For their own misguided reasons, some "teachers" try to say that Islam authorizes terrorism in some cases and that Muslims should support terrorism if it is conducted in retaliation for offenses against Allah and Islam. They go on to say that Israel and the United States are the main offenders against Allah and Islam and therefore any attack against any people or interests of Israel or the United States are justified by Islam. They teach the false doctrine of "substitutionary retaliation," in which any Israeli or any American is a legitimate target, even if the particular individuals attacked are innocent of any fighting against Allah or Islam.
This article will show, however, that the Quran absolutely forbids terrorism for any reason because terrorism always exceeds the limits set by Allah, deliberately intending to kill innocent people. Therefore, terrorists are false Muslims, not entitled to enter Paradise or share in any of its rewards.
This article will also point out that an offense against an Islamic-majority country is not the same thing as an attack on Islam itself or an attack on Allah, for there have always been many reasons for countries to go to war, without regard to religion. So the fight between Israel and Palestine is not a fight between Judaism and Islam, but is, instead, a territorial conflict between a Judaism-majority country and an Islamic-majority country. Further, it will show that the United States does not fight against Allah or Islam, but merely against certain murderers who falsely claim to be true Muslims. It will also show that the doctrine of "substitutionary retaliation" is a man-made idea, essentially unjust, and not supported by the Quran.
Next, this article will demonstrate that terrorism is a form of rebellion against Allah, in which the terrorists refuse to accept the realities of the world, as ordained by Allah. Then, this article will consider the proper relationship between Christians and Muslims, based on the highest written authority in each religion. Finally, it will call upon Saudi Arabia to take action to end terrorism; and it will call upon the United States to restrain Israel.
May the one God, Who created all things, Who has power over all things, and Who gives whatever He chooses to whomever He pleases, bless this effort to make peace among His human creatures.
AUTHORITY OF THE QURAN
THE QURAN is the highest written authority in Islam. The Quran is to Islam as the Bible is to Christianity. For more about the Quran, please search HERE for "Quran" and HERE for "Qur'an" and HERE for "Koran." (Different spellings.)
DEFINITION OF TERRORISM
TERRORISM is "the systematic use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective." Source: Britannica.com For more about definitions of terrorism, please click HERE!
SCRIPTURAL SOURCES
The Quran and Bible I am using here are the ones available online from the University Of Michigan by following this link: http://loveallpeople.org/koranbibleonline.html The Revised Standard translation of the Bible (RSV) and the M. H. Shakir translation of the Quran are both widely available and widely accepted. If you want to consult other translations, you can easily do so by searching for "Bible online" and "Qur'an online" at Google.com.
RETALIATION MUST NOT EXCEED THE LIMITS SET BY ALLAH
In Islam (but not in Christianity) retaliation is authorized to avenge an injury. However, the retaliation must be directed toward the guilty individual(s), must be proportional to the injury, and must not exceed the limits set by Allah. The Quran does not support substitutionary retaliation against individuals who are innocent of any offense.
[2.178] O you who believe! retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the slain, the free for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female, but if any remission is made to any one by his (aggrieved) brother, then prosecution (for the bloodwit) should be made according to usage, and payment should be made to him in a good manner; this is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy; so whoever exceeds the limit after this he shall have a painful chastisement.
[2.179] And there is life for you in (the law of) retaliation, O men of understanding, that you may guard yourselves.
[2.194] The Sacred month for the sacred month and all sacred things are (under the law of) retaliation; whoever then acts aggressively against you, inflict injury on him according to the injury he has inflicted on you and be careful (of your duty) to Allah and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).
Rev. Bill McGinnis is an Internet Christian minister, writer and publisher. He is Director of LoveAllPeople.org, a small private think tank in Alexandria, Virginia, and all of its related websites, including InternetChurchOfChrist.org,CommitteeForTheGoldenRule.org,CivicAmerican.com, and AmericanDemocrat.net. His agenda is to help maximize the happiness and well-being of all people. His blog is located at http://blog.myspace.com/revbillmcginnis
