Me and Ako compiled a list:
Islamic Warmongering - Justifications for Violence and Killing
1.
Quran 2:191-193 - "And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing...
but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun(the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)" (Translation is from the Noble Quran)
The verse prior to this (190) refers to "fighting for the cause of Allah those who fight you" leading some to believe that the entire passage refers to a defensive war in which Muslims are defending their homes and families. The historical context of this passage is not defensive warfare, however, since Muhammad and his Muslims had just relocated to Medina and were not under attack by their Meccan adversaries. In fact, the verses urge offensive warfare, in that Muslims are to drive Meccans out of their own city (which they later did). Verse 190 thus means to fight those who offer resistance to Allah's rule (ie. Muslim conquest). The use of the word "persecution" by some Muslim translators is disingenuous (the actual Arabic words for persecution - "idtihad" - and oppression - a variation of "z-l-m" - do not appear in the verse). The word used instead, "fitna", can mean disbelief, or the disorder that results from unbelief or temptation. This is certainly what is meant in this context since the violence is explicitly commissioned "until religion is for Allah" - ie. unbelievers desist in their unbelief.
2.
Quran 2:216 - "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not." Not only does this verse establish that violence can be virtuous, but it also contradicts the myth that fighting is intended only in self-defense, since the audience was obviously not under attack at the time. From the Hadith, we know that this verse was narrated at a time that Muhammad was actually trying to motivate his people into raiding merchant caravans for loot.
3.
Quran 2:193 - “And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers.”
Allah says that you must keep fighting until there is no more persecution and everyone on earth is a Muslim. Then you can stop killing people. But if there are any wrong-doers around after you've killed off all the disbelievers, persecutors and aggressors, then you'll have to kill them too.
4.
Quran 3:151 - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority".
This speaks directly of polytheists, yet it also includes Christians, since they believe in the Trinity (ie. what Muhammad incorrectly believed to be 'joining companions to Allah').
5.
Quran 4:74 - "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."
The martyrs of Islam are unlike the early Christians, who were led meekly to the slaughter. These Muslims are killed in battle as they attempt to inflict death and destruction for the cause of Allah. This is the theological basis for today's suicide bombers.
6.
Quran 4:89 - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But 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."
Kill non-believers. Don’t be their friends.
7.
Quran 4:95 - "Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home).Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward "
This passage criticizes "peaceful" Muslims who do not join in the violence, letting them know that they are less worthy in Allah's eyes. It also demolishes the modern myth that "Jihad" doesn't mean holy war in the Quran, but rather a spiritual struggle. Not only is this Arabic word (mujahiduna) used in this passage, but it is clearly not referring to anything spiritual, since the physically disabled are given exemption. (The Hadith reveals the context of the passage to be in response to a blind man's protest that he is unable to engage in Jihad, which would not make sense if it meant an internal struggle).
8.
Quran 8:12 - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"
No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a spiritual struggle.
9.
Quran 8:67 - "It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he had made a great slaughter in the land..."
Lol… warmongering.
10.
Quran 9:5 - "So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive 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."
According to this verse, the best way of staying safe from Muslim violence is to convert to Islam (prayer (salat) and the poor tax (zakat) are among the religion's Five Pillars). This popular claim that the Quran only inspires violence within the context of self-defense is seriously challenged by this passage as well, since the Muslims to whom it was written were obviously not under attack. Had they been, then there would have been no waiting period (earlier verses make it a duty for Muslims to fight in self-defense, even during the sacred months). The historical context is Mecca after the idolaters were subjugated by Muhammad and posed no threat. Once the Muslims had power, they violently evicted those unbelievers who would not convert.
11.
Quran 9:29 - "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."
"People of the Book" refers to Christians and Jews. According to this verse, they are to be violently subjugated, with the sole justification being their religious status. Verse 9:33 tells Muslims that Allah has charted them to make Islam "superior over all religions." This chapter was one of the final "revelations" from Allah and it set in motion the tenacious military expansion, in which Muhammad's companions managed to conquer two-thirds of the Christian world in the next 100 years. Islam is intended to dominate all other people and faiths.
12.
Quran 9:38-39 - "O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place."
This is a warning to those who refuse to fight, that they will be punished with Hell.
13.
Quran 9:123 - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness."
Yet another call to arms.
Sources:
- http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/
- http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/violence.aspx
- Not Fox News
Sure thing! I'll be glad to interpret these. (Your second source, btw, the religion of peace website, I've seen before. That guy knows little to nothing about Islam is is not a credible source.) Okay, hereeeeee we gooooooo...
1. Believe it or not, these two verses are in fact a continuation of 2:190. This is in fact actually relating to defensive warfare, for Prophet Muhammad and his followers were in fact under persecution at the time by Muhammad's own tribe, the Quraysh ("idtihad" does in fact mean persecution. Not only do I know this from taking Arabic classes, but there is a Turkish word similar to this with the same meaning, for many Turkish words originated from Arabic. This is the same with the word "fitna" that is used in the verse, but it is used in the exact same context as "idtihad" in the verse.). They were in fact under Qurayshi attack even while in Medina (ex: Battle of the Trench - Google it), but what is mentioned in the verse states that if an enemy was attacking you in war (believe me, I read the Quran), don't sit there passively and let them slaughter you. Even so, the verse still states to forgive them if they desist fighting, even if they wanted your head (I can provide you with various accounts later if ya want).
Status: Debunked.2. False. Nowhere has Muhammad ever mentioned that it's good to raid and loot caravans. Second, when mentioning fighting, this was in terms of defending the faith against those who wanted the faith and its people dead (this verse was revealed during the Battle of Badr or Uhud, can't remember which. Either way, they were the first and second wars the Quraysh triggered so that they could basically destroy the Muslims, and here it is mentioned that during times of war in which you defend the faith against persecutors, which in this case are the Quraysh, God will reward you for protecting your faith.).
Oh, and this isn't a hadith, a saying/quote of Prophet Muhammad. This is a verse from the Holy Quran, the very things God ordered upon and told the Muslims Himself (not directly, but via the Angel Jibreel/Gabriel to Muhammad quite often. So yeah, hadith =/= Quranic verse.
Status: Debunked.3. False. God is not ordering Muslims to exterminate everyone until they become Muslims. Basically the same explanation as the first two in terms of the religion-protecting, do-no-harm-to-those-desisting-fighting, all that good stuff. Alrighty then.
Status: Debunked.4. Nope. When mentioning "joining companions with Allah", it is in fact talking about polytheism, or associating other gods with God, the word "associating" being replaced with "joining". It is important to note, however (this is one of the reasons why people tend to misinterpret the Quran), that the term "Unbelievers" is not referring to all non-Muslims as a whole. "Unbelievers" are mentioned frequently in the Quran, but this is in fact a term that is referring to the Quraysh and their allies (who wanted Muhammad and Islam terminated) only. This basically mentions that the "Unbelievers" (referring to the Quraysh and their allies, not non-Muslims as a whole) will one day be in fear of the soon-to-come large following of Islam, but not in terms of fearing for their lives. Mmkay?
Status: Debunked.5. Again, this is related to the whole defend-the-faith-from-those-who-are-persecuting-it-and-you dealio. Those who defended the faith from those trying to destroy it (namely, the Quraysh) were not sent out to battle to rain utter havoc on the Quraysh (which would have been near-impossible to do anyway, considering that they were greatly outnumbered during the Battle of Badr and Battle of Uhud, which is around the time these verses were revealed), but to defend the religion from being wiped off the face of the Earth, which, believe it or not, might have happened if they hadn't fought back in order to defend themselves and their religion. Oh, and as for the whether-or-not-you-die-or-are-victorious thing, that's basically God's acknowledging the person defending their faith by rewarding them in the Hereafter (y'know, the afterlife) for giving their life so that their religion may live on.
You do have a very good point, however, when you said that verses like this are often the supposed theological "flawless foundation" that terrorists turn to to justify their actions which they believe to be "in the name of God". They too see this as an excuse to inflict death and unspeakable horrors in order to "defend the religion" (really? 1.2 billion followers and you have the urge to prevent "the persecution of your faith" by suicide bombing? Completely uncalled for in Islam.)
Status: Debunked.6. Kinda just talked about this. "They" is referring to the Quraysh, not those who don't believe in Islam as a whole. Basically saying don't trust them (the Quraysh) because they wish to see Islam perish and if they come in large numbers toward you (a Muslim, because they want to eliminate the followers of Islam), don't be a sitting duck and protect yourself and your faith (because, y'know, they kinda want to see you and your relatively small religion that doesn't have many followers like you dead). 'Nuff said.
Status: Debunked.7. Whoops, neglected to mention that there is a "greater" jihad and a "lesser" jihad. "Greater jihad" - Spiritual and moral striving to become a better Muslim and overall person. "Lesser jihad" (what this verse is referring to) - Defending the religion in wartime from those who want the religion annihilated (this is what terrorists think they're doing, but I think we can all agree that it is neither "defensive" nor is it "protecting" Islam from "persecution".). We all on the same page then? Great!
Yet again, this is about the protecting-your-religion-when-it-is-in-danger-and-being-persecuted situation. This verse is basically calling out those who are too cowardly to go defend their religion when it is under persecution, for they're valuing their own lives when they should be helping to defend their religion from those who want it gone, shaming them from refusing to go. Obviously, the elderly and disabled are exempt and are not recommended to go on account of their illnesses/handicaps/etc. Kind of like how coaches make players sit out games if they're injured for their own sake.
Status: Debunked.Since it was Ako and Air who lovingly set forth these claims for Livid and I to interpret and correct their misinterpretations of certain verses, which I already have done, it is only right that Livid interprets the second half of the batch of verses you two have provided.
Livid, you're up.
