Apologizing for Stating What 'Jihad' Really Means

Hooper hits Harvey: On December 5 the New York Times ran an interview with a jihad fighter in Iraq, who declared: "We are fighting for freedom and because the Americans are Jews. . . . The Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him, said, 'Hit the infidels wherever you find them.'" What he represents as a saying of Muhammad is actually the Qur'an's "Verse of the Sword": "Slay the unbelievers wherever you find them . . ." (Sura 9:5).

Two days later, the chief of a banned radical Muslim group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Maulana Masood Azhar, said: "In Islam the only meaning of jihad was killing," and as if that weren't enough, "it was a conspiracy against Islam to say that Jihad was not killing."

Around the same time, Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) demanded that radio giant Paul Harvey apologize for saying that Islam was "a religion which encourages killing." Harvey obliged by affirming that Islam is a "religion of peace" which terrorists have "hijacked."

What, however, is Hooper doing to bring these "hijackers" back to what he would apparently consider a correct understanding of their faith? While bullying Harvey, he didn't demand an apology or retraction from Azhar (who may regard him as a conspirator against Islam) or the jihadist interviewed by the Times.

Instead of trying to intimidate Harvey, Hooper would make better use of his time by trying to craft a viable peaceful understanding of the passages of the Qur'an and Islamic tradition that radical Muslims like Azhar are using around the world today to "encourage killing." He might also consider lifting a finger to help root out terrorist activity from America's mosques. Until he does, and until he comes clean about CAIR's true goals and intentions (especially in light of the recent terrorism-related arrests of three of its employees), it is Hooper with his threats, bluster, and disingenuousness, who should apologize — not Paul Harvey.

Saudi official: embassy Islamic centers not closing: According to a statement from the Saudi Press Agency, the Islamic Centers in Saudi embassies are not closing down after all — contrary to a December 7 Washington Post report. The Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh said that "this news item is incorrect, adding that the centers are working and they are part of the Kingdom's message."

These Islamic centers have been discovered to be hotbeds of Islamic extremism. The one in Washington's embassy openly espoused violence. According to a statement on its website (since removed), "the Muslims are required to raise the banner of Jihad in order to make the Word of Allah supreme in this world, to remove all forms of injustice and oppression, and to defend the Muslims. If Muslims do not take up the sword, the evil tyrants of this earth will be able to continue oppressing the weak and [the] helpless…"

Sheikh Saleh also "pointed out that the eighth session of the Executive Council of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ministers due to start here on Wednesday will focus on significant topics topped by terrorism and occupation of parts of the Arab and Muslim World. In an arrival press statement here today, he said that it is improper to attribute terrorism to Islam and other divine religions since Islam's emblem is peace, indicating that all religions lay stress on mercy, peace and amicability. He affirmed that divine messages have nothing to do with any call for terrorism, extremism and violence, stressing that Islam calls for moderation."

I trust then that he will he renounce the theology of jihad as explained by a man who has served as Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh 'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Humaid. I quote him in Onward Muslim Soldiers. He says that for Muslims, fighting (with weapons, that is) is "obligatory" against "all those who worship others along with Allah." In the Muslim view that would include Christians and Jews (cf. Sura 9:30: "And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old. Allah Himself fighteth against them. How perverse are they!"). It also, of course, includes virtually all other non-Muslims. Sheikh 'Abdullah cites three chapters of the Qur'an in support of this view: suras 2, 3, and 9. What would Sheikh Saleh — or Ibrahim Hooper — say to him?

This drives me crazy! Usually any article on Muslims in Southeast Asia contains some variation of the phrase, "most Muslims in this part of the world are moderate". It is a true statement only because the religion is combined with many animist rituals and Bhuddist beliefs. Absent these moderating beliefs, you have the Islamist JI belief in killing all non-believers. The closer you get to core beliefs in Islam, the more violent the religion. The Saudis are funding schools throughout the world to encourage hatred. That is the plane and short truth. Sham on Paul Harvey for caving in to CAIR -- a 100% hate group.

9.5. But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and pay Zakat, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.

[9.5] So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islâmic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikûn (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât, then leave their way free. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (At-Tawbah 9:5)

9.5. 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 practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

009.005
YUSUFALI: 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 practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

** When the hallowed months have slipped away, then fight associators wherever you may find them; take them and besiege them, and waylay them at every outpost. If they should repent, keep up prayer and pay the welfare tax, then let them go their way. God is Forgiving, Merciful. * If one of the associators should ask you for protection, then grant him asylum until he has heard God's word. Later on escort him to where he can find safety. That is because they are folk who do not know anything.

http://isgkc.org/EnglishQuran/sura9.htm
Associators Should Not Visit Mosques

(III) * Associators must not frequent God's mosques since they act as witnesses for their own disbelief. Those [people will find] their actions will miscarry and they will remain for ever in the Fire. * Only someone who believes in God and the Last Day, keeps up prayer, pays the welfare tax and dreads only God [Alone], shall frequent God's mosques. Perhaps those may be the ones who submit to guidance.

Lightning

* Then later on God will turn towards anyone He wishes. God is Forgiving, Merciful. * You who believe, associators are nothing but filthy, so they should not approach the Hallowed Mosque after this year that they still have. If you should fear destitution, God will enrich you out of His bounty if He so wishes. God is Aware, Wise. * Fight the ones among those who were given the Book who do not believe in God nor the Last Day, nor forbid whatever God and His messenger have forbidden, nor profess the True Religion, until they pay the polltax of their own accord and act submissive.

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