Out of context?

Question

A verse within this is commonly taken out of context. People like to think we are told to fight unbelievers and kill them, and commonly quote just one of these verses. If you look at the entire thing in context, you see it says to fight those who wage war against YOU. Meaning if they started it, well DUH fight back! It goes further to say that if they stop, you stop too. Nowhere does it say to fight just because they are not muslims. Look at the context.

[002:190] In the path of Allah, fight those who wage a war against you. But do not exceed the limit. Indeed, Allah does not like the transgressors.

[002:191] Kill them wherever you find them. Expel them from where they drove you away. Persecution and oppression are worse than killing. Do not do battle with them near the sacred house of worship (Makkah), unless it is they who engage you in battle there. If they fight you there, then slay them (there). That is the due punishment for the disbelievers.

[002:192] If they desist, then of course Allah is the most Forgiving and the most Merciful.

[002:193] Fight (and confront) them till corruption and repression cease, and until faith in Allah (and justice) prevails! But if they desist, then let there be no aggression, except against the oppressors.

Did this make you thinik about believing everything you see? Did you think about how it is wiser to put things into context and do the research, or do you just want to keep believing anything bad? Even in interpretation, which is sometimes flawed, we are to take the best meaning. A word in arabic can literally have a hundred meanings, some similar and some not. If one meaning is "beat" and another is "leave the area", you are to take the better (leave the area) over the not so good.

I agree with you, first answer. Many muslims do speak out about this. But people don't want to listen.

Answer 1

I agree with you, however the problem isn't just that non-muslims are taking the text out of context...MUSLIMS are taking it out of context as well and carrying out violent and murderous acts against people.

So I think until more of the Muslim community speaks out against actions like that (as you seem to be), people will misunderstand the religion that presents itself in such a violent way.

Answer 2

According to Habakkuk 1 and Isaiah 5, it seems that flooding armies are God's means of dealing with matters of unceasing violence. However, this is not because these people are worshipers of God. They trust in their own gods. Babylon is church and state divided. Babylon the Great (the gods of the strong armies) is the mother of the harlots of Revelation 17 and 18. She is defeated by her own plagues. The Red Sea would also appear to symbolise the peoples of the earth (seas or waters that flood over) gaining dominance again over the triads (Hebrew word for captains). This is reflected in events such as the French Revolution and the Battle of Phyle and its after-math, although I've read about these events in terms of their effect on the oligarchies, rather than the cult leaders that supported them. Therefore, the high-sounding words of the cult leaders is, paradoxically, what sends the state arm of the same side (Babylon) off into battle against the alleged trouble-makers, who happen to be the saints and the prophets (compare Revelation 13:13 and 18:24). In doing this, they may come across situations that tend to disprove the claims of the cult leaders in whose strength they trusted. Those who puff themselves up with knowledge do not do too well out of this. Habakkuk 2:4 - "See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous will live by their faithfulness."

This method of not exceeding the limit might work for Islam, but for a church and state divided approach, the church can tend to not know that there are any. The state similarly, then, is authorised by extension to pursue many matters.

Answer 3

I am thankful to have a Muslim explain this. It sounds like common sense, or wisdom.
But I do get the impression that not all Muslims study the scriptures in this depth or try to interpret them in the best way.
Why is it that those with the worst interpretations make the most noise?
Keep up the good work.

Answer 4

LOL! Lets add this T-shirt to the Muslims as well as the Christians:

"It the verse doesn't agree with your opinion, it must be out of context"

"Out of context" The Christians ( and Muslims) best friend.

Answer 5

SO that is why terrorist are at war they are trying to kill all of the "unbelievers" people who do not believe in the "almighty allah" I see.
everytime they do kill they say they do it in the name of allah does allah really even know they exist?

Answer 6

That's interesting, I'd never read the entire thing in context like that ... but always assumed the "fundamentalist" type Muslim took it the wrong way.

Answer 7

yes i agree with you it seems like some people like to litterally pick at the Quran and choose verses to use in twisted ways i hope ur point is made clear to others. and these 2 verses is what this happens most to it's sad why they do that.

Answer 8

Actually, I have always found that most Muslims are peaceful people. This changes nothing for me, but I hope your point gets across to others who lack understanding.

Answer 9

i agree with you and i hope that your message reaches other muslims and non muslims
i think the thing is that these so called "terrorist and jihad "
are just using this as an excuse to be evil and to take a peaceful religion and make it seem all bad

Answer 10

I wish you told that to your Muslim brothers more loudly.

All Muslims I know are peaceful. Not the ones of course who send hate mail.