Random Study of the Koran #1
METHOD
In order to do this study, I sought to get at least 32
verses as statistically, as long as the sample is greater than 30, the central
limit theorem applies, i.e. statistically speaking, it is an accurate
representation of the whole population.
Out of the chapters that I randomly chose (or rather, Suras), I automatically took verse 10 from each and no
others. I did this because had I randomly chose verses, either by generating a
random program to pick the verses or by hand-pointing to them, there is little
doubt that I would have been accused of cherry-picking the verses. Therefore, I
stuck to picking verse 10 from the Suras that I did
pick, as there is nothing special about picking one verse over another, but
also gives a verifiable randomness. I
chose verse 10 because I wouldn't have to read too far into the Sura in order to get a good context of the quote, and also
most Suras have at least 10 verses, although not all.
I think you will find my sampling is quite random, with
the exception that some of the last Suras did not get
in at all as they are very short and typically only have 5-9 verses in them. I
ended up with 34 random verses to draw from.
I went through and tried to analyze each verse's true
meaning as accurately as possible. I put notes after many of them to further
clarify them. Some of them say "she" does this or "this" is
for this, this or that. I clarify who "she" is and what
"this" is, etc. By all means, you can view the quote I took,
reference the Koran (an online one that I took them from, which I will provide)
and challenge my analysis of said verse.
I think you will find my sampling is quite fair as was my
analysis - in fact, I actually found one “good” verse! So here they are, followed by the breakdown.
Included in parenthesis at the end of each random verse is the category I put
them in, defined in the breakdown (depending on how you are reading this, I
also color-coded the breakdown of the verses).
All quotes come from: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/index.html
RANDOM GENERATION OF QUOTES FROM
THE KORAN (34 TOTAL)
5 10 And they who disbelieve
and deny Our revelations, such are rightful owners of hell. (1)
6 10 Messengers (of Allah) have been derided before
thee, but that whereat they scoffed surrounded such of them as did deride. NOTE: This verse is terribly confusing.
However, it is couched in verses about the fate of infidels who mocked Apostles
sent to them, which is destruction. (1)
11 10 And if We cause him to
taste grace after some misfortune that had befallen him, he saith:
The ills have gone from me. Lo! he is exultant,
boastful; NOTE: This deals with
disbelievers: that even if God relieves a disbeliever from any misfortune,
immediately after he is thankless. (1)
16 10 He it is Who sendeth down water from the
sky, whence ye have drink, and whence are trees on which ye send your beasts to
pasture. (2)
19 10 He said: My Lord! Appoint
for me some token. He said: Thy token is that thou, with no bodily defect, shalt not speak unto mankind three nights. NOTE:
This is couched in a story about how Allah gave Zachariah a son, for he was a
good Muslim believer. (3)
22 10 (And unto him it will be said): This is for that
which thy two hands have sent before, and because Allah is no oppressor of His
slaves. NOTE: “This” in this verse
refers to “ignominy in this world and burning in the next” as mentioned in the
verse before this. (1)
26 10 And when thy Lord
called Moses, saying: Go unto the wrongdoing folk, (1)
28 10 And the heart of the
mother of Moses became void, and she would have betrayed him if We had not
fortified her heart, that she might be of the believers. (3)
32 10 And they say: When we are lost in the earth, how
can we then be re-created ? Nay but they are
disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord. (1)
37 10 Save him who snatcheth
a fragment, and there pursueth him a piercing flame. NOTE: This verse is very confusing, though
the fact that a “piercing flame” is “pursuing” someone makes it clear that it
is a threat. (1)
41 10 He placed therein firm
hills rising above it, and blessed it and measured therein its sustenance in
four Days, alike for (all) who ask; (2)
42 10 And in whatsoever ye
differ, the verdict therein belongeth to Allah. Such
is my Lord, in Whom I put my trust, and unto Whom I
turn. (4)
43 10 Who made the earth a
resting-place for you, and placed roads for you therein, that haply ye may find
your way; (2)
47 10 Have they not travelled
in the land to see the nature of the consequence for those who were before them ? Allah wiped them out. And for the disbelievers there
will be the like thereof. (1)
51 10 Accursed be the conjecturers (1)
53 10 And He revealed unto His
slave that which He revealed. (2)
55 10 And the earth hath He
appointed for (His) creatures, (2)
57 10 And what aileth you
that ye spend not in the way of Allah when unto Allah belongeth
the inheritance of the heavens and the earth ? Those
who spent and fought before the victory are not upon a level (with the rest of
you). Such are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. Unto
each hath Allah promised good. And Allah is Informed of what ye do. NOTE: Though confusing, I take this to mean, “those who fought and spent in the cause of Allah even before
victory have a higher status than those who fought only after victory.” (1)
59 10 And
those who came (into the faith) after them say: Our Lord! Forgive us and our
brethren who were before us in the faith, and place not in our hearts any rancour toward those who believe. Our Lord! Thou art Full
of Pity, Merciful. (3)
62 10 And
when the prayer is ended, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah's bounty,
and remember Allah much, that ye may be successful. (2)
66 10 Allah citeth an
example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, who
were under two of Our righteous slaves yet betrayed them so that they (the
husbands) availed them naught against Allah and it was said (unto them): Enter
the Fire along with those who enter. (1)
71 10 And I have said: Seek
pardon of your Lord. Lo! He was ever Forgiving. NOTE:
This verse is Noah telling people to seek forgiveness from Allah - otherwise
they be drowned. (3)
73 10 And bear with patience what they utter, and part
from them with a fair leave- taking. NOTE: They are told to be patient for God will deal with infidels by
tying them up, burning them, and choking them with food. (1)
76 10 Lo! we
fear from our Lord a day of frowning and of fate. (4)
79 10 (Now) they are saying:
Shall we really be restored to our first state (4)
81 10 And
when the pages are laid open, (4)
83 10 Woe unto the repudiators on that day! (1)
85 10 Lo! they who persecute
believing men and believing women and repent not, theirs verily will be the
doom of hell, and theirs the doom of burning. (1)
88 10 In
a high Garden (5)
92 10 Surely We will ease his way unto adversity. NOTE: This verse is referring to
disbelievers. (1)
101 10 Ah, what will convey unto thee what she is! - NOTE: This deals with a wrongdoer’s (a person
“without good works” which typically means one who hasn’t fought for Allah)
mother, and from what I can gather, it damns her - not the wrongdoer - to hell.
(1)
BREAKDOWN OF THE RANDOM VERSES
18/34 (52.9%) - over half - of these random verses is
vitriol aimed at infidels - that they are evil, stupid, thankless, that they
will end up in eternal torment, hell, that they have been and will be
destroyed, and God loves those who fight against them.
6/34 (17.6%) Deal with Allah
5/34 (14.7%) Deal with believers
4/34 (11.8%) Deal with Day of
Judgment or Day of Doom
1/34 (3.4%) ... is a
good verse! (Do not steal from the poor / Give to the poor)
CALCULATION
The confidence interval for proportion is p +/- z("/2)√(p*q/n)
Where,
p = Proportion from Sample
q = 1 - p
n = Sample Size
z("/2) represents
the z-value under a normal curve on a Z-chart that leaves an area of "/2 to the
right
Therefore,
.529 +/- 1.96*√(.529*.471/34)
=.529 +/- .168
Therefore with 95% confidence, we can say the proportion
is somewhere between 36.1% and 69.7%.