n e w c h u r c h l i f e : m ay / j u n e 2 0 1 6
• “You shall not murder.” He gives an inconclusive statement from the
Quran, which also says, “It is unlawful for a believer to kill another
believer.” (4:92) The Quran also says much about fighting and killing,
some of which is in fact murder.
• “You shall not commit adultery.” He quotes the Quran as saying, “do
not even go near to adultery.” (17:32) Four wives and an unlimited
number of slaves/concubines is not adultery in Islam. Captured women
automatically become slaves whom it is OK to rape. (4:24)
• “You shall not covet.” (4:32) The Quran says, “Do not covet the favors
by which God has exalted some among you above others.” This has no
resemblance to the Old Testament Commandment.
Perhaps some of our differences stem from the Quran not being consistent.
The Quran has Allah saying, “If we abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten,
we will replace it by a better one or one similar.” (2:106) Of course He can, but
why wouldn’t Allah get it right the first time? In any case, if a verse has been
abrogated, we are not told what the new verse is or what verse it replaces. This,
in a sense, brings the whole Quran into question.
If I may add some thoughts about Islam, which we do not get from
news sources: The Taliban, Al Qaeda, ISIS, etc., the so-called “radical” and
“extremist” groups, are really pretty close to being good Muslims – much more
so than the so-called “moderates.”
“The believers who stay at home . . . are not the equals of those who fight
for the cause of (Allah) . . . [who] has exalted the men who fight . . . above
those who stay at home.” (4:95)
Islam is a “peaceful religion,” according to the Pope, President Obama and
David Cameron of England. It obviously is not, hasn’t been, didn’t start that
way, and isn’t supposed to be.
William L. Weaver
Largo, Florida
P.S. Re Ben Pendleton’s letter in the March-April issue, “Jesus, Islam’s
Greatest Prophet”:
“The assumption appears to have been that the word ‘distinction’ [in
Quran 2:136] is referring to distinction in the rank among the prophets.
This is not correct.” Mr. Pendleton says a translation uses “division.” I have
five translations that say “distinction” and one that says “difference,” but it all
amounts to the same.
More fuel to the fire: Does the Quran say Jesus went to hell? “Certainly!
You (disbelievers) and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah are
(but) fuel for hell! (Surely) you will enter it.” (Quran 21:98)
220