The pope angered middle eastern muslims with his comments...?

Question

The pope angered middle eastern muslims with his comments about early islam being spread by "the sword". Do you think that modern muslims will show that they aren't violent by holding massive, destructive protests in the streets like they did earlier this year when "islam was slandered"?

Yes, he was quoting an old text, sorry if my question was misleading. It was not intended to sound as if the statement he made was original. Sorry.

Answer 1

Of course Muslims are in an uproar. It is a tenet of Islam that any time the religion is attacked that all Muslims have a duty to defend it. Muslims will demonstrate and use violence and the media. This has proven to be effective. I wonder what level of protection the Swiss guards at the Vatican provide? What kind of weapons do they have?

Some contemporary evangelical Christian leaders such as Jerry Falwell and Jerry Vines have called Muhammad "a terrorist" and a "demon possessed pedophile who had twelve wives". Daniel Pipes sees Muhammad as a politician, stating that "because Muhammad created a new community, the religion that was its raison d'etre had to meet the political needs of its adherents." By contrast, Pope Benedict quoting Manual II is quite mild.

Pope Benedict made the comments in a speech at the University of Regensburg which was probably a written speech so the comments were likely deliberate. The timing just before Ramadan may also have been deliberate. (Dates for Ramadan 2006 (or the Islamic year of 1427) are September 24th thru October 23rd.) In my opinion, the quote was appropriate for the times of the Crusades. The quote also seems applicable to Islamic jihhadists today.

Here is what Robbie Burns wrote and I think it can also be applied to jihaddists of today although it was written for Christians:
"On Thanksgiving For A National Victory"
Ye hypocrites are these your pranks
to murder men and give God thanks?
Desist, for shame proceed no further
God does ne want your thanks for murder.

Yah, I know, there is no compulsion in religion (2:256) and Islam is a peaceful religion. Taqiyah.

The one page essay by Dr. Walid Phares, "Islamic concept of Al-Taqiyah to infiltrate and destroy kafir countries" explains how a convert will become a terrorist:
http://www.fisiusa.org/fisi_News_items/news109.htm

Phares states, "It [taqiyah] is done to prevent the new converts from seeing the real face of Islam; at least until their faith or mental conditioning is strong enough to make them turn against their own country and people."

Not all Muslims blow up things, yet "jihad in the cause of Allah" "jihad fee sybil Allah" is "fard ayn" "compulsory duty" for all Muslims. Why? There are rules from the Quran for combattive jihad. Read this:
http://www.notislam.com/id8.html
What does the tape from Gadahn mean? Does anyone realize that Muslims are supposed to "dawa" "invite others to Islam" before jihad?

According to al-Mawardi an 11th Century Shafi'i jurist:

The mushrikun [infidels] of Dar al-Harb (the arena of battle) are of two types: First, those whom the call of Islam has reached, but they have refused it and have taken up arms.… Second, those whom the invitation to Islam has not reached, although such persons are few nowadays since Allah has made manifest the call of his Messenger…it is forbidden to…begin an attack before explaining the invitation to Islam to them, informing them of the miracles of the Prophet and making plain the proofs so as to encourage acceptance on their part; if they still refuse to accept after this, war is waged against them and they are treated as those whom the call has reached…

In the Hidayah, vol. II. p. 140 (Hanafi school):
It is not lawful to make war upon any people who have never before been called to the faith, without previously requiring them to embrace it, because the Prophet so instructed his commanders, directing them to call the infidels to the faith, and also because the people will hence perceive that they are attacked for the sake of religion, and not for the sake of taking their property, or making slaves of their children, and on this consideration it is possible that they may be induced to agree to the call, in order to save themselves from the troubles of war… If the infidels, upon receiving the call, neither consent to it nor agree to pay capitation tax, it is then incumbent on the Muslims to call upon God for assistance, and to make war upon them, because God is the assistant of those who serve Him, and the destroyer of His enemies, the infidels, and it is necessary to implore His aid upon every occasion; the Prophet, moreover, commands us so to do."

Islam is insidious, it encroaches on a culture slowly and deliberately. You may be interested to read a document which discusses the degrees of Islam in great detail (50+ pages) -- "From dawa to jihad - the various threats from radical Islam to the democratic legal order":
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/netherlands/dawa.pdf

Among Muslims there are those who:
a) jihad in the path of Allah with their wealth and their lives (including those who sit at home but give asylum to mujahidin 4:74) = true Muslim
b) those who sit at home (and do not give asylum to mujahidin or jihad in the path of Allah)
c) the handicapped (does not count as a category)

In the Quran 4:95 it says:
The two are not equal: those who sit at home (and do not join the fighting) _ unless they have a reason; they are handicapped _ and those who [jihad] strive hard in the path of Allah with their wealth and lives. Over those who sit at home, Allah has excelled and elevated to a higher honor those who strive hard with their wealth and lives.
Compared to those who sit at home, Allah will award a far greater reward to those who wage a struggle.

8:74 Those who believed, left their homes and waged a struggle for the cause of Allah as well as those who helped and protected them are really the true believers. There is forgiveness for them and a generous rewards.

49:15 The (true) believers are actually those who believe in Allah and His messenger and then do not waver (and do not entertain doubts). With their wealth and their lives, they strive for the sake of Allah. Such are truly the sincere ones

Killing (qitl) and jihad in the cause of Allah is the hallmark of true Muslim believers. It is not a matter of moderate or fanatic. It is the distinction of a true believer or a rebel.

4:76 Those who believe, do fight for the sake of Allah, while those who reject faith (Islam) fight for the cause of ‘taghut’ _ (all rebellious forces aligned against Allah). So, fight against the minions of Shaitan. Feeble indeed is the wily guile of Shaitan!

Does this include atomic weapons?

8:60 Acquire and prepare all the (military) strength you can muster, including the finest trained horses (and other military wares). With that, you would daunt and deter the enemies of Allah _ your enemies, and others besides them. You do not know them, but Allah (surely) knows them. Anything you spend in the path of Allah will be returned to you in full. You will not be wronged (at all).

2:216 Warfare (for the sake of Allah) has been ordained for you, though it is not something you like. It is possible that the thing you detest might just (turn out to) be good for you. It is possible that the thing you like (the most) might in reality be bad for you. Allah knows (all) while you know nothing (at all)!

I hope that these verses from the Qur'an can give you and others insight into the mind of a Muslim believer and the peaceful religion of Islam. Perhaps you may read the entire sura from which they were extracted so you can get the entire context of the verses.

Answer 2

Too bad for the Muslims. Let them be upset over 'the truth'!

Muslims don't want to admit to the irony in Muslims being able to desecrate a Christian Temple in Jerusalem by spreading feces on images of Christ? But a Christian leader (the Pope) can’t remind people of what 14th century Byzantine emperor Manuel Paleolous II said about the profit Mohammad several hundred years ago. It wasn’t even the Popes own words or thought. He was repeating what Paleolous II supposedly said. . What’s with the hypersensitivity anyway?

The Muslims can dance in the streets; shout and yell; raise their fists all they want to but I do not believe the Pope owes Muslims an apology for anything.

Some have contended the terrorists are a form of radical Islam and a small minority of the faith. They say the large majority of Muslims are a peaceful people. I am beginning to wonder about these claims when I see the reported millions in the streets protesting what the Pope repeated.

Two faced or what? Is Islam a peaceful religion or a violence based religion? By what I am seeing and hearing, I would have to conclude the latter.

Answer 3

I have reviewed some news and also eye ball what pope lectured. Here is my opinion. Matter of fact is that there is an old arguement from Church/ European historian historians about if Islam was spread by sword or by preaching. Muslims obviously deny it categorically. Christian church maintains its position. In current time and age where almost everybody noadays has freedom to keep his faith of choice ( with very few small scale exceptions), this question is only biblical and carries no significance. However, today's environment, in which muslim population increasingly feel unsafe for their sovergnity and faith in different parts of the world, initiating such a discussion is bound to cause unnecessary unrest and increase in mistrust, no matter what our intentions are.

As I review superficially pope's lecture, it seems like that he is introducing a topic in theology lecture. However, pope is not a college teacher any more. He does carry great infuence in Catholoics. Every word he says from seat of pope is watched carefully as it indicates Vaticans position. Such issues are usually raised at a lower level in Interfaith research group and then the higher positions are taken when topic is fully addressed by listening opinion of both sides. Starting public debates on such inflamme topics does more harm than good by virtue of misunderstanding as ordinary people on either side does not have any enough knowledge.

Being said all this, I think this is not a new topic. Both Christians and Muslims have critisized each other for last 1500 years. Lot of deabtes have already happened. Whatever pope said will not create verbal criticism but nothing more than that. Both sides will hold their views. However, mistrust will increase, though a fraction bit this time!

Peace

Answer 4

Please!!!!!! the Pope was only Quoting....Q-U-O-T-I-N-G. I wonder what would happen if the media and the Catholics would made such a deal out of all those some times very offensive statements like the Pope being the Antichrist among many others. Apart from the opinions anyone can have about the Pope, he is a very educated man, he MUST be in order to have such position, he was quoting history... he does not even refer to modern Islam. And if Muslims really want to show themselves as the opposite of violent, please DO NOT show yourselves as violent.

Answer 5

Some of the extremists may call for a public apology or even take it further and condemn the Pope. Perhaps a few radicals would even call for his death. However, I believe the true devoted Muslims will not make an issue over this and perhaps in a short time, the Pope would redefine his statement. But, it is a free world and anyone and everyone is entitled to their beliefs.

Answer 6

The Pope has no reason to apologize, the full text http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=46474 he quoted a 14th century emperor and it was taken out of context. I know of no other religion in recent history that has been as militant, radical, and terroristic as the Islamic radicals. Almost all terrorist acts have been in the name of Islam, all beheadings, suicide bombing, and torture has been in the name of Islam. The rest of the world should demand an apology from the Islamic clerics, and a pledge for them to stop the senseless violence done by these so called true believers.

The following was provided by another member in response to a similar question, it seems to reinforce the propensity toward violence.

Ishaq:544 “Muhammad commanded the people to prepare for the foray [raid, incursion, sortie, attack, or assault]. The Messenger informed his troops that he was going to Mecca. He ordered them to prepare themselves and ready their equipment quickly. He said, ‘O Allah, keep spies and news from the Quraysh until we take them by surprise in their land.'” Fundamental Islamic organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and al-Qaeda offer the same prayer today.

Ishaq:544 “Hassan incited the men, reciting: ‘This is the time for war. Don't feel safe from us. Our swords will open the door to death.'” And so it would be forevermore.

Qur'an 9.5 “When the sacred forbidden months for fighting are past, fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, beleaguer them, and lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”

Answer 7

The Pope quoted the textual content textile yet has mentioned that it did no longer signify his perspectives. The motive of the speech substitute into to foster common communication between human beings and that violence isn't the way God needs us to act. It substitute into to no longer say that Islam and Mohamed are evil.

Answer 8

Mohammud was the leader of an army who were on a crusade to conquer part of Europe. He actually succeeded but was driven out. His commands to is followers is; to convert the world to the true religion (Islam) or die..To this day they have sought revenge for that ouster. I find that a bit on the unpeaceful side.so so..

Answer 9

Is everyone getting a little dizzy, because the spin misters are working overtime. The current pope should go back to what he does best. Eating three hundred dollar meals.

Answer 10

Here is a link to the English translation of the Pope's controversial speech: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html

With love in Christ.

Answer 11

Yes, it does seem that the best way to show that Islam is a "religion of peace" is to crush, kill and destroy.
Is there any doubt that these savages cannot be reasoned with when mere words send them into a rampage?

Oh Salaam, please, I prefer that my head stay attached to my shoulders!!