Islam Is a Violent Religion
More links and resources at the bottom of this page.
Qur'an (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]
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 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.
Qur'an (2:244) - "Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things."
Qur'an (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.
Qur'an (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."
Qur'an (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').
Qur'an (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.
Qur'an (4:76) - "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…"
Qur'an
(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."
Qur'an (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).
Qur'an (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?
Qur'an (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."
Qur'an
(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 an "inner spiritual
struggle".
Qur'an (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."
Qur'an (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."
Qur'an (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."
Qur'an (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..."
Qur'an
(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."
Qur'an (8:65) - "O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight..."
Qur'an
(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 the power, they violently evicted those unbelievers who would not convert.
Qur'an
(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.
Qur'an
(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.
Qur'an
(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. 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.
Qur'an (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!"
Qur'an (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.
Qur'an 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).
Qur'an (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.
Qur'an (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."
Qur'an (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
Qur'an: 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 Qur'an define a true believer?
Qur'an (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness."
Qur'an (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).
Qur'an (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 also that 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).
Qur'an (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?"
Qur'an (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.
Qur'an (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
ther 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.
Qur'an (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."
Qur'an (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,"
Qur'an (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.
Qur'an (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.
Qur'an (61:4) - "Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way" Religion of Peace, indeed! The verse explicitly refers to "battle array" meaning that it is speaking of physical conflict. 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." (See next verse, below). Infidels who resist Islamic rule are to be fought.
Qur'an (61:10-12) - "O You who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know! (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwelling in Gardens of 'Adn - Eternity ['Adn (Edn) Paradise], that is indeed the great success." This verse refers to physical battle in order to make Islam victorious over other religions (see above). It uses the Arabic word, Jihad.
Qur'an (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.
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Links and Resources
Jihad in the Qur'an and Sunnah
The Religion of Peace
Islam 101 (Robert Spencer/Jihad Watch)
But...but...but...Islam is a religion of peace! Pope Francis and Mark Shea said so!
ReplyDeleteSo what are Christians doing about the Islamification going on?
ReplyDelete