Stop whitewashing Islam.

Submitted by Caesar Arevalo (United States), Dec 11, 2006 at 23:28

You said that the translations are misleading and incomplete. The truth of the bottom is that Muslims are so deluded that even if the "correct" translation is used, you would not want to accept the truth that Quran teaches intolerance, bigotry, violence, and murder of non-Muslims. You are not dealing with the facts.

If Muslims in the Middle East believed what you just said, then they would not be killing and persecuting Christians in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Actually, you would do a good favor to everybody if, instead of arguing with me, start teaching Muslims in the Middle East how to interpret Islam according to your point of view.

The truth is in the Quran:

9.005 ( revealed in Madinah)

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.

The only thing this verse teaches is that the violent Mohammed was a savage warrior but a prophet.

9.004

( revealed in Madinah): 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).

Here Mohammed does not respect the religions of those he called "idolaters." What a "peaceful" religion is Islam!

2-next verse:( revealed in Madinah)

Those that make war against Allah and His apostle and spread disorder in the land shall be slain or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or be banished from the land. They shall be held up to shame in this world and sternly punished in the hereafter." (Sura 5.33-34)

This verse only shows what everybody knows: that Islam is a thirst-bloody and violent religion. Religious intolerance at its highest level. Muslims fought offensive wars in order to spread the lies of Mohammed. Do you really care how many innocent people were beheaded and killed just because they resisted believing in a lie like Islam?

3- 8.12( revealed in Madinah)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 ungrateful: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."

This is exactly what Muslim terrorists in the Middle East do to non-Muslims. They instill terror in the name of Islam. What a peaceful religion? They believe at face value what this verse teaches. They do not care about your explanations.

Talking about oppression? Who is oppressing Muslims today? Do you want to know who is oppressing women and men today in the Middle East? Just look what countries like Iran is doing with women. Public stoning, flogging, beheading, and the list goes on. Do not blame on others. Islam is the main oppressor of Muslims.

5- 9.073O Prophet! strive hard against the ungrateful "unbelievers" and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed.

This verse is about intolerance and fighting against those who do not want to be Muslims. Can you tell me where in this verse we can find tolerance to those who do not want to believe in the lies of Islam? Why should I be punished just because I do not want to be a Muslim and consider Islam a lie? Or, why should I be killed just because I do not want to be Muslim anymore?

9:074-

They swear by Allah that they said nothing (evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs was (their) only return for the bounty with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them! If they repent, it will be best for them;

Another example of religious intolerance in Islam... Mohammed did not believe in freedom of speech as Muslims today do not.

17:16: And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.

Why your god wants to destroy a town with innocent people who do not want to believe in the god of Muhammad? The sad thing is that Muslims are doing it today in Sudan. You cannot compare the Quran with the Old Testament when YHWH dealt with pagan nations. No Christian or Jew group kills people just because they are not Christians or Jews. However, Muslims have been doing it since the seventh century all the way to the twentieth first century.

Your interpretation of the Quran makes no sense at all. Actually, if you really believe what you said, then you are in big trouble and you should hide because you are next in line to be murdered by true Muslims.

If you are really serious, then you should tell Saudi Arabian Muslims to stop insulting Jews and Christians in the name of Islam. It is not me who you need to teach. It is your own people in the Middle East who are teaching hatred against the West.

You said that Christians and Jews are considered by Islam believers. If this is true, then someone must be wrong: either you or the millions of Palestinians who hate Jews and blow up innocent people in bus stations. And what about the Imans in Saudi Arabia who every Friday preach hate against Jews and the West? I never heard anyone of them explaining the Quran using a historical-sociological hermeneutic.

The truth of the matter is that Islam must be transformed, not only reformed. Suicide bombers in Palestine, Muslim terrorists in Europe, Asia, and Africa are devout Muslims who do not share your point of view. It is them who need to be re-educated in Islam. Do not tell me that all the fight, murder, and beheading that Muslims do around the world is because they are oppressed. Muslims have oppressed Muslims. You should thank the United States of America for fighting to give freedom to millions of Muslims. No other country like America has the guts to send its soldiers to die for Muslims. Stop bashing America, start loving America

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".