Earliest Quran?

[getreal]

Latest post of the previous page:

I think for the vast majority of Christians, and the main Christian sects, the bible isn't the literal word of God. As far as I understand Islam, though, the Basis of their belief is that the Koran is the actual word of God. Therefore you cannot pick and choose,mwhere as Christians in the main believe the bible to be an interpretation, by humans, of events. That's the difference.

[Dave B]

I think for the vast majority of Christians, and the main Christian sects, the bible isn't the literal word of God. As far as I understand Islam, though, the Basis of their belief is that the Koran is the actual word of God. Therefore you cannot pick and choose,mwhere as Christians in the main believe the bible to be an interpretation, by humans, of events. That's the difference.

I also get the impression that you cannot choose which bits of the Quran you want and ignore others.

However one learned Muslim theologician did say that the interpretation of what the Quran says is up to the reader, there is no authorative commentary. Thus there can effectively be as many versions of the Quran as there are Muslims. Like the Bible it could all be allegory and metaphor - but take either literally when they involve destroying all enemies, i.e. non-Muslims, and there is blood everywhere. One can "destroy" an enemy by making peace and creating a friend. But chopping his head of is a quicker solution.

Unfortunately the tone of that interpretation can be impressed on young minds, as in madrasas.