seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Quran 24:In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.
1. A chapter that We have revealed, and made obligatory, and revealed in it clear Verses, that you may take heed.
2. The adulteress and the adulterer—whip each one of them a hundred lashes, and let no pity towards them overcome you regarding God’s Law, if you believe in God and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their punishment.
3. The adulterer shall marry none but an adulteress or an idolatress; and the adulteress shall marry none but an adulterer or an idolater. That has been prohibited for the believers.
4. Those who accuse chaste women, then cannot bring four witnesses, whip them eighty lashes, and do not ever accept their testimony. For these are the immoral.
5. Except for those who repent afterwards, and reform; for God is Forgiving and Merciful.
6. As for those who accuse their own spouses, but have no witnesses except themselves, the testimony of one of them is equivalent to four testimonies, if he swears by God that he is truthful.
7. And the fifth time, that God’s curse be upon him, if he is a liar.
8. But punishment shall be averted from her, if she swears four times by God, that he is a liar.
9. And the fifth time, that God’s wrath be upon her, if he is truthful.
10. Were it not for God’s grace upon you, and His mercy, and that God is Conciliatory and Wise.
Here's the commentary.
Chastity, as a virtue, is not given the first place in modern civilized society, and hence adultery is not considered a sufficiently serious offence to subject the guilty party to any punishment except the payment of damages to the injured husband. The breach of the greatest trust which can be imposed in a man or a woman, the breach which ruins families, destroys household peace, and deprives innocent children of their loving mothers, is not looked upon even as seriously as the breach of trust of a few pounds. Hence the Islamic law seems to be too severe to a Westerner.
The punishment for adultery is here stated to be flogging, not stoning to death, which was really prescribed by the Jewish law. The cases of stoning to death for adultery by the Prophet’s orders relate actually to a Jew and a Jewess in one case, and others apparently occurred before the revelation of this chapter. That stoning to death was never contemplated by Islåm as a punishment for adultery is made clear by 4:25, where it is stated expressly that the punishment for adultery in the case of slave-girls, when they are married, is half the punishment which is inflicted on free married women, and stoning to death could not be halved. Besides, the Qur’ån nowhere speaks of stoning as a punishment for adultery, and the report of what ‘Umar said is self-contradictory. For a full discussion, see The Religion of Islåm, ch. Penal Laws of Islam. A few words may be added as to the method of flogging. It aimed more at disgracing the culprit than at torturing him. In the time of the Prophet, and even for some time after him, there was no whip, and flogging was carried out by beating with a stick or with the hand or with shoes. The culprit was not stripped naked, but he was required to take off thick clothes.
The word naka√a signifies sometimes coitus or coitus without marriage, as also marriage without coitus. I adopt the first significance here and the meaning in this case is clear, the idolater or the idolatress being mentioned along with the adulterer or the adulteress, on account of the low standard of morality among the idolaters. Taking the second significance, the verse places one guilty of adultery under a kind of interdict in Muslim society.
This is an effectual restraint against slander and gossip, which so often bring disaster upon the heads of innocent women. Unless there is the clearest evidence of adultery against a woman, the slanderer is himself to be punished.
The ordinance relates to the case of husbands who accuse their wives of adultery and have no evidence. In such a case divorce is effected, the husband not being punishable for the accusation, though he cannot produce witnesses, and the wife not being punishable for adultery, if she denies the charge in the manner stated. Compare Num. 5:11–31. The same procedure would be adopted in a reverse case.
I would encourage those who are of the opinion abortions are new.... look at Numbers 5:11-31. Numbers 5: 21here the priest is to put the woman under this curse—“may the Lord cause you to become a curse[b] among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. 22 May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.”
“‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.”
One thing those Jewish men didn't like.... raising another man's baby. Esther had to stay in the palace for a year before the king could marry her. That way the king would be raising a bastard child. Jesus attended a stoning.... and saved the woman saying "whoever hasn't sinned".... I bet you are thinking "throw the first stone". All "good little Christians" know that story.
I wonder... did Bathsheba drink bitter water? Is that why David prayed while the baby died? They couldn't cover it up..... her husband was dead.... David ordered the slaughter of his baby to cover up the shame.
Muslims, reportedly, have a little more control over women. I guess adultery is not as common in the Muslim society. Women are modest.... by tradition. They aren't put to death for adultery.... but they are disgraced.... which for any woman living in a male dominated society.... is a disaster.
The title of this chapter is "the light"..... but it opens with the consequences of adultery. This is from the introduction of the chapter commentary.
"The home being thus the unit for spreading light throughout the world, this chapter deals specially with the purity of home life and therefore opens with a condemnation of adultery, the canker of the purity of home life."
So.... these verses are about Mary as well. She was betrothed to Joseph when she was found to be pregnant. She was shuffled off to her uncle the priest to prove her virginity. Joseph could have had her put to death.... she was pregnant and it was not his. Good thing God sent an angel to talk him down... right? This is about adultery and abortion.
