RationalWiki:Annotated Qur'an/The Ranks

Annotated Qur'an
Sura 61: The Ranks
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Qur'an 61:1 Everything in the heavens and the earth praises God. He is the Almighty, the Wise.	Qur'an 61:1 Notes An almighty being has an obsessive need to be told how mighty he is.

Qur'an 61:2 O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do?	Qur'an 61:2 Notes God doesn't like mere profession of fear. He wants real fear.

Qur'an 61:3 It is most hateful to God that you say what you do not do.	Qur'an 61:3 Notes The merciful almighty God sometimes has trouble controlling his temper.

Qur'an 61:4 God loves those who fight in His cause, in ranks, as though they were a compact structure.	Qur'an 61:4 Notes Wow, an almighty being loves it when people tell him what he wants to hear!

Qur'an 61:5 When Moses said to his people, “O my people, why do you hurt me, although you know that I am God’s Messenger to you?” And when they swerved, God swerved their hearts. God does not guide the sinful people.	Qur'an 61:5 Notes Knowledge and wisdom is only given to those who believe everything in a book that isn't supported by any evidence.

Qur'an 61:6 And when Jesus son of Mary said, “O Children of Israel, I am God’s Messenger to you, confirming what preceded me of the Torah, and announcing good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” But when he showed them the miracles, they said, “This is obvious sorcery.”	Qur'an 61:6 Notes Miracle or sorcery, almost guaranteed they were a series of fast tricks pulled on easily gullible people.

Qur'an 61:7 And who is a greater wrongdoer than he who attributes falsehoods to God, when he is being invited to Islam? God does not guide the wrongdoing people.	Qur'an 61:7 Notes This is pretty difficult to decide, because it's very likely that the entire Koran was imagined up by some people. So it doesn't really make sense that anyone could attribute a falsehood to God. Because it's all made up. Unless there is a monopoly over making stuff up about God that only one person gets to fulfill

Qur'an 61:8 They want to extinguish God’s Light with their mouths; but God will complete His Light, even though the disbelievers dislike it.	Qur'an 61:8 Notes Disbelievers are petty and vindictive people with their skepticism, rational arguments and dislike of the light and goodness

Qur'an 61:9 It is He who sent His Messenger with the guidance and the true religion, to make it prevail over all religions, even though the idolaters dislike it.	Qur'an 61:9 Notes Unfortunately the religion didn't really prevail. Islam is just one of several major religions.

Qur'an 61:10 O you who believe! Shall I inform you of a trade that will save you from a painful torment?	Qur'an 61:10 Notes Belief should be considered a kind of transaction rather than sincerely held by being convinced through arguments.

Qur'an 61:11 That you believe in God and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of God with your possessions and yourselves. That is best for you, if you only knew.	Qur'an 61:11 Notes I think we would know if we were ever presented with evidence.

Qur'an 61:12 He will forgive you your sins; and will admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow, and into beautiful mansions in the Gardens of Eden. That is the supreme success.	Qur'an 61:12 Notes The merciful Allah is only merciful to those who picked the right religion.

Qur'an 61:13 And something else you love: support from God, and imminent victory. So give good news to the believers.	Qur'an 61:13 Notes I'm curious what kind of victory all of God's warriors in ISIS celebrated.

Qur'an 61:14 O you who believe! Be supporters of God, as Jesus son of Mary said to the disciples, “Who are my supporters towards God?” The disciples said, “We are God's supporters.” So a group of the Children of Israel believed, while another group disbelieved. We supported those who believed against their foe, so they became dominant.	Qur'an 61:14 Notes It's amazing how God seems to favour a people and then stop favouring them, almost as though its random or perhaps following the natural pattern of human civilizations rising and falling? Hmmm