Posted on 12/07/2004 7:06:28 AM PST by veronica
These are the chilling words quoted recently by Robert Spencer in his fine article, “Why Do Some Muslims Hold Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni As a Hero?” (Human Events Online.com, November 18, 2004). The Ayatolla himself regarding the right disposition of Muslims toward unbelievers spoke them:
Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those [who say this] are witless. Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured by [the unbelievers]? Islam says: Kill them, put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]…. Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for the Holy Warriors! There are hundreds of other [Qur'anic] psalms and Hadiths [sayings of the Prophet] urging Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all this mean that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim.
So much for the “Religion of Peace.”
Mr. Spencer’s point, of course, is to remind us of the very real goals of the Mullahs who currently counsel the Islamic faithful in Iran, in Iraq, in Saudi Arabia, and in Egypt, as elsewhere. Their brethren, the Taliban, were recently removed from Afghanistan by U.S. and coalition forces. They’ve been largely subdued in Iraq, but their vicious message continues to play on Al Jazeera and these savvy technologists have successfully exploited the brutal murders of innocents in that country, as well as pictures from the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, to continue to dupe their followers into believing that the United States represents the great Whore of Babylon against which the “greater Jihad” is aimed.
Mr. Spencer knows whereof he speaks. His excellent book, Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions About the World’s Fastest-Growing Faith (Encounter Books, San Francisco, 2002), not only asks all the right questions regarding the Muslim faith in a post 9/11 world, but offers timely answers as well. Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Spencer exposes the roots of the collapse of Islamic civilization as a result of the ascendancy in the 12th century (not the 20th!) of the radical interpretation (as seen in the above quote) of Qu’ranic psalms and Hadiths and the defeat thereby of anything recognizably western in terms of progress. In short, Mr. Spencer shows that the ascendancy of the radical interpretation of the Islamic religion is not new, but very old: specifically, he shows that Islamic science, poetry, art, culture, and philosophy came to something of a grinding halt in the 12th century and was replaced then by a rejection of Western cultural values in favor of an extreme understanding of the law of Allah regarding the Muslim faithful.
Mr. Spencer argues persuasively that in the 12th century the Islamic elite rejected any truth from outside the Qu’ran—saying, in effect, “if it is not in the Book, it is not to be believed.” Such a turn of events for the Islamic world is tantamount to their beginning a “Middle Ages” just at the moment the West was transitioning into the Modern World. The Islamic World not only did not follow the West in this advancement, it has steadfastly and consistently rejected it for better than 800 years.
What this means is that the quote cited above by the Ayatollah responsible for the kidnapping and holding Americans captive in the late 1970’s, while Carter “dithered” as Spencer notes, does not represent some radical departure from Islam but rather the mainstream view of the religion as it is practiced today. Of course, this in and of itself signals something of the difficulty faced by coalition forces in Iraq and elsewhere. The U.S. and the West represent the “Satan” against which the Islamic world must fight in order to live up to the dictates of the faith. Yet the successful democratic elections in Afghanistan, and those same in the offing in Iraq, also signal an important change in the rank and file in the Islamic world—indicating a desire for more freedom and a greater and more peaceful participation in the world of democracy and the West.
Yet the massacre of innocents in Beslan, the recent brutal murder of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands, the bombing (again) in Spain (so much for European appeasement), and the multiple plots for the destruction of everything Western either thwarted or being planned, indicate that an important segment of the Muslim world continues to be blinded by a better than 800-year old embracing of the most radical of interpretations of the texts most sacred to the religious tradition known as Islam.
Those brave souls in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Iran, who have either risked death to vote or now risk death to get the opportunity to do so, represent a growing segment of the Islamic faith that reject what, in effect, was the hi-jacking of their faith in the 12th century. They must not only be supported, they must be defended. Perhaps the single greatest task before us today is to make good on our commitment to the ideal of universal truth: If suffrage, for instance, ought to be universal in the United States, then it ought to be (and justly is) universal the world over. That means that one of the greatest triumphs of the beginning of the twenty-first century is the successful delivery of the vote to women in Afghanistan. Yet where are the feminists praising such a turn of events?
According to a particular interpretation of Islamic law, no act is prohibited against an Infidel if it is done in the defense of Allah. This includes murder, rape, whatever. According to a particular interpretation of Judeo-Christian law, a sin is a sin is a sin no matter whom it is committed against. You kill another—it doesn’t matter what religion he or she belongs to: it’s murder. You rape a woman—if she’s Muslim, it’s still rape. You lie? Doesn’t matter whom you tell it to, it’s still a lie. According to Islam, however, if any such acts are perpetuated in the so-called “defense” of Islam, they are not only not sins, they are acts of great courage and heroism, worthy of paradise.
Mr. Spencer makes another important point in his book—with little exception, Islam has expanded in the world almost exclusively by means of conquest. Of course, the Judeo-Christian record illustrates periods of expansion by conquest as well. Question: When was the last time you met an Islamic evangelist? That is, why is peaceful evangelism seemingly foreign to the Islamic way of doing things? Christians and Jews have been guilty of conquest, to be sure. But even in their own traditions, this means of spreading the faith is the exception rather than the rule.
Read Robert Spencer’s book, Unveiling Islam, and ask yourself: Why has conquest been the normal mode of expansion for Islam for the last 800 years? And after this, ask yourself another question: Do the views of the apparently “most radical” spokesmen for Islam, like the Ayatollah Khomeni, Osama bin Laden, or al-Zawahiri, represent the most extreme view or, more chillingly, the mainstream one?
I've read the book. He does an excellent job of showing that moderate Islam just can't win over militant Islam. A good read.
"religion or Peace" or "Religion of Blowing Unbelievers to Pieces"?
My theory is the dictators in charge of the Muslim world cannot explain to their people why they live in poverty, and they are so far behind the West. So, instead of saying because we are backward barbarians, they blame the great successes of the West on the promiscuity/godlessness of the West?
Most Americans learned all they needed to know about Islam on 9/11!
In the sense that Christianity had a reformation, and a bloody one at that, I believe Islam can only survive (as a peaceful faith that co-exists with other human faiths...) if it has a similar "reformation". It is a dichotomy that I - all at once - hope for and yet do not expect to happen. The hope springs from my optimism that those of us in the West... and even those silent voices within Islam - who truly want peace can win this.
The skepticism comes from my reading of the Old & New Testaments - nowhere do I find any indication that "the King of the South" will repent... in fact, it is quite the opposite. A case can be made that - in regards to the three great monotheistic faiths of the world, Judaism, Christianity & Islam - the Antichrist of the former two can be described as the "saviour" of the third (and vice-versa; the Islamic Anti-Mahdi fits the description of the Jewish Messiah/Christian Saviour as well).
Islam, The Alleged Religion of Peace® ( TARP™ )? Click this picture:
This book shows that a reformation isn't possible. In Christianity, the passages where God commands the Jews to war against their enemies are considered in the context of that era. In Islam, it is herasy to relegate any passage from the Koran as not applicable to today. To become devout in Islam, the Koran will always lead back to militancy.
Radical Islam's 'plan' to take over America - Arab-American author outlines secret 20-year strategy to undermine country
The Islamic States of America?
Misunderstanding the Enemy: the Islamic Threat and the U.S. Media
CAIR: 'Moderate' friends of terror
An Open Letter to Islamic Organizations in America
Islamic terror based on Qu’ran: ex-CIA official
A Seat at the Table: Islam Makes Inroads in Education
--Omar Ahmed, Chairman of the Board of CAIR (Council of American Islamic Relations), San Ramon Valley Herald, July 1998
Islam is the religion of "peace" through conquest. Peace, in Islam, only exists when one is muslim. This is a strong deception and many are captive to it. We cannot have any other opinion. Islam cannot be contained. It must be exposed. These are the Pharisees of our time.
More precicely, there are no OT passages giving a general command to kill. God told specific people to kill specific foes for specific reasons. As such, these passages are perfectly useful today. They show how angry God was about those particular sins (infanticide, ritual sex abuse, occult practices, et al.)
The passages aren't useful unless God, today, gives a similar command. In Islam, the old passages still apply as a general instruction to kill the infidels.
Perhaps I wasn't clear: I didn't mean that we read those passages to find permission for killing, we read them to examine the nature of God (to learn to fear Him). The "sins" which prompt Islam to go on a killing spree are not nearly severe as the ones I mentioned in #14. The Peoples God had killed in the OT were totally lost in occult madness.
The Holy Quran has NO general instruction to kill. If this were the case, why don't Muslims kill every foreigner in their country as soon as they step on Muslim soil?
The fact of the matter is the verses in the Quran describe war between those killing Muslims because they were Muslim.
Muslims were told to defend their themselves. The history of Islam is marked by the Hijra, The Pilgrimage made by Prophet Muhammad to Medina from Mecca to escape death by the Meccans.
The Meccans pursued the Muslims to Medina and this is when the Muslims were commanded to defend themselves.
They were persecuted for 13 years in Mecca for no reason other than that they were Muslims. They endured this persecution without lifting an arm.
The war of Islam is and has always been a defensive war against those who do not allow them to practice their religion or who fight them because they are Muslim.
The Old Testament verses ARE a general instruction to kil as women, old people and children were all killed. Did babies worship heathen gods?
Islam does not allow for killing women, old people or children or damaging trees. There are several laws on conduct of war. Salahudeen was a good example to the West of Islamic behavior during war. Of course, the best example was the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself.
Mr. Spencer's crazy statements are idiotic at best. He shows that he himself is witless and knows nothing of Islam. He has also profited from this. Islam
thanks God for whatever good exists, not the sword. The Holy Quran says in Chapter 2, verse 256, "There is no compulsion in religion. Surely, the right way
has become distinct from error; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows
no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing. All-Knowing. "
Anyone who says "Islam says: Kill them, put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]…." is a liar. Let's see what the Holy Quran says.
[8:12] When thy Lord revealed to the angels, saying, 'I am with you; so make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who
disbelieve. Smite them above their necks, and smite off all finger-tips.'
[8:13] That is because they have opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoso opposes Allah and His Messenger, Then Allah is surely Severe in retribution.
The Muslims were at war with the Meccans disbelievers, who had persecuted them for no other reason that that they were Muslim and believed in One God. This
state of affairs had gone on for 13 years. Two emigrations had taken place to Ethiopia by those who could not stand the persecution of Muslims in Mecca.
The Muslims were then told to emigrate to Medina, where the people were not hostile to them because of their beliefs. This emigration called the Hijra marks
the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
No conquests mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar. No. Just a simple emigration to seek peace while practicing their religion. If Islam had spread by
conquest, why didn't the Muslims fight the Medinites and force them to accept Islam? The Meccans followed the Muslims to Medina and waged war on Medina
because they harbored the Muslims. This was when God revealed to the Muslims to fight to defend themselves. They did not only defend themselves but they
defended the Medinites as well.
Again the Holy Quran says, "[8:30] And remember when the disbelievers devised plans against thee that they might put thee in confinement or slay thee or
expel thee. And they planned and Allah also planned, and Allah is the Best of planners."
The Meccans had planned to finish Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Islam forever. They had followed the Muslims to Medina and were determined to put an end
to them there. The defense of the Muslims is what God allowed, nothing more.
This is clear in the Quran where it says,"[8:39] And fight them until there is no persecution and religion is wholly to Allah. But if they desist, then
surely Allah is Watchful of what they do."
That was the true state of affairs when the verses were revealed. They were guidance for prophet Muhammad and the Muslims. They were revealed to guide the
Muslims in their actions during their trying times of persecution for their religion - Islam.
Spencer says "Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the
sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for the Holy Warriors!"
Let's see what the Holy Quran says.
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 25
And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good works, that for them are gardens beneath which flow streams. Whenever they are given a portion of
fruit therefrom, they will say, 'This is what was given us before,' and gifts mutually resembling shall be brought to them. And they will have therein pure
mates, and therein will they abide.
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 44
Do you enjoin others to do what is good and forget your ownselves, while you read the book? Will you not then understand?
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 57
And We caused the clouds to be a shade over you and sent down on you Manna and Salwa, saying, 'Eat of the good things We have provided for you.' And they
wronged Us not, but it was themselves that they wronged.
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 58
And remember the time when We said, 'Enter this town and eat therefrom - whatever you will - plentifully; and enter the gate submissively and say, 'God!
forgive us our sins.' We shall forgive you your sins and We shall give increase to those who do good.'
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 62
Surely, those who believe and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians - whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the Last Day and
does good deeds, shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 82
But they who believe and do good works - those are the dwellers of Heaven; therein shall they abide.
Where is the sword? Nowhere to be found!
Spencer says,"There are hundreds of other [Qur'anic] psalms and Hadiths [sayings of the Prophet] urging Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all this mean
that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim."
Very dramatic. He is a flat out liar, however. The Holy Quran does NOT urge Muslims to value war for its own sake. Nor does the Holy Quran urge Muslims to
fight just for fighting's sake. War and fighting can be done only to defend ownself in Islam.
Mr. Spencer's crazy statements are idiotic at best. He shows that he himself is witless and knows nothing of Islam. He has also profited from this. Islam
thanks God for whatever good exists, not the sword. The Holy Quran says in Chapter 2, verse 256, "There is no compulsion in religion. Surely, the right way
has become distinct from error; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows
no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing. All-Knowing. "
Anyone who says "Islam says: Kill them, put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]…." is a liar. Let's see what the Holy Quran says.
[8:12] When thy Lord revealed to the angels, saying, 'I am with you; so make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who
disbelieve. Smite them above their necks, and smite off all finger-tips.'
[8:13] That is because they have opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoso opposes Allah and His Messenger, Then Allah is surely Severe in retribution.
The Muslims were at war with the Meccans disbelievers, who had persecuted them for no other reason that that they were Muslim and believed in One God. This
state of affairs had gone on for 13 years. Two emigrations had taken place to Ethiopia by those who could not stand the persecution of Muslims in Mecca.
The Muslims were then told to emigrate to Medina, where the people were not hostile to them because of their beliefs. This emigration called the Hijra marks
the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
No conquests mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar. No. Just a simple emigration to seek peace while practicing their religion. If Islam had spread by
conquest, why didn't the Muslims fight the Medinites and force them to accept Islam? The Meccans followed the Muslims to Medina and waged war on Medina
because they harbored the Muslims. This was when God revealed to the Muslims to fight to defend themselves. They did not only defend themselves but they
defended the Medinites as well.
Again the Holy Quran says, "[8:30] And remember when the disbelievers devised plans against thee that they might put thee in confinement or slay thee or
expel thee. And they planned and Allah also planned, and Allah is the Best of planners."
The Meccans had planned to finish Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Islam forever. They had followed the Muslims to Medina and were determined to put an end
to them there. The defense of the Muslims is what God allowed, nothing more.
This is clear in the Quran where it says,"[8:39] And fight them until there is no persecution and religion is wholly to Allah. But if they desist, then
surely Allah is Watchful of what they do."
That was the true state of affairs when the verses were revealed. They were guidance for prophet Muhammad and the Muslims. They were revealed to guide the
Muslims in their actions during their trying times of persecution for their religion - Islam.
Spencer says "Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the
sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for the Holy Warriors!"
Let's see what the Holy Quran says.
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 25
And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good works, that for them are gardens beneath which flow streams. Whenever they are given a portion of
fruit therefrom, they will say, 'This is what was given us before,' and gifts mutually resembling shall be brought to them. And they will have therein pure
mates, and therein will they abide.
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 44
Do you enjoin others to do what is good and forget your ownselves, while you read the book? Will you not then understand?
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 57
And We caused the clouds to be a shade over you and sent down on you Manna and Salwa, saying, 'Eat of the good things We have provided for you.' And they
wronged Us not, but it was themselves that they wronged.
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 58
And remember the time when We said, 'Enter this town and eat therefrom - whatever you will - plentifully; and enter the gate submissively and say, 'God!
forgive us our sins.' We shall forgive you your sins and We shall give increase to those who do good.'
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 62
Surely, those who believe and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians - whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the Last Day and
does good deeds, shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.
Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 82
But they who believe and do good works - those are the dwellers of Heaven; therein shall they abide.
Where is the sword? Nowhere to be found!
Spencer says,"There are hundreds of other [Qur'anic] psalms and Hadiths [sayings of the Prophet] urging Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all this mean
that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim."
Very dramatic. He is a flat out liar, however. The Holy Quran does NOT urge Muslims to value war for its own sake. Nor does the Holy Quran urge Muslims to
fight just for fighting's sake. War and fighting can be done only to defend ownself in Islam.
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