Hatred and Violence in the Qur'an Awareness Month: "Fight against the allies of Satan"

As Hamas-linked CAIR launches its deceptive campaign to try to convince people that "jihad" is all about romping through the daisies and giving lollipops to kids, we come to a passage of the Qur'an which is clearly about warfare against unbelievers, who are the "allies of Satan":

O you who have believed, take your precaution and [either] go forth in companies or go forth all together. And indeed, there is among you he who lingers behind; and if disaster strikes you, he says, " Allah has favored me in that I was not present with them." But if bounty comes to you from Allah , he will surely say, as if there had never been between you and him any affection. "Oh, I wish I had been with them so I could have attained a great attainment."

So let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And he who fights in the cause of Allah and is killed or achieves victory - We will bestow upon him a great reward. And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?"

Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taghut. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.

Have you not seen those who were told, "Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah"? But then when fighting was ordained for them, at once a party of them feared men as they fear Allah or with [even] greater fear. They said, "Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting? If only You had postponed [it for] us for a short time." Say, The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allah . And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]."

Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allah "; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allah ." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?

What comes to you of good is from Allah , but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allah as Witness.

He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah ; but those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian.

And they say, "[We pledge] obedience." But when they leave you, a group of them spend the night determining to do other than what you say. But Allah records what they plan by night. So leave them alone and rely upon Allah . And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs. (Qur'an 4:71-81)

Ibn Kathir explains: “Allah commands His faithful servants to take precautions against their enemies, by being prepared with the necessary weapons and supplies, and increasing the number of troops fighting in His cause.” A warrior should fight fearlessly, for whether he “is killed or achieves victory” he will be rewarded (v. 74).

The contrast between the Muslims and their opponents is stark: the believers fight against oppression and for Allah, while the unbelievers fight for Taghut (idolatry) and Satan. This passage is thus one of the foundations of the near-universal Muslim practice of demonizing their opponents. You're against Islamization and Sharia? In Egypt, you're a friend of Satan. In America, you're a racist, bigoted, Islamophobe.

Can Muslims have opponents who in reasoned good faith prefer a model of society other than Sharia? Opponents who are not evil and dishonest, and are deserving of basic human respect? That possibility does not enter into the Qur'an.