Is chopping or amputating the hands a true punishment for the thieves in the Quran?

 

Salam,

 

In the Quran it can be found two examples of punishment for the thieves in that it says the cutting of the hands and imprisonment as stated:----------

 

As to the thief, male or female cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power. (Surah 5:38)……….

 

(The brothers) said: "By Allah! Well ye know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!" They said: "What then shall be the penalty of this, if ye are (proved) to have lied?" They said: "The penalty should be that he in whose saddle-bag it is found should be held (as bondman) to atone for the (crime). Thus it is we punish the wrong-doers!" (Surah 12:73-75)

 

The Quran is self-explanatory which means the verses in the Quran will interpret the meaning as in the example of the cutting of the hands and the imprisonment of the thieves.

 

However since many deny the truth of the Quran how the punishment for the thieves is to be carried out It then reveals and interprets Muhammad’s policy outside of the Quran. The following passages indicate that the penalty cannot be explained away as anything but literal and physical. This is a quick compilation taken from the two most reliable collectors and compilers of the Hadith, Bukhari (AD 810-870) and Muslim (c. AD 817-875):

 

Aisha [favorite wife of Muhammad] reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, "The hand of a thief should be cut off but for a quarter of a dinar and what is above that." (Bukhari 8:6789; Muslim 3:4175-79). A dinar, a word taken from the Roman denarius, was not a small sum, but not exorbitant, either. It could buy a shield, and many of the very poor in Muhammad’s army could not afford one.

 

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, "God curses the thief who steals an egg, for which his hand is to be cut off, or steals a rope for which he has his hand cut off!" (Bukhari 8:6799; Muslim 3:4185)

 

Some commentators say that an "egg" was really a helmet, and the rope was a ship’s rope, which was sizable and costly. However, the translation above is usually accepted, and this means that the penalty could be imposed for trivial thefts. But even if the more expensive items are in view here, are they still worth a human hand?

 

Next, it should be recalled that 5:39 says that Allah accepts the repentance of a thief, and it seems to imply that the repentance before the penalty blocks the mutilation that a court imposes. However, the earliest Muslim sources interpret the verse more differently.

 

Ibn Kathir, referencing two hadiths from Bukhari and Muslim, summarizes an application of the punishment in early Islam (vol. 3, pp.175-76). A woman committed theft during Muhammad’s conquest of Mecca, and she was brought to him. A devout Muslim interceded for her, wanting her repentance to be accepted before the penalty. But Muhammad’s face turned red with anger and he rebuked the intercessor, saying that even if his own daughter were to steal, he would have her hand cut off. Allah’s command must be carried out no matter what. So Muhammad had the woman’s hand cut off, and Aisha reported that her repentance afterwards was sincere. Narrated Aisha: The prophet cut off the hand of a lady ... and she repented, and her repentance was sincere. (Bukhari 8:6800; Muslim 3:4187 and 4188).

 

It can be seen from the hadith above the Prophet (Pbuh) is being portrayed as cruel and unjust that whatever amount being stolen the hands is to be chopped off. On the contrary the verses that were inspired by the Prophet (Pbuh) in the Quran portrayed another example the cutting of the hand with the same Arabic word incurred by the ladies in the story of Joseph as follows:---------

 

“She gave each of them a knife: and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before them." When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their amazement) cut their hand”: (Surah 12:31)

 

From the above example if cutting the hands (Arabic qatha’uu) is defined as above then the same action can be imposed on the thieves whereby he is given a knife and it is for him to cut his own hand for his atonement of the crime he did. He must cut his hands but whether the feeling of guilt make him chopped of his hands entirely, or his finger or sliced part of his hands it is for his own atonement as the ladies did in Surah 12:31 and none should have any interference whatsoever. This self-inflicted atonement for his crime comes in conjunction with the relevancy to the successive verse after Surah 5:38 which says:---------

 

But if the thief repents after his crime, and amends his conduct, Allah turneth to him in forgiveness; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah 5:39).

 

It can be concluded that if the thief repent after cutting his own hand and make amend by returning all that is being stolen then Allah is to him forgiven and merciful. However even after cutting his own hands to atone his sin, the thieves did not repent then it is only fair that he should be sentenced to imprisonment depending on the seriousness of his crime. The higher the value he stole the longer he has to stay in prison. The imprisonment of the thieves is referred in the Quran as at Surah 12:73-75.

 

Without doubt It is proven the verses of the Quran refuted the stories of the hadith written by 9^th century Persian morons that it is glaring their message is to smeared the good name of the Prophet (Pbuh) as a cruel and unjust man whereas by taking the examples of the verses of the Quran inspired through him justice prevails as the punishment of the thieves can be achieved through compassion and consideration upon the thieves themselves.

 

Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice: Verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you! For Allah is He Who heareth and seeth all things. (Surah 4:58)

 

Say: "I believe in the Book which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord: for us (is the responsibility for) our deeds, and for you for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is (our) Final Goal. (Surah 42:15)

 

Asar



Most misunderstood verse by Christians and Jews of the Quran at Q10:94

 

Salam,

 

According to the Christians and the Jews they see Muslims are ignorant of their own scripture as they claimed that the Quran itself testified that the Bible is inspired, preserved and authoritative Word of God. It is proven according to them that in many ways the verses of the Quran itself says so. What does the Quran says about the Bible? Did the Quran say that the Bible is corrupted?

 

The following are 10 reasons claimed by Christians why the Bible should be acknowledged as the true Word of God based on direct quotations from the Quran:

 

1. The Quran gives the Bible many noble titles and honorable characteristics.

A guidance and light (Surah 5:44); A guidance and mercy (Surah 28:43); The book of enlightenment (Surah 3:184); Insight to men (Surah 28:43); The book (Surah 45:16); Allah’s book (Surah 5:44); The word of Allah (Surah 2:75);  A Guide to mankind (Surah 3:3).

 

2. The Quran states that all parts of the Bible were given by God.

And He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). (Surah 3:3); and to David we gave the Psalms (Surah 4:163).

 

3. The Qur'an teaches that all scripture should be respected in the same way, and that no distinction is to be made between any of the holy books.

We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them,... (Surah 3:84).

 

4. The Qur'an demands that people regard the Bible as the revelation of the Lord which must be obeyed.

O, People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.' It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord (Surah 5:68).

 

5. The Quran declares that the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians are for all mankind and not to be made obscure.

And remember Allah took a covenant from the People of the Book, to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs... (Surah 3:187).

 

6. The Quran encourages those who follow the revelation of the Bible and declares that they will have a reward.

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Surah 2:62).

 

7. The Qur'an encourages Christians to judge any revelation by the truth of their Scriptures.

Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel (Surah 5:47).

Note: Allah did not refer to the People of the Abrogated Scriptures" or "the People of the Corrupted Scriptures" or "the People of the Ascended Scriptures" as the Christian Scriptures were considered true and divine during the prophets time.

 

8. The Quran exhorted the prophet of Islam to test the truthfulness of his message against previous divine revelation.

If thou wert in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee: the Truth hath indeed come to thee from thy Lord: so be in no wise of those in doubt. (Surah 10:94)

Note: The Quran demands that Mohammed take the writings of the Jews and Christians as a model, and when he is in doubt to seek guidance in them. Surely Allah would not advise his messenger to seek understanding from the People of the Book if their Scripture was corrupted. Thus this earlier Scripture must have been preserved to make such a request.

 

9. The Qur'an insists that Gods revelation and words will never change.

There is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah (Surah 6:34).  No change can there be in the words of Allah this is indeed the supreme felicity (Surah 10:64).

Note: Claiming that Gods Word is corrupted is a severe insult to God, implying He could not keep His Word from forgery.

 

10. The Qur'an declares that the Bible contains commands from God which are the foundation of sound decision; whoever disbelieves the Bible has lost his way.

But why do they come to thee for decision, when they have (their own) law before them?- therein is the (plain) command of Allah; yet even after that, they would turn away (Surah 5:43). O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him) (Surah 4:136).

Based on what were proved, the Quran does not teach that the Bible is corrupted. Historically, the complete Scriptures (that was already in the Bible) were used since the end of the first century. The Old Testament Scriptures were compiled, also. Therefore, the Bible was already there. Now, we need to think of it. Did Muhammad confirm his message through the corrupted book? Therefore, Muslims must have to admit that they don’t know what they are saying.

 

It is true the Quran acknowledged the former scriptures were from Allah but it confirmed not without reservation. Most Christians and the Jews missed the point that the Quran is “Mohaiminan” or “Quality Control” over previous scriptures meaning one of the functions of the Quran is to expose the falsehood inserted into those scriptures. The following verse of the Quran played the role of “guardian” over previous scripture is to check the truth by the Quran and not the other way round as stated:--------------

 

To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. (5:48).

 

And this is the verse of the Quran where Allah exposed the Christians and the Jews for their role to invent falsehood and hide the truth from their scriptures as stated:-------------

 

O people of the Book! There hath come to you our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book, Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light, guideth them to a path that is straight.  (5:15-16)

 

For those People of the Book salvation is theirs if they also believe in the Quran and the apostle who brings it as the Quran clearly says believing in either one they will never achieve salvation as stated:---------

 

Those who follow the messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures), in the law and the Gospel; for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper." (7:157).

 

If there is no record of this in their scriptures then know that the truth has been erased from their books to support their evil agenda. The Quran had confirmed this and the truth is only from Allah in the Quran and we are being commanded not to be of those who doubt as stated:-  The Truth (comes) from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt. (3:60).

 

Similarly one can check the validity of the verse Surah 10:94 intelligently whether the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was of those who doubt the truth from Allah as claimed by the Christians and the Jews that he went and ask those who have knowledge of previous scriptures as this verse indicated:-

 

If thou wert in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee: the Truth hath indeed come to thee from thy Lord: so be in no wise of those in doubt. (10:94)

 

The Christians and the Jews failed to see that there are two parts of the above verse the first part imply only those Muslims who are in doubt of the revelation from Allah of the Quran will make reference to those who have been reading previous scriptures but for sure the Prophet (Pbuh) will not be among those who ask those who have been reading the books before him as he was never of those who doubt as he said:-------------

 

Say: "O my Lord! Let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor, and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)." And say: "Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish." (17:80-81)

 

Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion. Say: "The Guidance of Allah,that is the (only) Guidance." Wert thou to follow their desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither Protector nor helper against Allah. (2:120)

 

Asar

 

 

 



Can a man be permitted to marry his own biological daughter if she is borne to him out of wedlock according to the Quran?

 

Salam,

 

There is a blasphemous religious ruling in Islam that is taught and upheld by prominent Islamic scholars that reveals the approval of incest within its theology. In accordance with this teaching a man is permitted to marry his own biological daughter and consummate the marriage with her if she was conceived illegitimately. In other words, a man is permitted to marry his own biological daughter if she is born to him out of wedlock.

 

The foundation for this blasphemy is laid in the misrepresentation of the following verse:

It is He Who has created man from water: then has He established relationships of lineage and marriage: for thy Lord has power over all things. (Quran 25:54)

 

Al-Qurtubi in his Commentary (Tafsir) on Surah 25:54, he quotes Ibn Al-Arabi (1165 C.E.–1240 C.E.), the most influential author of Islamic history. He is also known to his supporters as al-Shaykh al-Akbar (The Greatest Master). Al-Qurtubi wrote:----------

 

“Lineage and relationship through marriage are two terms that describe the personal relationships that may exist between humans.” Ibn Al-Arabi said, “Lineage is an expression referring to the mixture of fluids between a male and a female from a religious legal point of view. However, if this union (between male and female) occurs through disobedience (fornication) then the resulting child is not considered a part of a person’s true lineage. That is why a daughter born from adultery is not mentioned in Allah’s saying, ‘Prohibited to you (for marriage) are: your mothers and daughters’ (Quran 4:23) because she is not considered a daughter according to the most authentic teaching of Sunni scholars. According to their interpretation if there is no legal lineage then there is no legal relationship; for adultery does not prohibit (from marriage) the daughter of the mother (you committed adultery with) nor the mother of a woman (you committed adultery with). What is lawfully prohibited is not also prohibited due to sin, for Allah has bestowed lineage and relation through marriage upon His servants and greatly esteemed these relationships. Allah has also established laws identifying what is legal and what is prohibited, which are not equal to each other; therefore falsehood cannot be a part of these laws.” (Tafseer Qurtubi, Qur'an 25 verse 54; Translated from Al-Azhar’s official website).

 

According to this opinion, a daughter born out of wedlock is not considered as the daughter of the man. Consequently, it becomes permissible for him to marry her. The above ruling clearly states that “the resulting child is not considered a part of a person’s true lineage.” As a result, the daughter is regarded the same as any other unrelated woman. As such, they claimed Islam does not prohibit the marriage between the father and his own biological daughter who is born through fornication or adultery.

 

And the above ruling also adds that, if there is no legal lineage then there is no legal relationship; for adultery does not prohibit from marriage the daughter of the mother you committed adultery with.” And to drive home the point, the ruling states, “What is lawfully prohibited is not also prohibited due to sin, for Allah has bestowed lineage and relation through marriage.” In others words, while the Quran prohibits marriages between a man and his daughter if she is conceived in marriage, it does not prohibit marriages between a father and his daughter if she is conceived out of wedlock.

 

How does having a daughter from an adulterous relationship make her sexually permissible for the father when she is in every sense his very own flesh and blood? No matter how she is conceived, she still remains his biological child and should be sexually off limits to him. This is a gross violation of the divine standard of morality. Just think, will the true God Allah permit incest intentionally?

 

According to those scholars Quran 4:23 speaks about the various types of marriage relationships that are forbidden in Islam. However, those scholars claimed that the list does not include the incestuous marriage between a father and his illegitimate daughter. Many of them acknowledge the permission of this incestuous marriage in the Qur’an. Al-Qurtubi confirms this point in his Commentary on Qur'an 4:23: “The scholars have differed on the issue of prohibition of sexual intercourse with someone born out of adultery. The majority of knowledgeable scholars have said that if a man commits adultery with a woman, that act does not prohibit him from marrying her. Likewise, a man’s wife is not prohibited from him if he commits adultery with her mother or her daughter. It is sufficient for him to receive the punitive judgment (based on sharia), and then he may have intercourse with his wife. If any man commits adultery with a woman then desired to marry her mother or her daughter, they are not prohibited from him because of this act.”

 

However It was reported by Malik that adultery prohibits (a man’s relationship with both) the mother and the daughter and this act (of adultery) has the same prohibitions that a legal marriage has. However, the (only) correct portion of Malik’s saying is that adultery produces no regulations. For Allah, exalted and glorified, said in Surah 4:23, “Your wives’ mothers,” but did not say, “He who committed adultery with his wives’ mothers, nor his daughter whom he conceived through adultery.” This is the saying of Al-Shafi’i and Abu Thuri…” Abdul Malik Ibn Al-Maj-shun said such a marriage (between a man and the daughter he conceived through adultery) is permissible; which they claimed is the correct understanding of Allah’s saying in Surah 25:54, “It is He Who has created man from water: then has He established relationships of lineage and marriage,” referring to an approved legal marriage. This is referred to the previous note on “Tafsiral-Qurtubi, Translated from the official website of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Islamic Affairs).

 

The above “Tafsir” clearly states that “a marriage between a man and the daughter he conceived through adultery is permissible; by interpreting of Allah’s saying in Quran 25:54.” The reason for such strong support by these scholars for a practice that is morally and ethically wrong is primarily because of the Qur’an’s insistence that lineage and relationship are only recognized through “legal marriage.”

 

Note again the commentary by al-Qurtubi on Surah 4:23: For Allah, exalted and glorified, said in Quran 4:23, “Your wives’ mothers,” But did not say, “He who committed adultery with his wives’ mothers, nor his daughter whom he conceived through adultery.”

 

Thus, it can be noted that in this instance, incest between a father and daughter is sanctioned by them and this tarnished Islam for two reasons. They claimed firstly, it is because Allah does not recognize the lineage of the daughter who is born out of wedlock. Secondly, it is because Allah did not forbid this form of incestuous marriage in the Qur’an. As a result, a man’s daughter becomes permissible to him if he is not married to her mother at the time of her conception. Another renowned scholar also confirms this judicial ruling in Islam. Al-Fiqh Ala al Madahib al Arba’a by Sheikh Abdurehman Jazri, Volume 4, page 40: “It is permissible for a man to marry his daughter who is born through adultery.” “The one (girl) who is born through adultery does not become “mahram” (to her father) as the Shafiee say, because she is not considered as daughter since there is no inheritance between them.” In the legal terminology of Islamic sharia, “mahram” is an unmarriageable kin with whom sexual intercourse would be considered incestuous. However, since a daughter born from adultery is not a daughter in Islam, she “does not become mahram (forbidden) to her father.” As such, the father can marry her. Hence, the unacceptable practice of incest becomes acceptable for them in this instance. The forbidden becomes permissible

 

The great majority of Sunni scholars have enacted laws based on the Qur’an, which they think allow a man to marry his very own daughter if she is born out of wedlock – even when he is fully aware that she is his own flesh and blood. In other words he can knowingly marry his daughter because to them Islam “does not prohibit from marriage the daughter of the mother you committed adultery with.” Thus it permits a man’s illegitimate daughter to become his legitimate wife.

 

Look carefully at the wordings in this blasphemous ruling. It says, “It is permissible for a man to marry his daughter who is born through adultery.” It recognizes the fact that she is “his daughter” and yet permits the incestuous marriage between a father and his daughter. Can any sane person accept this insanity? Any human being with even a minuscule trace of decency will understand that although adultery is wrong, it does not change the fact that the child is still his biological daughter. If a man is not even supposed to marry his step-daughter, how much so if she happens to be his very own flesh and blood?

 

The depth of this immoral law is immense. To say it is shocking is an understatement.

Granted, a man and a woman sinned by committing adultery. However, to make the daughter of this union permissible for the father to marry is disgustingly sinful. This act of sin permitted by those scholars goes against the very order of nature. When those scholars say that the child “is not considered a daughter,” it is punishing the child for the sins of the parents. The fact that most fathers under such circumstances will not live by this ruling shows that even adulterers have a better moral standard than those blasphemous scholars. One might sin in a moment of weakness but their sins are deliberate and grossly wicked. This proves their “fatwa” is satanic in nature not only by sanctioning incest but by also punishing the innocent.

 

The evidences in the Quran is clear against their “Fatwa” and “Tafsir” of those unscrupulous scholars as Quran 4:23 forbids a person to marry his own daughter as stated:-“Prohibited to you (For marriage) are:- Your mothers, daughters, sisters;……and more important the verse says “born of your wives to whom ye have gone in,- no prohibition if ye have not gone in;” Whether they are legally married or not the daughter is still from both their semen.

 

And it is also clearly stated in the Quran if the father is guilty of fornication he is not only being forbidden to marry his out of wedlock daughter but also he is forbidden to marry  any other believing woman. The Quran strictly limit his partner to be of the sinner adulteress like him or a pagan woman. To the believers marrying such person is forbidden as stated:----------

 

Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry and but a woman similarly guilty, or a pagan: nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden.(Quran 24:3)

ASAR