The Women (An-Nisâ)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹O mankind, reverence your Guardian Lord who created you from a single person, created of like nature his mate, and from them twain scattered countless men and women, reverence Allah through whom you demand your mutual rights and reverence the wombs that bore you, for Allah ever watches over you.¹

²And to orphans, restore their property, nor substitute worthless things for good ones, and devour not their substance with your own. For this is indeed a great sin.

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Ya ayyuhan nasuttaqu rabbakumu lazi khalaqakum min nafsi wahidatiw wa khalaqa minha zaujaha wa bassa minhuma rijalan kasira wa nisaan wattaqullahal lazi tasaaluna bihi wal arhama innallaha kana alaikum raqiban.

²Wa atul yatama amwalahum wa la tatabaddalul khabisa bi tuayyibi wa la takulu amwalahum ila amwalikum innahu kana huban kabiran.

1. A cursory mention of the creation account is made with a call to reverence Allah and our mothers. It is more like Exodus 20:12: where we are told to “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Also Ephesians 6:2: Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise). The injunction of reverencing ones mother is nothing new in Christianity or Judaism.

[Commentary continues below.]

³If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four, but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, then only one or a captive that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable to prevent you from doing injustice.²

⁴And give the women their dower as a free gift, but if they of their own good pleasure remit any part of it to you, take it and enjoy it with right good cheer.

⁵And to those weak of understanding, make not over your property which Allah has made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe them therewith and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

³Wa in khiftum alla tuqsitu fil yatama fankihu ma taba lakum mina nisai masna wa sulasa wa rubaa fa in khiftum alla tadilu fawahidatan au ma malakat aimanukum zalika adna alla taalu.

⁴Wa atu nisaa saduqatihinna nihlahtan fa in tibna lakum an shaiim minhu nafsan fakuluhu haniam marian.

⁵Wa la tutu sufahaa amwalakumu lati jaalallahu lakum qiyaman warzuquhum fiha waksuhum wa qulu lahum qaulam marufan.

2. This is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied portions in the Qur’an. Muslims believe, based on this passage that men can marry as many as four women on the condition that he does not lust after any other woman. Unfortunately, that is not what the Qur’an is talking about.

According to verse three, the Muslims were to marry of the orphans, who had become so after the battle of Uhud where a lot of the men lost their lives. This provisional passage was for the benefit of the orphans not the men.

The men had several wives by this time including captive women whom they have kept as wives. Therefore the number of wives allowable for the Muslim man is not known.

It will be safe to say that in Islam, one is allowed to marry as many women as one can care for. There are numerous stories about Muslim men in Nigeria marrying as many as twenty four wives.

I personally know of a Muslim man from the then Upper Volta (Bukina Faso) who had more than seven wives.

Though other Muslim men are very much monogamous and do not desire any more than their one wife, although they are in a financial position to care for forty women if they so choose. This hadith transmission by Sahih Al-Bukhari in his Hadith 3.674, narrated by Urwa bin Az Zubair makes the matter very clear as to what Allah meant by this verse.

“... And about what is Recited unto you In the Book, concerning The orphan girls to whom You give not the prescribed portions and yet whom you Desire to marry...’ What is meant by Allah’s saying: ‘And about what is Recited unto you is the former verse which goes:-- ‘If you fear that you shall not Be able to deal justly With the orphan girls, then Marry (other) women of your choice.’ (4.3) ‘Aisha said, “Allah’s saying in the other verse:--’Yet whom you desire to marry’

(4.127) means the desire of the guardian to marry an orphan girl under his supervision when she has not much property or beauty (in which case he should treat her justly). The guardians were forbidden to marry their orphan girls possessing property and beauty without being just to them, as they generally refrain from marrying them (when they are neither beautiful nor wealthy).”

There are several transmissions on this matter, however, since Aisha is known as the truth verifier, her knowledge on the matter will suffice as most authentic.

⁶And make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage, if then you find sound judgment in them, release their property to them, but consume it not wastefully nor in haste against their growing up. If the guardian is well off, let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When you release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence, but all sufficient is Allah in taking account.

⁷From what is left by parents and those nearest related, there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large, a determinate share.

⁶Wabtalul yatama hatta iza balagun nikaha fa in anastum minhu rushdan fadfau ilaihim amwalahum wa la takuluha israfa wa bidaran ayakbaru wa man kana ganiyyan falyastafif wa man kana faqiran falyakul bil marufi fa iza dafatum ilaihim amwalahum fa ashhidualaihim wa kafa billahi hasiban.

⁷Lirrijali nasibun mimma tarakal walidani wal aqrabuna wa linnisai nasibun mimma tarakal walidani wal aqrabuna mimma qalla minhu au kasura nasibam mafurudan.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸And if at the time of division, other relatives or orphans, or poor are present, feed them out of the property and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

⁹And let those, have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own if they had left a helpless family behind, let them fear Allah and speak words of appropriate comfort.

¹⁰Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans eat up a fire into their own bodies, they will soon be enduring a blazing fire.

⁸Wa iza hadaral qismata ulul qurba wal yatama wal masakinu farzuquhum minhu wa qulu lahum qaulam marufan.

⁹Walyakhshal lazina lau taraku min khalfihim zurriyyatan diafan khafu alaihim falyattaqullaha waluyaqulu qaulan sadidan.

¹⁰Inna lazina yakuluna amwalal yatama zulman innama yakuluna fi butunihim naran wa sayaslauna sairan.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹¹Allah directs you as regards your children’s inheritance, to the male a portion equal to that of two females, if only daughters two or more their share is two-thirds of the inheritance, if only one her share is a half. For parents a sixth share of the inheritance to each if the deceased left children, if no children and the parents are the only heirs the mother has a third, if the deceased left brothers, the mother has a sixth after the payment of legacies and debts. You know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by Allah and Allah is all knowing, all wise.

¹¹Yusikumullahu fi auladikum li zakari mislu hazzil unsayaini fa in kunna nisaan fauqasnataini fa lahunna sulusa ma taraka wa in kanat wahidatan falahan nisfu wa liabawaihi likulli wahidim minhuma sudusu mimma taraka in kana lahu waladun fa illam yakul lahu waladuw wa warisahu abawahu fa liummihi sulusu fa in kana lahu ikhwatun fa liummihi sudusu mim badi wasiyyati yusi biha au dainin abaukum wa abnaukum la tadruna ayyuhum aqrabu lakum nafan faridatam minallahi innallaha kanaaliman hakiman.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹²And in what your wives leave, your share is a half if they leave no child, but if they leave a child you get a fourth, after payment of legacies and debts. In what you leave, their share is a fourth if you leave no child, but if you leave a child they get an eighth, after payment of legacies and debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister each one of the two gets a sixth, but if more than two, they share in a third, after payment of legacies and debts, so that no loss is caused to anyone. Thus is it ordained by Allah and Allah is all knowing, forbearing.³

¹²Wa lakum nisfu ma taraka azwajukum illam yakullahunna waladun fa in kana lahunna waladun fa lakumu rabuu mimma tarakna min badi wasiyyati yusina biha au dainin wa lahunna rubuu mimma taraktum illam yakul lakum waladun fa in kana lakum waladun falahunna sumunu mimma taraktum min badi wasiyyatin tusuna biha au dainin wa in kana rajulu yurasu kalalatan awimraatun wa lahu akhun au ukhtun falikulli wahidim minhuma sudusu fain kanu aksara min zalika fahum shurakau fi sulusi mim badi wasiyyati yusa bihaau dainin gaira mudarrin wasiyyatam minallahi wallahu alimun halimun.

3. The inequality of men and women in Islam is even shown in the distribution of inheritance. Women are entitled to receive half the portion of what is given to male inheritors.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹³Those are limits set by Allah, those who obey Allah and his apostle will be admitted to gardens with rivers flowing beneath to abide therein and that will be the supreme achievement.

¹⁴And those who disobey Allah and his apostle and transgress his limits will be admitted to a fire to abide therein, and they shall have a humiliating punishment.

¹⁵And if any of your women are guilty of lewdness, take the evidence of four witnesses from among you against them, and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them or Allah ordain for them some way.

¹³Tilka hududullahi wa ma yutiillaha wa rasulahu yudkhilhu jannatin tajri min tahtihal anharu khalidina fiha wa zalikal fauzul atimu.

¹⁴Wa ma yasillaha wa rasulahu wa yatadda hududahu yudkhilhu naran khalidan fiha wa lahuazabun muhinun.

¹⁵Wallati yatinal fahishata min nisaikum fastashhidu alaihinna arbaatam minkum fa in shahidu fa amsikuhunna fil buyuti hatta yatawaffahunnal mautu au yajalallahu lahunna sabilan.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁶And if two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, leave them alone, for Allah is returning, merciful.⁴

¹⁷Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards, to them will Allah turn in mercy, for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.

¹⁸Of 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.

¹⁶Wallazani yatiyaniha minkum fa azuhuma fa in taba wa aslaha fa aridu anhuma innallaha kana tawwaba rahiman.

¹⁷Innama taubatu alallahi lillazina yamaluna suabi jahalatin summa yatubua min qaribin fa ulaika yatubullahu alaihim wa kanallahu aliman hakiman.

¹⁸Wa laisat taubatu lillazina yamaluna sayyiati hatta iza hadara ahadahumul mautu qala inni tubtul ana wa lallazina yamutuna wa hum kuffarun ulaika atadna lahumazaban aliman.

4. Women who are guilty of lewdness are to be confined in houses until their death, on the other hand, men who are found guilty of the same offence are to be punished but if they repent and amend their ways, they are to be forgiven. Could not the same provision be made for the women as well?

The answer is a resounding no, because the women are the properties of the men, as such, they do not have the same rights and privileges as men.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁹O you who believe, you are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness that you may take away part of the dower you have given them except where they have been guilty of open lewdness, on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.⁵

²⁰And if you decide to take one wife in place of another even if you had given the latter a whole treasure for dower, take not the least bit of it back, would you take it by slander and a manifest wrong?⁶

²¹And how could you take it when you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?

¹⁹Ya ayyuhal lazina amanu la yahillu lakum an tarisu nisaa karhan wa la taduluhunna litazhabu bi badi ma ataitumuhunna illa ayatina bi fahishatim mubayyinahtin waashiruhunna bil marufi fa in karihtumuhunna fa asa an takrahu shaia wa yajalallahu fihi khairan kasiran.

²⁰Wa in arattumustibdala zaujim makana zauji wa ataitum ihdahunna qintaran fala takhuzu minhu shaian atakhuzunahu buhtana wa isman mubinan.

²¹Wa kaifa takhuzunahu wa

qad afda badukum ila badi wa akhazna minkum misaqan galizan.

5. The custom of marrying the wives of departed brothers, as was practiced in the Old Covenant days, Muslims also do practice the same custom. The admonition here is that men are not to compel women in this custom to marry them against their wills. According to Yusuf Ali, men in those days used to provoke their wives to divorce them so that they may ask for their dowers back. Therefore, this passage was revealed to discourage such evil practices by the greedy and selfish Muslim men.

6. There is no law against divorce and remarriage as taught by Christ, the only stipulation here for divorce is that she be allowed to keep anything that was given her before and during the marriage. The answer is a resounding no, because the women are the properties of the men, as such, they do not have the same rights and privileges as men.

[Commentary continues below.]

²²And marry not women whom your fathers married, except what is past, it was shameful and odious, an abominable custom indeed.

²²Wala tankihu ma nakaha abaukum minan nisai illa ma qad salafa innahu kana fahishata wa maqtan wa saa sabilan.

[Commentary continues below.]

²³Prohibited to you are, your mother, daughters, sisters, father’s sisters, mother’s sisters, brother’s daughters, sister’s daughters, foster mothers, foster sisters, your wives’ mothers, your stepdaughters under your guardianship born of your wives to whom you have gone in. No prohibition if you have not gone in, wives of your sons proceeding from your loins, and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time, except for what is past, for Allah is forgiving, merciful.

²⁴And also women already married, except those whom your right hands possess. Thus has Allah ordained against you, except for these, all others are lawful provided you seek with gifts from your property desiring chastity not lust. Seeing that you derive benefit from them, give them their dowers as prescribed, but if after a dower is prescribed you agree mutually, there is no blame on you and Allah is all knowing, all wise.⁷

²³Hurrimat alaikum ummahatukum wa banatukum wa akhawatukum wa ammatukum wa khalatukum wa banatul akhi wa banatul ukhti wa ummahatukumul lati ardnakum wa akhawatukum mina radaati wa ummahatu nisaikum wa rabaibukumul lati fi hujurikum minnisa ikumul lati dakhaltum bihinna fa illam takunu dakhaltum bihinna falajunaha alaikum wa halailu abnaikumu lazina min aslabikum wa an tajmau bainal ukhtaini illa ma qad salafa innallaha kana gafura rahiman.

²⁴Wal muhsanatu mina nisai illa ma malakat aimanukum kitaballahi alaikum wa uhilla lakum ma waraa zalikum an tabtagu bi amwalikum muhisinan gaira musafihina famastamtatum bihi minhunna fa atuhunna ujurahunna faridahtan wa la junaha alaikum fima taradaitum bihi min badi l faridahti innallaha kana aliman hakiman.

7. Marriage even to one who is already married on condition that she is a prisoner of war is made legal for the Muslims. And in verse 25, marriage to minors is prescribed by Allah on account of lack of adult dowry, not according to lust. Muhammad may have set the example in his marriage to Aisha when he, an over fifty year old man married her when she was seven and consumed the marriage when she was nine. What would make a fifty plus old man have sex with a nine year old if it is not lust, aversion, or perversion.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁵And if any of you have not the means wherewith to wed free believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those whom your right hands possess, and Allah has full knowledge about your faith. You are one from another, wed them with the leave of their owners and give them their dowers according to what is reasonable, they should be chaste not lustful nor taking paramours, when they are taken in wedlock, if they fall into shame their punishment is half that for free women. This is for those among you who fear sin, but it is better for you that you practice self restraint, and Allah is forgiving, merciful.

²⁵Wa man lam yastati minkum taulan anyankihal muhsanatil muminati famimma malakat aimanukum min fatayatikumul muminati walla alamu bi imanikum badukum min badin fankihuhunna bi izni ahlihinna wa atuhunna ujurahunna bil marufi muhsanatin gaira musafihati wa la muttakhizati akhdanin fa iza uhsinna fa in ataina bi fahishatin fa alaihinna nisfu ma alal muhsanati minal azabi zalika liman khashiyalanata minkum wa anbiru khairul lakum wallahu gafuru rahimun.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁶Allah wishes to make clear to you and to show you the ordinances of those before you, and turn to you, and Allah is all knowing, all wise.

²⁷And Allah wishes to turn to you but the wish of those who follow their lusts is that you should turn away, far away.

²⁸Allah wishes to lighten your difficulties, for man was created weak in flesh.

²⁹O you who believe, eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities, but let there be among you traffic and trade by mutual good will, nor kill yourselves, for verily, Allah has been to you most merciful.

²⁶Yuridullahu liyubayyina lakum wa yahdiyakum sunanal lazina min qablikum wa yatuba alaikum wallahualimun hakimun.

²⁷Wallahu yuridu ayyatuba alaikum wa yuridul lazina yattabiuna shahawati an tamilu mailan attiman.

²⁸Yuridullahu anyukhaffifaankum wa khuliqal insanu daifan.

²⁹Ya ayyuhal lazina amanu la takulu amwalakum bainakum bil batili illa an takuna tijaratan an taradim minkum wa la taqtulu anfusakum innallaha kana bikum rahiman.

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁰And if any do that in rancor and injustice, soon shall We cast them into the fire, and easy it is for Allah.

³¹If you eschew the most heinous of the things which you are forbidden to do, We shall expel out of you all the evil in you and admit you to a gate of great honor.

³²And in no wise covet those things in which Allah has bestowed his gifts more freely on some of you than on others, to men is allotted what they earn and to women what they earn, but ask Allah of His bounty, for Allah has full knowledge of all things.

³⁰Wa ma yafal zalika udwanan wa tulman fa saufa nuslihi naran wa kana zalika alallahi yasiran.

³¹In tajtanibu kabaira ma tunhauna anhu nukaffir ankum sayyiatikum wa nudkhilkum mudkhalan kariman.

³²Wa la tatamannau ma faddalallahu bihi badakumala badin li rijali nasibum mimmaktasabu wa linnisai nasibum mimmaktasabna wasalullaha min fadlihi innallaha kana bi kulli shaiin aliman.

[Commentary continues below.]

³³And to everyone We have appointed sharers and heirs to property left by parents and relatives. To those also to whom your right hand was pledged, give their due portion, for truly Allah is witness to all things.

³⁴Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill conduct first admonish them, then refuse to share their beds, and lastly, beat them, but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means of annoyance, for Allah is most high, great.⁸

³³Wa likullin jaalna mawaliya mimma tarakal walidani wal aqrabuna wallazina aqadatu aimanukum fa atuhum nasibahum innallaha kanaala kulli shaiin shahidan.

³⁴Arijalu qawwamuna alan nisai bima faddalallahu badahum ala badin wa bima anfaqu min amwalihim fa salihatu qanitatun hafizatul lil gaibi bima hafizallahu wallati takhafuna nushuzahunna faizuhunna wahjuruhunna fil madajii wadribuhunna fa in atanakum fala tabgualaihinna sabilan innallaha kana aliyyan kabiran.

8. Muslims discount spousal abuse by playing down the intensity of this verse, however, as the following hadith transmission reveals, spousal abuse is very much encouraged in Islam. In the Sunan of Abu-Dawood’s hadith 142 narrated by Laqit ibn Sabirah about conversation with Muhammad; “I (the narrator Laqit) then said: Messenger of Allah, I have a wife who has something (wrong) in her tongue, i.e. she is insolent. He said: Then divorce her. I said: Messenger of Allah, she had company with me and I have children from her. He said: Then ask her (to obey you). If there is something good in her, she will do so (obey); and do not beat your wife as you beat your slave-girl. In 2141 narrated by Abdullah ibn AbuDhubab states thus; “Iyas ibn Abdullah ibn AbuDhubab reported the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) as saying:

Do not beat Allah’s handmaidens, but when Umar came to the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: Women have become emboldened towards their husbands, he (the Prophet) gave permission to beat them. Then many women came round the family of the

Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) complaining against their husbands. So the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Many women have gone round Muhammad’s family complaining against their husbands. They are not the best among you.

Likewise the Prophet said in 2142 narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab that a man may not be asked as to why he beat his wife.

2220 this is what Aisha says,

“Habibah daughter of Sahl was the wife of Thabit ibn Qays Shimmas He beat her and broke some of her part. So she came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) after morning, and complained to him against her husband. The Prophet (peace be upon him) called on Thabit ibn Qays and said (to him): Take a part of her property and separate yourself from her.

He asked: Is that right, Apostle of Allah? He said: Yes. He said: I have given her two gardens of mine as a dower, and they are already in her possession. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Take them and separate yourself from her.”

And again Al-Muwatta’s hadith 30.13

Abdullah ibn Umar said this, Yahya related to me from Malik that Abdullah ibn Dinar said, “A man came to Abdullah ibn Umar when I was with him at the place where judgments were given and asked him about the suckling of an older person. Abdullah ibn Umar replied, ‘A man came to Umar ibn al-Khattab and said, ‘I have a slave-girl and I used to have intercourse with her. My wife went to her and suckled her. When I went to the girl, my wife told me to watch out, because she had suckled her!’ Umar told him to beat his wife and to go to his slave-girl because kinship by suckling was only by the suckling of the young.’ “What more can be said about spousal abuse in Islam, it is clear that it is tolerated as against the teachings of the Bible.

³⁵And if you fear a breach between them both, appoint arbiters one from his family and the other from hers, if they wish for peace Allah will cause their reconciliation, for Allah has full knowledge and is acquainted with all things.⁹

³⁶And serve Allah and join not any partners with him, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer and what your right hands possess, for Allah loves not the arrogant, the vainglorious.

³⁵Wa in khiftum shiqaqa bainihima fabasu hakamam min ahlihi wa hakamam min ahliha iyurida islaha yuwaffiqillahu bainahuma innallaha kana liman khabiran.

³⁶Wabudullaha wa la tushriku bihi shaiaw wa bil walidaini ihsana wa bizil qurba wal yatama wal masakini wal jarizil qurba wal jaril junubi wa sahibi bil jambi wabni sabili wa ma malakat aimanukum innallaha la yuhibbu man kana mukhtalan fakhuran

9. Arbitration is the means by which conflicts, marital disputes and other forms of disagreements among family members are resolved in Africa and most of the Middle Eastern cultures. The reason is that marriages are family affairs as such the elders of each family tries as much as possible to maintain family unity and cohesiveness.

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁷Those who are niggardly or enjoin niggardliness on others, or hide the bounties which Allah has bestowed on them, for We have prepared for those who resist faith a punishment that steeps them in contempt.¹⁰

³⁸And those who spend of their substance to be seen of men, but have no faith in Allah and the last day, if any take the evil one for their intimate, what a dreadful intimate he is.

³⁹And what burden were it on them if they had faith in Allah and in the last day and they spent out of what Allah has given them for sustenance? For Allah has full knowledge of them.

⁴⁰Allah is never unjust in the least degree, if there is any good He doubles it and gives from His own presence a great reward.

³⁷Allazina yabkhaluna wa yamurunan nasa bil bukhli wa yaktumuna ma atahumullahu min fadlihi wa atadna lil kafirina azabam muhinan.

³⁸Wallazina yunfiquna amwalahum riaan nasi wa la yuminuna billahi wa la bil yaumil akhiri wa ma yakuni shaitanu lahuqarinan fa saa qarinan.

³⁹Wa maza alaihim lau amanu billahi wal yaumil akhiri wa anfaqu mimma razaqahumullahu wa kanallahu bihim aliman.

⁴⁰Innallaha la yazlimu misqala zarrahtin wa in taku hasanata yudaifha wa yuti mil ladunhu ajran attiman.

10. The word niggardliness has no relation to the offensive “N” word used derogatively by those of non-Negroid descent. The word means one who is not so generous with their resources.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴¹How then, if We brought from each people a witness and We brought you as a witness against these people.¹¹

⁴²On that day those who reject faith and disobey the apostle will wish that the earth were made one with them, but never will they hide a single fact from Allah!

⁴¹Fa kaifa iza jina min kulli ummatim bi shahidi wa jina bika ala haulai shahidan.

⁴²Yaumaizi yawaddul lazina kafaru wa asaur rasula lau tusawwa bihimul ardu wa la yaktumunallaha hadisan.

11. The popular Muslim view is that prophets are appointed for each people group, charged with proclaiming God’s word to their own people, and that these prophets will serve as witnesses against those they were sent to. There is a great amount of fallacy in this assumption, because prior to the coming of Judaism and Christianity (to mention just these two), the people worshiped idols and had no divinely appointed spokesperson from God Almighty. To perpetrate this notion is to accept even the false prophets from pagan origins who came against the true prophets of God in the various cultures.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴³O you who believe, approach not prayers with a mind befogged until you can understand all that you say, nor in a state of ceremonial impurity until after washing your whole body, if you are ill or on a journey, or one of you comes from offices of nature, or you have been in contact with women and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. For Allah does blot out sins and forgive again and again.¹²

⁴⁴Have you not turned your vision to those who were given a portion of the book? They traffic in error and wish that you should lose the right path.

⁴⁵And Allah has full knowledge of your enemies, Allah is enough for a protector and Allah is enough for a helper.

⁴³Ya ayyuhal lazina amanu la takrabu salata wa antum sukara hatta talamu ma taquluna wa la junuban illaabiri sabilin hatta tagtasilu wa in kuntum marda au ala safarin au jaa ahadun minkum minal gaiti au lamastumun nisaa falam tajidu maan fa tayammamu saidan tayyiban famsahu bi wujuhikum wa aidikum innallaha kanaafuwwan gafuran.

⁴⁴Alam tara ilal lazina utu nasibam minal kitabi yashtarunad dalalata wa yuriduna an tadillu sabila.

⁴⁵Wallahu alamu bi adaikum wa kafa billahi waliyya wa kafa billahi nasiran.

12. Islamic worship is preceded by the performance of ablution without which one’s prayers will not be acceptable. The ablution is to be performed after one has answered nature’s call, or had a conjugal visit with one’s legally married wife or husband. Islam considers all of these physical expressions as dirty and defiling and a hindrance to approaching the throne of God. This demonstration of outward purity is nothing more than hygienic, it does not take away nor add to one’s sense of spirituality. In fact the Bible says in Joel 2:13 that worshipers of God are to rend their hearts and not their garments and turn to the Lord.” Also in Psalm 66:18, we read that if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear our prayers. So you see, it is a heart affair and not an outward physical thing that prepares the atmosphere for an acceptable worship and service to God Almighty.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴⁶Of the Jews there are those who displace words from their places and say, “We hear and we disobey,” and “Hear what is not heard,” and “raina” with a twist of their tongues and a slander to faith. If only they had said, “We hear and we obey,” and “Do hear,” and “Do look at us,” it would have been better for them and more proper, but Allah has cursed them for their unbelief, but few of them will believe.

⁴⁷O you people of the book, believe in what We have revealed confirming what was with you before. We change the face and fame of some for the decision of Allah must be carried out.

⁴⁸Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him, but He forgives anything else to whom He pleases, to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed.

⁴⁶Mina lazina Hadu yuharrifunal kalima an mawadiihi wa yaquluna samina wa asaina wasma gaira musmiin wa raina layyam bi alsinatihim wa tanan fi dini wa lau annahum qalu samina wa atana wasma wanzurna lakana khairal lahum wa aqwama wa lakil laanahumullahu bi kufrihim fala yuminuna illa qalilan.

⁴⁷Ya ayyuhal lazina utul kitaba aminu bima nazzalna musaddiqal lima maakum min qabli an natmisa wujuhan fa naruddaha ala adbariha au nalanahum kama laanna asuaba sabti wa kana amrullahi mafulan.

⁴⁸Innallaha la yagfiru ayushraka bihi wa yagfiru ma duna zalika lima yashau wa ma yushrik billahi fa qadiftara isman atiman.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴⁹Have you not turned your vision to those who claim sanctity for themselves? No, but Allah sanctifies whom He pleases but never will they fail to receive justice in the least little thing.

⁵⁰Behold, how they invent a lie against Allah, but that by itself is a manifest sin.¹³

⁵¹Have you not turned your vision to those who were given a portion of the book? They believe in sorcery and evil and say to the unbelievers that they are better guided in the way than the believers.

⁵²They are those whom Allah has cursed, and those whom Allah has cursed you will find have no one to help.

⁵³Have they a share in dominion or power? Behold, they give not a farthing to their fellow men.

⁴⁹Alam tara ilal lazina yuzakkuna anfusahum balillahu yuzakki ma yashau wa la yuzlamuna fatilan.

⁵⁰Unzur kaifa yaftaruna alallahil kaziba wa kafa bihi isman mubinan.

⁵¹Alam tara ilal lazina utu nasibam minal kitabi yuminuna bil jibti wa taguti wa yaquluna lillazinakafaru haulai ahda mina lazina amanu sabilan.

⁵²Ulaikal lazina laanahumullahu wa ma yalanillahu falan tajida lahu nasiran.

⁵³Am lahum nasibum minal mulki fa izal la yutunan nasa naqiran.

13. The invented lie has to do with the deity of Jesus Christ, which the Muslim sees as an abominable lie and a fabrication about the person of Jesus Christ. But what as we shall see throughout this commentary is that the reverse is rather true. Muslims are in manifest error.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁴Or do they envy mankind for what Allah has given them of his bounty? But We had already given the people of Abraham the book and wisdom and conferred upon them a great kingdom.¹⁴

⁵⁵Some of them believed and some of them averted their faces from him, and enough is hell for a burning fire.

⁵⁶Those who reject Our signs we shall soon cast into the fire, as often as their skins are roasted through we shall change them for fresh skins that they may taste the penalty, for Allah is exalted in power, wise.

⁵⁴Am yahsudunan nasa ala ma atahumullahu min fadlihi faqad ataina ala Ibrahimal kitaba wal hikmata wa atainahum mulkan attiman.

⁵⁵Fa minhum man amana bihi wa minhum man sadda anhu wa kafa bi jahannama sairan.

⁵⁶Inna lazina kafaru bi ayatina saufa nuslihim naran kullama nadijatjuladuhum baddalnahum juludan gairaha layuazaqulazaba innallaha kanaazizan hakiman.

14. Who are the people of Abraham and what was their kingdom? Yusuf Ali believes that the Jews, not the Arabs, are the people of Abraham who were given the kingdom of Israel. The preposterousity of this is in their claim for the prophethood of Muhammad, citing the Ishmaelites as their ancestors when their own scholars believe that the people of Abraham are the Jews.

According to the authors of Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum “The Sealed Nectar” which is the best biography of Muhammad published in Saudi Arabia, there are three groups of Arabs only one of this group are pure Arabs.

1. Perishing Arabs: The ancient Arabs, of whose history little is known and of whom were ‘Ad, Thamud, Tasam, Jadis, Emlaq, and others.

2. Pure Arabs: Who originated from the progeny of Ya’rub bin Yashjub bin Qahtan. They were also called Qahtanian Arabs.

3. Arabized Arabs: Who originated from the progeny of Ishmael. They were also called ‘Adnanian Arabs.

Compounded by the fact that according to the same authors, Arab means deserts and waste barren land well nigh waterless and treeless, it makes identifying the truer Arabs a great psychological chore. So when a claim is made for the Arabs as being the descendants of Ishmael, now you know how false that can be.

⁵⁷And those who believe and do deeds of righteousness We shall soon admit to gardens with rivers flowing beneath their eternal home, therein shall they have companions pure and holy, We shall admit them to shades cool and ever deepening.¹⁵

⁵⁸Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between man and man that you judge with justice, verily, how excellent is the teaching which He gives you, for Allah is he who hears and sees all things.

⁵⁷Wallazina amanu wa amilu sualihati sanudkhiluhum jannatin min tahtihal anharu khalidina fiha abadan lahum fiha azwajum mutahharahtuw wa nudkhiluhum tillan tualilan.

⁵⁸Innallaha yamurukum an tuaddul amanati ila ahliha wa iza hakamtum bainan nasi an tahkumu bil adli innallaha niimma yaitukum bihi innalla kana samiam basiran.

15. The promise of marriage even in heaven holds an attraction for men with insatiable sexual appetite. The Muslims are promised women to their sexual satisfaction in heaven.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁹O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the apostle and those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and his apostle, if you believe in Allah and the last day, that is best and most suitable for final determination.¹⁶

⁶⁰Have you not turned your vision to those who declare that they believe in the revelations that have come to you and to those before you? Their wish is to resort together for judgment to the evil one though they were ordered to reject him. But Satan’s wish is to lead them astray far away.

⁶¹And when it is said to them, “Come to what Allah has revealed and to the apostle,” you see the hypocrites avert their faces from you in disgust.

⁵⁹Ya ayyuhal lazina amanu atiullaha wa atiur rasula wa ulil amri minkum fa in tanazatum fi shaiin fa rudduhu ilallahi wa rasuli in kuntum tuminuna billahi wal yaumil akhiri zalika khairu wa ahsanu tawilan.

⁶⁰Alam tara ilal lazina yazumuna annahum amanu bima unzila ilaika wa ma unzila min qablika yuriduna anyatahakamu ila taguti wa qad umiru anyakfuru bihi wa yuridu shaitani anyudillahum dalalam baidan.

⁶¹Wa iza qila lahum taalau ila ma anzalallahu wa ilar rasuli raaital munafiqina yasudduna anka sududan.

16. Muhammad is made a final authority alongside Allah in all matters. That makes Muhammad the equal of Allah. This is not so in Christianity or Judaism, God is The Only Authority and His messengers act as ambassadors with only as much authority as God delegates to them.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶²How then, when they are seized by misfortune because of the deeds which their hands have sent forth? Then they come to thee swearing by Allah, “We meant no more than good will and conciliation.”

⁶³Those men Allah knows what is in their hearts, so keep clear of them but admonish them and speak to them a word to reach their very souls.

⁶⁴And We sent not an apostle but to be obeyed in accordance with the will of Allah. If they had only when they were unjust to themselves come unto you and asked Allah’s forgiveness and the apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed returning, merciful.

⁶²Fa kaifa iza asabathun musibatum bima qaddamat aidihim summa jauka yahlifna billai in aradna illa ihsana wa taufiqan.

⁶³Ulaika lazina yalamullahu ma fi qulubihim fa arid anhum wa izhum wa qul lahum fi anfusihim qaulam baligan.

⁶⁴Wa maa arsalna mi rasulin illa liyutaa bi iznillah wa lau annahum italamu anfusahum jaauka fastagfarullaha wastagfara lahum rasulu lawajadullaha tawwaba rahiman.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁵But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith until they make you judge in all disputes between them and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions but accept them with the fullest conviction.

⁶⁶And if we had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done it, but if they had done what they were told, it would have been best for them and would have gone farthest to strengthen them.

⁶⁷And we should then have given them from our presence a great reward.

⁶⁸And we should have shown them the straight way.¹⁷

⁶⁵Fala wa rabbika la yuminunahatta yuhakkimuka fima shajara bainahum summa la yajidu fi anfusihim harajam mimma qadaita wa yusallimu tasliman.

⁶⁶Wa lau anna katabna alaihim aniqtulu anfusakum awikhruju min diyarikum ma faaluhu illa qalilun minhum wa lau annahum faala ma yuazuna bihi lakana khairal lahum wa ashadda tasbitan.

⁶⁷Wa izan laatainahum miladunna ajran timan.

⁶⁸Wa lahada inahum sirata mustaqiman.

17. The Straight Way (Path) according to Muslims is “al Islam” which they claim will lead to heaven when Muhammad had been told to say that he does not know what will be done with him in the hereafter (Qur’an 46:9) and has pointed to Jesus Christ as one whose followers will be exalted above the non followers until the Day of Resurrection (Qur’an 3:55). Jesus Himself had said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the life and that no man goes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). The Qur’an rather quaranteeing that every Muslim will go through the fire of hell (Qur’an 19:71).

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁹And all who obey Allah and the apostle are in the company of those on whom is the grace of Allah, of the prophets, the sincere, the witnesses, and the righteous, ah, what a beautiful fellowship.

⁷⁰Such is the bounty from Allah, and sufficient is it that Allah knows all.

⁷¹O you who believe, take your precautions and either go forth in parties or go forth all together.

⁷²And there are certainly among you men who would tarry behind, if a misfortune befalls you, they say, “Allah did favor us in that we were not present among them.”

⁶⁹Wa ma yutiillaha wa rasula fa ulaika maa lazina anamallahu alaihim mina nabiyyina wa siddiqina wa shuhadai wa salihina wa hasuna ulaika rafiqan.

⁷⁰Zalikal fadlu minallahi wa kafa billahi aliman.

⁷¹Ya ayyuhal lazina amanu khuzu hizrakum fanfiru subatin awinfiru jamian.

⁷²Wa inna minkum lama layubatti anna fain asabatkum musibatun qala qad anamallahu alayya iz lam akum maahum shahidan.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷³And if good fortune comes to you from Allah they would be sure to say as if there had never been ties of affection between you and them. “Oh, I wish I had been with them, a fine thing should I then have made of it.”

⁷⁴Let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fights in the cause of Allah whether he is slain or gets victory, soon shall We give him a great reward.

⁷³Walain asabakum fadlum minallahi layaqulanna ka allam takum bainakum wa bainahu mawaddatu ya laitani kuntu maahum fa afuza fauzan attiman.

⁷⁴Falyuqatil fi sabilillahil lazina yashrunal hayata dunya bil akhirahti wa ma yuqatil fi sabilillahi fayuqtal au yaglib fasaufa nutihi ajran atiman.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁵And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who being weak are ill treated? Men, women, and children, whose cry is, “Our Lord! rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors, and raise for us from you one who will protect, and raise for us from you one who will help.”

⁷⁶Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil, so fight against the friends of Satan, feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan.¹⁸

⁷⁵Wa ma lakum la tuqatiluna fi sabilillahi wal mustadafina mina rijali wan nisai walwildani lazina yaquluna rabbana akhrijna min hazihil qaryati tualimi ahluha wajal lana mil ladunkawaliyyan wajal lana mil ladunka nasiran.

⁷⁶Allazina amanu yuqatiluna fi sabilillahi wallazina kafaru yuqatiluna fi sabilit taguti fa qatilu auliyaa shaitani inna kaida shaitani kana daifan.

18. The call to Al-Jihad comes with the promise of great reward. It is a call to take arms against the non-Muslims who is considered an enemy of Allah and consequently the Muslim.       

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁷Have you not turned your vision to those who were told to hold back their hands but establish regular prayers and spend in regular charity? When the order for fighting was issued to them, behold, a section of them feared men as or even more than they should have feared Allah, they say, “Our Lord, why have you ordered us to fight? Would you not grant us respite to our term near enough?” Say, “Short is the enjoyment of this world, the hereafter is the best for those who do right, never will you be dealt with unjustly in the very least.

⁷⁸“Wherever you are, death will find you out, even if you are in towers built up strong and high.” If some good befalls them they say, “This is from Allah,” but if evil they say “this is from you.” Say, “All things are from Allah.” But what has come to these people that they fail to understand a single fact?¹⁹

⁷⁷Alam tara ilallazina qila lahum kuffu aidiyakum wa aqimu sualata wa atu zakahta falamma kutibaalaihimul qitalu iza fariqum minhum yakhshaunan nasa ka khashyatillahi au ashadda khasyyahti wa qalu rabbana lima katabtaalainal qitala lau la akhkhartana ila ajalin qaribin qul mataud dunya qalilun wal akhiratu khairul limanittaqa wa la tutlamuna fatilan.

⁷⁸Ainama takunu yudrikkumul mautu wa lau kuntum fi burujim mushayyadahtin wa in tusibhum hasanatu yaqulu hazihi min indillahi wa in tusibhum sayyiatu yaqulu hazihi min indika qul kullum min indillahi famali haulail qaumi la yakaduna yafqahuna hadisan.

19. This has been a cause for great debate. Do all things, both good and bad come from God. As a Christian I can only say that because God grants permission to Satan to test us in our faith, all things come from Him. However, when we have endured those trials and temptations, God is ready with absolute willingness to parade us before Satan as His Priced possessions and to show him how much He means to us. An example is the life Job in the Biblical book so called.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁹Whatever good happens to you is from Allah, but whatever evil happens to you is from your soul. And We have sent you as an apostle to mankind, and enough is Allah for a witness.

⁸⁰He who obeys the apostle obeys Allah, but if any turn away We have not sent you to watch over them.

⁸¹And they have obedience on their lips, but when they leave you, a section of them meditate all night on things very different from what you told them but Allah records their nightly plots, so keep clear of them and put your trust in Allah, and enough is Allah as a disposer of affairs.

⁸²Do they not ponder on the Qur’an? Had it been from other than Allah they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.²⁰

⁷⁹Ma asabaka min hasanatin faminallahi wa ma asabaka min sayyiatin famin nafsika wa arsalnaka linnasi rasulan wa kafa billahi shahidan.

⁸⁰Ma yutiir rasula fa qad ataallaha wa man tawalla fama arsalnaka alaihim hafituan.

⁸¹Wa yaquluna taahtun fa iza barazu min indika bayyata taifatum minhum gairal lazi taqulu wallahu yaktubu ma yubayyituna fa aridanhum wa tawakkalalallahi wa kafa billahi wakilan.

⁸²Afala yatadabbarunal qurana wa lau kana min indi gairillahi lawajadu fihikhtilafan kasiran.

20.This is a self imposed acid test for the acceptance of the Qur’an as the a revealed by Allah. The challenge is that there are no incongruities, contradictions or discrepancies.

FACT: It is a known historical fact that the religion of Islam was founded by Muhammad of Saudi Arabia. Allah denying this fact says that Abraham was a Muslim (Qur’an 3:67) at the same time, they claim that Muhammad is the first of the Muslims (Qur’an 6:162‑163). Now, if Abraham was a Muslim, and as the Muslim claim, if all the prophets before Muhammad were Muslims, how can Muhammad be the first of the Muslims?

FACT: In agreement with the Bible, the Qur’an says in chapter 11:7 that the world was created in six days. Which of the two accounts should we accept, if we accept one, what should become of the other. If we should accept both then one is in contradiction to the other.

FACT: The Qur’an teaches that prophets are sinless, because their actions are always to the glory of Allah and they follow that which Allah reveals to them (21:26‑7).

However, a critical look at the Qur’an reveals that almost all the prophets sinned and had to confess their sins. Since Muhammad is the most revered of all prophets by Muslims, let us look at what the Qur’an has to say about his sinfulness or sinlessness.

In Qur’an 40:55, 47:19, 48:1‑2, Muhammad was asked to confess his sins. In playing down this accusation, Muslims often ask us to mention the types of sins. Well. to this question, I have a rhetorical question, would God ask a sinless prophet to confess his sins? What kind of God will He be? However, since you really want to know, check this out. Qur’an 33:36‑40, the incident between Zaid and Muhammad, when the prophet claimed that God wanted him to marry the wife of his adopted son. Qur’an 80:1‑2, the story about Muhammad and the poor, blind old man whom Muhammad scorned. What does Muhammad have to say for himself? The Hadith records that Muhammad used to confess his sins, not the sin of his followers as the Muslims claim, but his own.

Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s messenger...

used to observe silence for a short while between the Takbir and the recitation of the Qur’an. I said to him: Messenger of Allah, for whom I would give my father and mother in ransom, what do you recite during your period of silence between the Takbir and the recitation? He said: I say (these words) O Allah, remove my sins from me as thou hast removed the east from the west. O Allah, purify me from sins as a white garment is purified from filth, O Allah! Wash away my sins with water, snow, and hail.” (Fiqh‑us‑Sunnah Fiqh 1.132a Shahi Muslim page 295.)

FACT: The Qur’an in chapter 7:54 says that the world was created in six days, however, in Qur’an 41:9‑12 we have a rendering of eight days:

Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds He set on the (earth) Mountains standing firm high above it and bestowed blessings on the earth and measured therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion in four Days in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (sustenance). Moreover He Comprehended in His design the sky and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: “Come ye together willingly or unwillingly.” They said: “We do come (together) in willing obedience.” So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might Full of knowledge.

The Qur’an has given us the basis for which to accept it, incidentally, it has failed terribly. Based on the above, the Qur’an cannot be accepted as the word of Allah. If it is not from Allah, who is it from?

⁸³And when there comes to them some matter touching safety or fear, they divulge it. If they had only referred it to the apostle or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have tested it from them. Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah unto you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the clutches of Satan.

⁸⁴Then fight in Allah’s cause, you are held responsible only for yourself and rouse the believers. It may be that Allah will restrain the fury of the unbelievers, for Allah is the strongest in might and in punishment.

⁸³Wa iza ja ahum amrum minal amni awil khaufi azau bihi wa lau radduhu ila rasuli wa ila ulil amri minhum laalimahul lazina yasutamubitunahu minhum wa lau la fadlullahi alaikum wa rahmatuhu lattaba tumu shaitana illa qalilan

⁸⁴Fa qatil fi sabilillahi la tukallafu illa nafsaka wa harridil muminina asallahu ayakuffa basallazina kafaru wallahu ashaddu basan wa ashaddu tankilan.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸⁵And whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein, and whoever recommends and helps an evil cause shares in its burden, and Allah has power over all things.

⁸⁶And when a greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things.

⁸⁷Allah, there is no Allah but He, of a surety He will gather you together against the day of judgment about which there is no doubt. And whose word can be truer than Allah’s?

⁸⁸Why should you be divided into two parties about the hypocrites? Allah has upset them for their deeds. Would you guide those whom Allah has thrown out of the way? For those whom Allah has thrown out of the way never shall you find the way.²¹

⁸⁵Wa ma yashfa shafatan hasanata yakul lahu nasibum minha wa ma yashfa shafaatan sayyiata yakul lahu kiflum minha wa kanallahu ala kulli shaiin muqitan.

⁸⁶Wa iza huyyitum bi tahiyyatin fa hayyu bi ahsana minha au rudduha innallaha ala kulli shaiin hasiban.

⁸⁷Allahu la ilaha illa huwa layajmaannakum ila yaumil qiyamati la raiba fihi wa man asdaqu minallahi hadisan.

⁸⁸Fama lakum fil munafiqina fiataini wallahu arkasahum bima kasabu aturiduna an tahdu man adallallahu wa ma yudlilillahu falan tajida lahu sabilan.

21. This is more or less the Muslim idea of predestination, except that it is not predestination but fatalism. In Islam it is not based on God’s foreknowledge, rather it is based on God’s pre‑creation purpose for all mankind. Muslims therefore believe that nothing will befall except that which Allah has ordained.

As the following transmission shows, those who will go to hell were made for hell before their birth, likewise those who will go to heaven. Al‑Tirmidhi Hadith 119 narrated by AbudDarda’:

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Allah created Adam when He had to create him and He struck his right shoulder and there emitted from it white offspring as if they were white ants. He struck his left shoulder and there emitted from it the black offspring as if they were charcoal. He then said (to those who had been emitted) from the right (shoulder): For Paradise and I do not mind. Then He said to those (who had been emitted) from his left shoulder: They are for Hell and I do not mind.

Sahih Al‑Bukhari Hadith 9.606 narrated by Abu Huraira:

“The Prophet said, “Adam and Moses debated with

each other and Moses said, ‘You are Adam who turned out your offspring from Paradise.’ Adam said, ‘You are Moses whom Allah chose for His Message and for His direct talk, yet you blame me for a matter which had been ordained for me even before my creation?’ Thus Adam overcame Moses.”

Sahih Al‑Bukhari Hadith 8.276 narrated by Ali:

The Prophet said, “Hatib has told you the truth, so do not say to him (anything) but good.” ‘Umar bin Al‑Khattab said, “Verily he has betrayed Allah, His Apostle, and the believers! Allow me to chop his neck off!” The Prophet said, “O ‘Umar! What do you know; perhaps Allah looked upon the Badr warriors and said, ‘Do whatever you like, for I have ordained that you will be in Paradise.’ “ On that ‘Umar wept and said, “Allah and His Apostle know best.”

According to Romans 8:29‑30 predestination is based on God’s foreknowledge and not his pre‑creative purpose.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified”.

⁸⁹And they wish that you should reject faith as they do and thus be on the same footing, but take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah. But if they turn renegades seize them, and slay them wherever you find them, and take no friends or helpers from their ranks.²²

⁸⁹Waddu lau takfuruna kama kafaru fa takununa sawaan fala tattakhizu minhum auliyaa hatta yuhajiru fi sabilillahi fa in tawallau fakhuzuhum waqtuluhum haisu wajattumuhum wa la tattakhizu minhum waliyyan wa la nasiran.

22. In the economy of Muslim philosophy, Muslims are not to become friends with non‑Muslim because they will attempt to convert them from their Islamic ways. The Islamic agenda is to dominate the whole world with Islam, even if it means killing the unbelievers as this verse indicates.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹⁰Except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. If Allah had pleased, He could have given them power over you and they would have fought you, therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not and send you peace, then Allah has opened no way for you.

⁹¹Others you will find that wish to gain your confidence as well as that of their people, every time they are sent back to temptation they succumb thereto, if they withdraw not from you nor give you peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them. Wherever you get them, in their case, We have provided you with a clear argument against them.

⁹⁰Illal lazina yasiluna ila qaumim bainakum wa bainahum misaqun au jaukum hasirat suduruhum ayuqatilukum au yuqatilu qaumahum wa lau shaallahu lasallatahum alaikum falaqatalukum fa initazalukum falam yuqatilukum wa alqau ilaikumu salama fama jaalallahu lakum alaihim sabilan.

⁹¹Satajiduna akharina yuriduna anyamanukum wa yamanu qaumahum kulla ma ruddu ilal fitnati urkisu fiha fa illam yatazilukum wa yulqu ilaikumu salama wa yakuffu aidiyahum fa khuzuhum waqtuluhum haisu saqiftumuhum wa ulaikum jaalna lakum alaihim sultanam mubinan.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹²And never should a believer kill a believer, but if it so happens by mistake, compensation is due, if one kills a believer, it is ordained that he should free a believing slave and pay compensation to the deceased’s family, unless they remit it freely. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a believer the freeing of a believing slave is enough. If he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance compensation should be paid to his family and a believing slave be freed. For those who find this beyond their means a fast for two months running is prescribed, by way of repentance to Allah, for Allah has all knowledge and all wisdom.²³

⁹²Wa ma kana limuminin anyaqtula muminan illa khatan wa man qatala muminan khataan fa tahriru raqabatim muminahtin wa in kana min qaumim bainakum wa bainahum misaqun fadiyatum musallamatun ila ahlihi wa tahriru raqabatim muminahtin famal lam yajid fa siyamu shahraini mutatabiaini taubatam minallahi wa kanallahu aliman hakiman.

23. The sanctity of life in Islam is limited, one is at liberty to kill anybody and for any reason at all, however it is not permitted for a Muslim to a fellow Muslim, except in cases of friendly fire.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹³And if a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is hell to abide therein, and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him.

⁹⁴O you who believe, when you go abroad in the cause of Allah, investigate carefully and say not to anyone who offers you a salutation. “You are none of a believer.” Coveting the perishable goods of this life, with Allah are abundant profits and spoils. Even thus were you yourselves before till Allah conferred on you His favors, therefore carefully investigate for Allah is well aware of all that you do.

⁹³Wa ma yaqtul muminan mutaammidan fa jazauhu jahannamu khalidan fiha wa gadiballahu alaihi wa laanahu wa aadda lahu azaban atiman.

⁹⁴Ya ayyuhal lazina amanu iza darabtum fi sabilillahi fa tabayyanu wa la taqulu liman alqa ilaikumu salama lasta muminan tabtagunaaradal hayati dunya faindallahi maganimu kasirahtun kazalika kuntum min qablu fa mannallahu alaikum fa tabayyanu innallaha kana bima tamaluna khabiran.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹⁵Not equal are those believers who sit at home and receive no hurt and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah has granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit at home, unto all has Allah promised good, but those who strive and fight has He distinguished above those who sit at home by a special reward.

⁹⁶Ranks specially bestowed by Him and forgiveness and mercy. For Allah is forgiving, merciful.

⁹⁵Layastawil qaiduna minal muminina gairu ulid darari wal mujahiduna fi sabilillahi bi amwalihim wa anfusihim faddalallahul mujahidina bi amwalihim wa anfusihim alal qaidina darajahtan wa kulla waadallahul husna wa faddalallahul mujahidinaalal qaidina ajuran attiman

⁹⁶Darajatim minhu wa magfiratan wa rahmahtan wa kanallahu gafuran rahiman.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹⁷When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say, “In what were you?” They reply, “Weak and oppressed were we in the earth.” They say, “Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away?” Such men will find their abode in hell, what an evil refuge.

⁹⁸Except those who are really weak and oppressed, men, women, and children, who have no means in their power nor a guide post to direct their way.

⁹⁹For these there is hope that Allah will forgive, for Allah blots out sins and forgive again and again.