Overview:
Islam as presented in the Quran (at least in the 4 English translations) is a religion of peace, self defense, and tolerance of other religions. It places God as an all-knowing, all-powerful diety, who rules over even the smallest events of nature and man’s life. The Qur’an advocates jihad, a holy war, against the flesh, selfish desire and unholy passions. The Quran describes God as merciful and capable of forgiveness when the heart is repentant and renewed in the commitment to right speech, right thought, and right action. The 5 pillars of Islam are the oneness of God, sharing a portion of wealth with the community, 5 daily prayers, purification through fasting at Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca. The basic beliefs of Islam include belief in: the unity of God, the Prophethood of Muhammad as a messenger of God, angels, God’s books (like the Qur’an), a Day of Judgment, a pre-destination, and resurrection after death.
The foundational philosophies of Islam, the Qur’an, the pillars, and the basic beliefs, give  Islam the appearance of a benign religion. But, from a Christian perspective it missing a Savior. Islam has no intercessor to mediate between God and man. The direct responsibility of the Muslim to God, the Almighty, leaves him in uncertainty regarding punishment, salvation, and forgiveness. The Muslim must continue to engage in the busyness of works, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, etc to insure salvation. Whereas, Christianity includes a different mix of faith and works. The works flow necessarily and automatically out of the renewed heart of the believer. The works do not save, rather, the works are an external reflection of the transformed heart of the believer.
In the Quran, Islam presents itself as a religion of tolerance of other religions (while making it clear that the followers of other religions will go to hell, Sura 98). The Quran advocates a defensive response only toward unbelievers who attack, (no mention made of military aggression to spread Islam, Sura 9, Sura 47). The Quran does not induce martyrdom by promising 72 virgins for martyrdom (rather, service of God will be rewarded by heavenly joy, Sura 3). We have seen the aggressive actions of the 19 hijackers and other Al Qaeda (Translation: The Base) backed terrorist attacks done in the name of Islam and Jihad (holy war). To fully understand the force driving these religious fanatic terrorists we must understand the spiritual, intellectual, moral base from which their religious philosophy of Jihad springs. Some possibilities are as follows:
An extremely remote possibility exists that the translations of the Quran from Arabic into English are false. Possibly the Arabic words of the Quran in the original language actually command a literal physical Jihad against all other religions, promise rewards of 72 virgins for suicide martyrs, and command the overthrow of all countries by emigration and generational multiplication. A variation on this theme is that possibly the words of the Qur’an imply cultural metaphors that would be invisible to the non-native.
If the original Arabic is accurate, and the Quran is book of a benign instructions about the greatness of God and His mercy, then the words may have been distorted by oral tradition or extra-Quranic texts. The Hadith and Sunnas (the sayings and acts of the Prophet Muhammad). Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who died in 1792, wrote commentaries on Islam. These works have become the basis for the Wahhabi sect of Islam, with its violent jihadist tendency. This implementation of Islamic culture probably survived and thrived because it resonated with some aspect of the Islamic history and scripture. It may have appealed to those who were poor and powerlessness. It likely spoke to those who believed that a more pure implementation of the foundational principles of Islam would solve the world’s problems. Muhammad Wahhab probably referred to the Quran, Hadith, Sunna, and oral traditions about the Prophet Muhammed in developing his theological theory of the proper implementation of Islam.
The most likely explanation of the addition of the militant tendencies of Islam probably lies in the example set by the Prophet. By some accounts, Muhammad, the messenger of the Quran, was a brutal warrior and not a good example of moral behavior. The Qur’an he delivered allowed for 4 wives, but he had 22, some as young as 6 or 9 years old. The religion sprang from a culture which worshiped the moon god, Al-aliah, which may have been the origin of the name Allah for the God of Islam. Islam claims that its roots also spring from Abraham, through his first son Ishmael — who was the offspring of Abraham’s effort to fulfill God’s promise of a son through his wife’s Egyptian servant girl Hagar. God promised that he would make a great nation from the seed of Ishmael.
The Problem:
Legend has it that the Angel Gabriel dictated the Quran to Muhammad over a 22 year period. These verses may have come from a supernatural realm, but they do not meet the Christian standard for being a divine, Godly revelation. According to the Christian scripture, every spirit that comes from God will declare that Jesus is Lord, while all other spirits are deceivers. Of course, such an argument or judgment criteria validates only whether another religion meets the standard of being a Christian religion from a Christian perspective. But, if in fact, Christianity is True, then all other systems and philosophies must pass that standard of Truth. We must remain aware and wary of Islam for this reason, it simply does not pass the most basic test of being a “Christian-type” religion. Thus, while it may advocate many excellent relational principles, it lacks advocacy for the central, and most primal of relationships, between man and Jesus Christ.
We must then ask, “How does this deficiency of Islam affect the life and hope of the Muslim?” Because Islam has no Savior, there can be no substitutionary propitiation for sins. Rather, all justification before an all Righteous God must arise from the Muslim’s own efforts to must save himself through various forms of works (prayers of charity, and daily prayers, and actions etc.). God’s mercy determines the eternal destiny of the Muslim. To compare the righteousness of imperfect/sinful man with a Perfect, but aloof, God leaves one at the mercy of God and His sense of justice and mercy. In such a system, works and obedience to the law provide the Muslim with the only possible counterweight and plea to God’s justice.
The Muslim stands naked and defenseless before the Almighty because Islam has no God-man who stands as an advocate to the most High God. Hence, man is without intermediary, intercessor, or example of the perfected man. Thus, Muhammad being only a man, was necessarily a poor role model for the behavioral implementation of the abstract Quranic scriptures. A nation’s religion shapes the culture, its laws, customs, morality, ethics, and standards of right and wrong. Thus, Muhammad’s personality and the Quran were two major forces which shaped the foundation of Islamic culture. Since Muhammad’s personality was imperfect, and he was inappropriately deified, the culture and the interpretation of the Qur’an came to reflect a shadow of his behaviors and passions. The Islamic-Pharisees, the Immams, took it upon themselves to justify some of Muhammad’s quirk’s of passion. The Islamic intelligencia devoted their cerebral power to extrapolating and interpreting the “true inner meaning” of certain passages from basic scriptures for the illiterate/non-priest masses. Cultural tradition biased by a desire to imitate the way and personality of the Prophet replaced or competed with the more literal, whole-scripture interpretation of the Quran. The more truthful scriptural-literalists can see that the Quran does not support violent Jihad against its spiritual competitors. But, if Muhammad displayed military adventurism in his life, then his life example would likely morph the benign religion of Quranic Islam into the religious culture of Militant Jihad.
Isaac and Ishmael — Fathers of two great spiritual nations — the world and heaven at war:
It appears that God knew that Abraham would doubt His ability to create the miracle of Sara bearing a child many years after her fertility had passed. As a result of Abraham’s lack of faith, he took Hagar, Sara’s maid as the surrogate mother, and conceived Ishmael. Isaac was later born miraculously to Sara’s barren and dead womb. Through Isaac (whose name God later changed to Israel) God passed His promise and blessing. Thus the 12 tribes arose from the Children of Israel. Through this lineage, the Messiah, Yeshua, Jesus, the Christ, the promised one was born. The stage was set for history to play out the drama of confrontation between those who worship the one True God, and those who worship another god. We now see this play reaching its climactic conclusion as Islam, the religion arising from the seed of Ishmael in mortal combat with the religion arising from the seed of Isaac, both spiritual principalities striving to possess the hearts, minds, and souls of the whole of mankind.
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.7 Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”8 And he said, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.14 “And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.15 “Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age.16 “But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates;19 “the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,20 “the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,21 “the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.”6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.”11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction.12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.2 “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.6 “I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.7 “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.8 “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.10 “This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;11 “and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.12 “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.13 “He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.14 “And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.16 “And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.20 “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.21 “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.”22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.23 So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him.24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.26 That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael;27 and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Verses from the Qur’an
Qur’an verses declaring that no man is God:Truth: The following verses from the Qur’an declare that Muhammad is not an intercessor between God and man. Muhammad is declared to be only a man. The Prophet is not divine.Error: Jesus is not divine, as per the statement of the Quran.Truth: Jesus is divine, He is the second person of the Godhead. Jesus became fully man, while being fully God. Jesus declared His divinity, performed miracles, lived a sinless life, died as a sacrifice for our sins, and lives to ever intercede for us to God Most High.
Sura 21:25Wama arsalna min qablika min rasoolin illa noohee ilayhi annahu la ilaha illa ana faoAAbudooni YUSUFALI: Not a messenger did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me.
PICKTHAL: And We sent no messenger before thee but We inspired him, (saying): There is no Allah save Me (Allah), so worship Me. SHAKIR: And We did not send before you any messenger but We revealed to him that there is no god but Me, therefore serve Me. KHALIFA: We did not send any messenger before you except with the inspiration: “There is no god except Me; you shall worship Me alone.”
Sura 21:29Waman yaqul minhum innee ilahun min doonihi fathalika najzeehi jahannama kathalika najzee alththalimeena
YUSUFALI: If any of them should say, “I am a god besides Him”, such a one We should reward with Hell: thus do We reward those who do wrong.
PICKTHAL: And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god beside Him, that one We should repay with hell. Thus We Repay wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: And whoever of them should say: Surely I am a god besides Him, such a one do We recompense with hell; thus do, We recompense the unjust. KHALIFA: If any of them claims to be a god beside Him, we requite him with Hell; we thus requite the wicked. Justification to kill unbelievers:
Truth: When people of another faith come to take over your land and your freedom of expression and thought — fight back. Do not submit to aggressors who forcefully attempt to make you submit to control of your mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual space. Treat other people as you would want to be treated. If they wish to engage in trade, then negotiate a mutually acceptable contract. We should negotiate emotional/behavioral contracts which produce mutual satisfaction. And in the realm of spiritual allegiance, we should modify our view of God if the arguments are persuasive on all levels of Truth (historical, physical/natural, scriptural, and social). The person witnessing for the new spiritual paradigm should reflect the good fruit of living the Way of God (Loving God and neighbor as self).Error: Any hint of aggression may be used as a justification to fight and overcome a nation of another faith in the name of expanding the rule of Islam for Allah. Truth: Imperialistic expansions of faith at the point of the sword violate a man’s obligation to make his own commitment regarding his relationship to God. God has given us free will to choose to love Him and give Him our heart out of service. God did not coerce relationship. God has created a world where man can make choices and experience the consequences associated with living in or outside of His Will and Way.
Sura 47:4Fa-itha laqeetumu allatheena kafaroo fadarba alrriqabi hatta itha athkhantumoohum fashuddoo alwathaqa fa-imma mannan baAAdu wa-imma fidaan hatta tadaAAa alharbu awzaraha thalika walaw yashao Allahu laintasara minhum walakin liyabluwa baAAdakum bibaAAdin waallatheena qutiloo fee sabeeli Allahi falan yudilla aAAmalahum YUSUFALI: Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost. PICKTHAL: Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance). And if Allah willed He could have punished them (without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain. SHAKIR: So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. That (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish. KHALIFA: If you encounter (in war) those who disbelieve, you may strike the necks. If you take them as captives you may set them free or ransom them, until the war ends. Had GOD willed, He could have granted you victory, without war. But He thus tests you by one another. As for those who get killed in the cause of GOD, He will never put their sacrifice to waste.
Sura 9:4Illa allatheena AAahadtum mina almushrikeena thumma lam yanqusookum shay-an walam yuthahiroo AAalaykum ahadan faatimmoo ilayhim AAahdahum ila muddatihim inna Allaha yuhibbu almuttaqeena YUSUFALI: (But the treaties are) not dissolved with those Pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided any one against you. So fulfil your engagements with them to the end of their term: for Allah loveth the righteous. PICKTHAL: Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him). SHAKIR: Except those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement, then they have not failed you in anything and have not backed up any one against you, so fulfill their agreement to the end of their term; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty). KHALIFA: If the idol worshipers sign a peace treaty with you, and do not violate it, nor band together with others against you, you shall fulfill your treaty with them until the expiration date. GOD loves the righteous. Sura 9:5Fa-itha insalakha al-ashhuru alhurumu faoqtuloo almushrikeena haythu wajadtumoohum wakhuthoohum waohsuroohum waoqAAudoo lahum kulla marsadin fa-in taboo waaqamoo alssalata waatawoo alzzakata fakhalloo sabeelahum inna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun YUSUFALI: But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. PICKTHAL: Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. SHAKIR: So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. KHALIFA: Once the Sacred Months are past, (and they refuse to make peace) you may kill the idol worshipers when you encounter them, punish them, and resist every move they make. If they repent and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), you shall let them go. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful. Sura 9:6Wa-in ahadun mina almushrikeena istajaraka faajirhu hatta yasmaAAa kalama Allahi thumma ablighhu ma/manahu thalika bi-annahum qawmun la yaAAlamoona YUSUFALI: If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge. PICKTHAL: And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not. SHAKIR: And if one of the idolaters seek protection from you, grant him protection till he hears the word of Allah, then make him attain his place of safety; this is because they are a people who do not know. KHALIFA: If one of the idol worshipers sought safe passage with you, you shall grant him safe passage, so that he can hear the word of GOD, then send him back to his place of security. That is because they are people who do not know.
Sura 9:16Am hasibtum an tutrakoo walamma yaAAlami Allahu allatheena jahadoo minkum walam yattakhithoo min dooni Allahi wala rasoolihi wala almu/mineena waleejatan waAllahu khabeerun bima taAAmaloona YUSUFALI: Or think ye that ye shall be abandoned, as though Allah did not know those among you who strive with might and main, and take none for friends and protectors except Allah, His Messenger, and the (community of) Believers? But Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do. PICKTHAL: Or deemed ye that ye would be left (in peace) when Allah yet knoweth not those of you who strive, choosing for familiar none save Allah and His messenger and the believers? Allah is Informed of what ye do. SHAKIR: What! do you think that you will be left alone while Allah has not yet known those of you who have struggled hard and have not taken any one as an adherent besides Allah and His Messenger and the believers; and Allah is aware of what you do. KHALIFA: Did you think that you will be left alone without GOD distinguishing those among you who strive, and never ally themselves with GOD’s enemies, or the enemies of His messenger, or the enemies of the believers? GOD is fully cognizant of everything you do.
Sura 9:19AjaAAaltum siqayata alhajji waAAimarata almasjidi alharami kaman amana biAllahi waalyawmi al-akhiri wajahada fee sabeeli Allahi la yastawoona AAinda Allahi waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena YUSUFALI: Do ye make the giving of drink to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to (the pious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah? They are not comparable in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those who do wrong. PICKTHAL: Count ye the slaking of a pilgrim’s thirst and tendance of the Inviolable Place of Worship as (equal to the worth of) him who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and striveth in the way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. SHAKIR: What! do you make (one who undertakes) the giving of drink to the pilgrims and the guarding of the Sacred Mosque like him who believes in Allah and the latter day and strives hard in Allah’s way? They are not equal with Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust people. KHALIFA: Have you considered the watering of the pilgrims and caring for the Sacred Masjid a substitute for believing in GOD and the Last Day, and striving in the cause of GOD? They are not equal in the sight of GOD. GOD does not guide the wicked people.
Sura 9:29Qatiloo allatheena la yu/minoona biAllahi wala bialyawmi al-akhiri wala yuharrimoona ma harrama Allahu warasooluhu wala yadeenoona deena alhaqqi mina allatheena ootoo alkitaba hatta yuAAtoo aljizyata AAan yadin wahum saghiroona YUSUFALI: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. PICKTHAL: Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low. SHAKIR: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection. KHALIFA: You shall fight back against those who do not believe in GOD, nor in the Last Day, nor do they prohibit what GOD and His messenger have prohibited, nor do they abide by the religion of truth – among those who received the scripture – until they pay the due tax, willingly or unwillingly. Reward after life for having died in the cause of defending God’s Truth:
Truth: It is good to face death and pain and never lose the faith or waver from convictions of truth under duress. We are called to stand firm against the pressures of life, temptation, and spirits which attempt to subvert us from our mission. God is the rewarder for faithful service, and maintenance of faith in the face of pressure will return an increase.
Error: Killing people of other religions in the service of expanding Islam will be rewarded in heaven with the eternal pleasures of 72 perpetual virgins.
Truth: Such seductive billing for martyrdom is the equivalent of offering eternal ice cream to the naive child in return for murder in the name of Allah.
Sura 3:169Wala tahsabanna allatheena qutiloo fee sabeeli Allahi amwatan bal ahyaon AAinda rabbihim yurzaqoona YUSUFALI: Think not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord; PICKTHAL: Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision. SHAKIR: And reckon not those who are killed in Allah’s way as dead; nay, they are alive (and) are provided sustenance from their Lord; KHALIFA: Do not think that those who are killed in the cause of GOD are dead; they are alive at their Lord, enjoying His provisions. Sura 3:195Faistajaba lahum rabbuhum annee la odeeAAu AAamala AAamilin minkum min thakarin aw ontha baAAdukum min baAAdin faallatheena hajaroo waokhrijoo min diyarihim waoothoo fee sabeelee waqataloo waqutiloo laokaffiranna AAanhum sayyi-atihim walaodkhilannahum jannatin tajree min tahtiha al-anharu thawaban min AAindi Allahi waAllahu AAindahu husnu alththawabi YUSUFALI: And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: “Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: Ye are members, one of another: Those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm in My Cause, or fought or been slain,- verily, I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath;- A reward from the presence of Allah, and from His presence is the best of rewards.” PICKTHAL: And their Lord hath heard them (and He saith): Lo! I suffer not the work of any worker, male or female, to be lost. Ye proceed one from another. So those who fled and were driven forth from their homes and suffered damage for My cause, and fought and were slain, verily I shall remit their evil deeds from them and verily I shall bring them into Gardens underneath which rivers flow – A reward from Allah. And with Allah is the fairest of rewards. SHAKIR: So their Lord accepted their prayer: That I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other; they, therefore, who fled and were turned out of their homes and persecuted in My way and who fought and were slain, I will most certainly cover their evil deeds, and I will most certainly make them enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; a reward from Allah, and with Allah is yet better reward. KHALIFA: Their Lord responded to them: “I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female – you are equal to one another. Thus, those who immigrate, and get evicted from their homes, and are persecuted because of Me, and fight and get killed, I will surely remit their sins and admit them into gardens with flowing streams.” Such is the reward from GOD. GOD possesses the ultimate reward.
Stand strong against Oppression:
Truth: God requires of us hard tasks in life. Sometimes bad things must be experienced in the service of living His life. Error: Fight for God as a suicide Martyr to spread Islam and you will get a wonderful reward in heaven. Fighting with deadly force to advance the kingdom of Islam is good, authorized, and holy.Truth: The world of eternity is of more value than the temporal world. But, we are required to live with each other in respect and relationship. God has given us each the freedom to choose our own definition of truth. No one has the right to impose their belief upon anyone else. We must each resist the aggressor who attempts to subjugate us into spiritual servitude. Note: witnessing, sharing beliefs, talking about convictions, sharing the scriptures and religious culture is not an act of aggression. In other words, Christian missionary efforts and proselytizing are not violations of another person’s space. Both Christian and Muslim may share his/her beliefs without fear of trespassing a moral prohibition. But the Muslim, who by violent action such as seen in the 9/11 attacks against random Westerners has violated a sacred space. Even a credible threat of violence merits a retaliatory strike. God is just, and those who battle righteously in the cause of righteousness will receive a reward. Dying for a false god, under a false pretext and promise brings little reward from the Almighty.
Sura 4:74Falyuqatil fee sabeeli Allahi allatheena yashroona alhayata alddunya bial-akhirati waman yuqatil fee sabeeli Allahi fayuqtal aw yaghlib fasawfa nu/teehi ajran AAatheeman YUSUFALI: Let those fight in the cause of Allah Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah,- whether he is slain or gets victory – Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value). PICKTHAL: Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward. SHAKIR: Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah, who sell this world’s life for the hereafter; and whoever fights in the way of Allah, then be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward. KHALIFA: Those who readily fight in the cause of GOD are those who forsake this world in favor of the Hereafter. Whoever fights in the cause of GOD, then gets killed, or attains victory, we will surely grant him a great recompense.
Sura 4:76Allatheena amanoo yuqatiloona fee sabeeli Allahi waallatheena kafaroo yuqatiloona fee sabeeli alttaghooti faqatiloo awliyaa alshshaytani inna kayda alshshaytani kana daAAeefan YUSUFALI: Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith Fight in the cause of Evil: So fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan. PICKTHAL: Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil’s strategy is ever weak. SHAKIR: Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaitan. Fight therefore against the friends of the Shaitan; surely the strategy of the Shaitan is weak. KHALIFA: Those who believe are fighting for the cause of GOD, while those who disbelieve are fighting for the cause of tyranny. Therefore, you shall fight the devil’s allies; the devil’s power is nil.
Sura 4:77Alam tara ila allatheena qeela lahum kuffoo aydiyakum waaqeemoo alssalata waatoo alzzakata falamma kutiba AAalayhimu alqitalu itha fareequn minhum yakhshawna alnnasa kakhashyati Allahi aw ashadda khashyatan waqaloo rabbana lima katabta AAalayna alqitala lawla akhkhartana ila ajalin qareebin qul mataAAu alddunya qaleelun waal-akhiratu khayrun limani ittaqa wala tuthlamoona fateelan YUSUFALI: Hast thou not turned Thy vision to those who were told to hold back their hands (from fight) but establish regular prayers and spend in regular charity? When (at length) the order for fighting was issued to them, behold! a section of them feared men as – or even more than – they should have feared Allah: They said: “Our Lord! Why hast Thou ordered us to fight? Wouldst Thou not Grant us respite to our (natural) term, near (enough)?” Say: “Short is the enjoyment of this world: the Hereafter is the best for those who do right: Never will ye be dealt with unjustly in the very least! PICKTHAL: Hast thou not seen those unto whom it was said: Withhold your hands, establish worship and pay the poordue, but when fighting was prescribed for them behold! a party of them fear mankind even as their fear of Allah or with greater fear, and say: Our Lord! Why hast Thou ordained fighting for us? If only Thou wouldst give us respite yet a while! Say (unto them, O Muhammad): The comfort of this world is scant; the Hereafter will be better for him who wardeth off (evil); and ye will not be wronged the down upon a date-stone. SHAKIR: Have you not seen those to whom it was said: Withhold your hands, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; but when fighting is prescribed for them, lo! a party of them fear men as they ought to have feared Allah, or (even) with a greater fear, and say: Our Lord! why hast Thou ordained fighting for us? Wherefore didst Thou not grant us a delay to a near end? Say: The provision of this world is short, and the hereafter is better for him who guards (against evil); and you shall not be wronged the husk of a date stone. KHALIFA: Have you noted those who were told, “You do not have to fight; all you need to do is observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat),” then, when fighting was decreed for them, they feared the people as much as they feared GOD, or even more? They said, “Our Lord, why did You force this fighting on us? If only You respite us for awhile!” Say, “The materials of this world are nil, while the Hereafter is far better for the righteous, and you never suffer the slightest injustice.”
Spreading the message of God near and far:Truth: It is good to move where you are called, and take the message of God’s truth with you wherever you go.
Error: If you move to a new land, and die as a self-imposed martyr for the cause of spreading Islam then God will reward you.
Truth: To attempt to convert every man, woman, and child to Islam across the entire earth at the point of the sword, at all costs, is wrong. Each religion and its philosophy of life must live or die on its own merit. No nation, no people, no religion has the divine right to dominate another people by force. A society must promote its values on its own merit in the marketplace of ideas. In a democracy, the majority belief structure has the right, and obligation, to pass laws which reflect those values. The whole society must conform to the laws passed by the majority. In a Republic, the representatives of the people pass the laws. The representatives are chosen as a buffer against the temporal passions of the masses. The more mature and wise elders of the society make judgments as proxies for those of lesser experience and temperance.
Sura 22:58Waallatheena hajaroo fee sabeeli Allahi thumma qutiloo aw matoo layarzuqannahumu Allahu rizqan hasanan wa-inna Allaha lahuwa khayru alrraziqeena YUSUFALI: Those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah, and are then slain or die,- On them will Allah bestow verily a goodly Provision: Truly Allah is He Who bestows the best provision. PICKTHAL: Those who fled their homes for the cause of Allah and then were slain or died, Allah verily will provide for them a good provision. Lo! Allah, He verily is Best of all who make provision. SHAKIR: And (as for) those who fly in Allah’s way and are then slain or die, Allah will most certainly grant them a goodly sustenance, and most surely Allah is the best Giver of sustenance. KHALIFA: Those who emigrate for the sake of GOD, then get killed, or die, GOD will surely shower them with good provisions. GOD is certainly the best Provider
Sura 4.100Waman yuhajir fee sabeeli Allahi yajid fee al-ardi muraghaman katheeran wasaAAatan waman yakhruj min baytihi muhajiran ila Allahi warasoolihi thumma yudrik-hu almawtu faqad waqaAAa ajruhu AAala Allahi wakana Allahu ghafooran raheeman YUSUFALI: He who forsakes his home in the cause of Allah, finds in the earth many a refuge, wide and spacious: Should he die as a refugee from home for Allah and His Messenger, His reward becomes due and sure with Allah: And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. PICKTHAL: Whoso migrateth for the cause of Allah will find much refuge and abundance in the earth, and whoso forsaketh his home, a fugitive unto Allah and His messenger, and death overtaketh him, his reward is then incumbent on Allah. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. SHAKIR: And whoever flies in Allah’s way, he will find in the earth many a place of refuge and abundant resources, and whoever goes forth from his house flying to Allah and His Messenger, and then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. KHALIFA: Anyone who emigrates in the cause of GOD will find on earth great bounties and richness. Anyone who gives up his home, emigrating to GOD and His messenger, then death catches up with him, his recompense is reserved with GOD. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.