How can the non muslims respect the Quran

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

A question for my muslim fellow human beings

How can the non muslims (KAFIRS) respect the Quran as a holy book when it is preaching to the muslims (believers) so much hatered and violence against the non muslims (KAFIRS)???

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YUSUFALI: Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): “I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.”
PICKTHAL: When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.
SHAKIR: When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

009.005
YUSUFALI: But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

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YUSUFALI: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
PICKTHAL: Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.
SHAKIR: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, 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.

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YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).
SHAKIR: O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).

Here are some of the verses, which are very very disturbing to a human being who’s only crime is that he does not believe in Islam or Mohammed. But even if one is an atheist, should he be killed for not believing in GOD?I find the 008:012 most distastefull and disturbing.

2

Sanjhabanda, thank you for your question.

A few selected verses from the Qur’an are often misquoted to perpetuate the myth that Islam promotes violence, and exhorts its followers to kill those outside the pale of Islam.

The answer to your post is exactly the same for each of the verses you have quoted. Therefore I will take one example i.e. your reference to Chapter 9, Verse 5.

The following verse from Surah Taubah is very often quoted by critics of Islam, to show that Islam promotes violence, bloodshed and brutality:

"Kill the mushriqeen (pagans, polytheists, kuffar) where ever you find them."
[Al-Qur’an 9:5]

Critics of Islam actually quote this verse out of context. In order to understand the context, we need to read from verse 1 of this surah. It says that there was a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Mushriqs (pagans) of Makkah. This treaty was violated by the Mushriqs of Makkah. A period of four months was given to the Mushriqs of Makkah to make amends. Otherwise war would be declared against them. Verse 5 of Surah Taubah says:

"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful."
[Al-Qur’an 9:5]

This verse is quoted during a battle.

We know that America was once at war with Vietnam. Suppose the President of America or the General of the American Army told the American soldiers during the war: "Wherever you find the Vietnamese, kill them". Today if I say that the American President said, "Wherever you find Vietnamese, kill them" without giving the context, I will make him sound like a butcher. But if I quote
him in context, that he said it during a war, it will sound very logical, as he was trying to boost the morale of the American soldiers during the war.

Similarly in Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 5 the Qur’an says, "Kill the Mushriqs where ever you find them", during a battle to boost the morale of the Muslim soldiers. What the Qur’an is telling Muslim soldiers is, don’t be afraid during battle; wherever you find the enemies kill them.

Arun Shourie is one of the staunchest critics of Islam in India. He quotes the same verse, Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 5 in his book ‘The World of Fatwahs’, on page 572. After quoting verse 5 he jumps to verse 7 of Surah Taubah. Any sensible person will realise that he has skipped verse 6.

Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 6 gives the answer to the allegation that Islam promotes violence, brutality and bloodshed. It says:

"If one amongst the pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure that is because they are men without knowledge."
[Al-Qur’an 9:6]

The Qur’an not only says that a Mushriq seeking asylum during the battle should be granted refuge, but also that he should be escorted to a secure place. In the present international scenario, even a kind, peace-loving army General, during a battle, may let the enemy soldiers go free, if they want peace. But which army General will ever tell his soldiers, that if the enemy soldiers want peace during a battle, don’t just let them go free, but also escort them to a place of security?

This is exactly what Allah (swt) says in the Glorious Qur’an to promote peace in the world.

Therefore, before taking verses from the Qur'an and trying to attach the wrong ideas to it, I suggest that you do your homework. For each of the verses you have referred to in your post has either been misqouted, mistranslated or it has been quoted completely out of context. For some of your references, all of these points are true.

They shoot partypoopers, don't they?

3

Samjhabanda:
You need to understand when and why these verses were revealed. You cannot just look at a few verses and say that islam promotes violence. Islam is not just a religion. It is a way of life. It is a social, political and economic system. It also tells us the codes and conducts of war. That's what this verse is about.
Do not scrutize Islam just by looking at a few verses of the Quran and misinterpreting them.

4

Thank you gentlemen for your explanations, after reading which I now know that a lot of the things in the Quran do not apply today.

If it says to go out and kill the pagans, idolators and non believers it was only for during the times when it was revealed, otherwise these verses do not apply in today's moderen times and the idolators and non believers have nothing to worry about.

5

sanjha, could you tell us where did you get those verses? Site, book[translated by]? Thanks.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

V~V~VHe came, He saw, He conqueredV~V~V**

6

Sanjhabanda.

Thankyou for the relative civility of your response.

I think that you may be too hasty in trying to reach conclusions based in the wrong context.

You say that much of Qur'an is out of date. Where did you get this idea from? From just these few verses which you quoted?

The many narrations in the Qur'an are there to provide examples on the role of methodology. Islam is not Machievellan as some would have you believe. There is a certain respectable way and method of doing things with regard to our religion. The Qur'an provides examples of this code of conduct. This verse is not out of date. No verse is out of date. This verse is relevant in full fledged war, because that is the context in which it applies directly.

Please respect our beliefs. I respect yours. That is why I forwarded material on the nature of God and Hinduism on this forum which is common to all our religions. I don't go around looking for mistakes in other peoples religion.

I'm sorry if the nature of some people on this forum have not respected you in the way I just mentioned.

They shoot partypoopers, don't they?

[This message has been edited by Mr Partypooper (edited October 18, 2000).]

7

sanjha banda..

i think you have a slight mis understanding of the explanation given by Mr Partypooper.

The same would be valid if say there was such an agreement (truce during war etc.) between the Muslims and non-muslims which was reneged by the other party.. the same response stands.. but so do all the conditions as were explained above.

So the comment stands.. till the end of time.

8

Yes offcourse
http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/islam12/

9

It seems plausible from the explainations given in this thread that the above mentioned verses were said in a particular context and it is not fair to judge their meanings without understanding the context. But the real question is that when religious leaders/Mullahs read these verses to the common muslims and excite them to be ready for jihad against the kuffar, do they explain the context? Do the common muslims understand the context? If those verses were said for that particular time in that particular situation what is the need to remember them now? recite them now? Isn't it to re-enforce in our minds what Allah's Messenger said and did in that particular situation so that we can copy his Sunah and behave/act/decide similarily? If so, then it means that we take inspiration and guidance from those verses in our present day and life which means it is not really time/situation sensitive verses but are effecting or guiding our decisions and behaviour now in this time.

It is interesting that when a non-muslim reads these verses without understanding the context our good friends complain and shout that it is being taken out of context but do they do the same when any of their fundamentalist friend reads these verses out of context? No. Mostly they applaud his high spirits and dedication.

Partypooper, it is interesting to note that in first post you argue that the verses are sensitive to a particular situation and can't be understood without understanding the situation but in the next post you come and say exactly opposite that these are for all time to come.

Example of President saying to kill Vietnamese was very ridiculous as President never claimed that he is saying this as God has told him to say it.
Of course two people in war would behave like that. Will try to kill eachother and take captives and give assylum to defectors and spies. Thats how the wars always have been even before God explicitly said so and always will be. What is so spiritual about it.

10

chanmahi ji

Well said, i could'nt have said it better than that myself.

As far as the then president of USA saying, kill the vietnamese during the vietnam war, I agree with you, if the then president was saying such things, he was not saying them because God had told him to say so. That apart, the vietnam war ended about 30 years ago, that's it, it was over and finished, you don't hear the citizens of USA repeating messages full of hatered about vietnamese saying that they should be killed, these days in year 2000, do you?

During the 2nd world war, I'm sure the people and armies were full of hatered for the Germans, Italian and Japanes and were most likely told to kill or arrest any of them. The 2nd world war ended more than 50 years ago, I admit that some people in UK from the older generation still have lot of hatered for the Germans and the Italians, but the new generation don't go round saying things such as kill the Germans or kill the Japanese, do they?

11

Originally posted by ChannMahi:
*But the real question is that when religious leaders/Mullahs read these verses to the common muslims and excite them to be ready for jihad against the kuffar, do they explain the context? Do the common muslims understand the context? *

Chan, there is a difference in a scholar, an aalim and a run of the mill mullah. Mullahs dont explain jack, they dont even understand the context themselves let alone explain it.
Same goes for common muslims, I dont think that majority of them understand the religion and the context of a lot of verses because they have never studied it with knowledgeable people and that directly relates to general illiteracy.

It is interesting that when a non-muslim reads these verses without understanding the context our good friends complain and shout that it is being taken out of context but do they do the same when any of their fundamentalist friend reads these verses out of context? No. Mostly they applaud his high spirits and dedication.

Chan I think its because of the perceived intent of the person, if someone is taking something out of context to put me in a bad light or because he/she do not understand I will try to correct them. however if someone who is educated and should know the conext but is obviously ignoring it, what good would my correcting do because obviously the person's intent was to use it out of conect for his/her own purpose.

12

ChannMahi and sanjhabanda,

I think you may have been confused on the meaning of my posts.

Partypooper, it is interesting to note that in first post you argue that the verses are sensitive to a particular situation and can't be understood without understanding the situation but in the next post you come and say exactly opposite that these are for all time to come.

Please tell me where the contradiction lies. Or are you confusing me with blackzero's response?

*Example of President saying to kill Vietnamese was very ridiculous as President never claimed that he is saying this as God has told him to say it.
*

Hmmm... and your point is? You have to tell me why this wrecks my argument completely. What are the implications of this point you are stressing on?

Of course two people in war would behave like that. Will try to kill eachother and take captives and give assylum to defectors and spies. Thats how the wars always have been even before God explicitly said so and always will be. What is so spiritual about it.

I know I'm pretty stupid... but I'm confused. What is it exactly that we are disagreeing about then?

They shoot partypoopers, don't they?