Instruments of Love and Harmony #9

From Zenit.org comes Final Statement of Catholic-Muslim Forum "Called to Be Instruments of Love and Harmony"
For background information about the meetings, see this Reuters article of 11/06/08.

The statement includes an enumerated list of fifteen points which present a target rich environment In this installment, I'll take on the eleventh point of agreement.[Links & emphasis added.]

We profess that Catholics and Muslims are called to be instruments of love and harmony among believers, and for humanity as a whole, renouncing any oppression, aggressive violence and terrorism, especially that committed in the name of religion, and upholding the principle of justice for all.

Taken at face value, the eleventh point means that the participants accept the concept of benign religion. Lets break it down into discrete elements for easier analysis.

• love & harmony
• between believers
• for humanity
• renouncing
• oppression
• aggressive violence
• terrorism
• in the name of religion
• justice

Universal benevolence is part of Christianity, not part of Islam. Islamic charity extends to their Muslim brothers, not to the wider world. Examine 2:273 and the surrounding context. Where does the loot come from, and where does it go?

• 8:41. And know that whatever of war-booty that you may gain, verily one-fifth (1/5th) of it is assigned to Allah, and to the Messenger, and to the near relatives [of the Messenger (Muhammad)], (and also) the orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor) and the wayfarer, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our slave (Muhammad) on the Day of criterion (between right and wrong), the Day when the two forces met (the battle of Badr) - And Allah is Able to do all things.

They attacked camel caravans & peaceful villages, slaughtered the men, selling the women and children as slaves. Do you imagine that they shared the spoils with the victim class (Kuffar)? Love for humanity as a whole pretty well took a flier with Moe's declaration that he was ordered to fight them until they embrace Islam, when their blood and property would become sacred to Muslims. For those who missed it in a previous installment, it is Sahih Bukhari 1.8.387.

Renouncing oppression? A great sentiment, ain't it, but it ain't part of Islam. Observe 3:110 and the saying which explains its meaning.

• 3:110. You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. 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-Fasiqun (disobedient to Allah - and rebellious against Allah's Command).
• Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 80:
  
  Narrated Abu Huraira:
  
  The Verse:--"You (true Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind." means, the best of peoples for the people, as you bring them with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam.
• 47:4. So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allah to continue in carrying out Jihad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam...

If you missed the quotes from Reliance of the Traveller, outlining the restrictions placed on conquered Jews & Christians, reading this will make up for it.

Renouncing aggressive violence violates Islamic law. Reliance of the Traveller makes it clear to all who will read it that Muslims may not abjure any part of the Qur'an. There is a list in O8.7, of acts which entail apostasy, which bears the death penalty.[O.8.1, 8.2]

• O8.7.7 to deny any verse of the Koran or anything which by scholarly consensus (def: b7) belongs to it, or to add a verse that does belong to it;

One verse in Surah Al-Baqarah makes participation in Jihad mandatory.

• 2:216. Jihad (holy fighting in Allah'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. Allah knows but you do not know.

The ayat containing Allah's orders to fight are clear and imperative. I will cite three of them with tafsir links so that you can confirm their obvious meaning.

• 8:39. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world ]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.
• The Order to fight until there is no more Fitnah

• 9:29. Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
• The Order to fight People of the Scriptures until They give the Jizyah
• 9:123.O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are the Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).
• The Order for Jihad against the Disbelievers, the Closest, then the Farthest Areas

Terrorism is another Islamic sacrament that no Muslim can renounce.

• 3:151. We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allah, for which He had sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire and how evil is the abode of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong­doers).
• 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."

Genocidal Jihad & terrorism are sacraments, carried out in Allah's cause: to make his word superior.

Justice is another matter. When Catholics use that word, the subtext is most likely to be Socialism. When Muslims use it, the subtext is "just us". 2:282 starts out with the proper meaning of justice, but deviates from it by declaring female testimony inferior. 4:29-30 deal with Justice between Muslims, of course, Kuffar are another matter; fair prey as per . Bukhari 1.8.387.


Either the Muslim participants in the forum are contradicting Allah & his Messenger and abandoning Islam or their affirmation of peace & justice is insincere. Which is it?

Click this link for A Common Word between Us and You, which precipitated the recent meetings. [Note the Events section, a recent addition to the page]. A Common Word's home page includes a summary, the missive, media reports, blog posts and various responses from Christian & Jewish leaders. Click this link: Islamic Extortion Letter for my original dissection of the missive or this link: Go Burn With Muhammad, a blog devoted to dissecting the missive and reactions to it.