Certain Koranic verses abrogate others

Submitted by Barbara Runkel (Germany), Aug 2, 2002 at 06:48

"Like other sacred writings, the Koran can be mined for quotes to support opposing arguments. "
True, but Islam did make things clear in the end, through the concept of abrogation. This means that certain verses abrogate (nullify, supercede etc.) other verses. In Islam the Verse of the Sword (Sura at-Tawba 5: "...slay the idolators wherever you find them...") abrogates all other verses of the Koran that call for tolerance of non-muslims.

"Muslims must emulate their fellow monotheists by modernizing their religion with regard to slavery, interest and much else. "
Again, a problem: since the Koran was handed down as a complete book, changing it is out of the question for Muslims, as is interpreting it in any way but literally. "Liberal" Muslims would disagree, but liberal Muslims do not keep slaves, support terrorist activities and so on.

The Muslims who follow the Koran literally have no choice but to "slay the idolators" if they want to be accepted by Allah and enter Paradise - and that is the great tragedy of Islam!

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