QUESTION: The verses in question say only "lewdness" -- nothing sexual is mentioned. Why do you think this is a rule against fornication?
ANSWER: At answering-christianity.com/houses.htm the Islamic commentator uses a translation that says "lewdness," but in his discussion he naturally assumes (correctly) that "lewdness" here means illegal sex. Rodwells translation has "whoredom." The translation by Rashad Khalifa has "adultery" (see www.submission.org/efarsi/arabic/sura4.html and the footnote the translator has attached to this verse).
I tend to favor the Hilali-Khan translation (except for where it employs brackets) which has, in 4:15, the term "illegal sexual intercourse." It also has a footnote explaining that the provision of 4:15 has been abrogated (cancelled) by 24:2. And in 24:2 the penalties invoked for this sin/crime are lashing and stoning.
I suspect that in its original setting, 4:15 referred to Muslim women guilty of harlotry or adultery with non-Muslims, and 4:16 referred to couples, both of whom were members of the Ummah (i.e., "among you"), who committed fornication.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
ANSWER: At answering-christianity.com/houses.htm the Islamic commentator uses a translation that says "lewdness," but in his discussion he naturally assumes (correctly) that "lewdness" here means illegal sex. Rodwells translation has "whoredom." The translation by Rashad Khalifa has "adultery" (see www.submission.org/efarsi/arabic/sura4.html and the footnote the translator has attached to this verse).
I tend to favor the Hilali-Khan translation (except for where it employs brackets) which has, in 4:15, the term "illegal sexual intercourse." It also has a footnote explaining that the provision of 4:15 has been abrogated (cancelled) by 24:2. And in 24:2 the penalties invoked for this sin/crime are lashing and stoning.
I suspect that in its original setting, 4:15 referred to Muslim women guilty of harlotry or adultery with non-Muslims, and 4:16 referred to couples, both of whom were members of the Ummah (i.e., "among you"), who committed fornication.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
