Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Al-Qa'ida World View

The article reproduced below was written by a fluent speaker of Arabic who translated some of the original materials used as a basis for his research. His footnotes are linked to internal anchors in the original article. clicking them will open the original in your browser, replacing this blog post until you hit the back button.

While the article is long and detailed, it is very much worth reading. I recommend bookmarking it so that you can skim it immediately and return later for a more careful reading.

The article highlights the difference between the Islamic and Western mindsets. The author took great care to demonstrate the difference between what Muslims say to the Western media in English and what they say to their brethren in Arabic.

Speaking to the West, Usama bin Ladin emphasizes reciprocity which is based on this scripture.
5:45. And We ordained therein for them: "Life for life , eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation. And whosoever does not judge by that which Allâh has revealed, such are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong­doers - of a lesser degree).
Speaking to his brethren, he emphasizes the religious obligation of Jihad, which is founded primarily on two ayat and one hadith which confirms them. The author quotes 9:29. which enjoins waging war against people with scriptural religions. The ayeh which commands waging war against polytheists and atheists is 8:39.
8:39. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allâh) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allâh Alone [in the whole of the world ]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allâh), then certainly, Allâh is All-Seer of what they do.
The confirming hadith has several variants, this form makes the issue extremely clear: Allah ordered Muhammad to fight us until we become Muslim, until we do, we have no rights and our blood and property are not sacred to Muslims. In other words, he opened a season on us. Islam is a predator, we are the prey. [Emphasis added for clarity.]
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Number 387:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah." Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin Malik, "O Abu Hamza! What makes the life and property of a person sacred?" He replied, "Whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have."
For a more complete appreciation of the legal application of those verses and the saying which confirms them, see Book O, Chapter 9 of Reliance of the Traveller.
Two quotations from the writings of Usama bin Ladin are cited, regarding the justice and kindness of attacking disbelievers and how failure to attack us would be oppression.
21:107. And We have sent you (O Muhammad ) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

21:109. But if they (disbelievers, idolaters, Jews, Christians, polytheists, etc.) turn away (from Islâmic Monotheism) say (to them O Muhammad ): "I give you a notice (of war as) to be known to us all alike. And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e. the torment or the Day of Resurrection) is near or far."
Muhammad was sent as a mercy, if we reject his message, then he makes war on us. Refraining from forcing us to embrace Islam would be oppression.
If you are still curious about the "religious obligation of Jihad" try these sources.

Research and Writing

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