Grand Mufti of Egypt: No Place for Terror in Islam

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The articles come almost daily now: Muslim (and non-Muslim) authorities assuring us that what the Islamic State and other jihad terrorists do — mass murders, beheadings, rapes, destruction — has nothing do with Islam, despite the jihadis’ quotations of the Qur’an and screams of “Allahu akbar.” And every day, mainstream outlets such as Newsweek here are eager to publish them — eager to reassure jittery Infidels that all these dismaying dismays of hatred and violence perpetrated in the name of Islam don’t mean what they seem to mean, and that they need not pressure their political leaders to deal more realistically with the jihad threat.

And so we come to the Grand Mufti of Egypt, telling us that “There’s No Place for Terror in the Teachings of Islam”: that’s the title of this article by Shawki Allam, The Grand Mufti of Egypt, published in Newsweek on March 17, 2015.

Sheikh-Shawki-Allam-Grand-mufti-egypt

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The Grand Mufti of Egypt — so august a personage wouldn’t lie to us, would he? Let’s see.

Every Muslim is in utter shock about the senseless, appalling and cowardly attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, and the other senseless violence against innocents we have seen since in Copenhagen and Libya.

Right out of the box — “every Muslim” is in “utter shock” over the Charlie Hebdo jihad massacre? Every one? So those 800,000 Muslims in Chechnya who demonstrated not against the murders, but against the Charlie Hebdo Muhammad cartoons, were shocked and appalled by the murders but decided to protest against the cartoons that led to the murders? And similarly shocked by the murders but not shocked enough to keep from protesting against the cartoons were the tens of thousands of Muslims who demonstrated in Pakistan, and Iran, and elsewhere? Muslims in Niger burned down 45 churches in their rage against the cartoons — were they in utter shock over the cartoonists’ murder as well?

On the other side, meanwhile, how many Muslims displayed their utter shock over the murder of the cartoonists by demonstrating against Sharia blasphemy laws and in favor of the freedom of expression? Why, none. None at all.

Not a good start for the Mufti in terms of giving us an honest presentation, but maybe he will pick up his game.

Let us say it plainly: These horrific acts are a complete violation of Islamic law and norms, and the perpetrators are in no way representative of Muslim people or the religion of Islam.

God upholds the sanctity of life as a universal principle. The Koran states in 4:29: “And do not kill one another, for God is indeed merciful unto you.” Islam views murder as both a crime punishable by law in this world and as a major sin punishable in the Afterlife. As Prophet Muhammad said, “The first cases to be decided among the people on the Day of Judgment will be those of blood-shed.”

You’ll notice that the Mufti omitted a few Qur’an verses that may be pertinent in this context, such as:

2:191-193:  “And slay them wherever you come upon them, and expel them from where they expelled you; persecution is more grievous than slaying….”

4:89: “They wish that you should disbelieve as they disbelieve, and then you would be equal; therefore take not to yourselves friends of them, until they emigrate in the way of Allah; then, if they turn their backs, take them, and slay them wherever you find them; take not to yourselves any one of them as friend or helper.”

5:33: “This is the recompense of those who fight against Allah and His Messenger, and hasten about the earth, to do corruption there: they shall be slaughtered, or crucified, or their hands and feet shall alternately be struck off; or they shall be banished from the land. That is a degradation for them in this world; and in the world to come awaits them a mighty chastisement.”

8:12: “When thy Lord was revealing to the angels, ‘I am with you; so confirm the believers. I shall cast into the unbelievers’ hearts terror; so smite above the necks, and smite every finger of them!”

9:5: “Then, when the sacred months are drawn away, slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them, and confine them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayer, and pay the alms, then let them go their way; Allah is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.”

9:29: “Fight those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden — such men as practise not the religion of truth, being of those who have been given the Book — until they pay the tribute out of hand and have been humbled.”

9:111: “Allah has bought from the believers their selves and their possessions against the gift of Paradise; they fight in the way of Allah; they kill, and are killed…”

47:4: “When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks…”

The Mufti would no doubt say that none of these actually mean that Muslims should kill anyone, and that their plain meaning is not what they really mean at all. Maybe so (although if it is so, there sure are a lot of misunderstanders of Islam among Muslims), but when he presents Qur’an 4:29 as if it were a general principle in Islam, and presents Islam’s prohibition of murder as if it were a blanket condemnation of terrorism without defining either term, it is not unreasonable to ask him how he understands these verses, and what he says to Muslims who think that when they say “kill them wherever you find them” actually means “kill them wherever you find them.” But he doesn’t explain in this article.

This is in keeping as well with Muslim tradition, which rejects terror and violence. This teaching is best shown in the example of the Prophet Muhammad, whose honorable birth was recently celebrated by 1.6 billion Muslims. For Muslims, Prophet Muhammad is the beacon of mercy, the sparkle of compassion, the spring of wisdom and the perfect guide in their journey towards God.

Here is some of that mercy and compassion in stories about Muhammad from Islamic tradition: Muhammad ordered the deaths of Abu Afak, who was over one hundred years old, and the poetess Asma bint Marwan, for making fun of him. Abu Afak was killed in his sleep, in response to Muhammad’s question, “Who will avenge me on this scoundrel?” Similarly, Muhammad on another occasion cried out, “Will no one rid me of this daughter of Marwan?” One of his followers, ‘Umayr ibn Adi, went to her house that night, where he found her sleeping next to her children. The youngest, a nursing babe, was in her arms. But that didn’t stop Umayr from murdering her and the baby as well. Muhammad commended him: “You have done a great service to Allah and His Messenger, Umayr!” (Ibn Ishaq, 674-676)

Then there was Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf. Muhammad asked: “Who is willing to kill Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?” One of the Muslims, Muhammad bin Maslama, answered, “O Allah’s Apostle! Would you like that I kill him?” When Muhammad said that he would, Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab).” Muhammad responded: “You may say it.” Muhammad bin Maslama duly lied to Ka’b, luring him into his trap, and murdered him. (Bukhari 5.59.369)

“A Jewess used to abuse the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) declared that no recompense was payable for her blood.” (Sunan Abu-Dawud 38.4349)

It is therefore ironic and sad that fanatics and extremists have reduced the prophetic example to a set of rituals, crooked projections and warped logic that run counter to the true essence and mission of the Prophet.

They have reduced Islam to slitting throats, burning schools and oppressing women and to killing religious minorities, terrorizing communities and violating the human rights of people in the most blatant manner possible.

Oh no, it’s much more than that. It’s also boasting of Islam’s imminent conquest of Europe and the U.S., and endless whining and claiming victimhood whenever anyone points out that all this is going on.

They ignore the Prophet’s well-documented and indisputable example.

Ask Asma bin Marwan and Ka’b bin al-Ashraf about that.

They fail to comprehend that faith is ultimately about cultivating a relationship with God, one that cannot be complete unless humans abide by the Divine attributes of mercy, compassion and kindness and treat their fellow man accordingly.

Prophet Muhammad was repeatedly subjected to terrible treatment by his enemies but he consistently disregarded these insults and instead took the path of forgiveness, mercy and compassion.

Just one time I’d like to see a Muslim authority who claims this address the stories I quoted above. But it will never happen. There is no way that anyone who is familiar with the Muslim traditions about Muhammad can honestly claim that he was a model of patience, tolerance and compassion. The Mufti is relying on his readers not knowing about those stories and others like them.

This is why he is known to Muslims as “the Mercy to all worlds.” Indeed, this example is most succinctly summarized in the Koran itself, which instructs believers as follows: “The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better.”

He is only mercy to those who become Muslim. Those who do not, he says their lives and property are not safe from him: “I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah.” (Sahih Muslim 30)

There is reform, and there is deception. It is clear from his misleading omissions that the Mufti is engaged in the latter.

 

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ReaganAK47
ReaganAK47
9 years ago

The grand mufti of Egypt must be an apostate. Let him tell it to isis and other islamic franchises…

Commieobamie
Commieobamie
9 years ago

To the grand mufti of Egypt; “Look A GOAT!!!”

Papa Whiskey
Papa Whiskey
9 years ago

Be it noted that the Qur’anic verse this cleric cites, 4:29, begins with a qualifier in the form of an exhortation, and then repeats that qualifier:

O ye who believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity, except it be a trade by mutual consent, and kill not one another. Lo! Allah is ever Merciful unto you.

The language of this verse makes it plain that its merciful mandate is intended for Muslims alone. As for ye who do not believe, their comportment toward you is prescribed in verse 48:29:

Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves.

JacksonPearson
JacksonPearson
9 years ago

Nice comment, talking points and argument. However, Islam is what Islam is, and unless there are major reformations within the Qur’an and teachings in mosques, it will remain evil.

TheCountess
TheCountess
9 years ago
Reply to  JacksonPearson

This needs to be put on T-shirts… black on white T-shirts. Powerful.

Iggy
Iggy
9 years ago

He is right when you consider that everything is relative. The islamic thirst for blood, and throat slicing, mass-murdering depravity is not considered to be “terror” by the muslims. For them, terror is attributed to those who defend themselves against the jihadist assault and islamic aggression.

RalphB
RalphB
9 years ago

This is among the most well-reasoned and well-written articles you have ever presented here, Ms. Geller. I think you should offer it to some other publishers so it may be even more widely read. I don’t know how you manage to be so productive — I would like to know the secret, but you are probably too busy doing other good work to share it.

Terry101
Terry101
9 years ago

But for every one that lies for propaganda reasons there’s always another that lets out the real agenda. Like this beauty
http://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-grand-mufti-calls-for-demolition-of-churches/

conan_drum
conan_drum
9 years ago

“for God is indeed merciful unto you” Oh yes? ‘god’ if you believe the ‘wholly babble’ destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, and the whole human race except for Noah and family in the ‘flood’, who then are supposed by the writers of the ‘wholly babble’ to have repopulated the earth through incest.

Is ‘god’ doing anything to save his followers in the current era, did ‘god’ intervene in the holocaust?
Merciful? I do not think so..

Dennis
Dennis
9 years ago

While I agree that this article paints a very vivid picture of evil written by scribes who hated everything not considered Muslim, and I have stated my conviction over many years that their belief system is tantamount to Nazism, and that this belief system supports genocidal thinking, I think we are all missing the point being spoken here by this religious Muslim leader from Egypt. We need to step back and recognize that these comments, although totally inadequate, is a small step to the end that some movement towards revolutionizing a bad philosophy is maybe starting. With Egypt’s Muslim President stating that his religious beliefs need to be reformed, this may be one small step to that end. We should give it a chance to avalanche into a major event. Unless something like that happens, the scourge of Islam will result in horrible worldwide killings and battles that no one, in their right mind, would want.

steiner
steiner
9 years ago

yep, just ask them for their definition of peace……

Guest
Guest
9 years ago
Reply to  steiner

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hyena
hyena
9 years ago

More taqiyya…

tpellow
tpellow
9 years ago

“Enough of saying jihadists aren’t real Muslims.
Our leaders keep trying to tell us that jihadists aren’t real Muslims. But the world’s Muslims aren’t holding their breath to hear what sort of Islamic legitimacy the West is about to confer on any given Islamist group. We need to stop dissembling and tell the truth about Islam.”

By Raymond Ibrahim.

http://www.thecommentator.com/article/5709/enough_of_saying_jihadists_aren_t_real_muslims

RiverFred
RiverFred
9 years ago

The act of lying is condoned in the Qur’an. Mohammad made peace with his enemies until he was strong enough to defeat them. Anyone who believes the Grand Mufti needs to study Islam.

Gordon Miller
Gordon Miller
9 years ago

People of his ilk are quite comfortable and true to their religion in being inveterate liars.

Ahab Vorkosigan
Ahab Vorkosigan
9 years ago

Taqiyya, baby.

Steve Brown
Steve Brown
9 years ago

”Brevity is the soul of wit”

AcknowledgeHimN2010
AcknowledgeHimN2010
9 years ago

It is so obvious that Egypt’s mufti misrepresents the Koran, that I am surprised Pamela makes that a story. What I would really like to see Pamela’s analysis of, is the political pressures on the Mufti to say that in a Moslem nation, and whether that is anything like the pressures on President Bush to mindlessly repeat “Islam is a religion of peace” from September 11, 2001, as he commenced war against Moslem populations.
At the time I wondered if it was anything like a teacher telling a bully in front of the class, “Now you are going to be nice to Susie from now on, aren’t you?” all the time carefully watching because you know that’s not what his heart wants, but by saying that you create the pressure of expectations from the other kids that might counter the previous expectations that he will always be a bully. Had Bush said from the beginning that our true enemy is Islam, I don’t expect we would ever seen any kind of coalition like we did which enabled a division of the most violent from the not as violent and allowed us to manage the country with a minimum of military resources.
In the case of the Mufti, Egypt has been on the receiving end of doctrine-driven depravity and senseless violence and enough of them have grabbed enough leadership to resist dying like that. They also appear to be old enough to remember the humiliation of losing in a war to vastly outnumbered Israel and are unwilling to appease the most violent by starting another war like that.
But how can the current government maintain itself, if it admits to its primarliy Moslem population that ISIS is more “righteous” than they? Don’t they have to either lie, or let Egypt sink back into unbridled violence?
Romans 2 describes people who by nature live more like Christians than like the pagan violent depravity which is the only “religion” they have been taught. No doubt the people Paul describes were likewise criticized for their hypocrisy, both by their pagan countrymen and by any Christian who heard them torture the tenets of their paganism to justify their relatively Christian lives without acknowledging or perhaps even understanding their rejection of their pagan religion. In cases like this, I think hypocrisy can be a wonderful thing. I think we can be grateful for the Mufti’s hypocrisy. I would rather hear their lying words than feel their cruel swords.
And yet at the same time, there is a need to expose, to Americans and to Christians, this hypocrisy for what it is. Because even if Bush’s motives were as I have said, the downsidewas that the rhetoric deceived American voters, who, not forced to grasp the seriousness of Islam, elected Obama who promptly threw away the fragile control gained in Iraq and Afghanistan.

FutureShock999
FutureShock999
9 years ago

The real issue isn’t what a “Muslim” believes. It is what do MODERN people, that happen to be born Muslims by their parent’s circumstances, believe? People cannot help being born Muslim – by damning all Muslims by quoting some ancient verses you are basically being a racist. For being born Muslim does not make one an automatic follower of Muslim principles, or beliefs. And it is far more so for Muslim millennials that have access to social media than ever before.

You cannot defeat Islam on the battlefield – there are far too many to kill in a war if that is what you are thinking of – and they already have nuclear weapons. As I like to say, Caterpillar hasn’t built enough machinery to bury that many bodies. The only hope is to influence the younger generation that while they may be born “Muslim”, that it is an archaic and disadvantageous set of teachings to adhere to strictly for their lives.

Speeches and writings such as this Imam’s are a start – they give permission for the younger generation to turn away from violence and jihad. Rather than disassembling it and calling him a liar, why don’t you recognize the role that such speech can help in freeing the younger generation from the restrictions of Islam, and seeking a more moderate way?

Or does that not arouse the rabble enough to have them fund your website and speaking tours?

Ant Lyon
Ant Lyon
9 years ago
Reply to  FutureShock999

Here’s a culture shock for you “futureshock999” – a Muslim by definition is “one who submits to God”, specifically the god of the Qur’an. Nobody is damning all Muslims by quoting “some ancient verses”. What is being challenged is the ideology of Islam and the blatantly contradictory rhetoric from a Muslim authority seeking to paint a picture of Islam that is not supported by the principle religious text of Islam. The only role “such speech” as this Imams has is to dull the minds of non-Muslims, ignorant of the teachings of Islam and blind to the salient differences between western thinking and values and Islam’s.

You’re right in that not all people born into Muslim families automatically follow Islamic principles, but all that says is they’re “bad Muslims” that don’t follow their Qur’an – the same book, by the way, that pronounces the sentence of death on those that leave Islam!

People like you who paint anyone critical of Islamic ideology with the crude brush of “Islamophobia” and racism, do yourself and all free-thinkers a huge disservice. Clearly you wouldn’t like the stated end game of Islam (Sharia law and a global caliphate) played out in your town.

Thankfully there are people like Pam who aren’t scared little keyboard warriors. She has bravely put herself on the front line in a cultural war that will rage for decades yet and determine in what kind of world our children and their children will live.

Ant Lyon
Ant Lyon
9 years ago

Just another example of the vile and reason-defying game of “good cop, bad cop” the Islamic world is engaged in. One group (the “radicals”) throw off restraint to wage jihad openly. The other (the “moderates”) sit back whining about unjust comparisons until the bleeding heart liberals, ignorant of their agenda, join their voices in the defense of Islam. Without doubt the latter group are the most dangerous.

High Plains Drifter
High Plains Drifter
9 years ago

They speak of peace, but war/jihad is in their heart! Islam is nothing but a flase prophet come in sheep’s cloth but inside is a ravening wolf.

CC
CC
8 years ago

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/8066 – “Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, the highest Muslim religious authority in the world, supports murdering non-Muslims. In the daily Al Ahram (April 7, 2008), he said, ‘MUSLIMS MUST KILL NON-BELIEVERS WHEREVER THEY ARE UNLESS THEY CONVERT TO ISLAM.’ He also compares non-Muslims to apes and pigs.”
It is now 7 years later, and Ali Gomaa’s smooth-tongued, pious blather of March, 2015 quoted the article above amounts to one of the most brazen examples of taqiyya ever foisted upon the world. Ali Gomaa is a fraudulent, murderous blackguard in cleric’s clothing, as clearly manifest here: http://islamicsupremacism.com/Islamic_Supremacism/47_Modern_Jurists_&_Sharia_Scholars_Opinions_on_IS&J_files/Ali%20Gom%27a.pdf

FoolOf Islam
FoolOf Islam
7 years ago

Prophet Muhammad is the most horrifying terrorist human have ever seen…

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