Why Do Muslims?

Question

why do some facions of muslims think it's ok to commit acts of terroism ? surely that is against their own religious teachings How do they justify doing what they do when they read their holy books? it is a mystery to me how it escalates into terroism, when they profess to believe in God.What scriptures do they use in their holy books to justify what they do ?

Answer 1

(I'm a Muslim) and I'll tell you how they do it using the Qur'an:
1- they ignore the historical context during which the verses were revealed
2- they mask further explanations and put verses out of context
3- they omit the rest of a verse and ignore other verses

Here, I'll give you many example on how they can misuse the Qur'an if you're interested:

(2:190-5) “Fight in God’s cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits “God does not love those who overstep the limits":

EXPLANATION:
(they forget the "do not overstep the limits" part: i.e. prohibition of starting hostilities, fighting non-combatants, disproportionate response to aggression, killing children, women, the sick, or the elderly)

(2:190-5 continued). "Slay them wherever you find them":

EXPLANATION: this is ALWAYS used, not only by terrorists, but also by people who want to show how Islam is violent. ‘Slay them wherever you find them’ taken out of context implies that Muslims may kill non-Muslims wherever they find them. “The pronoun ‘them’ refers to the words ‘those who fight you’. Here, Muslims are here being allowed to fight the Meccans who attacked them. ‘Wherever you find them’ is also misunderstood. As exegetes and commentators explain, the Muslims were anxious that if their enemies attacked them in Mecca, which was and is a sanctuary – in which no Muslim is allowed to fight, or kill even an animal or plant – and they retaliated and killed, they would be breaking the law. The Qur’an simply reassured the Muslims that they could defend themselves when attacked, even if they killed their attackers, whether within the sanctuary or outside it. The only situations where the Qur’an allows Muslims to fight are in self-defense or the defense of the oppressed who call for help; but even then, this is restricted to those with whom the Muslims do not have treaty obligations. “If they seek help from you against persecution, it is your duty to assist them, except against people with whom you have a treaty: God sees all that you do” 8:72

(2:190-5 continued)"and drive them out from where they drove you out, for persecution is more serious than killing. Do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there. If they do fight you, kill them – this is what such disbelievers deserve – but if they stop, then God is most forgiving and merciful. Fight them until there is no more persecution, and your worship is devoted to God. If they cease hostilities, there can be no further hostility, except towards aggressors. A sacred month for a sacred month: violation of sanctity [calls for] fair retribution. So if anyone commits aggression against you, attack him as he attacked you, but be mindful of God, and know that He is with those who are mindful of Him. Spend in God’s cause: do not contribute to your destruction with your hands , but do good, for God loves those who do good”

EXPLANATION: (All of this is basically ignored) However, the six verses that concern war (2:190-5) contain many restrictions and are couched in restraining language that appeals strongly to the Muslims’ conscience. In six verses we find four prohibitions; seven restrictions (one ‘until,’ four ‘if,’ two ‘who fight you’); as well as such cautions as ‘in God’s cause,’ ‘be mindful of God,’ ‘God does not love those who overstep the limits,’ ‘He is with those who are mindful of Him,’ ‘loves those who do good,’ and ‘God is most forgiving and merciful.’ ”

4:89 "They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not friends from them, till they emigrate in the way of God (i.e. devote themselves to Him). But if they turn back (from Islam), take (hold) of them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither friends nor helpers from them."

EXPLANATION: Here is the verse the comes IMMEDIETELY after this one: 4:90 except those who join in a group, between you and whom there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with their breasts restraining from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. Had God willed, indeed He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they withdraw from you, and fight not against you, and offer you peace, then God has opened no way for you against them(i.e. gives you no reason to fight them).

9:5 "When the [four] forbidden months are over, wherever you find the polytheists, kill them, seize them, besiege them, ambush them – but if they turn [to God], maintain the prayer, and pay the prescribed alms, let them go on their way, for God is most forgiving and merciful."

EXPLANATION: The hostility and bitter enmity of the polytheists and their persecution of the Muslims during the time of the Prophet PBUH became so great that the disbelievers were determined to convert the Muslims back to paganism or finish them off: ‘They will not stop fighting you [believers] until they make you revoke your faith, if they can.’ 2:217 It was these hardened polytheists in Arabia, who would accept nothing other than the expulsion of Muslims or their reversion to paganism, and who repeatedly broke their treaties, that the Muslims were ordered to treat in the same way – either to expel them or to accept nothing from them except Islam. But, even then, the Prophet PBUH and the Muslims were not simply pounce on such enemies, reciprocating by breaking the treaty themselves: an ultimatum was issued, giving the enemy notice that, after the four sacred months, the Muslims would wage war on them. “Yet the main clause of the sentence – ‘Kill the polytheists’ – is singled out by some non-Muslims as representing the Islamic attitude to war. This far-fetched interpretation isolates and decontextualizes the many reasons given in order to fight such polytheists: they continually broke their agreements and aided others against the Muslims, they started hostilities against the Muslims, barred others from becoming Muslims, expelled them from the Holy Mosque and even from their own homes.

5:51 “You who believe, do not take the Jews and Christians as allies: they are allies only to each other. Anyone who takes them as an ally becomes one of them – God does not guide such wrongdoers.”

EXPLANATION: However, the Jews and Christians talked about here are clearly just the ones who are against the Muslim camp, as is clear from the following verses up to 5:59 : “You who believe, do not take as allies those who ridicule your religion and make fun of it – whether people who were given the Scripture before you, or disbelievers – and be mindful of God if you are true believers. When you make the call to prayer, they ridicule it and make fun of it: this is because they are people who do not reason. Say [Prophet], ‘People of the Book, do you resent us for any reason other than the fact that we believe in God, in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent before us, while most of you are disobedient?’ ” “The Qur’an clearly defines its relationship with earlier scriptures by saying: ‘He has sent the Scripture down to you [Prophet] with the Truth, confirming what went before: He sent down the Torah and the Gospel earlier as a guide for people.’ 3:3-4 “The Qur’an forbids arguing with the People of the Book except in the best way and urges the Muslims to say, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you; our God and your God are one [and the same].’ 29:46 And in another verse, it says, ‘Say, “People of the Book, let us arrive at a statement that is common to us all: we worship God alone, we ascribe no partner to Him, and none of us takes others beside God as Lords.” 3:64’ ”

3:85 “He that chooses a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted of him and in the world to come, he will be one of the lost.”

EXPLANATION: “the word ‘Islam’ in the Arabic of the Qur’an means complete devotion/submission to God, unmixed with worship of any other. All earlier prophets are thus described by the Qur’an as Muslims. Those who read this word ‘Islam’ in the sense of the religion of prophet Muhammad PBUH will illegitimately set up a barrier between Islam and other monotheistic religions.” Logically, for Islam to be the true religion of God, it has to be attainable by any person, at any time, anywhere. It is this fundamental principle of one surrendering his will to God which makes Islam universal and not constrained to a certain type of people.

People ignore the following verses:

“[…] and He does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with anyone who has not fought you for your faith or driven you out of your homes: God loves the just.” 60:8

“Do not kill each other, for God is merciful to you”4:29

“Never should a believer kill another believer, except by mistake […]. If anyone kills a believer deliberately, the punishment for him is Hell, and there he will remain: God is angry with him, and rejects him, and has prepared a tremendous torment for him.”4:91-92

“On account of [his deed], We decreed […] that if anyone kills a person – unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land – it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind.” 5:32

“The [Muslim] believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians – all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good – will have their rewards with their Lord. No fear for them, nor will they grieve”; 2:62

“Some of the People of the Book believe in God, in what has been sent down to you and in what was sent down to them: humbling themselves before God, they would never sell God’s revelation for a small price. These people will have their rewards with their Lord: God is swift in reckoning”; 3:199

“You [Prophet] are sure to find that the most hostile to the believers are the Jews and those who associate other deities with God ; you are sure to find that the closest in affection towards the believers are those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ for there are among them people devoted to learning and ascetics. These people are not given to arrogance, and when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears because they recognize the truth [in it]. They say, ‘Our Lord, we believe, so count us amongst the witnesses. Why should we not believe in God and in the truth that has come down to us when we long for our Lord to include us in the company of the righteous?’ For saying this, God has rewarded them with Gardens graced with flowing streams, and there they will stay: that is the reward of those who do good.” 5:82-85

Answer 2

From a Muslim, I honestly have no idea. I'm not in their position, and I've never met any that would or could think to harm innocent people, so the best I can do is assume. I assume that since most of these types come from poverty, or war-torn areas, it is their ignorance and rage that overtake their minds and hearts. I also assume that there are quite a few political groups (eg Hamas, Hezbollah...though Hezbollah is comprised of Muslims, Christians, Secularists, and Communists) that do their best to influence these people at their weakest moments to do their dirty work for them. You will never find a member of Hamas entering a restaurant with a bomb belt...
There are several major sins in Islam, and when a person commits terrorism or terrorism by suicide, s/he is committing two major sins: murdering the innocent, and taking one's own life.

I remember watching a show Barbra Walters hosted where she interviewed a Muslim boy (17, 18, 19, not sure) who was arrested before he could set off his explosives, and was asking him some questions in which every Muslim who reads Quran should know, however he gave some pretty far out answers. For example she asked him if he thought sitting in front of her that she should be killed because she is not a Muslim, and he said (in an extremely shy manner) "yes."

What provokes some of these people into wanting revenge and wanting to fight I can understand, but when it comes to justifying crossing the boundaries of Islam and of humanity, I am at a complete loss.

Answer 3

Whatever other people are doing in name of Islam is wrong. I am not trying to justify what terrorists are doing, but I wonder, are you guys really too stupid to understand the fact that all those terrorists became what they are after you JERKS invade their countries? The reason their killing is to protect their homeland which the Americans have invaded. Therefore, they want their god to be with them when they do it.

Answer 4

the terrorists are not true muslims... they misuse and misinterpret parts of the Quran to justify their doings... but in reality, God punishes those who kill innocent people for no reason..
Terrorism has no religion... there are always bad guys in all religions, but unfortunately the majority of uneducated so-called "muslim" terrorists have ruined Islam's reputation..

Some priests sexually abuse kids... no one is going on strike and swearing at all the priests?..
its the same with muslims, dont judge them because of a few bad apples.

Answer 5

when narrow minded people want to take over thats what happens. not only muslims but christians and jews as well.

neither the quran nor the bible nor the tawrah justifies the killing of innocent people. Its the people who misintrepered it.

Answer 6

We dont justify it girl. The only justification that I can think of is America going into war against Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan. ALL of which are Muslim States...So my question to you is..
Why do Americans and Brits and whoever hate muslims?

Answer 7

Salmagundi,

The only 'holy wars' fought by Christians were against Muslim aggressions that converted with force Egypt, Syria etc. and invaded Europe. Besides, that ended in the 1200's. Muslims attacked first then and now.

Stop the Taqiyya

Sara,

Priest who molest do not follow the words of the Bible or Fathers. Terrorist who kill follow the words of Koran and hadith.

Stop the Taqiyya

Answer 8

in my opinion muslims believe that when they sacrifice their own lives it's a good thing, when they sacrifice their lives for a good purpose such as protecting their land n stuff like dat and they are promised a lot of good things in heaven when they realize this purpose...but i personally do not agree dat they r terrosrists..i mean isn't Bush a terrorist? and he is not a muslim is he?i prefer not narrowing terrorism to just muslims

Answer 9

im a Muslim and let me tell u, what those ppl do don't have to do anything with Islam! all the death of inoccent ppl is not what we're told to do in the Quran. those ppl twist the meaning of Allah's words to make they're actions just and they even tell those lies to young kids who just want to do good things in their life and make terrorists out of them, they make them think they're doing something good for islam when they really aren't.

Answer 10

Actually, it is not against their religious teachings. Muslims who are honest will state that they believe in peace, as long as people believe as they do, act as they do, and live as they do. Have you not realized the cloning of people in fashion and apparel in the Muslim countries? Now they may tolerate us in the Western continent, but that is because they are still a minority. They are out to either proselytize the Christian and Jew, or, in time, annihilate them. It is in the Qumran.

Answer 11

Christians and Jews and Atheists all do the exact same thing... it just gets called a different name.