Before you read on, it is important that you read and understand this:THIS REVIEW IS WRITTEN BY AN ATHEIST. I DO NOT SUGAR-COAT NOR DO I WRAP MY OPINIONS IN COTTON TO "PROTECT" THE DELICATE AND/OR EASILY OFFENDED RELIGIOUS READER.
IF YOU FOLLOW THE ISLAMIC FAITH AND GET OFFENDED WHEN YOUR HOLY BOOK (AND RELIGION) RECEIVES CRITICISM READ NO FURTHER! YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE QURAN. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED: IF YOU CONTINUE TO READ FURTHER THEN YOU WANT TO BE OFFENDED. STOP HERE. DON'T SAY I DID NOT WARN YOU ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THIS REVIEW.
Why the above disclaimer?
I am extremely fed up with all the people who come here and do nothing but whine and complain about my review. All you do is showing us your lack of education, intelligence and respect.
Your comments clearly shows the world that you have actually read nothing at all: not the review in question, nor have you actually read and understood the content of the Quran, a book you profess to call sacred. All you do is read half a sentence, see the 1-star-rating and then you start complaining, instead of continue reading with an attempt of neutral eyes. God forbid (pun intended) that you even start reading the comments that this review already has gotten before you start jotting down what has been written down before.
From this moment on users who post comments that show disrespect and the above mentioned ignorance will be instantly blocked. Only people that show respect and a minimum of half a brain will be allowed to discuss. Not happy? Go write your own review instead of whining about my opinion of a book I have read.
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Start of original review below this point.
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I've studied religion, and as part of my studies the Qu'ran was one of the Holy Books that I've encountered (as with Judaism, Christianity and other faiths). Volumes can be written about this book, but now I just want to ask only one question about this particular work of literature (fiction):
How can a book that:
1) legitimise violence against women,
2) murder and persecute "infidels"/people of different faith, and
3) encourage sex with children
ever get a 4.32 rating on GoodReads? (at the time of the review)
Ok, technically that's four questions, but you get my drift.
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End of original review.
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*EDIT 12/12/2012*
I have received a lot of personal attacks and insults (which have been both flagged and reported to GoodReads) because of my above claim, by people who obviously feel that they need to protect their faith. I refuse to keep answering them, I've grown fed up with it especially because of their insulting and unfounded remarks.
However, I know that I am not telling tales or being unprecise or untrue or even prejudiced in my claims. I am not islamaphobe as some claim. I despise all organised religion that condones abuse and bigotry in any form, including the faith that I have been raised with: Christianity.
After some research I have found the actual text in the Quran that proves that it does encourage sex with prepubescent girls (a.ka. girls who have not menstruated yet). Please find below the actual Arabic text, it's transliteration and it's translation. Again, I do not read/speak Arabic, but I trust my sources to be correct.
at-Talaq 65:4
وَاللَّائِي يَئِسْنَ مِنَ الْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَائِكُمْ إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَاللَّائِي لَمْ يَحِضْنَ وَأُولَاتُ الْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا
Transliteration:
"Waalla-ee ya-isna mina almaheedi min nisa-ikum ini irtabtum faAAiddatuhunna thalathatu ashhurin waalla-ee lam yahidna waolatu al-ahmali ajaluhunna an yadaAAna hamlahunna waman yattaqi Allaha yajAAal lahu min amrihi yusran"
Enlish translation (one of many):
"If you have any doubt concerning those women of yours who have finished with menstruation, then their count is three months; as it is with the ones who are still not menstruating [my emphasis]. With those who are pregnant, their term will be whenever they give birth. God makes His matter easy for anyone who heeds Him."
English translation by T.B.Irving (T.B Irving was an American Muslim author, professor, and scholar, who produced the first American English translation of the Quran).
Language sources:
http://www.islamawakened.com/Quran/65/4/default.htm
http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Pedophilia_in_the_Qur%27an
http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=65
To quote Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - clearly he could not say this any clearer than I:
[...] Here, one should bear in mind the fact that according to the explanations given in the Quran the question of the waiting period arises in respect of the women with whom marriage may have been consummated, for there is no waiting period in case divorce is pronounced before the consummation of marriage. Therefore, making mention of the waiting-period for the girls who have not yet menstruated [my emphasis], clearly proves that it is not only permissible to give away the girl in marriage at this age but it is also permissible for the husband to consummate marriage with her. Now, obviously no Muslim has the right to forbid a thing which the Quran has held as permissible. [...]
Source: http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=65#
I will refrain from commenting further and let the above speak for itself and encourage everyone who has read this book to re-read it again and write your own review. Hateful, disrespectful and harassing comments will be flagged, reported, deleted and the user who is posting said comments will get blocked.
EDIT: 20/02/2013
For those of you who might still doubt the validity of the claim that Islam condones paedophilia and worships a paedophile, I would like to draw your attention to the second most important book in Islam after the Quran: [b:The Translation of the Meanings of Sahih Al-Bukhari - Arabic-English|766204|The Translation of the Meanings of Sahih Al-Bukhari - Arabic-English (9 Volumes)|محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1331035675s/766204.jpg|752272]. In particular I would like to draw your attention to Sahih Bukhari 5.236:
[...]and then he married 'Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consumed that marriage when she was nine years old[...]
For those who are still in denial and claim that Aisha entered an early puberty - clearly the below passages clearly state that she was NOT:
Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 73, Number 151
Narrated 'Aisha:
I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet, and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah's Apostle used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me. (The playing with the dolls and similar images is forbidden, but it was allowed for 'Aisha at that time, as she was a little girl, not yet reached the age of puberty.) (Fateh-al-Bari page 143, Vol.13)
Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3311
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.
Don't have a copy of Sahih Bukhari at hand? Not to worry, I have links to the remarkable passages here:
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/ayesha.htm
http://www.answering-islam.org/Index/A/aisha.html
And about the illusion of Islam being a religion of peace? Then I encourage you to watch this enlightening documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krvCQbzPKiI
Muhammad 47:4
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَانتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ
Translation:
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds.
< sarcasm >Of course, these words show nothing BUT tolerance, peacefulness and about finding mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence with people who are ideologically, politically and socially in opposition to. < / sarcasm >
While you are at it, check out this thought provoking
article: http://sheikyermami.com/2012/10/31/egypt-devout-muslims-insist-that-pedophilia-is-halal/
And again to those of you who wish to censor me and post hateful remarks and comments then please open your eyes and educate yourself instead. If you disagree with what Islam's holy books clearly state then I encourage you (again) to write your own review and see if you can prove the teachings of Islam wrong!
