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(EMAILWIRE.COM, January 13, 2008 ) Alexandria, VA
For their own misguided reasons, some "teachers" try to say that Islam authorizes terrorism in some cases and that Muslims should support terrorism if it is conducted in retaliation for offenses against Allah and Islam. They go on to say that Israel and the United States are the main offenders against Allah and Islam and therefore any attack against any people or interests of Israel or the United States are justified by Islam.
They teach the false doctrine of "substitutionary retaliation," in which any Israeli or any American is a legitimate target, even if the particular individuals attacked are innocent of any fighting against Allah or Islam.
This article will show, however, that the Qur'an absolutely forbids terrorism for any reason because terrorism always exceeds the limits set by Allah, deliberately intending to kill innocent people.
Therefore, terrorists are false Muslims, not entitled to enter Paradise or share in any of its benefits.
This article will also point out that an offense against an Islamic-majority country is not the same thing as an attack on Islam itself or an attack on Allah, for there have always been many reasons for countries to go to war, without regard to religion. So the fight between Israel and Palestine is not a fight between Judaism and Islam, but is, instead, a territorial conflict between a Judaism-majority country and an Islamic-majority country. Further, it will show that the United States does not fight against Allah or Islam, but only against certain murderers who falsely claim to be true Muslims. It will also show that the doctrine of "substitutionary retaliation" is a man-made idea, essentially unjust, and not supported by the Qur'an.
Next, this article will demonstrate that terrorism is a form of rebellion against Allah, in which the terrorists refuse to accept the realities of the world, as ordained by Allah. Then, this article will consider the proper relationship between Christians and Muslims, based on the highest written authority in each religion. Finally, it will call upon Saudi Arabia to take action to end terrorism; and it will call upon the United States to restrain Israel.
May the one God, Who created all things, Who has power over all things, and Who gives whatever He chooses to whomever He pleases, bless this effort to make peace among His human creatures.
AUTHORITY OF THE QUR'AN
THE Qur'an is the highest written authority in Islam. The Qur'an is to Islam as the Bible is to Christianity. For more about the Qur'an, please search http://google.com for "Qur'an" and for "Koran." (Different spellings.)
DEFINITION OF TERRORISM
TERRORISM is "the systematic use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective."
Source: http://www.britannica.com/search?query=terrorism&ct=
For more about definitions of terrorism, please see =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/bestdefinitionofterrorism.html
SCRIPTURAL SOURCES
The Qur'an and Bible I am using here are the ones available online from the University Of Michigan by following THIS LINK =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/koranbibleonline.html
The Revised Standard translation of the Bible (RSV) and the M. H. Shakir translation of the Qur'an are both widely available and widely accepted. If you want to consult other translations, you can easily do so by searching for "Bible online" and "Qur'an online" at Google.com.
RETALIATION MUST NOT EXCEED THE LIMITS SET BY ALLAH
In Islam (but not in Christianity) retaliation is authorized to avenge an injury. However, the retaliation must be directed toward the guilty individual(s), must be proportional to the injury, and must not exceed the limits set by Allah. The Qur'an does not support substitutionary retaliation against individuals who are innocent of any offense.
[2.178] O you who believe! retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the slain, the free for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female, but if any remission is made to any one by his
(aggrieved) brother, then prosecution (for the bloodwit) should be made
according to usage, and payment should be made to him in a good manner;
this is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy; so whoever exceeds the
limit after this he shall have a painful chastisement.
[2.179] And there is life for you in (the law of) retaliation, O men of
understanding, that you may guard yourselves.
[2.194] The Sacred month for the sacred month and all sacred things are
(under the law of) retaliation; whoever then acts aggressively against
you, inflict injury on him according to the injury he has inflicted on you
and be careful (of your duty) to Allah and know that Allah is with those
who guard (against evil).
Qur'an 2.178-179, 2.194
(Shakir Translation)
The doctrine of "substitutionary retaliation" is completely unjust, similar to the injustice of cutting off the hand of a random person in a village as punishment for a theft, when the actual villager who committed the crime could not be captured.
TERRORISM ALWAYS EXCEEDS THE LIMITS SET BY ALLAH
No matter what justification for it may exist, terrorism always exceeds the limits set by Allah, because terrorism deliberately intends to kill innocent people.
[2.190] And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and
do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the
limits.
[18.74] So they went on until, when they met a boy, he slew him. (Musa)
said: Have you slain an innocent person otherwise than for manslaughter?
Certainly you have done an evil thing.
Qur'an 2.190, 18.74
(Shakir Translation)
Their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed innocent blood;
their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity,
desolation and destruction are in their highways
Bible: Isaiah 59:7
(Revised Standard Version)
THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT FIGHT AGAINST ALLAH OR AGAINST ISLAM, BUT ONLY AGAINST TERRORIST MURDERERS WHO FALSELY CLAIM THAT ISLAM AUTHORIZES THEIR ATTACKS.
The United States does not fight against Allah or against Islam or Hinduism or Judaism or Shinto or Buddhism or Christianity or Paganism or any other religion whatsoever. By its Constitution and all its laws, the United States must remain neutral regarding religion.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
U. S. Constitution, First Amendment
An offense against against an Islamic-majority country is not the same thing as an attack on Islam itself or an attack on Allah, for there have always been many reasons for countries to go to war, without regard to religion. In the war between Iraq and Iran, both countries were Islamic-majority countries. Neither country was fighting against Islam, but they had their own reasons to fight, apart from religion. Similarly, the fight between Israel and Palestine is not a fight between Judaism and Islam, but is, instead, a territorial conflict between a Judaism-majority country and an Islamic-majority country.
TERRORISTS REBEL AGAINST ALLAH BY REFUSING TO ACCEPT HIS WILL.
Two of the most basic truths in Islam are that Allah has power over all things and that He gives whatever He chooses to whomever He pleases. These two ideas are found throughout the Qur'an in dozens of places. The entire concept of submission to the will of Allah is founded on these two ideas.
This one verse from the Qur'an encompasses both ideas as clearly as any, and there are dozens more.
[2.284] Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is
Allah's; and whether you manifest what is in your minds or hide it, Allah
will call you to account according to it; then He will forgive whom He
pleases and chastise whom He pleases, and Allah has power over all things.
Qur'an 2.284
(Shakir translation)
Search Qur'an to see that Allah has power over all things. =>
See http://www.loveallpeople.org/quranforbidsterrorism.html for active link.
Search Qur'an to see that He gives whatever He chooses to whomever He pleases. =>
See http://www.loveallpeople.org/quranforbidsterrorism.html for active link.
Therefore, Muslims should not fight against Allah by trying to change the things He has ordained. For instance, Saudi Arabia has huge reserves of oil, according to the will of Allah. Saudi Arabia also has responsibility to maintain the most sacred sites of Islam, according to the will of Allah. The United States has overwhelming military power and the responsibility to use it to maintain world peace, according to the will of Allah. Some countries have almost nothing but land and people, according to the will of Allah. Some people and countries are rich, and some are poor, according to the will of Allah. Some are weak, and some are strong, according to the will of Allah. Each person should accept what he has received and use it for good to the best of his ability. Do not try to change what Allah has set in place. Do not exceed the limits of acceptable behavior which He has set for you. Terrorists rebel against Allah by refusing to accept the world as He has made it to be.
THE PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS
ACCORDING TO EACH RELIGION'S HIGHEST WRITTEN AUTHORITY
The world is well aware that a fundamental tension has long existed between Islam and Christianity. The underlying theological reason for this tension is best understood by comparing two verses from Scripture: Sura 112 from the Qur'an (Islam's highest written authority) and John 3:16 from the Bible (Christianity's highest written authority.)
Sura 112 is considered by many Muslims to be the most important single statement in Islam, and John 3:16 is considered by many Christians to be the most important single statement in Christianity.
The fundamental conflict is that the Qur'an says Allah (God) did not father any children in any way, and that no one is like Him; but the Bible says that Jesus is God's Son and that anyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life.
[112.1] Say: He, Allah, is One.
[112.2] Allah is He on Whom all depend.
[112.3] He begets not, nor is He begotten.
[112.4] And none is like Him.
Qur'an 112:1-4
(Shakir Translation)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but
have eternal life.
Bible: John 3:16
(Revised Standard Version)
To a Muslim, it is blasphemy to say that Jesus is the Son of God. To a Christian, it is blasphemy to say that Jesus is not the Son of God. This is the fundamental conflict between Islam and Christianity, and it cannot be papered over with smiles and pleasant words.
Nevertheless, it is quite possible for both religions to live side-by-side in peaceful co-existence. In fact, the Qur'an specifically instructs Muslims to accept and tolerate Christians, and the Bible instructs Christians to live at peace with all people, as we will show below.
THE WAY CHRISTIANS SHOULD ACT TOWARD MUSLIMS
The Bible instructs Christians to live at peace with all people, as much as it is possible to do so. Further, Christians are instructed not to retaliate for offenses, but to leave vengeance to God.
If possible, so far as it depends upon you,
live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge
yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God;
for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay,
says the Lord."
Bible: Romans 12:18-19
(Revised Standard Version)
THE WAY MUSLIMS SHOULD ACT TOWARD CHRISTIANS
The Qur'an instructs Muslims to give Christians nothing to fear and not to cause Christians to grieve. Further, the Qur'an instructs Muslims that there should be no compulsion in religion. Therefore Christians, all of whom believe in Allah (God), believe in the Last day (Judgment Day) and try to do good, should be allowed to live in peace, even if they do not convert to Islam.
[2.62] Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the
Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day
and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is
no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.
[2.256] There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become
clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan
and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which
shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
Qur'an 2.62 and 2.256
(Shakir Translation)
A CALL FOR SAUDI ARABIAN ACTION TO STOP TERRORIST MURDERERS
. . . as published in ArabNews.com, Dec. 4, 2002
Shaming Islam
Neither Israeli offenses nor U. S. arrogance can ever justify
terrorist murderers, who bring shame to Islam. And when they claim
that their actions are to win Allah's pleasure, they insult Him.
Allah is merciful; but where is the mercy in terrorist murder? Allah
is just; but where is the justice in deliberately blowing up women and
school children?
In Islam, there is supposed to be "no compulsion in religion;" but the
concept of jihad has now been twisted to mean nothing less than war
against all non-Muslims. In Islam, "good Jews and good Christians" are
supposed to have nothing to fear; but merely being Jewish or Christian
now has become a reason to be killed.
The cowardly silence of rational Muslims is deafening. The screaming
fanatics have claimed Islam for themselves. Does anyone really think
Allah would be pleased by these events?
As the leading promoter and supporter of Islam worldwide, Saudi Arabia
must directly intervene to stop terrorist murderers in the name of
Islam by all means possible.
by Bill McGinnis, Alexandria, Virginia, US published 4 December 2002
A CALL FOR UNITED STATES ACTION TO RESTRAIN ISRAEL
(Written when Israel was being terror-bombed almost daily, and had begun to react wildly and desperately to stop the bombings, by whatever means it considered necessary.)
Tormented by the crazed attackers,
Israel now has also lost its mind.
Barking, biting, lunging through the fence,
The frantic dog endangers everyone.
It threatens now to bite its master's hand,
The hand without which it would surely die.
May the many blessings of Peace flow to you and to all who read these words.
Sincerely,
Bill McGinnis, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director
http://LoveAllPeople.org
Blessings to you. May God help us all.
Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - http://www.LoveAllPeople.org
HTML version of this message with more links is at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/quranforbidsterrorism.html
You can contact me, Rev. Bill McGinnis, at bmcgin@patriot.net.
Rev. Bill McGinnis is an Internet Christian minister,
writer and publisher. He is Director of LoveAllPeople.org,
a small private think tank in Alexandria, Virginia, and
all of its related websites. His agenda is to help maximize
the happiness and well-being of all people.
LoveAllPeople.org
Rev. Bill McGinnis
bmcgin@patriot.net
bmcgin@patriot.net 
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