Book Report: The Koran

I think it took me a little longer than a month to read the Koran. And a long month it was. I have to admit I was really very irritated reading most of it. I've heard many times about the beauty of its poetry. Well, I'm not really one for poetry, unless it's in the form of music. But even if I was a fan of poems, I still don't think I would have enjoyed this book. It is really a very illogical, repetitive, yet self-contradictory piece of work. Like most religious works, it fails to provide a case for the faith it champions. At least a case that would convert the average non-believer. A real case. For example, it regularly claims that infidels are to be destroyed because they fail to acknowledge the signs that God has sent them. What kind of signs? you may ask. Well, mainly, the fact that the Koran exists and that it claims itself to be the written work of God through his prophet, Muhammad. Why should we take this as a sign? Well because it says so of itself. Apparently, God and Muhammad are completely unaware of the fact that, for various reasons, people lie; and that countless people and books from ages past have made several claims along similar lines. Call me cynical, but I'm gonna need a little more evidence...

Stylistically, I guess I would compare it to the book of Psalms in the Bible. It is divided into 114 Suras, each of varying length. Some are a few lines, others are almost 200 lines. Each Sura starts with a short title, usually meant to indicate the subject to be covered. However, I found that each Sura would spend a few lines addressing whatever topic was named in the title, and thereafter would fall into the same repeated threats of death and destruction to infidels, the wonder, love and mercy of God, descriptions of Heaven and Hell, etc, etc. Contained in some of the Suras are retellings of well-known biblical stories, because of course, the Bible had been corrupted and needed to be corrected.

Following are several passages that struck me as interesting, usually because they directly contradicted other passages (mind you, I did do my best to review and make sure that I had the best understanding of the context that I could--usually, the contradiction remained); other passages stood out to me just because they defined a specific doctrine or custom (note: I did not add any of the parentheses--they were included in the translation I read):

Regarding Christians and Jews: 2:59 Verily, they who believe (Muslims), and they who follow the Jewish religion, and the Christians, and the Sabeites--whoever of these believeth in God and the last day, and doeth that which is right, shall have their reward with their Lord: fear shall not come upon them, neither shall they be grieved.

Compare to 5:76-77 Infidels now are they who say, 'God is the Messiah, son of Mary;' for the Messiah said, 'O children of Israel! Worship God my Lord and your Lord.' Whoever shall join other gods with God, God shall forbid him the Garden and his abode shall be the Fire; and the wicked shall have no helpers. They surely are infidels who say, 'God is the third of three:' for there is no God but one God: and if they refrain not from what they say, a grievous chastisement shall light on such of them as are infidels.

And 5:56 O believers! Take not the Jews or Christians as friends. They are but one another's friends. If any of you taketh them for his friends, he surely is one of them! God will not guide the evil doers.

And 5:85 Of all men thou wilt certainly find the Jews, and those who join other gods with God, to be the most intense in hatred of those who believe; and thou shalt certainly find those to be nearest in affection to them who say, 'We are Christians.' This, because some of them are priests and monks, and because they are free from pride.

And 9:30-31 The Jews say, 'Ezra (Ozair) is a son of God; and the Christians say, 'The Messiah is a son of God.' Such the sayings in their mouths! They resemble the saying of the infidels of old! God do battle with them! How are they misguided! They take their teachers, and their monks, and the Messiah, son of Mary, for lords beside God, though bidden to worship one God only. There is no God but He! Far from His glory be what they associate with Him!

I guess this one's aimed at the Catholics: 5:16-17 And when God shall say--'O Jesus, son of Mary: hast thou said unto mankind--'Take me and my mother as two gods, beside God?'' He shall say--'Glory be unto Thee! It is not for me to say that which I know to be not the truth; had I said that, verily Thou wouldest have known it: Thou knowest what is in me, but I know not what is in Thee; for Thou well knowest things unseen! I spake not to them aught but that which Thou didst bid me--'Worship God, my Lord and your Lord;' and I was a witness of their actions while I stayed among them; but since Thou hast taken me to Thyself, Thou hast Thyself watched them and Thou art witness of all things:

3:60 Abraham was neither Jew nor Christian; but he was sound in the faith, a Muslim; and not of those who add gods to God.

Before reading the Koran, I had heard that, despite the claims of terrorists, Islam was actually tolerant of other religions. I received confirmation of that with this quote: 3:79 Whoso desireth any other religion than Islam, that religion shall never be accepted from him, and in the next world he shall be among the lost.

About women: 4:38 Men are superior to women on account of the qualities with which God hath gifted the one above the other, and on account of the outlay they make from their substance for them. Virtuous women are obedient, careful, during the husband's absence, because God hath of them been careful. But chide those for whose refractoriness ye have cause to fear; remove them into beds apart, and scourge them: but if they are obedient to you, then seek not occasion against them: verily, God is high, great!

And how! :P Just kidding, ladies...

4:84 Can they not consider the Koran? Were it from any other than God, they would surely have found in it many contradictions.

Cleaning up the Bible. It's a dirty job--11:51 (regarding the story of Noah) This is one of the secret Histories: We reveal it unto thee: neither thou nor thy people knew it ere this: be patient thou: verily, there is a prosperous issue to the God-fearing.

Also, Sura XII is a retelling of the Old Testament story of Joseph. 12:103 This is one of the secret histories which We reveal unto thee. Thou wast not present with Joseph's brethren when they conceived their design and laid their plot: but the greater part of men, though thou long for it, will not believe.

Additionally, for every quote like this:

6:39 They who gainsay Our signs are deaf, and dumb, in darkness: God will mislead whom He pleaseth, and whom He pleaseth He will place upon the straight path.

There are 10 quotes threatening infidels with eternal punishment for not believing. If God causes their disbelief, what is the punishment for?

I got a kick out of this one. So random: 2:230 But if the husband divorce her a third time, it is not lawful for him to take her again, until she shall have married another husband; and if he also divorce her, then shall no blame attach to them if they return to each other, thinking that they can keep within the bounds fixed by God. And these are the bounds of God; He maketh them clear to those who have knowledge.

A needle in a haystack--2: 265 A kind speech and forgiveness is better than alms followed by injury. God is rich, clement.

As for Jihad, here are a few gems: 2:86-88--And fight for the cause of God against those who fight against you: but commit no the injustice of attacking them first: God loveth not such injustice. And kill them wherever ye shall find them, and eject them from whatever place they have ejected you; for civil discord is worse than carnage: yet attack them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they attack you therein; but if they attack you, slay them. Such the reward of the infidels. But if they desist, then verily God is gracious, merciful.

Compare with 3:150-152 O ye who believe! Be not like the infidels, who said of their brethren when they had traveled by land or had gone forth to war, "had they kept with us, they had not died, and he not been slain!" God purposed that this affair should cause them heart sorrow! God maketh alive and killeth; and God holdeth your actions. And if ye shall be slain or die on the path of God, then pardon from God and mercy is better than all your amassins; For if ye die or be slain, verily unto God shall ye be gathered.

And 7:13 When they Lord spake unto the angels, 'I will be with you: therefore stablish ye the faithful. I will cast a dread into the hearts of the infidels.' Strike off their heads then, and strike off from them every finger-tip.

And 9:5 And when the sacred months are passed, kill those who join other gods with God wherever ye shall find them; and seize them, besiege them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush: but if they shall convert, and observe prayer, and pay the obligatory alms, then let them go their way, for God is gracious, merciful.

And 9:14 So make war on them: By hour hands will God chastise them, and will put them to shame, and will give you victory over them, and will heal the bosoms of a people who believe;

And 9:124 Believers! Wage war against such of the infidels as are your neighbors, and let them find you rigorous: and know that God is with those who fear him.

Such is the Koran. Admittedly, all of the above passages fall in the first half of the book, so it may appear to be an incomplete reflection of the book as a whole. However, as I said before, it is highly repetitive and self-contradictory. So, basically, you could duplicate the above passages, then include some passages that directly oppose those you duplicated, and you would have the rest of the book. Or you can just read the book and see for yourself. By the way, my main purpose for writing blogs like this is just for me to organize my thoughts, and to help me retain whatever I learned from what I read. If this blog offended, enlightened, bored, or converted you to or out of Islam--great!

Or sorry. Whichever applies.

Reading: The Koran