In reading and watching events of the Middle East unfold in this day and age, one would be curious about The Holy Qur’an, or The Koran, being the holy book of the entire Islamic faith. We call the book holy, yet we see so many Muslims killing those of other faiths, sects, and themselves, all in the name of Allah. I have finally gotten myself to read this book, and what I have found both will and will not surprise you. There are many acts that many Islamic radicals are practicing that goes against the teachings of Muhammed and this book that he has written, dating from 610 to 635 C.E. (Common Era, the same as A.D.). The main question that we want to ask ourselves, which many Muslims claim is “Is Islam a religion of peace?”
I am aware that there are many different sects of Islam, but this essay only covers the holy book itself, so please bear with me on this.
This particular edition was translated by Maulana Muhammad Ali in 1917. This book has an introduction covering several topics, including war, peace, customs, and women’s rights (4:19, 4:32-35). Basically, it tells that Islam, in reality, is a religion of peace and tolerance (2:136, 137). The text has the original Arabic writing and script on the right hand side of the page, (sensible, because Arabic writing is from right to left) with the English translation on the left. There are 114 chapters in all, in order from the longest to the shortest, and footnotes are provided to explain the meaning of certain passages.
This is easy reading, but in order to fully understand the Koran, one must know the history of the region around the Arabian peninsula at the time when Muhammad founded the Muslim faith, and to what he was referring to in certain verses. There is a lot of ambiguity here.
This book is not in chronological order in terms of history. It is more in order of the size of each chapter, with as many as 286 verses on the second chapter (the first chapter, being the introduction has seven verses) and a few as three verses on the 110th chapter. Many of the teachings are repeated throughout the book as he writes for certain tribes in certain place, similar to the epistles of Paul in the New Testament.
Each chapter begins with an introduction by the translator, explaining the time and situation of the Muslims. Depending on the time and place, these Muslims were in conflicts with tribes of other beliefs. The purpose of that chapter was to tell them that they will prevail
There are footnotes explaining the historical significance behind certain verses, meaning that they don’t apply to everyday life, especially in these modern times. What I would recommend in reading this book is that there be a college course in studying it, along with the history of those times, and the biography of Muhammad himself, along with what the Arab culture was like before the advent of Muhammad and Islam. I would also recommend that you know the Bible, for much of it is mentioned in The Qur’an.
This book makes many references to The Bible, in both the Old Testament (and the Torah) and the New Testaments which they refer to as the Gospel. All of these prophets in all these scriptures are looked upon with the utmost respect. They are called the messengers of God, from Adam up to Jesus, with Muhammad being the last and final messenger, to which the Qur’an and the Islamic faith is based. In a way, the Qur’an and the Bible are a lot more similar than they are different.
One example is that in creation, rather than six days, the Qur’an says it took six periods (11:7), but it says that in the Bible that one day to the Lord is a thousand years to man (II Peter 3:8).
The prophets/messengers mentioned from the Bible: Adam, Noah, Lot, Abraham and his two sons Isaac (father of the Hebrews) and Ishmael (father of the Arabs), Isaac’s son Joseph, along with Moses, David, Jonah, and Jesus, and they are all highly respected (3:84, 85), but their stories here vary from the Bible. As an example, Lot’s wife did not leave Sodom and turn into a pillar of salt, she was simply left behind when it was destroyed due to her lack of faith (29:31-33).
Jesus was born of a virgin, not in a manger, but in an oasis, alone, as Mary sat against a palm tree A river was created by Allah/God just for her to quench her thirst, and dates dropped from a palm tree. When she return to her people, Jesus, as a baby, talked to the unbelievers (19:23-33). As a prophet, Jesus is looked upon as a messenger of God/Allah, but not the savior. He predicted the coming of Muhammad, who would be the last and foremost (61:6). They also believe that, although Jesus was crucified, he did not die on the cross, but was taken down after a while and survived (4:157)
Islam IS preached as the only true religion (3:19; 33:40), the religion of truth, and that it will spread. The Hebrews had their chance with Allah, but they failed, as did the Christians, so the “complete truth” was given to the Muslims. The Muslims also don’t like fact that the Jews are said to be the “chosen ones” to the exclusion of everyone else (62:6).
The Qur’an does tell a Muslim not to be friends with Christian or Jews (5:51), but has later been found to be in times of war only. It does permit friendship with non-threatening non-Muslims (60:8). The Qur’an does harshly criticize both the Jews and the Christians, however. It also preaches that Allah has no son, so that excludes Jesus (thought he is looked upon as Allah’s messenger, foretelling the “prophet coming after me,” being Muhammad (61:6).
It has to be remembered up until this time, 600 C.E., the Arabs had no monotheistic religion for the spread of Christianity during that time did not come into their part of the world. Muhammed felt that his people needed a monotheistic religion to establish their own identity. They were also fighting the Jews and the Christians during this era, so, in their own eyes, they were the persecuted, and the heroes. No tribe or individual is ever a villain in his own eyes. That must always be remembered.
What does the Qur’an really teach? How is it prevalent today?
First and foremost are the two foundations of Islam:
1. Pray to Allah. When praying, you have to be sincere.
2. Helping the poor.
Looking at radical groups such as ISIS and Al Qadea, and warring factions of Islam, such as the Shi’ites, the Sunnis, the Wahhabis, and others, that preach hatred, violence, revenge, it is surprising that none of this is in the Qur’an.
The Qur’an does not preach “an eye for an eye,” or capital punishment, no matter what the crime. It does, however, preach to cut off the hands of thieves (5:38), a custom that is still in practice today. It also preaches to whip adulterers and adulteresses (24:2), but these two are as far as severe punishments goes.
Alcohol and pork are forbidden.
Killing would be for self defense only, in times of war (2:190, 191; 22:39, 40), never in times of peace, never innocent people, and never people of other faiths. Also, show mercy to those who surrender (2:192, 193). Yes, The Qur’an taught religious tolerance, (2:136-137) and it was practiced in Istanbul in the Ottoman Empire, but Islam was still the top religion. This empire always looked to the west, as does Turkey today, though this may change.
What is surprising in this book is that it taught respect towards women, along with equality or near equality. Women can inherit property almost equal to that of men (4:7), and men are forbidden to beat women, especially their wives (2:231). Divorced women have to be respected and provided for by their ex-husbands (64:17).
A true Muslim must do good deeds every day (4:124), to dedicate your life to serving and helping others (76:9) in Allah’s name.
The Qur’an preaches that Allah is merciful and forgiving (42:39, 43). Each chapter, except Chapter 9, begins with “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.”
The main point that is stressed is to believe, do good, and serve ALL (emphasis mine) of humanity (76:9). If one gives to Allah, meaning the poor, he will get twice as much in return (64:17).
What the Qur’an does not teach is: praying five times a day (though it does say that Mecca, or Makkah, is to be the spiritual center of the world), women wearing burkas from head to toes, forcefully converting others to the Islamic faith, nor does it condone rape, and beating women in general. Nor does it mention killing people of other religions, suicide bombers (the book was written around 620 C.E.), and it does not mention that if you die in a suicide attack, you will go to Heaven having 72 virgins waiting for you.
The Qur’an says nothing about Sharia Law, or anything similar to it.
One Christian teaching is that Abraham took his son Ishmael (as opposed to Isaac in Christian and Hebrew doctrine) to be sacrificed. It doesn’t say that, anywhere in the book.
There is revelation and judgement. This is the promise that in the last days, the faithful will go to the Garden (Heaven) and the unbelievers will go to Hell, just like in The Bible.
Chapter Nine of the Qur’an is called The Immunity, also known as Ultimatum. It is also known as Abrogation, meaning that war and killing non-Muslims is now acceptable and that religious tolerance, as well as equal treatment for women are now null and void. According to the author, this is incorrect.
This chapter was Muhammad’s last chapter, written in 631 C.E., one year before he died. During this time in Arabia (the Arabian Peninsula, what is now Saudi Arabia and Yemen) Muslims were battling idolators and made peace treaties with them, but they were constantly broken, with idolators (I assume tribes that still worshipped pagan gods) continually attacking and terrorizing Muslim tribes. Because of these treaty violations, these Muslims were forced to defend themselves and their religion. Where it say “Islam will triumph,” means that the Muslim tribes will win out over the idolators, and the Islamic faith will spread far and wide, which eventually, it did.
So there you have it. The Qur’an mainly preaches religious tolerance, peace, and good works along with respect for women, although it does harshly criticize both the Jews and the Christians, and it does say that Islam is the one true faith and carries the complete truth. It tells Muslims to fight and defend themselves, and to spread the word of Allah, but it does not tell them to kill others that are not at war with them, including non-Muslims.
Here are the questions, and an attempt to answer them.
Is Islam a religion of peace? It can be. Although many radicals use the scriptures to justify violence by saying that the people they terrorize are at war with them, even though most of these people say they’re not, nor has war been declared. The solution here is for the mainstream Muslims, who are law abiding citizens in the Middle East, Europe, the United States is for them to become more vocal, to drown out the radicals and condemn the violence these radicals Islamists are committing. It also must be said that these radical Muslims, being ISIS and Al Qaeda and other groups, are not true Muslims because they are not following the teachings of Muhammad.
There have been times in history, such as the Ottoman Empire, where Muslims lived side by side with Jews and Christians, and it can be so again. Although in the Ottoman Empire, Islam was the true religion, and that attitude must change. Perhaps there can be among the Muslims an equivalent to a “Vatican II” or a Muslim Martin Luther arising from the crowd.
As for women’s rights, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries that require women to wear burkas head to toe, to always be accompanied by a man when outside the home, and forbidding them to drive must change. Some countries still forbid young girls to go to school, and they have a lot of potential for their society.
One final thought. In an Islamic society, does the government of that country have to abide by Islamic Law, or should there be a complete and total separation of Mosque and State, like we have the separation of Church and State in the United States.
Well, first of all, do not mistake the preceding paragraph for the Muslim world should be like America, it doesn’t mean that at all. What I’m saying is that religious law can be strict, going way beyond what scripture, any scripture, says. One reason why many people want religious law is that their society has been so corrupted is that they feel that “God’s Laws/Allah’s Laws” would straighten it out and make life better for everyone.
There is no mention of government in the Qur’an. That should be left to each individual country whether they want that or not. I have seen throughout history, and today’s societies I might add, that any Church or Mosque ruling a country is never good, it makes life difficult for everyone, and it does not end corruption. I would say that it isn’t necessary. You can have a secular society in a predominantly Muslim country, just like in any predominantly Christian country.
All Muslims, if they want to be devout Muslims, must read the Qur’an thoroughly and understand what it really means.
