10/27/2016 SecularWebKiosk:TheKoranUnveiled

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TheKoranUnveiled
AttilaRomenian

Questions:

1.DoestheKoranreallycallforwaragainstnonMuslims?
2.Doesitreallysanctiondomesticviolenceandsaywomenhaveto
obeymen?
3.Doesitreallymandatewomentocoverupfromheadtotoe?
4.AreMuslimmenreallypromisedvirginsandwineinparadise?
5.DoestheKoranreallyendorsemartyrdom?
6.Doesitmandatepublicflogging,cuttingoffhandsandstoningto
death?
7.DoestheKoranreallybackaTalibanstylebanonanythingbut
religiousmusic?
8.IslamictraditionforbidsportrayingMohamed,Allah,humanbeings
generallyandevenanimals(someMuslimsdonotevenallowtheir
childrentoplaywithdollsbecausetheyrepresenthumanbeings),but
doestheKoranactuallymandatethis?
9.DoestheKoranreallyprescribedeathforapostasy(leavingthefaith)?

Answers:
1.Yes,andquiteemphatically.
2.Literallyso.

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3.TheKoranleavesthisuptolocalcustom,butitdoesnotexplicitly
mandatewomentocoveranypartoftheirbodyexceptthebreasts.
4.That,andcomelyboysaswell.
5.Althoughtheterm"martyrdom"onlyappearsonce,theKorandoes
advancethenotion.
6.Itmandatespublicfloggingforadulteryandcuttingoffhandsfor
stealing,butnotstoningtodeath(notforadulterynorforanyother
offense).
7.No,notatall.Infact,theKorandoesnotevenmentionmusic.
8.No,thereisnothingtotheeffectintheentirebook.
9.Itdoes,literally.

LookingAway

EventhoughradicalIslamisspreading,notmuchisknownabouttheKoranin
Westerncountries,andthereseemstobeanunwillingnesstohaveacloserlookat
thebook.Yetwithoutthis,informeddiscussionisnotpossible,andwhatdebatedoes
takeplaceisnomorethananexchangeofopinionandignorance.Amongstother
things,theKoranissaidtocallforholywar(jihad)andsanctiondomesticviolence,
butwhenaskedaboutthis,MuslimsandWesternapologistsflatlydenyitandone
cannotrebutthemwithoutprecisequotes.TheymaintainthattheKorandoesnot
preachviolence,onlycompassionandjustice(andoneshouldwellaskwhose
justice),yetthebooktheydefenddoesnotsupporttheirclaims.Likewise,inApril
2004therewasoutrageinFrancewhenAlgerianimamAbdelkaderBouziane
advocatedwifebeatingonthegroundsthattheKoransanctionedit.Otherimams
hurriedlydisputedhisclaim,butinpointoffact,themanwasn'tlying:TheKorannot
onlysanctionsdomesticviolence,itrecommendsit(Sura4:34,seebelow).

ReadtheKoran,theysay.Ihave.AndIcutthroughthelitanytopointoutanumberof
disturbingpassages.Eachquoteisreferencedbythenumberofthelinewhereit
begins.ThenumberingmayattimesbeslightlyoffsinceintheEnglishtranslationI
used(Dawood,1974),versenumberswereplacedonlyatthehead,middleandfoot
ofeachpage,makingitnecessarytocountupordownfromthenearestverse
numberforquotesinbetween.Asitwas,theversenumberswereplacedfor
referencetotheArabic,sothatnumbersintheEnglishtextdidnotalwaysaddup.
Evenso,theyarefairlyaccurateandthequotesshouldbefoundreadilyenough.

ItmaybeobjectedthatIcitepassagesoutofcontext,thatmuchintheKoranisopen
tointerpretationandthatonecanchoosehowtoreadagivenpassage.Abrief
perusalofthetextsurroundingtherespectivepassageswillshowthatIhavenot
takenthingsoutofcontext.Iwouldaddthatthingscanonlybetakenoutofcontextif
thereisacontexttheycanbetakenoutof,butthisisoftennotthecasewiththe
Koran.Thereisnothematicstructureandthesurasrambleon,skippingfromone
topictoanother,theirtitlesbearinglittlerelationtothecontent.Forexample,Sura5
(TheTable)has120linesandissome14pageslong.Aparagraphofsketchydietary
guidelinesisfollowedbyaremindernottoviolatetheritesofAllahandanotheron
piety.Thefourthparagraphcontainssomemoredietaryrules,thefifthisaquick
remindernottosettledisputesbyviolence.Thefollowingtwoparagraphsareabout
unbelieversandIslam,thenexttwomixdietandreligion,thereisageneralparagraph
aboutwhatisgoodforMuslims,followedbyanotheraboutwomen,atwosentence
paragraphaboutlosingfaith,alongeroneaboutrudimentaryhygiene,andtherestof
thesurasome12pagesconsistsofBiblicalstories,tiradesagainstJewsand
Christians,platitudesaboutrewardandpunishmentintheafterlife,etc.Thisistypical
oftheKoran,whichotherwiseisrepletewithinconsistenciesandcontradictions:Allah
isreferredtointhefirstandthethirdpersoninthesamesentence,differentversions
ofthesamestoryarerepeatedatdifferentplacesinthetext,anddivinerulings
occasionallycontradicteachother.Butmoreaboutthatlater.

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Lastbutnotleast,itisoftenarguedthatwhenreadingtheKoran,oneshouldallowfor
overstatementandhyperbole.Thatmaywellbeso.However,ifoneacceptsthis
argument,thenhowmuchelseoftheKoranshouldonedismissasfloridstyleand
forcefulmetaphor?Besides,hyperboleornot,manyMuslimstheworldovertakethe
Koranastheliteraltruth.

Ihavewrittenthisexpositiontobringsomethingsoutintotheopenandtostimulate
muchneededdiscussion.Theissuesraisedhereoughttobeaddressedopenlyand
publiclyintheWestandinMuslimcountriesalike.SogetacopyoftheKoranat
yourlibraryorbookstoreandseeforyourself.

WhatistheKoran?

Mohamed,theUnletteredProphet(Sura7:158),wasilliterateandneverlearnedhow
toread.Thisiswhyhealwaysdictatedeverything.However,beingilliterate,hewas
unabletoproofreadthefinalversiontoseeifeverythingwaswrittendownthewayhe
haddictatedit.Anyway,theKoranwasnotfinalizeduntilsometenyearsafter
Mohameddied.

Neverhaveyou[Mohamed]readabookbeforethis,norhaveyouever
transcribedonewithyourrighthand.
Sura29:48

Atfirst,MohameddictatedtheKoranicversesinintervalstoprofessional
remembrancers.Sometimelater,theverseswerewrittendownonpalmleaves,
stonesandwhateverelsewasathand.Thecollectionwas"completed"duringthe
caliphateofUmar(634644,Mohamedhavingdiedin632)andanauthorizedversion
establishedduringthecaliphateofUthman(644656).Itislikelythatduringthisearly
periodofIslamicexpansion,compilationoftheKoranwasrushedtomeetimperial
pressuresandearliercopiesweredestroyed(Lester,1999).Inputtingtogetherthe
officialversion,nochronologicalorderwasobserved,surasbeingarrangedin
descendingorderoflength(i.e.,fromlongesttoshortest).Also,sincethekuficscript
inwhichtheKoranwasfirstjotteddownhadnovowelsordiacritics,therearevariant
readingsofequalauthority(Dawood,1974).Forthatmatter,Arabicscriptandspelling
wereonlystandardizedlateintheninthcenturyA.D.(Hitchens,2007).Thisisthe
Koranwhichmillionstheworldoverseeasaperfectandholybookcontainingthe
absolutetruth,"setdownonhonoredpages,purifiedandexalted,bythehandsof
devoutandgraciousscribes"(Sura80:15).

Yetitisfullofinconsistenciesandcontradictions.OnecanopentheKoranonany
pageandfindAllahspeakingbothinthesingularandintheplural,thisdespitethe
greatstresswhichIslamplacesonabsolutemonotheism.Likewise,differentversions
ofthesamestoryarerepeatedatdifferentplacesinthetext.Also,divinerulings
contradicteachother,suchastheKoran'sstanceonviolencebetweenMuslims:One
surawarnsbelieversnottokilleachotherkillingnonMuslimsorMuslimsseenas
hypocriteswouldapparentlybefinewhileanothercallsforaneyeforaneye
retaliation(noticetheprioritiesinlistingwomenafterslaves).

Itisunlawfulforabelievertokillanotherbelieverexceptbyaccident....He
thatkillsabelieverbydesignshallburninHellforever.
Sura4:92,93

Believers,retaliationisdecreedforyouinbloodshed:afreemanforafree
man,aslaveforaslave,andafemaleforafemale.
Sura2:178

AlcoholisstrictlyofflimitsforMuslims,yettheKorancontainsapassageaddressing
drunkprayinginasurprisinglymatteroffacttone,andelsewhereevengivesthe
impressionthatalcoholisgood.
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Believers,donotapproachyourprayerswhenyouaredrunk,butwaittill
youcangraspthemeaningofyourwords...
Sura4:43

We[Allah]givetoyouthefruitsofthepalmandofthevine,fromwhichyou
deriveintoxicantsandwholesomefood.Surelyinthisthereisasignfor
menofunderstanding.
Sura16:67

Thesetogetherwithmanyotherinconsistenciessuchascreationtakingbothsix
andeightdaystocomplete(seewww.answeringislam.org/Quran/Contraforfurther
examples)stronglysuggestthattheKoranwasputtogetherandeditedovertime,
andbydifferentpersonsaswell.Evenso,noorthodoxMuslimwouldeditorchangeit
inanyway,which,forthatmatter,isforbidden:

PerfectedarethewordsofyourLordintruthandjustice.Nonecanchange
them.
Sura6:115

ProclaimwhatisrevealedtoyouintheBookofyourLord.Nonemay
changeHiswords.
Sura18:26

DuringrestorationsoftheGreatMosqueatSana'ain1972,Koranictextsfromthe
seventhandeighthcentury(theYemenifragments)werefound,revealingearlier
versionsoftheKoran.Inplaces,thetextevenshowstracesofaprevioustextwhich
waserasedbeforethefinaltextwaswrittenoverit.Evidenceismountingthatthe
Koranwaswrittenandeditedovertime.Theprospectlooksveryinterestingindeed.
Inthemeantime,however,thereisaKoranwhichisbelievednow,andthatiswhat
wehavetodealwith.

SwordandFire

Wehavetokeephittingpeopleuntiltheysay,"ThereisnoGodbutAllah
andMohamedisHisprophet."
OsamaBinLaden

Historicallyspeaking,weareseeingtheIslamicequivalentoftheCrusades.Thenas
now,religiousfanaticssoughttooverthrowatechnologicallyandeconomicallymore
advancedcivilization.TheCrusadersfailed,theirattacksnomorethanpinpricksand
theironlylastingmarkabodyoflegend.ArabiadidnotbecomeChristianthen,and
theWestisnotgoingtoembraceIslamnow.

Thewordislammeanssurrender,inthespiritualaswellasinthemilitarysense.The
formeristhepreferredinterpretationforthosewhowouldreassureothersofthe
essentiallypeacefulnatureofIslam.YetevenacursoryreadingoftheKoranwill
makeitplainthatviolenceandmilitancy"victoryormartyrdom"(Sura9:52)are
partandparcelofthereligion.MostoftheKoranconsistsofsternadmonitionsand
browbeatingrepeatedatgreatlength,thethreatening,bullyingtonereminiscentofthe
extremeviolenceandkillingthatgoonintheMiddleEasteveryday.

Muslimstendtokeeptothemselves,uncomfortableastheyoftenarewithWestern
opennessandthinking.Yetevenifyougettoknowthembetter,therewillalwaysbe
thatreligiousbarrier.Tolerantandopenmindedastheymayconsiderthemselves,
MuslimswouldfindithardtoregardnonMuslimsastheirequalssince"idolatersare
unclean"(Sura9:18)andtheKoranhasexplicitwarningsagainstbefriendingnon
Muslims,whomitpersistentlydemonizesasignorant,stubborn,deceitfulinfidels.

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Believers,donotchoosetheinfidelsratherthanthefaithfulforyourfriends.
WouldyougiveAllahaclearproofagainstyourselves?
Sura4:145

Believers,takeneitherJewsnorChristiansforyourfriends[orchoose
themasyouralliesorprotectors].
Sura5:51

Asfortheunbelievers,whetheryouforewarnthemornot,theywillnot
havefaith.
Sura2:6

Inpreachingtotheunbelievers,theApostlemaybecomparedtoonewho
callsonbeaststhatcanhearnothingexceptashoutandacry.Deaf,dumb
andblind,theyunderstandnothing.
Sura2:170

TheMessiah,JesusthesonofMary,wasnomorethanAllah'sapostle
andHisWordswhichHeconveyedtoMary:aspiritfromHim.Sobelieve
inAllahandHisapostlesanddonotsay:"Three."[meaningtheHoly
Trinity]
Sura4:171

TheJewssayEzraisthesonofAllah,whiletheChristianssaythe
MessiahisthesonofAllah.Sucharetheirassertions,bywhichthey
imitatetheinfidelsofold.Allahconfoundthem!Howperversetheyare!
Theyworshiptheirrabbisandtheirmonks,andtheMessiahsonofMary,
asgodsbesidesAllahthoughtheywereorderedtoserveoneGodonly.
Sura9:3031

Doyouseethosethathavebefriendedapeople[theJews]withwhom
Allahisangry?...Theyknowinglysweartofalsehoods...Theyusetheir
faithasadisguiseanddebarothersfromthepathofAllah...Theyareliars
all.
Sura58:14,15,16,18

CommandmentssuchasthesedonotexactlyfavorintegrationofMuslimsintoother
cultures.Religionisnotdemocracy.Indeed,manycommunitiesintheMuslim
diasporacontainmilitantelementswhichnotonlyresistintegration,butseekto
IslamicizeWesterncountriesandturnthemintotheocraciesjustastheKoran
mandates.

TheKoran'sstanceagainstnonMuslimsalsosuggeststhatanygooddoneby
unbelievers,nomatterhowgreat,wouldbevoidedbytheirrefusalofIslam.Italso
makesiteasytoseenonMuslimsasenemiesbecausetheirsoranalliedgovernment
deployedtroopsorahumanitarianmissioninaMuslimcountry.Eitherwaytheywould
beenemies,though,sincetheKoranrequiresMuslimstogotowaragainstthe
infidelsparticularlyJewsandChristians,"theunbelieversamongstthePeopleofthe
Book"(Sura98:1).

Fightingisobligatoryforyou,muchasyoudislikeit.
Sura2:216

Theunbelieversareyourswornenemies...Seekoutyourenemies
relentlessly.
Sura4:101,104

Unbelieversarethosewhodeclare:"AllahistheMessiah,thesonofMary"
...ThosethatmakewaragainstAllahandHisapostleandspreaddisorder
inthelandshallbeputtodeathorcrucifiedorhavetheirhandsandfeetcut

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offonalternatesides,orbebanishedfromthecountry.
Sura5:17,33

MakewaronthemuntilidolatryisnomoreandAllah'sreligionreigns
supreme.
Sura8:39

...slaytheidolaterswhereveryoufindthem.Arrestthem,besiegethem,
andbeinambusheverywhereforthem.
Sura9:5

FightagainstsuchofthosetowhomtheScripturesweregivenasbelieve
inneitherAllahnortheLastDay,whodonotforbidwhatAllahandHis
apostlehaveforbiddenanddonotembracethetruefaithuntiltheypay
tributeoutofhandandareutterlysubdued.
Sura9:29

Whetherunarmedorwellequipped,marchonandfightforthecauseof
Allah,withyourwealthandyourpersons.
Sura9:41

Believers,makewarontheinfidelswhodwellaroundyou.
Sura9:123

Whenyoumeettheunbelieversinthebattlefield,strikeofftheirheadsand,
whenyouhavelaidthemlow,bindyourcaptivesfirmly.
Sura47:4

Believers!...HavefaithinAllahandHisapostleandfightforHiscausewith
yourwealthandyourpersons.
Sura61:10

AndNoahsaid:"Lord,donotleaveasingleunbelieverintheland.Ifyou
sparethem,theywillbegetnonebutsinnersandunbelievers...Forgiveall
thefaithful,menandwomen,andhastenthedestructionofthe
wrongdoers."
Sura71:26

Thestressonmilitancycanhardlybeoverlooked.Theterm"martyrdom"(automatic
passagetoheavenifonediesfightingtheinfidels)appearsrarelyIfoundtheword
onlyonce(Sura9:52)buttheKorandefinitelyadvancesthenotionitself.The
passagesinSura3:157158,3:169and9:111areusuallytakentosupportthebelief
thatmartyrsareguaranteedimmediateascensiontoparadise.

Thosethatfledtheirhomesorwereexpelledfromthem,andthosethat
sufferedpersecutionandfoughtanddiedforMycause,shallbeforgiven
theirsinsandadmittedtogardenswateredbyrunningstreams,asa
rewardfromAllah...
Sura3:195

Allahhaspurchasedofthefaithfultheirlivesandworldlygoodsandin
returnhaspromisedthemtheGarden.TheywillfightforHiscause,slay
andbeslain...Eachlosstheysufferattheenemy'shandsshallbe
countedasagooddeedinthesightofAllah...
Sura9:111,120

AsforthosethathavefledtheirhomesforthecauseofAllahand
afterwardsdiedorwereslain,Allahwillmakeagenerousprovisionfor
them.
Sura22:58

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InadditiontoincitingwaragainstnonMuslims,theKoranalsocondemnsinaction
andunwillingnesstofight,anddeathforapostasy(leavingthefaith).

Thebelieverswhostayathomeapartfromthosethatsufferfromagrave
impedimentarenotequaltothosewhofightforthecauseofAllahwith
theirgoodsandtheirpersons.
Sura4:95

Believers,whenyouencounterthearmiesoftheinfidels,donotturnyour
backstotheminflight.Ifanyoneonthatdayturnshisbackonthem,
exceptitbefortacticalreasons,ortojoinanotherband,heshallincurthe
wrathofAllahandHellshallbehishome:anevilfate.
Sura8:16

Theywouldhaveyoudisbelieveastheythemselveshavedone,sothat
youmaybeallalike.Donotbefriendthemuntiltheyhavefledtheirhomes
forthecauseofAllah.Iftheydesertyou,seizethemandputthemtodeath
whereveryoufindthem.
Sura4:89

ThesecondpassagereferstothetimewhenMohamedwenttowaragainstMecca
afterhewasrunoutofthecity,butitiseasilyreadasageneralstatement,allthe
moreinthecontextoftherestoftheKoran.Bycontrast,callsfortoleranceinamore
liveandletlivetonearefewandshort.

Thereshallbenocompulsioninreligion.
Sura2:256

Say:"Unbelievers,Idonotservewhatyouworship,nordoyouservewhat
Iworship.Ishallneverservewhatyouworship,norwillyoueverserve
whatIworship.Youhaveyourownreligion,andIhavemine."
Sura109(entiretext)

TheKorandoessay,"FightforthesakeofAllahthosethatfightagainstyou,butdo
notattackthemfirst"(Sura2:190).However,anattackmaybeperceivedwherenone
occurred,especiallybythosewhointendtorightwhattheyseeasanoldinjustice.

Muslimsarenotmuchbetteroff,either.Evensimplehumancompassionisatodds
withthesternteachingsofIslam.

...givesustenancetothepoorman,theorphanandthecaptive,saying:
"WefeedyouforAllah'ssakeonly..."
Sura76:7

...thegoodmanwhopurifieshimselfbyalmsgiving...andhethatdoes
goodworksforthesakeoftheMostHighonly...
Sura92:18,20

Themessageisclear:Thehumanbeingcountsfornothingandoneshouldnothave
compassionforothersoutofsheersympathy.Thepoorandorphansarebutmeans
forimprovingone'sstandingwithAllah.MuslimmediaarereadytopillorytheUSA
andotherWesterncountries,butseldomcondemncarnageinflictedbyMuslimson
otherMuslims.Similarly,ateverymajornaturalcatastropheitisthemuchmaligned
Westthathastostepinbecausehumanitarianreliefandassistancedonotseemto
beahighpriority,notevenwhenitcomestotheirownpeople.Indeed,areason
commonlygiveninWestAfricaforconvertingtoChristianityisthatMuslimsdon'thelp
eachother.Thisishardlysurprising.Loveofone'sfellowsisnotmentionedoncein
theKoran.Onthecontrary,itevencautionsMuslimsagainsttheirownwivesand
children.

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Knowthatyourchildrenandyourworldlygoodsarebutatemptation,and
thatAllah'srewardisgreat.
Sura8:28

Wealthandchildrenaretheornamentsofthislife.
Sura18:46

Believers,youhaveanenemyinyourwivesandchildren:bewareofthem
...Yourwealthandchildrenarebutatemptation.Allah'srewardisgreat.
Sura64:14,15

OnewondershowmanyMuslimsfeelweakandguiltybecauseofthenatural
affectiontheyhavefortheirmatesandlittleones.Lovemaybenippedinthebud.
Needlesstosay,girlsfareworsethanboyshere.Thisdehumanizingofthefamily
surelyhelpsexplainhowpeoplecantrainchildrenforsuicidemissionsandparade
toddlersindynamitebelts.ThesameattitudeprobablyalsoisinplaywhenMuslim
women,fromPalestinianstotheChechenblackwidows,volunteerforsuicide
missionstoavengetheirhusbandsorbrotherseventhoughtheymayhavesmall
childrenathomeandriskmakingthemorphansofbothparents.Speakingof
orphans,theattackontheschoolinBeslan,southernRussia,whereChechen
fightersheldhostageandkilledsmallchildren,infantsandevenpregnantwomen,
remindsoftheline,"Hethathatesyoushallremainchildless"(Sura108:3).

WineandWomen

InviewofthelavishdescriptionsofparadisefoundthroughouttheKoran(cf.Sura
4:57,18:32,22:23,44:51,52:23,55:46,56:15,76:5,76:17,78:33,83:20,88:9),it
wouldseemthatlifewillbespentinvirtueasameansofattainingthepleasuresof
theafterlifewine,womenandprettyboys.

...thereshallwaitonthemyoungboysoftheirownasfairasvirginpearls.
Sura52:24

Theyshallreclineonjewelledcouches...andthereshallwaitonthem
immortalyouthswithbowlsandewersandacupofpurestwine(thatwill
neitherpaintheirheadsnortakeawaytheirreason)...Andtheirsshallbe
darkeyedhouris,chasteashiddenpearls...
Sura56:15

Theyshallbeattendedbyboysgracedwitheternalyouth,whotothe
beholder'seyeswillseemlikesprinkledpearls.
Sura76:17

Reclininguponsoftcouches,theywillgazearoundthem...Theyshall
drinkofapurewine,securelysealed,whoseverydregsaremusk(forthis
letallmenemulouslystrive)awinetemperedwiththewatersofTasnim,a
springatwhichthefavoredwillrefreshthemselves.
Sura83:21

ThenotionofseventytwovirginsforeachmartyrhasnobasisintheKoran,which
doespromisevirginsforeveryrighteousMuslimman,butmentionsnospecific
number.

ItmaybepointedoutthatthewordhouriderivesfromtheArabichur,whichisthe
pluralformofcompanion,maleaswellasfemale(ahwarresp.hawra).Whilethis
allowsthepossibilityofbothfemaleandmalecompanionsawaitingMuslimmenin
paradise,itsurelydoesnotimplyanythingofthesortforwomen.Thepassage"To
darkeyedhourisWe[Allah]shallwedthem"(Sura52:21)oughttomakethisevident,
astheverynotionofawomanhavinganymalecompanionotherthanherhusband

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even(orespecially)inparadiseshouldbequiteinconceivabletothestrongly
patriarchalMuslimsandthisdefinitelyisaboutsex:Theword"wed"andthepassage
"bashfulvirginswhomneithermannorjinniwillhavetouchedbefore"(Sura55:56)
leavenoroomfordoubt.

Itiscurious,incidentally,thatdescriptionsofthejoysofparadiseneverincludeeven
suchsimpleintellectualactivitiesasgames,letalonediscussion,reading,writing,
inventingorresearch.Itseemsthatheavendoesnotprovideforthebasicneedsof
thoseendowedwithintelligenceandcuriosity.

Theretheyshallhearnoidletalk,nosinfulspeech,butonlythegreeting,
"Peace!Peace!"
Sura56:26

Prayer,worshipandenjoymentofthesimplepleasuresisallthatisexpectedofone.
Nothinking,please.Bycontrast,RabbinicallegendhasitthatintheJewishheaven
therearegreatshelvespackedwithbooksandifanew,deservingbookarrives,the
othersmovealittleclosertogethertomakeroomforit.Thisalsoshowsatenderness
offeelingwhichisutterlyabsentfromtheKoran.

Punchin'Judy

AlthoughtheKorancontainsscatteredreferencestowomenalsobeingabletoattain
paradise,itisclearlyaplaceformen.

TodarkeyedhourisWe[Allah]shallwedthem.
Sura52:21

Theyshalldwellwithbashfulvirginswhomneithermannorjinniwillhave
touchedbefore...Virginsasfairascoralsandrubies...Ineach[oftwo
heavenlygardens]thereshallbevirginschasteandfair...Darkeyed
virginsshelteredintheirtents...whomneithermannorjinniwillhave
touchedbefore.
Sura55:56,58,72,74

Theirsshallbegardensandvineyards,andhighbosomedmaidensfor
companions:atrulyoverflowingcup.
Sura78:33

OnewonderswherethisleavesthewifeorwivesaMuslimhadinlife.TheKoran
doessaythat"Togetherwiththeirwives,theyshallreclineinshadygrovesuponsoft
couches"(Sura36:56),butinviewofmanyother,moreextensivedescriptions,this
strikesasacursoryyoucantakeitwithyouremark.Womenandtheirfeelingsareof
noaccountsomuchsothatonMay14,2004,callingwomen"theleastprotected
memberoftheMuslimfamily,"theVaticantookanunusuallyforwardstepwhenit
warnedCatholicwomentothinkseriouslybeforemarryingaMuslimandurged
Muslimstoshowmorerespectforhumanrightsandgenderequality.Domestic
violenceisrifeinMuslimcountries,andallofitsanctionedbytheKoran.

MenhaveauthorityoverwomenbecauseAllahhasmadetheonesuperior
totheother...Goodwomenareobedient...Asforthosefromwhomyou
feardisobedience,admonishthemand...beatthem.
Sura4:34

ItisnowonderthatsomanyMuslimwomenwearadowncastexpression,broughtup
astheyarefromchildhoodontoconsiderthemselvesinferior.(Howcanonebe
superiorifbothareessential?)Notealsothatawomanneednotactuallydisobeyher
husbandforhimtobeather.Hisfearorsuspicionaregroundsenough.Asthesaying
goes,amanshouldbeathiswifeatleastonceeveryday:Ifhedoesn'tknowwhyhe

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should,shesurelywill.NeitherdoesitsayintheKoranthatamanshouldrespectthe
woman'swishesifshedoesnotfeellikehavingsex.Womenaretreatedasthings
anddonotneedtobeasked.Indeed,thefollowingpassagecouldbereadas
encouragingrape.

Womenareyourfields:Go,then,intoyourfieldsasyouplease.
Sura2:223

Theageforsexualconsentforgirlsundersharialaw,incidentally,isnineyears.
That'sright:nine.Infact,Mohamed'sfavoritewife,Aisha,alsowasninewhenhe
marriedher,andaYemenitribalproverbadvisesmenthattoguaranteeahappy
marriage,theyshouldmarryanineyearoldgirl(AliandMinoui,2010).TheKoran
doeswarnMuslimsto"restraintheircarnaldesires(exceptwiththeirwivesandslave
girls,forthesearelawfultothem...)"(Suras23:1,70:24),buttheemphasisisclearly
onnottrespassingonothermen'sproperty.Alsoalongtheselines,theKoran
containstheprovision,"Youshallnotforceyourslavegirlsintoprostitution...ifthey
wishtopreservetheirchastity"(Sura24:34).Rapeofaslavegirlbyherownerisnot
prostitution,ofcourse.Italsoappearsthatmarriagesofslavesneednotbehonored,
noteventhoseofMuslimslaves.

Youarealsoforbiddentotakeinmarriagemarriedwomenexceptcaptives
whomyouownasslaves.
Sura4:24

SincenonMuslimsareconsideredpagansandidolaters,IranandotherMuslim
countriesenforceabanonmarryingoutsideofthefaith.ThisisstatedintheKoran,
whichalsourgesMuslimstobreakanexistingmarriagetoanonMuslim.

Youshallnotwedpaganwomenunlesstheyembracethefaith.Abelieving
slavegirlisbetterthananidolatress,althoughshemaypleaseyou.Nor
shallyouwedidolaters,unlesstheyembracethefaith.Abelievingslaveis
betterthananidolater,althoughhemaypleaseyou.Thesecallyouto
hellfire...
Sura2:221

Donotholdontoyourmarriageswithunbelievingwomen:Demandthe
dowriesyouhavegiventhemandlettheinfidelsdothesame.
Sura60:10

ManyMuslimsocietiesalsorequirewomentocovertheirhair,ifnotagreatdeal
more.IntheWest,thecontroversialheadscarfhasbecomeareligioussymbol,yet
thisisnotsupportedbytheKoran,whichleavesveilinguptolocalcustomor
eventuallyindividualinterpretation(bothofwhichcanchangeovertime).

Enjoinbelievingwomento...covertheiradornments(exceptsuchasare
normallydisplayed)todrawtheirveilsovertheirbosomsandnottoreveal
theirfineryexcepttotheirhusbands,theirfathers,theirhusbands'fathers,
theirsons,theirstepsons,theirbrothers,theirbrothers'sons,theirsisters'
sons,theirwomenservants,andtheirslavegirlsmaleattendantslacking
innaturalvigor[eunuchs]andchildrenwhohavenocarnalknowledgeof
women.
Sura24:31

Whateverthelocalcustommaybe,thereisnoexplicitmentionintheKoranofeither
theheadscarfortheheadtotoeburqa.Itdoesnotevenmandatewomentocover
theirhair.Theonlypartofthefemaleanatomythatisexpresslymentionedisthe
bosoms,i.e.,breasts.Othertranslationsuseadifferentterm"letthemweartheir
headcoveringsovertheirbosoms"butthisisnomoreindicativeofaheadscarfor
fulldress,nordotheseversionsmentionhair.Ifanything,thediscrepancieswould
suggestthattheoriginalArabictextisnotveryclearonthispoint.
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Regardingadultery(i.e.,heterosexualextramaritalintercourse),thestandard
punishmentisahundredlashesinpublicforbothmenandwomen,yethomosexual
extramaritaldiversionmaygounpunished.

Theadultererandtheadulteressshalleachbegivenahundredlashes...
andlettheirpunishmentbewitnessedbyanumberofbelievers.
Sura24:2

Iftwomenamongstyoucommitindecency,punishthemboth.Ifthey
repentandmendtheirways,letthembe.
Sura4:16

Whileitmandatespublicflogging,theKorandoesnotmandatestoningtodeath,not
foradulterynorforanyotheroffense.(Itdoes,though,mandatecuttingoffhandsfor
stealing:Asforthemanorwomanwhoisguiltyoftheft,cutofftheirhandstopunish
themfortheircrimes.Sura5:38)

Asforbearingwitnessinlegalmatters,thewordofamanalwaysoutweighsthatofa
woman.

Callintwomalewitnessesfromamongyou,butiftwocannotbefound,
thenonemanandtwowomenwhomyoujudgefittoactaswitnessesso
thatifeitherofthemcommitanerror,theotherwillremember.
Sura2:282

Clearly,thewordofamanweighsasmuchasthatoftwowomen.Theprovision"that
ifeitherofthemcommitanerror,theotherwillremember"obviouslyappliesonlyto
femalewitnesses,onceagainrevealingthedeepseatedgenderbiasoftheimplicit
assumptionthatwomenarelessreliableandtrustworthythanmen.

Movingontochildnutritionforamoment,itisinterestingthattheKoranleavesitup
tothemanifandforhowlongbreastfeedingofaninfantshouldbecontinued.

Mothersshallgivesucktotheirchildrenfortwowholeyearsifthefather
wishesthesuckingtobecompleted.
Sura2:233

Notethatinterruptingbreastfeedingearlywithoutpropersubstitutioncanamountto
killingthechildbystarvation.Thiscommandmenttiesinwithandeffectively
sanctionsthepracticeofbabygirlinfanticidethatwasrifeinancientArabia.

Notsurprisingly,IslamlacksstrongfemalefiguresandrolemodelsliketheVirgin
MaryandthemanyfemalesaintsandheroinesofChristianity.Instead,theKoran
containsanadmonitionagainstworshippinggoddesses.

Thepaganspraytofemales:TheypraytoarebelliousSatan.
Sura4:117

AlthoughthispassagereferstopreIslamicfemaledeitiessuchasalLat,alUzzah
andalManat(Sun,Venusresp.Fortune,regardedasthedaughtersofAllah,the
supremeSemiticgodinpreIslamicArabia),itiseasilygeneralizedtoapplytoother
religions(e.g.,Christianity,Hinduism)aswellasanythingtouchingonfeminism,
women'srightsorgenderequality,whichconservativeMuslimscategoricallyrejectas
antiIslamic.

TheCompassionate,theMerciful

AllbutoneoftheKoran's114Surasbeginwiththephrase,"InthenameofAllah,the
Compassionate,theMerciful."(TheexceptionisSura9,whichtraditional

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commentatorsregardasacontinuationofSura8.)Thequoteappearswithinmany
Surasaswell,togetherwithotherquotesalongsimilarlinese.g.,"Heiswiseandall
knowingHeistheMighty,theForgivingOne"etc.Yetonecannothelpbutwonder
whatissocompassionate,somercifulandsoforgivingaboutagodthatdecideswho
willbelieveandwhowillnot,andthenpunishesthosewhomHechoosestomake
unbelievers.

YoucannothelpamanifAllahseekstomisleadhim.Thosewhosehearts
Hedoesnotpleasetopurifyshallberewardedwithdisgraceinthisworld
andagrievouspunishmentinthenext.
Sura5:41

HadyourLordpleased,allthepeopleoftheearthwouldhavebelievedin
Him.Wouldyouthenforcefaithuponmen?Nonecanhavefaithexceptby
thewillofAllah.
Sura10:99

AllahwillnotguidethosewhomHemisleads.Thereshallbenonetohelp
them...He[Allah]leavesinerrorwhomHewillandgivesguidanceto
whomHepleases.Youshallbequestionedaboutallyouractions.
Sura16:38,93

WhenyourecitetheKoran,We[Allah]placebetweenyouandthosewho
denythelifetocomeahiddenbarrier.We[Allah]castaveilupontheir
heartsandmakethemhardofhearing,lesttheyunderstandit.
Sura17:45

...whocanguidethosewhomAllahhasledastray?Thereshallbenoneto
helpthem.
Sura30:30

AllahmisleadswhomHewillandguideswhomHepleases.
Sura74:31

Hellwilllieinambush,ahomeforthetransgressors.Theretheyshallabide
longagestheretheyshalltasteneitherrefreshmentnoranydrink,save
boilingwateranddecayingfilth:afittingrecompense.
Sura78:2126

Onthatdaythereshallbedowncastfaces,ofmenbrokenandwornout,
drinkingfromaseethingfountain.Theironlyfoodshallbebitterthorns,
whichwillneithersustainthemnorsatisfytheirhunger.
Sura88:27

Allactionsbeingthuspredetermined,makingconvertsisnotevenatokenexercisein
showingone'sallegiance.Likewise,allwarningsforunbelieverstotakeheedare
formalitiesandanychargesofpoorjudgementleveledatunbelieverswouldlaythe
blameuponAllah'sdoorsinceitwasHewhodictatedtheirunbelief.Yeteventhis
contradictionisusedasanargumenttocowthebeliever.

ItisHewhohasrevealedtoyoutheKoran.Someofitsversesareprecise
inmeaningtheyarethefoundationsoftheBookandothersare
ambiguous.Thosewhoseheartsareinfectedwithdisbeliefwillfollowthe
ambiguouspart,soastocreatedissensionbyseekingtoexplainit.Butno
oneknowsitsmeaningexceptAllah.Thosewhoarewellgroundedin
knowledgesay:"Webelieveinit:ItisallfromourLord."Butonlythewise
takeheed.Lord,donotcauseourheartstogoastrayafterYouhave
guidedus.[emphasismine]
Sura3:69

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Afterreadingtheabovepassages,andtheyarebyfarnottheonlyones,onemust
concludethatAllahisacruelgodwhotoyswithbelieversandunbelieversalike.Such
arbitrarinessisnotgoodbyanystandardandifwenowgoontosaythatgoodand
evilasweseethemdonotapplytoAllah,thengoodandevilloseallmeaning.

EvenintheKoran,theimplicitpremiseisthatpeoplehavefreewilltochoosefor
themselves.Ifouractionsarepredestined,thenwhateveronedoeswouldhave
happenedanywayandthereisnopointinstriving.Obviously,areligionwhichopenly
proposedacrueldeityandpredeterminationofbeliefandunbeliefwouldstrikeas
pointlessandnotattractmanyfollowers.Yetthisisthemessagethatstandsoutfrom
thepassagesaboveaswellasmanyothersintheKoran.

LookingBack

Bewareofnewthings,foreverynewthingisaninnovationandevery
innovationamistake.
SayingsoftheProphet

Muslimcountriesare"thepoorest,themostilliterateandthemostbackwards"onthe
planet,asEgyptianpresidentHosniMubarakpointedoutduringanaddresstothe
ArabLeaguefollowingtheterroristairstrikesatNewYorkandWashingtonon
September11,2001.ThecauseforthestateinwhichmostMuslimcountriesfind
themselvesliesnotsomuchintheirhavingbeenWesterncolonies,asisoften
claimed,butinthestiflingreligiositywherebyaclericalestablishmentenamoredwith
thepastresistschangeandisolatesthemfromtherestoftheworld.

TheexampleoftheocracyintheextremewasprovidedbytheformerTalibanrulersof
Afghanistan,whodespisedlearningandthearts,opposedinnovationandidealized
the10thcenturyreligioushermitlife.JustasthesayingattributedtoMohamedreally
concernsmattersofworshipbutcanbeextendedtoeveryaspectoflife,theTaliban
enforcedtheKorantotheletter.Evenfailuretoconstantlyutterthestandard
reservationinshallah[soGodwilling]wasconsideredatransgression.(Donotsayof
anything,"Iwilldoittomorrow,"withoutadding:"IfAllahwills."Sura18:23)

Thelessonintheirshortperiodofmisrulewassimpleandclear:Placingexcessive
emphasisonreligionisdetrimentaltotheeconomy,theinfrastructure,andsociety
itself.WiththestandardkneejerkreactionofbrandingnonIslamicideasaseviland
corrupting,byrefusingtoentertainanydeeperdiscussiononsensitivesubjectsand
theirreadinesstoquietcriticismbyviolence,Muslimsisolatethemselvesandlook
backratherthanforward.

ShehuUsmanDanFodo,a19thcenturyIslamicscholarfromnorthernNigeria,said:
"Akingdomcanendurewithunbelief,butitcannotendurewithinjustice."Aculture
whichdiscriminateshalfofitsfollowers(women)andessentiallydehumanizesthe
restoftheworldMuslimsaretheonlyrealhumanbeingscanonlylastinisolation,
withoutcomparisontoothercultures.However,isolationisbecomingincreasinglyrare
intheInformationAge.

ThereareclearparallelstothehistoryofEurope,whichdidnotmakeheadwayuntilit
secularizeditself.TherealsoareparallelsbetweentheconflictoftheIslamicworld
withtheWest(particularlytheUSA)andthatoftheCelticworldwithRome.Rome
conqueredfirstGaulandthentherestoftheCelticworldtoputastoptotherepeated
Gaulishincursions.TheconquestwasmadefinalwhenRomebrokethebackofthe
Celticworldbykillingthedruids.Withoutthemtoholdittogetherculturally,theCeltic
worldbrokeupanditsfragmentsdriftedapart.Asimilarculturaldisintegrationhas
beenunderwayintheIslamicworldforcenturies.Thefirstcracksappearedwhenthe
religionwasexportedfromArabia,theschismbetweenSunniandShiahMuslims
droveadeepwedgeintotheumma(thecommunityofbelievers),anddifferences

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continuedtomountasIslamspreadasfarasIndonesiaandTanzania.Gradually,the
Islamicworldstagnatedandfellbehindscientificallyandmilitarily,allofwhich
contributedtogivingitanidentity.Today,theonlyidentitywhichIslamiccultureshave
leftisreligion.Theradicalizationweareseeingnowissymptomaticofaculturetrying
tostemthetideofchangeandpreventtheinevitablelongtermemasculationof
Muslimsocietiesaspatriarchyeverywherecomestoanend,andsocietiesarebased
lessonauthorityandmoreonknowledge.

References

Ali,Nujood,andDelphineMinoui.2010.IamNujood,Age10andDivorced.RandomHouse,NewYork:
54,74[188pp.].

AssociatedPress.September10,2003.www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=1438050

Dawood,N.J.1974.TheKoran,4threv.Ed.PenguinBooks,London:447pp.

Hitchens,ChristopherEric.2007.GodisnotGreat.HowReligionPoisonsEverything.AtlanticBooks,
London:307pp.

Hourani,Albert.1991.AHistoryoftheArabPeoples.BelknapHarvard,Cambridge,Massachusetts:551
pp.

Lester,T.1999."WhatistheKoran?"TheAtlanticMonthly,283(1):4356.

Manji,Irshad.2003.TheTroublewithIslam:AMuslim'sCallforReforminherFaith.St.Martin'sPress,
NewYork:229pp.

www.answeringislam.org/Quran/Contra(inconsistenciesintheKoran)

http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_551_600/can_sharia.htm(sharialaw)

www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran(theKoranonline)

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