In this quick article, we will go over the most important Quran verses non-Muslims need to know.
We hear about Islam every single day, but we don’t get to explore their religion and culture. We only get a shallow view of it.
So let’s take a look into the book they call holy, and most Muslims memorized it entirely.
For context, the Quran is the direct speech of Allah, recited by Prophet Mohamed.
The quotes I’m about to give you will look different based on the translation you use, but the essence is the exact same.
Verse 1: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:85
“Do you believe in some of the Scripture and reject the rest? Is there any reward for those who do so among you other than disgrace in this worldly life and being subjected to the harshest punishment on the Day of Judgment? For Allah is never unaware of what you do.”
Beautiful! So Muslims must respect the whole Quran, and are not allowed to cherry-pick certain verses that they want to follow, and reject others out of convenience.
For them, it is mandatory to keep the entire Quran, or face “the harshest punishment on the Day of Judgment”.
Verse 2: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:191
“Kill the unbelievers wherever you come upon them”
This one is self-explanatory, but just to make sure you got the message right: “unbelievers” refers to anybody that’s not Muslim.
Verse 3: Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:28
“Muslims must not take infidels as friends”
Infidels refers to unbelievers, or whoever is not Muslim.
Verse 4: Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:85
“Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable”
In some translations, you will find:
“Whoever seeks a way other than Islam,1 it will never be accepted from them(…)”
Verse 5: Sura Al-Ma’idah 5:33
“Malm and crucify the infidels if they critisize Islam”
In some translations, you will find:
“Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and spread mischief in the land is death, crucifixion, cutting off their hands and feet on opposite sides, or exile from the land.”
Ah! The religion of peace!
It surely spread by intellectual dialogue and moderated debates.
Verse 6: Surah Al-Anfal 8:12
“Terrorize those who believe in Scriptures other than the Quran”
In some translations, you will find:
“Remember, O Prophet, when your Lord revealed to the angels, “I am with you. So make the believers stand firm. I will cast horror into the hearts of the disbelievers. So strike their necks and strike their fingertips.””
So peaceful! Allah wants us beheaded and terrorized.
Verse 7: Surah Al-Anfal 8:60
“Prepare against them what you ˹believers˺ can of ˹military˺ power and cavalry to deter Allah’s enemies and your enemies as well as other enemies unknown to you but known to Allah. Whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be paid to you in full and you will not be wronged.”
So Muslims believe they have the duty to, by any means, terrorize unbelievers, which again means anybody who’s not Muslim.
Verse 8: Surah Al-Anfal 8:65
“Unbelievers are stupid, Muslims are urged to fight them”
In some translations, you can find:
“O Prophet! Motivate the believers to fight. If there are twenty steadfast among you, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are one hundred of you, they will overcome one thousand of the disbelievers, for they are a people who do not comprehend.”
Verse 9: Surah Al-Tawbah 9:5
“When the opportunity arises kills the infidels wherever you find them, especially polytheists and atheists”
In some translations, you will find:
But once the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists ˹who violated their treaties˺ wherever you find them,1 capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them on every way. But if they repent, perform prayers, and pay alms-tax, then set them free.”
Verse 10: Surah Al-Tawbah 9:30
“The jews and Christians are perverts, fight them”
A more extended translation is:
“The Jews say, “Ezra is the son of Allah,” while the Christians say, “The Messiah is the son of Allah.” Such are their baseless assertions, only parroting the words of earlier disbelievers. May Allah destroy them! How can they be deluded ˹from the truth˺?”
I want you to notice how Allah didn’t even know the Jews, because Jews never said that Ezra is the son of Allah.
So here it shows how Allah has some reading to do.
Verse 11: Surah Al-Tawbah 9:123
“Make war on the infidels living near you”
An alternative is:
“O believers! Fight the disbelievers around you and let them find firmness in you. And know that Allah is with those mindful ˹of Him˺.”
Verse 12: Surah Al-Hajj 22:19
“Punish the unbelievers with garments of fire, hooked iron rods, boiling water, melting their skin and bellies”
An alternative is:
”(…) As for the disbelievers, garments of Fire will be cut out for them and boiling water will be poured over their heads,”
Verse 13: Surah Muhhamad 47:4
“Do not seek peace with the infidels, behead them when you catch them.”
An alternative is:
“So when you meet the disbelievers ˹in battle˺, strike ˹their˺ necks until you have thoroughly subdued them (…)”
Ah! The beautiful religion of peace!
I invite you to search these verses yourself to learn more about Islam.
Keep in mind that most English translations of the Quran are softened for non-Muslim audiences.
So, try to find a good translation, and ideally some commentary from Arabic speakers.
A great example is Robert Spencer, or Al Fadi from CIRA International.
Have a great rest of your day!
God bless!