Homosexuality, Adultery and Rape

The Quran is explained in detail, and provides guidance on all matters in which we may not be able to legislate appropriately on our own. Sexual orientations, and the sins and crimes associated with it fall under such a category where we get confused and have varied opinions.

Efforts to purify the NAFS is the object of this temporal life; as the womb is central to procreation, guarding it is of great importance.

Homosexuality 

وَاللَّاتِي يَأْتِينَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَائِكُمْ فَاسْتَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنكُمْ فَإِن شَهِدُوا فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ فِي الْبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّاهُنَّ الْمَوْتُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلًا

وَاللَّذَانِ يَأْتِيَانِهَا مِنكُمْ فَآذُوهُمَا فَإِن تَابَا وَأَصْلَحَا فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا

إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الْآنَ وَلَا الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُولَٰئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four (Reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or God ordain for them some (other) way. 

If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, Leave them alone; for God is Oft-returning, Most Merciful. 

God accept the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will God turn in mercy: For God is full of knowledge and wisdom.

Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them, and he says, "Now have I repented indeed;" nor of those who die rejecting Faith: for them have We prepared a punishment most grievous.

[Al-Quran, Surah an-Nisa, Ayaat 15-18, Translation: A. Yusuf Ali]

Adultery 

سُورَةٌ أَنزَلْنَاهَا وَفَرَضْنَاهَا وَأَنزَلْنَا فِيهَا آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

الزَّانِيَةُ وَالزَّانِي فَاجْلِدُوا كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِائَةَ جَلْدَةٍ وَلَا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

الزَّانِي لَا يَنكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَالزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَا إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ وَحُرِّمَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَاجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلَا تَقْبَلُوا لَهُمْ شَهَادَةً أَبَدًا وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَاءُ إِلَّا أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ

وَيَدْرَأُ عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ أَن تَشْهَدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ

وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ حَكِيمٌ

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُم مَّا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ وَالَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

لَّوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْرًا وَقَالُوا هَٰذَا إِفْكٌ مُّبِينٌ

لَّوْلَا جَاءُوا عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَاءَ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُوا بِالشُّهَدَاءِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ

وَلَوْلَا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُم مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَا أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَٰذَا سُبْحَانَكَ هَٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ

يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَن تَعُودُوا لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَدًا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُولُو الْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوا أُولِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْغَافِلَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ لُعِنُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

يَوْمَئِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ اللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ

الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ

A sura which We have sent down and which We have ordained in it have We sent down Clear Signs, in order that ye may receive admonition.

The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by God, if ye believe in God and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.

Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry and but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever: nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden.

And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-

Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for God is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.

And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by God that they are solemnly telling the truth;

And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of God on themselves if they tell a lie.

But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By God, that (her husband) is telling a lie;

And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of God on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth.

If it were not for God's grace and mercy on you, and that God is Oft- Returning, full of Wisdom,- (Ye would be ruined indeed).

Those who brought forward the lie are a body among yourselves: think it not to be an evil to you; On the contrary it is good for you: to every man among them (will come the punishment) of the sin that he earned, and to him who took on himself the lead among them, will be a penalty grievous.

Why did not the believers - men and women - when ye heard of the affair,- put the best construction on it in their own minds and say, "This (charge) is an obvious lie" ?

Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? When they have not brought the witnesses, such men, in the sight of God, (stand forth) themselves as liars!

Were it not for the grace and mercy of God on you, in this world and the Hereafter, a grievous penalty would have seized you in that ye rushed glibly into this affair.

Behold, ye received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no knowledge; and ye thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of God.

And why did ye not, when ye heard it, say? - "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God! this is a most serious slander!"

God doth admonish you, that ye may never repeat such (conduct), if ye are (true) Believers.

And God makes the Signs plain to you: for God is full of knowledge and wisdom.

Those who love (to see) scandal published broadcast among the Believers, will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: God knows, and ye know not.

Were it not for the grace and mercy of God on you, and that God is full of kindness and mercy, (ye would be ruined indeed).

O ye who believe! follow not Satan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of Satan, he will (but) command what is shameful and wrong: and were it not for the grace and mercy of God on you, not one of you would ever have been pure: but God doth purify whom He pleases: and God is One Who hears and knows (all things).

Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want, and those who have left their homes in God's cause: let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that God should forgive you? For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Those who slander chaste women, indiscreet but believing, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter: for them is a grievous Penalty,-

On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions.

On that Day God will pay them back (all) their just dues, and they will realise that God is the (very) Truth, that makes all things manifest.

Women impure are for men impure, and men impure for women impure and women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity: these are not affected by what people say: for them there is forgiveness, and a provision honourable.

[Al-Quran, Surah an-Nur, Ayaat 1-26, Translation: A. Yusuf Ali] 

Rape 

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا اكْتَسَبُوا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلُوا بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

لَّئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَالْمُرْجِفُونَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

مَّلْعُونِينَ أَيْنَمَا ثُقِفُوا أُخِذُوا وَقُتِّلُوا تَقْتِيلًا

سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلُ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا

Those who annoy God and His Apostle - God has cursed them in this World and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating Punishment.

And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a glaring sin.

O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And God is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Truly, if the Hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and those who stir up sedition in the City, desist not, We shall certainly stir thee up against them: Then will they not be able to stay in it as thy neighbours for any length of time:

They shall have a curse on them: whenever they are found, they shall be seized and slain (without mercy).

(Such was) the practice (approved) of God among those who lived aforetime: No change wilt thou find in the practice (approved) of God.

[Al-Quran, Surah al-Ahzaab, Ayaat 57-62, Translation: A. Yusuf Ali] 

From the above ayaat, it seems clear that rape, and all other such offences, in which the woman's consent is not present, should be considered as crimes against them, and prosecuted as such.  

And Allah knows best!

Last updated on January 8, 2018

Natural Calamities

Someone wrote: Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced severe earthquakes in last weeks. May Allah protect everyone human being from every kind of disaster. But at the same time we should think that may be Allah Almighty is not happy with us as one of famous TV anchor, Shahid Mashood said, please see the attachment. 

My Response: These earthquakes and other natural calamities happening in the world today are not divine punishment because Allah always warns before punishing, and ensures justice, punishing the criminals for their crime. All the nations mentioned in the Quran, who were eventually punished, Allah sent Messengers warning their leaders, calling to reform and forgiveness, and when they defiantly rejected the messengers and the warnings, only then were they were destroyed. Even Prophet Muhammad warned for two decades before the State of Medina declared the Treaty annulled, and gave a notice of war four months in advance. (Quran Chapter 9:  http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=9&translator=4 ). 

Reading the history of the Bani Israel in the Quran, it is very possible that Allah is not pleased with us. We were declared to be the best ummat (Q 3:110) for mankind, and thus have the greatest responsibility, yet we do not undertake it. Before us, the Bani Israel were chosen & blessed with guidance and prophethood. Yet, as stated in Quran 17:2-10, when they rose to power, twice did they become mighty and arrogant, and caused corruption, and were consequently punished. When the first of the two warnings came to pass, Quran 17:5, it states that we sent our servants given to terrible warfare. There are some grave lessons in the history of the monotheistic Bani Israel for us. If Allah decides to punish us Muslims, then any nation or coalition of nations can be made to rise against Muslims. It does not matter what faith they profess, as all humans are His servants (ibaad). 

(Quran Chapter 17:  http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=17&translator=4 )

We Muslims need to reconnect with the Quran, believe with assured faith, understand and undertake our responsibility, or wait for the consequences of our apathy and ignorance. 

You are (the) best (of) people raised for the mankind - enjoining the right and forbidding [from] the wrong and believing in Allah. And if believed (the) People (of) the Book surely would have been good for them. Among them (are) [the] believers, but most of them (are) defiantly disobedient.  [http://islamawakened.com/quran/3/110/ ] 

Balance & Guidance:  
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-iv.html 

Crime & Punishment:  
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-v.html 

JC stated: If as you say “natural disasters (et al)….are not about divine punishment.”   Surely the question that floats through the discourse must be, ‘What IS it about then?’

God plans it all,  OR he plans nothing.   Let us not find convenient, faith based protection for a god whose actions just do not stand up to simple moral logic and reason.   

I must also insist I do not mean to offend believers.   It’s just that when we choose to open any Pandora’s Box, we must be prepared for controversy…at least.   So when religions and faiths are bandied about on public forums like ours, there are views on offer that may not be equally simplistic or subservient.   The reasoning could be discomforting and unpalatable.  

We tend to ignore at our peril, the fact that faith creates its own truths.   And not always can they bury reality.

On this, I believe we must hold god to account by the same ethical codes that all religions support for decent and acceptable conduct.  The greater the power and authority…the greater the moral expectations must be.   Our god is all-powerful and is also the supreme authority.   So why then is there no moral code for him, by which his actions, or lack thereof, could be evaluated? 

My own god falls mightily short…repeatedly….and I am not just talking about natural disasters.   Also, divine punishment is a proven (motivational) myth….I am a living example of this.   I am blessed beyond belief, emotionally and materially, by my god.   

My Response: Yes, God plans it all. Everything happens as per God's plan and permission. As per our belief, even the devil (Iblis) sought God's permission to be able to try to mislead Adam and his progeny. 

However, the life of this world is a place of brief trial for us. Divine judgement, reward and punishment will be on the Day of Judgement. 

Only the extreme cases of corruption were visited by divine punishment in this wold, as I've tried to explain in my series of blogposts titled Mission of the Messengers (http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/06/mission-of-messengers.html )

God doesn't fall short. God is loving, compassionate and kind. He has given us an entire life to discover how wonderful it is to be good, caring, compassionate, helpful, honest, loving, faithful. He keeps inviting us to forgiveness and all that's good. He promises that everything is being recorded and everyone will receive full justice on the Day of Judgement. It is we who think we deserve the best of everything, right here and right now, and that God is being unjust to us. God could have punished Adam forever then; instead he forgave Adam and gave a chance to each one of us to earn our place in the Gardens of Eden for eternity. 

Yes, for those who believe that there is no Hereafter or Day of Judgement, the life of this world certainly seems unfair. That is a matter of faith, or the lack thereof. 

Ethics & Islam

After some discussion on the practice of Islam in society, especially public punishments for moral crimes, a non-Muslim responds: 

You're avoiding the point. Your specific claim was that the Quran teachings are ethical, and that perceptions to the contrary stem from media disinformation. So I submitted to you a list of things that make me conclude that the Quran teachings are unethical. Very honestly, my previous beliefs were reinforced. We have unreconcilable views on ethics. 

My Response: Yes, our views are different. We think it unethical to cheat on our spouse, we think it's wrong to steal, we think it's perfectly ethical for a woman to try and protect herself, and so on. You object to the punishment, we object to the crime. We believe the Quran has been revealed by a higher intelligence who knows us inside out, and guides us in matters where we may not be able to legislate appropriately. We believe the laws are based on morally sound principles of justice and fair play. You're entitled to your opinion, but I strongly advise that you evaluate and ascertain for yourself that the Quran is a human invention, and not divine guidance, lest you reject something great!

Blasphemy

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
We read/recite over and over again that Allah is Most Compassionate, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Oft-Forgiving, Worthy of All Praise and Free of All Needs. We also know that this life is a trial and all souls have time, till before death approaches, to submit to God and beg His forgiveness.
We also read in the Holy Quran 54:17, 22, 32, 40 And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
And 4:82 Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy
Further, we read that:
2:256 There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.
4:137 Those who believe, then reject faith, then believe (again) and (again) reject faith, and go on increasing in unbelief,- Allah will not forgive them nor guide them on the way.
10:99 If it had been thy Lord's will, they would all have believed,- all who are on earth! wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe!
16:93 If Allah so willed, He could make you all one people: But He leaves straying whom He pleases, and He guides whom He pleases: but ye shall certainly be called to account for all your actions.
In that background, the question that arises is does the Most Compassionate prescribe death sentence for blasphemy?
I search the Quran and come across the following verses. If I understand correctly, the Most Compassionate only directs the believers to abstain from the company of blasphemers till they stop blaspheming. We are enjoined to keep sharing the message of faith to all who are willing to listen, to share the verses of the Quran and let people take their own decisions, as only willing submission is required.
6: 68 When thou seest men engaged in vain discourse about Our signs, turn away from them unless they turn to a different theme. If Satan ever makes thee forget, then after recollection, sit not thou in the company of those who do wrong.
6:69 On their account no responsibility falls on the righteous, but (their duty) is to remind them, that they may (learn to) fear Allah.
4:155 (They have incurred divine displeasure): In that they broke their covenant; that they rejected the signs of Allah. that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah’s Word; We need no more)";- Nay, Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe;-
4:156 That they rejected Faith; that they uttered against Mary a grave false charge;
5: 64 The Jews say: "(Allah)'s hand is tied up." Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter. Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth. But the revelation that cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. Amongst them we have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.
And also consider:
43:33 And were it not that (all) men might become of one (evil) way of life, We would provide, for everyone that blasphemes against ((Allah)) Most Gracious, silver roofs for their houses and (silver) stair-ways on which to go up,
43:34 And (silver) doors to their houses, and thrones (of silver) on which they could recline,
43:35 And also adornments of gold. But all this were nothing but conveniences of the present life: The Hereafter, in the sight of thy Lord is for the Righteous.
43:36 If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of ((Allah)) Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one, to be an intimate companion to him.
43:37 Such (evil ones) really hinder them from the Path, but they think that they are being guided aright!
In the light of the above verses, can it be permissible for us humans to judge or prescribe punishment for blasphemy? Can we implement something in the name of Islam disregarding the verses of God Almighty? Is Allah not enough to take people to account?
When Allah allows respite till the time natural death approaches, when Allah says there is no responsibility on the righteous but to remind them (6:69), can we allow our emotions, our love for Allah and Prophet Muhammad (saw) to supersede our submission to the words of Allah in the Quran, which we believe to be the true word of God and our primary source of guidance? When God declares that there is no discrepancy in His message, then death sentence as opposed to respite for a term cannot both be correct. We find verses giving people time to repent though we do not find any verse prescribing any punishment to be enforced by any human. Then what should be a Muslim’s choice?
6:114 Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers.
6:115 Perfected is the Word of thy Lord in truth and justice. There is naught that can change His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
6:116 If thou obeyedst most of those on earth they would mislead thee far from Allah's way. They follow naught but an opinion, and they do but guess.
6:117 Lo! thy Lord, He knoweth best who erreth from His way; and He knoweth best (who are) the rightly guided.
Translation sources: www.searchtruth.com
Translators: Yusuf Ali, Pickthal
All quotes from the Holy Quran are preceded by chapter number: verse number. For example, 6:117 refers to Chapter 6, Verse 117 of the Holy Quran

Stoning to death

Question: Samiya, I beg to differ. The Quran (as well as the Bible) both prescribe STONING TO DEATH as a solution to certain undesirable behaviors. Just follow the links in that article that SHOW you the places in the Quran that prescribe this.
The question is not that scriptures prescribe barbaric behavior, but why do some cultures FOLLOW these barbaric behaviors and others don't. Jews and Christians have scripture support for stoning people to death but we don't hear of them do that any more. Why then do the Muslims still embrace this. And I will add that as this article pointed out we don't hear much or any from Muslims AGAINST this behavior. If there was a public uproar against this type of behavior in the MUSLIM community then I would see a movement toward change, but there is none that I have ever heard of.
My question is WHY? And why, Samiya, do you stick your head in the sand and ignore the fact that the Quran supports this behavior?
Answer: Quran DOES NOT prescribe stoning to death. All the sources quoted are from hadith compilation according to Bukhari. Hadith are historical compilation of oral traditions and stories and are subject to many human limitations. Records in it may be wrong or may be right, each has to be evaluated and cross-checked with the Quran.
Unfortunately, some people still think it is divine law. The reasons are:
-Lack of knowledge of the Quran
-Belief in Hadith books as divine source of guidance
-Illiteracy
-Feudal mindset
There was an era when muslims were highly educated and progressive and Islamic countries were the centre of learning. During those times, much of Europe was in its infamous Dark Ages and many terrible things were done in the name of religion. For various reasons, free thinking and enquiry came to a halt in Muslim countries, and along with sciences and other disciplines, religion also suffered and the door to development of fiqh and sharia work (interpretation of religious edicts to formulate laws consistent with divine guidance and the needs of the time) was also closed.
You, on the outside, find such things reprehensive. Imagine how difficult it is for a muslim to believe in such things and maintain faith. The religion of Islam has suffered much at the hands of those who have misrepresented religion and prevented people from studying and understanding the original texts and taking guidance from it.
As we muslim nations progress and develop our people, it is hoped that more open thought and objectivity will replace the old mindset and thus such practices will be eradited.
What is perhaps central to interfaith discussion is that we evaluate each religion for its merit/demerit based upon its core beliefs and book, rather than take the practices of certain groups and label that as the real religion.
My earlier response to a video posted:
Quran does not prescribe STONING TO DEATH though certain groups do think its a divine law, based upon other books.
I do not believe in those books, and the scholars I know also DO NOT BELIEVE it to be a divine law nor do they think that the Prophet would have ordered it.
The reason I do not believe it: http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/which-hadith-should-we-follow.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/sects-in-islam.html
I had answered the issue of punishment for adultery earlier. The following are the links
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2009/06/shariah-law-and-flogging-as-form-of.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2010/09/punishment-for-adultery-according-to.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/theft-and-adultery.html
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/to-be-or-not-to-be-equal-comments-on.html
You may also find this of some interest: http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2010/05/status-of-women-in-islam.html

Punishment for Adultery according to Quran

Question: Islam is merciful to men when it comes to adultry, but women they will be stoned to death like old jewish law, havent they heard it takes two to tangle?
Answer: Society is merciful to men as society is largely controlled by men, and laws and rules are bent to favour them. A study of all cultures, be they of whatever religion, throughout history, shows that humans tend to exploit all others whom they can dominate, sadly women being the weaker sex, also thus suffer.
According to the Quran, there is no death sentence for adultery. As for flogging, my understanding from the Quran (see below) is that Allah has indeed made it extremely difficult for anybody to accuse anybody else for adultery. To even admit the case in court you need atleast 4 witnesses, how is it possible to get 4 witnesses for such a thing? Then again, if the accusation is found to be false, the accuser is to be flogged with eighty stripes, and never again is his testimony to be accepted throughout his life! And if a person accuses his/her spouse of adultery, he/she is required to take oath 4 times that the accusation is true, and a fifth oath that if he/she is lying, may the wrath of Allah fall upon him/her.
Given the above conditions, it is indeed extremely difficult, if not impossible to launch such accusations. Also, I don’t see how except the openly promiscuous would suffer such a fate, and then again, after one or two such punishments, how many would be left in society who would dare do such a thing, especially openly?
Surah Noor ayat 1-10
1 A sura which We have sent down and which We have ordained in it have We sent down Clear Signs, in order that ye may receive admonition.
2 The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.
3 Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry and but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever: nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden.
4 And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-
5 Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.
6 And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;
7 And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.
8 But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By Allah, that (her husband) is telling a lie;
9 And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of Allah on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth.
10 If it were not for Allah.s grace and mercy on you, and that Allah is Oft- Returning, full of Wisdom,- (Ye would be ruined indeed).
http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=24&translator=2

Hell

A few comments on Hell prompted this response
Comment1: I have absolutely no belief in Hell, in fact I think very few people outside the Abrahamic faiths do. It's a horrible place invented to force feed monotheists with scary dreams until they obey the doctrines of the church.
Comment2: Hell is believing that there is a cruel God in the sky who would condemn anybody to eternal suffering. Hell is now for all those who believe in this kind of
God.
Comment3:Actually, quite a few other religions believe in something similar to "hell", but like you, I do not accept the idea either. what kind of monster "god" would want such a thing??????........
Response:As far as Heaven or destruction is, the problem is that there probably is no absolute mortality, rather, what we believe is that death is but a prolonged sleep, and then we will be recreated(re-awkened, re-assembled, re-constructed, resurrected) on the Day of Reckoning, after which there is immortality, and whether it is Heaven or Hell, we will live in it forever.
To elaborate as I understand from the Quran, God does not wish to punish us. He wishes to purify us and guide us to a blissful eternal life in Heaven. An essentail part of the purification is the free-will and trial, and all who take the guidance and do good deeds are given the glad tidings of Heaven. Again and again, it speaks of 'and they will live in there forever'. Also, another point to note is that throughout the text, we do not find any prayer for Heaven, rather its just mentioned as a reward and a blessing. What we find are prayers to be saved from the fire. God alone can grant guidance, and that He grants only to those who exercise their free will to ask for guidance. Those who exercise their free-will in some other direction, God lets them pursue that direction. There is no compulsion in religion, but the trial and the reckoning are compulsory, and so is eternal life.
Allah mentions in the Quran 4:147
Yusuf Ali 147: What can Allah gain by your punishment, if ye are grateful and ye believe? Nay, it is Allah that recogniseth (all good), and knoweth all things.
Shakir 147: Why should Allah chastise you if you are grateful and believe? And Allah is the Multiplier of rewards, Knowing
Pickthal 147: What concern hath Allah for your punishment if ye are thankful (for His mercies) and believe (in Him)? Allah was ever Responsive, Aware.
Mohsin Khan: 147: Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing.

Infinite punishment for a finite act??

Question: ....And yet, I think there is also a thing called wrong, that all of us can and have committed, myself included. There is no way that a finite creature can perform a finite act that merits infinite punishment, .... But punishment of some kind, yeah I can see it.....I just can't see it as eternal, or as hinging on whether or not one believes in Jesus as God and the only way to know God. Even Catholics, rigid as they are, don't believe that. It strikes me as pure crap.

Answer: It is the seriousness of the crime, not the length of it. For example, a person commits murder at but a point in time, but it is the seriousness which earns him the death sentence or life imprisonment.
Now, if the after-life is to be infinite, I figure the sentences there will also be infinite in nature as but a consequence of the very nature of infinite life. After all, if every moment of this life is a trial for the after-life, then every action is such that it matters an eternity. I guess its difficult for us to comprehend/ come to terms with this concept, bound as we are in this capsule of earth/space/time. To re-state my favourite analogy, a lot of what lies in the future career of a person depends on how well he/she takes his/her high school/college/university exam…. the exam is but for a few hours, but a lifetime depends upon it!

Shariah Law and flogging as a form of punishment

Question: I just want the opinion of all members of the recent implementation of 'Sharia Law' in sawat. Not the forget, the infamous video of flogging a girl.

Answer: We had a brief discussion on ideal Islamic state and shariah law in our Quran class the other day. Our teacher was of the opinion (or so I understood) that there is no such thing as an ideal state, as there always will be something better than an existing state, and thus there can never be a perfect state….. so instead of dreaming of an ‘ideal Islamic state’, we should simply strive, continuously, to improve our current state.As for the Shariah Laws, his opinion was that Allah has provided us with guidance (in the Quran) for only about five things, which as humans we would probably get confused about, and not be able to formulate the correct laws based on our human faculties. The rest, which are known as Islamic Shariah Laws, were formulated much much later, for political reasons.
………………………………………………….
As for flogging, my understanding from the Quran (see below) is that Allah has indeed made it extremely difficult for anybody to accuse anybody else for adultery. To even admit the case in court you need atleast 4 witnesses, how is it possible to get 4 witnesses for such a thing? Then again, if the accusation is found to be false, the accuser is to be flogged with eighty stripes, and never again is his testimony to be accepted throughout his life! And if a person accuses his/her spouse of adultery, he/she is required to take oath 4 times that the accusation is true, and a fifth oath that if he/she is lying, may the wrath of Allah fall upon him/her.

Given the above conditions, it is indeed extremely difficult, if not impossible to launch such accusations. Also, I don’t see how except the openly promiscuous would suffer such a fate, and then again, after one or two such punishments, how many would be left in society who would dare do such a thing, especially openly? I think the hudood and zina laws as implemented in Pakistan is simply a mockery of religion, and an additional tool for the oppressors to further their oppression.

Surah Noor ayat 1-10
1 A sura which We have sent down and which We have ordained in it have We sent down Clear Signs, in order that ye may receive admonition.
2 The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.
3 Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry and but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever: nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden.
4 And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-
5 Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.
6 And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;
7 And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.
8 But it would avert the punishment from the wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) By Allah, that (her husband) is telling a lie;
9 And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of Allah on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth.
10 If it were not for Allah.s grace and mercy on you, and that Allah is Oft- Returning, full of Wisdom,- (Ye would be ruined indeed).
http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=24&translator=2

Theft and Adultery

Question: The inhumane punishments for theft and adultery with the idea in mind (Tradition by Muslim in Book 1, Number 171) that Allah can forgive anything except worshipping other gods besides Him. If one says that Jesus is the Son of God one goes to hell, but when one commits theft or adultery and only believes in Allah one can go to heaven.

Answer: Theft and Adultery are crimes that affect society…… they must be dealt with firmly. If one repents, Allah is most forgiving, else, one will have to bear the consequences in after-life also.Joining/ascribing partners to Allah is an unforgivable sin if one dies with such belief. If one repents and reverts to the true faith, Allah is Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful