Is Qur’an for Everyone?

Qur’an is the word of Al-lah, Bismillah-e-Rahman-e-Rahim. Everything that has been written is said by the God and delivered by the angel to the prophet. Each chapter of it has been written in the name of god, the lord of Mercy, the giver of Mercy. Qur'an is the basis for Islam. However, is Qur’an and by deduction Islam for everyone in the world? 

Qur'an does mention Mecca, Yathrib (modern Medina), Israel, Babylon (Iraq), Egypt (reference to Pharaoh), Turkey (Byzantine) and Persia (war with Byzantines and Magian people). Curiously though there is no mention of Indonesia or India or Afghanistan or Chinese or Japanese or Americans (Red Indians or the Peruvians). Primary focus of the text is on the region in and around Mecca while other regions are quoted as part of stories from the past. It is not difficult to guess then why these prominent places were not mentioned or referred to in any of the 114 chapters.  

            Looking closely, there are several verses where it talks about the people Qur’an is referring to. It will be useful to look at these verses in detail. Sura 2 is Al-Baqara, the chapter of The Cow. Verse 2:151 makes it clear that the messenger is one of their own(Arabic) and 12:2 says that Qur’an is Arabic so you(Arabic) people may understand. 

2:151 - just as We have sent among you a Messenger of your own to recite Our revelations to you, purify you and teach you the Scripture, wisdom, and [other] things you did not know.

12:2 - We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an so that you [people] may understand.

            Sura 13 is Al-Ra’d, the chapter of the thunder. Verse 13:37 says

13:37 - So We have sent down the Qur’an to give judgement in the Arabic language. If you were to follow their desires, after that knowledge that has come to you, you would have no one to guard you or protect you from God.

There are two messages here: First, Quran has been sent in the Arabic language. Second, if Prophet does not go by what Allah has said, no one can protect him from Allah. So even Prophet is not free from Allah’s commands. Second sentence “if you were to follow their desires” refers to Sura 13:36 and is warning the prophet from going astray. Reproducing verse 13:36 for reference.

13:36 - Those to whom we sent the Scripture rejoice in what has been revealed to you [Prophet]; some factions deny parts of it. Say, ‘I am commanded to worship God, and not join anything with Him in worship: to Him I call[others] and to Him I shall return.’

Sura 14 is Ibrahim, the chapter of Abraham. 14:4 says 

14:4 - We have never sent a messenger who did not use his own people’s language to make things clear for them. But still God leaves who He will to stray and guides whoever He will: He is the almighty, the All Wise.

So, Firstly, Allah sent messenger to speak in people’s own language and so there is no ambiguity and Allah’s message is crystal clear. Second, God (Allah) does let people go astray and guides who he would like to on the right path. This also indicates that if there are disbelievers (Kaafirs) it is because God has willed it to be so. Because ultimately, he is the all-knowing, the wisest and the most powerful. Let us look at a few more verses of Quran

19:97 We have made it easy, in your own language [Prophet], so that you may bring glad news to the righteous and warnings to a stubborn people.

20:113 - We have sent the Qur’an down in the Arabic tongue and given all kinds of warnings in it, so that they may beware or take heed

All the above verses stress that Quran has been sent in people’s own language, more specifically, Arabic and that the messenger is not a foreigner but one among them so he can speak their own language to keep the message easy and clear. So not only does the Quran not talk about people of all countries, it also does not refer to any other language. Rather it stresses the use of Arabic and how it is crystal clear meant for Arabic speakers. The messaging does not end there but continues to reinforce in following chapters again and again.

26:192 - Truly, this Qur’an has been sent down by the Lord of the Worlds:193 the Trustworthy Spirit brought it down 194 to your heart [Prophet], so that you could bring warning 195 in a clear Arabic tongue. 196 This was foretold in the scriptures of earlier religions.197 Is it not proof enough for them that the learned men of the Children of Israel have recognized it? 198 If We had sent it down to someone who was not an Arab, 199 and he had recited it to them, they still would not have believed in it.

39:27 In this Qur’an, We have put forward all kinds of illustration for people, so that they may take heed–28 an Arabic Qur’an, free from any distortion– so that people may be mindful.

41:2 - A revelation from the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy; 3 a Scripture whose verses are made distinct as a Qur’an in Arabic for people who understand,4 giving good news and warning.

Sura 26, Sura 39 and 41 repeat the message, repetition is a consistent style of the holy book where the same point is repeated to make the message clear. 

 

Verse 41:44, takes the negation style to make the point i.e. if Qur’an was not in Arabic, people would have questioned its validity and so it is a deliberately intended for Arabic people who know Arab and don’t need to learn a foreign language.

41: 44 If We had made it a foreign Qur’an, they would have said, ‘If only its verses were clear! What? Foreign speech to an Arab?’ Say, ‘It is guidance and healing for those who have faith, but the ears of the disbelievers are heavy, they are blind to it, it is as if they are being called from a distant place.’

             Verses in Sura 42, 43 and 46 repeat the message found elsewhere i.e. the Qur’an is Arabic for the Arabic people so they may understand.

42:7 So We have revealed an Arabic Qur’an to you, in order that you may warn the capital city and all who live nearby. And warn [especially] about the Day of Gathering, of which there is no doubt, when some shall be in the Garden and some in the blazing Flame

43:3 - We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic so that you [people] may understand.

46:11 Those who disbelieve say of the believers, ‘If there were any good in this Qur’an, they would not have believed in it before we did,’ and, since they refuse to be guided by it, they say, ‘This is an ancient fabrication.’ 12 - Yet the scripture of Moses was revealed before it as a guide and a mercy, and this is a scripture confirming it in the Arabic language to warn those who do evil and bring good news for those who do good.

It is a consistent and repeated message of the Qur’an to remind people that the messenger is one among them, the Meccan people. 

Quran's message seems to be that it was sent in Arabic and it was sent in people’s own language and to one of their own. For the Arab, via an Arab and in the Arabic language!

A natural question that comes up then is – “Is Quran for Everybody”?

PS. It is not the intent of the author to hurt feelings of anyone, any such happening is sincerely regretted.

Bibliography

1.       “The Qur’an” by MAS Abdel Haleem, Oxford University press. www.oup.com/worldsclassics

Is Islam a religion of Peace?

Does Qur’an encourage violence? Is Islam a religion of Peace?

   Answer to these two questions are going to as varied as the person you speak to. Many Muslims vouch for this as a religion of peace but a significant population of the world believe violence is inherent to Islam. As Quran is the foundation of Islam, I look to it to seek the answer. 

    Qur’an is the word of Al-lah, Bismillah-e-Rahman-e-Rahim. Everything that has been written is said by the God and delivered by the angel to the prophet. Each chapter of it has been written in the name of god, the lord of Mercy, the giver of Mercy. Abdel-Haleem says,

“the prevalent message of the Quran is one of peace and tolerance.”

   "Islam" is derived from the Arabic word "sal'm" which means “to show submission”. Foundation of Islam is Quran which came to the world via prophet. It is known to every Muslim that whenever Prophet is called upon in a conversation, it’s said, Peace be upon him (PBUH). When a Muslim meets another Muslim, they say Assalam-oe-aalekum and aalekum-as-Salam, both meaning “peace be upon you”! 

   Numerically, the word “Peace” occurs a total of 49 times. In contrast, “war” occurs only 13 times. The word “kill”, or its forms come close to 90 times. Among these, there are only 5 or 6 instances where Allah directs Prophet or believers to kill or die in the name of Allah. Of the remaining, there are assertions “Do not kill”, questions “(why, would etc..) you kill” and others as stories where people were killed in the past.

   Let us dig deeper into verses and the usage of these words. 4:29 and 4:30 warns against taking other’s wealth and that believers should not kill each other or be ready for the fire.  

4:29 You who believe, do not wrongfully consume each other’s wealth but trade by mutual consent. Do not kill each other, for God is merciful to you.

4:30 If any of you does these things, out of hostility and injustice, We shall make him suffer Fire: that is easy for God.

4:92 Never should a believer kill another believer, except by mistake. If anyone kills a believer by mistake he must free one Muslim slave and pay compensation to the victim’s relatives, unless they charitably forgo it; if the victim belonged to a people at war with you but is a believer, then the compensation is only to free a believing slave; if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty, then compensation should be handed over to his relatives, and a believing slave set free. Anyone who lacks the means to do this must fast for two consecutive months by way of repentance to God: God is all knowing, all wise.

4:93 If anyone kills a believer deliberately, the punishment for him is Hell, and there he will remain: God is angry with him, and rejects him, and has prepared a tremendous torment for him.

4:94 So, you who believe, be careful when you go to fight in God’s way, and do not say to someone who offers you a greeting of peace, ‘You are not a believer,’ out of desire for the chance gains of this life

So, Allah admonishes anyone who kills. If a believer kills another, by mistake or deliberately there is punishment or penance for him. Verse 4:94 puts war and peace together. i.e. if someone offers you a greeting of peace in war, it must be respected. Remember the use of word Peace here.

There is an interesting story about the sons of Adam in Sura 5. In Verses 5:27-5:32, Quran talks about two brothers and praises the one who is happy to give up its own life. These are wonderful verses as it opts Non-Violence vs Violence and considers killing someone a sin.

5:31 If you raise your hand to kill me, I will not raise mine to kill you. I fear God, the Lord of all worlds, and I would rather you were burdened with my sins as well as yours and became an inhabitant of the Fire: such is the evildoers’ reward.

5:32 If someone kills and wants to repent, Allah guides the way to atonement.

Following two verses in Sura 17 and 18 go a step further to say life is sacred and it is forbidden to take life. So, unless attacked, one should not kill another.

17:33 Do not take life, which God has made sacred, except by right: if anyone is killed wrongfully, We have given authority to the defender of his rights, but he should not be excessive in taking life, for he is already aided [by God].

Next verse in Sura 18 is in the context of story of Moses, who reprimands another person for killing an innocent. In this story there is neither a question of believer or disbeliever.

18:74 And so they travelled on. Then, when they met a young boy and the man killed him, Moses said, ‘How could you kill an innocent person? He has not killed anyone! What a terrible thing to do!’

Verse 47:4 is mentions the battle with disbelievers. Let me reiterate, this is in the context of battle between believers and disbelievers. It does not ask the believers to kill the opponents, rather to make them captive and then release them by grace or by ransom. Grace is the first chosen word; ransom is the fall back.  Again, killing is not Allah’s predominant message or dictum.

47:4 - When you meet the disbelievers in battle, strike them in the neck, and once they are defeated, bind any captives firmly –– later you can release them by grace or by ransom –– until the toils of war have ended.

    So all above verses are against killing, the question remains on what accounts does Quran permit or ask the Prophet or the believers to kill. A very popular verse in this respect is 2:191 quoted as ‘Slay them wherever you find them’. Full reading of the verses would be useful.

2:191 Kill them wherever you encounter them, and drive them out from where they drove you out, for persecution is more serious than killing. Do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there. If they do fight you, kill them– this is what such disbelievers deserve–192 but if they stop, then God is most forgiving and merciful. 193 Fight them until there is no more persecution, and worship is devoted to God. If they cease hostilities, there can be no [further] hostility, except towards aggressors. 194 A sacred month for a sacred month: violation of sanctity [calls for] fair retribution. So if anyone commits aggression against you, attack him as he attacked you, but be mindful of God, and know that He is with those who are mindful of Him.

   In here, the context is of Sacred Mosque, the context is of sacred month, the context is of persecution that Mohammad and his followers were subjected to. Mohammad’s followers were persecuted and they were concerned if they could fight with the Meccans within the precincts of Sacred Mosque. It was sinful to do violence in Sacred Mosque prior to Islam and this is the context of their concern. Quran’s response is “Kill them wherever you encounter them”. It further says, “do not fight them, unless they fight you there. If they do fight you, kill them”….” but if they stop, then God is most forgiving..” It continues to reiterate violence is okay in self-defense – “So if anyone commits aggression against you, attack him as he attacked you”.

Summary is, there is no restriction if you are attacked. If your attacker stops, stop. But it allows violence only if you are attacked. Reading 2:217 reinforces the message 

2:217 They ask you [Prophet] about fighting in the prohibited month. Say, ‘Fighting in that month is a great offence, but to bar others from God’s path, to disbelieve in Him, prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and expel its people, are still greater offences in God’s eyes: persecution is worse than killing.’ They will not stop fighting you [believers] until they make you revoke your faith, if they can. If any of you revoke your faith and die as disbelievers, your deeds will come to nothing in this world and the Hereafter, and you will be inhabitants of the Fire, there to remain.

   So, Killing is a grave offence but lower than Restricting others from God’s path and preventing access to Sacred Mosque and expel its people. Verse 4:89 is another verse which asks the prophet to kill the non-believers, but do it, “if they turn”. 4:89 to 4:91 require continuous reading to get the context and the message of Quran. 4:90 even here says, if they withdraw and do not fight you and offer peace, then you have no right to kill them. 4:91 reiterates “if they neither withdraw, nor offer you peace, nor restrain themselves from fighting you, seize and kill them wherever you encounter them”. There is little doubt Quran is preferring peace and if that is not coming forth, go for the kill.

4:89 They would dearly like you to reject faith, as they themselves have done, to be like them. So do not take them as allies until they migrate [to Medina] for God’s cause. If they turn [on you], then seize and kill them wherever you encounter them. Take none of them as an ally or supporter. 90 But as for those who seek refuge with people with whom you have a treaty, or who come over to you because their hearts shrink from fighting against you or against their own people, God could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they withdraw and do not fight you, and offer you peace, then God gives you no way against them. 91You will find others who wish to be safe from you, and from their own people, but whenever they are back in a situation where they are tempted [to fight you], they succumb to it. So if they neither withdraw, nor offer you peace, nor restrain themselves from fighting you, seize and kill them wherever you encounter them: We give you clear authority against such people.

   The last verse that exhorts believers to kill is in Sura 9. Verse 9:5 can be easily (mis)quoted as "wherever you encounter the idolaters, kill them, seize them, besiege them, wait for them at every lookout post;", however that would be picking a line or two without the context. One needs to do two things, one, read the verse fully and also verses before and after and two, see what Quran says about it in a similar context elsewhere. 

   9:5 needs to be read along with 2:191 as both are in the context of pilgrimage. Even here, it asks the prophet to grant protection to the believers if they ask for it. Haleem tells us, "In this context, this definitely refers to the ones who broke the treaty. The article here is ahdiya (specific) referring to what has already been stated." Quran confirms Haleem’s assertion in verse 9:7 and reconfirms it if one continues to read it until verse 9:10. Given below are verses 9:5 to 9:7.

9:5 When the [four] forbidden months are over, wherever you

encounter the idolaters, kill them, seize them, besiege them, wait

for them at every lookout post; but if they turn [to God], maintain

the prayer, and pay the prescribed alms, let them go on their way, for God is most forgiving and merciful. 6 If any one of the idolaters should seek your protection [Prophet], grant it to him so that he may hear the word of God, then take him to a place safe for him, for they are people with no knowledge [of it]. 7 How could there be a treaty with God and His Messenger for such idolaters? But as for those with whom you made a treaty at the Sacred Mosque, so long as they remain true to you, be true to them; God loves those who are mindful of Him.

This leaves little doubt on what the message of Quran is, irrespective of what others may like you to believe. The message is one of Devotion, the message is one of Peace.

  

Bibliography

1.       “The Qur’an” by MAS Abdel Haleem, Oxford University press. www.oup.com/worldsclassics