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| The Major Branches of Islam |
This page is about the Quran, and not Islam. Islam is a very diverse religion with literally hundreds of denominations and sects, which range from whirling dervish mystics, and limousine liberals, thru community based working class movements and the American black Muslim movement (Nation of Islam), all the way to Ultra Orthodox Wahhabi Saudi Princes, Islamists, Jihadis and Fundamentalists who believe we live in the "End Times". To complicate matters, adherents also include hybrid religions (syncretism) that blend faiths like the Boko Hiram, Baha'i, Sikh and Unitarian Universalists. All of them see the Quran differently.
CONTEXT
Muhammad;
Full name: Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim
Born: April 22, 571 AD, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Died: June 8, 632 AD, Green Dome, Medina, Saudi Arabia
The era around the life of Muhammad was called the "Migration Period", and was marked by the critical collapses of Empires overrun by migrating invasions of peoples on a global scale. In Europe and Asia both Western Roman (ending 476 CE) and India's Gupta Empire (ending 550 CE) had fallen to waves of barbarians driven by the Huns, While the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) and Persia (Sassanian Empire) had crippled each other over a century conflict which culminated in the siege of Constantinople (626) and the subsequent collapse of the Persian Empire.
In pre-Islamic Arabia, gods or goddesses were protectors of tribes, and their spirits were associated with locations and objects such as sacred trees, stones, springs and wells. The Kaaba, now a Muslim but formerly pagan shrine in Mecca, once housed 360 idols of tribal patron deities. Nonetheless, monotheistic communities existed in Arabia, and included Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Hanifs – native pre-Islamic Arabs who professed a rigid monotheism. According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad himself was a Hanif and one of the descendants of Ishmael, son of the Biblical Patriarch, Abraham.
As political power centers weakened throughout the Europe and Asia, conflict spread to Arabia. Tribal and religious communities stepped up to fill the void, but resulted in conflicts of their own as they fought with one another over scarce resources brought on by the wartime decline of trade. They frequently resorted to Ghazi (غازي, ġāzī), or raiding to survive. Individuals and smaller communities were under constant threat by larger and more powerful tribes. These were the challenges faced by the Quraysh tribe of Mecca. By the 6th century, they had become a dominant force in western Arabia, and formed the cult association of hums which tied members of many tribes in western Arabia to the Kaaba and reinforced the prestige of the Meccan sanctuary. To maintain order, the Quraysh banned violence during sacred months making it was possible for trade, pilgrimages and fairs to take place in relative safety. Thus, although the association of hums was primarily religious, it also had important economic consequences for Mecca, and the surrounding area.
Orphaned at an early age, Muhammad was poor and passed among relatives until his teens, when he went to live with his paternal uncle Abu Talib, the new leader of the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe. Abu Talib raised Muhammad in the trade between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Muhammad used his outsider status to his advantage in negotiations, and gained a reputation as an honest and impartial arbiter of disputes. He then married Khadijah the Great, a wealthy older woman who was a skillful merchant in her own right, and to whom he remained in a faithful and monogamous relationship until her death. At 40, while praying for several nights in a mountain cave (called Hira), he was visited by the angel Gabriel (Jibril). Three years later, in 610, Muhammad started preaching these revelations publicly.
Muhammad gained few early followers, but was nevertheless violently opposed by Meccan tribes who saw him and monotheism as a threat to their economic interests. In 619 both his wife, Khadijah the Great, and his tribal patron and protector, Abu Talib, died, thus severing Muhammad's connection to the Quraysh tribe. He could now be killed with impunity by his rivals and opponents. In 622 Muhammad discovered a plot to wipe them all out, so he and his followers were forced to flee from Mecca to Medina (then known as Yathrib). This event, the Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Medina was already occupied by numerous Jewish and polytheistic tribes, many had fled from other tribal adversaries of their own, so the arrival of Muhammad and his followers provoked no opposition. Muhammad then negotiated the Constitution of Medina with the various tribal leaders bringing each other under their mutual protection and merging the Meccan immigrants and the Medinan residents into a single community, called the Ummah essentially making it supra-tribal. This rejection of the tribal and familial system in favor of a diverse community was revolutionary, and explains why large communities of Jews, Hindus and Christians still live in Muslim countries from Iran to Indonesia, although persecuted from time to time to a varying degree.
Times were hard, and resources scarce. Threatened by starvation and occasional defections of his Medinan allies, Muhammad had to support the Ummah by resorting to the traditional Arab practice of Ghazi (raiding) the wealthy caravans on their way to Mecca. In December 629, after 8 years of intermittent conflict with Meccan tribes, Muhammad gathered an army of 10,000 Muslim converts and allied pagans, and marched on the city of Mecca. Remarkably, the attack went largely uncontested and Muhammad seized the city with little bloodshed. This event later served as an example to Saladin who took Jerusalem from the Christian crusaders in 1187 with little bloodshed or retribution. In 632, a few months after returning from the Farewell Pilgrimage, he fell ill and died. By the time of his death, Greater Arabia had been accepted into Islam and joined the Ummah.
The visions ("Ayah", or verse, also: a remarkable event), which Muhammad received on several occasions until his death, form the verses of the Quran, and are regarded by Muslims as the "Word of God." Islam (‘submission to God) is based chiefly on the Quran, and represents not only a monotheistic religion, but a final synthesis of all of the Abrahamic Monotheistic religions. To that end, the Quran includes many accounts and passages taken from the Jewish Torah, and the Christian Gospels. Traditionally, the companions of Muhammad were responsible for writing down the recitations (Quran means to recite). After Muhammad's death the first caliph Abu Bakr decided in 632 CE to collect the book in one volume so that it could be preserved, the Quran was compiled written notes and memory. These Qurans had differences that motivated the third Caliph Uthman to establish a standard version in about 650 CE, which is generally considered the archetype of the Quran known today. There are, however, variant readings, with mostly minor differences in meaning.
Other than the Quran, Muhammad's teachings and practises (sunnah), found in the Hadith and sira literature, are also upheld by Muslims to varying degree depending on their reputed authenticity and reputation. They are also used as sources for a diverse body of Islamic law (Sharia).
Aside from its religious significance, the Quran is a held to be a powerful and moving work of poetry in classic Arabic. The emotional impact of its poetry on Arabic speaking peoples cannot be overestimated. The beauty of Quranic verse is itself seen as a miracle, and sign of its divine provenance.
CONTENT:
The Quran has 114 chapters or "suras." The suras are either Meccan, or Medinan depending on whether the verses were revealed before or after the migration of Muhammad to the city of Medina, or after their return to Mecca. However, a sura classified as Medinan may contain Meccan verses in it and vice versa. 2/3 of the Suras are Meccan. They begin "Oh Mankind," and have generally shorter verses that are addressed to the prophet or "the people" dealing with issues of unification, articles of faith, The end times, and allegorical stories. Meccan suras are sympathetic to Jews and Christians, and anti-polytheist. 1/3 of the Suras are Medinan. They begin "Oh, you who believe." They have longer verses addressing believers, that deal with their struggles (jihad), the rights and obligations under the law, crime and punishment, and are more critical of Jews, Christians and hypocrites.
The Suras are generally arranged in order of decreasing size, and not by topic or in the order the revelation was received. Each sura except the ninth starts with the Bismillah (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم), an Arabic phrase meaning "In the name of God". The total number of verses in the Quran is 6,236 and is shorter than the bible; however, the number varies if the bismillahs are counted as a verse.
| 1 | Al-Fatihah (The Opening) | 20 | Ta Ha (Ta Ha) | 39 | Az-Zumar (TheCompanies) | 58 | Al-Mujadilah (The Pleading Woman) | 77 | Al-Mursalat (Those Sent Forth) | 96 | Al-'Alaq (The Clot) |
| 2 | Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | 21 | Al-Anbiya' (The Prophets) | 40 | Al-Mu'min (The Believer) | 59 | Al-Hashr (The Banishment) | 78 | An-Naba' (The Announcement) | 97 | Al-Qadr (The Majesty) |
| 3 | Al-'Imran (The Family of Amran) | 22 | Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) | 41 | Ha Mim (Ha Mim) | 60 | Al-Mumtahanah (The Woman who is Examined) | 79 | An-Nazi'at (Those Who Yearn) | 98 | Al-Bayyinah (The Clear Evidence) |
| 4 | An-Nisa' (The Women) | 23 | Al-Mu'minun (The Believers) | 42 | Ash-Shura (Counsel) | 61 | As-Saff (The Ranks) | 80 | Abasa He Frowned) | 99 | Al-Zilzal (The Shaking) |
| 5 | Al-Ma'idah (The Food) | 24 | An-Nur (The Light) | 43 | Az-Zukhruf (Gold) | 62 | Al-Jumu'ah (The Congregation) | 81 | At-Takwir (The Folding Up) | 100 | Al-'Adiyat (The Assaulters) |
| 6 | Al-An'am (The Cattle) | 25 | Al-Furqan (The Discrimination) | 44 | Ad-Dukhan (The Drought) | 63 | Al-Munafiqun (The Hypocrites) | 82 | Al-Infitar (The Cleaving) | 101 | Al-Qari'ah (The Calamity) |
| 7 | Al-A'raf (The Elevated Places) | 26 | Ash-Shu'ara' (The Poets) | 45 | Al-Jathiyah (The Kneeling) | 64 | At-Taghabun (The Manifestation of Losses) | 83 | At-Tatfif (Default in Duty) | 102 | At-Takathur (The Abundance of Wealth) |
| 8 | Al-Anfal (Voluntary Gifts) | 27 | An-Naml (The Naml) | 46 | Al-Ahqaf (The Sandhills) | 65 | At-Talaq (Divorce) | 84 | Al-Inshiqaq (The Bursting Asunder) | 103 | Al-'Asr (The Time) |
| 9 | Al-Bara'at/ At-Taubah (TheImmunity) | 28 | Al-Qasas (The Narrative) | 47 | Muhammad (Muhammad) | 66 | At-Tahrim (The Prohibition) | 85 | Al-Buruj (The Stars) | 104 | Al-Humazah (The Slanderer) |
| 10 | Yunus (Jonah) | 29 | Al-'Ankabut (The Spider) | 48 | Al-Fath (The Victory) | 67 | Al-Mulk (The Kingdom) | 86 | At-Tariq (The Comer by Night) | 105 | Al-Fil (The Elephant) |
| 11 | Hud (Hud) | 30 | Ar-Rum (The Romans) | 49 | Al-Hujurat (The Apartments) | 68 | Al-Qalam (The Pen) | 87 | Al-A'la (The Most High) | 106 | Al-Quraish (The Quraish) |
| 12 | Yusuf (Joseph) | 31 | Luqman (Luqman) | 50 | Qaf (Qaf) | 69 | Al-Haqqah (The Sure Truth) | 88 | Al-Ghashiyah (The Overwhelming Event) | 107 | Al-Ma'un (Acts of Kindness) |
| 13 | Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder) | 32 | As-Sajdah (The Adoration) | 51 | Ad-Dhariyat (The Scatterers) | 70 | Al-Ma'arij (The Ways of Ascent) | 89 | Al-Fajr (The Daybreak) | 108 | Al-Kauthar (The Abundance of Good) |
| 14 | Ibrahim (Abraham) | 33 | Al-Ahzab (The Allies) | 52 | At-Tur (The Mountain) | 71 | Nuh (Noah) | 90 | Al-Balad (The City) | 109 | Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers) |
| 15 | Al-Hijr (The Rock) | 34 | Al-Saba' (The Saba') | 53 | An-Najm (The Star) | 72 | Al-Jinn (The Jinn) | 91 | Ash-Shams (The Sun) | 110 | An-Nasr (The Help) |
| 16 | An-Nahl (The Bee) | 35 | Al-Fatir (The Originator) | 54 | Al-Qamar (The Moon) | 73 | Al-Muzzammil (The One Covering Himself) | 92 | Al-Lail (The Night) | 111 | Al-Lahab (The Flame) |
| 17 | Bani Isra'il (The Israelites) | 36 | Ya Sin (Ya Sin) | 55 | Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent) | 74 | Al-Muddaththir (The One Wrapping Himself Up) | 93 | Ad-Duha (The Brightness of the Day) | 112 | Al-Ikhlas (The Unity) |
| 18 | Al-Kahf (The Cave) | 37 | As-Saffat (Those Ranging in Ranks) | 56 | Al-Waqi'ah (The Event) | 75 | Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection) | 94 | Al-Inshirah (The Expansion) | 113 | Al-Falaq (The Dawn) |
| 19 | Maryam (Mary) | 38 | Sad (Sad) | 57 | Al-Hadid (Iron) | 76 | Al-Insan (The Man) | 95 | At-Tin (The Fig) | 114 | An-Nas (The Men) |
QUOTES:
Sura 1:1-17: Al-Fatihah (The Opening)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,
those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
surah 2:42
“And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].”
Sura 2:190-194: Al-Baqarah (The Cow)
Fight in God's cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits: God does not love those who overstep the limits. Kill them wherever you encounter them, and drive them out from where they drove you out, for persecution is more serious than killing. Do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there. If they do fight you, kill them—this is what such disbelievers deserve—but if they stop, then God is most forgiving and merciful. Fight them until there is no more persecution, and worship is devoted to God. If they cease hostilities, there can be no [further] hostility, except towards aggressors. A sacred month for a sacred month: violation of sanctity [calls for] fair retribution. So if anyone commits aggression against you, attack him as he attacked you, but be mindful of God, and know that He is with those who are mindful of Him.
Sura 2:217
They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members." Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein.
Sura 2:228
Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what Allah Hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.
Sura 2:256
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.
Sura 2:261-263
The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of God is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. God gives manifold increase to whom He wishes. God has boundless knowledge. Those who spend their wealth in the cause of God, and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or injure the feeling of the recipient, shall get their reward from their Lord; they shall have nothing to fear or to regret. Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury.
“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. “Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.” Ayat 286
Sura 3:133-134 Al-'Imran (The Family of Amran)
Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden (paradise) whose width is that of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous - Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity or in adversity, who restrain (their) anger and pardon (all) men - for God loves those who do good.
Sura 3:54
And the unbelievers schemed [against Jesus]; but God brought their scheming to nought: for God is above all schemers.
Sura 3:157
Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.
Sura 4:1-3 An-Nisa' (The Women)
O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.To orphans restore their property (When they reach their age), nor substitute (your) worthless things for (their) good ones; and devour not their substance (by mixing it up) with your own. For this is indeed a great sin. If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.
Sura 4:34
Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all). (Yusuf Ali)
Sura 4:89-90
They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks; Except those who reach a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people; and if Allah had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they should have certainly fought you; therefore if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you a way against them.
Sura 4:110-112
And whoever does evil or wrongs his soul, then asks forgiveness of Allah, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful. And whoever commits a sin, commits it only against himself. And Allah is ever Knowing, Wise. And whoever commits a fault or a sin, then accuses of it one innocent, he indeed takes upon himself the of a calumny and a manifest sin.
Sura 4:124
If any do deeds of righteousness,- be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them.
Sura 5:8 Al-Ma'idah (The Food)
‘Never let your enmity for anyone lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Always be just: that is closest to being God-fearing.’
Sura 4:124
If any do deeds of righteousness,- be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them.
Sura 5:8 Al-Ma'idah (The Food)
‘Never let your enmity for anyone lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Always be just: that is closest to being God-fearing.’
Sura 5:32-34 Al-Ma'idah (The Food)
For this reason We prescribed for the Children of Israel that whoever kills a person, unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as though he had killed all men. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved the lives of all men.
And certainly Our messengers came to them with clear arguments, but even after that many of them commit excesses in the land. The only punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is that they should be murdered, or crucified, or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides, or they should be imprisoned.
This shall be a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement. Except those who repent before you overpower them;
also know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Sura 5:48
...If God had so willed, He would have made all of you one community, but he has not done so, in order that he may test you according to what he has given you; so compete in goodness. To God shall you all return, and He will tell you the truth about what you have been disputing.
Sura 5:48
...If God had so willed, He would have made all of you one community, but he has not done so, in order that he may test you according to what he has given you; so compete in goodness. To God shall you all return, and He will tell you the truth about what you have been disputing.
Sura 5:69
Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians — whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good — they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.
Sura 7:31 Al-A'raf (The Elevated Places)
O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer; eat and drink, but waste not by excess, for Allah does not love those who waste.
Sura 8:60-63 Al-Anfal (Voluntary Gifts)
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged. And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing. But if they intend to deceive you - then sufficient for you is Allah. It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers. And brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allah brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Sura 9:1-5 Al-Bara'at/ At-Taubah (The Immunity)
God and His Messenger declare the abrogation of the peace treaty that existed between them and the pagans. So go about in the land for four months and know that you cannot weaken Allah and that Allah will bring disgrace to the unbelievers. And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage,- that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject Faith. This does not apply to the pagans with whom you have a valid peace treaty and who have not broken it from their side or helped others against you. You (believers) must fulfill the terms of the peace treaty with them. God loves the pious ones. When the sacred months are over, slay the pagans wherever you find them. Capture, besiege, and ambush them. If they repent, perform prayers and pay the religious tax, set them free. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.
Sura 11:117-123 Hud (Hud)
Allah would never destroy a community for wrong beliefs alone so long as its people behave righteously towards one another. And had Allah so willed it, He could surely have made all mankind one single community: but he did not will it so they believe differently...
Say to those who do not believe: "Act according to your ability and way, We are acting (in our way). Wait, and I, too, will be waiting with you." Allah knows all, sees all.
Sura 17:33 Bani Isra'il (The Israelites)
Nor take life - which God has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him nor exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).
Sura 18:29 sūrat l-kahf (The Cave)
‘Say: The Truth has come from your Lord. Let him who will, believe it, and let him who will, reject it.’
O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer; eat and drink, but waste not by excess, for Allah does not love those who waste.
Sura 8:60-63 Al-Anfal (Voluntary Gifts)
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged. And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing. But if they intend to deceive you - then sufficient for you is Allah. It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers. And brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allah brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Sura 9:1-5 Al-Bara'at/ At-Taubah (The Immunity)
God and His Messenger declare the abrogation of the peace treaty that existed between them and the pagans. So go about in the land for four months and know that you cannot weaken Allah and that Allah will bring disgrace to the unbelievers. And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage,- that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject Faith. This does not apply to the pagans with whom you have a valid peace treaty and who have not broken it from their side or helped others against you. You (believers) must fulfill the terms of the peace treaty with them. God loves the pious ones. When the sacred months are over, slay the pagans wherever you find them. Capture, besiege, and ambush them. If they repent, perform prayers and pay the religious tax, set them free. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.
Sura 11:117-123 Hud (Hud)
Allah would never destroy a community for wrong beliefs alone so long as its people behave righteously towards one another. And had Allah so willed it, He could surely have made all mankind one single community: but he did not will it so they believe differently...
Say to those who do not believe: "Act according to your ability and way, We are acting (in our way). Wait, and I, too, will be waiting with you." Allah knows all, sees all.
Sura 17:33 Bani Isra'il (The Israelites)
Nor take life - which God has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him nor exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).
Sura 18:29 sūrat l-kahf (The Cave)
‘Say: The Truth has come from your Lord. Let him who will, believe it, and let him who will, reject it.’
Sura 20:114 Ta Ha (Ta Ha)
High above all is Allah, the King, the Truth. Do not be in haste with the Qur'an before its revelation to you is completed, but say, "O my Sustainer! Increase my knowledge.
Sura 24:31 An-Nur (The Light)
And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their khimār over their breasts and not display their beauty except to their husband, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments.
High above all is Allah, the King, the Truth. Do not be in haste with the Qur'an before its revelation to you is completed, but say, "O my Sustainer! Increase my knowledge.
Sura 24:31 An-Nur (The Light)
And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their khimār over their breasts and not display their beauty except to their husband, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments.
Sura 30:30 Ar-Rum (The Romans)
Devote thyself single-mindedly to the Faith, and thus follow the nature designed by Allah, the nature according to which He has fashioned mankind. There is no altering the creation of Allah.
Sura 30:41
Rottenness (decay/corruption) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds, in order that they may turn back (from evil).
42:36 Ash-Shura (Counsel)
So whatever thing you have been given - it is but [for] enjoyment of the worldly life. But what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord.
Sura 42:40
‘The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto; but if a person forgives and makes peace, his reward rests with God; He loves not those who do wrong.’
Sura 42:43
And whoever is patient and forgiving, these most surely are actions due to courage.
Sura 58:11 Al-Mujadilah (The Pleading Woman)
Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have been granted knowledge to high ranks.
Sura 78:31-34 sūrat l-naba (The Great News)
Indeed, for the righteous is attainment -
Gardens and grapevines
And splendid companions
And a full cup.
Sura 78:31-34 sūrat l-naba (The Great News)
Indeed, for the righteous is attainment -
Gardens and grapevines
And splendid companions
And a full cup.
Sura 91:1-10 Ash-Shams (The Sun)
Consider the sun and its radiance, and the moon reflecting the sun.
Consider the day as it reveals the world, and the night that veils it in darkness.
Consider the sky and its wonderful composition, the earth and its expanse.
Consider the human self and He Who perfected it
And how He imbued it with awareness of what is right and wrong.
The one who helps this self to grow in a clean way attains to happiness.
The one who buries it in darkness is really lost.
NOT IN THE QURAN:
1. Veils, Hijab or Burqas.
The Quran instructs both Muslim men and women to dress in a modest way, but there is disagreement on how these instructions should be interpreted. The verses relating to dress use the terms khimār (head cover) and jilbāb (a dress or cloak) rather than ḥijāb—see Quran 24:31. Several Muslim Countries Such as Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia and Gambia do not require women to cover their heads. Muslim women in non-Muslim countries frequently choose not to wear veils, hijab or burqas.
2. Death to infidels.
The Quran contains passages that could be (and frequently are) interpreted to endorse violence, particularly toward non-believers, see Quran 2:191 and 193, Quran 9:5, and Quran 49:9. Verses which say kill, and then don't kill are called "Abrogation Verses," and suggest to many Islamic Scholars that they are special cases. When taken in the context of surrounding verses, most are revealed to be specific commands tailored to meet the needs of specific circumstances; such as in dealing with traitors and breakers of treaties in time of war with Mecca, and who are actively killing Muhammad's followers or their Allies. Even where violence is prescribed, it obliges restraint, offers forgiveness and protection for non combatants. They at least contradict passages against murder, see Quran 2:90, 5:31, 17:33, and 8:61.
3. 72 virgins
There is no promise of 72 virgins for martyrs, terrorists or suicide bombers anywhere in the Quran. The section many people claim these promises is sura 78:31-34 sūrat l-naba (The Great News). This chapter promises paradise to all Muslim men and doesn't mention martyrs or even the number 72. One of the rewards in heaven is in verse 78:33 where it mentions wakawāʿiba which means "splendid companions" which is confused with atrāban which means "attractive female." The Quran does mention Houris, which are pure genderless companions and servants in the afterlife, but they serve all those who go to heaven.
The Idea of 72 virgins doesn't even come from the Quran, it refers to an aspect of paradise in a Sunni collection by Abu `Isa Muhammad ibn `Isa at-Tirmidhi in his Jami` at-Tirmidhi. It is of questionable authenticity and is often compared to stories of angels on clouds with halos and harps in Christianity.
Consider the sun and its radiance, and the moon reflecting the sun.
Consider the day as it reveals the world, and the night that veils it in darkness.
Consider the sky and its wonderful composition, the earth and its expanse.
Consider the human self and He Who perfected it
And how He imbued it with awareness of what is right and wrong.
The one who helps this self to grow in a clean way attains to happiness.
The one who buries it in darkness is really lost.
NOT IN THE QURAN:
1. Veils, Hijab or Burqas.
The Quran instructs both Muslim men and women to dress in a modest way, but there is disagreement on how these instructions should be interpreted. The verses relating to dress use the terms khimār (head cover) and jilbāb (a dress or cloak) rather than ḥijāb—see Quran 24:31. Several Muslim Countries Such as Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia and Gambia do not require women to cover their heads. Muslim women in non-Muslim countries frequently choose not to wear veils, hijab or burqas.
2. Death to infidels.
The Quran contains passages that could be (and frequently are) interpreted to endorse violence, particularly toward non-believers, see Quran 2:191 and 193, Quran 9:5, and Quran 49:9. Verses which say kill, and then don't kill are called "Abrogation Verses," and suggest to many Islamic Scholars that they are special cases. When taken in the context of surrounding verses, most are revealed to be specific commands tailored to meet the needs of specific circumstances; such as in dealing with traitors and breakers of treaties in time of war with Mecca, and who are actively killing Muhammad's followers or their Allies. Even where violence is prescribed, it obliges restraint, offers forgiveness and protection for non combatants. They at least contradict passages against murder, see Quran 2:90, 5:31, 17:33, and 8:61.
3. 72 virgins
There is no promise of 72 virgins for martyrs, terrorists or suicide bombers anywhere in the Quran. The section many people claim these promises is sura 78:31-34 sūrat l-naba (The Great News). This chapter promises paradise to all Muslim men and doesn't mention martyrs or even the number 72. One of the rewards in heaven is in verse 78:33 where it mentions wakawāʿiba which means "splendid companions" which is confused with atrāban which means "attractive female." The Quran does mention Houris, which are pure genderless companions and servants in the afterlife, but they serve all those who go to heaven.
The Idea of 72 virgins doesn't even come from the Quran, it refers to an aspect of paradise in a Sunni collection by Abu `Isa Muhammad ibn `Isa at-Tirmidhi in his Jami` at-Tirmidhi. It is of questionable authenticity and is often compared to stories of angels on clouds with halos and harps in Christianity.
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