VERSE 2:221

Muslims all over the world respectably give divine status to the book Quran. According to Merriam Webster’s Thesaurus the word DIVINE means of the very best kind. Other words for divine are awesome, excellent, beautiful, noble, par excellence, wonderful, superb, heavenly, spiritual, celestial and holy.

When we interpret or translate this divine book in a senseless / insane / reckless / thoughtless manner, we rob the divine status of the original message of this wonderful book. The message of the book Quran should be applicable to the entire mankind without differentiating any class or individuals then only everyone can believe in its divinity. Every creation has a just value in the eyes of the Divine Nature and the books that impart prejudice messages can never be divine.  

By specifically defining some words like Kafir / Mushrik as unbelievers, idolaters or polytheist and describing them in derogatory terms, we are creating hate and malice in the minds of Muslims against certain groups.

We ignore the fundamental message of the book Quran that it addresses all types of groups, class, community, sects or genders without any type of discrimination. If the message or the interpretation of the book Quran is spreading hate, malice and fear in the minds of non Muslims then the belief that this is the book of Peace [Islam] is utterly false.

I strongly believe that the original message of the book Quran promote peace in every individuals. It has nothing to do with different religious beliefs, caste, creed, culture or customs. Neither has it had to do with agreements, contracts between communities of different ideologies.

Each and every verse of the book Quran is for the guidance of all common people who are looking for peace within themselves. If we understand the verses like 2:221, 2:190-193, 9:5, 9:29 and many more verses with traditional lens then we are promoting hate, aggression, bigotry and feeling of superiority complex among Muslims. 

Furthermore if we understand the book Quran with the view point or the theme of establishing “the kingdom of God on earth” [nizam e rabubiat] then the verses are only for those elite / educated classes who drafts constitutions, agreements between countries or different ideologies, rules and regulation for the benefit of their own respective states, countries or communities.

The problem starts when some sincere followers of the book Quran blindly act on some controversial verses which are translated badly.

When we believe that the book Quran contains the message of Peace then it should be applicable for the entire mankind. But if we segregate and hate people on the basis of their culture, beliefs, language, rituals, customs then we are contradicting the fundamental message of the book Quran.  

My interpretation of verse 2:221 is purely based on lexicon meanings and the context of the preceding and following the verses –

2:221وَلَا تَنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنَّ ۚ وَلَأَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنُوا ۚوَلَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ ۗ أُولَـٰئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ ۖ وَيُبَيِّنُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

And don’t be infected [tankihoo] with your own polluted thoughts [Al-mushrikaati] until they become safe / secure [muminatun]. And a principled thought [one who sincerely obeys the rule of life] in a state of safety / security is better than your own process of infiltrated / impure thoughts [mush'rikatin], even though it might dazzle you? And do not get infected with your own infiltrated/impure thoughts until they become safe / secure for you. And surely serving safe/secure [thoughts] is better than a infiltrated / impure one, even though it might dazzle you. Those [thoughts] continuously invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah [system of consciousness] invites to the hidden garden of knowledge [Al-Jannah] and the process of protection, by His notification. And He makes clear His signs for the agitated / restless minds that perhaps they may retrospect.

Al-Mushrikaati - accusative feminine plural (form IV) active participle – our own polluted, filthy and impure thoughts.

Tankihoo – 2nd person masculine plural imperfect verb, jussive mood - Marry, comingling of rain with soil, infected, overcome,

The fire in the context of the book Quran indicates conflict within oneself [3:103]