Misrepresentations of Islamic Scripture: Difference between revisions

This page discusses a few of the more popular ones and provides their correct meaning.

{{main|If Anyone Slew a Person|l1=If Anyone Slew a Person (Qur'an 5:32)}}

{{Quote|{{Quran|5|32}}|On that account: '''We ordained for the Children of Israel''' that if anyone slew a person - unless it be in retaliation for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew all mankind: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all humanity. }}

This famous verse is often misquoted. Written in past tense, it clearly does not apply to Muslims but to "the Children of Israel" i.e. the Jews who, according to Islam, recieved an earlier set of scriptures. When read in context with the next two verses, it is in actual fact a chilling warning to non-believers.

{{Quote|1=[http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=436 Meaning of Mischief]<BR>Tafsir Ibn Kathir|2=(And when it is said to them: "Do not make mischief on the earth,"), means, "Do not commit acts of disobedience on the earth. '''Their mischief is disobeying Allah''', because whoever disobeys Allah on the earth, or commands that Allah be disobeyed, he has committed mischief on the earth.}}

This verse is not condemning the killing of a non-Muslim, but is issuing a stern warning to those who oppose or reject Islam.

{{main|Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Forced Conversion}}

{{Quote|1={{Quran|2|256}}|2=Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.}}

A very famous misinterpreted verse, actually referring to people in other religions converting to Islam.

First, this is an authentic Hadith, with only three narrators between Imam Ahmad and the Prophet . However, it is not relevant to the subject under discussion, for the Prophet did not force that man to become Muslim. The Prophet merely invited this man to become Muslim, and he replied that he does not find himself eager to become Muslim. The Prophet said to the man that even though he dislikes embracing Islam, he should still embrace it, `for Allah will grant you sincerity and true intent.' }}

This verse has nothing to do with tolerance of other beliefs.

{{Quote|{{Quran|2|195}}|And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.}}

In this verse, destruction actually refers to abandoning Jihad, and like verse 5:32, means the complete opposite of what apologists claim.

(And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction.)''' the destruction refers to staying with our families and estates and abandoning Jihad'''."<ref>[http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=2&tid=5087 The Command to spend in the Cause of Allah] - Tafsir Ibn Kathir</ref>}}

The ones who are committing destruction and suicide in Allah's eyes are the peace loving Muslims who refuse to participate in Jihad. Sahih (authentic) hadith record Muhammad calling these lukewarm Muslims 'hypocrites'.

The martyr who sacrifices himself and dies for the sake of his faith finds his place in Paradise. He receives blessings from the prophets and the righteous. He is alive and provided for by Allah, The Exalted.}}

{{Quote|{{Quran|8|61}}|But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah: for He is One that heareth and knoweth (all things).}}

[[Abrogation|Abrogation]] (Naskh) refers to one Qur'anic verse superseding another, and is itself supported by [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Islamic Theology#Abrogation|Qur'anic verses]] and various hadith narrations. According to Ibn ‘Abbās (Muhammad's Cousin) verse 8:61 has been replaced by another well known verse.  

{{Quote|1=[http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2035&Itemid=103 The Command to strike the Enemies' Necks]<BR>Tafsir Ibn Kathir|2=(Until the war lays down its burden.) Mujahid said:''' "Until `Isa bin Maryam (peace be upon him) descends. It seems as if he derived this opinion from the Prophet's saying, There will always be a group of my Ummah victorious upon the truth, until the last of them fight against Ad-Dajjal'''.) Imam Ahmad recorded from Jubayr bin Nufayr who reported from Salamah bin Nufayl that he went to the Messenger of Allah and said, "'''I have let my horse go, and thrown down my weapon, for the war has ended. There is no more fighting. Then the Prophet said to him, Now the time of fighting has come.''' There will always be a group of my Ummah dominant over others.''' Allah will turn the hearts of some people away (from the truth), so they (that group) will fight against them'''}}

Verse 8:61 is no longer applicable to Muslims and many scholars agree.

{{Quote|[http://www.islamistwatch.org/main.html Join The Caravan, p20]<BR>Sheikh Abdullah Yusuf Azzam|"So, if the fighting stops, the disbelievers will dominate, and fitnah, which is Shirk (polytheism), will spread."}}

{{Quote|{{Quran|2|190}}|Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.}}

Again, This verse has been abrogated by verses from chapter nine.

Abu Al-`Aliyah said, "This was the first Ayah about fighting that was revealed in Al-Madinah. Ever since it was revealed, Allah's Messenger '''used to''' fight only those who fought him and avoid non-combatants. Later, Surat Bara'ah (chapter 9 in the Qur'an) was revealed." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said similarly, then he said that this was later '''abrogated by the Ayah'''}}

Al Taubah (Repentance) is considered to be the [[The Ultimate Message of the Qur'an|closing remarks]] of Allah.  

With all things considered, it should not come as a big surprise to learn that this final chapter is not at all about making peace among the people.

{{Quote| {{Quran|8|39}} |And fight them on until there is no more  '''tumult or oppression''' [Fitna], and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.}}

The Arabic word ''Fitna'' (فِتْنَةٌ‎)  does not have the same meaning as given by our three official translators (Yusuf Ali, Picktall, Shakir), which is "tumult" and "oppression".  

{{Quote|Tafsir al-Tabari|So fight them until there is no more shirk, and none is worshipped except Allaah alone with no partner or associate, and trials and calamities, which are disbelief and polytheism, are lifted from the slaves of Allaah on earth, and religion is all for Allaah alone, and so that obedience and worship will be devoted to Him alone and none else.<ref>[http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/34647/Martyrdom The reason why jihaad is prescribed] - Islam Q&A, Fatwa No. 34647</ref>}}

Oppression or not, Muslims must continue to fight until there is no religion but Islam.

:''Main Article: [[Christians Jews and Muslims in Heaven|Christians, Jews and Muslims in Heaven]]''

{{Quote|{{Quran|2|62}}|Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.}}

This verse is often quoted by Muslims in an effort to prove Islam is tolerant and inclusive of other faiths. After all, how much more tolerant can a faith be than to allow the followers of other faiths into its vision of heaven?

{{Quote|{{Quran|3|85}}|And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.}}

Heaven in Islam is exclusive to Muslims. Christians and Jews may believe in God, but they do not believe in "His Messenger". Thus they are destined for the "Blazing Fire".  

{{Quote|{{Muslim|37|6665}}, See also: {{Muslim|37|6666}}, {{Muslim|37|6667}}, and {{Muslim|37|6668}}|Abu Musa' reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your rescue from Hell-Fire.}}

{{Main|To You Your Religion and To Me Mine}}

{{Quote|{{Quran|109|1-6}}|Say: O ye that reject Faith! <BR>I worship not that which ye worship,<BR>Nor will ye worship that which I worship. <BR>And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship, <BR>Nor will ye worship that which I worship. <BR>To you be your Way, and to me mine.}}

{{Quote|1=[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.islamicity.com%2Fmosque%2Fquran%2Fmaududi%2Fmau109.html&date=2015-03-14 Commentary on Qur'an Chapter 109:1-6]<BR>Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, Tafhim al-Qur'an|2=There was a time in Makkah when although a storm of opposition had arisen in the pagan society of Quraish against the message of Islam preached by the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace), yet the Quraish chiefs hall not yet lost hope that they would reach some sort of a compromise with him. Therefore, from time to time they would visit him with different proposals of compromise so that he accepted one of them and the dispute between them was brought to an end.<BR>. . .<BR>

If the Surah is read with this background in mind, one finds that it was not revealed to preach religious tolerance as some people of today seem to think, but it was revealed in order to exonerate the Muslims from the disbelievers religion, their rites of worship, and their gods, and to express their total disgust and unconcern with them and to tell them that Islam and kufr (unbelief) had nothing in common and there was no possibility of their being combined and mixed into one entity. Although it was addressed in the beginning to the disbelieving Quraish in response to their proposals of compromise, yet it is not confined to them only, but having made it a part of the Quran, Allah gave the Muslims the eternal teaching that they should exonerate themselves by word and deed from the creed of kufr wherever and in whatever form it be, and should declare without any reservation that they cannot make any compromise with the disbelievers in the matter of Faith. That is why this Surah continued to be recited when the people to whom it was addressed as a rejoinder, had died and been forgotten, and those Muslims also continued to recite it who were disbelievers at the time it was revealed, and the Muslims still recite it centuries after they have passed away, for expression of disgust with and dissociation from kufr and its rites is a perpetual demand of Faith.}}

When read in context, like many other verses misinterpreted for apologetic purposes, surat al-Kafiroon advocates the opposite of what is sometimes claimed. This surah is not a proclamation on religious tolerance and freedom or a recognition of religious pluralism.

==See Also==