Does the Qur’an Teach Violence?
Liaquat Ali
4/2/2002
The "Qur'an As It Explains Itself" Project
http://www.qaiu.org

 

 

Following are my responses to a few questions posted by someone named Vike.

 

 

"What I would really like is for someone to explain how the Koran can include teachings such as I queried you about before and still teach "peace"..."

 

According to Muslim belief, the Qur'an was revealed to Exalted Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) between 610 AD and 623 AD, and was committed to writing during his lifetime. Therefore, the Qur'an we have today in Arabic is the same as the Qur'an that was revealed to Muhammad. There are approximately 6200 verses in the Qur'an. Having been involved in the QAIU project for the past 3 ˝ months, if someone asked to describe the Message of the Qur'an in one word, that word would be COMPASSION. The Qur'an teaches compassion to one's own self, and compassion to others. Let me quote my understanding of one of the verses in the Book.:

 

QAIU 4:36. This is a Book about you O' people. It emphasizes amicable human relations. It discusses "Why" and "How" of things. Obey no one but Allah. Treat your parents kindly, humbly and fulfill their needs. Treat your relatives decently, and be extremely compassionate to orphans and those who have been left alone in the society. Take care of needy, disabled, those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs, and those whose businesses have stalled, and those who have lost their jobs. You must treat your related neighbors and unrelated neighbors, even companions by your side in public gatherings, or transportation, nicely. Be generous to the needy wayfarer you meet, and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition. Be nice to people who work under your care. And, remember that Allah dose not love the arrogant, the pompous.

 

A large number of the verses of the Qur'an use the word "Nas" that means "people" instead of "Muslim" or "Momin" that would mean “Muslim”. When the Qur'an talks about evildoers, it does not make distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims, it just defines them by actions. For example, Qur'an's “favorite” evildoers are people who eat others' fruit of labor, people who commit terrorism, people who stop wealth from circulation, etc. The Qur'an does not make distinction whether these evildoers call them selves Muslim or not.

 

If you look at the events in Muhammad life, he never fought an offensive war. The entire "killing" related verses are about the battles that were imposed on him and his followers. Verse 2:191 may sometimes be used by the Palestinians to justify their acts of violence. It is plain and simple, as long as Sharon continues with his terrorist agenda of creating settlement and thus putting innocent Israeli lives in danger, some Palestinians will use whatever Qur'anic verses that suite their needs. Human nature, I guess. The Qur'an does not teach aggression for anything, including spreading of the faith. The Qur'an clearly says, "There is no compulsion in the matter of faith." However, if a Muslim is violated, the Qur'an does not like him/her to be a sitting duck.

 

Again, the comprehensive message of the Qur'an is about creating a benevolent social order based on justice and equality. That's why the Qur'an does not call Islam as a religion. It calls it Deen or "Benevolent System of Life." I encourage you to read my opinion pieces at http://www.isbny.org/opinion.htm if you find time and interest.

 

"How can mullahs, teachers, parents, friends, and relatives honor those who go into marketplaces, theaters, parks, whatever and blow themselves up, killing innocent men, women, children, and babies, into little bits and pieces, and praise Allah, and expect their cries of wanting "peace" to be taken seriously?????"

 

I don't think that I, personally, would ever resort to violence. Not because I am pacifist, but because the Message of Qur’an is so compelling, that I don’t think that I have to resort to violence. However, the situation you are describing is of an occupied people. The terrorist Prime Minister of Israel is as much to blame, as the frustrated youth of Palestine. Please keep in mind. Majority of Palestinians want to live a normal live, get educated, hold jobs, raise children, and be allowed to live a life of their liking. Most Palestinians don't call the Palestinian-Israeli issue as an “Islamic” issue. They call it fight for self-determination. If some of them use certain verses of the Qur'an to boost their moral, then it is their choice. Remember, there are 6200 verses in the Qur'an. The real test of Palestinian "terrorism" would be when Israel pulls back to pre-67 borders.

 

"How can the followers of Islam dance in the streets after airplanes are flown into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, have killed thousands...   This is a religion of "peace"?????"

 

I think that you are referring to the CNN/Reuter clipping from 9/11 where a few people in Palestinian outfits were jubilant. I don't remember the exact clipping, but what you may not have seen are Arab prayer vigils, remarks of Arab leaders and Muslim communities calling forth condemnation and condolences. Why is it that condemnation from a large number of Muslims is not good enough, but the actions of a few are taken as a norm?

 

I often get asked as to what percentage of Muslims are extremists (read terrorists). I don't know. Sometimes a question is the best answer. For example, what percentage of Christians is like Timothy Mc Veigh?

 

" Yes, I WOULD like to know how these actions can be taken and the policies of HATE continue to be taught and have the followers of Islam say that they want "peace"..."

 

Most of the Muslim world is youthful. For example more than 50% of the Saudi population is under 18. Extremist groups do exist in the Muslim world. They prey on impressionable minds to bring an "Islamic Revolution" through force. That is plain oxymoron. They are nothing but opportunist groups. Also, since there is no clergy in Islam, any vocal group, with some following, can just call themselves the "defenders of Islam". The reality is that God never asked Muslims to defend “Islam”. The Qur’an, however, calls for the defense of the Muslim community, and the defense of oppressed against oppressors.

 

If these groups are hi-jacking Islam to meet their respective political needs, then Islam is not at fault. Remember, most of the Muslim countries are third world countries. The issue is not Islam; it is the desperateness of poverty, lack of education, and corruption.

 

"I know of NO Islamic country in the world where there isn't chaos, murder, mistreatment of women, terror, and just about every other evil one can think of...  Why is that?????"

 

Please refer to: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=275720

 

The richest fifth of the world's population enjoys 80 per cent of global income, while the poorest fifth has just percent of it. Sometimes I wonder if our lifestyle in US and Europe is at the expense of half the humanity (2.8 billion people) that lives under $2/day/person. I don't know the answer yet.

 

Unless we all climb ourselves to the level of humanity from whatever classification we like to categorize ourselves in, the world is not going to be any nicer place in the future. Either we can continue to blame one another, or we can start helping the human lot.

 

"I would love to be able to come over to believing that Islam really IS about "peace", but I believe that actions speak MUCH louder than words and the actions I see in Islamic nations sure don't speak of "peace"..."

 

When you look at Islam from the eyes of Christianity, you get confused. Islam is not a "missionary" religion per se. Most "missionary" work that is done by Muslims is among Muslims themselves. Islam is not interested in converting people to the faith by hooks or by crooks, or else. As I said earlier, the Qur'an calls Islam a "Benevolent System of Life" where humans are free from physical, economic, intellectual, and most importantly “religious” exploitation of many by a few. It teaches a peaceful, systematic, step-by-step approach to bring a psychological change in human beings that leads to social, political and economic change.

 

Islam, as we speak, is the fastest growing major faith in the world. Violent approaches taken by the likes of Taliban, OBL, Al Qaeda, et. al., to “enforce Islam” or to “teach enemy a lesson” are as disturbing for Muslims as they are for the rest of the humanity.