Jihad for Kids Update from MEMRI (thanks to Twostellas):
In an investigative article in the Egyptian weekly Roz Al-Yousef, journalist Asma Nassar revealed that a popular Koran commentary for children published in Egypt contains virulent incitement against Christians and Jews, and calls on both children and adults to fight them. Nassar's critical article presents excerpts from the book and comments from Muslim scholars who participated in its writing and from senior Al-Azhar figures.The following are excerpts from the article: [1]
How Could Al-Azhar Approve This Book for Publication?The article stated: "This Koran commentary, intended for children, includes erroneous ideas which incite against the followers of the [other] monotheistic religions. For instance, the interpretation of the Al-Fatiha Sura [the first Sura of the Koran], states that [the expression] 'those who earn Thine [i.e., Allah's] anger' refers to the Jews, and [the expression] 'those who go astray' refers to the Christians. [2] This [rendering] contradicts the tenets and the tolerant character of the Islamic faith....
I'm glad to see someone complaining about this. Unfortunately, however, those who produced this edition were working from a strong, mainstream Islamic tradition. See here for my detailed discussion of the Fatiha, in which I list some of traditional Islamic authorities who believe that the Fatiha does indeed refer to Jews as those who have earned Allah's anger and Christians as those who have gone astray.
"We discovered that the book was first published 10 years ago by Dar Al-Sahaba Lil-Turat in Tanta, and was edited by Sheikh Magdi Fathi Al-Sayyed. Since then, there have been five more editions, and the book has been translated into several languages, including Indonesian, Malaysian, and Turkish. The question arises: How could the [Al-Azhar] Academy of Islamic Research allow the publication of such ideas? After all, [one of its] duties is to monitor [publications] that misrepresent Islam and disparage the [other] monotheistic religions. Considering [the Academy's] involvement in cultural conflicts, and its persecution of anyone who has innovative ideas in areas of thought, culture and philosophy, its [scholars] ought to revert to their original role.
Here again, the Al-Azhar scholars were just repeating a mainstream tradition. I am not defending them: the tradition itself militates against Muslims accepting the principle that they should coexist peacefully as equals with non-Muslims on an indefinite basis. But I am not sure Nassar is taking the best tack by acting as if the Al-Azhar scholars invented this tradition, and that it's something out of left field. Because then all they need do is point out its traditional roots, and then what comeback can she make?
"The hidden poison [of extremism] has seeped into the pages of this book, which was approved [for publication] by the Al-Azhar Academy of Islamic Research... [after being] examined by four of its scholars. [One of the authors] of the introduction is the president of Egypt's Koranic schools, and a hadith expert at Al-Azhar University, Dr. Ahmad 'Issa Al-Ma'sarawi..."Deliberate Inculcation of Extremist Ideas
The article continued: "Overall, the book is characterized by incitement to extremism and by extremist interpretations that do not reflect the true meaning of the verses... [For example,] the book divests Islam of its most fundamental principle - [the principle of] peace - and even incites against this [notion] in its interpretation of the [following] verses: 'Forgive them, and overlook [their misdeeds], for Allah loveth those who are kind [5:13]'; 'And if the enemy inclines towards peace, then incline towards it and trust in Allah, for He is all-hearing and all-knowing [8:61].' [The book states that] these verses are abrogated by the 'Verse of the Sword,' which descended later, and which says: 'Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the Latter Day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book [i.e. among the Christians and Jews], until they pay the jizya [the Islamic poll tax on non-Muslims] and they are in a state of subjection [9:29].' [According to the book], peace and reconciliation agreements [with Christians and Jews] have been forbidden since this verse was revealed.
Funny. All the Muslims who have been emailing me these days to chide me about my alleged misuse of Qur'an 9:29 and the principle of abrogation should henceforth direct their emails to the imams of Al-Azhar.
"In its interpretation of this verse, [the book] says: 'Allah commands the believers to fight all the infidels who do not believe in Allah and in the Latter Day [i.e. in the Day of Judgment], who do not follow His instructions regarding what is allowed and prohibited, and who do not believe in the true faith, which is Islam - i.e. the Jews and the Christians'..."One of the most appalling parts of the book is a section quoting several verses from the Al-Maida Sura ['The Table Spread'], which the book labels as 'proof of the heresy of the Christians.' The ideas planted [by this section] in the children's minds are like a time bomb that will lead to civil war, since the children learn by heart [verses that indoctrinate them] to accuse the Copts of heresy. This is totally inexplicable, and also contradicts [the spirit of] the Egyptian constitution...
"In its interpretation of verse [9:41] - 'Go forth light and heavy, and strive hard in Allah's way with your property and your persons; this is better for you, if you know' - the book says: 'Allah the Almighty told the believers - both young and old - to set out and fight for the sake of Allah.
"In explaining verse [9:66] - 'O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey's end' - the book says: 'Allah commanded the believers to wage jihad against the infidels by [fighting them] with the sword, and to wage jihad against the hypocrites by imposing upon them the punishments and constraints mandated for those who violate the commands of Islam..."
The article further stated: "The expected consequence of this [book] is that, in future, thousands of young children will be willing to blow themselves up [in terrorist operations] against [non-Muslims]. This is the danger [that this book represents]. [The book's aim] is not to interpret verses, but to deliberately instill children with ideas that incite [to extremism]. This is evident from its deliberate ignoring of other verses... that reflect the true [face of] Islam, which does not discriminate among the followers of the monotheistic religions but [calls for] brotherhood among them..."
A positive sign:
Dr. 'Abd Al-Mu'ti Bayoumi, member of the Al-Azhar Academy for Islamic Research, likewise expressed reservations about the book, saying: "It is ignorance on our part [to rely on] old and erroneous [Koran] commentaries without examining and contemplating [the verses anew]. Islamic thought needs to be reformed..." Bayoumi went on to warn against instilling these poisonous ideas in the younger generation.Nassar also presented statements by Islamic scholar Gamal Al-Bana, who exposed the book in August 2007. He said: "The interpretations [found in the book] are generally similar to commentaries by [the Muslim Brotherhood theorist] Sayyed Qutub and other [Islamic scholars] of his ilk, who harmed the image of Islam with their erroneous interpretations of the Koran. Islam is pluralistic by nature, and does not aim to judge other religions or accuse others of heresy - that [role] is reserved for Allah on the Day of Judgment..." On the interpretation of the "Verse of the Sword," Al-Bana commented: "Conciliation, tolerance and peace are principles of the Islamic faith, and whoever rejects them, rejects the postulates of that faith... Children must not be exposed to these commentaries, just as they should in general be left out of arguments they cannot understand, since [religious disputes] concern only the experts."
This is all good, but just saying that we must not rely on old commentaries is not enough. There needs to be comprehensive re-examination and reform, and explicit rejection and replacement of those commentaries.
...close all Muslim schools in the US....
...and Ban Muslim Immigration...
Great idea...sad to say it implies usage of common sense, which is foreign, and a threat, to them.
The age-old 2-rule system applies there:
1) The imam is always right
2) if the imam is wrong, see rule 1
"Islamic thought needs to be reformed..." Bayoumi went on to warn against instilling these poisonous ideas in the younger generation."
aka stop teachin children to hate non-muslims.
also
Reform is what really seems to be the groundwork that needs to be done I think to have any hope of future peace...our definition not there's.
The tireless and intrepid work of Robert and Co. has enlightened many to the reality of jihad and its root in the Islamic doctrines like the Qur'an and ahadith. Hopefully, sonner rather than later, his work will produce a watershed moment of clarity for the West that cannot be undone by any amount of subterfuge from the rogues gallery of the Islamic community.
Nasser makes some valueable points as to the intolerant moral depravation of these specific Islamic passages, but does nothing to suggest how it can be offset in the future. Abrogation is properly identified, but no example is given to refute it as not being authentically valid.
Those who currently control the ideology of Islam overwhelmingly agree with the sentiment of 9:29 and its application. Muslims who disagree with 9:29 as it is written, or choose to ignore it as a mandate, are to be lauded in their beliefs, but there is a caveat.
No one seems willing or has the sway to convince the jihadists to subscribe to their personal beliefs, and likewise, the jihadists absolutely believe that their interpretation, which is backed by mainstream Islamic scholars, is the correct one.
No amount of shouting at people like Robert Spencer with baseless claims of religious bigotry can undo this obvious reality. That change must come from within Islam itself and that movement to date, has been less than adequate.
Until that changes...nothing changes.
There was a time that I might have been convinced that a “reformed” Islam would be sufficient – no longer.
A “reformed” Islam would be a fake and most who post here, if they examine what they have learned, know this. We face a fanatically brutal and murderous enemy – but they are not stupid nor fools and they would not buy the charade either.
Even a “success” in this ”reform” of Islam, with the Jihadis quiescent, only lulls the Infidel to sleep while the skulking beast remains unchanged and temporarily hidden – waiting.
Dress her up, teach her not to fart at dinner, all well and good - but she will remain FOREVER a whore.
Darn it, Robert. How come you always choose the misunderstanders of Islam?!!!
This is evident from its deliberate ignoring of other verses... that reflect the true [face of] Islam, which does not discriminate among the followers of the monotheistic religions but [calls for] brotherhood among them..."
And there is the REAL problem. The verses are real. There is no way to say they aren't there. And there is no leader to say what is REAL islam. The threat is always there. Anyone can read it as violent. This generation or the next generation can reinterprete it to be violent if they wish.
So they want to fight us. Okay let's fight, but we get to chose the weapons.
FIRST craft the strategy THEN select the weapons, as needed, to achieve it.
I suggest the following:
SIX STEPS TO VICTORY
1.KNOW OUR ENEMY by knowing Islam more thoroughly than most Muslims. Know what is in the Qur’an, who Muhammad was and what he did, know the basics of sharia. Inform every Infidel you meet, to the extent that you can.
2.KNOW OURSELVES by understanding why representative democracy is the greatest boon to human prosperity and happiness that the world has ever known – and why it is worth defending at all costs.
3.KILL THE JIHADI wherever he congregates in significant numbers. Unleash our military to scour the world and seek him out and destroy him wherever he is found.
4.EDUCATE THE MUSLIM and the rest of the populations of the world as to the true nature of Islam with a massive, robust and unrelenting media campaign. Reveal how Islam is a brutal, tyrannical, self-destructive, dead end road. Illustrate why representative democracy is the gateway to human felicity a prosperous future.
5.CHAMPION FREEDOM by creating the conditions for representative democracy where ever possible. Shield and defend these new republics until they are able to stand on their own.
6.BE OF GOOD CHEER in the knowledge that our cause is righteous and good. Take comfort in the fact that our victory over Islam will be of incalculable value not only to us but also to all of human kind.
is this hate speech? i'm confused?
I commend Mr. Nasser for his valiant effort to make a silk purse out of a sows ear, but suspect that he and his supporters are swimming against the Islamic tide.
If Mr. Nasser is really convinced that his interpretation of Islamic scripture is correct, why not write a children's book incorportating his ideas into it. He could tell children how much Allah loves Christians and Jews, and forbids Muslims from doing harm to them. He could tell them that suicide bombers are not Martyrs, and will most likely go to hell for their crimes against the people of the book.
I suspect Mr. Nasser won't show up at any book signings after the publication of his book.
This article on all-too-common Islamic teachings in the Islamic world could quite possibly and credibly be included in Islamo-Fascicm week coverage. But then this anti-Christianity and anti-Semitism sounds an awful lot like the Daily Kos left, doesn't it?
No surprise. Al Azhar also approved of the
"Reliance of the Traveller" and its translation into english
Book at Amazon's:
http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Traveller-Classic-Islamic-Al-Salik/dp/0915957728
Comment on Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliance_of_the_Traveller
The last sentence of the article is interesting:
"since [religious disputes] concern only the experts"
We tell you what you have to believe. Don't rely on your own faith.
" Koran commentary incites fighting Christians and jews"
............................
What choice does a religion of peace have but to fight Christians and Jews?...and Budhists..and Sikhs and homosexuals and unbelievers and uppity women. What a bunch of violent retards.