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Raymond Ibrahim: The Koran and Eternal War

Dec 3, 2014 6:31 pm By Raymond Ibrahim

Quranandrifle[Via VIE]

News recently emerged that Russia was banning key Islamic scriptures—including Sahih Bukhari—on the charge that they promote “exclusivity [supremacism] of one of the world’s religions,” namely Islam; or, in the words of a senior assistant to the prosecutor of Tatarstan Ruslan Galliev, “a militant Islam” which “arouses ethnic, religious enmity.”

If Sahih Bukhari, a nine-volume hadith collection compiled in the 9th century and seen by Sunni Muslims as second in importance only to the Koran itself is being banned for inciting hostility, where does that leave the Koran?

After all, if Sahih Bukhari contains pro-terrorism statements attributed to the prophet of Islam and calls to kill Muslims who leave Islam, the Koran, Islam’s number one holy book itself is full of intolerance and calls for violence against non-believers. A tiny sampling of proclamations from Allah follows:

  • “I will cast terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, so strike [them] upon the necks [behead them] and strike from them every fingertip’” (Koran 8:12).
  • “Fight those among the People of the Book [Christians and Jews] who do not believe in Allah nor the Last Day, who do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and who do not embrace the religion of truth [Islam], until they pay the jizya with willing submissiveness and feel themselves utterly subdued” (Koran 9:29).
  • “Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever you find them—seize them, besiege them, and make ready to ambush them!” (Koran 9:5).
  • “Fighting has been enjoined upon you [Muslims] while it is hateful to you” (2:216).

That Islam’s core texts incite violence and intolerance has many ramifications, for those willing to go down this path of logic.

For example, as I argued more fully here, although Muslims around the world, especially in the guise of the 57-member state Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), continue to push for the enforcement of “religious defamation” laws in the international arena, one great irony is lost, especially on Muslims: if such laws would ban movies and cartoons that defame Islam, they would also, by logical extension, need to ban the religion of Islam itself—the only religion whose core texts actively defame other religions.

Consider what the word “defamation” means: “to blacken another’s reputation” and “false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel,” are typical dictionary definitions.

What, then, do we do with Islam’s core religious texts—not just Sahih Bukhari but the Koran itself, which slanders, denigrates and blackens the reputation of other religions?

Consider Christianity alone: Koran 5:73 declares that “Infidels are they who say God [or “Allah”] is one of three,” a reference to the Christian Trinity; Koran 5:72 says “Infidels are they who say God is the Christ, [Jesus] son of Mary”; and Koran 9:30 complains that “the Christians say the Christ is the son of God … may Allah’s curse be upon them!”

Surely such verses defame the Christian religion and its central tenets—not to mention create hostility towards its practitioners.

In short, the argument that some Islamic books should be banned on grounds that they incite segregation and violence is applicable to the Koran itself, which unequivocally defames and creates hostility for unbelievers, that is, non-Muslims.

That said, in the “real world” (as it currently stands), the very idea of banning the Koran—believed by over a billion people to be the unalterable word of God—must seem inconceivable.

For starters, whenever Muslims are pressed about the violent verses in the Koran, they often take refuge in the argument that other scriptures of other religions are also replete with calls to violence and intolerance—so why single out the Koran?

To prove this, Muslim apologists almost always point to the Hebrew Scriptures, more widely known as the “Old Testament.”  And in fact, the Old Testament is replete with violence and intolerance—all prompted by the Judeo-Christian God.

The difference between the violent passages in the Koran and those in the Old Testament (as more comprehensively explained here) is this: the Old Testament is clearly describing historic episodes whereas the Koran, while also developed within a historical context, uses generic, open-ended language that transcends time and space, inciting believers to attack and slay nonbelievers today no less than yesterday.

Thus in the Old Testament God commands the Hebrews to fight and kill “Hittites,” “Amorites,” “Canaanites,” “Perizzites,” “Hivites,” and “Jebusites”—all specific peoples rooted to a specific time and place; all specific peoples that have not existed for millennia.  At no time did God give an open-ended command for the Hebrews, and by extension their Jewish descendants, to fight and kill all “unbelievers.”

To be sure, Muslims argue that the verses of the Koran also deal with temporal, historical opponents, including the polytheists of Mecca, and to a lesser extent, the Byzantine and Sassanian empires.

The problem, however, is that rarely if ever does the Koran specify who its antagonists are the way the Old Testament does.  Instead, Muslims were (and are) commanded to fight the “People of the Book,” which Islamic exegesis interprets as people with scriptures, namely, Christians and Jews—“until they pay the jizya with willing submissiveness and feel themselves utterly subdued” (9:29) and to “slay the idolaters wherever you find them” (9:5).

The two Arabic conjunctions “until” (hata) and “wherever” (haythu) demonstrate the perpetual and ubiquitous nature of these commandments: There are still “People of the Book” who have yet to “feel themselves utterly subdued” (especially all throughout the Americas, Europe, and Israel) and “idolaters” to be slain “wherever” one looks (especially Asia and sub-Saharan Africa).

In fact, the salient feature of almost all of the violent commandments in Islamic scriptures is their open-ended and generic nature: “Fight them until there is no more chaos and [all] religion belongs to Allah” (Koran 8:39).

This fact will ensure that as long as the Koran proliferates and is read as God’s literal word, its readers will continue to exist in a dichotomized world, themselves versus the rest.

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Filed Under: Qur'an Tagged With: quran


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Comments

  1. Edison says

    Dec 3, 2014 at 7:14 pm

    As usual Raymond Ibrahim nails it, telling it like it is clearly and concisely.

  2. cs says

    Dec 3, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    Great text, congratulations, truly inspiring, will share this. Loads of people need to read it.

  3. Marty says

    Dec 3, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    Islam is both a death cult and a mental disease. It appeals to cowards and sociopaths and to those who enjoy tormenting others. Too bad Islam wasn’t destroyed when its pedophile founder was busy murdering innocent people. But destroyed it must be for human civilization to endure.

  4. Dave J says

    Dec 3, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    The Bible is historical, the Koran is both historical and exceedingly present and active in the here and now.

    I’d prefer not to live in the 7th Century.

    • Shane says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 4:25 pm

      Yes, the most important part of the article for those of us who believe that Islam is a religion of war, and that Christianity is a religion of peace is this – “The difference between the violent passages in the Koran and those in the Old Testament is this: the Old Testament is clearly describing historic episodes whereas the Koran, while also developed within a historical context, uses generic, open-ended language that transcends time and space, inciting believers to attack and slay nonbelievers today no less than yesterday.”

  5. somehistory says

    Dec 3, 2014 at 9:05 pm

    And Christians have never been commanded by Christ to murder, to kill those who don’t agree, to subjugate, to enslave those who don’t believe. Jesus said that we are to “love one another (John 13:34-35)” because He first loved us (1John 4:19), and to *love our neighbors as we love ourselves* (Mark 12:31). And He showed that our *neighbor* just may be someone who believes a different teaching with his account of the Good Samaritan (Luke 29).
    But muslims are taught by their books and by their imams to hate and kill Christians. As far apart in teaching as is possible for two separate groups of people..

    • JoeC says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 8:44 am

      Exactly. And that is the difference between Islam and all the other religions: the founder of Islam was a warrior, a killer, and he encouraged anyone who followed him to do the same. Jesus was not a killer. Buddha was not a killer. The polytheistic religions of Greece, Rome, Egypt, and India did not and do not command anyone to kill “unbelievers”. It’s only Islam that commands one to kill, kill, kill.

      Islam must be eradicated. Period, full stop.

  6. Jay Boo says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 1:20 am

    The Koran in the left hand means that is a very, very smart man.
    He knows exactly what the Koran is truly to be used for (one page at a time).

  7. sidney penny says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 1:20 am

    “If Sahih Bukhari, a nine-volume hadith collection compiled in the 9th century and seen by Sunni Muslims as second in importance only to the Koran itself is being banned for inciting hostility, where does that leave the Koran?”

    “Where does that leave the Koran?”

    The Russians can try something from this book.I am sure the laws allowing them to do this is the same as the country referred to in the book.

    http://voiceofdharma.org/books/tcqp/chi1.htm

    1. The petitioners are the citizens of India and are engaged in various types of social work.

    2. The Government has a public duty to forfeit every copy of a book, which
    incites violence, disturbs public tranquility, promotes, on ground of religion, feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will between different religious communities and insults other religions or religious beliefs of other communities in India.

    3. The Koran, also spelt as Quran, the so-called religious Book of the Muslims the world over,

    4 The Book has verses which preached cruelty, incited violence and disturbed public tranquility

    5 The Book promotes religious enmity, hatred and ill-will between different religious communities in India.

    6 The Book insults other religions or religious beliefs of other communities in India.

    7 While the Koran abounds with saying which incite violence, insult the religious beliefs of other communities and even exhort the Muslims to kill and murder non-Muslims, the problem is aggravated by yet another fact which has been true in the past and is universally true in our own times that unlike other communities Muslims are, and even fresh converts tend to become, highly orthodox people and follow the sayings of the Book with a fanatical zeal with the result that whichever country has their sizable number amongst its population can never have peace on its soil.

    • sidney penny says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 1:26 am

      What about a Russian Qur’an Petition.

      Putin can start it.

  8. duh_swami says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 5:33 am

    “fight them until’…’Until’ can never be achieved. This means perpetual warfare by putting ‘until’ on a stick and dangling it in front of the pious like a carrot in front of a donkey. Always reaching, never achieving, but never tired of trying. Allah willing, and he always is…

  9. Buraq says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 7:39 am

    Brilliant article! More please. Succinct and has laser- like accuracy.

  10. JoeC says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 8:47 am

    The Russians have had centuries of dealing with the Islamists. They know that the only way to resist them is to crush them and subjugate them, just as they did to the Ottoman Empire and just as they did recently in Chechnya. No worrying about causing civilian casualties for the Russians. No, they just kill until whoever opposes them gives up. They out-kill the Muslims and tame them.

    We could learn a few things from the Russians.

  11. Michael Copeland says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 9:20 am

    The Koran is part of Islamic law. The Bible is not part of US law.
    The Koran’s teachings are “universal and trans-time” (Ahmad Saad, North London Central Mosque). One who denies any verse is to be killed. The killing can be performed without penalty by any passer-by “since it is killing someone who deserves to die” (Manual of Islamic Law o8.4). The Manual, “Reliance of the Traveller”, is a free download http://www.shafiifiqh.com/maktabah/relianceoftraveller.pdf .

  12. Twostellas says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 9:49 am

    Yep, and if there aren’t any non-Muslims left around, they will fight different sects, and once they are gone they will fight and kill one another from their own sect for not being Islamic enough or call one another blasphemers or spies, spreading “corruption” or whatever Islamic excuse they can come up with to kill for Allah. They will find a way to fight and kill in the name of Islam, always. Down to neighbor against neighbor. And family member against family member. Because plainly their religion requires killing and being killed as the best worship of Allah. Whether they like it or not. Pretty simple. Evidently, in the end, Allah wants all humans eradicated.

    • somehistory says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 11:50 am

      *alla wants all humans eradicated*….that is correct. Since slla is satan the devil, and satan does not want anyone to benefit from what the True God has given…life…and what Jesus said He came to earth for…to give life in abundance…the devil wants all humans dead for all time (John 10:10), alla is the “thief” that comes to “steal and kill and destroy.”

      • somehistory says

        Dec 4, 2014 at 11:53 am

        Typo: slla should be alla….and it is misspelled otherwise for personal reasons.

  13. Uncle Vladdi says

    Dec 4, 2014 at 5:38 pm

    Crimes commanded in the Koran…

    Mass Murder……………………………009.005 – 033.061
    Gang Rape………………………………033.052
    Beheadings……………………………..047.004
    Crucifixions………………………………005.033
    Robbery…………………………………..008.041
    Telling lies to non-muslims………….003.028
    Cutting off hands and feet…………..005.033
    Treason……………………………………008.067
    Racism…………………………………….005.041

    …….

    From:

    http://www.nairaland.com/1837534/20-commandments-muhammad-founder-islam

    20 Commandments Of Muhammad The Founder Of Islam. by Digriz(m): 8:03pm On Jul 31

    1. Thou shall Rape, Marry, and Divorce Pre-pubescent Girls. Koran 65:4

    2. Thou shall have Sex Slaves and Work Slaves. Koran 4:3, 4:24, 5:89, 33:50, 58:3, 70:30

    3. Thou shall Beat Sex Slaves, Work Slaves, and Wives. Koran 4:34

    4. Thou shall have 4 Muslim male witnesses to prove rape. Koran 24:13

    5. Thou shall Kill those who insult Islam or Mohammed. Koran 33:57

    6. Thou shall Crucify and Amputate non Muslims. Koran 8:12, 47:4

    7. Thou shall Kill non-Muslims to guarantee receiving 72 virgins in heaven. Koran 9:111

    8. Thou shall Kill anyone who leaves Islam. Koran 2:217, 4:89

    9. Thou shall Behead non-Muslims. Koran 8:12, 47:4

    10. Thou shall Kill AND be Killed for Islamic Allah. Koran 9:5

    11. Thou shall Terrorize non-Muslims. Koran 8:12, 8:60

    12. Thou shall Steal and Rob from non-Muslims. Koran Chapter 8 (Booty/Spoils of War)

    13. Thou shall Lie to Strengthen Islam. Koran 3:28, 16:106

    14. Thou shall Fight non-Muslim even if you don’t want to. Koran 2:216

    15. Thou shall not take non-Muslims as friends. Koran 5:51

    16. Thou shall Call non-Muslims Pigs and Apes. Koran 2:63-65, 5:59-60, and 7:166.

    17. Thou shall Treat non-Muslims as the vilest creatures deserving no mercy. Koran 98:6

    18. Thou shall Treat non-Muslims as sworn enemies. Koran 4:101

    19. Thou shall Kill non-Muslims for not converting to Islam. Koran 9:29

    20. Thou shall Extort non-Muslims to keep Islam strong. Koran 9:29.

    Is this true my Muslim brothers, pls clarify.

    =======

    Here are a few passages from the koran, you know, the religious book of a peaceful people and religion.

    “Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them.” Koran 2:191
    “Make war on the infidels living in your neighborhood.” Koran 9:123
    “When opportunity arises, kill the infidels wherever you catch them.” Koran 9:5
    “Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable.” Koran 3:85
    “The Jews and the Christians are perverts; fight them.”… Koran 9:30
    “Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam” Koran 5:33
    “Punish the unbelievers with garments of fire, hooked iron rods, boiling water; melt their skin and bellies.” Koran 22:19
    “The unbelievers are stupid; urge the Muslims to fight them.” Koran 8:65
    “Muslims must not take the infidels as friends.” Koran 3:28
    “Terrorize and behead those who believe in scriptures other than the Qur’an.” Koran 8:12
    “Muslims must muster all weapons to terrorize the infidels.” Koran 8:60

    The Calcutta Quran Petition by Sita Ram Goel

    http://voiceofdharma.org/books/tcqp/

    As described by the late Indian scholar Sita Ram Goel, Koranic sanctioning of violence and hatred was the subject of a formal Petition filed in the Calcutta High Court on March 29, 1985.

    The plaintiffs maintained that the Koran, in violation of the Indian Penal Code, incited violence, disturbed the public tranquility, promoted feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will between
    different religious communities, and insulted other religions or the religious beliefs of other communities in India.

    Their request for proscription of the Koran included three “annexures” documenting such Koranic injunctions, and divided into the following three categories:

    • verses which preached cruelty, incited violence and disturbed public tranquility
    •
    • (i.e., 2:193; 8:39;2:216; 9:41; 9:123; 66:9; 9:73; 8:65; 8:66; 47:4—15; 8:12; 69:30—33; 8:15—18;25:52; 9:39; 9:111; 3: 169—171; 4:100; 48:29; 49:15; 2:154; 3:157—158; 8:59—60;9:2—3; 9:29; 8:67; 4:84; 29:6; 29:69; 61:9—13; 9:36; 9:5; 9:14; 9:20—22;
    4:95—96; 8:72—74; 3:142)
    •
    • verses which promoted, on grounds of religion, feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will between different religious communities in India
    •
    • (i.e., 4:101; 60:4; 58:23; 9:7; 8:13—14; 8:55; 25:55; 5:72;
    9:23; 9:28; 3:28; 3:118; 4:144; 5:14; 5:64; 5:18; 5:51)
    •
    • verses which insulted other religions as well as the religious beliefs of other communities in India
    •
    • (i.e.,5:17; 4:157; 5:116—118; 98:6; 68:8—13; 38:55—57; 22:19—21; 22:56—57; 5:36; 15:2;72:14—15;41:33; 4:125; 25:27—29; 26:96—99; 3:85; 8:38; 31:13; 29:41—42;
    37:22—25; 37:26—32; 25:17—19; 7:173; 21:66—67; 21:98—100; 16:20—21; 6:22—23;6:40—41; 6:148; 2;221; 24:3)

    • terry says

      Dec 4, 2014 at 9:50 pm

      Uncle Vladdi,

      The information included in your comment, is very pertinent to the subject of this post, by Raymond Ibrahim, profound, precise, clear and ready for use in discussions about the crystal clear connection between the Quran and the worldwide violence and terrorism committed in its name!

      A copy of it should be sent to the UN, Barack Obama, David Cameron and every single western government!

      Your work and thoughtfulness are very much appreciated,

      • pumbar says

        Dec 5, 2014 at 12:46 am

        If you want CaMoron to read it then you’d better hire Bosch Fawstin to create a pop-up book for him. He doesn’t do reading.

  14. dlbrand says

    Dec 5, 2014 at 1:37 am

    …. the salient feature of almost all of the violent commandments in Islamic scriptures is their open-ended and generic nature: “Fight them until there is no more chaos and [all] religion belongs to Allah” (Koran 8:39).

    This fact will ensure that as long as the Koran proliferates and is read as God’s literal word, its readers will continue to exist in a dichotomized world, themselves versus the rest.

    Indeed.

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