"Take to pardoning, and enjoin right, and turn away from the ignorant."
Quran, 7:199
I've been working my way through Surah 7 in the Quran. Like many Muslims I try and read the Quran every day (as is also true with people of faith no matter their religion or their holy books). I guess I hope it helps make me a better person, although, truthfully, it may also be a reflection of my general nerd-dom because I also simply find it interesting. As I said before, the part of the faith that I enjoy the most is simply quietly reading the Quran. One of the advantages of taking this very structured approach to blogging everyday is that it forces/allows me to pursue these issues in greater detail.
This is one of those seemingly simple lines which contains worlds within worlds. Today I just want to focus on the first part. In the Study Quran Nasr shares, "This is one of many verses encouraging forbearance toward others, including one's religious opponents or those by whom one has been wronged; see also 2:109; 3:159; 5:13; 23:96; 41:34-35; 45:14; 64:14. What is meant here is forgiving and excusing people's failings of character and deed and being gentle rather than harsh. When this verse was revealed, the Prophet reportedly asked the Archangel Gabriel what was meant, and after consulting with God, Gabriel stated that it meant that one should 'maintain the ties of kinship with one who would cut himself off from you; give to the one who withholds from you; and pardon the one who wrongs you'. The Prophet also reportedly advised his followers, 'Be easy; do not be difficult'." Sadly, some inside of Islam will argue that these directives were later abrogated by revelations that instructed the Prophet to fight against those who were his religious opponents - and I'll have a lot to say about this later on. Essentially, at this point, I'll just say that if this gentle, forgiving approach is not what we're supposed to be doing then why would we follow any faith? We certainly don't need another justification to give into our more animalistic violent tendencies.
2:109: "Many of the People of the Book wish to turn you back into disbelievers after your having disbelieved, out of envy in their souls, even after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and forbear, until God comes with His Command. Truly God is powerful over all things."
3:159: "Then [it was] by a mercy from God that thou wert gentle with them. Hadst thou been severe [and] hard-hearted they would have scattered from about thee. So pardon them, ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in affairs. And when thou art resolved, trust in God; truly God loves those who trust."
5:13: "Then for their breaking of their covenant, We cursed them and hardened their hearts. They distort the meaning of the Word, and have forgotten part of that whereof they were reminded. Thou wilt not cease to discover their treachery, from all save a few of them. So pardon them, and forbear. Truly God loves the virtuous."
23:96: "Repel evil by that which is better. We know best what they ascribe."
41:34-35: "The good deed and the evil deer are not equal. Repel by that which is better; then behold, the one between whom and thee there is enmity shall be as if he were a loyal, protecting friend. Yet none shall receive it, save those who are patient; and none shall receive it, save those who possess great fortune."
45:14: "Tell those who believe to forgive those who hope not for the days of God, that He may requite a people for that which they used to earn."
64:14: "O you who believe! Among your spouses and your children there is indeed an enemy unto you; so be wary of them. Yet if you pardon, forbear, and forgive, then truly God is Forgiving, Merciful."
Quran, 7:199
I've been working my way through Surah 7 in the Quran. Like many Muslims I try and read the Quran every day (as is also true with people of faith no matter their religion or their holy books). I guess I hope it helps make me a better person, although, truthfully, it may also be a reflection of my general nerd-dom because I also simply find it interesting. As I said before, the part of the faith that I enjoy the most is simply quietly reading the Quran. One of the advantages of taking this very structured approach to blogging everyday is that it forces/allows me to pursue these issues in greater detail.
This is one of those seemingly simple lines which contains worlds within worlds. Today I just want to focus on the first part. In the Study Quran Nasr shares, "This is one of many verses encouraging forbearance toward others, including one's religious opponents or those by whom one has been wronged; see also 2:109; 3:159; 5:13; 23:96; 41:34-35; 45:14; 64:14. What is meant here is forgiving and excusing people's failings of character and deed and being gentle rather than harsh. When this verse was revealed, the Prophet reportedly asked the Archangel Gabriel what was meant, and after consulting with God, Gabriel stated that it meant that one should 'maintain the ties of kinship with one who would cut himself off from you; give to the one who withholds from you; and pardon the one who wrongs you'. The Prophet also reportedly advised his followers, 'Be easy; do not be difficult'." Sadly, some inside of Islam will argue that these directives were later abrogated by revelations that instructed the Prophet to fight against those who were his religious opponents - and I'll have a lot to say about this later on. Essentially, at this point, I'll just say that if this gentle, forgiving approach is not what we're supposed to be doing then why would we follow any faith? We certainly don't need another justification to give into our more animalistic violent tendencies.
2:109: "Many of the People of the Book wish to turn you back into disbelievers after your having disbelieved, out of envy in their souls, even after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and forbear, until God comes with His Command. Truly God is powerful over all things."
3:159: "Then [it was] by a mercy from God that thou wert gentle with them. Hadst thou been severe [and] hard-hearted they would have scattered from about thee. So pardon them, ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in affairs. And when thou art resolved, trust in God; truly God loves those who trust."
5:13: "Then for their breaking of their covenant, We cursed them and hardened their hearts. They distort the meaning of the Word, and have forgotten part of that whereof they were reminded. Thou wilt not cease to discover their treachery, from all save a few of them. So pardon them, and forbear. Truly God loves the virtuous."
23:96: "Repel evil by that which is better. We know best what they ascribe."
41:34-35: "The good deed and the evil deer are not equal. Repel by that which is better; then behold, the one between whom and thee there is enmity shall be as if he were a loyal, protecting friend. Yet none shall receive it, save those who are patient; and none shall receive it, save those who possess great fortune."
45:14: "Tell those who believe to forgive those who hope not for the days of God, that He may requite a people for that which they used to earn."
64:14: "O you who believe! Among your spouses and your children there is indeed an enemy unto you; so be wary of them. Yet if you pardon, forbear, and forgive, then truly God is Forgiving, Merciful."
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