Some comments on this article

Submitted by tariq (United Arab Emirates), Dec 18, 2005 at 11:31

D. Pipes writes:

"Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers will you find the Jews and Pagans" (Sura 5, verse 85)"

V 5:85 actually means: "And for this their prayer hath Allah rewarded them with gardens, with rivers flowing underneath,- their eternal home. Such is the recompense of those who do good."

"Then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them. And seize them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them." (9:5)."

Here's a better translation:

"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."(9:5)

...this verse was revealed during a war. but at tht time the muslims had a 4 months truce with the pagans. so here the Quran does not say to find any non-muslim and kill him, but to resume the war after the 4 months have past. this is made clear by the first verse of this chapter :"A (declaration) of immunity from Allah and His Messenger, to those of the Pagans with whom ye have contracted mutual alliances"(9:1)

and here's the verse 9:6 :"And if anyone of the Mushrikûn (pagans, disbelievers) seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allâh (the Qur'ân), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not."

Pipes wrote: Fourteen centuries of Islam have witnessed a long history of Muslims engaged in jihad (holy war) to expand the area under Islamic rule, from the early conquests of the caliphs to what Samuel Huntington terms Islam's "bloody borders" today.

first of all, jihad does not mean holy war, it means to strive. for eg. a student may want to pass an exam. if he strives for that, he will be engaging in jihad. unfortunately even muslims dont know what jihad means and use it as a substitute for holy war.

Secondly, muslims didnt attack any country to increase the areas under Islamic rule, they were defending themseves and their religion.

And Dr. Pipes mentions 'honour killings' as if its a part of Islam. Its not.

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