RE: The religion of peace at it again!
December 17, 2013 at 8:55 pm
(This post was last modified: December 17, 2013 at 8:56 pm by Rayaan.)
Ksa, I read your post, but I do not agree with your paltry exegesis of "corruption in the land." And the verses you quoted does not define that either, as you claim they do.
So, I will quote 5:32 again and then explain what that is according to my understanding, by using the original Arabic at the same time.
Surah 5:32
"Because of that We have decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul for other than a human life [Arabic: nafsan] or corruption in the land [Arabic: fasadin fee al-ardi] - it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind."
The verse above brings two exceptions to the rule against killing: The first one is the killing of another human being or soul and the Arabic word used for that is "nafsan" (a "soul" or a "self"). This means that a person who kills another person - i.e. murderer - falls under this exception. The other exception is for those who cause "fasadin fee al-ardi" which means "corruption in the land," or something like "mischief in the land."
The term "fasad" by itself can be translated as corruption, transgression, damage, harm, and/or injury. It generally means corruption or transgression. This term is a little broad and thus one can argue that Muslims can use this term in the Quran to justify any killing for pretty much any kind of "corruption" ... but no, that would be wrong. Why is that wrong? Because the Quran says "corruption in the land" (fasadin fee al-ardi), and in another verse it says "corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea" (as you quoted in your post), so the addition of "throughout the land and sea" after the word "fasad" (corruption) tends to connote a widespread and a physical type of corruption, or one that causes damage to peoples' lives and their property.
In that context, and from other verses in the Quran, the corruption/fasad spoken of is most likely something that causes severe damage to peoples' lives and their property, such as warfare and organized crime against innocent people. So in times like that, killing is allowed in Islam, especially for self-defense. Otherwise, Muslims are not even allowed to harm anyone let alone kill them, as the Quran says, "Thus, if they let you be, and do not make war on you, and offer you peace, Allah does not allow you to harm them" (Surah 4:90).
That being said, there are, however, some different opinions on the term "fasad" and what it's applications are per the Quranic verses.
On a related note, I have also explained some of the "kill the infidel" type of verses in the Quran (which people like you very often quote out of context) in the following post:
http://atheistforums.org/thread-7864-pos...#pid162909
So, I will quote 5:32 again and then explain what that is according to my understanding, by using the original Arabic at the same time.
Surah 5:32
"Because of that We have decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul for other than a human life [Arabic: nafsan] or corruption in the land [Arabic: fasadin fee al-ardi] - it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind."
The verse above brings two exceptions to the rule against killing: The first one is the killing of another human being or soul and the Arabic word used for that is "nafsan" (a "soul" or a "self"). This means that a person who kills another person - i.e. murderer - falls under this exception. The other exception is for those who cause "fasadin fee al-ardi" which means "corruption in the land," or something like "mischief in the land."
The term "fasad" by itself can be translated as corruption, transgression, damage, harm, and/or injury. It generally means corruption or transgression. This term is a little broad and thus one can argue that Muslims can use this term in the Quran to justify any killing for pretty much any kind of "corruption" ... but no, that would be wrong. Why is that wrong? Because the Quran says "corruption in the land" (fasadin fee al-ardi), and in another verse it says "corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea" (as you quoted in your post), so the addition of "throughout the land and sea" after the word "fasad" (corruption) tends to connote a widespread and a physical type of corruption, or one that causes damage to peoples' lives and their property.
In that context, and from other verses in the Quran, the corruption/fasad spoken of is most likely something that causes severe damage to peoples' lives and their property, such as warfare and organized crime against innocent people. So in times like that, killing is allowed in Islam, especially for self-defense. Otherwise, Muslims are not even allowed to harm anyone let alone kill them, as the Quran says, "Thus, if they let you be, and do not make war on you, and offer you peace, Allah does not allow you to harm them" (Surah 4:90).
That being said, there are, however, some different opinions on the term "fasad" and what it's applications are per the Quranic verses.
On a related note, I have also explained some of the "kill the infidel" type of verses in the Quran (which people like you very often quote out of context) in the following post:
http://atheistforums.org/thread-7864-pos...#pid162909
