For Muslims, help me understand this contradition?

Question

I keep hearing that Islam is religion of peace, and that only a fraction of a percent of all Muslims are terrorists, and that most Muslims do not support terrorism. But isn't it true that you passively support terrorism by doing nothing about it? Why don't the world's 1.5 peace-loving Muslims shut down the hundreds of Mosques worldwide where radical Imams preach hatred and incite violence? At a bare minimum, why don't you at least stage protests outside these Mosques against radical Imams and against Bin Laden and against Al-Sadr and all the others? Please explain in simple terms so that I can clearly understand the apparent hypocrisy.

So we have people that "excuse" the actions of the terrorists because they're not really "Muslims". And we have people that "excuse" the actions of terrorists because Christians and Jews have committed acts of terror in centuries past.

But no one yet, aside from making "excuses" for the terrorists has addressed the question... Let's give it some more time.

So far, lots of Muslims giving the thumbs up and the thumbs down is all the places I would expect, but only one Muslim with the courage to even attempt to provide an answer... Thanks Adia Arek

Answer 1

Oh we are againts terrorism. But the media doesn't care much about that, here's the proof that we are anyway:

http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php

Anyways, we Muslims are humans too you know. Let say you're a Muslim, would you dare to face a terrorist and try to bring him back to the path of true Islam, or are you scared of getting killed?

Terrorists killed other muslims too.

One more thing, if we do rally againts terrorism, do you think Osama bin Ladin would suddenly be magically caught? Praying to God works better. At worse, some bugger would videotape the rally and post it at youtube as "violent muslims"

I hope you find clarification.

Just to reassure you, here's some verses from the Qu'ran and a couple of Hadiths that are againts killing:

[17:33] Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand retaliation or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life, for he is helped (by the Law)

[22:39] Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them;

Volume 2, Book 23, Number 445:
Narrated Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak:

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Whoever commits suicide with piece of iron will be punished with the same piece of iron in the Hell Fire." Narrated Jundab the Prophet said, "A man was inflicted with wounds and he committed suicide, and so Allah said: My follower has caused death on himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise for him."

The Messenger of Allah (saas) said, "One who kills a non-Muslim person under protection (Arabic: dhimmi) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise."

Answer 2

I went to a Catholic School (as a result am now a budhist), and had the opportunity to study Islam as a HSC subject in yr12.
from what i learned, Islam is, at heart a peaceful religion, with the ability for war in the Quran only when muslims are being unfairly oppressed, or when war is made upon them.
ie., from this, the war in Afghanistan against the Russians was a legitimate act of Jihad.
I am not a muslim myself, and have never been inside a mosque.
I looked at the Link that was added here by Ari, and from what i saw, all the links back up my opinion, as i did not see a single link there saying, so and so praises terrorism, as terrorism serves no one any good.
maybe, if christians and muslims worked together on this issue (instead of eying each other off down the barrel of a gun) they may be able to make some headway towards peace.
But i admit, i dont have any suggestions on how this can be done, or even IF it can be done, as the damage may already be too late.
but if this can be done, it is going to take a great deel of time, and no matter how much each fight each other, one battle is not going to solve this.
all the war is doing is further friving a wedge between muslims and non muslims, and the media (who has a LOT to answer for, criminal acts have been commited in the name of "journalism") needs to get out of the middle, and stop stirring the pot.

Answer 3

I would like to address what D S is saying about the Crusades.
Was not Jerusalem once upon a time a Jewish city turned Muslim by force and war? The original cause of the crusades was the harassment of pilgrims from Europe by local Muslims. Get your historical facts right.
And I still don't understand why peaceful Muslims tolerate imams who preach violence.
I must praise the Australian Muslim Federation who gagged 5 mullahs against spreading hate filled sermons and name calling secular Australians.

Answer 4

All i'm able to assert is that, all muslims at the instant are not complicated to study, yet some are. Its like that with ever race, faith, and so on. in simple terms on account which you don't comprehend some issues from people would not advise that one element is an identical. some muslims are literally understood while the others must be stuborn. and persons don't comprehend that there are categories of Muslims. i be attentive to, because of the fact maximum of my mom area of the kin is muslims. the element is, no longer all muslims are a similar. And others are in simple terms. Like i don't be attentive to a thank you to describe it. All in All I could say is what i've got been asserting till now. Muslims are people. they do no longer all think of a similar element. they do no longer all consider a similar element. yet actual, some are literally understood. And others are not. I was hoping this helped.

Answer 5

I hope you're not a Christian, because that would make you tacitly responsible for about 2,000 years of atrocities - everything from the Dark Ages down through the Crusades and the Inquisition to the Witch-Hunts and the epidemic of pedophilic priests.

I actually do buy your argument. Read "Letter to a Christian Nation" for a discussion of how Christian "moderates" function as enablers for the fundamentalists. It's really the same thing. I don't say any of this in defense of Islam either - you're right. Same thing.

Moral: Down with fundamentalism - but of course, that really means down with dogmatic religion altogether.

Can I make it any clearer that I'm not "excusing terrorists?" Merely pointing out that the problem is not confined to Islam. Nor do you have to look to "centuries past" in search of crimes committed by Christians. As long as people are willing to formalize their morality and place their "faith" in fairy tales, there will be fanatics who take these lunacies to their conclusion in ways the rest of us won't like!

Answer 6

1. Media maligns Islam

1. Islam is without doubt the best religion but the media is in the hands of the westerners who are afraid of Islam. The media is continuously broadcasting and printing information against Islam. They either provide misinformation about Islam, misquote Islam or project a point out of proportion, if any.
2. When any bomb blasts take place anywhere, the first people to be accused without proof are invariably the Muslims. This appears as headlines in the news. Later, when they find that non-Muslims were responsible, it appears as an insignificant news’ item.
3. If a 50 year old Muslim marries a 15 year old girl after taking her permission, it appears on the front page but when a 50 year old non-Muslim rapes a 6 year old girl, it may appear in the news in the inside pages as ‘Newsbriefs’. Everyday in America on an average 2,713 cases of rape take place but it doesn’t appear in the news, since it has become a way of life for the Americans.


2. Black sheep in every community:

I am aware that there are some Muslims who are dishonest, unreliable, who cheat, etc. but the media projects this as though only Muslims are involved in such activities. There are black sheep in every community. I know Muslims who are alcoholics and who can drink most of the non-Muslims under the table.


3. Muslims best as a whole:

Inspite of all the black sheep in the Muslim community, Muslims taken on the whole, yet form the best community in the world. We are the biggest community of tee-totallers as a whole, i.e. those who don’t imbibe alcohol. Collectively, we are a community which gives the maximum charity in the world. There is not a single person in the world who can even show a candle to the Muslims where modesty is concerned; where sobriety is concerned; where human values and ethics are concerned.


4. Don’t judge a car by its driver:

If you want to judge how good is the latest model of the "Mercedes" car and a person who does not know how to drive sits at the steering wheel and bangs up the car, who will you blame? The car or the driver? But naturally, the driver. To analyze how good the car is, a person should not look at the driver but see the ability and features of the car. How fast is it, what is its average fuel consumption, what are the safety measures, etc. Even if I agree for the sake of argument that the Muslims are bad, we can’t judge Islam by its followers? If you want to judge how good Islam is then judge it according to its authentic sources, i.e. the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith.


5. Judge Islam by its best follower i.e. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh):

If you practically want to check how good a car is put an expert driver behind the steering wheel. Similarly the best and the most exemplary follower of Islam by whom you can check how good Islam is, is the last and final messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Besides Muslims, there are several honest and unbiased non-Muslim historians who have acclaimed that prophet Muhammad was the best human being. According to Michael H. Hart who wrote the book, ‘The Hundred Most Influential Men in History’, the topmost position, i.e. the number one position goes to the beloved prophet of Islam, Muhammad (pbuh). There are several such examples of non-Muslims paying great tributes to the prophet, like Thomas Carlyle, La-Martine, etc.

. Regarding your question on terrorists, I say every Muslim should be a ‘terrorist for the anti-social elements of society’. A terrorist is a person who causes terror. The moment a robber sees a policeman he is terrified. A policeman is a terrorist for the robber. Similarly every Muslim should be a terrorist for the anti-social elements of society, be they thieves, pick-pockets, black-marketers or rapists. Whenever an anti-social element sees a Muslim, he should be terrified. It is true that the word ‘terrorist’ is generally used for a person who causes terror among innocent people. But a true Muslim should only be a terrorist to anti-social elements and not to innocent people. Infact a Muslim should be a source of peace and solace for innocent and righteous people.

Before India achieved independence from British rule, some freedom fighters of India who did not subscribe to non-violence were labeled as terrorists by the British government. These very individuals have been lauded by us Indians for the same activities and hailed as ‘patriots’. Thus two different labels have been given to the same people for the same set of actions. One called them terrorists while the other called them patriots. Those who believed that Britain had a right to rule over India called these freedom fighters terrorists, while those who were of the view that Britain had no right to rule India called them patriots and freedom fighters.

It is therefore important that before a person is judged, he is given a fair hearing. Both sides of the argument should be heard, the situation should be objectively and fairly analyzed and the reason and the intention of the person should be taken into account, and then the person can be judged accordingly. While there can be no justifiable reason for killing innocents, it is also patently unfair to accuse any of killing innocents without a fair trial and process of justice.

Regarding Osama bin Laden, one does not know whether he is good or bad. I have not met him personally nor do I know him. I cannot give my opinion based on the reports of BBC or the CNN. Most of the news on the international media is tailor-made to suit ulterior motives and suited to project the image what they want.

The Qur'an says:

“O you who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news ascertain the truth lest you harm people unwittingly and afterwards become full of repentance for what you have done.” (Al-Qur'an 49:6)

With regards to the last part of your question, Islam forbids killing of innocent people. The Qur'an says:

“ … If anyone slew a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land it would be as if he slew the whole humanity: and if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole humanity.” (Al-Qur'an 5:32)

Killing any innocent human being, whether Muslim or non-Muslim is not allowed in Islam. Even in the circumstances of war, this aspect is not to be ignored. The first caliph of Islam, Abu Bakr As-Siddique (R) is reported to have commanded Usama ibne Zaid (R):

“I command you to do ten things: you must not kill a woman or a child, or an elderly person; do not cut down trees, or vandalize homes, or wound a sheep or camel except if you must eat it; do not drown a palm tree, or burn it, do not be treacherous; do not be cowardly; and you will pass by people who have devoted themselves to monastery life: leave them alone with their devotions.” (Tarikh At-Tabari, V.3, p.210)

Thus killing children or innocent people are not allowed in Islam. And Allah knows the best.

Answer 7

Yes ISLAM is the religion of peace it teach peace love and harmony , don’t teach attack but it teach defend against attack , but why you see the religion with through act of the some radical individual you cant define any religion on this basis what I can say to you as Pope Benedict XVI has said in his speech you all depend on media and don’t read books and don’t see reference can condemn on Christianity that it propagate nudity because mostly Christians don’t care about it but if we see western movies they patronage this kind of trend but Christianity don’t teach like this belong very pure personalities so try to understand about ISLAM as you are mixing Bin Laden
And Al-Sadr these are the two man representing two thoughts fist is attacking and spreading misconception about Islamic thoughts of war and 2nd one is representing defending war Bin Laden attacking on innocent people like suicder bomb attacker where you lost innocent lives and other side Al-Sadr fighting in battle field and defending his territory against Israel offend so if you have capability of comparison than compare both personality first giving concept of terrorism and islam don’t teach like this second is defending and islam teach that defend yourself and not attack first further here I will clear that as per Islamic thought if you kill one person without cause you killed all humanity and if you save one live you save all humanity …so be careful when you predict

Answer 8

The answer is that Islam is not a religion of peace... Want proof here's some From the Koran and Hadiths...

VIII/65: "O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred stedfast they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without intelligence."

VIII/12: "When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying:) I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then maim them in every limb and smite of them each finger."

IX/5: "Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolators wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."

LXIX/30-37: "(It will be said): Take him and fetter him and then expose him to hell-fire And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is 70 cubits. Lo! he used not to believe in allah the Tremendous, And urged not on the feeding of the wretched, Therefore hath he no lover here this day, Nor any food save filth Which none but sinners eat."

LXXVI/4: "Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers manacles and carcans and a raging fire."

Sahih Al Bukhari, 216:"I have been ordered to fight against people until they testify that there is no God but Allah & that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah & until he performs the prayers & pays the Zakat."

Sahih Muslim, 217: "Verily Allah has prescribed proficiency in all things. Thus if you kill, KILL WELL, & if you slaughter, SLAUGHTER WELL. Let each one of you sharpen his blade."

And I have more but these should do... Oh here's something most people don't get. A TRUE muslim belives what the Koran says and obeys it. Those who do not (while I admit they are the largest part of the population) are not muslims...
My email is [e-mail]. Tell me if you want some more info on the violent religion of Islam... And if you want information on the crusades talk to me. I'll show you that the crusades where in RESPONSE to MUSLIM aggression against the Byzantines, i.e. a defense of christianity against an aggressive religion.

Answer 9

By not public denouncing The Crusades, are Christians passively accepting their legitimacy? Christians raped and killed many people there. And what about the Conquistadors? How many Christian leaders have condemned that policy?
I've also heard that only small percentage of Christians are intolerant and judgemental and yet you're being both right here.
Isn't the fact that you're questioning Muslim faults while ignoring your own hypocritical?
John 8:7 - Let he without sin cast the first stone
Mathew 7:5 - You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye

By your reasoning, Catholics who don't protest outside cathedrals support molesting children.

Answer 10

The muslims doing the bombing are like the KKK.

You can cloak anything you want in religion but that doesnt make it truly a part of the religion.

Unless you also consider catholics as supporting child molestations every time they put a dime in the donation box, the question isnt a fair one imo.

EDIT: What exactly do you want your average muslim to do? They have lives, jobs, families that need to be supported and nurtured.

Some whacko is off killing people in their gods name? Well they know it sucks but put yourself in their shoes. Are you fighting all the ills caused by your government and your religion?

I heard it said best once: Life is Hopeless, but not serious.