Here is the Grand Mufti of Egypt with yet another disappointingly deceptive piece about how jihad terrorists are misunderstanding Islam — a point that everyone seems to take for granted as axiomatic except the jihad terrorists. And this piece won’t inspire any of them to lay down their arms and concentrate on the jihad of hitting the gym regularly.
“Terrorists and Their Quranic Delusions,” by Shawki Allam, Wall Street Journal, April 9, 2015:
Terrorist groups who flagrantly use religion as a cloak to cover up acts of violent extremism cannot hide their serious ideological flaws. These reveal the warped logic and ill-informed and unauthentic sourcing from religious texts as they try to justify what in reality is an insatiable desire for power, control and bloodshed.
The first ideological flaw is related to the terror groups’ abominable crimes against the Quran and hadith, or reports of prophetic statements, when they take the Quranic verses and the Prophet’s words out of context and imbue them with savage meanings. The terrorists are totally ignorant and incapable of comprehending the Quran and hadith or the objectives of Islamic law and its principles.
We constantly hear that those who find the Qur’an exhorting believers to violence are taking the Qur’an out of context. We never are told what the context really is that would render the Qur’an’s violent verses benign. To trot out this tired old chestnut is a lazy way out, and surprising coming from someone of the Mufti’s stature. You’d think he would have people who could come up with something more original and inventive for him.
As a result, the words of God in the Quran or of the Prophet—which should fill hearts of believers with peace and mercy and reverence for religion—are replaced with ugly distortions that fill hearts with repulsion and fear. The radicals willfully misquote or misuse Quranic verses, and then hold tight to their deviant interpretations.
These groups have the audacity to dismiss any Quranic verses that don’t fit their claims. They declare unilateral war against both Muslims and non-Muslims who don’t share their barbarous mentality. They completely disregard the Quranic conception of human brotherhood and peaceful relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.
For example, in the Quran, God says, “O Mankind. We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things” (49:13).
The Mufti accuses the jihadis of “the audacity to dismiss any Quranic verses that don’t fit their claims,” and then does exactly that. This verse does indeed say that all mankind comes from one common father and mother, but it doesn’t say anything about “peaceful relations between Muslims and non-Muslims,” as he claims. It doesn’t say not to wage war against and subjugate unbelievers, as per Qur’an 9:29. In fact, it says that those who are most righteous are the most honored by Allah, in line with the Qur’an’s designation of the Muslims as the “best of people” (3:110) and the unbelievers as the “most vile of created beings” (98:6).
The Quran urges the embrace of people from different religious affiliations, cultural backgrounds and racial origins. Yet the radical groups insist that anyone who rejects their extremist ideology is a legitimate target who may be killed. This lunacy stands in total contrast to the clear Quranic message in which God says, “If anyone kills a person, it is as if he kills all mankind while if anyone saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind” (5:32).
The Mufti must know that immediately following this passage comes one that amply justifies the perspective that “anyone who rejects their extremist ideology is a legitimate target who may be killed”: “Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment” (Qur’an 5:33). Also, the dictum in 5:32 is not presented in the Qur’an as a universal principle, but as one specifically directed to the Children of Israel, who transgressed against it, we’re told, and thus drew upon them the punishments specified in the subsequent verse.
Second, the radicals narrow the concept of jihad and restrict it to combat and slaughter while claiming that such distortions represent the jihad legislated by God. The truth is that jihad, in essence, is the human endeavor of striving to improve the individual and the society and to bring life closer to the divine model. The extremists have made physical jihad an end in itself, when in fact it is one means of seeking individual spiritual understanding of God’s path for us, or guidance.
This is a distinction without a difference. The Islamic State presents itself as the new caliphate, and clearly believe that by implementing Sharia within their domains, they are “striving to improve the individual and the society and to bring life closer to the divine model.”
Whenever jihad deviates from this goal it backfires, becoming a means of outright harm that repels people from God’s religion. The extremists cannot declare “jihad” on behalf of 1.5 billion Muslims. Simply put, the declaration of armed struggle is the prerogative of the ruler of the state or his deputy. These terrorist groups, as nonstate actors, are not allowed to declare it.
In this, the Mufti completely ignores the fact that the Islamic State has declared itself the caliphate, the Islamic State par excellence, and thus does not consider itself to be a nonstate actor. Of course, the Mufti doesn’t accept this claim, but simply to call them “nonstate actors” is not going to compel any Islamic State jihadi to lay down his arms.
Third, it is delusional for these terrorists to think that those who were killed in the line of “duty” are considered martyrs and will be rewarded with paradise. The terrorists who are killed aren’t considered martyrs according to Islamic law, even if they considered their act to be a form of jihad, had sincere intentions and were acting out of ignorance. Good intentions don’t justify illegal acts—and it is totally prohibited by Islam to kill innocent people. Thus terrorist acts like 9/11 in the U.S., 7/7 in London or any other similar horrendous attacks are sheer murder and have nothing to do with jihad.
The difference here revolves around the meaning of the word “innocent.” Some Islamic authorities don’t consider non-Muslims innocent under any circumstances; others say that Infidels in the U.S. on 9/11 and the U.K. on 7/7 were citizens of a country at war with Islam and that had killed innocent civilians in Muslim lands, and thus had forfeited the right to live. If the Mufti intends to convince jihadis that they’re on the wrong path, he would need to confront and refute these ideas. Instead, he ignores them, thereby giving weight to the idea that he is just trying to render non-Muslims complacent in the face of the advancing jihad rather than to say anything that will actually stop the jihadists.
In sum, the noble form of physical jihad—which is waged by legitimate state authorities to fend off aggression and establish justice—has nothing to do with the supposed jihad of these terrorists, who practice nothing more than the ruthless mass murder of innocents. Jihad is a war fought with honor and guided with moral codes of conduct.
Since terrorist groups have the audacity to interpret from the Quran selectively to suit their own agendas, their deviant ideology must be debunked by intellectual responses. The fight will be stronger with the help of the international media and academia in publishing and broadcasting the voices of authentic Muslim scholars who can counter the extremists’ false claims and their warped interpretation of the Quran.
If only those authentic Muslim scholars would be more honest and forthright.
Jay Airahs says
The Grand Mufti talks a good game but once his Qur’an reading followers start to Percolating Islam from every pore of their body during the (Call To Prayer) it is like Pavlov’s dog salivating to the sound of a dinner bell.
Jay Airahs says
Speaking of Percolating & Hate-ration
Mary j Blige (Please tell the Mufti to stop all that drama)
No Fear says
Never heard of Mary J Bilge ….errrr, Blige. Way too recent for me.
I prefer “Rock the Casbah”… 🙂
Jay Airahs says
Surely you realize that the song listed is very old by today’s music. at least over 10 years ago. I listen to all kind of music though old and new.
I am not sure that that we can fit “Rock the Casbah” into an anti jihad message though.
Somehow the words ‘Percolating & Hate-ration and Drama seem to describe Islam.
Scott says
This entire rant by this Egyptian Cleric can be answered in one word….”TAQIYYA”
The Muslim Concept of lying for the faith. It’s in the Quran, clear as day……..
What he’s counting on, is that we in the West…..”haven’t got a clue”.
This is why Robert’s work is so important, to educate the American public and Western Civilization as to what this ideology is all about.
Alex says
I thought taqiyaa was limited to shiite muslims only? Could someone clarify that with sources please? Thanks.
No Fear says
Mohammed wrote the Medinan verses of the Quran when he was a military commander.
It was his JOB and DUTY to be “ruthless to the unbelievers” who were, at that time, his enemies.
Imagine if Adolf, during WW2, wrote a book where he said to “forgive all the English and be helpful to them”.
Mohammed’s followers are whitewashing his military manifesto into something which it never was.
They are desperate to turn Mohammed into a Jesus-like or Buddha-like figure.
Nimrod says
No, they’re desperate to deceive the rest of the world about Mohammed’s true nature while themselves continuing to believe he was Allah’s military commander commanding them to wage jihad against the infidel.
Nimrod says
Are there any Islamic authorities who don’t see “reform” as being embodied in Wahabi doctrine and moderation as anything but taqiyya?
This guy is just engaging in semantics. To be believable he would have to make a valid theological argument for something such as metaphorical rather than literal interpretation, for Hadith being invalid for some reason, etc.
How about an official fatwah declaring that jihad against all unbelievers and hypocrites is not valid along with supporting scripture? Maybe something that reverses or eliminates the rule of abrogation?
Perhaps he can’t come up with a way to do it, or perhaps he just refuses to do so. Even if he did it would have to be based on something that would catch on with other authorities.
I doubt that anything short of a nuclear war will change Islamic theology in the slightest.
Keith says
If he did manage to come up with the Fatwa you are thinking of, I think we would be able to make our fortunes down at the bookies betting on his life expectancy once it had been released. I’m betting on all of 24 hours.
Westman says
The Grand Mufti of Egypt says: “The extremists cannot declare “jihad” on behalf of 1.5 billion Muslims”
That is the central problem of Islamic theology – THERE IS NO CENTRAL AUTHORITY!. This Mufti has no more authority than ISIS to declare anything for 1.5 Billion Muslims. In fact some of what he says is contradicted by scholars at his own Al-Azhar University.
American and Iraqi intelligence analysts in 2014 said Aku Bakr Baghdadi has a doctorate in Islamic studies from a university in Baghdad so, “.. the warped logic and ill-informed and unauthentic sourcing from religious texts”, seems a bit weak.
And as for: “…an insatiable desire for power, control…” This may be a very compact description of the goals of Islam, replacing all governments and religions. It does leave out annihilation of the Jews.
Which one of these Egyptian “Muftis” approved the attack on Israel in 1967 to exterminate Israel? Was that an indication of the “Religion Of Peace”?
Once there was a Caliphate having a Kalif with central authority and three of the first four Kalifs were murdered! Militant Islam is no recent phenomenon.
Half of Islam theology comes from the history of Muhammad’s life, not Allah, and his example has caused more violence than the Quranic verses alone. His life, in the Sunnah, has been the yardstick used to interpret the Quran and is found bloody and wanting.
Alex says
You’re absolutely right!! There is no clear leadership in Islam. Well, you have the (blood thirsty) Ayatollah, but only shiites follow him.
mortimer says
So jihad is DEFENSIVE only?
Mohammed and his followers ‘defended’ their capital of Medina all the way to central France, central Poland, all across North Africa, right into central India and as far as the borders of China.
Islam has a unique definition of DEFENSE.
ECAW says
It was the most spectacular and sustained campaign of self defence in history!
ECAW says
“They completely disregard the Quranic conception of human brotherhood and peaceful relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.
For example, in the Quran, God says, “O Mankind. We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things” (49:13).”
I find that when you do put these supposedly benign verses in context they tend to lose their shine. For instance the very next verse says:
“The bedouins say, “We have believed.” Say, “You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
In other words the various tribes and nations are accepted, as long as they submit to the one true religion. Therefore, viewing verse 49:13 in its immediate textual context we find no full human equality, only equality between Muslims.
ECAW says
“Terrorist groups who flagrantly use religion as a cloak to cover up acts of violent extremism cannot hide their serious ideological flaws. These reveal the warped logic and ill-informed and unauthentic sourcing from religious texts as they try to justify what in reality is an insatiable desire for power, control and bloodshed.”
Jeez – that sounds just like Mo and his companions.
Michael Copeland says
If this is Ali Gomaa he is the same Grand Mufti who said:
“Muslims must kill non-muslims wherever they are unless they convert to Islam.”
So benign.
The Buffster says
“If this is Ali Gomaa he is the same Grand Mufti who said:
‘Muslims must kill non-muslims wherever they are unless they convert to Islam.’
So benign.”
Michael, do you have the source for this quote? I’ve googled for it, but came up with nothing.
CC says
“Ali Gom’a, the grand mufti of Egypt, the highest Muslim religious authority in the world, supports murdering non-Muslims. In the daily Al Ahram (April 7, 2008), he says, ‘Muslims must kill non-believers wherever they are unless they convert to Islam.’ He also compares non-Muslims to apes and pigs, not only the Jews.” One of the most brazen examples of taqiyya in the modern world, if not the most brazen of all, and this coming from “the highest Muslim religious authority in the world” . . . Source: http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/8066
CC says
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/8066 – “Ali Gomaa, the grand mufti of Egypt, the highest Muslim religious authority in the world, supports murdering non-Muslims. In the daily Al Ahram (April 7, 2008), he said, ‘MUSLIMS MUST KILL NON-BELIEVERS WHEREVER THEY ARE UNLESS THEY CONVERT TO ISLAM.’ He also compares non-Muslims to apes and pigs.”
Ali Gomaa’s smooth-tongued, pious blather of April, 2015 quoted in Robert Spencer’s article above amounts to one of the most brazen examples of taqiyya ever foisted upon the world. Ali Gomaa is a fraudulent, murderous blackguard in cleric’s clothing, as clearly manifest here: http://islamicsupremacism.com/Islamic_Supremacism/47_Modern_Jurists_&_Sharia_Scholars_Opinions_on_IS&J_files/Ali%20Gom%27a.pdf
TheBuffster says
Thanks, CC.
duh_swami says
I love it when they talk like that, but this guy is not credible…He’s a mufti with no zebiba…Any mufti worth their salt has a prominent zebibia. Using swami vision I see a small jinn sitting on the end of that finger…It’s laughing…
ECAW says
Off topic – Read this and start your day with a laugh:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3034312/The-married-Lib-Dem-feminist-drunken-strip-club-night-temptation-caught-camera.html
I see the club owner has a Muslim name as well. Kaffir girls only no doubt.
particolor says
Misunderstanding of Islam and Qurann !!
What Steaming Hot Pile of } { } {
Aussie Infidel says
Is this the same Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, who backed President El-Sisi’s call for reform of Islam? Or is this ‘brother’ his nemesis? It seems as if he is having a dinar each way, or simply trying to deceive gullible Westerners with the usual rhetoric glorifying their warlord prophet. He is using the same old worn-out excuses: ‘misunderstanding the Quran’, ‘warped logic’, ‘taking Quranic verses out of context’. The only Quranic conception of human brotherhood, is between Muslims, not between Muslims and non-Muslims. There is no universal ‘golden rule’ in Islam.
As Robert says, “If only those authentic Muslim scholars would be more honest and forthright.” But Islam is at war with the West; and as the Prophet said, “War is deceit!” (Bukhari 52:269). The only ones who seem not to understand those obvious truths, are our dhimmified political leaders.
Sam says
Islam is so screwed up and so false. It is imposible not to see it at this age of information. Yet they are still recruting people to kill and be killed. Amazing, isnt it?
David says
This Grand Mufti speaks the truth. There is even a. verse in the Quran which forbids interpretation of such things as the Day of Judgement which is what terrorists and ISIS are all about.
The thing this Mufti is clearly pointing out is that the Quran can be interpreted insincerely. Those who are insincere and seek to spread violence will take passages regarding war out of context and then try and twist them to their own agendas.
Quran Sura 3:7 denounces those who interpret the Quran to cause discord.
ECAW says
David – 3:7 clearly refers to Muslims causing discord among Muslims. There is nothing universal in the passage:
“He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations – they are the substance of the Book – and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed.”
Look at the verses on either side of 3:7
3.4. Aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and hath revealed the Criterion (of right and wrong). Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).
and
3.10. (On that Day) neither the riches nor the progeny of those who disbelieve will aught avail them with Allah. They will be fuel for Fire.
Just like the Mufti you are quoting out of context to give the impression of a general benignness which is not there. Why would you do that?
Joseph says
@ David “The thing this Mufti is clearly pointing out is that the Quran can be interpreted insincerely.”
The ONLY “insincere” interpretation of the Kornholeran is that it is a book of peace. When will you people EVER get it through your your thick, dense skulls that your LIES don’t work here??? You either are
A) Very inbred yourself, or
B) Your mother dropped you on your head, again and again……and again.
C) Both of the above, plus your mom used your head as a “door stop” in a high traffic area.
duh_swami says
David… take passages regarding war out of context and then try and twist them to their own agendas.
Can you elaborate on which passages those are, how they are out of context and how were they twisted…Thanks…
Yellowdog says
Reform is the only answer, because until ” islamic authorities – and especially WOMEN Islamic authorities” sit down and really decide what is compassionate and spiritual as opposed to what is agressive, egoistic and self serving and can be misconstrued, this will all sound like a lot of double talk that can be interpreted any which way. Interpreted by self proclaimed imans. Everyone is in confusion about meaning because the Koran is constantly contradictory. What the Mufta says is correct in only one part. But he only choses the “good” part of the Koran. Let him talk next time about the murderous parts and tell us how we are to handle them! The jihadists certainly seem to know!
duh_swami says
Islam cannot be reformed…
Joseph says
@ Yellowdog
By your comment I take it your a young guy, full of hope for the future. You will learn that there is NO dialogue with savage Islam. To do so means the possible death of you and your loved ones. They will use every trick in the book to make you trusting and complacent, then they will strike with a fury that you have never seen before.
The only advice I can give you is that when dealing with Islam, look at their words as if they are full of LIES and you won’t be far from the truth. This also goes for the leftist news media and the current Government.
The only real things that you need to know about Shislam is;
A) They want you DEAD
B) They want you as a slave and your women as prostitutes
C) They want you subjugated, paying a heavy tax for the right to live
D) They want you to convert to Pisslam, (then you are going to be (A) because you were not born a Muckerslime.) Converting will only delay your death.
This is the world we live in, I’m sorry but you will have to get used to it until Ickslam is NO MORE.
Islam IS PURE EVIL. No matter how much sugar you put on a shit sandwich……you still have a shit sandwich.
Token says
So far, my reading of the Koran [and R. Spencer’s excellent books] indicates to me that you have to torture the words of the Prophet far more to make them sound peaceful, than you do to make them justify violent jihad. No wonder the world of Islam is at war with itself, as much as with The West.
rcourtemanche says
What is there to misunderstand with the Quran containing more than 150 verses perpetrating violence, racism, anti-semitism, etc..?
traci94 says
How are all of these thousands or hundreds of thousands “misinterpreting” the Qur’an in the EXACT same way?
G179 says
The selective, biased quote of verse 5.32 is the easiest giveaway of taqiyya.
Jay Airahs says
The very next verse 5.33 reveals Islam’s duplicity.
Jay Airahs says
The next paragraph from above about 5:33
“The Mufti must know that immediately following this passage comes one that amply justifies the perspective that “anyone who rejects their extremist ideology is a legitimate target who may be killed”: “Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment” (Qur’an 5:33). Also, the dictum in 5:32 is not presented in the Qur’an as a universal principle, but as one specifically directed to the Children of Israel, who transgressed against it, we’re told, and thus drew upon them the punishments specified in the subsequent verse”
Gray says
You ain’t seen nuttin’ yet. Just wait until Notre Dame de Paris and Westminster Abbey are both converted into mosques! Can’t happen, you say? It may not happen in our lifetimes, but any one want to bet our grand children -maybe even our longest living children – won’t live to see it?
Allah's Hand says
“i…an insatiable desire for power, control and bloodshed.”
You know me, sir!
Bart Goldman says
The Mufti: “As a result, the words of God in the Quran or of the Prophet—which should fill hearts of believers with peace and mercy and reverence for religion…” Unfortunately, the UNBELIEVERS, on the other hand will be chased down and killed! Happily, reading the Qur’an reveals its true intent. I like “An Abridged Koran” by Bill Warner.