Ted Thornton
Revivalism
Appendix -- Selections from the Qur'an





And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits.  s2:190

And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.  s.2:193

The following two passages (s.9:5 and s.9:29) are known widely as the "Sword Verses":

So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.          s.9:5

Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.  s.9:29

We [Muslims] disown you [non-Muslims] and what you worship besides Allah. We renounce you. Enmity and hate shall forever reign between us — until you believe in Allah alone. s.60:3.

In addition, a lengthy section of s.5 (5:44ff.)  has inspired many contemporary revivalist movements, particularly passages like the following one, which attempts to draw strict boundaries between the Islamic and the non-Islamic worlds:

And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is before it of the Book and a guardian over it, therefore judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to you; for every one of you did We appoint a law and a way, and if Allah had pleased He would have made you (all) a single people, but that He might try you in what He gave you, therefore strive with one another to hasten to virtuous deeds; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will let you know that in which you differed;      s.5:48

Source: The Holy Qur'an, trans. by A. Yusef Ali (Brentwood, Maryland: Amana Corporation, 1989)


 

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Last Revised: September 27, 2007