Islam – 209 – Commandments and Prohibitions

ISLAM – 209

 

Commandments and Prohibitions

 

The Holy Qor-aan has laid down thousands of Commandments and Prohibitions for those who follow Islam, those who have not yet entered Islam, and the enemies who oppose Islam.

 

There is no compulsion in the matters of religion (002:257). The choice is unlimited and anyone can pursue any religion he deems fit (109:003 to 007).

 

Unfortunately the institution of Mullah has introduced the vigilante style authoritarian ways in Islam. That mentality has led Moslems to appear as aggressively warring crowds. The fact is that they were given a clear warning [006:130] that the wrongdoers produce wrongdoing rulers. Some ill effects are also pointed in Mullah’s Modifications of Islam and Mullah’s Jihad.

 

The word  يَاۡمُرُ  (Yau-mo-ro = v., pres., s.,3rd person) used in verses 002:170 and 002:269 describes Satan’s actions towards man. These actions can be translated into saying that he arouses, bids, breeds, brings about, causes, directs, eggs on, enjoins, entices, exhorts, goads, incites, inflames, instigates, instructs, motivates, moves, prompts, provokes, pushes, rouses, spurs, spurts, stimulates, stirs up, tempts, urges, whips up or whispers. And Satan always acts deviously, secretly, sneakily and underhandedly and generally through Man’s actions.    

 

The same word  يَاۡمُرُ  (Yau-mo-ro = v., pres., s., 3rd person) in verse 003:081 describes the Almighty God’s actions towards man. Man cannot praise the Almighty God enough and so can describe His actions by any superlative he can find. It is not proper to translate actions by man or Satan by adding superlatives which are appropriate for use with the name of the Almighty God. Only God’s actions can be justifiably translated with additional words such as authoritatively, forcefully, judicially and manifestly.

 

The plural of the word يَاۡمُرُ  (Yau-mo-ro)  is يَاۡمُرُوۡنَ  (Yau-mo-roo-na = v., pres., pl., in 3rd person format in 003:105 and 003:115 or 2nd person format in 003:111. The translation of this word when used to describe Man’s good actions can be to admonish, administer, bid, bring forth, cause, command, compel, dictate, direct, educate, enforce, enjoin, exhort, force, impose, instruct, lay down as law, lead down the path, mandate, motivate, move, order, preach, profess, prompt, push, spur, stimulate, teach, train, tutor or urge. However, these acts are best if done fairly, gently, persuasively and not arbitrarily since the Holy Qor-aan requires in the verse 016:126 to ‘call to your God’s way with wisdom and goodly exhortation.’

 

The word  الۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ‌ (Mau-roo-fay) which follows  يَاۡمُرُوۡنَ  in 003:105 and 003:115 clarifies the matter further. It means an action, gesture, way or word which is appropriate, customary, decent, equitable, fair, good, graceful, gratuitous, honorable, lawful, nice, proper, reasonable, righteous, suitable, virtuous and within the limits of law and legitimacy. Some translators have narrowed down the meanings of this word as following: “Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do,” “Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders has ordained, ” “Islamic Monotheism, and following Prophet Muhammad s.a.w,” and “doing what is right.”

 

The word  يَنۡهَوۡنَ  (Yaun-hao-na) is elaborated in greater detail in our Note 003:105 that is reproduced below.                                                                                                                                              ** Note 003:105: A stoppage or prohibition from something can possibly be (a) total, (b) attempted, or (c) condemned.                                                                                                             Total stoppage is by an act to block, counteract, deter, forbid, prevent, mandate, order, prohibit, restrain or stop.                                                                                                                           Attempted stoppage is by an act to avert, forestall, limit, obstruct, push back, repel, resist, restrict or thwart.                                                                                                                             Condemned stoppage is by a word of mouth to check, curtail, decry, denounce, deny, dissuade, negate, oppose, preach, profess, rebuke or reject.                                                               A stoppage or prohibition is best if not done arbitrarily or capriciously. It must be done fairly, gently, persuasively like the doing of a good thing as mandated by the Holy Qor-aan verse 016:126 to “Call to your God’s way with wisdom and good sense.” It is by a gentle exhortation, exciting and exhilarating by one in the lead, and by a persistent persuasion, nudging and pushing forward by one in the rear.

 

The word الۡمُنۡكَرِ‌ (Moon-ka-ray) that follows  يَنۡهَوۡنَ  (Yun-hao-na = v., pres., pl.,3rd person) in 003:105 and 003:115 means an action which inherently and in itself is bad, evil, illegal, illegitimate, improper, indecency; repulsive, unacceptable; wicked or wrong. Some translators have narrowed down the meanings of this word as following: “Polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden,” ” Polytheism, disbelief and opposing Prophet Muhammad s.a.w,” and “doing what is wrong.”

 

Translations using words like Authoritatively, Forcefully and Strongly adjunct to man’s acts relative to the Commandments and Prohibitions show a uniformity-seeking disciplinarian high-handedness. It is not an accurate translation of the original text. It does not convey its true intent. It is improper to make such additions to the word يَاۡمُرُوۡن  as is done in many translations.

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