We urge everyone to read the
Qur’Hindus and conquest which is demonstrated daily by an. Read the actual passages for yourself and you will discover the
source of the intolerance, repression, cruelty, violence, suicide bombing,
hatred for those
we often hear described as “Islamists”, “fundamentalists”, “radicals” or “those
who have hijacked Islam”. Actually, these Muslims may correctly be
regarded as simply being true and obedient Muslims. “Moderate”
Muslims are generally those who aren’t directly involved in the militant
activities, but often they may be engaged in financial support of the
terrorists or other non-militant forms of jihad. Even these moderates can be a
threat. Some secular Muslims who may be regarded as “non-practicing
Muslims” may not be much of a threat at all.
Every word of the Qur’an is regarded as the direct utterance of Allah, spoken to Muhammad who then recited them to his followers. Faithful Muslims regard them to be as binding and immutable today as when first uttered in the 7th century.
Muslims will often argue that you cannot possibly understand the Qur’an unless you read it in the original Arabic because of its’ poetic beauty in Arabic. Nonsense! Between 75% and 80% of the Muslims in the world neither read nor speak Arabic, and translations are available. A poem by Robert Service or Rudyard Kipling may loose some of its’ poetic richness when translated into Chinese, but its’ message can still be quite understandable to a Chinese reader. The web site of USC’s Muslim Student Association features three different English translations. Obviously, these are widely acceptable and provided because Arabic is not understood by many Muslims.
There are a number of internet sites where you can obtain a free Qur’an in English. Simply Google “free Qur’an”. Look for a source which includes free shipping. We have obtained several in this manner and had no subsequent spamming or solicitation problems. The “free” Qur’an you receive will likely be Jusuf Ali’s translation, one which has been somewhat sanitized or edited to modify the most egregious language. This is obviously a translation which Muslims would prefer that you read.
Another group, the Al-Furqaan Foundation, is now distributing a “free” translation titled “English Translation of the Meaning of the Qur’an” by a Professor (Dr. Syed Vicar Ahamed). These are being placed, like Gideon Bibles, in hotels, and probably also in prisons and among servicemen. It may well be a translation designed specifically to disarm the uninformed. We have not yet reviewed it.
When you read the Qur’an, and we hope you will, don’t start reading it from front to back like a novel. You will find it to be hopelessly disjointed, boring, and confusing. It is not arranged in chronological order like the Holy Bible. Rather, it has generally been arranged from the longest sura (revelation) to the shortest. There is no universally accepted chronological sequence. A number of scholars have attempted to develop such, but none seem to totally agree. We have researched and compared 5 or 6 different sequences and find that most substantially agree. The following chronological listing can be considered quite reliable.
There are a total of 114 suras, all delivered between 610 and 632 A.D. You will note that most of the earliest are actually found near the back of the Qur’an. However, their chronological sequence is very important, as the doctrine of naskh, or abrogation (see below), establishes the principal that later suras abrogate (supercede) any earlier suras which they happen to contradict.
The first 86 suras recited by Muhammad are reported to have come forth in the first thirteen years of his ministry while he still resided at Mecca. During this Meccan period, Muhammad was trying to attract followers without making enemies, a tricky task as the most powerful tribe derived substantial profit from the pilgrimages of polytheists and pagans to the Kabbah.
There were 360 different idols located in and around the Kabbah, the holy shrine at Mecca; and passing caravans, travelers, and pilgrims were invited to stop over, leave sacrifices or offerings to their idols or gods, refresh themselves and their beasts, and spend money. Muhammad’s “revelations” that there was but one god, Allah, were not warmly received. In fact, he incurred considerable rejection and persecution during this Meccan period. The suras produced during the Meccan period are generally quite benign and replete with teachings found in the Old and New Testaments encouraging charity, tolerance, patience, peace, compassion, forgiveness, etc.
During his entire 13 year ministry in Mecca, he managed to convert only several hundred followers to his new religion, mostly members of his own household, personal acquaintances, or those from the disenfranchised of Meccan society, attracted possibly by exhortations to care for the poor.
Every word of the Qur’an is regarded as the direct utterance of Allah, spoken to Muhammad who then recited them to his followers. Faithful Muslims regard them to be as binding and immutable today as when first uttered in the 7th century.
Muslims will often argue that you cannot possibly understand the Qur’an unless you read it in the original Arabic because of its’ poetic beauty in Arabic. Nonsense! Between 75% and 80% of the Muslims in the world neither read nor speak Arabic, and translations are available. A poem by Robert Service or Rudyard Kipling may loose some of its’ poetic richness when translated into Chinese, but its’ message can still be quite understandable to a Chinese reader. The web site of USC’s Muslim Student Association features three different English translations. Obviously, these are widely acceptable and provided because Arabic is not understood by many Muslims.
There are a number of internet sites where you can obtain a free Qur’an in English. Simply Google “free Qur’an”. Look for a source which includes free shipping. We have obtained several in this manner and had no subsequent spamming or solicitation problems. The “free” Qur’an you receive will likely be Jusuf Ali’s translation, one which has been somewhat sanitized or edited to modify the most egregious language. This is obviously a translation which Muslims would prefer that you read.
Another group, the Al-Furqaan Foundation, is now distributing a “free” translation titled “English Translation of the Meaning of the Qur’an” by a Professor (Dr. Syed Vicar Ahamed). These are being placed, like Gideon Bibles, in hotels, and probably also in prisons and among servicemen. It may well be a translation designed specifically to disarm the uninformed. We have not yet reviewed it.
When you read the Qur’an, and we hope you will, don’t start reading it from front to back like a novel. You will find it to be hopelessly disjointed, boring, and confusing. It is not arranged in chronological order like the Holy Bible. Rather, it has generally been arranged from the longest sura (revelation) to the shortest. There is no universally accepted chronological sequence. A number of scholars have attempted to develop such, but none seem to totally agree. We have researched and compared 5 or 6 different sequences and find that most substantially agree. The following chronological listing can be considered quite reliable.
There are a total of 114 suras, all delivered between 610 and 632 A.D. You will note that most of the earliest are actually found near the back of the Qur’an. However, their chronological sequence is very important, as the doctrine of naskh, or abrogation (see below), establishes the principal that later suras abrogate (supercede) any earlier suras which they happen to contradict.
The first 86 suras recited by Muhammad are reported to have come forth in the first thirteen years of his ministry while he still resided at Mecca. During this Meccan period, Muhammad was trying to attract followers without making enemies, a tricky task as the most powerful tribe derived substantial profit from the pilgrimages of polytheists and pagans to the Kabbah.
There were 360 different idols located in and around the Kabbah, the holy shrine at Mecca; and passing caravans, travelers, and pilgrims were invited to stop over, leave sacrifices or offerings to their idols or gods, refresh themselves and their beasts, and spend money. Muhammad’s “revelations” that there was but one god, Allah, were not warmly received. In fact, he incurred considerable rejection and persecution during this Meccan period. The suras produced during the Meccan period are generally quite benign and replete with teachings found in the Old and New Testaments encouraging charity, tolerance, patience, peace, compassion, forgiveness, etc.
During his entire 13 year ministry in Mecca, he managed to convert only several hundred followers to his new religion, mostly members of his own household, personal acquaintances, or those from the disenfranchised of Meccan society, attracted possibly by exhortations to care for the poor.
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