The fact that Abdul-Rahman Kassig has converted to Islam is not news: his parents revealed it several weeks ago. What is noteworthy here is that Amjad al-Moghrabi says: “We are demanding the Islamic State releases him, if they know Islam. He is a Muslim and has not participated in what his country is doing.”
Al-Moghrabi knows Islam: he knows that it is not permissible in Islamic law for a Muslim to kill another Muslim (cf. Qur’an 4:92) or hold him hostage — and in saying that the Islamic State should release Kassig because he is a Muslim, he tacitly admits that if Kassig were not a Muslim, he would be fair game. Islamic apologists in the West never admit that Islam allows for the killing and/or taking hostage of Infidels, so al-Moghrabi’s statement here is revealing of their disingenuousness, as well as of Islamic law.
Anyway, if the Islamic State thinks Kassig is a heretic or has been fighting against them, then according to Islamic law they can hold him or kill him anyway, so this appeal will fall on deaf ears.
“Friends of American aid worker held by IS call for his release saying he is a now Muslim,” Associated Press, November 8, 2014 (thanks to Pamela Geller):
TRIPOLI, Lebanon – Several Syrian friends of an American aid worker who is held by the Islamic State group and threatened of being beheaded have called for his release saying he converted to Islam and was helping Syrians.
The friends of Peter Kassig, who converted to Islam while in captivity and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman Kassig, held a news conference in this northern city that witnessed clashes between Muslim militants and Lebanese troops last month.
Kassig, 26, was helping victims of the Syrian civil war when he was captured last year.
One of the friends, Amjad al-Moghrabi, told reporters: “We are demanding the Islamic State releases him, if they know Islam. He is a Muslim and has not participated in what his country is doing.”
Know Thy Enemy says
Actually, the Islamic State can kill Kassig even if he has been the most devout Muslim, if they feel that killing him will benefit Islam. Even the most pious Muslims are nothing but *slaves* of Allah, and slaves have no value except for how s/he can be used for the master’s benefit. Hence, Kassig can be killed if needed.
Bottomline: Anything that is normally haram (forbidden) in Islam, becomes halal (permitted) if it will somehow benefit Allah (and his religion).
Jay Boo says
Wink, Wink
It would appear that Islam can be whatever a Muslim wants it to be when advancing the cause of military conquest using an Islamic caliphate of hate.
Peter Buckley says
All JW readers should note here that, although the Quran states that a “muslim” cannot kill another “muslim”, the word “muslim” is understood as being defined as “one who submits to (the will of )Allah”.
Those “muslims” who disobeyed Muhammad’s precise instructions, in particular with respect to refusing to join the jihad against Infidels, were labelled “hypocrites” towards the end of the Quran (sura 9, which comes AFTER sura 4 quoted by RS):
http://www.missionislam.com/quran/revealationorder.htm
JW readers should also note this reliable hadith in which Muhammad is said to have threatened to burn to death any muslim who refused to attend prayers
http://www.sunnah.com/muslim/5/321
Peter Buckley says
Quran 9:73
O Prophet, fight against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.
The “hypocrites” here are those who claim to be muslims but not doing what Allah tells them to do. David Wood explains at 5 minutes:
Jay Boo says
Beware the Qur’an
It slithers and crawls on shifting sand.
Salah says
“The friends of Peter Kassig, who converted to Islam while in captivity …”
That’s precisely how most Muslims came to be…Muslims.
They or their ancestors had no other choice but to convert to Islam in order to stay alive.
Most of them are STILL Muslims for the same reason: FEAR.
It only takes a handful of well armed thugs to terrorize a whole unarmed population.
Without fear, Islam is dead.