An Example in the Koran of a Holy Man of Allah that comes close to Justifying Honor Killings:the Case of Moses and Al-Khidr(the Green Man)
The Green Man
The Koran does not specifically say to do honor killings but it does gives an example that comes close to it.
1.It is when a holy man of Allah,who Islamic tradition calls Al-Khidr/the Green Man kills a boy who is bad.Moses is with Al-Khidr when this happens.
2.Thus his behaviour would bring shame and dishonor on his parents.In Islamic culture honor is very important and to lose it is very serious.
What is an honor killing?
It is a crime in response to a behavior perceived as having brought dishonor to a family. Most victims are women.These crimes are typically carried out by members of the family of the victim or by the community.An honor killing, unlike a crime of passion, is premeditated.
An honor killing is not the same as a crime of passion(also called crime passionnel)
The crime of passion is a murder whose motive is passion/jealousy.The victim is usually the loved one or lover of the killer.
The statistics on Crimes of Honor/Honor Killings
1.About 5,000 women are killed each year worldwide in honor killings,according to the UN.
2.Also 91% of the crimes are perpetrated by Muslims,according to the UN.
3.In Europe it is 96%.
It is obvious that this is a very specific problem of the Muslim community.
Moses
Here are the adventures of Moses and the Green Man
Chapter 18:60-82
Allah tells Muhammad of an adventure Moses had
First he had an adventure with a fish
“And when Moses said to his page, “I will not give up until I reach the meeting of the two seas, though I go on for many years.”
Then, when they reached their meeting, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the sea, burrowing.When they had passed over, he said to his page, “Bring us our breakfast; indeed, we have encountered weariness from this our journey.”
He said, “What do you think? When we took refuge in the rock, then I forgot the fish and it was Satan himself that made me forget it so that I should not remember it and so it took its way into the sea in a manner marvellous.”Said he, “This is what we were seeking!’ And so they returned upon their tracks, retracing them.”
Then Moses has adventures with a Holy Man of Allah
“Then they found one of Our servants:
1.To whom We had given mercy from Us,
2.And We had taught him knowledge proceeding from Us(Note:a holy man of Allah).
Moses said to him, “Will I follow you so that you teach me, of what you have been taught, right judgment.”Said he(Note:the holy man), “Assuredly you wilt not be able to bear with me patiently.And how should you bear patiently that you have never encompassed in your knowledge?”
He(Note:Moses) said, “Yet you will find me, if God will, patient; and I will not rebel against you in anything.”
Said he, “Then if you follow me, question me not on anything until I myself introduce the mention of it to you.”"
The first adventure with the holy man:a hole in a ship
“So they departed; until, when they embarked upon the ship, he made a hole in it.
He said(Moses), “What, have you made a hole in it so as to drown its passengers? You have indeed done a grievous thing.”
Said he(holy man), “Did I not say that you could never bear with me patiently?”
He said(Moses), “Do not take me to task that I forgot, neither constrain me to do a thing too difficult.”"
The Green Man
The second adventure:the holy man kills a boy
“So they departed; until, when they met a lad, he slew him.
He said(Moses), “What, you have slain an innocent soul, and that not to retaliate for a soul slain? You have indeed done a horrible thing.”
Said he(holy man), “Did I not say that you could never bear with me patiently?”
He said(Moses), “If I question you on anything after this, then keep me company no more; you have already experienced excuse sufficient on my part.”"
The third adventure:about a wall
“So they departed; until, when they reached the people of a city, they asked the people for food, but they refused to receive them hospitably. There they found a wall about to tumble down, and so he set it up. He said, “If you had wished, you could have taken a wage for that.”"
The Holy Man explains his actions
“Said he, “This is the parting between me and you. Now I will tell you the interpretation of that you could not bear patiently.”"
The first explanation
“As for the ship, it belonged to certain poor men, who toiled upon the sea; and I desired to damage it, for behind them there was a king who was seizing every ship by brutal force.”
The second explanation
“As for the lad, his parents were believers; and we were afraid he would impose on them insolence and unbelief;so we desired that their Lord should give to them in exchange one better than he in purity, and nearer in tenderness.”
The third explanation
“As for the wall, it belonged to two orphan lads in the city, and under it was a treasure belonging to them. Their father was a righteous man; and your Lord desired that they should come of age and then bring forth their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. I did it not of my own bidding. This is the interpretation of that you could not bear patiently.”"
To verify the Koranic citations to be cited go to quranbrowser.com, which has:
1.Six translations by Muslims.
2.Four translations by Non-Muslims.
3.The text in Arabic,with Latin letters.
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