Re: Discussion about "My Ordeal with the Qur'an"
Reply #948 - June 23, 2010, 12:59 PM
Chapter 4 - The Miraculous Nature of the Qurʾān (cont...)
Part 4 - Where is the Eloquence of the Qurʾān? (cont...)
10. Amongst the strangest verses of the Qur'an and most disordered, confused and furthest from fluency, soundness, and harmony, are those that are that way because of the numerous parenthetical sentences in them, of which there is no end to. So much so that their edges become entangled with other verses so that one finds it hard to come across the conclusion of the original verse - if there is a conclusion - and distinguish it from the rest of the verses. This was a matter that weighed heavily on the poor exegetes and forced them to approximate a conclusion for them, so as to at least preserve the integrity! (of the Qur'an) Indeed amongst the strangest of these and furthest from unity and cohesion are these verses - a sprawling long cocktail that is talking about the Jews: (4:155-161)
"Then because of their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelief in the revelations of Allah, and their slaying of the prophets wrongfully, and their saying: Our hearts are hardened, nay, Allah set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so they believe not save a few.
Because of their disbelief and of their saying against Mary a tremendous lie.
And their saying, we slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger. They slew him not nor crucified him, but it was made to appear so to them, and indeed those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not, for certain
Nay Allah took him up unto Himself, Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.
And There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.
Because of wrongdoing of the Jews We forbade them good things which were lawful to them, and because of their hindering many from Allah's way.
Their taking usury and they were forbidden it, and of their devouring people's wealth by false pretences, We have prepared for those of them who disbelieve a painful punishment."
(4:155-161)
Is this mish-mash part of the marvelous eloquence? Why doesn't anyone cite these verses when talking about the beauty of the Qur'an, the precision of the Qur'an and sublime melody of the Qur'an? No, they limit themselves to the excellent verses. Then again perhaps mixing things into a hodgepodge is part of the Miraculous nature of the Qur'an.
Topic: Discussion about "My Ordeal with the Qur'an"