Response to "Challenging the Quran" Article in Newsweek
The article published in Newsweek ("Challenging the Quran," July 28) defies categorization and hence troubles whoever may like to respond to it. It claims to draw on excerpts from academic research containing "bomb shells" that could produce "a new interpretation of the Quran."
The article claims Professor Luxenberg's is "likely to be the most far reaching scholarly commentary on the Quran's genesis, taking this infant discipline far into uncharted and highly controversial territory." Who is Luxenberg? An unknown scholar writing under a pseudonym. The "scholar" is hiding his name for fear of repercussions, despite the fact that several people have written on the same subject in the past and present without taking such a precaution.
The professor works at an unnamed "leading German university" and his research is acclaimed by "Moudher Sfar" - probably another pseudonymed scholar from Tunisia we've never heard of. So much for academic credibility. Pending availability of the original paper and the author's real name, this is little more than a pseudo-academic piece published in a non-academic magazine. Thus, any response must pick through the bits and pieces scattered on the pages of Newsweek and conduct a point-by-point analysis.
Describing Luxenberg as one of a small but growing group of scholars studying the language and history of the Quran is amazingly wrong. For 1400 years, there have always been groups in the East and West of Muslims and non-Muslims, faithful and skeptical, who wrote volumes about the history and language of the Quran. The unknown author here is neither a pioneer nor a hero. Muslim scholars, including the likes of the Muatazelite school, Imam Zamakhshari, Al-Tabary, and countless scholars (of various readings of the Quran) are hard to count. There are also so many Western scholars and Orientalists who wrote about the subject in abundance that some of them would be restless in their graves if they read the claims in Newsweek.
The article surmises that "translations of the Quran are never considered authentic." Translations are judged as either accurate or inaccurate. No translation is authentic. When you translate Shakespeare to French or Voltaire to English, you may be accurate or not but the work will never be authentic, simply because it is not what was said by the original author. To make this sound like a peculiarity for the Quran or a particular thinking of Muslims lacks academic objectivity.
Luxenberg's chief hypothesis is that the original language of the Quran was not Arabic, but "something close" to Aramaic. What is the meaning of "something close?" What is it? Where is it? Who would understand it? Who will understand something close to English or German? These are questions that any semi-academic mind would ask.
He asserts that Arabic as a language and system of writing was not developed until 150 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad. This strange assertion contradicts the major volume of pre-Islamic poetry, which is used even today to help in understanding and interpreting the Quran.
This poetry includes seven famous pieces that students study in middle schools throughout the Arab world, known as "Al Muallaquat." This refers to poems that were hung on the walls of the Kaaba as exhibitions of the best literary work in the pre-Islamic era. (The Kaaba, a cubic temple, has always been attributed by Arabs to the patriarch prophet, Abraham.) It also contradicts the Encyclopedia of Literature by Merriam-Webster, which states, "The intermittent revelations to Muhammad were first memorized by followers and used in ritual prayers, although verses were later written down during the Prophet's lifetime."
We have in Al-Azhar library a manuscript "explaining the unusual styles in the Quran" written by Imam Sagistani 153 years after the migration to Medina, in perfect classical Arabic. When we look to what is known as Christian Aramaic, we notice that Jesus spoke in Aramaic, while the gospels are written in Greek. It is far fetched that the Gospel would be written in Greek while the Quran would be written in Aramaic.
We notice that Christian Aramaic, "which is actually the Syrian language was the literally language of the City of Edessa (now Urfa in Southeast Turkey) became the tongue of the entire eastern wing of the church from about the third century C.E. down until past the Muslim conquest." Obviously the Muslim conquest was carrying with it the Arabic Quran.
So the process upon which the rereading of the verses in Aramaic is false and as Muslims jurists wisely say, "what is built on fallacy is false."
Then he talks about "houris," which are allegorically symbolic beings of bliss in paradise, as being raisins and fruits. It is his prerogative but this does not provide anything supernatural to look forward to the life of eternity.
It seems that what he was referring to as raisins is "kawaib." He challenges what he claims as the Arabic meaning of "beings with swollen breasts," while if he had known Arabic, he would have understood the term as "beings of distinction." For this translation, we refer him to a real Austrian scholar on the language of the Quran, later known as Muhammad Asad (Review The Message of the Quran).
The claim that the Quran's commandment to women in surah 24 to "snap their scarves over their bags" becomes in Aramaic "snap their belts around their waists." I challenge the professor to show us where he brought this verse of snapping from? Quran is available and surah 24 is easy to read.
In the Newsweek article, Luxenberg writes, "Even more explosive are the readings that strengthen scholars' views that the Quran had Christian origins. Surah 33 calls Muhammad the 'seal of the prophets.' In Aramaic, the word 'seal' means witness so he must be a witness of the Prophets." We really don't need all these acrobatics to prove a meaning that has been mentioned clearly in several areas of the Quran. Muhammad was a witness just as believers are witnesses, and Muhammad followed the good models of other prophets who came to testify for and confirm the truth they brought from God to humanity. So where is the brilliant discovery?
A similar case can be made for the arguments around the word "revelation." The author had to go to Aramaic or what he calls "something closer to Aramaic" to inform us that it actually means "teaching" of the ancient scriptures. He may be referring to the word "wahye" in Arabic, which means teaching, revelation, suggestion, setting instinct, putting the law of order to things, intuitive ideas, outbursts of thoughts and creativity. Wahye described scriptures, the nature of the heavens and earth, the instinct of the bees, the flow of poetry, etc. So there is no new "revelation" that Luxenberg is bringing here. What Newsweek slips in about Egyptian court, Nasre AbuZaid, Fatwa, etc. is opportunistic journalism, not fitting the standard of the magazine.
Dr. Maher Hathout is the senior advisor the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and spokesperson for the Islamic Center of Southern California.
Views: 15600
This is a good prove to those who critise the Authenticity of the Qur'an translation or even the the Real text i.e in Arabic.The response given here is perfectly genuine and challenge to whoever tries to challenge or allege the Holy Qur'an -The Book of God.
May you be rewarded abundantly for your effort of enlightining the one who misunderstand the Islam.
Jazakallahu Khayr Dr. Maher Hathout!
All praise are due to Allah, As long as there are men of knowledge like Dr. Maher, Allah(swt) will reveal the truth no matter how much the enemy of Islam, the soldiers of satan, will try to cover the truth.
we believe more in the orally Qura'n than in written Qura'n.
What I see happening as of late is reminding me of what was going before and during the second world war. These are alot of the same types of tactics that were used against the Jews in Germany. They started with the spreading of rumours, lies, and other types of misinformation. Then markings. Then banning from society. Then camps. Then extermination.
If we do not 'wake up' and start to act in regards to what is going on here we are going to be under attack in the same way they were then! Oh, actually, it has already started.....
Dr. Maher Hathout should read the book first before commenting it.
[14] Afterward he (Jesus) appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
[15] And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
[16] He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
[17] And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
[18] they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Based on the above criteria, can anybody find a single Christian in the whole world? Or was there any in the past 2000 years? It's very shameful that some people choose to critisize Al-Quran while maintaining the authenticity of their Bible. Yet they don't have any answer to the verses like the above ones and there are many other contradictions in the Bible.
Islamicity.com has already done, write editorials, essays, and articles producing clear-cut evidence to disregard this "NAZI" professor's point of view, as that of an angry Bohemian Coporal enteusist, as well as completely untrustworthy.
I think any body can be Fox news, New York Post expert if he is willing to say some anti-Islamic , anti-Muslim stuff. Actually it is Allah ( not us) who is preseving the Quran. It is in the Quran, I am sorry I can't quote the verse.
Anyway, good work done by you. We muslims should collectively give a punch to Newsweek, for publishing such type of articles , which hurt the sentiments of the followers of the Holy Book, who are in millions all around the world.
Praise be to Allah , Peace &Blessings upon prophet Muhammed (SAWS)
Our faiths in Qur'an increases when we understand its authenticity. We know that Qur'an speaks absolute truth, when we read chapter 10verse92
So this day We shall deliver your (dead) body (out from the sea) that you may be a sign to those who come after you! And verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs , revelations, etc.).
And we see the body of Ramses in the Royal Mummies, Museum in Cairo .
This is just one of the many verses that testify for the authenticity of Qur'an
God has said in Qur'an chapter 12verse2
Verily, We have sent it down as an ARABIC Qur'an in order that you may understand.
Having read the above sentences, we should not have any doubt about the language of Qur'an
Those who argue about the language of Qur'an, being derived from Aramaic, do invent a lie concerning Word of God, that is a lie against God. And its said in Qur'an chapter 11verses18
And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah. Such will be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord!" No doubt! the curse of Allah is on the Zlimn (polytheists, wrong-doers, oppressors, etc.)[].
As to the result of these actions these people are trying to blow off the Light of Allah, they can be never successful as Allah says in chapter 61vrse8
They intend to put out the Light of Allah (i.e. the religion of Islam, this Qur'an, and Prophet Muhammad SAW) with their mouths. But Allah will complete His Light even though the disbelievers hate (it).
I want to ARGUE every muslim to react against any trial of attack against Islam or muslims. It allways startes with smal thing that we do not give so much attention.
Allah will allways be on our side, if we do not abandon him
This article needs no real intense debate because this author is paid to say this--it reminds me of the bogus stories these jahiliyah journalists wrote about the invasion (discovery) of this continent already inhabited by over 25-50 million people.
Muslims were here as early as a century before these jahiliyah "explorers" from the east and west of this US occupied continent--one will not find this information, nor the genocide practiced as policy by this same government upon the indigenous Nations then and now, in any history text.
This article is not meant to be accurate, it is meant to slander and bring ridicule to the Qu'ran--its an attack of the worst kind and it is supported by Newsweek. However there must be a strong response, Allah (SWT)and Muhammad (SAW)have spoken about this in the Qu'ran--it is not unexpected. Getting back to the US role, this goverment is probably behind this effort. Next month the WTO Group meets in Mexico and a response to this by Muslims would be very effective.
So this article comes as no surprise but its real intent is to denounce and demean at the outset first, and then if successful, to render the Qu'ran as not just mistranslated but useless and therefore, "just another 'religious' book."
I would like to debate this so called author about his shameful and racist article. The real title here is cloaked and hidden, written by an infidel and unbeliever who calls himself an author and actually writes as part of a literary crusade against the Qu'ran, the Muslim people, condoning unjust wars against Muslim Nations--it's about psychological warfare perpetrated, aided and abetted--under the mantle of objectivity--its about hatred.
I stand behind my words and will defend this unholy attack against the word of Allah (SWT) and his miracle to the universe--the Qu'ran.
We are therefore not allowing such an irresponsible statement to affect our steadfastness and our piety. May Allah bless the Ummah, and may He bring guidance to the ignorant.
Well, this is another attempt by the west to discredit Islam. They are creating another Sulman Rushdie. As a believer, I believe that ALLAH will protect his words. And, I thank brother Maher Hathout for his efforts and love for the Qur'aan.
While our protest to Newsweek may not produce anything for which their response would be "it is a freedom of speech and everyone is entitled to write and say whatever they wish", we must protest. The protest must be in an organized way. Individual protest would not work and would be thrown away as an another stupid muslim talking. We must boycott Newsweek and its sponsors and when the botoom line is affected, they will listen.
But we must protest.
Once again thank you for your prompt writeup.
wa'ssalam
"this is the Book (the Qur'an), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]". (Quran Sura Al-Baqara, verse 2)
Sadaq Allahul Azeem
There is no doubt that this book is from Allah (swt) and it is His words. The wisest book (Al-Qur'an). Subhan'Allah. It is a complete way of life. Full of Miracles. Subhan'Allah!
Allah(swt) challenges all mankind, and jinns to produce a sura or verses like Qur'an, but surely no one can bring a sura like Quran (even the shortest sura or a verse). This challenge is enough for those who say Qur'an is not correct or not the word of God or any other fake and false claims they relate to Qur'an.. Astaghferollah.
So it is not surprising to know that such ignorants still live in today's world, who present their fake analysis without providing any authentic evidence.... they live in the darkness of their own ignorance, the Noble Qur'an tells us about their state.........
Walikumsalaam
Jazakallahhukhairan
I got an email that directed me to Mr. Theil's article and the response by Dr. Hathout.
I have seen how Dr. Hathout has broken down most of the points in the article and I could not agree more - I am looking at the two articles from the LOGICAL point of view and do not want to be biased just because I am a Muslim.
I am really looking forward for the book to be published though, so that our religious scholars can answer to the Professor's comments.
I see that this article was really based on the article by Mr. Theil in that all the content was challenging Mr. Theil's point of view. I would have liked it if it had another part to it, where Islamic teachings were mentioned. We need not only to challenge that article but provide our own views too.
For example, we should tell the readers that the Quran was written by a number of scribes just as the Prophet received his revelations. It was these LEAVES and other media that were used to make the full volume later on.
We also know that the sayings or traditions of the prophet were NOT WRITTEN DOWN UNTIL MUCH LATER so as to avoid confusion between the words of ALLAH and the words spoken by the messenger of Allah.
'Moses wrote Genesis through Deuteronomy. Muhammed claims this as truth' He did?
'Satan hates Israel so any nation who hates them is a servant of Satan even if it is a so-called Christian nation as Germany was' Puhleese!
'Any nation who opposes Israel through history has fallen(because Israel is supported by nuclear power countries) and all nations who have favored Israel have prospered(because Jews poured more money in them for supporting Israel)'
'If one believes in God love should be the diplomacy believers negociate with.This goes far beyond governments and gets to the heart of those who really matter'. Israel is a democratic country (wave hands sarcasticly)
May peace be yours, Myron, as well as such additional understanding as you might wish to receive.
Also, my thanks to Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, for zena having indicated that the lower of the two "Newsweek graphics" is "hyperlinked" to the original article.
As a highly educated Muslim Arab, I would like to invite every one looking for the truth regarding this issue to do his/her own research to reach the truth of this issue. I beleive that anyone that does that will be surprised to find how insulting to the intelligence and thinking of the readers this artcle is. He/she will also realize how mistaken was Newsweek when they published this fiction and called it research.
Mohamed Hegazy, Ph.D., P.E.
Phoenix, AZ, USA
The question Allah ta'ala asks us all "fa bi ayi alaa irabikouma toukadhiban", should make even the most ignorant think without to much effort.
The orientalisme has never be and never will be a science, much less an exact science but will always remain only and interpretation of obscure minds.
Jazakul Allah al khair Dr. Maher Hathout
The language referred to as "something close to Aramaic" is Syriac. Following is my opinion "Luxenberg's" claims as presented in the above book review, as a Muslim:
1. "Luxenberg concludes that the transmission of the text from Muhammad was not likely an oral transmission by memory, contrary to one dominant claim of Islamic tradition."
Luxenberg's entire hypothesis rests on this assumption - that the early Muslims were not capable of perfectly memorizing the revelation of the Qur'an, as recited by the Prophet, nor were they capable of transmitting the memorized revelation through oral tradition. Yet anyone living amongst Muslims today is aware that there children as young as 4 years old who have memorized the Qur'an with perfection. There is nothing unusual about oral transmision of knowledge - Luxenberg is effectively denying the validity of ALL oraly transmitted information (Islamic or non-Islamic), and this is unacceptable from a logical point of view.
In the MSNBC/Newsweek article, it is stated that "The original Qur'an, Luxenberg contends, was in fact a Christian liturgical document--before an expanding Arab empire turned Muhammad's teachings into the basis for its new religion long after the Prophet's death."
There is not a single historical document that can support this assumption. Many scholars have tried to show that the Prophet derived the Qur'an from the Bible. Luxenberg however is the first person to claim that not only is the Qur'an derived from the Bible, but it was not written or recited by the Prophet. He has a very active imagination.
I urge Islamicity to visit the review (above) and to post a detailed refutation.
riter.sajjad/7-8-03
I find it astounding that anyone would try, for example, to pervert Allah's instructions for modesty into an argument for immodesty - if I correctly understood that part about the donning of scarves. Such a lie conceivably might be "promulgated" to promote fashions intended to accentuate a woman's endowments!
Insha'Allah analyzing the motive can indicate the participants. What might be some motives? Insha'Allah anyone who participated in such an offense would later wish to be forgiven by Allah. Astagh-ferullah!
Allah says in an Ayah meaning "we brought this Quran and we will protect it"
It is no wonder that despite the bad publicity Islam is racieving that Islam is still and contineous to be the world's fastest growing religion. It is no wonder than that this is a mercy from Allah. Is it?
it seems the height of arrogance to claim to be an expert in someone else's culture.
but men seem to reach new heights of arrogance all the time.
the comment about money, sadly, i'm sure is quite true: both Newsweek and the author of this insensitive work seem to want to promote sales.
and, if the Salmon Rushdie example is any indicator, they may have found a way to spark sales of a book that might otherwise have gone unnoticed by all but GOD.
Inshallah, as one responder has noted, this will promote more interest in the Qur'an, and, once read, will allow new readers to judge for themselves, rather than take the opinions of others -- scholarly or otherwise.
...things are not always as they seem...
"newsweek" should be ashamed of degrading to this low level of "garbage journalism" !!
People who write articles likes this one in Newsweek Magazine, are only trying to say the Qur'an was not delivered in the current form or Arabic that it is in today, is probably due to a few reasons:
1 - "Luxenberg" is trying to invalidate the Qur'anic Arabic and create doubt in people's minds, through his false research.
2 - He is afraid that the similarities between Jesus (AS) teachings and Muhammad (SAAW)'s teaching will be revealed; Such as, when Jesus(AS)spoke of God to his followers, he referred to him as Allaha, because that is how you say God in Aramaic. Obviously if this was common knowledge people would accept the name of God according to Islam, which is Allah (SWT).
3 - Luxenberg has no knowledge or understanding of the Arabic history so therefore he is bastioning in his ignorance. Before Islam came to Arabia, The Tribe of Quraysh, that Prophet Muhammad (SAAW) was from, spoke a dialect of Arabic, and this is the dialect that was used for the Qur'an...this should not be new news to any Muslim.
It is obvious that Newsweek and their interview with this "Luxenberg" character are silly attempts to somehow say that primary Islamic sources (Qur'an), are somehow in Luxenberg's mind created from Christian sources. It is only laughable, b/c the knowledge in the Qur'an, as Muslims clearly know, is far beyond the teachings of the Bible. The Qur'an is a miracle, and contains miracles, further the Qur'an challenges mankind to produce just a verse like it, and in 1400+ years, no one has succeeded.
Was-Salaamu'Alaiykum
Without commenting on the obvious and absolute absurdity of the idea, Muslims need to be aware that this is indeed what a great many people are thinking and that powerful interests are promotting this idea. It is up to us to empower ourselves financially, politically, and in the media to do something about it. It is an obligation to help perpetuate the truth.
Newsweek would be well advised to conduct a similar research(sic) on other scriptures.
We must welcome the attention on the Quran. Many non-muslims will read it and Im sure that some will learn to appreciate it.
Let us muslims not miss such opportunites to keep the Quran in public memory. While dicussing the article we can enlighten the world about how the Quran is reaveled and some of its glorious contents.
Indeed this is a gift from Allah.
I hope you sent it to newsweek.
Your brother in Islam,
Ali.
Probably they assume that since muslim world is in such a state of stagnation and perhaps so overawed by the west that it will see these silly and contirved stories as something that will cause suspcion to grow. Most muslims with even a little knowledge of the history of Armanic and how the bible was assembled and its varous faults can only laugh at the supidity of such expectations of these so called journalists and scholars.
the world recognises the real face of the neo-con conservative and the grip it has on US govt. It may not appear so but the world is changing ulimately the billons of non-westerners will take their palce in the world. Some Americans understand this possibity and thus the mad rush to stem the slide.
But the inevitable will happen. I doubt a few decades later any one would even remember the feble attemtps to stem the tide.
Quoted from:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/947313.asp#the
Oh, Muslims unite!!!!!
What else can the Non muslims do than to attack the Holy Quran.They think if we can prove the Quran false, then maybe the religion will stop growing. They come up with Scholars and experts to discredit the Quran and will not stop.
Newsweek has never written any article on Ahmed Deedat,indirectly they have helped advertise the upcoming book of this "German scholar".
What we need to do as muslims is to continue to be steadfast in Islam,learn more about Islam,teach it to people at every opportunity and we should be good example for others to follow. Contrary to non muslims' beliefs,Islam was not spread through violence.......the Quran says there is no compulsion in religion, there truth is always so distinct from falsehood.
Islam has spread from Arabia to every part of the world....Africa, Europe, Asia ,North and South America and it's still growing.
What else can the non muslims do than to try to stop this.
Allah says in the Holy Quran (Chapter 10 verse 38) Or do they say "He forged it"? Say:"Bring then a surah(chapter)like unto it and call to your aid anyone you can besides Allah,if it be ye speak the truth!"
In fact read from verse 38 to 44 of the same Chapter.
We only need to hold fast to our religion and continue to read and follow the teachings in the Quran and Hadith to strenghten our faith.
So my brothers and sisters in Islam these charges of falsehood by unbelievers are not new and will not stop.Prepared for them by being knowledg
41:44 Had We sent this as a Qur'an (in the language) other than Arabic, they would have said: "Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (a Book) not in Arabic and (a Messenger an Arab?" Say: "It is a Guide and a
Healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness in their (eyes): They are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!"
Fussilat (41:44)
20:113 Thus have We sent this down - an arabic Qur'an - and explained therein in detail some of the warnings, in order that they may fear Allah, or that it may cause their remembrance (of Him).
Ta-Ha (20:113)
14:4 We sent not an apostle except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people, in order to make (things) clear to them. Now Allah leaves straying those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases: and He is Exalted in power,full of Wisdom.
Ibrahim (14:4)
16:103 We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear.
An-Nahl (16:103)
12:2 We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may learn wisdom.
Yusuf (12:2)
ALTHOUGH I'VE NOT READ THEARTICLE "challenging the quran" ,I MUST SAY FROM YOUR RESPONCE THAT IT WAS CLEARLY un-convincing .I READ QURAN & REMEMBER THE VERSE IN WHICH ALLAH SAYS THAT "THIS QURAN IS REVEALED IN 'arabic' SO THAT U MAY UNDERSTAND." UPON READIND ABOUT THE ARTICLE THAT CLAIMS QURAN IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN "ARABIC",UNDERSTAND THAT THE AUTHOR HAD NOT READ THE QURAN PROPERLY OR EVEN NOT READ THE BOOK ITSELF BUT SOME PUBLISHED ARTICLES ON QURAN.I THINK ALLAH KNEW THAT THIS AUTHOR WILL BE SAYING THESE HINGS, THAT'S WHY ALLLAH HIMESELF SAID IN THE BOOK ,"QURAN REVEALED IS IN THE "ARABIC" LANGUAGE".
The Bible and Torah are filled with enough BS to keep Luxenberg and Newsweek busy for three centuries. Go study that.
IN QURAN ALLAH HAS TOLD TO THE PEOPLE OF MECCA THAT WE HAVE REVEALED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LANGUAGE SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SAY THAT THE LANGUAGE OF QURAN IS DIFFERENT FM OUR LANGUAGE. I INVITE YOU TO GO THROUGH QURAN AGAIN . EITHER YOU AGREE OR NOT FROM ADAM TILL THE HUMAN BORN UPTO NOW AND THOSE WHICH WILL BORN LATER UNTIL OUR SOLAR SYSTEM REMAINS INTACT . ALL MUST STAND IN FRONT OF GOD ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT IRRESPECTIVE OF OUR COLOR, STATUS ,GENDER BELIEFS ETC. QURAN AT PRESENT STATE IS 100% TRUE SCRIPTURE OF GOD ALMIGHTY WELL PRESERVED. WITH ALL BEST INTENTION , I WANT TO SAY DONT SPOIL YOUR ETERNAL LIFE. GOD HAS WELL PRESRVED QURAN TILL KNOW AND HE HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE IT FOR EVER.
IN THE END I JUST WANT TO SAY GOD ALMIGHTY MAY GUIDE US AND KEEP US SAFE FROM OUR ENEMY NUMBER ONE SATAN/DEVIL/ WHISPERER.
Thanks !
Aziz
Allah Knowest Best
Marian
I find it astounding that anyone would try, for example, to pervert God's instructions for modesty into an argument for immodesty - if I correctly understood that part about the donning of scarves. God willing, anyone who participated in a thing like that would later wish to be forgiven by God. Astagh-ferullah!
I congratulate you, on a very good and consistent article ,I hope many start be active like you, and respond to the Zionists twisted propaganda .
I remember reading a French article citing what that german scholar have said about the Koran.
I sent a reply , but it was only a drop of water in an Ocean. You cannot imagine my happiness when I read your article ...Thanks
first I must thank Dr.maher harthout for his response to the article.His response was that of a knowledgable man in this field of study unlike the following response.
The association of the article's title which includes the word quran with the attacks of the 11th of september shows that the American press is still thirsty to see more hatred directed towrds islam, most imporatantly towards the holy book of this religion.The word challenging means that there is something great in the Quran which the enemies of islam tried so often to challenge.The real challenge as represented in the Quran is to write one Surah like that of the Quran and then call people to appreciate it and follow its orders.If Mr.Luxemburg is a specialist of Arabic, he would try to defy and challenge this invention of a surah and he can join in his team jinns if he wants.
A second hidden intention is the will to dissociate Arabic from the Quran.This shows that the writer of the article is aware about the strength of the arabic language the chosen language to reveal the Quran.it's strength lies in its power to describe things in a musical way and the power to convince and to show clearly.this was mentioned in the Quran as "lisanon arabiyon moubine" and i hope Mr.Luxemmbur will understand this verse for he knows arabic and a translation may be "unauthentic".
the comment of the writer of the article : "Such interpretations will undoubtedly draw the ire of many Muslims?and not just extremists" -this comment shows the intention of publishing such an article.It is considering all muslims as extremist if not trying to make them angry by encouraging such articles and writings which attacks ,under the vail of mew interpreations, a religion of a billion people.It is a criem shot with words to kill a culture and a religion
That German "scholar" has made a poor case with made up "evidence". Period.
May Allah Bless You, a Good rebuttal to the ignorant pagans who have been around since revelation of the Greatest Glory to mankind. Allah swt has disgraced them in this world and the next and that is one good reason to hide identity ;). may Allah bless and guide us all
You see the enemies of allah during the life time of the most beloved prophet of allah, and a mercy to the mankind Prophet Mohammed (SAW) may everything I have be sacrified for him for the sake of allah the almighty, tried to put off the light of Quran but listen what allah says in the Quran close meaning of which is
" The disbelievers wants to put off the light of Allah (The Glorious Quran n Mohammed's (SAW) Guidence) with their mouth, but Allah will perfect it (establish the supermacy of Al Islam against all the ideologies in the world) even if the disbelivers do not like it"
Also we must remember this quran is easy to understand for those who fear allah and will bring wrath on those who reject it in both the worlds in this life as well as in the next life.
Whats happening today is not new, enemies of allah always rebelled against allah and his prophets from the time of Adam (AS), Moses (AS), Isa ibn Marium (AS) (Jesus - AS) till the Prophet Mohammed (SAW)and this has not ended yet but the struggle will be going on until the last day.
So give glad tiding to those intelligent people who belive in the Creator Allah the Almighty and his prophets.
assalamo-alaykum
This is not new, the Kuffar have no bounds, and their lies will not diminish the light of islam... they are like flys trying to cover the light of the sun.
the newsweek article is more propaganda than journalism. as with hadith, we should be careful from whom we receive our information. being that the writer is jewish and the german scholar goes by a pen-name (unheard of in scholarly circles) this article deserves to be in one place--the rubbish bin!
salaam
May Allah reward you for defending our deen with insight and clear elucidation.
The kufars will keep attacking the quran but to no avail as history bears witness to it.
wasalam
Mr Mohamed
An incredibly silly atttempt by Newsweek magazine to cowardly display their raging dilemma in facing the absolute truth contained within Qur'an Al-Majeed. It amazes me that such a magazine would follow through with such unconstructive journalism...may it be for their failed attempts to somehow tarnish Islam with such vague and bogus conclusions by this "Luxemburg" character, I don't know, but it's clear that Americans need to know more about the world of faith outside of the Judeo-Christian mentality. People who read that trash and have no understanding of Islamic history, and the history of Makkah, the Kaaba, who built it, Prophet Ishmael (as), Hagar, and Prophet Abraham (as) in Islam, well, I just pray that they may be guided and forgiven for their lack of understanding of Al-Islam, and may soon open their hearts and learn the knowledge which Allah (SWT) has bestowed upon us to understanding and ponder upon, Insh-Allah. Jazak-Allah Khairan.
Was-Salaamu-Alaiykum
It has been manifested now that the US is attacking on Islam rather than any regime or whatever.
Muslims must increase their Islamic knowledge so that they may response to these kinds of attacks easily and raise their voices against the enemies of Islam.
When will these self described oriental non Muslim scholars of Islam realise the futility of their argument that Muslim around checnya and palestine and kashmir are dying for the pleasure of having 72 virgins around them in paradise and think that if they can somehow break or dent this sensual aspect of Muslim Paradise, suicide bombings will stop??
How foolish and naive can one be? For what pleasure are people of LTTE dying or when anto colonialism fights for Independence took place in India or Libya or even America, did the people die?
Resisting Occupation in Kashmir and opting for Self Determination in Kashmir or Chachnya doesn't require the lure of some virgins up there? Why can't a professor get these basics...is beyond me.
Not to mention, most of the spinners went quite and dumb, when female suicide bombers struck from Chechnya to palestine but our Prof Luxenborg goes on in delusion.
Finally, billions of people have come and gone from this world since the Quran was brought to us as a Guidance and Truth by someone who was a 'Mercy to mankind'. That Muslims have forgotten about it and kept it in closets and almirahs, is a different matter but Professors like Luxenborg have come and gone in millions and hardly able to change corrupt a letter of it's authenticity.
His, is a fight for corruption in the Holy Word, which gets lost, even before one thinks about it in his mind.
A year from now, and chances are, no one will remember Prof Lux...errr...Who???
The author has done good work to clear up the so-called "brilliant discoveries" of Luxenberg.