Posted on 02/23/2002 8:15:48 AM PST by MadIvan
From over privileged guilt ridden leftists on college campuses to left leaning media to portentous gasbags in world governments, we hear a steady droning that Islam means “peace” and that it is a nonviolent religion practiced by millions around the world.
Mixed with these proclamations that Islam is peace, we are deluged on a daily basis with news accounts of deaths and horror inflicted on other people of faiths by practitioners of this acclaimed “peaceful” faith. The images and sounds from the news are emotionally gripping, powerful and horrific.
The screens and headlines shout one event after another until we are numb from disbelief … from kidnapping and murder of tourists in the Philippines to the shock of September 11, 2001 to videotaped executions of hostage reporter Daniel Pearl to street gangs in the Palestinian Authority gleefully bathing in the blood of dead Israeli soldiers.
We continue to hear cries of “jihad” from the street. We find ourselves dumbfounded to learn Islamic worshipers enter mosques to pray, and depart with shouts they are ready to kill for the glory of Allah.
What to believe about Islam and its practitioners? I suggest we examine some facts and try to reach some conclusions.
First, let’s start with the impression that the word “Islam” means “peace.” A little research quickly uncovers this is incorrect. The translated Arabic word ‘Islam’ means `submission' or ‘surrender’. The Arabic word ‘salaam’, a close linguistic cousin to the Hebrew ‘shalom” means peace
Second, history shows Muhammad used to send letters to the kings and leaders of the surrounding countries and tribes, inviting them to surrender to his authority and to believe in him as the messenger of Allah. He always ended his letters with the following message … `surrender and you will be safe', or in other words, `surrender or face death'.
Conversion at the point of a sword certainly begs the question of exactly where is the `peace' in all of it. Is it considered “peace” to threaten to kill other people, do away with their customs, and dominate them by whatever means possible? I think not, and thus, a historical review of Islam reveals it to be merely a successful means of conquest and expansion of religious creed but also secular political power.
To the faithful, this is an acceptable means of spreading their faith as well their influence. It also explains its rapid growth throughout the world over the last 5 centuries. A religion that was established by violence and still believes in violence as a chief tenet to growth is not a religion of peace – not by any stretch of the imagination.
Third, through reading secular history and even the Islamic holy books themselves, we find sufficient anecdotal evidence that without violence and conquest, Islam might not have survived.
“But, but, but, how can this be?” you might be asked by people who hadn’t heard this on the Nightly News With Tom Brokaw.
Examining the wars of Al-Riddah (the wars against the apostates) yields powerful verification to support this supposition. This series of conflicts began almost immediately after the death of the prophet Muhammad.
It’s a long story. However, the capsulated version goes like this - after the disappearance of Muhammad the conquered peoples, who have been forced to embrace Islam, refused to pay, imposed religious taxes and revolted.
The first Caliph, Abu-Bakr, knew without tax money he could not sustain his empire. He ordered his army to fight the apostates and after 2 years won out over the rebellious tribes. To justify the massive bloodshed, Abu-Bakr based his claim were necessary to preserve the faith and even went so far as to say he had been instructed by both Allah and the prophet messenger Muhammad to do so.
Thus, we see the beginnings of the religion and state being one using whatever means necessary to survive.
Fourth, the Qur’an itself is full of messages of peace, love, justice, harmony and oneness with the fellow man, but only if that man is Islamic. For all other peoples and nations, the message appearing throughout the Qur’an is clear and consistent – find the nonbeliever, get him to convert or kill him.
One example -
" But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” - Qur'an, 9:5
Conclusions - A religion of peace? Not from a historical perspective regarding its inception. Not from the tactics it used to develop. Not from its own religious text. Not from modern-day examples of real world practices of its followers, and clerics.
Islam is not a religion founded on peace, and its followers today have not done enough to stem the violent sects. Further, Islam is long overdue for a renaissance that can make it religion of peace and in harmony with the world of today.
What does it mean for us today?
The rate of these attacks appears to be increasing and all done by Islamics who are described by leftist apologists as mere “fringe” elements. I believe it bears pointing out these “fringe” actions bear a striking similarity to the birth of the Islamic movement, and appears to be continuing the tactics of centuries ago to gain converts or eliminate competing beliefs.
It is not an exaggeration to state Islam has a goal of dominating all other religions, as well as eliminating offensive Western style democracies. This objective has remained unchanged since the prophet messenger Muhammad demanded conversion or death.
Does this mean all Muslims are violent? No, not at all.
Many Muslims, like almost all mankind, wish to live in peace and leave their neighbors alone. However, in current times, we see the overwhelming majority of religious related attacks done by Islamics against Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jews and Buddhists around the world.
Most American Muslims, and indeed other populations of Muslims around the world, appear to be lying low. This is unsettling to the Western world as we are unclear whether or not they merely wish to avoid controversy or whether they are merely unsure which side to cheer.
Many Westerners are wondering aloud if the lack of a strong opposition Muslim voice to terror campaigns as well as mere lip service to anti-terror activities raises one alarming concern.
If the notion of these terrorist actions done by “fringe elements” is in error, are we looking at the revitalization of an Islamic crusade began centuries before.
If so, what will “moderate” Muslims do when they hear the louder calls to join with their brothers in jihad? After all, these “moderate” Muslims are keenly aware any Muslim who fails to heed the call to avenge his brothers, in the long run, will be marked as a traitor and hunted down like dogs.
Will the “moderates” seek elimination of this “fringe” and try to change their faith to become more in tune with modern society? Or are they going to choose war, and the renunciation of Western civilization concepts like democracy and freedom while embracing the religious fanatical tyranny embodied by the Taliban?
There are no quick easy answers. These questions are merely like a storm in the distance. Something to keep in mind as well as to keep an eye on as time and events continue to unfold.
It's time to call them to account.
"Do you endorse the violence or not? Will you attempt to force your religion on the rest of us or not?"
If there are no answers, then we must assume the game is on. Avoiding confrontation invites trouble all the more.
Is there a possibility that the Muslims who live in the USA would like America to BECOME A MUSLIM COUNTRY?
It's almost as if the author heard the debate on Chicago-based WLS AM a few weeks ago between myself, a talk show host, and a Muslim Cleric. I found myself cheering this article's accuracy and calling it like it really is.
This quote "Most American Muslims, and indeed other populations of Muslims around the world, appear to be lying low. This is unsettling to the Western world as we are unclear whether or not they merely wish to avoid controversy or whether they are merely unsure which side to cheer." really hits the nail on the head. We have not heard a loud outcry from American Muslims (or others around the world for that matter) that rejects what the Islamic Terrorists did on Sept. 11th 2001. Quite the contrary as the author notes: they're ducking and covering.
So they're either waiting for their chance to rise up as Islam calls them to, and commit terrorist acts of their own, or they're too afraid.
I for one, do not believe that American Muslims are afraid of anything. Rather, I think they're biding their time as Islam instrucst them to, waiting for the right opportunity to strike out against America.
The history of Islam from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish wars and more is bloody and violent. It seeks to convert entire nations in one of three ways as the author correctly points out: conversion, coersion or killing its enemies. The choice that has been resoundingly made by Islamic Terrorists (let's call them what they are) has been to KILL.
To say that these Islamic Terrorists "hijacked" Islam on Sept. 11th 2001 does two things:
First, it belittles the loss of innocent life - all innocent life from Christian to Jewish to Muslim to non-believer - on Sept. 11th, and IMO is a less than subtle attempt to draw attention away from all those who died, and portray Islam as the "victim" in all of this.
Second, the statement "Islam was hijacked" is a futile attempt to those of us who know the TRUTH, to draw away attention from the fact that these Islamic Terrorists did precisely what the Qu'ran instructs them to do: kill all non-Islamic believers.
Sura, known as the Verse of the Sword gives specific instructions on how to wage war against Non-Muslims and when to kill them. Islam is a religion of peace?
Let's compare and contrast the Qu'ran vs. The Holy Bible. In order to compare the Qu'ran to the Bible, we must compare the Qu'ran to the New Testament, in order to make an apples to apples comparison. The Qu'ran after all, was written hundreds of years *after* Christs Crucifixion, so there is no way to compare the Qu'ran to the Old and New Testament. Therefore, we must compare the New Testament vs. the Qu'ran:
In order to believe that the Qu'ran is the final word from God, we as Christians must therefore reject the gift of Salvation which was given to us through Christ's blood; believe that God "changed his mind" 600 years after Christs death and took back the gift of Salvation; and now calls us to kill those who do not convert to a single religion called Islam.
And oh yeah, about that "free will" thing - in order to believe Islam is God's final word, you must give that up too.
Unapolegitically, I don't buy it. God doesn't "change his mind" and he doesn't reneg on his promises.
Islam = Peace? I think not.
Personally, I said to my relatives in the ME and Pakistan that we're simply going to have to bite the bullet and wipe out the Wahabbi. The Koran says "fight oppression lest oppression become pervasive". Yet, so many are content simply to wait until it's too late.
It would have been much better if Muslims had themsleves risen up against the mullahs and binLadinites. Unfortunately, like the state of affairs in the USSR, the people of the Muslim world have been made docile by years of tyranny.
As far as Muslims in the West are concerned, too many go to Mosques funded by Saudi dollars, so if they speak up, they are intimidated into silence or become outcast in their own communities. Worse yet, when the media goes for an opinion from the "Muslim community" they go to the local imam. That's the very last place you're going to find honest opinions.
Doesn't sound like a religion of peace to me.
WAS THE ARTICLE REGARDING THIS MURDER POSTED ON FreeRepublic? Please provid a link if one exists.
KillerMosquito
I don't know about libraries, but thank you.
Having said that, I see Islam itself as a political ideology masquerading as a religion, prone to being hijacked by power mad demagogues, and a threat to civilization
Religions are routinely hijacked by power-mad demagogues. Indeed, the Christian experience has not been dissimilar, and episodes of frenzied bloodshed in the name of God-- while not recent, are both numerous and horrific. The role of good men is to remain eternally vigilant against such people. As far as Islam itself is concerned, I think the Wahabbi heresy (like the Kharijite heresy of 1400 years ago), is indeed-- as you so eloquently put it-- "a political ideology masquerading as religion".
The difference between Christians and Muslims is that Christians by and large stopped engaging in warfare and other forms of mass killing in the name of religion centuries ago.
The last one which comes to mind is the Thirty Years War occurring during the first half of the 17th century.
But Muslims are curently engaged in aggressive religiously-inspired wars of conquest against non-Muslims in Sudan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Pakistan, throughout the Middle East, Kashmir and almost everywhere in the Third World where Islam comes in contact with those whom Muslims consider infidels.
Even here in the West there are some causes for concern about Muslim populations.
Unlike the Bible, the Koran does not just concern itself with religion, but also contains sociopolitical and economic commandments regulating many aspects of everyday Muslim life.
Since the Koran mandates every Muslim to strive to extend Islam's dominion over non-Muslims there must always be a nagging doubt about where the individual Muslim's loyalties lay.
Does he consider himself to be a Muslim who just happens to be living in America or Britain or wherever, or does he look upon himself primarily as a loyal citizen of his country and, incidently, also a Muslim.
It's all a question of loyalty you see, and there is ample evidence that there is every reason to be asking that question.
I really don't have anything against Arabs but the religion of Islam does not promote peace. It seems to me that, if anything, it promotes poverty. And any culture that celebrates the death of innocents is indeed scary.
KillerMosquito
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