DOES THE QURAN ALLOW, CONDONE AND PROMOTE VIOLENCE?

My answer to this question is that it does. Here is first part of my evidence from the quran that clearly shows that the quran allows, condones and promotes violence. One may ask, is the book of islam=peace teaching violence? I am affraid it does. One may ask, is this book telling us that bad things are good for us? I am affraid it does.

Dear friend, the reasons I think the quran allows, condones and promotes violence are a ) the quran binds muslims not only to retaliation but actually fighting. The words use for this in 2/216 are; KUTIBA ALAIKUMUL QITALU=fighting is prescribed for you or that fighting is obligatory for you or that fighting is imposed upon you as a duty. The very same wording is used for prescription of fasting etc eg see 2/183 ie KUTIBA ALAIKUMMUSIAMU ie fasting is obligatory or compulsery for you or is imposed upon you as a duty. Since retaliation in revenge involves violence and the quran makes it obligatory on muslims to retaliate to destroy the attacker completely rather than getting even or forgiving and forgetting therefore the quran is not only allowing and condoning violence but actually promoting and encouraging it.

The idea of retaliation invloves keeping the animosity alive till enemy is no more. This is what the quran is teaching muslims. So if muslims have lost palestine to israel, it is their god appointed duty to take it back from israel, no matter when or how.

b ) Not only that the quran teaches retaliation but it also teaches active promotion of islam and if need be converting nonmuslims to islam by force.

So you can see, why in my view the quran does teach violence.

Here are some verses from the quran. Please not that I am using Dr hilali and Dr Muhsin Khan's translation of the quran. The reason I am using this tranlation is because these two I assume are as religiously wise as they are worldly wise. They are not extremist fanatic mullahs but educated muslims. Of course there are many other translations and one is free to use anyone yet the result would remain the very same whern it comes to the quranic teaching of violence.

http://www.ummah.net/what-is-islam/quran/neindex.htm

The following verses are from Surah 2, albaqra=the cow.

190. And fight in the Way of Allâh those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allâh likes not the transgressors. [This Verse is the first one that was revealed in connection with Jihâd, but it was supplemented by another (V.9:36)].

191. And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnahis worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (the sanctuary at Makkah), unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.

192. But if they cease, then Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 193. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allâh) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allâh (Alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zâlimûn (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)

216. Jihâd (holy fighting in Allâh's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allâh knows but you do not know.

217. They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islâmic calendar). Say, "Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allâh is to prevent mankind from following the Way of Allâh, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islâmic Monotheism) if they can. And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, then his deeds will be lost in this life and in the Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. They will abide therein forever."

218. Verily, those who have believed, and those who have emigrated (for Allâh's Religion) and have striven hard in the Way of Allâh, all these hope for Allâh's Mercy. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.

243. Did you (O Muhammad SAW) not think of those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allâh said to them, "Die". And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allâh is full of Bounty to mankind, but most men thank not.

244. And fight in the Way of Allâh and know that Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

245. Who is he that will lend to Allâh a goodly loan so that He may multiply it to him many times? And it is Allâh that decreases or increases (your provisions), and unto Him you shall return.

246. Have you not thought about the group of the Children of Israel after (the time of) Musâ (Moses)? When they said to a Prophet of theirs, "Appoint for us a king and we will fight in Allâh's Way." He said, "Would you then refrain from fighting, if fighting was prescribed for you?" They said, "Why should we not fight in Allâh's Way while we have been driven out of our homes and our children (families have been taken as captives)?" But when fighting was ordered for them, they turned away, all except a few of them. And Allâh is All-Aware of the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).

247. And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them, "Indeed Allâh has appointed Talût (Saul) as a king over you." They said, "How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth." He said: "Verily, Allâh has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allâh grants His Kingdom to whom He wills. And Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower."

248. And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: Verily! The sign of His Kingdom is that there shall come to you At-Tâbût (a wooden box), wherein is Sakinah (peace and reassurance) from your Lord and a remnant of that which Musâ (Moses) and Hârûn (Aaron) left behind, carried by the angels. Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are indeed believers.

249. Then when Talût (Saul) set out with the army, he said: "Verily! Allâh will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand." Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: "We have no power this day against Jalût (Goliath) and his hosts." But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their Lord, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allâh's Leave?" And Allâh is with As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.).

250. And when they advanced to meet Jalût (Goliath) and his forces, they invoked: "Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people."

251. So they routed them by Allâh's Leave and Dawûd (David) killed Jalût (Goliath), and Allâh gave him [Dawûd (David)] the kingdom [after the death of Talût (Saul) and Samuel] and AlªHikmah (Prophethood)[], and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allâh did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allâh is full of Bounty to the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

Please note especially that these people at the time hesitate from fighting other people but their god tells them it is their duty to fight and that fighting is good for them. The reason given is also clear that because some people have driven others out of their homes or lands. This idea is repeated in so many verses in the quran. So Allah is forcing people to fight each other even though it is people who have suffered oppression and they are willing to move on in their lives eg see Sura 5 etc.

SURA 5.

20. And (remember) when Mûsa (Moses) said to his people: "O my people! Remember the Favour of Allâh to you, when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns, in the past)."

21. "O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allâh has assigned to you, and turn not back (in flight) for then you will be returned as losers."

22. They said: "O Mûsa (Moses)! In it (this holy land) are a people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it; when they leave, then we will enter."

23. Two men of those who feared (Allâh and) on whom Allâh had bestowed His Grace [they were Yûsha' (Joshua) and Kâlab (Caleb)] said: "Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours, and put your trust in Allâh if you are believers indeed."

24. They said: "O Mûsa (Moses)! We shall never enter it as long as they are there. So go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here."

25. He [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious and disobedient to Allâh)!"

26. (Allâh) said: "Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So be not sorrowful over the people who are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious and disobedient to Allâh)."

So it is quite clear in verses like these that allah is a very unforgiving and revengeful god. He does not give muslims the right to compromise with nonmuslims if nonmuslims are the ones who agressed. Muslim should continue the feud till they are able to overcome the nonmuslims, for victory is decided for Allah and his messenger, says the quran. Thus it is clear that religion ie islam also makes peaceful muslims violent by its quranic teachings.

To continue the evidence from the quran itself my other point was that the quran actually wants muslims to force islam upon nonmuslims provided they have the ability to do that. For example see the story of solomon in the quranic surah 27.

1 ) You will see that solomon was always battle ready according to the quran. Muslims too are told to be battle ready always, see 8/60.

2 ) Solomon attacked people of sheba after becoming aware of their existence and knowing that they were pagans. Before that he was not even aware of sheba peoples' existence which proves the point that solomon did not attack them in self defense. They were attacked just because solomon was able to and just because they were pagans and muslims hate pagans because their Allah says so. The story is important because the quranic teaching is that examples of past godly people are to be followed by muslims and examples of infidels are not to be followed by them. Moreover Allah is praising solomon and the muslims believe he was Allah's prophet who could do no wrong. Unlike biblic teaching where prophets can do evil, muslim prophets are believed to be sinless and are perfect examples to be followed 33/21, 60/4,6 etc.

3 ) Note also how solomon enforces discipline by threats of death as is clear as regarding his reaction to hoopoe's absense. This clearly shows that islam praises violent people and thereby endorses violence and hence muslims are encouraged to be violent in order to get what they desire of others.

4 ) The forceful conversion of pagans to islam is very obvious from the quran. See Sura 27 for an example.

http://www.ummah.net/what-is-islam/...ble/nobe027.htm

Here are verses from Sura 27.

15. And indeed We gave knowledge to Dawûd (David) and Sulaimân (Solomon), and they both said: "All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, Who has preferred us above many of His believing slaves!"

16. And Sulaimân (Solomon) inherited (the knowledge of) Dawûd (David). He said: "O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and on us have been bestowed all things. This, verily, is an evident grace (from Allâh)."

17. And there were gathered before Sulaimân (Solomon) his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they all were set in battle order (marching forwards).

18. Till, when they came to the valley of the ants, one of the ants said: "O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Sulaimân (Solomon) and his hosts crush you, while they perceive not."

19. So he [Sulaimân (Solomon)] smiled, amused at her speech[] and said: "My Lord! Inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves."

20. He inspected the birds, and said: "What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

21. "I will surely punish him with a severe torment, or slaughter him, unless he brings me a clear reason."

22. But the hoopoe stayed not long, he (came up and) said: "I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Saba' (Sheba) with true news.

23. "I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given all things that could be possessed by any ruler of the earth, and she has a great throne.

24. "I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allâh, and Shaitân (Satan) has made their deeds fair-seeming to them, and has barred them from (Allâh's) Way, so they have no guidance,"

25. Al-Lâ (this word has two interpretations) (A) [As Shaitân (Satan) has barred them from Allâh's Way] so that they do not worship (prostrate before) Allâh, or (B) So that they may worship (prostrate before) Allâh, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you reveal. [Tafsir At-Tabarî, Vol. 19, Page 149]

26. Allâh, Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!

27. [Sulaimân (Solomon)] said: "We shall see whether you speak the truth or you are (one) of the liars.

28. "Go you with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them, then draw back from them, and see what (answer) they return."

29. She said: "O chiefs! Verily! Here is delivered to me a noble letter,

30. "Verily! It is from Sulaimân (Solomon), and verily! It (reads): In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful;

31. "Be you not exalted against me, but come to me as Muslims (true believers who submit to Allâh with full submission)' "

32. She said: "O chiefs! Advise me in (this) case of mine. I decide no case till you are present with me."

33. They said: "We have great strength, and great ability for war, but it is for you to command; so think over what you will command."

34. She said: "Verily! Kings, when they enter a town (country), they despoil it, and make the most honourable amongst its people low. And thus they do.

35. "But verily! I am going to send him a present, and see with what (answer) the messengers return."

36. So when (the messengers with the present) came to Sulaimân (Solomon), he said: "Will you help me in wealth? What Allâh has given me is better than that which He has given you! Nay, you rejoice in your gift!"

37. [Then Sulaimân (Solomon) said to the chief of her messengers who brought the present]: "Go back to them. We verily shall come to them with hosts that they cannot resist, and we shall drive them out from there in disgrace, and they will be abased."

38. He said: "O chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me surrendering themselves in obedience?"

39. An Ifrît (strong) from the jinns said: "I will bring it to you before you rise from your place (council). And verily, I am indeed strong, and trustworthy for such work."

40. One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: "I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!" then when [Sulaimân (Solomon)] saw it placed before him, he said: "This is by the Grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for (the good of) his ownself, and whoever is ungrateful, (he is ungrateful only for the loss of his ownself). Certainly! My Lord is Rich (Free of all wants), Bountiful."

41. He said: "Disguise her throne for her that we may see whether she will be guided (to recognise her throne), or she will be one of those not guided."

42. So when she came, it was said (to her): "Is your throne like this?" She said: "(It is) as though it were the very same." And [Sulaimân (Solomon) said]: "Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we were submitted to Allâh (in Islâm as Muslims before her)."

43. And that which she used to worship besides Allâh has prevented her (from Islâm), for she was of a disbelieving people.

44. It was said to her: "Enter As-Sarh" [(a glass surface with water underneath it) or a palace], but when she saw it, she thought it was a pool, and she (tucked up her clothes) uncovering her legs, Sulaimân (Solomon) said: "Verily, it is Sarh [(a glass surface with water underneath it) or a palace] paved smooth with slab of glass." She said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, and I submit (in Islâm, together with Sulaimân (Solomon), to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)."

Here is another evidence from the quran. This time we have Abraham who is provoking pagan anger by defiling their holy shrine and breaking their idols into pieces. Thus forcing islam upon pagans. Note again that Abraham is an example for muslims to follow as I have already explained and see 3/31, 33/21, 60/4-6 etc etc. Abraham is very critical of pagan beliefs and insults them and their gods and religion and is praised by Allah for doing that. So one can see that the quran clearly teaches muslims to provoke pagans and infidels by abusing them and their beliefs and practices. Again I must remind people that followers of the quran were originally hesitant to provoke pagans and infidels eg jews and christians etc to start wars and the quran leaves us in no doubt about that. It condemns there this attitude and tells them to go out and fight for the glory of islam so that islam overcomes all other religions ie see 9/33, 48/28-29, 61/4-9 etc.

See Sura 21 here; http://www.ummah.net/what-is-islam/...ble/nobe021.htm

51. And indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibrâhim (Abraham) his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well-Acquainted with him (as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allâh, etc.).

52. When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted?"

53. They said:"We found our fathers worshipping them."

54. He said: "Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error."

55. They said: "Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who play about?"

56. He said: "Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them and of that I am one of the witnesses.

57. "And by Allâh, I shall plot a plan (to destroy) your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs."

58. So he broke them to pieces, (all) except the biggest of them, that they might turn to it.

59. They said: "Who has done this to our âliha (gods)? He must indeed be one of the wrong-doers."

60. They said: "We heard a young man talking (against) them who is called Ibrâhim (Abraham)."

61. They said: "Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may testify."

62. They said: "Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Ibrâhim (Abraham)?"

63. [Ibrâhim (Abraham)] said: "Nay, this one, the biggest of them (idols) did it. Ask them, if they can speak!"[]

64. So they turned to themselves and said: "Verily, you are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers)."

65. Then they turned to themselves (their first thought and said): "Indeed you [Ibrâhim (Abraham)] know well that these (idols) speak not!"

66. [Ibrâhim (Abraham)] said: "Do you then worship besides Allâh, things that can neither profit you, nor harm you?

67. "Fie upon you, and upon that which you worship besides Allâh! Have you then no sense?"

68. They said: "Burn him and help your âliha (gods), if you will be doing."

69. We (Allâh) said: "O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrâhim (Abraham)!"

70. And they wanted to harm him, but We made them the worst losers.

71. And We rescued him and Lout (Lot) to the land which We have blessed for the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns).

72. And We bestowed upon him Ishâque (Isaac), and (a grandson) Ya'qûb (Jacob). Each one We made righteous.

73. And We made them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We inspired in them the doing of good deeds, performing Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and the giving of Zakât and of Us (Alone) they were worshippers.

Please note also that just like solomon, muhammad also used to give people ultimatum to convert to islam or be slaves to muslims or pay jiziya= a special protection tax in case of people of the book ie christians and jews etc, or fight to the death.

The quran does not have anything good to say about infidels, for quran says, they are enemies of Allah, his messenger and followers. They are called party of satan.

Al-Quran http://www.ummah.net/what-is-islam/quran/neindex.htm

See Sura 58

14. Have you (O Muhammad SAW) not seen those (hypocrites) who take for friends a people upon whom is the Wrath of Allâh (i.e. Jews)? They are neither of you (Muslims) nor of them (Jews), and they swear to a lie while they know.

15. Allâh has prepared for them a severe torment. Evil indeed is that which they used to do.

16. They have made their oaths a screen (for their evil actions). Thus they hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh, so they shall have a humiliating torment.

17. Their children and their wealth will avail them nothing against Allâh. They will be (the) dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever.

18. On the Day when Allâh will resurrect them all together (for their account), then they will swear to Him as they swear to you (O Muslims). And they think that they have something (to stand upon). Verily, they are liars!

19. Shaitân (Satan) has overtaken them. So he has made them forget the remembrance of Allâh. They are the party of Shaitân (Satan). Verily, it is the party of Shaitân (Satan) that will be the losers!

20. Those who oppose Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), they will be among the lowest (most humiliated).

21. Allâh has decreed: "Verily! It is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious." Verily, Allâh is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.

22. You (O Muhammad SAW) will not find any people who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW ), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Rûh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allâh is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allâh. Verily, it is the Party of Allâh that will be the successful.

Also Sura 48

27. Indeed Allâh shall fulfil the true vision which He showed to His Messenger (SAW) [i.e. the Prophet SAW saw a dream that he has entered Makkah along with his companions, having their (head) hair shaved and cut short] in very truth. Certainly, you shall enter AlªMasjidªalªHarâm; if Allâh wills, secure, (some) having your heads shaved, and (some) having your head hair cut short, having no fear. He knew what you knew not, and He granted besides that a near victory.

28. He it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad SAW) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islâm), that He may make it (Islâm) superior over all religions. And All-Sufficient is Allâh as a Witness.

29. Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allâh, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allâh and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of (their) prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurât (Torah). But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allâh has promised those among them who believe (i.e. all those who follow Islâmic Monotheism, the religion of Prophet Muhammad SAW till the Day of Resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (i.e. Paradise).

Sura 4

76. Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allâh, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Tâghût (Satan, etc.).[] So fight you against the friends of Shaitân (Satan); Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitân (Satan).

Sura 5

54. O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islâm), Allâh will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allâh, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allâh which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allâh is AllªSufficient for His creatures' needs, AllªKnower.

55. Verily, your Walî (Protector or Helper) is Allâh, His Messenger, and the believers, - those who perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât, and they bow down (submit themselves with obedience to Allâh in prayer).

56. And whosoever takes Allâh, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as Protectors, then the party of Allâh will be the victorious.[]

57. O you who believe! Take not for Auliyâ' (protectors and helpers) those who take your religion for a mockery and fun from among those who received the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before you, nor from among the disbelievers; and fear Allâh if you indeed are true believers.

58. And when you proclaim the call for As-Salât [call for the prayer (Adhân)], they take it (but) as a mockery and fun; that is because they are a people who understand not.[]

59. Say: "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do you criticize us for no other reason than that we believe in Allâh, and in (the revelation) which has been sent down to us and in that which has been sent down before (us), and that most of you are Fâsiqûn [rebellious and disobedient (to Allâh)]?"

60. Say (O Muhammad SAW to the people of the Scripture): "Shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allâh: those (Jews) who incurred the Curse of Allâh and His Wrath, those of whom (some) He transformed into monkeys and swines, those who worshipped Tâghût[] (false deities); such are worse in rank (on the Day of Resurrection in the Hellªfire), and far more astray from the Right Path (in the life of this world)."

The point I raised in the beginning was regarding violence against nonmuslims and that in case of a battle regardless started by muslims or nonmuslims. However, I would like to draw your attention to what happens if nonmuslims lose the battle against muslims. The nonmuslims will be taken prisoner and whatever belonged to them will become property of the muslims as war booty ie women and children of pagans and other infidels and their lands and properties or other goods etc etc. The prisoners could then be killed in cold blood or made slaves to serve muslims or can be sold by muslims ie all that depends upon what muslims decide for them as their new masters. The quran allows all this for muslims regarding all infidel captives.

The female prisoners are mainly used by their muslim masters for sex and perhaps some male slaves as well behind closed doors. I say behind closed doors because islam does not allow sodomy but that does not means that masters who find boys in paradise attractive would not fall for them here in this world when they have them under their thumb. The quran does say that men will be surrounded by beautiful boys and virgins in paradise.

http://www.ummah.net/what-is-islam/quran/neindex.htm

5/33. The recompense of those who wage war against Allâh 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.

5/34. Except for those who (having fled away and then) came back (as Muslims) with repentance before they fall into your power; in that case, know that Allâh is OftªForgiving, Most Merciful.

5/35. O you who believe! Do your duty to Allâh and fear Him. Seek the means of approach to Him, and strive hard in His Cause as much as you can. So that you may be successful.[]

5/36. Verily, those who disbelieve, if they had all that is in the earth, and as much again therewith to ransom themselves thereby from the torment on the Day of Resurrection, it would never be accepted of them, and theirs would be a painful torment.[]

5/37. They will long to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom, and theirs will be a lasting torment.

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."

8/13. This is because they defied and disobeyed Allâh and His Messenger. And whoever defies and disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, then verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment.

8/14. This is the torment, so taste it, and surely for the disbelievers is the torment of the Fire.

8/67. It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he had made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land. You desire the good of this world (i.e. the money of ransom for freeing the captives), but Allâh desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

23/5. And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts)

23/6. Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame;

A point that we all must realise is that unless we stop being hypocrites and opportunists or ignorant and uncaring, we cannot have peace in our world. The reason is simple that to have peace in our world, we all must be for peace and peaceful. If any of us is not for peace or is not peaceful then that person or group is going to give us bother sooner or later. To combat this situation we must be ready to tell the truth and be ready to accept it as well without making any willy nilly excuses to avoid the acceptance of the truth whatever it may be. We need to be more and more rational as well as realist so that we could solve our differences in a sensible way. To make peace we all need to work together but make war we only need just one of us. This is why making war is much easier than creating peace. Moreover we cannot create peace by merely being peaceful ourselves but help others see the errors of their ways that lead us all to wars and destruction.

The problem I am addressing at the moment is that the quran not only allows violence or condones it but actually promotes it, not only against nonmuslims and not only in the battlefield but also against captives and dhimmies as well which includes women and children as well as old folk, rich as well as poor. The violence is promoted not only against nonmuslims but muslims also.

For example:

2/178. O you who believe! Al-Qisâs (the Law of Equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in case of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if the killer is forgiven by the brother (or the relatives, etc.) of the killed against blood money, then adhering to it with fairness and payment of the blood money, to the heir should be made in fairness. This is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord. So after this whoever transgresses the limits (i.e. kills the killer after taking the blood money), he shall have a painful torment.

Please do note here that we have been told here about the tribal customs as law from Allah. Notice that it is not the murderer here who is to be killed in retaliation but another person as per tribal custom, even though that person himself/herself is innocent of murdering anyone. It works something like this, if you kill somebody from my tribe, I will kill somebody from your tribe, who is like the person you killed from my tribe ie young man for young man and an old for an old etc. Or if you kill my slave, I will kill your slave- not you. It shows the life of a slave is not equal to a free person in islam. Another thing one need to know is that a muslim cannot be killed for a nonmuslim ie life of a nonmuslim is not of an equal value to a muslim.

5/38. Cut off (from the wrist joint) the (right) hand of the thief, male or female, as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allâh. And Allâh is AllªPowerful, AllªWise.

5/45. And We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation. And whosoever does not judge by that which Allâh has revealed, such are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongªdoers - of a lesser degree).

24/2. The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime but if married persons commit it, the punishment is to stone them to death, according to Allâh's Law).

24/4. And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fâsiqûn (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).

A muslim cannot be punished by death in return for killing an infidel.

18/74. Then they both proceeded, till they met a boy, he (Khidr) killed him. Mûsa (Moses) said: "Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have committed a thing "Nukra" (a great Munkar - prohibited, evil, dreadful thing)!"

18/80. "And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.

18/81. "So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy.

28/15. And he (Moses) entered the city at a time of unawareness of its people, and he found there two men fighting, - one of his party (his religion - from the Children of Israel), and the other of his foes. The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe, so Mûsa (Moses) struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: "This is of Shaitân's (Satan) doing, verily, he is a plain misleading enemy."

4/92. It is not for a believer to kill a believer except (that it be) by mistake, and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave and a compensation (blood money, i.e Diya) be given to the deceased's family, unless they remit it. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a believer; the freeing of a believing slave (is prescribed), and if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation (blood money - Diya) must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed. And whoso finds this (the penance of freeing a slave) beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months in order to seek repentance from Allâh. And Allâh is Ever AllªKnowing, AllªWise.

4/93. And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allâh are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him. The above verses explain clearly that life of an infidel is not equal to a muslim under islamic law.

Most muslims quote the following verse to show islam cares for lives of all people. That is not true, the verse is about saving the life of a believer not of a
disbeliever. Life of a disbeliever is worthless as for as islam is concerned or why would Allah himself say to muslims, kill disbelievers in huge numbers? The quran says in 18/74 quoted above that a man of god killed an innocent child just because he might have become an infidel when he grew up.

5/ 32. Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. And indeed, there came to them Our Messengers with clear proofs, evidences, and signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits (e.g. by doing oppression unjustly and exceeding beyond the limits set by Allâh by committing the major sins) in the land!.

So the quran is clearly not a book to be followed by civilised people today who wish to live in peace. Hence nonmuslims must become aware of its teachings. They should perhaps try to raise the issue for getting it banned for its use for the purpose of indoctrination of kids. So that muslim are no longer able to indoctrinate and damage the innocent good minds of their children with this hate that the quran teaches against human beings. The basic fact is that if the quran did not contain such text as teaches violence and many muslims did not act upon it, no person may have bothered claiming such things about the quran nor would there have been any need for one to back up one’s any such claims.

Let me take you in another direction as regard the quranic text ie how islam deals with people if they go against the quranic teaching.

1)To begin with it is Allah who threatens people with violence if they do not believe in him or if they do not obey him. Now please don’t ask me to paste verses because anyone who reads the quran cannot miss reading such threats of violence because they are almost on every page you turn.

2)Allah tells people to believe and obey his messenger ie Muhammad. If any refuses to believe Muhammad or disobeys him, Allah will take care of him.

3)Allah also tells muslims to believe in their muslim leaders and obey them.

4)Allah tells muslim and nonmuslim slaves to believe in their muslim masters and obey them.

5)Allah tells muslim women to believe in their muslim men and obey them. Remember a muslim woman cannot have a nonmuslim husband 2/221 etc.

6)Allah tells muslim children to believe in their muslim parents and obey them.
This clearly shows the chain of command in islam and breaking this chain means severe punishment where possible in this world as well as in hereafter. Allah has set up this system wherein the person in the authority has been given the right to chastise the person under his authority. So anyone who disbelieves or disobeys authority must be punished as prescribed in the quran and the hadith or the fiqh.

So Allah is to beat up infidels as well as the sinners, masters are allowed to beat up their slaves, husbands are allowed to beat up their wives, parents are allowed to beat up their children. All this so that people know their place in society and their responsibilities and do not dare disobey. When to beat anyone or how much to beat is left to the judgment of the person in authority ie the one who is going to carry out the beating.

4/59. O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (SAW), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.

4/65. But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad SAW) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.

4/83. When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people), if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly). Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allâh upon you, you would have followed Shaitân (Satan), save a few of you.

34. Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allâh has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allâh and to their husbands), and guard in the husband's absence what Allâh orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband's property, etc.). As to those women on whose part you see illªconduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful), but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allâh is Ever Most High, Most Great.

18/74. Then they both proceeded, till they met a boy, he (Khidr) killed him. Mûsa (Moses) said: "Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have committed a thing "Nukra" (a great Munkar - prohibited, evil, dreadful thing)!"

18/80. "And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he
should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.

18/81. "So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy.

29/8. And We have enjoined on man to be good and dutiful to his parents, but if
they strive to make you join with Me (in worship) anything (as a partner) of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not. Unto Me is your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.

16/75. Allâh puts forward the example (of two men a believer and a disbeliever); a slave (disbeliever) under the possession of another, he has no power of any sort, and (the other), a man (believer) on whom We have bestowed a good provision from Us, and He spends thereof secretly and openly. Can they be equal? (By no means, not). All the praises and thanks be to Allâh. Nay! (But) most of them know not.

16/76. And Allâh puts forward (another) example of two men, one of them dumb, who has no power over anything (disbeliever), and he is a burden to his master, whichever way he directs him, he brings no good. Is such a man equal to one (believer in the Islâmic Monotheism) who commands justice, and is himself on a Straight Path?

39/29. Allâh puts forth a similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners
(like those who worship others along with Allâh) disputing with one another, and a (slave) man belonging entirely to one master, (like those who worship Allâh Alone). Are those two equal in comparison? All the praises and thanks be to Allâh! But most of them know not.

My point here is that the Quran or if you like islam based upon the teaching of the quran and the hadith allows, condones and promotes violence. Allah is violent, Muhammad was violent and they encouraged ordinary people who fell in their trap in the name of faith were also forced to be violent. People were tricked into islam by those who designed islam for their own reasons and then they became trapped and were forced into becoming a violent gang. Originally, people were told to believe in Allah, hereafter and day of judgment and do good for other people. This attracted such people to islam that were weak and poor looking for support from some corner or in other words perhaps Muhammad targeted these kind of people as easy targets. They thought this movement will help them. Powerful people who were not involved in this game opposed it because they thought it would ruin them ie they will have to support these people from their pockets. This is so because muhammad was preaching praying to Allah and giving help to the needy. He was doing this not necessarily out of concern for the poor and needy but perhaps he had other plans which these people did not read into, the rich and the poor alike.

Once Muhammad got some following he asked people to move out of their homes quietly into a gathering place. That is how people finally ended up in madina after probing here and there where they could gather and the makkans became suspicious of Muhamamd and his gang as to what they were upto. They were not many but may be around sixty people. That could be the reason makkan chiefs began torturing some of their slaves to exract information of them who turned muslims because they planned to runaway from their masters. May be this information was important for them to become aware of their planned adventures with Muhammad. So Muhammad and his gang and makkans chiefs gradually became enemies. Most of the makkan muslims were poor and slaves anyway so they had nothing to lose hence they left for madina. It was a planned shift not forced or sudden. When Muhammad and his gang arrived in madina, they were helped by these people who were in the game already, from madina. It is from here that after organising Muhammad launched his mission of loot and killing from the 2nd hijrah onwards till his death in 10th hijrah. The more he became a successful bandit the more islam expanded because booty helped entice more and more bounty hunters and the more rigid islam turned out day by day because organizing people and regulating their lives created new problems for the newly found Islamic brotherhood. Muhammad and his companions fought about one hundred battle within the period of eight years. If one works it out that will be more than a battle per month. Thus islam turned from praying to Allah and charity to a huge looting and raping cult with rigid rules that world has ever come to witness. Islam is therefore nothing but falsehood from start to finish. Allah and his angels are merely invented characters to give Muhammad something to base his imaginary cult upon. There is no proof that the quran is a book from some true god. It is all fiction by people who invented these lies to further their own agenda.

Muhammad was not a rich man, for he comes from a poor family background. This is why he had to work for somebody else to make a living ie his first wife. The rest of his family did the same eg his uncle Abu taalab etc who raised him. When Muhammad was born he was not taken by anybody for fostering except a poor old woman Halima Sahdia who could not get any other child due to arriving late behind other child fosterers. Seeing bad days, anyone would dream plans to become rich and powerful one day. However, Muhammad succeeded in his plan like some whereas many others perished. The main thing is that we need to learn to read between the lines when we read islamic history because it was written by muslims for their own purpose. Many things that muslims tell us were impossbile to happen the way they say they happened eg miracles by Muhammad and his companions. Enemies of humanity lie all the time to get what they want unduly or to further their bad ends so muhammad and his band were no exception.

Muhammad was not thrown out of makkah just like that but that he must have done something that makkans did not like that brought about this situation. They were not throwing out jews and christians for believing in one god or disapproving polytheism. Do not forget that Muhammad's first wife (khadija) was a christian convert and everyone knows that christians believe in one god and that they are missionaries. If christian people were not thrown out for being christians and jews for being jews then there is no way makkans would throw out somebody of their own for nothing or for preaching monotheism. So I see that muslims have glossed over what Muhammad did to deserve expulsion from makkah. Or did he come to madina of his own accord to carry out his own plan?

Does quran allow, condone and promote violence? (part 2)

I am trying to examine islamic story or if you like history to see if we can discover the true origin of the quran and islam. I think, there is a compelling need for discovering how islam actually came about and spread etc. In my view, quran was not written by Muhammad alone but that he was a part of the group that wrote it and modified it as per needs of the time under the circumstances or situations. I am of that view because no movement starts all of a sudden out of nothing rather it has a history behind it ie cause and effect chain or one thing leading to the next. Also no movement remains what it is intended by its original author/s rather as participants join in, the combined resultant force of the group decides its direction at each and every moment in its duration or life. Each person brings in into the movement his own personality and resources etc etc. that take the movement in the resultant direction or give it a new or modified perspective or outlook etc. Successful movements always change from simple to complex because as more and more people join in, new problems surface that need solutions and that forces more and more complications into the whole thing. Before Muhammad declared his messenger-ship of Allah, there must have arisen some circumstances that led him in that direction. For example, muhammad was an orphan, born in a poor household that his folks could not find for him even a good wet nurse, for that meant a healthy payment to the wet-nurse on muhammad’s behalf which his folks could not afford. Please read the story about Halimah Sa'dia when she comes to makkah looking for a baby to foster. The events in muhammad's life and in the lives of people who joined him in earlier makkan period must have affected them the way they looked at the world. In other words their world view was conditioned by their circumstances and situations or life experiences.

As all movements have inventors, introducers and followers so did islam. Since people invent, introduce and follow movements because they want something out of them likewise the inventors of islam invented the movement for getting what they wanted out of it, the introducers had their own motives and the followers their own reasons. This is why it could not and cannot be a one man show. By looking into the quran we see that Muhammad first uses so called earlier makkan suras as lectures to invite people to his religion which he does not name yet. All he asks people to do is, believe in god, hereafter (for judgment of god for reward or punishment) and do good ie feed the poor etc etc or face his wrath. He condemns the rich (more likely than not) people in his own tribe perhaps because in his view they did not give enough attention to the needs of the poor. It could be interpreted as his possible reaction to his own neglect when he depended on their support at some stage in his life that had some lasting affect on his mind. The people who came to him were mostly slaves and other people of poor standing. May be other inventors of islam who were with him at the time also suffered the similar experiences and perhaps that is what brought them together. Poor people and slaves etc were already disillusioned with rich people so they had nothing to lose by listening to Muhammad (for they had an axe to grind against them) seeing that muhammad is speaking for them.

So we cannot buy into the islamic teaching and information or history without critically reading between the lines. You see dear friends, people like to portray themselves in the best possible light they can, in the sense they think would be beneficial for themselves. So muslim history written by muslims can be proven flawed therefore it is not perfect and if it is not perfect, we need to use our own tools and imagination to show where it is clearly wrong and where it might be wrong and so we can assume what might have been the truth. For example, muslims claim that the quran is the word of god. Now we know that there is no proof for that. They claim that Muhammad was his messenger and again we have no proof for that either. If muslims can raise such serious claims as regard existence of a god by name of Allah, his appointments of messengers and scriptures without any solid proof then why not about other things? Since they have been doing such things, they must have a purpose in mind that motivated these people to do so or to raise false claims and do other wrong things. So the very same motivation could have influenced them to say and to do things that they thought would further their objectives according to their own understanding of the world and the people in it. So my friends, we need to look at islamic history critically so that we could realise the flaws it contains.

According to islamic history;

1) Makkah was a great city ie it was of great religious significance as well as a
central trade centre. Doing really well. The quran calls it Ummul qura= the mother of cities 6/92, 28/57, 29/67, 42/7, 43/31, 106/1-4 etc. This could not have happened if arab tribes were busy killing each other or that they were ignorant ie that is what muslims call people of that time. Infact they call it JAHILIYA period ie period of ignorance. It shows they were reasonably civilised people according the standard of their time.

2) People of Makkah were well known for their civility and trade and good
relationship with people all around them hence they could travel anywhere into near about kingdoms etc freely. This again could not have happened if tribes were at war with each other. In that case all would have been frightened of each other not getting out of their own safe havens or may be even of their own homes.

3) Muhammad was not a wealthy or powerful man from amongst the makkan people, in the quran people say, why the quran was not revealed to people of some standing in the great cities 43/31?

This clearly means that people were living peacefully and had good set up for their livelihood. This was the case before Muhammad started his mission. After He started, things went from bad to worse. Many lives were destroyed but for what? Why people turned against Muhammad? It could not be because of his preaching of monotheism as muslims tells us, for such people were already living amongst the pagan Arabs in makkah eg qureshi tribe of his first wife (khadija) ie her family turned christian and nobody killed them nor even banished them instead they were successful businesses owning people, who employed members of Muhammad's family and even Muhammad himself. Not only that but we all know that the christian missionaries are nothing less than muslim missionaries when it comes to trying to convert other to their religion, yet no one even threaten them in Makkah. If nobody opposed christians for preaching their religion and some people of quresh even accepted their faith, why the hell anyone would bother when muhammad does the same?

This is where islamic history has a serious flaw by telling us that Muhammad was thrown out of Makkah because he asked his people to believe in one god ie Allah. My point is that if Makkans were living happy with each other for generations, what changed after Muhammad started his mission that broke up
these people into two enemy parties? Could it be that Muhammad and some of his friends became jealous of other peoples' success and power etc and so planned to take over? See the quran, people did accuse him and other divine prophets before him of the same thing ie like them (the quraishi chifs) he too wanted to be a leader or chief of chiefs himself. We can see from the quran how Muhammad goes about condemning wealthy people and calms himself down by saying that good things of this life are only momentary. Such verses give us clues that Muhammad was envious of other people having things which he did not and but would like to have them for himself. There are a lot of verses in the quran about what I am saying here eg 2/13,137,142, 3/20, 6/50, 7/75,88,90,188, 10/31, 11/12,27,29,31-32,87-91, 15/88, 17/27,29, 18/46, 19/73-74, 25/5,8, 26/111,154, 27/45,47,49,56, 34/34-35,37,43,47, 40/26,37, 43/51,53, 46/11 and many many more verses.

The story goes something like, people are living a normal life in a place and suddenly a person turns up from their tribe etc who is not doing so well himself, telling them he has been chosen by god to lead them. He tells them about god and what he wants them to do ie how they should live their lives according to this prophet’s teachings under his leadership. Poor people follow him because they are simple and have axe to grind against their leading rich people but rich demand proofs which prophets fail to provide. Leaders know the game of the prophets but masses do not or perhaps they play along knowing not how things are going to turn out. After a while people turn on against each other and so fighting starts and continues till one of them over powers the other. This is a very complex issue that needs ample time for explanation. The idea is that a person should deconstruct and reconstruct Islamic history and see how everything else makes sense thereby rationally and scientifically. So that it helps us discover truth of the matter if at all possible. In the main it all comes down to power struggle within the people of the same place. Each trying to use its own ideas, tricks and practices as a tool to get at the other. The main thing is that we need to see if what the quran tells us makes sense as regard, natural human behaviours, ideologies of the time and their political, social, cultural and economic systems, structures, setups and practices etc etc etc.

Does Islam tolerate other religions?

It did in the beginning to get accepted so the sole requirement was faith in one god, hereafter and charity. Since jews, christians, sabians already believed this they were OK only pagans were targeted and from amongst pagans mainly slaves and the destitute. Please read makkan suras at the end of the quran and see what they say. Rich pagans are condemned at every opportunity, why? To gain support of the poor. This was necessary because there were more poor people around than the rich as well as it is easier to spread superstition and silly ideas amongst the ignorant which the poor are because they lack education which they cannot afford. Hence early followers of the Islamic movement were mostly poor and salves etc. One can therefore also realise, why earlier muslims joined islam ie to benefit themselves, for they had nothing to lose. In other words, some invented islam to benefit themselves and the others joined in for the same reason. Muhammad himself was raised an orphan, and poor, later he also had more than half a dozen children of his own. It may have had some affect on his personality. So much so that he turned out to be a scheming tyrant.

2/177. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allâh, etc.) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets[] and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masâkin (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and who are As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.) in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are AlªMuttaqûn (pious - see V.2:2).

109/1. Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)to these Mushrikûn and Kâfirûn): "O Al-Kâfirûn (disbelievers in Allâh, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar, etc.)!
2. "I worship not that which you worship,
3. "Nor will you worship that which I worship.
4. "And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping.
5. "Nor will you worship that which I worship.
6. "To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islâmic Monotheism)."

2/256. There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût[] and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

2/62. Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, [] whoever believes in Allâh and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve .

5/69. Surely, those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh, in His Messenger Muhammad SAW and all that was revealed to him from Allâh), those who are the Jews and the Sabians and the Christians, - whosoever believed in Allâh and the Last Day, and worked righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

But then tone starts changing, so much so that Islam becomes the only religion acceptable to Allah.

22/17. Verily, those who believe (in Allâh and in His Messenger Muhammad SAW), and those who are Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Magians, and those who worship others besides Allâh, truly, Allâh will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Verily! Allâh is Witness over all things.

3/19. Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, then surely, Allâh is Swift in calling to account.

3/83. Do they seek other than the religion of Allâh (the true Islâmic Monotheism worshipping none but Allâh Alone), while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be returned.

3/84. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "We believe in Allâh and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrâhim (Abraham), Ismâ'il (Ishmael), Ishâque (Isaac), Ya'qûb (Jacob) and Al-Asbât [the twelve sons of Ya'qûb (Jacob)] and what was given to Mûsa (Moses), 'Iesa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allâh) we have submitted (in Islâm)."

3/85. And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.

5/3. ………...This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me.ªThis day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion.

Things do not stop there, rather muslims are told that they have been appointed by Allah to call other people to islam and force out evil and establish good as per Islamic definition.

3/110. You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fâsiqûn (disobedient to Allâh - and rebellious against Allâh's Command).

9/28. O you who believe (in Allâh's Oneness and in His Messenger (Muhammad SAW)! Verily, the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh, and in the Message of Muhammad SAW) are Najasun (impure)[]. So let them not come near Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) after this year, and if you fear poverty, Allâh will enrich you if He will, out of His Bounty. Surely, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

29. Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allâh, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allâh and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islâm) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah[] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

30. And the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allâh, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allâh. That is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbelievers of old. Allâh's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth![]

31. They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allâh (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allâh), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) to worship none but One Ilâh (God - Allâh) Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)[]. Praise and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)."

32. They (the disbelievers, the Jews and the Christians) want to extinguish Allâh's Light (with which Muhammad SAW has been sent - Islâmic Monotheism) with their mouths, but Allâh will not allow except that His Light should be perfected even though the Kâfirûn (disbelievers) hate (it).

33. It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad SAW) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islâm), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) hate (it).

There are many, many more verses that I can quote but I rather leave that till later. The reason for drawing attention to this point is to show that islam is tolerant only when muslims have no way to enforce it on others, just as their prophet did.

Some muslims also say that intolerant and violent verses were only for those times etc to deal with situations at hand but the quran does not say so. Also in that case all verses could be assumed only for those times and circumstances and so islam falls flat on its face.

And Now some AHADITH BY ABU DAWUD would not hurt, would they? This is just to show how merciful islam is for the whole of mankind ie muslims and nonmuslims alike.

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/reference.html

Book 38, Number 4341: Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal: AbuMusa said: Mu'adh came to me when I was in the Yemen. A man who was Jew embraced Islam and then retreated from Islam. When Mu'adh came, he said: I will not come down from my mount until he is killed. He was then killed. One of them said: He was asked to repent before that.

Book 38, Number 4348:Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night she began to slander the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning came, the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was informed about it. He assembled the people and said: I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up. He sat before the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said: Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her. Thereupon the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.

Book 38, Number 4349: Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: A Jewess used to abuse the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) declared that no recompense was payable for her blood.

Book 38, Number 4356: Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: Some people raided the camels of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), drove them off, and apostatised. They killed the herdsman of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) who was a believer. He (the Prophet) sent (people) in pursuit of them and they were caught. He had their hands and feet cut off, and their eyes put out. The verse regarding fighting against Allah and His Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was then revealed. These were the people about whom Anas ibn Malik informed al-Hajjaj when he asked him.

Book 38, Number 4357: Narrated AbuzZinad: When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) cut off (the hands and feet of) those who had stolen his camels and he had their eyes put out by fire (heated nails), Allah reprimanded him on that (action), and Allah, the Exalted, revealed: "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is execution or crucifixion."

Book 38, Number 4359: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The verse "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite side or exile from the land...most merciful" was revealed about polytheists. If any of them repents before they are arrested, it does not prevent from inflicting on him the prescribed punishment which he deserves.

Book 38, Number 4364: Narrated Nu'aym: Ma'iz came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and admitted (having committed adultery) four times in his presence so he ordered him to be stoned to death, but said to Huzzal: If you had covered him with your garment, it would have been better for you.

Book 38, Number 4366: Narrated Wa'il ibn Hujr: When a woman went out in the time of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) for prayer, a man attacked her and overpowered (raped) her. She shouted and he went off, and when a man came by, she said: That (man) did such and such to me. And when a company of the Emigrants came by, she said: That man did such and such to me. They went and seized the man whom they thought had had intercourse with her and brought him to her. She said: Yes, this is he. Then they brought him to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). When he (the Prophet) was about to pass sentence, the man who (actually) had assaulted her stood up and said: Apostle of Allah, I am the man who did it to her. He (the Prophet) said to her: Go away, for Allah has forgiven you. But he told the man some good words (AbuDawud said: meaning the man who was seized), and of the man who had had intercourse with her, he said: Stone him to death. He also said: He has repented to such an extent that if the people of Medina had repented similarly, it would have been accepted from them.

Book 38, Number 4367: Narrated AbuUmayyah al-Makhzumi: A thief who had accepted (having committed theft) was brought to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), but no good were found with him. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), said to him: I do not think you have stolen. He said: Yes, I have. He repeated it twice or thrice. So he gave orders. His hand was cut off and he was then brought to him. He said: Ask Allah's pardon and turn to Him in repentance. He said: I ask Allah's pardon and turn to Him in repentance. He (the Prophet) then said: O Allah, accept his repentance.

Book 38, Number 4373: Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) had a man's hand cut off who had stolen from the place reserved for women a shield whose price was three dirhams.

Book 38, Number 4374: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) had a man's hand cut off for (stealing) a shield whose price was a dinar or ten dirhams.

Book 38, Number 4382: Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: A woman borrowed jewellery through some known persons and she herself was unknown. She then sold them. She was seized and brought to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). He gave orders that her hand should be cut off. It is this woman about whom Usamah interceded and of her the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said whatever he said.

Book 38, Number 4390: Narrated Atiyyah al-Qurazi: I was among the captives of Banu Qurayzah. They (the Companions) examined us, and those who had begun to grow hair (pubes) were killed, and those who had not were not killed. I was among those who had not grown hair.

Book 38, Number 4396: Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: A thief was brought to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). He said: Kill him. The people said: He has committed theft, Apostle of Allah! Then he said: Cut off his hand. So his (right) hand was cut off. He was brought a second time and he said: Kill him. The people said: He has committed theft, Apostle of Allah! Then he said: Cut off his foot. So his (left) foot was cut off. He was brought a third time and he said: Kill him. The people said: He has committed theft, Apostle of Allah! So he said: Cut off his hand. (So his (left) hand was cut off.) He was brought a fourth time and he said: Kill him. The people said: He has committed theft, Apostle of Allah! So he said: Cut off his foot. So his (right) foot was cut off. He was brought a fifth time and he said: Kill him. So we took him away and killed him. We then dragged him and cast him into a well and threw stones over him.

Book 38, Number 4397: Narrated Fadalah ibn Ubayd: A thief was brought to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and his hand was cut off. Thereafter he commanded for it, and it was hung on his neck.

Book 38, Number 4407: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: Ma'iz ibn Malik came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said that he had committed fornication and he (the Prophet) turned away from him. He repeated it many times, but he (the Prophet) turned away from him. He asked his people: Is he mad? They replied: There is no defect in him. He asked: Have you done it with her? He replied: Yes. so he ordered that he should be stoned to death. He was taken out and stoned to death, and he (the Prophet) did not pray over him.

Book 38, Number 4412: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: Ma'iz ibn Malik came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and admitted fornication twice. But he drove him away. He then came and admitted fornication twice. But he drove him away. He then came and admitted fornication twice. He (the Prophet) said: You have testified to yourself four times. Take him away and stone him to death.

Book 38, Number 4413: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said to Ma'iz ibn Malik: Perhaps you kissed, or squeezed, or looked. He said: No. He then said: Did you have intercourse with her? He said: Yes. On the (reply) he (the Prophet) gave order that he should be stoned to death.

Book 38, Number 4420: Narrated Buraydah ibn al-Hasib: We, the Companions of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), used to talk mutually: Would that al-Ghamidiyyah and Ma'iz ibn Malik had withdrawn after their confession; or he said: Had they not withdrawn after their confession, he would not have pursued them (for punishment). He had them stoned after the fourth (confession).

Book 38, Number 4421: Narrated Al-Lajlaj al-Amiri: I was working in the market. A woman passed carrying a child. The people rushed towards her, and I also rushed along with them. I then went to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) while he was asking: Who is the father of this (child) who is with you? She remained silent. A young man by her side said: I am his father, Apostle of Allah! He then turned towards her and asked: Who is the father of this child with you? The young man said: I am his father, Apostle of Allah! The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) then looked at some of those who were around him and asked them about him. They said: We only know good (about him).

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said to him: Are you married? He said: Yes. So he gave orders regarding him and he was stoned to death. He (the narrator) said: We took him out, dug a pit for him and put him in it. We then threw stones at him until he died. A man then came asking about the man who was stoned. We brought him to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said: This man has come asking about the wicked man. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: He is more agreeable than the fragrance of musk in the eyes of Allah. The man was his father. We then helped him in washing, shrouding and burying him. (The narrator said:) I do not know whether he said or did not say "in praying over him." This is the tradition of Abdah, and it is more accurate.

Book 38, Number 4423: Narrated Sahl ibn Sa'd: A man came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and confessed before him that he had committed fornication with a woman whom he named. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) sent for the woman and asked her about it. But she denied that she had committed fornication. So he inflicted the prescribed punishment of flogging on him, and let her go.

Book 38, Number 4424: Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: A man committed fornication with a woman. So the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) ordered regarding him and the prescribed punishment of flogging was inflicted on him. He was then informed that he was married. So he commanded regarding him and he was stoned to death.

Book 38, Number 4426: Narrated Imran ibn Husayn: A woman belonging to the tribe of Juhaynah (according to the version of Aban) came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said that she had committed fornication and that she was pregnant. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) called her guardian. Then the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said to him: Be good to her, and when she bears a child, bring her (to me). When she gave birth to the child, he brought her (to him). The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) gave orders regarding her, and her clothes were tied to her. He then commanded regarding her and she was stoned to death. He commanded the people (to pray) and they prayed over her.

Thereupon Umar said: Are you praying over her, Apostle of Allah, when she has committed fornication? He said: By Him in Whose hand my soul is, she has repented to such an extent that if it were divided among the seventy people of Medina, it would have been enough for them all. And what do you find better than the fact that she gave her life. Aban did not say in his version: Then her clothes were tied to her.

Book 38, Number 4429: Narrated AbuBakrah: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) had a woman stoned and a pit was dug up to her breasts.

Book 38, Number 4433: Narrated Al-Bara' ibn Azib: The people passed by the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) with a Jew who was blackened with charcoal and who was being flogged. He called them and said: Is this the prescribed punishment for a fornicator? They said: Yes. He then called on a learned man among them and asked him: I adjure you by Allah Who revealed the Torah to Moses, do you find this prescribed punishment for a fornicator in your divine Book? He said: By Allah, no. If you had not adjured me about this, I should not have informed you. We find stoning to be prescribed punishment for a fornicator in our Divine Book. But it (fornication) became frequent in our people of rank; so when we seized a person of rank, we left him alone, and when we seized a weak person, we inflicted the prescribed punishment on him. So we said: Come, let us agree on something which may be enforced equally on people of higher and lower rank. So we agreed to blacken the face of a criminal with charcoal, and flog him, and we abandoned stoning.

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) then said: O Allah, I am the first to give life to Thy command which they have killed. So he commanded regarding him (the Jew) and he was stoned to death. Allah Most High then sent down: "O Apostle, let not those who race one another into unbelief, make thee grieve..." up to "They say: If you are given this, take it, but if not, beware!...." up to "And if any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) unbelievers," about Jews, up to "And if any do fail to judge by (the right of) what Allah hath revealed, they are no better than) wrong-doers" about Jews: and revealed the verses up to "And if any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel." About this he said: This whole verse was revealed about the infidels.

Book 38, Number 4434: Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar: A group of Jews came and invited the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) to Quff. So he visited them in their school. They said: AbulQasim, one of our men has committed fornication with a woman; so pronounce judgment upon them. They placed a cushion for the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) who sat on it and said: Bring the Torah. It was then brought. He then withdrew the cushion from beneath him and placed the Torah on it saying: I believed in thee and in Him Who revealed thee. He then said: Bring me one who is learned among you. Then a young man was brought. The transmitter then mentioned the rest of the tradition of stoning similar to the one transmitted by Malik from Nafi'(No. 4431).

Book 38, Number 4435: Narrated AbuHurayrah: (This is Ma'mar's version which is more accurate.) A man and a woman of the Jews committed fornication. Some of them said to the others: Let us go to this Prophet, for he has been sent with an easy law. If he gives a judgment lighter than stoning, we shall accept it, and argue about it with Allah, saying: It is a judgment of one of your prophets. So they came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) who was sitting in the mosque among his companions. They said: AbulQasim, what do you think about a man and a woman who committed fornication? He did not speak to them a word till he went to their school.

He stood at the gate and said: I adjure you by Allah Who revealed the Torah to Moses, what (punishment) do you find in the Torah for a person who commits fornication, if he is married? They said: He shall be blackened with charcoal, taken round a donkey among the people, and flogged. A young man among them kept silent. When the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) emphatically adjured him, he said: By Allah, since you have adjured us (we inform you that) we find stoning in the Torah (is the punishment for fornication).

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: So when did you lessen the severity of Allah's command? He said: A relative of one of our kings had committed fornication, but his stoning was suspended. Then a man of a family of common people committed fornication. He was to have been stoned, but his people intervened and said: Our man shall not be stoned until you bring your man and stone him. So they made a compromise on this punishment between them.

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: So I decide in accordance with what the Torah says. He then commanded regarding them and they were stoned to death. Az-Zuhri said: We have been informed that this verse was revealed about them: "It was We Who revealed the Law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the Prophet who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will.

Book 38, Number 4441: Narrated Al-Bara' ibn Azib: while I was wandering in search of my camels which had strayed, a caravan or some horsemen carrying a standard came forward. The bedouin began to go round me for my position with the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). They came to a domed structure, took out a man from it, and struck his neck. I asked about him. They told me that he had married his father's wife.

Book 38, Number 4442: Narrated Al-Bara' ibn Azib: I met my uncle who was carrying a standard. I asked him: Where are you going? He said: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) has sent me to a man who has married his father's wife. He has ordered me to cut off his head and take his property.

Book 38, Number 4443: Narrated An-Nu'man ibn Bashir: Habib ibn Salim said: A man called AbdurRahman ibn Hunayn had intercourse with his wife's slave-girl. The matter was brought to an-Nu'man ibn Bashir who was the Governor of Kufah. He said: I shall decide between you in accordance with the decision of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). If she made her lawful for you, I shall flog you one hundred lashes. If she did not make her lawful for you, I shall stone you to death. So they found that she had made her lawful for him. He, therefore, flogged him one hundred lashes.

Book 38, Number 4444: Narrated An-Nu'man ibn Bashir: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: about a man who had (unlawful) intercourse with his wife's slave girl: If she made her lawful for him, he will be flogged one hundred lashes; if she did not make her lawful for him, I shall stone him.

Book 38, Number 4445: Narrated Salamah ibn al-Muhabbaq: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) made a decision about a man who had intercourse with his wife's slave-girl as follows. If he forced her, she is free, and he shall give her mistress a slave-girl similar to her; if she asked him to have intercourse voluntarily, she will belong to him, and he shall give her mistress a slave-girl similar to her.

Book 38, Number 4446: Narrated Salamah ibn al-Muhabbaq: A similar tradition (to the No. 4445) has also been transmitted by Salamah ibn al-Muhabbaq from the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). This version has: If she asked her to have intercourse with her voluntarily, then she and a similar slave-girl would be given to her mistress from his property.

Book 38, Number 4447: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If you find anyone doing as Lot's people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done.

Book 38, Number 4448: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: If a man who is not married is seized committing sodomy, he will be stoned to death.

Book 38, Number 4449: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If anyone has sexual intercourse with an animal, kill him and kill it along with him. I (Ikrimah) said: I asked him (Ibn Abbas): What offence can be attributed to the animal/ He replied: I think he (the Prophet) disapproved of its flesh being eaten when such a thing had been done to it.

Book 38, Number 4450: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: There is no prescribed punishment for one who has sexual intercourse with an animal.

Book 38, Number 4451: Narrated Sahl ibn Sa'd: A man came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and made acknowledgment before him that he had committed fornication with a woman whom he named. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) sent someone to the woman and he asked her about it. She denied that she had committed fornication. So he gave him the prescribed punishment of Lashes and left her.

Book 38, Number 4452: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: A man of Bakr ibn Layth came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and made confession four times that he had committed fornication with a woman, so he had a hundred lashes administered to him. The man had not been married. He then asked him to produce proof against the woman, and she said: I swear by Allah, Apostle of Allah, that he has lied. Then he was given the punishment of eighty lashes of falsehood.

Book 38, Number 4458: Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: A slave-girl belonging to the house of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) committed fornication. He (the Prophet) said: Rush up, Ali, and inflict the prescribed punishment on her. I then hurried up, and saw that blood was flowing from her, and did not stop. So I came to him and he said: Have you finished inflicting (punishment on her)? I said: I went to her while her blood was flowing. He said: Leave her alone till her bleeding stops; then inflict the prescribed punishment on her. And inflict the prescribed punishment on those whom your right hands possess (i.e. slaves).

Book 38, Number 4465: Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: Hudayn ibn al-Mundhir ar-Ruqashi, who was AbuSasan, said: I was present with Uthman ibn Affan when al-Walid ibn Uqbah was brought to him. Humran and another man bore witness against him (for drinking wine). One of them testified that he had seen him drinking wine, and the other testified that he had seen him vomiting it. Uthman said: He could not vomit it, unless he did not drink it. He said to Ali: Inflict the prescribed punishment on him. Ali said to al-Hasan: Inflict the prescribed punishment on him.
Al-Hasan said: He who has enjoyed its pleasure should also bear its burden. So Ali said to Abdullah ibn Ja'far: Inflict the prescribed punishment on him. He took a whip and struck him with it while Ali was counting. When he reached (struck) forty (lashes), he said: It is sufficient. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) gave forty lashes. I think he also said: "And AbuBakr gave forty lashes, and Uthman eighty. This is all sunnah (standard practice). And this is dearer to me."

Book 38, Number 4466: Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and AbuBakr gave forty lashes for drinking wine and Umar made it eighty. And all this is sunnah, the model and standard practice.

Book 38, Number 4467: Narrated Mu'awiyah ibn AbuSufyan: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If they (the people) drink wine, flog them, again if they drink it, flog them. Again if they drink it, kill them.

Book 38, Number 4469: Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If he is intoxicated, flog him; again if he is intoxicated, flog him; again if he is intoxicated, flog him if he does it again a fourth time, kill him. AbuDawud said: And there is a similar tradition of Umar ibn AbuSalamah, from his father, on the authority of AbuHurayrah, from the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him): If he drinks wine, flog him if he does it so again, a fourth time, kill him.

Book 38, Number 4470: Narrated Qabisah ibn Dhuwayb: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If anyone drinks wine, flog him; if he repeats it, flog him, and if he repeats it, flog him. If he does it again a third or a fourth time, kill him. A man who had drunk wine was brought (to him) and he gave him lashes. He was again brought to him, and he flogged him. He was again brought to him and he flogged him. He was again brought to him and he flogged him. The punishment of killing (for drinking) was repealed, and a concession was allowed.

Book 38, Number 4472: Narrated AbdurRahman ibn Azhar: I can still picture myself looking at the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) who was among the camps of the Companions seeking the camp of Khalid ibn al-Walid, when a man who had drunk wine was brought before him. He asked the people: Beat him. Some struck him with sandals, some with sticks and some with fresh branches of the palm-tree (mitakhah). Ibn Wahb said: This (mitakhah) means green palm fronds. Then the apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) took some dust from the ground and threw it on his face.

Book 38, Number 4473: Narrated AbdurRahman ibn al-Azhar: A man who had drunk wine was brought before the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) when he was in Hunayn. He threw some dust on his face. He then ordered his Companions and they beat him with their sandals and whatever they had in their hands. He then said to them: Leave him, and they left him. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) then died, and AbuBakr gave forty lashes for drinking wine, and then Umar in the beginning of his Caliphate inflicted forty stripes and at the end of his Caliphate he inflicted eighty stripes. Uthman (after him) inflicted both punishments, eighty and forty stripes, and finally Mu'awiyah established eighty stripes.

Book 38, Number 4474: Narrated AbdurRahman ibn Azhar: I saw the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) on the morning of the conquest of Mecca when I was a young boy. He was walking among the people, seeking the camp of Khalid ibn al-Walid. A man who had drunk wine was brought (before him) and he ordered them (to beat him). So they beat him with what they had in their hands. Some struck him with whips, some with sticks and some with sandals. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) threw some dust on his face. When a man who had drunk wine was brought before AbuBakr, he asked them (i.e. the people) about the number of beatings which they gave him. They numbered it forty. So AbuBakr gave him forty lashes. When Umar came to power, Khalid ibn al-Walid wrote to him: The people have become addicted to drinking wine and they look down upon the prescribed punishment and its penalty. He said: They are with you, ask them. The immigrants who embraced Islam in the beginning were with him. He asked them and they agreed on the fact that (a drunkard) should be given eighty lashes. Ali said: When a man drinks wine, he tells lies. I, therefore, think that he should be prescribed punishment that is prescribed for telling lies..

Does quran allow, condone and promote violence? (part 3)

Abu dawud is not the only hadith book that shows islam teaches violence there are various other hadith books as well. Here are a few for example from the collection of imaam bukhaari, to see more please help yourself. Terror is not only that you murder people in such cruel way but also that you frighten simple minded people into your slavery. That is what the quranic text shows very clearly. It creates a god figure called Allah and then makes that god a frightening person who is mostly angry with most, most of the time and leastly pleased with least number of people, for least amounts of time. This god then puts Muhammad above all to be obeyed completely and unquestioningly. This gives muhammad the advantage that he can make his followers do anything that he likes them to do. In other words, Muhammad found a way for exploiting people to his advantage and that way is called islam. He exploited the simple minded by telling them lies eg that god has spoken to him and that god sent him the quran for them and that they should follow what the quran says. We shall see shortly what the quran says and who benefits from what the quran says. He also enticed people into islam by promising them war booty or loot. As Arab chiefs had many slaves and there were many people who were living a hard life, it gave them a way to earn their living by waging war on other people and looting them in the name of god. As this led more and more people into islam, even the rich and powerful individual had to turn to islam in order to save whatever they could. Thus one way or another islamic way of life turned more suitable or acceptable to many. The disadvantaged could not get out of islam because others will kill them and the advantaged had no reason to leave islam because it gave them to some degree what they wanted ie slaves got their freedom from their masters, poor got some help from the rich and rich saved their lives and wealth by turning to islam. The newly disadvantaged were children, women, new slaves and the new poor or under caste or class. I hope you remember the verses of the quran and hadith I quoted regarding jihad, status women and my explanations as to how the islamic controlling system is put together etc etc. So I will keep adding odd comments here and there but ideas are self explanatory if we read the quran and the hadith.

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/084.sbt.html

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57:

Narrated 'Ikrima: Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to 'Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Apostle, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'"

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 58:

Narrated Abu Burda: Abu Musa said, "I came to the Prophet along with two men (from the tribe) of Ash'ariyin, one on my right and the other on my left, while Allah's Apostle was brushing his teeth (with a Siwak), and both men asked him for some employment. The Prophet said, 'O Abu Musa (O 'Abdullah bin Qais!).' I said, 'By Him Who sent you with the Truth, these two men did not tell me what was in their hearts and I did not feel (realize) that they were seeking employment.' As if I were looking now at his Siwak being drawn to a corner under his lips, and he said, 'We never (or, we do not) appoint for our affairs anyone who seeks to be employed. But O Abu Musa! (or 'Abdullah bin Qais!) Go to Yemen.'" The Prophet then sent Mu'adh bin Jabal after him and when Mu'adh reached him, he spread out a cushion for him and requested him to get down (and sit on the cushion). Behold: There was a fettered man beside Abu Muisa. Mu'adh asked, "Who is this (man)?" Abu Muisa said, "He was a Jew and became a Muslim and then reverted back to Judaism." Then Abu Muisa requested Mu'adh to sit down but Mu'adh said, "I will not sit down till he has been killed. This is the judgment of Allah and His Apostle (for such cases) and repeated it thrice. Then Abu Musa ordered that the man be killed, and he was killed. Abu Musa added, "Then we discussed the night prayers and one of us said, 'I pray and sleep, and I hope that Allah will reward me for my sleep as well as for my prayers.'"

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 59:

Narrated Abu Huraira: When the Prophet died and Abu Bakr became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief, 'Umar said, "O Abu Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allah's Apostle said, 'I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, 'and whoever said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', Allah will save his property and his life from me, unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment) justly, and his account will be with Allah?' "Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayers and Zakat as Zakat is the right to be taken from property (according to Allah's Orders). By Allah! If they refused to pay me even a kid they used to pay to Allah's Apostle, I would fight with them for withholding it." 'Umar said, "By Allah: It was nothing, but I noticed that Allah opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision to fight, therefore I realized that his decision was right."

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 64:

Narrated 'Ali: Whenever I tell you a narration from Allah's Apostle, by Allah, I would rather fall down from the sky than ascribe a false statement to him, but if I tell you something between me and you (not a Hadith) then it was indeed a trick (i.e., I may say things just to cheat my enemy). No doubt I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "During the last days there will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words but their faith will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they will have no faith) and will go out from (leave) their religion as an arrow goes out of the game. So, where-ever you find them, kill them, for who-ever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection."

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 67:

Narrated Abu Sa'id: While the Prophet was distributing (something, 'Abdullah bin Dhil Khawaisira At-Tamimi came and said, "Be just, O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet said, "Woe to you ! Who would be just if I were not?" 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "Allow me to cut off his neck ! " The Prophet said, " Leave him, for he has companions, and if you compare your prayers with their prayers and your fasting with theirs, you will look down upon your prayers and fasting, in comparison to theirs. Yet they will go out of the religion as an arrow darts through the game's body in which case, if the Qudhadh of the arrow is examined, nothing will be found on it, and when its Nasl is examined, nothing will be found on it; and then its Nadiyi is examined, nothing will be found on it. The arrow has been too fast to be smeared by dung and blood. The sign by which these people will be recognized will be a man whose one hand (or breast) will be like the breast of a woman (or like a moving piece of flesh). These people will appear when there will be differences among the people (Muslims)." Abu Sa'id added: I testify that I heard this from the Prophet and also testify that 'Ali killed those people while I was with him. The man with the description given by the Prophet was brought to 'Ali. The following Verses were revealed in connection with that very person (i.e., 'Abdullah bin Dhil-Khawaisira At-Tarnimi): 'And among them are men who accuse you (O Muhammad) in the matter of (the distribution of) the alms.' (9.58 )

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/082.sbt.html

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 794:

Narrated Anas: Some people from the tribe of 'Ukl came to the Prophet and embraced Islam. The climate of Medina did not suit them, so the Prophet ordered them to go to the (herd of milch) camels of charity and to drink, their milk and urine (as a medicine). They did so, and after they had recovered from their ailment (became healthy) they turned renegades (reverted from Islam) and killed the shepherd of the camels and took the camels away. The Prophet sent (some people) in their pursuit and so they were (caught and) brought, and the Prophets ordered that their hands and legs should be cut off and that their eyes should be branded with heated pieces of iron, and that their cut hands and legs should not be cauterized, till they die.

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 795:

Narrated Anas: The Prophet cut off the hands and feet of the men belonging to the tribe of 'Uraina and did not cauterise (their bleeding limbs) till they died.

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 796:

Narrated Anas: A group of people from 'Ukl (tribe) came to the Prophet and they were living with the people of As-Suffa, but they became ill as the climate of Medina did not suit them, so they said, "O Allah's Apostle! Provide us with milk." The Prophet said, I see no other way for you than to use the camels of Allah's Apostle." So they went and drank the milk and urine of the camels, (as medicine) and became healthy and fat. Then they killed the shepherd and took the camels away. When a help-seeker came to Allah's Apostle, he sent some men in their pursuit, and they were captured and brought before mid day. The Prophet ordered for some iron pieces to be made red hot, and their eyes were branded with them and their hands and feet were cut off and were not cauterized. Then they were put at a place called Al-Harra, and when they asked for water to drink they were not given till they died. (Abu Qilaba said, "Those people committed theft and murder and fought against Allah and His Apostle.")

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 797:

Narrated Anas bin Malik: A group of people from 'Ukl (or 'Uraina) tribe ----but I think he said that they were from 'Ukl came to Medina and (they became ill, so) the Prophet ordered them to go to the herd of (Milch) she-camels and told them to go out and drink the camels' urine and milk (as a medicine). So they went and drank it, and when they became healthy, they killed the shepherd and drove away the camels. This news reached the Prophet early in the morning, so he sent (some) men in their pursuit and they were captured and brought to the Prophet before midday. He ordered to cut off their hands and legs and their eyes to be branded with heated iron pieces and they were thrown at Al-Harra, and when they asked for water to drink, they were not given water. (Abu Qilaba said, "Those were the people who committed theft and murder and reverted to disbelief after being believers (Muslims), and fought against Allah and His Apostle").

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 803:

Narrated Ash-Sha'bi: from 'Ali when the latter stoned a lady to death on a Friday. 'Ali said, "I have stoned her according to the tradition of Allah's Apostle."

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 804:

Narrated Ash Shaibani: I asked 'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa, 'Did Allah's Apostle carry out the Rajam penalty ( i.e., stoning to death)?' He said, "Yes." I said, "Before the revelation of Surat-ar-Nur or after it?" He replied, "I don't Know."

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 806:

Narrated Abu Huraira: A man came to Allah's Apostle while he was in the mosque, and he called him, saying, "O Allah's Apostle! I have committed illegal sexual intercourse.'" The Prophet turned his face to the other side, but that man repeated his statement four times, and after he bore witness against himself four times, the Prophet called him, saying, "Are you mad?" The man said, "No." The Prophet said, "Are you married?" The man said, "Yes." Then the Prophet said, 'Take him away and stone him to death." Jabir bin 'Abdullah said: I was among the ones who participated in stoning him and we stoned him at the Musalla. When the stones troubled him, he fled, but we over took him at Al-Harra and stoned him to death.

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 807:

Narrated 'Aisha: Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas and 'Abd bin Zam'a quarrelled with each other (regarding a child). The Prophet said, "The boy is for you, O 'Abd bin Zam'a, for the boy is for (the owner) of the bed. O Sauda ! Screen yourself from the boy." The sub-narrator, Al-Laith added (that the Prophet also said), "And the stone is for the person who commits an illegal sexual intercourse."

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 808:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The boy is for (the owner of) the bed and the stone is for the person who commits illegal sexual intercourse.'

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 809:

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: A Jew and a Jewess were brought to Allah's Apostle on a charge of committing an illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet asked them. "What is the legal punishment (for this sin) in your Book (Torah)?" They replied, "Our priests have innovated the punishment of blackening the faces with charcoal and Tajbiya." 'Abdullah bin Salam said, "O Allah's Apostle, tell them to bring the Torah." The Torah was brought, and then one of the Jews put his hand over the Divine Verse of the Rajam (stoning to death) and started reading what preceded and what followed it. On that, Ibn Salam said to the Jew, "Lift up your hand." Behold! The Divine Verse of the Rajam was under his hand. So Allah's Apostle ordered that the two (sinners) be stoned to death, and so they were stoned. Ibn 'Umar added: So both of them were stoned at the Balat and I saw the Jew sheltering the Jewess.

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 805:

Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari: A man from the tribe of Bani Aslam came to Allah's Apostle and Informed him that he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and bore witness four times against himself. Allah's Apostle ordered him to be stoned to death as he was a married Person.

Volume 8, Book 82, Number 810:

Narrated Jabir: A man from the tribe of Aslam came to the Prophet and confessed that he had committed an illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet turned his face away from him till the man bore witness against himself four times. The Prophet said to him, "Are you mad?" He said "No." He said, "Are you married?" He said, "Yes." Then the Prophet ordered that he be stoned to death, and he was stoned to death at the Musalla. When the stones troubled him, he fled, but he was caught and was stoned till he died. The Prophet spoke well of him and offered his funeral prayer.

Let us go back to the quran and see what it says in its suras and their verses. As I said already that the quran teaches violence, I am now about to post many many verses to back my claim. Please note that the quran only contain around 6238 verses. A very large part of the quran is all about violence against humanity ie either Allah is threatening people with punishment or telling one people to go to war with the others or that people are condemned to hell in hereafter as well as punishment in this life for disobeying Allah and or his messenger and so on and so forth. It becomes quite clear from the verses that the author of the quran each time puts Allah in charge as the highest authority and then derives authority from that for the messengership or the leadership telling everyone to totally submit to this authority without question. In other words Allah is raised to such a stage of ruthlessness and fearfulness that he is the ultimate tyrant. Then through creating the sense of utmost fear simple minded people are forced to believe in and obey what they are told.

For a critical thinker it may not be a big deal but thinking from a child's point of view it is. So slaves and poor people being very simple minded could be affected very seriously by this nonsense. In other words the quran could turns people mental and perhaps beyond repair or damage limitation.

Sura 2, Al-Baqra, the very first sura revealed in madina.

002.002 This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God;

My comments,

Please see clearly here how the quran makes it a condition that this book guides only those who fear Allah. It shows clearly that the tool used for controlling peoples' minds is fear ie fear of the unknown. The coming verses make the case quite clear. The following verse says that they believe in the unseen. Please think about, what is meant by the unseen=ghaib. It means people who believe in things that cannot be sensed by their brains through their five senses. One has to ask, what kind of people are those who are happy to take leave of their senses, the very moment that they need them most? What kind of people are those who are happy to fear something that they cannot even sense existence of? It is like asking people to fear a giant snake whose existence they cannot sense. Again think of what I said about functioning of brain and senses. In 2/5, we are told that people who have the qualities stated in these verses are the ones who are the believers and it is these kind of people for whom the quran is a guidance. Now who want to be guided by such a guide that want us to shut our eyes and ears and follow instructions about which we have no idea whether they are true or false? If it was a message from god, he ought to tell us, open your eyes and ears and watch where you are going people ie make sure you are going the right way, would he not? What about those who question the quranic claims? See verses 2/6-7 etc.

002.003 Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;

002.004 And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter.

002.005 They are on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper.

002.006 As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe.

002.007 God hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur).

My comments,

Very interesting contrast here, is it not? That people who have senses are told not to use them and those who use them are told that Allah himself has sealed them off so that they can never find the way. So what is the clear message from these two sets of verses? That the quran is a conman's work who is trying to pull wool over peoples' eyes. In fact the coming verses are yet more interesting. They are interesting because they are describing another category of people. These people are those who cannot believe in unbelievable things but for one reason or another they are not letting muslims know that they are not muslims. The problem is that by describing these people like this the quran is actually creating a very dangerous environment amongst muslims ie it is sowing the seeds of suspicion between muslims about each other. That is so because to begin with the quran is not a clear message by any standard. It says so in 3/7 that it contains ambiguity hence so many sects amongst muslims. This being the case ie that people can differ as to what each and every verse or word of quran means gives people reason to think that others are not sincere and so must be hypocrites. For example, if some muslims believe that islam means peace and the others it means war to make all unbelievers turn muslims then one of the sides is shying away from whatever the islamic truth is. This being the case, one side can accuse the other of hypocrisy. Thus confusing quran leads muslims to confusion and thereby into quarrels of all sorts and so proves to be a nonsense rather than any guidance.

002.008 Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in God and the Last Day;" but they do not (really) believe.

My comments,

These verses are very early madinan verses ie when Muhammad came to madina and set himself up as a leader. The existing tribal leaders of madina obviously became annoyed because this step of Muhammad threatened their leadership but as Muhammad became more and more powerful, it was not easy for them to get at him. He had brought around 70 men with him from makkah and likewise he had around a couple of hundred men from madina. As time went by position of Muhammad became stronger and stronger and position of tribal chiefs there became weaker and weaker. Seeing this tension increased between the sides spying on each other became the natural thing to do. Just as tribals were not strong enough to take on Muhammad nor was muhammad that strong to take on the opposing tribes. So people joined muslims when they felt it would benefit them and moved away from them when they thought they had achieved what they wanted. In other words they came to muslims to spy on them and muslims were also spying on them already because they wanted to expand themselves by way of islam. This is how both sides were aware of each other as to what they were up to against each other. Muhammad wanted everyone to accept him as a leader and others wanted to maintain their leadership. So a situation came about to which the quran is pointing in these verses. Obviously the quran is blaming the nonmuslims for playing games with god but actually it was Muhammad who started this game and it is obvious from these verses. Since paganism is treated as FITNAH=disputation in religion by muslims, so the fight is started by muslims on the basis of religion and so they are the ones who are real mischief makers not pagans. The case is that pagans are living their lives and Muhammad turns up condemning whatever they believe and do, asking them to leave their way of life for what he suggests. They repeatedly seek proof of Muhammad about his claim of divine messengership but he fails to provide them one yet accuses them of all sorts of things in order to justify his own stance by way side lining the issue of proof and proving. This is what muslims do when you ask them to justify their claims about islam. They turn to personal attacks rather than addressing the issue.

So hypocrisy as discussed in these verses cannot be about people being forced to believe in islam because the muslims do not have the power to enforce islam that way yet, for this is according to most muslim scholar the very first surah that was revealed in madina. There were only 313 men at the battle of badr in the 2nd hijrah ie two years after Muhammad moved to madina. The only kind of hypocrisy possible at this stage would be; people joining islam for reasons other than truly believing in islam as the truth from the only god, Allah eg livelihood reasons for the poor people, for Muhammad placed great effort in preaching looking after the needy and condemning the pagan chiefs. Or freedom from slavery for the slaves who ran away from their masters, for Muhammad asked people to free their slaves or at least lookafter them properly. And or for booty reasons if banditry was already part of the plan ie to rob the rich and give to the poor not necessarily for helping the poor but may be for gaining support from some corners to start the ball rolling if Muhammad had already planned taking over the role of leadership. It is quite possible that Islamic movement could have been started to replace existing tribal leadership. To do so one would need all the support one could get and one would target most likely people who could benefit from this change to lend supporting hand eg people who are not happy with what is going on ie the poor and the slaves and those who would be interested in creating a place for themselves under the new leadership etc etc. However, just as Muhammad plotted and planned against the leadership of makkans so the madina people do against rising leadership of Muhammad.

002.009 Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realise (it) not!

002.010 In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease: And grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves).

002.011 When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "Why, we only Want to make peace!"

002.012 Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realise (it) not.

002.013 When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe:" They say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" Nay, of a surety they are the fools, but they do not know.

002.014 When they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe;" but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say: "We are really with you: We (were) only jesting."

002.015 God will throw back their mockery on them, and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (To and fro).

002.016 These are they who have bartered Guidance for error: But their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction,

002.153 O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.

002.154 And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: "They are dead." Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not.

002.161 Those who reject Faith, and die rejecting,- on them is Allah's curse, and the curse of angels, and of all mankind;

002.162 They will abide therein: Their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their (lot).

002.190 Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.

My comments,

Here one has to note that fighting is not about fighting for defending oneself, one's land or property but for the way of Allah ie FEE SABEELILLAH. In doing so one can also defend oneself, one's land and property etc etc. So fighting in islam is all about fighting for god and his religion and not about other things, for they are of secondary importance as the coming verses are going to make this quite clear.

002.191 And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.

My comments,

Please note very clearly here that the verse uses word FITNAH=dissention or disputation or turning away from what is put forward eg for consideration etc. In the context of the quran, the fight is between muslims and pagans and the fight is about belief system or religion or way of life=DEEN. So word fitnah here also means that the quran has stated a way of life ie way of Allah and people who dispute or turn away from that or show dissent after it has been presented to them must be killed, for dispute in this regard is worse than slaughter as far as the quran is concerned. The only way pagans can save their lives is by stopping to be pagans ie by accepting islam. The coming verses will make it absolutely clear. In fact in 4/48,116 etc, the quran clearly says that polytheism is unforgivable unless one repents ie turns away from it and becomes a muslim.

002.192 But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

002.193 And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.

My comments,

Again note here the repetition of word fitnah=disention regarding islam. The muslims are ordered to fight on till pagans in makkah stop disputing regarding islam ie islam is accepted by them. So the message is that muslims must fight on with zawlimeen=wrong doers or transgressors or those who dispute till islam prevails and people live by Islamic system of justice.

002.194

YUSUFALI: The prohibited month for the prohibited month,- and so for all things prohibited,- there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, Transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.

My comments,

This is very interesting that Allah tells muslims that you are allowed to take a rest from fighting for four months in a year. Of course people cannot fight on and on non-stop ie they need time to rest and re-enforce themselves etc etc hence Muhammad chose some months for rest from battles to pile up things for getting ready for battles to come. However, this did not mean that if muslims take a rest, other too will take the rest or at the same time. Hence fighting in defence is still allowed. Of course, it will make no sense to tell people to not to fight in forbidden months but only in defence if they were already only allowed fighting in defence as many muslims now days are trying to tell us.

002.195 And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.

My comments,

Now one can see how Allah is telling people to spend of the war booty they picked up in wars they have already had for the glory of Allah’s way ie islam. In other words the verse is clearly telling muslims to get ready for the coming battles. Muslims are told to remember Allah more and more so that the brainwashing remains effective. This is what prayers and other related rituals are all about ie to keep muslims hypnotised so to speak so that they do not have any time to realise what they are doing to themselves and humanity. Thereafter the quran turns back to war talk.

002.204 There is the type of man whose speech about this world's life May dazzle thee, and he calls Allah to witness about what is in his heart; yet is he the most contentious of enemies.

My comments,

Since war needs an enemy so Muhammad is telling muslims who is their enemy who needs sorting out ie pagans. Here pagans are accused of all sorts of things just because they dispute what Muhammad claims. Rather than proving his claim to pagans, Muhammad decides to fight them to submission or death. Muslims are told that pagans are trouble makers because they do not accept Islam true even though it is Muhammad who is at fault for failing to prove his claim. However, he want to become chief of chiefs so he must fight every way he can to get what he wants ie leadership to be able to control more and more people. The pagan chiefs opposed him because they realised his true intentions however they underestimated the threat posed to them and so they lost the battles. The case seems to be the very same with nonmuslim world today ie they too think islam is harmless and muslims are too weak to overcome them. This is a very wrong way of looking at things when it comes to islam and muslims. The following verses are going to make the contrast clear that muslims are the good guys and the pagans are the bad guys and so Allah is enemy of pagans but ally of muslims. All this to help muslims concentrate on battles to come so that they remain hypnotised and do not fall in doubt regarding the cause for which they are fighting ie for the glory of god.

002.205 When he turns his back, His aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and cattle. But Allah loveth not mischief.

002.206 When it is said to him, "Fear Allah", He is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell;-An evil bed indeed (To lie on)!

002.207 And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah: And Allah is full of kindness to (His) devotees.

002.208 O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.

002.213 Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. Allah by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guided whom He will to a path that is straight.

My comments,

Allah seems to be a trickster here ie instead of allowing people to judge truth for themselves he tells them that it is not the fault of Allah if people fell in disputes as regard his messages he sent before rather it was peoples’ own fault because they disputed for their own petty reasons. Not true, because if the quran is so ambiguous which is said to be the final message from god and miraculous at that then earlier so called divine messages must have been even more ambiguous and silly as compared to the quran. So no wonder people disputed about them all the time and the practice continues amongst muslims, for there are so many sects amongst them condemning each other in various ways including blowing each other up. What a loving brotherhood of islam and what a glorious ummah=the muslim community.

002.214 Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!

My comments,

What a way to encourage people to kill others and be killed by them and for what? This verse also shows a ploy to help Allah escape his responsibility of helping muslims as their ally just in case they do not win the battle or that easily. So if anyone questions why Allah did not come to help, we have the excuses already so that faithful muslims do not lose faith by doubting Allah’s presence.

002.215 They ask thee what they should spend (In charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, -Allah knoweth it well.

My comments,

Nothing special here just that muslims have some loot and they are going for more battles, they need to provide for their dependents if you like.

002.216 Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.

My comments,

Here the verse is very clear that fighting is ordered for mulsims or is imposed upon them as a duty. Just like fasting is ordered for them or is imposed upon them as a duty in 2/183. Before muslims retaliated for what was allegedly done to them by makkans eg some muslims when they were slaves of makkans were mistreated by their masters or that poor amongst makkans were not treated that well either so people have their own grievances to redress and they fought back such that they would not stop till aggressors were killed or captured and repented and turned muslims or were freed for ransom but now it is muslims who are told to go on the offensive not only against makkans but anyone who is a pagan and can be dealt with by muslims. This is what the quran was leading muslims upto when it gave them the time and told them to prepare for battles to come.

002.217 They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members." Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein.

My comments,

Muslims were told to rest in the four months and make necessary preparations for coming battles but remain ready for any action that may be needed however, now we are told that muslims must also fight even in the prohibited months because islam must prevail and the more battles there are the more likely it is that islam will prevail. It seems by now Muhammad has managed to prepare his followers for a lot more battles than before. Before muslims mainly used to attack makkan interests and in revenge but now the goal has been expanded to include other pagans as well. Either because by now muslims can handle the situation or because they have become desperate and cannot survive merely on income from raiding makkan caravans etc for example. I am saying by now because the Quranic suras and verses were not revealed all at the same time but over 23 years, according to muslims. Likewise this sura according to muslims was not revealed in one go either hence there is a gap of time between its verses. Though there is no consensus amongst muslims scholars as to which verses were revealed exactly when or where or for what purpose despite the fact that muslims emphasise that asbaabunnuzool=background information to revelations are vital for understanding the quran in proper context.

002.218 Those who believed and those who suffered exile and fought (and strove and struggled) in the path of Allah,- they have the hope of the Mercy of Allah: And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

My comments,

It is important to realise here that once Muhammad decided to move to madina, he also told all his followers to move from their places to join him. So hijra=migration of muslims from everywhere was not forced by pagans by throwing muslims out of their houses but was self inflicted and well planned so that by joining together muslims could put life into Islamic movement and could carry out their designs. This does not mean that no muslim was forced out of his home by pagans but that most were not rather it was imposed on muslims to leave their homes behind and move to join muslims 3/195, 4/89,100, 8/26,30,72-75, 9/20,24,38,100,117, 29/6, 59/8-9, 60/9 etc etc.

002.243 Didst thou not Turn by vision to those who abandoned their homes, though they were thousands (In number), for fear of death? Allah said to them: "Die": Then He restored them to life. For Allah is full of bounty to mankind, but Most of them are ungrateful.

002.244 Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things.

002.245 Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan, which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply many times? It is Allah that giveth (you) Want or plenty, and to Him shall be your return.

My comments,

The loan is the life and property of a muslims which Allah has bought of a muslims for rewards in hereafter eg see 9/111,120,123 etc.

002.246 Hast thou not Turned thy vision to the Chiefs of the Children of Israel after (the time of) Moses? they said to a prophet (That was) among them: "Appoint for us a king, that we May fight in the cause of Allah." He said: "Is it not possible, if ye were commanded to fight, that that ye will not fight?" They said: "How could we refuse to fight in the cause of Allah, seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?" but when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them. But Allah Has full knowledge of those who do wrong.

My comments,

In these verses muslims are told how believers faired in generations of the past and what muslims are expected to do for islam ie Allah’s way.

002.247 Their Prophet said to them: "Allah hath appointed Talut as king over you." They said: "How can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted, with wealth in abundance?" He said: "Allah hath Chosen him above you, and hath gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess: Allah Granteth His authority to whom He pleaseth. Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all things."

002.248 And (further) their Prophet said to them: "A Sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the covenant, with (an assurance) therein of security from your Lord, and the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried by angels. In this is a symbol for you if ye indeed have faith."

002.249 When Talut set forth with the armies, he said: "Allah will test you at the stream: if any drinks of its water, He goes not with my army: Only those who taste not of it go with me: A mere sip out of the hand is excused." but they all drank of it, except a few. When they crossed the river,- He and the faithful ones with him,- they said: "This day We cannot cope with Goliath and his forces." but those who were convinced that they must meet Allah, said: "How oft, by Allah's will, Hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere."

002.250 When they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they prayed: "Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm: Help us against those that reject faith."

002.251 By Allah's will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: But Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.

002.253 Those messengers We endowed with gifts, some above others: To one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought among each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them, but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah Fulfilleth His plan.

002.254 O ye who believe! Spend out of (the bounties) We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (Will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith they are the wrong-doers.

002.256 Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

My comments,

This verse is quoted over and over again and again to emphasise the fact that islam does not allow compulsion in religion. However, from the context it would seem that this verse is dealing with spending in the way of Allah ie for glory of islam. So muslims are told that it is up to themselves to spend in the way of Allah for their own benefit there is no compulsion in this matter from religion ie spend whatever you can. The other context could be that pagans are told that they should not stop their people from embracing islam and not that muslims are allowed to become pagans or nonmuslims again. Or that muslim should practice their religion without the need for being compelled to do so. However, that was the case in the beginning when muslims could not enforce islam or its practices and that most people joined islam for their own reason hence they did not need compulsion element but when muslim became able to enforce islam that is the way things developed ie they forced nonmuslims to accept islam as well as forced muslims to practice islam properly.

002.257 Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (For ever).

002.261 The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it groweth seven ears, and each ear Hath a hundred grains. Allah giveth manifold increase to whom He pleaseth: And Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things.

002.262 Those who spend their substance in the cause of Allah, and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury,-for them their reward is with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

002.263 Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.

My comments,

Similar verses follow emphasising spending for way of Allah ie helping each other to strengthen islam. This muslims are told to spend on each other to strengthen Islamic brotherhood as oppose to helping nonmulsims which would result in demise of islam. There is no concept of muslims helping nonmulims out of humanitarian concerns in islam. It is always made sure that somehow islam and muslims must benefit from whatever muslims say or do and that opposition to islam must lose.