Myth vs Fact

Myth	Fact
Islam: Religion of peace.	Sahih Muslim Book 020, Number 4711: It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Amir who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say-and he was delivering a sermon from the pulpit: Prepare to meet them with as much strength as you can afford. Beware, strength consists in archery. Beware, strength consists in archery. Beware, strength consists in archery.
Tafsir

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Moe's Legacy of Violence

OIC Statement by Ambassador Masood Khan on "Incitement to Racial and Religious Hatred and the Promotion of Tolerance" at The Human Rights Council, Geneva, 21 September 2006

First the immediate context. Pope Benedict XVI’s recent speech in Regensburg University has led to protests in the Muslim world. His quotation from the 14th century Byzantine Emperor, Manuel II Paleologos, has deeply hurt the sensibilities of the Muslim all over the world. Since then we are reassured that the Pope has expressed regrets, distanced himself from the quotation from the emperor and given an invitation for frank dialogue, with mutual respect.

Unfortunately, that is not the end of the story because the Pope’s remarks have ignited a controversy about the true message of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and Islam. The Pope’s qualified and carefully worded apology, if it can be called one, or the Vatican’s clarification gives the impression that the Muslims have not fully understood the intent and reasoning behind the papal lecture. The irony is that they have.

The Emperor’s quotation is based on three elements: allegation against the Prophet’s legacy; a statement that Islam was spread by the sword; and a derivation that there is a nexus between violence and Islam and violence in Jihad.

The Ambassador takes up the three elements individually.

1. Moe's legacy.

One, the Prophet’s legacy is one of peace and amity; not of strife or war. He was a peace-maker and a peace-builder.

Is that statement objectively true? Leaving the Qur'an aside for the moment as Allah's legacy, not Moe's, lets consider the Hadith which are Islam's oral tradition of Moe's legacy.

• Sahih Bukhari
• Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)
• One-fifth of Booty to the Cause of Allah (Khumus)
• Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi)
• Sahih Muslim
• The Book of Jihad and Expedition (Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar)
• Abu Dawud
• Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad)
• Malik's Muwatta
• Jihad

Was Moe a man of peace?

• Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Number 387:
  Narrated Anas bin Malik:
  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 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 and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah." Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin Malik, "O Abu Hamza! What makes the life and property of a person sacred?" He replied, "Whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have."
• Sahih Muslim Book 019, Number 4327:
  The spoils of war were not made lawful for any people before us, This is because Allah saw our weakness and humility and made them lawful for us.
• Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 54:
  Narrated Abu Huraira:
  The Prophet said, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is! Were it not for some men amongst the believers who dislike to be left behind me and whom I cannot provide with means of conveyance, I would certainly never remain behind any Sariya' (army-unit) setting out in Allah's Cause. By Him in Whose Hands my life is! I would love to be martyred in Al1ah's Cause and then get resurrected and then get martyred, and then get resurrected again and then get martyred and then get resurrected again and then get martyred.
• Sahih Muslim Book 019, Number 4294:
  It has been reported from Sulaiman b. Buraid through his father that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) appointed anyone as leader of an army or detachment he would especially exhort him to fear Allah and to be good to the Muslims who were with him. He would say: Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war, do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill the children. When you meet your enemies who are polytheists invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them. Then invite them to migrate from their lands to the land of Muhairs and inform them that, if they do so, they shall have all the privileges and obligations of the Muhajirs. If they refuse to migrate, tell them that they will have the status of Bedouin Muilims and will be subjected to the Commands of Allah like other Muslims, but they will not get any share from the spoils of war or Fai' except when they actually fight with the Muslims (against the disbelievers). If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them...
  

If you imagine that I have cherry picked selections to make Moe look bad, click the link to the Book of Jihad in Malik's Muwatta and read the section heading. The saying quoted below reveals Moe's true nature; for this reason it has been Bowdlerized from most of the on line collections.

Bukhari Ch 61 # 2756: ...It is mentioned from Ibn 'Umar from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "My provision has been placed under the shadow of my spear, and abasement and humility have been placed on the one who disobeys my command.

Those are not the sentiments of a man of peace; that is the attitude of a pirate, not a prophet.

2. Islam was spread by the sword

The footnotes to 2:190 the Hilali & Khan translation are informative.

Al-Jihad (holy fighting) in Allah's cause (with full force of numbers and weaponry) is given the utmost importance in Islam and is one of its pillars (on which it stands). By Jihad Islam is established, Allah's word is made superior, (his word being La ilaha illallah which means none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and his Religion (Islam) is propagated. ...

[Note: the Qur'an Complex English translation is not being displayed. If you desire to verify the quote, you can download the pdf version from http://abdurrahman.org/qurantafseer/muhsinkhan.pdf. [29.5MB] Turn to Pg. 52 of the pdf and scroll down toward the bottom of the page. ]

If Islam was not propagated militarily then explain the prominent place of conquests in this table of contents of Islamic history.

3. and a derivation that there is a nexus between violence and Islam and violence in Jihad

Hilali & Khan stretched matters a bit with their claim that Jihad is a pillar of Islam; it is not in the recognized list. Note their definition, in the foot note quoted above. Compare it to the definition found in Sharia.

The Reliance of the Traveller. Version 1.06 - By Ahmad Ibn Naqib Al-Misri
BOOK O: JUSTICE >> Chapter O-9.0: Jihad

Chapter O-9.0: Jihad
(O: Jihad means to war against non-Muslims, and is etymologically derived from the word mujahada signifying warfare to establish the religion. And it is the lesser jihad. As for the greater jihad, it is spiritual warfare against the lower self (nafs), which is why the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said as he was returning from jihad.
``We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad.''
The scriptural basis for jihad, prior to scholarly consensus (def: b-7) is such Koranic verses as:
1- ``Fighting is prescribed for you'' (Koran 2:216);
2- ``Slay them wherever you find them'' (Koran 4:89);
3- ``Fight the idolators utterly'' (Koran 9:36);
and such hadiths as the one related by Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
``I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and perform the prayer, and pay zakat. If they say it, they have saved their blood and possessions from me, except for the rights of Islam over them. And their final reckoning is with Allah'';
and the hadith reported by Muslim,
``To go forth in the morning or evening to fight in the path of Allah is better than the whole world and everything in it.''Details concerning jihad are found in the accounts of the military expeditions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), including his own martial forays and those on which he dispatched others. The former consist of the ones he personally attended, some twenty-seven (others say twenty-nine) of them. He fought in eight of them, and killed only one person with his noble hand, Ubayy ibn Khalaf, at the battle of Uhud. On the latter expeditions he sent others to fight, himself remaining at Medina, and these were forty-seven in number.) [Emphasis & links added.]

Now it is established, by Islamic law, that Jihad is warfare to establish the religion. What is the the connection between Islam and violence? To fully comprehend it, you should read the entire Qur'an. Three Surhas, 8, 9 & 48 are particularly significant, but violence runs throughout the book, in 164 verses.

Jihad is mandatory, not optional.

• 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 penalty for shirking is extreme: eternity in Hell fire.

• 9:39. If you march not forth, He will punish you with a painful torment and will replace you by another people, and you cannot harm Him at all, and Allah is Able to do all things.

Jihad is the key to salvation.

• 64:10. O You who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment.
• 64:11. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know!
• 64:12. (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwelling in Gardens of 'Adn ­ Eternity ['Adn (Edn) Paradise], that is indeed the great success.
• 64:13. And also (He will give you) another (blessing) which you love, help from Allah (against your enemies) and a near victory. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) to the believers.

Is there any violence? Is fighting violence? Do killing & wounding involve violence?

• 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.
• 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 (i.e. are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire) or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allah's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost,
  
  

Did any truth pass the lips of Ambassador Masood Khan when he spoke to the HRC? I doubt it, he was off to a very dishonest start.

Cross posted from Islamophobia Exposed. Ben 09/20/08

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I Accuse...

"Since they dared, I too will dare. The truth I will say, because I promised to say it; if justice, regularly seized, did not do it, full and whole."

J'Accuse...! Emile Zola

We asked: Will the most damaging Obama scandal of them all be buried alive?
And from the entire mainstream media we received our unequivocal answer: Yes.

Did Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama attempt to dally in U.S. foreign and military policy during his first trip to Iraq in July? According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in Amir Taheri’s op-ed in Monday’s New York Post, Obama used his trip to privately lobby Iraqi government officials to delay an agreement that would reduce the number of American soldiers in Iraq, while at the same time publicly calling for a unilateral withdrawal.

- Obama’s Questionable Diplomacy in Iraq
From Pajamas Media
September 16, 2008 - by Bob Owens

This could be, should be, the biggest story of the campaign.
This more than any other scandal, or rumor of scandal should be the end of Barack Hussein Obama. However -- and this is a huge 'However' -- will the media give it the attention it so obviously deserves? Or will they bury it under a mass of propaganda and lies? Or, worse still, will they just try to ignore it? This is going to be a test of wills. The will of the American people versus the will of the media elite and the Internationalist, anti-Americanist Obama crowd.
This should be, must be the most important story in this election. If we are to stand a chance of keeping our great country free and American, we simply cannot allow this monumental scandal to be swept under the rug.

I accuse...the major television networks of either gross dereliction of duty, or willful obfuscation in the suppression of this outrageous scandal.

I accuse...the major print media of either gross dereliction of duty, or willful obfuscation in the suppression of this outrageous scandal.

I accuse...the Obama Campaign of willful obfuscation in the suppression of this outrageous scandal.

I accuse...the Democratic Party of willful obfuscation in the suppression of this outrageous scandal.

I accuse...the United States Congress of either gross dereliction of duty, or willful obfuscation in the suppression of this outrageous scandal.

Is this how it will happen? Is this how we will lose our country? Is this all it takes? Can we as a people be this easily manipulated ? Are we actually powerless to fight back? Are we going to just sit back and allow others to dictate what news stories will be covered and what news stories will be suppressed? Are we going to allow this cynical and heartless attempt to manipulate our brave military for the personal political gain of one ruthless politician to pass into oblivion without even a Congressional Inquiry? Has it really come to this? Because, if it has, if we as a people, as a country, can do nothing but meekly submit to the omnipotent will of one potential tyrant, then our great democratic experiment is finished, and we will justly deserve our awful fate. - rg

For the previous Radarsite articles on this subject see here and here and here

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Does my baby not have the right to be protected? Does he not have the right to life?

Cross posted at Monkey in the Middle

Imagine yourself a young mother with a one-year old child. Imagine that you have only 15 seconds from when the warning is sounded to get to safety or you and/or your child will be injured or killed. This is the reality for those mothers who live in Sderot. Mothers like
Dena Cohen.

With her baby in her hands, Sderot mother Dena Cohen has only 15 seconds to dash to safety when she hears the warning siren of an impending rocket attack ring out across her hometown of Sderot.

On Thursday, she was the first resident of that city to address the United Nation's Human Rights Council and to give them an intimate portrait of what it was like to live under the constant rocket threat from the Palestinians in neighboring Gaza.

She spoke on the same day that Archbishop Desmond Tutu addressed the council and condemned Israel's 2006 shelling of the Palestinian
village of Beit Hanoun, in which 19 civilians were killed.

"All human life is equal and all innocent suffering is tragic," said Cohen. But, she told the Council, it should also understand what it is live on the Israeli side of the border, knowing that a rocket could fall at any time.

Cohen, 22, who has a one-year-old son, said, "Every night, before falling asleep, I face the same dilemma. What will happen if a rocket falls on my son's room?"

"We have fifteen seconds between the alarm and the explosion. Fifteen seconds to run to the closest shelter. In which direction to go? How to react?" she asked.

During the winter, she said, a rocket fell near their home, shattering the windows.

Eight-year-old Osher Twito, who lost one of his legs in a Kassam attack.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

A shard from that rocket injured their eight-year old neighbor, Osher Twito, who lost his leg as a result. His eighteen-year-old brother was also seriously wounded, Cohen told the Council.

"I will never forget their cries. Every time the alarm sounds, I know that this situation can happen again, or even end more tragically," Cohen said.

Sderot, she said, is a city in shock. At any moment an alarm can sound that would send its 20,000 residents racing for cover.

Since Israel withdrew from Gaza, the Palestinians there have launched thousands of rockets in the direction of the south, she said.

"I would like to ask: Does my baby not have the right to be protected? Does he not have the right to life?" said Cohen.

The Council is dominated by Muslim nations and has been widely cited for frequently and heavily criticizing Israel while virtually ignoring rights problems elsewhere in the world.

Tutu tried to strike a balanced tone Thursday when he said that the council should look at suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians.

But he also said in compiling a report on Israeli-Palestinian violence for the council that he had been struck by the lack of international concern for Palestinians.

"The international community is failing to fulfill its role in respect of the suffering of the people of Gaza," he said.

Full Story

Desmond Tutu should go back to South Africa and look to the injustice and discrimination in his own land. His place is there. It is well known to the world that Desmond Tutu, like so many Africans is an anti-Semite and would love to see every Jew in the world killed. Heck he would love to be doing the killing.

Dena Cohen doesn't have the world's media on her side. They side with those who are trying to kill her and her son. Those who wish, like Desmond Tutu and Barack Hussein Obama, to finish the job that Hitler started. No one cares about Dena Cohen in this world.

In other news from Sderot:

Rocket fire from Gaza breaks ceasefire again
By Spencer Ho

A Qassam missile fired by terrorists in Gaza struck just outside of a residential neighborhood in the west end of Sderot, causing a small brush fire at a construction site.

No injuries were reported.

This was the first incident of Qassam fire in the western Negev since terrorists fired two Qassams Aug. 25, after which Defense Minister Ehud Barak closed crossings between Gaza and Israel, except for humanitarian purposes, for nearly two days.

View video here

The cease-fire is over it seems. As if the rockets ever stopped. More and more Israelis will be running for cover. Code Red will sound and they will have only 15 seconds to get to safety. How many more Osher Twitos will there be? How many more mothers will grieve over their sons and daughters? How long do the people of Sderot and the Western Negev have to live through this horror.

I ask you to dig deep into your pockets and to click the logo below. Give a little or a lot. The money you give goes directly to the people of the area. And feel free to cross post this at will.

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POW/MIA Recognition Day

Did you know? Today is POW/MIA Recognition Day, and the only reason I know this is because I found this on Yankeemom's site:

Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans’ facilities. This observance is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated the flying of the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag. The others are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. The flag is to be flown at major military installations, national cemeteries, all post offices, VA medical facilities, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the official offices of the secretaries of state, defense and veterans affairs, the director of the selective service system and the White House.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Library of Congress - the PoW/MIA searchable data base. You can use this data base to browse descriptions of documents held by the LOC. Microfilm reels by be sent to your local library though the Inter Library Loan Program.

POW Network - Largest collection of biographies on Vietnam POW/MIAs. These bios contain the most accurate information available on circumstances of loss. This site also houses the “Operation Smoking Gun” collection. Debuting on the World Wide Web on June 20, 1996, this collection contains over 1,400 documents for your viewing. This site is a valuable research resource.

For more links, go here.

Yankeemom has more on this (including the POW/MIA Place Setting Remembrance Service.)

I urge you to go check it out here.

Take the time to stand back from the disgusting displays in this current election "campaign", and remember those who serve, and sacrifice for us.

May we NEVER forget. Thank you for the reminder, Yankeemom

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