Dr Simon Reads...

The Elevations (al-A’raf) 1-100 An Assortment of Prophets, an Assortment of Dooms, and a Pretty Cool Fantasy Setting. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Qur’an version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Qur’an, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post https://bit.ly/2ApLDy0 For the online Qur’an that I use, see here http://al-quran.info and http://quran.com And now: The Elevations (al-A’raf) 1-20   “Certainly We created you, then We formed you, then We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam.’ So they [all] prostrated, but not Iblis: he was not among those who prostrated.” Once again I have to admire the enigmatic chapter titles of the Qur’an; this one, according to the notes, refers to heights that separate the righteous from the sinners, although until I get to the relevant verses I can’t be sure if this is a metapho...

Cattle (al-An’am) 101-165 I Demand More Dogmatism! Plus Halal Meat and Dodgy Uncles. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Qur’an version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Qur’an, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post https://bit.ly/2ApLDy0 For the online Qur’an that I use, see here http://al-quran.info and http://quran.com And now: Cattle (al-An’am) 101-120   “Do not abuse those whom they invoke besides Allah, lest they should abuse Allah out of hostility, without any knowledge. That is how to every people We have made their conduct seem decorous. Then their return will be to their Lord and He will inform them concerning what they used to do.” This section of verses is bookended by a couple of carry-overs in either direction- the first, Verse 101, continues from the discussion of Jesus, saying that Allah can’t have a So...

Cattle (al-An’am) 1-100 God’s Assault Course for Apostles, and Abraham Does Astronomy . Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Qur’an version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Qur’an, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post https://bit.ly/2ApLDy0 For the online Qur’an that I use, see here http://al-quran.info and http://quran.com And now: Cattle (al-An’am) 1-20 “And they say, ‘Why has not an angel been sent down to him?’ Were We to send down an angel, the matter would surely be decided, and then they would not be granted any respite.”” We seem to be back to a cattle-based title for this surah, which is a bit disappointing given all the esoteric and evocative names of some of the upcoming surahs. Well, nothing to be done with that. This surah comes somewhere in the middle, time-wise, and according to the description on the w...

The Table (al-Ma’idah) 101-120 Jesus’ Magical Picnic. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Qur’an version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Qur’an, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post https://bit.ly/2ApLDy0 For the online Qur’an that I use, see here http://al-quran.info and http://quran.com And now: The Table (al-Ma’idah) 101-120   “When the Disciples said, ‘O Jesus son of Mary! Can your Lord send down to us a table 1 from the sky?’ Said he, ‘Be wary of Allah, should you be faithful.’” Finally the titular Table makes its appearance, in another of those incidents that I don’t recall from the Bible but apparently is in there according to the Qur’an. But more on that shortly. First we get an injuction about certain practices appertaining to camels (no, nothing like *that*) – “ Allah has not prescribed any such thing ...

The Table (al-Ma’idah) 1-100 Why You Can Eat Roadkill If You’re Hungry. Plus: Christians and Jews – They’re a Bit Rubbish. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Qur’an version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Qur’an, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post https://bit.ly/2ApLDy0 For the online Qur’an that I use, see here http://al-quran.info and http://quran.com And now: The Table (al-Ma’idah) 1-10   “O you who have faith! Keep your agreements. You are permitted animals of grazing livestock, disallowing game while you are in pilgrim sanctity. 1 Indeed Allah decrees whatever He desires.” One of the things I do quite like about the Qur’an are the enigmatic headings for the surah. I think the version I’m using goes for the most prosaic translation, because it gives alternatives as “The Feast” and “The Heavenly Repast”. From...

The Women (al-Nisa) 101-176 We Regret to Inform You of a Humiliating Punishment. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Qur’an version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Qur’an, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post https://bit.ly/2ApLDy0 For the online Qur’an that I use, see here http://al-quran.info and http://quran.com And now: The Women (al-Nisa) 101-120   “When you journey in the land, there is no sin upon you in shortening the prayers, if you fear that the faithless may trouble you; indeed the faithless are your manifest enemies.” There are a lot of exceptions to rules based on practicalities in the Qur’an, it would seem. Here we get a repeat of the concept, seen before in The Cow I think, that recognises that a Muslim stopping to pray in a hostile location is at risk. In this case, the Prophet is told to set armed g...

The Women (al-Nisa) 1-100 Women: Know Your Place. Plus: Jews are Bad. Plus: Overly Complex Laws. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Qur’an version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Qur’an, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post https://bit.ly/2ApLDy0 For the online Qur’an that I use, see here http://al-quran.info and http://quran.com And now: The Women (al-Nisa) 1-20   “O mankind! Be wary of your Lord who created you from a single soul, and created its mate from it, and from the two of them, scattered numerous men and women.” Some notes first of all. This, I see from the handy table of contents, comes after the previous two surahs in terms of writing chronology. But not directly after, because that would make some kind of sense. Also, this one doesn’t begin with any mysterious characters. I was wondering if the “ Alif,...