Bronze-age and Iron-age cults were strict, violent, and dichotomous. The world was riven in two – us and them. The Babylonian Marduk for example or protector-God of the Babylonian state and people [a heterogeneous mix to be sure]; resident and venerated in both the first Babylonian empire [circa 1800 BC] and the neo-Babylonian state [circa 600 BC]; was the 'one' who would guarantee success, prosperity and superiority. The chief celestial God was 'Sin', a deity whose origins rest in Sumeria [3000 BC]; and who was the non-tribal or non-Babylonian specific deity or 'One'. Sin was a more immanent 'God', a moon divinity and power which heralded cooler temperatures, changing seasons, the calendar, and even the recharge of the earth with water.

State-specific and universal-celestial cults dominated Near Eastern history for over 3000 years until the time of Muhammad. When Babylon conquered Mecca in about 590 BC, the cults of the Babylonian state were transferred and imposed or merged with local cults. Thus Sin become 'ilah' or 'The' Lord Al-Lah. The Sun goddess was routinely described in ancient Sumeria and Babylonia as a consort or procreating vehicle for the male Sin or moon divinity. In Mecca the Sun goddess was Al-Lat or the concubine of the Al-Lah. 2 daughters were created, both venerated as goddesses by various Arab tribes.

The ancient linkages to common Near Eastern moon cults is quite obvious when one studies Islam. Muhammad's 'invention' was to yoke the 'ilah' or Lord to himself and create one ilah; where many had reigned with each Arab tribe having its own 'one'. A super-ilah in other words, using Muhammad as his or its 'messenger'. How convenient.

Sura 58 is a remarkably badly written chapter – even by the low standards of the Koran. Over half the chapter is devoted to Jew and Christian hate-speech; and supine slavery to Muhammad. Indeed in the entire Koran well over 10% of the text discusses various forms of slavery. Infidels are the slaves or Dhimmis of Moslems. Women are the chattel of men. And all humans are subservient to the 'Lord' Sin or Al-Lah, the moon deity of Mecca.

The first theme of enslavement in this chapter, is that all humans must obey Muhammad. This commandment makes its appearance on almost every Koranic page.

“Those who resist Allah and His Messenger will be humbled to dust, as were those before them: for We have already sent down Clear Signs.”

This demand to submit to Muhammad is repeated in verses 20-22 just in case the reader missed it the first time. Obey Mohammed. Don't rationalize. Don't inquire. Just obey and be quiet.

The second main tenet is that the unknowable thing Allah, is omniscient and must be appeased by complete submission. In other words, you the worthless human, devoid of free will and any rationality must meekly submit to the Al-Lah thing and do what he or it commands as outlined in the 'uncreated' book named Recital [Koran]. He, it, that, or she will determine your fate. This is called pre-destination and it negates rationalism:

Verse 9 “...O you who believe! fear Allah, to whom you shall be brought back.”

When Allah brings you back you will be 'judged'. If he decides your conduct is sufficiently Islamic you might be rewarded. Or maybe not. But for infidels and non-Muslims there is absolutely no hope:

Verse 8 - “And they hold secret counsels among themselves for iniquity and hostility, and disobedience to the Messenger....Enough for them is Hell: in it they will burn, and evil is that destination!”

This hate is repeated in verses 17 and 18, just in case the reader forgot the central theme of Jew and Christian destruction, in the intervening ½ page. Koranic hate speech is nothing if not thorough and repetitive.

The main idea of this Sura is clear enough. Be a good slave of the cult or go to Hell. Theologies of violence and slavery are cults, not religions. But that is to be expected from a Meccan cult itself built and premised upon Bronze-age and Iron-age political-theocratic mysticisms.