Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers (11 page)
Read Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers Online
Authors: C.J. Werleman
[2:87] We gave Moses the scripture, and subsequent to him we sent other messengers, and we gave Jesus, son of Mary, profound miracles and supported him with the Holy Spirit. Is it not a fact that every time a messenger went to you with anything you disliked, your ego caused you to be arrogant? Some of them you rejected, and some of them you killed.
Muhammad tries to convince the Jews of Medina he has received the same guidance and instructions as the prophets before him, including Abraham and Moses, and therefore, they should follow him as a prophet.
The following verse underpins precisely the manner in which Muhammad saw his duty, to bring the word of God to the Arab speaking populace:
[2:129] “Our Lord, and raise among them a messenger to recite to them Your revelations, teach them the scripture and wisdom, and purify them. You are the Almighty, Most Wise.”
Further, Muhammad explains that Christians and Jews may continue the practicing of their faith.
[2:136] Say, “We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters.”
When the Jews of Medina continued to mock him and refuse him as a prophet, Muhammad, in turn, gave Islam its independence from Judaism in moving the direction of Muslim prayers away from the Temple in Jerusalem, and towards the Kaaba in Mecca.
[2:144] We have seen you turning your face about the sky (searching for the right direction). We now assign a Qiblah that is pleasing to you. Henceforth, you shall turn your face towards the Sacred Masjid. Wherever you may be, all of you shall turn your faces towards it. Those who received the previous scripture know that this is the truth from their Lord. GOD is never unaware of anything they do.
In this large chunk of verses, practical measures are prescribed to Muslims in order to better follow Muhammad’s guidance. In many ways it reads as a ‘How to be a Good Muslim’. Dispensing laws, rules, and regulations for drinking, money lending, gambling, political discourse, and inter-faith relations. Further, he denounces paganism in all forms.
It is in these verses that we also encounter the philosophy of jihad, and Muhammad stipulates justifications for attacking opponents of their faith.
[2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors.
[2:191] You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers.
[2:216] Fighting may be imposed on you, even though you dislike it. But you may dislike something which is good for you, and you may like something which is bad for you. GOD knows while you do not know.
Muhammad also references the time his soldiers disobeyed his orders in attacking a caravan during a holy month.
[2:217] They ask you about the Sacred Months and fighting therein: say, “Fighting therein is a sacrilege. However, repelling from the path of GOD and disbelieving in Him and in the sanctity of the Sacred Masjid, and evicting its people, are greater sacrileges in the sight of GOD. Oppression is worse than murder.” They will always fight you to revert you from your religion, if they can. Those among you who revert from their religion, and die as disbelievers, have nullified their works in this life and the Hereafter. These are the dwellers of Hell, wherein they abide forever.
Muhammad makes it clear that it is an abomination for a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman. More liberal scholars argue that Muhammad was fine with the idea of Muslim men marrying Jews or Christians (“people of the book”), but when we examine the context of this against the contents of the hadith, it is apparent that Muhammad gave permission for his followers to marry the “people of the book” only at such time when Islam was the dominant religion in the region. But never in any circumstance is it ok for a Muslim to marry a polytheist or pagan believer.
[2:221] Do not marry idolatresses unless they believe; a believing woman is better than an idolatress, even if you like her. Nor shall you give your daughters in marriage to idolatrous men, unless they believe. A believing man is better than an idolater, even if you like him. These invite to Hell, while GOD invites to Paradise and forgiveness, as He wills. He clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may take heed.
When it comes to divorce, Muhammad stipulates the following terms:
[2:229] Divorce may be retracted twice. The divorced woman shall be allowed to live in the same home amicably, or leave it amicably. It is not lawful for the husband to take back anything he had given her. However, the couple may fear that they may transgress GOD’s law. If there is fear that they may transgress GOD’s law, they commit no error if the wife willingly gives back whatever she chooses. These are GOD’s laws; do not transgress them. Those who transgress GOD’s laws are the unjust.
[2:231] If you divorce the women, once they fulfill their interim (three menstruations), you shall allow them to live in the same home amicably, or let them leave amicably. Do not force them to stay against their will, as a revenge. Anyone who does this wrongs his own soul. Do not take GOD’s revelations in vain. Remember GOD’s blessings upon you, and that He sent down to you the scripture and wisdom to enlighten you. You shall observe GOD, and know that GOD is aware of all things.
These verses concern themselves with the rewards of belief and the punishment of non-belief.
[2:257] GOD is Lord of those who believe; He leads them out of darkness into the light. As for those who disbelieve, their lords are their idols; they lead them out of the light into darkness - these will be the dwellers of Hell; they abide in it forever.
These verses warn and prohibit against the evil of lending money that is attached to interest. Moreover, he stresses the importance of acting ethically and honestly with all business transactions.
[2:282] O you who believe, when you transact a loan for any period, you shall write it down. An impartial scribe shall do the writing. No scribe shall refuse to perform this service, according to GOD’s teachings. He shall write, while the debtor dictates the terms. He shall observe GOD his Lord and never cheat. If the debtor is mentally incapable, or helpless, or cannot dictate, his guardian shall dictate equitably. Two men shall serve as witnesses; if not two men, then a man and two women whose testimony is acceptable to all. Thus, if one woman becomes biased, the other will remind her. It is the obligation of the witnesses to testify when called upon to do so. Do not tire of writing the details, no matter how long, including the time of repayment. This is equitable in the sight of GOD, assures better witnessing, and eliminates any doubts you may have. Business transactions that you execute on the spot need not be recorded, but have them witnessed. No scribe or witness shall be harmed on account of his services. If you harm them, it would be wickedness on your part. You shall observe GOD, and GOD will teach you. GOD is Omniscient.
The sura finishes with a prayer.
[2:286] GOD never burdens a soul beyond its means: to its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits. “Our Lord, do not condemn us if we forget or make mistakes. Our Lord, and protect us from blaspheming against You, like those before us have done. Our Lord, protect us from sinning until it becomes too late for us to repent. Pardon us and forgive us. You are our Lord and Master. Grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
This sura was revealed to Muhammad in Medina during the third year of the hajj.
So who was Imran? Well, he is said to have been the father of Mary. Yes, that Mary, the purported mother of Jesus.
This sura was recited in four parts:
1. Verses 1 – 32: shortly after the Battle of Badr.
2. Verses 33 – 63: after meeting with the Christians of Najran in the 9
th
year after the Hajj.
3. Verses 64 – 120: written soon after the opening verses.
4. Verses 121 – 200: written after the Battle of Uhd.
Now, in reading this sura, it’s important to revisit its context. We recall the Battle of Badr, where the Muslims of Medina defeated the Quraysh of Mecca. Well, the joy of victory on the battlefield didn’t last long, however, as word spread throughout Arabia that the Muslims were a force to be reckoned. To this end, the Muslims felt their existence and future was perilous, and naturally this caused great anxiety.
Furthermore, the Jewish clans of Medina began to openly refute Muhammad, and even went so far as to signal the Meccans they were willing to join them in any reprisal attacks against Muhammad’s Muslims. This was a breach of the treaty the prophet had signed with the Jewish clans, and Muhammad had them exiled. Unsurprisingly, Mecca rallied its forces for another attack on Mecca a mere twelve months after the defeat at Badr. Muhammad took three thousand of his men to battle the Meccans at Uhd, but on the march to the battlefield, more than 300 men (hypocrites) deserted Muhammad’s army. So the Muslims were not only dealing with external enemies but also from saboteurs within.
The introductory verses contain the usual proclamations of God’s might and fury, revelation, and rewards for believers.
[3:2] GOD: there is no god except He; the Living, the Eternal.
[3:3] He sent down to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming all previous scriptures, and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel
[3:4] before that, to guide the people, and He sent down the statute book. Those who disbelieve in GOD’s revelations incur severe retribution. GOD is Almighty, Avenger.
In verse 28 Muhammad warns Muslims not to make friendships with non-Muslims.
[3:28] The believers never ally themselves with the disbelievers, instead of the believers. Whoever does this is exiled from GOD. Exempted are those who are forced to do this to avoid persecution. GOD alerts you that you shall reverence Him alone. To GOD is the ultimate destiny.
Contained within these verses is an invitation to Christians to submit to Islam. Muhammad chastises the Jews for their mocking of Jesus, while simultaneously ridicules the notion of Jesus’ divinity.
[3:45] The angels said, “O Mary, GOD gives you good news: a Word from Him whose name is ‘The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary. He will be prominent in this life and in the Hereafter, and one of those closest to Me.’
[3:46] “He will speak to the people from the crib, as well as an adult; he will be one of the righteous.”
[3:47] She said, “My Lord, how can I have a son, when no man has touched me?” He said, “GOD thus creates whatever He wills. To have anything done, He simply says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.
[3:48] “He will teach him the scripture, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel.”
[3:49] As a messenger to the Children of Israel: “I come to you with a sign from your Lord - I create for you from clay the shape of a bird, then I blow into it, and it becomes a live bird by GOD’s leave. I restore vision to the blind, heal the leprous, and I revive the dead by GOD’s leave. I can tell you what you eat, and what you store in your homes. This should be a proof for you, if you are believers.
Muhammad specifically invites the Jews to forgo their “sinister ways” of plotting against him, and to accept him as a true prophet of God.
[3:66] You have argued about things you knew; why do you argue about things you do not know? GOD knows, while you do not know.
[3:67] Abraham was neither Jewish, nor Christian; he was a monotheist submitter. He never was an idol worshiper.
[3:71] O followers of the scripture, why do you confound the truth with falsehood, and conceal the truth, knowingly?
Muhammad warns the Muslims to learn the mistakes made by the Jews, as told in the Bible. They must be ever vigilant against succumbing to temptation and idolatry.
