QUR'AN
(The Recitation)
An Objective look at the Islamic
Holy text
Most Americans, myself included, care more about what our own government is doing and trying to build the best lives we can for ourselves and our families rather than who someone prays to or believes in, or not. Regardless of what political, social or spiritual ideology we embrace, we all have one thing that we care more about than ourselves. We care about our children's futures. So the question I've been asking myself is; Why are so-called radicalized Muslims ready to sacrifice themselves, family and even their children to strike at others. We have all seen posts online from people claiming to quote the Qur'an in what seem to be inflammatory posts designed to elicit the worst possible outcome from non-Muslims. I've decided to educate myself on the subject and I hope you'll have this experience with me.
My intent is go through the Qur'an from beginning to end. Relax, I'm not going to post the entire Qur'an for you. As I good through the text, I will present my impressions of what I've read, include quotes and discuss to the best of my ability what good sense tells me. So let's get started.
The Qur'an (kor-AHN) literally meaning "The Recitation" is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the only book that has been protected by God from distortion or corruption. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was verbally revealed from God (Allah) to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Jibril), gradually over approximately 23 years, beginning on December 22 609 CE (AD) and concluding in 632 CE. The Qur'an contains 114 chapters.
The first is AL-Fatiha (The Opening) As the name suggests, it is an opening set of seven prayers to Allah. For example;
YUSUFALI: In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
SHAKIR: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
The chapter is very short. It compliments Allah and asks for his help.
The next is Al-Baqara (The Cow) It opens with a simple and honorable salutation and contains 286 prayers. The first few prayers proclaim; the Qur'an to be "the book", "without doubt", and the believers to be honored and holy. Nothing unusual for any religious text. Prayer seven holds a more ominous sound to it but may be a reference to the punishment of Allah in the afterlife. Read for yourself.
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YUSUFALI: Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur).
PICKTHAL: Allah hath sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom.
SHAKIR: Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing and there is a covering over their eyes, and there is a great punishment for them.
YUSUFALI: Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur).
PICKTHAL: Allah hath sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom.
SHAKIR: Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing and there is a covering over their eyes, and there is a great punishment for them.
The Christian Bible contains quite severe warnings for us as well. Following prayers contain further admonitions about basic sins. Prayer 002.033 begins to talk about Adam. The narrative is extremely similar to the Adam & Eve story in the Bible, including a warning about the tree. It even contains references to his wife and Satan's temptation. Moving on, Allah talks to the children of Israel, the same removed from bondage at the hands of the Pharaohs by Moses (also mentioned). It describes Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. In the Qur'an it is called Scripture and the Criterion (Between right and wrong). However, I notice something interesting in the use of "We" in this context.
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YUSUFALI: And remember We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion (Between right and wrong): There was a chance for you to be guided aright.
PICKTHAL: And when We gave unto Moses the Scripture and the criterion (of right and wrong), that ye might be led aright.
SHAKIR: And when We gave Musa the Book and the distinction that you might walk aright.
YUSUFALI: And remember We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion (Between right and wrong): There was a chance for you to be guided aright.
PICKTHAL: And when We gave unto Moses the Scripture and the criterion (of right and wrong), that ye might be led aright.
SHAKIR: And when We gave Musa the Book and the distinction that you might walk aright.
These prayers are written as though Allah is talking to them. So it's unusual to see "we" used like this. It is present in prayers before and after this. As I read on, I can't help but notice the similarities to the Old Testament in the Bible. There does appear to be a disconnect of any adherence to a timeline. In the following quote you will see Jesus mentioned quite prominently.
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YUSUFALI: We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride?- Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay!
PICKTHAL: And verily We gave unto Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), and We supported him with the Holy spirit. Is it ever so, that, when there cometh unto you a messenger (from Allah) with that which ye yourselves desire not, ye grow arrogant, and some ye disbelieve and some ye slay?
SHAKIR: And most certainly We gave Musa the Book and We sent messengers after him one after another; and We gave Isa, the son of Marium, clear arguments and strengthened him with the holy spirit, What! whenever then a messenger came to you with that which your souls did not desire, you were insolent so you called some liars and some you slew.
YUSUFALI: We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride?- Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay!
PICKTHAL: And verily We gave unto Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), and We supported him with the Holy spirit. Is it ever so, that, when there cometh unto you a messenger (from Allah) with that which ye yourselves desire not, ye grow arrogant, and some ye disbelieve and some ye slay?
SHAKIR: And most certainly We gave Musa the Book and We sent messengers after him one after another; and We gave Isa, the son of Marium, clear arguments and strengthened him with the holy spirit, What! whenever then a messenger came to you with that which your souls did not desire, you were insolent so you called some liars and some you slew.
In the following prayer we find the reason for facing East during prayers.
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YUSUFALI: We see the turning of thy face (for guidance to the heavens: now Shall We turn thee to a Qibla that shall please thee. Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque: Wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the Book know well that that is the truth from their Lord. Nor is Allah unmindful of what they do.
YUSUFALI: We see the turning of thy face (for guidance to the heavens: now Shall We turn thee to a Qibla that shall please thee. Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque: Wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the Book know well that that is the truth from their Lord. Nor is Allah unmindful of what they do.
We begin to see the Qur'an spelling out duties of Muslims in the following:
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YUSUFALI: It is prescribed, when death approaches any of you, if he leave any goods that he make a bequest to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable usage; this is due from the Allah-fearing.
PICKTHAL: It is prescribed for you, when death approacheth one of you, if he leave wealth, that he bequeath unto parents and near relatives in kindness. (This is) a duty for all those who ward off (evil).
SHAKIR: Bequest is prescribed for you when death approaches one of you, if he leaves behind wealth for parents and near relatives, according to usage, a duty (incumbent) upon those who guard (against evil).
YUSUFALI: It is prescribed, when death approaches any of you, if he leave any goods that he make a bequest to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable usage; this is due from the Allah-fearing.
PICKTHAL: It is prescribed for you, when death approacheth one of you, if he leave wealth, that he bequeath unto parents and near relatives in kindness. (This is) a duty for all those who ward off (evil).
SHAKIR: Bequest is prescribed for you when death approaches one of you, if he leaves behind wealth for parents and near relatives, according to usage, a duty (incumbent) upon those who guard (against evil).
Continuing prayers provide for: only one God, those slain in the way of Allah are not dead (life after death), admonitions about the Devil and evil spirits, requirements for fasting, observance of Ramadhan and self-restraint (Gluttony) and we find something very interesting.
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YUSUFALI: Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
PICKTHAL: Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.
SHAKIR: And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits.
YUSUFALI: Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
PICKTHAL: Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.
SHAKIR: And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits.
Although this clearly tells Muslims to fight for Allah, the third part of this prayer caught my attention. "Do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits". Those limits are explained a few prayers later.
YUSUFALI: And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.
PICKTHAL: And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.
SHAKIR: And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers.
YUSUFALI: But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: But if they desist, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: But if they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
YUSUFALI: And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression.
PICKTHAL: And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.
This is clearly defining some of the restraints to fighting for Allah. It is also Allah's blessing to kill without fear or regret.
I started this entry with the intent of going through the entire Qur'an to find some answers. Although I have not reviewed all of the remaining chapters, I did skim through more and I believe I have a better understanding of why Muslim Terrorists are doing these terrible things and continuing seems pointless. So I will end this with my attempt to explain why Muslim Terrorists continue and my belief that the term "Radicalized Islamist/Extremist" is a misnomer.
Starting from "who started it" is a waste of time simply because terrorists don't care who started it. In both the Bible and the Qur'an, there is an identical message; An eye for an eye. If you kill a man, a life is required. Kill a village, a town, where does it end? The Bible at least offers hope in this situation by providing the "Turn the other cheek" mantra. For a believer with a murderous chip on his shoulder, "And fight them on until there is no more Tumult of oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah" this is the only thing a nut with a desire to kill needs to justify their actions. Waging war against us is not the only thing on which the Qur'an provides clear instructions. Beating women is carefully explained. It's about there I decided enough was enough.
Armed with faith, instructions from Allah and the belief that oppression exists, IS the reason for their actions. It is also why using either term of "Radicalized Muslim" or "Extremist" is a misnomer. For the term to be accurate, there would have to be a non-violent norm within the central belief system that refuses to participate in and at the bare minimum, admonishes the practice of Terrorism. The Qur'an spells out violence in the second chapter and beyond. The core of the belief system is that Allah is the only God and that God demands violence in his name. How can a devout Muslim claim to be non-violent according to what is written in this book?
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