Correction to Forrest.

Submitted by An Aussie (Australia), May 2, 2007 at 01:05

Dear Forrest,

"Islam" is derived from "Salam" which means "Peace." The Muslim greeting is "Assalamu Alaikum", which means "Peace be upon you" - something we're meant to say to everyone we meet (It's actually compulsory).

Yes, Jihad is a struggle within, not neccesarily pertaining to war.

Shaafi: Jihad is "to fight the (infidels) for the sake of Allah by your body or money or tongue or by recruiting the people."

You fail to understand one fundamental fact about the Quran. Some parts of the Quran relate to a very specific situation e.g. a war which was happening at the time that verse was revealed. Taking quotes out of the Quran must be done extremely carefully, as what comes before and what comes after can change the meaning entirely.

Verses which you conveniently left out include:

"..Take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus does He command you, that ye may learn wisdom." (al-An'am 6:151)

"Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand Qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the law)" (al-Isra' 17:33)

Yes, using arms and fighting is a form of Jihad, in a situation where one's wellbeing/country/religion is at stake. This is as opposed to accepting oppression, and this is in a society very very different from ours. I can guarantee you if you leave verses in context, you will see that every verse which seems to permit killing is followed by some text explaining the restraint that must be used, and also many verses which describe unjustified killing to be extremely sinful, for example: killing any person without a just cause is as big a sin as killing the whole humanity and saving the life of one person is as good deed as saving the whole humanity. (See al-Ma'idah 5:32)

Please do not take verses out of context as it distorts the meaning. It seems those who use Jihad as an excuse for unjustified killings are doing exactly that, but clearly, this is their own weakness and not the Qurans.

Peace be upon you.

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