Activists at the Islamic booth at Toronto’s Dundas Square continue to distribute for free copies of the book The Quran – English meanings and notes by Saheeh International.
The sticker attached to the cover of the book reads the following:
Walk-In Islmaic InfoCenter
2535-1 Dundas Street West, Toronto ON M5G 1Z3, Canada
[Phone] (647) 994-6807 & (647) 78-2303
[Email] info@collectfreequran.org
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Learn Islam in 85 + languages: www.collectfreequran.org
The following are excerpts from the book which was distributed for free on July 13, 2018 at Dundas Square. The excerpts include Quranic verses followed by a modern commentary in the footnotes.
*Surah (chapter) Al-Baqarah [The Cow – 2]
Verse 62 (p. 9)
Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] – those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness – will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.29
Footnote 29
After the coming of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) no religion other than Islam is acceptable to Allah, as stated in 3:85 [And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.].
Verse 79 [p. 11]
So woe 32 to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands, then say, “This is from Allah,” in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
Footnote 32
i.e., death and destruction.
Verse 131 [p. 18]
When his Lord said to him, “Submit,” he said, “I have submitted [in Islam]45 to the Lord of the worlds.”
Footnote 45
The meaning of the word “Islam” is “submission to the will of Allah.” This is the way of life ordained by Allah and taught by all of the prophets from Adam to Muhammad (PBUH). A Muslim is one who submits himself to Allah.
Verse 191 [p. 27]
And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah 69 is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.
Footnote 69
Among the meanings of fitnah are disbelief and its imposition on others, discord, dissension, civil strife, persecution, oppression, injustice, seduction, trial and torment.
*Surah (chapter) Al Imran [The House of Imran – 3]
Verse 28 [p. 48]
Let not believers take disbelievers as allies [i.e., supporters or protectors] rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing [i.e., no association] with Allah, except when taking precaution against them in prudence.122 And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination.
Footnote 122
When fearing harm from an enemy, the believer may pretend as long as his heart and intention are not affected.
Verse 75 [p. 53]
And among the People of the Scripture is he who, if you entrust him with a great amount [of wealth], he will return it to you. And among them is he who, if you entrust him with a [single] silver coin, he will not return it to you unless you are constantly standing over him [demanding it]. That is because they say, “There is no blame upon us concerning the unlearned.”133 And they speak untruth about Allah while they know [it].
Footnote 133
The Jews do not consider it a sin to cheat or lie to a gentile or a pagan.
Verse 112 [p. 58]
They have been put under humiliation [by Allah] wherever they are overtaken, except for a rope [i.e., covenant] from Allah and a rope [i.e., treaty] from the people [i.e., the Muslims].144 And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allah and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in [i.e., rejected] the verses of Allah and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.
Footnote 144
Once they have surrendered, the People of the Scripture retain their rights and honor (in spite of their refusal of Islam) through payment of the jizyah tax in place of zakah and military service due from Muslims. They are then under the protection of the Islamic state.
Verse 184 [p. 66]
Then if they deny you, [O Muhammad] – so were messengers denied before you, who brought clear proofs and written ordinances and the enlightening Scripture.151
Footnote 151
The unaltered, original Torah and Gospel, which were revealed by Allah.
*Surah (chapter) an-Nisa [Women – 4]
Verse 15 [p. 71-72]
Those who commit immorality [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] of your women – bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify,169 confine them [i.e., the guilty women] to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way.170
Footnote 169
The witnesses must swear to actually having seen the act taking place
Footnote 170
The “other way” (i.e., penalty) was later revealed in 24:2, canceling the ruling in this verse. [24:2 reads the following “The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse – lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion [i.e., law] of Allah,906 if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.]
Verse 16 [p. 72]
And the two171 who commit it [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] among you – punish [i.e., dishonor] them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allah is ever Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
Footnote 171
Scholars differ over whether “the two” refers to two of the same sex (i.e., homosexuals) or those of opposite sexes. In either case, later rulings outlined in the sunnah have replaced this one.
Verse 24 [p. 73]
And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess.177 [This is] the decree of Allah upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. So for whatever you enjoy [of marriage] from them, give them their due compensation178 as an obligation. And there is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to beyond the obligation. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.
Footnote 177
i.e., slaves or war captives who had polytheist husbands
Footnote 178
The mahr, a specified gift to the bride required of the man upon marriage.
Verse 34 [p.75]
Men are in charge of women182 by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard.183 But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance.184 – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them [lightly].185 But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.
Footnote 182
This applies primarily to the husband-wife relationship.
Footnote 183
i.e., their husbands’ property and their own chastity.
Footnote 184
i.e., major rebellion or refusal of basic religious obligations.
Footnote 185
This final disciplinary measure is more psychological than psychical. It may be resorted to only after failure of the first two measures and when it is expected to amend the situation and prevent family breakup; otherwise, it is not acceptable. The Prophet PBUH (who never struck a woman or a servant) additionally stipulated that it must not be severe or damaging and that the face be avoided.”
*Surah (chapter) Al-Maidah [The Table Spread – 5]
Verse 33 [p. 100]
Indeed, the penalty 262 for those who wage war 263 against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,
Footnote 262
Legal retribution.
Footnote 263
i.e., commit acts of violence and terrorism against individuals or treason and aggression against the Islamic state.
Verse 60 [p. 104-105]
Say, “Shall I inform you of [what is] worse than that271 as penalty from Allah? [It is that of] those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He became angry and made of them apes and pigs and slaves of Taghut.272 Those are worse in position and further astray from the sound way.”
Footnote 271
Referring to the punishment the People of the Scripture (in their censure of the Muslims) claimed was deserved by them.
Footnote 272
See footnote to 2:256 [False objects of worship, such as idols, heavenly bodies, spirits, human beings, etc.]
*Surah (chapter) Al- Anfal [Spoils of War – 8]
Verse 57 [p. 166]
So if you, [O Muhammad], gain dominance over them in war, disperse by [means of] them those behind them that perhaps they will be reminded.454
Footnote 454
i.e., kill them and make an example of them to discourage those who follow them.
*Surah (chapter) Al-Tawbah
*Surah at-Tawbah [Repentance – 9]
Verse 29 [p. 173]
Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islam] from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah466 willingly while they are humbled.
Footnote 466
A tax required of non-Muslims exempting them from military service and entitling them to the protection of the Islamic state. Concurrently, Zakah is not taken from them, being an obligation only upon Muslims.
*Surah (chapter) Hud [Hud – 11]
Verse 78 [p. 209]
And his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds.569 He said, “O my people, these are my daughters;570 they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?”
Footnote 569
Referring to their practice of sodomy and homosexual rape of males.
Footnote 570
i.e., the women of his community who were available for marriage.
*Surah (chapter) An-Nahl [The Bee – 16]
Verse 106 [p. 206]
Whoever disbelieves in [i.e., denies] Allah after his belief…717 except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment;
Footnote 717
Based upon the conclusion of this verse, the omitted phrase concerning the apostate is understood to be “…has earned the wrath of Allah…”
*Surah (chapter) An-Nur [Light – 24]
Verse 2 [p. 336]
The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse 973 – lash each one of them with a hundred lashes,974 and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion [i.e., law] of Allah,975 if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.
Footnote 973
Either by voluntary confession of the offender or the testimony of four male witnesses to having actually seen the act take place. Otherwise, there can be no conviction.
Footnote 974
The ruling in this verse is applicable to unmarried fornicators. Execution by stoning is confirmed in the sunnah for convicted adulterers.
Footnote 975
i.e., Do not let sympathy for a guilty person move you to alter anything ordained by Allah, for in His law is protection of society as a whole.
*Surah (chapter) Ar-Rum [Byzantium – 30]
Verse 30 [p. 395-396]
So direct your face [i.e., self] toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah1146 of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah.1147 That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.
Footnote 1146
The natural inborn inclination of man to worship his Creator prior to the corruption of his nature by external influences. Thus, Islamic monotheism is described as the religion of fitrah – that of the inherent nature of mankind.
Footnote 1147
i.e., let people remain true to their fitrah within the religion of Islam.
*Surah (chapter) al-Jathiya [Kneeling – 45]
Verse 14 [p. 500]
Tell [O Muhammad], to those who have believed to forgive those who expect not the days of Allah [i.e., of His retribution] so that He may recompense a people1471 for what they used to earn.
Footnote 1471
In the Hereafter, where those who forgive will be rewarded and those who earned evil will be punished. This was at the outset of dawah (invitation to Allah) before permission for jihad.