Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers (12 page)
Read Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers Online
Authors: C.J. Werleman
[3:110] You are the best community ever raised among the people: you advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and you believe in GOD. If the followers of the scripture believed, it would be better for them. Some of them do believe, but the majority of them are wicked.
[3:111] They can never harm you, beyond insulting you. If they fight you, they will turn around and flee. They can never win.
[3:112] They shall be humiliated whenever you encounter them, unless they uphold GOD’s covenant, as well as their peace covenants with you. They have incurred wrath from GOD, and, consequently, they are committed to disgrace. This is because they rejected GOD’s revelations, and killed the prophets unjustly. This is because they disobeyed and transgressed.
Muhammad reviews the Battles of Badr and Uhd, as means of reassuring the Muslims that despite the numerous enemies pitted against them, God never fails to deliver their enemies to their swords.
[3:123] GOD has granted you victory at Badr, despite your weakness. Therefore, you shall observe GOD, to show your appreciation.
[3:124] You told the believers, “Is it not enough that your Lord supports you with three thousand angels, sent down?”
[3:125] Indeed, if you steadfastly persevere and maintain righteousness, then they attack you suddenly, your Lord will support you with five thousand angels, well trained.
[3:151] We will throw terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, since they set up besides GOD powerless idols. Their destiny is Hell; what a miserable abode for the transgressors!
These verses are more or less repetition of verses 109 – 120 and are voiced to give confidence to the Muslims.
[3:185] Every person tastes death, then you receive your recompense on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever misses Hell, barely, and makes it to Paradise, has attained a great triumph. The life of this world is no more than an illusion
A reminder of celestial rewards and punishments.
[3:197] They only enjoy temporarily, then end up in Hell; what a miserable destiny!
[3:198] As for those who observe their Lord, they have deserved gardens with flowing streams; they abide therein forever. Such is the abode given to them by GOD. What GOD possesses is far better for the righteous.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The Arabic name of this chapter is ‘An-Nisa’, meaning, you guessed it, ‘The Women’.
This sura is the third longest of the Koran, containing a total of one hundred and seventy six verses, and is considered to be another of the Medinan inspired revelations.
As the title of the sura suggests, this revelation deals mostly with matters relating to women and their rights and obligations i.e. clothing, marriage, and family matters. Of particular interest is Muhammad’s recommendation for dealing with “rebellious women”.
Written between the third and fifth year after the hajj to Medina, we do know that a vast majority of it was penned following the battle of Uhd. It was here that Muhammad lost sixty of his men, and the question arose as to what should happen to their inheritance of these martyrs and the rights of the orphans left behind. This discourse relates specifically to the first twenty-eight verses.
As always, the only way to properly understand the Koran is to be aware of the social, military, and political terrain that Muhammad faced at the time of his revelations. If you understand that, then you understand why he said the things he said.
Muhammad’s chief concern was to bring the Medina community, now called the Muslims, into social, moral, and economic order. Standing in the way of his objectives was opposition from the Jewish clans, who were now openly denouncing Muhammad as a false prophet, despite his efforts to convince them otherwise. Further, small numbers of Muslims began to convert back to their pagan beliefs. So when we put all of that into the mix, you can see the pressures Muhammad faced when he spoke.
As the Muslims were in a state of perpetual war, Muhammad provides instructions for the distribution of inheritance, the rights of orphans, the marriage of war widows, laws of marriage, and advice for maintaining a happy household.
[4:2] You shall hand over to the orphans their rightful properties. Do not substitute the bad for the good, and do not consume their properties by combining them with yours. This would be a gross injustice.
[4:7] The men get a share of what the parents and the relatives leave behind. The women too shall get a share of what the parents and relatives leave behind. Whether it is a small or a large inheritance, (the women must get) a definite share.
[4:8] During distribution of the inheritances, if relatives, orphans, and needy persons are present, you shall give them there from, and treat them kindly.
[4:12] You get half of what your wives leave behind, if they had no children. If they had children, you get one-fourth of what they leave. All this, after fulfilling any will they had left, and after paying off all debts. They get one-fourth of what you leave behind, if you had no children. If you had children, they get one-eighth of what you bequeath. All this, after fulfilling any will you had left, and after paying off all debts. If the deceased man or woman was a loner, and leaves two siblings, male or female, each of them gets one-sixth of the inheritance. If there are more siblings, then they equally share one-third of the inheritance. All this, after fulfilling any will, and after paying off all debts, so that no one is hurt. This is a will decreed by GOD. GOD is Omniscient, Clement.
[4:22] Do not marry the women who were previously married to your fathers - existing marriages are exempted and shall not be broken - for it is a gross offense, and an abominable act.
[4:23] Prohibited for you (in marriage) are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, the sisters of your fathers, the sisters of your mothers, the daughters of your brother, the daughters of your sister, your nursing mothers, the girls who nursed from the same woman as you, the mothers of your wives, the daughters of your wives with whom you have consummated the marriage - if the marriage has not been consummated, you may marry the daughter. Also prohibited for you are the women who were married to your genetic sons. Also, you shall not be married to two sisters at the same time - but do not break up existing marriages. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
When it comes to the treatment of women, opponents of Islam commonly cite this verse:
[4:34] The men are made responsible for the women, and GOD has endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners. The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is GOD’s commandment, and honor their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may (as a last alternative) beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. GOD is Most High, Supreme.
Muhammad passes on what he believes are lessons for living a good life, such as the importance of charity and generosity; and warns against the meanness of being overly frugal.
[4:36] You shall worship GOD alone - do not associate anything with Him. You shall regard the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, the related neighbor, the unrelated neighbor, the close associate, the traveling alien, and your servants. GOD does not like the arrogant show-offs.
This solitary verse deals with the offering of
salat
, meaning ritual prayer, which is of supreme importance for Muslims, as indicated by the fact that its status is included as one of the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam and of the Ten Practices of the Shia denomination.
Salat is a ritual prayer with certain rules and obligations, and moreover, it’s considered obligatory for all adult Muslims. To perform salat, Muslims must be in a state of ritual purity.
[4:43] O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying. Nor after sexual orgasm without bathing, unless you are on the road, traveling; if you are ill or traveling, or you had urinary or fecal-related excretion (such as gas), or contacted the women (sexually), and you cannot find water, you shall observe Tayammum (dry ablution) by touching clean dry soil, then wiping your faces and hands therewith. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiver.
Muhammad further addresses the Jewish clans of Medina.
[4:47] O you who received the scripture, you shall believe in what we reveal herein, confirming what you have, before we banish certain faces to exile, or condemn them as we condemned those who desecrated the Sabbath. GOD’s command is done.
[4:56] Surely, those who disbelieve in our revelations, we will condemn them to the hellfire. Whenever their skins are burnt, we will give them new skins. Thus, they will suffer continuously. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.
[4:57] As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, we will admit them into gardens with flowing streams; they abide therein forever. They will have pure spouses therein. We will admit them into a blissful shade.
A reminder to Muslims they’re now God’s chosen people and it’s vital they behave in such a manner.
[4:69] Those who obey GOD and the messenger belong with those blessed by GOD - the prophets, the saints, the martyrs, and the righteous. These are the best company.
Muhammad warns the Muslims about displaying cowardice or weakness of any kind. He makes the point that if you’re fit and able, then there’s no excuse for not fighting in the name of Islam. He also prohibits the killing of Muslims by fellow Muslims, and that martyrs will be rewarded in paradise.
[4:74] Those who readily fight in the cause of GOD are those who forsake this world in favor of the Hereafter. Whoever fights in the cause of GOD, then gets killed, or attains victory, we will surely grant him a great recompense.
[4:75] Why should you not fight in the cause of GOD when weak men, women, and children are imploring: “Our Lord, deliver us from this community whose people are oppressive, and be You our Lord and Master.”
[4:76] Those who believe are fighting for the cause of GOD, while those who disbelieve are fighting for the cause of tyranny. Therefore, you shall fight the devil’s allies; the devil’s power is nil.
[4:93] Anyone who kills a believer on purpose, his retribution is Hell, wherein he abides forever, GOD is angry with him, and condemns him, and has prepared for him a terrible retribution.
[4:94] O you who believe, if you strike in the cause of GOD, you shall be absolutely sure. Do not say to one who offers you peace, “You are not a believer,” seeking the spoils of this world. For GOD possesses infinite spoils. Remember that you used to be like them, and GOD blessed you. Therefore, you shall be absolutely sure (before you strike). GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
[4:95] Not equal are the sedentary among the believers who are not handicapped, and those who strive in the cause of GOD with their money and their lives. GOD exalts the strivers with their money and their lives above the sedentary. For both, GOD promises salvation, but GOD exalts the strivers over the sedentary with a great recompense.
Muhammad discusses the importance of observing ritual prayer, salat, even on the battlefield. The point being that prayer is of double importance when faced with fear and/or danger.
[4:102] When you are with them, and lead the Contact Prayer (Salat) for them, let some of you stand guard; let them hold their weapons, and let them stand behind you as you prostrate. Then, let the other group that has not prayed take their turn praying with you, while the others stand guard and hold their weapons. Those who disbelieved wish to see you neglect your weapons and your equipment, in order to attack you once and for all. You commit no error, if you are hampered by rain or injury, by putting down your weapons, so long as you remain alert. GOD has prepared for the disbelievers a shameful retribution.
Be merciless with the enemy on the battlefield.
[4:104] Do not waver in pursuing the enemy. If you suffer, they also suffer. However, you expect from GOD what they never expect. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.
