Misconceptions and quries about Islam

[Mohsin]

There is a very good organizations by the name of Islamic Research Foundation(IRF) who is aslo involved in comparative religion. The Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), Mumbai, India, is a registered non-profit public charitable trust. It was established in February 1991. It promotes Islamic Da’wah - the proper presentation, understanding and appreciation of Islam, as well as removing misconceptions about Islam - amongst less aware Muslims and non-Muslims. IRF uses modern technology for its activities, whereever feasible. Its presentation of Islam reach millions of people worldwide through international satellite T.V. channels, cable T.V. networks, internet and the print media. IRF's activities and facilities provide the much needed understanding about the truth and excellence of Islamic teachings - based on the glorious Qur'an and authentic Hadith, as well as adhering to reasons, logic and scientific facts.

I would like you people to visit their website http://www.irf.net/irf/main.htm .

View the question and answer section where many frequently asked questions are answered. http://www.irf.net/irf/faqonislam/index.htm .

Read their composed lectures which deal with many big issues like
1: Concept of God in major religions,
2: Quran and modren science - conflic or conciliation,
3: Women's rights in Islam - modernising or outdated,
4: Is Quran God's word?
5: Islam and terrorism.
Download them from http://www.irf.net/irf/download/index.htm .


After reading all these, most, if not all, the misconceptions about Islam would be, by the will of God, clarified.

[I, Brian]

Thanks for that - I think I'm going to open up on a couple of pointers soon for further discussion.

[Shih Yo Chi]

Mohsin, Thank you for the sources. I have been wanting to look into Islam and this seems like a very good starting point. It's been hard for me to know what to believe about Islam by looking on the internet. When I go to a Christian site I know how to place that group in the context of Christianity, but without any background in Islam, I can't place an Islamic group in any context. There exists such a diversity in the Islamic community, just as in Christianity, that it is hard for me to get to the core beliefs. I should just read the Qur'an let it speak to me and not worry about how others have intrepeted it. That is my approach to the Bible. Do you have any recommendations to a specific version or translation?

[Mohsin]

Thank you for your concern Shih Yo Chi. The Quran in Arabic is flawless and it is the language in which it was revealed. Translations are a work of man. Though there are many people who have translated the Quran, there are bound to be mistranslations. The site and the lectures have also mentioned this. I cannot recomend you any specific auther for translations, but the Quranic coppies are by reliable sources and you can choose any. But do keep in mind that the translation is a work of man, it may contain errors. That is why I recommend that Arabic text should also be present if physical copy is being obtained.

[9Harmony]

Hi Shin and everyone,

I recently found this online source which lists 3 translations side by side.

I find it quite useful for research.

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/quranindex.html

Loving Greetings, Harmony

[samabudhi]

[quote=Mohsin]The Quran in Arabic is flawless[quote]
The line 'In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful' is left out of surah 9, AL-TAWBA. Is this not a flaw?

I'm going to assume that you say that God left it out for a reason and that we simply don't know. But then how can you say that there are any mistakes. Any time anyone finds a mistake, you just claim it is intentional.

Not that it makes any difference whether it's in or it's out. Just interested that you claim the Quran is flawless.

[Mohsin]

[quote=samabudhi][quote=Mohsin]The Quran in Arabic is flawless

The line 'In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful' is left out of surah 9, AL-TAWBA. Is this not a flaw?

I'm going to assume that you say that God left it out for a reason and that we simply don't know. But then how can you say that there are any mistakes. Any time anyone finds a mistake, you just claim it is intentional.

Not that it makes any difference whether it's in or it's out. Just interested that you claim the Quran is flawless.

I appreatiate your concern about the verse. Really, because of your question I had to consult a scholor for this answer and yes there is a reason for this. The surah before surah AL-TAWBA is surah AL-ANFAL. The message in both the surahs is the same, mainly about fighting against those pagans of Makkah who broke a peace treaty onesidedly and stopped the Muslims from worshiping and performing their pilgramige. So, if a person is reciting from the previous surah, he need not to say 'In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful' when entering into this surah. However, if the reader stops in the middle and resumes later, he must say 'In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful'.

I hope that you are satisfied now with our(Muslims) claim that 'The Qur'an in Arabic is flawless'.

[samabudhi]

Originally Posted by Mohsin

I appreatiate your concern about the verse. Really, because of your question I had to consult a scholor for this answer and yes there is a reason for this. The surah before surah AL-TAWBA is surah AL-ANFAL. The message in both the surahs is the same, mainly about fighting against those pagans of Makkah who broke a peace treaty onesidedly and stopped the Muslims from worshiping and performing their pilgramige. So, if a person is reciting from the previous surah, he need not to say 'In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful' when entering into this surah. However, if the reader stops in the middle and resumes later, he must say 'In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful'.

From what I've heard, the surahs are pretty much arbitrary anyway, and that the Qu'ran was actually divided only into 31(?) Juz?

I hope that you are satisfied now with our(Muslims) claim that 'The Qur'an in Arabic is flawless'.

Er, not quite. Why are surah AL-TAWBA and surah AL-ANFAL not one then, if the one simply continues from the other?

[Mohsin]

Allah(SWT) knows best. May be because Allah(SWT) wants to keep the Qur'an in the great balance that it is actully in. Also, I reffered to another scholor and he gave me another answer. He said that the verse 'In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful' is also present in the Qur'an in:
[27.30] Surely it is from Sulaiman, and surely it is 'in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful';
The scholor said that this verse has been replaced from the begining of surah AL-TAWBA by Allah(SWT). Now, according to me, both the conditions can be true. There can and is a similar kind of message, i.e one begins from the other, and that because Allah(SWT) had actully replaced the verse to keep a balance in the Qur'an as He wishes. Again, this is just me as the true knowledge is with Allah(SWT) alone.

[samabudhi]

Really, I don't see why you bother.
As soon as there's something you can't explain...'It is Allah's will.'
At least refrain from advertising that the Qu'ran is flawless if you're not going to be able to back up your case.

[I, Brian]

I think there's a general similar argument from other quarters - in case anyone is familiar with the expression "God works in mysterious ways".

[Mohsin]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

I think there's a general similar argument from other quarters - in case anyone is familiar with the expression "God works in mysterious ways".

True. The knowledge human being have is very little and only what God has chosen to give us and only what we have learned.
Now, as for Samabudhi, concider this. I am claiming that the reason that I have given is the true reason. Then can you prove anything againts it. Can you pass any argument to deny it. Not believing is your problem, but the reason is given.

[samabudhi]

You state that the Qu'ran is flawless.
Where people criticise it, you give good reasons to allay their concerns.
But where you can't, you simply claim that you don't know, that it is God's will and knowledge, and that it is nevertheless flawless!?
So what, may I ask, would constitute a flaw?

[Mohsin]

Originally Posted by samabudhi

You state that the Qu'ran is flawless.
Where people criticise it, you give good reasons to allay their concerns.
But where you can't, you simply claim that you don't know, that it is God's will and knowledge, and that it is nevertheless flawless!?
So what, may I ask, would constitute a flaw?

A flaw would be something that is contradicting. For example, one commandment calling something wrong and other calling it right without any reason. Stating something which is against the established facts. The critics of the Qur'an came up with many reason pointing a contradiction, but they all turned out to be 100% illogical, due to misquotation and mistranslation.
When the Qur'an was revealed, the pagan Arabs were so very backward in development fields. They were spending too mush time in literature and poetry and called every non-Arab or one unable to speak Arabic as someone who cannot speak at all. When the Qur'an was revealed and they heard the verses, they could not even believe in the depth and accuracy of the literatue that the Qur'an posses. They could not face the Qur'anic challenge, to produce somthing like it, even though they were masters of their language and agreed that it is a devine revelation.

[samabudhi]

I've included a quote from my latest interesting site. You can find many more flaws in the Qu'ran and helpful information on the subject at :
http://www.secularislam.org/guide/mirza.htm

How many days did it take to create the Heavens and the Earth?

· Quran-7:54: Your guardian-Lord is Allah who created the heavens and earth in Six Days

· Quran-10:3: Verily your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in Six Days

· Quran- 11:7: He it is Who created the heavens and earth in Six Days

· Quran-25:29: He Who created the heavens and earth and all that is between, in Six Days

The above verses clearly state that Allah ( God) created the heavens and the Earth in 6 days. But the verses below state

· Quran-41:9 : Is it that ye deny Him who created the earth in Two Days ?

· Quran- 41:10: He set on the (earth) Mountains standing firm high above it, and bestowed blessing on the earth, and measured therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in FOUR DAYS…

· Quran-41:12: So He completed them (heavens) as seven firmaments in Two days and …

Now do the math: 2 (for earth) + 4 (for nourishment) + 2 (for heavens) = 8 days; and not 6 days.

You can see similar mistakes in the verses: Quran-4:11, 4:12, and 4: 176 in inheritance law. In these verses one can see the total property after adding all distributed parts adds up more than the available property, i.e., the totals become more than 1 which are: 1.125 and 1.25. How come? A gross mathematical error, is it not?

It took me 15 minutes to find these.
What are you defending?