Islam Watch - "Who are We Fighting—Jihadists or Extremists?"

Islam Under Scrutiny by Ex-Muslims

Who are We Fighting—Jihadists or Extremists?

by Jeffrey Imm

26 Apr, 2008

From Counter Terrorism Blog on 24 April, 2008:

Now we officially know the answer - the U.S. Government states that America is definitely not fighting "jihadists", based on new guidelines directing federal agencies not to even use the term "jihadist". So who is America fighting? Defense Secretary Robert Gates tells us: "the enemy is extremism".

A. National Counter Terrorism Center Memo and DHS Report on Terminology

Associated Press reported today that the Extremist Messaging Branch at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) prepared a memorandum in March 2008 entitled "Words that Work and Words that Don't: A Guide for Counterterrorism Communication." The memorandum approved for distribution by the State Department today sets out guidelines for federal agencies in describing terrorists and their organizations. The AP report suggests that the NCTC memorandum is also supported by a January 2008 Department of Homeland Security report entitled "Terminology to Define the Terrorists: Recommendations from American Muslims".

Per the AP report, the NCTC memorandum tells federal agencies that they are not to use the terms: "jihadist", "jihadi", "mujahedeen". Specifically, the NCTC memorandum states: "Never use the terms 'jihadist' or 'mujahedeen' in conversation to describe the terrorists... Calling our enemies 'jihadis' and their movement a global 'jihad' unintentionally legitimizes their actions." It also states: "We are communicating with, not confronting, our audiences. Don't insult or confuse them with pejorative terms such as 'Islamo-fascism,' which are considered offensive by many Muslims."

Another AP report states that the NCTC memorandum advises:
- "Don't use 'caliphate' when explaining al-Qaida's goals, as this has positive implications."
- "Don't use 'salafi,' 'Wahhabist,' 'sufi,' 'ummah' and other words from Islamic theology unless you are able to discuss their varied meanings. Particularly avoid using 'ummah' to mean the Muslim world, as it is a theological term."

AP also states that the January 2008 DHS report calls for "caution in using terms such as, 'jihadist,' 'Islamic terrorist,' 'Islamist,' and 'holy warrior' as grandiose descriptions."

B. The Inconvenient 9/11 Commission Report

What the "Extremist Messaging Branch" of the NCTC and the Muslim outreach division of the DHS have not addressed are the inconvenient writings in the 9/11 Commission Report, the closest thing that America has yet in terms of a "strategic" document on Jihad (in itself that speaks volumes as the 9/11 Commission Report is not a strategy document).

The 9/11 Commission Report uses the term "jihad" in referencing the enemy 79 times and specifically defines "jihad" as a "holy war" executed by Osama Bin Laden and his compatriots (Section 2.3, Paragraph #302 on page 55), as well as defining "mujahideen" as "holy warriors" (Paragraph #302, same page). The 9/11 Commission Report refers to such "mujahideen" 22 times.

The 9/11 Commission Report refers to the term "jihadist" 31 times, including the references to the "worldwide jihadist community" (Section 5.1, Paragraph #691 on page 148), to "Islamist Jihadists" (Section 5.3, Paragraph #741 on page 158), to "Islamist and jihadist movements" (Section 6.3, Paragraph #887 on page 191), and multiple references to an NSC memo on "Jihadist Networks".

Most importantly, the 9/11 Commission Report provides the definition of "Islamist terrorism" as being based on the ideology of "Islamism" (Notes, Part 12, Note 3: "Islamism", page 562).

How do the NCTC and the DHS reports reconcile the 9/11 Commission Report with their guidelines on terminology? The 9/11 Commission Report has most of the "offensive" language on "jihadists", "jihad", "mujahideen", and even "Islamism" decried by the NCTC and DHS reports on terminology. What is the position of the NCTC and the DHS on this report containing such "offensive" language? Does the NCTC now claim that the 9/11 Commission Report "legitimizes" the actions of Jihadists?

The U.S. Government-printed 9/11 Commission Report is accessed daily on a U.S. Government web site, and sold in U.S. Government Printing Office bookstores. The 9/11 Commission Report is in federally funded libraries around the nation, and no doubt on the desks of many federal employees.

In keeping with their guidelines, will the NCTC and the DHS call for the closing of the 9/11 Commission Report website, call for the end of sales of the 9/11 Commission Report by the GPO, and the removal of the 9/11 Commission Report in federally funded libraries? Will the 9/11 Commission Report become the next "Alms of Jihad" -- forbidden for sale and forbidden to be kept in libraries -- due to Islamist influence and petrodollars?

One of the key missions of the NCTC is to provide "Strategic Operational Planning". The NCTC should explain how they are performing that function if they seek to silence the same introspection on and analysis of Jihad and Islamism that was found in the 9/11 Commission Report.

C. The War On Extremists - and Surrender to Islamists

In a reactive-only approach to war that stubbornly refuses to make the strategic commitment in defining the enemy, it is no surprise that seven and half years after the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. government is reduced to calling for a "War On Extremists". It is hard for most to disagree with the idea of being against "extremists" - because everyone has a different definition of the term.

Indeed, the NCTC, Defense Secretary Gates, Osama Bin Laden, and Islamists all agree on this point - they are all against "extremists".

Echoing Defense Secretary Gates' recent comments that in Iraq, "the enemy is extremism", Osama Bin Laden also shares this sentiment. In his October 22, 2007 message calling for Jihadists in Iraq to unite, Bin Laden warns of the "ta'assub" (fanatics, extremists), who would sow dissension among Jihadist mujahideen. CENTCOM head nominee General Petraeus' recent testimony also calls for fighting against "extremists". One would think that the U.S. Secretary of Defense and Osama Bin Laden would have different definitions of the enemy in Iraq, but in fact they all claim to be fighting against "extremists". This nonsensical state is where the "War On Extremists" takes us.

Moreover, in the documentary Islam versus Islamists, Tempe Wahhabist Imam Ahmad Al Shqeirat views anti-terror Muslims like Dr. Zuhdi Jasser as an "extremist". According to the NCTC, use of the term "extremist" is fine, but pointing out that Imam Ahmad Al Shqeirat is a "Wahhabist" - that's a problem.

The drift towards a "War On Extremists" position was telegraphed in President Bush's January 2008 State of the Union Message -- defining the enemy as "terrorists and extremists" (without the term Islamist or Islamic), and again in the February 2008 Annual Threat Assessment from the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) which predominantly referenced the enemy as "extremists" (not using the terms "Jihad", "Jihadist", "Islamism", or "Islamist"). The latest DHS and NCTC reports are a culmination of a specific direction that the current U.S. government administration wants -- movement towards a "War On Extremists".

The basic philosophy of the "War On Extremists" position is summarized by Defense Secretary Gates: "It's those who are not willing to participate in the political process and do so peacefully. Those are the enemy."

In short, since the current U.S. political leadership has consciously ignored the definition of Islamist terrorism being based on Islamism per the 9/11 Commission Report, and since tactical-centric operations have required alliance with pro-Islamist nations, the current U.S. political leadership is basically willing to allow Islamists grow as long as they do not take violent action against Americans.

The "War On Extremists" approach has resulted in agencies with the mission of protecting Americans engaged in outreach to Islamist and pro-Jihadist organizations. It was just last Labor Day that the DOJ, DHS, and the FBI were attending the Islamic convention coordinated by unindicted HLF terror trial co-conspirator ISNA, with the DHS booth reportedly next to the virulently Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. In February 2008, the CIA and FBI were reported recruiting for staff in the pro-Hamas, pro-Islamist Washington Report for Middle East Affairs (WRMEA). In April 2008, the FBI was reported recruiting for staff in the pro-terrorist Arab American News. Also in April 2008, the Pentagon cleared Deputy Defense Secretary England's aide Hasham Islam and his "diplomatic outreach program". Mr. Islam reportedly had pressured former Joint Staff analyst Stephen Coughlin "to take a softer line on Islam and Islamic law elements that promote extremism", when Mr. Coughlin reportedly identified "several groups that [were] being courted by Mr. Islam's community outreach program as front organizations for the pro-extremist Muslim Brotherhood." Moreover, the U.S. government outreach to Islamist groups has extended far beyond our own borders.

The U.S. State Department's Kurt Volker has supported Afghanistan President Karzai's attempts to "mainstream" the enemy Taliban Islamists into the Afghanistan government and political system. On April 24, 2008, Pakistan Dawn reported that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher stated that the U.S. was not against any talks with Islamist militants and the Taliban that would lead to peace; Boucher's only concern is the ability to enforce the peacefulness of Pakistani Islamists. The efforts of Islamists to transform Pakistan into a Sharia-based nation is apparently not a concern to Assistant Secretary Boucher. Prior to Mr. Carter's apparent Logan Act violations in negotiating with the Islamist terror group Hamas, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice even referred to Hamas as a merely a "resistance organization". The point is that Islamist ideologies are not concerns to the State Department, just the level of violence that such groups promote.

For those who still didn't understand the administration's intentions regarding global Islamism, in February 2008 President Bush named Sada Cumber as the U.S. envoy to the largest Islamist, pro-Sharia organization in the world, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The OIC is an organization that only two months earlier had sought to redefine freedom of religion in the world based on Sharia principles. U.S. envoy Cumber views the OIC's pro-Sharia, anti-religious freedom values as similar to American values, stating: "I think the Muslim values that they are aspiring here are exactly in sync with American values." On April 8, 2008, U.S. envoy Cumber was interviewed by the Muslim Brotherhood founded group, the Muslim American Society (MAS), on Cumber's support for the Islamist OIC, and his views that concerns about Islamism are merely a "clash of ignorance"; Cumber also stated "I don't even use the terms when it comes to Islamic terrorism or Islamic terrorist".

This pattern of U.S. concessions to global Islamism bears the clear and unambiguous message of the U.S. government's "surrender" to the global forces of Islamism. In effect, the current U.S. administration is telling Islamists that America is already tired of fighting, and that Islamists can go about their efforts to control the world as long as they do it peacefully.

The "War On Extremists" philosophy is an approach to reduce military action required against Jihadists, to accommodate pro-Islamist nations, and to find "peace in our time". This philosophy incorporates a great deal of the concepts behind the non-interventionist ideologies of ex-CIA members Michael Scheuer and Marc Sageman. Like Mr. Scheuer's ideology, the "War On Extremists" ignores the totalitarian ideology of Islamism itself, and derides the concept of Islamism seeking to create a global caliphate (another term that NCTC says the federal government shouldn't use). Outside of the Iraq theater of battle, the do-anything-for-peace positions between Mr. Scheuer's non-interventionism and those of the advocates of a "War On Extremists" are not that far apart. Mr. Sageman's view that Islamist terrorists just do it for the "glamour" is much more in line with the NCTC position outlined in NCTC's March 2008 memorandum. Similar to the position of the NCTC's "Extremist Messaging Branch", Mr. Sageman downplays the ideological component of Jihadists, which Mr. Sageman bases on a psychological study that he believes proves that Jihadists are really only in it for the thrill. Mr. Sageman argues that if Americans just leave Islamists alone and quit bothering them, violent "extremists" will diminish. That sounds a lot like the U.S. State Department... and now the NCTC and the DHS.

D. Why "The War On Extremists" Fails to Understand the Islamist Imperatives

Where the weary U.S. administration's retreat into a non-ideological "War On Extremists" (which would be aptly abbreviated as W.O.E.) truly fails is in its belief that America can wage a non-ideological battle against Jihad. Such advocates are wrong that by merely calling Jihadists other names such as "extremists" - that it will encourage peace with Islamists.

Their major failure is the inability to understand that Islamism is an activist ideology. Islamism is not just a supremacist way of thinking like racism or other supremacist viewpoints.

Islamism is an activist conflation of Islam with a political form of governance driven by imperatives for control and action. The imperatives for control and action inherent in Islamism itself are what resulted in impatient Islamists like Osama Bin Laden to adopt terrorism as a tactic.

The Islamist imperatives of control and action can be seen daily in: (a) Islamist condemnation and denunciation of democracy, (b) Islamist calls for expansionism and separatist territories within other nations (e.g., Thailand, Philippines), (c) Islamist groups calls for a global caliphate, (d) Islamist efforts to dictate legal standards by Sharia and to enforce Sharia law (e.g., Pakistan, Afghanistan), (e) frequent protests by Islamists against any perceived slight, (f) Islamist violence to demonstrate their peaceful nature, (g) Islamist calls for control of media and freedom of speech, (h) Islamist demands for controls over freedom of religion based on Sharia concepts, (i) Islamist suppression of religious beliefs that challenge theirs, (j) Islamist demands for their own set of laws separate from the rest of a society -- as shown in the push for Sharia in the United Kingdom and Canada.

A pro-freedom nation like the United States of America remains on a collision course with totalitarian Islamism, regardless of the goals of the current administration behind the "War On Extremists". The choice is whether America will face the ideology behind Jihadism and confront it with the courage of our ideological convictions, or whether America will hide behind the delusion that if we can just control "extremists", and don't say any "offensive" words to Islamists, we will have gained a respite from Islamist terrorism.

As George Weigel stated in his February 2008 commentary about the inability to define the enemy as Jihadism, "if the United States can't explain to the world why religious freedom, civility, tolerance and democratic persuasion are morally superior to coercion in religious and political matters, then America stands disarmed before those who believe it their duty to impose a starkly different view of the good society on us."

While the current administration may seek "peace in our time" with Islamists, the only peace that the Islamist imperatives will truly accept will be in our submission and surrender as a freedom-loving nation.

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Name: Jeffrey Imm , Who? What does he know about jihad!!!
Date: Friday April 25, 2008
Time: 07:17:48 -0700

Comment

Jihad Explained by Dr. M. Amir Ali, Ph.D. In the linguistic sense, the Arabic word "jihad" means struggling or striving and applies to any effort exerted by anyone. In this sense a student struggles and strives to get an education and pass course work; an employee strives to fulfill his/her job and maintain good relations with his/her employer; a politician strives to maintain or increase his popularity with his constituents and so on. The term strive or struggle may be used for/by Muslims as well non-Muslims; for example, Allah, One and Only True God says in the Qur'an: "We have enjoined on people kindness to parents; but if they strive (jahadaka) to make you ascribe partners with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not..." 29:8, also see 31:15. In the above two verses of the Qur'an, it is non-Muslim parents who strive (jahada) to convert their Muslim child back to their religion. In the West, "jihad" is generally translated as "holy war", a usage the media has popularized. According to Islamic teachings, it is unholy to instigate or start war; however, some wars are inevitable and justifiable. If we translate the words "holy war" back into Arabic we find "harbun muqaddasatun", or for "the holy war", "al-harbu al-muqaddasatu". We challenge any researcher or scholar to find the meaning of "jihad" as holy war in the Qur'an or authentic Hadith collections or in early Islamic literature. Unfortunately, some Muslim writers and translators of the Qur'an, the Hadith and other Islamic literature translate the term "jihad" as "holy war", due to the influence of centuries-old Western propaganda. This could be a reflection of the Christian use of the term "Holy War" to refer to the Crusades of a thousand years ago. However, the Arabic words for "war" are "harb" or "qital", which are found in the Qur'an and Hadith. For Muslims the term jihad is applied to all forms of striving and has developed some special meanings over time. The sources of this development are the Qur'an (the Word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad(S)) and the Hadith (teachings of Prophet Muhammad(S) [(S) denotes Sall-Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam meaning peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Qur'an and the Hadith use the word "jihad" in several different contexts which are given below: 1. Recognizing the Creator and loving Him most. It is human nature to love what is seen with the eyes and felt with the senses more than the UNSEEN REALITY. The Creator of the Universe and the One God is Allah. He is the Unseen Reality which we tend to ignore and not recognize. The Qur'an addresses those who claim to be believers: "O you who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for protectors if they love disbelief over belief; whoever of you takes them for protectors, such are wrong-doers. Say: if your fathers, and your children, and your brethren, and your spouses, and your tribe, and the wealth you have acquired, and business for which you fear shrinkage, and houses you are pleased with are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah does not guide disobedient folk." 9:23,24 It is indeed a struggle to put Allah ahead of our loved ones, our wealth, our worldly ambitions and our own lives. Especially for a non-Muslim who embraces Islam, it may be a tough struggle due to the opposition of his family, peers and society. 2. Resisting pressure of parents, peers and society: Once a person has made up his mind to put the Creator of the Universe above all else, he then comes under intense pressures. It is not easy to resist such pressures and strive to maintain dedication and love of Allah over all else. A person who has turned to Islam from another religion may be subjected to pressures designed to turn him back to the religion of the family. We read in the Qur'an: "So obey not the rejecters of faith, but strive (jahidhum) against them by it (the Qur'an) with a great endeavor." 25:52 3. Staying on the straight path steadfastly. Allah says in the Qur'an: "And strive (jahidu) for Allah with the endeavor (jihadihi) which is His right. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in the deen (religion) any hardship ..." 22:78 "And whosoever strives (jahada), strives (yujahidu) only for himself, for lo! Allah is altogether independent of the universe." 29:6 As for those who strive and struggle to live as true Muslims whose lives are made difficult due to persecution by their opponents, they are advised to migrate to a more peaceful and tolerant land and continue with their struggle in the cause of Allah. Allah says in the Qur'an: "Lo! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wronged themselves, (the angels) will ask: in what you were engaged? They will say: we were oppressed in the land. (The angels) will say: was not Allah's earth spacious that you could have migrated therein? ..." 4:97 "Lo! those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape persecution) and strive (jahadu) in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah's mercy ..." 2:218 Allah tests the believers in their faith and their steadfastness: "Or did you think that you would enter Paradise while yet Allah knows not those of you who really strive (jahadu), nor knows those (of you) who are steadfast." 3:142 "And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and fruits; but give glad tidings to the steadfast." 2:155 We find that the Prophet Muhammad(S) and his clan were boycotted socially and economically for three years to force him to stop his message and compromise with the pagans but he resisted and realized a moral victory. 4. Striving for righteous deeds: Allah declares in the Qur'an: As for those who strive (jahadu) in Us (the cause of Allah), We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good doers." 29:69 When we are faced with two competing interests, it becomes jihad to choose the right one, as the following Hadith exemplify. Aisha, wife of the Prophet(S) asked, "O Messenger of Allah, we see jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?" He replied, "But, the best of jihad is a perfect hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)." Sahih Al-Bukhari #2784 At another occasion a man asked the Prophet Muhammad(S): "Should I join the jihad?" He asked, "Do you have parents?" The man said, "Yes!" The Prophet(S) said, "then strive by (serving) them!" Sahih Al-Bukhari #5972 Yet another man asked the Messenger of Allah: "What kind of jihad is better?" He replied, "A word of truth in front of an oppressive ruler!" Sunan Al-Nasa'i #4209 The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad(S) said: "... the mujahid (one who carries out jihad) is he who strives against himself for the sake of obeying Allah, and the muhajir (one who emigrates) is he who abandons evil deeds and sin." Sahih Ibn Hibban #4862 5. Having courage and steadfastness to convey the message of Islam: The Qur'an narrates the experiences of a large number of Prophets and good people who suffered a great deal trying to convey the message of Allah to mankind. For examples see the Qur'an 26:1-190, 36:13-32. In the Qur'an, Allah specifically praises those who strive to convey His message: "Who is better in speech than one who calls (other people) to Allah, works righteous, and declares that he is from the Muslims." 41:33 Under adverse conditions it takes great courage to remain a Muslim, declare oneself to be a Muslim and call others to Islam. We read in the Qur'an: "The (true) believers are only those who believe in Allah and his messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their selves for the cause of Allah. Such are the truthful." 49:15 6. Defending Islam and the community Allah declares in the Qur'an: "To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to defend themselves), because they are wronged - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful to give them victory - (they are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right - (for no cause) except that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah'.... " 22:39-40 Jihad Explained by Dr. M. Amir Ali, Ph.D. In the linguistic sense, the Arabic word "jihad" means struggling or striving and applies to any effort exerted by anyone. In this sense a student struggles and strives to get an education and pass course work; an employee strives to fulfill his/her job and maintain good relations with his/her employer; a politician strives to maintain or increase his popularity with his constituents and so on. The term strive or struggle may be used for/by Muslims as well non-Muslims; for example, Allah, One and Only True God says in the Qur'an: "We have enjoined on people kindness to parents; but if they strive (jahadaka) to make you ascribe partners with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not..." 29:8, also see 31:15. In the above two verses of the Qur'an, it is non-Muslim parents who strive (jahada) to convert their Muslim child back to their religion. In the West, "jihad" is generally translated as "holy war", a usage the media has popularized. According to Islamic teachings, it is unholy to instigate or start war; however, some wars are inevitable and justifiable. If we translate the words "holy war" back into Arabic we find "harbun muqaddasatun", or for "the holy war", "al-harbu al-muqaddasatu". We challenge any researcher or scholar to find the meaning of "jihad" as holy war in the Qur'an or authentic Hadith collections or in early Islamic literature. Unfortunately, some Muslim writers and translators of the Qur'an, the Hadith and other Islamic literature translate the term "jihad" as "holy war", due to the influence of centuries-old Western propaganda. This could be a reflection of the Christian use of the term "Holy War" to refer to the Crusades of a thousand years ago. However, the Arabic words for "war" are "harb" or "qital", which are found in the Qur'an and Hadith. For Muslims the term jihad is applied to all forms of striving and has developed some special meanings over time. The sources of this development are the Qur'an (the Word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad(S)) and the Hadith (teachings of Prophet Muhammad(S) [(S) denotes Sall-Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam meaning peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Qur'an and the Hadith use the word "jihad" in several different contexts which are given below: 1. Recognizing the Creator and loving Him most. It is human nature to love what is seen with the eyes and felt with the senses more than the UNSEEN REALITY. The Creator of the Universe and the One God is Allah. He is the Unseen Reality which we tend to ignore and not recognize. The Qur'an addresses those who claim to be believers: "O you who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for protectors if they love disbelief over belief; whoever of you takes them for protectors, such are wrong-doers. Say: if your fathers, and your children, and your brethren, and your spouses, and your tribe, and the wealth you have acquired, and business for which you fear shrinkage, and houses you are pleased with are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah does not guide disobedient folk." 9:23,24 It is indeed a struggle to put Allah ahead of our loved ones, our wealth, our worldly ambitions and our own lives. Especially for a non-Muslim who embraces Islam, it may be a tough struggle due to the opposition of his family, peers and society. 2. Resisting pressure of parents, peers and society: Once a person has made up his mind to put the Creator of the Universe above all else, he then comes under intense pressures. It is not easy to resist such pressures and strive to maintain dedication and love of Allah over all else. A person who has turned to Islam from another religion may be subjected to pressures designed to turn him back to the religion of the family. We read in the Qur'an: "So obey not the rejecters of faith, but strive (jahidhum) against them by it (the Qur'an) with a great endeavor." 25:52 3. Staying on the straight path steadfastly. Allah says in the Qur'an: "And strive (jahidu) for Allah with the endeavor (jihadihi) which is His right. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in the deen (religion) any hardship ..." 22:78 "And whosoever strives (jahada), strives (yujahidu) only for himself, for lo! Allah is altogether independent of the universe." 29:6 As for those who strive and struggle to live as true Muslims whose lives are made difficult due to persecution by their opponents, they are advised to migrate to a more peaceful and tolerant land and continue with their struggle in the cause of Allah. Allah says in the Qur'an: "Lo! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wronged themselves, (the angels) will ask: in what you were engaged? They will say: we were oppressed in the land. (The angels) will say: was not Allah's earth spacious that you could have migrated therein? ..." 4:97 "Lo! those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape persecution) and strive (jahadu) in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah's mercy ..." 2:218 Allah tests the believers in their faith and their steadfastness: "Or did you think that you would enter Paradise while yet Allah knows not those of you who really strive (jahadu), nor knows those (of you) who are steadfast." 3:142 "And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and fruits; but give glad tidings to the steadfast." 2:155 We find that the Prophet Muhammad(S) and his clan were boycotted socially and economically for three years to force him to stop his message and compromise with the pagans but he resisted and realized a moral victory. 4. Striving for righteous deeds: Allah declares in the Qur'an: As for those who strive (jahadu) in Us (the cause of Allah), We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good doers." 29:69 When we are faced with two competing interests, it becomes jihad to choose the right one, as the following Hadith exemplify. Aisha, wife of the Prophet(S) asked, "O Messenger of Allah, we see jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?" He replied, "But, the best of jihad is a perfect hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)." Sahih Al-Bukhari #2784 At another occasion a man asked the Prophet Muhammad(S): "Should I join the jihad?" He asked, "Do you have parents?" The man said, "Yes!" The Prophet(S) said, "then strive by (serving) them!" Sahih Al-Bukhari #5972 Yet another man asked the Messenger of Allah: "What kind of jihad is better?" He replied, "A word of truth in front of an oppressive ruler!" Sunan Al-Nasa'i #4209 The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad(S) said: "... the mujahid (one who carries out jihad) is he who strives against himself for the sake of obeying Allah, and the muhajir (one who emigrates) is he who abandons evil deeds and sin." Sahih Ibn Hibban #4862 5. Having courage and steadfastness to convey the message of Islam: The Qur'an narrates the experiences of a large number of Prophets and good people who suffered a great deal trying to convey the message of Allah to mankind. For examples see the Qur'an 26:1-190, 36:13-32. In the Qur'an, Allah specifically praises those who strive to convey His message: "Who is better in speech than one who calls (other people) to Allah, works righteous, and declares that he is from the Muslims." 41:33 Under adverse conditions it takes great courage to remain a Muslim, declare oneself to be a Muslim and call others to Islam. We read in the Qur'an: "The (true) believers are only those who believe in Allah and his messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their selves for the cause of Allah. Such are the truthful." 49:15 6. Defending Islam and the community Allah declares in the Qur'an: "To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to defend themselves), because they are wronged - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful to give them victory - (they are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right - (for no cause) except that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah'.... " 22:39-40

Name: akhter
Date: Friday April 25, 2008
Time: 07:22:14 -0700

Comment

So at last the Us goverment has got it right,tje jihad confusion has been cleared by the above comment, is,t it time that this web sit and many others like it also stop using the word ,jihad or jihadists, as they are confusing themselves as well as the public at large.

Name: Tree
Date: Friday April 25, 2008
Time: 13:17:47 -0700

Comment

Akhtar, Will you reciprocate this good intention for "peace in our time" by erasing all those verses that call for the death of infidels and other innocent people?

Name: akhter
Date: Friday April 25, 2008
Time: 15:06:59 -0700

Comment

care to name one of those verses

Name: tree
Date: Friday April 25, 2008
Time: 23:05:25 -0700

Comment

"kill the infidals wherever you find them"

Name: Quran is the Most Tolerant as well as Universal Book in the World
Date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Time: 00:42:40 -0700

Comment

*Quran on Jews: Quran is the ONLY non-Jewish scripture in the world where Jews have been honored and protected in so many verses [2:40, 2:47, 10:47, 2:122, 10:93, 20:47, 20:80, 44:30-32, 45:16, 5:44, etc.], good Jews have been praised with respect [3:113-115, 5:65-66, etc.], and they have also been offered salvation if they follow their own scriptures [5:69, 5:65-66, 3:113-115, 2:62, etc.]. *Quran on Christians: Quran is the ONLY non-Christian scripture in the world where Jesus Christ and Mary have been honored with very high regard [3:42, 5:46, Chapter 3, Chapter 19 on Mary, etc.], good Christians have been praised with respect [3:113-115, 5:65-66, 5:82, etc.], and they have also been offered salvation if they follow their own scriptures [5:69, 5:65-66, 3:113-115, 2:62, etc.]. *Quran on idolaters and polytheists: Unlike Bible that prescribes death penalty for idolatry and polytheism [Deuteronomy 17:3-5, 13:6-15; 2 Chronicles 15:13, etc.], there is no temporal punishment for idolatry or polytheism in the Quran [22:17, 6:107-8, 22:67, 17:84, 49:11, etc.]. Moreover, unlike Bible that prescribes stoning to death for apostasy, blasphemy and disbelief [Leviticus 24:16, etc.], Quran offers freedom of faith and freedom of religion in so many verses [109:6, 2:256, 6:104, 10:108, 11:108, 18:29, 17:15, 10:99, 76:3, 42:48, 12:104, 39:41, 11:121, 34:25, 6:107-8, 10:41, 2:139, 2:272, 42:6, 73:19, 43:88-89, etc.]. #Note-1: The verses 5:51 and 3:28 refer to terrorist/intolerant Jews and Christians, not ALL. Please see the verses 5:57-59 and 60:7-9 for clarification. #Note-2: The verses 2:65 and 7:165 refer to a group of bad Jews who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath and other prohibitions [see 2:63-66 and 7:164-166 for clarification], who have even been condemned to death in the Bible for the same [Exodus 31:14]!!! #Note-3: Vedas and Gita condemn idolatry and polytheism [Yajurveda 40:8-9; Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:19-20, 6:9; Gita 7:20, 7:23, 9:25, etc.]. Gita also vehemently condemns atheists and materialists who do not worship Krishna [Gita 4:40, 16:6-20, 7:15, 17:28, 18:27-28, 9:25, etc.]. #Note-4: Majority Christians do not follow the true teaching of Jesus. For example: Jesus himself never claimed to be God (the Creator of the Universe); He never preached irrational doctrine like original sin and trinity; He never told his followers to worship him; In fact, he used to pray to God the way Muslims do [Matthew 26:39, 14:23]; and so on. **Honest and unbiased readers are now requested to go through the above quoted verses from different scriptures and see what anti-Muslim propagandists are preaching against Islam to create enmity and hatred between Muslim and non-Muslim communities is true or not. They are definitely ashamed of the above Quranic verses!!!

Name: Re: Quran is the Most Tolerant as well as Universal Book in the World
Date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Time: 02:02:03 -0700

Comment

I just tried a quick search: The query [terror] generated the following matches 29(!): Translations of the Qur'an 002.019 003.151 006.063 007.004 007.005 007.071 007.116 007.134 007.135 007.152 008.012 008.060 014.042 016.112 017.059 017.060 018.018 018.049 020.102 021.097 021.103 027.087 027.089 033.026 034.023 034.051 052.045 059.002 059.013 So much about tolerance.

Name: Islam and Other Religions
Date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Time: 02:47:23 -0700

Comment

http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/tolerance/article04.shtml

Name: /
Date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Time: 05:30:41 -0700

Comment

as one said...islam is as supermarket..you get from it what you like to get...if you want to kill you quote some verses, if you want peace you quote others. Crazyness.

Name: Allat
Date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Time: 07:36:35 -0700

Comment

What's the difference? Is there a difference between jihadists and extremists? ______________It's just semantics - Taqiya - to bring about confusion by the silly Westerners.

Name: ZuK
Date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Time: 12:04:04 -0700

Comment

About being an atheist AND for everyone's liberty to have a religion: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/26/atheist.soldier.ap/index.html

Name:
Date: Saturday April 26, 2008
Time: 21:48:09 -0700

Comment

To : "Quran is the Most Tolerant as well as Universal Book in the World" -- Nowhere does Veda or the Gita condemn 'polytheism' and Atheism. This is a typical "Taqiyya" perpetuated by the likes of Zakir Naik and his ilk to bolster Quran and show other scriptures in poor light. Veda is a book of over 1,000 hymns ,most of which is 'polytheistic', atheistic,non-dualistic,monotheistic and allows free thinking. As a matter of fact there are many sceptical hymns about God and 'creation in the Rig Veda itself - Book 10 hymns 121,72, and 129 ,for instance.As a matter of fact the Mandukya Upanishad is purely "non-dualistic" in concept that clearly states that in the absolute sense there is no creator and the created and the Unverse is infinite and self sustaining and everchanging. Polytheism is "democratic " ,while Monotheism is tyrannical. Polytheism allows you to think freely and arrive at your own conclusions about the meaning of life. Monotheism is despotic - it demands 'respect' ,unquestioned allegiance,subservience and slavish submission to a vengeful deity like Allah/Yahweh( claiming to be merciful 'conditionally') or else the person in question is relegated to an eternity of torturous ,tormenting and extremely painful "Fiery Hell"! In hinduism we do not have these kinds of barbaric ,uncivilised and insanely primitive concepts to force people into believing such crude rubbish. Atheism is permitted in Hinduism. The key factor in Hinduism is "Dharma" the path of righteousness,humaneness,good conscience and good moral conduct - not just blind belief in a Deity. No hindu scripture exhorts anyone to focibly "convert" or kill a non-believer. This is peculiar only to middle-eastern faiths like medevial Christianity(especially during the times of the infamous 'inquisition' or 'crusades') and islam ever since its birth and inception continuing till today. Of all the creeds islam is the most intolerant , bigoted and hideous - you can see the condition of non-muslims in muslim majority countries and it gets savage and ruthless in islamic countries! You have living hell-holes even today in such countries as Saudi Arabia,Iran,Iraq,Yemen,Sudan,Ethiopia,Nigeria,Chad,Syria,Libya,Pakistan,Bangladesh, Afganistan,etc. - all backward ,regressive,oppressive,tyrannical and miserable! That is "tolerant" islam for you! This is a cult and not a creed , a criminal cult devoid of true spirituality and free inquiry , rather one of regimentation and coercion to fall in line or else face dire consequences.This does not smack of tolerance but sheer bigotry! And here we have a muslim playing out his "taqiyya" ,telling a whole lot of lies and bullshit! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: balam
Date: Sunday April 27, 2008
Time: 03:10:31 -0700

Comment

The West is fighting Islam half-heartedly,which is the other name for a totalatarian,facist political system.It is the distorted face of Judaism and Christianity on the body of paganism with the demonic blood running through its veins.It is infact a cult of hate against non-muslims.The prophet of Islam was a terrorist,so are his followers in vaious forms.How long would the West bury its head in the sand.How long would they be scared of the DEVIL and keep calling it :HOLY DEVIL:They will have to confront this DEMON one day just as Hitler had to be confronted and destroyed. The tolerance of the West is considered as weakness by the ISLAMO-FASCISTSThe west should show the Muslim the mirror of truth to examine how evil is their ideology they follow.No Muslim nation should be allowed to manufacture or keek nuclear weapons,because they are mentally unstable. Jihad does not mean a personal purification process; otherwise Mohammad would not have looted, killed, raped women and indulged in under-age sex. Jihad was nothing but 'unholy war' against non-believers in Mohammad and his pagan god, Allah. It still continues to this day.

Name: Clark
Date: Monday May 05, 2008
Time: 09:18:02 -0700

Comment

Actually we are fighting Extreme Jihadists. Simple enough

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