The Sage Nabooru Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Well I've made it through the first two surahs. Yay me. The first one is about eight lines long. It's the "Allah is the Great, the Merciful, the Compassionate" prayer. The second surah is largely Muhammad being pissed off that the Jews of Yathrib (modern-day Medinah) refused to acknowledge him as their expected prophet. It seems for a long time that the Jews told their pagan Arab neighbors that one day a prophet would come to them, and Muhammad knew of this, so he came to Yathrib and announced himself as thus. The Jews countered that he was not the kind of prophet they were waiting for, and thus they did not swear allegiance to him. So Muhammad got mad. Example: Verse 87: And verily We gave unto Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), and We supported him with the holy Spirit. Is it ever so, that when there cometh unto you a messenger (from Allah) and with that which ye yourselves desire not, ye grow arrogant, and some ye disbelieve and some ye slay? 88. And they say: Our hearts are hardened. Nay, but Allah hath cursed them for their unbelief. Little is that which they believe. 89. And when there cometh unto them a scripture from Allah, confirming that in their possession - though before that they were asking for a signal triumph over those who disbelieved - and when there cometh unto them that which they know (to be the Truth) they disbelieve therein. The curse of Allah is on disbelievers. 90. Evil is that for which they sell their souls: that they should disbelieve in that which Allah hath revealed, grudging that Allah should reveal of his bounty unto whom He will of His bondmen. They have incurred anger upon anger. For disbelievers is a shameful doom. 91. And when it is said unto them: Believe in that which Allah hath revealed, they say: We believe in that which was revealed unto us. And they disbelieve in that which cometh after it, though it is the truth confirming that which they possess. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Why then slew the prophets of Allah beforetime, if ye are (indeed) believers? So now we see where the anti-Semitism comes from in Islam: the curses of Muhammad against the Jews of Yathrib. There are many, many warnings of "painful doom" for those who do not submit to Muhammad's new religion. Interspersed with this are strangely out-of-place laws for marriage and divorce. As you can see from above, this is a very hard read. It's hard to make sense of the ramblings, and hard to see where all the inspiration Islamic nations claim from this oh-so-great book truly arises. I will try to stay up-to-date as I continue to read it and give you my thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
currentchristian Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 I'd love to be kept updated on your progress and your views on what you read!! -CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahh! Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I love in that second sura (the Cow?) how "Muhammad" (or more likely, the Koran's various authors as the thing self-contradicts a lot the longer you read) pretty much says everone's doomed. "Allah decides what to put into your heart. If you do not accept Islam, you will face severe punishment. If you accept Islam but you are a hypocrite, you will still face severe punishment." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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