Has anyone on here read the Quran?

[Nexus One]

What?! The first page is al-Fatihah ("the opening"). It begins with "in the name of God the compassionate and merciful". How is that violent?

 

I've looked up what you are talking about and that part is very short. The page I read was online and was a lot longer than that. I suspect the website I read it on compiled several pages into one page, so I quite probably read more than 1 (actual) page, but I'm not sure how many (actual) pages that were. I can remember a lot of stuff being said about infidels/unbelievers and them having to be punished/killed etc. It turned me off so to speak. I thought that if it starts this early with the violence, then I'm not interested in the rest. That being said I neither agree with the violence in the bible. I do enjoy violent movies though if they're good, but that's a whole different matter.

Edited September 12, 2011 by Nexus One

[Queen Zenobia]

I've looked up what you are talking about and that part is very short. The page I read was online and was a lot longer than that. I suspect the website I read it on compiled several pages into one page, so I quite probably read more than 1 (actual) page, but I'm not sure how many (actual) pages that were. I can remember a lot of stuff being said about infidels/unbelievers and them having to be punished/killed etc. It turned me off so to speak. I thought that if it starts this early with the violence, then I'm not interested in the rest. That being said I neither agree with the violence in the bible. I do enjoy violent movies though if they're good, but that's a whole different matter.

 

Well a lot of websites, editors, etc. like to alter things to make them appear worse than they are. If you're still interested you could look for a version put out by an educational institution (like a university). I'm not Muslim so I'm not trying to convert you or anything, so it's entirely up to you .

 

For what it's worth though: my ancestors are from the Middle East and are all non-Muslims. If Islam was all about killing people who weren't Muslim, I wouldn't be typing on this forum right now.

[denise_xo]

Thanks for your help, I'd already heard that the Bible was written by several people and the Quran is supposed to be the word of God, hopefully I won't struggle with it.

 

If I do I'll look for a book on it's development.

 

How did you find the Quran?

 

There's no reason you should struggle with it, but like QZ also said it is not written chronologically/ in narrative form so it makes much less sense /no sense if you don't read it in conjunction with the historical events during which it is said to have been delivered. It just doesn't read like a narrative in the way that the Bible does. Some versions of the Qur'an will come with the historical commentary in footnotes, but it still helps to have a separate book that provides a narrative version of the basic events of Muhammad's life.

 

Personally I'm not religious so didn't read it from that perspective, but I've done some Islamic studies and also lived in the Middle East so have encountered it both academically and through practical use. To me, it's very similar to the Bible and the Torah, as alphamale said (with the notable exception of format and it respresenting the 'direct speech' of God). Like other monotheistic holy books, it has a lot of messages of love and compassion, a lot of verses that aim to organise society, as well as a lot of violence as well as gender relations that are reminiscent of other times than ours.

[El Brujo]

I'm going to start it on Monday as I am getting one in the mail. I'm worried I won't be able to understand it but I want to learn more about Islam. Has anyone from this forum read it? Is it easy to understand or do you have to be super intelligent?

 

I tried to read it a couple of times, but I didn't understand much of it.

 

I think it loses much of its context when it's translated from its original Classical Arabic.

[Farrah]

Yes I have.Its a beautiful book full of instruction the only path, the only way of life Allahs way of the righteous the most magnificent, the most merciful, the most forgiving, All Knower.

Ues to cooment on your statement may he forgive my husband for persistently cheating on me and being abusive after I sent him lectures fro Sheik Shady on you tube everything about adultery and fornification in arabic we call it zina and it is one of the major sins in Islam. It is haram

 

I'm going to start it on Monday as I am getting one in the mail. I'm worried I won't be able to understand it but I want to learn more about Islam. Has anyone from this forum read it? Is it easy to understand or do you have to be super intelligent?

[Ariadne]

(old thread)....

Edited October 11, 2011 by Ariadne

[Farrah]

Religion is a touchy subject. However, if we reflect I will share couple of things about the Koran you may or may not agree just hear it with an open mind:

 

Koran is a revealation 'untouched" NOT altered in any way of form

It is complete instruction to how God wants us to live our lives.*It condones lying, adultery,bribe,backbiting all the vices Christianity does too.

 

The media feeds peoples mind a preconceived notion it is the book of Terrorist.The term is relative to who is pointing fingers.

 

The first thing they teach in a sales job is NOT TO PREJUDGE.But sadly they do because they are pre judging based on a biased belief system.

 

Man creates divisions Allah /God/Bhagwan/Jesus call it whatever you like loves us all.

 

My mother was Roman Catholic and my father a muslim. Should I side with my mother or my father?

 

Ignorance is bliss . But KNOWLEDGE is POWER before we judge we must learn.It is not a shame.

 

Allah says HE alone protects the KOran it is His book, noone can Alter it or make amends to it.In Hiroshima the natural disaster wiped out the building they were trying to Alter the Koran.

 

Koran speaks of Mary giving birth to Jesus..is that not what Bible talks about?

 

Koran speaks of love your wifes,be loyal to them,do not beat the, do not put their privacy in a place where it can be violated, provide for them and your children.

 

kKoran teaches about feeding the poor of Kin and giving Charity.

 

Koran speaks of Noahs Ark and the whole incident when God divided the sea.

 

My friends we call you Ahlai Kitab means people of THe book then why would you not reflect.

Thanks for your help, I'd already heard that the Bible was written by several people and the Quran is supposed to be the word of God, hopefully I won't struggle with it.

 

If I do I'll look for a book on it's development.

 

How did you find the Quran?

 

 

 

Thanks mate, I love negative, pointless posts.

[Farrah]

I've heard people quote sick things from this so called book. I've heard people talk about what is in it.

 

Some of the following things in this list have come from that book, and some have been inspired by what is written in the book as well.

 

Treating women like second class citizens

*Man is the provider.Actually Suret Nisa is about the writes of women in the Koran.

 

Halal meat (not allowing animals to be stunned before being killed, and cutting open their necks while they're still concious and letting them bleed to death)

*Draining the blood in sacrifice of the animal is because blood is unhealthy for human consumption.

 

Stoning

If a man or woman commits adultery,fornification which is a major sin in Islam the punishment is being stoned to death yes.

 

Cutting off peoples hands who steal

*Execution in an electric chair in the West is worse isnt it?

 

Honor killings (this is mainly done to women. And can even happen just because the woman's family or community think she isn't dressing appropriately)

*Honor killing is not to do with dressing.If a woman commits adultery as sex outside wedlock is a sin and/or conceives an illegitimate child she is killed yes in some cases by family.Unlike the west a woman to lose her virginity to a man who she is not married to and conceive a child is haram, no man will marry her.If your daughter,sister or cousin was to have an affair and have a child with a stranger how would you react?

 

Forcing your daughter to marry someone she doesn't love

99.9% of the muslim marriages last because they are arranged. Parents look for religous boys with faith, providers for their daughters from good families.Most of my friends have arranged marriages and they are Mashallah very happy 20 some yrs with grown up kids.

 

Forcing women to wear burka's

Concept of veil is to ensure men stay faithful to their wives and they dont look at other strange women.Unlike what the news talked about yesterday how exposure like facebook is giving access to relationships that are breaking up marriages and couples.

 

Hanging gay people from cranes in the streets

The reason for HIV. God designed man and woman to do the needful for reproduction why fix whats not broken...lets not get creative here . There has to be a difference between animals and humans otherwise poke a sponge lol.

All infedels must be killed (infedel means non believer)

That is not correct. Christians are Ahlai Kitab means people of the book. Did you know it is permitted for muslims to marry christians and eat their food.

 

9/11 and other terrorist acts

Some say lol was Bush's doing. Dont you see such distraction keeps all plans going smoothly here?Why would muslims kill their only people in the building. Think. Are they crazy????????????

 

Wanting to ban pretty much anything that's fun, including alcohol and porn

Lol brother you must love the devil. Alcohol is prohibited because it numbs the senses and makes people forget their responsibility to their families. Most incest and rape in families happen when a man comes home drunk and jumps his own daughter or niece.

 

*Gambling also makes people forget their families lose money .Anything thats an addiction is haram.

 

Porn is haram. because now the man sees a bunch of sexy whores...doing their thing. When he comes to bed he doesnt really feel his wifes sexy enough she doesnt have fake boobs the tattoo on her ass and so on. Goes both ways woman sees all machos and her hubby looks so unattractive. Idea is to keep marriages and relationships exclusive with no promiscuity.If that makes sense unlike facebook, skype, yahoo chat, msn and so on.

 

 

 

The list goes on.

Stop and reflect.Knowledge is power. Ignorance is bliss but nonsensical illogical.Correct?

[Eclypse]

I'm sure all of these books were written with the best of intentions by their authors. A way for people to live their lives. But that is not so relevant now. What is relevant is what religion has caused. The three Abrahamic religions, it's hard to tell which one is the worst. So many wars have been caused by them. So much needless suffering and violence and oppression. That's why I decided to reject religion and follow my own path in life. Life is a dynamic, vibrant experience. It is a waste to follow religion so rigidly, not opening yourself to new ideas and discoveries. But that's just my opinion, and non believers are still outnumbered by believers, but at least we aren't getting burnt at the stake anymore (at least in most countries).

[Eve]

Not read the Quran but I would say that it is best to have a book which is a theological reference alongside reading it. I do have such a book within my collection for the Quran but not got around to reading the Quran as yet. I think it is better to have such a guide when reading religious writing as it can be difficult to navigate meanings. For example, the Levite example given by a poster does have a pertinent meaning by theologians; this is a story about the abjection of some unbelievers and what they did to protect their own skin. It is about a crime.

 

Of course you could just read it as you want though.

 

The best overview of Christian religion I have come across (and I am still reading) is Karen Armstrong; The Case for God - What religion really means.

 

I have learned SO much from this book already and it really does put things into perspective. It is not an easy read but I would see if she has any titles to support your reading of the Quran as she is wonderfully thorough.

 

 

Here is a glimpse of the book I am reading from her and I am quite sure she has written an overview of some sort for the Quran.

 

Happy reading.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Case-God-religion-really-means/dp/1847920349#reader_1847920349

 

Take care,

Eve x

[Eve]

Ginger beer - the book choice which I highlighted does go into the history and true meanings and practises witin the Quran also.

 

I have been blown away by the actual root meanings of terms such as 'Jihad' etc which now have a negative meaning due to dodgy politicians and media types. This book has really been a challenge. It looks at translations as well as the development of philosophical viewpoints.

 

I still have not finished it but remembered your post and thought I would tell you. I am sure you can order the book at the library as it would not be cheap to buy.

 

Of course you could have moved on to other things by now and may not be bothered to know the above.

 

Take care,

Eve x