Allah in Quran is very impatient

Submitted by Prashant (United States), Jun 18, 2016 at 14:40

Dear Dr Pipes:

In the above blog of yours you state that quranic verse 2:256 declares that there is no compulsion in religion but is abrogated subsequently in the Quran. You cite examples of verses from chapter 9 that abrogate 2:256. Allah in Quran is very impatient. When He grants an inch to non-believers, He takes back a yard almost instantaneously. Usually you don't have to wait for several chapters. I hate to say this and I do not want to find faults in scriptures of other people but I cannot close my eyes to factual evidence. What do your readers think Allah said in 2:257 after telling us that there is no compulsion in religion in 2:256?

Well, this is what is said in 2:257:

Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (For ever)."

(The above is a direct quote from a reputed translation of Quran).

So, though there is no compulsion in religion per 2:256, per 2:257 if will I I choose not be a believer, I will be a companion of fire for ever. So you do not have to read 7 chapters, to find an abrogation. You will find it in the next verse. The above admonition is not very uncommon when it comes to religious texts but in the hands of ISIS or AlQaeda or ancient Islamic invaders, it can be and is/was very lethal.

As it happened in every religion of the world, some major Islamic reformer has to rise and say very firmly that not every word of Quran is correct and not everyone of it must be taken literally.

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