"Does Islam Encourage Terrorism?"

From Ben at A Newtone.com
http://www.anewtone.com/2008/06/islam-sanctifies-mandates-terrorism.html

On June 11, 2008, Myth vs Fact drew a comment from thepureislam, linking to this blog post. :"Does Islam encourage terrorism?" attributed to Seyed Siraj H Zaidi. In this post, I will dissect and disprove the false claims therein contained.

The question very directly pointing a finger on the religion of Islam as a whole, (as opposed to this specific sect, who believe in terrorism) and implying that there is something inherently wrong in it.What do the terrorists attacking Beslan, Israel, London, Madrid and New York have in common? Seyed apparently wants us to believe that there is nothing inherently wrong with terrorism. One can not even juxtapose the word terrorism next to Islam, both are contradictory terms. In true Islam, terror does not exist".

Does the Qur'an reflect "true Islam" ? Is there anything more authoratiive than Allah's book? [Emphasis added.]

3:151 We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allah, for which He had sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire and how evil is the abode of the Zalim�n (polytheists and wrong�doers).Did Allah say that? Did he mean what he said? Lets consult Ibn Kathir's Tafsir.

...Allah next conveys the good news that He will put fear of the Muslims, and feelings of subordination to the Muslims in the hearts of their disbelieving enemies, because of their Kufr and Shirk. And Allah has prepared torment and punishment for them in the Hereafter. Allah said, (We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allah, for which He sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire and how evil is the abode of the wrongdoers)....

Perhaps we should get a second opinion, lets consult Tafsir al-Jalalayn.

We will cast terror (read ru�b or ru�ub) into the hearts of the disbelievers:...Lets get a third opinion, from Tafsir Ibn Abbas.

Allah then mentioned the defeat of the unbelievers on the Day of Uhud, saying: (We shall cast terror) fear of you such that they run from you (into the hearts of those who disbelieve) ...Does Moe reflect the true Islam? Is there anything, other than the Qur'an, more authoratative than his Sunnah? Lets see what Moe had to say about terror.

Sahih Bukhari 1.7.331: ...Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey....Sahih Bukhari 4.52.220: ... I have been made victorious with terror (cast in the hearts of the enemy)...3:151 is not Allah's only statement about terror; lets see his other relevant statements.

8:12 (Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, "Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes." Does Allah mean what he said? Will the Tafsirs confirm this?

Ibn Kathir ...(I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved.) means, `you -- angels -- support the believers, strengthen their (battle) front against their enemies, thus, implementing My command to you. I will cast fear, disgrace and humiliation over those who defied My command and denied My Messenger, (so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.) strike them on their foreheads to tear them apart and over the necks to cut them off, and cut off their limbs, hands and feet. It was said that, (over the necks) refers to striking the forehead, or the neck, according to Ad-Dahhak ...al-Jalalayn ...I shall cast terror, fear, into the hearts of the disbelievers...Ibn Abbas ... (I will throw) cast (fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve) the fear of Muhammad (pbuh) and his Companions.Fear of the Muslims; fear of Moe & his companions? Is this confirmed anywhere?

59:13 Verily, you (believers in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) are more awful as a fear in their (Jews of Bani An-Nadir) breasts than Allah. That is because they are a people who comprehend not (the Majesty and Power of Allah).

Tafsir Ibn Kathir ...(Verily, you are more fearful in their breasts than Allah.) meaning, the hypocrites fear you more than they fear Allah, ...

8:60 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 God and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom God doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of God, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]
dismay the enemy [Pickthall]
to threaten the enemy [Hali & Khan]
to frighten thereby the enemy [Shakir]
whereby you may frighten the enemy [Sher Ali]
that you may frighten the enemies [Khalifa]
to terrify thereby the enemy [Arberry]
to make the enemies of God, and your enemies, and others beside them, in dread thereof [Palmer]
strike terror into the enemy [Rodwell]
strike a terror into the enemy [Sale]

Those are empty words, right; the Most Merciful would never do such a thing. Wrong!

33:26 And those of the people of the Scripture who backed them (the disbelievers) Allah brought them down from their forts and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) a group (of them) you killed, and a group (of them) you made captives.

33:27 And He caused you to inherit their lands, and their houses, and their riches, and a land which you had not trodden (before). And Allah is Able to do all things.

The tafsir for this ayat: Ibn Kathir al-Jalalayn Ibn Abbas; the group that were killed were the warriors, their widows and orphans were sold into slavery.

59:2 ...But Allah's (Torment) reached them from a place whereof they expected it not, and He cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. Then take admonition, O you with eyes (to see).
One can not even juxtapose the word terrorism next to Islam, both are contradictory terms. In true Islam, terror does not exist".
We shall cast terror
I will cast terror
to strike terror
more awful as a fear
Allah made me victorious by awe
I have been made victorious with terror

Is Seyed Siraj H Zaidi totally ignorant of Islam or is he deliberately attempting to deceive us?
In Islam killing a human is an act that is equal in gravity to unbelief. ...No one can touch an innocent person, even in times of war.

Kuffar are not innocent, we are rebels against Allah. To fully comprehend this, we need reference to 5:33, which Muslims are loath to quote in public, prefering 5:32.

5:33 The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.What is the meaning of " wage war against Allah"; what does it include?

Ibn Kathir's Tafsir holds the answer.
...`Wage war' mentioned here means, oppose and contradict, and it includes disbelief, blocking roads and spreading fear in the fairways. ...Disbelief is sufficient to subject you to death by crucifixion or mutilation. Assertion without evidence is not proof. Seyed Siraj H Zaidi. made unsupported assertions, which I have disproven by Islam's canon of scripture & tradition. I have quoted, with one exception, the Hilali & Khan translation of the Qur'an and have provided a link to ten parallel translations. I have linked ahadith to the Muslim Student Association's

Compendium of Islamic Texts. That same site offers three parallel Qur'an translations. I linked Ibn Kathir quotes to www.tafsir.com; www.qtafsir.com publishes the same text, and includes a search engine. Bold blue underlined text in this post is hyperlinked to source. Clicking it will open the source document in a new window.

Ben 06/15/08

A note from Radarsite: We know of no finer Islamic scholar than our good friend and fellow blogger Ben from a Newtone.com. If we need intellectual ammunition to fight this ideological war, this is where we can get it. His research -- as you can see for yourself --is exceptionally deep and thorough. When he makes a statement, or refutes a statement, he backs up his words with irrefutable facts and unquestioned expertise.
We who are not experts can hardly be expected to remember all of the quotations and references that are presented here, and elsewhere in his amazingly prolific output; but we can see how the enemy is vulnerable to truth, and we can also see how wrong the Islamist apologists really are. In short, we can improve our understanding of the enemy and strengthen our resolve to fight and to win this veritable Clash of Civilizations, this war against the powers of darkness and evil -- and make no mistake about it, that is just what they are.

Thank you once again Ben for all of your hard work on our behalf. It truly is appreciated. -- rg