Readers' response - Islaam is... Sadique Muncey, Contributor
ONE OF the commonest charges brought against Islaam historically and as a religion by Western writers is that it is a religion that promotes terrorism and violence. To further complicate this charge they try to attribute this to the Quraan, the final revelation for Muslims. Such erroneous assertions will continue to occur so long as these writers choose to be misformed by persons and groups, whose authority on Islamic issues are limited and distorted. It is with much regrets that when writers present articles they take precautions in authenticating facts before presentations, however in presenting Islaam, very little effort is excercised in this regard. Last Saturday, Mr. Ian Boyne presented an article "Does Islaam promote terrorism?" in which he quoted extensively 'The Institute for the secularisation of Islamic society', an atheist group as he clarified. Mr. Boyne's excessive quote of the Institute served as a shield for his own beliefs which became evident when he quoted them as saying "there is no terrorist but a terrorist mindset". In authenticating this statement to them the actual statement read "but there could be a terrorist mindset". Various verses of the Quraan were cited to support such a position. These verses were not only quoted out of context but also violates a methodology, which has been in existence for over 14 centuries, of how Quranic verses are explained and understood by Muslims. This methodology includes (1) referring verses back to Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to see how he explained them and exemplified them in his lifetime. To this end voluminous books have been documented by renowned Islamic scholars in the Science of Quranic Commentaries (2) verification of reasons and circumstances under which particular verses were revealed (3) acknowledging that these verses are from Allah and His laws cannot be replaced as such the use of the human intellect is bordered by His revelation (4) referring back to the Islamic scholars for explanation of verses, so as to ensure correct understanding of them. With this in mind how then can the verse "and murder them and treat them harshly" quoted to support terrorism from the perspective of the Quraan? Firstly, the Arabic language does not support the English translation of the word murder for the Arabic Qaatiloo' found in the verse. Secondly, this is a part quote of the verse, as such it is out of context of the verse itself and also with the verse that preceded and followed it. The circumstances under which this and other verses on the same subject matter were revealed, would have to be examined. Was it at the beginning of Muhammad's mission, when the pagan Meccans persecuted them in the most inhumane manner as history testifies? Or was it in Madinah, when those with whom Muhammad had a Treaty of Non-Aggression and Co-operation violated it, then verses were revealed addressing the situation at hand? Such application of the Quraan has made it inseparable to the life of the Muslims as such for 14 centuries they have distinguished themselves in praying, fasting, paying the poor due and performing the pilgrimage in the same exact manner according to Quranic understandings. So to present it as "a lie" "feeding terrorism" "violence that is eulogised in it" and its irrelevance "to the free world the 21st Century", only demonstrates the biasness in approach that one has toward the Quraan. The article continues, "The history of Islaam between the 7th and 14th century is riddled with violence and aggression." In quoting Gibbon, a historian of great repute, "A prenicious tenet has been imputed to Muslims, the duty of extirpating all religion by the sword. This charge is based on ignorance and bigotry. The great success of Muhammads life had been effected by sheer moral force without a stroke of sword". Would one blame the Bible as the cause of the Inquisition in which 340,000 persons were punished of them 32,000 were burnt? Or as some historians put it at 300,000 killed, three centuries earlier? Then what about The Greek war of Independence in 1811 which 300,000 muslim men, women and children were massacred? Hey! Stop...Let's not engage in a tug-o-war, as this could only be sowing more seeds of discord between lands and peoples and this is definitely is not the purpose. As the article projects the concept of free thinkers, let's see how we can together start discussions and dialogue between ourselves and our Christian counterparts as we are commanded by Allah. "Say O Muhammad, 'O people of the scripture come to a word that is just between us and you." (Ch. 3:64). Sadique Muncey is a teacher of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
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