IT is unfortunate and sad that the charged at-mosphere engendered by the Boko Haram sect's unjust kill-ings of people in the northern part of Nigeria, September 11th tragedy, prevalent suicide bombings and general crisis in Muslim-dominated regions of the world prompted both people and media opinions that Islam indeed, preaches violence. The perception of an average non-muslim is that Islam is a violent religion, which mean that muslimas, therefore, are violent.There are a lot of comments on this from non-muslim, such as 'it is our conviction that although various political social-economic and cultural factors have significantly contributed to the rise of violence and terrorism in comtemporary fundamental.... of Islam, yet we cannot ignore the religious dimension of this violence that goes back to the very heart and origin of Islam.'Further, 'muslims who commit acts of violence and terror in the name of God, can find ample justification for their action, based on the teachings of the Quran and the saying and examples from Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) himself! On the other hand, Muslims, who take upon themselves to destroy or kill people in the name of God, can rightly claim to be following the commands of God in the Quaran and imitating their prophet as their role model.In addition to this, another non-muslim writes, 'violence in Islam, whether in form of terrorism, or the persecution of non-muslims and other minorities in the muslim world are not simply some isolated incidents or aberrations from the true and peaceful religion of Islam. Such violence, in fact, goes to the very roots of Islam, as found in the Quran and the actions and teachings of the prophet of Islam himself.'However, all these perceptions are wrong. Islam is a religion of peace. Islam condemns any kind of violence and extra-judicial killings of the people. In fact, there are lot of verses in the Quran that buttress this. Allah says in Quran chapter 5 vs 32: 'Because of that, we ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone killed a person, not in relatiation of murder, or (and) be spread mischief in the hand, it would be as if he killed all mankind. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. And indeed, there came to them our messenger with clear proofs, evidences and signs, even them after that many of them continued to exceed the limit.'When we take a critical look to the verse quoted above, we should conclude that Allah detests violence. This quotation implies that, if someone kills a person unlawfully, it is like destroying a whole nation and if someone saves come not near to Alfewahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse) whether committed openly or secretly; and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a justice and the law. This He has comanded you that you may understand.In another verse, Allah says: 'And do not kill anyone whose killing Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause. And whoever is killed wrongfully (intentionally with hostility and oppression and not by mistake), we have given his heir the authority to demand the law of equality in punishment or to forgive, or to take blood-money. But let him not exceed the limits in the matter of taking life.'Verily, he is helped by the Islamic law (Q17v33) With the above little verses I have quoted, it is glaring without any form of skepticism that Islam abhors violence. Islam does not allow or sanctify the killing of any innocent person regardless of his or her religion, tribe or country.Moreso, there are numerous hadith from the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that condemn the word 'violence'. Although, there are various fabricated hadith used by the non-muslim in order to relate or associate violence with Islam. For example, I read in an article wrote by a non-muslim that, 'the prophet and his companions were looking for the hidden treasure of a conquered tribe. An individual was brought to Muhammad, who supposed to know where the hidden treasure was located. The prophet threatened to kill that individual, if he did not tell the Muslims where the treasure was. Upon his refusal to cooperate, the Prophet gave orders to al-Zubayr Binal-Awwom; 'torture him, until you extract what he has.' So, he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest, until he was nearly dead. Then the apostle delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama and he struck off his head: Upon conquering Mecca by Prophet Muhammad, a number of individuals were order to be killed by the prophet without any immunity.'In another Hadith quoted by this writer, is that, 'another assassination ordered by the Prophet was regarding his uncle, Abu Sufyan, the leader of the pagan opposition in Mecca. Muslim volunteers travelled to Mecca to carry out this mission. The assassination attempt failed, but on their way back to Medina, one of the followers of the Prophet encountered a one-eyed shepherd who confidently claimed that he would not accept Islam. As soon as was asleep and snoring, that Muslim killed the one-eyed shepherd in a more horrible way than any man has been killed. He put the end of his bow in his normal eye, then he bore down on it until he forced it out at the back of his neck. When he got to Medina..., the prophet asked about the news and when he told him what had happened, he blessed him.' All these are fabricated Hadith used by non-muslims to tarnish the image of Islam and to condemn Muslims. The writer did not tell us, where we can access the Hadith in the books of hadith.Regardless of these fabricated Hadith, there are a lot of authentic Hadith from the most reliable book of hadith, Saluh Al-Bukhari. In Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, number 21, the Hadith (saying of the Prophet) was narrated by Ibn Abbas (RA), the prophet said, 'the most hated persons with Allah are (i) A person who deriates from the right conduct (i.e an evil-doer) in the sanctuaries of Makkah and Al-Madi....... (ii) A person who seeks that the tradition of the period of ignorance should remain in Islam (iii) and a person who seeks to shed somebody's blood without any right.'In another Hadith, from Sahih Al-Bukhari volume 9 number 266, narrated by Jundab (RA), said that he heard the prophet (PBUH) saying 'whoever does a good deed in order to show off, Allah will expose his intention on the day of judgment. And whoever puts the people into difficulties, Allah will put him into difficulties on the day of resurection.' He said, 'the first thing of the human body to puterfy is the abdomen, so whoever that cannot eat nothing but good food (halal and earned lawfully) should do so. And he who does as much as he can that nothing intervene between him and paradise by not shedding even a handful of blood (i.e. killing) should do so. In another narration from Saluh Al-Bakhari, Volume 4 number 391, Abdullahi Ibn Amir narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) says 'whoever killed a person, having a treaty with the muslims, shall not smell the smell of paradise, though its smell is perceived from a distance of forty years.With the above Quranic verses as well as the Hadith, it is palpable that Islam does not promote violence. The Quranic verses and hadith quoted above do not allow Muslims to engage in violence or terrrorism; rather, they are warning against violence or terrorism.In lieu of this, some Muslims and non-Muslims are misquoting some verses in the Holy Quran and this misconception has misled them into the thinking that Islam promotes violence. Some of these verses are, 'then fight and slay the pagans whenever you find them and capture them and besiege them and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush.'In another verse quoted by these people is, 'but if they turn away, seize them and kill them whenever you find them, and take no friend or helper from their ranks.'All these verses were misquoted by these people, by taking them out of their historical context. There are verses like that, if taken out from their historical context, seem to favour violence. Feor example, if one of the verses quoted above is placed within its textual and historical context, its true meaning emerges such as:'fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not trangress the limit, for Allah does not love transgressors. Kill them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out, for tumult and oppression are worse than slaugther. But do not fight them at the sacred mosque, Unless they first fight you there. If they fight you, kill them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, Allah is soft-forgiving, most merciful.Another misquoted verse by these people is in Quran chapter 4, verse 89 which is in any case take no friends or helpers from their ranks. 'But the real text goes thus.'They wish that you reject faith, as they have rejected (faith and thus that you all become equal like one another, so take not friend from them.'Another thing about these verses is that, they were revealed to Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) at the time when non-believing were attacking Makkah's muslims and threatening those that were in Medina. Thus, Allah allowed them to defend themselves. In other words, those verses are for special historical situation, concerning the beginning of Islam.Lastly, Islam is a religion of peace which regards life as sacrosanct. There is nowhere in the Quran or Hadith that gives general permission to kill anyone. Therefore, Islam dissociates itself from violent Muslim groups who relied on the Islamic injunction to kill people and non-Muslims who misquoted some Quranic verses. Allah says in Quran chapter 8 verse 61 that:'But if they (disbelievers) incline to peace, you (muslims) should also incline to it, and put your trust in Allah.Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-knower.Indeed, Islam is the religion of peace.'Oladimeji, is from the Department of English Language, University of Ibadan)
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