smogup: .
The Quran:
Quran (2:191-193) - "And kill them
wherever you find them, and turn them
out from where they have turned you out.
And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is
worse than killing...
but if they desist, then lo! Allah is
forgiving and merciful. And fight them
until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief
and worshipping of others along with
Allah] and worship is for Allah alone.
But if they cease, let there be no
transgression except against Az-
Zalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-
doers, etc.)" (Translation is from the
Noble Quran) The verse prior to this
(190) refers to "fighting for the cause of
Allah those who fight you" leading some
to believe that the entire passage refers
to a defensive war in which Muslims are
defending their homes and families. The
historical context of this passage is not
defensive warfare, however, 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).
Verse 190 thus means to fight those who
offer resistance to Allah's rule (ie.
Muslim conquest). The use of the word
"persecution" by some Muslim
translators is disingenuous (the actual
Arabic words for persecution - "idtihad" -
and oppression - a variation of "z-l-m" -
do not appear in the verse). The word
used instead, "fitna", can mean
disbelief, or the disorder that results
from unbelief or temptation. This is
certainly what is meant in this context
since the violence is explicitly
commissioned "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, who were led meekly to the
slaughter. These Muslims are killed in
battle as they attempt to inflict death
and destruction for the cause of Allah.
This 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 of the
believers who sit (at home), except those
who are disabled (by injury or are blind
or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard
and fight in the Cause of Allah with their
wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred
in grades those who strive hard and fight
with their wealth and their lives above
those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah
has promised good (Paradise), but Allah
has preferred those who strive hard and
fight, above those who sit (at home) by a
huge 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
this Arabic word (mujahiduna) 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, which would not make sense if
it meant an internal struggle).
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 2:193). 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 (8:67) - "It is not for a Prophet
that he should have prisoners of war
until he had made a great slaughter in
the land... "
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 captive 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). This
popular claim that the Quran only
inspires violence within the context of
self-defense is seriously challenged by
this passage as well, since the Muslims to
whom it was written were obviously not
under attack. Had they been, then there
would have been no waiting period
(earlier verses make it a duty for
Muslims to fight in self-defense, even
during the sacred months). The
historical context is Mecca after the
idolaters were subjugated by Muhammad
and posed no threat. Once the Muslims
had power, they violently evicted those
unbelievers who would not convert.
Quran (9:14) - "Fight against them so
that Allah will punish them by your
hands and disgrace them and give you
victory over them and heal the breasts of
a believing people." Humiliating and
hurting non-believers not only has the
blessing of Allah, but it is ordered as a
means of carrying out his punishment
and even "healing" the hearts of
Muslims.
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 Arabic word
interpreted as "striving" in this verse is
the same root as "Jihad". The context is
obviously holy war.
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. According to this
verse, they are to be violently
subjugated, with the sole justification
being their religious status. Verse 9:33
tells Muslims that Allah has charted them
to make Islam "superior over all
religions." This chapter 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
unbelievers 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." How does the
Quran define a true believer?
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
A bit of understanding of English will do. I SAID THE VERSES BEFORE AND AFTER |