smug talk usually signals ignorance.

Submitted by Abdul Rahman Reijerink (Australia), Jun 17, 2006 at 06:24

Dear John,

(wow a dear john letter),

You understand correctly that the Qur'an is the revealed word of God, what you don't understand is that interpreting it is a science. It must be read as a textual whole not by ripping verses out of context. Slavery is not central to Islam. It is never held up as ideal, a deeper reading of the scriptures shows this. It is strictly regulated, with people encouraged to liberate slaves and essentially abolish the practise, at a minimum they should be treated as well as your own family and self. In the time of the Prophet (saws), the practise continued as a way of dealing with captured POW untill they were considered safe to go about without presenting harm to the rest of society. Islam takes people and societies as they are, not as we think they should be and tries to make them better. you need to understand this when you look into the scriptures.

Women are subject to oppression by human beings both men and women, following their own wickedness not by the commandments of God, anything else is just blasphemeous and idolatory.

I know this will make little impression on you, but I feel obliged to say something in the face of your ...vitriol.

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