Islam and Violence

If you believe that Islam is the religion of peace, which professes love, equality, and respect for women please read on and see if you hold the same mindset when you finish. Truly knowing and understanding the Qur’an, along with a clear concise knowledge about shariah law, current events, as well as history, are the beginning to truly understanding Islam. You don’t get to hear too much about Islam because people are too afraid to talk out about Muslims for fear of offending them. . But in the Qur’an Jews and Christians are considered the “People of the Book” and they are to be dealt accordingly. The Qur’an states, “Fight them “until they pay with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.” (Qur’an 9:29)

Women of Islam are transformed into the 6thcentury, sometimes willingly, with little regard for the historical events that have women have fought for over the course of time so they would have the same rights as men. One day at Costco, not to long ago, here in St. Louis, the one Manchester and Hwy 141, there were two women walking about 10 paces behind the two men they were with, dressed in full berka clothing. It was the sight which resembled an era long since passed, where slaves passively stroll behind their masters, and women, because of the times, were covered pretty much head to toe. Ironically, it is interesting to know that in many Arab countries women live in fear daily, praying they will someday have the same rights women have in this country.

In France a law was passed were women are not allowed to wear the full berka in public. A husband or any male who tries to force his wife to wear the berka will face jail time and fines. Islamic law mandates modesty, however to suggest the berka or even the hijab for that matter, as a definition of modesty is insulting to women everywhere, rather than saying what it really is, which is the need for men to control women.[1] The French have defined new laws in an effort to prevent Islamic ideals, which appear to be spreading like wild fires throughout Europe and other parts of the world. But in an Arab country the contrary occurs: “A Berka Dressed Woman – Islamic Law – A 17-year old girl was sentenced by an Islamic court in the northern state of Zamfara, The girl whose father allegedly forced her to have sex with three men will be flogged for breaking a law against premarital sex. Judge Idris Usman Gusau said the sentence – 180 lashes with a cane – would be carried out on January 27 despite an appeal by the Nigerian government to suspend the punishment. The sentence has prompted an outcry from human rights groups which fear the girl may die.[2]

Ryan Miller has a blog where he discusses his perceptions of Islam. He interviewed a St. Louis woman named Melissa Matos, who is the director of the St. Louis chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations. In the interview Melissa stated, “When reading the Qur’an, I just didn’t think it could’ve been written by a person. And it made me believe that, ‘Wow, there’s a higher power, and I believe that this higher power chose to explain itself to us through several different prophets. I believed that and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m a Muslim.” [3] It would seem as though Melissa may be a little confused about the author of the Qur’an, among other things. It is really important for people to understand what is written in the Qur’an and how it relates to Islam.

In an articled titled, “Afghan Muslim Throws Wife, Daughter Out of St. Louis Window” the author states, “On October 18, 2008 it was reported “Man throws wife, daughter out window in south St. Louis.”[4] — Police said late Saturday afternoon a 51-year-old man living with his family in a second floor apartment threw his wife and their 13-year-old daughter out the window. The second floor apartment, located across the street from the Bevo Mill restaurant in south St. Louis, is nearly 17-feet above the sidewalk. The woman and her daughter are in stable condition. A witness said the mother seemed almost in shock and the daughter was bleeding profusely. The family is from Afghanistan and police said the father spoke little or no English. Other family members acted as interpreters.”[5] The “Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.” — Qur’an 4:34

A manual of Islamic law, certified by Al-Azhar as a reliable guide to Sunni orthodoxy, says that “retaliation is obligatory against anyone who kills a human being purely intentionally and without right.” However, “not subject to retaliation” is “a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring’s offspring.” (Umdat al-Salik o1.1-2)[6]

It is important to understand Islam is not just a religion, it is way of life. The Qur’an is very clear in the way it defines men and women and their roles, along with anyone who is not Islamic and refuses to convert. Muslim men not only accept the demeaning way women are treated, they may even take part in the abuse, murder, and control of their Muslim brothers and sisters. Islam instills fear and through fear allows control. Woman, abuse, and violence are words that in Islam are almost synonymous with one another. Women are considered chattel property therefore they don’t have any rights, but the violence is not always limited to women. In many Arab countries the belief that every human being has an inherent right to be treated with dignity and respect is non-existent; it is not what they believe. Islam promotes the vilest, demeaning, practices which are so horrifying we just don’t talk about them. But the reality is this: women of Islam undergo horrific ordeals such as female genital mutilation, stoning, beheading, and beatings all of which are protected rights of men according to the Qur’an and supported with shariah law.

Author Julia Duin discusses Muslim women, she states, “Many Muslim women in North America live in a constant state of fear, frightened that they or their children could be deported if they speak out, said Salma Abugideiri, a family counselor from Reston. Often their husbands monitor every move they make, down to whom they talk with on the phone and who they visit.”[7]

In another article the author states, “She was an accomplished, professional woman, in her late thirties, a wife, and a mother. But her husband beat her, terribly, and for a long time. Finally, after much suffering, she worked up the courage to leave him. That’s when; acting on his own, he killed her. I know: All the major Muslim organizations, and the mainstream media, continually say that these deaths are examples of domestic violence. They say that domestic violence is a plague that afflicts women of all cultures and religions and which has nothing to do with Islam. And yet, these very organizations say the exact same thing when young teenagers like Palestina Isa in St Louis, (1989) Aqsa Parvez in Toronto (2007) and Sarah and Amina Said in Dallas, (2008) or when young woman in their twenties like Sandeela Kanwal of Atlanta (2008) are murdered by their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and male cousins.”[8]

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me,” she said, according to the man who wanted to remain anonymous. A few minutes later, more than 50 men threw stones. The stoning of 13-year-old Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow in Somalia in October 27, 2008 is another example of what happens under Islam. Aisha was raped and when she reported it she was stoned to death in front of thousands of people who watched and did nothing to help her.[9] Read the article. Decide for yourself; learn about Islam. Does the Qur’an promote violence? Is it that the Koran (in Sura 4:34) permits wife beating? Think about it.

References:
[1] ABC News. 2011. France officially bans the burka. Retrieved from:
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/11/3188120.htm
[2] NZ Herald. 2001. Nigerian Woman Flogged Abuja. Retrieved from:
https://dhushara.freehosting.net/book/upd/jan01/iswomb/isl.htm
[3] Miller, Ryan. 2007. Retrieved from: https://middled.blogspot.com/2007/11/muslim-st- louis.html
[4] KMOV.com
[5] Jihad Watch. 2008. Afghan Muslim throws wife, daughter out of St. Louis window.
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2008/10/afghan-muslim-throws-wife-daughter-out-of- st-louis-window.html
[6] ibid
[7]Duin, Julia. 2009. DUIN: Muslims address spousal abuse. The Washington Times.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/12/duin-muslims-address-spousal-abuse
[8] Chesler, Phyllis. 2009. Beheadings and Honor Killings. FrontPageMagazine.com
https://www.phyllis-chesler.com/208/beheadings-and-honor-killings
[9] BBC News. 2008. Stoning Victim Begged for Mercy.