10/8/2015

TheQuran'sVersesofViolence

TheReligionofPeace.com
GuidetoUnderstandingIslam

Whatdoesthe
ReligionofPeace
TeachAbout...
Violence

Question:
DoestheQuranreallycontaindozensofversespromotingviolence?

SummaryAnswer:
TheQurancontainsatleast109versesthatcallMuslimstowarwithnonbelieversforthe
sakeofIslamicrule.Somearequitegraphic,withcommandstochopoffheadsandfingers
andkillinfidelswherevertheymaybehiding.Muslimswhodonotjointhefightarecalled
'hypocrites'andwarnedthatAllahwillsendthemtoHelliftheydonotjointheslaughter.
UnlikenearlyalloftheOldTestamentversesofviolence,theversesofviolenceinthe
Quranaremostlyopenended,meaningthattheyarenotrestrainedbythehistoricalcontext
ofthesurroundingtext.Theyarepartoftheeternal,unchangingwordofAllah,andjustas
relevantorsubjecttointerpretationasanythingelseintheQuran.
Thecontextofviolentpassagesismoreambiguousthanmightbeexpectedofaperfect
bookfromalovingGodhoweverthisworksbothways.Mostoftoday'sMuslimsexercise
apersonalchoicetointerprettheirholybook'scalltoarmsaccordingtotheirownmoral
preconceptionsaboutjustifiableviolence.Apologistscatertotheirpreferenceswith
tenuousargumentsthatglossoverhistoricalfactandgenerallydonotstanduptoscrutiny.
Still,itisimportanttonotethattheproblemisnotbadpeople,butbadideology.
Unfortunately,thereareveryfewversesoftoleranceandpeacetoabrogateorevenbalance
outthemanythatcallfornonbelieverstobefoughtandsubdueduntiltheyeitheraccept
humiliation,converttoIslam,orarekilled.Muhammad'sownmartiallegacyandthatof
hiscompanionsalongwiththeremarkablestressonviolencefoundintheQuranhave
producedatrailofbloodandtearsacrossworldhistory.
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TheQuran:
Quran(2:191193)"Andkillthemwhereveryoufindthem,andturnthemoutfromwhere
theyhaveturnedyouout.AndAlFitnah[disbelieforunrest]isworsethankilling...
butiftheydesist,thenlo!Allahisforgivingandmerciful.Andfightthemuntilthereisno
moreFitnah[disbeliefandworshippingofothersalongwithAllah]andworshipisfor
Allahalone.Butiftheycease,lettherebenotransgressionexceptagainstAzZalimun(the
polytheists,andwrongdoers,etc.)"(TranslationisfromtheNobleQuran)Theverseprior
tothis(190)refersto"fightingforthecauseofAllahthosewhofightyou"leadingsometo
believethattheentirepassagereferstoadefensivewarinwhichMuslimsaredefending
theirhomesandfamilies.Thehistoricalcontextofthispassageisnotdefensivewarfare,
however,sinceMuhammadandhisMuslimshadjustrelocatedtoMedinaandwerenot
underattackbytheirMeccanadversaries.Infact,theversesurgeoffensivewarfare,inthat
MuslimsaretodriveMeccansoutoftheirowncity(whichtheylaterdid).Verse190thus
meanstofightthosewhoofferresistancetoAllah'srule(ie.Muslimconquest).Theuseof
theword"persecution"bysomeMuslimtranslatorsisdisingenuous(theactualArabic
wordsforpersecution"idtihad"andoppressionavariationof"zlm"donotappearin
theverse).Thewordusedinstead,"fitna",canmeandisbelief,orthedisorderthatresults
fromunbeliefortemptation.Thisiscertainlywhatismeantinthiscontextsincethe
violenceisexplicitlycommissioned"untilreligionisforAllah"ie.unbelieversdesistin
theirunbelief.

Quran(2:244)"ThenfightinthecauseofAllah,andknowthatAllahHearethand
knowethallthings."

Quran(2:216)"Fightingisprescribedforyou,andyedislikeit.Butitispossiblethatye
dislikeathingwhichisgoodforyou,andthatyeloveathingwhichisbadforyou.But
Allahknoweth,andyeknownot."Notonlydoesthisverseestablishthatviolencecanbe
virtuous,butitalsocontradictsthemyththatfightingisintendedonlyinselfdefense,since
theaudiencewasobviouslynotunderattackatthetime.FromtheHadith,weknowthat
thisversewasnarratedatatimethatMuhammadwasactuallytryingtomotivatehispeople
intoraidingmerchantcaravansforloot.

Quran(3:56)"Astothosewhorejectfaith,Iwillpunishthemwithterribleagonyinthis
worldandintheHereafter,norwilltheyhaveanyonetohelp."

Quran(3:151)"SoonshallWecastterrorintotheheartsoftheUnbelievers,forthatthey
joinedcompanionswithAllah,forwhichHehadsentnoauthority".Thisspeaksdirectlyof
polytheists,yetitalsoincludesChristians,sincetheybelieveintheTrinity(ie.what
Muhammadincorrectlybelievedtobe'joiningcompanionstoAllah').

Quran(4:74)"LetthosefightinthewayofAllahwhosellthelifeofthisworldforthe
other.WhosofightethinthewayofAllah,beheslainorbehevictorious,onhimWeshall
bestowavastreward."ThemartyrsofIslamareunliketheearlyChristians,whowereled
meeklytotheslaughter.TheseMuslimsarekilledinbattleastheyattempttoinflictdeath
anddestructionforthecauseofAllah.Thisisthetheologicalbasisfortoday'ssuicide
bombers.

Quran(4:76)"ThosewhobelievefightinthecauseofAllah"

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Quran(4:89)"TheybutwishthatyeshouldrejectFaith,astheydo,andthusbeonthe
samefooting(asthey):Buttakenotfriendsfromtheirranksuntiltheyfleeinthewayof
Allah(Fromwhatisforbidden).Butiftheyturnrenegades,seizethemandslaythem
whereveryefindthemand(inanycase)takenofriendsorhelpersfromtheirranks."

Quran(4:95)"Notequalarethoseofthebelieverswhosit(athome),exceptthosewhoare
disabled(byinjuryorareblindorlame,etc.),andthosewhostrivehardandfightinthe
CauseofAllahwiththeirwealthandtheirlives.Allahhaspreferredingradesthosewho
strivehardandfightwiththeirwealthandtheirlivesabovethosewhosit(athome).Unto
each,Allahhaspromisedgood(Paradise),butAllahhaspreferredthosewhostrivehard
andfight,abovethosewhosit(athome)byahugereward"Thispassagecriticizes
"peaceful"Muslimswhodonotjoinintheviolence,lettingthemknowthattheyareless
worthyinAllah'seyes.Italsodemolishesthemodernmyththat"Jihad"doesn'tmeanholy
warintheQuran,butratheraspiritualstruggle.NotonlyisthisArabicword(mujahiduna)
usedinthispassage,butitisclearlynotreferringtoanythingspiritual,sincethephysically
disabledaregivenexemption.(TheHadithrevealsthecontextofthepassagetobein
responsetoablindman'sprotestthatheisunabletoengageinJihad,whichwouldnot
makesenseifitmeantaninternalstruggle).Accordingtotheverse,Allahwillallowthe
disabledintoParadise,butwillprovidealargerrewardtothosewhoareabletokillothers
inhiscause.

Quran(4:104)"Andbenotweakheartedinpursuitoftheenemyifyousufferpain,then
surelythey(too)sufferpainasyousufferpain..."Ispursuinganinjuredandretreating
enemyreallyanactofselfdefense?

Quran(5:33)"ThepunishmentofthosewhowagewaragainstAllahandHismessenger
andstrivetomakemischiefinthelandisonlythis,thattheyshouldbemurderedor
crucifiedortheirhandsandtheirfeetshouldbecutoffonoppositesidesortheyshouldbe
imprisonedthisshallbeasadisgracefortheminthisworld,andinthehereafterthey
shallhaveagrievouschastisement"

Quran(8:12)"Iwillcastterrorintotheheartsofthosewhodisbelieve.Thereforestrikeoff
theirheadsandstrikeoffeveryfingertipofthem"Noreasonablepersonwouldinterpret
thistomeanaspiritualstruggle.

Quran(8:15)"Oyewhobelieve!Whenyemeetthosewhodisbelieveinbattle,turnnot
yourbackstothem.(16)Whosoonthatdayturnethhisbacktothem,unlessmaneuvering
forbattleorintenttojoinacompany,hetrulyhathincurredwrathfromAllah,andhis
habitationwillbehell,ahaplessjourney'send."

Quran(8:39)"Andfightwiththemuntilthereisnomorefitna(disorder,unbelief)and
religionshouldbeonlyforAllah"Sometranslationsinterpret"fitna"as"persecution",but
thetraditionalunderstandingofthiswordisnotsupportedbythehistoricalcontext(See
notesfor2:193).TheMeccansweresimplyrefusingMuhammadaccesstotheircity
duringHaj.OtherMuslimswereallowedtotraveltherejustnotasanarmedgroup,since
MuhammadhaddeclaredwaronMeccapriortohiseviction.TheMeccanswerealso
actingindefenseoftheirreligion,sinceitwasMuhammad'sintentiontodestroytheiridols
andestablishIslambyforce(whichhelaterdid).Hencethecriticalpartofthisverseisto
fightuntil"religionisonlyforAllah",meaningthatthetruejustificationofviolencewas
theunbeliefoftheopposition.AccordingtotheSira(IbnIshaq/Hisham324)Muhammad
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furtherexplainsthat"Allahmusthavenorivals."

Quran(8:57)"Ifthoucomestontheminthewar,dealwiththemsoastostrikefearin
thosewhoarebehindthem,thathaplytheymayremember."

Quran(8:67)"ItisnotforaProphetthatheshouldhaveprisonersofwaruntilhehad
madeagreatslaughterintheland..."

Quran(8:5960)"Andletnotthosewhodisbelievesupposethattheycanoutstrip(Allah's
Purpose).Lo!theycannotescape.Makereadyforthemallthoucanstof(armed)forceand
ofhorsestethered,thattherebyyemaydismaytheenemyofAllahandyourenemy."

Quran(8:65)"OProphet,exhortthebelieverstofight..."

Quran(9:5)"Sowhenthesacredmonthshavepassedaway,thenslaytheidolaters
whereveryoufindthem,andtakethemcaptiveandbesiegethemandlieinwaitforthemin
everyambush,theniftheyrepentandkeepupprayerandpaythepoorrate,leavetheir
wayfreetothem."Accordingtothisverse,thebestwayofstayingsafefromMuslim
violenceistoconverttoIslam(prayer(salat)andthepoortax(zakat)areamongthe
religion'sFivePillars).ThispopularclaimthattheQuranonlyinspiresviolencewithinthe
contextofselfdefenseisseriouslychallengedbythispassageaswell,sincetheMuslimsto
whomitwaswrittenwereobviouslynotunderattack.Hadtheybeen,thentherewould
havebeennowaitingperiod(earlierversesmakeitadutyforMuslimstofightinself
defense,evenduringthesacredmonths).ThehistoricalcontextisMeccaaftertheidolaters
weresubjugatedbyMuhammadandposednothreat.OncetheMuslimshadpower,they
violentlyevictedthoseunbelieverswhowouldnotconvert.

Quran(9:14)"FightagainstthemsothatAllahwillpunishthembyyourhandsand
disgracethemandgiveyouvictoryoverthemandhealthebreastsofabelievingpeople."
HumiliatingandhurtingnonbelieversnotonlyhastheblessingofAllah,butitisordered
asameansofcarryingouthispunishmentandeven"healing"theheartsofMuslims.

Quran(9:20)"Thosewhobelieve,andhavelefttheirhomesandstrivenwiththeirwealth
andtheirlivesinAllah'swayareofmuchgreaterworthinAllah'ssight.Thesearethey
whoaretriumphant."TheArabicwordinterpretedas"striving"inthisverseisthesame
rootas"Jihad".Thecontextisobviouslyholywar.

Quran(9:29)"FightthosewhobelievenotinAllahnortheLastDay,norholdthat
forbiddenwhichhathbeenforbiddenbyAllahandHisMessenger,noracknowledgethe
religionofTruth,(eveniftheyare)ofthePeopleoftheBook,untiltheypaytheJizyawith
willingsubmission,andfeelthemselvessubdued.""PeopleoftheBook"referstoChristians
andJews.Accordingtothisverse,theyaretobeviolentlysubjugated,withthesole
justificationbeingtheirreligiousstatus.Verse9:33tellsMuslimsthatAllahhascharted
themtomakeIslam"superioroverallreligions."Thischapterwasoneofthefinal
"revelations"fromAllahanditsetinmotionthetenaciousmilitaryexpansion,inwhich
Muhammad'scompanionsmanagedtoconquertwothirdsoftheChristianworldinthenext
100years.Islamisintendedtodominateallotherpeopleandfaiths.
Quran(9:30)"AndtheJewssay:EzraisthesonofAllahandtheChristianssay:The
MessiahisthesonofAllahthesearethewordsoftheirmouthstheyimitatethesayingof
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thosewhodisbelievedbeforemayAllahdestroythemhowtheyareturnedaway!"

Quran(9:3839)"Oyewhobelieve!whatisthematterwithyou,that,whenyeareasked
togoforthinthecauseofAllah,yeclingheavilytotheearth?Doyepreferthelifeofthis
worldtotheHereafter?Butlittleisthecomfortofthislife,ascomparedwiththeHereafter.
Unlessyegoforth,Hewillpunishyouwithagrievouspenalty,andputothersinyour
place."Thisisawarningtothosewhorefusetofight,thattheywillbepunishedwithHell.

Quran(9:41)"Goforth,lightarmedandheavyarmed,andstrivewithyourwealthand
yourlivesinthewayofAllah!Thatisbestforyouifyebutknew."Seealsotheversethat
follows(9:42)"Iftherehadbeenimmediategain(insight),andthejourneyeasy,they
would(all)withoutdoubthavefollowedthee,butthedistancewaslong,(andweighed)on
them"ThiscontradictsthemyththatMuslimsaretofightonlyinselfdefense,sincethe
wordingimpliesthatbattlewillbewagedalongdistancefromhome(inanothercountry
andonChristiansoil,inthiscase,accordingtothehistorians).
Quran(9:73)"OProphet!strivehardagainsttheunbelieversandthehypocritesandbe
unyieldingtothemandtheirabodeishell,andevilisthedestination."Dehumanizing
thosewhorejectIslam,byremindingMuslimsthatunbelieversaremerelyfirewoodfor
Hell,makesiteasiertojustifyslaughter.Italsoexplainswhytoday'sdevoutMuslimshave
littleregardforthoseoutsidethefaith.

Quran(9:88)"ButtheMessenger,andthosewhobelievewithhim,striveandfightwith
theirwealthandtheirpersons:forthemare(all)goodthings:anditistheywhowill
prosper."
Quran(9:111)"Allahhathpurchasedofthebelieverstheirpersonsandtheirgoodsfor
theirs(inreturn)isthegarden(ofParadise):theyfightinHiscause,andslayandare
slain:apromisebindingonHimintruth,throughtheLaw,theGospel,andtheQuran:and
whoismorefaithfultohiscovenantthanAllah?thenrejoiceinthebargainwhichyehave
concluded:thatistheachievementsupreme."HowdoestheQurandefineatruebeliever?

Quran(9:123)"Oyouwhobelieve!fightthoseoftheunbelieverswhoareneartoyouand
letthemfindinyouhardness."

Quran(17:16)"AndwhenWewishtodestroyatown,WesendOurcommandmenttothe
peopleofitwholeadeasylives,buttheytransgressthereinthusthewordprovestrue
againstit,soWedestroyitwithutterdestruction."Notethatthecrimeismoral
transgression,andthepunishmentis"utterdestruction."(Beforeorderingthe9/11attacks,
OsamabinLadenfirstissuedAmericansaninvitationtoIslam).

Quran(18:6581)Thisparablelaysthetheologicalgroundworkforhonorkillings,in
whichafamilymemberismurderedbecausetheybroughtshametothefamily,either
throughapostasyorperceivedmoralindiscretion.Thestory(whichisnotfoundinany
JewishorChristiansource)tellsofMosesencounteringamanwith"specialknowledge"
whodoesthingswhichdon'tseemtomakesenseonthesurface,butarethenjustified
accordingtolaterexplanation.Onesuchactionistomurderayouthfornoapparentreason
(74).However,thewisemanlaterexplainsthatitwasfearedthattheboywould"grieve"
hisparentsby"disobedienceandingratitude."HewaskilledsothatAllahcouldprovide
thema'better'son.(Note:ThisisonereasonwhyhonorkillingissanctionedbySharia.
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RelianceoftheTraveler(UmdatalSaliq)saysthatpunishmentformurderisnotapplicable
whenaparentorgrandparentkillstheiroffspring(o.1.12).)

Quran(21:44)"Wegavethegoodthingsofthislifetothesemenandtheirfathersuntilthe
periodgrewlongforthemSeetheynotthatWegraduallyreducetheland(intheircontrol)
fromitsoutlyingborders?Isitthentheywhowillwin?"

Quran(25:52)"ThereforelistennottotheUnbelievers,butstriveagainstthemwiththe
utmoststrenuousness...""Striveagainst"isJihadobviouslynotinthepersonalcontext.
It'salsosignificanttopointoutthatthisisaMeccanverse.

Quran(33:6062)"Ifthehypocrites,andthoseinwhoseheartsisadisease,andthe
alarmistsinthecitydonotcease,Weverilyshallurgetheeonagainstthem,thentheywill
beyourneighborsinitbutalittlewhile.Accursed,theywillbeseizedwhereverfoundand
slainwitha(fierce)slaughter."Thispassagesanctionstheslaughter(rendered"merciless"
and"horriblemurder"inothertranslations)againstthreegroups:Hypocrites(Muslimswho
refuseto"fightinthewayofAllah"(3:167)andhencedon'tactasMuslimsshould),those
with"diseasedhearts"(whichincludeJewsandChristians5:5152),and"alarmists"or
"agitatorswhoincludethosewhomerelyspeakoutagainstIslam,accordingto
Muhammad'sbiographers.Itisworthnotingthatthevictimsaretobesoughtoutby
Muslims,whichiswhattoday'sterroristsdo.Ifthispassageismeantmerelytoapplytothe
cityofMedina,thenitisunclearwhyitisincludedinAllah'seternalwordtoMuslim
generations.

Quran(47:34)"Thosewhodisbelievefollowfalsehood,whilethosewhobelievefollow
thetruthfromtheirLord...So,whenyoumeet(infightJihadinAllah'sCause),thosewho
disbelievesmiteattheirneckstillwhenyouhavekilledandwoundedmanyofthem,then
bindabondfirmly(onthem,i.e.takethemascaptives)...IfithadbeenAllah'sWill,He
Himselfcouldcertainlyhavepunishedthem(withoutyou).But(Heletsyoufight),inorder
totestyou,somewithothers.ButthosewhoarekilledintheWayofAllah,Hewillneverlet
theirdeedsbelost."ThosewhorejectAllaharetobekilledinJihad.Thewoundedareto
beheldcaptiveforransom.TheonlyreasonAllahdoesn'tdothedirtyworkhimselfistoto
testthefaithfulnessofMuslims.Thosewhokillpassthetest.

Quran(47:35)"Benotwearyandfainthearted,cryingforpeace,whenyeshouldbe
uppermost(Shakir:"havetheupperhand")forAllahiswithyou,"

Quran(48:17)"Thereisnoblamefortheblind,noristhereblameforthelame,noris
thereblameforthesick(thattheygonotforthtowar).AndwhosoobeyethAllahandHis
messenger,HewillmakehimenterGardensunderneathwhichriversflowandwhoso
turnethback,himwillHepunishwithapainfuldoom."Contemporaryapologists
sometimesclaimthatJihadmeans'spiritualstruggle.'Isso,thenwhyaretheblind,lame
andsickexempted?Thisversealsosaysthatthosewhodonotfightwillsuffertormentin
hell.

Quran(48:29)"MuhammadisthemessengerofAllah.Andthosewithhimarehard
(ruthless)againstthedisbelieversandmercifulamongthemselves"Islamisnotabout
treatingeveryoneequally.ThisversetellsMuslimsthattherearetwoverydistinct
standardsthatareappliedbasedonreligiousstatus.Alsothewordusedfor'hard'or
'ruthless'inthisversesharesthesamerootasthewordtranslatedas'painful'orsevere'to
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describeHellinover25otherversesincluding65:10,40:46and50:26..

Quran(61:4)"SurelyAllahlovesthosewhofightinHisway"ReligionofPeace,
indeed!Theverseexplicitlyrefersto"battlearray"meaningthatitisspeakingofphysical
conflict.Thisisfollowedby(61:9):"HeitiswhohassentHisMessenger(Mohammed)
withguidanceandthereligionoftruth(Islam)tomakeitvictoriousoverallreligionseven
thoughtheinfidelsmayresist."(Seenextverse,below).InfidelswhoresistIslamicrule
aretobefought.

Quran(61:1012)"OYouwhobelieve!ShallIguideyoutoacommercethatwillsaveyou
fromapainfultorment.ThatyoubelieveinAllahandHisMessenger(Muhammad),and
thatyoustrivehardandfightintheCauseofAllahwithyourwealthandyourlives,that
willbebetterforyou,ifyoubutknow!(Ifyoudoso)Hewillforgiveyouyoursins,and
admityouintoGardensunderwhichriversflow,andpleasantdwellinginGardens
of'AdnEternity['Adn(Edn)Paradise],thatisindeedthegreatsuccess."Thisverse
referstophysicalbattleinordertomakeIslamvictoriousoverotherreligions(seeabove).
ItusestheArabicword,Jihad.

Quran(66:9)"OProphet!Striveagainstthedisbelieversandthehypocrites,andbestern
withthem.Hellwillbetheirhome,ahaplessjourney'send."Therootwordof"Jihad"is
usedagainhere.Thecontextisclearlyholywar,andthescopeofviolenceisbroadenedto
include"hypocrites"thosewhocallthemselvesMuslimsbutdonotactassuch.

OtherversescallingMuslimstoJihadcanbefoundhereatAnsweringIslam.org

FromtheHadith:

Bukhari(52:177)Allah'sApostlesaid,"TheHourwillnotbeestablisheduntilyoufight
withtheJews,andthestonebehindwhichaJewwillbehidingwillsay."OMuslim!There
isaJewhidingbehindme,sokillhim."

Bukhari(52:256)TheProphet...wasaskedwhetheritwaspermissibletoattackthepagan
warriorsatnightwiththeprobabilityofexposingtheirwomenandchildrentodanger.The
Prophetreplied,"They(i.e.womenandchildren)arefromthem(i.e.pagans)."Inthis
command,Muhammadestablishesthatitispermissibletokillnoncombatantsinthe
processofkillingaperceivedenemy.ThisprovidesjustificationforthemanyIslamic
terrorbombings.

Bukhari(52:65)TheProphetsaid,'HewhofightsthatAllah'sWord,Islam,shouldbe
superior,fightsinAllah'sCause.Muhammad'swordsarethebasisforoffensiveJihad
spreadingIslambyforce.Thisishowitwasunderstoodbyhiscompanions,andbythe
terroristsoftoday.

Bukhari(52:220)Allah'sApostlesaid...'Ihavebeenmadevictoriouswithterror'

AbuDawud(14:2526)TheProphet(peace_be_upon_him)said:Threethingsarethe
rootsoffaith:torefrainfrom(killing)apersonwhoutters,"ThereisnogodbutAllah"and
nottodeclarehimunbelieverwhateversinhecommits,andnottoexcommunicatehimfrom
IslamforhisanyactionandjihadwillbeperformedcontinuouslysincethedayAllahsent
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measaprophetuntilthedaythelastmemberofmycommunitywillfightwiththeDajjal
(Antichrist)

AbuDawud(14:2527)TheProphetsaid:StrivinginthepathofAllah(jihad)isincumbent
onyoualongwitheveryruler,whetherheispiousorimpious

Muslim(1:33)theMessengerofAllahsaid:Ihavebeencommandedtofightagainst
peopletilltheytestifythatthereisnogodbutAllah,thatMuhammadisthemessengerof
Allah

Bukhari(8:387)Allah'sApostlesaid,"Ihavebeenorderedtofightthepeopletilltheysay:
'NonehastherighttobeworshippedbutAllah'.Andiftheysayso,praylikeourprayers,
faceourQiblaandslaughterasweslaughter,thentheirbloodandpropertywillbesacred
tousandwewillnotinterferewiththemexceptlegally."

Muslim(1:30)"TheMessengerofAllahsaid:Ihavebeencommandedtofightagainst
peoplesolongastheydonotdeclarethatthereisnogodbutAllah."

Bukhari(52:73)"Allah'sApostlesaid,'KnowthatParadiseisundertheshadesof
swords'."

Bukhari(11:626)[Muhammadsaid:]"Idecidedtoorderamantoleadtheprayerand
thentakeaflametoburnallthose,whohadnotlefttheirhousesfortheprayer,burning
themaliveinsidetheirhomes."

Muslim(1:149)"AbuDharrreported:Isaid:MessengerofAllah,whichofthedeedsis
thebest?He(theHolyProphet)replied:BeliefinAllahandJihadinHiscause..."

Muslim(20:4645)"...He(theMessengerofAllah)didthatandsaid:Thereisanotheract
whichelevatesthepositionofamaninParadisetoagradeonehundred(higher),andthe
elevationbetweenonegradeandtheotherisequaltotheheightoftheheavenfromthe
earth.He(AbuSa'id)said:Whatisthatact?Hereplied:JihadinthewayofAllah!Jihadin
thewayofAllah!"

Muslim(20:4696)"theMessengerofAllah(maypeacebeuponhim)said:'Onewhodied
butdidnotfightinthewayofAllahnordidheexpressanydesire(ordetermination)for
Jihaddiedthedeathofahypocrite.'"

Muslim(19:43214323)ThreeseparatehadithinwhichMuhammadshrugsoverthenews
thatinnocentchildrenwerekilledinaraidbyhismenagainstunbelievers.Hisresponse:
"Theyareofthem(meaningtheenemy)."

Muslim(19:4294)"WhentheMessengerofAllah(maypeacebeuponhim)appointed
anyoneasleaderofanarmyordetachmenthewouldespeciallyexhorthim...Hewould
say:FightinthenameofAllahandinthewayofAllah.Fightagainstthosewhodisbelieve
inAllah.Makeaholywar...Whenyoumeetyourenemieswhoarepolytheists,invitethem
tothreecoursesofaction.Iftheyrespondtoanyoneofthese,youalsoacceptitand
withholdyourselffromdoingthemanyharm.Invitethemto(accept)Islamiftheyrespond
toyou,acceptitfromthemanddesistfromfightingagainstthem...Iftheyrefusetoaccept
Islam,demandfromthemtheJizya.Iftheyagreetopay,acceptitfromthemandholdoff
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yourhands.Iftheyrefusetopaythetax,seekAllah'shelpandfightthem."

Bukhari1:35"Thepersonwhoparticipatesin(HolyBattles)inAllahscauseandnothing
compelshimdosoexceptbeliefinAllahandHisApostle,willberecompensedbyAllah
eitherwithareward,orbooty(ifhesurvives)orwillbeadmittedtoParadise(ifheis
killed)."

Tabari7:97ThemorningafterthemurderofAshraf,theProphetdeclared,"KillanyJew
whofallsunderyourpower."Ashrafwasapoet,killedbyMuhammad'smenbecausehe
insultedIslam.Here,Muhammadwidensthescopeofhisorderstokill.Aninnocent
JewishbusinessmanwasthenslainbyhisMuslimpartner,merelyforbeingnonMuslim.

Tabari9:69"KillingUnbelieversisasmallmattertous"ThewordsofMuhammad,
prophetofIslam.

Tabari17:187"'ByGod,ourreligion(din)fromwhichwehavedepartedisbetterand
morecorrectthanthatwhichthesepeoplefollow.Theirreligiondoesnotstopthemfrom
sheddingblood,terrifyingtheroads,andseizingproperties.'Andtheyreturnedtotheir
formerreligion."ThewordsofagroupofChristianswhohadconvertedtoIslam,but
realizedtheirerrorafterbeingshockedbytheviolenceandlootingcommittedinthename
ofAllah.Thepriceoftheirdecisiontoreturntoareligionofpeacewasthatthemenwere
beheadedandthewomanandchildrenenslavedbythecaliphAli.

IbnIshaq/Hisham484:Allahsaid,Aprophetmustslaughterbeforecollectingcaptives.
Aslaughteredenemyisdrivenfromtheland.Muhammad,youcravedthedesiresofthis
world,itsgoodsandtheransomcaptiveswouldbring.ButAllahdesireskillingthemto
manifestthereligion.

IbnIshaq/Hisham990:Lestanyonethinkthatcuttingoffsomeone'sheadwhilescreaming
'AllahAkbar!'isamoderncreation,hereisanaccountofthatverypracticeunder
Muhammad,whoseemstoapprove.

IbnIshaq/Hisham992:"FighteveryoneinthewayofAllahandkillthosewhodisbelieve
inAllah."Muhammad'sinstructionstohismenpriortoamilitaryraid.

SaifurRahman,TheSealedNectarp.227228"EmbraceIslam...IfyoutwoacceptIslam,
youwillremainincommandofyourcountrybutifyourrefusemyCall,youvegotto
rememberthatallofyourpossessionsareperishable.Myhorsemenwillappropriateyour
land,andmyProphethoodwillassumepreponderanceoveryourkingship."Oneofseveral
lettersfromMuhammadtorulersofothercountries.Thesignificanceisthattherecipients
werenotmakingwarorthreateningMuslims.Theirsubsequentdefeatandsubjugationby
Muhammad'sarmieswasjustifiedmerelyonthebasisoftheirunbelief.

AdditionalNotes:
OtherthanthefactthatMuslimshaven'tkilledeverynonMuslimundertheirdomain,there
isverylittleelsethattheycanpointtoasproofthattheirsisapeaceful,tolerantreligion.
WhereIslamisdominant(asintheMiddleEastandPakistan)religiousminoritiessuffer
brutalpersecutionwithlittleresistance.WhereIslamisintheminority(asinThailand,the
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PhilippinesandEurope)thereisthethreatofviolenceifMuslimdemandsarenotmet.
Eithersituationseemstoprovideajustificationforreligiousterrorism,whichispersistent
andendemictoIslamicfundamentalism.

ThereasonsareobviousandbeginwiththeQuran.FewversesofIslam'smostsacredtext
canbeconstruedtofitthecontemporaryvirtuesofreligioustoleranceanduniversal
brotherhood.Thosethatdoareearlier"Meccan"verseswhichareobviouslyabrogatedby
laterones.TheexampleofMuhammadisthatIslamisareligionofpeacewhenMuslims
donothavethepowerandnumbersontheirside.Oncetheydo,thenthingschange.

ManyMuslimsarepeacefulanddonotwanttobelievewhattheQuranreallysays.They
reachfor"textualcontext"acrossdifferentsurastosubjectivelymitigateharsherpassages
withotherssothatthemessagefitstheirpersonalmoralpreferences.AlthoughtheQuran
itselfclaimstobeclearandcomplete,theseapologistsspeakofthe"risks"oftryingto
interpretverseswithouttheir"assistance."

TheviolentversesoftheQuranhaveplayedakeyroleinveryrealmassacreandgenocide.
ThisincludesthebrutalslaughteroftensofmillionsofHindusforfivecenturiesbeginning
around1000ADwithMahmudofGhazni'sbloodyconquest.Bothheandthelater
Tamerlane(Islam'sGenghisKhan)slaughteredanuntoldnumbermerelyfordefending
theirtemplesfromdestruction.BuddhismwasverynearlywipedofftheIndian
subcontinent.JudaismandChristianitymetthesamefate(albeitmoreslowly)inareas
conqueredbyMuslimarmies,includingtheMiddleEast,NorthAfricaandpartsofEurope,
includingtoday'sTurkey.Zoroastrianism,theancientreligionofaproudPersianpeopleis
despisedbyMuslimsandbarelysurvivesinmodernIran.

SoingrainedisviolenceinthereligionthatIslamhasneverreallystoppedbeingatwar,
eitherwithotherreligionsorwithitself.

Muhammadwasamilitaryleader,layingsiegetotowns,massacringthemen,rapingtheir
women,enslavingtheirchildren,andtakingthepropertyofothersashisown.Onseveral
occasionsherejectedoffersofsurrenderfromthebesiegedinhabitantsandevenbutchered
captives.Heactuallyinspiredhisfollowerstobattlewhentheydidnotfeelitwasrightto
fight,promisingthemslavesandbootyiftheydidandthreateningthemwithHellifthey
didnot.Muhammadallowedhismentorapetraumatizedwomencapturedinbattle,
usuallyontheverydaytheirhusbandsandfamilymemberswereslaughtered.

Itisimportanttoemphasizethat,forthemostpart,Muslimarmieswagedaggressive
campaigns,andthereligion'smostdramaticmilitaryconquestsweremadebytheactual
companionsofMuhammadinthedecadesfollowinghisdeath.TheearlyIslamicprinciple
ofwarfarewasthatthecivilianpopulationofatownwastobedestroyed(ie.menexecuted,
womenandchildrentakenasslaves)iftheydefendedthemselvesandresistedIslam.
AlthoughmodernapologistsoftenclaimthatMuslimsareonlysupposedtoattackinself
defense,thisisanoxymoronthatisflatlycontradictedbytheaccountsofIslamichistorians
andothersthatgobacktothetimeofMuhammad.

Somemoderndayscholarsaremorecandidthanothers.OneofthemostrespectedSunni
theologiansisalQaradawi,whojustifiesterrorattacksagainstWesterntargetsbynoting
thatthereisnosuchthingasacivilianpopulationinatimeofwar:

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"IthasbeendeterminedbyIslamiclawthatthebloodandpropertyofpeopleofDarAl
Harb[ie.nonMuslimpeoplewhoresistIslamicconquest]isnotprotected...Inmodern
war,allofsociety,withallitsclassesandethnicgroups,ismobilizedtoparticipateinthe
war,toaiditscontinuation,andtoprovideitwiththematerialandhumanfuelrequiredfor
ittoassurethevictoryofthestatefightingitsenemies.Everycitizeninsocietymusttake
uponhimselfaroleintheefforttoprovideforthebattle.Theentiredomesticfront,
includingprofessionals,laborers,andindustrialists,standsbehindthefightingarmy,even
ifitdoesnotbeararms."

ConsidertheexampleoftheQurayzaJews,whowerecompletelyobliteratedonlyfive
yearsafterMuhammadarrivedinMedina.Theirleaderoptedtostayneutralwhentheir
townwasbesiegedbyaMeccanarmythatwassenttotakerevengeforMuhammad's
deadlycaravanraids.Thetribekillednoonefromeithersideandevensurrendered
peacefullytoMuhammadaftertheMeccanshadbeenturnedback.Yettheprophetof
IslamhadeverymalememberoftheQurayzabeheaded,andeverywomanandchild
enslaved,evenrapingoneofthecaptiveshimself(whatMuslimapologistsmightrefertoas
"samedaymarriage").

OneofIslam'smostreveredmodernscholars,SheikhYusufalQaradawi,openlysanctions
offensiveJihad:"IntheJihadwhichyouareseeking,youlookfortheenemyandinvade
him.ThistypeofJihadtakesplaceonlywhentheIslamicstateisinvadingother[countries]
inordertospreadthewordofIslamandtoremoveobstaclesstandinginitsway."
Elsewhere,henotes:"IslamhastherighttotaketheinitiativethisisGodsreligionandit
isforthewholeworld.Ithastherighttodestroyallobstaclesintheformofinstitutionsand
traditionsitattacksinstitutionsandtraditionstoreleasehumanbeingsfromtheir
poisonousinfluences,whichdistorthumannatureandcurtailhumanfreedom.Thosewho
saythatIslamicJihadwasmerelyforthedefenseofthe'homelandofIslam'diminishthe
greatnessoftheIslamicwayoflife."

ThewidelyrespectedDictionaryofIslamdefinesJihadas"Areligiouswarwiththosewho
areunbelieversinthemissionofMuhammad.Itisanincumbentreligiousduty,established
intheQur'anandintheTraditionsasadivineinstitution,andenjoinedspeciallyforthe
purposeofadvancingIslamandofrepellingevilfromMuslims[QuotingfromtheHanafi
school,Hedaya,2:140,141.],"Thedestructionoftheswordisincurredbyinfidels,
althoughtheybenotthefirstaggressors,asappearsfromvariouspassagesinthe
traditionswhicharegenerallyreceivedtothiseffect."

Dr.SalahalSawy,thechiefmemberoftheAssemblyofMuslimJuristsinAmerica,stated
in2009that"theIslamiccommunitydoesnotpossessthestrengthtoengageinoffensive
jihadatthistime,"tacitlyaffirmingthelegitimacyofviolenceforthecauseofIslamicrule
boundonlybythecapacityforsuccess.(source)

Muhammad'sfailuretoleaveaclearlineofsuccessionresultedinperpetualinternalwar
followinghisdeath.Thosewhoknewhimbestfirstfoughttokeepremotetribesfrom
leavingIslamandrevertingtotheirpreferredreligion(theRiddaor'Apostasywars').Then,
withintheclosercommunity,earlyMeccanconvertsbattledlaterones.Hostilitydeveloped
betweenthoseimmigrantswhohadtraveledwithMuhammadtoMeccaandtheAnsarat
Medinawhohadhelpedthemsettlein.Finallytherewasaviolentstrugglewithin
Muhammad'sownfamilybetweenhisfavoritewifeandfavoritedaughterajaggedschism
thathasleftShiasandSunnisateachothers'throatstothisday.
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ThestrangestandmostuntruethingthatcanbesaidaboutIslamisthatitisaReligionof
Peace.IfeverystandardbywhichtheWestisjudgedandcondemned(slavery,
imperialism,intolerance,misogyny,sexualrepression,warfare...)wereappliedequallyto
Islam,theverdictwouldbedevastating.Islamnevergivesupwhatitconquers,beit
religion,culture,languageorlife.Neitherdoesitmakeapologiesoranyrealeffortatmoral
progress.Itistheleastopentodialogueandthemostselfabsorbed.Itisconvincedofits
ownperfection,yetbrutallyshunsselfexaminationandrepressescriticism.

ThisiswhatmakestheQuran'sversesofviolencesodangerous.Theyaregiventheweight
ofdivinecommand.WhileMuslimterroriststakethemasliterallyasanythingelseintheir
holybook,andunderstandthatIslamisincompletewithoutJihad,moderatesofferlittleto
contradictthemoutsideofopinion.Indeed,whatdotheyhave?Speakingofpeaceand
lovemaywinovertheignorant,butwheneverytwelfthverseofIslam'sholiestbookeither
speakstoAllah'shatredfornonMuslimsorcallsfortheirdeath,forcedconversion,or
subjugation,it'slittlewonderthatsympathyforterrorismrunsasdeeplyasitdoesinthe
broadercommunityevenifmostMuslimspersonallyprefernottointerprettheirreligion
inthisway.

AlthoughscholarslikeIbnKhaldun,oneofIslam'smostrespectedphilosophers,
understoodthat"theholywarisareligiousduty,becauseoftheuniversalismoftheMuslim
missionand(theobligationto)converteverybodytoIslameitherbypersuasionorby
force",manyotherMuslimsareeitherunawareorwillfullyignorantoftheQuran'snear
absenceofversesthatpreachuniversalnonviolence.TheirunderstandingofIslamcomes
fromwhattheyaretaughtbyothers.IntheWest,itistypicalforbelieverstothinkthat
theirreligionmustbelikeChristianitypreachingtheNewTestamentvirtuesofpeace,
love,andtolerancebecauseMuslimsaretaughtthatIslamissupposedtobesuperiorin
everyway.Theyaresomewhatsurprisedandembarrassedtofindthatthisiscontradicted
bytheQuranandthebloodyhistoryofIslam'sgenesis.

Otherssimplyaccepttheviolence.In1991,aPalestiniancoupleinAmericawasconvicted
ofstabbingtheirdaughtertodeathforbeingtooWesternized.Afamilyfriendcametotheir
defense,excoriatingthejuryfornotunderstandingthe"culture",claimingthatthefather
wasmerelyfollowing"thereligion"andsayingthatthecouplehadto"disciplinetheir
daughterorloserespect."(source).In2011,unrepentantPalestinianterrorists,responsible
forthebrutalmurdersofcivilians,womenandchildrenexplicitlyinthenameofAllahwere
treatedtoaluxurious"holypilgrimage"toMeccabytheSaudikingwithoutasingle
Muslimvoiceraisedinprotest.

Fortheirpart,Westernliberalswoulddowellnottosacrificecriticalthinkingtothegodof
politicalcorrectness,orlookforreasonstobringotherreligiondowntothelevelofIslam
merelytoavoidtheexistentialtruththatthisitisbothdifferentanddangerous.

TherearejusttoomanyMuslimswhotaketheQuranliterally...andtoomanyotherswho
couldn'tcarelessabouttheviolencedoneinthenameofIslam.

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