Islam Not Compulsory

Submitted by Tony X (United States), Mar 13, 2007 at 09:27

+-A proclaimed Muslim that seeks to compel anyone to Islam is acting against the teaching of the Prophet and, as such, are not acting as Muslims. They are acting as individuals under their own self-guidance.

I think that Osama and the like are psychotic murderers operating out of self interest, not the interests of Islam or the Islamic world. They could care less about either. He is a Jim Jones type character. Completely delusional.

But as an African-American Muslim, in contrast with Daniel's commentary, I must say that what he purports to be false apologist teachings with regards to Jihad (i.e. an inner struggle for closeness with Allah) is EXACTLY what I have been taught about Jihad and that it is never permissible to engage in fighting under Jihad unless it is defensive, NEVER offensive.

In fact, I have been taught that the Prophet, bpuh, expressly prohibited, in the Quran, compulsion of religion, any religion, to the point that he entered into treaties with those who were not Muslims in an effort to maintain peace. Further, I have been taught that the Quran, by itself, is where answers about Islam are to be found, it needs no supplements when approached with the intent to contextually understand its meaning, as opposed to, seeking to make it mean what the readers desires for it to mean. This you can do even with the Bible. Slave Owners used the bible to justify the institution. Again, taking completely out of context.

Mr. Pipes has quoted many "experts" but, as a muslim, I find his experts suspect, at least from my experience here in America. I am not a member of CAIR. I do, however, believe that religion is a relation between God and Man, regardless of the religion. Much like Evangelicals, it is the duty of Muslims, to bring people to what we identify as being the truth. That does not suggest violence.

I think that commentaries... will serve to twist perception about Islam in such a way that Middle Eastern Muslim's begin to perceive that "Islam" is under attack. If that be the belief, if they feel as if the religion is under attack, then the Muslims there are COMPELLED to fight until the threat exist no more. Until their oppressor, so to speak, no longer poses a threat to them. When peace is offered, they must cease fighting. THAT is what the Quran teaches.

There is nothing that Mr. Pipes or any other blogged "intellectual" writer can say to sway my perception of my religion and my personal relationship with the Creator. ...

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