Misunderstander
There have been so very many articles like this once since 9/11. They keep having to be churned out because of the mountains of evidence to the contrary.
“Islam a peaceful religion, opposes terror attacks,” by Han Peng for China Central Television (CCTV), January 6:
Across Xinjiang, the power of religion is strong. Muslims pray every day to show their faith to Allah. But some religious extremists are using their faith by distorting Koran to incite violence and killings.
A direct link to Allah.
For more than six hundred years, Muslims have gathered here daily in Kashgar’s Id Kah Mosque, the biggest mosque in China.
They express their faith to Allah and pray for good life. Unlike other religions, which may need a priest to interpret their scriptures, Koran allows its believers to interpret the doctrines of Allah individually.
It tells people to be kind and show peace. Violence, yet alone murder, is condemned and banned.
For that to be true, there would have to be a general rejection among Muslims of the literal understanding of these verses:
2:191-193:Â “And slay them wherever you come upon them, and expel them from where they expelled you; persecution is more grievous than slaying. But fight them not by the Holy Mosque until they should fight you there; then, if they fight you, slay them — such is the recompense of unbelievers, but if they give over, surely Allah is All-forgiving, All-compassionate. Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is Allah’s; then if they give over, there shall be no enmity save for evildoers.”
4:34: “Men are the managers of the affairs of women for that Allah has preferred in bounty one of them over another, and for that they have expended of their property. Righteous women are therefore obedient, guarding the secret for Allah’s guarding. And those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches, and beat them. If they then obey you, look not for any way against them; Allah is All-high, All-great.”
4:89: “They wish that you should disbelieve as they disbelieve, and then you would be equal; therefore take not to yourselves friends of them, until they emigrate in the way of Allah; then, if they turn their backs, take them, and slay them wherever you find them; take not to yourselves any one of them as friend or helper.”
5:33: “This is the recompense of those who fight against Allah and His Messenger, and hasten about the earth, to do corruption there: they shall be slaughtered, or crucified, or their hands and feet shall alternately be struck off; or they shall be banished from the land. That is a degradation for them in this world; and in the world to come awaits them a mighty chastisement.”
5:38: “And the thief, male and female: cut off the hands of both, as a recompense for what they have earned, and a punishment exemplary from Allah; Allah is All-mighty, All-wise.”
8:12: “When thy Lord was revealing to the angels, “˜I am with you; so confirm the believers. I shall cast into the unbelievers” hearts terror; so smite above the necks, and smite every finger of them!–
8:39: “Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is Allah’s entirely; then if they give over, surely Allah sees the things they do.”
8:60: “Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to terrify thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them that you know not; Allah knows them. And whatsoever you expend in the way of Allah shall be repaid you in full; you will not be wronged.”
9:5: “Then, when the sacred months are drawn away, slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them, and confine them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayer, and pay the alms, then let them go their way; Allah is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.”
9:29: “Fight those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden — such men as practise not the religion of truth, being of those who have been given the Book — until they pay the tribute out of hand and have been humbled.”
9:111: “Allah has bought from the believers their selves and their possessions against the gift of Paradise; they fight in the way of Allah; they kill, and are killed; that is a promise binding upon Allah in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Koran; and who fulfils his covenant truer than Allah? So rejoice in the bargain you have made with Him; that is the mighty triumph.”
9:123: “O believers, fight the unbelievers who are near to you; and let them find in you a harshness; and know that Allah is with the godfearing.”
47:4: “When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds; then set them free, either by grace or ransom, till the war lays down its loads. So it shall be; and if Allah had willed, He would have avenged Himself upon them; but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will not send their works astray.”
That’s three verses about slaying polytheists, apostates, etc. wherever they are found, one about beating disobedient women, two about beheading, two mandating amputation as a punishment, and more. However Muslim spokesmen in the West may explain these away — as only applying to the seventh century, or under strict circumstances, etc. — it would be hard to see how this could all be reconciled with the claim that in the Qur’an, “violence, yet alone murder, is condemned and banned..”
Reporter: “But the situation here is not as calm as it seems. The Imam at this mosque, who’s shared his views with us many times before, declined our interview this time. And Uyghur Muslims have also become reluctant to speak about their religion on TV. This is a sensitive time, and everyone is being very cautious.”
Throughout 2013, a string of deadly terror attacks rocked Kashgar. All of them were planned and organized by what the authorities “the three evil forces”, which are separatism, terrorism and religious extremism.
Like Al-Qaeda, they are attempting to infiltrate remote regions and set up underground sermon halls, in which they distort the Koran, using it to incite Uyghurs into violence.
While most Muslims ignore their approach, there is a growing concern in the region that those who openly speak against them could face retaliation.
Kashgar has increased security to protect people’s safety, and make sure that Muslims in China can continue to enjoy the freedom of religion.