CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Is Islam a Peaceful Religion?
Let us start with the aforementioned verse, which has been taken out of context! The version presented above has excluded conditions that, once included, alter the meaning drastically. Here is the whole verse, rather than the shortened version usually presented by Muslim apologists: ”We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”
Understanding the Verse in Context
How does this expansive reading affect what would, on the surface, appear to be a humane directive from the Quran? The verse is directed at the children of Israel, the Jews. It is evident that the God of Islam was not addressing Mohamed’s people, nor was He talking to the Arabs or mankind in general.
However, what matters here are the two conditions put forth in the verse which, in effect, necessitate killing: manslaughter and corruption or spreading mischief in the land (on earth). In other words, Allah has laid down rules that, if disregarded, amount to sin or corruption in the land. One of Allah’s main rules is to believe in Him and His messenger; therefore, disbelieving is regarded as a major form of corruption. All apostates who reject Islam, and all Muslim women who demand equality with men, are considered to be spreading corruption in the land and must be killed as called upon by the God of Islam.
This is another verse telling us of the penalty that awaits those who corrupt in the land by opposing Allah and his messenger: “The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive to spread corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter, theirs will be an awful doom.” (5:33). They are to be killed or crucified or, if fortunate, just have their limbs severed and, as we shall learn from the actions of Mohamed himself, have all their property confiscated and enslave their women and their children.
Verses Calling for the Destruction of Non-Muslims
"O Prophet! Wage jihad against the faithless and the hypocrites, and be severe with them...” (9:73)
“O believers, fight the unbelievers around you, and let them realise that you are firm….” (9:123)
“And slay them wherever you come upon them, and expel them from where they expelled you…” (2:191-193)
“Those who are infidels will surely receive severe punishment both in this world and the next….”(3:56)
We also see this clearly in one of Mohamed’s authentic hadiths; "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the
people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's messenger,
and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property
from me…."
2. Apostasy in Islam is punishable by death (02). This is clearly supported by the following verse which defies Muslim
apologists’ desperate attempts to bring some impression of tolerance in Islam:
“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter, he will be in the ranks
of those who are losers.”(3:85)
3. A non-Muslim is labelled as unclean: “Believers, the idolaters (all non-Muslims) are unclean. Do not let them approach
the Sacred Mosque after this year.” (9:28)
4. Muslims are to subjugate the world under Islam; “Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and
who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the
religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture…. “ (9:29)
5. Mohamed also said: “I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but
Muslim.” (03)
6. Holy war ‘Jihad’ may be waged to spread Islam; “O believers, fight the unbelievers who are adjacent to you; and let
them find in you harshness…” (9:123) and “O Prophet, urge on the believers to fight….and if there be a hundred
of you, they will overcome a thousand unbelievers…” (8:65)
7. Jihad may be waged to collect spoils; “So consume what you have taken of war booty [as being] lawful and
good…”(8:69)
8. Captive women can be raped and treated as sex - objects; “And [also prohibited to you are all] married women
except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of Allah upon you.” (4:24).
9. Prisoners of war during jihad may be executed; “It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a
massacre [upon Allah’s enemies] in the land.” (8:67)
One can conclude that all of the so-called peaceful Quranic verses, grasped in their correct context, paint Islam as an oppressive religion; a doctrine concocted to annihilate everything in its path not conforming to its ideology. Besides, Mohamed was never one to show respect for other beliefs, let alone tolerance to anyone who did not accept his own brand of religion.
This can only be done by Allah, either directly by revealing a new Quran or bringing Mohamed back to change the existing Quran and many of his so-called divine hadiths. The reformed Quran should not include verses or decrees supporting slavery, misogynistic teaching, child marriage, fighting and killing nonbelievers, unduly severe punishment, the disfiguring of human bodies, revenge, hate, vulgar speech, inequality, and puzzle codes (see pages 66 & 67). The list below highlights the main concerns that the new Quran should address, to proclaim that it can accommodate a religion of peace or peaceful Islam. Apart from the two options mentioned above, Muslims have no other means to reform their Islamic teachings, and this is due to two reasons: For Islam to prove itself peaceful, it must abolish the following inhumane rules along with many Quranic instructions and decrees that have had severe impacts on mankind: Slavery (see pages ---). Wife beating and abuse (see page -----). Child marriage and child abuse (see pages ------31 & 91). The privilege given to Muslim men to rape and have unconditional sex with nonbelievers’ captive women (see page---). Polygamy and owning concubines (see page -------58) Insulting nonbelievers and calling them apes and swine (see page ------28). Constant threats with hellfire and permanent torture for nonbelievers (see page -----90) Encouraging fighting with and killing nonbelievers (see pages -----13 & 89). Misogynistic legislation (see page ------94). Killing apostates, preventing freedom of belief and freedom of speech (see pages -----14, 37 & 43). Should the author of the Quran wish to update his message to mankind, he could easily use a similar approach to when he updated His verse (8:65), see page 107. Allah announced that 20 steadfast believers would overcome 200 nonbelievers. He then changed his estimate to 100 believers being able to overcome 200 nonbelievers - a drastic reduction, after Allah realized that Muslims were not as strong as he gave them credit. Allah, being the ‘All-Knowing’ and ‘All-Wise’, must have realised that His Quran, which had been suitable to people 1400 years ago, now needs a major update, especially to bring it in line with modern technology, civilization and human rights. While updating His Quran, Allah would have a good opportunity to put millions of people’s minds at rest by providing them with proper answers to the many bewildering questions that have not been addressed for the last fourteen centuries, such as the following: What is the undeniable proof of His existence, where did He come from and what does He look like? The only thing that Allah ever told us about Himself is in this short verse from the Quran which is vague, confusing and does not stand as evidence of anything; “Say, He is Allah, (who is) One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.” (The Quran, chapter 112) Where are the seven skies mentioned in His Quran located? (See page 101) How can one heavenly day equal between 1000 and 50,000 earthly days? (See pages 103 & 104) What benefit did Allah gain from His universe, life and mankind? (See pages 198 - 200) Why did Allah send three books, allowing the first two to be corrupted, and decide to preserve the third, the Quran? ………..”…..” (15:9) Why did Allah have to stop the devils from spying on His kingdom, after they had been allowed to do so before revealing His Quran? (See page 114) What was the basis upon which Allah favoured Mohamed, who served Allah for 23 years, over Noah, who served Him for 950 years with complete devotion and loyalty? The Quran says: “And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years…” (29:14).