Does the Koran encourage the Fundamentalists of Islam?
Source
In
many places of the world today we find an increase in
the religion of Islam. And what is surprising is that
the Moslems who try to resist this progress are accused
by their co-religion members of betraying the teaching
of the Koran. Does the Holy Book of the Mohammedans
justify the Islamic religion? To find out let us give
precise quotes on one issue among others - the
relationship between the Moslem and non-Moslem world.
To get a clear picture, the best way is to refer to the
actual text rather than to interpretations which are
extraneous to it.
Obligation for the Moslems to
undertake the Holy War:
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day,
nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by
Allah and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of
Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book (1),
until they pay the Jizya (2) with willing
submission, and feel themselves subdued." (S IX 29)
"O
ye who believe! Fight the unbelievers who gird you
about, and let them find firmness in you; and know that
Allah is with those who fear Him." (S IX 123)
Threat of punishment to the
Moslems who do not take any part in the Holy War:
"O
ye who believe! What is the matter with you, then, when
ye are asked to go forth in the Cause of Allah ye cling
heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this
world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of
this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go
forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and
put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in
the least. For Allah hath power over all things." (S
IX 38-39)
Promise of enrichment to
those who partake in the Holy War:
"He
made you heirs of their lands, their houses, and their
goods, and of a land which ye had not frequented
(before). And Allah has Power over all things." (S
XXXIII 27)
Threat of punishment for
anyone opposing Islam:
"The
punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His
Apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief
through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the
cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or
exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this
world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the
Hereafter." (S V 36)
"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." (S IV
91)
Fate of Christians:
"They do blaspheme who say: 'Allah is Christ the son of
Mary.' But said Christ: 'O Children of Israel! Worship
Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' Whoever joins other gods
with Allah, Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the
Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers
be no one to help." (S V 75)
"Those who reject (Truth) among the People of the Book
(1) and among the Polytheists, will be in hell-fire, to
dwell therein (for aye), they are the worst of
creatures." (S XCVIII 6)
Impossibility of lasting peace
between Moslems and non-Moslems:
"O
ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians
for your friends and protectors: They are but friends
and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that
turns to them (For friendship) is of them. Verily Allah
guided not a people unjust." (S V 54)
"Let
not the Believers take for friends or helpers
Unbelievers rather than Believers: if any do that, in
nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of
precaution, that ye may guard yourselves from them. But
Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself: for the final
goal is to Allah." (S III 28)
Objection:
Is it not to be hoped that the Koran will
be read in the future in a more moderate and less
fundamentalist light?
Answer:
No, this book and the religion which it
represents are static and unchangeable, as the following
quotations serve to prove:
"So
set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith:
(Establish) Allah's handiwork according to the pattern
on which He has made mankind: No change (let there be)
in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard
Religion: but most among mankind understand not." (S
XXX 30)
"But no change wilt thou find in Allah's
way (of dealing): No turning off wilt thou find in
Allah's way (of dealing)." (S XXXV 43)
"(This was Our) way with the apostles We sent before
thee: thou wilt find no change in Our ways." (S XVII
77)
Conclusion:
The Koran is well and truly the
authority and the cause of the fundamentalist Islam of
today.
(1)
For the Moslems, "the People of the Book" are the
Christians.
(2)
The Jizya is the tribute.
Note: All
the above quotations have been drawn from: The Holy Qur-an,
with full Arabic text; by A. Yusuf Ali; Sh. Muhammad
Ashraf, Publisher & Bookseller, Kashmiri Bazar, Lahore,
Pakistan, 1975. The 'S' signifies the Sura, for easy
references consult the number after the abbreviation
'S'.
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