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THE ISSUES of Life
According to the "Quran"

By Abdullah Al Araby

Jump to:   Women's Rights   Sex and Marriage   Human Rights   Democracy  
Eternal Security

Islam is more than a religion; it is a comprehensive way of life. The Quran, Mohammed, his immediate followers, and generations of theologians prescribed numerous regulations governing every aspect of the Muslim social, political, economic, and religious life.

In this article we will examine only a few of these Islamic regulations, based on the most reliable source of all Islamic teachings, the Quran. The reader must determine whether it is acceptable to live under such teachings.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Are women equal to men according to Islam?

• Islam teaches that women are inferior to men.
  
  "...And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree over them..." Surah 2:228
  
  

In what areas are women unequal to men in Islam?

• Islam teaches that women are less than equal to men in at least two major areas:
  
  First, in inheritance: A woman's share is half that of a man.
  
  "To the male a portion equal to that of two females..." Surah 4:11
  
  Second, in court witness: The witness of two women equals the witness of one man.
  
  "And get two witnesses out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women such as ye choose, for witness..." Surah 2:282
  
  

What is the status of a wife in relation to her husband?

• Islam considers the wife a possession.
  
  "...Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: Women and sons; heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses..." Surah 3:14
  
  

What is the extent of a husband's authority over his wife in Islam?

• Islam teaches that a wife is subject to punishment by her husband. As a punishment, beating a wife or abstaining from sexual relations with her is allowed.
  
  "...As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, Admonish them, refuse to share their beds, beat them,..." Surah 4:34
  
  "For those who take an oath for abstention from their wives, a waiting for four months is ordained; if they return, God is oft-forgiving, most merciful." Surah 2:226
  
  

What rules apply only to women regarding their appearance in public?

• Islam instructs women to veil themselves always when they are outside their homes.  And, even inside their homes, in certain situations.
  
  "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty..." Surah 24:31
  
  "O prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad)..." Surah 33:59
   

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SEX AND MARRIAGE

How many wives may a Muslim man marry?

• Islam allows polygamy: A man may marry up to four wives at one time.
  
  "...Marry women of your choice, two,or three, or four..." Surah 4:3
  
  Note: Extra privileges were given to Mohammed, "The Prophet of Islam." He was allowed unlimited wives. Mohammed had 13 wives in addition to several concubines which we know of for a fact.
  
  Ayesha was only nine years old at the time he married her, Mohammed was fifty-three years old. Another wife, Zaynab Bint Jahsh, was his daughter-in-law. When Zaid, Mohammed's adopted son, saw that Mohammed desired his wife, he divorced her so that Mohammed could marry her.
  
  

What is the sexual role of the wife in marriage according to Islam?

• Islam considers the wife a sex object.
  
  "Your wives are as a tilth (a field to be ploughed) unto you, so approach your tilth
  when or how ye will." Surah 2:223
  
  

Is divorce allowed in Islam?

• A man can divorce his wife by oral pronouncement. The wife has no such right in the Quran.
  
  "It may be, if he divorced you that Allah will give him in exchange consorts better than you..." Surah 66:5
  
  

May a man reunite with his wife after divorcing her?

• When a husband has pronounced divorce three times on his wife, he may not lawfully remarry her until she has married (and had sexual intercourse) and been divorced by another man called "Al Mohalil" (the legalizer).
  
  "A divorce is only permissible twice; after that, the parties should either hold together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness,..." Surah 2:229
  
  "...So if a husband divorces his wife he cannot after that, remarry her until after she has married another husband, and he has divorced her, in that case there is no blame on either of them if they reunite..." Surah 2:230
   

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HUMAN RIGHTS

Does Islam permit freedom of choice regarding religion?

• Islam compels its adherents to force others to accept Islam. Muslims must fight until all their opponents submit to Islam, unless, of course, those opponents prefer death.   Christians and Jews may be spared if they pay "Jizya" (penalty tax) with willing submission, and humiliation.
  
  "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the last day... Nor acknowledge the religion of truth, (even if they are) of the people of the Book, until they pay the Jizya (taxes) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." Surah 9:29
  
  "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait (ambush) for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity then open the way for them." Surah 9:5 (see also Surah 2:193)
  
  "Therefore; when ye meet the unbelievers (in a fight) smite at their necks; at length;
  when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly in (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom, until the war lays down its burdens."  Surah 47:4
  
  

Does Islam teach the equality of all people?

• Islam teaches that Muslims are superior to others.
  
  "Ye (Muslims) are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind..." Surah 3:110
  
  

Can Islam co-exist with and tolerate other religions?

• Islam condemns non-Muslims, other than Christians and Jews, as infidels.
  
  "The life of this world is alluring to those who reject faith (infidels), and they scoff at
  those who believe. But the righteous will be above them on the day of resurrection..." Surah 2:212
  
  
• Neither do Christians and Jews escape Islam's condemnation.
  
  "The Jews call Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah.
  That is a saying from their mouths; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers
  (infidels) of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the truth!"  Surah 9:30
  
  
• Islam instructs Muslims to not befriend Jews or Christians.
  
  "O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is one of them. Allah guideth not a people unjust." Surah 5:51
  
  

What happens to a person who converts to Islam and then later changes his mind?

• Islam teaches that any person who accepts Islam and then later turns away from it will be subject to death.
  
  "But if they violate their oath after their covenant, and taunt you for your faith, fight ye the chiefs of unfaith: for their oaths are nothing to them." Surah 9:12
  (See also Surah 4:89)
   

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DEMOCRACY

Does Islam teach the "Separation of Church and State?"

• Islam teaches that the Quran is the Constitution, God is the author of law, and the State is the agent to implement the law.
  
  "And fight them on, until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah (and the religion is Allah's)." Surah 2:193
  
  "We have sent down to thee the Book (the Quran) in truth, that thou mightest judge between men, as guided by Allah: so be not as an advocate by those who betray their trust." Surah 4:105
  
  "So judge between them by what Allah hath revealed and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the truth that has come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and open way." Surah 5:48
  
  "The command (the rule) is for none but Allah; He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: That is the right religion, but most men understand not."  Surah 12:40
  
  

How Does the Quran consider those who do not abide by its laws?

• The Quran considers them wrong-doers, rebels, and unbelievers.
  
  "And if any fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, they are wrong-doers." Surah 5:45
  
  "If any do fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, they are those who rebel." Surah 5:47
  
  "If any do fail to judge by what Allah has revealed,they are unbelievers." Surah 5:44
  
  

What are some of Islamic rules and punishments that must be implemented in an Islamic
State?

• Islam imposes a harsh code of punishment on those who violate its laws. Here are some examples:
  
  
  • Resisting Islam: punished by death, crucifixion or the cutting off of the hands and feet.
    
    "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of the hands and feet from opposite sides or exile from the land..." Surah 5:33
     
  • Adultery and Fornication: punished by public flogging for the unmarried person. For the married, the punishment is stoning.
    
    "The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication, flog each of them with a hundred stripes; let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day; and let a party of the believers witness their punishment." Surah 24:2
     
  • Stealing: punished by amputation of the hands.
    
    "As to the thief, male or female, cut off his or her hands: A punishment, by way of example, from Allah for their crime: and Allah is exalted in power." Surah 5:38
     
  • Drinking: punished by 40 to 80 lashes according to the Hadith (Mohammed's sayings). - See Sahih al-Bukhari vol. 8:770
     
• Islam forbids wine.
  
  "O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, stones and arrows, are an abomination, of Satan's handiwork: Eschew such that you may prosper." Surah 5:90
  
  
• Ironically, the faithful are promised "rivers of wine" in Paradise.
  
  "The garden which the righteous are promised...in it are rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink..." Surah 47:15
  
  "...truly the righteous will be in bliss,,, their thirst will be slaked with pure wine sealed."  Surah 83:22, 25
  
  

Would these laws be imposed on non-Muslim minorities in an Islamic State?

• Non-Muslims must follow the same rules, and are subject to the same punishment.
  
  "If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him; and in
  the hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost. "  Surah 3:85
  
  

Would an opposition party be allowed in an Islamic State?

• No, because the ruler rules by a mandate from God, and God must not be opposed.
  
  "Whatever it be wherein ye differ, the decision (the rule) thereof is with Allah: such is
  Allah my Lord: In Him I trust, and to Him I turn." Surah 42:10
  
  "O ye who believe obey Allah  and the Apostle and those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Apostle. "
  Surah 4:59
  
  

Has the experiment of an Islamic State been applied in modern history? If so, how successful has it been?

• There are many countries today that rule, to different degrees, by Islamic laws. Some of the countries that rigidly apply Islam are: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The condition of these countries speaks for itself; human rights violations, violence and terrorism, oppression and persecution. Most Islamic countries are economically bankrupt.

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ETERNAL SECURITY

How sure can a Muslim be about his eternity?

• Islam teaches that "fate" decides everyone's eternal destination.
  
  "Every man's fate We have fastened on his own neck: on the day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll which he will see spread open." Surah 17:13
   
• The Quran teaches that every Muslim will pass through hell.
  
  "Not one of you but will pass over it (originally: through it [hell]). This is a decree which must be accomplished." Surah 19:71
   
• The only assurance for a Muslim to go to heaven is through fighting for the cause of spreading Islam and being martyred in the process.
  
  "And if ye are slain, or die in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass." Surah 3: 157
  
  

Does the God of Islam lead each Muslim to eternal salvation?

• According to the Quran, God leads and misleads as He pleases.
  
  "Allah leaves straying those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases."  Surah 14:4
  
  "Those whom God willeth to guide, He openeth their breast to Islam; Those whom He willeth to leave straying, He maketh their breast close and constricted as if they had to climb up to the skies." Surah 6:125
   
• God's will is that some be not guided aright, but He will inflict punishment on them for not being guided aright.
  
  "If We had so willed, We could certainly have brought every soul its true guidance: But the word from Me will come "I will fill hell with jinns (demons) and men all together."Surah 32:13
   
• God makes it impossible for those who reject Islam to believe later.
  
  "As to those who reject faith, it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe. Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur)." Surah 2:6-7
   
• God orders people to transgress so that He will have an excuse to destroy them.
  
  "When We decide to destroy a population, We (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life to transgress, so that the word is proved true against them: then (it is) We destroy them utterly." Surah 17:16
   
• It is up to Allah to forgive and punish as He pleases.
  
  "He (Allah) forgiveth whom He pleaseth, and punisheth whom He pleaseth, for Allah has power over all things." Surah 2:284




What is Islam's concept of heaven?

• Heaven in Islam is the place where a Muslim man will be reclining, eating meat and delicious fruits, drinking exquisite wines, and engaging in sex with beautiful women, (and eternally-young beautiful boys or young men "Wildan or Ghilman," (according to some Muslim theologians). There is no mention of women's rewards.
  
  "As to the righteous, they will be in gardens, and in happiness...(to them will be said:) "Eat and drink ye, with profit and health, because of your (good) deeds." They will recline (with ease) on thrones (of dignity) arranged in ranks; and We shall join them (in the original: marry them) to companions with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes... And We shall bestow on them, of fruit and meat, anything they desire. They shall there exchange, one with another, a cup free of frivolity, free of all taint of ill. Round about them will serve to them youths (handsome) as pearls well-guarded." Surah 52:17, 19, 20, 22-24 (see also Surah 4:57; Surah 76:12-22; Surah 55:54-56; and Surah 47:15)
   

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