The
Janus* face of Islam
By
Abul Kasem
Islamists
living in the infidel West are greatly alarmed and deeply perplexed
after the September terrorist attack in America.
After 9-11, many of them are doing overtime to search the
'goodies' from the Qur’an and are desperate to prove that Islam is a
religion of unbound mercy to their host countries.
They repeatedly quote a handful of these 'goldies' from the 'Meccan
Verses' of the Qur’an, which are milder in tone than the ones
descended on Medina. They
carefully hide the unconscionable, intolerable, barbaric verses that
litter the almost entire Qur’an by saying that 'those verses are out
of context' and are not applicable to the infidels who have given them a
chance for a better life and have accepted them as their own countrymen.
Nothing can be worse than this hide and seek game of the
Islamists living in the West. It
is in the interest of all the non-Muslims (as well as the innocent
Muslims who have very little knowledge about 'real Islam') that the
truth must be told.
The
message is very clear. Those
Islamists living in the West quote those 'goodies' from the Qur’an are
actually showing the dead 'Meccan
Islam' to the vast majority of the ignorant non-Muslims (as well as
half-informed Muslims) to camouflage the most up to date version of
Islam; i.e. the living and breathing 'Medina
Islam'. The strategies
of these Islamists are also very clear:
·
When
in the West or in the land of the infidels or when weak, then practice 'Meccan
Islam'.
·
When
in Islamic paradises or when the number of Muslims becomes sizable in an
infidels land, then practice 'Medina Islam' or the 'real Islam'.
The
sooner the humanity discovers this double face of Islam (a la Roman god
Janus) the quicker will it be saved from the further catastrophe of the
like of 9-11.
So,
how do we know about the 'living and breathing Medina
Islam'? Here is the
answer.
In
order to understand the 'real Islam' we must look at Qur’an in
chronological order and not the way it is published.
The chronological order shows which verses are canceled and which
verses are replaced. It is
meaningless to study and to explain Qur’an without the knowledge of
its currency. Many verses in the Qur’an have been replaced by other
verses.
The
Qur’an itself talks about this in the following verses:
God
does not abrogate any verse but substitutes something similar or
better...2:106
God
removes (abrogates?) what He wills...13:39
God
substitutes one revelation with another; God has the mother of the
Book...16:101
These
verses have created a lot of confusions among many.
However, one thing is certain.
It is this. God does
change His mind and that that change can be very dramatic.
In many cases, the matter of abrogation may involve life and
death situation. So, it is
extremely important (especially for the ignorant non-Muslims) to know
which verses are applicable to them and which verses are not.
The most important among these verses are the ones containing the
provisions of fighting the infidels.
There was a time when fighting was prohibited and there was
(rather is) a time when fighting became compulsory.
Those
verses revealed in Mecca are considered to be the benign and non-violent
type. There are 87 Meccan
verse and 27 Medina verses (this may vary slightly but we shall work
with these numbers). Thus,
there are total 114 suras (or chapters) in Qur’an.
Medina
verses contain the provisions of fighting because it was in Medina that
Mohammad received the green light (read signal) from God to fight the
infidels. So, as a guide we
can conclude that the verses with a chronology order of 87 or more are
the replacement for the Meccan verses regarding the treatment of the
unbelievers.
In
this short discourse, I shall try to elucidate how we can eliminate the
confusion regarding the 'goodies' from the Islamists and the 'bashings'
from the secularists/freethinkers/infidels.
Please
note that the chronology order of the verses are indicated in bold (
).
We
can divide the propagation of Islam by Mohammad in four distinct phases.
These phases are:
1.
Peaceful persuasion
2.
Fighting for defense
3.
Limited attack
4.
Open aggression
Phase
1: Peaceful persuasion stage.
Highlights
·
A
policy of peaceful co-existence with the pagans of Mecca.
·
Give
and take strategy with the pagans and the hypocrites.
·
Jews
and Christians (people of the Book) were considered as friends.
·
Mohammad
was almost like the Buddha preaching love, forgiveness, non-violence,
and peace.
·
Only
the pagans of Mecca were considered as enemies (i.e. enemy list contains
only one group).
Important
verses
(Note:
To save time and space I have given the main messages of the verses
omitting the complete verses. Click
HERE
if you want to read the complete verses)
1.
Be patient and bear with those who deny the truth; God will deal
with them...73:10, 11 (3)
2.
'To you is your religion, to me is mine'...109:1- 6 (8)
3.
Be patient with the evil doers...38:15-17 (38)
4.
Show patience to the pagans...20:130 (42)
5.
Don't be in a haste to fight...19:83, 84 (44)
6.
Be patient with the unbelievers (pagans); God's way will
prevail...20:134, 135 (45)
7.
Mohammad is not sent to dispose of people's affairs...17:54 (50)
8.
God guides those whom He pleases; rewards will be in
paradise...10:25, 26 (51)
9.
God will call into account the pagans who slander the Qur’an...15:91-93
(54)
10.
It is not God's job to see if people believe the truth or
not...6:104 (55)
11.
Turn away from those rejecting faith and proclaim peace on
them...43:88, 89 (69)
12.
Invite the unbelievers (pagans) with beautiful preaching and
gracious arguments; be patient and do not retaliate...16:125, 126 (70)
13.
Leave the unbelievers (pagans) alone...23:54 (74)
14.
Repeal evil with good deeds...23:96 (74)
15.
Leave the unbelievers alone and wait in patience for God to
punish them...52:45, 47, 48 (76)
16.
Mohammad is only a warner and not an enforcer...67:26 (77)
Phase
2: Fighting for defense stage
Highlights
·
Mohammed
along with his handful followers migrated to Medina (622 AD). Some
tribes of Medina accepted him as their leader.
·
Mohammed
and his gang started raids on passing caravans of the Meccans to acquire
the wherewithal for survival.
·
Mohammad
won the battle of Badr (same year of migration i.e.622 AD) which
bolstered his morale for further raids on Meccan caravans.
·
After
several years of stay in Medina, God gave Mohammad permission to launch
defensive war.
·
Enemies
were the pagans of Mecca and the hypocrites (note: the enemy list
includes two groups now).
Important
verses
1.
Permission to fight for self defense is granted...22:39-41 (105)
2.
Rewards for Jihad is announced...22:58 (105)
Phase
3: More defensively aggressive stage
Highlights
·
Mohammad
expected the Jews of Medina to accept him as their new Moses.
·
The
Jews rejected Mohammad as their new apostle.
·
Mohammad
included the Jews as his enemy and started to raid their sanctuaries.
·
Enemies
of Mohammad now were pagans, hypocrites, and the Jews (note: the enemy
list now contains three).
·
Mohammad
was a little bit forgiving to the defeated Jews. He gave them a chance
to live in their lands provided they paid him fifty percent of their
agricultural produce of land.
·
This
way Mohammad acquired the means of a guaranteed livelihood for his horde
of soldiers.
·
The
battle of Uhud (623 AD) was fought. Muslims suffered a severe beating in
the battle.
·
The
battle of trench (625 AD) took place with huge loss of lives. Mohammad
managed to win this battle.
·
Treaty
of Hudaibiya (626 AD) was signed with the pagans of Mecca ensuring ten
years of peace. Mohammad was allowed to visit Kaba along with his
followers during the pilgrimage season.
·
Battle
of Khaibar (627 AD) took place. The
Jews lost the battle and surrendered unconditionally. Mohmmad ordered
the beheading of around 700 adult male surrendered Jews and took 17
years old Jewess Safiya as a war booty and made her his wife.
Important
verses
1.
Forgive and overlook the unbelieving Jews; God will take care of
them...2:109 (87)
2.
Fight defensively the Meccan pagans but if they cease hostility
then stop fighting except for the oppressors...2:190-194 (87)
3.
Fighting against the Meccan pagans is prescribed after the
passing of the month of pilgrimage (Zulhaj)...2:216, 217 (87)
4.
'No compulsion in religion'; do not force the defeated enemy to
embrace Islam; but they will be thrown in hell...2:256, 257 (87)
5.
Spoils of war belongs to God and Mohammad...8:1 (88)
6.
Strike terror in the hearts of the unbelievers; cut the necks and
finger tips of those who oppose God and Mohammad...8:12, 13 (88)
7.
When you meet, the unbelievers in hostility attack them and never
turn back from them. If you
retreat except for a strategic reason then God will punish you and will
send you to hell...8:15-16 (88)
8.
Keep on fighting until the persecution stops and Islam is
established; one-fifth of booty belongs to God and Mohammad...8:39-41 (88)
9.
Obey Mohammad, be united and persevere in fighting...8:45, 46 (88)
10.
If you defeat the enemy then teach them with treachery and
terror; if they ask for peace then give them peace...8:57-61 (88)
11.
Rouse the believers to fight with perseverance, God will help by
increasing your strength...8:65 (88)
12.
Continue killing and do not take prisoners until the land is
subdued then enjoy the war booty...8:67-69 (88)
13.
Martyr's sins are blotted out and they go to paradise...3:157,
169-171, 195 (89)
14.
Can take women captives as concubines in addition to
wives...33:50 (90)
15.
There is a great reward for fighting against the friends of
Satan...4:74-78 (92)
16.
Fight and rouse other believers to fight; God will restrain the
fury of the unbelievers...4:84 (92)
17.
Kill the hypocrites if they turn renegades...4:89 (92)
18.
Higher grade for fighting for God...4:95, 96 (92)
19.
Guaranteed reward for fighting in the cause of God...4:100 (92)
20.
Whether a fighter kills or is killed, he is admitted in paradise
to reside there permanently...22:58, 59 (103)
21.
Struggle for God's cause...22:78 (103)
22.
Can't lag behind in fighting for God...48:15-16 (111)
23.
Muslims are compassionate with each other but are strong to fight
against the unbelievers...48:29 (111)
Phase
4: Offensive war or open declaration of attack to spread Islam
This
phase is the stage of open offensive war against all the unbelievers.
This phase started in 630 AD after Mohammad re-entered Mecca and
captured Kaba from the pagans. This
is the phase, which is currently valid for all Muslims.
Highlights
·
Permission
was granted by God to declare offensive war against all non-Muslims.
·
Kill
the pagans and humble the Jews and the Christians through Jizya tax.
·
Tabuk
expedition (late 630 AD) is the first war against the Christians.
·
The
world is divided into two houses, viz. House
of Islam (Darul Islam) and the House
of war (Darul Harb).
·
All
Muslims must fight to convert the Darul
Harb into Darul Islam.
·
This
is the final teaching of Qur’an and so it is valid today and for
future (that is, for eternity).
·
Christians
are included in the list of enemies (that is, the list now grows to
four).
·
Verse
9:5 (also called the verse of the sword) replaces all verses showing
mercy, love, tolerance and forgiveness to all non-Muslims.
Important
verses
1.
Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable...3:85 (89)
2.
Kill (execute by beheading)/crucify/torture who opposes
Mohammad...5:33 (112)
3.
Do not make friendship with the Jews and the Christians...5:51 (112)
4.
After giving four months notice break all treaties with the
pagans that they did not keep; those treaties with the pagans that they
kept are to be honored to their full term; in future make no more peace
treaties with the pagans and kill all pagans who do not accept
Islam...9:1-6 (113)
5.
Pagans who accept Islam are brothers of Muslims; those who break
the agreement fight them...9:11, 12, 14, 15 (113)
6.
Do not make friend or seek protection from the unbelievers
(includes pagans, hypocrites, Jews and the Christians)...9:16 (113)
7.
Unbelievers should not visit mosques or maintain the mosques of
God; they will go to hell...9:17 (113)
8.
Those who do Jihad are the highest in rank; they will dwell in
paradise...9:19-22 (113)
9.
The unbelievers are unclean, forbid them to enter Kaba...9:28 (113)
10.
Fight against the Jews and the Christians until they are subdued
and pay the Jizya tax with submission; God's curse is on them...9:29-31 (113)
11.
If you do not fight in the cause of God with whatever you have
got then God will punish you with a serious punishment...9:38, 39, 41 (113)
12.
If you fight for God then expect either martyrdom or paradise.
The unbelievers can expect only punishment from God...9:52 (113)
13.
Those who are able to fight for God but do not do so are rejected
by God...9:90-96 (113)
14.
Whether you slay or slain in Jihad, God has promised paradise for
giving all in the cause of God...9:111 (113)
15.
Fight the unbelievers surrounding you...9:122 (113)
So,
what do we learn from the above list of Quranic verses?
Are you confused? Of
course you are. When the
Islamists in the west are drumming, "Islam is peace.
Islam is tolerance. Islam
is merciful" who will not be confused by such contradictory
statements! Let me tell you
something. Actually there
is no confusion whatsoever if we follow the simple rule on abrogation.
This
simple doctrine of abrogation says that when there are confusions (i.e.
contradictory statements in Qur’an), the later verses abrogate the
former contradictory verses. The
result is that only the latest category of verses remains valid without
any doubt. That is why it
is so important to know the chronological order of verses in Qur’an.
Let
us hear from a modern translator (Yusuf Ali is too old) of the Qur’an
and Hadith.
"So
at first 'the fighting' was forbidden, then it was permitted and after
that it was made obligatory against those who start 'the fighting'
against you (Muslims) and against all those who worship others along
with Allah".
(Ref.
Introduction section of the English translation of Sahih Bukhari
by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Medina Islamic University).
In
the same section Dr M. Muhsin Khan writes further
,
"Then Allah revealed in Sura Bara’at (9) the order to discard
(all) the obligations (covenants, etc.) and commanded the Muslims to
fight against all the pagans as well as against the people of the
scriptures (Jews and Christians) if they do not embrace Islam, till they
pay the Jizya (a tax levied on the Jews and Christians who do not
embrace Islam and are under the protection of an Islamic government)
with willing submission and feel themselves subdued (9:29). So they
(Muslims) were not permitted to abandon ‘the fighting’ against them
(Pagans, Jews and Christians) and to reconcile with them and to
suspend hostilities against them
for an unlimited period while they are strong and have the possibility
of fighting against them."
Jalaluddin
Suyuti wrote Itqan fi 'ulum-il-Qur’an in 1497 AD.
This book is the Tafsir (explanation) of Qur’an and is highly
regarded. It is a
compulsory reading for any one who wants to study Qur’an for its 'real
meanings'. His another
famous book is Istenbat al-Tanzeel.
In this book
Suyuti
wrote,"everything in the
Qur’an about forgiveness is abrogated by verse 9:5".
Please
read that above quote again if you are really serious about Islam.
Remember that this verse has a chronology order of 113
(Remember?
There are 114 suras in Qur’an).
Islamic
apologists often quote the following verses to portray the mercy and
forgiveness in Islam.
To
you is your religion and to me is mine...109:6
No
compulsion in religion...2:256
Turn
away from those who join false gods with Allah...15:94
Unfortunately,
all those 'goodies' of Qur’an are canceled if we follow the Tafsir
(explanation) of Suyuti and the doctrine of abrogation) regarding the
verse of the sword (9:5).
Islamists
love Ms. Karen Armstrong for her siding with them.
Ms. Karen Armstrong writes to fool the non-Muslims in believing
what George Bush is drumming, 'Islam is a peaceful religion'.
Any one who has a workable knowledge on Islamic matters knows for
sure that her writings are very misleading and does not tell the truth
at all. When Ms. Karen
Armstrong writes by quoting verse 2:190
"the
only permissible war (in the Qur’an is one of self defense. Muslims
must not begin hostilities", (Time
magazine October 1, 2001)
she
is clearly being dishonest in telling the truth about the phase four of
Islamic war which calls all Muslims to declare a total war on the house
of Harb (i.e. the infidels abodes). Phase four of Jihad is valid
until all the people of the world are converted to Islam. Thus, today's
Muslims are in perpetual war with the infidels whether they (the
Muslims) are in an Islamic paradise like Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Bangladesh (recently included, previously not), Iran ...or in infidel
lands like USA, UK, Canada, France...etc.
Here
is another quote from Alsaylu Jarar (4:518-519) by Al-Shawkani.
Shawkani is a famous writer on Islamic matters.
His writings are authoritative and are used by the Jihadis to
justify their merciless actions.
"Islam
is unanimous about fighting the unbelievers and forcing them to Islam or
submitting and paying Jizya tax (protection money for the Jews and the
Christians only) or being killed. The verse about forgiving them are
abrogated unanimously by the obligation of fighting in any case".
Can
Ms. Karen Armstrong and other Islamists living in the comfort of
non-Muslim freethinking society refute the above assertion by an eminent
Alim (Islamic scholar)?
Please
note that verse 9:5 is a very important verse of Qur’an.
This verse marks the transition from the phase of showing mercy
(phase 1) and forgiveness to the unbelievers to the phase of open
aggression on them (phase 4). As
told before, this verse is known as the verse of the sword.
This verse cancels all the verses containing mercy, tolerance,
and forgiveness to the non-Muslims (as many as 111 to 124 verses; you
got to scan the entire Qur’an; anything forgiving, merciful,
friendship is out).
Also,
note carefully how the chronology order increases as Mohammad turns from
a non-violent (like Buddha) person to a fascist nazi like
Hitler/Mussolini/Osama/Ayatollah. In fact, we can safely conclude that
Mohammad was a saint before the chronology order of the Qur’an was
below 87 but he became a fascist dictator after this.
Again
note that the chronology order in the final phase of open aggression
against all non-Muslims of the world (phase 4) is almost the end (113)
chapter (sura) of Qur’an (Remember?
There are 114 suras in Qur’an).
Is
lying allowed in Islam? I
must be a nut to ask such a question!
Of course, not, you say. Lying
is a great sin in Islam; at least the Islamists will let us believe
this. This is a complete
delusion. Muslims are
allowed to tell lies in order to make the religion of Islam rule the
world. Would you not
believe me? See for
yourself what Imam Ghazali (another supreme Islamic scholar) says:
"Speaking
is a means to achieve objectives. If a praise worthy aim is attainable
through both telling the truth and lying, it is unlawful to accomplish
through lying because there is no need for it. When it is possible to
achieve such an aim by lying but not by telling the truth, it is
permissible to lie if attaining the goal is permissible
" (Ref: Ahmad Ibn Naqib al-Misri, The Reliance of the Traveller,
translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller , Amana publications, 1997, section
r8.2, page 745).
And
what could be the noblest goal of a Muslim than to make Islam rule
world? This is the secret
why the Islamists constantly lie about their religion when they are in
West. Because, if they tell
the truth, no one will be attracted to Islam.
Islamists
often attack the secularists and freethinkers whenever they
(secularists/freethinkers) quote the offensive verses of the Qur’an by
'out of context' arguments.
What
could be more clear and forceful evidences / proofs than what has been
told above that 'out of context' argument by the Islamic apologists is a
total hoax?
--------------------------
*A
double-faced head represented Janus, a Roman god.
Kasem
writes from Sydney, Australia. Comments
could be made by writing to – [email protected]
Note:
The author relied on the English Translation of Qur’an by A. Yusufali
and the English Translation of Sahih Bukhari by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan.
All references given are believed to be correct.
However, the author is not responsible for any misconception that
a reader may have due to his consultation of other sources.
