Dear Mr. Alsuezi:
Using the same translation resource that you have provided in your introduction post (as indicated in my previous post) I also have some questions regarding the advocation of violence and brutality in Islam as indicated by the following verses in Quran (again taken from the link source you have provided). Again I tried very hard to look for a context in which these verses are meant to be applied and yet failed to do so. In essence what these verses promote is to violate anyone who does not agree with what Islam promotes with respect to believing in God, or other rules of the Islamic faith. One may not believe in Islam, or God for that matter, and may even worship an idol, but yet he may be a good human being and as a human being he has the right to worship and exercise his faith (whatever it maybe ) as it pleases him. yet the following verses seem to imply otherwise.
002.191 PICKTHAL And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.
002.193 PICKTHAL And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers.
009.005 PICKTHAL Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Again if you could go to the same links you have provided in your introduction post and point me in the right direction as well as elaborating on these verses I appreciate that very much.
Sincerely,
Mr. S. Stevenson |