Download Islam, ISIS and Jihad Session 4: Purpose and Function of Jihad I

Islam, ISIS and Jihad
Session 4: Purpose and Function of Jihad
I.
The Integral Role that Violence Plays:
Muhammad laid out the principles that would serve to sustain Islam in the
midst of world that does not share his beliefs. Violence is essential to the
way that Islam operates, expands and keeps things in check.
A. Mohammad Mandated Jihad:
The founder of Islam mandated that Muslims institute his teachings
wherever his followers may be found. This is the foundation of Sharia
Law, though it did not receive that name until later. One such teaching is
Jihad; but for the moment let us consider the social ramifications of Jihad.
“Allah’s Apostle (Muhammad) said, “I have been ordered to fight the people
till they say: “None has the right to be worshiped but Allah (Sahih Bukhari
Volume 9, Book 84, Number 59).”
“Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they
prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion
of truth, (which is Islam that abolishes all other religions) of the people of
the Book, (meaning the Jews and the Christians) until they pay the jizya
(the tax imposed upon them) with willing submission and feel themselves
subdued (Quran: Sura 2:29 Yusuf Ali)”
“O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and
let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous
(Quran: Sura 2:123)”
“Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may
happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you (Jihad), and it may
happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you (peace). Allah knoweth, ye
know not (Quran: Sura 2:216 Pickthall)”
B. Amount of Content About Jihad:
There are at least three dozen verses that tell Muslims to fight against
non-Muslims (Jihad) and a few hundred verses that speak of their place in
Hell. These statements can be found each period in Muhammad's life and
are scattered across 87 of the Quran's 114 chapters. That’s nearly one
out of twelve verses in the Quran says that Allah hates non-Muslims and
that he will torment them for eternity in horrible ways.
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“O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be
unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination
(Quran: Sura 9:73).”
“O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern
with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey's end (Quran: Sura
66:9).”
C. Demystifying Jihad:
The term jihad means, “to struggle” and it is traditionally understood as a
military effort that is to be led against unbelievers, that is those not of the
Islamic faith.
1. Destined to rule:
Muslims believe that it is their destiny to rule the world and to
eventually have all people to convert to Islam or die.
2. The holy war:
Jihad has been called a “holy war” and according to the 41 references
found in the Quran it is an obligation on the Muslim community as a
whole and on every adult male Muslim.
3. Obligation to expand:
Jihad is the communal obligation to expand the territories ruled by
Muslims at the expense of territories ruled by non-Muslims. The
purpose is to extend sovereign Muslim power over those who do not
believe with the eventual goal being Muslim dominion over the entire
globe.
4. Eternal promises:
The Quran commands Jihad, but in addition to the command there are
also significant benefits promised to those who commit acts of
violence for Allah. Eternal rewards await all those who kill the
infidels doing acts of Jihad and there are special promises for those
who die in their efforts.
D. Dhimmitude:
Where Islam is successful to take over a region the resulting culture is
subjected to Dhimmitude. The Arabic word “Dhimmi” refers to nonMuslims who have been subjugated to an ascendant Islamic power.
Conversion is Islam’s primary objective for the populous of the regions
they settle while Dhimmitude is often the one alternative offered once
Islam has sufficient influence to enforce it.
1. Life as a Dhimmi:
The individuals or people that accept Dhimmitude live under a
restrictive and humiliating subordination in order to avoid
enslavement or death, including paying jizya.
2. Two groups of people:
Islam therefore separates humanity into two opposing groups -the
community of Muslims (the Ummah), and the infidels (non-believers)
who can either convert, die or become subjects, known as dhimmis.
3. Allah’s commands:
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Allah has commanded Muslims to conquer the whole world in order
to apply Quranic laws so Muslims have to wage a perpetual war
against the infidels who refuse to submit to them. Its principle is
based on the inequality between the community of Allah and the
infidels. The Ummah is superior to all people groups, their mission it
is to rule the world and all infidels are to submit to them.
II.
Islamic Worldview on Non-Muslims:
The basic premise for Jihad is derived from the fundamental belief that
Muslims are superior to the rest of the human race and should therefore they
should fight for global domination. Muslims are taught that Islam is superior
and that they are the best of the peoples of the Earth. The Quran and Hadith
traditions have quite a bit to say about how to view both Muslims and NonMuslims.
A. Islamic Superiority:
Followers of Muhammad are considered to be the best of peoples and
Muslims lives are worth more than that of the lives of non-Muslims (we
spent time developing the “superiority” doctrine in a previous session).
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind (the best of
peoples). You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in
Allah (Quran: Sura 3:110).”
“Are those who know equal to those who know not (Quran: Sura 39:09)?”
“Is the blind equal to the one who sees” Or darkness equal to light (Quran:
Sura 13:16)?”
B. The Infidels:
This is the general term for all peoples who do not believe in Allah and
have thus not converted to Islam.
“Indeed, they who disbelieved (infidel) among the People of the Scripture
and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein.
Those are the worst of creatures (Quran: Sura 98:6).”
“Surely the vilest of animals in Allah's sight are those who disbelieve
(infidel), then they would not believe (Quran: Sura 8:55).”
"Now when you meet the unbelievers (infidel), smite their necks until you
overcome them fully (Quran: Sura 47:4)”
"O you who have attained to faith! Fight against those unbelievers (infidel)
who are near you and let them find you adamant, and know that God is
with those who are conscious of Him (Quran: Sura 9:123).”
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"O Prophet! Strive hard (make jihad) against the unbelievers (infidel) and
the hypocrites and be adamant with them (Quran: Sura 66:73).”
C. Islamic View of Christians:
Christians are referred to as pigs that will be slaughtered by their version
of Jesus (Isa) when he returns to judge the Earth on Allah’s behalf.
“Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be
established until the son of Mary (Jesus) descends amongst you as a just
ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs (Christians), and abolish the Jizya
tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable
gifts) (Bukahri Volume 3, Book 43, Number 656).”
“Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet said: There is no prophet between me
and him, that is, Jesus. He will descent (to the earth). When you see him,
recognize him…He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break
the cross, kill swine (Christians), and abolish jizyah. Allah will perish all
religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the
earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him
(Abu Dawud Book 37, Number 4310).”
D. Islamic View of Jews:
The Jews are likewise referred to as apes and monkeys. The tradition
goes back to stories found in the Quran where Allah was said to have
turned certain Jews into apes (Sura 2:65; 5:60; 7:166). Never the less it
has become a common derogatory reference for Jews from the mouths of
radical Muslims. Examples follow.
1. Often quoted Hadith:
Below is a widely referenced Hadith which is always quoted using the
author only, I was unable to find the direct address.
“The apes are Jews, the people of the Sabbath; while the swine are the
Christians, the infidels of the communion of Jesus (Ibn Abbas).”
2. Calling for jihad on the Jews:
In a widely distributed YouTube video from Muhammad 'Abd AlSattar, the Syrian Deputy Minister of Religious Endowment, he calls
for Jihad on the Jewish people saying that they are “the descendants of
apes and pigs.”
3. Jews are the enemy of Allah:
In a weekly sermon in April 2002, the highest-ranking cleric in the
Sunni Muslim world (Al-Azhar Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi),
called the Jews "the enemies of Allah, descendants of apes and pigs.”
4. Praying for Allah to annihilate the Jews:
At the most important mosque in Mecca (Al-Haraam), imam and
preacher at the mosque Saudi sheikh Abd Al-Rahman Al-Sudayyis
prayed publically for Allah to annihilate the Jews. He also urged the
Arabs to give up peace initiatives with them because they are "the
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scum of the human race, the rats of the world, the violators of pacts and
agreements, the murderers of the prophets, and the offspring of apes
and pigs.”
5. Teaching their children that Jews are ages:
On an Islamic television program called "The Muslim Woman
Magazine" a three-and-a-half-year-old girl was interviewed and asked
whether she liked Jews. She answered, "no." When asked why she
didn't like them, she said that Jews were "apes and pigs." "Who said
this?" the moderator asked. The girl answered, "Our God." "Where
did He say this?" "In the Koran." At the end of the interview, the
pleased moderator said: "No parents could wish for Allah to give them
a more believing girl than she...May Allah bless her, her father and
mother. The next generation of children must be true Muslims. We
must educate them now while they are children, so that they will be true
Muslims."
III.
Those Who Speak Against Muhammad:
The Quran says that those who mock or insult Muhammad shall experience
the curse of Allah are promised swift punishment. (Suras 3:186; 9:61-63;
33:57; 33:59-61). The Hadith gives precedence for killing those who mock
Muhammad, where stories of revenge are told. One such story tells of the
mocking words of a Jewish poet whose murder was instructed by
Muhammad (Bukhari 59:369). Another such story recounts those who
mocked Muhammad while he was at Mecca and then who were later killed
after Muhammad retook the city and reasserted his authority (Bukhari
4:241).
“Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger - Allah has cursed them in
this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment
(Quran: Sura 33:57).”
“Indeed, the punishment of those who fight Allah and His Messenger and who
go around corrupting the land is to be killed, crucified, have their hands and
feet cut off on opposite sides, or to be banished from the land. That is a disgrace
for them in this life, and in the life to come theirs will be a terrible punishment.
Except for those who repent before you overpower them. Know, then, that Allah
is All-Forgiving, Merciful (Quran: Sura 5:33-34).”
IV.
Paying the Jizya Tax:
This aspect of Sharia Law taxes the Christians and Jews living under Muslim
government (as well as those of other religions who are unwilling to
convert).
A. Subjugation Over All Non-Muslims.
The global purpose of Islam is to conquer the world. Wherever there are
unbelievers who will not convert they may continue to live in a Muslim
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governed region only as long as they become subjects under Muslim rule
and pay the Jizya Tax.
"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 (Muslim 19:4294)"
B. It Serves to Humiliate Them:
On the annual day of payment the infidels are to be assembled for
humiliations and are to stand waiting in the lowest and dirtiest place.
The acting officials are to have a threatening attitude to remind the
infidels that they are being degraded and that Islam owns their
possessions. They are to be dragged one by one to the officer responsible
for the exacting of payment. Infidels receive a blow on the neck and are
thrown aside as a reminder that they have escaped the sword through
this insult.
“Fight against those who do not believe in Allah...of those who have been
given the Book (Jews and Christians), until they pay the jizya out of hand
and are humbled (Quran: Sura 9:29).”
C. In Trade for Their Life:
In a writing of William Eton in the year 1799, he refers to the jizya
payment ritual as administered under Ottoman rule. He reports:
“The very words of their formulary, given to the Christian subjects on their
paying the capitation tax (jizya), import, that the sum of money received, is
taken as compensation for being permitted to wear their heads that year.
D. Amount of Tax:
The Quran does not give exact amounts for the Jizya tax. However,
history shows cases where the levy was so high that it severely crippled
populations (non-Muslims) causing extreme impoverishment to the point
where people would either convert or leave the country. The Hadith tells
a story of Muhammad’s raid on the Khaybar Oasis, a Jewish farming
settlement, where he extracted a 50% Jizya Tax on the people living there
after he conquered them.
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