Reply #169: It's all in the interpretations... [View All]

[NJ_Lib]

Sharia law has been adopted in various forms by many countries, ranging from a strict interpretation in Saudi Arabia and northern states of Nigeria, to a relatively liberal interpretation in much of Malaysia.

Chapter 24 of Islam's holy book, the Qur'an, explicitly instructs believers to whip those found guilty of adultery. A leading Muslim scholar, Maulana Muhammad Ali noted that "stoning to death was never contemplated by Islam as a punishment for adultery." Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Dr. Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, said that the "official text of the Qur'an only sanctions a punishment of so many lashes for such an offence not stoning to death... punishment of stoning was introduced later by Omar, the second Calif for reasons best known to him." Many Muslim scholars and judges agree that the Qur'an does not refer to executions by stoning. "...the Islamic legal scholar Tarik Abdul-Rahman states they are part of the Hadith (collections of sayings and acts of the Prophet), and go back to the Pentateuch (first five books of Hebrew Scripture)." Execution by stoning is thus in harmony with the 613 laws which make up the Mosaic code in the Bible.

Massoud Shadjareh, of the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission, opposes stoning sentences. He urges other Muslim leaders to speak out against them. Otherwise, he fears that what he calls an inhumane brand of Islamic law will take root in Nigeria. Shadjareh said:
"Shariah has been translated to be harsh, extreme treatment — it isn't." He argues that amputations and stonings are supposed to be used only as a last resort, and only within those Islamic societies that have eliminated poverty and corruption. Neither condition has yet been achieved, either in Nigeria or in other countries where stoning is practiced.
_________________________________________________________________

I thought this article summed it up pretty well... It really all depends on who is doing the interpreting... Just like in our culture...