ISIS, the true followers of the Quran.
To begin to understand what motivates a group like the Islamic State (of Iraq and Syria) one has to go back all the way to the year 629 A.D. when Muhammad led his gang of soldiers much like ISIS is doing today, and we come to the battle of Khaybar, an oasis 90 miles from Medina, settled by Jews enjoying the abundant water and vegetation. The Muslims had started the siege in 628 and failed, so they tried to go to Mecca instead, but failed, which resulted in the Treaty of Hudaybiyya which was very humiliating. They renewed their efforts to take Khaybar, finally succeeded, took loot, beheaded the men, took the women as slaves or wives. Muhammad took the most beautiful woman for himself and married her (Safiyah).
However, a young Jewish servant girl, whose family had been wiped out during or after the battle prepared a lamb (or goat) dish laced with poison for Muhammad to eat. Neither Muhammad, nor his faithful “revealer” Gabriel saw it coming, so he ate from it, got poisoned and became even more vindictive than before. He even made one of his wives eat of it even though she was fasting, and she died.
After the Jews surrendered they were allowed to stay if they paid half their produce as tribute to the Muslims. This was the beginning of Jizya (the unbelievers tax).
Muhammad, now poisoned, was not satisfied with the win, but sought to consolidate the Arabian Peninsula, but Mecca was yet not conquered. It was around this time that Sura 9 (the repentance, or Immunity) was written. It is the only Sura without the secret code of: “In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.” As an introduction. It therefore starts directly declaring immunity for the believers in the coming war. This must mean that Surah 9 is not a message from God, but from Muhammad. In his poisoned state he pours it on telling his followers to go after the unbelievers. Here are some of the verses: (Translation from SahihMuslim.org)
Surah 9:1. Freedom from (all) obligations (is declared) from Allah and His Messenger to those of the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), with whom you made a treaty.
9:3 And a declaration from Allah and His Messenger to mankind on the greatest day (the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah – the 12th month of Islamic calendar) that Allah is free from (all) obligations to the Mushrikun and so is His Messenger. So if you (Mushrikun) repent, it is better for you, but if you turn away, then know that you cannot escape (from the Punishment of) Allah. And give tidings (O Muhammad ) of a painful torment to those who disbelieve.
9:5 Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikun wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
9:23 O you who believe! Take not for Auliya’ (supporters and helpers) your fathers and your brothers if they prefer disbelief to Belief. And whoever of you does so, then he is one of the Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.).(This means, do not make friends or alliances with non-Muslims )
9:28 O you who believe (in Allah’s Oneness and in His Messenger (Muhammad )! Verily, the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and in the Message of Muhammad ) are Najasun (impure) . So let them not come near Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) after this year, and if you fear poverty, Allah will enrich you if He will, out of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
9:29 Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
9:33 It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad ) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it).
9:36 Verily, the number of (lunar) months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight against the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) collectively , as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
9:37 The postponing (of a Sacred Month) is indeed an addition to disbelief: thereby the disbelievers are led astray, for they make it lawful one year and forbid it another year in order to adjust the number of months forbidden by Allah, and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their deeds seems pleasing to them. And Allah guides not the people, who disbelieve. (This means using a 365-day solar calendar in lieu of a 354-day lunar calendar is a “grossly impious practice.” It is also a problem in the Arctic region when the month ofRamadan falls in the winter or summer.)
9:39 If you march not forth, He will punish you with a painful torment and will replace you by another people, and you cannot harm Him at all, and Allah is Able to do all things.
9:41 March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.
9:60 As-Sadaqat (here it means Zakat) are only for the Fuqara’ (poor), and Al-Masakin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s Cause (i.e. for Mujahidun – those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.
9:111 Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah’s Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur’an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success .
9:121 Nor do they spend anything (in Allah’s Cause) – small or great – nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit, that Allah may recompense them with the best of what they used to do (i.e. Allah will reward their good deeds according to the reward of their best deeds which they did in the most perfect manner).
9:123 O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are the Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
This is what the Quran really says. Some of the words mean different things to different Muslims, but to ISIS, only the most harsh interpretation will do. It is 632 A.D. all over again. The difference is that ISIS have fully modern weapons, including the weapons of Mass Destruction that were not found in Iraq but had been moved to Syria just before the Iraq war.
They are called ISIS, meaning Iraq and Syria, then they changed it to ISIL which means Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and part of Turkey.
Obama started to use the term ISIL rather than ISIS, giving tacit acknowledgement to their claim on Israel. Now they want to be called IS which means THE Islamic State (of the world).
This must not stand!
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 