Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Noha Salah on July 29, 2011 at 3:49pm

Hey Dan :)
First of all i'm glad we opened this discussion, cuz many non-Muslims who haven't read the Quran may have some misconceptions regarding this issue.Now to understand the meaning of a verse & it's purpose in the Quran people need to understand the whole context of the verse. The game that many Islam bashers play is the game of cut and paste. They cut the verse from it's context & show it to people to influence a certain meaning. Yet the truth is that in the Quran all the verses regarding fights n wars are in the context of defending ones self and never to use aggression, so the video you shared is accurate in it's interpretation & explanation of the verse.

War and fight was not something ancient Muslims loved or sought for. They were persecuted, fought & man-slaughtered like all early followers of new religions. Yet Muslims stayed peaceful not even defending their lives for long times until things started to be hard for them & they needed to defend themselves against their oppressors. That's why Allah ordered them to defend themselves although they hated it as stated in the following verse:
"Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." 2:216.

In Islam we are ordered to fight only in 2 cases:
1- Defending our lives, our possessions & lands: ("Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgree limits; God loveth not transgressors" (2:190).)

2- To defend the oppressed against their oppressors. : ("And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?" (4:75).)

Yet with those 2 reasons, Islam gives detailed rules for Muslims to adhere to during times of war. These include the following:

Civilians who are not actively involved in the fighting are to be left out and may not be harmed
Killing of women, children, the elderly is forbidden
Betrayal is forbidden
Mutilating corpses of the dead is forbidden
Cutting down trees is forbidden
Destroying buildings is forbidden
Killing those who surrender is forbidden

Islam also provides teachings on dealing with prisoners of war: "And they (the believers) feed (even though they need the food for themselves) the indigent, the orphan, and the captive, (Saying): We feed you for the sake of God alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks" (Holy Qur'an, Chapter 76, Verses 7-8) Islam also requires Muslims to properly clothe prisoners of war, and forbids all forms of torture or harming of prisoners.

My final advice here is if someone showed you a single verse of the Quran to prove Islam is promoting violence, try to find it's context & reflect on it..you will find it's only a defense strategy :)

About your request for verses promoting violence..as i said there are no verses promoting violence yet verses speaking about fighting & war are available..let me search for some and send them to you..Hope my answer was helpful :)

Permalink Reply by Dan O'Donnell on July 29, 2011 at 5:53pm

Thank you Noha, that was very helpful indeed.  I really appreciate you taking the time to inform me and everyone else :)  I hope you have a very nice weekend.

 

Dan O'

Permalink Reply by Sara Wales on July 30, 2011 at 6:16am

Thank you for all that information!!!

Permalink Reply by Noha Salah on July 31, 2011 at 2:48am

You're welcomed Sara :)

Permalink Reply by Dan O'Donnell on July 30, 2011 at 11:56pm

Hi Noha,  I am watching "My Name is Khan" right now, WOW, what a great movie.  My eyes have been watering almost the entire time.  You and Mariam recommended I watch the movie when we did our interview, and I am finally seeing it.  I am off to sleep, but can't wait to see the second half tomorrow.  Thank you for the recommendation!  I hope everyone in this group gets a chance to see it also :)

Permalink Reply by Noha Salah on July 31, 2011 at 2:48am

Hi Dan :)

I'm glad you liked the movie, it's one of my favs. Hope you enjoy the rest of it. :)

Permalink Reply by Teresa Cutajar on November 8, 2012 at 5:50pm

thank u very much noha ...

Permalink Reply by Dan O'Donnell on July 29, 2011 at 9:50pm

Permalink Reply by Noha Salah on July 31, 2011 at 2:49am

I like the way she presents it, Loved the video :)

Permalink Reply by Kat on September 16, 2011 at 11:23am

Hello, I'm coming in to this discussion late, but I wanted to add another quote from the Quran. It doesn't specifically mention violence, but it talks about befriending unbelievers.  "God does not forbid you to act considerately towards those who have never fought you over religion nor evicted you from your homes... nor  forbid you to act fairly towards them. God loves the fairminded.  God only forbids you to be friendly with the ones who have fought you over your religion and evicted you from your homes, and have helped others in your eviction. Those who befriend them are wrongdoers." Holy Quran 60:7

Permalink Reply by Dan O'Donnell on September 16, 2011 at 12:13pm

Thank you Katarina, welcome to the discussion...

Permalink Reply by Noha Salah on September 16, 2011 at 3:06pm

Yepp the verse explains itself i guess :)

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