The Koran, Briefing One

What Does Koran Actually Teach?

Note: this is part one of a four part briefing that presents major themes in the Koran as expressed in several parallel translations of that book. This briefing was prepared by Attorney Paul J. Tetreault, Jr. for Professor Walter E. Williams of George Mason University shortly after 9/11.

For further info on Islam, visit the former Muslims at http://www.islamreview.com

Thanks very much for wanting to learn what the Koran actually teaches. You can't judge a religion by what its adherents do or say, you must look at its books. An older Christian man from W. VA told me that as late as the 50s people in that state would walk out of the Sunday service and go to the KKK meeting. This did not mean, of course, the KKK was a Christian group - it explicitly violated the Judeo-Christian teaching that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Lev.19:18; Matt.22:39).

The translation of the Koran that you read does make a slight difference. Here is a link to a searchable English translation of the Koran:

http://www.islam.tc/quran/ [Note: this server was taken down in the weeks following the 9/11 attack. Wonder why?] Here is a link to three translations of Koran (Pickthall, Yusufali, and Shakir) that is still active: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran Here is a link to Hadith, the sayings and deeds of Muhammad: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/ To use this page, I recommend finding the heading that says "Large Collections" then clicking on the link that says "A collection of the ahadith in Sahih Bukhari."

This translation is by a Brit named Pickthall, and the language is moderated - not as openly violent - as you will see in the verses below. A friend of mine has this translation and says it was published in 1909.

I have two translations:

1. A 1997 edition translated by an Iraqi named N.J. Dawood. Dawood's translation was published in 1956 and is billed as the first translation into "contemporary" English, and

2. A 1996 edition by A.J. Arberry, Head of the Department of Classics at Cairo University. Arberry's translation was first published in 1955.

There's a note worth mentioning here. The original Koran is in Arabic and Muslims say it cannot be accurately translated. The folks appearing on TV to claim that Islam is peaceful argue either:

1. The verses being quoted are not accurately translated, and

2. The verses are taken out of context.

But here is a link to an interview with Labib Mikhail, an Egyptian who can recite Koran from memory in Arabic. Mr. Mikhail is an Egyptian and was a Christian pastor in Egypt for 34 years. He has published an evangelical magazine aimed at Muslims since 1952. In his most recent book, "Islam, Mohammed, and the Koran: A Documentary Analysis" Mikhail does not interpret Koran himself, but gives the interpretation of the most popular commentators on Koran. He says you don't need a special interpreter to understand verses like "Don't take Christians and Jews as your friends."

Here's the link:

http://www.wava.com/don/don_archives.shtml [Editor's note - this link may no longer contain the referenced interview]

On this page, click Wednesday, October 10, Hour 1 to hear the interview in RealAudio. This interview is really worthwhile. I have also ordered 3 copies of his book and will give you one.

Last before the verses, here are two links with more info:

1. http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/chavez1.asp - Linda Chavez's most recent column "A need to define the real enemy" that says Islam is not peaceful, and

2. http://www.islamreview.com/ - Islam Review, a site run by former Muslims and middle-east Christians to help people learn what Islam actually teaches. I have worked with Abdullah Al-Araby, the man who runs the site, for four years.

Now for the verses. Since this mail is already long, I will give you some of the most strident today. In future mails, I'll go in order through the Suras and give you a little more background as well. It is important to understand why you can make an argument Islam is a religion of peace - but only for Muslims.

Suras commanding war against unbelievers appear throughout the Koran, but the one that is short and clear is 9:73:

"Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate." (Dawood)

"O Prophet, struggle with the unbelievers and hypocrites, and be thou harsh with them; their refuge is Gehenna - an evil homecoming" (Arberry - the word translated "struggle" is the Arabic word "Jihad" - holy war).

" O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end." (Pickthall).

Muslims are also promised heaven if they fight for the "cause of Allah" in many places. Suras 9:86-90 are clear:

" Whenever a Chapter (Sura) was revealed, saying: 'Believe in God and fight alongside His apostle," the rich among them excused themselves to you, saying 'Leave us with those who are to stay behind.' They were content to be with those who stayed behind: a seal was set upon their hearts, leaving them bereft of understanding. But the Apostle and the men who shared his faith fought with their goods and with their persons. These shall be rewarded with good things. These shall surely prosper. God has prepared for them gardens watered by running streams (the Koran's metaphor for heaven), in which they shall abide for ever. That is the supreme triumph. Some Arabs of the desert turned up with excuses, begging leave to stay behind; while those who denied God and His apostle remained idle at home. A woeful scourge shall fall on those of them that disbelieved." (Dawood).

"And when a sura is sent down, daying, 'Believe in God, and struggle with His Messenger,' the affluent among them ask leave of thee, saying, 'Let us be with the tarriers.' They are well-pleased to be with those behind, and a seal has been set upon their hearts, so they understand not. But the Messenger, and the believers with him, have stuggled with their possessions and their selves, and those - for them await the good things; those - they are the prosperers. God has prepared for them gardens underneath which rivers flow, therein to dwell forever; that is the mighty triumph. And the Bedouins came with their excuses, asking for leave; those who lied to God and His Messenger tarried; there shall befall the unbelievers of them a painful chastisement." (Arberry).

"009.086 And when a surah is revealed (which saith): Believe in Allah and strive along with His messenger, the men of wealth among them still ask leave of thee and say: Suffer us to be with those who sit (at home). 009.087 They are content that they should be with the useless and their hearts are sealed, so that they apprehend not. 009.088 But the messenger and those who believe with him strive with their wealth and their lives. Such are they for whom are the good things. Such are they who are the successful. 009.089 Allah hath made ready for them Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide. That is the supreme triumph. 009.090 And those among the wandering Arabs who had an excuse came in order that permission might be granted them. And those who lied to Allah and His messenger sat at home. A painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve." (Pickthall)

TERROR is a pervasive theme in Koran - inflicted both by Allah and by Muslims on those who don't believe. Here are several suras.

Sura 3:151 - aimed at Christians who believe in the Trinity:

"We will put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. They serve other deities besides God for whom He has revealed no sanction. The fire shall be their home; evil indeed is the dwelling of the evil doers." (Dawood).

"We will cast into the hearts of the unbelievers terror, for that they have associated with God that for which He send down never authority; their lodging shall be the Fire; evil is the lodging of the evildoers." (Arberry)

" We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve because they ascribe unto Allah partners, for which no warrant hath been revealed. Their habitation is the Fire, and hapless the abode of the wrong-doers." (Pickthall)

This is Allah talking here. My 1967 Encyclopedia Americana says "On many issues the Koran is unclear or incomplete, and on others...it is sharply contradictory." The biggest contradiction in Koran is that while it claims God had no son (no partners with Allah) it mentions the Holy Spirit and is written in the first person plural - "We".

Sura 7:4, again Allah casting terror:

"How many cities have We destroyed! In the night Our scourge fell upon them, or at midday, when they were drowsing." (Dawood)

"How many a city We have destroyed! Our might came upon it at night, or while they took their ease in the noontide...." (Arberry)

" How many a township have We destroyed! As a raid by night, or while they slept at noon, Our terror came unto them." (Pickthall)

Sura 59:2 - here Allah and Muslims cause terror:

"It was He that drove the unbelievers among the People of the Book (Koran's phrase for Jews & Christians) out of their dwellings into the first exile. You did not think that they would go; and they, for their part, fancied that their strongholds would protect them from God. but god's scourge fell upon them whence they did not expect it, casting such terror into their hearts that their dwellings were destroyed by their own hands as well as by the faithful (Muslims). Learn from their example, you that have eyes." (Dawood)

"It is He who expelled from their habitations the unbelievers among the People of the Book at the first mustering. You did not think that they would go forth, and they thought that their fortresses would defend them against god; then God came upon them from whence they had not reckoned, and He cast terror into their hearts as they destroyed their houses with their own hands, and the hands of the believers; therefore take heed, you who have eyes." (Arberry).

"He it is Who hath caused those of the People of the Scripture who disbelieved to go forth from their homes unto the first exile. Ye deemed not that they would go forth, while they deemed that their strongholds would protect them from Allah. But Allah reached them from a place whereof they recked not, and cast terror in their hearts so that they ruined their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers. So learn a lesson, O ye who have eyes!" (Pickthall).

SLAYING UNBELIEVERS is specifically commanded, though they can also be made slaves and their property can be confiscated.

Non-muslims have no legal rights in Muslim societies. If unbelievers are not killed, they can be made to pay "Jizya," a tax to buy back rights like owning property, working, or going to school.

Sura 2:191:

"Slay them wherever you find them. Drive them out of the places from which they drove you. Idolatry is more grievous than bloodshed. But do not fight them within the precincts of the Holy Mosque unless they attack you there; if they attack you put them to the sword. thus shall the unbelievers be rewarded: but if they mend their ways (become Muslims), know that God is forgiving and merciful." (Dawood)

"And slay them wherever you come upon them, and expel them from where they expelled you; persecution is more grievous than slaying. But fight them not by the Holy Mosque until they should fight you there; then, if they fight you, slay them - such is the recompense of unbelievers - but if they give over, surely God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate." (Arberry)

"And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers." (Pickthall).

WORLD DOMINATION IS THE GOAL OF ISLAM.

The Koran is perverse, but it is logical. The Koran teaches that unbelievers are sinners, and every day they live they pile up more sins. Because Muslims believe that Allah will judge people by weighing their good deeds against their bad deeds, they believe that by forcing non-Muslims to become Muslims at the point of a sword they are actually doing non-Muslims a favor - "saving their souls" as it were. But because unbelief is a sin - idolatry - it must be wiped out wherever it is. This effectively means that the Muslims goal is to spread Islam to everyone who will accept it and kill everyone who won't.

Sura 2:193:

"Fight against them (non-Muslims) until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme. But if they desist, fight none except the evil-doers." (Dawood)

"Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is God's; then if they give over, there shall be no enmity save for evildoers." (Arberry)

"And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers." (Pickthall)

Sura 2:216

"Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. God knows, but you know not." (Dawood)

"Prescribed for you is fighting, though it be hateful to you. Yet it may happen that you will hate a thing which is better for you; and it may happen that you will love a thing which is worse for you; God knows, and you know not." (Arberry)

"Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not." (Pickthall)

Sura 2:217-218 - we can well expect attacks during Ramadam.

"They ask you about the sacred month. Say: 'To fight in this month is a grave offence; but to debar others from the path of God, to deny Him, and to expel His worshippers from the Holy Mosque, is far more grave in His sight. Idolatry is more grievous than bloodshed.' They will not cease to fight against you until they force you to renounce your faith - if they are able. But whoever of you recants and dies an unbeliever, his works shall come to nothing in this world and in the world to come. Such men shall be the tenants of Fire, wherein they shall abide for ever. Those that have embraced the Faith, and those that have fled their land and fought for the cause of God, may hope for God's mercy. God is forgiving and merciful." (Dawood)

"They will question thee concerning the holy month, and fighting in it. Say: 'Fighting in it is a heinous thing, but to bar from God's way, and disbelief in Him, and the Holy Mosque, and to expel its people from it - that is more heinous in God's sight; and persecution is more heinous than slaying.' They will not cease to fight with you, till they turn you from your religion, if they are able; and whosoever of you turns from his religion, and dies disbelieving - their works have failed in this world and the next; those are the inhabitants of the Fire; therein they shall dwell forever. But the believers, and those who emigrate and struggle in God's way - they have hope of God's compassion; and God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate." (Arberry)

"They question thee (O Muhammad) with regard to warfare in the sacred month. Say: Warfare therein is a great (transgression), but to turn (men) from the way of Allah, and to disbelieve in Him and in the Inviolable Place of Worship, and to expel His people thence, is a greater with Allah; for persecution is worse than killing. And they will not cease from fighting against you till they have made you renegades from your religion, if they can. And whoso becometh a renegade and dieth in his disbelief: such are they whose works have fallen both in the world and the Hereafter. Such are rightful owners of the Fire: they will abide therein." (Pickthall)

You'll notice that most of the verses I've sent you have come from the first 3 suras of Koran. There are many more in following suras and I will send them to you in order.

Bin Laden said the world is divided into two camps. The book "Kingdom of the Cults" - a Christian book that looks at how various religions depart from the Bible - identifies these as divisions as "Dar al Islam" - the world of Islam - and "Dar al Harb" - the world of war - war, that is, against unbelievers.

The Koran, Briefing Two

I'm glad the last message was helpful. I have many more "fighting verses" for you. I also want to start giving you some verses that show why Islam is a religion of "peace" for Muslims only, and that, even in its peaceful form, Islam poses grave danger to non-Muslims and is fatal to the freedoms we enjoy in the West.

As you know, we define "freedom" in terms of rights - conduct the law will protect in our interactions with others or in actions that relate mainly to ourselves, like suicide or smoking in your own house. Rights come from the prohibitions of moral rules. You don't get a right to life without a moral rule that says don't kill innocent people, or a right to property without a moral rule that says don't steal. (I'm keeping it simple - you understand the complexities).

To have what we in the West consider freedom, you really only need the last five rules of the 10 Commandments - don't kill, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet. Islam has these rules, but they apply to Muslims only. There is no concept of "equal protection under the law" because non-Muslims do not stand equal to Muslims in the eyes of Allah.

Where the Bible says "love your neighbor as yourself," "God is no respecter of persons," and "God is not willing that any should perish," the Koran is clear that Allah hates non-Muslims:

Sura 3:32:

"Say: 'Obey God and the Apostle.' If they pay no heed, then, surely, God does not love the unbelievers." (Dawood)

"Say: Obey Allah and the messenger. But if they turn away, lo! Allah loveth not the disbelievers (in His guidance)." (Pickthall)

Sura 5:60:

"Say: 'Shall I tell you who will receive a worse reward from God? Those whom God has cursed and with whom He has been angry, transforming them into apes and swine, and those who serve the devil. Worse is the plight of these, and they have strayed far from the right path.'" (Dawood)

"Shall I tell thee of a worse (case) than theirs for retribution with Allah ? (Worse is the case of him) whom Allah hath cursed, him on whom His wrath hath fallen and of whose sort Allah hath turned some to apes and swine, and who serveth idols. Such are in worse plight and further astray from the plain road." (Pickthall)

There is actually some Imam in Michigan apologizing furiously now for calling Jews apes and swine in a speech some years back.

By contrast, the Bible says that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life," (John 3:16) and that "when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son" (Rom. 5:10). God "loves the sinner but hates the sin." (See Prov. 8:13).

I know this is a subtle point and, since it is religious, it is hard to treat in a column or on the radio, but understanding this difference is key to understanding why Islam is so dangerous. Jews and Christians take it for granted that man is sinful. Christians in particular understand that they are to tell the truth about Jesus in boldness and love but that God has given man free will to choose whether to believe. Since God doesn't send down lightning bolts to force people to believe, man's government cannot compel individuals to believe, either. Government can, however, deter evil by punishing those who kill, steal, etc.

But under Islam, rejecting Mohammed and Allah is itself a sin that Islamic government is told to punish:

Sura 3:31:

"Say: 'If you love God, follow me (Mohammed). God will love you and forgive you your sins. God is forgiving and merciful.'" (Dawood)

"Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Pickthall)

Sura 5:49:

"Pronounce judgment among them according to God's revelations (Koran) and do not be led by their desires. Take heed lest they turn you away from a part of that which God has revealed to you. If they reject your judgment, know that it is God's wish to scourge them for their sins. A great many of mankind are evil-doers." (Dawood).

"So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that Allah's Will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! many of mankind are evil-livers." (Pickthall).

Thus, the Koran puts mankind back in the situation where Bloody Mary was burning Protestants at the stake. We in the U.S. led the West in resolving that problem by realizing that freedom, prosperity, happiness, and peace depended on observing the last 5 of the 10 Commandments, and it didn't matter whether you went to Catholic Mass, a Protestant worship service or stayed home on Sunday, as long as you didn't break those rules.

In Islam, the rules only apply to, and can only be applied by, Muslims, particularly Muslim men, and are sometimes not absolute. For example, under Islam the only unpardonable sin appears to be killing a Muslim:

Sura 4:93:

"He that kills a believer by design shall burn in Hell for ever. He shall incur the wrath of God, who will lay His curse on him and prepare for him a mighty scourge." (Dawood).

"Whoso slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is hell for ever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom." (Pickthall).

No wonder we can't get a single Muslim country to join us militarily! Some on TV have quoted the following Sura to claim that Islam does not condone killing:

Sura 5:32

"That was why We (Allah) laid it down for the Israelites that whoever killed a human being, except as punishment for murder or other villainy in the land, shall be regarded as having killed all mankind; and that whoever saved a human life shall be regarded as having saved all mankind. Our apostles brought them veritable proofs; Yet many among them, even after that, did prodigious evil in the land." (Dawood)

"For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but afterwards lo! many of them became prodigals in the earth." (Pickthall)

There are many reasons why the claim Islam does not condone killing is pure BS, but the best proof are the three very next suras:

Sura 5:33-35

"Those that make war against God and His apostle and spread disorder in the land shall be slain or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or be banished from the land. They shall be held up to shame in this world and sternly punished in the hereafter: except those who repent before you reduce them. For you must know that God is forgiving and merciful. Beleivers, have fear of God and seek the right path to Him. Fight valiantly for His cause, so that you may triumph." (Dawood).

"The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom; 005.034 Save those who repent before ye overpower them. For know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 005.035 O ye who believe! Be mindful of your duty to Allah, and seek the way of approach unto Him, and strive in His way in order that ye may succeed." (Pickthall)

A more scholarly rebuttal is that God never gave this rule to the Jews - it does not appear anywhere in the Bible. It appears in the Talmud, which is a multi-volume rabbinical commentary on the Old Testament scripture that was started around 550 BC while the Jews were in Babylon and continued to be added to through the Middle Ages.

Secondly, Koran explicitly says this rule applied only to the Jews. The reference appears at the end of a recounting of Cain killing Able that does not agree with the Biblical account and Koran never says it applies to Muslims. Finally, the Koran explicitly countermands commands given to the Jews elsewhere, e.g. Sura 5:45, that countermands the "eye for eye, tooth for a tooth" rule for Jewish (and Christian) government.

As we have seen, rejecting Islam is itself a sin that can earn you death. This is confirmed by the following sura that shows that one sign you have repented from your unbelief is that you submit to Islamic law - i.e., the rule can only be applied by Muslims:

Sura 4:65

"But they will not - I swear by your Lord - they will not be true believers until they seek your arbitration in their disputes. Then they will not doubt the justice of your verdicts and will submit to you entirely." (Dawood).

"But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission." (Pickthall).

Applying Koranic law can be problematic, though, because the Koran is full of contradictions - the rules are loose enough that extracting a clear moral code is almost impossible. For example, the Koran tells Muslims not to lie or defraud, but you can get out of breaking an oath just by fasting:

Sura 5:89:

"God will not punish you for that which is inadvertent in your oaths. But He will take you to task over the oaths which you solemnly swear. The penalty for a broken oath is the feeding of ten needy men with such food as you normally offer to your own people; or the clothing of ten needy men; or the freeing of a slave. He that cannot afford any of these must fast three days. In this way you shall expiate your broken oaths. Therefore be true to that which you have sworn. Thus god makes plain to you His revelations, so that you may give thanks." (Dawood).

"Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths, but He will take you to task for the oaths which ye swear in earnest. The expiation thereof is the feeding of ten of the needy with the average of that wherewith ye feed your own folk, or the clothing of them, or the liberation of a slave, and for him who findeth not (the wherewithal to do so) then a three days' fast. This is the expiation of your oaths when ye have sworn; and keep your oaths. Thus Allah expoundeth unto you His revelations in order that ye may give thanks." (Pickthall)

I would like to cite for you now the sura that says that non-Muslims can be enslaved or their property confiscated, or they can be made to pay Jizya. I have read it before but I don't have it flagged to quote to you at the moment. There are also verses dealing with the inferiority of women that I'm sure Mrs. Williams would take issue with.

The bottom line is that because Koran commands the killing of those who reject Islam, it only produces peace in a society where all non-Muslims have been killed! This makes Islam a form of social Russian roulette. Even if Islamic militants are not flying airplanes into office buildings, a democratic nation with a significant Muslim population can find that its laws are hijacked if the Muslims become politically active.

I'm sure you'll recognize the similarity to the old example Libertarians like to use. Three bandits can ride into town and hold you up and you know you're the victim of violence and evil. But if the same three bandits ride into town and get elected to the city council, they can pass a law that forces you to give them your wallet and you reach the same result, although the process was "peaceful."

If you listened to the Mikhail interview you know that there are three types of Muslims - secular Muslims who don't read Koran, moderate Muslims who try to reconcile Koran with Western values, and the fundamentalists who read Koran literally. The problem is, as Mikhail points out, you cannot reconcile Koran with Western values and preserve intellectual honesty. Thus, the path is always open to the extremist point of view.

Tony Blankley at the Washington Times did a column last week where he noted that the trend since the 50s in Islamic scholarship has been increasingly toward the fundamentalist view. Tomorrow I want to show you why Koran itself pushes Muslims in this direction - many verses tell Muslims that Jewish and Christian society will depart from the scriptural ideas that are common between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, and as our moral decay has accelerated, that is increasingly what Muslims see.

Finally, here are some more fighting verses for you:

LONGING FOR DEATH - good Muslims long for death, and take the Western aversion to death as a sign that we know we are sinners:

Sura 2:94-95

"Say: 'If God's Abode of the Hereafter is for yourselves alone, to the exclusion of all others, then wish for death if your claim be true!' But they will never wish for death, because of what they did; for God knows the evil-doers." (Dawood)

"Say (unto them): If the abode of the Hereafter in the providence of Allah is indeed for you alone and not for others of mankind (as ye pretend), then long for death (for ye must long for death) if ye are truthful. 002.095 But they will never long for it, because of that which their own hands have sent before them. Allah is aware of evil-doers." (Pickthall)

This is why Osama says he longs for martyrdom.

A SMALL BAND CAN BEAT A BIG ARMY OF UNBELIEVERS
Allah puts out their fires of war

Sura 2:249 (excerpt)

"God replied: 'Many a small band has, by God's grace, vanquished a mighty army. God is with those who endure with fortitude.'" (Dawood)

"But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast." (Pickthall)

Sura 5:64

"The Jews say: 'God's hand is chained.' May their own hands be chained! May they be cursed for what they say! By no means. His hands are both outstretched: He bestows as He will. That which is revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase the wickedness and unbelief of many of them. We have stirred among them enmity and hatred, which will endure till the Day of Resurrection. Whenever they kindle the fire of war, God puts it out. They spread evil in the land, but God does not love the evil-doers." (Dawood)

"The Jews say: Allah's hand is fettered. Their hands are fettered and they are accursed for saying so. Nay, but both His hands are spread out wide in bounty. He bestoweth as He will. That which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them, and We have cast among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection. As often as they light a fire for war, Allah extinguisheth it. Their effort is for corruption in the land, and Allah loveth not corrupters." (Pickthall)

Sura 3:110-112

"You (Muslims) are the noblest community ever raised up for mankind. You enjoin justice and forbid evil. You believe in God. Had the People of the Book accepted the Faith, it would surely have been better for them. Some are true believers, but most of them are evil-doers. If they harm you, they can cause you but a slight hurt; and if they fight against you they will turn their backs and run away. Then there shall be none to help them. Ignominy shall attend them wherever they are found, unless they make a covenant with God or with man. They have incurred the wrath of god and have been utterly humbled: because they disbelieved God's revelations and slew the prophets unjustly; and because they were rebels and transgressors." (Dawood)

"Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the People of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers; but most of them are evil-livers. 003.111 They will not harm you save a trifling hurt, and if they fight against you they will turn and flee. And afterward they will not be helped. 003.112 Ignominy shall be their portion wheresoever they are found save (where they grasp) a rope from Allah and a rope from men. They have incurred anger from their Lord, and wretchedness is laid upon them. That is because they used to disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slew the prophets wrongfully. That is because they were rebellious and used to transgress." (Pickthall)

CHRISTIANS ARE UNBELIEVERS

Sura 5:72

"Unbelievers are those who say: 'God is the Messiah, the son of Mary.'" (Dawood excerpt)

"They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, for him Allah hath forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no helpers." (Pickthall)

MUSLIMS CANNOT EVEN TAKE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS AS FRIENDS

Sura 3:28

"Let not believers make friends with infidels in preference to the faithful - he that does this has nothing to hope for from God - except in self-defense. God admonishes you to fear Him: for to God shall all return." (Dawood)

" Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying." (Pickthall)

Sura 3:118

"Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people. They will spare no pains to corrupt you. They desire nothing but your ruin. Their hatred is evident from what they utter with their mouths, but greater is the hatred which their breasts conceal. We have made plain to you Our revelations. Strive to understand them." (Dawood).

"O ye who believe! Take not for intimates others than your own folk, who would spare no pains to ruin you; they love to hamper you. Hatred is revealed by (the utterance of) their mouths, but that which their breasts hide is greater. We have made plain for you the revelations if ye will understand." (Pickthall)

Sura 5:51

"Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. God does not guide the wrongdoers." (Dawood)

" O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk." (Pickthall)

UNBELIEVERS WANT TO HURT MUSLIMS

Sura 3:120

"When you are blessed with good fortune they (unbelievers) grieve: but when evil befalls you they rejoice. If you persevere and guard yourselves against evil, their machinations will never harm you. God has knowledge of all their actions." (Dawood)

"If a lucky chance befall you, it is evil unto them, and if disaster strike you they rejoice thereat. But if ye persevere and keep from evil their guile will never harm you. Lo! Allah is Surrounding what they do." (Pickthall)

THOSE WHO DON'T FIGHT FOR ALLAH ARE NEARER UNBELIEF

Sura 3:167

"When they were told: 'Come, fight for the cause of God and defend yourselves,' they replied: 'If only we could fight, we would surely come with you.' On that day they were nearer unbelief than faith. Their words belied their intentions: but God knew their secret thoughts. (Dawood)

"And that He might know the hypocrites, unto whom it was said: Come, fight in the way of Allah, or defend yourselves. They answered: If we knew aught of fighting we would follow you. On that day they were nearer disbelief than faith. They utter with their mouths a thing which is not in their hearts. Allah is Best Aware of what they hide. "(Pickthall)

THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR ALLAH DON'T DIE

Sura 3:169-171

"Never think that those who were slain in the cause of God are dead. They are alive, and well provided for by their Lord; pleased with His gifts and rejoicing that those they left behind, who have not yet joined them, have nothing to fear or regret; rejoicing in God's grace and bounty. God will not deny the faithful their reward." (Dawood).

"Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision. 003.170 Jubilant (are they) because of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not joined them but are left behind: That there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. 003.171 They rejoice because of favour from Allah and kindness, and that Allah wasteth not the wage of the believers." (Pickthall).

I hope this is still helpful. Another day or two ought to get you pretty completely familiar with Koran, if you haven't already had a belly full!

Two common sense points to remember:

1) If Koran did not support Osama bin Laden's claim that Muslims must kill non-Muslims, would tens of millions of Muslims be supporting him?

2) In 632 when Mohammed died, only Arabia was Muslim. If Islam is a religion of peace, how did it spread from Spain to Persia in the next 100 years?

The Koran, Briefing Three

Here are even more fighting verses! Also as promised I want to show you some verses whose content:

1) enhances the tendency of Muslims to believe that Koran is true, and

2) enhances their tendency to follow Koran's command to make war on non-Muslim societies in general and threaten non-Muslims with death unless they accept Islam.

Koran is logical. It says:

1. Unbelievers are those who do not accept Islam, particularly Jews and Christians.

2. Because unbelievers do not accept Islam, Allah hates them and does not guide them.

3. Because Allah does not guide them, unbelievers become evil-doers - they commit additional sins besides rejecting Islam.

This IS similar to what the Bible says with two important exceptions. First, the Bible says man has both a sin nature and a Godly nature, so Christians still sin and even a Hitler doesn't kick every doghe sees. But God helps Christians to alter their preference functions away from sin through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him." (John 14:23).

Second, of course, Jews and Christians are to persuade, not proselytize at the point of a sword. We have a right of self defense, of course, but we're supposed to be willing to die rather than renounce Christ. Vengeance is for God.

Here's the rub. Koran IS similar to the Bible. Koran contains many of the moral teachings that we, in the "post-Christian" West, have decided to ignore from the Bible. For example:

1. Koran and the Bible say God forms babies in their mothers' wombs, but we have legalized abortion.

Sura 3:6:

"It is He who shapes your bodies in your mothers' wombs as He pleases. There is no god but Him, the Mighty, the Wise One." (Dawood)

"He it is Who fashioneth you in the wombs as pleaseth Him. There is no God save Him, the Almighty, the Wise." (Pickthall).

2. Koran and Bible teach that God is the Creator, but the West embraces evolution.

Sura 6:102

"Such is god, your Lord. There is no god but Him, the Creator of all things. Therefore serve Him. Of all things He is the Guardian." (Dawood)

"Such is Allah, your Lord. There is no God save Him, the creator of all things, so worship Him. And He taketh care of all things." (Pickthall).

3. Koran and Bible both teach chastity, but we in the West practice free love, and display this to the world in our movies and TV programs. To be fair, Koran encourages sensuality, but it teaches a kind of self-conscious repression of sexuality in public that our open lewdness clearly violates. I've tried to pick a Sura here that shows this.

Sura 24:033

"Let those who cannot afford to marry live in continence until God shall enrich them from His own bounty. As for those of your slaves who wish to buy their liberty, free them if you find in them any promise and bestow on them a part of the riches which God has given you. You shall not force your slave-girls into prostitution in order that you may enrich yourselves, if they wish to preserve their chastity. If anyone compels them, God will be forgiving and merciful to them." (Dawood)

"And let those who cannot find a match keep chaste till Allah give them independence by His grace. And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), write it for them if ye are aware of aught of good in them, and bestow upon them of the wealth of Allah which He hath bestowed upon you. Force not your slave-girls to whoredom that ye may seek enjoyment of the life of the world, if they would preserve their chastity. And if one force them, then (unto them), after their compulsion, lo! Allah will be Forgiving, Merciful." (Pickthall)

4. Koran and Bible both forbid homosexuality, but we in the West are legitimizing this and many other perversions, and again it shows up in our media.

Sura 7:80-81 (Lot and Sodom)

"And Lot, who said to his people: 'Will you persist in these lewd acts which no other nation has committed before you? You lust after men instead of women. Truly, you are a degenerate people.'" (Dawood).

"And Lot! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination such as no creature ever did before you ? 007.081 Lo! ye come with lust unto men instead of women. Nay, but ye are wanton folk."(Pickthall).

5. Interestingly, Koran says it confirms the earlier Jewish and Christian scriptures, and it expressly commands Muslims to read Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible, which contain the 10 Commandments) and Gospel (the first 4 books of the New Testament, which teach that faith in Jesus's death and resurrection are the way to heaven.). Although it says this, Koran clearly contradicts these books and other parts of the Bible. But Koran tells Muslims that the "People of the Book" - Jews andChristians - don't keep their own scriptures and don't teach them to others, and again, this is evident from our own characterization of our times as "post-Christian".

Sura 3:187

"When god made a covenant with those to whom the Scriptures were given He said: 'Proclaim these to mankind and do not suppress them.' but they cast the Scriptures over their backs and sold them for a paltry price. Evil was their bargain." (Dawood).

"And (remember) when Allah laid a charge on those who had received the Scripture (He said): Ye are to expound it to mankind and not to hide it. But they flung it behind their backs and bought thereby a little gain. Verily evil is that which they have gained thereby." (Pcikthall)

Sura 3:3-4

"He (Allah) has revealed to you the Book with the Truth (Koran), confirming the scriptures which preceeded it; for He has already revealed the Torah and the Gospel for the guidance of mankind, and the distinction between right and wrong. Those that deny God's revelations shall be sternly punished; God is mighty and capable of revenge." (Dawood)

"He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. 003.004 Aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and hath revealed the Criterion (of right and wrong). Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong)." (Pickthall).

6. Koran and Bible also condemn gambling, drunkenness, and the occult (horoscopes, witches, etc.) but in the U.S. our own state governments now run numbers, we not only consume a lot of booze but also are moving towards legalizing drugs, and we are beyond dabbling with the occult, there is an explosion of pagan religions like wicca, Satanism, etc.

Sura 5:90

"Believers, wine and games of chance, idols and divining arrows, are abominations devised by Satan. Avoid them, so that you may prosper." (Dawood)

"O ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed." (Pickthall).

But Koran adds a few rules of its own that are not Biblical, but also give the Muslims grounds to hate us (as Koran says Allah does) for being sinners. First, although Koran tells Muslims to trade with their wealth by "mutual consent" (sura 4:29) Koran forbids usury, and Sharia - Muslim law - interprets this to mean any amount of interest. So in Islamic finance only equity stakes are allowed. I don't know a lot about their arrangements but I understand that they have been pretty creative in working around this - creating short term equity interests that have priority in payoff like debt claims.

But what is really perverse is that Koran suggests that Muslims will be poor and this is a test from Allah, but non-Muslims will be rich, and this is a curse from Allah. Of course, we know that people who follow rules like don't steal and don't lie - and let everyone participate in the market - are going to be more prosperous than those who don't.

Sura 3:186

"You shall be sorely tried in the matter of your possessions and your persons, and will hear much that is hurtful from those who were given the Scriptures before you, and from the pagans. But if you endure with fortitude and guard yourselves against evil, you will surely triumph." (Dawood)

"Assuredly ye will be tried in your property and in your persons, and ye will hear much wrong from those who were given the Scripture before you, and from the idolaters. But if ye persevere and ward off (evil), then that is of the steadfast heart of things." (Pickthall)

Sura 3:196-197

"Do not be deceived by the fortunes of the unbelievers in the land. Their prosperity is brief. Hell shall be their home, an evil resting place." (Dawood).

"Let not the vicissitude (of the success) of those who disbelieve, in the land, deceive thee (O Muhammad). 003.197 It is but a brief comfort. And afterward their habitation will be hell, an ill abode." (Pickthall)

Finally, Koran is unequivocal that men are superior to women, so Muslims look at the feminist movement in the West as another example of our sin.

Sura 4:34

"Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God is high, supreme." (Dawood)

"Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High,Exalted, Great." (Pickthall)

Sura 2:223

"Women are your fields: go, then, into your fields whence you please. Do good works and fear God. Bear in mind that you shall meet Him. Give good tidings to the believers." (Dawood).

"Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will, and send (good deeds) before you for your souls, and fear Allah, and know that ye will (one day) meet Him. Give glad tidings to believers, (O Muhammad). (Pickthall)

The bottomline is that all of these factors add up to make the modern West look pretty awful to Muslims who read Koran.

There is one additional factor at work. The Koran enforces the idea that all Muslims are one community, regardless of their national, language, or other loyalties.

Sura 3:104

"Let there become of you a community that shall call for righteousness, enjoin justice, and forbid evil. Such men will surely triumph." (Dawood)

"And there may spring from you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency. Such are they who are successful." (Pickthall)

On October 15, the Washington Times had a front page story that reported that during Ramadam "the Koranic verse that 'all Muslims are brothers and do not create differences among [their] brothers' is repeated from the pulpits several times a day."

This relates to what Osama was talking about in his video tape - reestablishing a global Muslim caliphate that would unite all Muslims under one combined spiritual and political leader. The last time this existed was about 80 years ago - it was disestablished by the break up of the Ottoman Empire and the secular politics of Ata Turk.

Now for more fighting verses!

ALLAH DOES NOT KILL UNBELIEVERS
SO THAT THEY WILL RACK UP MORE SINS

Sura 3:178

"Let not the unbelievers think that We prolong their days for their own good. We give them respite only so that they may commit more grievous sins. Shameful punishment awaits them." (Dawood)

"And let not those who disbelieve imagine that the rein We give them bodeth good unto their souls. We only give them rein that they may grow in sinfulness. And theirs will be a shameful doom." (Pickthall)

FLEE YOUR HOME AND BE SLAIN FOR ALLAH TO GET TO HEAVEN

Sura 3:193 (excerpt) and 3:195

"Lord, forgive us our sins and remove from us our evil deeds and make us die with the righteous....Those that fled their homes or were expelled from them, and those that suffered persecution for My sake and fought and were flain: I shall forgive them their sins and admit them to gardens watered by running streams, as a recompense from God; God dispenses the richest recompense." (Dawood)

"Therefor forgive us our sins, and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die the death of the righteous....And their Lord hath heard them (and He saith): Lo! I suffer not the work of any worker, male or female, to be lost. Ye proceed one from another. So those who fled and were driven forth from their homes and suffered damage for My cause, and fought and were slain, verily I shall remit their evil deeds from them and verily I shall bring them into Gardens underneath which rivers flow - A reward from Allah. And with Allah is the fairest of rewards." (Pickthall)

FIGHT FOR THE CAUSE OF GOD

Sura 4:74

"Let those who would exchange the life of this world for the hereafter, fight for the cause of God; whoever fights for the cause of God, whether he dies or triumphs, on him We shall bestow a rich recompense." (Dawood)

"Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward." (Pcikthall)

UNBELIEVERS FIGHT FOR SATAN

Sura 4:76

"The true believers fight for the cause of God, but the infidels fight for the devil. Fight then against the friends of Satan. Satan's cunning is weak indeed." (Dawood)

"Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil's strategy is ever weak." (Pickthall)

FIGHT

Sura 4:84

"Therefore fight for the cause of God. You are accountable for none but yourself. Rouse the faithful: perchance God will overthrow the might of the unbelievers. Mightier is God and more terrible is His punishment." (Dawood)

"So fight (O Muhammad) in the way of Allah Thou art not taxed (with the responsibility for anyone) except thyself - and urge on the believers. Peradventure Allah will restrain the might of those who disbelieve. Allah is stronger in might and stronger in inflicting punishment." (Pickthall)

KILL YOUR OWN PEOPLE WHO SWITCH SIDES

Sura 4:89

"They (Muslims who don't want to fight) would have you disbelieve as they themselves have disbelieved, so that you may be all alike. Do not befriend them until they have fled their homes in the cause of God. If they desert you, seize them and put them to death wherever you find them. Look for neither friends nor helpers among them." (Dawood)

"They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them," (Pickthall)

KILL THOSE WHO PLAY BOTH SIDES

Sura 4:91

"Others you will find who seek security from you as well as from their own people. Whenever they are called back to sedition they plunge into it headlong. If these do not keep their distance from you, if they neither offer you peace nor cease their hostilities against you, lay hold of them and kill them wherever you find them. Over such men We give you absolute authority." (Dawood)

"Ye will find others who desire that they should have security from you, and security from their own folk. So often as they are returned to hostility they are plunged therein. If they keep not aloof from you nor offer you peace nor hold their hands, then take them and kill them wherever ye find them. Against such We have given you clear warrant." (Pickthall)

MUSLIMS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Sura 4:95-96

"The beleivers who stay at home - apart from those that suffer from a grave disability - are not the equals of those who fight for the cause of God with their goods and their persons. God has exalted the men who fight with their goods and their persons above those who stay at home. God has promised all a good reward; but far richer is the recompense of those who fight for Him: ranks of His own bestowal, forgiveness, and mercy. Surely God is forgiving and merciful." (Dawood)

"Those of the believers who sit still, other than those who have a (disabling) hurt, are not on an equality with those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives. Allah hath conferred on those who strive with their wealth and lives a rank above the sedentary. Unto each Allah hath promised good, but He hath bestowed on those who strive a great reward above the sedentary; 004.096 Degrees of rank from Him, and forgiveness and mercy. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful." (Pickthall)

WHO LOVES YA, BABY?

Sura 4:101

"It is no offense for you to shorten your prayers when travelling the road if you fear that the unbelievers may attack you. The unbelievers are your inveterate enemies." (Dawood)

"And when ye go forth in the land, it is no sin for you to curtail (your) worship if ye fear that those who disbelieve may attack you. In truth the disbelievers are an open enemy to you." (Pickthall)

JEWS ARE HOSTILE, CHRISTIANS ARE FRIENDLY

Sura 5:82

"You will find that the most implacable of men in their enmity to the faithful are the Jews and the pagans, and that the nearest in affection to them are those who say: 'We are the Christians.' That is because there are priests and monks among them; and because they are free from pride." (Dawood)

"Thou wilt find the most vehement of mankind in hostility to those who believe (to be) the Jews and the idolaters. And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: Lo! We are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud." (Pickthall)

BUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK DO EVIL

Sura 5:62-63

"You see many among them (the People of the Book - Jews & Christians) vie with one another in sin and wickedness and practise what is unlawful. Evil is what they do. Why do their rabbis and divines not forbid them to blaspheme or to practise what is unlawful? Evil indeed are their doings." (Dawood)

"And thou seest many of them vying one with another in sin and transgression and their devouring of illicit gain. Verily evil is what they do. 005.063 Why do not the rabbis and the priests forbid their evil-speaking and their devouring of illicit gain ? Verily evil is their handiwork." (Pickthall)

I think the last sura asks the right question. For someone like me, who believes that God is in control of human history even though man has free will, it sure seems like Islam is another Tower of Babel - a trap set for those who enjoy the benefits of a Judeo-Christian heritage but who no longer want to obey the Judeo-Christian moral rules.

You have to wonder where we would be today if we had put more effortinto converting those in the Middle East to Christianity.

We are now through Sura 5, which means we are one quarter of the way through Koran. There really isn't much more new in the rest of the book, though there are some suras you should be able to quote, like the one about making Jews and Christians pay jizya. You also need to know about the doctrine of abrogation - God can change anything in the Koran with or without telling Muslims.

I would like to resume sending you messages on Monday evening. I think we can probably wrap it up with one more message, but I need a few days to pull the best suras out. Do be aware that I have not given you every fighting verse - there are just so many of them and they are repetitive.

I hope you are moving towards being able to form an opinion about whether President Bush really believes Islam is a religion of peace.

The Koran, Briefing Four

As promised, here is the sura that says Muslims can force non-Muslims to pay "Jizya" - a tax to have "protection" - i.e., any legal rights - under Islamic government:

Sura 9:29

"Fight against such as of those to whom the Scriptures were given as believe in neither God nor the Last Day, who do not forbid what God and His apostle have forbidden, and do not embrace the truth Faith, until they pay tribute out of hand and are utterly subdued." (Dawood)

Here is the same sura in three other translations:

YUSUFALI: "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

PICKTHAL: "Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low."

SHAKIR: "Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection. "

NEW LINKS

I have found two new links that you might find useful in your own research. The first has the three translations of the Koran, Yusufali, Pickthall, and Shakir:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/

To use the page, scroll to the bottom and click on the chapter in Koran (the sura) you want to read. There are other helpful resources and a search function on the page.

Second is a link to the "Hadith":

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/

To use this page, I recommend finding the heading that says "Large Collections" then clicking on the link that says "A collection of the ahadith in Sahih Bukhari."

Let me give you some background. Since the Koran is conflicting and incomplete, Muslims resorted to stories about what Muhammad had said and done during his life. These stories are called the "Hadith" or "Sunnah" of the prophet.

Collecting and analyzing sayings and events to be included in Hadith formed a principle part of Muslim theological and legal scholarship in the centuries after Muhammad's death. There are now several Hadiths - several collections of sayings and stories. The Hadith compiled by Al Bukhari is the most popular, it is considered authoritative by Sunni Muslims. Shiite Muslims have their own versions of Hadith, but my sense is they are not very different, at least on the points of interest to us.

Here's an example of how Hadith amplifies Koran. Here is a portion of a Hadith relating to Jizya:

Our Prophet, the Messenger of our Lord, has ordered us to fight you till you worship Allah Alone or give Jizya (i.e. tribute); and our Prophet has informed us that our Lord says:-- "Whoever amongst us is killed (i.e. martyred), shall go to Paradise to lead such a luxurious life as he has never seen, and whoever amongst us remain alive, shall become your master."

This is from Volume 4, Book 53, Number 386 of Al-Bukhari's Hadith,which I found by searching on the word "Jizya" using the search link on the main page of the Bukhari Hadith.

HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF THE "PEACEFUL" FACE OF ISLAM

We've seen many verses that tell Muslims to kill non-Muslims and that Koran and Hadith command extortion of Jizya. Muslims can also take non-Muslims captive as slaves, but only after they have made "slaughter in the land."

Sura 8:67

YUSUFALI: It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the Hereafter: And Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.

PICKTHAL: It is not for any prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

SHAKIR: It is not fit for a prophet that he should take captives unless he has fought and triumphed in the land; you desire the frail goods of this world, while Allah desires (for you) the hereafter; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

But there is a peaceful face of Islam. There are suras that say "be kind to the People of the Book" and that Muslims and Jews and Christians have the same God:

Sura 29:46

YUSUFALI: And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam)."

PICKTHAL: And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in (a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our Allah and your Allah is One, and unto Him we surrender.

SHAKIR: And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our Allah and your Allah is One, and to Him do we submit.

The fighting verses outnumber these "nice" verses, but there is an historical reason why the nice verses are there at all.

Muhammad began to have his revelations while he lived in Mecca, and he thought he would get support from Jews and Christians. But the people of Mecca thought he was a whacko and forced him to flee.

Muhammad fled to the town of Medina along with a small band of followers. This flight is called the "Hijra" or "Hejira." The date of the Hijra - 622 if I recall correctly - is the date that forms the basis for Muslim dating. The letters "A.H." appear in Muslims dates, meaning "after Hijra."

Once in Medina, Muhammad gained many followers, formed an army, and eventually subdued all the tribes of Arabia. He also killed or drove out all the Jews and Christians on the Arabian peninsula.

While in Medina, Muhammad's revelations changed from liking Jews and Christians to commanding they be killed.

Like all traditions of Muhammad, Muslims have adopted this pattern in their own efforts at political conquest. If they don't conquer a land through war, they infiltrate, appear peaceful, and then seize power when they are strong enough. This subterfuge is obviously ideal for attacking a nation like the U.S. where folk have forgotten the ideas our constitution is based on.

Koran itself condones this kind of deceipt because it says Allah is a plotter and deceiver:

ALLAH THE PLOTTER

Sura 8:30

YUSUFALI: Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee, 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.

PICKTHAL: And when those who disbelieve plot against thee (O Muhammad) to wound thee fatally, or to kill thee or to drive thee forth; they plot, but Allah (also) plotteth; and Allah is the best of plotters.

SHAKIR: And when those who disbelieved devised plans against you that they might confine you or slay you or drive you away; and they devised plans and Allah too had arranged a plan; and Allah is the best of planners.

ALLAH THE DECEIVER (excerpt)

Sura 4:142

"The hypocrites seek to deceive God, but it is He who deceives them." (Dawood)

KORAN'S OWN STANDARD FOR WHETHER IT IS FROM GOD

The Koran gives non-Muslims a test to apply to determine whether the Koran is from God. Sura 4:82 says if Koran is not from God, unbelievers will be able to find contradictions in it:

Sura 4:82

YUSUFALI: Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other Than Allah, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy.

PICKTHAL: Will they not then ponder on the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found therein much incongruity.

SHAKIR: Do they not then meditate on the Quran? And if it were from any other than Allah, they would have found in it many a discrepancy.

DAWOOD: Will they not ponder on the Koran? If it had not come from God, they could have surely found in it many contradictions.

There are entire websites devoted to pointing out the factual, scientific, and doctrinal contradictions in Koran, and we've already looked at many. The contradiction between courting Jews and Christians and killing them is just one more!

DOCTRINE OF ABROGATION

The biggest contradiction in Koran is that it says the Koran can be contradicted at any time. God can change his mind, and change verses in the Koran, with or without telling Muslims. This principle is called the "Doctrine of Abrogation."

The doctrine arose from a practical dilemma. Muhammad wanted to marry his daughter in law, but he had already "revealed" the suras that prohibit Muslims from marrying their daughters in law. Muhammad's solution was the doctrine of abrogation - the idea that Allah, through Muhammad, can change his mind about anything at anytime and Muslims have to shut up and obey:

Sura 33:36

YUSUFALI: It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.

PICKTHAL: And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His messenger, he verily goeth astray in error manifest.

SHAKIR: And it behoves not a believing man and a believing woman that they should have any choice in their matter when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter; and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he surely strays off a manifest straying.

Sura 2:106

YUSUFALI: None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: Knowest thou not that Allah Hath power over all things?

PICKTHAL: Nothing of our revelation (even a single verse) do we abrogate or cause be forgotten, but we bring (in place) one better or the like thereof. Knowest thou not that Allah is Able to do all things?

SHAKIR: Whatever communications We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or like it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things?

Isn't that convenient? Fundamentalists like Osama say the fighting verses have abrogated the verses telling Muslims to be nice to Jews and Christians.

KORAN SAYS THE HOLY LAND IS FOR ISRAEL

The conflict over allowing the Jews to have Palestine for a homeland actually violates Koran. Koran says God gave the Holy Land to the Jews:

Sura 5:20-21

YUSUFALI: Remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples. "O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah hath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin."

PICKTHAL: And (remember) when Moses said unto his people: O my people! Remember Allah's favour unto you, how He placed among you prophets, and He made you kings, and gave you that (which) He gave not to any (other) of (His) creatures. O my people! Go into the holy land which Allah hath ordained for you. Turn not in flight, for surely ye turn back as losers:

SHAKIR: And when Musa said to his people: O my people! remember the favor of Allah upon you when He raised prophets among you and made you kings and gave you what He had not given to any other among the nations. O my people! enter the holy land which Allah has prescribed for you and turn not on your backs for then you will turn back losers.

I don't know what Arafat would say about this, but it appears the Muslim claim to Jerusalem arises from the fact that one of their principal holy sites - a mosque called the "Dome of the Rock" - was built on the site of the Jewish temple in 691-92. The "rock" is supposed to be the place from which Muhammad ascended into heaven, in Muslim tradition.

The following sura says unbelievers can't be allowed to approach the "holy mosque" - the mosque in Mecca. This is the verse Osama relies on to say the U.S. military should not be in Saudi Arabia. It may also be relevant to whether Jews and Christians should be allowed in Jerusalem or Palestine in general. As you know, the Crusades were fought because the Muslims refused to allow Jews or Christians to visit or live in Jerusalem after they conquered Palestine.

Sura 9:28

YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.

PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! The idolaters only are unclean. So let them not come near the Inviolable Place of Worship after this their year. If ye fear poverty (from the loss of their merchandise) Allah shall preserve you of His bounty if He will. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.

SHAKIR: O you who believe! the idolaters are nothing but unclean, so they shall not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year; and if you fear poverty then Allah will enrich you out of His grace if He please; surely Allah is Knowing Wise.

WEARING THE VEIL

Koran's command that Muslim women must wear veils comes from Muhammad's concern that guys would lust after his beautiful wives - he married one when she was only six years old.

Sura 33:59

YUSUFALI: 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.

PICKTHAL: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

SHAKIR: O Prophet! say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments; this will be more proper, that they may be known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

MORE FIGHTING VERSES

ALLAH IS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY KILLS UNBELIEVERS, SO MUSLIMS SHOULDN'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT ALL THEIR KILLING

Sura 8:17

YUSUFALI: It is not ye who slew them; it was Allah: when thou threwest (a handful of dust), it was not thy act, but Allah's: in order that He might test the Believers by a gracious trial from Himself: for Allah is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things).

PICKTHAL: Ye (Muslims) slew them not, but Allah slew them. And thou (Muhammad) threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower.

SHAKIR: So you did not slay them, but it was Allah Who slew them, and you did not smite when you smote (the enemy), but it was Allah Who smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good gift from Himself; surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Allah is also a murderer, according to this verse.

ALLAH USES MUSLIMS TO FIGHT THOSE WHO WANT TO BANISH ISLAM

Sura 9:13-14

YUSUFALI: Will ye not fight people who violated their oaths, plotted to expel the Messenger, and took the aggressive by being the first (to assault) you? Do ye fear them? Nay, it is Allah Whom ye should more justly fear, if ye believe! Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers,

PICKTHAL: Will ye not fight a folk who broke their solemn pledges, and purposed to drive out the messenger and did attack you first? What! Fear ye them? Now Allah hath more right that ye should fear Him, if ye are believers Fight them! Allah will chastise them at your hands, and He will lay them low and give you victory over them, and He will heal the breasts of folk who are believers.

SHAKIR: What! will you not fight a people who broke their oaths and aimed at the expulsion of the Messenger, and they attacked you first; do you fear them? But Allah is most deserving that you should fear Him, if you are believers. Fight them, Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace, and assist you against them and heal the hearts of a believing people.

Obvioulsy, any attempt to limit Muslims or Islamic teaching in the U.S. would cause some Muslims to use this sura to justify jihad.

TERROR AND BEHEADING ARE THE TACTICS ALLAH COMMANDS

Sura 8:12

YUSUFALI: Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."

PICKTHAL: When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.

SHAKIR: When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

Since Muslims are Allah's instruments to fight with, this sura commands Muslims to use these tactics.

HADITH CONFIRMS KORAN'S COMMAND TO KILL NON-MUSLIMS

From Hadith, Vol. 1, Book 2, Number 25, quoted at this URL:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/002.sbt.html

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle was asked, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad). The questioner then asked, "What is the next (in goodness)? He replied, "To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause." The questioner again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To perform Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) 'Mubrur, (which is accepted by Allah and is performed with the intention of seeking Allah's pleasure only and not to show off and without committing a sin and in accordance with the traditions of the Prophet)."

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