Mis-interpretation of the word, fight, in Quran by muslim extremists

Submitted by zuma (Singapore), May 12, 2012 at 07:04

The phrase, fight in the cause of Allah, might not be interpreted literally as physical fighting against the non-muslims. The following are the different translations for comparison in elaboration:

1)An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #74, "Let those fight in the cause of Allah Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah,- whether he is slain or gets victory - Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value)." (Yusuf Ali's translation) As the phrase, Who sell the life of this world, should not be interpreted as those that fight in the cause of Allah would physically sell away the whole world, how could the phrase, fight in the cause of Allah, be interpreted as stirring up physical violence and havoc against non-muslims in the world? If the phrase, Who sell the life of this world, should not be interpreted as selling the whole world to aliens or whatsoever, the phrase, whether he is slain, should not be interpreted as fighting until the non-muslims to become slain. Instead, it could be interpreted as spiritual warfare in preaching to non-muslims until they become muslims as if they be slain.

2) An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #74, "Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world's life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward." (Pickthal translation) The same is mentioned with the phrase, who sell this world's life for the hereafter.

The same are for the rest of the translations as below:

An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #74, "Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah, WHO SELLS THIS WORLD'S LIFE FOR THE HEREAFTER; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward." (Shakir's translation)

An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #74, "Let those (believers) WHO SELL THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD FOR THE HEREAFTER fight in the Cause of Allah, and whoso fights in the Cause of Allah, and is killed or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward." (Mohsin Khan's translation)

From the above extracts, it could come to the conclusion that the word, fight, in Quran might not be literally interpreted as creating physical violence or havoc against non-muslims in the society and yet, muslim extremists might have misinterpreted them for terrorism.

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