose, and in this connection it must be borne in mind that according to Islamic rules of decency, the exposure of such parts of the body, as are generally exposed in ballrooms and theatres, is disallowed, but a certain degree of freedom is allowed to women in the presence of their husbands and female servants and to men in the presence of their wives and male servants.”
Allāh also enjoins: “And marry not the idolatresses until they believe”–(Qur’an 2:221); “And marry those among you who are single, and those who are fit among your male slaves and your female slaves”–(Qur’an 24:32).
And, as stated above, the Prophet Mohammad taught: “The man shall have a double reward who has a slave-girl and he trains her in the best manner and he gives her the best education, then he sets her free and marries her”–(Bokhari Vol. 4 #655; & 3:720).
Again, Allāh says: “Surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil”–(Qur’an 29:45); and adultery, whether with slave-girls or with the free, is indecency. To enjoin decency and allow concubinage is a contradiction. It would be a contradiction of the most glaring kind for Allah to enjoin chastity and decency, to instruct us to come not near to adultery/fornication and still sanction “concubinage.”
While Islam requires freeing of captives–(Qur’an 47:4). Here is what the Christian God (as Christians claim Jesus is God, here is what Jesus) commands:
-“And if it will make no peace with thee….thou shalt smite EVERY MALE thereof with the edge of the sword. But the WOMEN and the LITTLE ONES (girls)…shalt thou take unto thyself”–(Deuteronomy 20:12-14).
–“Then the Lord spake unto Moses, saying…
And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses, and they slew ALL THE MALES….
And they brought the CAPTIVES and the prey and the spoil to Moses, and Eleazar…
And Moses said unto them…Now therefore kill every MALE among the LITTLE ONES (of the captives), and kill EVERY WOMAN who hath known man by lying with him, but ALL THE WOMEN CHILDREN, that have not known a man by lying with him (virgin girls, pubescent as well as prepubescent girls) KEEP ALIVE FOR YOURSELVES….
And the BOOTY, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, and 61,000 asses, and of WOMEN that had not known man by lying with him (virgin girls), were 32,000. And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was 337,500 sheep; 36,000 cattle, 30,500 asses, and 16,000 persons (virgin girls). And of the congregation’s half portion of these 16,000 virgin girls, 320 were given to the Levite priests, as “the Lord commanded Moses.” And the LORD’S TRIBUTE (of the (booty) was 675 sheep; 72 cattle; 61 donkeys; and 32 persons….
the men of war had taken SPOIL (BOOTY), EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.”
(Surely, these 16,000 young “virgin” girls who were “booty’ were taken by the “warriors” not for making pretzels and croissants or for forging swords into plowshares or for ploughing fields. And the 320 given to the Levite priests could have hardly been for “altar”-girl service).
Evidently it is the Christian’s God –and as Christians claim that Jesus is God, then it is Jesus– who allows his followers to despoil the land of others, and to loot, and to take their little virgin girls as sex-slaves.
How would you feel if your husband and father are killed and you and your daughters are taken by Jews and Christians for sex?
You will not like your fathers and brothers and mothers to be killed and your little sisters (virgins or not) be taken by soldiers for sex?
That the Biblical God does NOT oppose sex with women other than one’s wife is plainly shown in this verse where God told David, because of David’s adulterating with Uriah’s wife, that He will give his wives to his neighbor to have sex with them: “Thus saith the Lord, Behold…I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and GIVE THEM UNTO THY NEIGHBOUR, AND HE SHALL LIE WITH THY WIVES in the sight of this sun”–(2 Samuel 12:11).
What kind of a God and Book are Christians following that would have one man’s wives defiled/violated by another man? And for the sin of their husband? This is not only a desecration, it is demeaning to the wives/women and an injustice against them.
If it was forbidden to have sex with women other than one’s wives it is doubtful that Solomon and his son, Rehoboam, both kings/rulers and even prophet(s) –and who came AFTER Moses; and would have been stoned to death as the Bible requires for adultery- would have “three hundred” and “sixty” concubines, respectively-(1 Kings 11:3. 2 Chronicles 11:21) some of whom may very well have been war-captives –women and budding girls.
10. Qur’an 4:4. Ujur/Dowry/Mahr is payment for sex. (See Islam-dowry/mahr payment for sex)
11. Rape. Critics say Qur’an 4:24 is not about marriage but sex/rape: “And all married women except those whom your right hands possess (are forbidden) (this is) Allāh’s ordinance to you. And lawful for you are (all women) besides those, provided that you seek (them) with your property, taking (them) in marriage, not committing fornication. Then as to those whom you profit (by marrying), give them their dowries as appointed. And there is no blame on you about what you mutually agree after what is appointed (of dowry). Surely Allāh is ever Knowing, Wise.”
Response:
Qur’an 4:24 states: “And all married women except those whom your right hands possess (are forbidden) (this is) Allāh’s ordinance to you. And lawful for you are (all women) besides those, provided that you seek (them) with your property, taking (them) in marriage, not committing fornication. Then as to those whom you profit (by marrying), give them their dowries as appointed. And there is no blame on you about what you mutually agree after what is appointed (of dowry). Surely Allāh is ever Knowing, Wise.”
The words that you seek (them) with your property, taking (them) in marriage, not committing fornication; this alone obliterates the critics charge that Qur’an 4:24 is bout sex/rape.
Muhammad Ali explains the statement all married women are forbidden:
“It is thus forbidden to a man that he should marry a woman who is already married. An exception is made, however, regarding those whom your right hands possess, by which expression are generally meant in the Holy Qur’an those who are taken prisoners in war. It sometimes happened that such prisoners became converts to Islam, and therefore they could not be sent back. Such women it was lawful to take in marriage, even though they might not have been divorced formally by their former husbands. The words ma malakat aimanu-kum may, however, also mean those whom you have lawfully taken in marriage, because lawful possession is clearly implied in the word aiman, which signifies covenant, marriage also being a covenant. The meaning of the passage may therefore be that all free women are prohibited to you except those whom you have lawfully married.”
Clearly, the captive married women that Muslims married were those who “became converts to Islam, and therefore they could not be sent back.”
12. Qur’an 4:34 allows beating of wife. See ISLAM & WIFE-BEATING. And for wife-beating in Judaism and Christianity see CHRISTIANITY-WOMEN
13. Qur’an 4:56. Disbelievers will be roasted: “Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations. We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they might taste the torment. Lo! Allāh is ever Mighty, Wise.”
Response: It is without doubt that Christians accept that God is “ever Mighty, Wise.” Jesus, the Christians/ God and son of God, says that blasphemers against God and the evil-doers shall receive the “greater damnation” of “hell;” and that in the “furnace of fire” there shall be “wailing and gnashing of teeth”–(Mark 3:29; Matt. 23:14, 33; 13:42; John 5:29); an “everlasting fire” that “never shall be quenched”–(Matt. 18:8; Mark 9:43).
And never mind about those who “disbelieve in Allah’s revelations being roasted, Jesus sends them into the inferno to have their skins re-roasted for even less; he says that “whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire”–(Matt. 5:22). (Notably, HELL is not a torture chamber of a vengeful God; and Hell is not forever).
14. Qur’an 4:76. Muslims to fight disbelievers: “Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allāh; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil’s strategy is ever weak.”
Response: “Battle in the cause of Allāh” is battle in the cause of Truth and justice. As Muhammad Ali points out: “This is a prophecy that those who are siding with the devil and are fighting against the Truth will ultimately be vanquished.” History is testimony to this. Didn’t the Biblical God have Moses and Joshua and Samuel etc; and His Israelite devotees fight in His cause? Don’t Christians believe their “son of God” and God will triumph over the Devil?
15. Qur’an 4:88-89, take not disbelievers for friends, kill them where you find them: “Why should you, then, be two parties in relation to the hypocrites while Allāh has made them return (to disbelief) for what they have earned? Do you desire to guide him whom Allāh leaves in error? And whomsoever Allāh leaves in error thou canst not find a way for him. They long that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved so that you might be on the same level; so take not from among them friends until they flee (their homes) in Allāh’s way. Then if they turn back (to hostility), seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take no friend nor helper from among them,”
Response:Muhammad Ali gives the background to this verse: “Clearly those waverers are implied here who went back to disbelief after they accepted Islam, and thus again joined the disbelievers. As to their identity, there are six different conjectures, and I need not puzzle the reader with these.”
Significantly, continuing from verses 88-89 (of ch. 4) verse 90 shows that not all “waverers” are to be pursued: “Except those who join a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people. And if Allāh had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they would have fought you. So if they withdraw from you and fight you not and offer you peace, then Allāh allows you NO WAY AGAINST THEM.” Muhammad Ali explains: “This verse explains the previous one, showing clearly that even waverers were not to be killed or fought against if they refrained from fighting, though they may have gone over to disbelief after accepting Islam. The commentators agree that the persons referred to in this verse were disbelievers and not Muslims, and they are generally supposed to have been the Bani Mudlaj (Bd). Note also that we have here the clear injunction that if any people offered peace, they were not to be fought against.”
It is also important to take this matter one step further and enter verse 91 which states: “You will find others who desire to be secure from you and secure from their own people. Whenever
they are made to return to hostility, they are plunged into it. So if they withdraw not from you, nor offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them. And against these We have given you a clear authority.” To which Muhammad Ali notes: “By mischief, or fitnah, is meant war with the Muslims (Rz). Two tribes, Asad and Ghatfan came to the Muslims and showed an inclination to remain at peace, but when they went back and their people invited them to join them in fighting with the Muslims, they responded to the call. Such people could not be trusted. The importance of these directions in time of war, when the Muslims were hemmed in on all sides by enemies, can hardly be overestimated.” (As stated, to understand the Qur’an, knowledge of the background to which verses were revealed is critical. Muhammad Ali has not only given a background to verses, his preliminary notes and commentaries are a King Solomon’s mine of information. His translation of the Qur’an can be viewed and maybe downloaded online: www.muslim.org. No Muslim is to be without a copy).
16. Qur’an 4:91. To kill non-Muslims wherever they find them. “You will find others who desire to be secure from you and secure from their own people. Whenever they are made to return to hostility, they are plunged into it. So if they withdraw not from you, nor offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them. And against these We have given you a clear authority.”
Response: Muhammad Ali explains: “By mischief, or fitnah, is meant war with the Muslims (Rz). Two tribes, Asad and Ghatfan, came to the Muslims and showed an inclination to remain at peace, but when they went back and their people invited them to join them in fighting with the Muslims, they responded to the call. Such people could not be trusted. The importance of these directions in time of war, when the Muslims were hemmed in on all sides by enemies, can hardly be overestimated.”
17. Qur’an 5:33 allows torture: “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides…”
Response: The varying degree of punishment depends on the crime committed. If mischief-makers are not dealt with severely, which should serve as a deterrent to others, then society would be at the mercy of marauders. (There are places where people live in gated communities to be safe from criminals: honest people suffer imprisonment while criminals roam free). However, while the above verse requires harsh punishment, the next verse (Qur’an 5:34) holds out the hand of mercy to the “mischief-makers” who repent before they are apprehended. Here are the two verses together:
“The only punishment of those who wage war against Allāh and His Messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is that they should be murdered, or crucified, or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides, or they should be imprisoned. This shall be a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement. Except those who repent before you overpower them; so know that Allāh is Forgiving, Merciful.”
Such is the magnitude and the magnificence of the mercy of Allāh/Islam. (See Muhammad Ali’s comm. on this verse–Qur’an 5:33. His translation of the Qur’an can be viewed online: www.muslim.org).
Notably. The Bible –Judaism and Christianity– also requires dismemberment, and for the simple act of a woman trying to save her husband: “When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets (genitals): Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her”–(Deut. 25:11-12).
While the atheist and Christian criticizes the Qur’an for “dismembering the person for looting what is not his and for making mischief in the land, the Bible (and as Christians say Jesus is God then Jesus) decrees that his followers cut off the hand of the woman who grabs another mans genitals, even though she tries to help her husband from possibly being killed by his adversary.
So “Christian” ladies if your husband is about to be killed by his adversary/assailant and you have no other means of helping him but by “taking him by the secrets” you have the choice of letting your husband be killed or have your hand “cut off.” (Though the choice might not be difficult if you want to get out of a bad marriage seeing that only the man is allowed to put away his wife:“He that putteth away his wife…”–(Matt. 5:32; there is no mention of the woman being able to put away her husband); or if you would like to remarry and not want to be labeled an “adulteress”: “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth….So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an ADULTERESS”–Romans 7:2-3).
The Bible (and as Christians say Jesus is God then Jesus) also requires that a thief not only lose his hand but lose his life as well:“If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that THIEF SHALL DIE”–Deut. 24:7. Though the Christian’s God/”Jesus” allows the selling of other children into slavery: “And I will SELL your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall SELL them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it”–(Joel 3:8).
(Interestingly, regarding the “Flame virus” which was let loose on computers in 2012 it is stated that “The U.S. explicitly stated for the first time last year that it reserved the right to retaliate with force against a cyber attack”–(Toronto Star, Wednesday, May 30, 2012; Data-stealing virus puts UN on alert, p. A 13). If this means that the US does not, and/or will not, send virus on others and/or is not complicit in other(s) doing so, and gives other nations the same right of retaliation, then this is commendable of the US. If not, it is arrogance and bullying. While such a state-sponsored crime would be difficult to retaliate against without killing perhaps thousands of innocents; in the case of individual-committed crime it would be more prudent, to have an International treaty whereby such an individual have his hand cut-off. And if it is acceptable to even kill for such a crime as sending viruses, where is the difficulty in cutting off the hand of the hacker(s) who is not only a nuisance but can cause people loss of money and even their jobs/businesses?).
18. Qur’an 5:38 allows dismembering the thief: “And (as for) the man and the woman addicted to theft, cut off their hands as a punishment for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allāh. And Allāh is Mighty, Wise”
Response: While the critics dwell on this verse they ignore the following verse that offers the thief the opportunity to be spared this punishment by turning themselves in to the authorities and repenting: “But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, Allāh will turn to him (mercifully). Surely Allāh is Forgiving, Merciful”–Qur’an 5:39). There are conditions regarding dismembering see AMPUTATION.As shown in #17 above The Bible also requires dismembering and for less than stealing. (See Muhammad Ali’s comm. on this verse–Qur’an 5:38. His translation of the Qur’an can be viewed online: www.muslim.org).
19. Qur’an 5:51 not to take Jews and Christians for friends: “O ye who believe take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them.”
Response: Muhammad Ali comments: “All non-believers, whatever their own differences, had made common cause against Islam; this is what is meant by their being friends of each other. The Muslims are warned that they should not expect help or friendship from any party of them, whether Jews, Christians, or idolaters. It would have been weakness of faith in the ultimate triumph of Islam if, from fear of a powerful enemy, they had sought help and friendship here and there among a hostile people, as the next verse shows. When two nations are at war, an individual of one nation having friendly relations with the enemy nation is treated as an enemy; that is exactly what the Qur’an says here.”
And verse 52, as Muhammad Ali states, reads: “But thou seest those in whose hearts is a disease, hastening towards them, saying: We fear lest a calamity should befall us. Maybe Allāh will bring the victory or a commandment from Himself, so they will regret what they hid in their souls.” Muhammad Ali explains: “By hastening towards them is meant hastening to make friendship with them or seeking their help. The hypocrites did this, fearing a Muslim reverse. By victory is meant a victory for the Muslims, and the reference is clearly to the conquest of Makkah. It shows that these verses were revealed before the conquest of Makkah in the year 8 A.H. The reference in amr or commandment is evidently to the establishment of the Kingdom of Islam, by which is meant the dominance of Islam, there being a further reference to the spiritual conquests of Islam in v. 54, for which see 54a.”
And the prophecy of verse 54 reads: “O you who believe, should anyone of you turn back from his religion, then Allāh will bring a people, whom He loves and who love Him, humble towards the believers, mighty against the disbelievers, striving hard in Allah’s way and not fearing the censure of any censurer. This is Allah’s grace — He gives it to whom He pleases. And Allāh is Ample-giving, Knowing.” Muhammad Ali: “The Muslims were severely persecuted while at Makkah and their troubles at Madinah increased tenfold owing to the presence of warring tribes on all sides. Yet they faced all these hardships with the greatest perseverance, and cases of apostasy were rare. In 6 A.H. Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan, who was then the leader of hostilities against the Prophet: “Does anyone of them apostatize out of hatred for his religion?” Abu Sufyan’s reply was, No. Again he asked him: Are they increasing or decreasing? Abu Sufyan said; “They are increasing in numbers” (B. 1:1). It is a fact that apostasy never thinned the ranks of Islam.”
Incidentally, whereas Allāh prohibits friendship with Jews and Christians, the Biblical Jewish* and Christian God regards non-Jews as “dogs” and “swine” and says (and as Christians claim that Jesus is God, Jesus says) to enslave “heathen” neighbors. And according to Jews++ and Christians all non-Jews and non-Christians are “heathen”/”infidels.” In which event, counting the Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Bahais, Parsis etc; and atheists Jews and Christians are allowed to enslave some five billion people the world over.
Clearly, with the theft of Palestine and their coveting Muslims lands and oil and with their Scriptural decree regarding non-Jews as “dogs” and “swine” and to enslave “heathen,” it is Christianity and Judaism that “cause a major divide between Muslims” and Jews and Christians. Materially and spiritually.
*(That Jews do not believe in Jesus is immaterial; they cannot disprove Jesus’ Divine messengership.
++As Jews believe they are God’s chosen people to the exclusion of others and as they do not believe in Allāh, according to such beliefs all non-Jews, in following a God not sanctioned by the Bible, are “heathens”: “And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt ….If thy brother…entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers…thou shalt surely kill him”–Deut; 13:5-16. “If there be found among you…man or woman ….And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded….Then thou shalt bring forth that man or that woman…and shalt stone them with stones, till they die”–Deut; 17:2-5).
20. Qur’an 8:12. Allāh puts terror into disbelievers: “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, smite ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips off them. It is not ye who slew them, it was Allāh.”
Response: Whereas Allāh allows “killing” in self-defense those who first take up the sword against you, the Biblical God not only massacres the young and old and men and women and even asses and ox so that the Israelites can occupy their land He even sanctions enslaving peaceful “heathen” neighbors. (Talk about terrorism!). And the Christians’ “God” and son of God commands the slaughter of those who merely does not want him to rule (though they would not militate against him). And whereas Muslims are to “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, besiege them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war;” the hand of the Biblical God (and as Christians say that Jesus is God it was the hand of Jesus that) slew the enemy of His people, and even chopped off their thumbs and toes:
-“For indeed the HAND OF THE LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed”–(Deut. 2:15);
-“Therefore he (God) lifted up HIS HAND against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness”–(Psalm 106:26; Ezek. 20:15);
-God commands the Israelites to do to the people whose land they were going to possess: “thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them, thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them”–(Deut. 7:1-2. See Josh. 12:1-6).
-“And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and SMITE the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD YOUR GOD hath delivered them into your hand;” “And afterward Joshua SMOTE them” “So Joshua SMOTE all the country….as the LORD GOD of Israel commanded….because the LORD GOD of Israel FOUGHT for Israel”–(Josh. 10:19, 24, 26, 40-42; 6:21. Read Josh. chs. 10-12; Num. 21:24, 35; 31:17-18; Deut. 20:16-17; 1 Sam. 15:2-3, for slaughters by Joshua, Moses, and Saul).
As for Allah instilling terror into the hearts of the enemies and Allāh slaying them. Here is Biblical terror and God slaying (and as Christians say that Jesus is God):
-“To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste”–(Deut. 32:35)
-“the TERROR of God was upon the cities that were round about them (Jacob and his household)”–(Gen. 5:5)
-“For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the TERRORS of God do set themselves in array against me–(Job 6:4)
-The Biblical God even “terrorized” the righteous. Either that or Job must be lying on God). “For destruction from God was a TERROR to me”–(Job 31:23)
-“How are they (the wicked) brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with TERRORS (from God)”–(Psalm 73:19)
-“Knowing therefore the TERROR of the Lord, we persuade men”–(2 Cor. 5:11);
-“For, behold the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his ANGER with fury, and his rebuke with FLAMES OF FIRE. For by FIRE and by his SWORD will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be MANY”–(Isaiah 66:15-16).
-“They have moved me to JEALOUSY with that which is not God….and I will move them to JEALOUSY with those who are not a people(they must be devils?); I will PROVOKE them to ANGER with a foolish nation. For a FIRE is kindled in mine ANGER, and shall burn in the lowest HELL….I will heap MISCHIEFS upon them; I will spend mine ARROWS upon them…. I will also send the TEETH OF BEASTS upon them, with the POISON OF SERPENTS of the dust. The SWORD without, and TERRORwithin, shall destroy both the YOUNG MAN and the VIRGIN, the SUCKLING also with the MAN OF GRAY HAIRS”–(Deut. 32:21-25).
That Allāh smote the enemies of the Muslims. The Biblical God (and as Christians say that Jesus is God, Jesus) smote the enemies of the Israelites:
-“Elisha prayed unto the Lord…And he (God) SMOTE them with blindness according to the word of Elisha”–(2 Kings 6:18);
-“And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity….and ye shall know that I am the Lord that SMITETH”–(Ezekiel 7:9);
-“And he (Elijah) shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children….lest I (God) come and SMITE the earth with a curse”–(Malachi 4:5-6);
-“Speak not in thine heart….saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD DOTH DRIVE THEM OUT from before thee–(Deut. 9:4-7).
-“But the HAND OF THE LORD was heavy upon them in Ashdod, and he destroyed them and SMOTE them with emerods (hemorrhoids)….the HAND OF THE LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he SMOTE the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts ….there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the HAND OF GOD was very heavy there. And the men that died not were SMITTEN with the emerods”–(1 Sam.5:6, 9, 11-12);
-The Christian’s God (“Jesus”) not only gave orders to “Strike off their heads” but also to “cut off “ “fingers and toes”: (The Israelites asked who would go up and fight): “And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand…and they slew of them in Bezek TEN THOUSAND MEN …and they pursued after him (Adonibezek), and caught him and cut off his THUMBS and his GREAT TOES. And Adonibezek said, THREE SCORE AND TEN kings, having their THUMBS and their GREAT TOES CUT OFF…”–(Judges 1:1-7). This is more blood and gore than all the battles fought by the Prophet Mohammad.
-“Then the Lord spake unto Moses, saying…And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses, and they slew ALL THE MALES….And they brought the CAPTIVES and the prey and the SPOIL to Moses, and Eleazar… And Moses said unto them…Now therefore KILL EVERY MALE among the LITTLE ONES (of the captives), and KILL EVERY WOMAN who hath known man by lying with him, but ALL THE WOMEN CHILDREN, that have not known a man by lying with him (virgin girls) KEEP ALIVE FOR YOURSELVES….And the Lord spake unto to Moses, saying, Take the sum of the PREY (BOOTY) that was taken, both of MAN and of beast, thou and Eleazar…And divide the PREY into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation And LEVY A TRIBUTE UNTO THE LORD….And the BOOTY, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, and 61,000 asses, and of WOMEN that had not known man by lying with him (virgin girls), were 32,000. And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was 337,500 sheep; 36,000 cattle, 30,500 asses, and 16,000 persons (virgin girls. And of the congregation’s half portion of these 16.000 virgin girls, 320 were given to the Levite priests, as “the Lord commanded Moses.” And the LORD’S TRIBUTE (of the (booty) was 675 sheep; 72 cattle; 61 donkeys; and 32 persons ….the MEN OF WAR had taken SPOIL (BOOTY), EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.”
-“When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it…thou shalt SMITE THEM, and UTTERLY DESTROY THEM, thou shalt MAKE NO COVENANT with them, NOR SHOW MERCY UNTO THEM”–(Deut. 7:1-2. See Josh. 12:1-6).
-The Christian’s God also smote the dazzling daughters of Zion and peeked at their “private parts”: “Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their SECRET PARTS”–(Isaiah 3:16).
-The Christian’s God (Jesus) gore included even the fetus: (After the Lord had brought drought on Samaria) “Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the SWORD: their INFANTS shall be dashed to pieces, and their WOMEN WITH CHILD shall be ripped up”–(Hosea 13:15-16).
-And here are two classics and unsurpassed cases of “terror” in the annals of Scripture and even history, from the Christian’s God (and as Christian claim that Jesus is God Jesus from Jesus): for their teasing the baldheaded Elisha, the Christian’s God had the children torn by bears: “And he (Elisha) went up from thence to Bethel…there came forth LITTLECHILDREN…and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up thou BALD HEAD…And he (Elisha) turned back, and looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth TWO SHE BEARS out of the wood, and TARE FORTY AND TWO CHILDREN of them”–(2 Kings 2:22-24). And regarding the children of Jeshurun for their worship of “strange gods”: “I will spend my ARROWS upon them ….I will also send the TEETH OF BEASTS upon them, with the POISON OF SERPENTS of the dust. The SWORD without, and TERROR within, shall destroy both the YOUNG MAN and the VIRGIN, the SUCKLING also with the MAN OF GRAY HAIRS”–(Deut. 32:15-25). This must the mother of all terrorism! Not even Al-Qaeda can equal this, much less beat it).
-The Christian’s God (“Jesus”) sent evil and had dogs eat Jezebel: “Behold I (God) will bring EVIL upon thee….and will cut off from Ahab him that PISSETH against the wall….And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel”–(1 Kings 21:21-24).
-The Christian’s God (“Jesus”) also had people decapitated: “And the Lord said unto Moses, take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun”–(Num. 25:4).
-“And stay ye not, but PURSUE AFTER YOUR ENEMIES, and SMITE THE HINDMOST OF THEM; SUFFER THEM NOT TO ENTER INTO THEIR CITIES: for the LORD YOUR GOD hath delivered them into your hand;” “and Joshua called for all the men of Israel…Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings…And afterward JOSHUA SMOTE THEM, and SLEW THEM, and HANGED THEM on five trees.” “So Joshua SMOTE ALL THE COUNTRY of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and ALL THEIR KINGS: HE LEFT NONE remaining, but UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL THAT BREATHED, as the LORD GOD of Israel commanded…And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD GOD of Israel fought for Israel;” “And they UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL that was in the city, both MAN AND WOMAN, YOUNG AND OLD, AND OX, AND SHEEP, AND ASS, with the EDGE OF THE SWORD”–(Joshua 10:19, 24, 26, 40-42; 6:21. Read Joshua chs. 10-12; Numbers 21:24, 35; 31:17-18; Deut. 20:16-17; 1 Sam. 15:2-3, for slaughters by Joshua, Moses, and Saul). Notably, unlike the Arab idolaters who persecuted Mohammad, tried to assassinate him, forced him into exile, pursued him and warred against him, these little males and matrons and virgin girls and cattle did not take up arms against Moses and Joshua.
As Professor Abdul Ahad Dawud –the former Reverend David Benjamin Keldani– points out: “all the blood shed in the wars of Badr, Ohud, and other campaigns led personally by the Prophet Muhammad, could not exceed one-hundredth of the blood shed by Joshua. Yet not a single instance of cruelty or injustice can be proved against the Apostle of Allāh. He was clement, noble, magnanimous, and forgiving.”3
But for Mohammad’s trees of righteous self defense, critics of Islam cannot see the Christian’s forest of aggression, genocide, faunicide and female child sex slavery.
21. Qur’an 8:17, 9:52. Muslims gain victory by Allāh’s hands: “So you slew them not but Allāh slew them, and thou smotest not when thou didst smite (the enemy), but Allāh smote (him), and that He might confer upon the believers a benefit from Himself. Surely Allāh is Hearing, Knowing;” “Say: Do you await for us but one of two most excellent things? And we await for you that Allāh will afflict you with chastisement from Himself or by our hands. So wait; we too are waiting with you.”
Response: Who was it that sent the plagues against Pharaoh? Who was it that slaughtered the “heathen” so that the Israelites could occupy their land? Who brought ”doom” to Sodom and Gomorrah?” The Biblical God’s (and as Christians say that Jesus is God, Jesus’) hands killed for the Israelites and He even gave the people hemorrhoids:
–“For indeed the HAND OF THE LORD was against them, to DESTROY THEM from among the host, UNTIL THEY WERE CONSUMED”–(Deut. 2:15);
-“the LORD destroyed them (the Zamzummins) before them (the Israelites)”–(Deut. 2:20-21);
-“But the HAND OF THE LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with EMERODS (hemorrhoids)…the HAND OF THE LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, BOTH small and great, and they had EMERODS in their secret parts”–(! Sam. 5:6, 9).
22. Qur’an 8:60. Be prepared for war. “Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allāh and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but who Allāh doth know.”
Response: Aren’t the nations of the world strengthening their military to their “utmost” either for self defence only or for aggression as well? Islam forbids aggression and allows fighting only in self-defense (taking the offensive position when at war is not aggression; as is said a good offence is a good defence). Muhammad Ali comments on this verse:
“Force (Ar. quwwah) means all those things which are a source of strength, including all kinds of implements of war and other defensive and offensive operations. The Muslims had won a victory at Badr, though they were not even well-equipped and had made no preparation for the war. But they are told that they must in future keep themselves well prepared and avail themselves of all sources of strength, so that the enemy should by their very preparedness assume a peaceful attitude. It was evident that the weakness of the Muslims was a temptation for their opponents to attack them.”
23. Qur’an 8:67 sanctions assassinations: “It is not for a prophet to take captives unless he has fought and triumphed in the land. You desire the frail goods of this world,while Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.”
Response: This verse does not mean that captives are to be slaughtered instead of them being taken prisoners. Verse 70 clearly contradicts the view that 8:67 sanctions assassinations. It states: “O Prophet, say to those of the captives who are in your hands….” And chapter 47:4 made it even clearer: “So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make (them) prisoners, and afterwards (set them free) as a favour or for ransom till the war lays down its burdens.”
There could not be the taking of prisoners and setting them free or ransoming them if the Qur’an had sanctioned “assassinations” or to annihilate all soldiers/captives. These verses also condemn abducting people into slavery; and laid down the condition that prisoners are to be taken only after defeating them in war and later to ransom or set them free. Muhammad Ali explains 8:67:
“There exists some misunderstanding as to the meaning of yuthkhina used here. Thakhuna means he or it became thick, and athkhana means ghalaba, he overcame (LA). The same word is again used in the Holy Qur’an exactly in the same sense: “then, when you have overcome them, make them prisoners” (47:4).
On the authority of certain reports, the commentators are of opinion that this verse and the next refer to releasing the prisoners of war taken at Badr after taking ransom from them, which act, it is said, is here disapproved. But various considerations show that these verses refer to some other incidents. Firstly, the condition laid down here for taking prisoners is that the Prophet should fight against the enemy, and that had actually been done at Badr. Secondly, the taking of prisoners and their release on this very occasion is justified in clear words only two verses further on, “O Prophet, say to those of the captives who are in your hands: If Allāh knows anything good in your hearts, He will give you better than that which has been taken from you” (v. 70). This shows that these verses were revealed when the prisoners were still in the hands of the Muslims and that which has been taken is clearly the ransom, which must have taken many days to reach Madinah. If the verse had conveyed a Divine commandment to slay the prisoners and not to release them, that step could still have been taken. But the very fact that no such step was taken shows clearly that the verse conveyed no such Divine commandment.
The legality of the Holy Prophet’s procedure on this occasion is clearly borne out by an earlier revelation: “So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make them prisoners, and afterwards set them free as a favour or for ransom” (47:4). The Prophet never slew a single prisoner of war, even after the battle of Badr, though thousands of prisoners were taken in some of these battles. On the other hand, the prisoners were almost always set free as a favour, and ransom was taken only from the Badr prisoners.
The question is, what is then hinted at in this verse and in the one that follows? To me it seems quite clear that the reference is to the desire (mark the word desire used in the verse) — not to an action already completed — of a party of the Muslims referred to in v. 7, and you loved that the one not armed should be yours. Some Muslims desired to attack and capture the unarmed caravan, but depredations like these, though committed by disbelievers upon the Muslims, were not .t for a prophet. He must fight a hard fight in his defence first and then, if he overcomes the enemy, he may take prisoners. Thus this injunction also declares slavery to be illegal, and allows only the retaining of those who are taken prisoners in war. The frail goods of this world appropriately refer to the caravan and its merchandise, while the addition of the concluding words in v. 69, eat then of the lawful and good things which you have acquired in war, shows that the ransom received on account of the prisoners is among the lawful and good things.”
24. Qur’an 9:5. Fight and kill disbelievers wherever you find them: “So when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters, wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free. Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful”
Response: This is what America and others have done/are doing to their “enemies,” pursuing them all the way across the globe in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen and “droning” them to shreds. Even though Iraq and the Talibans did not transgress against America and others; not to mention the thousands of innocents that are/were obliterated in their pursuit of the “enemies.” Compared to Mohammad whose avowed enemies were on his own soil and engaged in battle against him.
.And, as shown in item #19, the Christian’s God (Jesus) commands the Israelites to “pursue” their enemies and massacre even women and children and animals just to occupy their lands).
To understand Qur’an 9:5 we need to read from verse 1. Here are verses 1-5: “(1) A declaration of immunity from Allāh and His Messenger to those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement…(3) And announce painful chastisement to those who disbelieve —(4) Except those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement, then they have not failed you in anything and have not backed up anyone against you; so fulfil their agreement to the end of their term. Surely Allāh loves those who keep their duty. (5) So when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters, wherever you find them, and take them captive
and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free. Surely Allāh is Forgiving, Merciful.” Muhammad Ali comments on verse 5 (the verse under discussion):
“The clear exception of the last verse (i.e. verse 4) shows that by the idolaters here are meant, not all idolaters or polytheists wherever they may be found in the world, not even all idolaters of Arabia, but only those idolatrous tribes of Arabia assembled at the pilgrimage who had first made agreements with the Muslims and then violated them. The exception here has given rise to much misconception. It is thought that it offers to the disbelievers the alternative of the sword or the Qur’an. Nothing is farther from the truth. The injunction contained in the first part of the verse establishes the fact that the whole verse relates to certain idolatrous Arab tribes who had broken their engagements with the Muslims, and who had now been apprised of a similar repudiation by the Muslims. The order to kill them and to make them prisoners and to besiege them and ambush them amounts clearly to an order to fight against them, as it is in war only that all these things are made lawful. They had so often broken their word that they could no more be trusted. Yet, if they joined the brotherhood of Islam, and there was an absolute change in their condition, the punishment which they otherwise deserved could be remitted. It was a case of forgiving a guilty people who had repented. It should also be noted that a mere confession of the faith is not required; what is required is an absolute change, so that the old crimes are all abandoned. Therefore, along with the confession of the faith, it is required that they should keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. The subject is further clarified in the next verse and the following section.” And the next verse (9:6) states: “And if anyone of the idolaters seek thy protection, protect him till he hears the word of Allah, then convey him to his place of safety. This is because they are a people who know not.” And M.A. notes: “This verse leaves no doubt that the Prophet was never ordered to kill anyone on account of his religion. “You shall give him a safe conduct that he may return home again securely in case he shall not think fit to embrace Muhammadanism” (Sale).”
In contrast, it is the Bible that requires the killing of those who worship unknown Gods and the apostate; and even to kill a “stubborn and rebellious son” and the blasphemer–(Deut; 13:5-16; 17:2-5; 21:18-21; Lev. 24:11-16, 23). The Christian’s God (Jesus) even had mischievous children eaten by bears and He sent beasts and poisonous serpents against Jeshurun’s unGodly children–(Deut. 32:15:25; 2 Kings 2:22-24).
25. Qur’an 9:14. Fight unbelievers, Allah will punish and disgrace them: “Fight them [unbelievers], Allāh will punish them with your hands and disgrace them. He will grant you victory over them and heal the chests of a believing nation”
Response:Even in modern times there are nations that take up the sword against those they view as a threat and which “threat” did not transgress against them; compared to Mohammad who only preached. Had the Unbelievers not first taken up the sword to annihilate Mohammad, Mohammad would have had no cause to fight them.
As has been shown Muslims are not mandated by Allāh to slay non-believers; only those who first take up arms to kill Muslims. Aren’t soldiers satisfied and comfortable and at ease (heal the breasts) after routing the enemies whose sole intention was to wipe him out? –mission accomplished as they say.
If the Qur’an had required Muslims to “murder” all non-Muslims in “cold blood” the prophet would have wiped out the Idolaters and Jews and Christian from Arabia; Muslims would have wiped the Hindus from India and the inhabitants of Spain and wherever else they triumphed. Allāh will not enjoin such an enormity considering that He raised messengers/prophets among all people, gave them rites and ceremonies and declares that all religions are for Him and that everyone has the right to choice of belief, as the legion of Qur’anic verses attest (and for this freedom of choice we will be called to judgment). Wiping out people because of difference of religion is the Christian religion as her history and scripture show.
26. Qur’an 9:28, 9:95. Idolaters are unclean: “O you who believe! the idolaters are nothing but unclean;” “
Response: The idolaters were considered unclean because “they indulged in evil practices and went naked round the Ka’bah,” as Muhammad Ali explained. Idolatry and evil practices are “uncleanness”–(Qur’an 5:90. See also Christians-Copts persecuted, filthy)
Regarding Qur’an 9:95 which states: “They will swear by Allah to you, when you return to them, so that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone. Surely they are unclean and their refuge is hell — a recompense for what they earned,” Muhammad Ali explains:“It is related that on his return from Tabuk, the Holy Prophet forbade the Muslims to have any intercourse with the hypocrites. This injunction was in obedience to the revelation which he had received during the journey, as is clearly shown in vv. 83, 84.”
Whereas the Prophet Mohammad preached the Qur’an openly and freely to all, in contrast, Jesus regarded non-Jews as “dogs” and “swine” and couched his sayings in parables so the “dogs” and “swine” would not understand and be saved. Isn’t this considering people “unclean” –undeserving of God’s words?
In fact, the Bible not only considers all men and women as being “unclean” but also as being incapable of attaining righteousness: “how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one;” “What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous”–(Job 25:4; 14:4; 15:14).
27. Qur’an 9:29. Dhimmis to pay jizya: “Fight those who believe not in Allāh, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which Allāh and His Messenger have forbidden, Nor follow the Religion of Truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.”
Response: This verse is not about forcing Islam onto others. As already shown, Islam does not force religion onto anyone–(Qur’an 2:256; 6:105-109; 9:6; 10:99-100; 17:7; 18:6, 29; 42:15; 50:45; 76:2-3; 109:1-6;
Muhammad Ali explains Qur’an 9:29:
“this verse introduces the subject of fighting with the followers of the Book. Though the Jews had for a long time assisted the idolatrous Arabians in their struggle to uproot Islam, the great Christian power, the Roman Empire, had only just mobilized its forces for the subjection of the new religion, and the Tabuk expedition followed, which constitutes the subject-matter of a large portion of what follows in this chapter. As the object of this Christian power was simply the subjection of the Muslims, the words in which their final vanquishment by the Muslims is spoken of are different from those dealing with the final vanquishment of the idolatrous Arabians. The Qur’an neither required that the idolaters should be compelled to accept Islam, nor was it in any way its object to bring the Christians into subjection. On the other hand, the idolaters wanted to suppress Islam by the sword, and the Christians first moved themselves to bring Muslim Arabia under subjection. The fate of each was, therefore, according to what it intended for the Muslims. The word jizyah is derived from jaza, meaning he gave satisfaction, and means, according to LL, the tax that is taken from the free non-Muslim subjects of the Muslim Government whereby they ratify the compact that ensures them protection; or, according to AH, because it is a compensation for the protection which is guaranteed them, the non-Muslim subjects being free from military service.
The phrase ‘an yad-in has been explained variously. The word yad (lit., hand) stands for power or superiority, the use of the hand being the real source of the superiority of man over all other animals, and the apparent meaning of the phrase is in acknowledg-ment of your superiority in protecting their lives, etc. (AH). It may also be added that the permission to fight, as given to the Muslims, is subject to the condition that the enemy should first take up the sword, Fight in the way of Allāh against those who fight against you (2:190). The Holy Prophet never overstepped this limit, nor did his followers. He fought against the Arabs when they took up the sword to destroy the Muslims, and he led an expedition against the Christians when the Roman Empire first mobilized its forces with the object of subjugating the Muslims. And so scrupulous was he that, when he found that the enemy had not yet taken the initiative, he did not attack the Roman Empire, but returned without fighting. Later on, however, the Roman Empire, like the Persians, helped the enemies of Islam and fomented trouble against the newly established Muslim Kingdom, as a result of which both these empires came into conflict with the Muslims and, notwithstanding the fact that both the Persians and the Romans were very powerful nations with unlimited resources and strong military organizations, and that they both tried at one and the same time to subjugate Islam, the result was what is predicted here in clear words — they were both reduced to a state of subjection by an insignificant nation like the Arabs.”(Muhammad Ali’s translation of the Qur’an can be viewed online: www.muslim.org).
Jizyah; as Muhammad Ali explains:
“was a tax levied on non-Muslim subjects under the rule of Islam, so called because it was a tax for the protection of life and property which that rule guaranteed them. Muslim subjects were exempt from this tax in consideration of military service, which for them was compulsory. As a matter of fact, they too were made to pay for that protection, but in different form. They bore the hardships of a military life, they fought the country’s battles, they laid down their lives in defence of the country. Non-Muslims were exempt from all this, and in lieu of this they contributed their share in the shape of money. It is obvious which of the two alternatives is the easier. In countries where conscription is the law to-day, there would certainly be many who would be glad to buy their exemption from military service so cheaply, paying a small amount as tax. It must be remembered, furthermore, that the tax was not indiscriminately charged to every non-Muslim subject. Males under twenty and above fifty, all females, those suffering from some chronic disease, the blind and the poor were all exempt. As a matter of fact, the Muslims had also to pay a tax in addition under the name of zakaat, and this was much heavier than jizyah as it was levied at the rate of 2 1/2 percent, on all savings annually.”4
It is the Bible that requires the slaying of all those who do not believe in the Biblical God:
-“But Jeshurun waxed fat…then he forsook God which made him…They provoked him to jealousy with strange Gods…And when the Lord saw it, he ABHORRED THEM, because of the provoking of his SONS, and of his DAUGHTERS…They have moved me to JEALOUSY with that which is NOT God…I will spend my ARROWS upon them…I will also send the TEETH OF BEASTS upon them, with the POISON OF SERPENTS of the dust. The SWORD without, and TERROR within, shall destroy both the YOUNG MAN and the VIRGIN, the SUCKLING also with the MAN OF GRAY HAIRS”–(Deut. 32:15-25).
-“And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God…If thy brother…entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers…thou shalt surely KILL HIM”–(Deut; 13:5-16).
-“If there be found among you…man or woman…And hath gone and served other gods, and worshiped them, either the sun or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded….Then thou shalt bring forth that man or that woman…and shalt STONE THEM WITH STONES, TILL THEY DIE”–(Deut; 17:2-5).
–“When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it…thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them, thou shalt make no covenant with them, NOR SHEW MERCY UNTO THEM”–(Deut. 7:1-2. See Josh. 12:1-6).
-“And stay ye not, but PURSUE after your enemies, and SMITE the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand;” “and Joshua called for all the men of Israel…Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings… And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees.” “So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL THAT BREATHED, as the Lord God of Israel commanded…And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel;” “And they UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL that was in the city, both MAN AND WOMAN, YOUNG AND OLD, AND OX, AND SHEEP, AND ASS, with the EDGE OF THE SWORD”–(Josh. 10:19, 24, 26, 40-42; 6:21. Read Josh. chs. 10-12; Num. 21:24, 35; 31:17-18; Deut. 20:16-17; 1 Sam. 15:2-3, for slaughters by Joshua, Moses, and Saul).
And Jesus, the Christian’s God and son of God. advocated that only his religion be followed: “He that is not with me is against me;” “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and SLAY THEM BEFORE ME”–(Matt. 12:30; Luke 19:27).
Only the occupier, usurper, transgressor, oppressor, those dedicated to falsehood and those dedicated to living off the blood of others are terrified of the noble Jihad
28. Qur’an 9:38-39. Muslims urged to fight Unbelievers: “O you who believe, what (excuse) have you that when it is said to you, Go forth in Allāh’s way, you should incline heavily to earth? Are you contented with this world’s life instead of the Hereafter? The provision of this world’s life is but little as compared with the Hereafter. If you go not forth, He will chastise you with a painful chastisement, and bring in your place a people other than you, and you can do Him no harm. And Allāh is Possessor of power over all things.”
Response:Men who refuse or try to dodge military conscription are hounded and court-martialed, and even for refusing to take part in an unjust war. So it is meritorious to fight in the cause of one’s country even though the fight may be one of aggression but it is not meritorious to fight in the cause of Allāh which is the fight in the cause of truth and justice.
What about the Christian “system” backed by the Bible attacking and killing “unbelievers,” men and women, old and young, cattle and ox and everything that breathed, just to occupy their lands and take little virgin girls for concubines; and the butchering of pregnant women and fetus and infants just because they rebelled against God (as noted in item #19)?
To “Go forth in Allāh’s way” is to go in the cause of truth and justice. And there is no better cause in which to march than in the cause of truth and justice –in the cause of Allāh, God!
29. Qur’an 9:73. Muslims to be harsh with Unbelievers: “O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey’s end.”
Response:Are parents who are “harsh” with recalcitrant children have “hatred” for such children? Or are their “harsh” methods to mold those children uprightly an act of “tough love”?
Allāh created man because “I loved to be known,” as the Prophet Mohammad taught us; has decreed that His mercy precedes His anger; sent Messengers to guide us; requites evil with its like and rewards good up to seven-hundred-fold; and He implores us in loving compassionate terms to forgive us our sins, as He revealed to the Prophet Mohammad to convey to us:“Say, O My servants who have sinned against their souls, despair not of the mercy of Allāh; surely Allāh forgives all sins. Verily, He is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful”–(Qur’an 39:53). Thus it is only foolhardiness to charge that Allāh has “hatred of unbelievers.” Allāh loves us. Allāh wants to guide us. Allāh wants us to be pure. Allāh wants us to have a life in Paradise.
Mohammad’s duty was only to teach the Divine Message of the Qur’an; not enforce it: “And if thy Lord had pleased, all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them. Wilt thou then force men till they are believers?” “Then maybe thou wilt kill thyself with grief, sorrowing after them, if they believe not in this announcement;” “Say: Obey Allāh and obey the Messenger. But if you turn away, he is responsible for the duty imposed on him, and you are responsible for the duty imposed on you. And if you obey him, you go aright. And the Messenger’s duty is only to deliver (the message) plainly”–(Qur’an 10:99; 18:6; 24:54).
Regarding Qur’an 18:6 in the above reference, Muhammad Ali points out: “This verse gives us an insight into the anxiety which the Holy Prophet had on account of a fallen humanity, an anxiety so great that he is spoken of here as almost killing himself with grief. His was a life of absolute devotion to the cause of humanity, his only concern being that man should rise to the true dignity for which God had made him. This anxiety was not only for those who were directly addressed by him, but, as the context
shows, it was as deep for another people, who attributed a son to the Divine Being, and whom outward finery was to mislead to such an extent as to make them strangers to spiritual truth. Reading the next verse along with this, no doubt is left that the Prophet was shown the earthly embellishments which are so great a trial for Christendom today.”
Had the unbelievers not taken up the sword to extirpate Mohammad, Mohammad would not have had to subject them to “tough love.” (See JIHAD for its meaning and various forms).
(For twenty-three grueling years Mohammad was persecuted, besieged, threatened with assassination exiled, pursued, and warred on; and all in his own land; and all because of his peaceful call to wisdom and reason. Given this virulently rabid environment in which Mohammad lived and its lethal dedication to extirpate him and his small band of followers, whatever measures Mohammad took to preserve himself and believers against such monumental and grotesque injustice Mohammad was fully justified).
30. Qur’an 9:111: Islam allows suicide mission in its Jihad: “Surely Allāh has bought from the believers their persons and their property — theirs (in return) is the Garden. They fight in Allāh’s way, so they slay and are slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an. And who is more faithful to his promise than Allāh? Rejoice therefore in your bargain which you have made. And that is the mighty achievement.”
Response: When the leaders of countries send their soldiers into battle don’t these fighters “kill and are killed” in promise to their country?
Allāh does not order Muslims to “kill” and get “killed;” only that in fighting in the cause of justice they “kill” and get “killed” Fighting in war is not suicide, taking your own life is. Muhammad Ali comments on this verse:
“The promise which is said to be binding on Allāh, as laid down in the Qur’an, as well as in the previous books, is this, that Allāh will grant the believers His blessings, if they exert themselves with their persons and their property in His way: “Allāh has bought from the believers their persons and their property — theirs (in return) is the Garden”. The Gospels give the same promise: “If thou wilt be perfect,” said Jesus to a wealthy man, “go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Matt. 19:21). “Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” said Peter. Jesus’ reply was: “Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matt. 19:27–29). (Notably, those who call themselves Christians are not following Jesus, they are following paganism. Believers in Jesus are required to follow Mohammad–John 14:16; 16:13). Moses’ teaching contains similar promises. For instance, the promise of God, “that ye may increase mightily….in the land that floweth with milk and honey,” is made conditional on “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:3–5) which is the sameas exerting oneself to one’s utmost in the way of God with one’s person and property. (Notably Jews are also required to follow Mohammad–Gen. 49:10; Deut. 18:15, 18-19. Qur’an 26:196-197; 46:10). It should be borne in mind that the words they fight in Allah’s way, so they slay and are slain, are not a part of the promise, but are expressive of the condition of the Companions, and show that they were true to their promise. The promise to spend one’s person and property may be carried out in various ways under different circumstances, and the Companions of the Holy Prophet were as true to this promise during the thirteen years at Makkah as during the ten years at Madinah.”
31. Qur’an 19:83. Allāh sent devils against disbelievers. “Seest thou not that We send the devils against the disbelievers, inciting them incitingly?”
Response: This only means that the evil ones were allowed to help their fellow evil-doers in their evil; as Allāh has granted respite to Satan to lead people astray. Interestingly, in the Bible God says:
-“They have moved me to JEALOUSY with that which is not God; they have provoked me to ANGER with their vanities: and I will move them to JEALOUSY with those who are not a people(they must be devils?); I will PROVOKE them to ANGER with a foolish nation. For a FIRE is kindled in mine ANGER, and shall burn in the lowest HELL….I will heap MISCHIEF upon them; I will spend my ARROWS upon them….I will also send the TEETH OF BEASTS upon them, with the POISON OF SERPENTS of the dust. The SWORD without, and TERROR within, shall destroy both the YOUNG MAN and the VIRGIN, the SUCKLING also with the MAN OF GRAY HAIRS”–(Deut. 32:15-25).
-David asks God to put Satan against his adversaries: “Set thou a wicked man over him: and let SATAN stand at his right hand”–(Psalm 109:6).
-And Paul who claimed he was chosen by Jesus (and by God as Christians say Jesus is God) ordered that fornicators and blasphemers be delivered to Satan: “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you….To deliver such an one to SATAN for the destruction of the flesh” and “Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto SATAN, that they may learn not to blaspheme”–(1Cor. 5:1-5; 1 Tim. 1:20. According to the Bible, damsels without the “tokens of virginity” are to be stoned to death –honor killing– likewise blasphemers are to be stoned to death–Deut. 22:20-21; Lev. 24:11-16, 23).
And the Biblical God sent the devil to tempt His son (and to tempt even Himself, as Christians say Jesus is God). After his baptism (GOD NEEDS TO BE BAPTIZED???): “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the DEVIL”–Matt. 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:2). Intriguingly:
-If Jesus was the son of God why would the Spirit want the son of God “tempted” by the devil; surely the Spirit trusts the son of God to be faithful to his Father.
-Unless the Spirit is another personality than the Holy Ghost, if the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit are one –and to apply 1+1+1=1 would be mathematicide– then God (as the Spirit) is leading Himself to be tempted; and if the Spirit is not the Holy Ghost, can the Spirit lead God?
-If Jesus is God why would God have Himself tempted by the devil; surely God is confident of His nature to do good.
-Unless the devil was incredibly stupid or knowing full well that Jesus was only human and not God/son of God, why would he offer Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them” if Jesus was God/son of God, when the kingdoms and glory are already his or his inheritance?
Thus John, probably seeing the humor in this temptation, opted, in his Gospel, for his own “wilderness,” putting Jesus at a wedding in Cana, catering to boozers –turning water into wine– and ridiculing his mother: “Woman, what have I to do with thee?”–(John 2:1-9. Allāh tells us to honor parents and not to even say “fie” to them, and our beloved and noble Mohammad tells us that Paradise lies at the feet of mothers –they are to be treated with utmost love, respect and honor).
32. Qur’an 21:44; 28:58; 13:41; 33:27; 46:27; 59:2. Allāh takes lands of the Unbelievers:
-“See they not how we aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying parts?”–(Qur’an 21:44).
-“And how many a community have We destroyed…And We, even We, were the inheritors”–Qur’an 28:58).
-“See they not how We aim to the land, reducing it of its outlying parts?”–(Qur’an 13:41).
-“And He caused you to inherit their land and their houses and their wealth, and land ye have not trodden. Allāh is ever Able to do all things”–(Qur’an 33:27).
-“And verily We have destroyed townships”–(Qur’an 46:27).
-“He it is Who have caused those of the People of the Scripture who disbelieved to go forth from their homes….while they deemed that their strongholds would protect them from Allāh. But Allāh reached them from a place whereof they recked not, and cast terror in their hearts so that they ruined their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers”–(Qur’an 59:2).
Response: Do Christians not believe that God is ever able to do all things? Allah does not have to take the lands of the unbelievers; the heavens and the earth belong to Him. Whereas Qur’an 21:44; 28:58; 13:41 and 46:27 are general; Qur’an 33:27 refers to the Bani Quraizah who was executed for treachery and Qur’an 59:2 refers to the Bani Nadir who was banished for treachery (see MOHAMMAD JEWS & RAIDING PARTIES).
On the obverse. How did the Biblical/Christian’s God (Jesus) take the land from the “heathen” and give it to the Israelites/ Jews? How many communities did the Christian’s God (Jesus) destroyed) because of the people’s wickedness? I only need enter one verse: “Speak not in thine heart…saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for THE WICKEDNESS OF THESE NATIONS THE LORD DOTH DRIVE THEM OUT FROM BEFORE THEE…Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; FOR THOU ART A STIFFNECKED PEOPLE …from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, YE HAVE BEEN REBELLIOUS UNTO THE LORD”–(Deut. 9:4-7). As already shown, the Christian’s God (Jesus) not only smote and cast “terror” but had bears tear children; had Jeshurun’s children eaten by beasts; had dogs eat Jezebel; and people decapitated. He even smote people with hemorrhoids.
33. Qur’an 22:19-22. Torture in the Hereafter: “These (Believers and Disbelievers) are two adversaries who dispute about their Lord. So those who disbelieve, for them are cut out garments of .re. Boiling water will be poured out over their heads. With it will be melted what is in their bellies and (their) skins as well. And for them are whips of iron. Whenever they desire to go forth from it, from grief, they are turned back into it, and (it is said): Taste the chastisement of burning.”
Response: Contrary to popular perception, Hell is not a torture chamber of a vengeful God. (See HELL).
34. Qur’an 24:2. Flogging adulterers: “The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication – flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you.” (See ADULTERY-FLOGGING).
35. Qur’an 24:33 allows using a slave girl for prostitution.
Allah says:
“And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, when they desire to keep chaste, in order to seek the frail good of this world’s life; and whoever compels THEM, then surely after THEIR compulsion Allāh is Forgiving, Merciful”–(Qur’an 24:33).
One Christian woman claims that Qur’an 24:33 absolves a man from using a slave girl for prostitution; that while the verse says not to compel girls into prostitution it “assures” the owners if they do Allāh will forgive them; that the slave-girl could not be in need of forgiveness for something she has no control over.
(May be she became a willing participant during the act).
Blameless babies need forgiveness for Adam’s sin but this girl does not need forgiveness for her sin. Such is Christian’s rationale.
This verse is about ‘Abdullah b. Ubayy who used his slave-girls for prostitution–(Muslim Vol.4, #7180, 7181).
Forgiveness IS for the slave girl as careful reading of the verse shows –“THEM” and “THEIR” (plural) as emphasized in the verse are the slave-girls. The “whoever” that compels is the slave owner and those under compulsion are the girls.
As Allāh says of the girls that “after THEIR compulsion” He is Forgiving. Even though it was not the girl’s choice it was yet a sin and the owner who forced THEM (the girls) into it are told that THEY (the girls) would be forgiven. (but they, the slavers, will not be forgiven).
Muslims are admonished not to follow the hypocrites, and the girl is consoled/comforted she is not to be distressed; Allāh will not hold her accountable.
It would be pointless for Allāh to tell Muslims not to force girls into prostitution if He would “absolve(s)” them for it.
There is prostitution in this Christian woman’s Bible. Judah, the grandfather of this woman’s God/Son of God, Jesus, offered his daughter-in-law, Tamar, a “kid” in exchange for sex–(Genesis 38:11-18. That Tamar was in disguise is irrelevant).
And God instructed Hosea to engage in prostitution:
“And the Lord said to Hosea: Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms…” “Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress….So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley” (and he paid her to serve him solely for “many days”)–(Hosea 1:2; 3:1-3).
36. Qur’an 33:4 allows marriage to adopted son’s wife: “Allah has not made for any man two hearts within him; nor has He made your wives whose backs you liken to the backs of your mothers as your mothers, nor has He made those whom you assert to be your sons your real sons; these are the words of your mouths; and Allah speaks the truth and He guides to the way.”
Response: This verse is not about Allāh allowing Mohammad to marry Zainab, the divorced wife of his adopted son, Zaid. Muhammad Ali explains:
“This passage abolishes two customs of the days of ignorance. The first of these is what is called zihar or muzahirah. The word is derived from zahr, meaning back, and zihar consisted in a man saying to his wife thou art to me as the back of my mother (LL). No sooner were the words pronounced than the relation between husband and wife ended as by a divorce, but the woman was not at liberty to leave the husband’s house and marry elsewhere. She remained in the same house, as a deserted wife. The other custom was that of regarding the adopted son as if he were a real son. This passage abolishes both customs on the same ground; a wife cannot be a real mother, nor a stranger a real son.
The subject of zihar is fully discussed in the first section of the 58th chapter.”
For Mohammad’s marriage to Zainab see ZAINAB SCANDAL.
It is worth noting here that Islam does not prohibit adoption. The only stipulation is that adopted children be named after their fathers: “Call them by (the names of) their fathers; this is more equitable with Allāh; but if you know not their fathers, then they are your brethren in faith and your friends. And there is no blame on you in that wherein you make a mistake, but (you are answerable for) that which your hearts purpose. And Allāh is ever Forgiving, Merciful”–(Qur’an 33:5).
This requirement to call adopted children by the names of their fathers when possible is not without merit. Children have the right to know their biological parents; in which event they may be entitled to inheritance from their parents. Not knowing their parents they may end up marrying their own brother or sister. Also, depending on the age of their parents when they were placed for adoption, children may end up marrying their own father or mother. Moreover, Islam requires honoring mothers especially and holding on to family ties–(Qur’an 4:1); this can only be done if children know their biological mothers. Even in societies that practiced a “closed” file adoption, people who adopt tell children that they were adopted; and there are children who try to find their birth parents, and vice versa. The Islamic system makes this process easy. In fact, regardless of the reason they were placed for adoption, adopted children may be more at ease at having two “known” sets of parents.
Keeping an adopted child ignorant of his parentage could have a devastating effect on the child, and even on the adoptive parents, in the event that the child should find out from outside source(s) that he was adopted. He might go through the rest of his life resentful of his adoptive parents because of not being told, and aching to know who his biological parents are/were and the reason he were placed for adoption.
The Prophet Mohammad adopted Zaid–(Bokhari Vol. 5, #335).
37. Qur’an 33:26-27. Rewards for killing People of the Book: “And He drove down those of the People of the Book who backed them from their fortresses and He cast awe into their hearts; some you killed and you took captive some. And He made you heirs to their land and their dwellings and their property, and (to) a land which you have not yet trodden. And Allah is ever Possessor of power over all things.”
Response: Weren’t the rewards of the Israelites clear when God had them massacre even animals to inherit their land? The hand of God was with the Israelites through all their butchery for them to have land, and booty which includes little “virgin” girls:
–“For indeed the HAND OF THE LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were CONSUMED”–(Deut. 2:15).
-“And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses…And Moses said unto them…Now therefore kill every MALE among the LITTLE ONES (of the captives), and kill EVERY WOMAN who hath known man by lying with him, but ALL THE WOMEN CHILDREN, that have not known a man by lying with him (virgin girls) KEEP ALIVE FOR YOURSELVES…and of WOMEN that had not known man by lying with him (virgin girls), were 32,000”–(Numbers 31:1-53). (See item #19).
-“And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand;” “and Joshua called for all the men of Israel…Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings… And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees.” “So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL THAT BREATHED, as the Lord God of Israel commanded…And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL;” “And they UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL THAT WAS IN THE CITY, BOTH MAN AND WOMAN, YOUNG AND OLD, AND OX, AND SHEEP, AND ASS, with the EDGE OF THE SWORD”–(Joshua 10:19, 24, 26, 40-42; 6:21. Read Joshua chs.10-12; Numbers 21:24, 35; 31:17-18; Deut. 20:16-17; 1 Sam. 15:2-3, for slaughters by Joshua, Moses, and Saul).
And unlike the enemies of Mohammad who persecuted Mohammad, besieged him, tried to assassinate him, forced him into exile, pursued and warred on him, these young males, matron women, and ox and sheep and ass did nothing to be slaughtered, and the “virgin” girls did nothing to be taken as “concubines” or to be “raped.”
However, these verses of Qur’an 33:26 and 27 are about the Jewish tribe, Bani Quraizah (See MOHAMMAD JEWS & RAIDING PARTIES).
38. Qur’an 33:36. Muslims not allowed to decide for themselves; independent thinking not allowed: “And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allāh and His Messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allāh and his messenger, he verily go astray in error manifest.”
Response: If the American President should give you an order in any matter will you question him? If Moses or Jesus was to come and give you a command in some aspect of your life that was displeasing to you would you question or disobey him? When parents decide something for their child and the child rebels doesn’t the parent tries to explain to the child that it is for his/her own good –that the parent knows better what is good for him/her?
Does anyone know more than God and his prophets? Obviously Jews and Christians believe they do, why else would they not carry out the Divine instructions and stone to death etc; as the Biblical God requires? And Christ came to uphold the law and to uphold it so much so that “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these LEAST commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”–(Matt. 5:17-19. And to execute the adulterer and homosexual is not a “least” commandment. Seemingly Christians are even ordaining the homosexual as “vicar” of Christ).
That Muslims are not to question the Prophet relates only to decisions made by the Prophet –much like a judge in a courtroom– it does not bar Muslims from independent thinking.
Allāh and the Prophet exhort us to seek knowledge; and even from the cradle to the grave. It would be pointless for Allāh and the Prophet to impress on us to seek knowledge and yet bar us from thinking for ourselves. The following reference notes that Islam teaches that “Learning is a treasure-house. Its key is questioning: (Abu Naeem) MM1-361-112 W.” (i.e. Mishkat Misabih, Vol. 1, p.361, #112W).
Allāh revealed: “O you who believe, ask not about things which if made known to you would give you trouble; and if you ask about them when the Qur’an is being revealed, they will be made known to you. Allāh pardons this; and Allāh is Forgiving, Forbearing.A people before you indeed asked such questions, then became disbelievers therein”–(Qur’an 5:101-102). And Muhammad Ali comments: “As Islam discouraged rigorous practices, such as monastic life, it also prohibited questions relating to details on many points which would require this or that practice to be made obligatory, and much was left to individual will or the circumstances of the time and place. The exercise of judgment occupies a very important place in Islam and this gives ample scope to different nations and communities to frame laws for themselves to meet new and changed situations. The Hadith shows that the Prophet also discouraged questions on details in which a Muslim could choose a way for himself (B. 3:28, 29).” And the verse “A people before you indeed asked such questions, then became disbelievers therein” “does not refer to a particular people. The history of previous nations shows that the statement is generally true.”
There are several verses in the Qur’an in which Allāh calls on man to use his faculty of reasoning:
-“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the best manner”–(Qur’an 16:125);
-“Do you enjoin men to be good and neglect your own souls while you read the Book? Have you then no sense?”–(2:44);
-“In the creation of the heavens and the earth and alternation of the night and the day, there are surely signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allāh standing and sitting and (lying) on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth”–(3:189-190).
-“And certainly he (the devil) led astray numerous people from among you. Could you not then understand?”–(36:62);
-“And in the variation of the night and the day and (in) the sustenance which Allāh sends down from the heaven, then gives life thereby to the earth after its death, and (in) the changing of the winds, are signs for a people who understand”–(45:5);
-“And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allāh has revealed,” they say: “Nay, we follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers had no sense at all, nor did they follow the right way”–(2:170);
-“And they say: had we but listened or pondered, we should not have been among the inmates of the burning Fire”–(67:10).
Those who do not use their faculty of reasoning are compared to animals:
-“And the parable of those who disbelieve is as the parable of one who calls out to that which hears no more than a call and a cry. Deaf, dumb, blind, so they have no sense”–(2:171);
-“They have hearts wherewith they understand not, and they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not. They are as cattle; nay, they are more astray”–(7:170);
-“Surely the vilest of beasts, in Allāh’s sight, are the deaf, the dumb, who understand not”–(8:22);
-“Or thinkest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but as the cattle; nay, they are further astray from the path”–(25:44).
In his comprehensive work, The Religion Of Islam (available through www.muslim.org; in Arabic also), Muhammad Ali points out:
“The Qur’an does recognize revelation as a source of knowledge higher than reason (because Allāh, being Omniscient, His knowledge is beyond the realm of man’s mental capacity),but at the same time admits that the truth of the principles established by revelation may be judged by reason and denounces those who do not use their reasoning faculty. It also recognizes the necessity of the exercise of judgment in order to arrive at a decision: “But if any news of security or fear comes to them, they spread it abroad. And if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those of them who can search out the knowledge of it would have known it”–(Qur’an 4:83. “The original word for the italicized portion is yastanbitun from istinbat which is derived from nabat al-bi’ra, meaning: “he dug out a well and brought forth water.” The istinbat of the jurist is derived from this, and it signifies the searching out of the hidden meaning by his ijtihad and is the same as istikhraj, i.e., analogical deduction (TA.).”). The verse recognizes the principle of the exercise of judgment which is the same as Ijtihad, and though the occasion on which it is mentioned is a particular one, the principle recognized is general. The exercise of judgment (ijtihad) is recognized in Tradition (of the Prophet) as the means by which a decision may be arrived at when there is no direction in the Qur’an or Tradition. The following tradition is regarded as the basis of Ijtihad in Islam: “On being appointed Governor of Yaman, Mu’adh was asked by the Prophet as to the rule by which he would abide. He replied, ‘By the law of the Qur’an.’ ‘But if you do not find any direction therein,’ asked the Prophet. ‘Then I will act according to the practice (Sunnah) of the Prophet,’ was the reply, ‘But if you do not find any direction therein,’ he was again asked. ‘Then I will exercise my judgment (ajtahidu) and act on that,’ came the reply. The Prophet raised his hands and said: ‘Praise be to Allāh Who guides the messenger of His Apostle as He pleases’”–(Abu Dawud 23:11). This tradition shows not only that the Prophet approved of the exercise of judgment, but also that his Companions were well aware of the principle, and that reasoning or exercise of judgment by others was freely resorted to when necessary, even in the Prophet’s lifetime.” (pp. 98-99).
Muslims are not forbidden from thinking for themselves.
38A. Allāh God revealed in Qur’an 33:50 “O Prophet, We have made lawful to thee thy wives whom thou hast given their dowries, and those whom thy right hand possesses, out of those whom Allah has given thee as prisoners of war, and the daughters of thy paternal uncle and the daughters of thy paternal aunts, and the daughters of thy maternal uncle and the daughters of thy maternal aunts who fled with thee; and a believing woman, if she GIVES HERSELF to the Prophet, if the Prophet desires to marry her. (It is) especially for thee, not for the believers — We know what We have ordained for them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess in order that no blame may attach to thee. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.”
Christians and other critics charge that Islam allows the enslavement of these “whom thy right hand possesses.”
First, as emphasized, the Prophet can only have these women if she GIVES HERSELF to him. (For more on “whom thy right hand possesses” see Islam-concubinage).
Second, Allāh requires that prisoners of war be freed as a favor or for ransom–(Qur’an 47:4). And as Muhammad Ali points out elsewhere it was the former option that the Prophet exercised.
It is the Bible that allowed enslavement of women and children: “And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations” –(Deuteronomy 20:12-15).
Third, Muhammad Ali comments on this verse:
“The marriages of the Holy Prophet have furnished his critics with the chief implement of attack on him, and the low-minded missionary has gone so far as to call him a voluptuary on that account, though he dare not apply that word to the husband of a hundred wives. Therefore I give below full particulars regarding the Prophet’s marriages. His life as regards his marriages may be divided into four periods. Briefly these are: (1) A celibate life up to twenty-five. (2) A married state with one wife from 25 to 54. (3) Several marriages from 54 to 60. (4) No further marriage after 60. As regards the first period, the life of a celibate youth living in a warm country till 25, the testimony of a hostile writer like Sir William Muir is that “all authorities agree in ascribing to the youth of Muhammad a modesty of deportment and purity of manners rare among the people of Mecca”. In fact, in Arabia at the time profligacy was the order of the day and it was among people who prided themselves on loose sexual relations that the Prophet led a life of transcendent purity.
Then comes the second period from 25 to 54. His first marriage was contracted while he was twenty-five years of age, and the widow Khadsjah whom he married was forty years old, i.e., fifteen years his senior. It was with her, and her alone, that he passed all the years of his youth and manhood until she died three years before the Hijrah, when he was already an old man of fifty. This circumstance alone is sufficient to give the lie to those carpers who call him a voluptuary. After her death, while still at Makkah, he married Saudah, a widow of advanced age. He also married ‘A’ishah, his only virgin wife, while still at Makkah, but her marriage was consummated five years afterwards in the 2nd year of the Hijrah.
Then followed the flight to Madinah, and subsequent to the Flight he had to fight many battles with his enemies, the Quraish, or such tribes as sided with the Quraish. The result of these battles was a great discrepancy between the number of males and females, and as his favourite followers fell in the field of battle fighting with his enemies, the care of their families devolved upon the Prophet and his surviving companions. In the battle of Badr fell Khunais, son of Hudhafah, and the faithful ‘Umar’s daughter Hafsah was left a widow. ‘Umar offered her to ‘Uthman and Abu Bakr in turn, and she was at last married by the Holy Prophet in the third year of the Hijrah. ‘Abd Allah, son of Jahsh, fell a martyr at Uhud, and his widow Zainab, daughter of Khuzaimah, was taken in marriage by the Prophet in the same year. In the next year Abu Salamah died, and his widow, Umm Salamah, was taken to wife by the Prophet. The events are narrated in the last section, leading to Zainab’s divorce by Zaid; the Prophet married her in the fifth year of the Hijrah under circumstances already narrated. Umm Habibah was one of his devoted followers who fled to Abyssinia with her husband, ‘Ubaid Allah, who there became a Christian, and when he died his widow found comfort in being taken as a wife by the Holy Prophet in the seventh year of the Hijrah.
Besides these widows of his faithful followers whom it fell to his lot to take under his protection, the Prophet took three widows of his enemies in marriage, and in each case this step led to the union and pacification of a whole tribe. These three, Juwairiyah, Maimunah and Safiyyah, he married in the years six and seven of the Hijrah. Regarding one of these, it is sufficient to note that, when the Prophet took Juwairiyah for a wife, over a hundred families of the tribe of the Bans MucΔaliq, to which tribe she belonged, were at once liberated by the Muslims.
The fourth period is that when war came to an end; a reference to this is contained in v. 52: “It is not allowed to thee to take wives after this”. Thus it will be seen that all the marriages of the Prophet were due either to feelings of compassion for the widows of his faithful followers or to put a stop to bloodshed and ensure union with some tribe. Compare also 4:3a, where it is shown that the permission for polygamy was given under similar circumstances; in fact, many of the companions had to follow the example of the Prophet.
As pointed out in the beginning of the last note, the Prophet was specially allowed to retain all his wives when the number allowed was brought down to four in the case of other believers. This was the only privilege allowed to the Prophet and it is to this that the words, especially for thee, refer. What God ordained for the believers is contained in 4:3, and on the revelation of that verse any Muslim who had more than four wives had to divorce the excess number.
39. Qur’an 47:4 allows kidnapping for ransom: “So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make (them) prisoners, and afterwards (set them free) as a favour or for ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (shall be so). And if Allāh please, He would certainly exact retribution from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allāh, He will never allow their deeds to perish.”
Response: Muhammad Ali comments: “The word athkhana occurring in this passage has been fully explained in 8:67a. This passage mentions the only case in which prisoners of war can be taken, and thus condemns the practice of slavery, according to which men could be seized anywhere and sold into slavery. Here we are told that prisoners of war can only be taken after meeting an enemy in regular battle, and even in that case they must be set free, either as a favour or after taking ransom. It was the former of these alternatives that the Holy Prophet adopted in most cases; for instance, in the case of the prisoners of the Bani Mustaliq, in which a hundred families were set at liberty, and in the case of Hawazin, in which fully six thousand prisoners of war were released merely as an act of favour. Only in the case of the seventy prisoners taken at Badr is there mention of redemption having been taken, but this was when Islam was very weak and the powerful enemy was determined to crush it.”
As noted Muhammad Ali states that “The word athkhana occurring in this passage has been fully explained in 8:67a” Here is Qur’an 8:67: “It is not fit for a prophet to take captives unless he has fought and triumphed in the land. You desire the frail goods of this world, while Allāh desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allāh is Mighty, Wise” to which Muhammad Ali comments:
“There exists some misunderstanding as to the meaning of yuthkhina used here. Thakhuna means he or it became thick, and athkhana means ghalaba, he overcame (LA). The same word is again used in the Holy Qur’an exactly in the same sense: “then, when you have overcome them, make them prisoners” (47:4).
On the authority of certain reports, the commentators are of opinion that this verse and the next refer to releasing the prisoners of war taken at Badr after taking ransom from them, which act, it is said, is here disapproved. But various considerations show that these verses refer to some other incidents. Firstly, the condition laid down here for taking prisoners is that the Prophet should fight against the enemy, and that had actually been done at Badr. Secondly, the taking of prisoners and their release on this very occasion is justified in clear words only two verses further on, “O Prophet, say to those of the captives who are in your hands: If Allāh knows anything good in your hearts, He will give you better than that which has been taken from you” (v. 70). This shows that these verses were revealed when the prisoners were still in the hands of the Muslims and that which has been taken is clearly the ransom, which must have taken many days to reach Madinah. If the verse had conveyed a Divine commandment to slay the prisoners and not to release them, that step could still have been taken. But the very fact that no such step was taken shows clearly that the verse conveyed no such Divine commandment.
The legality of the Holy Prophet’s procedure on this occasion is clearly borne out by an earlier revelation: “So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make them prisoners, and afterwards set them free as a favour or for ransom” (47:4). The Prophet never slew a single prisoner of war, even after the battle of Badr, though thousands of prisoners were taken in some of these battles. On the other hand, the prisoners were almost always set free as a favour, and ransom was taken only from the Badr prisoners.
The question is, what is then hinted at in this verse and in the one that follows? To me it seems quite clear that the reference is to the desire (mark the word desire used in the verse) — not to an action already completed — of a party of the Muslims referred to in v. 7, and you loved that the one not armed should be yours. Some Muslims desired to attack and capture the unarmed caravan, but depredations like these, though committed by disbelievers upon the Muslims, were not fit for a prophet. He must fight a hard fight in his defence first and then, if he overcomes the enemy, he may take prisoners. Thus this injunction also declares slavery to be illegal, and allows only the retaining of those who are taken prisoners in war. The frail goods of this world appropriately refer to the caravan and its merchandise, while the addition of the concluding words in v. 69, eat then of the lawful and good things which you have acquired in war, shows that the ransom received on account of the prisoners is among the lawful and good things.”
In contrast, as shown in these pages, whereas Islam only allows a defensive war and only against those who fight you, Christianity considers those who do not share its views as enemies, and calls for the slaying of “enemies” against its ruler-ship: “He that is not with me is against me” (and a person can be neutral); “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (even though these enemies may not militate against him)–(Matt. 12:30; Luke 19:27).
40. Qur’an 48:29. Mohammad was hard against Disbelievers: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are firm of heart against the disbelievers, compassionate among themselves.”
Response:Were the disbelievers not hard against Mohammad and Muslims and “compassionate among themselves”?)
Muhammad Ali explains: “Ashidda’ is plural of shadid, which means firm, strong, powerful, as well as brave, firm of heart (LA, Q, LL). Shiddat, the root word, also signifies firmness of heart (T). The translation fierce, or vehement, adopted in English translations, is not correct here. The Muslims stood firm against the disbelievers but they were never fierce or hard in their treatment towards them.”
Allāh instructs the Prophet Mohammad in His Qur’an 9:6:“And if anyone of the idolaters seek thy protection, protect him till he hears the word of Allah, then convey him to his place of safety. This is because they are a people who know not.” To which Muhammad Ali comments: “This verse leaves no doubt that the Prophet was never ordered to kill anyone on account of his religion. “You shall give him a safe conduct that he may return home again securely in case he shall not think fit to embrace Muhammadanism” (Sale).” Clearly, it is not hardness to protect and teach the idolater and return him home safely; it is “mercy.”
Again, Allāh instructs the Prophet in Qur’an 39:53: to convey to us: “Say, O My servants who have sinned against their souls, despair not of the mercy of Allāh; surely Allāh forgives all sins. Verily, He is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful” (notably, believers as well as disbelievers are servants of Allah). It is not hardness to implore sinners to forgiveness of all of their sins, and moreover to implore sinners in loving, compassionate terms; it is “mercy.” In fact, it is not only “mercy” but also love. (Allāh loves us. Allāh wants to guide us. Allāh wants us to be pure. Allāh wants us to have a life in Paradise).
Verses of the Qur’an are to be taken in their perspective. Like other prophets who were a mercy to their people, the Prophet Mohammad was a mercy to his people, Arabs –who were the last people to receive a prophet– as well as a mercy to the entire world–(Qur’an 29:46; 32:3; 36:6; 7:158; 21:107; 34:28). Part of the Prophet’s mission was to enlighten the people to the futility and degradation of idolatry and the irrationality of polytheism. (See POLYTHEISM vs. MONOTHEISM). The Prophet’s mission was only to preach the Divine Message–(Qur’an 3:20; 10:99; 64:12); the people were free to accept or reject this Message–(Qur’an 2:256; 6:107; 9:6; 10:99-100; 17:7; 18:6, 29; 42:15; 50:45; 76:3; 109:1-6).
The Arabs not only rejected the Divine Message, they persecuted Mohammad, besieged him, tried to assassinate him, forced him into exile, pursued him, and made war on him. Thus, they became hard on Mohammad. In consequence, the Believers became hard against the disbelievers because the disbelievers were harder against the Believers –they are the ones who first took up the sword, and without justification, to annihilate the Believers. What would you do if someone comes to kill you, would you let him kill you, or be hard against him? Are you not “merciful” to your brothers/family and “hard” on your enemies?
Notably, Muslims were hard only against those who wanted to annihilate them. Allāh requires Muslims to not even let hatred cause us to transgress; and for us to give justice even if it is against our own selves:
-“And let not hatred of a people — because they hindered you from the Sacred Mosque — incite you to transgress. And help one another in righteousness and piety, and help not one another in sin and aggression, and keep your duty to Allāh. Surely Allāh is Severe in requiting (evil)” (Qur’an 5:3)
-“O you who believe, be upright for Allāh, bearers of witness with justice; and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably. Be just; that is nearer to observance of duty. And keep your duty to Allāh. Surely Allāh is Aware of what you do” (5:8)
-“O you who believe, be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness for Allāh, even though it be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives — whether he be rich or poor, Allāh has a better right over them both. So follow not (your) low desires, lest you deviate. And if you distort or turn away from (truth), surely Allāh is ever Aware of what you do”–(4:135).
That Mohammad was “hard” on the disbelievers only in repelling their wars and was “never fierce or hard” in his treatment of them is evidenced from the fact that he prayed for his dead enemy, saying: “if I knew that if I asked forgiveness for him more than seventy times, he would be forgiven, I would ask it for more times than that”–(Qur’an 9:84, 113. Bokhari Vol. 6, #193, 194). And upon his triumph at Makkah he forgave his rabid enemies of twenty-three grueling years: “It is related that the Prophet took hold of the two sides of the gate of the Ka’ba on the day of the conquest of Makkah and said to the Quraish: How do you think I should treat you? They said: We hope for good, a noble brother and the son of a noble brother. Then he said: I say as my brother Joseph said: “No reproof be against you this day”5 (Rz)” No inquisition. No incrimination. No confession. No rancor. Only lofty words of benevolence and nobility -“No reproof be against you this day”! Such was the expanse of the mercy and benevolence of this wonderful man, Mohammad. Mohammad even forgave the horrid Hind. The woman who is said to have cut open the body of his uncle, Hamza, as he lay dying on the battlefield and ripped out his liver and chewed it.
(That four persons were executed upon the Prophet’s triumph at Makkah compared to the thousands that were forgiven is hardly any blot on Mohammad’s mercy. Of these four individuals, as M.H. Haykal notes in his The Life of Muhammad, p; 411, two were Muslims guilty of murder before apostatizing; al Huwayrith for tempting the Prophet’s daughter, Zaynab; and a slave woman of Ibn Khatal for castigating the Prophet in song [which castigating may have inspired or encouraged others to militate against the Prophet]. If you believe that this slave woman should not have been executed; even in modern times people are imprisoned for way less than incitement; just ask world-famous peace activist Jaggie Singh, and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela and his late brother-in-cause Steven Biko; as well as those Muslims jailed or held under detention under mere suspicion or without any kind of charge. And these Twentieth-century jailers crown themselves as “civilized” and “democratic.” Imagine then the punishment[s] that would have been meted out to peace-activists and freedom- fighters if they had castigated or incited against their leaders, as was done against Mohammad. Incidentally, Palestinian author and writer, whose lands were stolen, have been assassinated by their occupiers merely for writing about the injustice committed against them).
Strikingly, God and the Biblical prophets were also “hard” against the disbelievers and “compassionate among themselves”:
-The Biblical God (and as Christians say that Jesus is God, Jesus) was “hard” on Pharaoh and his entourage and “merciful” to the Israelites. (God was also “hard on the Israelites, and even onto the innocent fourth generation, when they became rebellious and provocative against Him –much as the idolatrous Arabs became rebellious and provocative against Him through Mohammad– having them wander in the wilderness for forty years till their carcasses were wasted–(Num. 14:1-35).
-The Biblical God (and as Christians say that Jesus is God, Jesus) was “hard” on more than three dozen mischievous children, sending bears to tear them: “And he (Elisha) went up from thence to Bethel…there came forth LITTLECHILDREN…and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up thou BALD HEAD…And he (Elisha) turned back, and looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth TWO SHE BEARS out of the wood, and TARE FORTY AND TWO CHILDREN of them”–(2 Kings 2:22-24).
-The Biblical God (and as Christians say that Jesus is God, Jesus) was “hard” on Jeshurun and his children for going after false gods: “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked…They provoked him (God) to jealousy with strange gods…And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. And he (God) said…I will heap MISCHIEFS upon them; I will spend my ARROWS upon them….I will also send the TEETH OF BEASTS upon them, with the POISON OF SERPENTS of the dust. The SWORD without, and TERROR within, shall destroy both the YOUNG MAN and the VIRGIN, the SUCKLING also with the MAN OF GRAY HAIRS”–(Deut. 32:15-25. This must the mother of all terrorism!).
-The Biblical God (and as Christians say that Jesus is God, Jesus) was “hard against the disbelievers and merciful” to the Israelites; fighting for them; commanding the Israelites to do to the people whose land they were going to possess: “thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them, thou shalt make no covenant with them, NOR SHEW MERCY UNTO THEM”–(Deut. 7:1-2. See Josh. 12:1-6). “And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and SMITE the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD YOUR GOD hath delivered them into your hand;” “And afterward Joshua SMOTE them” “So Joshua SMOTE all the country….as the LORD GOD of Israel commanded….because the LORD GOD of Israel FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL”–(Josh. 10:19, 24, 26, 40-42; 6:21. Read Josh. chs. 10-12; Num. 21:24, 35; 31:17-18; Deut. 20:16-17; 1 Sam. 15:2-3, for slaughters by Joshua, Moses, and Saul).
-The Biblical God (and as Christians say that Jesus is God, Jesus) was “hard” even on the infant and fetus: “Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath REBELLED against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their INFANTS SHALL BE DASHED IN PIECES, and their WOMEN WITH CHILD SHALL BE RIPPED UP”–(Hosea 13:16)
-Moses and Joshua were hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves –hard against the some thirty “ites” kingdoms they invaded, and against the little males and matron females and cattle that they slaughtered, as well as “hard” on the little virgin girls the Israelites were given as SEX SLAVES:
Notably, unlike the Arab idolaters who persecuted Mohammad, tried to assassinate him, forced him into exile, pursued him and warred against him, these little males and matrons and virgin girls and cattle did not take up arms against Moses and Joshua for Moses and Joshua to be “hard” on them.
-Jesus (the Christian’s son of God and even God as Christians say Jesus is God) was “hard” against the disbelievers and “compassionate among themselves.” Labeling non-Jews “dogs” and “swine” and preaching in parables so these “dogs” and “swine” would not understand and be saved: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine”–(Matt. 7:6; 15:26);
-And after relating the parable of the sower to the people Jesus said to them: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear;” and, afterwards, when he (Jesus) was alone with the Israelites they asked him about the meaning of the parable: “And he said unto them, Unto you (who have God) it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them (non-Jews) that are without (God), all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and NOT PERCEIVE; and hearing they may hear, and NOT UNDERSTAND; LEST AT ANY TIME THEY SHOULD BE CONVERTED, AND THEIR SINS SHOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM”–(Mark 4:9-12) –the Good News Bible put it even more clearly: “You have been given the secret of the Kingdom of God,” Jesus answered. “But the others, who are on the outside, hear all things by means of parables, so that, ‘They may look and look, yet NOT SEE; they may listen and listen, yet NOT UNDERSTAND. FOR IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD TURN TO GOD, AND HE WOULD FORGIVE THEM.’” In other words though the non-Jews (who may be sincere seekers of God) have the faculties of sight and hearing and can see and hear, he (Jesus) spoke in parables so that they would not understand his words because he did not want them to accept God and have their sins forgiven.What a ghastly horribly sickening thing to do. As prophet, Jesus could not turn away anyone; this is why he indulged non-Jews; but he could avoid them, which he did, as is evident from his admonition to his disciples not to preach to non-Jews, and from his speaking in parables so that they would not understand. This statement by Jesus also proves that Jesus did NOT come to save sinners. Jesus’ mission was wholly and solely to the Jews. (See JESUS-ONLY FOR JEWS). (Please note: This is the Biblical/Christian’s Jesus For the Muslim’s Jesus read the Qur’an).
-Jesus was “hard” on the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for not heeding him–(Matt, 11:20-24. And these people were not “hard” on Jesus; they only did not believe in him).
-Jesus was even “hard” on the stubborn Jews, labeling them as “serpents” and “vipers,” “evil and adulterous,” and consigning them to the greater damnation of hell–(Matt. 12:34, 39; 23:33).
-Jesus was “hard” on the bird-sellers and moneychangers: booting them out of the temple–(Matt. 21:12).
-Jesus was also “hard” on people who was not with him: “He that is not with me is against me”; (and a person can be neutral)–(Matt. 12:30. Again, these people was/is not “hard” on Jesus; they only did/do not believe in him).
-Jesus was “hard” against those against his rule, and all the way to the Resurrection, commanding that they all be slain: “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (and a person can be against Jesus’ rule and yet not militate against him; and thus they would not be “hard” against him)–(Luke 19:27. Perhaps these are the verses from which the Popes took their inspiration for their murderous crusades. If these two last declarations of Jesus were to be enforced some six billion people of the world who does not accept Jesus as Divine or as vicarious atoner would have to be slaughtered. Non-Christians, and even some Christians, need to go down on their hands and knees and foreheads and thank Allāh, God, that Jesus/Christianity is not over them or lording any place.
Mohammad was/is a “mercy” to the entire world–(Qur’an 7:158; 21:107; 34:28). And though Mohammad was “hard” on the disbelievers that does not mean he was devoid of mercy for them. When the disbelievers gave up their “hardness” against Mohammad mercy was extended to them –much like parents giving “tough love” to a destructive child to reform him; when the child reforms his behavior he is again given “soft love;” the parents have both qualities of mercy and sternness; exercising either as the situation necessitates, (the Bible/God even sanctions employing whatever methods are necessary to bring children and wife into obedience and even God scourges His sons.6However,as shown, the Prophet Mohammad and Muslims were never fierce or hard in their treatment towards the disbelievers.
Mohammad being hard against the disbelievers was the direct result of the disbelievers being harder on Mohammad. Mohammad was fully justified for being hard against the disbelievers who wanted to annihilate him. No honest individual and critic would state otherwise.
41. Qur’an 60:1 not to befriend enemies: “O you who believe, take not My enemy and your enemy for friends. Would you offer them love, while they deny the Truth that has come to you, driving out the Messenger and yourselves because you believe in Allāh, your Lord? If you have come forth to strive in My way and to seek My pleasure, would you love them in secret? And I know what you conceal and what you manifest.”
Response: Muhammad Ali notes: “It should be noted that the reason given for not taking the disbelievers as friends is that they are the enemies of Allāh and His Messenger, who drove out the Prophet and the Muslims from their homes. Vv. 8 and 9 afford a full explanation.”
And verses 8 and 9 states: “Allāh forbids you not respecting those who fight you not for religion, nor drive you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly. Surely Allāh loves the doers of justice;” Allāh forbids you only respecting those who fight you for religion, and drive you forth from your homes and help (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends of them; and whoever makes friends of them, these are the wrongdoers.” And Muhammad Ali comments: “This verse (verse 8) and the one (verse 9) that follows, revealed as they were at a time when the relations between the Muslims and the disbelievers were most strained on account of the existence of a continual state of war between the two parties, settle conclusively that friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, as such, are not prohibited. It is in the light of these verses that all the verses forbidding friendly relations with the disbelievers should be read, because here the true principle is revealed in unmistakable language, allowing friendly relations with one class of disbelievers and prohibiting such relations with those of another class.”
Would you be friends with those who fight you for your religion and drive you out off your lands or those who help others do this to you? Only the fool would. And are not those who commit injustice against others the enemies of God? In fact, the Christian’s God consider as enemies even those who provoked him: “And again the ANGER of the Lord was kindled against Israel”–(2 Samuel 24:1); “God is ANGRY with the wicked everyday”–(Psalm 7:11); The Israelites “have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto ANGER;” “Because of all the evil of the children of Israel (Jacob) and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to ANGER;”–(Isaiah 1:4; Jeremiah 32:32).
Further, Allāh says to “let not hatred of a people incite you to transgress”–(Qur’an 5:2); to give justice and even against one’s self and relations–(Qur’an 4:58, 105, 135; 7:29; 57:25); to fight on behalf of non-Muslims–(Qur’an 22:39-40); that zakaat (compulsory charity) is for the poor and the needy, without distinction of race or creed, the wayfarer, and the financially bondaged–(Qur’an 9:60; 90:12-16); and to look after the welfare of the orphan–(Qur’an 2:220; 4:2, 6, 10, 127; 17:34). If this is not “kindness, respect, or affection to those who disbelieve” then what is.
And Muhammad Ali notes in his The Early Caliphate, that during the reign of ‘Umar when the whole of Persia “came completely under the rule of Islam” that while “jizyah was imposed in some parts, there were other adjacent parts where the people neither embraced Islam nor paid jizyah. They only agreed to render military assistance in time of need.” “In affairs of state, non-Muslims were duly consulted.” ‘Umar also ordered “that old-age pensions must be granted to all the old people among non-Muslim subjects, who must also be exempt from jizyah. Poor-houses for the weak and the disabled were open to Christians just as to Muslims.”(pp.101,118). Muslims also made donation to Christian Churches, as Muhammad Ali notes: “Muir, after admiring the leniency of the Arab conquerors towards the conquered and their justice and integrity, quotes a Nestorian Bishop of the time: “These Arabs to whom God has accorded in our days the dominion are become our masters; but they do not combat the Christian religion; much rather they protect our faith; they respect our priests and our holy men, and make gifts to our churches and our convents” (p. 128 [The Caliphate])””(The Early Caliphate, p. 86).
In contrast, it is Christianity that is devoid of kindness, respect, or affection to those who disbelieve (those not of its race). It is not kindness, respect, or affection to regard people of races other than your own as “dogs” and “swine” and to preach in parables so they would not understand and have “salvation;” to view those not with you as being against you (and one can be neutral); and to slay enemies who do not want you to rule (though they not militate against you)–(Matt. 7:6; 15:26; Mark 4:11-12; Matt. 12:30; Luke 19:27). Such a religion is evil, intolerant and naked hate.
42. Qur’an 60:4, Muslims in a permanent state of war with non-Muslims who refuse to accept Islam: “Indeed, there is for you a good example of Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: We are clear of you and of that which you serve besides Allah. We disbelieve in you and there has arisen enmity and hatred between us and you forever until you believe in Allāh alone –except Abraham saying to his sire: I would ask forgiveness for thee, and I control naught for thee from Allāh. Our Lord, on Thee do we rely, and on Thee do we turn, and to Thee is the eventual coming.”
Response: The Muslim State is not in a permanent state of war with non-Muslims who refuse to accept Islam. As shown, Allāh gives man freedom to his beliefs. However the Divine institution of armed Jihad is ever-present for when the need arises. Enmity has arisen between Muslims and non-Muslims because of the non-Muslims stealing Palestine and coveting our oil.
However, Allāh is here noting Abraham’s speaking to his people. Muhammad Ali comments: “Abraham’s example is quoted to show how loving and tender he was towards his people, yet, when it became clear to him that they were bent upon uprooting the truth, even Abraham could not maintain relations of friendship with them. The Holy Prophet and his companions were in like manner now obliged to renounce all relationships of friendship with a people who were not only the avowed enemies of the Muslims but also in a state of continual war with them.” (It is doubtful that a person or nation would maintain friendship with “avowed enemies” even if they were family).
Contrastingly, whereas Mohammad and Muslims were faced with annihilation, the Christian’s God and son of God, Jesus, proclaims: ‘those who are not with me is against me,’ to slay enemies oppose his rule, that he came not to send peace but a “sword” and “fire” and “division;” all of which “ignite a flame of eternal conflict and a perpetual declaration of war against all those who do not believe in”7 “Jehovah” and Jesus until the Resurrection. Any wonder then that, “From the dawn of Christianity until today every country of the world has been soaked with blood in the name of Jesus Christ.”
In fact the Bible requires that the following people be killed, and which also “ignite a flame of eternal conflict and a perpetual declaration of war against all those who do not believe in” “Jehovah” and Jesus until the Resurrection. Here are the people that Christianity has on its infamous list to be killed/murdered:
- (Apostasy): Those who “secretly” entice another to follow an unknown God are to be stoned to death:
“And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt….If thy brother…entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers…thou shalt surely kill him”–(Deut; 13:5-16).
“If there be found among you…man or woman…. And hath gone and served other gods, and worshiped them, either the sun or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded…..Then thou shalt bring forth that man or that woman …and shalt stone them with stones, till they die”–(Deut; 17:2-5).
- A “stubborn and rebellious son” is to be stoned to death–(Deut. 21:18-21).
- (Honor killings): Married damsel without the “token of virginity” is to be stoned to death: “But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you”–(Deut. 22:20-21).
- A virginal damsel who lies with a man other than her “betrothed,” both are to be stoned to death–(Deut. 22:23-24).
- A witch is to be put to death–(Exodus 22:18).
- Who curses his father or mother is to be put to death–(Lev. 20:9).
- Punishment for adultery is death–(Lev. 20: 10-12; Deut. 22:22).
- Homosexuals are to be put to death–(Lev. 20:13).
- A man who takes a “wife and her mother,” both shall be burnt with fire–(Lev. 20:14).
- Who commits bestiality is to be put to death–(Lev. 20:15-16).
- (Blasphemy): “And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed….And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying…let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.…And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death”–(Lev. 24:11-16, 23).
- The adulteress is to be stoned–(John 8:3-5. See JESUS & THE ADULTERESS).
In fact Christian scriptures “ignite a flame of eternal conflict and a perpetual declaration of war” not only against outsiders but also within families; here is what the Christian’s God and son of God, Jesus, commanded: “If any man come to me, and HATE NOT his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE”–(Luke 14:26). “For from henceforth there shall be five in one house DIVIDED, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be DIVIDED against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; and the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law” –(Luke 12:49, 51-53). What kind of a God and son of God is this? And what manner of “love” is this? (Mohammad forbids us from disobeying parents and exhorts us to have good relations even with our pagan parents– Muslim Vol. 3, #’s 4257, 4260; Bokhari Vol. 3, #789).
Indisputably, Christian scriptures “ignite a flame of eternal conflict and a perpetual declaration of war against all those who do not believe in” “Jehovah” and Jesus Christ.
43. Qur’an 61:10-12. The Qur’an promises rewards for waging jihad: “O you who believe, shall I lead you to a merchandise which will deliver you from a painful chastisement? You should believe in Allāh and His Messenger, and strive hard in Allāh’s way with your wealth and your lives. That is better for you, did you but know! He will forgive you your sins and cause you to enter Gardens wherein rivers flow, and goodly dwellings in Gardens of perpetuity — that is the mighty achievement”
Response: So Christ can give his life in the cause of sinners (as Christians allege) but Muslims cannot give their lives in the cause of Allāh? So the Christian’s God can have His people (Israelites) slaughter indiscriminately to give them land, loot, and women (very young “virgins”) on earth; but Allāh cannot give Muslims “rewards in the afterlife” for fighting in His cause?)
To fight in Allāh’s cause is to fight in the cause of truth and justice. It is doubtless that all believers in God expect a better life in the Hereafter. Soldiers who give their lives for their countries and even for the freedom/justice of others are honored with the highest award their country can offer. Where then is the difficulty that Allāh should award those who undertake noble jihad in the cause of truth and justice? There is no better cause than to give one’s life in the service of Allāh. And no better/ higher reward than the reward from Allāh.
44. Qur’an 65:4. allows marriage to pre-adolescent girls.
Response:
Allāh reveals in Qur’an 65:4: “Such of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the pre-scribed period (iddat), if you have any doubts, is three months, and for those who have no courses (it is the same): For those who carry (life within their wombs), their period is until they deliver their burdens: And for those who fear God, He will make their path easy” (Yusuf Ali)
Muhammad Ali translates: “And those of your women who despair of menstruation, if you have a doubt, their prescribed time is three months, and of those, too, who have not had their courses. And the pregnant women, their prescribed time is that they lay down their burden. And whoever keeps his duty to Allāh, He makes his affair easy for him.”
What needs to be pointed out is that this verse, in fact this entire section (65:1-7) is about divorce. “Iddat” is the period of waiting for a woman to know if she is pregnant. There are three points in this verse, 65:4:
(i) women who have passed the age of menstruation
(ii) women who have not have their periods and are not certain if they are pregnant; thus they “despair of menstruation” because they are in the process of a divorce and have not yet have their courses (thinking they may be pregnant at a time when they are in a process of divorce). The ending of this verse (65:4) seems to make this explanation still clearer as it says, “And the pregnant women, their prescribed time is that they lay down their burden.”
(iii) women whose pregnancies are confirmed.
Since the three month waiting period is to determine whether conception has occurred or not, those “who have not had their courses” could not refer to pre-pubescent girls because pre-pubescent girls could not become pregnant without ovulating, and thus it would be pointless for them to have a waiting period. Those “who have not had their courses” could only refer to women who are uncertain if they are pregnant.
To emphasize. Since to be pre-pubescent is to be without breasts, pubic hair and period; the Qur’anic women “who have not had their courses” CANNOT be pre-pubescent girls; because by its very nature PRE-pubescent girls do NOT menstruate.
Even if there are cases where girls become pregnant before experiencing their first periods this does not mean that they did not have breasts and pubic hair and was not of marriageable state.
Muhammad Ali notes: “it is wrong to identify women who have not had their courses with minors, for there may be cases in which a woman reaches the age of majority though she has not had her courses and it is with such exceptional cases that this verse deals. (Perhaps there are girls that do not get their period till in their mid teens even though they may have developed breasts and grown pubic hair). At any rate, there is no mention anywhere in the Qur’an or Tradition of minors being married or divorced. In Jurisprudence, however, the legality of the marriage of a minor when contracted by a lawful guardian is recognised.”
Muhammad Ali also points out that “there is no case on record showing that the marriage of a minor through his or her guardian was allowed by the Prophet after details of the law were revealed to him at Madinah.”-(The Religion Of Islam, p. 601).
Thus, Qur’an 65:4 about women “who have not had their courses” –or who “despair of menstruation”– are women whose pregnancy are not confirmed and are uncertain if they are pregnant (they may have missed a period or are late in having it and therefore are not certain if they are pregnant).
Islam does not specify a particular age for marriage (and there is none in the Bible either); but Allah has given us the guideline which it identifies with the age of majority: “And test the orphans until they reach the marriage (nikah). Then if you find in them maturity of intellect, make over to them their property, and consume it not extravagantly and hastily, against their growing up”–(Qur’an 4:6). Thus, “the age of marriage and the age of maturity of intellect are identified with full age or the age of majority.” (See Age of sexual consent).
In contrast. as shown it is the Bible that allows sex with pre-pubescent girls.
Even if Qur’anic verses opposing sex with female war-captives outside of marriage were not yet revealed at the time Muslims took these captives, then, given that unless and until he received Divine Revelation in a matter the Prophet Mohammad followed the Bible, if Muslims engaged in sex with captive women and pre-pubescent girls they were only following what the Bible –Judaism and Christianity– allows.
Why then crab at Mohammad/Muslims for doing what Judaism and Christianity sanction?
45. Qur’an 66:5 tells wife she can be replaced: “Maybe, his Lord, if he divorce you, will give him in your place wives better than you, submissive, faithful, obedient, penitent, adorers, fasters, widows and virgins” –(Qur’an 66:5).
Response: Since a Muslim wife has rights as those against her, and as marriage is a contract, a Muslim husband also can be replaced–(Qur’an 2:228; 4:21; 4:128-130; 2:229; Bokhari Vol. 7, #197).
Can’t a Christian and other non-Muslim wife also be replaced?In fact whereas Allāh regards divorce as a shameful deed and only allows it after all avenues of reconcilement have been exhausted, Christian wives can be replaced even if the husband is not pleased with her hygiene or for any other reason he fancies:
-“When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he had FOUND SOME UNCLEANNESS in her: then let him WRITE HER A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT, and give it in her hand, and SEND HER OUT OF HIS HOUSE….And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand….Her former husband which sendeth her away, may NOT take her again to be his wife, after that she is DEFILED; for that is ABOMINATION BEFORE THE LORD”–(Deut.24:1-4. Talk about “easy” divorce. This takes the crown.
-“But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of unchastity (“fornication” in another translation), makes her COMMIT ADULTERY; and WHOEVER MARRIES A DIVORCED WOMAN COMMITS ADULTERY;” “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another COMMITS ADULTERY; and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband COMMITS ADULTERY”–(Matt. 5:32; Luke 16:18. A survey should be carried out to learn how many such “adulterers” there are in Christendom. Also how many Muslim wives are “replaced” compare to Christian wives being “replaced”).
Allāh reveals that He created man and woman to be mates of the other; that he has put love and mercy and compassion between them; that they are friends and protectors of one another; and that husbands and wives are garments of the other –to protect, comfort, beautify and conceal faults. Thus it is preposterous to claim that the Muslim husband’s “faithfulness” to his wife was never a divine order from Allāh; and that fear and distrust is ever-present in the mind of the Muslim wife. (See WOMEN).
This verse of Qur’an 66:5 is in reference to the Prophet’s wives making demands for worldly goods, which is in reference to Qur’an 33:28-29: “O Prophet say to thy wives, if you desire this world’s life and its adornments, come, I will give you a provision and allow you depart a goodly departing. And if you desire Allāh and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter, then surely Allāh has prepared for the doers of good among you a mighty reward.” (SeeNONIE DARWISH item # 99).
In contrast to Islam which allows the woman to initiate divorce and remarry, as noted above the Christian’s God and son of God, Jesus, says whoever puts away his wife except for “fornication” causes her to commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. Thus, fear of being left to molt away her beautiful and youthful self in a pleasure-less life or risk being labeled “adulteress” from earth all the way to the Hereafter and in Hell is ever-present in the mind of the” Christian “wife, who even if her husband never marries another, must thank her lucky stars for her husband’s faithfulness. His faithfulness was never a divine order from” Yahweh/Jehovah/Jesus, as she could have been sold by her father into slavery, is decreed to be ruled over by her husband and in all subjection, is only an object of sexual release to avoid fornication and is a “defiler” and betrayer of man. (See CHRISTIANITY-WOMEN OF).
Whereas Muslims are expected to live together in harmony till death, Allāh knowing human frailties He enjoin that in the event that the partners should separate that they are to do so amicably and in good friendship–(Qur’an 2:229). In contrast, as stated, Christianity yokes the woman to a life of misery and suffering “till death” or risk being burdened by the millstone of “adulteress” (and even to be stoned to death as adulterers are to be) all the way into hell.
46. Qur’an 98:6 some non-Muslims destined for Hell: “Those who disbelieve from among the People of the Book and the idolaters, will be in the Fire of Hell, abiding therein. They are the worst of creatures.”
Response: We will have to wait for the Hereafter to know if it is true that the disbelievers and the idolaters will be in the Fire of Hell, abiding therein.
And, never mind the disbelievers and idolaters, Jesus (the Christian’s God and son of God) said that those who even call others “fool” will go to Hell: “but whoever shall say Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire”–(Matt. 5:22. Interestingly, Jesus himself calls the Jews “fools” which would mean that, by his own words, Jesus also is heading for hell–Matt. 23:19).
And Jesus said that this hell is an “everlasting” “furnace of fire” that “never shall be quenched” and in which there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (those who do not have teeth shall bear it on their gums).Moreover, Jesus not only poured the blood from Abel to Barachias into the hands of Jews, he also consigned them to the greater damnation of hell; (incidentally, is this Biblical “hate speech” of Jews? Is this “anti-Semitism”?)
The Qur’an consists of, exceeds, and supersedes all other Scriptures. Since no one can dispute Mohammad’s claim to Divine Messengership and since no religion can be shown to be superior to, or equal with, Islam then what reason can one have for not accepting Islam/Mohammad? Are such rejecters then not “the worst of creatures”? How rightly then Allāh says: “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”–(Qur’an 3:84). And the Prophet Mohammad is reported to have said that a Jew or Christian (from the shepherd down to the sheep) who rejects him will go to Hell–(Muslim Vol. 1; #284).
(While all prophets were Muslims –submitting to the will of God– and taught Islam –submission to God– their teachings were limited to their respective people and for a limited time. No one gave the name of a religion or claimed his mission to be final; but rather spoke of a great teacher yet to come who all are to follow and who will guide into “all truth”–Deut. 18:15, 18-19; John 14:16; 16:13. This is because Islam was perfected and God’s favor to man was completed only through the Prophet Mohammad: “This day have I perfected for you your religion and competed My favor to you and chosen for you Islam as a religion”–(Qur’an 5:3). Not only are all previous Scriptures now obsolete but there is no wisdom in following a book or person that did not give “all truth.” Moreover, since the original of those Books are not with us, and those that are with us have been adulterated. The Bible itself conveys that it has been falsified; God revealed to the prophet Jeremiah to convey to the people:“How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie”–Jeremiah 8:8. New American Standard Bible, 1985 edition. See also BIBLE).
*
NONIE DARWISH, an apostate from Islam to Christianity, suggested in her book Cruel and Usual Punishment that a petition be presented to the American Congress “to require a disclaimer on all Muslim books sold in America; that includes every Qur’an, Hadith, or Sharia book and any text book that has verses or hadiths commanding the killing of apostates or non-Muslims. The disclaimer should read something like this:
“The calls for murder and violent jihad in this book are only metaphorical and should not be acted up against modern day Jews, Christians, atheists, or former Muslims. Any act of violence on the basis of such scriptures will be prosecuted under the law under the hate-crime laws of the United States of America.” (p. 228)
Response: The Qur’an/Allāh/Islam does not call for the “murder” of anyone. Prove that it does! There is no “violent jihad;” Jihad and violence are incompatible. (See JIHAD for its various forms).
Muslims do not need an arrogant, ignorant, self-aggrandizing Twentieth-century woman to dictate and impose on us which part(s) of the Qur’an is “metaphorical” and which is literal. Allāh, the All-Knowing Revealer informs us about this in the Seventh century in His Qur’an 3:7: “He it is Who has revealed the Book to thee; some of its verses are decisive — they are the basis of the Book — and others are allegorical. Then those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead, and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. And none knows its interpretation save Allāh, and those firmly rooted in knowledge. They say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord. And none mind except men of understanding.”
-There is nothing “metaphorical” about Jews scheming and kicking Palestinians out of their homes and lands and occupying Palestine, and slaughtering them to hold onto it.
-There is nothing “metaphorical” about America stealing Palestine (through diplomatic thuggery at the U.N.) for Jews, and for more than six torturous decades have been aiding in this monumental and grotesque obscenity against the fearless and forbearing Palestinians.
-There is nothing “metaphorical” about America running around like a “wild ass of a man” to control Muslim’s lands and oil (there is nothing “metaphorical” about America overthrowing some fourteen foreign governments –Hawaii; Cuba; Philippines; Puerto Rico; Nicaragua; Honduras; Iran; Guatemala; South Vietnam; Chile; Grenada; Panama; Afghanistan; Iraq– as noted on the Internet, to protect her “interest”).
And unless and until every grain of sand of Palestine is returned to Muslims and unless and until America ends her running around like a “wild ass of a man” to control Muslim lands and oil, Muslims have every right and all rights and the Highest Authority –the Divine Authority– to undertake the armed noble Jihad against America (not civilians) and the Jewish occupiers of Palestine. And whether Muslims live or die in this endeavor Jannah/Paradise is ours. And Jannah/Paradise is no “metaphor”! PALESTINEis the moral, social, historical and spiritual heritage of Palestinians and all Muslims. Any Muslim who acquiesces to this foreign domination of Palestine is a traitor to Allāh and His noble Messenger; and will have to account for his/her betrayal.
What you (Nonie Darwish, and Christians) need to do is put your face into your Bible and wail and gnash your teeth over its LITERAL commands to enslave “heathen;” to sell children and deal in human trafficking–
–“Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you… Moreover, of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you…And ye shall take them for an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; THEY SHALL BE YOUR BONDMEN FOREVER”–(Lev. 25:44-46);
–“And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out (be freed) as the menservants do”–(Exod. 21:7);
-“And I will SELL your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall SELL them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it”–(Joel 3:8);
–and to wipe out everything that breathes just to occupy their lands; to slaughter all males, even little boys, and matron women and corral all the prepubescent “virgin” girls as SEX SLAVES; and over its brutal and rabid misogyny–CHRISTIANITY-WOMEN.
Regarding forcing Islam onto people, Allāh already has this “disclaimer”:
-“There is no compulsion in religion”–(Qur’an 2:256)
-“Clear proofs have indeed come to you from your Lord; so whoever sees, it is for his own good; and whoever is blind, it is to his own harm. And I am not a keeper over you”–(Qur’an 6:105)
-“And if thy Lord had pleased, all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them. Wilt thou then force men till they are believers?”–(Qur’an 10:99)
-“Call to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the best manner. Surely thy Lord knows best him who strays from His path, and He knows best those who go aright”–(Qur’an 16:125)
-“And say: The Truth is from your Lord; so let him who please believe, and let him who please disbelieve”–(Qur’an 18:29)
-“and say: I believe in what Allāh has revealed of the Book, and I am commanded to do justice between you. Allāh is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds; and for you your deeds. There is no contention between us and you”–(Qur’an 42:15)
-“We know best what they say, and thou art not one to compel them. So remind by means of the Qur’an him who fears My warning”–(Qur’an 50:45
-“We have truly shown him the way; he may be thankful or unthankful”–(Qur’an 76:3)
-“Say: O disbelievers, I serve not what you serve, Nor do you serve Him Whom I serve, Nor shall I serve that which ye serve, Nor do you serve Him Whom I serve. For you is your recompense and for me my recompense”–(Qur’an 109:1-6).
In contrast, what you, Ms. Darwish (and your fellows-in-cause), critically need to do is have the following pledge inserted at the beginning of the U.S. Constitution:
WE PLEDGE IN THE NAME OF GOD TO
OUR ETERNAL DAMNATION FOR VIOLATION
-We will not covet Muslims’ lands and oil and/or their other resource(s) and seek to exploit and/or control them
-We will not fabricate lie(s) or engage in deception(s) to bomb other nations for whatever reason(s)
-We will not overthrow any foreign government(s) that we do not like or that is not favorable to us; nor will we finance or support in any way any such action(s)
-We will not assassinate or be part of the assassination of any individual(s) in a foreign land
SO HELP US GOD
And have the following disclaimer placed on the cover of every Bible of every denomination and at the entrance of every Church of every denomination in the world:
BE AWARE–THE BIBLE
-God or Jesus did not say that mankind inherited sin from Adam/Eve. To say that God put Adam’s/Eve’s sin onto others is to attribute injustice to God
-God or Jesus did not say He sent Jesus to be killed for mankind’s sin(s). To say that God had Jesus killed for peoples’ sin(s) is to make God complicit in murder. John 3:16 is NOT about vicarious atonement; it is about miracles, much like the brass serpent of Moses had miraculous power –read chapter 3 from verse one. God says: “The father shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but EVERY MAN SHALL DIE FOR HIS OWN SIN”–(Deut; 24:16; Ezek; 18:20. 2 Chr. 25:4).
-God or Jesus did not say that God incarnated Himself as Jesus. To say that God incarnated Himself as Jesus is to say that God was in Mary’s womb and came out her vagina. Mary could not be mother of God seeing that she was created by God and that God is the First and Creator of all and could not have a mother. God des not need to take forms to go any place or to do any thing: God is Omnipresent and Omnipotent.
-God does not need to eat butter and honey in order to know to choose the good and avoid the evil. God is Omniscient–(Isaiah 7:14-15).
-Jesus is NOT God. Only the NAME “Immanuel,” which Christians attribute to Jesus, is “interpreted” to mean God with us–(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).
-Jesus is NOT son of God. He is only CALLED son of God–(Luke 1:35). God has several sons and daughters: Adam–(Luke 3:38); Solomon–(1 Chr. 28:6); David is begotten son of God–(Psalm 2:7); Israel–(Ex. 4:22); Ephraim–(Jer. 31:9); Children of Israel–(Hosea 1:10); Peacemakers–(Matt. 5:9); The Righteous–(John 1:12; Romans 8:14; 1 John 3:1-2); All the sons of God–(Gen. 6:1-2; Job 38:7); Satan also is son of God–(Job 1:6).
-Jesus did not say to teach the Gospels to all nations. The verses of Mark 16:9-20 and Matthew 28:19 are forgeries in the Bible.
-God sent Jesus ONLY FOR JEWS: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”–(Matt. 10:5-6). “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”–(Matt. 15:24). “I pray for them (Jews): I pray not for the world”–(John 17:9). “Ye (Samaritans) worship ye know not what: we (Jews) know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews”–(John 4:21). In fact, Jesus’ mission was so solely and wholly to the Israelites that he considered non-Jews as “dogs” and “swine” and preached in parables so that the non-Jews would not understand and be saved: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine;” “And he (Jesus) said unto them (his followers), Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them (non-Jews) that are without (God), all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them”–(Matt. 7:6; 15:26; Mark 4:9-12). And bear in mind that
“God’s anger is revealed from heaven
against all the sin and evil of the people
WHOSE EVIL WAYS PREVENT
THE TRUTH FROM BEING KNOWN”
(Rom. 1:18).
BE AWARE
BLIND FAITH IS NO PASSPORT TO PARADISE
–REASON IS THE DOOR TO GOD–
(ISAIAH 1:18)
“Like the devil when he says to
man: Disbelieve.
But when he disbelieves,
he (the Devil) says: I am free of thee:
surely I fear Allāh, the Lord of the worlds.”
(Qur’an 59:16)
(Invariably, whenever the above verse comes to mind my thoughts are drawn to the Pope. Wondering if in the privacy of his chambers he bows down to Allāh).
*
NOTES
1. Ismail Zayid, Palestine, A Stolen Heritage, p. 33; (From a letter written by a student) Published in “Haolam Haze,” an Israeli newspaper, (issue 1594) and quoted in “Israel Imperial News,” October, 1968. The entire letter states:
“I am a pupil in a college in Be’er Sheva. I don’t want trouble. The director of the office of education will not like my letter; therefore I am not signing my full name.
The problem: KHUZARI BOOK, which is approved by the office of education. In the introduction to the book Dr. Tzifroni writes:
“The nation of Israel is a chosen nation because of its race, its education and the climate of the land in which it was brought up. The race of the Israeli people is the most superior of all races”. I think that these sentences require no explanation.
Mira, Be’er Sheva.”
2. 1 Kings 11:3; 2 Chr. 11:21.
3.Muhammad In The Bible, pp. 257-263. See JESUS-SON OF MAN.
4. Muhammad Ali, The Early Caliphate, p. 41.
5. See Qur’an 12:92 for this saying of the prophet Joseph. Quote taken from Muhammad Ali.
6. The Bible commands:
“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is NOT PERMITTED UNTO THEM TO SPEAK; but they are COMMANDED to be under obedience, as also saith the LAW. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at HOME: FOR IT IS A SHAME FOR WOMEN TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH”–(1 Cor. 14:34-35. Today this law is violated and women are preachers in the Church). Clearly, permission to employ whatever methods are necessary to “rule” over the wife and to bring/keep her in “silence and in “all subjection’ are inherent and enshrined in these words of God and Paul. To take the matter further, authority for employing corporal punishment to discipline the rebellious wife who does not desire to be “ruled” over in “silence” and “all subjection” may be gleaned from the Biblical verses on child-rearing. God (and as Christians say Jesus is God, then Jesus) says: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes;” “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying;” “Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beatest him with the rod, he shall not die, Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell” (and without doubt every “Christian” husband wants to deliver his stubborn/rebellious wife’s “soul from hell”)–(Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 23:13-14). A Bishop is to be “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with ALL GRAVITY”–(1 Tim. 3:4). Even God beats and scourges His sons into obedience and those who are not are “bastards”: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be WITHOUT CHASTISEMENT, whereof all are partakers, then are ye BASTARDS, and NOT SONS”–(Hebrews 12:6-8). Thus one can imagine what latitude the Christian husband is allowed to bring/keep his wayward wife in all subjection and for him to become a “Bishop” and even to get into heaven to sit “on the right hand of God.” A survey of wives of all Christian sects can be conducted to find out how many were “beaten” into “silence” and “all subjection”).
7. NONIE DARWISH, Cruel And Usual Punishment, p. xxx.
8. Matt. 5:17-18
9. Matt. 23:2-3
10. Luke 6:29.
11. Exodus 21:24.
12. Lev. 20:10/John 8:5.
13. The Religion Of Islam, p. 600.
14. Ibid; p. 601.