From: Posh Smith

Submitted by Toshawb L. Wilson (Canada), Dec 12, 2011 at 01:30

Regarding reading the Koran, and its simplicity and beauty. It is my humble opinion that the writer has never read beyond the back cover of the Koran (Qur'an), and for the following reasons:

1. N. J. Dawood states, "The Koran is not only one of the most influential books of prophetic literature but also a literary masterpiece in its own right."

Taken chronologically but not comprehensively are a few of the chapter headings: 2. The Cow 3. The Imrans 4. Women 6. Cattle 13. Thunder 18. The Cave. Quite frankly, I found none of this either illuminating or informative. As a student in my fourth year of a highly accredited university, I am no academic slouch.

The translators of two different translations of "The Glorious Qur'an" use euphemisms, instead of translating the command to followers to BEHEAD all unbelievers: 2:191; 2:193; 5:33, 8; 5:45; 8:12***; 8:17; 9:29; 9:123; 47:4*** . Please note the statements and commands both previous to and following the above-mentioned orders to annihilate specific targeted people who disagree with Islam. There is nothing either 'holy' or 'good' about the contents of this book; it is filled with incitements to kill, to maim and to destroy in the most brutal fashion.

Additionally, publishers of Arabic -English, English-Arabic dictionaries elminiate the word for BEHEAD from their English-Arabic translations; furthermore, in the central branch of our local library there was one edition of an English-Arabic dictionary containing the word BEHEAD in both English and Arabic, and it mysteriously disappeared from the library's shelves.

2. There is no poetry involved in this book; as noted above, there is no particular continuity in the chapters. If you buy your own copy, you can see for yourself.

3. If you take a blue highlighter, for instance, you can highlight the passages that call for some form of brutality. For example, nearly every page evidences moral, spiritual, financial or physical violence against someone weaker than the person being addressed.

4. If you take another colour highlighter, you can highlight references to the Jewish Bible and the Christian Bible. For example, there are several different passages relating to Creation in the Qur'an, with a variety of descriptions regarding creation of mankind: 6:2; 75:37; 76:2; 77:20; 80:19; 95:4; 96:2. In the Judeo-Christian Bible, Genesis chapters 1 and 2 describe two different aspects of One Creation.

5. Surah 39:23 states, "... beautiful message in the form of a book, consistent with itself..." If you acquire the Strong's Concordance, and research the various Biblical characters that are mentioned in the Bible, you will become aware that various people are taken totally out of their historical context. For example, in Surahs 4:163 and 6:84-85, various biblical characters are identified with no regard to historical order.

For example, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is placed between two different sets of historical figures: in the first place between Jacob and Job, and in the second place between John and Elias. In the first place, He is placed between two Old Testament figures; also, the book of which Job is the main character is commonly believed to be the oldest book in the Bible. In the second place, He is placed between his cousin John (in the New Testament) and the Old Testament prophet Elias.

No, sir, I do not believe that you have done anything beyond purchasing your copy of the Qur'an and reading the cover. The translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali is purported to be "nearest to being a perfect translation." If you check the two starred references above, you will notice that both passages ignore the concept of BEHEADING, and simply state, "smite at the neck." This indicates to me that there is a certain element of prevarication; some attempt is being made to cover up this violence. Additionally, there is very little beauty in this book, unless one considers flowing blood and gore significantly attractive. I do not.

In fact, Mohammed could neither read nor write, so he had no means of knowing how to proof-read his dictated work for accuracy and validity. See page ' v ,' third paragraph, last few lines, for Ali's comment on the literacy of Mohammed, "And because the angel on Mt. Hira bade him "Read!" -- insisted on his "Reading" though he was illiterate -- the Sacred Book is known as Al-Qur'an, " "The Reading," the Reading of the man who knew not how to read."

It is my serious wish that you examine the Judeo-Christian Bible, and learn how to peruse it and become familiar with its message of hope.

Yours truly, Posh Smith

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