TO THE person whose reading of the Qur'an differ from that of the Bishop:
May I assume that you, the Bishop and I are not speakers of Arabic and are therefore reading English translations of the text?
The trouble here is that Arabic does not transliterate perfectly into English, and that the choice of English can alter the original meaning and thus cause confusion.
In the translation published by Penguin Classics, Surah (verse) 9.23 reads: "Believers do not befriend your fathers and brothers if they choose non-belief in preference to faith." The words "fight" and "kill" do not appear in this version in the context that you so freely quote. I cannot therefore concur with your interpretation of the texts quoted.
I commend you and on your attempt to understand the Qur'an, but perhaps if we wish to seek greater understanding of Islam from the Qur'an, then we should ask someone who really knows it well.
Any offers?
T Wearing (via e-mail)
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