Saturday, April 4, 2009
Suffering through the Koran – Sura 3
Main idea - submit, don't think, don't be human - submit or else.
by Ferdinand III
The second Sura of the Koran is as bad as the first. It is pretty clear when you read the book that it is neither holy, nor logical. Each Sura or chapter is trying to convince the reader that Islam and the followers of the 'Messenger' or Mohammed, will dominate the Jews, Christians and unbelievers. There is no Golden Rule within these Suras and very little charity, love, tolerance or respect is discussed – especially when 'outsiders' are discussed. And Muslims can't blame that on 'mis-translations'.
The main thrust of Sura 3 is pretty clear and deeply disturbing to any rational, spiritual or humanistic mind: obey Mohammed; obey Allah; reject Allah and you will most likely die; support Allah and you might be blessed; and Allah will decide on all matters.
The idea of this Sura and of much of Islam is that humans don't matter. Submit to this Allah and you might be blessed – then again you might not be. Obey the rituals and sayings of Mohammed and Allah will probably support you. But maybe not. Allah is the only power in the world. The human is worthless. Allah knows all. The human does not. Thinking, criticising, inventing, inquiry, living – all these are unimportant. Only Allah is important.
This is simply not a creed of faith or hope in humans. This Sura like so many others is only a statement of purpose for a cult.
[Note: This sura is taken from 'The Holy Quran', translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, reprinted in 1995, Goodword Books. Regarded as one of the best translations from Arabic to English of the Koran.]
Sura 3: 'The Family of 'Imran'
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Imran is Amran in English. Amran was the father of Moses. Moses comes from the family tree of Abraham. Once again the Muslims are claiming that a Jewish leader is really a messenger of Allah or the Arab moon deity which substitutes for the Jewish God, in the Arab Koran. Moses was born in Egypt to Hebrew slaves. It is highly doubtful that he was a messenger of ali-ilah or the Arab-Muslim idea of God. It does however serve as a nice piece of justification and propaganda – used originally by Mohammed to force the Jews to convert to his idea of monotheism.
Rejecting Allah means punishment
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4. Then those who reject faith in the Signs of Allah will suffer the severest penalty, and Allah is exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution.
Note; The Signs of Allah are never identified. This sentence appears throughout the Koran. One assumes that these signs are to be interpreted by Muslims and by their Messenger. That makes them rather arbitrary [a severe storm could be such a sign for example]. The lack of detail as to the Signs of Allah is rather convenient. Any Muslim can and would interpret any event as a sign, and non-Muslims who disagreed could be punished.
12. Say to those who reject Faith “Soon will you be vanquished and gathered together to Hell, - an evil bed indeed (to lie on)!
Note; Faith means Islam and only Islam. So a good person, believing in another system of belief, who is no threat to Islam or Muslims must also be vanquished. Tolerant isn't it ?
21. As to those who deny the Signs of Allah, and in defiance of right, slay the prophets, and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind, announce to them a grievous penalty.
Note; Again the great 'signs' of Allah, never defined. Used one supposes as an excuse to punish those or kill those, who don't believe.
Fundamentalism of Islam
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7. He it is Who has sent down to you the Book: in it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part therof that is allegorical,.....
Note; Muslims believe that God wrote the Koran through Mohammed. The parts of the Koran that make no sense are 'allegorical' and if you point out that much of the Koran is verbose nonsense your heart is full of perversity and by extension you can be punished. Only the fundamental part of the Koran should be learnt and followed. The key is fundamental – follow, don't think or criticise.
19. The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.
Note; This is the first time that the word submission is used in the Koran. Submit to Allah's will. This is pre-destination and appeasement. If you are a Muslim you are subject to Allah's will. Appease it through rituals and he might send you to heaven upon your death. Transgress or show signs of critical thinking and non-compliance like the Jews [People of the Book] and most likely you are destroyed. This concept negates the individual and the worth of human rationality and uniqueness.
20. ....And say to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned: “Do you (also) submit yourselves?” If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, your duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants.
Note; Individuals are not important. What is important in Islam is complete submission to the will of this mysterious Allah. You are nothing more than a servant or a slave of Allah [abd-Allah]. How is this a spiritual or religious ideal, used to uplift the mind and ennoble the human ?
Obey Mohammed:
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132. And obey Allah and the Messenger; that you may obtain mercy.
Note; Mohammed is of course the Messenger and he is demanding obedience to his creed. If you don't obey Mohammed you don't submit to Allah and you will therefore be punished.
164. Allah conferred a great favor on the Believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves.....before that they had been in manifest error.
Note; Mohammed's ideology is thus sanctioned by divine right. Allah did the Arabs a favor and blessed them with his leadership, scriptures and writings. Follow Mohammed to salvation and glory – a higher power will support you.
Muslims are the Best and should rule:
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110. You are the best of Peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith....
Note; So Muslims are chosen by Allah to lead the world. Jews and Christians have no real faith. They are wayward sinners. Muslims therefore have a duty to spread their word to mankind to save it, for only Islam has real faith and meaning. This claim must strike a contemporary reader as madness.
123. Allah had helped you are Badr, when you were a contemptible little force, then fear Allah; thus you may show your gratitude.
Note; A smaller Muslim force led by Mohammed defeated a larger Meccan army at Badr in 622 A.D. This victory gave Mohammed and his band of basically lawless robbers great prestige. They themselves were surprised that they won this battle. Allah was of course credited with the victory and with aiding the Messenger with an army of angels. The implication is that Muslim armies which are protected by Allah cannot lose.
Allah and arbitrary predestination:
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26. Say: “O Allah! Lord of Power (and Rule), You give Power to whom you please, and You strip off Power from who You please: You endue with honor whom You please.....”
Note; Allah does what he or she or it wants. You, the human, are worthless. Submit to Allah, prostrate yourself and maybe he will decide that you are worthy to save. Or maybe not. It matters not what you do in life because the Allah will determine all. Such a concept of pre-destination and contempt of human dignity is a hallmark of a cult.
60. The Truth comes from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt.
Note; What is meant by 'Truth' ? It appears to mean all truths – spiritual, scientific, rational, emotional etc. So does Allah know how to make a computer, fix a car, and did he predict the rise of America ?
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These are only some of the verses from this Sura which could be used to illustrate the main points in this Koranic chapter. There is little to no tolerance in this Sura. No Golden rule. No exhortation to live in reality and live an ethical, moral life, one dedicated not just to God, but to being a human and being fulfilled. There is no exhalting of being human, of being a form of living which can think, do, love, fail, succeed and embrace all of life. None.
This is a text of submission. Ritualisation. Obedience to Allah and his Messenger. A disregard and even a hatred for 'others', the Peoples of the Book; or even human intelligence. Submit, prostrate, beg, obey and maybe Allah will bless you. Or maybe not.
Why is such a concept of pre-destined fatalism a 'sacred' text ?
Why ?