ISLAM - VIOLENCE ADVOCATED AS PEACE IS DERIDED!
Submitted by: William Finley (* Authors note)
Violence
Guide to Understanding Islam
Unlike nearly all of the Old Testament verses of violence,
the verses of violence in the Quran are mostly open-ended, meaning that
they are not restrained by the historical context of the surrounding
text. They are part of the eternal, unchanging word of Allah, and just
as relevant or subjective as anything else in the Quran.
Most
of today’s Muslims exercise a personal choice to interpret their holy
book’s many calls to violence according to what their own moral
preconceptions find justifiable. Apologists cater to their preferences
with tenuous arguments that gloss over historical fact and generally do
not stand up to scrutiny. Still, it is important to note that the
problem is not bad people, but bad ideology.
Unfortunately,
there are very few verses of tolerance and peace to abrogate or even
balance out the many that call for nonbelievers to be fought and subdued
until they either accept humiliation, convert to Islam, or are killed.
Muhammad’s own martial legacy – and that of his companions – along with
the remarkable stress on violence found in the Quran have produced a
trail of blood and tears across world history. The Quran: Quran (2:191-193) - “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]…
but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And
fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah.” The historical context of this passage is not defensive warfare, since Muhammad and his Muslims had just relocated to Medina and were not under attack by their Meccan adversaries. In fact, the verses urge offensive warfare, in that Muslims are to drive Meccans out of their own city (which they later did).
The use of the word “persecution” by some Muslim translators is thus
disingenuous (the actual Muslim words for persecution – “idtihad” – and
oppression – a variation of “z-l-m” – do not appear in the verse). The
actual Arabic comes from “fitna” which can mean disbelief, or the
disorder that results from unbelief or temptation. Taken as a whole, the
context makes clear that violence is being authorized until “religion is for Allah” - ie. unbelievers desist in their unbelief.
Quran (2:244) - “Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things.”
Quran (2:216) - “Fighting
is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye
dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is
bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.” Not only does
this verse establish that violence can be virtuous, but it also
contradicts the myth that fighting is intended only in self-defense,
since the audience was obviously not under attack at the time. From the
Hadith, we know that this verse was narrated at a time that Muhammad
was actually trying to motivate his people into raiding merchant caravans for loot.
Quran (3:56) - “As
to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in
this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.”
Quran (3:151) - “Soon
shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they
joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority”. This
speaks directly of polytheists, yet it also includes Christians, since
they believe in the Trinity (ie. what Muhammad incorrectly believed to
be ‘joining companions to Allah’).
Quran (4:74) - “Let
those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the
other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he
victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward.” The martyrs of
Islam are unlike the early Christians, led meekly to the slaughter.
These Muslims are killed in battle, as they attempt to inflict death and
destruction for the cause of Allah. Here is the theological basis for
today’s suicide bombers.
Quran (4:76) - “Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…”
Quran (4:89) - “They
but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the
same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they
flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn
renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any
case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”
Quran (4:95) - “Not
equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and
those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and
their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and
fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home).
Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and
fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special
reward,-”
*This passage criticizes “peaceful” Muslims who do not
join in the violence, letting them know that they are less worthy in
Allah’s eyes. It also demolishes the modern myth that “Jihad” doesn’t
mean holy war in the Quran, but rather a spiritual struggle. Not only
is the Arabic word used in this passage, but it is clearly not referring
to anything spiritual, since the physically disabled are given
exemption. (The Hadith reveals the context of the passage to be in
response to a blind man’s protest that he is unable to engage in Jihad
and this is reflected in other translations of the verse).
Quran (4:104) - “And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain…”
*Is pursuing an injured and retreating enemy really an act of self-defense?
Quran (5:33) - “The
punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and
strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be
murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on
opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a
disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a
grievous chastisement”
Quran (8:12) - “I
will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore
strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them”
*No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a spiritual struggle.
Quran (8:15) - “O
ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not
your backs to them. (16)Whoso on that day turneth his back to them,
unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath
incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless
journey’s end.”
Quran (8:39) - “And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion should be only for Allah”
*Some
translations interpret “fitna” as “persecution”, but the traditional
understanding of this word is not supported by the historical context
(See notes for 2:293, also). The Meccans were simply refusing Muhammad
access to their city during Haj. Other Muslims were allowed to travel
there – just not as an armed group, since Muhammad had declared war on
Mecca prior to his eviction. The Meccans were also acting in defense of
their religion, since it was Muhammad’s intention to destroy their
idols and establish Islam by force (which he later did). Hence the
critical part of this verse is to fight until “religion is only for Allah”,
meaning that the true justification of violence was the unbelief of the
opposition. According to the Sira (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 324) Muhammad
further explains that “Allah must have no rivals.”
Quran (8:57) - “If
thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in
those who are behind them, that haply they may remember.”
Quran (8:59-60) - “And
let not those who disbelieve suppose that they can outstrip (Allah’s
Purpose). Lo! they cannot escape. Make ready for them all thou canst of
(armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the
enemy of Allah and your enemy.”
Quran (8:65) - “O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight…”
Quran (9:5) - “So
when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters
wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie
in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer
and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them.”
*According to this verse, the best way of staying safe from Muslim violence is to convert to Islam. Prayer (salat) and the poor tax (zakat) are among the religion’s Five Pillars.
Quran (9:14) - “Fight them, Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace…”
Quran (9:20) - “Those
who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth
and their lives in Allah’s way are of much greater worth in Allah’s
sight. These are they who are triumphant.”
*The “striving” spoken of here is Jihad (Arabic).
Quran (9:29) - “Fight
those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that
forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor
acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of
the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel
themselves subdued.” “People of the Book” refers to Christians and
Jews.
*This was one of the final “revelations” from Allah and it set in
motion the tenacious military expansion, in which Muhammad’s companions
managed to conquer two-thirds of the Christian world in the next 100
years. Islam is intended to dominate all other people and faiths.
Quran (9:30) - “And
the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The
Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they
imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy
them; how they are turned away!”
Quran (9:38-39) - “O
ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to
go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye
prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the
comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go
forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in
your place.”
*This is a warning to those who refuse to fight, that they will be punished with Hell.
Quran (9:41) - “Go
forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and
your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew.” See also the verse that follows (9:42)
– “If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy,
they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was
long, (and weighed) on them”
*This contradicts the myth that
Muslims are to fight only in self-defense, since the wording implies
that battle will be waged a long distance from home (in another country
and on Christian soil, in this case, according to the historians).
Quran (9:73) - “O
Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be
unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the
destination.”
*Dehumanizing those who reject Islam, by reminding
Muslims that they are merely firewood for Hell, makes it easier to
justify slaughter. It also explains why today’s devout Muslims have
little regard for those outside the faith.
Quran (9:88) - “But
the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with
their wealth and their persons: for them are (all) good things: and it
is they who will prosper.”
Quran (9:111) - “Allah
hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for
theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause,
and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the
Law, the Gospel, and the Quran: and who is more faithful to his covenant
than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that
is the achievement supreme.”
Quran (9:123) - “O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness.”
Quran (17:16) - “And
when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people
of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word
proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.”
*Note
that the crime is moral transgression, and the punishment is “utter
destruction.” (Before ordering the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden first
issued Americans an invitation to Islam).
Quran (18:65-81) -
This parable lays the theological groundwork for honor killings, in
which a family member is murdered because they brought shame to the
family, either through apostasy or perceived moral indiscretion. The
story (which is not found in any Jewish or Christian source) tells of
Moses encountering a man with “special knowledge” who does things which
don’t seem to make sense on the surface, but are then justified
according to later explanation. One such action is to murder a youth
for no apparent reason (74). However, the wise man later explains that
it was feared that the boy would “grieve” his parents by “disobedience
and ingratitude.” He was killed so that Allah could provide them a
‘better’ son. (Note: This is one reason why honor killing is sanctioned
by Sharia. Reliance of the Traveler (Umdat al-Saliq) says that
punishment for murder is not applicable when a parent or grandparent
kills their offspring (o.1.1-2).)
Quran (21:44) - “We
gave the good things of this life to these men and their fathers until
the period grew long for them; See they not that We gradually reduce the
land (in their control) from its outlying borders? Is it then they who
will win?”
Quran (25:52) - “Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness…”
* “Strive against” is Jihad – obviously not in the personal context.
It’s also significant to point out that this is a Meccan verse.
Quran (33:60-62) - “If
the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the
alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against
them, then they will be your neighbors in it but a little while.
Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce)
slaughter.”
*This passage sanctions the slaughter (rendered
“merciless” and “horrible murder” in other translations) against three
groups: Hypocrites (Muslims who refuse to “fight in the way of Allah” (3:167) and hence don’t act as Muslims should), those with “diseased hearts” (which include Jews and Christians 5:51-52),
and “alarmists” or “agitators who include those who merely speak out
against Islam, according to Muhammad’s biographers. It is worth noting
that the victims are to be sought out by Muslims, which is what today’s
terrorists do. If this passage is meant merely to apply to the city of
Medina, then it is unclear why it is included in Allah’s eternal word to
Muslim generations.
Quran (47:3-4) - “Those
who reject Allah follow vanities, while those who believe follow the
truth from their lord. Thus does Allah set forth form men their lessons
by similitude. Therefore when you meet in battle those who disbelieve,
then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make
(them) prisoners,” *Those who reject Allah are to be subdued in
battle. The verse goes on to say the only reason Allah doesn’t do the
dirty work himself is in order to to test the faithfulness of Muslims.
Those who kill pass the test. “But if it had been Allah’s Will, He
could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He
lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who
are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost.”
Quran (47:35) - “Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost (Shakir: “have the upper hand”) for Allah is with you,”
Quran (48:17) - “There
is no blame for the blind, nor is there blame for the lame, nor is
there blame for the sick (that they go not forth to war). And whoso
obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens
underneath which rivers flow; and whoso turneth back, him will He punish
with a painful doom.” *Contemporary apologists sometimes claim
that Jihad means ‘spiritual struggle.’ Is so, then why are the blind,
lame and sick exempted? This verse also says that those who do not
fight will suffer torment in hell.
Quran (48:29) - “Muhammad
is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless)
against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves” *Islam is not about
treating everyone equally. There are two very distinct standards that
are applied based on religious status. Also the word used for ‘hard’ or
‘ruthless’ in this verse shares the same root as the word translated as
‘painful’ or severe’ in verse 16.
Quran (61:4) - “Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way” Religion of Peace, indeed! This is followed by (61:9): “He
it is who has sent His Messenger (Mohammed) with guidance and the
religion of truth (Islam) to make it victorious over all religions even
though the infidels may resist.”
Quran (61:10-12) - “O
ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a
grievous Penalty?- That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that
ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and
your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew! He will forgive
you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and
to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity.” *This verse was given in battle. It uses the Arabic word, Jihad.
Quran (66:9) - “O
Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be
stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey’s end.” *The
root word of “Jihad” is used again here. The context is clearly holy
war, and the scope of violence is broadened to include “hypocrites” –
those who call themselves Muslims but do not act as such. From the
Hadith:
Bukhari (52:177) - Allah’s
Apostle said, “The Hour will not be established until you fight with
the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. “O
Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.”
Bukhari (52:256) - The
Prophet… was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan
warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and
children to danger. The Prophet replied, “They (i.e. women and children)
are from them (i.e. pagans).” *In this command, Muhammad
establishes that it is permissible to kill non-combatants in the process
of killing a perceived enemy. This provides justification for the many
Islamic terror bombings.
Bukhari (52:220) - Allah’s Apostle said… ‘I have been made victorious with terror’
Abu Dawud (14:2526) - The
Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Three things are the roots of faith:
to refrain from (killing) a person who utters, “There is no god but
Allah” and not to declare him unbeliever whatever sin he commits, and
not to excommunicate him from Islam for his any action; and jihad will
be performed continuously since the day Allah sent me as a prophet until
the day the last member of my community will fight with the Dajjal
(Antichrist)
Abu Dawud (14:2527) - The
Prophet said: Striving in the path of Allah (jihad) is incumbent on you
along with every ruler, whether he is pious or impious
Muslim (1:33) - the
Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people
till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the
messenger of Allah
Bukhari (8:387) -
Allah’s Apostle said, “I have been ordered to fight the people till
they say: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’. And if they
say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we
slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we
will not interfere with them except legally.”
Muslim (1:30) - “The
Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people
so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah.”
Bukhari (11:626) - [Muhammad said:] “I
decided to order a man to lead the prayer and then take a flame to burn
all those, who had not left their houses for the prayer, burning them
alive inside their homes.”
Muslim (1:149) - “Abu
Dharr reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds is the
best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Belief in Allah and Jihad in His
cause…”
Muslim (20:4645) - “…He
(the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which
elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred
(higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to
the height of the heaven from the earth. He (Abu Sa’id) said: What is
that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of
Allah!”
Muslim (20:4696) - “the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: ‘One who died but did
not fight in the way of Allah nor did he express any desire (or
determination) for Jihid died the death of a hypocrite.’”
Muslim (19:4321-4323) -
Three separate hadith in which Muhammad shrugs over the news that
innocent children were killed in a raid by his men against unbelievers.
His response: “They are of them (meaning the enemy).”
Muslim (19:4294) -
“When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) appointed anyone
as leader of an army or detachment he would especially exhort him… He
would say: Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight
against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war… When you meet
your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of
action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and
withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept)
Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from
fighting against them… If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them
the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your
hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them.
Tabari 7:97 The morning after the murder of Ashraf, the Prophet declared, “Kill any Jew who falls under your power.” *Ashraf
was a poet, killed by Muhammad’s men because he insulted Islam. Here,
Muhammad widens the scope of his orders to kill. An innocent Jewish
businessman was then slain by his Muslim partner, merely for being
non-Muslim.
Tabari 9:69 “Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us” *The words of Muhammad, prophet of Islam.
Tabari 17:187 “‘By
God, our religion (din) from which we have departed is better and more
correct than that which these people follow. Their religion does not
stop them from shedding blood, terrifying the roads, and seizing
properties.’ And they returned to their former religion.” *The
words of a group of Christians who had converted to Islam, but realized
their error after being shocked by the violence and looting committed in
the name of Allah. The price of their decision to return to a religion
of peace was that the men were beheaded and the woman and children
enslaved by the caliph Ali.
Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 327: -
“Allah said, ‘A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A
slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the
desires of this world, its goods and the ransom captives would bring.
But Allah desires killing them to manifest the religion.’”
Ibn
Ishaq/Hisham 990: –* Lest anyone think that cutting off someone’s head
while screaming ‘Allah Akbar!’ is a modern creation, here is an account
of that very practice under Muhammad, who seems to approve.
Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992: - “Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah.” *Muhammad’s instructions to his men prior to a military raid.
Additional Notes:
Other
than the fact that Muslims haven’t killed every non-Muslim under their
domain, there is very little else that they can point to as proof that
theirs is a peaceful, tolerant religion. Where Islam is dominant (as in
the Middle East and Pakistan) religious minorities suffer brutal
persecution with little resistance. Where Islam is in the minority (as
in Thailand, the Philippines and Europe) there is the threat of violence
if Muslim demands are not met. Either situation seems to provide a
justification for religious terrorism, which is persistent and endemic
to Islamic fundamentalism.
The
reasons are obvious and begin with the Quran. Few verses of Islam’s
most sacred text can be construed to fit the contemporary virtues of
religious tolerance and universal brotherhood. Those that do are
earlier “Meccan” verses which are obviously abrogated by later ones.
This is why Muslim apologists speak of the “risks” of trying to
interpret the Quran without their “assistance” – even while claiming
that it is a perfect book.
Far
from being mere history or theological construct, the violent verses of
the Quran have played a key role in very real massacre and genocide.
This includes the brutal slaughter of tens of millions of Hindus for
five centuries beginning around 1000 AD with Mahmud of Ghazni’s bloody
conquest. Both he and the later Tamerlane (Islam’s Genghis Khan)
slaughtered an untold number merely for defending their temples from
destruction. Buddhism was very nearly wiped off the Indian
subcontinent. Judaism and Christianity met the same fate (albeit more
slowly) in areas conquered by Muslim armies, including the Middle East,
North Africa and parts of Europe, including today’s Turkey.
Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of a proud Persian people is
despised by Muslims and barely survives in modern Iran.
So
ingrained is violence in the religion that Islam has never really
stopped being at war, either with other religions or with itself.
Muhammad was a military leader, laying siege to towns, massacring the men, raping their
women, enslaving their children, and taking the property of others as
his own. On several occasions he rejected offers of surrender from the
besieged inhabitants and even butchered captives.
He actually inspired his followers to battle when they did not feel it
was right to fight, promising them slaves and booty if they did and
threatening them with Hell if they did not. Muhammad allowed his men to
rape traumatized women captured in battle, usually on the very day
their husbands and family members were slaughtered.
It is important to emphasize that, for the most part, Muslim armies waged aggressive campaigns,
and the religion’s most dramatic military conquests were made by the
actual companions of Muhammad in the decades following his death. The
early Islamic principle of warfare was that the civilian population of a
town was to be destroyed (ie. men executed, women and children taken as
slaves) if they defended themselves. Although modern apologists often
claim that Muslims are only supposed to attack in self-defense, this is
an oxymoron that is flatly contradicted by the accounts of Islamic historians and others that go back to the time of Muhammad.
Consider the example of the Qurayza Jews,
who were completely obliterated only five years after Muhammad arrived
in Medina. Their leader opted to stay neutral when their town was
besieged by a Meccan army that was sent to take revenge for Muhammad’s
deadly caravan raids. The tribe killed no one from either side and even
surrendered peacefully to Muhammad after the Meccans had been turned
back. Yet the prophet of Islam had every male member of the Qurayza
beheaded, and every woman and child enslaved, even raping one of the
captives himself (what Muslim apologists might refer to as “same day
marriage”).
One of Islam’s most revered modern scholars, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, openly sanctions offensive Jihad: “In
the Jihad which you are seeking, you look for the enemy and invade him.
This type of Jihad takes place only when the Islamic state is invading
other [countries] in order to spread the word of Islam and to remove obstacles standing in its way.” Elsewhere, he notes: ”Islam
has the right to take the initiative…this is God’s religion and it is
for the whole world. It has the right to destroy all obstacles in the
form of institutions and traditions … it attacks institutions and
traditions to release human beings from their poisonous influences,
which distort human nature and curtail human freedom. Those who say that
Islamic Jihad was merely for the defense of the ‘homeland of Islam’
diminish the greatness of the Islamic way of life.”
Muhammad’s
failure to leave a clear line of succession resulted in perpetual
internal war following his death. Those who knew him best first fought
to keep remote tribes from leaving Islam and reverting to their
preferred religion (the Ridda or ‘Apostasy wars’). Then, within the
closer community, early Meccan converts battled later ones. Hostility
developed between those immigrants who had traveled with Muhammad to
Mecca and the Ansar at Medina who had helped them settle in. Finally
there was a violent struggle within Muhammad’s own family between his
favorite wife and favorite daughter – a jagged schism that has left
Shias and Sunnis at each others’ throats to this day.
The
strangest and most untrue thing that can be said about Islam is that it
is a Religion of Peace. If every standard by which the West is judged
and condemned (slavery, imperialism, intolerance, misogyny, sexual
repression, warfare…) were applied equally to Islam, the verdict would
be devastating. Islam never gives up what it conquers, be it religion,
culture, language or life. Neither does it make apologies or any real
effort at moral progress. It is the least open to dialogue and the most
self-absorbed. It is convinced of its own perfection, yet brutally
shuns self-examination and represses criticism.
This
is what makes the Quran’s verses of violence so dangerous. They are
given the weight of divine command. While Muslim terrorists take them
as literally as anything else in their holy book, and understand that
Islam is incomplete without Jihad, moderates offer little to contradict
them – outside of opinion. Indeed, what do they have? Speaking of
peace and love may win over the ignorant, but when every twelfth verse
of Islam’s holiest book either speaks to Allah’s hatred for non-Muslims
or calls for their death, forced conversion, or subjugation, it’s little
wonder that sympathy for terrorism runs as deeply as it does in the broader community – even if most Muslims personally prefer not to interpret their religion in this way.
Although scholars like Ibn Khaldun, one of Islam’s most respected philosophers, understood that “the
holy war is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the Muslim
mission and (the obligation to) convert everybody to Islam either by
persuasion or by force”, many other Muslims are either unaware or
willfully ignorant of the Quran’s near absence of verses that preach
universal non-violence. Their understanding of Islam comes from what
they are taught by others. In the West, it is typical for believers to
think that their religion must be like Christianity – preaching the New
Testament virtues of peace, love, and tolerance – because Muslims are
taught that Islam is supposed to be superior in
every way. They are somewhat surprised and embarrassed to learn that
the evidence of the Quran and the bloody history of Islam are very much
in contradiction to this.
Others
simply accept the violence. In 1991, a Palestinian couple in America
was convicted of stabbing their daughter to death for being too
Westernized. A family friend came to their defense, excoriating the
jury for not understanding the “culture”, claiming that the father was
merely following “the religion” and saying that the couple had to
“discipline their daughter or lose respect.” (source). In 2011, unrepentant Palestinian terrorists, responsible for the brutal murders of civilians, women and children explicitly in
the name of Allah were treated to a luxurious “holy pilgrimage” to
Mecca by the Saudi king – without a single Muslim voice raised in
protest.
For
their part, Western liberals would do well not to sacrifice critical
thinking to the god of political correctness, or look for reasons to
bring other religion down to the level of Islam merely to avoid the
existential truth that this it is both different and dangerous.
There
are just too many Muslims who take the Quran literally… and too many
others who couldn’t care less about the violence done in the name of
Islam.
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