Islam's Real Enemy - the Al Qaeda Apostasy

Author: Jim Guirard -- TrueSpeak Institute

Source: FamilySecurityMatters.org -- May 18, 2006

For several months, a worldwide controversy has been smoldering over whether an Afghan believer in the God of Abraham, Abdul Rahman, should be put to death under Afghan Shari'ah (local Islamic law) for having converted many years ago from Islam to Christianity.

Not surprisingly, many radical Muslim clerics insist that his conversion automatically makes him an "apostate" and that he should be put to death -- if not "legally," then by vengeful mobs in the street.

Although Afghan President Hamid Karzai has permitted the targeted man to take asylum in Italy -- in part on the basis that he is somehow insane -- the problem will not go away. In fact, there are already hints that compulsionists might eventually charge Mr. Karzai himself with apostasy for having excused the "apostate" Rahman from a death sentence.

Fortunately, there is a plausible and true-to-Islam fashion in which moderate Muslims might rise to Karzai's defense, since he does not have clerical standing himself to quell this outrageous "death to the apostate" frenzy. This is for them to rise in rigorous defense of authentic, Qur'anic Islam, as contrasted to the pseudo-Islamic perversions thereof.

In this context, there are over 20 Qur'anic verses which contradict Afghan Shari'ah regarding conversion from Islam to Christianity. One vital element here is that Christianity's founder, Jesus, is clearly identified by the Qur'an as one of Islam's five main Prophets and even as its "Messiah" (Quran 4:171) -- though this high standing is strictly limited by this verse's assertion that this is not the Divine status of Christianity's "Trinitarian" Godship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Imagine, please, how much better for President Karzai to settle the crisis via several Qur'anic verses, rather than by appearing to bow to "imperialist Western pressures." Here are just five of these compelling citations which make this not only possible but imperative.

[QUR'AN 2:256] "There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient."

[QUR'AN 2:136] " We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters."

[QUR'AN 5:46] "And in their footsteps we sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light. And confirmation of the Law that had come before him: A guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah."

[QUR'AN 5:69] "Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, and the Christians; any of them who (1) believe in GOD and (2) believe in the Last Day, and (3) lead a righteous life, have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve."

The list of relevant Qur'anic citations goes endlessly on -- 109:1-6; 88:21-26; 6:57; 2:62; 57:27; 5:92; 4:90; 49:31 and at least as many more -- including yet another overarching verse which is much revered in the interfaith quest for Abrahamic brotherhood, as follows:

[QUR'AN 5:48, in part] ".....To each among you we have prescribed a Law and an Open Way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you; so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He who will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute."

In this same vein, even many Afghan hard-liners might be softened by the words of onetime Muslim Brotherhood counselor to Ayman al-Zawahiri of al Qaeda infamy -- Hassan al-Tubari. It was he who in the early 1990s founded the annual Popular Arab and Islamic Conference, traditionally attended by such radical pre-al Qaeda groups as the PLO, Hamas, Egyptian Jihad and Hizballah.

According to al-Tubari: "How can it be imagined by a rational person that Allah, who has compelled none to believe, allows us the right to compel others and force them to believe?..If Almighty Allah has granted us the merit of freedom, he who wants to believe is allowed that right and so too the one who wants to disbelieve." [He then goes on to sharply distinguish peaceful conversion from Islam to forbidden wartime treason against Islam.]

Yet, despite these many Qur'anic evidences and proofs of Abdul Rahman's innocence, the empty charge of "apostasy" is likely to remain alive -- particularly if President Karzai and his supporters fail to cite these in faithful justification of their position.

Focus Instead on The Al Qaeda Apostasy -- UBL's Forbidden "War Against Society"

While both the recent Danish cartoons episode and Mr. Rahman's conversion are understandably offensive to many Muslims, both are mere distractions from the real enemy. Neither comes anywhere near the blasphemous disrespect for and desecration of the Holy Qur'an and of Allah Himself by what should forevermore be called "The al Qaeda Apostasy."

Against this supremely arrogant attempt by Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and their Servants of Satan followers to redefine Islam in their own murderous image, the Muslim World should enter now into a worldwide consultative "ijtihad" for the purpose of declaring a Truly Holy War (a spiritual Jihad al-Kabir) against this unpardonable al Qaeda insult to the compassionate, merciful, peaceful and just Allah who is repeatedly so described by the Qur'an.

Those who demand that poor, terrorized, exiled Mr. Rahman be executed should explain why they fail to apply this same harsh condemnation to such ruthless al Qaeda-style crimes and mortal sins as

Wanton killing of innocents and noncombatants, including many peaceful Muslims
Decapitating the live and desecrating the dead bodies of perceived enemies
Committing and enticing others to commit suicide for reasons of intimidation
Fomenting hatred among communities, nations, religions and civilizations
Ruthless warring against nations in which Islam is freely practiced
Issuing and inspiring unauthorized and un-Islamic fatwas (religious edicts)
Using some mosques as weapons depots and battle stations, while destroying others
Forcing extremist and absolutist versions (and perversions) of Islam on Muslims, when the Qur'an clearly says that there shall be "no compulsion in religion"
Distorting the word "infidels" to include all Christians, all Jews and many faithful Muslims, as well -- when the Qur'an calls them all "People of the Book" (the Old Testament) and "Sons of Abraham," and calls Jesus one of Islam's five main Prophets and even its "Messiah"
Deliberate misreading, ignoring and perverting of passages of the Qur'an, the Hadith and the Islamic Jurisprudence

If all of these willful acts of Hirabah (forbidden "war against society") and of arrogant istihlal (bin Laden's mortal sin of "playing God" in wholesale desecration of Quranic Islam) do not constitute an Apostasy worthy of death in this life and of Jahannam (Eternal Hellfire) in the hereafter, then there is no such thing.

But, of course, there is such a satanic thing and, by Allah's and the Qur'an's own eternal standards, this is certifiably it.

Jim Guirard, a Washington DC-area writer, public speaker and anti-Terrorism strategist, was longtime Chief of Staff to former US Senators Allen Ellender and Russell Long. His new TrueSpeak Institute is devoted to truth-in-language and truth-in-history in public discourse. Justcauses@aol.com 703-768-0957

Site Design by Dan Gritsko