Islam "agrees to disagree" - temporarily?

Submitted by jennifer solis (United States), Dec 27, 2008 at 15:45

Thank you for the tip on Rashi, and the other links you provided; you make a good point, it is wise for "the sake of completeness" to learn more about the standard Jewish interpretation. It will be interesting.

Regarding Muslims - religious discussion is a touchy subject with most people; add to the equasion a religion that executes apostates, and it's a whole different ballgame.

Today apostasy in Islam is punishable by death in the countries of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan and Mauritania. In Pakistan blasphemy is also punishable by death. Not to mention immeasurable, innumerable "honor killings" carried out by families of apostates, world-wide.

Imam al-Shafi'i (Arabic jurist, 767 AD - 820 AD) interpreted the Qu'ranic verse 2:217 as providing the main evidence for apostacy being a capital crime (punishable by death) in Islam; the rest is (horrific, tyrannical) history, as they say.

Will Islam ever "agree to disagree" with the rest of the world - that's a good question. I'm of the opinion that those who convert to Islam are largely, if not wholly ignorant of what they're converting to (historically, doctrinally, the whole shibboleth). Conversely, those who convert out of Islam, are wholly aware of what they are converting out of. The courage exercised to leave Islam - despite familial discord, social ostracism, threat of execution - what other religion would indicate/necessitate such aversion; such a strong desire to leave; that despite threat of death, there are those who leave. When looking at Islam - it's laws (the Five Pillars are great - but look at the Sixth - martyrdom, killing the "unbeliever" = guarenteed Paradise), it's ideology towards the rest of the world ("Dar al-Kufr"; "Dar-al-Harb"; "Dar al-Islam"), it's incredible size (the world's second largest religion) - sorry to sound pessimistic, but the possiblity of Islam "agreeing to disagree" seems remote.

At best, Islam waits.

The argument can always be made that there is such a thing as a "moderate" Muslim; however, much, much tougher is the argument - is there such a thing as "moderate" Islam?

I CHEER today's move by Israel on Gaza (Dec. 27th) - Islam has proven it respects one thing, and one thing only. The "strong horse". Should the Free World realize that, Islam might just agree to shelve their Shar'ia; but don't be fooled. It's in moth-balls.

Cheers

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