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Koran / Qur-án on War and Peace
Part II
----- Original Message -----
From: David
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 2:23 PM
Subject: Koran on War, Part II
The Koran
Speaks about Violence
Part II
Source: The Koran, translated by N. J.
Dawood, 1966 revised edition, Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England
Note: It is difficult to know the
true meaning of any foreign text after translation. There is much debate over
the meaning of many phrases and even letters used in the Koran. Nevertheless,
the English translation reveals valuable information we can use to form a
general, or rather precise in some cases, view of the original meaning of the
Koran.
Note also before judging the Koran that many passages lend
themselves to other interpretations in its original tongue, which are not
addressed in the present translation.
Introduction (excerpts):
Mohammed was born in Mecca about the year A.D. 570 and had
come under the influence of Jewish and Christian teachings. According to
Muslim tradition, one night the Angel Gabriel came to him and said: ³Recite!²
Mohammed, who disclaimed power to perform miracles, firmly
believed that he was the messenger of God, sent forth to confirm previous
scriptures. God had revealed His will to the Jews and the Christians through
chosen apostles, but they disobeyed God¹s commandments and divided themselves
into schismatic sects.
Having thus gone astray, they must be brought back to the
right path, to the true religion preached by Abraham. This was
Islam‹absolute submission or resignation to the will of Allah.
But, owing to the fact that the kufic script in which the
Koran was originally written contained no indication of vowels or diacritical
points, variant readings are recognized by Muslims as of equal authority.
Man was created to be tested with afflictions:
p. 31 We created man to try him with afflictions.
p. 37 Know that we send down to the unbelievers devils who
incite them to evil. Therefore have patience: their days are numbered.
Man¹s deeds cause his own condemnation:
p. 56 Each soul is the hostage of its own deeds. . . .
p. 65 Men, it is your own souls that you are corrupting . .
. to Us [the Gods] you shall in the end return, and We will declare to you all
that you have done.
p. 290 The Day of Reckoning is drawing near, yet the people
heedlessly persist in unbelief. They listen flippantly to each fresh warning
that their Lord gives them: their hearts are set on pleasure.
p. 293 We showed Moses and Aaron the distinction between
right and wrong, and gave them a light and an admonition for righteous men:
those who truly fear their Lord and dread the terrors of Judgment-day.
Going to war with believers:
[Note: ³Repentant² Christians, Jews & Muslims are classed among
the ³believers.² What that repentance is must remain for another
discussion.]
p. 268 If two parties of believers take up arms the one
against the other, make peace between them. If either of them commits
aggression against the other, fight against the aggressors till they submit to
Allah¹s judgment. When they submit make peace between them in equity and
justice; Allah loves those who act in justice.
The believers are a band of brothers. Make peace among your
brothers and fear Allah, so that you may be shown mercy.
272 Mohammed is Allah¹s apostle. Those who follow him are
ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another.
p. 302 But if they give no heed to you, bear in mind that
your mission is only to give plain warning. [This appears to contradict p.
272. That doesn¹t mean it does.]
p. 352 There shall be no compulsion in religion.
p. 273 Yet to those of them who will embrace the Faith and
do good works He has promised forgiveness and a rich reward.
p. 378 Do not allow your hatred for other men to turn you
away from justice.
p. 303 Allah . . . leaves in error whom He will and gives
guidance to whom He pleases. You shall be questioned about all your actions.
How Muslims are to conduct war with their enemies:
p. 121 When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield
strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives
firmly. Then grant them their freedom or take ransom from them, until War
shall lay down her armour.
Thus shall you do. Had Allah willed, He could Himself have
punished them; but He has ordained it thus that He might test you, the one by
the other.
As for those who are slain in the cause of Allah, He will
not allow their works to perish.
p. 124 We shall put you to the proof until We know the
valiant and the resolute among you and test all that is said about you. . . .
Those that disbelieve and debar others from Allah¹s path
and in the end die unbelievers shall not be shown forgiveness by Allah.
Therefore do not falter or sue for peace when you have gained the upper hand.
Allah is on your side and will not grudge you the reward of your labours.
p. 209 . . . do not kill except for a just cause
(manslaughter is forbidden by Him). . . .
Day of judgment will bring a monster to overtake sinners:
p. 86 Your Lord is bountiful to men: yet most of them do not
give thanks. . . .
On the day when Our judgment overtakes them, We will bring
out form the earth a monster that shall speak to them. . . .
On that day there shall be gathered from every nation a
multitude of those who disbelieved Our revelations. They shall be led in
separate bands before Allah. . . Those who have done good shall be rewarded
with what is better, and shall be secure form the terrors of that day.
p. 95 Had it been His will to scourge them for their sins,
He would have hastened their punishment; but He has set for them an appointed
hour, which they shall never escape.
And all those nations! We destroyed them when they did
wrong; yet in their imminent destruction We gave them warning.
p. 102 Allah will reward each soul according to its deeds.
Swift is Allah¹s reckoning.
When the sky will pour down blinding smoke:
p. 145 Wait for the day when the sky will pour down blinding
smoke, enveloping all men: a dreadful scourge. Then they will say: ³Lord,
lift up this scourge from us. We are now believers.² But how will their new
faith help them, when an undoubted prophet had come to them and they denied
him, saying: ³A madman, taught by others!²
Yet if We slightly relieve their affliction they will return
to unbelief. But on that day We will inflict on them the sternest punishment
and avenge Ourself.
p. 191 Evil has become rife on land and sea as a result of
man¹s misdeeds. Allah has ordained it thus for men, so that they may taste
the fruit of their own works and mend their ways.
p. 218 Yet men have divided themselves into different sects, each rejoicing in
its own doctrines. Leave them in their error till death overtakes them.
p. 220 Requite evil with good. We are fully aware of all
their slanders. And say: ³Lord, I seek refuge in You from the promptings of
the devils. . . .
p. 221 Say: ³Lord, forgive and have mercy; You are the best of those that
show mercy.²
p. 243 Say: ³My Lord has forbidden all indecent acts, whether overt or
disguised, sin, and wrongful oppression. . . .
p. 248 ³Do not squat in every road, threatening believers
and debarring them from the path of Allah, nor seek to make that path crooked.
p. 256 Most excellent are the names of Allah. Call on Him by
His names and keep away from those that pervert them. They shall be punished
for their misdeeds.
p. 266 Intrigue is the work of Satan, who thereby seeks to
annoy the faithful.
Allah wants all men to be united in His will:
p. 152 Allah is our Lord and your Lord. We [the Gods] have
our own works and you have yours; let there be no argument between us. Allah
will bring us all together, for to Him we shall return.²
p. 158 Requite evil with good, and he who is your enemy will
become your dearest friend. But none will attain this save those who endure
with fortitude and are greatly favoured by Allah.
p. 417 We sent forth apostles before you to other nations,
and afflicted them with calamities and misfortunes so that they might humble
themselves.
--------end of part II--------
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