[W:146]**The Qur'an in chronological order.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

During the revelation of surah 2, Mohamed began hostilities by raiding Meccan caravans. The pagans responded by sending forces to protect their caravans, but, despite having superior numbers, they were defeated by the Muslims in the Battle of Badr. An ensuing war lasted three years, ending in complete victory for the Muslims. Mohamed's reason for waging war may, in part, have been to settle a grudge against the pagans for their rejection and mockery of his pleas to convert to Islam, However, more importantly, he considered their ownership of the Kaaba to be blasphemous. His goal was to conquer Mecca in order to take control of the Kaaba, to purge it of all pagan idols, and to keep it for exclusive use by Muslims.

After a couple of hints that this might be coming, the following 4 verses justify war and give the order for Muslims to fight "fee sabil allah" (in the way of God). Although the conditions described below under which Muslims are expected to fight are limited to beginning with self defense, these verses mark the most pivotal point in the development of Islam as they explicitly mandate killing for God:

But first, a very short Arabic lesson. The Arabic word used nine times below (highlighted) and translated as either 'fight', 'slay', 'slaughter' or 'kill' is 'qatl' (قتل). This usage of 'qatl' leaves no doubt that the command to fight refers to warfare.

2:190 - Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
2:191 - And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.
2:192 - But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
2:193 - And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.

This series begins with a command to fight in self defense. The order to wage offensive warfare has yet to come. (Verse 2:190, frequently quoted without contextual relation to later verses, is a favorite of those who say that Muslims fight in self defense only.) These verses fit perfectly with the historical context in which they were written in that pagan Meccans are clearly indicated to be the likely foe in such a war. References to being "turned out", the "Sacred Mosque" (the Kaaba), and "those who suppress faith" leave no doubt of that. It might be reasonable to find no fault with these commands since people should not be blamed for doing nothing other than defending themselves, and if they stopped at that, I would probably agree. However, 2:193 tells Muslim to prosecute this not-so-theoretical war to the point that "religion should be only for Allah". This verse makes it obvious, in my opinion, that Mohamed wants his army to press forward until the Kabaa is in Muslim control, and the Meccans are thoroughly defeated.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Verse 194 finishes this section on fighting by telling Muslims to only fight in the holy months if attacked, although 217 below may be seen to contradict this.

The next few verses establish rules regarding spending "in the way of God" and holy pilgrimage, followed by more warnings.

The next three verses return to the subject of fighting. Verse 216 should not only be read in full, but with more than one English translation. Yusuf Ali translation: "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not." Mohsin Khan gives a stunning variation with, "Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) is ordained for you..etc."

Again, 'qatl' is the Arabic word translated by Yusuf Ali as 'fighting', whereas Khan not only equates 'qatl' with 'jihad', he further defines it as 'holy war'. This is significant because there are those who want the non-Muslim world to believe that 'jihad' refers mainly to a Muslim's spiritual struggle, and that physical struggle against unbelievers is much the lesser of the two forms. We will see in the following verses that 'qatl' and 'jihad' are indeed used interchangeably.

Verse 217 rambles somewhat, but I will attempt to paraphrase it: First, Muslims are told it is sinful to fight during a sacred month. Then a strong hint is dropped that it would be allowed if access to the Kaaba were denied, because being oppressed (in one's desire to follow Islam) is worse than being killed. Again the pagans of Mecca would clearly be the culprits in such an increasingly non-hypothetical scenario. Finally Muslims are warned that the pagans would fight them until they denounced Islam; a decision that would void their ticket to Heaven. The fact that the Meccans had 12 years to easily inflict such oppression on Mohamed's nascent and tiny band of Muslims, but did not, is never addressed.

Verse 218 completes this series. It says, "The believers and the Emigrants from Mecca who strive/fight (jihad) for the cause of God, indeed have hope in receiving the mercy of God". The web site from which these quotes come (The Quranic Arabic Corpus - Word by Word Grammar, Syntax and Morphology of the Holy Quran) provides seven of the most trusted English translations. Four of them translate 'jihad' as 'strive', while the other three go with 'fight'. At this point, 'qatl' and 'jihad' have become synonymous.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Next, many Islamic laws are defined, previously stated requirements are reiterated, and warnings are repeated:
219 says wine and gambling are both sin and benefit, although the sin is greater. Contrary to what most people think, neither is deemed to be forbidden. Muslims may indulge in each, but only after all other financial obligations have been met.
220 demands fair treatment of orphans.
221 forbids Muslims from marrying non-Muslims unless they convert. I have frequently heard Muslims say that they are allowed to marry non-Muslims, but, in a clear attempt at misdirection, they leave out the conversion caveat.
222 prohibits sex during menstruation.
223 says, "Your women are a tilth (field) for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will." Nothing is mentioned about consent.
224-237 are mostly concerned with marriage and divorce.
238-239 give rules for praying.
240-242 concern making plans for those left behind after death.
243-245 return, yet again, to the subject of fighting. Muslims are reminded to fight in the cause of Allah.
246-253 speak of the Jews after the time of Moses, including reiteration of various biblical stories.
254-274 are reminders of God's omniscience, the necessity of obedience, practicing charity, and the inevitability of judgement.

The above series contains one of the most quoted verses of the Qur'an - verse 256. It says, "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."

This verse is frequently given as proof that Islam is a religion of peace, but if that were true, it would countermand previous (and future) commands to Muslims to "fight in the cause of God". In fact, a careful read of it will reveal that it only promises free will in choosing whether or not to believe in the 'one true god', thereby reaping a reward of everlasting bliss, or denying Him and suffering eternal torment; a choice already given in hundreds of Meccan verses. It has nothing to do with peaceful coexistence nor whether people will be compelled to live under Islamic rule while being allowed to retain their own beliefs; the option given to "the people of the book" in surah 9.

Another noteworthy phrase in 256 is, "whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah". There is no option in Islam for simple non-confrontational disbelief without, by definition, embracing evil as the only alternative. This false dichotomy, and the unceasing repetition of it, is unquestionably designed to create an adversarial relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims.

New rules are revealed next:
275-281 forbid usury. God and Mohamed will declare war on anyone who charges interest (279).
282-283 give rules for making and enforcing contracts. When requiring witnesses to resolve a transactional dispute, two male witnesses must be produced. Should a second man not be available, two women may be substituted. As God explains, that is so the second women can remind the first women should she become forgetful.

Verses 284-286 bring surah 2 to an end:
284-285 are another reminder of God's oneness and the importance of believing in holy scripture.
286 promises God will not overburden anyone, but will judge each justly. It asks for God's help and forgiveness. Finally it ends, apropos of nothing, with a plea to God to "give us victory over the unbelievers". The fact that Islam is at war with unbelievers is becoming clearer. Should any doubt remain, the next surah (8) is titled "Al anfil", which means "The spoils of War".

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

So in other words, Mohammed borrowed some crazy a** s**t, and turned it into even crazier a** s**t.


OM

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Omega Man said:

So in other words, Mohammed borrowed some crazy a** s**t, and turned it into even crazier a** s**t.


OM

Click to expand...

It would appear so. He spent 12 years trying to scare the pagans of Mecca into following him by repeating, ad nauseam, stories that they didn't even believe in to begin with. As a sidebar, I found it amusing that in the first few years when he talked about heaven, he simply described the whole milk and honey thing. Then, as if to say, "Hey, did I forget to tell you about the virgins???, he made sure to include them in the brochure.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

stevecanuck said:

Then, as if to say, "Hey, did I forget to tell you about the virgins???, he made sure to include them in the brochure.

Click to expand...

I guess that's what you could expect from a guy who supposedly married a 9 year old girl. When I hear talk of "72 virgins", it sounds more like a veiled-reference to 72 girls. Ugh. Doesn't sound like paradise for each set of 72.


OM

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Surah 8's 75 verses are revealed after the Battle of Badr, which, as previously stated, was the first major battle between Muslims and Meccan pagans. Although it is titled "The spoils of war", only verses 1, 41, 68, and 69, which decree that one fifth of war booty must be turned over to the Muslim community, and that Muslims can enjoy booty they take as God has made it lawful to them, are actually dedicated to that topic. The rest of the surah is part recap of the battle, and part call to arms in a general, on-going sense. Both parts are used to create a whole meant to rouse the believers to continued fighting:

5-8 chastise some Muslims who were reluctant or afraid to fight.
9-14 speak of the battle as God recounts the ways he helped the Muslims defeat the Meccans. Verse 12 tells them to "smite their necks and fingers". Neck smiting is a punishment used to this day. Verse 13 explicitly states that the Meccans are being fought because, "they opposed Allah and His messenger", which is to say they are being punished for not accepting Islam.
15 and 16 are important as they seem to be speaking in general terms rather than specifically of the battle. They say Muslims are not to turn their backs to the enemy or they risk being sent to Hell.
17 tells Muslim warriors that they are merely God's instrument as it says, "And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them".
22 dehumanizes the pagans by calling them "the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah because they are deaf and dumb".
30 not only bolsters Mohamed's claim that he barely escaped Mecca with his life, but offers a further clue that this war had a personal pay back component to it, "Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee (Mohamed), to keep thee in bonds, or slay thee, or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah".
31 through 38 further vilify the pagans by reiterating their crimes of unbelief and of barring Muslims from the sacred mosque (the Kaaba). Their prayers are described in verse 35 as "naught but whistling and hand-clapping".
39 speaks of the fight to come after Badr. Now that a state of war exists, this verse urges Muslims to carry on and, "fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do". This is Yusuf Ali's interpretation, which is restricted to the word-for-word meaning. However, Mohsin Khan, as he frequently does, adds further explanation and context in brackets, "And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do". Khan is saying that fighting is not merely to make the enemy lay down their arms, but to impose Islamic rule on them.
42 through 46 again remind Muslims of the help God gave them in the battle, and tell them to always stand firm during a fight.
47 through 51 describe the pagans as having diseased hearts (49) whose souls will be smitten by angels (50).
52 through 54 again bring up the story of Moses and Pharoah.
55 issues arguably the Qur'an's worst insult to unbelievers, "For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him: They will not believe".
57 says to deal harshly with defeated forces as a warning.
65 is a direct call for fighting written in the future tense rather than in reference to the battle. It says, "O Prophet! rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding".
67 claims that a prophet should not take prisoners of war until he, "hath made slaughter in the land".
70 and 71 tell captives God will reward them if He, "finds anything good in your hearts", which means if they embrace Islam. We know this because unbelievers have often been described as those with a disease in their hearts.

Verses 72 through 75 summarize the overall message of this surah in clear fashion as they heap praise upon those who fought in the cause of God, and speak of the necessity to continue to do so. They also provide three more examples in which the word 'jihad' is used to describe fighting, further removing any doubt that it mainly refers to one's internal struggle. With this surah, Mohamed has completed the transition from preacher to fighter.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Surah 3 is next, but a great deal had happened in both the war with Mecca and in developments in Medina that should first be discussed to establish historical context:

First, Mohamed expelled the Jewish Banu Qaynuqa tribe from Medina and confiscated their wealth. The justification for this stemmed from an incident in which a Jew embarrassed a Muslim woman by exposing part of her leg. The Jew was killed by a Muslim man who in turn was killed by a group of Jews in retribution. This led Mohamed to lay siege to their fortress and to expel them after they surrendered without a fight. It could easily be suggested that Mohamed used a single incident as a convenient excuse to expel an entire tribe rather than to treat it as the criminal matter that it clearly was, and to mete out appropriate punishment to the perpetrators.

Second, an agreement called The Constitution of Medina was drafted by Mohamed. Actually this occurred before the Battle of Badr, but came into play at this point. Although there are historians who disagree on many aspects of the Constitution, including some who go so far as to question its existence. I have not researched it enough to express my own opinion, plus I feel it would create a needless distraction to this summary to get into that argument. I mention it only because it is frequently brought up in terms of providing justification for the expulsion of Jews from Medina.

Third, the Battle of Uhud was fought one year after Badr. This time the result was a stalemate as the Muslims were forced to retreat to Medina with significant loses, while the Meccans, although suffering fewer loses, went home without a clear victory rather than exploit the weakness of the Muslims and pursue them.

Fourth, in the aftermath of the Battle of Uhud, the Banu Nadir, one of the two remaining major Jewish tribes in Medina, was expelled by Mohamed for alleged acts of treason. Although the story varies, and is not mentioned in the Qur'an, Mohamed claimed to have evidence of either a Banu Nadir plot to kill him, or that they colluded with the Meccans. This left only the Banu Quraiza, whose fate will be discussed later.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Surah 3's first 63 verses are reminiscent the first 86 surahs from Mecca. They repeat all of the well-worn reminders of God's power, omniscience, and oneness, warnings of Hell, promises of Heaven, the Qur'an being an extension of the Torah and the Gospels, and several Old Testament references. Some notable verses include:
13, which invokes the battle of Badr. It confirms that the fight was purely religious in nature as it describes the opposing forces thus, "one party fighting in the way of Allah and the other unbelieving". Every mention of fighting in the Qur'an is given in this context.
28, which says, "Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends". This is repeated several times in future surahs.
32, which leaves no doubt that Islam is hostile not only toward the Meccans of the 7th century, but with unbelievers in general, "allah Ado al kafirina (God is the enemy of unbelievers)".
56, which highlights the dichotomy between belief and unbelief on which the entire Qur'an is based, "as to those who disbelieve, I will chastise them with severe chastisement in this world and the hereafter". Verses such as this, combined with the aforementioned 8:17, "And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them", are the building blocks of terrorism.

Verses 64 through 71 accuse Jews and Christians of falsely claiming that Abraham was a Jew, when he was in fact a Muslim by virtue of being a monotheist. Verse 71 says, "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): "Why do you mix truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while you know"?

Verses 72 through 80 explain that some Christians and Jews are reliable and do not spread such lies, but also among them are those who distort scripture although they know better. Verse 79 and 80 say that Jesus, because he has been given 'the book' and wisdom, would never tell people to worship anyone other than God.

Verses 81 through 91 can only be described as strident, as they as sound as though they were authored by a frustrated and angry person rather than by a God who could erase unbelief with one wave of His hand if it distressed him as much as these passages indicate:
82 - "If any turn back (from the covenant with God), they are perverted transgressors".
83 - "Do they seek for other than the religion of God"?
85 - "If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him".
86 - "God guides not a people unjust".
87 - "On them rests the curse of God, his angels, and all of mankind".
88 - "Their penalty will not be lightened".
90 - "Those who reject faith...never will their repentance be accepted".
91 - "Those who die rejecting faith...for such is a grievous penalty".

And 109 more fun-filled verses from surah 3 to come.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

92 reminds Muslims to give to charity, and seems to stand alone, as it is neither prefaced nor followed by similar verses.

96 and 97 speak of the sanctity of the Kaaba, and inform the faithful that they must make a pilgrimage to it at least once if they are able.

98 - 101 again accuse Christians and Jews of denying the truth about God (the Qur'an as preached by Mohamed), and warns Muslims not to be misled by them.

102 - 109 are yet another reminder to "not die except in a state of Islam (102)", or to "taste then the penalty for rejecting faith (106)".

The People of the Book face more verbal abuse in verses 110 - 120:
110 - "Some of them have faith, but most are perverted transgressors".
111 - "If they come out to fight you, they will show you their backs, and no help shall they get".
112 - "Shame is pitched over them unless they are protected by treaty. They earned God's wrath because they rejected his signs, slew His prophets, and transgressed".
113 - 115 state that not all People of the Book are alike. Some "enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong (114)". To "enjoin what is right" of course is to accept the teachings of Mohamed and therefore of Islam.
116 - "Those who reject faith...will be companions of the fire".
117 - "It is not God who has wronged them, but they have wronged themselves".
118 - "O ye who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks: They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: Rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths: What their hearts conceal is far worse".
119 - "Ye are those who love them, but they love you not,- though ye believe in the whole of the Bible. When they meet you, they say, 'We believe': But when they are alone, they bite off the very tips of their fingers at you in their rage. Say: Perish in your rage; Allah knoweth well all the secrets of the heart".
120 - "If aught that is good befalls you, it grieves them; but if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it. But if ye are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you".

I realize that the above is a lot of direct quotes, but I felt it would be hard to convey God's displeasure with the People of the Book by using my own words in summary form.

121 - 129 refer to the Battle of Uhud telling Muslims that the success at Badr occurred because they did not break ranks, disobey orders, or display cowardice as some did at Uhud.

130 - 139 forbid usury (charging interest), encourage giving to charity, and warn that eternity in either Heaven or Hell hangs in the balance.

The Battle of Uhud did not go well for the Muslims, so 140 and 141 attempt to offer an explanation. First, God assures them that, "If a wound should touch you - there has already touched the [opposing] people a wound similar to it", even though that is not at all what happened. Then He goes onto explain that wins and losses are sometimes alternated as a test, and further cautions that this will result in the martyrdom of some; all of which is designed to result in eventual victory and destruction of the enemy, "And these days We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe and take to Himself from among you martyrs". - and Allah does not like the wrongdoers. And that Allah may purify the believers [through trials] and destroy the disbelievers".

Verse 143 ("Did ye think that ye would enter Heaven without Allah testing those of you who fought hard (In His Cause) and remained steadfast"?) deserves special attention for a couple of reasons. First, it reinforces that fighting in God's cause is a prerequisite for entry into Heaven. Second, the Arabic verb used for fighting is not 'qatl', but 'jihad'. Four of the seven translations in corpus.quran.com chose to translate it as 'fighting'. This is just one more proof that 'jihad' is used interchangeably with 'qatl' in the context of warfare.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Verses 144 - 151 rally the faithful to fight by reminding them God is with them and will reward them in Heaven:
144 says not to abandon Islam should Mohamed die.
145 reminds Muslims they must choose between rewards on earth or in Heaven.
146 - 148 urge Muslims to fight "in the cause of God" by invoking, but not specifying, past examples. They reaffirm that fighting is always stated as being "in the cause of God". All fighting in Islam is for Islam.
149 and 150 warn believers to not listen to unbelievers because God is everything they need.

Verse 151 is a perfect example of the strident preaching that defines the tone of the Qur'an. Unlike the bible, which is mostly story-telling, the Qur'an is a fire and brimstone sermon. - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be the Fire: And evil is the home of the wrong-doers"!

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Non-Muslims (with the pagans of Mecca being the usual target) are frequently called "al zalimuna" (الظلمين). This is variously translated as "oppressors", "wrong-doers", "unjust", and "evil-doers". They earned this title by doing nothing more than rejecting the oneness of God and Mohamed's claim of prophet-hood. They committed no criminal act other than disbelief in Islam, and for that, Mohamed made war on them.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Verses 152 - 180 Continue to rouse believers to fight as it revisits the Battle of Uhud:
152 - 155 claim God was helping the Muslims slay the Meccans until they disobeyed Mohamed by leaving their post to collect war booty, proving that some of them still covet worldly goods over the hereafter. To test them and to teach them a lesson, He then turned the battle in favor of the Meccans. Despite these transgressions, He has since forgiven them.
156 - 158 say not to be hesitant to fight, because God chooses when a person will die, and death in "the cause of God" will result in a great reward.
159 praises Mohamed for forgiving those who failed him at Uhud (thereby conveniently keeping them available for future fights).
160 is another promise of God's aid in battle.
161 - 164 seem to be a defense of Mohamed by claiming he would never cheat anyone out of rightful war booty as illegal booty collectors are not equal in the sight of God, and Muslims should feel blessed to have him sent to them.
165 says Muslims only have themselves to blame for Uhud.
166 says Uhud was a test.
167 - 168 berates the Hypocrites for refusing to fight.
169 - 174 are a reminder that those killed in the cause of god are not dead and will receive a great reward.
175 warns that Satan will tell you to fear, but trust in God.
176 - 177 are a reassurance that disbelievers can not harm God. They will burn in hell.
178 tries to explain further why God did not give the Muslims a victory at Uhud as He did at Badr, "And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing of their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. And for them is a disgracing torment".
179 repeats that the current state of affairs is a test so that God may distinguish the faithful from the unfaithful. This contradicts previous verses that say God is "well aware of what is in your heart". Which is it?
180 warns that those who hoard God's gifts (ie: do not spend "in the cause of God") will regret it on Judgement Day.

In short, the Battle of Uhud did not go well for three reasons (although some might call them excuses) :
1. Some in the Muslim army abandoned their post due to greed.
2. God allowed a near outright defeat in order to test the faithful and to teach them a lesson.
3. He wanted to give the unbelievers more time to fall further into sinfulness.

181 - 184 are another attack on the Jews, who are accused of bragging of their riches while calling God poor, of killing God's prophets (again without naming them), and of rejecting Mohamed and therefore Islam.
185 is a reminder of inevitable death and judgement.
186 tells Muslims they will be tested and will have to endure "much abuse" from unbelievers.
187 again attacks Christians and Jews - "And remember Allah took a covenant from the People of the Book, to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And vile was the bargain they made".
188 says those who love "praise for that which they have not done" will burn in Hell.
190 - 194 repeat the 'believe or burn' theme.
195 praises those "who emigrated (from Mecca to Medina with Mohamed)" and those "who fought and were slain".
196 - 198 return to 'believe or burn'.
Verse 199 says, "And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed (the Qur'an) to you (Mohamed), and in that which has been revealed to them (the bible), humbling themselves before Allah. They do not sell the Verses of Allah for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, Allah is Swift in account". This verse clears up the mystery created in 2:62, which states, in contradiction to the rest of the Qur'an, that Jews and Christians "shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve". For a Christian or Jew to believe in all the scriptures, which now include the Qur'an, simply means they have converted to Islam. They are still "people of the Scripture" by heritage, but are now Muslims, and therefore in God's favor.

Verse 200 ends this surah with a reminder for the faithful to remain steadfast in belief.

With each surah from Medina, God makes it ever more clear that fighting, and if need be, dying, are the surest means of spending eternity in Heaven.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Surah 33 is next, but again, much happened in the meantime that should be known for context:

First, the Battle of the Trench took place in 627. The Meccans, who found themselves in a war they neither started nor wanted, decided to try to end it by attacking Mohamed's army in Medina with a combined force that included Arab bedouins and members of the previously expelled Jewish Banu Nadir tribe. Because of this alliance, it was also known as the Battle of the Confederates. It ended, largely due to a massive trench dug by the defenders, in a complete victory for the Muslims, effectively ending Mecca's will and ability to fight. The eventual conquest of all of the Arabian Peninsula was now all but assured. It is important to note that the one remaining Jewish tribe, the Banu Quraiza, tried to remain neutral. They aided the Muslims only to the extent of lending them the tools to dig the trench, but did not join the fight on either side. This decision sealed their fate.

Second, immediately after the battle, Mohamed claimed to have received a visit from Gabriel who told him he was not finished fighting. Instead, he was instructed to attack the Banu Quraiza. The ensuing siege lasted for more than two weeks and ended when the Jews surrendered unconditionally. Mohamed appointed a Jewish convert to Islam, Sa'd ibn Mua'dh, to decide their fate. He announced that all males of fighting age, with puberty being the deciding factor, were to be beheaded, their women and children to be taken as slaves, and their property to be seized. Mohamed agreed that God would have made the same decision, so the sentence was carried out. Between 600 and 900 men were then murdered, and with that, the last vestige of Jewish presence in a city once called Yathrib was eradicated. It only took Mohamed five years to wipe out the Jews after they had welcomed him to their city.

The debate over whether Mohamed was justified in his actions against the Jews, or if he rationalized them using convenient excuses, is well worth having, but would have no effect on the remaining content and context of the Qur'an.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Surah 33 begins with eight unremarkable verses that need not be summarized. If any gaps appear in this summary, it is because the verses in question have no real impact.

Verses 9 - 27 deal with the Battle of the Trench:

In 9 - 20, God reminds the Muslims who fought in the battle how afraid they were at the beginning, with some trying to excuse themselves from the fight and encouraging other to join them in retreat. They are accused of breaking their pledge to God to stay and fight, and are told He will see to it that retreat will only save them for a short time.

21 - 25 heap praise on those who stayed and fought, and were rewarded when God (through their efforts) routed the Meccans.

Verse 26, in my opinion, is one of the most important in the Qur'an, "And those of the People of the Book who aided them (the Confederates) - Allah did take them down from their strongholds and cast terror into their hearts. (So that) some ye slew, and some ye made prisoners". This refers to the siege and massacre of the Banu Quraiza. It accuses them of aiding the Confederates although no proof or detail is offered. Their 'crime', as illogical and absurd as it may sound, was refusing to fight and die for Mohamed, and therefore Islam. For this they were wiped out.

Verse 27 confirms that their lands and possessions were turned over to the Muslims.

Apologists will argue that the Banu Quraiza broke the terms of their pact with Mohamed by refusing to fight to protect the city, but this does not hold water. The Meccans were not attacking Medina itself, but the Muslims. The Jews were under no threat from the Meccans and therefore had neither reason nor obligation to fight. In my opinion, Mohamed simply had no further use for the Jews since his major foe had just been neutralized, and eliminating them would give him complete control of Medina.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

Verses 28 - 73 deal with proper conduct for Mohamed's wives and matters within the Muslim community such the dissolution of unhappy marriages. These verses contain little that affected other than Muslims, except for these passages:

40 says Mohamed is the "Seal of the prophets", confirming that anyone claiming to be a prophet after him is lying. This is why most Muslims consider Ahmadiyya Muslims to be apostates for raising*Mirzā Ghulām Ahmad (b. 1835) to the status of prophet.

50 and 52 confirm Muslims are allowed to have sex with their captives (consent is never mentioned).

59 is a source of much controversy. it says, "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful". A more exact description would have eliminated the everlasting argument over how much of a woman's body has to be covered.

60 and 61 states that anyone found guilty of*"stirring up sedition" in the city shall be "seized and slain". Sedition undoubtedly means disobedience to Mohamed. His control of the city had become absolute, and he ruled accordingly.

64 - 73 offers more fire and brimstone to unbelievers and Heaven to believers, ending with the frequently added, and highly contradictory claim that, "Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful".

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

I'll be taking a break from this for at least 2 months. We're on a trip, and I left my main reference material at home. I don't want to continue without being sure of the historical context.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

I realized that the original summary of the Meccan verses would be more helpful if I included examples, so here they be:


- God sent Gabriel to Mohamed to deliver the Qur'an. (53:2-8 - "Your Companion [Mohamed] is neither astray nor being misled. It [the Qur'an] is no less than inspiration sent down to him. He was taught by one Mighty in Power [Gabriel]", "27:6 -*And most surely you [Mohamed] are made to receive the Qu'ran from the Wise, the Knowing Allah".)

- Mohamed, as God's messenger, is to be obeyed. (26:162-163 - "I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust. So fear Allah and obey me".)

- The Qur'an is God's final and most perfect message. (5:3 [from Medina]- "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion".)

- God created everything. (39:62 - "Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs", 7:54 - "His verily is all creation and commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Worlds".)

- God has no equals or partners, such as Jesus. (27:26 - "Allah, there is no god but He", 27:60 - "Is there a god with Allah? Nay!", 17:111 - "He has not begotten a son and has no partner in His Kingdom".)

- Your life is meant to be spent worshiping and obeying God. The degree to which you do so will be the sole criterion on which you will be judged and sent to either Heaven or Hell. This is undoubtedly the most repeated theme. (21:92 - "I am your Lord, so worship Me", 7:3 - "Follow the revelation given unto you from your Lord", 7:40 - "To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven". 7:50 - "The Companions of the Fire will call to the Companions of the Garden: 'Pour down to us water or anything that Allah doth provide for your sustenance'. They will say: 'Both these things hath Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him'", 53:62 - "prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him".)

- People are either believers (Muslims) or unbelievers. Every description of character, conduct, and religious observance is based on this distinction. (7:176 - "A person who follows his own lust is like a dog: if you attack him he pants with his tongue out, and if you leave him he pants with his tongue out. Such is the likeness of people who deny Our verses", 7:179 - "They are worse than lost cattle".)

- Rejecting the word of God (and therefore Islam) is the greatest sin/crime. (39:32 - "Who, then, doth more wrong than one who utters a lie concerning Allah, and rejects the Truth when it comes to him; is there not in Hell an abode for blasphemers"?, 40:10 - "The disbelievers will be told, 'God's hatred towards you is much greater than your hatred of your own selves. You were called to the faith but you disbelieved'".)

- God guides or causes to err who he pleases. (14:4 - "God guides or causes to go astray whomever He wants", 7:178 - "Whomsoever Allah guides, he is the one who follows the right way; and whomsoever He causes to err, these are the losers".)

- When unbelievers see they are about to be cast into Hell, they will try without success to convince God that their unbelief is the fault of others. They will claim to now be believers and beg for forgiveness, but it will be too late. (34:33 - "Those who had been despised will say to the arrogant ones: "Nay! it was a plot (of yours) by day and by night: Behold! Ye (constantly) ordered us to be ungrateful to Allah and to attribute equals to Him!" They will declare (their) repentance when they see the Penalty: We shall put yokes on the necks of the Unbelievers: It would only be a requital for their (ill) Deeds".)

- Unbelievers dismiss the Qur'an as myths of old. (27:68 "These are nothing but tales of the ancients".)

- Unbelievers say the Qur'an come from Mohamed rather than God. (74:25 - "These are only words from a mere mortal".)

- Mohamed is not insane and not to be mocked. (68:2 - "Thou [Mohamed] are not, by the Grace of God, mad or possessed", 15:95 - "We [God] suffice thee [Mohamed] against the mockers".)

continued ..

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

- Mohamed is the perfect role model. (68:4 - "And verily, you [Mohamed] are on an exalted standard of character".)

- The pagans of Mecca will roast in Hell for their rejection of Islam and their mockery of Mohamed. (21:98 - "Lo! ye (idolaters) and that which ye worship beside Allah are fuel of hell".)

- God is aware of everything you do and think. (40:19 - "God knows the disloyalty of the eyes and what the hearts conceal".)

- Old Testament stories of Adam, Moses, Noah, Lot, Abraham, etc. are told and retold to instill fear of God's wrath. Implicit in this seemingly endless retelling is the threat that God could choose to destroy Mecca as He did Sodom. (7:78 - "So the earthquake seized them, and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes" [Lot - Sodom and Gomorrah], 69:11 - "When the flood rose high and covered the whole land, We carried you in the Ark" [Noah], 17:103 - "The Pharaoh wanted to expel the Israelites from the land so We drowned him and all who were with him" [Moses].)

- The Ad and Thamud people (not mentioned in the bible) were disobedient to God and therefore destroyed. (26:156 - "But the Penalty seized them. Verily in this is a Sign".)

- Earth will be destroyed and every person's eternal fate will be decided on Judgement Day. (73:14 - "On the day when the earth and the mountains shall quake and the mountains shall become (as) heaps of sand let loose", 81:6 - "And when the seas are set on fire", 81:12-14 - "And when Hellfire is set ablaze,*And when Paradise is brought near,*every soul will discover the consequence of its deeds".)

- Heaven is a "garden of bliss" wherein the believers' every need will be met. (41:30 - "Lo! those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and afterward are upright, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not nor grieve, but hear good tidings of the paradise which ye are promised".)

- Hell is a literal fire in which unbelievers will burn for eternity. It is absolutely not metaphorical or figurative. (21:39 - "If the unbelievers but knew when that they shall not ward off the Fire from their faces nor from their backs, neither shall they be helped", 34:42 - "We shall say to the wrong-doers, "Taste ye the Penalty of the Fire,- that which ye were wont to deny".)

- Do not trade an eternity of bliss in Heaven for temporary pleasures on Earth. (87:16-17 - "But ye prefer the life of the world while the Hereafter is better and more enduring".)

- Unbelievers are evil followers of Satan, not merely wrong or misguided, but evil. (7:177 - "How evil an example are people who denied Our signs and used to wrong themselves", 80:42 - "they who are unbelievers, the wicked", 19:86 - " and drive the evildoers [those who followed Satan] into Hell".)

- God did not have a son. To say He did is evil. (19:88-89 - "They say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten a son. Indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous"!)

- Eternally virgin women will be companions for believers in Heaven. Nothing is said about companions for women. (52:20 - "They will recline on couches arranged in rows and We shall couple them with maidens with large, lovely eyes".)

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

stevecanuck said:

I realized that the original summary of the Meccan verses would be more helpful if I included examples, so here they be:


- God sent Gabriel to Mohamed to deliver the Qur'an. (53:2-8 - "Your Companion [Mohamed] is neither astray nor being misled. It [the Qur'an] is no less than inspiration sent down to him. He was taught by one Mighty in Power [Gabriel]", "27:6 -*And most surely you [Mohamed] are made to receive the Qu'ran from the Wise, the Knowing Allah".)

Click to expand...

Here is the question:


What makes Mohammad (or anyone else familiar with the Bible) that Abraham's God had indeed send the angel whom they allegedly claim to be Gabriel?

The angel Gabriel depicted in the Bible (Old and New Testament), is not a violent angel to the people he visited. In fact, there was gentleness about him in the way he treated the people he visited.


Daniel 8

The Interpretation of the Vision
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.”
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”

18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.




Compare:


When it was the night on which God honoured him with his mission and showed mercy on His servants thereby, Gabriel brought him the command of God. "He came to me," said the apostle of God, "while I was asleep, with a coverlet of brocade whereon was some writing, and said, ‘Read!’ I said, ‘What shall I read?’ He pressed me with it so tightly that I thought it was death; then he let me go and said, ‘Read!’ I said, ‘What shall I read?’ He pressed me with it again so that I thought it was death; then he let me go and said ‘Read!’ I said, ‘What shall I read?’ He pressed me with it the third time so that I thought it was death and said ‘Read!’ I said, ‘What then shall I read?’—and this I said only to deliver myself from him, lest he should do the same to me again. He said:
‘Read in the name of thy Lord who created, Who created man of blood coagulated. Read! Thy Lord is the most beneficent, Who taught by the pen, Taught that which they knew not unto men.’
So I read it, and he departed from me. And I awoke from my sleep, and it was as though these words were written on my heart.

Now none of God’s creatures was more hateful to me than an (ecstatic) poet or a man possessed: I could not even look at them. I thought, Woe is me poet or possessed—Never shall Quraysh say this of me! I will go to the top of the mountain and throw myself down that I may kill myself and gain rest." (Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, p. 106)


Mohammad wanted to kill himself. I don't think he believed that the apparition was sent by God. The experience had traumatised Mohammad.



The Prophet added, “The angel caught me [forcefully] and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ So he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ So he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said:
Read in the name of your Lord who created (96.1). He created man from a clot (96.2). Read and your Lord is most honorable (96.3) who teaches by the pen (96.4). He taught man what he did not know (96.5).

Then the Messenger of Allah returned with the inspiration and with his heart beating fast. Then he went to [his wife] Khadija bint Khuwailid and said: “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him until his fear was over, and after that he told her everything that had happened and said: “I fear that something may happen to me.”
Khadija replied: “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, carry the weak, help the poor, serve your guests generously, and assist the calamity-afflicted ones.”





Definitely, this isn't the same Gabriel depicted in the Bible.
The angel Gabriel of the Bible is gentle, always allayed the fears of those he visited!

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

continuation.....

Originally Posted by stevecanuck
I realized that the original summary of the Meccan verses would be more helpful if I included examples, so here they be:


- God sent Gabriel to Mohamed to deliver the Qur'an. (53:2-8 - "Your Companion [Mohamed] is neither astray nor being misled. It [the Qur'an] is no less than inspiration sent down to him. He was taught by one Mighty in Power [Gabriel]", "27:6 -*And most surely you [Mohamed] are made to receive the Qu'ran from the Wise, the Knowing Allah".)

Click to expand...

Therefore, everything hinges on the identity of this angel.


Mohammad himself, apparently (based on his reaction to that encounter), did not believe the apparition was sent by God.

He had to be convinced by his cousin!

Perplexed by this new experience, Muhammad made his way to home where he was consoled by his wife Khadijah, who also took him to her Ebionite cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal.

Waraqah was familiar with Jewish and Christian scriptures.
Islamic tradition holds that Waraqah, upon hearing the description, testified to Muhammad's prophethood,[3][page needed][13] and convinced Muhammad that the revelation was from God..[14]

Click to expand...

Muhammad's first revelation - Wikipedia



If this cousin was familiar with Jewish/Christian Scriptures -

surely he'd know the difference between the Jewish/Christian Gabriel, and this one that appeared to Mohammad!


The Gabriel of the Old and the New Testament is CONSISTENTLY portrayed!

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

tosca1 said:

Here is the question:


What makes Mohammad (or anyone else familiar with the Bible) that Abraham's God had indeed send the angel whom they allegedly claim to be Gabriel?

The angel Gabriel depicted in the Bible (Old and New Testament), is not a violent angel to the people he visited. In fact, there was gentleness about him in the way he treated the people he visited.


Daniel 8

The Interpretation of the Vision
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.”
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”

18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.




Compare:


When it was the night on which God honoured him with his mission and showed mercy on His servants thereby, Gabriel brought him the command of God. "He came to me," said the apostle of God, "while I was asleep, with a coverlet of brocade whereon was some writing, and said, ‘Read!’ I said, ‘What shall I read?’ He pressed me with it so tightly that I thought it was death; then he let me go and said, ‘Read!’ I said, ‘What shall I read?’ He pressed me with it again so that I thought it was death; then he let me go and said ‘Read!’ I said, ‘What shall I read?’ He pressed me with it the third time so that I thought it was death and said ‘Read!’ I said, ‘What then shall I read?’—and this I said only to deliver myself from him, lest he should do the same to me again. He said:
‘Read in the name of thy Lord who created, Who created man of blood coagulated. Read! Thy Lord is the most beneficent, Who taught by the pen, Taught that which they knew not unto men.’
So I read it, and he departed from me. And I awoke from my sleep, and it was as though these words were written on my heart.

Now none of God’s creatures was more hateful to me than an (ecstatic) poet or a man possessed: I could not even look at them. I thought, Woe is me poet or possessed—Never shall Quraysh say this of me! I will go to the top of the mountain and throw myself down that I may kill myself and gain rest." (Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, p. 106)


Mohammad wanted to kill himself. I don't think he believed that the apparition was sent by God. The experience had traumatised Mohammad.





The Prophet added, “The angel caught me [forcefully] and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ So he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ So he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said:
Read in the name of your Lord who created (96.1). He created man from a clot (96.2). Read and your Lord is most honorable (96.3) who teaches by the pen (96.4). He taught man what he did not know (96.5).

Then the Messenger of Allah returned with the inspiration and with his heart beating fast. Then he went to [his wife] Khadija bint Khuwailid and said: “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him until his fear was over, and after that he told her everything that had happened and said: “I fear that something may happen to me.”
Khadija replied: “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, carry the weak, help the poor, serve your guests generously, and assist the calamity-afflicted ones.”



Definitely, this isn't the same Gabriel depicted in the Bible.
The angel Gabriel of the Bible is gentle, always allayed the fears of those he visited!

Click to expand...

That is just more proof that Mohamed was making stuff up as he went along. If you read the Qur'an, it sounds like a frustrated man talking, not a god.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

tosca1 said:

continuation.....





Therefore, everything hinges on the identity of this angel.


Mohammad himself, apparently (based on his reaction to that encounter), did not believe the apparition was sent by God.

He had to be convinced by his cousin!





Muhammad's first revelation - Wikipedia



If this cousin was familiar with Jewish/Christian Scriptures -

surely he'd know the difference between the Jewish/Christian Gabriel, and this one that appeared to Mohammad!


The Gabriel of the Old and the New Testament is CONSISTENTLY portrayed!

Click to expand...

You know the old joke about the kid who takes a note to school to get out of gym class and signs it, "My mother"? Well, that's what the Qur'an sounds like in places, especially where Mohamed gets to sleep with whomever he wants.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

stevecanuck said:

You know the old joke about the kid who takes a note to school to get out of gym class and signs it, "My mother"? Well, that's what the Qur'an sounds like in places, especially where Mohamed gets to sleep with whomever he wants.

Click to expand...

You know, there's been an argument floating around that proves Mohammad had an encounter with a demon instead.

I'll check it out some more.

Re: The Qur'an in chronological order.

tosca1 said:

You know, there's been an argument floating around that proves Mohammad had an encounter with a demon instead.

I'll check it out some more.

Click to expand...

I disbelieve in demons every bit as much as I do deities. However, if such really did exist, I fail to see how Mohamed would know the difference if a demon were to present itself as Gabriel. That seems like the sort of thing a demon would do. Mind you, a truly loving God would just swat such a critter and eliminate the centuries of warfare and millions of deaths that resulted.