Tawfik Hamid: Reform Islam

Tawfik Hamid, writing at NEWSMAX, wants to reform Islam. Here are a few vital points from his article.

• Suspend the traditional teaching that Muslims must wage wars on non-Muslims to offer them one of three options: convert to Islam, pay jizia (humiliating tax paid by non-Muslims to Muslims), or be killed.
• Publish new theologically-based books of Islamic jurisprudence that stand against beating women, slavery, killing apostates, and other violent edicts of Shariah.
• As long as the Muslim world insists on teaching violent principles as mentioned earlier, the gap between it and the West will only increase, and the efforts to bridge the gap of civilizations will be inefficient.
• Once the Muslim world puts an end to the destructive points, the voices that emphasize the “common values” will be able to succeed in their great mission to make our world better.

The aforementioned "traditional teaching" is found in the Qur'an: 8:39, 9:29 & Sahih Muslim 19.4294. There is a problem with attempting to suspend teaching of Qur'anic doctrine. Allah's word describes itself as perfected in 5:3 "This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion".

Allah's perfect and final words can not be changed, Allah strictly forbids it. Allah said: "And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words." 6:115 & 18:27. Allah said "No change let there be in Khalq­illâh (i.e. the Religion of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most of men know not." 30:30. Allah's messenger confirmed it with a curse: "'Far removed, far removed (from mercy), those who changed (their religion) after me." Sahih Bukhari 8.76.585.

The clear and absolute prohibitions are confirmed by Shari'ah. Reliance of the Traveller contains a list of acts which entail apostasy, which carries a death sentence. These items are included in that list. 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;

-14- to deny the obligatory character of something which by the consensus of Muslims (ijma`, def: B7) is part of Islam, when it is well known as such, like the prayer (salat) or even one rak'a from one of the five obligatory prayers, if there is no excuse (def: u2.4);

Allah's imperatives can't be re-interpreted because they are clear, 3:7, requiring no interpretation. Moe's Sunna shows us what they mean; read the book of Jihad or Expedition in any of the canonical hadith collections.

Jihad can not be abandoned because it is central to Islam; its very core. Too much of the Qur'an must be ripped out, the Sira & Sunnna truncated radically, likewise Shari'ah. Then there is Moe's execration.

Sunan Abu Dawud Book 23, Number 3455:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

I heard the Apostle of Allah, (peace_be_upon_him) say: When you enter into the inah transaction, hold the tails of oxen, are pleased with agriculture, and give up conducting jihad (struggle in the way of Allah). Allah will make disgrace prevail over you, and will not withdraw it until you return to your original religion.

Islam will no more be reformed than lions will become herbivores and graze with the sheep..

International Qur'an Petition

A new on line petition, inspired by the Calcutta Qur'an Petition, has been created for the purpose of increasing public awareness of Islamic doctrines which are inimical to life and liberty. The petition focuses on several ayat which stand in egregious violation of important provisions of international human rights accords.

Regular readers of my blog posts know that I make frequent use of quotes from Islam's canon of scripture, tradition & jurisprudence. To keep the petition moderate in size, those quotes were trimmed down to the most essential clauses. A separate document containing the full quotes has been published and linked in the petition.

A new Facebook group was created to aid in promoting the petition. A slightly edited version of the petition follows, including a link to the page where readers can add their signatures to it.

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Whereas Islam and its apologists accuse Kuffar of inculcating hatred of Muslims and inciting violence against them; and

Whereas Islam is pursuing national and international legislation to impose their blasphemy laws upon us so as to prevent or punish exposure of their execrable doctrines which inculcate hatred, incite violence and sanctify & mandate genocidal, terroristic conquest; the intent of which legislative campaign is to render us defenseless;

Now, therefore, the undersigned Kufar & Harbi do declare, swear and demonstrate proof from the ample testimony of Allah and his Messenger that Islam is and will always be in egregious violation of the recognized rights of free men and must therefore be condemned and proscribed:

Article 4 of ICERD condemns "all propaganda and organizations which are based on ideas or theories of superiority ...or which attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form. Section b: "Shall declare illegal and prohibit organizations, and also organized and all other propaganda activities, which promote and incite racial discrimination, and shall recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an offense punishable by law;".

Surah Al-Imran 110 declares Muslims to be the "best of peoples ever raised up for mankind". Sahih Bukhari 6.60.80 explains the meaning of that passage thusly: " the best of peoples for the people, as you bring them with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam". That is clear proof of supremacism related to ethnic violence.

Surah Al-Baqarah 91 contains a pretext for hatred of Jews: Say (O Muhammad Peace be upon him to them): "Why then have you killed the Prophets of Allah aforetime, if you indeed have been believers?" .

Surah Al-Baiyyinah 6 contains another pretext for hatred of Jews & Christians: "They are the worst of creatures".

Surah At-Taubah 29 commands warfare against Jews & Christians: "Fight against those who ... among the people of the Scripture until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.".

Surah At-Taubah 30 curses Jews & Christians: "And the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allah. ... Allâh's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!

It is obvious upon the face of the text that the quoted ayat incite hatred of Jews & Christians, declare war upon them and curse them. There can be no doubt that Islam's canon of scripture is in egregious violation of Article 4 and must therefore be condemned. Under section b quoted above, Islam must be declared illegal and prohibited.

Article 6 of ICCPR gurantees the right to life. "Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life."

By declaring perpetual war, Islam egregiously violates the right to life. We know that Jihad is perpetual because the declarations in Al-Anfal 39 & At-Taubah 29 are outcomne oriented and unlimited geographically and chronologically. Furthermore, the testimony of Islam's founder is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawud 14.2526: "jihad will be performed continuously since the day Allah sent me as a prophet until the day the last member of my community will fight with the Dajjal (Antichrist).".

Islam's founder also testified in Sahih Bukhari 1.8.387 that Islam has no respect for the sanctity of life: "if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us".

Article 20 of ICCPR proscribes "Any propaganda for war " and "Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence", declaring that they shall be prohibited by law.

Islam's canon of scripture contains three egregious commands to aggression which obviously violate Article 20: Al-Anfal 39, At-Taubah 29 & 123. "fight them until there is no more Fitnah", "Fight against those who" & "Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you" have obvious meaning which can not be denied. The commands are confirmed by Islam's founder in Sahih Bukhari 4.52.196: " I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,'".

Surah At-Taubah 38 condemns Muslims who refuse to participate: "What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allah (i.e. Jihâd) you cling heavily to the earth? "... "If you march not forth, He will punish you with a painful torment.".

Surah As-Saff 10-12 incentivize participation in Jihad by promising escape from Hell and admission to Paradise in exchange for participation in Jihad:
"a commerce that will save you from a painful torment. ... and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives ... He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow".

Surah Al-An'am 115 "None can change His Words" and Surah Ar-Rum 30 "No change let there be in Khalq­illâh (i.e. the Religion of Allah Islamic Monotheism)" clearly proscribe editing the Qur'an. It can not be rendered anodyne.

The Qur'an is a violation of international law and it can't be edited; preaching it and propagating its doctrines must therefore be prohibited. One of the cited ayat: At-Taubah 29, is cited as the scriptural basis of Reliance of the Traveller Book O, Chapter 9, Paragraph 8 which Islamic law declares that the Caliph makes war upon Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians.

Islamic tradition informs us that Jihad will continue until Judgment Day, and that Muslims would be cursed for abandoning it. Sunan Abu Dawud 14.2526: "jihad will be performed continuously since the day Allah sent me as a prophet until the day the last member of my community will fight with the Dajjal ".

Sunan Abu Dawud 23.3455: "and give up conducting jihad (struggle in the way of Allah). Allah will make disgrace prevail over you, and will not withdraw it until you return to your original religion".

From this narration, it becomes obvious that Islam and Jihad are synonymous. Since Islam asserts a divine mandate and right to wage war against us, to kill us, rape our widows, enslave our orphans and seize our real and personal property, we can not enjoy our God given right to life. We have shown the court that Islamic doctrine, practice & jurisprudence violate the international covenants which guarantee our human rights.

Since Muslims are promised eternity in a celestial bordello for participating in Jihad and threatened with eternal damnation if they refuse, it is impossible that free men can live in peace and security while Islam exists upon the face of the earth. We therefore pray for injunctive relief: proscription of the practice and propagation of Islam.

The Qur'an, hadith, Shari'ah & international law citations in this petition are quoted and linked to source documents in a blog post titled "Proscribe Islam Petition Rough Draft". The blog post is available in a 71kb pdf file which you can print (9pgs.), cross post or use as an email attachment.

This petition is intended to supplement, not supplant the Ban Islam Petition.
Signers of this petition are urged to sign and promote the Ban Islam petition if they have not already done so. Please email the urls of these petitions to your family, friends and associates with an exhortation to forward them.

Islam = Terrorism??

This post begins a critical examination of the assertions expressed in and implied by these statements from the current and proposed resolutions combating defamation of religions.

Also expresses deep concern at attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations and emphasizes that equating any religion with terrorism should be rejected and combated by all at all levels;

Expresses deep concern in this respect that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism...

Is Islam wrongly associated with terrorism? The assertion implies that Islam does not sanction terrorism. An examination of Islam's canon of scripture & tradition discloses the truth.

Terror is mentioned in the Qur'an, in both eternal and temporal contexts; only the latter are relevant to this discussion. [Emphasis added.]

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).

...Allah next conveys the good news that He will put fear of the Muslims, and feelings of subordination to the Muslims in the hearts of their disbelieving enemies, because of their Kufr and Shirk. ... The Prohibition of Obeying the Disbelievers; the Cause of Defeat at Uhud

7:4. How many a township have We destroyed! As a raid by night, or while they slept at noon, Our terror came unto them.

(Our torment came upon them by night or while they were taking their midday nap. ) means, Allah's command, torment and vengeance came over them at night or while taking a nap in the middle of the day. Both of these times are periods of rest and leisure or heedlessness and amusement. Nations that were destroyed

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."

...(I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved.) means, `you -- angels -- support the believers, strengthen their (battle) front against their enemies, thus, implementing My command to you. I will cast fear, disgrace and humiliation over those who defied My command and denied My Messenger, (so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.) strike them on their foreheads to tear them apart and over the necks to cut them off, and cut off their limbs, hands and feet....Allah commands the Angels to fight and support the Believers

8:60. Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of God and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom God doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of God, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.

33:26. And those of the people of the Scripture who backed them (the disbelievers) Allah brought them down from their forts and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) a group (of them) you killed, and a group (of them) you made captives.

(and cast terror into their hearts;) means fear, because they had supported the idolators in their war against the Messenger of Allah and the one who knows is not like the one who does not know. They had terrified the Muslims and intended to kill them so as to gain earthly power, but their plans backfired; the idolators ran away and the believers were victorious while the disbelievers were losers; where they had aimed for glory, they were humiliated. The Campaign against Banu Qurayzah

59:2. He it is Who drove out the disbelievers among the people of the Scripture (i.e. the Jews of the tribe of Bani An-Nadir) from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think that they would get out. And they thought that their fortresses would defend them from Allah! But Allah's (Torment) reached them from a place whereof they expected it not, and He cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. Then take admonition, O you with eyes (to see).

...Therefore, Allah sent His torment down on them; it can never be averted, and His appointed destiny touched them; it can never be resisted. The Prophet forced them to evacuate and abandon their fortified forts that Muslims did not think they would ever control. ...Then take admonition, O you with eyes.) meaning, "Contemplate the end of those who defied Allah's command, contradicted His Messenger and denied His Book. See how Allah's humiliating torment struck them in this life, as well as, the painful torment that Allah has reserved for them in the Hereafter.''... The End that Bani An-Nadir suffered

59:13. Of a truth ye are stronger (than they) because of the terror in their hearts, (sent) by God. This is because they are men devoid of understanding.

...(Verily, you are more fearful in their breasts than Allah.) meaning, the hypocrites fear you more than they fear Allah, as He says; (Behold! a section of them fear men as they fear Allah or even more.)... The False Promise of Support the Hypocrites gave to the Jews

Allah said that he would cast terror. He commanded Muslims to participate in it. He cast terror so that two Jewish tribes were conquered, their defenders killed & survivors enslaved. The second cited instance is established as a warning to future victims. That concept is reinforced by another ayeh.

8:57. So if you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may learn a lesson.

...(then disperse those who are behind them,) by severely punishing ﴿the captured people﴾ according to Ibn `Abbas, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, `Ata' Al-Khurasani and Ibn `Uyaynah. This Ayah commands punishing them harshly and inflicting casualties on them. This way, other enemies, Arabs and non-Arabs, will be afraid and take a lesson from their end,... Striking Hard against Those Who disbelieve and break the Covenants

By reading those ayat, we discover that Allah sanctified & mandated terrifying those Islam sets out to conquer. In addition to the exemplification in 33:26 & 59:2, two ahadith confirm that Moe was a terrorist.

Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 7, Number 331:
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
The Prophet said, "I have been given five things which were not given to any one else before me.
1. Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey. ...

Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220:
Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with terror (cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand." Abu Huraira added: Allah's Apostle has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet did not benefit by them).

Made victorious by awe / with terror; what could make it more clear? It becomes obvious to all but bigots that the association of Islam with terrorism is well warranted by the evidence.