Islam and Terrorism (6 page)
—S
URAH
4:74, T
HE
N
OBLE
Q
URAN
In reference to those who fight jihad, the Quran also says:
For them Allah has got ready Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.
—S
URAH
9:89, T
HE
N
OBLE
Q
URAN
When a person dies in jihad, a different burial procedure is followed. After a regular person dies, his body is washed and dressed nicely, as if going to the mosque. When a person dies in jihad, his body is not washed or given clean clothes. That person goes into the coffin just as he died. The blood is a witness for him in front of Allah—a sign of honor. Muslims believe the angels will treat him as a special person to Allah.
Western media have poked fun at the Muslim understanding of Paradise (heaven)—virgins for men to enjoy
and so forth—but it is much more significant to recognize that dying in jihad is the only way a Muslim can be assured of entering Paradise at all. This is why you see Muslims leaving their own nations to fight jihad in other countries. Their motivation is religious, which is much more dangerous than a political motivation.
Jihad is definitely commanded for all Muslims in the Quran, but right now let’s answer an important question many people ask: “What about all the ‘nice’ verses in the Quran?”
“B
UT
W
HAT
A
BOUT
. . . ”
You have probably heard on television or read in the print media about verses in the Quran that speak positively about Christians or verses that encourage kindness and promote even religious freedom. You may have wondered, “Are those verses really there?”
Here is the solution to the mystery: the Quran is filled with contradictions. You can find verses where Christians are complimented as well as verses where Christians are condemned to hell.
There are contradictions about other subjects as well. For example, there was much drinking of alcohol in Arabian society during Muhammad’s day. One revelation told Arabs to stop drinking alcohol when going to mosque for prayer, but when prayers were finished they could resume drinking. Later another verse came and prohibited alcohol all the time. (Compare Surah 2:219 and Surah 5:90.)
Another example is the relationship between Muslims and Christians. Some verses say that Muslims can have a good relationship with them, but other verses say Muslims are required to convert them to Islam.
In the beginning of Islam the women were not forced to wear a
hijab
, but in subsequent verses, women were commanded to stay in the house and wear a cover.
Islamic scholars had to determine, therefore, which verses to follow in the case of a contradiction. This was accomplished by the principle of abrogation (
naskh)
.
The principle of abrogation is based on the fact that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad at different times over a period of about twenty-two years. Some parts of the Quran came earlier, others came later. To solve a contradiction, they decided that new revelations would override or abrogate previous revelations.
There are at least 114 verses in the Quran that speak of kindness and forgiveness, especially in the surah titled “The Heifer” (Surah 2:62, 109). But when Surah 9:5 was revealed later, it canceled out those previous verses. This verse states:
Fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every strategem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
—A
LI TRANSLATION
This is known as the verse of the sword, and it explains that Muslims must fight anyone who chooses not to convert to Islam, whether they are inside or outside of Arabia. It is considered to represent the final development of jihad in Islam.
2
The principle of abrogation is very strong. If a verse is abrogated
,
it is as if the earlier verse had not even existed.
You might ask, “Why are there contradictions in the
Quran in the first place? Why did the revelations change over time?” That question can be answered by looking at the life of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.
At first the messages that were revealed to Muhammad were peaceful and kind in order to attract people. But circumstances changed.
Muhammad encountered much opposition in Mecca, the city where he first preached his message, so he left in AD 622. He went to Yathrib, the city now known as Medina, and built up military strength and a larger number of followers. (Both Mecca and Medina are located in present-day Saudi Arabia.) Later when Muhammad had reached a position of power, he was able to return and conquer Mecca and surrounding areas. This move marks the major change of Islam from a spiritual religion to a political revolution.
The prophet Muhammad’s early life in Mecca was all about prayers and meditation, so the Quranic revelations of the Meccan time talk about peace and cooperation with others. But in Medina Muhammad became a military leader and invader, so the revelations in Medina talk about military power and invasion in the name of Islam (jihad).
Sixty percent of the Quranic verses talk about jihad, which stands to reason because Muhammad received most of the Quran after he left Mecca. Jihad became the basic power and driving force of Islam.
It would be nice if the surahs in the Quran were organized in the order that they were revealed, but they are not. Some versions of the Quran will identify each verse as to whether it was revealed in Mecca or Medina; however, you must go to more scholarly references to know the exact order of the revelations.
S
UMMARY
In this chapter you have learned some very necessary concepts that will help you to understand the mind-set of an Islamic terrorist. In summary this is what they believe:
• Islam requires submission to Allah, whose words are written in the Quran.
• On Judgment Day Allah weighs your good and bad works and decides whether you go to Paradise or hell.
• Allah stated in the Quran that if you die in jihad, then you are spared judgment and automatically go to Paradise.
• The verses in the Quran that speak of jihad abrogate (cancel out) the verses that speak of love and kindness.
• Jihad is the motivation behind almost every act of terrorism that is done in the name of Islam.
The Quran gives a great deal of practical teaching on the subject of jihad because it was so much a part of Muhammad’s life in Medina. The next chapter will give Quranic verses about practicing jihad and address the question of whether all Muslims believe this.
HOLY WAR IN THE QURAN
Fighting Unbelievers Until They Are Subdued
W
E FIND JIHAD
as a command to all Muslims enforced by the Quran. The focus of jihad is to overcome people who do not accept Islam. In Muhammad’s time jihad was therefore practiced on a regular basis against Christians and Jews, as well as against idol worshippers and anyone who did not convert to Islam. (See Surah 2:217; 4:71–104; 8:24–36, 39–65.) Let’s let the Quran speak for itself.
Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back (from Islam), take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them . . .
—S
URAH
4:89, T
HE
N
OBLE
Q
URAN
So, when you meet (in fight—
Jihad
in Allah’s Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives).
—S
URAH
47:4, T
HE
N
OBLE
Q
URAN
O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you; and know that Allah is with those who are
Al-Muttaqun
(the pious).
—S
URAH
9:123, T
HE
N
OBLE
Q
URAN
Allah commanded the prophet Muhammad to enforce killing rather than taking prisoners.
It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he had made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land.
—S
URAH
8:67, T
HE
N
OBLE
Q
URAN
Muslims were told to prepare themselves to fight against the unbelievers.
Let not the Unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly): they will never frustrate them. Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom you may not know, but whom Allah knows.
—S
URAH
8:59–60, A
LI TRANSLATION
J
EWS AND
C
HRISTIANS
A
RE
E
NEMIES OF
I
SLAM
In the Quran Christians and Jews are called the “People of the Book” in reference to the Scriptures that they follow. At first the Quranic revelations encouraged Muslims to live at peace with Christians. But after Muhammad’s move to Medina, the revelations regarding all “People of the Book” became very hostile.
The following verse is considered to be the final revelation from Allah regarding Christians and Jews; therefore, it is understood to override all other revelations. It states:
And fight them until there is no more
Fitnah
(disbelief and polytheism, i.e., worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.
—S
URAH
8:39, T
HE
N
OBLE
Q
URAN
In other words, this verse says, “Fight those who reject Islam until all the worship is for Allah alone.” The Quran also says Muslims must not be friends with Christians or Jews.
Take not the Jews and the Christians as
Auliya
(friends, protectors, helpers), they are but
Auliya
of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as
Auliya
), then surely he is one of them.
—S
URAH
5:51
This fact is also emphasized in Surah 5:52–57 and Surah 4:89. When fighting Christians, the Quran tells Muslims to punish them severely so they will be dispersed (Surah 8:57).
The Quran commands Muslims to force Christians and Jews to convert to Islam with very strong and direct words. The following is from
The Noble Quran
in English, which includes commentary in the parentheses.
O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed (to Muhammad) confirming what is (already) with you, before We efface faces (by making them like the back of necks; without nose, mouth, eyes) and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers. And the commandment of Allah is always executed.
—S
URAH
4:47
Just in case the meaning is not crystal clear, this translation has a footnote at the bottom of the page that reads, “This Verse is a severe warning to the Jews and Christians, and an absolute obligation that they must believe in Allah’s Messenger Muhammad and in his Message of Islamic Monotheism and in this Quran.”
C
ONVINCING THE
M
USLIMS TO
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O
F
IGHT
