THE HOLY QURAN AND THE STATUS OF WOMAN

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/reference.html

Here are some of the verses in form of translation from the quran regarding this with my comments here and there.

002.221

YUSUFALI: Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But Allah beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they may celebrate His praise.

My comments,

1) Such verses clearly show that muslim men are in-charge over their muslim women. See also 4/25 etc. 

2) Muslim masters are in-charge over their muslim male and female slaves.

3) So Islam is an unfair controlling system wherein nonmuslims are bound to be treated worse.

In order to see whether what the quran says makes sense or not, one must look at things as parts of Islamic state constitution in order to realise Islamic goals for muslim society and its individual members ie men, women and children. We must look at each and everything in terms of politics, society, culture and economics as structures, systems and practices, to see how they work together if they do and to what ends and why etc etc. The idea is to see whether individual concepts and practices are capable of working together or not and whether they are capable of producing any allegedly desired results. For example, if islam can solve our worldly problems as muslims claims then how can it do so if it dictates ideas, systems and practices that oppose each other or are in conflict with the reality of this world? If economic progress and prosperity is the goal then by cutting down on female participation in various fields through various unnecessary restrictions, islam is putting a hurdle in the way of progress and prosperity. It is important to start from the goals islam sets for muslims to achieve in this world, because it is the goals that decide for a people their political, social, cultural and economic  set up.

Another problem one must realise is the context of suras and verse of the quran ie the environment and circumstances in which they were revealed. This is seriously problematic because the rule of abrogation tell us that earlier rulings on matters are no longer applicable. This happened within the 23 years of revelation ie Allah had to wait for the right environment and circumstances to evolve so that he could reveal the related verses of the quran. This raises serious question that if this was important for those 23 years then why not for the later years as well because things did not stop evolving by then?         

002.223

YUSUFALI: Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear Allah. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe.

My comments,

Women are not mere sex slaves for men as this verse portrays them, they are their loving mothers, loving daughters and loving sisters as well as equal loving partners in life. This verse also ignores the sexual need of women as sexual human beings like men. This is more obvious when a man can have so many women and can only go for the ones he desires at any given time and only for his own satisfaction. In fact the language used in this verse does not seem civilised to me and I rather not say more.

002.229

YUSUFALI: A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should either hold Together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness. It is not lawful for you, (Men), to take back any of your gifts (from your wives), except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah. If ye (judges) do indeed fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah, there is no blame on either of them if she give something for her freedom. These are the limits ordained by Allah; so do not transgress them if any do transgress the limits ordained by Allah, such persons wrong (Themselves as well as others).

002.230

YUSUFALI: So if a husband divorces his wife (irrevocably), He cannot, after that, re-marry her until after she has married another husband and He has divorced her. In that case there is no blame on either of them if they re-unite, provided they feel that they can keep the limits ordained by Allah. Such are the limits ordained by Allah, which He makes plain to those who understand.

My comments,

It is a man who marries a women at will and it is a man who divorces her at will, so why should the women go and sleep with some one else before getting back with her ex-husband? I thought it was up to individuals to consent to marriage as and when they wished, perhaps I thought wrong. What difference does it make to god how many times a couple breaks and makes between themselves? It makes hell of a difference if the couple have children together and if they love each other but still feel every now and again that they had enough of each other. Why should god step in to make the break as if a permanent  one?

Muslims tell me there is no such thing as forced marriage in islam, what is this then? Now suppose the women obeys Allah and marries another man in order to get back with her ex-husband but this later husband refuses to divorce her, what happens then? The point is clear that she in this case cannot get back with her ex-husband, so what is the point in telling her to do so? Moreover, when she sleeps with her new husband and becomes pregnant, she will now have children in two places, how would she feel separated from one set of children or the other? Is this what islam cares for the feelings of the innocent mother? Also how about children who will become separated from their mother? Would they not be psychologically affected by all this nonsense, thanks to Allah?

002.236

YUSUFALI: There is no blame on you if ye divorce women before consummation or the fixation of their dower; but bestow on them (A suitable gift), the wealthy according to his means, and the poor according to his means;- A gift of a reasonable amount is due from those who wish to do the right thing.

002.237

YUSUFALI: And if ye divorce them before consummation, but after the fixation of a dower for them, then the half of the dower (Is due to them), unless they remit it or (the man's half) is remitted by him in whose hands is the marriage tie; and the remission (of the man's half) is the nearest to righteousness. And do not forget Liberality between yourselves. For Allah sees well all that ye do.

My comments,

Is marriage about loving relationship of two consenting adults with equal rights or a low paid sexual contract ie a forced prostitution? Is this the respect muslim women have in islam? A status of cheaply hired vagina or womb? What else could the conclusion be, for a mother has no right to her children, the fruit of her own womb and look at the price she is paid for that? Are prostitutes not in a better position than that?

004.003

YUSUFALI: If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.

My comments,

If marriage is about loving relationship between two consenting adults then what is meaning of a man having four wives at the same time? If a man is unable to deal fairly with free women then marry slaves girls, what kind of logic is this? Are slave women not going to become free after marriage to their masters? If they are then the problem of dealing with them in fairness remains the same, does it not? Moreover, are believing slave women not human being with feelings that they do not deserve equal treatment? And why marry a slave when she is already available at will to her master? Moreover, what is the purpose behind all this when muslims are not supposed to be gathering good things of this life for sake of here after? 

004.004

YUSUFALI: And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, Take it and enjoy it with right good cheer.

My comments,

How big this dower is to begin with that she let go even that for her husband? Is it not the idea behind such encouragements to fool the woman into giving up whatever little she has at every twist and turn financially so that she remains lying at her husband’s or master’s feet? This so called mahr or marriage dower from husband to wife is mere stupidity because it is not fixed at minimum or maximum according to necessities and desires of women. For poor woman it does not mean relief from her poverty and for rich it makes no difference. Was this how people used to live in a utopia Islamic state? Is this how Islamic state took care of everyone? If Islamic state is responsible for welfare of individuals ie be they men, women or children then why should a woman need any price for her marriage to anyone? If individual is to look after oneself then, why put restriction on their economic independence? Why not let people let live and take care of their own needs themselves?  

Please remember what I am saying ie in my view God (if there is one) has to be all perfect but the quran is not. These like things in the quran force me not to attribute such like scriptures to god as his word, because these are tribal customs as they were in Arabia at the time. God would not tell us to live by primitive tribal customs knowing full well that the dynamic nature of the world.  If I knowingly accept such like scriptures as divine then from fairness point of view, I could not be a fair minded person or that I must be insane. On the other hand if one finds the quran to be perfect yet fails to believe it so, that too would be equally unfair and dishonest on the part of the person. So it all depends on what one makes of the quran oneself and that depends on how learned one is and how open minded one has been brought up to judge things for what they really are, because muslims are brainwashed with Islamic dogmatic indoctrination right from their childhood and are told not to question what they are taught in the name of god.

004.011

YUSUFALI: Allah (thus) directs you as regards your Children's (Inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females: if only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each, if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased Left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases ('s) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-knowing, Al-wise.

My comments,

Here I have a few problems with the verse.

A)              The share 2/3 is impossible to calculate or to distribute. The reason is that mathematically, one cannot be fully divided by three eg try 1/3= 0.333333……………. ie the answer seems to be keep going for ever and ever. So such an order of the quran cannot be carried out perfectly no matter what. Since this order cannot be carried out practically therefore the order is wrong or it is a  clear cut mistake. Since god is supposed to be perfect and cannot make mistakes, so this commandment cannot be from all perfect divine being. Since situations can differ eg a man could have seven or nine sons instead of three so again one cannot be fully divided by seven or nine ie 1/7= 0.1428571……. Or 1/9= 0.111111111 etc etc. So distribution of inheritance has no divine solution in some situations as mentioned in this verse. Also if the universe was created by god then such mistakes would not have been there, for god being perfect would not be able to make such mistakes, for he would have created this universe as a purpose built unit, perfect for his purpose. Thus statements in the alleged divine scriptures at times do not match the real world the way the world is, proving the fact that the scriptures are manmade and that the universe is not a purpose built unit created by some god.

B) The other problem I have here is unfair distribution of inheritance ie we are told that the share of two daughters in the estate of their father are same as of one son. In other words two daughters inherit half of the estate of their father and the other half goes to their only brother. It is explained by muslim scholars that this is the case because the responsibility of looking after women in the family falls on men. So if that is the case then women do not really need any inheritance at all, do they? They become like children in the family whose needs are met by their parents. So why give them any share at all and create a problem where there is none? Muslims proudly say, islam gave women the property rights but that is not true. Muhammad’s first wife was a business-woman and she was not a muslim when she married Muhammad. The quran tells story of queen of sheba and she too was not a muslim but owned the kingdom. Also the point is not whether one has property rights or not in evolutionary terms but whether those rights are divine or not and so fair or not fair? I take them to be unfair and that unfairness is permanent, for quran claims to be the final message from god for ever as far as  muslims are concerned.

So either woman deserve share or they do not but if they do need share in the inheritance then they should be given equal share, for that is more sensible thing to do. One may say, how is that more sensible? Well, if everyone had their own share then each person could chip in their own share whenever there was need for common spending in the family. Moreover, women being more vulnerable in male dominated society would face more difficulties so they need more help than their male counterparts. It would have given them better security so that their exploitation could be reduced if not totally stopped. By taking away from the weaker members of the society we are in fact making them more vulnerable. According to this quranic logic weak and poor members of our society do not need anything, do they, because the rich among us will look-after them, would they or do they not? Well, look at what has been going on in the muslim world so far for centuries right from the beginning.

C) Yet other problem is that this distribution method is a recipe for relationship disaster between the rich and the poor. One may ask, how is that possible? First let us suppose that there are two families with two children each. One male and the other female. These two families are equally rich or equally poor. Let say, their children get married. These children will not lose anything because what one girl loses from her parents is made up by what the boy gets from his parents.

Now imagine that one family is not same as the other ie one is now very rich and the other very poor. Now suppose that, just like before these children also get married to each other. Now poor girl will get less from her parents than her brother but her husband will get twice as much as his sister. However the rich girl will only bring to poor boy half of what her brother will keep. Now this will not stop there rather when these people have their own children, they too will be affected by this decision very seriously. So according to the quranic distribution system of inheritance rich are more likely to marry rich and keep everything between themselves and the poor will be quietly pushed out. Such things when studies in detail reveal what I would call the true islam that is not really good for the poor and the weak. However, that is what I think but perhaps I am missing something here which others know better.     

D) My next point would have been the fractions that are involved in this verse, for they do not add up to one ie the whole estate, because the quran does not explain them sufficiently for practical purposes but I will leave that aside just now.

004.015

YUSUFALI: If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four (Reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or Allah ordain for them some (other) way.

004.016

YUSUFALI: If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, Leave them alone; for Allah is Oft-returning, Most Merciful.

My comments,

A) In these verses discrimination against women is again obvious ie they are to be imprisoned in the houses for good whereas men can repent and reform.

B) The other problem here is getting the four reliable witnesses to prove guilt of these people. In other words the evidence required for conviction of such people seems to be almost impossible. I mean who will dare such a thing in front of four male witnesses who are supposed to be good people? Moreover why would they not stop such a crime if they are already there?

C) The concept of rape in general is not addressed in the quran nor the concept of rape in marriage. As for rape by husband or master, there is no such thing in islam, because once a slave girl becomes property of her master, he can do what he likes to her and the idea seems to be the same in case of husband that once a women consents in marriage then she has no right to refuse the husband and if she disobeys then husband can beat her up as well. Since a wife is tilth for her husband so by implication she cannot refuse her husband but husband can, yet if woman commits adultery due to neglect by her husband she is still in trouble. Of course there are many hadith on this in various hadith books but they are far too many to be taken into account in this already a very short essay???

D) Also there is another aspect here about gays and lesbians. I will discuss that when I talk about science in the quran. According to the quran god created people men and women tell us the muslims but the scientific thought in this matter seriously contests this state of affairs, proving the Quranic concept of two perfect genders wrong.       

004.019

YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may Take away part of the dower ye have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.

My comments,

A) Law of marriage and rape is causing problems for muslims in present world order. For example, the prophet of islam allegedly at the age of around fifty years got married to Aisha his youngest wife when she was around six years old. This would not be right because it is not an acceptable age for a woman to be able to give her consent. Moreover, this would seem odd that a good man like a divine prophet would do such a thing instead of breaking the bad tribal norms of the day. Anyway this issue is contested a lot between muslims and nonmuslims but I would leave it to individuals to decide it for themselves.

B) As for law of rape, it runs into trouble because it creates a catch 22 situation for a woman. For example, if a woman claims that she has been raped by such and such person, it is her responsibility as an accuser to provide the evidence ie produce four reliable good muslim witnesses. Should she fail to do so, she would be branded the liar and would have to go through the penalty for false accusation. However, if she fails to disclose rape at the time due to being unable to provide the necessary evidence but becomes pregnant and gives birth to a child then she would be accused of adultery and the pregnancy would be used as proof of her adultery. So she faces punishment for that, which could be death by stoning for a married woman as is clearly stated in many reports in various hadith books.

This law on the other hand gives very good protection to a landlord against the accusation of a woman of his vessels for example. Suppose a bad landlord, calls a woman to his house and no one is there save his friends. Since women is not allowed to travel alone so she takes her father, husband or brother with her. When they get there, the landlord’s men take care of the man and the landlord does what he intended with the woman. The father or brother of the lady cannot save her and they have no four reliable witnesses, what happens now? If the lady and her father accuse the landlord, it is highly likely that they themselves will end up receiving the Islamic justice and if they remain silent but the lady ends up being pregnant then again the situation puts them in trouble. This surely is more than sufficient to frightened the hell out of any woman not to step out side the house. Not only that but when home alone make sure the door is really strong so that unwelcome visitors do not drop in uninvited, for consequences for a married woman are again very serious.     

C) The other problem here is the contradiction between the verses eg 4/19 and 2/230 ie the consent is necessary in this case but a woman must marry another man after divorce to get back with her first husband provided the other man divorces her, if not that creates another problem for her, does it not? Again there are reports about it in hadith books. I am not going over there but you dear reader be my guest.

004.020

YUSUFALI: But if ye decide to take one wife in place of another, even if ye had given the latter a whole treasure for dower, Take not the least bit of it back: Would ye take it by slander and manifest wrong?

004.021

YUSUFALI: And how could ye take it when ye have gone in unto each other, and they have Taken from you a solemn covenant?

004.022

YUSUFALI: And marry not women whom your fathers married,- except what is past: It was shameful and odious,- an abominable custom indeed.

004.024

YUSUFALI: Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess: Thus hath Allah ordained (Prohibitions) against you: Except for these, all others are lawful, provided ye seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust, seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers (at least) as prescribed; but if, after a dower is prescribed, agree Mutually (to vary it), there is no blame on you, and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.

My comments,

Varying dowry/price after man has used woman like a prostitute is only going to benefit man, because he is the one who had to pay and he agreed, so why allow him to break his word now? And all that time woman has been serving him like a slave, does that count for anything? If he could not afford it then he should not have agreed, so he should not be allowed to cheat the woman now that he is kicking her out, why let him get away with it? Moreover, in a utopia Islamic state, why women married men for so little that was not even enough for their daily up keep? Could they not bother about it at all if the Islamic people and the state was as generous (ie welfare based) as we are told about it  by muslims? Moreover, if Islamic state was that generous, why men are worried for being broke that they need to cheat their poor ex-wives?

Also after having so many women the verse still talks about chastity of man,  what the hell is going on here? Were these muslim men thinking human beings or sex maniac penises walking about on two legs? At this point one has to ask, do men not feel degraded by the quran being portrayed therein like this? Because having all these women and they being all wrapped up men still somewhat feel sexually not fully satisfied and ready to commit adultery, rape and what have you.

Not only that but here is what the quran tells us about the prophet, his wives and his followers 33/37, 50-54. The prophet desires other peoples’ women and because he thinks that way, he is also worried that others will be looking at his wives with similar intentions ie with sexual desires. The quran for exactly the same reason (ie men desiring for more sex) motivates muslims with more sex in heaven as if sex is the only thing in muslim men’s life, for muslim women’s need in this matter is ignored. There is no hadith as regard woman that if she wants to have sex, her husband/master should hurry to satisfy her at once. Mind you there are hadith reports which tell that women have more sexual desire than men and that makes it even more important that their need be met and that they are the ones who need more husbands than men needing more wives.

  004.025

YUSUFALI: If any of you have not the means wherewith to wed free believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those whom your right hands possess: And Allah hath full knowledge about your faith. Ye are one from another: Wed them with the leave of their owners, and give them their dowers, according to what is reasonable: They should be chaste, not lustful, nor taking paramours: when they are taken in wedlock, if they fall into shame, their punishment is half that for free women. This (permission) is for those among you who fear sin; but it is better for you that ye practise self-restraint. And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

My comments,

Once a slave girl becomes free, she should be treated like a free woman in all respects including in matters of punishment. The opposite  is told about the wives of the prophet ie if they do any wrong their punishment will be double 33/30, perhaps to frightened them more into submission, which is wrong. Laws are needed to be fair and to be applied fairly as well. After telling us the law about free women the quran makes these changes which would be taken as a mistake. It is a mistake because no other such discrimination is made between free women. It is not told because so and so woman has this background therefore she should be punished differently. A thief is a thief and that is it. One cannot say, because this thief has this background or circumstances therefore he should be punished different from the norm. Not that there is anything wrong with taking peoples’ circumstances into account but that then there cannot be a fixed penalty eg 50 lashes for every such adulterer as mentioned here or 100 lashes according to 24/2. Moreover what is norm is not described in the quran to begin with so how do we judge any case in this matter and thereby apply varying punishments according to individual cases or circumstances?      

004.034

YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).

My comments,

None should be allowed to beat up anyone, least of all a loving husband beating up his loving wife. Anyway beating up wife would only destroy any love she may have in her heart for her husband and may even fill her with hate or is it that Islamic marriages have nothing to do with love? Moreover what effect will it have on children when they see or hear their father beating up their mothers? It is possible they would not like their father. Moreover their mothers may even drive them away from their father in revenge. Perhaps, Islamic marital relationships are not based on love and fairness but lust and master slave relationship or even without emotional attachment prostitution principle, though these women are not paid much, as it seems from such like evidences eg having unlimited sexual partners ie wives and slave girls. The temporary marriage is also part of same equation ie needs to be understood in the same context.

Anyway going back to beating, legal matter or dispute should be sorted out properly by legal means not beatings but then concept of submission or obedience only leads to master slave relationship between people rather than sense based cooperation. It seems, Islam's answer to problems like this is almost always go people and beat up each other eg if children disobey parents, they should be beaten up by their parents. If wives disobey husbands, they should be beaten up by their husbands. If slaves disobey their master, they should be beaten up by their masters. If people disobey their rulers, they should be beaten up by their rulers. If they disobey their god, they should be beaten up bu their god. No wonder then that people like myself think that religion is a system of control that is used by some people who are in position of power against others who are under their sway to control them, need be by force and violence. One only needs to read the hadith I posted already, how slaves are advised by the prophet to obey their masters or how wives are advised by the prophet to obey their husbands and how muslims are told to obey their rulers 2/178, 4/59 etc etc.

Another problem here is that if people are ordered or allowed to be controlled this way then they cannot make any choices as regard religion for example. You follow your ruler’s or your father’s or your husband’s religion, for you are not allowed to think for yourself or you will be beaten up, for what they say is right even if wrong and what you think is wrong even if right. So why should the god of quran punish people for things for which he is not allowing them to make choices for themselves? Such verses in the quran contradict the verses which allow freedom of religion thus leading us to confusion as to what the correct Islamic position is as to such matters. Hence the law of abrogation to explain away such conflicting messages of god. Creating people ignorant, making it impossible for people to educate themselves, telling them to submit to each other and sending them confusing signals, gives people perfect guidance, does it not? This is allegedly the perfect setting up by god.  

Some muslims say that the prophet ordered his followers to treat their slaves better. I would ask, was it for the benefit of slaves or their masters? My guess is that it was for the benefit of the masters or the prophet would have told them free the slaves at once, for hereafter is better than the value of your slaves. I am guessing this because the ahadith I have quoted tell muslim slaves to serve their muslim  masters well by hard work. They may have been concocted by these people themselves to justify their actions with blessings of the prophet but I cannot prove that.

 Were these people not good enough muslims that they could not give up slavery for sake of god? If they were good enough muslims even with keeping muslim slaves then how right are we to blame present muslim kings, fuedals, tribal and religious chiefs and landlords etc etc? Moreover the prophet also told people to treat their animals better, was that for the benefit of the animals or their owners? A slave or an animal or a machine is not going to be able to work as good as it can if it was not looked after or serviced properly. In a country all people, animals or machines need to be looked after properly if we want them to work properly, be useful and productive hence government must ensure it is doing all it can to help its people to be productive.

Muslim humanity is placed under question by acts such as reported in hadith books. If one reads one of bukhaari hadithes I have quoted already about captive women and what muslims did to them after capture, one will see that they killed their husbands, sons, fathers or brothers etc etc in battle and then forced themselves upon these helpless women. Imagine the torture such an act would have caused these human beings, especially a woman in this situation. This kind of sex makes no sense other than forced sex ie rape. The question is, does it come under satisfying one’s sexual desire properly or lust? The quran tells muslim to marry not for lust but for chastity and yet allows such acts, does that make any sense? It is really beyond any civilised people, especially those who would claim to be the guardians of the divine truth for the betterment of humanity. According to ahadith, such acts were carried out by the permission of the prophet or should I say with the blessings of Allah. This again is a contentious issue between muslims and nonmuslims.

My point is only to show what problem I have with islam as a heavenly appointed religion and the quran as a word of god. I simply cannot accept that god being all good and kind, as the quran says, can tell people to harm each other this way in his name. The divine standard for right and wrong cannot be such confusing and damaging to humanity as it appears from these sources of islam and the behaviour of the prophet and muslims as reported in these sources. It has to be better than that. Divine standard ought to be good, better than all existing standards of humanity, the very same for all times and places, for it ought to be purpose built. Since muslims claim that islam is that standard, I am pointing out that it is not. This is the reason muslim cannot be allowed to get away with such things that ruin humanity in the name of god or religion. All killings and destruction by people must stop but more so the ones that are carried out in the name of god and religion. Reason must be allowed to prevail for the good of humanity.

It is these like problems with hadith books that some muslims have become the quran only muslims, for they rather reject hadith than accept that prophet did such acts himself or allowed them for others. Likewise many have rejected these like interpretations of the quran because they put both god and his prophet in bad light ie in these like situations. I think that educated muslims are bound to wake up or islam may not survive the present critical onslaught.

004.035

YUSUFALI: If ye fear a breach between them twain, appoint (two) arbiters, one from his family, and the other from hers; if they wish for peace, Allah will cause their reconciliation: For Allah hath full knowledge, and is acquainted with all things.

MY COMMENTS,

Well, counselling ought to be the very first step if two marriage partners cannot sort out their problems between themselves to each others satisfaction not the last step after annoying and beating the hell out of each other. Has Allah not lost his plot here, altogether?  

016.057

YUSUFALI: And they assign daughters for Allah! - Glory be to Him! - and for themselves (sons,- the issue) they desire!

My Comments,

It seems from verses like this that even god does not think that women are same as men in their worth. Allah too rather have sons than daughters as if it were. Moreover when Christians say Allah has a son, the reply is that even though he does not have son but had he so desired he could choose one of the men 39/4. However Allah does not answer the same way to the pagans ie that if he so willed he could choose daughters from among the women.

016.058

YUSUFALI: When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief!

016.059

YUSUFALI: With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah! what an evil (choice) they decide on?

My comments,