Much is being made of Peter King, the New York Congressman’s, investigations into the “alleged” violent tendencies within the ranks of the Muslim community in America. All sorts of naive individuals are coming out of the woodwork to defend the “poor” “oppressed” Muslim minority within our culture.
Actually, I’m of the opinion that Representative King need not bother with such a hearing. It’s really a waste of his time, Congress’ time in general, and American taxpayer dollars. Personally, I would have absolutely no trouble trusting adherents to Islam if one very simple thing were to take place… a fatwa denouncing violence as a means of carrying out a Jihad. I will elaborate in a little bit.
In the meantime, there are all sorts of declarations being made by defenders of Islam that Islam is a “religion of peace”. Verses from the Quran are being quoted right and left showing just how peaceful Islam is. One such verse is
“Let there be no compulsion of religion” (Sura 2:256)
Another is
“Therefore expound openly what thou art commanded, and turn away from those who join false gods with Allah” (Sura 15:94)
The latter verse indicates that one is simply directed to stay away from those “who will lead one astray”.
These verses, however, stand in direct contrast with other verses like…
“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah (tax) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” (Sura 9:29
or
“But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and 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” (Sura 9:5)
The Quran is full of such contradictions. How are they to be reconciled? In essence, if they can’t be reconciled, which suras are to be followed? The answer is that those that were written first were to be applied at the time when they were relevant. The ones that were written later nullify those suras that precede them and which contradict them. Hence, of the four contradicting suras presented above, the latter suras mentioned, have replaced the previously mentioned ones because they were written later during the process of compilation of the Quran. In other words, the call to violence nullifies the call for peace. (As an aside, you won’t see such contradictions in the Bible. Apparent inconsistencies do not result in nullification by theologians but harmonization and reconciliation).
That brings me to what really is a simple suggestion for Representative King. Mr. King, you need to, very simply, demand a fatwa from the Islamic community denouncing violence as a means of Jihad. A fatwa is a judgment concerning Islamic law. It takes the form of a declaration. This declaration is made by consensus of a group of Islamic scholars whose knowledge of the Quran enables them to make authoritative judgments concerning Islamic jurist prudence.
If such a fatwa can be declared… case closed. Islam is a religion of peace. But no fatwa will ever be declared because the foundation of Islam is not peaceful. So the next time you hear a Muslim declare that Islam is a “religion of peace” ask him “WHERE IS THE FATWA TO PROVE IT?”.
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