Warnings against Infanticide

By Mezba Mehtab

From Surah Al Takweer (The Rolling): 

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. When the sun is rolled.

2. The stars are crashed into each other.

3. The mountains are wiped out.

4. The reproduction is halted.

5. The beasts are summoned.

6. The oceans are set aflame.

7. The souls are restored to their bodies.
 

8. The girl who was buried alive is asked:

9. For what crime was she killed?

10. The records are made known.

11. The heaven is removed.

12. Hell is ignited.

13. Paradise is presented.

14. Every soul will know everything it brought. 

I recently read the story of an Indian baby girl being buried alive. I had to read it twice to believe what I was reading. Is there anyone even at this age that does such a horrible thing? From Surah Nahl (The Bee): 

58. When one of them gets a baby girl, his face becomes darkened with overwhelming grief.

59. Ashamed, he hides from the people, because of the bad news given to him. He even ponders: should he keep the baby grudgingly, or bury her in the dust. Miserable indeed is their judgment.

60. Those who do not believe in the Hereafter set the worst examples, while to GOD belongs the most sublime examples. He is the Almighty, the Most Wise.  

According to the Christian Science Monitor, half a million female children each year are killed by the practice of prenatal selection.While most of India’s religions condemn discrimination against women, there are a few temples in the state of Punjab that promise to help bring fewer women into existence. At the Bir Baba Mandir in Amritsar, couples eat flatbread and onions to ensure a boy child. 

I was reading the Quran (an English translation) in preparation for a talk I am asked to give at some friend’s wedding, and became interested in what the Quran says about problems of modern society. I realized that some gruesome social issues it has talked about back in the 14th century are still here.
 

Sepia Mutiny: http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/004550.html
 

BBC Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6275770.stm

CSM: http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0113/p01s04-wosc.html

Surah Al-Hajj, verse 5

022.005 YUSUFALI: O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (our power) to you; and We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then do We bring you out as babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much), and (further), thou seest the earth barren and lifeless, but when We pour down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs).

I find this verse one of the most magnificent. God’s power, beauty and mercy pours forth through each word. I don’t need to say much on it and will let the pictures talk to you. 

… then out of sperm…

    

…then out of a leech-like clot…

  

…then out of a morsel of flesh …        

    

                                                      

Fetus that resemble chewed food   

                                                            

Piece of chewed food 

Related verses: 

023.014 YUSUFALI: Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create! 

040.067 YUSUFALI: It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old,- though of you there are some who die before;- and lets you reach a Term appointed; in order that ye may learn wisdom. 

075.038 YUSUFALI: Then did he become a leech-like clot; then did (Allah) make and fashion (him) in due proportion. 

096.002 YUSUFALI: Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:

Al-Baqarah (2) Verse 30

This is commentary on verse 30 in Surat al Baqarah.

It’s in Surat Al Baqarah when we read that God wanted to make a vicegrant on Earth.

2:30 Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.”

Many people actually blame Adam for taking us out of Jannah (Paradise) because he disobyed God’s order. But if we look carefully, God said that He will create a vicegerent (leader) on earth. He didn’t say Paradise. It was our destiny to be on earth. So Adam is not to blame for taking us out of Jannah.

Secondly, in the same verse the angels reply to God, saying: They said: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?” He said: “I know what ye know not.”

Many people wonder how the angels knew that the humans will cause bloodshed on earth. They don’t know the unseen, only God knows what is in the unseen. Actually, the angels here are talking about something that happened in the past. Before, it was the jinns who occupied the earth and they caused a lot of mischief and bloodshed. Then Allah sent soliders of Angels to fight them and push them out into the seas.

So the angels know the nature of the jinns and the humans, that because they have freewill, they will be tempted by the devil and cause bloodshed. Angels do not have freewill, they have submitted to God completely and worship Him night and day. They do no wrong. That is why they asked God to prefer them over the humans, because the angels know the true value of God and worship Him night and day, while jinns and humans will be arrogant on earth, even forgetting God and claiming that He does not exist.

But here, God tells them that He knows what they do not know. It’s God that knows the Unseen. What does God know that the angels don’t know? He knows that a group of people on earth WILL follow God’s way, with their freewill. They will CHOOSE to love God and worship Him. And they will enter His Paradise.

We hope to be among them inshaAllah.

Al-Fatihah ayah 6 and Al-Baqarah ayah 2

1: 6  Guide us the straight way

2: 2  This devine writ - let there be no doubt about it – is [meant to be] a guidance for all the God-conscious.

Al Fatihah is different from the rest of the Quran in that it is a Prayer from man to God, while the rest
of the Quran is Guidance from God to man. The Fatihah ends with a request from man to God asking for guidance
1:6-Guide us the straight way. and then the rest of the Quran is an answer to this request , starting with Surah Al Baqarah 2:2  This divine writ- let there be no doubt about it – is a guidance for all the God-conscious.

This observation first came to my attention from Jeffery Lang’s book “Even Angels Ask”.
—————————————————————————————-

A note on different translations of 2:2 
MUHAMMAD ASAD: This devine writ - let there be no doubt about it – is [meant to be] a guidance for all the God-conscious.

YUSUFALI: This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah;
PICKTHAL: This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil).
SHAKIR: This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard (against evil).

Muhammad Asad translates muttaqoon as God-conscious, and he makes a note that” The conventional translation of muttaqoon as “God-fearing” does not adequately render the positive content of this expression – namely, the awareness of His all-presence and the desire to mould one’s existence in the light of this awareness; while the interpretation adopted by some translators, “one who guards himself against evil” or “one who is careful of his duty”, does not give more than one particular aspect of the concept of God-consciousness.”

Surah Baqara, ayah 222

Note: This post was originally posted at Achelois but I thought it might be of interest to those who didn’t read it on Achelois. This is just to get the ball rolling. 

Some readers of the Quran think that the following ayah denounces menstruation as ‘pollution’ and ‘illness’ as has been shown even in some translations. 

Surah Baqara (2.222)  

They ask thee concerning women’s courses. Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: So keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean. But when they have purified themselves, ye may approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by Allah. For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean. (Yusuf Ali) 

They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone at such times and go not in unto them till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah hath enjoined upon you. Truly Allah loveth those who turn unto Him, and loveth those who have a care for cleanness. (Pickthal) 

Let me quote the ayah in Arabic and translate each of the first few words:  

  

Wa yasalunaka – and they question you     

An’nilmahaed – about menstruation    

Qul – say    

Huwa – it is (note: ‘it’ refers to menstruation)     

Atha – harm     

The word “atha” does not translate to either pollution or illness. It translates to ‘harm’ and can mean that having sex with a menstruating woman can be harmful to her or that it may hurt her. The last part of the verse points out that if a man has sex with his menstruating woman (which is not allowed but if he falters) then he must repent and Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly thus, He is the one to forgive.  Menstruation is seen as illness by the Bible and the punishment for having sex during menstruation is by ostracising the errant couple:   

And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. (Leviticus 20:18)

In other places this is what the Bible has to say about menstruation where it is seen as sin and the atonement is through the sacrifice of two birds/turtles :     

And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. (Leviticus 15:19-24)

    

But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness. (Leviticus 15:28-30)

Perhaps the translators had this Biblical notion in mind but in any case it was an eye opener to read the Quran in Arabic and note that it does not call menstruation an illness or pollution. I thought some of us may benefit from this information.