Moderate Muslims Must Make a Stand

And what about these verses from the Bible:

The Lord is a man of war. Exodus 15:3

The LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Exodus 17:16, Deuteronomy 25:19

And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people ... So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land. Numbers 21:34-35

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites ... And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones ... And they burnt all their cities....
And Moses was wroth with the officers ... And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? ... Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. Numbers 31:1-18

And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain: Deuteronomy 2:33-34

And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them. Deuteronomy 7:2, 7:16

If thou shalt hear say ... Certain men ... saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known ... Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. Deuteronomy 13:12-15

When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it ... And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: But the women ... shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. ... But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them ... as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. Deuteronomy 20:10-17

And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. Joshua 6:21

So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. Joshua 10:40

For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. Joshua 11:20

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 1 Samuel 15:2-3

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Psalm 2:8-9

He teacheth my hands to war. Psalm 18:34

That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same. Psalm 68:23

Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: Psalm 144:1

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34

He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36

I respectfully but fervently disagree with your statement that the only Unfortunately the "fruits" of contemporary Islam as witnessed by much of the world are intolerance, discrimination against all "unbelievers" and women and a plan for world domination and the subjugation, or execution, of "infidels."

Do you not know that the origins of the numbers you use everyday? Surgeries that are performed every day, the coffee you drink every morning, the, the vaccinations that are given to children every day, the ice cream cone, the Sears Towers, do you not know that these are the contributions made to the world by Muslims. And there are countless other "fruits" given to world by Muslims. You need to seriously seek more knowledge before you make serious comments about others.

I would also like to ask you what did you do for the all the Protestants and/or Catholics who were killed in Ireland and England. It is funny how as I was growing up (I gre up in USA) terrorism was linked to the IRA and the struggle of the Protestants and Catholics.

Finally I would like to ask you how many mosques have you visited, especially in the United States? How many Islamic schools have you visited in the United States, and then how many have you visited in Islamic countries?

Let me just tell you that you are very much mistaken in your analysis of the Muslims. Just as there are those few bad apples in every group, such is the case with the Muslims today. And if you go on any Islamic organization website you will see right on top written clearly, them denouncing all the terrorism and wrong actions being taken by the few. I ask you to go to the Islamic Society of North America, (ISNA, the largest muslim organization in North America, website, and you will see, and then please report to all your readers what you see there.

It's a great achievement for Islamic leaders and scholars as well as Newsweek and the Washington post to present this imperative opportunity for inter cultural and global philosophical dialogue. What's important is that by exchanging our ideas and comments regarding inter religious relations and world events that affect our views of each other as fellow human beings. Since the advent of humanity, We strove to make sense of the world we live in and the lives we've experienced. Worldwide curiosities to learn the true nature of life and our universe is an exceptionally rare virtue upon life on Earth. In other words, we're the only known species on the planet who've pursued to unravel these great mysteries and developed written philosophies based upon our understanding of the world around us.
One such philosophy that lasted throughout the ages of humanity is commonly known as religion and spirituality. Ever since our early belief in the Sky God and the God Mother from ancient Pagan times, we vigorously pursued to unravel the truth about our most profound questions. As any educated person would know that religion and their core beliefs or faith have evolved over time. Paganism, Monotheism and Polytheism have been influenced by humanity as these great philosophies have influenced our perceptions and decisions in life over the ages. Over time humanity has embraced diverse religious faiths and spiritual convictions that continue to influence our behavior in our times and most likely beyond.
What's vital for humanity's progress and even survival is to know the true nature of faith itself. To understand the true origins of faith. But most of all, is to accept the truth for whatever it may be. Each one of us will learn the absolute truth once we die. But until that time comes for anyone of us to depart this world, we really don't know the answer to God's existence nor do we have the absolute truth in regards to the true nature of God. Besides if we did possess the truth, there would've been only one religion on Earth with no diversification of any way, shape of form. There would only be one holy scripture written throughout human history.
Considering one's religious faith to be absolute, while considering others to be false would be ethnocentric at best. While collectively searching to unravel the mysteries on nature, life and the universe through sincere reasoning and serious research would be enlightening at its worst. Most importantly, we must accept the fact is that none of us have conclusive evidence to confirm our core beliefs and there's always an immanent change that our most cherished beliefs could be wrong. Our greatest challenge would be to tolerate the truth no matter what it may ultimately be. With such an open mind, we would be able to overcome any future discovery that would contradict our faith regarding the true nature of life, spirituality and divinity.
Humanity does have the ability to achieve such a social achievement. However, it's solely up to humanity and not any other entity or groups of entities to decide our destinies. Each one of us has a choice to make; either hopelessly engaging into meaningless inter cultural conflicts or combine our scientific and cultural gifts to thrive into an enlightened global civilization that could ultimately expand beyond our solar system. The choice is yours, and the time to make it is now!

For Garak only:

You failed to cite any NT passages. Why is that????

With respect to the OT:

Abraham founder/father of three major religions was probably a mythical character. If he was real, he was at best a combination of at least three men. 1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT. Many contemporary religion scholars have done the same.

http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

Hey, amillenialist:

And what does the Bible say about non-christians?

Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT)

Death to Followers of Other Religions

Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB)

Kill Nonbelievers

They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)

Kill False Prophets

If a man still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, "You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord." When he prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall thrust him through. (Zechariah 13:3 NAB)

Kill the Entire Town if One Person Worships Another God

Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. "The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him." (Deuteronomy 13:13-19 NLT)

Kill Followers of Other Religions.

1) If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him. Your hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in with you. You shall stone him to death, because he sought to lead you astray from the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. And all Israel, hearing of this, shall fear and never do such evil as this in your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:7-12 NAB)

2) Suppose a man or woman among you, in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, has done evil in the sight of the LORD your God and has violated the covenant by serving other gods or by worshiping the sun, the moon, or any of the forces of heaven, which I have strictly forbidden. When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, then that man or woman must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death. (Deuteronomy 17:2-5 NLT)

Kill False Prophets

1) Suppose there are prophets among you, or those who have dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles take place. If the prophets then say, 'Come, let us worship the gods of foreign nations,' do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul. Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. The false prophets or dreamers who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in the land of Egypt. Since they try to keep you from following the LORD your God, you must execute them to remove the evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5 NLT)

2) But any prophet who claims to give a message from another god or who falsely claims to speak for me must die.' You may wonder, 'How will we know whether the prophecy is from the LORD or not?' If the prophet predicts something in the LORD's name and it does not happen, the LORD did not give the message. That prophet has spoken on his own and need not be feared. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22 NLT)

Infidels Should Die

So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved. When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving. They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. (Romans 1:24-32 NLT)

Ahmed,

You noted:

"I have prayed and continue to pray in synagogues, churches, temples and mosques."

There are synagogues, temples and churches in Bahrain? In the Third Axis of Evil aka Iran? In Saudi Arabia?

Anon

Even if I address those concerns of yours, you would still be the same old bitter and twisted person. There is a verse in the Quran that says people who reuse to see truth are blind, deaf and dumb and with their own actions they increase their own predicament.

how do I know you? From your postings.

As for me, I am as free as the breeze and master of my own destiny. I love ALL Creation and I am kind to ALL and everyone I come across. I do not dwell on stuff I can not change. I only look inwardly for change happens within. I do not judge others let alone demean them coz of race, gender or religion. I have prayed and continue to pray in synagogues, churches, temples and mosques, as well as anywhere else on this planet. I know The ONE. I AM ONE.

If your 60 years has not taught you any of above then you definitely need to come back to this life a few 100 more times. Just an observation. Not a judgement.

"fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war) . . . " (Qur’an 9:5).

Umm too late, the Christians and Jews beat them to it.

Cal, You really are deaf, dumb and blind aren't you? You think that because a few Muslims are extremeist that all Muslims are...? How about Timothy McVie? I know not all Christians or Americans are fruit loops who want to kill government workers and their babies...even though he did. I know not all Christians are far right wingnutz, even though you are.

Really if all Muslims wannted to do us harm, we would be a memory.

For your information...while Europeans were running around tattooed in Woad, Muslims were saving the works of Plato and Socretes. They were perfecting medicine as a science and not as a way to release bad air. While the good Cristians were picking fleas off of themselves(batheing was frowned on- cleans the dirt off and lets the devil in...don't ya know.) and dieing of the plaque because of flea infested rats, Muslims were discovering Mathmatics. While two women hating, power grubbing monks wrote the Malleus Maleficarum, Omar Khayyam wrote The Rubaiyat.

I see all extremeist as the same... the Muslim right wing wants to bring back a time that never was...the Christian right wing wants to do that also...I mean really...baby dino's in the ark?

Cal, maybe you need to take the spike out of your own eye before worrying whats in any others.
terra

For Jililah only,

Whereas I was Bred, Born and Brainwashed in Catholicism/Christianity, you were "Triple B'd" in Islam. The way to address the issues with both religions is to come to grips with the flawed foundations of said religions. Below is a short synopsis of these flaws. Please present references refuting these conclusions if you have them.

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was probably a mythical character. If he was real, he was at best a combination of at least three men. 1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.
http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

2. Jesus, the illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter possibly suffering from hallucinations, has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth. Analyses of his life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists)via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian/Jewish/Pagan sects.

3. Mohammed, an illiterate (as per Karen Armstrong), hallucinating Arab (seeing and talking to "pretty wingie flying talking thingies", also had embellishing/hallucinating scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the Koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.
This agenda continues as shown by the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani koranics, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases and the Filipino koranics with most of this misery being funded by the third Axis of Evil aka Iran.
ref.: the front pages of every daily newspaper.

4. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingy thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html

For those who post merely to cast Islam as evil, irrational and false, please let me point out that at various times in history, Islam was a progressive force that assisted the rise of culture in the West. One of Judaism's greatest sages is Maimonides. In Maimonides famous work, "Guide for the Perplexed," the harmony of past ages was noted in the forward of this book. (The paperback edition with bright red cover - do not have it in front of me now to provide better detail, but you can find it on Amazon and THIS is the kind of reading we all need to do for consciousness raising to occur) Anyway, in the forward, a letter that Maimonides wrote is spoken of and he refers to Muslim philosopher Ibn Rush'd (Averroes) who advocated rationalism, as "My Master Abd Allah Ibn Rush'd." Maimonides works were written after the death of Ibn Rush'd, so he used 'My Master' not in the context of a living mentor, but as an expression of respect for a philosophical body of writing that inspired his own. I believe that Thomas Aquinas was then similarly inspired by Maimonides. If you value the contributions of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and the Neoplatonists like Plotinus, Porphory and Iamblichus, it is good to realize that this body of work had become lost to Western culture and it was revived by Jewish and Arab scribes who translated the texts into Arabic and Hebrew, which were then translated to Latin and Greek leading to the 'Renaissance.'

OK - I hear you! You are asking, "What have Muslims done for us lately?" In truth, not much!
Islam is now in a period of intellectual stagnancy as Europe was during 'The Dark Ages."

But the haters of Islam need to face some facts. As obviously Islam will not be wiped from the face of the earth, as you wish, what would you next hope to see happen to current day Islamic culture? Hopefully you would answer that you would like to see a great consciousness raising in the Muslim world. The FACT that verses exist in the Qur'an which advocate a society establish around given human rights mandates, that have NOT been abrogated as often thought, gives Muslim a legitimate base for this REFOCUSING on the humanitarian model of Islam.

As a hater of Islam, if you cannot wipe Islam from the face of the earth - is not what the Muslim moderates are attempting to accomplish the next best thing for ALL OF HUMANITY?

Truly, the emotional hate posts here only express psychological immaturity. If you oppose violence, then help us find a viable solution based upon ISLAM'S OWN DICTATES rather then asking Muslims to forfeit their culture and become Western clones.

You can choose to help society reach a more humanitarian age or just boo and hiss from the sidelines. Can we not engage together in a vision that will uplift all concerned? Any reality is preceded by a vision. We may not be where you wish us to be but we are trying with everything we have to bring about a refocusing on the innate humanitarian aspects of Islam.

Humanitarian Qur'anic verses (ayah)?
Please see excerpt from Dr. Mansoor Alam's article below:

So what should be done now? Should we simply close our eyes to the Qur’an and allow these latter-day rulers and Imams to regurgitate the same old sectarian-based Shariah that was developed under dictatorial rule and which tramples on the most basic values of the Qur’an dealing with universal human rights, that among these are: sacrosanct right of the sanctity of human life (5:32); inalienable right of the freedom of choice (2:256, 18:29); right of tolerance for other faiths (22:40) and absolutely no compulsion in faith (2:256); right to conduct state affairs by mutual consultation (3:159, 42:38); universal right of human dignity (17:70); sacrosanct right of equal justice for all (4:58, 4:135, 5:42, 16:90) including enemies (5:8) and no bending of justice for anyone (if the Prophet was not above the law (6:15) then how can anyone else be?); right to hold positions based solely on merit (46:19); right of personal responsibility and accountability (53:38); right of ownership of the fruits of one’s labor and no free ride for anyone (53:39). Are these Qur’an-guaranteed human rights (to all men and women) to be found in our current practice of Islam anywhere not to say of the holiest place in Islam, the birth place of our Prophet (PBUH)?

Who else could be more responsible then for damaging the sacred heart of Islam in the name of Islam, in the name of the Qur’an, in the name of the Prophet (PBUH) than the twin forces of Muslim dictatorship and Muslim priesthood?

The situation has degenerated to such an extent that if one were to mention that above human rights are some of the most sacred in Islam; that our Prophet (PBUH) lived and implemented these rights in society; that an Islamic society is supposed to be constituted on the basis of these core rights at its heart; then surely it will raise many eyebrows and may even invite sarcasm from certain quarters with comments such as: “Have these human rights anything to do with Muslims and Islam?” These reactions are not out of place considering how Muslim countries have been mistreating and even killing their own people in the name of Islam.

The world is judging Islam by our practice of Islam, by observing the so-called practicing Muslims. No wonder we seem to be fulfilling the prophecy of the Qur’an by showing to the world by our own actions that Islam is a failure, that Islam is false (107:1-7)! Our failure to live up to true Islam is being seen as failure of Islam. We may think we are good practicing Muslims and that we will ultimately have the mercy and the blessings of Allah. All this is fine but what about the Qur’an and its emphasis on universal human rights? Is the Qur’an only for reciting to achieve mercy and forgiveness, mostly for the dead? Or, should its human rights also need to be implemented in human society?

As a matter fact these values are under siege in every Muslim country. Can we expect to get anywhere when Muslim societies trample on these rights while putting extraordinary emphasis on rituals? What would be more important to Islam in the eyes of Allah: performing its rituals or implementing its basic human rights?

The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said that Muslim Ummah is like a body. When any part of the body is in pain the whole body feels it. That body seems to be in critical condition today. The only way to revive it is to go back to the basic Qur’anic values guaranteeing universal human rights and make them the foundation of Muslim society the way our Prophet (PBUH) did more than 1400 years ago when the rest of the world was living in barbarism and chaos as noted by many historians (e.g., J.H. Denison, Emotion as the Basis of Civilization). This is the real miracle of the Qur’an. This is the true Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) to practice (7:157).

What you do not realize about what Muslim moderates are facing is that the Wahhabi/Salafi lobby in this country is huge. Thousands of pro-Shariah Muslims attend their annual Chicago convention. They lie and pose as moderates when in fact they are a cover for The Muslim Brotherhood, Jamaat-i-Islami and all that follow Saudi ideology that feeds on the hatred of Americans. Muslim moderates are up against this force of power and money funded by Saudi petro-dollars. There are hundreds of thousands of Muslims in America who support their radical ideology and help fund The Muslim Brotherhood through the many many branches of the Saudi lobby.
They are taking over our Mosques and if they were the minority you claim we would not be losing our Mosques to these radicals. They recruit elitists like Ph.Ds and MDs to influence and pressure the Muslim populous to join the Wahhabi/Salafi mindset with the goal of replacing the US constitution with Islamic Shariah. Yet, they readily lie and claim to be both pro-democratic and moderate. The only purpose democracy serves for them is as a tool to gain power and institute Islamic Shariah. Their goals are treasonous. Now, this is not the same as terrorism, but you will find by tracing the money trail that these are the people who covertly help fund terrorist activity.

When we challenge them in our Mosques, we are threatened with slander lawsuits for referring to them as the radicals that they are. This threat is quite powerful as they are usually wealthy MDs and Ph.D.s who can afford such a lawsuit and those of us protesting the radicalism they bring into our Mosques are often not wealthy. Some of us have even received threats of physical harm if we don't shut-up and stop challenging The Brotherhood and Wahhabi/Salafi lobby. They operate much as a mafia with threat and intimidation their primary tools.

We Muslim moderates ARE A MINORITY - Don't kid yourself. We would not be losing our Mosques to these vipers were this not true. We are trying to be heard but have VERY LITTLE SUPPORT. Even the US government panders to the radicals rather than recognizing the true Muslim moderates. Yes, members of the Wahhabi/Salafi lie and claim to be moderates but they are not and it is a grave error to believe them.

In our Mosques we are called heretics, US goverment agents and neo-cons for promoting human rights values in Islam. It is truly an uphill battle. Please read my posts in the comments section and the in-depth material I've included there in regard to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Non-Muslims truly have no idea have difficult is our struggle. We are vastly outnumbered and losing our Mosques right and left to organizations like NAIT. The Saudis genuinely control Islam in America and they have pulled the wool over your eyes. Something has to be done to stop those who have come here with the treasonous intent to replace the US Constitution with Islamic Shariah.

Muslim moderates who genuinely believe that democracy and Islam are compatible are speaking as loud as we can, but our voices are drowned out by the deceitful lies of the lobby claiming to be moderate while they promote Islamic Shariah and fund terror organizations underground.

Please read the many comments in regard to these issues:

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/2007/07/muslims_speak_out/comments.html#comments

i hope the moderators note the slime-fest that this thread has become. Cal Thomas set the tone by coming right out of the box implying that a 'moderat' muslim is a contradiction in terms, and anyway they lie as a matter of course. what a distastful man he is.

is it any wonder that he attracts the scum he does? these are frightened people who spread hate and bile. is this really what you want in the WaPo?

mr Thomas has every right to spew his venom, and i suppose it's a public service to some extent that we see the result.

whenever polititcs and religion are conflated, whether it's bin laden or tim mcveigh or erik rudolph, the result is often ugly.

after reading this crap you'll have to excuse me while i go take a shower to get this stink off.

do any one knows how many muslims died on 9/11 attacks and by the way any bodie can take bits of the Quran out of context witch deals with issues of that era in history a lot of people dont relieaze is allah,god means the same thing in a different tongue god,allah taught many people in different ways so stop justifying things you do in gods name the evil things men do in the name of religion turns people from god and religion so if you thnk by killing innocent people you are going to heaven you were taught wrong may god forgive and bless us all that includes satan

Ahmed,( i.e. another triple B, Bred, Born and Brainwashed in his "religion"/cult i.e. Islam)

Muslim violence exudes from the flawed foundations of Islam. Address these issues and then get back to us with your solutions if you have the courage to criticize said foundations.

To get you started:

Part 1 of the "cleansing".

"The 77 Branches of Faith is a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true faith (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.

"30 qualities are connected to the heart"
(five at a time)

"1. Belief in Allah"

No problem but "aka as God, Yahweh, Zeus, Jehovah, Mother Nature, etc." should be added.

"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."

No problem but evolution and the Big Bang cannot be ignored and the "akas" for Allah should be included.

"3. To believe in the existence of angels."

A major item to delete. Angels/devils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hittites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ugly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as fairies and "tinker bells". Modern devils are classified as the demons of the demented.

"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."

Another major item to delete. There are no books written in Heaven just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.

Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the uneducated masses in line. Today we call them fortune tellers.

Prophecies are also invalidated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.

"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) alone."

Mohammed spent thirty days fasting in a cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic violence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallucinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.

why is it ok for islamics to insult other religions, including core beliefs but that is ok?
contrary to christians, who believe that jesus was the son of god, islamics say it is a crime to say that and you can be punished with death.
but is you quote the koran and its history you are a bigot?

"What would it take for Islam to undergo the same theological "evolution" that Judaism went through to "reinterpret" violent mandates in the Old Testament such as stoning adulterers to death?"

Peacemaker, interesting question. First, I guess you would have to admit that there are violent mandates in your Holy Book that need to be "evolved."

Above, we have one gentleman who sincerely believes that 911 was a Bush conspiracy. Why does he believe this? Perhaps because he is a Muslim, he knows that 911 was evil but can admit that his religion did this and still maintain that Islam is pure and supreme and that it is the religion of peace and infallible. So either deny it happened or deny Islamic involvement by creating a conspiracy theory. There is also the catch all theory about a Jewish-led conspiracy out there twisting the image and heritage of Islam. And then there is America "the great Satan."

The denial builds with layer upon layer rather than confront the Quran or other Holy Islamic books. In all fairness, this is a big deal. A lot things start to fall apart when you start evolving the Quran. What goes first is the power and prestige of the cleric. They will not give up without a fight to the end. And the average Mohamed just might be too frightened to venture into reality because so many things would have to be jettisoned.

So what will it take to change this? A total rebirth in the Islamic world. John 3:3 -- Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

the peaceful people of islam just murdered another christian from s korea. just a kid - there to help rebuild.

What would it take for Islam to undergo the same theological "evolution" that Judaism went through to "reinterpret" violent mandates in the Old Testament such as stoning adulterers to death? Until this happens, Islam cannot be truly considered a religion of peace.

Anonymous:
this is what you wrote:

Ahmed from bahrain,

"Do you read/watch the news? Anything else but al jazeera on in your house. Can't you see that people in the west are tired of Iraq?"

You do live in your own cocoon. Aljazeera is a new phenomena unlike your news maeia which have been brainwashing you to believe that you are the savior of the world and thus erect your military camps all over the globe. Tell me who gave you the right to put your troop in ME long before Aljazeera came to life? Go watch more CNN, CBS, Fox, ABC, CIA, FBI, and have your KFC. You are beyong redemption.

Then you went on to say:

"By the way U.S. soldiers who commit atrocities like what you mentioned are under no orders to do so and if they are reported, then the men responsible are certainly brought to justice. Sadly some of these injustices go unreported and the bastards get away with it. But beleive me the U.S. military is obliged to get rid of sickos who rape, murder, or abuse Iraqis"

You do have a high opinion of your murderers. Please read about DU, about mercenaries your government uses with no rules of engagement, about secret prisons, renditions, inhumane treatment of anyone of colour. Talk about grand-standing. You know when Rumsfeld found about those AbuGhareeb photos, he banned digital cameras. What that tell you? Remove the evidence and you can do as much murder as you want. Just make sure you don't get found out.

That is your justice. Here is an advice: Take a trip to Falluja, a name you did know b4 your idiot Bush invaded Iraq and had nothing to do with 911. Then you elected him for second term. What does that tell you about average US intelligence. I tell you everytime someone mention intelligence in America you guys think of CIA/FBI coz average American has no intelligence.

Lets see more cut and paste about how Muslims are war-monger. it helps you hide from the truth.

BTW: Are you ever a nice person to anyone who is foreign (alien) to your culture? That term alien is typically American, as if others come from another planet. Wow! Aim, shoot. Ask questions later. Terrorists. Lock em up. Throw away the key. No lets go to church on Sunday coz God doesn't open shop any other day. He is busy trying to burn those Muslims in Hellfire.

Cheers my man.

CIAP

We're all going to hell no matter what? Thank god for that because we'll never see you there then.

And what makes you so sure I'm a Muslim? I could be Jewish, Hindu or a Buddhist?

Anon,

You need to change your medication.

Someday the citizens of the United States will discover the truth about 9-11: that the United States government itself carried out the attacks and framed innocent people in order to justify invading oil-rich Muslim countries. Osama bin Ladin is their actor, who probably sleeps under the security of the secret service. What Muslim even heard about him before then? Believe me, all of these so called "terror attacks" are very well thought out events that pave the path to world domination by the west. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people are dying everyday, and all they can keep drilling in people's heads is "remember 9-11....never forget...they're out to kill you...they hate us for our freedom.." How idiotic is that? You hate someone because they're free? And so many people buy into this and in turn become the hateful terrorists. Who did 9-11 benefit? Certainly not Muslims. If anything, we (American Muslims) have now had hate crimes against us increase by over 400%. Muslims all over the world are being slaughtered in the name of freedom...how does this make sense? It amazes me how many people are led like cattle into believing whatever is fed to them. Wake up! You're being duped. People are dying and the rich are getting richer. Islam is not the enemy. Focus your same enegy on saving humanity, and not by pointing fingers and declaring wars. Fight back with peace and an open heart, and we will all be winners.

Anonymous:

CIAP

Where can we get the bomb jackets to blow ourself up? Suicide is a sin in Islam. Kill us all then.

WAH WAH WAH to you too.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Try Iran. They're supplying Islamic sinners in Iraq. Maybe they'll help you.

You're all going to hell no matter.

CIAP

Where can we get the bomb jackets to blow ourself up? Suicide is a sin in Islam. Kill us all then.

WAH WAH WAH to you too.

9/11 The art work of BUSH, in order to protect Islam. It is the BUSH. American never respect humanity, they killed millions Red Indians to occupy the land. They support occupation if its benefit. They drink oil. Americans promote incest culture.

what is a moderate in islam :

hint: a non moderate muslim is still alive

"Being from New Jersey, I know personally several people who perished on September 11th 2001."

PG, my sympathies to you and the families of the people you know who were murdered on 911. That day is also seared into my memory and I do not even have to deal the loss of friends or loved ones. They want us to be like them living in fear and hate and without peace. To some extent they converted many to this state of existence on 911. Evil wins if we become like them. Again, my sympathy goes out to all who have suffered such great loss as yours on September 11th 2001.

My impersonation of a Muslim>>

Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah they drew a cartoon of Muhammad Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Salman Rushdie told the truth about us Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah
They Knighted Salman Rushdie Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah

Why don't you Muslims do the world a favor and all of you strap on bomb jackets and blow yourselves up at the same time.

That will really show us. Now can we hear some more Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah

My impersonation of a Muslim>>

Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah they drew a cartoon of Muhammad Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Salman Rushdie told the truth about us Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah
They Knighted Salman Rushdie Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah

Why don't you Muslims do the world a favor and all of you strap on bomb jackets and blow yourselves up at the same time.

That will really show us. Now can we hear some more Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah

and dont forget to tell us what a non moderate is.

It never ceases to amuse me, to see those who practice one religion and yet are so confident they know exactly how to correct the purported excesses and missteps of the other religions.

Telling members of another religion what they must do to improve their religion? It triangulates somewhere between presumptuousness, arrogance and hubris.

Physician, heal thyself.

The one word that all three great faiths have in common is TERROR. They get their way using TERROR. Hell is the greatest TERROR any human being has ever conceived. Did it come from a loving Creator God? Not a chance.

The US government is a party to the TERROR classifying TERRORIST gangs as charitable organizations and thus forcing all of us to pay tithes to them and their God, Lucifer.

All you who think it's not a violation of the constitution to smoke screen religions into the category of "charitable organizations" tell me where in the first amendment it says there's an exception to "no law shall establish".. religion?

Every official of the government should be impeached for failing to live up to h/er oath of office, "uphold and defend the constitution." The buzzards are coming home to roost led by the Muslims.

Newt Gingrich noted in a speech from the pulpit that those 8 UK MDs recently arrested for TERRORIST activities are capable of biological attacks. How many Muslim MDs are there in the US right now? Wanna get treated by one of them when the bio attack that Newt talked about comes?

The Bible is a hoax along with all sacred scriptures. Muhammad is a liar just like those who constructed the Bible. No one has spoken to God but many have made deals with the Devil.

http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul is what all sacred scriptures actually say. The Devil is behind them. That's the larceny in the hearts of those who claim to be righteous.

PG: If you think hatespeech and blindness like that protects anyone from anything, you're sadly mistaken. What it does do is make more enemies and divert resources from everything from disaster relief to the police work that can protect us.

And if you think waving the casualties of 9/11 to justify claiming all people of a certain religious belief should be 'put down' is *reason,* you're no better than the worst fanatics of any stripe.

I mean, get real. If these baddies wanted to force me to submit to their religion, I'd fight.

Fearmongering by *anyone* will not make a murderer of me, though.

Not even an armchair one.

Back to the topic with a repeat:

"Without Salman Rushdie and Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the Muslim panel, the panel was a "stacked pro-Islamic deck".

PG: "Muslims are like rabid dogs. They can't be reasoned with, and they can't be made tolerant. They need to be put down."

proud of yourself, now Cal old bean? is this what you wanted? this homocidal poster will be dumped at your door, Cal. he's one of you lot who hate out of fear. probably has to change his knickers every time he sees a muslim/jew/black/gay.

PG, you know there are probably a lot more muslims around than you realize. my boss is one, you know. fact is, there are MILLIONS and MILLIONS of muslims just in this country.

and they seemed like such nice people. they do give a LOT more to charity than xtians, i'll give them that much. and what they do give goes to the poor, for a change.

best go check under your bed now.

Cowards fly planes into buildings. I have no interest in becoming a "genocidal murderer", but I will protect myself and my family at any cost. And as an athiest, I can hardly be considered a holy warrior.

What I do know is that muslim doctrine (read the Koran) dictates that all non believers be converted or killed. I have no problem with christians or jews because they don't want to kill me. Muslims do. All this BS about peaceful moderate muslims is just that, BS. It is akin to saying that there is such a thing as moderate evangelical christians who don't wish to try to convert me. They don't exist. I am by no means a right winger, but the political correct nonsense that has helped muslims infitrate europe, will untimately dictate that extreme measures be taken to stop them from killing people like me.
What will you do when one of them pops of a nuke in your state? Say, "well that stinks, but all muslims are't bad". And sadly, we are currently witnessing the a nuclear power slowly become a radical islamic state. In five years Iran will be nuclear and Pakistan will be a radical islamist state.
Their religion is one of a complete lack of tolerance to those who do not submit. Submission to muslim doctrine is the fundemental pretense to the faith. I have no interest in submitting. And I would prefer to kill them before they kill me. Since I do not believe in an afetrlife, I am in no hurry to get there.

*blinking at post just before hers.*

*blinking again.*

Gee, that sounds familiar.

So, that's your 'solution,' PG?

Your answer to terror is to wish you could become a genocidal murderer?

Coward.

I think all the 'holy warriors' on both sides ought to be fenced in someplace far away where you can live out your sick fantasies so the rest of the world can get on with life.

While I do think certain churches (and megachurches) may have an awful lot of self-enriching cash flow to be claiming nonprofit status, I think the essential idea of not taxing religions is sound... frankly, that could be seen as making a law respecting an establishment of religion, (I suppose one could as easily say that about the exemptions in the first place.)

Non-profit is non-profit: I think sometimes these standards aren't really examined enough in the case of wealthy churches, is all.

"Mr. Cal, surely you cannot have failed to notice that extremists only target those who invade, occupy or support the occupation of Muslim lands?"

You sir are a pathetic Muslim apologist animal. Being from New Jersey, I know personally several people who perished on September 11th 2001. Not a single one of my friends or colleagues invaded, occupied , or supported the occupation of "Muslim" lands.

That is the typical lame muslim excuse for justifying killing innocent people in your sad misguided jihad. I only hope that at some point the west wakes up and gives Islam what it has desired all along, a holy war. I am not christian or jew, but I am smart enough to see a spade as a spade. And as a previous poster commented, the only good muslim is a dead muslim. And if we ever get wise enough to actually take that path I will be the first in line to sign up.
Muslims are like rabid dogs. They can't be reasoned with, and they can't be made tolerant. They need to be put down.

Tim

Did you hear about Pat Robertson's Lear Jet crashing? How non profit can one get? Oh! I see. A back-row seat with no kneeler at the pope's mass went for only $1,000. No profit there we can be sure. Expenses, expenses, expenses.

Not taxing religion makes us all pay their taxes for them, Muslims included and makes us financial partners to whatever they do.

All three great faiths are terrorists faiths, not just Muslims. The Muslims take things a little more seriously, a little more often but Christians and Jews have done and will again do everything they do in one form or the other. A terrorist is a terrorist.

The challenge I made to you is for you to name a terror greater than hell. Can't do it can you. All that "love thy neighbor" is just a smoke screen to hide your terrorism, abusing children by terrorizing them with threats of "do what I tell you else hell." What you tell them comes from a hoax and is done for profit. Profit motivated the writing of you sacred scriptures, not some burning desire to save people.

Come to your church and be terrorized? No thanks. Your God, the biggest Devil of them all, Lucifer will not get my money to pay his fee to you for leading people to hell. I can't help paying taxes which pays you too but I can stay away. And I do stay away too.

Tim:

Only churches, temples, etc. are exempt from property taxes. No other non-profs have such exemption. We don't want to tax the income of churches any more than the Wilderness Society or the NRA, but we want the special rights for churches regarding property taxes to be eliminated.

The only Scripture I accept as true is the Bible. You can come to my church anytime you want. Prayer in a public school is something that should be avoided. The concept of not taxing non profit organizations is not such a bad idea as this also allows for the ACLU, the Red Cross and many other organizations that benefit society. I guess if you give it to one non profit then the rules apply to all so as not to selectively discriminate. Take care.

My above statement should be:
Is it possible to write a law that has the word religion in it that does not tend to establish or prohibit religion.

I'm sure you know what I meant to say. The constitution is the door mat of religion at present. Wake up supreme court. Maybe the Muslims will ring your bell. At least tax them, no tax exempt real estate. The money they save not paying taxes is made up by us all. Not to worry, that makes us financial partners in their terrorist activities.

Name a terror greater than hell. Muslims aren't alone using our money to do terrorist activities, hold the 'gun of hell' to the heads of children until it becomes a permanent fixture. Is that really moral Tim? How about you Mr Cal? Is threatening children with the greatest terror possible moral?

Tim continues the smear campaign: "A cure for bad Scripture is separation of state and church and really enforcing the rule of law with regard to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Unfortunately, in Islam this treatment is not all that compatible with their idea of a theocracy."

wow. this from a christian.

what of the millions and millions of muslims who live in the US (or any of a number of secular states)? how do they manage such a feat?

well, i suspect they are, by and large, better americans than most of the christian posters on this list who show no allegiance to anything other than their twisted ideology. certainly, the many muslims i work with personally in high tech (from all over the world) make better citizens that the xtians on display here.

i find both of your religions distastful; blood cults that should die a quick death in the best of all possible worlds.

but, christians, you're going to have to provide others with the same rights you demand for yourselves.

just like the nazis blamed all the woes of germany on the 'jews,' Cal and his ilk look to the 'muslims' who are trying to 'infiltrate' (his words) the western world as the bogey man.

these christians are afraid. afraid of a changing world where their societies are, increasingly, turning their back to religion in general. lacking the imagination to see their peril, they pick a fight with a co-religion and just hasten the end. hope the rest of us can survive their fear.

the most obvious conceit for Cal and co is their delusion that islam is somehow bent on 'world conquest' - just like the jews, eh? what a load of horse manure. most muslims could care less about Cal and his world. bin L and his gang are focused on control of the arabian penninsula, ostensibly for control of the holy sites, but i suspect it's oil. notice that Al Q consists mostly of western-trained technocrats and recall that they began as a WESTERN funded anit-soviet force (muhajideen).

anyway, it isn't muslims who knock on my door and try to spread their crap, it's christian missionaries.

what about that, Cal? okay with you if muslim missionaries are given access to our schools? you vilify muslim societies for trying to limit christian influence (since christians DID invade and occupy their lands within the last two centuries), but i don't hear any complaint from you about christians who are procelytizing and trying to 'infiltrate' other societies. hell, i heard on the radio this morning, that christians in korea have sent 'missionaries' to 150 other nations.

maybe you lot are the real problem, Cal. the jewish founder of your religion said: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

we used to call this the Great Commission in the baptist church. notice you don't mention it. cat got your tongue? are you perhaps ashamed that it's you and your religion that are most guilty of that which you accuse others of? in case you're curious, that's a log you got stuck in your eye there.

Tim, speaking of separation of church and state. Doesn't the first amendment do that? Is it not a violation of the first amendment to use the word religion or any of it's synonyms like God or faith in any law of any kind. Is it possible to write a law that does not either tend to establish religion or prohibit it? What do tax laws do, promote, (tend to establish) of prohibit?

((((((No titheation without representation))))))

Do you want me represented in your church, have a say in what you can do, demand pastors be elected in "free" elections, vote on dogma - what will be faithed by your church etc? The Muslims don't.

Step 1 ((((((((Uphold and defend the constitution))))))))

Tax religion like palm readers, astrologers, etc.

Cal Thomas doesn't strike me as one who cares about upholding or defending the constitution as long as his ministry rakes in the big money. The big money goes to those leading the multitudes to hell ya know.

Well, to be fair, Tim, Christian Scriptures provide no essential protection from theocracy or infringement of civil liberties, and have a poor track record of such.

I was just yesterday reading about this bizarre law passed in Texas to try and get Christian prayers in schools, called something to do with 'Freedom of Religious Expression Act' or some such, and a prime Christian concern with it was 'if we pass this, how can we stop a Wiccan student from speaking?'

This isn't just an isolated incident, either, ...constantly Christians are demanding the right to proselytize to captive audiences, and then cry 'religious oppression' when someone they don't like hands out a flyer.

Interpretations of 'freedom' can get pretty, umm, creative when you start using interpreted scripture as something like civil law.

So, yeah, separation of Church and State is pretty essential, whatever a given church might say.

When people start trying to say, 'Muslim Scripture can be and often is interpreted oppressively,' they often aren't as willing to look at their own.

Right Tim:

All them sacred scriptures have "love thy enemies" in one form or the other. That's why drill instructors always caution the recruits to call out "I love you" before they shoot their enemies. Really good Marines add, "this is going to hurt me more than it does you."

All faith is in sacred scriptures, that they are the word of God. Are they? All of them? Isn't the fact that there's more than one tell us they are bogus, not God's word?

http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul says they are hoaxes. However, we are free to say no they're not hoaxes which leads to just one conclusion. All sacred scriptures are the word of Devil.

What'ill it be Tim? Is the Bible the word of Devil or a hoax? How about the Qu'ran? Book of Mormon,, anyone?

How come Almighty God with the power to create needs people to do anything for IT, (God has gender? Prove it.)? Why did Almighty God not get It's way, need to resort to tricks, murder even to get Pharaoh to let It's chosen people go?

When the Israelites came upon the Red Sea Devil sent an army of little devils ahead of them. God won't let devils get wet, might put the fire out. So God parted the waters. See. Everything in the Bible is not a lie. And, it makes perfect sense too. "Love everyone" turns instantly into "love everyone to death" unless they faith as you faith.

All faithers are walking time bombs, land mines waiting to be stepped on so they can explode. Are you exploding yet Tim? Don't you just hate to hear the Bible is a hoax? Has your love turned to hate yet?

Some cancers are curable if detected soon enough and treated. Some cancer can be avoided, like lung cancer. BGONE what ever you are smoking in that pipe you should stop for this reason alone :) Actually, we agree on a couple of things:

BGONE says: "Religion is the problem. No matter how moderate one may be when the religious leader says it, it is believed and acted upon." Hey, this is a true statement. I have to try and act upon “love your neighbor as yourself” and "turn the other cheek" even when I don’t like it. That makes me a real threat, right? A cure for bad Scripture is separation of state and church and really enforcing the rule of law with regard to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Unfortunately, in Islam this treatment is not all that compatible with their idea of a theocracy.

BGONE says: "What Almighty God wants is written in sacred scriptures. Thus sacred scriptures are the problem." Yes, they are the problem and while the veracity of what is in any Scriptures can be argued, the intent of the Islamic Holy scriptures is to create something like Iran or Afghanistan. That is where it all goes. There is no such kind of intent in the NT. We are free to create government separate from religion. It is an unfortunate historical fact that many religious leaders, even if they have the right, true Scripture, given the opportunity, are prone to interpretations that fulfill their own needs for power and status and a desire to compel people to bow to their idea of God. All the more so when you are a Muslim and don't have to do much interpretation if any. In fact, if you want to act progressively ,you have to work at it.

"There is no cure for cancer. The best prescription is don't catch it."

HA! OK, I just won't "catch" cancer! HA!

MIKE, interesting article. Forgot to mention that I see.

MIKE:

There is no cure for cancer. The best prescription is don't catch it. Once cancer gets a foothold it all over but the funeral.

Then there's the old reliable, "one bad apple will eventually spoil the whole barrel." The people of earth have a choice. They can choose to live with the rotten apples and rot themselves or they can get rid of the bad apples.

Need I remind you they get their rot from sacred scriptures. Is the Bible the word of God and the Qu'ran not the word of God or is it the other way around,, in reverse?

Do you believe http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul is so? Did Moses really have a conversation with a supernatural being that lives in a special kind of fire, coincidentally the same kind of fire hell is made from? No matter which way you FAITH hoax buster the results are the same. If there was a supernatural being it was the Devil himself, Lucifer. The other option is the hoax of course.

What do you faith? Which way is most likely? Does God really need people or could it be that people, ministers need God,, to earn their keep,, get rich even?

If the Bible is a hoax we know the other big sacred scriptures are hoaxes as well. All three great faiths go back to that conversation, the deal struck between the being in the fire and Moses. Thus we can say that all sacred scriptures are hoaxes and not just those of extremist.

The cancer of Islam is but one of three cancers that threaten the existence of planet earth. Wait until they get WMDs if they don't have them already and are just biding their time. What Devil wills, will be done by men of great faith. Cancer is a reasonable metaphor to describe religion but heart attack is always looming on the horizon. Cancer never kills. It just weakens the body so that some otherwise curable ailment can.

"What are the conditions that has focused Islam's rage on the West?"

First its read:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2W9XUKHJiQ

Then its taught:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peFQWuk4nuo

*dragging sounds from background.*

*holding up big mirror.*

Hey, Mr. Thomas!

An important question to ask is how extremist elements became the Islam's voice for that centre of anger? What are the conditions that has focused Islam's rage on the West?

Before we ask moderates to fight a battle for the voice of Islam we may want to better understand the conditions that would have prevented or will prevent additional extremist elements from emerging in the first place?

It is this battle for the centre that we should all be clear on before more people commit their lives to this argument.

You know Cal, can someone really lie about something and at the same time say that they are being true to it in your heart?

How do you trust someone who tells you that it is OK to lie about what supposedly is the most important thing in their life; that it is OK to lie about God.

How do you believe someone when their deeds are consistently different from their words?

"isn't the same idiot who compared islam to a slow spreading cancer."

Can you read?

"Cal Thomas: "Not all Muslims from the Middle East and southeast Asia want to kill us, but those who do blend in with those who don't. Would anyone tolerate a slow-spreading cancer because it wasn't fast-spreading?"

"Thomas Friedman: Bombers are a cancer only Muslims can remove"

Newsweek: Exploring Islam's 'Death Cult'
Muslims must find a way to remove the cancer infecting their religion.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19636920/site/newsweek/

What's brought about this change of thought?

from an internet Opinion Page: "It's been difficult to grasp the idea that physicians trained in the art of healing would be part of a terrorism ring bent on killing and maiming as many innocent people as possible. Yet that is the allegation of the British government in three failed car-bomb incidents in London and Scotland. Six of the eight arrested were physicians, one of them a neurosurgeon, and the other two were medical students. Scotland Yard says they were part of a terrorist cell with international members who had two things in common: medical training and adherence to a radical Islamic sect that condones violence against anyone not of their faith, especially people in the West.

The existence of a medical terrorist cell constitutes a frightening new front in the international war on terrorism. Its existence was made more chilling by the revelation by a British priest based in Iraq of a warning he had received three months earlier from a purported al-Qaida chief at a meeting in Amman, Jordan. The leader, an Iraqi citizen, told Canon Andrew White, "Those who cure you are going to kill you," White told The Associated Press.

If this is a major new al-Qaida strategy to terrorize the West, it likely will have the opposite of its intended effect. It can be expected to touch off a xenophobic wave of opposition to all things Muslim in the West: medical offices, businesses, mosques, schools. It will make life more difficult for moderate Muslims who want no part of such violence and wish only to live in peace."

Mr. Cal, surely you cannot have failed to notice that extremists only target those who invade, occupy or support the occupation of Muslim lands?

Nearly all these posts have strayed from the original article. The point was, and still is, that Muslims must actively resist and confront the jihadists.

They must take back their mosques and their children from the extremists. They should expel from their mosques those advocating violence. They should call their children back to their family and the religion they practice themselves and put an end to those trying to lead them to the path of destruction.

Parents can do this. Uncles and Aunts can do this. Grandparents can do this. Families can do this.

somehow the link didn't show up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux-cFljkp94

isn't this the same idiot who compared islam to a slow spreading cancer. watch for yourself

not only is he terribly misinformed as Christopher W. Chase points out, he's a liar

isn't the same idiot who compared islam to a slow spreading cancer. watch for yourself

not only is he terribly misinformed as Christopher W. Chase points out, he's a liar

Pablum

My posts here are being deleted here for their political incorrectness.

What else would one expect from the likes of WashPo and Newsweek. Paplum for the masses.

OK. So how about instead of reading this infidel's no-so-kind comments on the true nature of Islam, you allow the defenders of the "religion of peace" to view the opinions of quite articulate EX-Muslims who have found a way to break from their faith. People with names like Ali Sina, Ibn Warraq, and Amil Anami.

See them at:

http://islam-watch.org/

Then go over to FaithFreedom International.

from that site:

"Faith Freedom International is a grassroots movement of ex-Muslims. Its goals are to (a) unmask Islam and show that it is an imperialistic ideology akin to Nazism but disguised as religion and (b) to help Muslims leave it, end this culture of hate caused by their "us" vs. "them" ethos and embrace the human race in amity. We strive for the unity of Mankind through the elimination of Islam, the most insidious doctrine of hate. Islam can't be reformed, but it can be eradicated. It can't be molded, but it can be smashed..."

http://www.faithfreedom.org/index.htm

There, is this inoffensive enough for you Mr. Censor?

There are 1 billion plus Muslims in the world because of "sword-forced" conversion and forced procreation. Considering the contemporary Islamic truth/death squads and "koranic" rules, things have not changed. Give freedom to the Muslim masses trapped under Islamic tyranny and watch what happens.

Any idea how many Muslims have access to this discussion??

And if I lived in Iran or other Islamic states and noted that Mohammed was an illiterate, hallucinating Arab who had contemporary or future scribal henchmen writing their own "koranic" militant agendas for plundering/looting the lands of non-believers, I would be beheaded. And you call that a "peaceful" religion?????

Cal Thomas;

You are afraid of Islamic shadow of Cyclone on the western culture, this fearsome leads you to write such confused and out of context articles.

CALL THOMAS:

You are wrong and misguided personality: Who killed 6 million Jews, it is the Christians: Who make them (jews) from Palestine it is Romans: Who used to used jews for teasing others it is Christians: You mentioned we hate Jews it is why it is because they occupy holy mosque and land. Once they vacate this we are not bothered about JEWS let them go to hell. CHRISTIANITY IS THE RESPONSIBLE RELIGION FOR THE HATE OF JEWS, IN FACT PROPOGATE HATE OF MUSLIM IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL, WHICH THEY WANT TO WIPED OUT JEWS FROM THE LAND BECAUSE THEY ARE HOLIGANS FOR HUMANITY.

I realize I have already posted, but another correction needs to be made. Its no secret that Mr. Thomas is not terribly informed when it comes to religion (just look at his entry on Paganism) but his discussion of Taqiyya is so terribly misinformed and ahistorical that some correction is in order. If Cal Thomas had actually had fiqh training, he would have understood how to use the sources and contextualize them in the proper order and process. Unfortunately, I am not a fiqh scholar, but I can say a few things about the history of Taqiyya.

Taqiyya was is a concept that originated in Shia Islam, not Sunni. After the Sunni-Shia split, it was common for Sunni regimes to wage extreme campaigns of oppression against the Shia. As a result, Shia theologians developed the concept of Taqiyya to prevent their populations from being tortured and killed as heretics. So when Sunni mauraders would capture Shia Muslims, they would pretend to renounce their belief the filial succession of religious authority and thus masquerade as Sunni Muslims until they could escape. Occasionally, under (neo)colonialist regimes, some Muslims, Sunni and Shia alike, banded together in the face of colonialist power, and so Sunnis began to see the value of such as doctrine. But in all cases, in order to invoke the principle of taqiyya, a Muslim's life, liberty and property must be in extreme danger from the ruling political authorities, and it is a doctrine of last resort--not first option. Many Shias and Kurdish Muslims found this to be the only way they could survive the brutal repression of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

And yet now, Mr. Thomas fancies himself an interpretive scholar of Islamic law and jurisprudence, without consulting either the historical context of Quranic verses, or fiqh judgments concerning the proper application of hadith. I don't pretend to patronizingly quote the Talmud and rabbinical arguments against Mr. Thomas's policy positions--and perhaps he should stop patronizingly attempting to interpret ("sola scriptura" style) the Quran for Muslims in the presence of *actual Ulema* in the "Muslims Speak Out" portion of this ongoing dialogue. After all, when one is so entirely ignorant of complex issues like fiqh, silence concerning those particular realms of ignorance is hardly the worst option.

Napoleon’s entry in Egypt, Ottoman’s contacts with Europe, British rule in India and above all the model of secular America and France had propelled reformation in Islamic regions in the 19th.Century. After the fall of the Ottomans, their region of influence was being replaced by secular forces. Kemal Ata Turk, Mohammad Ali Jinah, Soekarno, Nasser etc were secular leaders, who helped Muslims achieve freedom from colonialism. One of the main reasons was that the Muslims had realized that their fall from power and entry into stagnation and ultimately subjugation by the colonial forces was Mullah’s doing.
On the world seen, after centuries of religious cooling and reformation, the secular world decided to violate the principles of secularism and decided to promote the idea of countries on the basis of religion. Subsequent Palestinian plight was new ammunition for the mullahs to revive interest in ritualism, and banish reasoning from social morality.
In the Islamic world, the corrupted puppets of colonial powers managed to regroup in the guise of democratic forces. Shariaism, Zionism, double standards in the implementation of UN resolutions, the use of oil money to promote a medieval culture, western dependence on oil, use of religion to fight USSR in Afghanistan etc. thwarted the democratic movements in Islamic countries before grass root institutions could get hold. Above all, all of the above seeded the revival of Islamism.
If the world wants to extricate itself from the present doldrums, the Zionism, Shariaism, Christian evangelism, and other religious movements should be discouraged from starting a fight among God loving people. Most of all resolve the Israeli and Palestinian conflict as soon as possible, justly and conscientiously.

There is a strong and enduring perception, guided by voices such as diverse as Cal Thomas, Osama bin Laden, and some of the commenting voices here, that dearly wishes to portray Islam as an inherently violent, imperialist religion. There's just one very large problem with that. For the vast majority of worldwide Muslims, its simply not true, as studies continue to show. Not only is it not true for most everyday Muslims, its not true for Muslim leaders either. Muslims worldwide have condemned Al-Qaeda. In addition, legions of Muslim teachers, leaders, and scholars continue to condemn terrorism and actively work against religious violence.

Perhaps the best Islamic analysis on Sept. 11th was written by Abdulaziz Sachedina. An occasional "On Faith" guest voice, he is quite possibly the leading Islamic Studies scholar researching the theological frameworks and Sharia of Shia Islam, not to mention Islamic roots of democratic pluralism. But rarely does he get the chance to speak to wider media audiences. He is just one example of how specific and important Muslim voices are jettisoned in favor of pictures of anonymous crowds, veiled faces, and shrill rhetoric from a fraction of the Islamic world. In the eyes of many Americans, Islam is somehow the face of terrorism. For this, both Islamic extremists and anti-Islamic extremists, sadly, are to blame.

In fact, many members of different religions commit terrorism. Shortly after 9/11, 3,000 peaceful Muslim pilgrims were slaughtered in the Gujarat province of India by Hindu fundamentalists. But you didn't hear about it in the U.S. media, and very few people think of Hinduism as an inherently violent religion, even though their holy texts have as much violence as any those of any other major religion. The tragic slaughter of thousands of Muslim men and boys as Srebrenica at the hands of Orthodox Christians did not send American Protestants and Catholics into the street to protest violence in the name of Christianity, yet I doubt Cal Thomas even blinked an eye over this lack of "moderate Christian" engagement.

The point here is not to pick on Christianity in Serbia or Hinduism in India. Like these religions, there are about a billion Muslims in the world. They aren't going away. You will have to get along with them. In just looking at the U.S alone--- American Muslims have been speaking out for years:

The Fiqh Council of North America has issued a fatwa (legal judgment) against terrorism, the Islamic Society of North America has also continued to support this position. Those thinking that Islam necessarily denigrates women (Susan Jacobi, perhaps?) might be interested to know that the ISNA is headed by Dr. Ingrid Mattson. Dr. Mattson is also a prominent scholar of Islamic theology and law at Hartford Seminary. Other prominent women in American Islam include Dr. Yvonne Y. Haddad at Georgetown University and others as well.

Moreover, women have been both religiously and politically prominent in Islam over the years.

http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Muslim_Leaders.htm

In areas of the world where Islam is a minority tradition, Muslims have at times overwhelmingly voted for women candidates running for national office, such as during the 2007 Presidential elections in France. In the United States, where Muslims account for between 3%-5% of the population, women have risen to prominence as well, not just as the President of the ISNA, but also as senior advisors in the U.S. State Department. When Rush Limbaugh was busy checking into drug rehab in 2003, Shirin Ebadi was busy winning the Nobel Peace Prize. What Islamophobes like Cal Thomas don't know is that Ebadi, a tireless advocate for women's rights, democracy, and a devout Muslim, was Iran's first woman judge in 1979, before being forced to step down after the Iranian revolution. Even President Bush's White House spokesman Scott McClellan called her "a lifetime champion of the cause of human dignity and democracy." But people like Mr. Thomas just don't seem to want to listen to people like Ebadi, instead they bemoan the illusion that moderate Muslims (meaning those properly subservient to the West) aren't confronting terrorism.

Its easy to demean people who are nameless, faceless, and usually portrayed as angry, screaming, and protesting in the media. But when people complain about not hearing Muslims on the subject of violence, its because they aren't and have not been listening, to 20,000 in one rally alone in Germany. Anywhere from 100,000 to almost a quarter-million rallied against extremist violence in Jordan alone, when al-Zarqawi's extremist organization conducted terrorist operations there. And tens of thousands of people rallied in Karachi, Pakistan against reactionary extremists there. The evidence is overwhelming. But radical extremists, whether anti-Islamic or Muslim, don't listen and don't want to listen to them. Perhaps that suggests they have more in common than they think.

Why are religious people sometimes violent? Because humans are sometimes violent. And whatever else religion may be, it always has at least one foot in the human world, because humans practice it. We don't hear about peaceful and charitable people in the news precisely because peace and genuine sacrifice doesn't make the news. And it is increasingly popular to blame Islam because one fears legitimate criticism of U.S. policy. Studies have demonstrated that in the United States, African-American Muslim leaders, such as those in the American Society of Muslims and the historically Sunni African-American Mosques have consistently been harsher and more critical of their government and country than immigrant-American Muslims. Perhaps that says something about the history of the United States worth examining. And its the backyard where Cal Thomas, as an intelligent American paid to share his views, ought to be looking for answers.

Ahhh, The Jihadist is making the rounds again but still not addressing the root problem with Islam, i.e. its flawed foundations. But we must also consider The Jihadist's predicament being in a country about to convert to an Islamic state. I am sure her comments are already being monitored by the Islamic koranics in Malaysia. And almost a billion Muslims living in fear just like The Jihadist!!! How disturbing!!!!

so let's just be clear. this 'christian' contributor essentially calls muslims liars by definition and his supporters call for their death in their posts.

and ye shall know them by their love.

gee, Cal, if the religious have the duty to police their own, where were you when the jesus-boy, erik rudolph hid amongst the baptists of our tribal areas for five years?

thanks for showing all and sundry how little difference there is between you and osama.

Ahmed from bahrain,

Do you read/watch the news? Anything else but al jazeera on in your house. Can't you see that people in the west are tired of Iraq?

By the way U.S. soldiers who commit atrocities like what you mentioned are under no orders to do so and if they are reported, then the men responsible are certainly brought to justice. Sadly some of these injustices go unreported and the bastards get away with it. But beleive me the U.S. military is obliged to get rid of sickos who rape, murder, or abuse Iraqis

Jihadist:

You said, "In Malaysia, the question of race and religion is very emotional and passionate and has to be judiciously in a sustained manner. There are plenty of defensive/offensive Muslims against the defensive/offensive non-Muslims. Both thought they are, ironically, victims and striving for their rights against the other. Lots of fears and insecurities there."

Religion does that to people in general and not just in Malaysia. The US has had much of that from the beginning, even before the revolution. When race is thrown into the religion stew the pot boils over. Religion, interpretation of sacred scriptures has been used to justify one's stand on everything down through the ages going back as far as history has been recorded.

Conclusion: Religion is the problem. No matter how moderate one may be when the religious leader says it, it is believed and acted upon. Example, children armed with nothing more than Qu'rans marching into Iraqi machine guns, 1980s. Maybe the Malaysian government needs to pay a little more attention to what religious leaders say?

Did you notice they have none of these problems in Godless China where it's unlawful to preach the good news, (Gospel)? Governments can't stop people from believing but they can stop organized con men from infecting minds with imaginary demons guarding the gates to the next life.

One more time: Almighty God can get what Almighty God wants with no help required from people. Con men claim they know what Almighty God wants to get what they want from people. What Almighty God wants is written in sacred scriptures. Thus sacred scriptures are the problem. Keep the faith,, in sacred scriptures. They bring chaos in preparation for hell a place of total chaos.

It always leads to, "lock and load. Now send them to hell."

Timothy,

I know both Raja Petra and Nathaniel Tan as acquintances. And also, with some others, giving them support for legal recourse and through NGO pressure.

Both are stalwart supporters of deposed and jailed former Malaysian deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim and now key opposition voice in Malaysia.

Both Raja Petra and Nathaniel Tan, admittedly, do have do have a history of posting blogs that are untrue in some and they are members and supporters of an opposition party started by the key supporters of Anwar Ibrahim.

Frankly, I thought it was only a matter of time before the authorities got really irritated by some of the slanders they put out and come down hard on them. I find it rather unnecessary for them to resort to that when most of what they posted is true, but laced with, admittedly, with generous doses of slander that angered many Muslims and the government of course.

Malaysian Muslims do take slander seriously as in their rage against former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad when he slandered his former deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, with accusations of being a sodomite that got the latter charged in court and jailed in a very dubious legal process and judgement.

But what the Malaysian government is doing to Raja Petra and Nathaniel, never mind they do act foolishly in giving in to partisan political passions and unnecessarily putting out some untruths, and putting their overall credibility into question, has to be pushed back so the government would not push forward in blanket repression of free speech.

In Malaysia, the question of race and religion is very emotional and passionate and has to be judiciously in a sustained manner. There are plenty of defensive/offensive Muslims against the defensive/offensive non-Muslims. Both thought they are, ironically, victims and striving for their rights against the other. Lots of fears and insecurities there.

Cal

Pls read Susan Brook's article here in this forum and see how many 'moderate' muslims have signed up to the idea of peace but still we hear you and others in this forum denouncing us. So, ours seem to be a loosing battle. oops, I shouldn't be using battle. it has jihadist connotations!!

Why can't you acknowledge that there are 1.3 billion Muslims with diverse cultures and that not all of us are fanatics. I tell you if we were then this world would have burnt long time ago. Just like someone who said if all Chinese were anti-American then they would just have to piss on New York to drwon it! Sorry for being rude. Am just recalling a Chinese reasoning which seems befitting here to illustrate my point.

Fanaticism is always an extreme element as in Pareto law or normal distribution curve. Some of you can not be convinced not matter what, so my question is where are the moderate Westerners and the moderate Christians and the moderate Jews who do not steal other people's lands and do not want military camps with massive WMD in other countries? Who do not say 'it is our oil under your land'. Who do not say your oil is a matter of our national security. Where are those who oppose your rulers who want to force democracy down our throats thro the burrel of a gun, who break down the doors in the early hours of morn to enter Iraqi families homes and kill and rape children and then get away with murder. These are your soldiers who follow orders blindly. Are they any different from any other thug in any other society?

You point to the twig in your brother's eye but fail to see the log in your own eye.

Jihadist:

Changes in Malaysia...

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B9270403-706B-49F9-BF7B-55AF0F06F2FC.htm

Your comments?

Wrong Felix!

You believe http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul ??

It's just plain not so. Those holy books are NOT hoaxes.

Moses spoke to a supernatural being living in a ball of fire.
Muhammad spoke to one of It's representatives, an angel.
Joe Smith had a conversation with the same one Muhammad did, no doubt.

They are for real!! None of them lied, only time they didn't just about. The being in the ball of fire they made their deals with is Lucifer, the biggest Devil of them all, Lord of hell.

They call Devil God. Calling Devi God does not make Devil God but does make Devil happy. That's why the big money goes to those leading the multitudes to the Devil's kingdom, hell. Devil has a huge bank account, got the money from people thinking they're buying tickets to heaven when it's really hell they're headed.

Good news. When enough people are in hell Lucifer is going to attack God again and take over heaven. He almost won last time he tried. Then He will declare Himself to be God and everyone who kept the faith is saved. ;)

Mr. Cal Thomas:)

Good to see you back in form.

You stated : "I very much want to believe that the majority of the world's Muslims are peaceful, tolerant...."

As there is no compulsion in religion or to believe, you don't have to.

I can hardly wait to read the number of posts on this topic in On Faith from those who are relieved that the two recent topics/questions related to the Pope/Vatican is now over.

At least the Christians engaging in word war with one another on what the Pope/Vatican said now can unite again over Islam to deliver them all from evil. Phew! What a relieve for them all!

Welcome back fellows:)

Maybe a moderate Muslim is a ______ Muslim?

We didn't defeat Nazi Germany by declaring "moderate Germans." The word at that time was, "a good German is a dead German." Germans are kinda thick headed, took the total destruction of their army and nearly their country to wake them up. Dream on, moderate Muslims don't help extremist Muslims be extreme.

Let's try again. A good Muslim is a ________ Muslim.

Oops, make that Salman Rushdie.

The only way moderates can make the claim that 'Islam is a religion of peace' is by ignoring much of their Holy Books or argue with the unbeleivers about 'the historical context in which the Qur'an was written' and claim 'those who are not Muslim can never understand the true meaning of Islam'.

All arguments I have read in this forum.

Islam truly is a flawed religion as is Christianity. One only needs to look at the terror and death that both have caused from interpretation of their Holy Books. I really hope some day we can get past this strange need to believe in superstition and the supernatural.

Without Salmon Rusdie and Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the Muslim panel, the panel was a "stacked pro-Islamic deck".

By the way, "no compulsion in religion" does nothing to negate Islam's numerous Verses of Blood.

Mohammed commanded the faithful to do three things with regard to non-Muslims (as cited in my last post): First, "invite" them to Islam. If they refuse, demand the jizya, an oppressive poll tax part of the humiliating and degrading dhimma. If they refuse to pay, then fight.

So, yes, technically non-Muslims are not to be forced to convert to Islam. But they are to be forced to pay and submit. Or die.

And wherever and whenever Muslim numbers, knowledge, zeal, and resources have existed to fulfill these commands, non-Muslims have suffered tremendously.

The only problem is, for moderate Muslims to "take back" their faith from the "extremists" implies an Islam that never was.

Islam can be defined not by any one person or group of people, but by Allah and Mohammed alone. It is their words and deeds which define Islam. Nearly fourteen centuries of Islamic theology, jurisprudence, and history are all founded on Qur'an, Hadith, and Sira.

What do they say? Here's a sample:

"fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war) . . . " (Qur’an 9:5).

"Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers . . . " (Qur'an 9:14).

"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Qur'an 9:29).

"Allah's Apostle said: 'I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle . . . '" (Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2, Number 24).

"Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them). And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do" (Qur'an 8:38, 39).

"fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression "(Qur'an 2:193).

"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" (Qur'an 9:123).

"Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not" (Qur'an 2:216).

"Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly" (Qur'an 8:60).

“Muhammad said, ‘A single endeavor of fighting in Allah’s Cause is better than the world and whatever is in it’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 50).

"Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home) . . . But those who strive and fight hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward . . . " (Qur'an 4:95).

“A man came to Allah’s Apostle and said, ‘Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad in reward.’ He replied, ‘I do not find such a deed’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 44).

"Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah?" (Qur'an 9:111).

"Say to [those] . . . who lagged behind: "Ye shall be summoned (to fight) against a people given to vehement war: then shall ye fight, or they shall submit. Then if ye show obedience, Allah will grant you a goodly reward, but if ye turn back as ye did before, He will punish you with a grievous Penalty. No blame is there on the blind, nor is there blame on the lame, nor on one ill (if he joins not the war) . . . and he who turns back, (Allah) will punish him with a grievous Penalty" (Qur'an 48:16, 17).

"And there were, among the desert Arabs (also), men who made excuses and came to claim exemption; and those who were false to Allah and His Messenger (merely) sat inactive. Soon will a grievous penalty seize the Unbelievers among them. There is no blame on those who are infirm, or ill, or who find no resources to spend (on the cause), if they are sincere (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger: no ground (of complaint) can there be against such as do right: and Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful" (Qur'an 9:90, 91).

"O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, 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 . . . " (Qur'an 9:38, 39).

"Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): 'I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them'" (Qur'an 8:12).

“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have been made victorious with terror. The treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220).