Is the Anger of the Muslim Street Justifiable by Islam?
By Tawfik Hamid
In the last few decades, Muslims have committed several violent acts because they felt their religion had been insulted or attacked. These acts ranged from murders and violent riots against Salman Rushdie for writing the "Satanic Verses" to violent riots as a response to rumors of US soldiers insulting the Quran. The aggressive Muslim reaction after the publishing of cartoons of prophet Mohamed by the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Denmark is another well-known example of the Muslim world's reactions. Sadly, these acts of violence have resulted in devastating consequences such as the burning churches and the killing many innocent people.
The question many have raised is: are these violent reactions condoned by Islam and the result of Islamic teachings?
The answer to this question is that the reaction depends largely on the sources used by a particular follower and their understanding of the appropriate religious texts. The following are a few examples to illustrate how a Muslim's response to insulting Islam can vary depending on the religious references used:
Option 1: A Muslim who mainly follows the Quran and does not believe in the abrogation of the verses is likely to be forgiving if Islam or the prophet is insulted. This is because the Quran never mentions any punishment for insulting Islam. In addition, the Quran in more than one verse clearly states that a Muslim can only avoid sitting with those who insult their religion during the time of insult and that they are permitted to interact normally with them at any other time (See Quran 4:140, 6:68). In fact, the Quran in another verse mentions clearly the concept of insulting Allah himself without approving or justifying any violent reaction to this (See Quran 6:108).
Option 2: If a Muslim believes in the abrogation of the verses as described in many traditional and approved Islamic books that provide Quranic commentary, they may consider that the above peaceful verses were revealed only when Muslims were weak and that those verses were abrogated later on by violent verses (Such as Quran 2:193).
(Note: A complex theological analysis and interpretation is needed to explain how to understand the above verses in a way that produces a net outcome of peace rather than violence.)
Option 3: Another Muslim who strictly follows the Hadith and Sunna books (Non-Quranic sources for Islam) may justify the angry and violent reactions to insulting Islam. The story of prophet Muhammad ordering his men to kill the poet Asma bint Marwan for criticizing him (See Ibn Ishaq's "Sirah Rasul Allah" (Life of the Prophet of God)) is an example of this type of violence. In such a case, a sincere follower of the prophet (as described in these sources) may do crimes, in the name of the religion, if someone insulted the prophet.
Option 4: Muslims who follow the current mainstream Islamic jurisprudence books of all four legal schools can also justify barbaric reactions to insulting Islam through the well-known rule in Islamic jurisprudence This rule justifies killing those who insult the prophet or Islam (See as an example "Minhaj Al-Muslim" by Abu-Bakr Al-Jazarry Volume 2, Page 525).
The Muslim world has to choose between the above ways or options of understanding Islam. Understanding the religion and teaching it as described in Option 1 can prevent many violent acts by Muslims in the future. Ironically enough, the 'peaceful Muslims' - or the Muslims who do not use violence against those who insult Islam - are the ones who do not practice the mainstream Islamic jurisprudence and practice Sharia Laws "properly"!
The Muslim world needs to learn that Islam will be perceived by others as Muslims practice and portray it. If Sharia laws justify killing a human soul because he or she insulted the prophet Mohamed or insulted Islam, then the Muslim world must not expect others to call Islam a peaceful religion and the westerners must not expect the outcome of this teaching to be anything but violence and barbarism. When the Muslim world at large changes its teachings and understanding of their religion to promote forgiveness for those who insult the religion (as described in Option 1) then - and only then - can Muslims demand that "Islam is the religion of peace".
Read more from Tawfik Hamid here.
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The basic problem is that muslims,at a very young age,are taught that their religion is the one true religion and every other religion is false. No type of discussion is allowed.This creates a humongous sense of superiority complex and this is what, more than the jihadi verses which call for the killing of non-muslims, that is responsible for so much street violence,mob fury and terrorist attacks.They cannot believe that the West and Hindu India are in a better position and happier than they, the possessors of the one true religion. This leads to huge amounts of rage and violence as they froth in the mouth at their inferiority.And want to demolish everything before they go down.
Re: Allah, the MOON god. How few people notice that the symbol of Islam is the crescent moon (i.e. in islamic countries they have the "Red Crescent", NOT the Red Cross).
Allah was simply one god of a polytheistic tribal tradition, picked by "the prophet" to be the "one true god". The crescent moon came along with the tribal tradition.
One must think hard about a "religion" which enslaves its followers, in contrast with the followers of the Son who believe that the SON died to FREE all mankind, if they would just accept the sacrifice.
It would seem no small co-incidence that a deception would be nothing more than a reflection of the true light of the world.
It is as predicted in the curse put upon the slave (of Abraham of the Old Testament) and her son "he shall be a wild donkey of a man and his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand will be against him". How apt a prediction...
Only through the SON can man be truly and eternally be FREE. Yet men prefer darkness and slavery.
We must understand that in this World there is always the Good and the Bad. In all things and everything in Life there are the contrasts. Life and Death, Light and Darkness, God and satan etc.True Christianity points towards the One True and Living God, who is also the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and we the Gentiles are saved through His only Begotten Son as is mentioned countless times in His Holy Word. Jesus taught us to LOve our fellowmen and pray and Bless our enemies. On the reverse side we have a religion which comes 600 years later and advocates the theology to Steal, Kill and Destroy which apparently is quoted by Christ Himself in John 10:10, that are the attributes of Lucifer. The True and Living God never forces anyone nor does he lock our brains that we can't think logically. Now WE are given the choice to choose Eternal Life or Eternal Damnation. Let's choose wisely.
Watch and read mohammed T-shirt art from Sweden at,
http://www.mohammedt-shirt.com
Clifford west says under no circumstance should we be able to take a life and then we shouldfight to the death. which one is it or should we all talk out of both sides of our mouths proving our confusion on lifes issues ?
Peter man is against the perverters of Truth but he has joined their ranks by His own comments.
A Trus Christian will fight for what is right and will obey the Scriptures, and yes all men fall short of the Glory of God. That is why their is a continuum for forgiveness.
No this does not give a license to sin and offend others with impunity. There is an accountability for these actions.
Galatians 6:7 Says GOD is not mocked, what so ever a man soweth that shall he also reap.
If a man says he is a Christian and thinks this does not apply to him, he is self deceived and shall recieve a just recompense for his actions.
GOD is not a respecter of persons, HE regards TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS, If a person does not walk in these he is an enemy of GOD. It says to be friends with the world is to be an enemy of GOD.
Reason for forgiveness is we all fall short of the Glory of GOD and need a lot of forgiving.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of GOD, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned.
15; But he who is Spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
Islam means submit. It is an abominable satanic religious stucture and is the fulfillment of prophecy from the fourth seal in Revelations and it talks later on about people being beheaded for their steadfast faith in JESUS in these lasts days. Who cuts off peoples heads for their religious expression ?, Evil, satanic muslims.
Should they be resisted - absolutely or if not we consent that their evil is good. GOD FORBID.
REPENT< GET BAPTIZED AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. Without this you will also likewise perish as all the Heathen will, with no HOPE of ETERNAL LOVING KINDNES FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS. We condemn ourselves, the Father doesn,t. If you do not want to be with HIM, HE will not force you. You will receive your own end. An eternity without HIM.
John 17;3 and this is ETERNAL LIFE,That they know YOU, the one and only TRUE GOD and HIM whom you have sent. It is Eternal Loving Relationship that is ETERNAL LIFE.This is the BEAUTY of Salvation. Loving Kindness forever. Sounds to Good to be TRUE, But it is TRUE.
THANK YOU JESUS and YAHWEY. AMEN!
It is well-documented that Christianity is a fraud. After all, how can they justify murdering people who didn't share their religious beliefs or who refuse to believe a "savior" who contradicts himself so many times in the gospels? As for Islam, their fallacy is in their timing. God stopped communicating with mortals about 2,000 years ago. So if a man claims that God communicated with him 900 years ago, he is definitely a liar.
Neither Christianity nor Islam can bring credible witnesses to justify their beliefs.
That leaves the only true religion in the world, the religion that preaches universal love and brotherhood, and who existence was witnessedby more than 6,000,000 men, women and children. That religion is Judaism.
All of the Old Testament Scriptures pointed to Jesus Christ, the true Messiah. The promise to Adam and Eve that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent is fulfilled in Jesus Christ; He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies and proved Himself to be the Son of God by rising from the dead. The Jews that crucified Christ were blinded by their RELIGION, thinking that they were righteous before God by how they obeyed the Law, though they added so much tradition to it. The Law only shows that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, that is, Jesus Christ. There is NO right "religion." All religion is man trying to live a certain way so God will accept him, but no one can meet God's perfect standard. God's plan is to reconcile all creation back to Himself, not to set up a religion. Salvation is only possible by faith in the blood of Jesus to do what all the old Temple sacrifices could not do. Read the book of Hebrews if you think Judaism is true and Christianity false. There is a false "Christianity" that conquers and kills, but true Christianity is the fulfillment of Judaism, and the New Covenant of God. It's about growing in spiritual maturity and faithfulness to God, it's a relationship with the Father.
Nonsense
If you meet an admitted Muslim, I feel it is more than proper to ask them if their rights of living here in America would be primary in a conflict with a radical Muslim activity. If they cannot commit to an an American fidelity without question, you can bet that person is dangerous to me and our community.
and Amen!
The very idea that the Islamic world wants a clear path, unincumbered, to do and act any way it wishes and the rest of the world must respect this view is absolutely ridiculous. The last time I looked, I was a human being and I live around other human beings. Nothing on this earth gives me the right to take the life of another human being, period. Any passage in the Christian bible or the Koran that gives any human being the right to kill at will is wrong and must be eliminated if mankind is to survive. If the Islamic world wants respect, it has to earn it. Until the wholesale slaughter of innocent people is stopped, the world should be at war with Islamic radicals, to the death. It is radical Islam that is causing world unrest and radical Islam will never convince the rest of the world that it is worth saving, or, for that matter, is superior in any way to any other faith.
Clifton L. West
RIGHT ON CLIFFORD L WEST, even your name seems appropriate. Islamic world domination comes in many forms, long term and short term goals. Lieing to the infedels at will, means no one can trust a Muslim, the rules and regs of the Koran, and of Christianity stems from distorting Jewish History, both religious fantasy of domination. Inquisition 400 years of Christian domination efforts, now Islamic effort. We go to Mars and yet the rotten stench of past history takes lives daily. Any belief in a life here after, salvation or paradise, sacrifices the present moment, nothing gets done without blood shed, we only learn from pain, therefore bad things will continue to happen to good people Thank you Peter Knopfler.
Very good article which explains Islam quite well although when you dig deeper there are lots more to be concerned about.
The ideology of this religion does lend itself to anger and hostility especially and I cannot think of any other religion that is so violent and calls for killing and persecution of Jews, Christians and unbelievers in the world today!
Hubal and Allah the Moon God?
Islam:
Introduction to basic facts of history:
Moon worship has been practiced in Arabia since 2000 BC. The crescent moon is the most common symbol of this pagan moon worship as far back as 2000 BC.
In Mecca, there was a god named Hubal who was Lord of the Kabah.
This Hubal was a moon god.
One Muslim apologist confessed that the idol of moon god Hubal was placed upon the roof of the Kaba about 400 years before Muhammad. This may in fact be the origin of why the crescent moon is on top of every minaret at the Kaba today and the central symbol of Islam atop of every mosque throughout the world:
About four hundred years before the birth of Muhammad one Amr bin Lahyo ... a descendant of Qahtan and king of Hijaz, had put an idol called Hubal on the roof of the Kaba. This was one of the chief deities of the Quraish before Islam. (Muhammad The Holy Prophet, Hafiz Ghulam Sarwar (Pakistan), p 18-19, Muslim)
The moon god was also referred to as "al-ilah". This is not a proper name of a single specific god, but a generic reference meaning "the god". Each local pagan Arab tribe would refer to their own local tribal pagan god as "al-ilah".
"al-ilah" was later shortened to Allah before Muhammad began promoting his new religion in 610 AD.
There is evidence that Hubal was referred to as "Allah".
When Muhammad came along, he dropped all references to the name "Hubal" but retained the generic "Allah".
Muhammad retained almost all the pagan rituals of the Arabs at the Kaba and redefined them in monotheistic terms.
Regardless of the specifics of the facts, it is clear that Islam is derived from paganism that once worshiped a moon-god.
Although Islam is today a monotheist religion, its roots are in paganism.
Search for truth! John 4:24" God is a Spirit and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth."
Thank you your article. Very good content but do you have references that I can go to?
Your approach to finding truth, as you say, is that "G-d is a Spirit".
I have searched, researched and have talked to several religious people about the violence of radical Islam. It appears most of these "subjects of Allah" are young men, prone to high emotion, being led by older men who live in caves in desparation for their lives and eating a diet of crap with no thought for their actions; they are like a teenager "who has Daddys' car keys" and let responsibility take a day off! Who sets the code for law and morality?
For me, if you would, I find this approach to morality flying in the face of G-d, the Creator, as a complete reversal of the seven laws of universal morality
set forth in Genesis. Please review www.noahidenations.com, if you would, to possibly see an older and wiser approach to living a life dedicated to morality not to religion.
Yes, G-d is the Spirit but also the Creator of the Spirit from whence it flows.
To violate his laws of morality, like these young men & older men do, has always given me a reaction,"what about the law against murder?"
This is a violation of the 7 laws of morality that go against the radical islamic approach to responses to insults against Islam.
Yes, each of us must be tolerant of others' religions. But human tolerance has lately been a short fuse. Christianity or Paul the apostle says there is no law or Torah. So you live by the spirit of truth? What spirit? The Holy Spirit? What about the Torah? The Torah has laws for Gentiles, too! It says do not listen to Paul. Deuteronomy 13: 1-6
There is a portion of the Torah for the nations. One of the laws says that it is against the laws of G-d to murder innocent people and " I, the L-rd, will pour vegeance on those that do murder". Radical Islam creates their own version of laws and the Orthodox Jews are not going to sit and watch the holacaust happen again. They are ready to respond. Read the news. Iran may have a desire to put Israel in the ashes and the Church sit idly by and hope and wish their Saviour should appear because of this allusion to "old testament" theophanies. What rubbish! Who wrote the oldest books of morality? It would be better to say, who established the code of morality? If I may recommend some reading material, check out "The Noahide Code" and the Torah.
Kj
Boy, I don't know where you got your info, since you didn't reference any. No Christian that I know and no Bible I've read (several) say there is no Torah or Law. And certainly not Paul. You apparently completely misread, underread or you are going by what someone else said about Paul. He loved the Law. It was extremely important to him. Never does he say anything even close to what you imply. Neither does any Christian. Neither did Yeshua himself. He said He came to fulfill every jot and tittle of the Law. Though most of us do not refer to Torah, but instead just call it the Law, we all love it and believe as much as any true Jew. I say truebecause I am always amazed at how many Jews call themselves Jews but they are aethiests or agnostics. Or maybe believe just a little. To be a Jew is to be set apart FOR G-D. How can anyone call themselves a Jew and yet not believe in G-D? And yes, there is the same argument for Christians. Again, I am amazed at how many people call themselves Christian - usually because they were born into a christian famliy. Christianity is a choice each and every individual must make for himself - our parents can't do it for us. We can't do it for our children (much as I wish we could!). And you can't become a true Christian if you think you can pick and choose which Bible verses you like and which ones you don't. That includes the Torah. May our G-d bless you.
Anger is one of the few emotions that are allowed to be publicly displayed. And I would expect an angry culture just because of the repression that is all a part of Islam. (women more than men, but plenty of restrictions and harsh penalties on men as well.)
As a retired social scientist, Pre-mature cognitive commitments, runs rampid in all civilizations yet the social training of infants in Islamic societies, include suicide bombing children and women... This speaks, no screams out for attention a massive temper tantrum that is re-inforces from the moment of birth,Humanity EATS it´s Young!