Does Islam Condone Violence Against Kafirs?

Oct 19 18:43 UTC 2001

THE CHAPTER OF MOHAMMED, ALSO CALLED FIGHT 

(XLVII. Medinah.) 

IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God. Those who misbelieve 
and turn folk from God’s way, He will make their works go wrong. But 
those who believe and do right and believe in what is revealed to 
Mohammed,-and it is the truth from their Lord,-He will cover for them 
their offences and set right their mind. That is because those who 
misbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth 
from their Lord. Thus does God set forth for men their parables. 

And when ye meet those who misbelieve-then striking off heads until ye 
have massacred them, and bind fast the bonds! Then either a free grant 
(of liberty) or a ransom until the war shall have laid down its 
burdens. That!-but if God please He would conquer them-but (it is) that 
He may try some of you by the others. And those who are slain in God’s 
cause, their works shall not go wrong; He will guide them and set right 
their mind; and will make them enter into Paradise which He has told 
them of. O ye who believe! if ye help God, He will help you, and will 
make firm your footsteps. 

But as for those who misbelieve-confound them! and He will make their 
works go wrong. 

That is because they were averse from what God has revealed; but their 
works shall be void! 

Have they not journeyed through the land and seen how was the end of 
those before them? God destroyed them; and for the misbelievers is the 
like thereof. 

That is because God is the patron of those who believe, and because the 
misbelievers have no patron. 

Verily, God causes those who believe and do right to enter into gardens 
beneath which rivers flow; but those who misbelieve enjoy themselves 
and eat as the cattle eat; but the fire is the resort for them! 

How many a city, stronger than thy city which has driven thee out, have 
we destroyed, and there was none to help them! Is he who rests upon a 
manifest sign from his Lord like him, the evil of whose works is made 
seemly to him, and who follow their lusts? The similitude of Paradise 
which is promised to the pious,-in it are rivers of water without 
corruption, and rivers of milk, the taste whereof changes not, and 
rivers of wine delicious to those who drink; and rivers of honey 
clarified; and there shall they have all kinds of fruit and forgiveness 
from their Lord! (Is that) like him who dwells in the fire for aye? and 
who are given to drink boiling water that shall rend their bowels 
asunder? 

Some of them there are who listen to thee, until when they go forth 
from thee they say to those who have been given the knowledge, ‘What is 
this which he says now?’ These are those on whose hearts God has set a 
stamp and who follow their lusts. But those who are guided, He guides 
them the more, and gives them the due of their piety. 

Do they wait for aught but the Hour, that it should come to them 
suddenly? The conditions thereof have come already; how, when it has 
come on them, can they have their reminder? 

Know thou that there is no god but God; and ask pardon for thy sin and 
for the believers, men and women; for God knows your return and your 
resort! 

Those who misbelieve say, ‘Why has not a surah been revealed?’ but when 
a decisive surah is revealed and fighting is mentioned therein, thou 
mayest see those in whose heart is sickness looking towards thee with 
the look of one fainting in death. Preferable for them were obedience 
and a reasonable speech! But when the matter is determined on, then if 
they believed God it were better for them. Would ye perhaps, if ye had 
turned back, have done evil in the land and severed the bonds of 
kinship? 

It is these whom God has cursed, and has made them deaf, and has 
blinded their eyesight! Do they not peruse the Koran? or are there 
locks upon their hearts? 

Verily, those who turn their backs after the guidance that has been 
manifested to them-Satan induces them,- but (God) lets them go ‘On for 
a time! 

That is for that they say to those who are averse from what God has 
revealed, ‘We will obey you in part of the affair!’ but God knows their 
secrets! How will it be when the angels take their souls, smiting their 
faces and their backs? 

This is because they follow what angers God and are averse from His 
goodwill; and their works are void. 

Do those in whose hearts is sickness reckon that God will not bring 
their malice forth? 

But did we please we would show thee them, and thou shouldst know them 
by their cognisances. But thou shalt known them by their distorting 
their speech, and God knows their works! But we will try you until we 
know those among you who fight strenuously and the patient; and we will 
try the reports concerning you. 

Verily, those who misbelieve and turn folks off God’s path, and break 
with the Apostle after the guidance that has been manifested to them, 
cannot harm God at all, and their works shall be void! O ye who 
believe! obey God, and obey the Apostle; and make not your works vain. 

Verily, those who misbelieve and turn folks off God’s path, and then 
die misbelievers, God will not pardon them. 

Then faint not, nor cry for peace while ye have the upper hand; for God 
is with you and will not cheat you of your works! The life of this 
world is but a play and a sport; but if ye believe and fear God, He 
will give you your hire. He does not ask you for (all) your property; 
if He were to ask you for it and to press you, ye would be niggardly, 
and he would bring your malice out. 

Here are ye called upon to expend in God’s cause, and among you are 
some who are niggardly; and he who is niggardly is but niggardly 
against his own soul: but God is rich and ye are poor, and if ye turn 
your backs He will substitute another people in your stead, then they 
will not be like you. 

Ref: http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/palm/047.htm (Palmer Translation)

response 2 of 3:

Feb 19 10:08 UTC 2002

I whole-heartedly agree with what sj2 says.. my knowledge ok kuran is 
limited, but whatever I read of, did not impress me.. they do not sound 
like the words of God, if there is one...
   have you people read "Haj" by Leon Uris? that was one classic, in 
the religious point of view, even though it wasn't meant to be that 
way. things were put it a very subtle language. according to it, 
Muhammed was just another guy, who was in much of rouble becos he was 
badly in debt, ran off to a mountain, claimed that he has seen god and 
came down.. rest later