Lesson 14 , More Introductory Matters, and Sura 1
Note: From this point on, all quotations from the Koran are taken from The Generous Qur'an, copyright 2009, used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.
So we enter in.
Here in my hand is a Koran. Well, not really. It is very like a Koran, but in Arabic thinking, it's not a real Koran if it's not in Arabic. This is the closest I could come up with, since I don't speak that language. An English translation.
Now there are quite a few English translations out there. But I doubt if there are others translated by evangelical believers in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, this is what I hold before you. Please understand that I am in no way selling Korans nor representing the ministry of this translator. Nevertheless, I would be amiss not to tell you a little of how I was made aware of this particular Koran.
I am on the mailing list, somehow, of Worldview Weekends, an organization that has mini-conferences that deal with issues affecting the Western Church and the conservative worldview of politics, too. It's a very patriotic Bible-believing bunch of folks.
I had just decided that it would be profitable for me to research and write about and publish a description of the innards of the Koran. So I began praying about and thinking about, where shall I begin here? I did some preliminary research online, and was debating between 2-3 different Korans, and then my email came. There was to be a Worldview Weekend in Rockford, Illinois, and here were the speakers.
My eye gravitated to the name Usama Dakdok. The notice said that he was Egyptian-born, and a born-again Christian who was visiting the American churches, warning them of the dangers of Islam, and showing them what the Koran actually said.
I investigated him more and found that he also had, with much assistance of course, translated the entire Koran into an English that was not politically correct. Those kinds of translations are my favorite. I hate compromise. I wanted to read the Koran as it was meant to be read, not as some had doctored its pages with cover-ups to hide the real meaning.
I ordered his Koran, and here it is. And so, all quotations from the Koran in my work will be taken from The Generous Qur'an, copyright 2009, used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC.
I guess we should start with the title, shouldn't we? There is no such book as "The Holy Koran." Those who suggested the same were trying to elevate the Koran in Western eyes to the level of the Holy Bible. Our brother had to start his corrections of western Korans right there. The word is generous, not holy. I'll leave it at that for now.
More information about Brother Dakdok in a minute. Some, though not all, of the ideas I'm about to share now are from him, though.
Let me give you an idea of how long we will be in this study. Instant scholars may not apply. It's true that this book is only 80% of the size of your New Testament, but recall that your New Testament is written in very small letters. This Koran, in normal size print, is 360 pages. I shall not be reading every single word on every page and giving you a commentary on it. But expect to spend a considerable amount of time. Be patient.
Now, a couple reasons why it won't be necessary or possible to give you a word by word explanation.
First, up to 20% of the Koran is undecipherable even by Muslim scholars. They simply don't know what it means. Lots of unnecessary guesswork would only waste our time.
And second, there is much repetition in the Koran. I will do my best not to repeat.
Thirdly, I am seeking mainly to find those things that are clearly different from the Christian faith, and there are a lot of them!
I will tell you up front that there is much in the Koran that is similar to our beliefs, even exactly like them. That is because much was copied directly from the Christian and Jewish Scriptures that were easily available to the people of Muhammad's day. Even if one did not possess a scroll, the story of Christianity and Judaism was a tale oft told. The differences were either mistakes or deliberate perversions. Some of both, we believe.
I shared with you earlier that the Koran is ordered by the size of its chapters, not by chronology or time considerations. The suras are totally jumbled, and scholars through the years have had to ascertain which sura came out of Muhammad's days in Mecca, when he was just beginning, and which from his Medina years, when he was a fugitive and under pressure from many enemies. The findings of these scholars have been handily reduced to a chart in this Koran, sura by sura. Next to the sura number is the city where he was supposed to have been when it came forth.
This time consideration will become vitally important as we come to understand the doctrine of abrogation. This word has to do with the idea that Allah ia allowed to repeal older suras and institute newer ones that may be in complete contradiction of the original! Yes, he really said that. I'll show you later. So we definitely need to know whether Muhammad was in Mecca or Medina when a particular sura was spoken.
Speaking of the word "sura", you'll notice here that our brother does not use that word that commonly references a "chapter" but rather the actual Arabic translation of sura, namely, "a portion". In this case, a portion of a revelation. One in a long series of portions, which added up equals the full revelation. That's the theory. We will see just how full it really is.
Notice also that there is a title given to each sura, or portion. Sura 1 is "the opening," suitably enough, and besides being the opening, it also is the chapter that breaks the rule of size order in the Koran. This one is among the shortest. Just a few lines. But Sura 2 is 28 pages long!
Anyway, we won't be finished any time soon. Let's take our time and see for real what this book says. Thanks in advance to Usama and his Koran which not only gives an accurate literal non-politicized translation, but also some commentary and helps along the way. You may want one of your own. I can tell you for sure that you'll not find another Koran with an invitation to salvation through Jesus Christ in it!
Usama's ministry headquarters is in Venice, Florida, where those infamous Islamic pilots were trained to fly planes into the Twin Towers on 911. He says they are still training Islamic pilots there, by the way. Contact him at usama@thestraightway.org
Now let's see why he calls his ministry the straight way of grace... The reference is to portion 1, the opening. This little chapter is in the form of a prayer. Here's a prayer I would not mind praying too, although not to Allah. "Guide us to the straight way." The word "way", by the way, is not from an Arabic word. No, this word comes from Greek/Aramaic. It is one of hundreds of words in the Koran that are not originally Arabic! This comes as a shock to many Muslims, who thought their book was in the holy language only.
It is no shock to us that there is no holy language, I hope. Neither Hebrew or Greek or Aramaic or even English qualifies. God speaks to us through Jesus, and we hear Him quite well in that language. Jesus says that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The "way" that is the answer to every longing Muslim heart.
We can't get out of the first chapter without hearing a shot aimed at all non-Muslims. This "way", says the author, is the way of a certain graced group of people, and excludes those with whom Allah is angry, and those that are just plain lost! Usama and others conclude that these two groups are probably the Jews and the Christians. We will see other references to both groups throughout the book, confirming that whoever wrote this book wasn't too keen on the religions that were currently in the world. This book is a call to them to reform and reconstitute. Of course, that reorganization is to be under the prophet of Mecca and Medina.
Next time, Sura 2.
Lesson 15, The Cow.
Sura 2:1-61
This sura is called "the cow." You will soon see why.
2:4. Another important word of non-Arabic origin shows up in 2:4. "Katab" simply means book. And in that verse, the author seems to be saying that he gives his approval to the book that is in existence at that time, the Hebrew and Christian Bible. "...there is no doubt in it... [it has] been sent down to you..." So the Scriptures available in 600 A.D. are given approval here. The whole idea that they were somehow corrupted is set aside by the Koran itself. We'll see other verses later on this subject. By the way, this sura is from Medina. It is a later message, and can be considered current.
2:5 ff. The verses that follow seem to be an introduction to the Islamic version of Calvinism, or more likely, Augustinian thought. Apostates, it says, are never going to believe, so there is no use to deal with them. They are going to be tormented, and Allah "scoffs at them and keeps them long in their rebellion blindly."
Yes, we know of the warnings of Scripture about falling away from the Lord, too. Yet the Bible paints the picture of a God who is deeply hurt by all of this rejection, and wants all men to be saved. We have a weeping Saviour, not a scoffing one. Though apostasy is an awful thing, believers are told to restore, not condemn, whenever possible. Fallen-away Muslims are written off forever.
2:23 calls for unquestioning acceptance of Muhammad, and if not, punishment at the hands of other Muslims. "If you were in doubt [about what you are hearing]... call your witnesses... if you do not do it, fear the fire whose fuel is people..."
Does Jesus Christ call for such allegiance? Indeed He does. But has God ordained that believers are to mete out God's vengeance on the disobedient? Indeed He has not. This is the error into which Romanism sank deeply. Perhaps it was the knowledge of this brutal tactic rising in Rome that gave birth to the idea that religion must be advanced by the sword.
2:25, on the other hand, begins to spell out the reward for the faithful Muslim. Gardens with flowing rivers (sounds like Eden). Virgins that are ever-virgins (sounds like an add-on). Seven heavens.
2:30-39 is the first mention of Adam. Yes, the Bible's Adam. No, not the Bible's Adam. Here is a pattern that will continue throughout the book. A familiar name with a different twist. "Adam", by the way, is one of those many non-Arabic words I mentioned last time. Even "sura" or portion, which we are rendering "chapter" for our purposes, is not Arabic.
These Bible-like stories seem to be planted in the book so that Christians will read and be drawn to Islam, but also so that they will think that there is more revelation than before. The church world we live in today seems especially willing to gravitate to some new word. Beware! Islam has a lot of "new words" , and the deal is, they all came under the supervision of an angel.
So Allah decides to place a ruler on the planet. He is challenged by angels, who can see bad things coming. Allah assures them it is the right thing to do. Not long after Adam's appearance here, the angels are commanded to worship him. Oh my. We know from Matthew 4:10 and many other places, that only the Lord God is to be worshiped. In this strange tale, there is only one person who seems to understand that. The devil refuses to worship the man! He becomes proud "and was among the infidels."
Adam and his wife (who suddenly appears in the story) are assigned to the garden, and are assaulted by Satan, as in the Biblical account. It is not clear here whether the devil and Satan are the same person.
The section then closes with another warning to infidels: Those who "considered our [verses] to be lies, those are companions of the fire, they will abide in it forever." The author continues to impress upon his hearers that they have no choice but to follow Muhammad. Pretty strong motivation to be a Muslim, to "submit."
2:40ff records a message to the Jews. Allah tells them to fulfill God's covenant, as God intends to do the same. "And believe in what I have sent down, confirming what is with you." He seems to say here that his revelations to Muhammad confirm the Hebrew Bible. Yet another clue from the Koran that the Scriptures are intact as late as 610 A.D.
He then goes on to speak as though he were Jehovah of the Old Testament. We are supposed to believe that throughout, by the way. Remember that Islam does not purport to be a new religion, but a final reformation of the old one.
He recites Jewish history from the days of their deliverance from Pharaoh through the time of the worshiping of the calf in the wilderness to the time of the receiving of the law. And then, after the author has shown he knows the Bible fairly well, he adds his extra revelation. See if you can catch it.
"...you said, 'O Moses, we will not believe you until we see Allah openly,' ."
Is that how it happened? Seems to me that the Israelites not only did not want to see God there in the wilderness, but that they did not even want to hear His voice. They had gotten just close enough, thank you. But in Muhammad's account, Allah rewarded their aggression with a thunderbolt from the heavens.
So the author has done it again. He has added to the Scriptures his own ideas for his own reasons. Sometimes though, it seems he just plain got confused and made mistakes as he poured out his story to the many listening ears that gathered. As in this next section:
Remember the Biblical account of Moses striking a rock, and water coming out? Well, actually, the first time he brought forth water it was merely by his word. The second time he was in disobedience. And there was this other time when water was needed, and the Israelites just showed up where there were twelve springs of water. You Bible scholars have surely got all that sorted out by now. Three separate events.
Muhammad combined them all into one story:
2:60, "And when Moses gave drink for his people, so we said, 'Strike the rock with your rod,' so gushed from it twelve springs..."
In the following verses the author brings Israel's story quickly to more humiliating events, suggesting that they went back to Egypt, killed prophets, became disobedient, were transgressors, and of course, infidels. Well, so much for the covenant. So much for the weeping prophets of Israel, the tender heart of the Lord. This Allah, so far, seems to be pretty severe, don't you think? He is called merciful, but his mercy does not reach out and warm your heart like the true God of Israel. Maybe the fact that our God is a Father makes the difference.
Well, I told you chapter 2 is a long one. It's the longest in the Koran. We're going to stop here and continue the second sura next time.
Lesson 16, The Story of the Young Yellow Cow
The Cow, part 2. Sura 2:62-115
Both sura 2 and sura 3 come out of Medina. Therefore if there is contradiction within those pages, it is a little more difficult to decide which one was spoken first. Is abrogation taking place, the setting aside of the old and replacing with the new? Or is there just some forgetfulness creeping into the narrative? I mean, all these thoughts coming through Muhammad's mind, one can only imagine that sometimes he forgot what he had said before.
At any rate, 2:62 lets us know that not only Muslims, but all Jews and Christians (called Nasara for some not -totally- known reason) and even idol-worshiping "Sabians" , as long as they believe in Allah and do "a good deed", have nothing to fear. This of course is because Allah is so merciful.
It is not clear whether that mercy extends to a certain group of monkeys. What? Yes, the Koran goes on in verse 65 to remind the Jews that because they had broken the Sabbath they were turned into, you read it right, monkeys.
When Allah is "nice" in the Koran, he is nicer than our God, just as His hardness is a bit overplayed too. Nowhere is an unrepentant idol-worshiper a candidate for salvation with a Holy God. Never, ultimately, is the doing of good deeds enough for salvation. And as for monkeys, oh well. The Koran pushes us to the limits of credibility and then pushes us over the edge altogether.
The entire "mercy" discussion seems to be abrogated in later suras by harsh condemnation of all. We'll revisit the topic as it comes up.
We have said that there is a reason for this sura being named "the cow." That reason is found in verses 67 and following. This story seems to be mainly from the imagination of the author, and is more of a parable, a means by which Allah can say some very harsh words to his people.
Moses instructs the people to sacrifice a young unblemished yellow cow. After some argument with Moses, they finally comply. Allah compares this to the killing of a soul, and the arguments regarding that. He suggests that such killings and such arguments reveal what is hidden in the heart. And the Jewish heart has become very hard. Their hardness is displayed by the fact that they hardly know their own book. They know not what they hide and what they reveal. In fact they are changing the book as they write.
Curses are placed on them for this activity. The author then relates selected portions of the Commandments and precepts of Moses, all of which Israel has broken. This is a very convoluted lecture, but it ends up with the familiar vindictives, "on the day of the resurrection, they will return to the most severe of torments...the torment will not be reduced for them, and neither will they be made victorious."
But in the Word given by the true God, yes, filled with promises of judgment, is a side-by-side promise of restoration. A New Covenant. A final dwelling place with God in the center of it all. A repentant Israel that will be saved. It's not all gloom and doom after all, in the Bible.
So far in the Koran, no hope. But we have much more to cover. Maybe things will change?
2:87. After Moses comes Jesus. Well, in the Koran anyway. He is called Isa, son of Mary. Jesus is supported by the Holy Spirit. Other messengers were "sent", Jesus was "given." I like that.
"And we gave Isa, son of Mary, the proofs and supported him by the Holy Spirit." In this passage Jesus, as prophet, is defended along with all the other prophets, as victims of Jewish rejection. Well, no one can deny that the Jews rejected Jesus and all others sent to them. But the case for vengeance against Israel is way over-blown in this book, as you will see. The current diatribe lasts 18 verses.
In the midst of this sermon, Allah talks of the "clear verses" of the Koran, vs the now corrupted texts of the Hebrews described in the last section. It is more and more evident that the "cow" section of this very long chapter is the centerpiece of all. The inferiority of the present Torah and the sublime superiority of the Koran must be established.
Muhammad makes the case that a hard-hearted people could not possibly have passed on a true account of their story. Yet read the Torah and you will discover that impossible laws are still in place. Endless details are outlined. And the account of how Jews broke that law time and again is also reported. If Muhammad's theory were true, you would see no dirty laundry displayed in God's Book. He must have anticipated that men would challenge His authors.
Well, Muhammad, challenge met. Next topic, please.
Perhaps the most fascinating and telling words of all the Koran are in 2:106. "Whatever verse we abrogate, or cause it to be forgotten, we bring a better verse than it or like it." What?! In nearly bullying tones he goes on to say that he has the right to do anything he wants. He can change his mind whenever, and who are you to challenge him!
The English word abrogate is defined by Webster: "To abolish by authoritative action," and "to treat as nonexistent." One can hear a Muslim arguing the point: But did not God abrogate the law of Moses in favor of the law of Jesus?
No. Jesus was always viewed as the Saviour, from the foundation of the world. The rules and regulations kept by Jews for so long never saved them, nor could they have. Their blood sacrifices only pointed to the one Sacrifice that could make a difference. The Law of Moses only taught them that they needed deliverance. And that deliverance they found in Christ. Now the first covenant has been totally swallowed up by the second. But they are two phases of the same plan.
In the Koran, the Muslim god says he can abolish whatever he wants whenever he wants, that he can treat former words as though he had never said them. Does not seem like the Divine character to me. Sounds more like Muhammad, many years after the Mecca experience with all its tame revelations, needing to change his tone, and using "Allah" to speak for him: Look, guys, I may say stuff now that I didn't say before. Deal with it. Things have changed.
Verse 109 is telling also: "Many of the people of the book [Jews, Christians] desire to turn you back to infidelity after you have believed..." Indeed they do! And so do we to this day. Let us turn the Muslim back to infidelity to a man, and fidelity to the Lord God Almighty, also known as Jesus Christ in the "Book." And what should the proper Muslim response be? Christians and Jews are only doing this out of envy, "So pardon and forgive them..."
Sounds merciful. Oh, I did not finish the verse...
"So pardon and forgive them until Allah will come in with his command." Stand by. Orders will be given soon as to what our true response will be.
This thread we will also trace throughout the Koran.
Finally in this lesson, the straw man. This is an old trick. Tear down a statement that God never made. Verse 111 reads, "And they [Jews and Christians] said, 'None will enter the garden except who was Jew or Nasara [from Nazarene? Refers to Christians.] ' "
I have read no such thing. God's grace extends to Jews and every other nation. All who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. None will enter the garden except those redeemed by the blood. That's what this Nasara says, and probably you too.
When "Allah" asks for proof of his false statement and of course no proof is forthcoming, he has a "Gotcha" moment, and begins once more to condemn and judge. "They will have shame in this world, and they will have in the hereafter a great torment."
More revelations next time as chapter two continues.
Lesson 17, Abraham the Muslim
Sura 2, "the cow", verses 116-153.
Though not in its clearest form yet, in 2:116 the Koran begins its teaching that Jesus is not the Son of God. "And they say, Allah has taken a son. Praise be to him."
"They" can only refer to the Christians. And their belief does not seem to concur with the belief of the writer. He complains in this paragraph that both Jews and Christians will not be happy until we follow their religion. And of course he adds that Allah forbids same. He calls "losers" those who are unfaithful to Muhammad's recitations.
Next comes the Koranic version of the story of Abraham (2:124ff), a man central to Islamic hopes. If his story is the Biblical one, Islam falls.
"Ibrahim" comes right to the point in this narrative, when told he will be an "imam", or spiritual leader. He asks, "And who is my offspring?" Allah immediately points to his covenant with Ishmael. Then the author has Abraham praying that God will raise up a Muslim nation, and that a messenger will be raised up who will recite Allah's verses. Hence, Islam is an Abrahamic religion, and Muhammad is nothing short of an answer to Abraham's prayers.
To re-enforce this use of the word "Muslim" 2,600 years before it came into existence, Allah tells Abraham, "Be Muslim," to which Abraham responds, "I have become a Muslim to the lord of the world."
Some have seen in this phrase "lord of the world" a clear reference to the Bible's mention of Satan, also called "god of this world." Some would go so far, then, as to say that Islam's god is none other than Lucifer. Such an interpretation does explain the vicious attack on the person of Jesus in this book. But for now, I only offer it as one interpretation.
The writer goes on in verses 132ff to relate how Abraham passes on to his sons and grandson Jacob the mandate that they must die Muslims. And Jacob, on his own deathbed, says in passing, to his sons (later the 12 tribes of Israel), that Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac are their "fathers." Of course, the Bible is very clear that Ishmael, though promised greatness, is not in the ancestral line that leads to Jewish kingship, or Messiahship, or priesthood. He is in fact one half Egyptian, and does not therefore meet the test of being in that holy line.
Also in this enlightening series of verses is the first mention of the "polytheists" when speaking of Christians. In both Jewish and Islamic eyes, Christians worship three gods. The concept of a being Who can be Three and yet One is over the top for the one who cannot hear the voice of the shepherd.
For the record, our Scriptures do of course teach this. Jesus pointed out that even David had a glimpse of it, and questioned the Pharisees as to how David could call one of his descendants (Jesus) "Lord" in that famous text that declares, "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." The Jewish Messiah was to be God Himself!
The Father and the Son being Divine is thus a concept that goes back at least to the Psalms. And what of Genesis, with its "Let us" passages? A plural idea, yet no Jew ever thought of his God in the plural. Yet from the beginning, as the Spirit of God hovered over the waters at the command of Father and Son, a Trinity was being pictured.
We will keep our eyes open for much use of this word "polytheist", and how Muhammad used it to write off the entire Christian experience, in suras to come.
Next comes a statement that good Muslims are to believe in all three expressions of God's revelations: Moses, Jesus, Muhammad. But, as always, he reminds followers of the first two groups that they turned away from the truth. This is why Muhammad is being sent to them.
142ff. Muslims pray toward Mecca. This practice stems directly from the Koran. Though "we have seen you turning your face toward the heaven," Allah desires a more earth-centered remembrance. To be specific, an Arabian one. The prayers of Islamists are thus to turn to (v. 144) the "forbidden" mosque, known historically as Masjid ul Haraam. Sacred. But forbidden.
We have actually passed over some verses that already spoke of this mysterious house. V. 125: "We made the house as a resort for people and a haven." And indeed it is such a place to this day. A resort. And if you happen to be a Muslim, a very safe place. Unfortunately, that safety does not apply to non-Muslims, for infidels are not permitted anywhere near it. Hence the "forbidden" mosque.
A little research on this special place gets into some murky traditions, but perhaps enlightening for our purposes. It is believed that angels first built a house in this spot, to reflect a house in heaven. Shades of the Biblical Temple here. Everything Moses and Solomon created was a picture of the true, indeed. So here in Mecca is a competing picture.
This heavenly Meccan site was damaged by a storm and rebuilt by no less than Abraham and Ishmael. More competition. We know that the House of God, in terms of people, was begun by Abraham and Isaac. And Jacob. And Judah. And David. And Jesus.
Deeper still we must dig. For, inside the mosque, Abraham also began the Kaaba, a roughly cubic structure about 40 feet in all directions. There the great patriarch placed a stone he had received from Heaven, black, 12 inches in diameter, and today surrounded by a silver frame. Pilgrims either kiss or point to it in reverential awe. As their Catholic counterparts, they deny that their acts should be interpreted as worship.
Rulers of the earth are enjoined by my Bible to kiss the Son of God. In this context, kissing is a sign of allegiance and recognition of ultimate power. Muslims kiss the rock. For, five times a day they kneel facing not only Mecca, not only the Kaaba, but a rock purported to have come from heaven.
We shall speak of this place again as the Koran has more to say about it. For now let it be noted that this Kaaba became the center of idolatry in the days leading up to Muhammad's take-over. One of the idols worshiped in that building was Allah, the moon god. One line of thought is that Muhammad specifically chose that god to elevate to the headship of his new religion, as he entered the Kaaba and destroyed all the others. After all, they say, his father was an Allah-worshiper. To this day the moon is represented as the official symbol of Islam. I do not offer this as hard evidence of the idolatrous background of this religion, only as one possibility. There is enough in the Koran and the study of Islam that is clearly anti-Christ and false, that there is no need to create arguments based on speculation.
One other bit of Biblical light, and then we must move on. Daniel prayed regular prayers also. Praying regular prayers is not forbidden in Scripture. He also faced a holy city, Jerusalem, where the Hope of Israel and the Hope of the world shall one day reside. Students of the Lord know that it is not the Mecca of Muhammad, or the Rome of the Popes and Caesars, or the Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar and Saddam Hussein that shall be the eternal city. That issue has been resolved long ago, as our Lord says, "Yet have I set my King on my holy hill of Zion." Jerusalem. The city of peace shall one day know the rule of the Prince of Peace. Truly our God "makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62:7)."
I close the lesson this time quoting one more smack in the face of Christians and Jews. Verse 146. While admitting up front that "people of the book" know it [the book] as they know their sons, Muhammad goes from there to saying that "surely a group of them will hide the truth." You see? Some people know the Bible so well that they know how to manipulate it in such a way as to keep you from knowing it. He seems desperate to explain to those listening to him now that all which has come before is not to be trusted. Only he, Muhammad the Prophet, should have that privilege. We will spare you the comments made about the "doubters" this time.
Next time, jihad!
Lesson 18, Jihad, Retaliation, and Ramadan
Sura 2, "the cow", verses 154-207.
Jihad! Who has not heard the word in our day? The first hint of a holy war of the physical sort is here in the second chapter, verse 154, where the writer speaks of those who are killed for the sake of Allah.
Christians were promised persecution. Such it has ever been. Multiplied millions have died for their faith in Christ or one of His teachings. Holy war, or jihad, of which we shall hear much in later suras, is not about persecution, though Muhammad was certainly not well received at first. And by the way, shame on those calling themselves Christians through the years who have used weapons and wars to crush their enemies. It is crystal clear that we have another set of weapons at our disposal that ultimately will settle the faith issue.
Yes, we do believe in violence at the return of Jesus, when His offer of salvation to the world has been rejected long enough. But never should we take it upon ourselves to bring about the vengeance that belongs only to the Lord.
Islam has no such teachings of restraint. The killing of Christians and Jews is expected and has been practiced for 1,400 years. That is not to say that there is not a teaching effort, and a socialization mission and the whole business of infiltration, even subversion, much as Romanists have used to push their agenda. But when it is feasible, and the strength is present, and all else fails, Islamists have no problem with snuffing out the life of an infidel.
Verse 158 sounds Romish in its content. We can surmise that much of the reward system in Mecca derives from the indulgence system of Rome. Here the promise of forgiven sins is offered to one who makes a pilgrimage to the special house we described in the last lesson. We shall learn later that the absence of sin is not necessarily a free pass to heaven, but it surely cannot hurt.
More curses follow in 159ff. Allah is upset. He has gone to all the trouble of sending down what he calls "proof and guidance" in this new revelation of Muhammad. So anyone who deliberately ignores his corrections to the "book", the Bible, will be cursed. Unless they repent, and reveal what they did. Infidels who don't repent are likewise cursed.
Those, like Muhammad and some Popes, who love to engage in curses, ought to read our Psalm 109, which tells the ultimate fate of those who curse others.
More curses are placed now on those who eat the wrong foods. The dietary laws here in 172ff sound suspiciously like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The interesting thing here is that Allah seems to give assent again to "the book with the truth" and he chides those who dissent from it. Again then we must say that the "book" (Bible) of the 7th century was evidently approved by this first Muslim. It's the people of that book that keep coming under his judgment. First it is because they pervert the book, other times it is because they disobey that book. Readers/listeners are forced to take their pick here, but a curse follows regardless.
An exhortation to the proper use of money follows, again much like Judeo-Christian thought.
But following this little bit of light, the darkness returns. 178ff describes the law of retaliation, or vengeance, in Islam. It goes like this: If a man is murdered, there must be vengeance. If the slain man was free, a free man must die. If he was a slave, a slave must die. If a woman, a woman. The perpetrator of the act is not mentioned here, only the victim. It is not who pulls the trigger that matters in this ruling, but the equality of loss to both sides.
Moses talked about body parts. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Muhammad speaks of class distinctions. Jesus surpasses both by saying to turn away altogether. More on that radical teaching later.
Ramadan is mentioned in 185ff. This is supposed to be the time when the Koran was first sent down to Muhammad. It is the 9th month of the Islamic year using the lunar calendar. That means Ramadan is 11 days earlier every year by the Gregorian calendar.
A month of fasting is called for, but no specifics are mentioned. The current tradition is for all day fasting and a huge feast each night. Weight gain, we are told, is greater during this month than in all the others. Allah says (187) that the people can, in the evenings, "eat and drink until you can discern a white thread from a black thread at the daybreak." Interesting.
Even more interesting is the concept of a daylight fast, says translator Dakdok, in places like Alaska, where day can last for months...
More praying and spiritual reading are called for, including today the reading/ hearing of the entire Koran. In the version I use, that would mean about 12 pages a day.
Sex is forbidden during Ramadan also. Except during the nights...
Starting in v. 190 we come upon yet another clear difference between the faith of Jesus and the faith of Muhammad. Now, we understand that the way of Jesus is an impossible one without the Spirit of God's empowerment. So there is no need to water down what Jesus said. And he said, in the Sermon on the Mount, "Do not resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Jesus lived out that life, though humanity raised its hand against God Himself.
Islam is not like this at all. "Engage in war for the sake of Allah against those who war against you." The prerequisite of self-defense will be absent in other chapters and will apply to the extermination of infidels, period. Here he goes on to say, "Kill them wherever you find them, and get them out from where they got you out." Later, "So if they engage in war with you, so kill them; likewise is the reward of the infidel."
193 continues this theme, and it becomes more and more obvious that we are talking about a holy war here. "And engage in war with them until there be no sedition and the religion be to Allah." Keep fighting infidels until all come to Islam.
The Muslim must always think in these terms, for Islam is a religious state. It is incomprehensible to them that anyone would attack them just because they, the Muslims, have become a nuisance with their terrorist ways. "Surely people hate our religion and our holy ways and want to exterminate us. So we must fight back, and make them all submit."
Let me say in passing, "submission" is the English word for Islam. Not "peace." The only peace that Islam craves is the Pax Romana, the Roman peace which means that no one ever disagrees with Allah. Anywhere.
In fairness I must say that one day the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. And His takeover of the planet will be quick, and brutal. But in this day and age in which we live, He calls His servants merely to keep preaching this Gospel that will call out members of that coming Kingdom. "Kingdom now" in the physical sense was not envisioned for the Kingdom existing in the church age. Fighting back with guns and bombs is not the agenda for His church.
196 speaks of the "Hajj", the pilgrimage enjoined on every practicing Muslim at least once in his lifetime. I was taken aback by the pagan notion of what is called here "the visit to Allah." This seems to be a god who is located geographically.
Once again to bring balance to what I say, I fully recognize that the Temple was such a place, and that the future for God's true people, at least during the 1000 year reign of Christ on the planet, involves visiting Jerusalem on feast days, as the ancient Israelites did. But we live in a totally different era of Christ's work. It is a time when Christ, through the Spirit of God, lives in His people, and in His true church. Visits are simply not necessary. There is no site on earth that is more holy than the place where Jesus decides to do His work: the human heart!
Not so in Islam. To be a true Muslim, you must make a visit to God at least once. Bring an offering or plan to fast three days. This way of life brings the workings of the God of Heaven back over 600 years before Muhammad's time.
Next time, lesson 19, sura 2, more about war, comments on alcohol and gambling, marriage laws, and more...
Lesson 19, Of Love, Lies, and War.
Continuing Sura 2, "the cow", verses 208-257
208. "O you who have believed, enter completely into Islam, and do not follow the steps of Satan." In case anyone listening to or reading this series has not figured this out yet, true Muslims consider all non-Muslims to be of Satan and therefore worthy of judgment.
Allah grieves in this passage about all the signs he gave to Israel in exchange for their unbelief. Nevertheless, "surely the victory of Allah is near." That victory is not one of truth and morality, but the purely human victory of war.
216. "War is decreed to you, and it is hated by you." Indeed. Everyone hates war. But Muhammad's god reminds them that there are many things that we hate to do that we must do anyway. In fact, they will even be asked to wage war in the "forbidden" month. This would seem to point to Ramadan, but other scholars see this as one of the four months out of the year when it is forbidden for Muslims to kill other Muslims.
Whatever, the fact remains that Allah values his Koranic truth more than the worry over a forbidden month, or human lives. Those who "performed jihad for the sake of Allah, those hope for Allah's mercy." Words like these do not lend themselves to many interpretations. I think you know what Muhammad is saying.
Mercifully, the subject changes abruptly in verse 219. Suddenly we are talking about wine and gambling. Though it is allowed that there are benefits in both, "their sin is bigger than their benefits." In this rather difficult passage he goes on to say that it is all right to spend what you can spare on such things. Nevertheless, it is quite clear in 5:90 that both vices are forbidden to the Muslim. Here the Scripture is a bit more lenient, allowing medicinal wine when nothing else works. And one wonders what the "benefits" of gambling might be. Certainly ill-gotten profits are not pleasing to a holy God who has promised to provide for His own out of His Heavenly abundance.
But let's move on to some marriage laws. Men, you cannot marry a polytheist until they submit to your religion. That term "polytheist" includes Christians. The directive goes on to say that it is better to marry a Muslim slave than a free polytheist.
Islam, as Moses, forbids marital intimacy during the monthly time of the woman.
223. Here Muhammad compares wives to a field. Men are told that they can enter that field whenever they please. The Christian mutual respect of and for husband and wife is a thing unknown to the Koran. Pity the woman who must be thought of as the personal real estate of a man, though I am not so naive as to suggest that Christian homes do not witness such suffering at times.
225. Perhaps in keeping with the marriage subject at hand, but also as a general rule, Muhammad next explains that "Allah will not hold you responsible for your mere utterance in an oath..." That is what it says! Only what you meant in your heart matters. The ramifications of such a teaching are shattering. Contracts, marriage vows, oaths of office. None of them must be taken at face value when heard from a true Muslim. In his heart he harbors the truth of what he has just said. In your ears is one thing, inside the speaker is another. How can one ever do business with such a person?
226. Divorce. The only stipulation given by Allah is that they wait for the divorce, four months after their last intimacy, to be sure their wives are not pregnant. If they are, and want to be reconciled, it is strongly advised that the man comply. It seems to me they would know long before four months, but be that as it may, waiting is the only regulation.
Here is given a certain amount of compassion and justice for the woman, but disregard for the state of marriage, which is not to be broken by man at all, according to the God of the Bible. We readily admit that Moses allowed divorce, but according to Jesus it was because of the hardness of heart, and not according to the heart of God. Here is one after Moses, and after the upgrade by Jesus, saying he is the same God as Moses' God and Jesus' God, pulling mankind back into the hardness of humanity against the ways of God. Once more we see Allah going in the wrong direction.
In 230, the complicated divorce, re-marriage process is spelled out, but this time in contradiction even to Moses. If a man divorces then remarries the same woman, then divorces her yet again, he is not to take her back until she has had marital relations with another man. And whatever you do, says Allah, don't keep your spouse in "unfairness", to do them some harm. Better to divorce them.
Odd. But according to the author, "This is the most virtuous for you and most pure. And Allah knows, and you do not know." Perhaps statements like this are added occasionally as listeners are invisibly scratching their heads at what they hear, even as we do. So much better to hear Jesus say, "...the two shall become one flesh...therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate." Yes, there is unfaithfulness. But call it that, and put aside all the elaborate rules to allow for sin.
233. Breastfeeding is now enjoined on the mother. And the father, even if divorced, has the right to demand such for two years, as long as he provides the necessary clothing etc. Once more we have here a rule that allows for divorce and provides for it, rather than agreeing with the higher teachings of Jesus. More provisions regarding divorce follow, and we will pass them by, except to mention that it is suggested in this passage, that Muslims are permitted more than one wife at a time, and not just allowed a series of divorces. This topic will reappear with more specificity later.
244. Now a quick reminder to "engage in war for the sake of Allah," followed by a supposedly Biblical example of such. Of this example we can only say, Muhammad made a very serious mistake.
If you know your Bible, and here we can authoritatively question whether that was true of Muhammad, you know that the early people of Israel came to the prophet Samuel and asked him for a king. So begins verse 246. No problem. But what is Samuel's response, per Muhammad? He tells them that they must wage war if they want a king. Well, not exactly. But anyway, this so discouraged them that many of them turned back.
Now if you are thinking, wait! that sounds like the Gideon story, your thinking will soon be confirmed. Samuel tells the Israelites that, in connection with the ensuing battle, the ark will now be brought back to Israel by angels. Actually, the ark had already been sent back to Israel. By Philistines who suddenly did not want it. The ark incident had nothing to do with their desire for a king.
Nevertheless, here suddenly is Saul, ready to go out to battle. He gathers his troops together and tells them that God will now test them at a river. Whoever drinks the water from the river is not of God. No, they must scoop by their hand and drink it...
And again you meekly suggest, Gideon? Isn't this the story of Gideon? And you are right.
The scene quickly changes to David killing Goliath, facts which do seem to be in order.
Both of these stories are related, however incorrectly, to make a point. If you want to be on God's side, you have to wage war: "Allah gives conquest to some people over others."
The far greater and more significant truth for the Christian is that we don't fight against people, but against demons who rule this present world. It is an awful thing to miss this point. Rome missed it. Some Protestant groups missed it. The Mormons missed it. And definitely, this prophet we study now, who claimed to be God's final messenger to the world, missed it.
We can categorically say that any group that thinks that political or military power is necessary to champion righteousness in the world has already been defeated. The most powerful person who ever lived on this planet had a handful of disciples, and resolutely refused political power and the strength of weapons. Yet look at His following today, and read of His following tomorrow. The entire world will be His forever.
Of course, Muhammad and all who are taught by him cannot believe such a thing. In the very next section, the Koran tells again of the coming of the prophets, and "Isa" (Jesus). Though Isa is given a special place, still there is no indication that He is anything other than a special prophet. He was given the "proofs", miracles, and the support of the Holy Spirit, still Allah does what he wants and now speaks new truths. About what? About war, for one. Yes, "...if Allah willed, they[followers of Isa] would not engage in war." But those days are passed. Allah wills war now.
Finally, the verse that many Muslims quote to show Christians that they do not force their religion on anyone, even after the long passage about waging war! The simple words of verse 256: "No compulsion in religion. Indeed, the right way is made distinct from the error." Muhammad says, we don't need to force the issue. The truth speaks for itself.
Nevertheless, there is a further truth than this in the Koran. Some would say that this verse is even abrogated altogether by that further truth. For example, in 9:5, merciless slaughter of all polytheists is commanded. What of the self-obvious truth of Islam there? Are we to believe that the merciful, the knowing Allah, is merciful no more after a certain point? If we Christians don't get it, kill us? That's what my Koran says.
My Bible surely allows for a judging God. But also, a God for whom the death of the wicked is not a pleasant thing. How His heart yearns for all to be saved!
Next time, in lesson 20, sura 2 finally concludes with a look at some interesting stories about Abraham, a discussion of alms and interest, and then we can enter into Sura 3.
