Islam Teaches Peace and Tolerance

A report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media.  This week’s item is from Islam Online and News Agencies, September 13^th, 2001 with the headline: “Sheik condemns attacks against civilians: forbidden in Islam.”Renowned Muslim scholar Sheik Yousef al Karadowi denounced the attacks against civilians in the U. S. Tuesday and encouraged Muslims to donate blood to the victims of the attack.In response to the bloody attack against civilians in the U. S., Sheik Yousef issued a statement Wednesday saying that “our hearts bleed for the attacks that have targeted the WorldTradeCenter as well as other institutions in the United States despite our strong opposition to the American biased policy towards Israel on military, political, and economic fronts.The religion of tolerance holds the human soul in high esteem and considers the attack against innocent human beings a grave sin.It is backed by the Qur’anic verse which reads: ‘Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind and whosoever saves the life of one it shall be as if he saved the life of all mankind’ Surah 5:32.If such attacks were carried out by a Muslim as some biased groups claim then we in the name of our religion deny the act and incriminate the perpetrator.We do confirm that the aggressor deserves the deterrent punishment irrespective of his religion, race, or gender,” he added. “What we warn against even if it becomes a reality is to hold a whole nation accountable for a crime carried out by a limited number of people or to characterize a certain religion as a faith giving support to violence and terrorism,” Karadowi said.I have been asked about the martyr operations outside the Palestinian territories and I always answered that I do agree with those who do not allow such martyr operations to be carried out outside the Palestinian territories.Instead, we should concentrate on facing the occupying enemy directly.It is not permissible as far as Islam is concerned to shift the confrontation outside the Palestinian territories.That is backed by the Qur’anic verse that reads, “Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities.Lo, Allah loves not aggressors,” the renowned Muslim scholar concluded.

Tom:

Dave, we could spend three programs on this just with the PR spin here.But let me pick on one thing in particular.He quotes from the Qur’an, “Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind and whosoever saves the life of one it shall be as if he saved the life of all mankind,” and that’s Surah 5:32.And you could say wow, I can see the perspective here.But let’s go to the next verse, Surah 5:33, I am reading from the Shakir translation of the Qur’an.It says, “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and his apostle and strive to make mischief in the land, is only this: that they should be murdered, or crucified, or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned.This shall be as a disgrace for them in this world and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement.”

Dave:

Yes Tom, we could even go back to that verse that he quotes, Verse 32.“Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter (I guess that means someone who’s killed someone, or corruption in the earth….”So you are authorized to kill people if they corrupt the earth.And according to Islam we have corrupted the earth.Muhammad by his interpretation of this verse, Muhammad would end up in hell according to the verse you just read.Because Muhammad was the aggressor.Muhammad, for example the town of Banu—he took over—he killed a lot of people in process of attacking them, they didn’t attack him.This was a Jewish town and he gave them the choice of conversion to Islam or death.They would not convert to Islam.There were 600 fighting men that were left and he killed them all.They are buried under the market place in Medina where Muhammad himself was buried.You know—history tells you—I mean there’s no doubt about it that the Islamic holy warriors spread Islam by the sword.They were the aggressors.Were they attacked?

Tom:

But Dave—

Dave:

Just a minute now!Were they attacked by Spain?They took over Spain.Were they attacked by the French?No, they spread this.This is the way to spread Islam.Furthermore, he says, he justifies it if they do it inside Palestinian territory which he claims is all of Israel, it all belongs to them, okay?So you’re justified to do it there.Wait a minute, there is nothing in the Qur’an about that.This is blamed upon the Jews.They are accused as occupying as enemies a territory that they’ve lived in as their homeland for 3000 years.So this whole thing is hypocritical and the man is trying to whitewash Islam when the whole world should know it was spread by the sword.

Tom:

Dave what about the verse in the Qur’an that says there is no compulsion in religion.I am talking about Surah 2:256.

Dave:

Yes, there was no compulsion in religion in the beginning because Muhammad was living in Mecca and he was outnumbered and then he moved to Medina and he was still outnumbered.So at that point there is no compulsion in religion.There’s no compulsion in religion in America and the Muslim would say that because they are in the minority here now.There are millions of them and they are still in the minority and they put on the face of peace.But go to Saudi Arabia.Is there compulsion in religion?It’s the death penalty for a Muslim to convert.So it is in Pakistan and in the Sudan.There’s no compulsion religion, they are forcing the— the government in the north is forcing the Sudanese in the south to become Muslims.They are killing them.So this is again a contradiction.

Tom:

Dave, I want our listeners to understand that you are not just making this up.For example, scholars, Islamic scholars have had to wrestle with these apparent contradictions and here’s a perspective.This is from Dr. Sobe Asala; he’s a contemporary academic—

Dave:

But Tom, before you go on with that, I’m not even talking about scholars, I am saying what is the law right now in Saudi Arabia and so forth?

Tom:

Yes, but here’s the perspective, here’s how they reconcile these things.Dr. Sobe writes, “The command to fight the infidels was delayed until the Muslims became strong, but when they were weak they were commanded to endure and be patient.

Dave:

Exactly what I said.

Tom:

But again, it’s not your idea; this is how they get away from the idea that maybe the Qur’an contradicts itself.They say no, some verses were abrogated or cancelled and then the prophet cried out to Allah to give him other verses and this is, or give him other instructions and that’s what we have.