Has anyone read the Qu 'ran? (A question for Muslims as well)

[Sister_Amy]

So it all depends on personal interpretation? What about major interpretations such as Jihad? I believe that there originally was an official interpretation because Muhammed would have meant one thing when telling people everything. He wouldn’t have just said it and told people to interpret it how they liked, otherwise no-one would know the original meaning of the Qu 'ran and Muslims would no-longer be able to say that Islam has never been altered.

Also, it would mean that people are correct when they say that the Qu 'ran tells Muslims to kill the unbelievers because there is no official interpretation to say otherwise.

Okay, I guess you see there being two different possibilities–either personal interpretation or official interpretation.

But the world’s not so limited. Individual persons aren’t entitled to subject the Qur’an to their personal interpretation, however. The Qur’an is in many places open to a variety of interpretations, so selecting one to be “official” doesn’t do justice to the Qur’an.

Before one is allowed to interpret the Qur’an, however, he needs to have really studied the sound/authentic interpretations before him. Basically, we get interpretations about the Qur’an from (1) the Qur’an itself, (2) the one to whom it was revealed, pbuh, (3) his companions, and their students, and then the scholars of the religion who studied these (above) and expounded further.

When the Qur’an talks about going to war, it’s talking to a state, an organized government leading Muslims. Not to a random Muslim living next door. That’s why personal interpretation isn’t accepted. But scholarly interpretation isn’t exactly uniform because sometimes different interpretations are possible.

Most of the passages about war need to be understood in their context, and not just in their Qur’anic context, but also their place in the history of Islam, and in the history of the life of the Messenger, pbuh. So someone who’s not a scholar isn’t allowed to go in and say “Oh, I’m supposed to fight so-and-so,” because he doesn’t understand when that passage might apply, the restrictions on it, and when some other action supersedes it.

Don’t think that because there’s not an “official” interpretation that there aren’t restrictions on who is allowed to interpret it. Otherwise anyone could make up anything and justify it with the Qur’an.

 

[Sister_Amy]

Any musing on why it would be that Jesus would be the one to come back instead of Mohammed? Then is Jesus considered the same person as the last prophet (I think it’s Mahdi) whom the Muslim world is waiting for? So if Jews believe their Messiah is coming and Christians believe Jesus is returning and Muslims believe their last and most important prophet is coming, why can’t all three faiths consider that He might be the same person we’re all waiting for under different aliases?

God can pick whomever He wants to come back and lead humanity. Not for me to question His judgment.

 

[Sister_Amy]

I read that there are various sects of Islam.

1. Sunnis They comprise about 85% and are doctrinal following the practices derived from the Sunna of the Prophet (the Tradition or Hadith, which is interpreted by Muslim scholars.
2. Wahhabis. Mostly in Saudi Arabia, a Sunni subsect. A reformer, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab wanted to purify the religion and go back to a literal meaning of the Qur’an and Hadith.
3. Shi’ites “The party of Ali” is the meaning and it’s the largest non-Sunni sect. They believed that Ali was the rightful successor as son-in-law of Muhammad. He had married Fatima, Muhammad’s daughter. They believe the Imams are the prophetic line. More mystical than Sunnis. Differ on marriage and legitimacy of first three Caliphs.
4. Sufis The Sufis are the mystical sect in Islam, much like the Christian mystics.
   They’ve been persecuted frequently.

There are other sects as well with different styles of spiritual expression.

Paraphrased from Inside Islam by Daniel Ali and Robert Spencer.

Sunnis comprise the majority of Muslims, true. Nobody calls themselves Wahhabis, and that’s not a sect. It’s actually a derogatory label applied to some Muslims in Saudia, but they are Sunnis, and aren’t sectarian either. Of the Shi’a, there are various different kinds, and they don’t all believe the same thing. Sufis aren’t a sect, either, really. There are “Sufis” from amongst various Sunni schools without being Sufi removing them from Sunni Islam. But there are some other groups called “sufi” that are just out of Islam entirely because they’re just so far out there.

 

[Thyme]

Okay, I guess you see there being two different possibilities–either personal interpretation or official interpretation.
…(edited for length)

Thank you, that clarified it. So the majority of Muslims interpret it in the same way? If someone had never studied Islam and then read the Qu 'ran, do you think they would interpret it the correct way?

God can pick whomever He wants to come back and lead humanity. Not for me to question His judgment.

I was told that Muslims believe that Jesus is Christ/Messiah. My Muslim friend said Muslims believe that Christ will come at the final judgement?

 

[patrick457]

I was told that Muslims believe that Jesus is Christ/Messiah. My Muslim friend said Muslims believe that Christ will come at the final judgement?

See here.

 

[4Horsemen]

See here.

Why Jesus will return and not Mohammad is strange to me. It seems to be an example of Christian theology which Mohammad mixes up with his own esoteric doctrine. According to Catholic belief, Jesus comes in glory for His Second Coming as the conclusion of His saving mission in the First Coming, the Incarnation. Jesus will return at the end of time to bring salvation history to a close. Muslims believe He will bring all faiths under Islam (even though He wasn’t a Muslim to start with )

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

Any musing on why it would be that Jesus would be the one to come back instead of Mohammed? Then is Jesus considered the same person as the last prophet (I think it’s Mahdi) whom the Muslim world is waiting for? So if Jews believe their Messiah is coming and Christians believe Jesus is returning and Muslims believe their last and most important prophet is coming, why can’t all three faiths consider that He might be the same person we’re all waiting for under different aliases?

Good One.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

Thank you, that clarified it. So the majority of Muslims interpret it in the same way? If someone had never studied Islam and then read the Qu 'ran, do you think they would interpret it the correct way?

I was told that Muslims believe that Jesus is Christ/Messiah. My Muslim friend said Muslims believe that Christ will come at the final judgement?

NOT True. Jesus WILL come back at the Last Days, but it will be to declare the Mahdi the True Messiah. He will then reprove Jews and Christians for their Non-Belief and Heresies and will assit the Mahdi in forcibly converting the World at the point of a Sword. Most Muslim Scholars accept this in one way or another.
Remember, Jesus is merely a Prophet in Islam. He WAS born of a Virgin and did perform Miracles (unlike Muhammed) but his purpose was merely to declare the Torah and to herald the Coming of the True Prophet-----Muhammed.

 

[Thyme]

Good One.

I don’t get this either.

Sorry if this seems like I’m trying to disrespect the Qu 'ran, but this isn’t my intent. I have just never under stood the two points I am about to write and I can’t ask my friend in case it turns into a religious debate. Please could you answer these two questions from a Muslim’s point of view:

1. Why would Jesus be merely a prophet, when He’s the Messiah? He’s coming back for the second time to save us from the antichrist. If Jesus is no more special than any other prophet, then wouldn’t Abraham or Moses be better suited?
2. The Jews had big expectations of the Messiah and Christians believe He had a huge role as well. Muslims seem to believe that the first role of the Messiah was to teach, have His message corrupted and then go to Heaven with people believing He was crucified for our sins and is the Word made flesh. So much for a Messiah Why did God allow such a failure from the one who is supposed to save us from evil. Are you worried that Jesus will fail again?

 

[arabic_catholic]

I don’t get this either.

Sorry if this seems like I’m trying to disrespect the Qu 'ran, but this isn’t my intent. I have just never under stood the two points I am about to write and I can’t ask my friend in case it turns into a religious debate. Please could you answer these two questions from a Muslim’s point of view:

1. Why would Jesus be merely a prophet, when He’s the Messiah? He’s coming back for the second time to save us from the antichrist. If Jesus is no more special than any other prophet, then wouldn’t Abraham or Moses be better suited?

in islamic view

jesus is the messiah but the qustion do muslims know what the messiah is ?

in quran it was written that jesus is the word of god and the soul of god and had the support from the holy spirit !

and muslims must believe in the bible and if they have Qustions they must ask the people of the book (christians - jews)

but when people of the book did not accept mohammed message another passages start to apper in the quran such us

he is not god and god curse christians because they worship 3 gods (father - mother - son )

christians are invidels !!QUOTE]

 

[Thyme]

in islamic view

jesus is the messiah but the qustion do muslims know what the messiah is ?

That’s a good question. It seems like Muslims take the title ‘Messiah’ for granted.

in quran it was written that jesus is the word of god and the soul of god and had the support from the holy spirit !

and muslims must believe in the bible and if they have Qustions they must ask the people of the book (christians - jews)

but when people of the book did not accept mohammed message another passages start to apper in the quran such us

he is not god and god curse christians because they worship 3 gods (father - mother - son )

christians are invidels !!

QUOTE]

Wow, I didn’t know this. So at first, Muhammed said that the Bible is valid and that they should accept the interpretations of Jews and Christians? He then later said that Christians worship three gods (Mary being one of them). How do Muslims interpret this?

Thank you for your reply by the way, and I’m really happy for you that you are now a Christian

 

[benidict]

Thanks… lol. I won’t marry him if he remains a Muslim. It would be too complicated when raising children, but I’m praying for his conversion and do have faith. He’s open-minded and doesn’t reject Christian miracles and apparitions. He doesn’t even believe that God would let the Bible be corrupted

i always knew Catholic women were smarter than their protestant counterparts…your post my dear sister, proves it! good for you! i will join you in praying for his conversion as well. Peace and prayers for both of you.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I don’t get this either.

Sorry if this seems like I’m trying to disrespect the Qu 'ran, but this isn’t my intent. I have just never under stood the two points I am about to write and I can’t ask my friend in case it turns into a religious debate. Please could you answer these two questions from a Muslim’s point of view:

1. Why would Jesus be merely a prophet, when He’s the Messiah? He’s coming back for the second time to save us from the antichrist. If Jesus is no more special than any other prophet, then wouldn’t Abraham or Moses be better suited?
2. The Jews had big expectations of the Messiah and Christians believe He had a huge role as well. Muslims seem to believe that the first role of the Messiah was to teach, have His message corrupted and then go to Heaven with people believing He was crucified for our sins and is the Word made flesh. So much for a Messiah Why did God allow such a failure from the one who is supposed to save us from evil. Are you worried that Jesus will fail again?

Thyme-----
In Islam, Muhammed is THE Prophet, NOT Jesus. He was merely a Prophet who Came to declare the Torah and be sort of the Anticipator of the True Messiah, Muhammed.

The idea that Jesus will be the Messiah at the Islamic End Times is deception. All the Major Mulsim scholars reject that. Do your research on it.

Jesus (in Islamic Religion) will NOT fail. He will fulfill his appointed role, which is to declare The Muslim Messaih (Mahdi or whatever you want to call him) to be the TRUE Messiah and will rebuke the Jews and Christians for being Jews and Christians instead of the One True Faith, Islam. He will then assist the Messiah in forcibly converting people to the Faith.

 

[arabic_catholic]

in islamic view

jesus is the messiah but the qustion do muslims know what the messiah is ?

That’s a good question. It seems like Muslims take the title ‘Messiah’ for granted.

Wow, I didn’t know this. So at first, Muhammed said that the Bible is valid and that they should accept the interpretations of Jews and Christians? He then later said that Christians worship three gods (Mary being one of them). How do Muslims interpret this?

Thank you for your reply by the way, and I’m really happy for you that you are now a Christian

thank you god bless you

these are some verses in quran that say you must read the bible

[10:94] If you have any doubt regarding what is revealed to you from your Lord, then ask those who read the previous scripture. Indeed, the truth has come to you from your Lord. Do not be with the doubters.

Whoever disbelieveth in God and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers and the Last Day, he verily wandered far stray (4:136)

but muslims will say that god change his mind

because in another verse he will say

So woe to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands, then say, “This is from Allah ,” in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
2:79

most muslims build thier whole dogma about ((the bible is corrupted)) from this small verse

because they were in big problem, most verses in quran says possitive view about the bible but there are verses about jesus that he is not god , not son of god, and did not crucified and rose from the dead, on the other hand the bible teach us that jesus and the father are one and christ is the son of god so they start to develop a dogma that they taught us in school is saying (( the bible is corrupted!!)) so that they can save islam alive and no one can over think this idea !!

 

[Thyme]

…
thank you god bless you
,

Thank you for your answer and God bless you too!

I am surprised at what you have explained because I assumed that the Qu 'ran would be really consistent in order for it to be believable.

So what was your opinion when you first read the Bible? My boyfriend doesn’t believe that the Bible was corrupted, so I’m wondering if He may realise the truth when he reads it.

 

[arabic_catholic]

Thank you for your answer and God bless you too!

I am surprised at what you have explained because I assumed that the Qu 'ran would be really consistent in order for it to be believable.

So what was your opinion when you first read the Bible? My boyfriend doesn’t believe that the Bible was corrupted, so I’m wondering if He may realise the truth when he reads it.

when i read the NT for the first time it was magical , the first gospel i read was john and when i read 1:12 i said to my self wow! this is to much for me ! i mean i am his adopted child !! from the begining i felt god love and how he care about us, i read about god saying to us he will not call us slaves but friends !!!

god in islam will not use this type of langauge so i encourage you to explain to your boyfriend how is the relationship between god and us that he is our father and friend not only god to us but more than that.

 

[Bwtby]

The Qu’ran, to me, puts a wonderful emphasis on God’s almighty power.

Of course comparing The Qu’ran and Bible is kinda difficult, The Bible is written in parables, that’s what Jesus spoke in. The Qur’an is straight forward.

 

[Thyme]

when i read the NT for the first time it was magical , the first gospel i read was john and when i read 1:12 i said to my self wow! this is to much for me ! i mean i am his adopted child !! from the begining i felt god love and how he care about us, i read about god saying to us he will not call us slaves but friends !!!

god in islam will not use this type of langauge so i encourage you to explain to your boyfriend how is the relationship between god and us that he is our father and friend not only god to us but more than that.

That is so nice . I’m surprised that Muslims don’t believe they have this sort of relationship with God. I was talking to my Muslim boyfriend about this once. He didn’t believe that God is that loving. Then I told him that if God wasn’t, He wouldn’t have persevered with the Israelites when they kept returning to evil pagan rituals. He may not convert, but he is beginning to have a more Christian view on God’s love.

The thing I really don’t understand is why Muslims have to pray at designated times. He has to rush home to meet the correct time for prayer. Why does God need slaves? A slave is restricted and unloved. If God truly has the limited love that the Qu 'ran says He does, then I would be better off worshipping my Priest

 

[arabic_catholic]

well prayer in islam is very important not because it bring peace to you but because what prophet mohammed says about it

mohammed said : “The covenant that stands between us and them is prayer; whoever does not pray is a kaafir(infidel).”

“Between a man and shirk(pagan) and kufr(infidel) there stands his giving up prayer.

so if you are muslim you dont want to miss the prayer

because if you leave it because you feel its boring you will burn at hell

prayer in islam is very ritual prayer if you miss one word or you did the pray wrong or at the wrong direction you might have to start again or to do some extra ritual .

 

[Thyme]

well prayer in islam is very important not because it bring peace to you but because what prophet mohammed says about it

mohammed said : “The covenant that stands between us and them is prayer; whoever does not pray is a kaafir(infidel).”
…

Thank you again for your reply.

So are Muslims capable of loving God or is worship purely out of fear? If so, what would be a reason for a Muslim to love Him?