What Do You Think?

[John.hergy]

I always love it when Muslims and others quote 5:32 of the Quran as being:

" . . . whosoever kills a human being. . . it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind . . . "

Does anyone see those dots (. . .)?
Does anyone know what those dots mean?

(hint: It means something has been omitted.)

What on earth could be omitted from such a peaceful verse?

Since I dislike being accused of saying “ bad things” about Islam and I would hate to start riots all over the planet for (heaven forbid) having an opinion or an idea of my own

let us let the Quran speak for itself:

[5:32] Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing.

[5:33] The just retribution for those who fight Allah and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.

[5:34] Exempted are those who repent before you overcome them. You should know that Allah is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[5:35] O you who believe, you shall reverence Allah and seek the ways and means to Him, and strive in His cause, that you may succeed.


Anyone notice any differences?


It is interesting to me that Muslims, moderate, extremist, peaceful, violent, whatever, who cannot even tolerate a cartoon of their prophet or a teddy bear named after their prophet and consider those who dare question Islamic ways as heretics seem to are absolutely comfortable with another Muslim’s blatant perversion of the Islamic Holy text.

What could be a possible reason for that seemingly uncharacteristic behavior?

Can anyone say . . . Al-taqiyya?

[John.hergy]

When the clause which allows killing is reinserted and we read it in context with the following two verses directed at Muslims (notice the reference to Allah's messenger and the switch to present tense), what first appeared on the surface to be a peaceful message, is in actual fact a chilling warning to non-believers:

[5:33] The just retribution for those who fight Allah and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.

[5:34] Exempted are those who repent before you overcome them. You should know that Allah is Forgiver, Most Merciful.


or with a slightly different english translation.


The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;

Except for those who repent before they fall into your power: in that case, know that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

[John.hergy]

A couple of commentaries about 5:32 -

Sayid ibn Jubayr (who lived at the time of Muhammad, and was a companion of Aisha), said, "He who allows himself to shed the blood of a Muslim, is like he who allows shedding the blood of all people. He who forbids shedding the blood of one Muslim, is like he who forbids shedding the blood of all people." In addition, Ibn Jurayj said that Al-A`raj said that Mujahid commented on the Ayah.

Also reported by another Tabi'un and commentator of the Qur'an, Mujahid ibn Jabr (a student of Ibn Abbas; a paternal cousin of Muhammad) while commenting on verse 5:32:

He who kills a believing soul intentionally, Allah makes the Fire of Hell his abode, He will become angry with him, and curse him, and has prepared a tremendous punishment for him, equal to if he had killed all people, his punishment will still be the same.

[John.hergy]

I keep wondering how anyone that has really looked at Islam or their internal teachings say that it is a peaceful religion (and keep a straight face).