I appreciate your condemnation of this act of barbarity. I have a question or two for you. How religious are you? Are you a muslim in good standing? How do you interpret the following verses?
Seize them and put them to death wherever you find them, kill them wherever you find them, seek out the enemies of Islam relentlessly. (Sura 4:90)
Fight them until Islam reigns supreme. (Sura 2:193)
Cut off their heads, and cut off the tips of their fingers. (Sura 8:12)
Allah threatens the Muslim who does not make war on the "unbelievers" with death. (Sura 9:39)
I would like to believe that there aren’t 1 billion plus people subscribing to a religion that when practiced as intended want to see me dead because I am a Christian and will not submit to their superiority, but that’s the way it looks to me. I believe that you, as a muslim who is willing to condemn this inhuman act, are uniquely qualified to answer my questions. I will freely admit that I am one of the people that DLfromthedesert was talking about who are starting to lean towards condemning all muslims because I don’t see how this philosophy of subjugation and hatred towards “unbelievers” can peacefully coexist with other religions. In this, I sincerely would like to be proven wrong.
tnlibertarian wrote:
How do you interpret the following verses?
Seize them and put them to death wherever you find them, kill them wherever you find them, seek out the enemies of Islam relentlessly. (Sura 4:90)
Fight them until Islam reigns supreme. (Sura 2:193)
Cut off their heads, and cut off the tips of their fingers. (Sura 8:12)
Allah threatens the Muslim who does not make war on the "unbelievers" with death. (Sura 9:39)
I am sure that you will find strange things if you look in the Quran. I do not read Arabic so I have to use a translation. I use
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/ It has three translations
Sura 4:90
YUSUFALI: Except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. If Allah had pleased, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you: Therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not, and (instead) send you (Guarantees of) peace, then Allah Hath opened no way for you (to war against them).
PICKTHAL: Except those who seek refuge with a people between whom and you there is a covenant, or (those who) come unto you because their hearts forbid them to make war on you or make war on their own folk. Had Allah willed He could have given them power over you so that assuredly they would have fought you. So, if they hold aloof from you and wage not war against you and offer you peace, Allah alloweth you no way against them.
SHAKIR: Except those who reach a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people; and if Allah had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they should have certainly fought you; therefore if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you a way against them.
Perhaps the Sura you mentioned was another Sura?
Sura 2:193
YUSUFALI: And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: 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 was approximately correct.
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.
This seems to be directed to the angles and not to the humans.
Sura 9:39
YUSUFALI: Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things.
PICKTHAL: If ye go not forth He will afflict you with a painful doom, and will choose instead of you a folk other than you. Ye cannot harm Him at all. Allah is Able to do all things.
SHAKIR: If you do not go forth, He will chastise you with a painful chastisement and bring in your place a people other than you, and you will do Him no harm; and Allah has power over all things.
This is not the same as you mentioned, but perhaps Allah has switched to "other people". Many Muslim countries are poor. This is strange for Sura 17:30 says: YUSUFALI: Verily thy Lord doth provide sustenance in abundance for whom He pleaseth, and He provideth in a just measure. For He doth know and regard all His servants.
PICKTHAL: Lo! thy Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will, and straiteneth (it for whom He will). Lo, He was ever Knower, Seer of His slaves.
SHAKIR: Surely your Lord makes plentiful the means of subsistence for whom He pleases and He straitens (them); surely He is ever Aware of, Seeing, His servants.
Perhaps poor Muslim countries are full of people who do not please Allah? (this is especially true for Saudi Arabia as their income per capita has dwindled from about $20,000 to $8,000 the last decades)
But, the Quran is probably of Syriac Arameic origin
http://syrcom.cua.edu/Hugoye/Vol6No1/HV6N1PRPhenixHorn.html and many interpretations are wrong for instance the 72 virgins in Paradise = 72 grapes in the garden!