I hope I have understood this information correctly, if not it will make an interesting exercise and discussion.

Recently, in various topics it has been claimed by the faithfull that the message of Islam, the recorded word of God's vessel Muhammad, is final, unalterable and perfect.

These are fairly rigid and absolute words. Requiring the totality of faith that has been suggested here, and that such words reflect it can't be helped but not be surprised that Islam is associated with extremism. Words such as final, unalterable and perfect ARE descriptively extreme by default.

Question. How can such a supposed perfect message that requires such inflexible devotion be open to interpretation? Such ambiguity.
Isn't it well accepted by religious scholars that the oldest known copy (or at least extracts) of the Koran can have up to 30 different meaning for many of the words found in it. Isn't that a flaw? that it be open to the interpretations of men.

How come it was abrogated ?

Abrogation is not acceptable.
They have hadiths instead, to clarify and muddy things even more.

Sorry guys, am I missing something between my post and Sprint's post.

locutius wrote on Oct 21^st, 2008 at 5:04pm:

I hope I have understood this information correctly, if not it will make an interesting exercise and discussion. Recently, in various topics it has been claimed by the faithfull that the message of Islam, the recorded word of God's vessel Muhammad, is final, unalterable and perfect. These are fairly rigid and absolute words. Requiring the totality of faith that has been suggested here, and that such words reflect it can't be helped but not be surprised that Islam is associated with extremism. Words such as final, unalterable and perfect ARE descriptively extreme by default. Question. How can such a supposed perfect message that requires such inflexible devotion be open to interpretation? Such ambiguity. Isn't it well accepted by religious scholars that the oldest known copy (or at least extracts) of the Koran can have up to 30 different meaning for many of the words found in it. Isn't that a flaw? that it be open to the interpretations of men.

Muslims claim that Muhammad is the last prophet of Allah [supposedly the Hebrew OT God], and that the Koran was revealed to Muhammad, and that the contents of the Koran, are the very words of Allah, and inerrant.

Dictionary....
inerrant = = incapable of being wrong.


But Allah is somewhat inconsistent....

Position #1
Christians are nearest in love to the believers [to muslims], and the Christians are not arrogant [like Jews and Pagans].

"Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant."
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/005.qmt.html#005.082


Position #2
Despite '....being men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world', Christians bear Allah's curse [just like Jews and Pagans].

"......and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah......Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!"
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/009.qmt.html#009.030

"On his death-bed Allah's Apostle....said, "May Allah's Curse be on the Jews and the Christians....."
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/056.sbt.html#004.056.660





If you read many [un-biased] appraisals of ISLAM and Muhammad's life, the TRUTH appears to be, that whenever the political environment changed [and contradicted doctrine], Muhammad received an 'appropriate', new, revelation from Allah, to take advantage of the new environment.

i.e.
When Muhammad was politically weak, in the Mecca period, Allah's revelations counselled tolerance of the unbelievers.

from Koran,

"Let there be no compulsion in religion......."
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/002.qmt.html#002.256



Later, when Muhammad was politically much stronger, later in Medina, Allah's revelations counselled absolute INTOLERANCE of, and war [Jihad, holy fighting] with the unbelievers.


Noble Quran
2:190 Footnote:
"Jihad is holy fighting in Allahs Cause with full force of numbers and weaponry. It is given the **utmost importance in Islam** and is one of its pillars. By Jihad Islam is established, Allahs Word is made superior (which means only Allah has the right to be worshiped), and Islam is propagated. By abandoning Jihad Islam is destroyed and Muslims fall into an inferior position; their honor is lost, their lands are stolen, their rule and authority vanish. **Jihad is an obligatory duty** in Islam on every Muslim. He who tries to escape from this duty, or does not fulfill this duty, dies as a hypocrite."
....on page 39 of the Noble Qur’an
....translation by Muhammad Khan


Hadith....

"Allah 's Apostle said, " I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' ...."
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/052.sbt.html#004.052.196


"Allah's Apostle was asked, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad). The questioner then asked, "What is the next (in goodness)? He replied, "To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause." "
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/002.sbt.html#001.002.025