Message #2397

[Zainab_M]

 


Walaikum Salaam brother AOH.  I went thru the 20 mins recitation of Surah An-Nur tonight.  Alhamdulilah, what a refreshing recitation to listen particularly on a Ramadan night before retiring to bed.  The translations of Abdel Haleem has been a good discovery for me thru you in addition to Pickthall of course.  I concentrate carefully on the words while listening or reading a Quraanic translation.  So far, I've always recommended Pickthall to my family and friends.  Now I think I could recommend both Pickthall and A. Haleem.  Thanks yet again dear brother.

Each time I turn the pages of the Glorious Quraan, how I wish I knew Arabic as much as I know English.  But then, isn't it true that the Quraan is not just any Book?  It is something very special. The Almighty Allah does not favour people with His guidance on the basis of language, rather He chooses His slaves for their sincerity and hard work.  I guess that explains why I've come across several people who speak exquisite Arabic and yet they've misconstrued the ideology of the Quraan with a barrage of negative ideas and laws. 

Just now as I was quite mesmerized listening to Surah An-Nur, I couldn't help comparing the Islam of the Quraan as revealed to our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings on him) with the Islam of the Ummah.  These are two very different aspects today.   

For instance, the Quraan makes no distinction between adultery and fornication.  Sex out of wedlock is a violation for everyone, married or single.  The penalty is 100 stripes, not death.  It is doubled for the wives of the Prophet and reduced by half for slaves, should any of them commit such a violation.  But the Ummah today has replaced this with the laws of the altered Old and New Testaments.

According to the rule of Allah, those who dishonour good women must receive 80 stirpes and they're not eligible to testify again.  Their testimony is equivalent to felony.  But today in all Muslim countries if a woman is raped, she becomes an adultress fit for the punishment of Rajm.  The rapist is not liable to any significant charges and is almost always released after a brief and cursory interrogation.   

Surah An-Nur further states that people who have sex out of wedlock can only marry their likes or idolators / idolatresses.  Yet, it's just too hard for our lawmakers to contemplate that this ruling of the Quraan automatically invalidates the penalty of Rajm as dead people obviously cannot marry. 

The Almighty Allah emphasises on the importance of modesty.  It's just as important for both men and women.  Be it cheap flirtation or physical intimacy out of marriage, lewd conduct is a serious offence in the case of both genders.  In this very Surah, Allah makes it ample clear that those who are single (men or women) must keep chaste till married. Yet for reasons of their own, the men of our Ummah flatly maintain that a loose character is a much greater offence for women than men.  Allah forgive!!!  From where do these people get such ideas?   

So much about the violations of the 'Muslim' community.

The Noble Quraan says that our own tongue, hands, feet and skins will testify against us.  This is so interesting.  When one reflects on this concept, it portrays the difference between one's physical and spiritual being or the difference between body and soul.  While the human soul is subject to questioning on the Day of Judgment, the role of the physical parts of our body is to testify against us. 

Just for my own information, I'd like your opinion on the following point.

I was talking to some acquaintances recently about the importance of 4 witnesses as mentioned in the Quraan for charges against illegal sex.  They maintained that the 4 witnessnes are meant to actually see the act of violation.  But by reading the Quraan and using my rationale, I see it differently.  A minimal of 4 witnesses are essential who need to testify to whatever evidence they may have concerning the couple's relationship .. much like a witness who would testify in a court of law today, either for the defence or the prosecution.  I don't find anything in the Quraan that conveys the notion that the witnesses must have first hand visual information of the act of violation.  Last but not least, according to the Quraan, a woman who's been a victim of rape does not have to produce any witnesses.  How would you interpret this bit about the 4 witnesses? 

About posting in other forums, frankly by now I've had a showdown in all traditional forums.  However much I try to avoid it, it seems inevitable.  But most importantly, it's pretty much useless too.  It's just impossible to have a civil discussion focused on the topic.  Whether a Ph.D from Al-Azha University or just a disciple of a sheik, not a single person in any such forum has as yet analysed the contents of my posts.  Instead, the standard response has constantly been a chain of personal attacks on my identity and perception.  It's not just irritating, but thoroughly unfair.  I've invited all such people here at MV for a civil debate on any topic of their choice, but they've never responded to that either.  Thus, because of the depth of our incompatibility, I've given it a break for the time being .. and I wouldn't want to get hyped in the month of Ramadan  

May Allah bless you brother for your enlightened efforts and sincere thoughts, and for beautifying our board with such a great post.  I'll also go thru the other recitations in due course.  While one is fasting there's always a crunch in one's daily schedule. 

JazekAllah Khair / peace