Scripture a day (Islam Edition)

[Sinfix_15]

"Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. God does not guide the wrong-doers." - Qur'an 5:51

3:28
YUSUFALI: Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah.


Your verse warns of becoming friends with an unbeliever. This is the typical fence that religion puts around people. It cautions them that anything on the outside of what they believe, is evil. "guard yourselves from them". Remember, "Allah is the best of deceivers"

Lying and cheating in the Arab world is not really a moral matter but a method of safeguarding honor and status, avoiding shame, and at all times exploiting possibilities, for those with the wits for it, deftly and expeditiously to convert shame into honor on their own account and vice versa for their opponents. If honor so demands, lies and cheating may become absolute imperatives.” [David Pryce-Jones, “The Closed Circle” An interpretation of the Arabs, p4]

[David88vert]

"Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. God does not guide the wrong-doers." - Qur'an 5:51

3:28
YUSUFALI: Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah.


Your verse warns of becoming friends with an unbeliever. This is the typical fence that religion puts around people. It cautions them that anything on the outside of what they believe, is evil. "guard yourselves from them". Remember, "Allah is the best of deceivers"

Lying and cheating in the Arab world is not really a moral matter but a method of safeguarding honor and status, avoiding shame, and at all times exploiting possibilities, for those with the wits for it, deftly and expeditiously to convert shame into honor on their own account and vice versa for their opponents. If honor so demands, lies and cheating may become absolute imperatives.” [David Pryce-Jones, “The Closed Circle” An interpretation of the Arabs, p4]

Like I stated previously, the earlier writings are overwritten by the later writing. The Qur'an is not in chronological order. The instructions give in Al-i-Imran (chapter 3) occurred long before Al-Maeda (chapter 5). Al-Maeda is one of the last books and in regarded as being on of the last sets of instructions revealed by Allah to Mohammed. I know that it is confusing, and I am not attacking you with this, just trying to give you the insight on how to discuss it.

I agree that some religious instructions attempt to "put fences around believers".

The statement that you bring up, "Allah is the best of deceivers" is actually a good one. Allah is the God of Abraham, which the Christians and Jews believe in as well, yet they do not believe that he can lie or deceive. In this case, Islam takes a very different view of God than the Christians or Jews do - and that is an excellent theological discussion to have.

As for you David Pryce-Jones quote, I have never lived in an Arab country, and do not know the customs practiced there. I know that I do not see that in the ones that I have met here, but then again, they have lived here for quite a while and have adapted to American customs.