Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers (17 page)
Read Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers Online
Authors: C.J. Werleman
Moses warned his people, they ignored him.
[10:75] Then we sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his group, with our proofs. But they turned arrogant; and were transgressing people.
[10:90] We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. Pharaoh and his troops pursued them, aggressively and sinfully. When drowning became a reality for him, he said, “I believe that there is no god except the One in whom the Children of Israel have believed; I am a submitter.”
Muhammad warns the Meccans that on Judgment Day, God will ask him to testify against them, and he won’t hesitate in assisting them to their eternal doom.
[10:100] No soul can believe except in accordance with GOD’s will. For He places a curse upon those who refuse to understand.
[10:103] We ultimately save our messengers and those who believe. It is our immutable law that we save the believers.
[10:104] Say, “O people, if you have any doubt regarding my religion, I do not worship what you worship beside GOD. I worship GOD alone; the One who will terminate your lives. I am commanded to be a believer.”
[10:105] I was commanded: “Keep yourself devoted to the religion of monotheism; you shall not practice idol worship.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
“The Hud” was recited in Mecca immediately after the previous sura (Jonah).
Containing one hundred and twenty three verses, much of the content is a series of stories concerning an array of prophets, and how it was they warned, respectively, the people of their time that God’s punishment would reign if they failed to fall into line.
So who is Hud? Well, Hud doesn’t feature in the Bible, but you can think of his story as an Arabic version of Noah’s. According to Muhammad, God sent Hud as diplomatic envoy to an Omani tribe somewhere between the third and fifth century. His message was simple: repent and submit to God or suffer the consequences of a “dreadful doom” that would surely follow.
Like the story of Noah, God saved the believers, and the unbelievers were “accursed in the world”.
Muhammad outlines his concerns for the non-believing Meccans.
[11:1] A.L.R. This is a scripture whose verses have been perfected, then elucidated. It comes from a Most Wise, Most Cognizant.
[11:2] Proclaiming: “You shall not worship except GOD. I come to you from Him as a warner, as well as a bearer of good news.
[11:3] “You shall seek your Lord’s forgiveness, then repent to Him. He will then bless you generously for a predetermined period, and bestow His grace upon those who deserve it. If you turn away, then I fear for you the retribution of an awesome day.”
Muhammad outlines what he believes are the sins of the Meccans and why it is that they must repent. Further, he claims that in denying his revelations, they’re lying against God.
[11:7] He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His (earthly) domain was completely covered with water - in order to test you, to distinguish those among you who work righteousness. Yet, when you say, “You will be resurrected after death,” those who disbelieve would say, “This is clearly witchcraft.”
[11:8] And if we delay the retribution they have incurred - for we reserve it for a specific community - they say, “What is keeping Him?” In fact, once it comes to them, nothing can stop it, and their mocking will come back to haunt them.
[11:18] Who are more evil than those who fabricate lies about GOD? They will be presented before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, “These are the ones who lied about their Lord. GOD’s condemnation has befallen the transgressors.”
[11:20] These will never escape, nor will they find any lords or masters to help them against GOD. Retribution will be doubled for them. They have failed to hear, and they have failed to see.
Similar to the previous sura, Muhammad repeats the story of Noah, who pleaded with his people to repent and accept God.
[11:25] We sent Noah to his people, saying, “I come to you as a clear warner.
[11:26] “You shall not worship except GOD. I fear for you the retribution of a painful day.”
[11:27] The leaders who disbelieved among his people said, “We see that you are no more than a human being like us, and we see that the first people to follow you are the worst among us. We see that you do not possess any advantage over us. Indeed, we think you are liars.”
Like the biblical prophets, Hud pleads with his people to cease living in sin and with injustice. The people ignore him and bad events follow, except for him. This again is a repeat of the previous sura.
[11:50] To ‘Aad we sent their brother Hood. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god besides Him. You are inventing.
Similar to the stories of Noah and Hud, Saleh, acting on God’s orders, instructs the people of Thamud to repent their evil ways. The believers are saved, and the nonbelievers are extinguished by a “blast from heaven.”
[11:61] To Thamoud we sent their brother Saaleh. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. He initiated you from the earth, then settled you in it. You shall seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is always near, responsive.”
[11:62] They said, “O Saaleh, you used to be popular among us before this. Are you enjoining us from worshipping what our parents are worshipping? We are full of doubt concerning everything you have told us.”
[11:66] When our judgment came, we saved Saaleh and those who believed with him by mercy from us, from the humiliation of that day. Your Lord is the Most Powerful, the Almighty.
[11:67] Those who transgressed were annihilated by the disaster, leaving them in their homes, dead.
[11:68] It was as if they never lived there. Indeed, Thamoud have rejected their Lord. Absolutely, Thamoud have incurred their annihilation.
It is within these passages that Muhammad confirms the biblical account of homosexuality being the crime of Lot’s people. As in the Bible, Abraham pleads for the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to be spared but God denies the request for clemency. Instead, God sends two angels dressed as men, who are eventually raped, despite Lot offering his daughters to the Sodomite rapists.
[11:77] When our messengers went to Lot, they were mistreated, and he was embarrassed by their presence. He said, “This is a difficult day.”
[11:78] His people came rushing; they had grown accustomed to their sinful acts. He said, “O my people, it would be purer for you, if you take my daughters instead. You shall reverence GOD; do not embarrass me with my guests. Have you not one reasonable man among you?”
[11:79] They said, “You know well that we have no need for your daughters; you know exactly what we want.”
[11:80] He said, “I wish I were strong enough, or had a powerful ally!”
[11:81] (The angels) said, “O Lot, we are your Lord’s messengers, and these people cannot touch you. You shall leave with your family during the night, and let not anyone of you look back, except your wife; she is condemned along with those who are condemned. Their appointed time is the morning. Is not the morning soon enough?”
[11:82] When our judgment came, we turned it upside down, and we showered it with hard, devastating rocks.
[11:83] Such rocks were designated by your Lord to strike the transgressors.
God sends Shu’aib to Midian with the same message of Hud, Noah, and Saleh i.e. believers are saved and the nonbelievers “were seized by a punishment from heaven, and lay overturn in their homes in the morning as though they had not dwelt there at all.”
[11:84] To Midian we sent their brother Shu’aib. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Do not cheat when you measure or weigh. I see that you are prosperous, and I fear for you the retribution of an overwhelming day.
[11:94] When our judgment came, we saved Shu’aib and those who believed with him, by mercy from us. As for the evil ones, they were struck by a disaster that left them dead in their homes.
[11:95] It was as though they never existed. Thus, Midian perished, just like Thamoud had perished before that.
The remaining verses discuss the general theme of Noah once more, with occasional references to Moses. The harsh punishment is explained as “We did not wrong them; they wronged themselves.” Other gods are decried as false, powerless, and useless. Believers are commanded to walk the straight path and follow God, and those who disbelieve will suffer in Hell.
[11:96] We sent Moses with our signs and a profound authority.
[11:97] To Pharaoh and his elders. But they followed the command of Pharaoh, and Pharaoh’s command was not wise.
[11:98] He will lead his people on the Day of Resurrection, all the way to Hell; what a miserable abode to live in!
[11:99] They have incurred condemnation in this life, as well as on the Day of Resurrection; what a miserable path to follow!
A prophecy of what will take place on Judgment Day.
[11:105] The day it comes to pass, no soul will utter a single word, except in accordance with His will. Some will be miserable, and some will be happy.
[11:106] As for the miserable ones, they will be in Hell, wherein they sigh and wail.
[11:107] Eternally they abide therein, for as long as the heavens and the earth endure, in accordance with the will of your Lord. Your Lord is doer of whatever He wills.
[11:108] As for the fortunate ones, they will be in Paradise. Eternally they abide therein, for as long as the heavens and the earth endure, in accordance with the will of your Lord - an everlasting reward.
Repent your sins and wait for Judgment Day.
[11:111] Your Lord will surely recompense everyone for their works. He is fully Cognizant of everything they do.
[11:112] Therefore, continue on the path you have been enjoined to follow, together with those who repented with you, and do not transgress. He is Seer of everything you do.
[11:113] Do not lean towards those who have transgressed, lest you incur Hell, and find no allies to help you against GOD, then end up losers.
[11:123] To GOD belongs the future of the heavens and the earth, and all matters are controlled by Him. You shall worship Him and trust in Him. Your Lord is never unaware of anything you do.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Remember Joseph from the Old Testament, the favored son of his father, mistreated by his brothers, but with a really cool coat? Well, that’s this guy.
Recited in Mecca in the years prior to Muhammad fleeing to Medina, when the Meccans were still unsure as to whether kill, exile or imprison him, it is apparent that the Jews plotted with the Quraysh to expose Muhammad as a fraud. The unbelievers put the following question to him: “Why did the Israelites go to Egypt?” It was a classic ‘gotcha question’. Muhammad had never written or talked about anything that addressed that question, even though it is mentioned in the Bible. Thus, they expected it would demonstrate Muhammad had no idea of the detailed history of Abraham’s people and, therefore, this would prove him a charlatan. Muhammad, however, baffled his detractors yet again – and gave a detailed narrative of Joseph and his dreamcoat.
