| Does the Qur'an Teach Violence? |
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| Peace in the Qur'an | |
| Anonymous 14 December 2003 | |
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Q: Does Islam really teach peace? I am a Christian and I do not hate Muslims, but I read in the Qur’an verses like, "And slay them wherever ye catch them.." (2:191) and "..But if they turn away, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks." (4:89). How can a peaceful religion teach these things? How do you explain these verses. These quotations from your Holy Book do really make us very uneasy with your faith. I would appreciate your reply.
A: Thank you very much for your kind words that you do not hate Muslims. Hate is not good for any person. I want to assure you that we Muslims also do not hate non-Muslims, be they Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhist or followers of any religion or no religion. Our religions does not allow killing any innocent person regardless of his or her religion. The life of all human beings is sacrosanct according to the teachings of the Qur'an and the guidance of our blessed Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him and upon all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.
وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ "..Take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus does He command you, that ye may learn wisdom." (al-An'am 6:151)
وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَمَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِ سُلْطَانًا فَلاَ يُسْرِفْ فِي الْقَتْلِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مَنصُورًا "Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand Qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the law)" (al-Isra' 17:33)
وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنْ الْقَتْلِ وَلاَ تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِنْ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ فَإِنْ انتَهَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلَّهِ فَإِنْ انتَهَوْا فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ الشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ بِالشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْحُرُمَاتُ قِصَاصٌ فَمَنْ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And kill them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, kill them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. The prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves." (al-Baqarah 2:190-194)
وَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاءً فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ حَتَّى يُهَاجِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّا وَلاَ نَصِيرًا إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَى قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِيثَاقٌ أَوْ جَاءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ أَنْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ أَوْ يُقَاتِلُوا قَوْمَهُمْ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَاتَلُوكُمْ فَإِنْ اعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا إِلَيْكُمْ السَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلاً سَتَجِدُونَ آخَرِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَأْمَنُوكُمْ وَيَأْمَنُوا قَوْمَهُمْ كُلَّ مَا رُدُّوا إِلَى الْفِتْنَةِ أُرْكِسُوا فِيهَا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَعْتَزِلُوكُمْ وَيُلْقُوا إِلَيْكُمْ السَّلَمَ وَيَكُفُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأُوْلَئِكُمْ جَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانًا مُبِينًا "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): so take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (from what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks. Except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (Of peace), or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. If Allah had pleased, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you: therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not, and (instead) send you (guarantees of) peace, then Allah hath opened no way for you (to war against them). Others you will find that wish to gain your confidence as well as that of their people: every time they are sent back to temptation, they succumb thereto; if they withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them wherever ye get them; in their case We have provided you with a clear argument against them. (Al-Nisa' 4:89-91)
"When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you. And when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. (Deutronomy 7:1-2) "When you approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace. If it agrees to make peace with you and opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and shall serve you. However, if it does not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. When the LORD your God gives it into your hand, you shall strike all the men in it with the edge of the sword. Only the women and the children and the animals and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as booty for yourself; and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the LORD your God has given you... Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes (Deutronomy 20:10-17) Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. But all the girls who have not known man intimately, sparefor yourselves. (Numbers 31:17-18)
"I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence. (Luke 19:26-27) Source: http://www.pakistanlink.com/religion/2001/1012.html Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites          |
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I am impressed
Who has the time to scan countless historical documents.?
The KEY WORDS here are "EXCEPT BY JUSTICE" which Muslims see blowing up those who reject Islam and reject Allah and stand for "freedoms" as JUSTICE.
''Slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.'' (Surah 9:5)
and you can easily find more
Inshaa'Allah may Allah guide all the believing muslims on the start path to Jann'a
You seem to have Islamic terrorist groups also known as islamic militia groups recognized by so many Arab and Islamic countries. Some are even supported by the muslim people and it's government according to the evidence. Again, please stand up against your violent Muslims as Christians do against evil doers of evil acts perpetrated in the name of Christianity.
I also am confused when people say Islam is a religion of peace when for centuries Muslims have fought and killed since it's existence till now. After all these centuries why hasn't Islam found peace amongst yourselves?
the quran most certainly said these verses, in the BATTLEFIELD.
would you not slay your enemy on the battlefield?
if you didnt it would cost your life!
and this battle would be fair. because islam is peaceful and fair.
Waslaam
What is the Messiah all about....??
One God Notes: See John Chapter 1:1, 1:14 and understand that Jesus told His disciples that when you see Him you have seen the Father. Hebrews states that Jesus was the expressed image of God. The only way to see an invisible Spirit is to add flesh. This is why the Jews accused Him of blasphemy: they didn't life Jesus Christ saying He was God.
In closing: There is only One God. It is and will always be unnatural to have 2 leaders of equal power and authority. We will all find out in the end which God was the real God. But here's the sad part. IT will be too late for the majority of the world to get right with that real God. Search your heart . . . study the Bible . . . in the end . . . it's all your choice!
To those who think we are taught to hate, you are truly misguided. Nowhere in our book does it preach us to hate any particular religion. Someone here said that we(Muslims) love only those who love us but hate those who hate us. That is so sad. Because of these false accounts about Muslims, unfortunately a lot of Christians view Muslims with suspicion and they have a real problem viewing Muslims as NORMAL HUMAN BEINGS. I really, truly and sincerely with all my heart advise any one who think that Muslims have hate towards any religion, to go and READ the Quran with an open heart, not just hear bits and pieces from newspaper articles or what other people say.
That saddens us a lot because the whole point of religion is to make this earth that we live on a better place....which I can't see happening.
The Parable of the Ten Minas
11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, [1] he gave them ten minas, [2] and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! [3] Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’” Luke 19:11-27
In a school there are bullies...who do they pick on? The one that does not retribute. It is the way of human nature to do this, do not be stupid. Now if someone slapped me without reason, of course I should be able to slap him back, or find someway to retribute him. If you think bullies will eventually leave you alone, you are totally wrong. Stand up for your self, and plus Christianity might preach peace but they ATTACKED Muslims and Jews during the crusades. What are you gonna say-so do Muslim terrorists? But the thing is that the church and the pope backed them up, so you cannot compare Muslim extremists to them. Anyways, even to this day, Islam is preserved and views on it have NOT changed, unlike Christianity. There are so many different subdivisions of Christianity...why? I believe that Islam is the final and last religion. It was revised and sent down to god by the angle Gabriel...to non other than Mohammad who is a a man, nonetheless. He is not considered god, but the messenger of god. But Jesus is the SON of god?--How can THE almighty have a SON?? Why does that one person get to be special? In Islam NO one is more important than another! EQUALITY! You may say that women are not as equal? They are. They have their rights, and even have more rights than other women. Unlike women of Christianity, who were first oppressed in the middle ages, and now they are prostitutes that show of themselves without shame, women in Islam always had the same rights. Islam is the same as it was a long time ago...but Christianity is changing...if you think about this than ...WOW. Thanks, if you read all this... but think of science-evolution, space, etc.- and you will see that Islam is supportive of science. Science...read the Quran and a new world will open. Thanks for reading guys.
Rose
For example, in the Bible, the wars described in the Hebrew Scriptures where sanctioned by God were due to nations transgressing against God's people of the time, and God fulfilling his promise to give the land of the enemies to his people to set up their nation. In no way is this a proclamation by God that those claiming to be Christian or Jewish today can just willy-nilly go killing others for whatever reason. While the Jews may not agree to the following, Christians must not forget that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, made it quite clear that we are NOT to kill anyone, period. He did not say it was okay to do so if you are threatened or attacked, or because someone believes in something else. "Love your Neighbor as yourself". That pretty much says it all. "turn your cheek" implies being passive. Sure you can 'self-defense' to protect, but not be the aggressor. And that 'self-defense' does NOT include joining the military in some Government sanctioned cause of 'protecting freedom'. It's all political and is not what the Bible endorses.
Reading the quotes from the Quran, while it appears to imply that Muslims should not kill unless attacked, it clearly is far from the 'passive' approach as taught in the Bible. It's tone is more aggressive, in that if 'they attack us, kill them'. No wonder that radicals think they are doing the cause of Allah. They can simply convince themselves that they ARE being attacked, because the US is in this country or that doing this or that, so kill all Americans and that's okay. While clearly not a correct way to view it, as noted here was more a 'historical' situation, it's aggressive tone makes it too easy to misinterpret. Sadly, it does not have a more passive and loving tone to it, and so you cannot really blame people of being concerned.
In the Bible, Jesus Christ teaches "LOVE EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT LOVED", which is to "love your enemies" as well. However, it appears in the Quran it is more "love those who love you, but kill those who hate you". That's hardly comforting or the reflection of a God that I'd want any part of.
Just my opinion.
God Bless and Thanks :)
If someone fights you - and you fight back - all that is created - is the OPPOSITE of peace - which is CHAOS.
Jesus says: if someone slaps you on one cheek - turn the other ( do NOT fight BACK ) - THIS creates PEACE.
This makes it clear that Jesus is the only one that taught peace.
As for the violence in the old testament - that was GOD initiating the violence - using his men as PUPPETS - to filter out all evil from Israel - in order to fullfill the covenant that he made with them ( to save them from all evil ).
So that was God who utterly destroyed EVIL people through his men - as God says all over the old Testament " Vengeance is MINE " - he clearly takes it
So how do we know who is evil, and who is not?
We know by the critique of the spirit - which is RIGHTEOUSNESS. Who ever therefore does not believe in Jesus - does not believe in righteousness ( as Jesus demonstrated that he is righteousness ITSELF ( the HOLY SPIRIT - that we cannot see, but we can understand and have with us )). Whoever does not follow the words of JESUS - which are the words of life - and whoever does not accept him as LORD - which he TRULY is - this person is evil - and worthy of condemnation.
Jesus proved to be righteousness - by PREACHING righteousness.
Righteousness is the feeling that feels to NEVER fight BACK - to not fight FIRE with FIRE - but with water. To BLESS those who CURSE us. To PRAY for those who attack us and fight us and misuse us and abuse us. To HELP those who do not have food and clothes and water and nourishment, to COMFORT the lonely, the jailed and the sad.
EVEN if they do not currently believe in ALLAH ( GOD )
THIS is clearly love ( righteousness )
Muhammad did not teach this.
All throughout the old testament - God makes it very CLEAR with many signs that it is HIM who initiates the violence against EVIL people through the people of Israel - showing that there is NO sign of God ever teaching violence - as muhammad did.
The ONLY one who has the right to initiate violence is the HOLY God. Unless therefore God possesses a nation to fight - NO one should fight.
THIS is the covenant of God.
To quote the first words Muhammad heard from Allah... "READ!"
He is showing that if you take it out of context then the meaning sounds far different from what the scripture is actually saying.
I live in Australia, I know I got very little knowledge about few things in Islam. I work here and one of my work mate asked me same Question today and i don't have any Answer. But thanks a lot for you this link due to which i able to answer Him
Many thanks again
Waslam
"1: And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2: And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3: And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4: And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5: And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6: And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7: And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8: And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9: And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
11: And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12: He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13: And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14: But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15: And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16: Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17: And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18: And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19: And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20: And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22: And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24: And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25: (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26: For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27: But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."