“Moderate Muslims” Refuted

Debate with Kamal Nawash, President of The Free Muslim Coalition

Abu Talhah:

All Praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all that exists and may the blessings and peace be upon the Prophet, the Trustworthy and upon his family and his companions, and whoever is upon their path until the day of Judgment.

Amma Ba’ad (To Proceed)

we (www.moderatesrefuted.wordpress.com) openly challenge you to a debate regarding the Islamic stance on Democracy. The debate may be held over e-mail, messenger, or paltalk, and the debate will be posted on our site (regardless what outcome is). We also challenge you to refute our upcoming articles Refuting the misconception “…You cannot target civilians…” and Answering “…but you cannot Judge”We believe democracy is that it is kufr and shirk, and we base it on the follow (all of which we can elaborate): Firstly,

the one who does not rule by Sharee’ah law, is a kaffir

“And whoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, then they are the disbelievers.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 44]

Secondly,

the legislation is ONLY for Allah (SWT)

6:57 Say: “For me, I (work) on a clear sign from my Lord, but ye reject Him. What ye would see hastened, is not in my power. The command rests with none but Allah. He declares the truth, and He is the best of judges.”

12:40 “If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but Allah. He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not…

42:10 Whatever it be wherein ye differ, the decision thereof is with Allah. such is Allah my Lord: In Him I trust, and to Him I turn.

“Is it the Hukm of Jahiliyyah that they seek?”

“But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.”

“And whoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, then they are the disbelievers.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 44]

4:60 Hast thou not seen those who pretend that they believe in that which is revealed unto thee and that which was revealed before thee, how they would go for judgment (in their disputes) to false deities when they have been ordered to abjure them? Satan would mislead them far astray.

Thirdly,

Obeying legislation is Ibaadah (Worship)

“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah

‘Adiyy bin Haatim (RA), who was a Christian but came to Islam, he heard the Prophet (SAW) recite this ayah, so ‘Adiyy (RA) said: ‘We did not worship them besides Allah’. The Prophet (SAW) replied: ‘Did they not make forbidden what Allah had made permissible, and made permissible what Allah had made forbidden?’ ‘Adiyy (RA) replied: ‘Ofcourse’. So he (SAW) said: ‘So that wasyour worshipping of them’.
(Found in Imam Ahmad’s Musnad and the Jaami’ of at-Tirmithi, and he declared it hasan.)

-From, Abu Talhah Ash-Shami, Administrator of www.moderatesrefuted.wordpress.com

Kamal Nawash:

Yes, we will debate any jahel including you.Kamal;

Abu Talhah:

Then allow us to present our proof first;

Question:Is it permissible to participate in the elections, or join the parliment?

Answer: It is kufr and shirk, and our proof is the following:

Firstly,

the one who does not rule by Sharee’ah law, is a kaffir

“And whoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, then they are the disbelievers.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 44]

Secondly,
the legislation is ONLY for Allah (SWT)

6:57 Say: “For me, I (work) on a clear sign from my Lord, but ye reject Him. What ye would see hastened, is not in my power. The command rests with none but Allah. He declares the truth, and He is the best of judges.”

12:40 “If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but Allah. He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not…

42:10 Whatever it be wherein ye differ, the decision thereof is with Allah. such is Allah my Lord: In Him I trust, and to Him I turn.

“Is it the Hukm of Jahiliyyah that they seek?”

“But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.”

“And whoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, then they are the disbelievers.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 44]

4:60 Hast thou not seen those who pretend that they believe in that which is revealed unto thee and that which was revealed before thee, how they would go for judgment (in their disputes) to false deities when they have been ordered to abjure them? Satan would mislead them far astray.

Thirdly,Obeying legislation is Ibaadah (Worship)

“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah

‘Adiyy bin Haatim (RA), who was a Christian but came to Islam, he heard the Prophet (SAW) recite this ayah, so ‘Adiyy (RA) said: ‘We did not worship them besides Allah’. The Prophet (SAW) replied: ‘Did they not make forbidden what Allah had made permissible, and made permissible what Allah had made forbidden?’ ‘Adiyy (RA) replied: ‘Ofcourse’. So he (SAW) said: ‘So that wasyour worshipping of them’.

(Found in Imam Ahmad’s Musnad and the Jaami’ of at-Tirmithi, and he declared it hasan.)

Kamal Nawash:

Islam Demands a Secular State—Sharia is Un-IslamicThe Free Muslims Coalition strongly supports the promotion of democracy in the Middle East. However, the Coalition cautions that imposing democracy on the Middle East without first promoting secularism and destroying terrorism may lead to the creation of Islamic extremist states that will ultimately reject the democracy that brings them to power.

A case in point is the tragedy of Algeria. Algeria, which is a secular country, agreed to democratic parliamentary elections in 1992. The people of Algeria chose to elect extremist Muslims to government and before taking office, some of the newly elected officials announced that the democracy that brought them to power was inconsistent with Islam and they would reject a democratic form of government once they took office. As a result of the apparent extremist agenda of the newly-elected parliamentarians, the government dissolved parliament and imposed military rule. Algeria has been in a state of civil war ever since.
 

But Algeria was not the first example of the extremist Islamic agenda hijacking a secular country in the Middle East. Since the violent 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, many Arabs have thrown their support behind the creation of Islamic states. There is a popular belief among many Muslims that the best way forward for their countries is the creation of Islamic states. They see Islam as an answer to the totalitarian regimes that currently govern them. Iraq is the most recent example where the demise of the secular state resulted in a strong movement by clerics to create a theocracy rather than a secular democracy.

Unfortunately, many Muslims in the Middle East equate secularism with failure. The 20th century saw the creation of ?secular? Muslim states from Morocco to Iran. As we can witness by looking at the development statistics of the region, most of these states did not bring peace and prosperity to their citizens. Most of these ?modern? Arab states brought their citizens repressive rule, war and poverty. These states differed in their official orientation: some were based on capitalism; others were driven by socialism or communism. However, regardless of their official orientation they shared the commonality of being centrally run and in failing to provide their citizens with peace and prosperity.
The equating of secularism with failure has been successfully propagated by Muslim extremists. Even more dangerous than the creation of isolated Islamic states, today?s Muslim extremists seek to create a Muslim empire based on the delusion that Muslims are not sufficiently religious and that if they were to return to a strict interpretation of Islam that the problems in the Muslim world would be solved.

In fact, the common response by many citizens of the Middle East who favor the creation Islamic states is that “we tried capitalism, we tried socialism and we tried communism and they all failed so let us try Islam.” The Coalition sees grave fault with this notion. Supporters of Islamic states are relying on false notions. Islam is a religion, not a blueprint for the creation of a modern state. The Koran does not contain sufficient guidance for the creation of a state. All modern states which have been founded and inspired by Islamic extremists are fascist, reactionary, impoverished and do not boast the features of democracy.
Democracy is rule by the people; a system of free choice where rulers are elected and held accountable by their constituents. The element of free choice of leaders is an explosive topic right now in the Middle East & North Africa. If fair and free elections were held tomorrow, the majority of Arab countries would probably elect totalitarian leaders with an intolerant pro-Islamist agenda. The election of extremists would spell death to democracy. We must first expel Islamic extremists and terrorists from Arab and Muslim societies before democracy sweeps the region.
The Coalition supports the right of all peoples to self government, but recognizes the importance of a solid system of government which guarantees a secular democracy protecting the rights of all people, regardless of gender, race or religion, and strives tirelessly to eliminate threats to democracy including extremism and terrorism. The Coalition fosters this secular environment by opening debates on the prerequisite of secularism in governments in the Middle East & North Africa, rallying against Islamist propaganda in media outlets, in institutions of education and in political campaigns, and by exploring the creation of secular democracy-preserving constitutions for Arab and Muslim countries.The Coalition believes that Muslims must be reeducated about the benefits of secularism and that the failure of their governments to bring them peace and prosperity was not because they were secular.
An Islamic State is an OxymoronMuslims are quick to condemn non-Muslim societies for their human right violations. However, they are often silent when it comes to the abuse of innocent women and other members of Muslim society. In such a sad state of Muslim society, many Muslims blindly dream of a utopian “Islamic government”, in much the same way as Christians anticipate the “Kingdom of God.” Unfortunately, this idea of “Islamic government” is a myth created by the power-hungry to subdue Muslims and non-Muslims alike to benefit exclusively those who rule. The Qur’an unambiguously exposes the tyrants’ forgery of Islam.

The Qur’an states: “Say (Muhammad, it is) truth from the Lord of you all. Whosoever will, let him believe and whosoever will, let him disbelieve” (Qur’an 18: 29) “And so, [O Prophet,] exhort them; thy task is only to exhort: thou cannot compel them to believe.”(Qur’an: 21-22). “O Prophet.!…Thy duty is not more than to deliver the message; and the reckoning is Ours.” (Qur’an 13:40).

These verses teach that an atmosphere of safety and liberty is an absolute necessity to the development of faith in the heart. These verses demand that Muslims guarantee freedom and safety for all. Moreover, the “reckoning” belongs to God only. Therefore, if a governments or an Imams’ Fatwas demand public obedience and submission, such an enforced, outward appearance of obedience is not faith. Tyrants have no means to know what is in the heart of the individual thus subdued. When a government enforces religion, the control is over the body not over the soul. The Qur’an rejects such tyranny over the body: “It is not your meat or blood that reach [God]: It is the fealty of your heart that reaches Him” (Qur’an 22:37).

The Qur’an states: “We sent down the Torah which contains guidance and light…Later, in the train of Prophets We send Jesus, son of Mary, confirming the Torah which has been sent down before him, and gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light. …Unto to you [O Muhammad] this writ (Koran) and a way and a pattern of life, confirming what were revealed before…Unto everyone of you have We appointed a different law and way of life. And if God had so willed He could surely have you all made one single community professing one faith. But He wished to try you and test you. So try to excel in good deeds” (Qur’an: 5:44-48).

 Therefore, the very existence of different kinds of faith and religion contesting one another in acts of good work is the will of God. Hence, freedom without the enforcement of conformity in religious matters is Islamic. The so-called Islamic governments of the self-righteous violate Qur’anic principles and tyrannize people of all faith including Muslims.

God told the Prophet (s): “…Fear not people, but fear Me (God)…” (Qur’an 5:44). Therefore, the Prophet (s) declared that human beings are free and individually accountable to God only. He preached freedom of faith. He struggled to establish a free society. Prophet Muhammad (s) functioned as a democratically elected leader (after being invited by the citizens of Medina). The Prophet (s) never forced a decision upon his community even when he believed that the majority decision on a particular secular matter was a mistake, as happened in the case of the disaster at the battle of Uhud. He and a minority of the citizens of Medina argued for the fortification of the city of Medina and planned to fight the Meccan army from within. Yet, he agreed to go along with the wishes of the majority of his followers to fight the Quraish in open field instead of fighting from fortified Medina, even though he believed that the strategy of the majority was wrong. He upheld the democratic principles even when there was maximum danger to the community. This incident is an example illustrating that Islam demands Democracy, and not tyranny by Imams… Following the footsteps of Prophet (s), all Muslims must ardently and peacefully struggle to establish a free society. Such freedom ensures that a totalitarian government, Imam, or particular segment of the community (e.g. sunni/shiah) does not presume self-righteously to impose a personal interpretation of faith upon others. Everyone is equal and free. If any one wants to be a believer, let him/her be. If anyone wants to be an apostate let him/her be safe to live the life of an apostate.

Government is a tool to maintain communal policy. Within the framework of a democratic government, community policy is generated by communal consensus. The concept of communal consensus, though valuable in establishing communal parameters, becomes irrelevant in the assessment of an individual’s soul on ” The Day of Judgment.” What is critical in the Islamic context is faith. Faith is an exclusively personal and private experience. We embrace faith individually just as we confront our death individually. An Iranian Muslim philosopher, Souroush, correctly said that we have communal actions but not communal faith. We can express faith in public but the core of the faith is mysteriously private. The preeminence of Islamic faith is for the Hereafter where people are to be judged individually: “Everyone of them will come before Him all alone on the Day of Resurrection. Surely, Ar-Rahman will show love for those who believe and do right.” [Qur'an 19:95-96]. In Islam, there is no concept of Original Sin to blight the goodness inherent in mankind; therefore, the prime criterion on the Day of Judgment is the cumulative action of the individual. The officials of a government can have faith and religious values, yet God judges the individual not for what the community has sanctioned as ethical, but for what the individual has chosen as honorable action. One individual cannot bear the sole responsibility for a communal decision. So on the Day of Judgment, a communal policy does not outweigh one’s actions determined in the course of free will.

The function of government is enforcement. Therefore, the concept of so-called Islamic government is an oxymoron because the Qur’an is against any form of compulsion or enforcement of a particular religion. The Qur’an proclaims: “No compulsion is there in religion, for rectitude is henceforth distinct from perversity…” [Qur'an 2:256]., however, the closed minds of many contemporary Muslims at large cannot gasp this straightforward and simple message.

A community can have Islamic values. The community values do not come from the simple pronouncement of fatwas by Imams, but after comprehensive free discussion of all… opinions in a free press, without coercion and intimidation. Such open discussion and decision-making by the community are important Islamic tenets because God asked the Prophet (s) “…And seek their [i.e., people's] counsel in all matters of public concern…” [Qur'an 3:159].

Mistakes are possible when humans make decisions. However, the Compassionate God states: “There is no sin upon you for what mistakes you commit unintentionally, but there is sin in what your hearts have intended.” [Qur'an 33:5] Unintentional mistakes happen less frequently when the mind is exposed to free press, public dialogue, and reason. A Hadith states “God has not created any thing better than reason.” Any Muslim who opposes a free press, public debate, and reasoning commits a sin knowingly because he/she refuses to listen to the merit or demerit of an opposing point of view.

The Quraish of Mecca rejected the Prophet (s) because they refused to listen to reason. Muslims must reject this same ignorant paradigm that pervades many of our communities. We must free ourselves from the concept of enforced forms of outward Islam that demand conformity and submission by force. We must reject Islamic states that want to rule our bodies. We must let liberal democracy with the safeguard of a free press rule our “meat and blood” and let faith rule our heart and let our hearts and minds fly freely until truth based in reason pervades the earth so that there may be liberty and justice for all.

Unlike the enforced, distorted Islam of Islamists, tyrants and terrorists, faith chosen freely without coercion and without forced conformity is the genuine faith. In a world where faith freely chosen fills the heart, the true religious spirit may come alive vibrantly to establish the ideal society where all people may partake of that precious freedom called choice. Early Muslim history corroborates this fact. Muslims helped Jews to create their Golden Age and helped liberate Christians from the tyranny of the Roman church. Muslim philosophy and science promoted the Enlightenment and Renaissance of Europe. Muslims also developed experimental science. In those days, we educated anyone who came our way without force-feeding our faith. Now we have Islamic governments that have taken control of our body claiming to send our “meat and blood” to God while Muslims have to beg from non-Muslim societies for their daily bread to keep their body alive. Islam will remain a dream and a theory with no practical value until faith rules the hearts and liberal democracy with an accountable free press rules human “blood and meat.”

I agree with Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of Laura Ingall (of “Little House on the Prairie” fame) and author of The Discovery of Freedom. She said that in principle the American struggle against authority is only a different version of the struggle against authority of the Prophet and his immediate followers’. The democratic paradigm draws inspiration from the Qur’anic axiom that human beings are free under God. The American constitution reflects this as it states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press.” In America, hearts can choose their faith at the individual level. In this great nation, everyone is free to believe or disbelieve in the Day of Judgment when free human spirits face God for their individual acts and faith, not for governmental or communal sins.

American Muslims must struggle along with the rest of Americans against any threat from external or internal forces that endanger our re-discovered freedom. We must struggle for a better America without abridging freedom. America may not be the perfect utopia of Christians or Muslims, or of anybody else, but it is the most resilient nation in the contemporary world. Muslim Americans joining hands with the rest of Americans, without impinging on the freedom of others, must strive to make America a greater nation that it is now. The free Muslims of America know that America and American freedom must be protected and preserved at any cost if Muslims want to practice Islam as each Muslim understands it, not as authoritarians such as religious bigots choose to enforce it. Finally, I thank God for creating America where my faith rules my heart and liberal democracy rules my “meat and blood” without anyone forcing me to conform my Islamic practices to anyone else’s Islam or vice versa.

Abu Talhah: Anyone who has read the above article, will see that his whole arguement is; “Islam does not permit the establishment of an Islamic State, or Sharee’ah“. Therefore, we will narrow it down to the following points:

1) “The Qur’an is flexible, and does not give us sufficient information to create a state, and rule by (the Qur’an)”

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe Wa Salaam) left us with both the Qur’an, and his Sunnah.

“O people, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and the Sunnah , and if you follow these you will never go astray. “

Furthermore, the argument that we cannot establish a state using what we have (Qur’an and Sunnah) is false simply because; the Sahaba established Islamic States, as did the future generations. So what exactly was ‘Umar and Abu Bakr using, if they didn’t have enough to receive guidance by?

2) “The establishment of an Islamic state, or Sharee’ah law is unislamic”

The Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe Wa Salaam) said, “The knots of Islam will be undone one by one until every one of them is undone, and the first one to be undone is the ruling by the Book of Allah (azza wa ‘jal) and the last one is the prayer.”
And,

“But no, by Your Lord, they can have no (real) faith until they make you judge in all disputes between them and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest submission.” [Surat An-Nisa :65]

“Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those of you in authority…”
فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىَ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيمًا
[Surat An-Nisa: 59]

“Whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed, such are disbelievers.”
وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
[Surat Al-Ma'idah :44]

“Whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed, such are oppressors.”
وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
[Surat Al-Ma'idah :45]

“Whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed, such are transgressors.”
وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
[Surat Al-Ma'idah :47]

“So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their desires away from the truth that has come to you.”
فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءهُمْ
[Surat Al-Ma'idah : 48]

“The rule is to none but Allah.”
إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاَّ لِلّهِ
[Surat Al-An'am :57]

Allah’s Messenger c said, “The Prophets took care of the affairs of the children of Israel, whenever a Prophet died another Prophet succeeded him, but there will be no Prophet after me. There will be Khulafa’a and they will number many.” “Whosoever removes a hand from obeying Allah will stand before Allah on the Day of Judgement with no evidence/complaint, and whom of you who dies without pledging his oath to a Khalifah will have died the death of a non-believer.”

Ahmed and Ibn abi ‘Asim narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe Wa Salaam) said, “Whosoever dies and he does not have over him an Imaam, he dies the death of Jahilyyah

Ali ibn abi Taalib (Radiyyallahu ‘anhu) said, “The people will not be straightened except by an Imaam (Khaleefah), whether he is good or bad”. (Bayhaqi, No. 14286, Kanz ul-ummal)

3) [Quote from his article] “The Qur’an states: “Say (Muhammad, it is) truth from the Lord of you all. Whosoever will, let him believe and whosoever will, let him disbelieve” (Qur’an 18: 29) “And so, [O Prophet,] exhort them; thy task is only to exhort: thou cannot compel them to believe.”(Qur’an: 21-22). “O Prophet.!…Thy duty is not more than to deliver the message; and the reckoning is Ours.” (Qur’an 13:40). These verses teach that an atmosphere of safety and liberty is an absolute necessity to the development of faith in the heart. These verses demand that Muslims guarantee freedom and safety for all”

The above verses simply mean that you cannot compel individuals to convert, but this does not mean that you cannot fight to destroy the regime acting as a barrier between the people and Islam.

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religionof Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued
قَاتِلُواْ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلاَ يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُواْ الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ
[Surat At-Tawbah : 29]

And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrongdoers
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلّهِ فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ
[Surat Al-Baqarah :193]

4) [Quote from his article]The Qur’an states: “We sent down the Torah which contains guidance and light…Later, in the train of Prophets We send Jesus, son of Mary, confirming the Torah which has been sent down before him, and gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light. …Unto to you [O Muhammad] this writ (Koran) and a way and a pattern of life, confirming what were revealed before…Unto everyone of you have We appointed a different law and way of life. And if God had so willed He could surely have you all made one single community professing one faith. But He wished to try you and test you. So try to excel in good deeds” (Qur’an: 5:44-48). Therefore, the very existence of different kinds of faith and religion contesting one another in acts of good work is the will of God. Hence, freedom without the enforcement of conformity in religious matters is Islamic. The so-called Islamic governments of the self-righteous violate Qur’anic principles and tyrannize people of all faith including Muslims.

Yet the Qur’an and Sunnah state that

It is he who has sent his Messenger with guidance and the Deen of truth to dominate over all other religions (way of life) even though the Mushrikeen may hate it (Surat At-Tawbah :33)

And the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe Wa Salaam) said: Islam dominates and is not dominated over –Al Bukhari

and

And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrongdoers
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلّهِ فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ
[Surat Al-Baqarah :193]

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religionof Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued
قَاتِلُواْ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلاَ يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُواْ الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ
[Surat At-Tawbah : 29]

and the Prophet Muahmmad (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe Wa Salaam) said: I have been ordered to fight the people until they bear witness that there is no one worthy to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and they establish the Salah and give the Zakah. If they perform such actions then their wealth and their blood has protection from me except by the Right of Islam and their account is with Allah .”

——————————————————

any other points that you feel we should have addressed, we would be more then happy too.

Abu Talhah:

[He Said]: The Qur’an states: “Say (Muhammad, it is) truth from the Lord of you all. Whosoever will, let him believe and whosoever will, let him disbelieve” (Qur’an 18: 29)

 “And so, [O Prophet,] exhort them; thy task is only to exhort: thou cannot compel them to believe.”(Qur’an: 21-22).

“O Prophet.!…Thy duty is not more than to deliver the message; and the reckoning is Ours.” (Qur’an 13:40).

These verses teach that an atmosphere of safety and liberty is an absolute necessity to the development of faith in the heart. These verses demand that Muslims guarantee freedom and safety for all. Moreover, the “reckoning” belongs to God only

Apparently Kamal Nawash now can interpret verses from the Qur’an ! This is a fine example of taking a verse out of context. The above verses mean, you cannot compel on to convert to Islam. But this does not mean, we sit at home, and wait for Islam to spread it’s self.

And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrongdoers
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلّهِ فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ
[Surat Al-Baqarah :193]

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religionof Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued
قَاتِلُواْ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلاَ يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُواْ الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ
[Surat At-Tawbah : 29]

and the Prophet Muahmmad (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe Wa Salaam) said: I have been ordered to fight the people until they bear witness that there is no one worthy to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and they establish the Salah and give the Zakah. If they perform such actions then their wealth and their blood has protection from me except by the Right of Islam and their account is with Allah .”

These verses explicitly mean Islam can be SPREAD to nations, countries, and tribes by force, by Jihad, but the community is not compelled to convert to Islam. If they choose not to convert to Islam, then they must pay the Jizyah.

 

“…until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued…”
 [Surat At-Tawbah : 29]

Secondly, Kamal Nawash claims that only Allah can Judge, yet was it not the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe Wa Salaam) who said; “I have been ordered to judge the apparent.” [Nisaa’i 3714]

[He Said]: “We sent down the Torah which contains guidance and light…Later, in the train of Prophets We send Jesus, son of Mary, confirming the Torah which has been sent down before him, and gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light. …Unto to you [O Muhammad] this writ (Koran) and a way and a pattern of life, confirming what were revealed before…Unto everyone of you have We appointed a different law and way of life. And if God had so willed He could surely have you all made one single community professing one faith. But He wished to try you and test you. So try to excel in good deeds” (Qur’an: 5:44-48).Therefore, the very existence of different kinds of faith and religion contesting one another in acts of good work is the will of God. Hence, freedom without the enforcement of conformity in religious matters is Islamic. The so-called Islamic governments of the self-righteous violate Qur’anic principles and tyrannize people of all faith including Muslims.

Subhan’ Allah ! Here he claims, that the Torah, and the Gospel were originally books of Judaism and Christianity. Every Muslim know, that Musa (Allayhee as-Salaam) and ‘Isa (Allayhee as-Salaam) were MUSLIM. And these books revealed, were books of ISLAM. Therefore the above verse does not say that there are all these religions which should co-exist.

The following is from Tafseer Ibn Kathir:

“Islam is the Religion of all of the Prophets”

Nuh said,

﴿فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ﴾

(But if you turn away) if you belie the message and turn away from obedience.

﴿فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِّنْ أَجْرٍ﴾

(then no reward have I asked of you,) I have not asked you anything for my advice.

﴿إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ﴾

(My reward is only from Allah. And I have been commanded to be of the Muslims.) I submit to Islam. Islam is the religion of all of the Prophets from the first to the last. Their laws and their rules may be of different types but the religion is the same. Allah said:

﴿لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَـجاً﴾

(To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way.)(5:4 Ibn `Abbas said: “A way and a Sunnah.” Here Nuh is saying:

﴿وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ﴾

(and I have been commanded to be of the Muslims.) Allah said about His friend, Ibrahim:

﴿إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ - وَوَصَّى بِهَآ إِبْرَهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَـبَنِىَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إَلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴾

(When his Lord said to him, “Submit (be a Muslim)!” He said, “I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of all that exists.” And this was enjoined by Ibrahim upon his sons and by Ya`qub (saying), “O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except as Muslims.”)(2:131-132) Yusuf said:

﴿رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِى مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ الاٌّحَادِيثِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّ فِى الدُّنُيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِالصَّـلِحِينَ ﴾

(My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams — the (Only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Guardian in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous.)(12:101) Musa said:

﴿يقَوْمِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءامَنْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُواْ إِن كُنْتُم مُّسْلِمِينَ﴾

(O my people! If you have believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims.)(10:84) The magicians said:

﴿رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ﴾

(Our Lord! pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims.)(7:126) Bilqis said:

﴿رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَـنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ﴾

(My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, and I submit (I have become Muslim) together with Sulayman to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.) (27:44) Allah said:

﴿إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُواْ﴾

(Verily, We did send down the Tawrah, therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, judged for the Jews.)(5:44) He also said:

﴿وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَنْ ءَامِنُواْ بِى وَبِرَسُولِى قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ ﴾

(And when I (Allah) inspired Al-Hawariyyin to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: “We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims.”) (5:111) The last of the Messengers and the leader of mankind said:

﴿قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ - لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴾

(Verily, my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all that exists. He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.) (6:162-163) meaning, from this Ummah. He said, in an authentic Hadith:

«نَحْنُ مَعْشَرَ الْأَنِبْيَاءِ أَوْلَادُ عَلَّاتٍ. وَدِينُنُا وَاحِد»

(We, the Prophets are brothers with (the same father but) different mothers. Our religion is the same,) meaning, `we should worship Allah alone without partners while having different laws.’” [End of Quote]

Secondly, the Qur’an does not tell us to co-exist in a peaceful manner, rather it says:

There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: “We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah. we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in Allah and Him alone“: But not when Abraham said to his father: “I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from Allah.” (They prayed): “Our Lord! in Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal.

[Surat al- Mumtahinah: 4]