Dakota Beacon

With increased violence committed by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), Boko Haram, Hamas, Hezbollah and others dominating the news, a valid question arises. “Is Islam a religion of peace?” President Obama thinks so. President Bush said so. What’s the deal? I was moved to revisit a few books from my library.

The first was “Unveiling Islam: An Insiders’s Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs” by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner published by Kregel in 2002. The Caner brothers were raised as Sunni Muslims by a leader in the mosque. Both converted to Christianity and are now respected theology professors in different universities. They are quick to point out that Muslims regard the Qur’an as the “mother of all books.” They regard it as the final, complete and exact revelation of Allah.

The Caner brothers offer a succinct summary. “In both the Qur’an and the Hadith, the infidel (kafir) must be converted or conquered….The Qur’an, supposedly from the mouth of Allah, takes a dim view of the nonbeliever. Strictly speaking, jihad means a continuing warfare against them. Despite the explanations of Islamic apologists after terrorist attacks, jihad does not primarily refer to a ‘struggle of personal piety.’ Jihad is combat on the fronts of politics, warfare, and culture. Muhammad exemplified this principle when he authorized the slaughter of thousands of men throughout the Arabian Peninsula in the name of Allah.” The Caners cite from surah 2:190 and 2:191 of the Qur’an (surah meaning chapter). Allah says, “Fight [jihad] in the cause of Allah those who fight [ajihad] you. And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out, for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.”

The second book was “The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (And the Crusades)” by Robert Spencer published by Regnery in 2005. Derision for Spencer’s book comes from RevivingIslam.com with the words “May Allah rip out his spine from his back and split his brains in two, and then put them both back, and then do it over and over again. Amen.”

During Muhammad’s lifetime and for hundreds of years afterward the Islamic faith was spread by jihad. The Qur’an clearly commands the faithful to subdue the earth. In one hadith (a collection of sayings by Muhammad and second in authority only to the Qur’an) Muhammad delineates three choices for non-Muslims. “When you meet your enemies…invite them to three courses of action….Invite them to accept Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them….If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya [poll tax]….If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them.” Note that peaceful coexistence as equals in a pluralistic society in not an option.

The third book was “A Concise History of the Crusades” by Thomas F. Madden published by Rowman and Littlefield in 1999.

In 622 when Muhammad was expelled from Mecca he fled to Medina and become its ruler. Because Muhammad was both a religious and political leader, so Islam is both a religious faith and a means of governing. Commerce, justice, diplomacy and war are all built into the foundation of Islam. Muhammad provided the model of a combined worldly and spiritual system. They are inseparable.

Muhammad died in 632 after conquering Arabia but he envisioned the continued expansion of Islam. This was not to be done by handing out tracts on sand dunes but by the power of jihad.

The Crusades began in 1080 AD involving 16 battles fought over 180 years. The Crusades were fought in response to Islam conquering a Christian Middle East.

On the other hand, Islam has been fighting jihad from the time Muhammad was expelled Mecca in 622 until today. Over these 1400 years the Islamic jihad fought 548 battles against classical western civilization in Europe. These battles do not include the jihad conducted against North Africa, India and Afghanistan.

The Islamic struggle against Judaism and Christianity has been going on a long, long time. Is Islam a religion of peace? Actions speak louder than words. Draw your own conclusion.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).