by Nashid:

> > February 25, 2002> > CBN.com - >

1. "Jihad is a religious duty imposed by Muslim law for the spread of Islam ... Believers are under obligation to wage war against all unbelievers" (Encyclopedia Britannica).

IN ISLAM THE WORD JIHAD MEANS TO STRUGGLE. MUSLIMS UNDERSTAND THAT STRUGGLE TO BE AGAINST THE WEAKNESSES IN THEMSELVES. IT IS A STRUGGLE TO FIGHT THE TENDENCY TO DO WRONG. PROPHET MUHAMMAD SAID THAT THERE IS BIG JIHAD AND LITTLE JIHAD. BIG JIHAD IS THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE EVILS IN ONESELF WHEREAS LITTLE JIHAD IS THE EXTERNAL STRUGGLE IN SELF DEFENSE AGAINST AN ENEMY. THIS WORD HAS BEEN CORRUPTED BY THE MEDIA AND GIVEN A CONTEXT DIFFERENT FROM ITS ORIGINAL MEANING IN ISLAM. EVEN THE BRITANNICA DEFINITION IS MISLEADING.>

2. Muhammad said, "The best deed of man is to believe in Allah and his apostle ... The second best deed is to participate in Jihad in Allah's cause" (Hadith, Volume 125).

YES...JIHAD IS ONE OF THE BEST DEEDS ANY HUMAN BEING CAN ENGAGE IN. TO STRUGGLE AGAINST THE TENDENCY TO DO WRONG AND THE WEAKNESSES IN ONE SELF IS A LIFE LONG STRUGGLE. THIS IS HOW MUSLIMS UNDERSTAND THIS. IT IS NOT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THOSE WHO WANT TO CREATE ANIMOSITY AND HATE.>

3. "Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them. Seize them. Beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them" (Qur'an, Surah 9:5).

THIS STATEMENT BY ITSELF LIKE PATRICK HENRY'S STATEMENT "GIVE ME DEATH" WHICH ALONE SOUNDS HORRIBLE. BUT IF YOU PUT CONTEXT TO IT AND PUT TOGETHER HIS WHOLE STATEMENT, "GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH", IT MAKES MORE SENSE. THE STATEMENT ABOVE FROM THE QURAN IS DESCRIBING A SITUATION WHERE THE MUSLIMS WERE AT WAR WITH CRUEL, VICIOUS PAGANS. THIS HAS HISTORICAL REFERENCE AND IS WELL DOCUMENTED. THE FOLLOWING VERSE THAT IS LEFT OUT SHOWS THE QURAN INSTRUCTING MUSLIMS TO DESIST IN FIGHTING IF YOUR ENEMY STOPS ATTACKING AND SEEKS PEACE.>

4. "Fight them. Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace" (Qur'an, Surah 9:15).

YES...MUSLIMS AS WELL AS ALL GOD FEARING PEOPLE ARE ENJOINED TO FIGHT EVIL DOERS. GOD WILL HELP THEM THE WAY HE HELPED DAVID AGAINST GOLIATH, JOSHUA, MOSES AGAINST PHAROAH AND OTHER PROPHETS AND PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. >

5. "O' ye that believe, take not Jews and Christians as your friends and protectors" (Qur'an, Surah 5:54)"

This is one of the most common misstatements about the Quran: "Take not Jews and Christians for friends . . . " If the writers of this had taken the time to study the arabic language they would have come to a better understanding. In arabic the common word for friend is "siddiq". The Quran did not use that word in this verse. The word used is "wali" which means protecting friend or guardian. The Quran is telling Muslims in this verse that they should not take Jews and Christians as protecting friends to protect their interest in Islam. Why? Because Jews and Christians do not know or are sensitive to the special interest of Muslims that are unique to Islam. Would a Christian go to a Buddhist and say "Mr. Bhuddist here is my Bible I want you to be it's guardian and protect the special interest that the Bible has for Christians." No! That can only be done by a fellow Christian who shares that interest. This was taken totally out of context. There are too many places in the Quran that enjoins closeness and unity to God fearing Christians and Jews.">

6. "Fight with them until there is no more persecution. Religion should only be for Allah" (Qur'an, Surah 8:39).

THIS VERSE IS ENDORSING MUSLIMS AND GOD FEARING PEOPLE TO FIGHT EVIL DOERS UNTIL PERSECUTION IS ERADICATED AND IT REMINDS US THAT RELIGION SHOULD ONLY BE FOR GOD WHO IN ARABIC IS ALLAH. ISN'T THAT A NOBLE THING TO FIGHT FOR? ISN'T CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM ALSO SUPPOSE TO BE FOR GOD? ISN'T IT BETTER THAN THE HYPOCRITICAL DOUBLE STANDARD OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION THAT WANTS TO KILL THOUSANDS IN IRAQ UNDER THE "SUSPICION" THAT THEY MAY HAVE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTIONS. WHEN AT THE SAME TIME ISRAEL AND THE U.S. HAS MORE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION THAN IRAQ EVER COULD DREAM OF HAVING WITH BOTH ISRAEL AND THE U.S. NEVER AGREEING FOR INSPECTIONS OF THEIR ARSENALS. BOTH ALREADY SHOWING A TOTAL WILLINGNESS TO USE THEM AS DONE IN AFGHANISTAN BY THE U.S. AND ON THE PALESTINIANS BY THE ISRAELIS.>

7. "The punishment for those who war against Islam is execution or crucifixion. Cutting off hands and feet from opposite sides" (Qur'an, Surah 5:36).

This is a total misquote and the Sura is 5:33 not 5:36. Sura 5:33 states: "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter; Except for those who repent before they fall into your power: In that case, know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."As you can see there is a big difference between "For those who do not submit to Allah" and "those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land." This is referring to punishment meted out to people who actively engage in doing wrong. There is no reference to anyone of a particular religion. Again this is a deliberate lie and misrepresentation.>

8. The Qur'an teaches that the world exists in two parts, Islam versus the infidels. Muslims are to forcibly convert all people.THIS IS A BOLDFACE OUTRIGHT LIE. 40,000 PLUS AMERICANS CONVERTED TO ISLAM AFTER 911. WHO FORCED THEM? ONE OF THE JOURNALISTS WHO WAS CAPTURED BY THE TALIBAN STUDIED ISLAM AFTER HER RELEASE. NOW SHE IS A MUSLIM. WHO FORCED HER? THESE ARE VICIOUS LIES MEANT TO DEMONIZE ISLAM AND CREATE HATRED IN THE HEARTS OF CHRISTIANS. THE QURAN ACTUALLY SAYS:"Let there be no compulsion in religion; Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things." Surah 2:256>

9. Muhammad said, "The last hour will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them" (Mishkat, page 147).

THERE ARE JEWS WHO ARE MUSLIMS. JEWS WHO SUPPORT THE PALESTINIANS LIKE THE JVAO, NETUREI KARTA, JEWS FOR JUSTICE AND OTHERS. WHY SHOULD MUSLIMS KILL JEWS WHO ARE ALSO MUSLIMS AND GOOD PEOPLE. THIS IS ANOTHER STATEMENT THAT IS MEANT TO SLANT. REGARDING GOD-FEARING JEWS AND PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS THE QURAN HAS THIS TO SAY:" Those who believe (in the Quran)And those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures)And the Christians and the Sabians, -ANY who believe in GodAnd the Last Day,And work righteousness, Shall have their rewardWith their Lord: on themShall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." Surah 2:62>

10. "The United States will have no peace until every sinner leaves Israel" (Osama Bin Laden).

THIS IS THE OPINION OF OSAMA BIN LADEN NOT A STATEMENT FROM THE QURAN OR OTHER AUTHENTIC ISLAMIC LITERATURE. I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. AS LONG AS THE U.S. CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ILLEGAL, BARBARIC ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WE WILL NOT HAVE PEACE. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WARNED US ABOUT FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS AND THE U.S. IGNORED HIS WARNINGS. WE ARE SUPPORTING STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM AND THE DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BY OUR BLIND SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL. PEOPLE LIKE BIN LADEN IS HOLDING BOTH THE U.S. AND ISRAEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ETHNIC CLEASING AND WHOLESALE THEFT OF PALESTINIAN LANDS.