Misinterpretations of Quran are many

[Bob Jenkins]

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/4643-Experts__Misinterpretations_of_Quran_are_many.html

Item 4643 • Posted: Mon, Sep. 29 2003 • Weblogged by Religion News Blog

Daily Herald (USA), Sep. 29, 2003
http://www.dailyherald.com
By Jeffrey Gaunt, Daily Herald Staff Writer


The teachings of Islam, like those of Christianity, have been manipulated to justify the killings of innocent people, two experts on Islam said Sunday.

Maalik Bennett, a professor at the College Preparatory School of America in Lombard, and Syed Anwar, a psychiatrist at Elgin's Sherman Hospital, fielded questions about their religion from roughly 30 parishioners and visitors at the First Congregational Church in Elgin.

The question-and-answer session was the fourth and final "Understanding Islam" study session put on by the church.

"What I hope to achieve today is to get you interested in studying Islam," Bennett said.

Senior Pastor Paris Donehoo was the first to ask the question about the storied history of religion and violence, asking whether varied interpretations - or misinterpretations - of the Quran have been the root of violence, as has been the case in the Christian tradition.

"The Bible has been used to justify almost anything," Donehoo said, asking whether the meaning of the Quran is twisted in the same manner.

"Definitely," said Bennett, calling this his "hot-button" issue.

Bennett said one common - and potentially deadly - misunderstanding stems from the meanings of the Arabic words for blasphemer and "ignorant people."

The Quran says to kill all blasphemers, wherever they are found.

Bennett said the Quran defines a blasphemer as someone who has taken up arms in order to eradicate Islam, adding that the holy book has very detailed laws of war and only allows killing when a war has already begun.

But Bennett said many people misinterpret that phrase to mean the killing of ignorant people, or non-Muslims.

"People can read just one statement and take a different completely meaning from it," Anwar agreed.

Bennett and Anwar answered other questions ranging from whether the concept of heaven and hell exists in Islam - it does - and whether the Quran was written by one person or many.

Bennett said the book recounts the revelations of God written by one person, the prophet Mohammad.

The pair was also asked about the Quran's role in political life, with particular emphasis on so-called extremist governments.

"Islam is a comprehensive way of life - a social system, a political system - at least in terms of principles," Bennett said.

However, he said that the type of Islam practiced by some governments does not conform to his understanding of Islam.

Bennett did warn against judging certain Islamic countries - Iran in particular - too harshly, saying the United States was too quick to launch a campaign against the country.

"They need to have a more seasoned response that realizes human change or social change is gradual," Bennett said, adding that the country still has problems although it is in the process of reforming.

[Dr T]

09-29-2003 @ 04:50 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=225428#post225428)
Bob Jenkins:

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/4643-Experts__Misinterpretations_of_Quran_are_many.html

Item 4643 • Posted: Mon, Sep. 29 2003 • Weblogged by Religion News Blog

Daily Herald (USA), Sep. 29, 2003
http://www.dailyherald.com
By Jeffrey Gaunt, Daily Herald Staff Writer


The teachings of Islam, like those of Christianity, have been manipulated to justify the killings of innocent people, two experts on Islam said Sunday.

Maalik Bennett, a professor at the College Preparatory School of America in Lombard, and Syed Anwar, a psychiatrist at Elgin's Sherman Hospital, fielded questions about their religion from roughly 30 parishioners and visitors at the First Congregational Church in Elgin.

The question-and-answer session was the fourth and final "Understanding Islam" study session put on by the church.

"What I hope to achieve today is to get you interested in studying Islam," Bennett said.

Senior Pastor Paris Donehoo was the first to ask the question about the storied history of religion and violence, asking whether varied interpretations - or misinterpretations - of the Quran have been the root of violence, as has been the case in the Christian tradition.

"The Bible has been used to justify almost anything," Donehoo said, asking whether the meaning of the Quran is twisted in the same manner.

"Definitely," said Bennett, calling this his "hot-button" issue.

Bennett said one common - and potentially deadly - misunderstanding stems from the meanings of the Arabic words for blasphemer and "ignorant people."

The Quran says to kill all blasphemers, wherever they are found.

Bennett said the Quran defines a blasphemer as someone who has taken up arms in order to eradicate Islam, adding that the holy book has very detailed laws of war and only allows killing when a war has already begun.

But Bennett said many people misinterpret that phrase to mean the killing of ignorant people, or non-Muslims.

"People can read just one statement and take a different completely meaning from it," Anwar agreed.

Bennett and Anwar answered other questions ranging from whether the concept of heaven and hell exists in Islam - it does - and whether the Quran was written by one person or many.

Bennett said the book recounts the revelations of God written by one person, the prophet Mohammad.

The pair was also asked about the Quran's role in political life, with particular emphasis on so-called extremist governments.

"Islam is a comprehensive way of life - a social system, a political system - at least in terms of principles," Bennett said.

However, he said that the type of Islam practiced by some governments does not conform to his understanding of Islam.

Bennett did warn against judging certain Islamic countries - Iran in particular - too harshly, saying the United States was too quick to launch a campaign against the country.

"They need to have a more seasoned response that realizes human change or social change is gradual," Bennett said, adding that the country still has problems although it is in the process of reforming.

I tried to follow this up using the www.quranbrowser.com site. This site has access to 8 translations of the Koran. None of them had the word blasphemer in them. There are no actual quotes given from the Koran itself in this article, so difficult to actually follow their argument.

Anyway here are some verses from the Koran that deal with this issue. Taken from


http://answering-islam.org/Terrorism/islam_and_violence.html.


"The following are only some of the verses in the Qur'an that can and have been used in the history of Islam in support of violence in the name of God and the glories of martyrdom in a holy war.

2:190-193 "Fight in the cause of God those who fight you ... And slay them wherever ye catch them ... And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in God ..."

2:216 "Fighting is prescribed for you and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth and ye know not."

2:224 "Then fight in the cause of God and know that God heareth and knoweth all things."

3:157-158 "And if ye are slain or die in the way of God, forgiveness and mercy from God are far better than all they could amass. And if ye die, or are slain, Lo! It is unto God that ye are brought together."

3:169 "Think not of those who are slain in God's way as dead. Nay, they live finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord."

3:195 "... Those who have ... fought or been slain, verily I will blot out from them their iniquities and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath; a reward from the presence of God ..."

4:101 "... For the Unbelievers are unto you open enemies."

4:74, 75 "Let those fight in the cause of God who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of God whether he is slain or gets victory, soon shall we give him a reward of great (value). Those who believe fight in the cause of God and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil, so fight ye against the friends of Satan, feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan."

4:89 "They but wish that ye should reject faith as they do, and thus be on the same footing as they. But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of God. But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them…"

4:95 "Not equal are those believers who sit at (at home) and receive no hurt and those who strive and fight in the cause of God with their goods and their persons. God hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than those who sit (at home).

5:36 "The punishment of those who wage war against God and His apostle and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land. That is their disgrace in this world and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter."

5:54 "O ye who believe. Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust."

8:12-17 "Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you. Give firmness to the believers. I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips off them. This because they contend against God and his apostle. If any contend against God and his apostle, God is strict in punishment ... O ye who believe. When ye meet the unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them. If any do turn his back to them on such a day, unless it be a stratagem of war ... he draws on himself the wrath of God and his abode is Hell, an evil refuge (indeed)."

8:59-60 "Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly). They will never frustrate (them). Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of God and your enemies and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom God doth know ..."

8:65 "O apostle! Rouse the believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred. If a hundred they will vanquish a thousand of the unbelievers, for these are a people without understanding."

9:5 "... fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war) ..."

9:14 "Fight them, and God will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame ..."

9:29 "Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and his apostle nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth (even if they are) of the people of the Book, until they pay the Jizya [religious tax] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

47:4 "Therefore, when ye meet the unbelievers, smite at their necks, at length when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them) ... but if it had been God's will, he could certainly have exacted retribution from them (himself), but (he lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the way of God, he will never let their deeds be lost."

61:4 "Truly God loves those who fight in His cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure."

http://answering-islam.org/Terrorism/islam_and_violence.html.


I also think that the comments about only an Arabic speaker can really understand what the Koran means is telling.

Weren't all the highjackers on 9/11 native arab speakers?

I believe that the evidence is that Osama Bin Laden was doing exactly what he read for himself in the Koran, and that all the rest is white wash just to hide what the Koran actually says.


While I appreciate that context can alter the meaning you only have to look at the state of the bleeding edge of the Islamic world to see how Muslims there intrepret these verses.