If Anyone Slays a Person (Qur'an 5:32): Difference between revisions

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[[File:Quran 5-32.png|290px|right|thumb]]
[[File:Quran 5-32.png|290px|right|thumb]]
This article takes a closer look at the [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verse 5:32 and the definition of "[[Mischief]]" in [[Islam]].
This article analyzes the [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verse 5:32 and the definition of "[[Mischief]]" in [[Islam]].
==Introduction==
==Introduction==


Many apologists will present you with the following verse, which they claim appears in the Qur'an and denounces killing and equates the slaying of one human life to that of genocide against the entirety of mankind.  
Many [[websites]]<ref>Jacob Bender, [http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/print/jewish_muslim_dialogue_and_the_value_of_peace/ "Jewish-Muslim Dialogue and the Value of Peace]", The American Muslim, July 19, 2007</ref><ref>Arsalan Iftikhar, [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/11/09/iftikhar.fort.hood/index.html "Murder has no religion"], CNN, November 9, 2009 (refutation to Arsalan Iftikhar's piece: [[Murder Has A Religion]])</ref><ref>[http://wisdomtoday.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/islamophobia/ "Islamophobia"], Wisdom Today, June 8, 2009</ref> and [[Public Figures|public figures]]<ref>Andrew G. Bostom, [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/03/keith_ellisons_taqiyya.html|2=2011-03-19}} "Keith Ellison's Taqiyya"], American Thinker, March 13, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/04/transcript-remarks-president-obama-cairo/ "TRANSCRIPT: Remarks of President Obama in Cairo"], Fox News, June 4, 2009</ref> have claimed that the following verse appears in the Qur'an, and that it denounces killing and equates the slaying of one human life to that of genocide against the entirety of mankind.  


{{Quote|Qur'an|“If anyone slays a person, it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”}}
{{Quote|Qur'an|“If anyone slays a person, it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”}}


This verse (along with the "[[Misinterpreted_Qur'anic_Verses#Let_there_be_no_compulsion_in_religion_.282:256.29|No Compulsion]]" verse) is one of the most often-quoted verses purportedly taken from the Qur'an, thus proving the incompatibility of Islam with all forms of [[terrorism]]. For example; this verse has made appearances on (among others) ''The American Muslim'',<ref>Jacob Bender - [http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/print/jewish_muslim_dialogue_and_the_value_of_peace/ Jewish-Muslim Dialogue and the Value of Peace] - The American Muslim, July 19, 2007</ref> ''CNN'',<ref>Arsalan Iftikhar - [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/11/09/iftikhar.fort.hood/index.html Murder has no religion] - CNN, November 9, 2009 (refutation to Arsalan Iftikhar's piece: [[Murder Has A Religion]])</ref> and ''Wisdom Today''<ref>[http://wisdomtoday.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/islamophobia/ Islamophobia] - Wisdom Today, June 8, 2009</ref> [[websites]], and has been quoted by [[Keith Ellison]]<ref>Andrew G. Bostom - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/03/keith_ellisons_taqiyya.html|2=2011-03-19}} Keith Ellison's Taqiyya] - American Thinker, March 13, 2011</ref> and President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/04/transcript-remarks-president-obama-cairo/ TRANSCRIPT: Remarks of President Obama in Cairo] - Fox News, June 4, 2009</ref>
However, this verse cannot be found in any printed copy of the Qur'an, regardless of whether or not it is in the original [[Arabic]] or in one of its many English translations. The reason for this is simple: the verse in question does not exist.
 
Visiting the many Islamic websites, forums and blogs on the net, you are almost guaranteed to be confronted with this verse. But try as you might, you will not find it in a Qur'an, regardless of whether or not you are reading it in its original [[Arabic]] or in one of its many English translations. The reason for this is simple: the verse in question does not exist.


===Qur'an 5:32===
===Qur'an 5:32===


What you are actually presented with by apologists is a distorted, out-of-context and wholly misleading paraphrasing of the following verse:
What is actually presented by apologists is a distorted, out-of-context and wholly misleading paraphrasing of the following verse:


{{Quote|{{Quran|5|32}}|On that account: '''We ordained for the Children of Israel''' that if anyone slew a person - '''unless it be in retaliation for murder or for spreading mischief in the land''' - it would be as if he slew all mankind: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all humanity. }}
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|32}}|On that account: '''We ordained for the Children of Israel''' that if anyone slew a person - '''unless it be in retaliation for murder or for spreading mischief in the land''' - it would be as if he slew all mankind: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all humanity. }}
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