SURA 33.50 -- IS ALL OF 33 AS SELF-SERVING AS IT SOUNDS?

Submitted by gwk (United States), May 10, 2008 at 20:49

"[33.50] O Prophet! surely We have made lawful to you your wives whom you have given their dowries, and those whom your right hand possesses out of those whom Allah has given to you as prisoners of war, and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who fled with you; and a believing woman if she gave herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet desired to marry her-- specially for you, not for the (rest of) believers; We know what We have ordained for them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess in order that no blame may attach to you; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."

One can read the Old Testament and see examples of seemingly bad things that were done with God's acquiescence . Examples are of Elijah killing off a group of kids who were teasing him, Uriah being sent to his death by David, and Moses killing an Egyptian slave-master. The Book of Kings lists a series of failed leaders of Judah and Israel. But with no exception that I can think of, had there ever been a prophet as carnal and salacious in his lusts as Mohammad. And Mohammad's behavior is entirely against the New Testament thesis of turning the other cheek and self sacrifice for a mor egalitarian and loving community.

Jesus' admonition to his apostles to "love your enemies" has no equal in Mohammad's gospel. And if one were to take the great test of ethics and apply it to Mohammad's Quran, one would come up with the conclusion that Allah forgives Muhammad any desire he could imagine, but requires unquestioning fealty to Mohammad's self-serving melange of Mekkan, Jewish and Christian traditions.

Unfortunately, the Wars of Apostasy that ravaged the early Muslim world after Mohammad's death resulted in an Islamic tradition that lived by the sword. That ethic, by extrapolation to its extremes, would result in a world where no one were allowed to forgive one's enemies, but only destroy them. By its very essence, it suggests a terrible existence.

And an enlightened member of the ulema might say that once all submit to Allah's will the world will be perfect, but what does it take to get to that utpoia? Terror? Death and destruction? Hatred and evil? Self-serving imams?

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