Re: Why is pork forbidden?
HeiGou said:
Really? What is the right translation then? Why is it so many Muslim scholars failed to notice this was a mistranslation until you (or Jamal Badawi I assume) did?
You should ask them who failed to notice this, I can't give an answer on their behalf. However:
1. Same word has been translated as "part" for Moses (pbuh) parting the sea.
2. Take any old comprehensive arabic dictionary (before Jamal Badawi or I were born) and you will see that the word used in that verse also means part, seperate, or leave.
3. Separate or leave the wife makes more sense with the flow since it comes right after separating from bed.
4. Prophet (pbuh) said:
"It is better for a leader to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in punishing." (Al-Tirmidhi) In other words, scholars (or any other person) should consider lenient translation deducing anything from Quran if it has multiple meaning.
This word has almost universally been translated here as "beating". Such a translation is supported by some passages in the Qur'an where the word does mean smiting or striking (2:60, 61, 73, 8:12, 50, 7:160 etc). But in many other Qur'anic passages there are other meanings of the word. Thus the word can mean constructing or coining something such as coining mathal or similitude (14:24, 16:75-76, 30:28, 36:27 etc). The word is also used to separate two things. In 20:77 it is used of the splitting of the sea to make a way for the children of Israel to escape and in 57:13 it is used of making a wall to separate the two groups of people in the hereafter. Leaving, withdrawing or taking away is the meaning in 43:5. In 13:17 the word is used of separating truth and falsehood. The word can also mean campaigning or traveling in the land, e.g., for the purpose of trade (2:273, 73:20).
In the present context, the Qur'anic usage allows two meanings:
1) separating from the wives in the sense of living apart from them,
2) beating them.
3) The Arabic language also allows a third meaning: have sex with them.
The first meaning fits the context well, for some kind of physical separation is a very understandable step after suspension of sexual relations does not work. The second meaning is more natural from a linguistic point of view and has the support of a strong consensus among the commentators. The third meaning has no support in the Qur'anic usage.
See full article for more information:
http://www.islamicperspectives.com/Quran-4-34.htm
HeiGou said:
The proper translation is 'protectors' since it was reveled at the time when muslims were looking towards Jews in Madina to help them fight against the Makkans.
Regarding making non-muslim friends there is another verse that clarifies this issue:
"Allah forbids you not, With regard to those who Fight you not for (your) Faith Nor drive you out Of your homes, From dealing kindly and justly With them: For Allah loveth Those who are just. (The Noble Quran, 60:8)"
The above verse clearly leaves out those non-muslims who don't fight us.
Furthermore Quran states:
Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous. (The Noble Quran, 3:113-114)
Why would Allah stop us from making friends whom Allah ranks with the righteous?
HeiGou said:
Really? Can all the hudd punishments be gotten around so easily?
-------------------
See above.
Here is an article that explains how Islamic law works:
http://www.islamic-study.org/Islamic Penal Law.htm
I'll quote some passages:
Let us illustrate the psychological effect of the severity of punishment on people’s behavior. According to Islamic law, the maximum penalty for professional theft is cutting hands. It should be understood that this policy does not mean that for every theft there is a hand to be cut. The judge exercises other forms of penalties such as imprisonments or fines.
...............................
Flexibility and Ambiguity
Relaxing or stiffening a penalty for a particular violation is an integral part of the Islamic Law. Penalty in the Islamic Law is dependent on the nature of the crime. Factors such as severity of damage, the background of the violator, his or her intent and repeatability, play a major role in determining the extent of the penalty.
Furthermore, The Prophet said: “Avoid (the maximum) penalty (hudud) on the account of ambiguity (shubuhat).” Since the punishment is mainly used as deterrent, if the intent of the law in a particular case is fulfilled, the judge then has the discretion to apply a lower sentence and avoid the maximum penalty.
HeiGou said:
This is a logical falacy called the Excluded Middle. Just because someone has mentioned one extreme policy, it does not make sense to insist that the only alternative is another extreme. The West used to have very low abortion rates and still did not flog adulterers.
I don't have the time to check the demographics, social issues, and abortion rate of every country, but estimated current global monthly average 1,225,000 abortions is quiet high (
source). And muslims countries doesn't have abortion rates, but here is something interesting:
Because Muslims are not as promiscuous as the rest of the human race they have largely avoided AIDS. While there is some danger that most of a generation in some sub-Sahara countries will die of AIDS, the rate of infection in Muslim countries is typically less than one in a thousand adults.
Source:
http://www.geocities.com/richleebruce/b/islam.html
We have managed to relatively avoid AIDS; perhaps we are doing something right.
HeiGou said:
And the reference is wrong - married adulterers should be stoned surely?
1. Quran doesn't state stoning for married adulterers.
2. In an argument someone brought a point that the word used in the Quran for adulterers is applicable to both married and non-married.
3. Hadiths doesn't make it clear when the stoning punishment was used: when Muslims were following Mosaic Law in this matter or after the revelation of the verse on adultery.
4. Prophet (pbuh) said that if a ruler/leader/judge makes a mistake than he should make it in forgiveness rather than punishment.
In the light of above points I'm not in favor of stoning married adulterers.