Islamic Jihad is not Just an anti-Jewish Thing. It is Much More.

 As appeared in the Jerusalem Post and my Times of Israel blog. 

 

Islamic Jihad is often a phrase referenced in the media as simply anti-Semitic/anti-Jews/anti-Israel. In reality, Islamic Jihad is an ongoing holy war against infidels, meaning everyone who is not Muslim. This term pits the entire Muslim Islamic world against everyone else. Proof can be found on the streets of Tehran and in multiple cities in the United States with the shouts of “Death to America” in the same breath as “Death to Israel” and the desecration of their national symbols.

The reality of the Muslim goal of world dominance can be seen throughout Islamic history to the present. A very revealing current example of this phenomena can be found in Israel, in the city of Bethlehem-so precious to Christians. In the last year of British rule over the region (1947) and even under Israeli control, approximately 85% of Bethlehem's population were Christian.  Bethlehem has been under the control of the Palestinian Authority since the Oslo Peace Accords (1993). As of a 2017 census, the percentage of Christians in Bethlehem was around 10%.

Jihad is defined as “holy war.” The word "Islam" literally means "submission" or "surrender" to the will of Allah, and it is derived from the Arabic root S-L-M, which is also the root for the words "salam" (peace) and "silm" (safety, peace). Islam stresses that the means to peace are justice, submission to God’s will, and righteousness.  

In the Qur’an, Islam repeatedly claims superiority over everyone and clearly defines how Muslims should deal with non-believers/infidels. While full texts for context are readily available online, here are some excerpts: 

Superiority:

·       At-Taubah 9.33: “It is He (Allah) 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).”

·       Al-Fath 48.28: “He (Allah) it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), that He may make it (Islam) superior over all religions. And All-Sufficient is Allah as a Witness.”

·       As-Saff 61.9: “It is He (Allah) who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.”

Dealing with non-believers/infidels:

·       Al-Anfal 8.12-13: [12] "… I (Allah) will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.” [13] “That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger – indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.”

·       Al-Ma’idah 5.33: “Those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and go about the earth spreading mischief - indeed their recompense is that they either be done to death, or be crucified, or have their hands and feet cut off from the opposite sides or be banished from the land.”

Islam looks at the world in only one of two ways: (a) “Dar al-Islam” refers to territory where security is controlled by Muslims and Islamic-based Shari'ah law is implemented versus (b) “Dar al-Harb”, the absence of either. It is quite easy to conclude that the West is Dar al-Harb.

Prayer: Every one of the five daily prayers begins with the Surah Al-Fatihah, which is the first chapter of the Qur’an. Consisting of seven verses, it is a concise encapsulation of the core beliefs and values of Islam. However, verse #7 deserves special attention. Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan’s translation of Surah Al-Fatiha is widely respected and used in many English editions of the Qur’an. Dr. Khan’s translation, including the words in parentheses, reads: “The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).“ Every daily prayer begins with this declaration against Jews and Christians and is repeated at least five times per day.

Perhaps there is hope for a change. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt, a devout Muslim, declared in a 2015 speech: “It’s inconceivable that [what] we hold most sacred should cause the entire Islamic world to be a source of anxiety, danger, killing and destruction for the rest of the world… It’s antagonizing the entire world! We are in need of a religious revolution. You imams are responsible before Allah. The entire world is waiting for your word … because the Islamic world is being torn, it is being destroyed, it is being lost … by our own hands.”

The world can’t wait too long.

# # #

 

David S. Levine, MBA. Author of “Revolutions: In Their Own Words – What They Really Say About Their Causes” and the forthcoming book “Prayer: In Their Own Words – Islam-Catholicism-Judaism – What Do They Pray For?” David is a former New York City advertising & marketing executive, and a retired university instructor at Rutgers University. Follow him on X (Twitter): @DavidsLevine

 

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