| ph4nt said: I don't particularly mind muslims in general as people, I was good friends with one and had a lot of good times with him in high school. HOWEVER, I do have problems with all these muslims claiming "oh, it is a religion of peace, you are just ignorant!" which is complete bull****. If I am not mistaken, Islam means "submission to god" or something like that...oh and the whole part of the Qur'an(sp.?) that pretty much says "If you can't convert them, do whatever it takes to kill them" and then they get all offensive when you call them out on it. I honestly thought it was just propoganda at first, but it is there. Obviously since changing any religions holy book is pretty much impossible for culturual / traditional reasons, they can't simply remove it from the book, I can see that. However, I would wish they would stop covering it up like it's not there. There are many people of varying religions who do crazy stuff these days, but it just so happens that when muslims do these things, pretty much every time they are doing it in the name of the qur'an, and they are doing what the qur'an specifically tells them to. That is what pisses people off, that is why people are so "intolerent" and that is why it's going to be extremely difficult to get rid of that image. I can't comment if other religions have these types of things within their books, I don't particularly enjoy reading them, however I did some research on the Qur'an and here are some excerpts I found. I'm not sure of the structure or how you reference these. "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." This one came from 9:5 Yusufall, not sure what that means. edit: here is another one. "Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection." 9:29 both can be found here: http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/quran/009.qmt.html#009.005, it's USC's website so it's pretty credible. There could easily be such passages from other books, I honestly have no idea, but since muslims are so vocal, it's much easier for things like this to hit the mass media. No amount of spinning, hidden meanings, interpretations or anything, can get them out of this. It's there in every single book and people will react strongly to it. It's sad to see a big group of people be hated on, but honestly I don't think they should be surprised. There's people in every group who give them a bad name for the rest of the world. |
I was actually discussing this with a friend the other day believe it or not. You are not alone, apparently. Many people have mis-interpreted many verses within the Quran.
One of the dilemmas that I faced while I was learning about Islam was understanding the almost contradictory phrases that was present in it. The Qu'ran spoke of peace saying that whoever shall murder an innocent would get the punishment equivalent to killing every living being on the planet. I loved that saying, but then I would come across certain phrases for war. Which then confused me as to why it would contradict itself like that. I then went to my local Imam and asked him of why the Quran was like that.
He stated that I only read that tiny phrase as if was meant to be read alone, I would be missing the big picture. If you continue to read on and try to fully grasp what the verse was speaking of, then it would make sense. There are certain conditions and wisdom behind those words that I didn't pick up before. I came across a certain verse which said to kill them wherever they confront you. I read it as it was so I understood as just that, but if you continue reading it says for though killing is sinful, wrongful persecution is even worse. And that if the hostility should cease as the conflict ends. And if a believer ever must pick up an armed weapon it must be done so for defense and not to quench ones thirst for vengeance.
Verses like these have been mis-interpreted by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
