Re: Terrorism is built in Islam

Submitted by R. (United States), Jan 27, 2006 at 19:25

I'm curious where you got those translations from. A hadith search turns up nothing. Upon looking up the verses in question, I find that they are grossly misrepresented.


You said: Qur'an 8:12 "I shall terrorize the infidels. So wound their bodies and incapacitate them because they oppose Allah and His Apostle."

The Qu'ran says:
YUSUFALI: Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."
PICKTHAL: When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.
SHAKIR: When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

I'm sure Daniel Pipes himself would agree.. when you goto war, you need to utterly destroy your opponent. We did it in Germany. We did it in Japan. And by doing so, we left them no other choice but to make progress that the rest of the world can find suitable. We did not do this with Hamas, and now look what happened. And realistically, if you're going to attack this verse, you might want to start taking a look at the Old Testament and seeing what it says.


You said: Qur'an 8:57 "If you gain mastery over them in battle, inflict such a defeat as would terrorize them, so that they would learn a lesson and be warned."

The Qu'ran says:
008.057
YUSUFALI: If ye gain the mastery over them in war, disperse, with them, those who follow them, that they may remember.
PICKTHAL: If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember.
SHAKIR: Therefore if you overtake them in fighting, then scatter by (making an example of) them those who are in their rear, that they may be mindful.

Again.. when you goto war, you want to remind the person: don't make war with me. Pretty universal thought. America participates in this kind of logic. "Shock and Awe" anyone?


You said: Qur'an 8:67 "It is not fitting for any prophet to have prisoners until he has made a great slaughtered in the land."

008.067
YUSUFALI: It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the Hereafter: And Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.
PICKTHAL: It is not for any prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
SHAKIR: It is not fit for a prophet that he should take captives unless he has fought and triumphed in the land; you desire the frail goods of this world, while Allah desires (for you) the hereafter; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.


Good thing Muhammad was the last prophet, eh? This verse is no longer relevent. And besides, if you have a problem with this verse, I recommend you look at the Old Testament and see what Moses and the Jews did to the Canaanites.


In every religion, there exists the possibility of good and bad. If you want to make the case that Islam is a religion of terror, be free. But do not fall into the habit of taking verses out of context as this only serves to make you look bad. And realistically, for someone like myself who takes in all sides, it makes it hard for me to take anyone serious who takes verses out of context.

"You're on notice." - Stephen Colbert ;)

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