The Misconceptions about Islam/2/2 Ahmed Rouas

                              The famous misconceptions

about Islam 2/2

Ahmed Rouas

Most of verses that tackled and mentioned Jihad have clearly stated its motives and reasons or implied them within the context. Have the Holy Quran mentioned those motives one time it would have been more than enough to confirm its characteristic and its merit as a major promoter of  peace in the world

Jihad has nothing to do with “ war” as it has been known to man throughout the history

The West has for instance, launched most of its notorious wars during its ill-famed and disreputable long colonial history for satisfying its devouring hunger. Millions of poor and feeble people had to die in Africa Asia and Latin America for the unholy reason of satisfying the West ever-hungry greed. Jihad has nothing to do with such wars. Its cause is much different than these greedy wars

 I know that there are many tendentious and counterfeiters of reality out there who are taking the advantage of the  modern cyber communication and work night and day in spreading lies and misinformation about Islam through repulsive and loathsome means. Their strategy, however, is stupidly masked behind silly generalization. A lot of  miserable anti-Islam websites premeditatedly snatch pieces of Quranic texts away from this chapter and that, and disentangle them from their necessary contexts, and rash to add to them the forged meanings that they mislead people with.

Some of them would, for instance, take some horrible photos of dead people taking fromsome Hotbeds of tension and war zones in the Islamic world and try to paint Islam and Muslims with that and deliberately accuse Islam as a whole of Barbarism!!

It is very often for instance, to find some scheming people spreading some barbaric bloody religious celebrations of the shiat cult and try to stain Islam with it, while everybody knows that those barbaric and shameful and satanic acts have nothing to do  with Islam nor with the vast majority of Muslims in the world. Shiats are a tiny sect compared to Muslims and most of them had deviated from the true Islam.

  Such propaganda, however, can only fool the most gullible and simple-minded people, that we probably think that we should not be worried about, but the concern grows when knowing that many people in the west nowadays proved to be manipulated by some anti-Islam controlled media, owned by some political  influential groups .The most efficacious media in the west today, is owned and controlled by certain anti-Islam groups. Nevertheless, If we are to compare between those barbaric acts committed by some ignorant Arabs in some war zones  and what America and Israel or the  western countries in general have committed either in their notorious wars in Palestine, Iraq or Afghanistan, or during the first and second world wars, we will be left short of any ground for comparison. The west alone has killed more than 100 million people-most of them were innocent civilians- in one century alone. Many more millions of innocent and poor people were perished by western colonial countries in previous wars to satisfy their greed from other people natural resources and yet no Muslim would accuse Christianity of Barbarism or the Prophet Jesus peace be with Him of brutality.

Such shameful conduct of those tendentious cunning people is like taking pictures of  innocent people and children killed and mutilated  by American shells and missiles in Iraq or Afghan villages and accuse Christianity as a religion of terror.!!

Jihad is clear of all those claims and it has a very constructive goal and it aims at the good welfare of all humanity had it just been understood properly.

Equally absurd is the claim that Islam was spread at the sword point! Those who spread this outcrying lie stay speechless when confronted with some concert facts in the history such as how did Islam spread in the most populous country in Islamic world Indonesia ? because no Islamic or Arab army known to have reached those islands of Indonesia or Malaysia or many other southern Asia countries. The only Muslims known to have travelled to those remote islands were merchants             

Also, how can little number of Arabs and Muslims who entered many countries in North Africa or mid-Asia for instance be able to force all those masses by which they were far out numbered, to convert to Islam.And stay adherent to Islam

Let us now read what one of the even-handed Westerner historian wrote:

 Misconception: Islam was spread by the sword

Historian De lacey O’Leary states “History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.” There is no record in history that shows people being forced by sword point to convert to Islam. When Islam spread through countries they would set up private churches and synagogues for the non Muslims they were governing and because of the good treatment they had received they themselves would convert. If one considers the small number of Muslims who initially spread Islam to the west all the way from Spain and Morocco and into east from India and China.one would realize that such a small group of people could not force others to be members of a religion against their will. It is also interesting to note that when the Mongols invaded and conquered large portions of the Islamic empire, instead of destroying the religion they adopted it!” Islam at the Crossroads 

The following verses of the Quran highlights the nature of Jihad in Islam

Baqara 190. Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.

246 al Baqara

  246. Hast thou not Turned thy vision to the Chiefs of the Children of Israel after (the time of) Moses? they said to a prophet (That was) among them: "Appoint for us a king, that we May fight in the cause of Allah." He said: "Is it not possible, if ye were commanded to fight, that that ye will not fight?" They said: "How could we refuse to fight in the cause of Allah, seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?" but when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them. But Allah Has full knowledge of those who do wrong

195 Al Imran

 And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: Ye are members, one of another: Those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm in My Cause, or fought or been slain,- verily, I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath;- A reward from the presence of Allah, and from His presence is the best of rewards."

Annisaa

75. And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)?- Men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!"

76hose who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith Fight in the cause of Evil: o fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan.

84. Then fight in Allah.s cause - Thou art held responsible only for thyself - and rouse the believers. It may be that Allah will restrain the fury of the Unbelievers; for Allah is the strongest in might and in punishment.

90……. Therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not, and (instead) send you (Guarantees of) peace, then Allah Hath opened no way for you (to war against them).

91. Others you will find that wish to gain your confidence as well as that of their people: Every time they are sent back to temptation, they succumb thereto: if they withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them wherever ye get them: In their case We have provided you with a clear argument against them

Anfal 39. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do

Attawba 12. But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and taunt you for your Faith,- fight ye the chiefs of Unfaith: for their oaths are nothing to them: that thus they may be restrained

Will ye not fight people who violated their oaths, plotted to expel the Messenger, and took the aggressive by being the first (to assault) you? Do ye fear them? Nay, it is Allah Whom ye should more justly fear, if ye believe!

Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers

36  and fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves

Mohammmed Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah.s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost

Al Mumtahana

Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.

Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and  drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong

The highlighted portions of these Ayats determine the causes and the strong motives behind these Ayats, For this reason many Muslim scholars have came to a conclusion that Jihad in Islam has a defensive nature and absolutely has no offensive nature.For Islam considers killing one soul without a right cause is like killing all humanity, and saving it is like saving the whole humanity

Al Ma’da32

“On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. “

That is why we find those clear cut restrictions in the law of engagement in Jihad

  Do not commit treachery
. Do not deviate from the right path
. Do not mutilate dead bodies
. Do not kill children
. Do not kill women
. Do not kill aged men
. Do not harm or burn trees
. Do not destroy buildings
. Do not destroy an enemy’s flock, unless you use it for your food

When you pass people who have devoted their lives to monastic services leave them alone

The above-mentioned commands repeatedly had been advocated by the Prophet and His successors Such as Abu Bakr Omar Othman and Ali

so, what more misinformation is still there about Jihad.

It has been edited on Nov the 6/ 2010 in Maktoobblog