"For unbelievers are open enemies to you"?

Question

I have had enough of people telling me what christianity is and what islam is. I decided i need to pick the the bible and qur'an and read them for myself. As i was reading the Qur'an i was struck by the many open calls for violence against non-believers. Referring to all those who dont believe as "open enemies". I try to be open minded and tolerant, but is it just me or does this seem like hateful teaching?

Also i was uncomfortable that if a woman should commit lewdness she should be kept in the house until death. If a man commits lewdness and is sorry he should be forgiven.

Finally i do not understand why a son's inheritance is twice that of a woman.

All these things were in "The Women" SuraH - reading the Qur'an is kind of making me less tolerant of islam rather than more (which is what i hoped). So to any muslims or non-muslims who might be able to help me see the rational for these i wold appreciate it.

Answer 1

Very interesting post!
I often criticize Muslims; however, reading the Quran...like the Bible can be difficult to comprehend if we read it like a History book.
Remember, the disciples of Mohammad memorized what Mohammad said then all was compiled into a book..yes?
For example, the 'Historical' Mohammad did at one time say to kill Jews when they betrayed him; this didn't mean that he he always said to kill Jews.

Now on a negative note; although Muslims are convinced that the Quran is the true teachings of Mohammad, some scholars find it difficult to accept some of the Quran's negative laws against women when the Historical Mohammad always respected the rights of women.
Could the compilers of the Quran change some of Mohammad's teachings to fit their political agenda?????
Think about it.

Answer 2

I had the same experiance as u, and ppl tried to tell me all kinds of stuff, but what is written is written and ye, it cant be changed.

So maybe if people wanna b more tolerant of a religion they should just not read the books or so, unless they think about joining, cos it could actually have the opposite effect.

Answer 3

Copy paste time.

Question:

Under Islamic law, why is a woman’s share of the inherited wealth only half that of a man?

Answer:

The Glorious Qur’an contains specific and detailed guidance regarding the division of the inherited wealth, among the rightful beneficiaries.

The Qur’anic verses that contain guidance regarding inheritance are:

* Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 180

* Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 240

* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 7-9

* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 19

* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 33 and

* Surah Maidah, chapter 5 verse 106-108

There are three verses in the Qur’an that broadly describe the share of close relatives i.e. Surah Nisah chapter 4 verses 11, 12 and 176. The translation of these verses are as follows:

"Allah (swt) (thus) 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 (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye 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.

In what your wives leave, your share is half. If they leave no child; but if they leave a child, ye get a fourth; after payment of legacies and debts. In what ye leave, their share is a fourth, if ye leave no child; but if ye leave a child, they get an eight; 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 it is ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing Most Forbearing"
[Al-Qur’an 4:11-12]

"They ask thee for a legal decision. Say: Allah directs (them) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If it is a man that dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half the inheritance. If (such a deceased was) a woman who left no child, Her brother takes her inheritance. If there are two sisters, they shall have two thirds of the inheritance (between them). If there are brothers and sisters, (they share), the male having twice the share of the female. Thus doth Allah (swt) makes clear to you (His knowledge of all things).
[Al-Qur’an 4:176]

In most of the cases, a woman inherits half of what her male counterpart inherits. However, this is not always the case. In case the deceased has left no ascendant or descendent but has left the uterine brother and sister, each of the two inherit one sixth. If the deceased has left children, both the parents that is mother and father get an equal share and inherit one sixth each. In certain cases, a woman can also inherit a share that is double that of the male. If the deceased is a woman who has left no children, brothers or sisters and is survived only by her husband, mother and father, the husband inherits half the property while the mother inherits one third and the father the remaining one sixth. In this particular case, the mother inherits a share that is double that of the father. It is true that as a general rule, in most cases, the female inherits a share that is half that of the male. For instance in the following cases:

1. daughter inherits half of what the son inherits,

2. wife inherits 1/8th and husband 1/4th if the deceased has no children.

3. Wife inherits 1/4th and husband 1/2 if the deceased has children

4. If the deceased has no ascendant or descendent, the sister inherits a share that is half that of the brother.

In Islam a woman has no financial obligation and the economical responsibility lies on the shoulders of the man. Before a woman is married it is the duty of the father or brother to look after the lodging, boarding, clothing and other financial requirements of the woman. After she is married it is the duty of the husband or the son. Islam holds the man financially responsible for fulfilling the needs of his family. In order to do be able to fulfill the responsibility the men get double the share of the inheritance. For example, if a man dies leaving about Rs. One Hundred and Fifty Thousand, for the children (i.e one son and one daughter) the son inherits One Hundred Thousand rupees and the daughter only Fifty Thousand rupees. Out of the one hundred thousand which the son inherits, as his duty towards his family, he may have to spend on them almost the entire amount or say about eighty thousand and thus he has a small percentage of inheritance, say about twenty thousand, left for himself. On the other hand, the daughter, who inherits fifty thousand is not bound to spend a single penny on anybody. She can keep the entire amount for herself. Would you prefer inheriting one hundred thousand rupees and spending eighty thousand from it, or inheriting fifty thousand rupees and having the entire amount to yourself?

Answer 4

So, you didn't read with an open mind?

I read the Bible, with an open mind, hoping to find God. I found lies.

But, I found a whole, happier me...with no God at all.
Go figure.

Answer 5

Regarding the lewdness of women and men:

The short summery of below text is :
In early days of Islam, the punishment for lewdness was what you mention in Verse No.:4:15 & 4:16. In later time, it was change into punishment of stoning and lashes according to marital status.


Meaning of words used in below text:
Tafseer: Explanation of Quran by competent scholars who have the expertise compare to layman translation.
Hadith: Teaching of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him)
Sahi Muslim, Sahi Bukhari: Books that contain the authenticated saying of those followers who directly learned or saw or listen from Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).

(As you reading with open mind then you better buy the Explanation of every verse:
http://www.dar-us-salam.com/store/main.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Dus&Product_Code=Q09&Category_Code=Eng_Quran
Tafsir Ibn-e-Kathir)


Allah says: "And those of your women who commit unlawful intercourse, take the evidence of four witnesses from amongst you against them, and if they testify, confine them (i.e. women) to the houses until death comes to them or Allah ordains for them a way out."

[al-Nisa’ 4:15]






Ibn Katheer, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his Tafseer (explanation) of this aayah:

"At the beginning of Islam, the ruling concerning a woman who was proven guilty of adultery was that she was to be detained in a house and not allowed to come out until she died. So the phrase ‘If any of your women are guilty of lewdness’ refers to adultery. ‘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 Allah ordain for them some (other) way’ - the ‘other way’ that Allah made for them was the abrogation of this. Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: ‘This was the ruling until Allah revealed Surat al-Nur, then this punishment was abrogated and replaced with whipping or stoning.’ Something similar was reported from ‘Ikrimah, Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, al-Hasan, ‘Ataa’ al-Khurasani, Abu Saalih, Qutaadah, Zayd ibn Aslam and al-Dahhak, stating that this is abrogated, and this is agreed upon. Imam Ahmad said: ‘Muhammad ibn Ja‘far told us that Sa‘id told us from Qutaadah from al-Hasan from Hattaan ibn ‘Abdullah al-Raqaashi from ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit who said: Whenever the wahy (revelation) descended upon the Messenger of Allah (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him), it affected him, the stress showed on him and his face would change. Allah sent a revelation to him one day, and when it was over, he said: " Listen to me, Allah has made another way for them. (When) a married man (commits adultery) with a married woman, and an unmarried man with an unmarried woman, then in the case of married (persons) there is (a punishment) of one hundred lashes and then stoning (to death), and in the case of unmarried persons, (the punishment) is one hundred lashes and exile for one year."’ It was reported by Muslim and other narrators of Sunan via Qutaadah from al-Hasan from al-Hattan from ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit from the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) with the wording: ‘Receive (teaching) from me, receive (teaching) from me. Allah has made another way for those (women). When an unmarried man commits adultery with an unmarried woman, (they should receive) one hundred lashes, and banishment for one year. In the case of a married male committing adultery with a married female, they should receive one hundred lashes and be stoned to death.’ Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a saheeh hasan hadeeth."


Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his tafseer of this aayah:

"This [confinement] was the first punishment for adultery, at the beginning of Islam. Ibn ‘Abbas and al-Hasan said: Ibn Zayd added: They would not be allowed to marry, until they died, as a punishment for them when they asked to marry someone else. This ruling applied for a while, then the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said, according to the hadeeth narrated by ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit: "Receive (teaching) from me, receive (teaching) from me. Allah has made another way for those (women). When an unmarried man commits adultery with an unmarried woman, (they should receive) one hundred lashes, and banishment for one year. In the case of a married male committing adultery with a married female, they should receive one hundred lashes and be stoned to death." Some of the scholars said: the idea of punishment and shame was still there with the lashing, because there is no contradiction, and they are applied to one person. As for confinement, this is abrogated, by the consensus of the scholars. And Allah knows best.

To complete the benefit of what has been said, it is appropriate to learn the tafseer of the next aayah in Surat al-Nisaa’:
"If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, leave them alone; for Allah is Oft Returning, Most Merciful." [al-Nisaa’ 4:16]

Ibn Katheer, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his Tafseer of this aayah:
"‘If two men among you are guilty of lewdness’ means two who commit an immoral act, so they should be punished. Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Sa‘eed ibn Jubayr and others said: i.e., by putting them to public shame and hitting them with shoes. This was the ruling until Allah abrogated it and replaced it with lashing and stoning. ‘Ikrimah, ‘Ataa’, al-Hasan and ‘Abdullah ibn Katheer said: ‘This was revealed concerning a man and a woman who commit adultery. The phrase ‘if they repent and amend’ means if they give up what they were doing and mend their ways. ‘Leave them alone’ means not to keep rebuking them with ugly words after that, because the one who has repented from his sin is like one who never sinned at all. ‘Allah is Oft Returning, Most Merciful’ - it was proven in the two Saheehs: ‘If the slave woman of one of you commits adultery, apply the punishment of lashing, and do not blame her (after that)’ - i.e., do not blame her for what she did after the punishment has been given, because the punishment is an expiation for her deed.’"

HADITH
=======
Hazrat Jabir (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that a person from the Aslam tribe came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) and admitted that he had committed adultery. He testified four (4) times. He was a married man. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) ordered that he be stoned. (Sahih Al Bukhari – Vol 2. pg 1006)



Hazrat Abu Hurayra (Radiyallahu anhu) and Zaid bin Khalid (Radiyallahu anhu) say we were in the presence of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) when a person stood up and said, “ O Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), Judge between us according to the book of Allah.” His opponent who was more learned than the other, stood up and said, “Judge between us according to the book of Allah and allow me to speak first.” Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) permitted him to do so. He said, “My son worked for a person and committed adultery with his wife. I freed him by paying a ransom of 100 sheep and one labourer. Thereafter I queried from learned people who informed me that my son deserves 100 lashes and a year’s expulsion, and his (employers) wife should be stoned.” Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "By that Being in whose control is my soul, I will grant an order with the Book of Allah." The 100 sheep and labourer should be returned to you and your son lashed 100 times and expelled for a year. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) {instructing a Sahabi by the name of Unays (radiyallahu anhu)} said, “Go, O Unays to the wife of this man. If she confesses to adultery then stone her.” He went to her and stoned her after she confessed. (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 2 pg.1008)

The very same Hadith with a few word differences appears in Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2 pg. 69