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January 14, 2006

Fundamentals of Islam: Understanding "The Verse of Tolerance"

Note: This is the first entry in what will become a regular feature in the blog. We begin our exploration of Islamic Law, Texts, and Customs with an examination of the so-called Verse of Tolerance.

Muslim apologists and servile Westerners, when promoting the "Islam is a Religion of Peace" canard, love to quote Sura 5, verse 32: (Reference: Sura 5)

Sura 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.

This makes Mohammad sounds like a moral reformer, a flower child almost. But the apologist has failed to provide the proper context. Here is the whole passage, which is the Muslim re-telling of the story of Cain and Abel:

Sura 5:27-32 Recite for them the true history of Adam's two sons. They made an offering, and it was accepted from one of them, but not from the other. He said, "I will surely kill you." He said, "GOD accepts only from the righteous.

"If you extend your hand to kill me, I am not extending my hand to kill you. For I reverence GOD, Lord of the universe.

"I want you, not me, to bear my sin and your sin, then you end up with the dwellers of Hell. Such is the requital for the transgressors."

His ego provoked him into killing his brother. He killed him, and ended up with the losers.

GOD then sent a raven to scratch the soil, to teach him how to bury his brother's corpse. He said, "Woe to me; I failed to be as intelligent as this raven, and bury my brother's corpse." He became ridden with remorse.

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.

Placing the verse as part of the story makes it weaker; it is not a universal law, but a warning for the Israelites, and the ancient Israelites at that. Still, it is possible Islamic Theology has interpreted this verse as a universal law, right? The next verse provides the answer:

Sura 5:33 The just retribution for those who fight GOD 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.

Thus, the "just retribution" for those who fight Allah and Mohammad is to be killed, maimed and humiliated! Not very tolerant I'd say, and not very peaceful either, unless you count as peace the peace of the catacombs. Mohammad uses this passage not to spread Peace and Goodwill, but to threaten his enemies. The "Verse of Tolerance" is no such thing, but merely a part of a typically violent and intolerant section of the Quran.

Further Reading:

The Murder of Abel from Answering Islam.

Posted by Ruy Diaz at January 14, 2006 6:56 PM

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Posted by: the poetess at January 14, 2006 8:28 PM

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