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VIDEO and ARTICLE: PBS misrepresents Islam's Qur'an / Koran on ISIS beheadings

Lesson from the media and pop-occulture:

1) The 200 million or so murders by Atheists within the 20th century—the most secular and bloodiest century in human history—were not really due to Atheism, were not really perpetrated by real Atheists, were not done in the name of Atheism and therefore cannot be justified by Atheism (see my article Religious wars vs. Atheist wars).

2) 1,500 years of terrorism by Islam is not really due to Islam, the Qur’an / Koran, Muhammad or Allah, is not really perpetrated by real Muslims, is not done in the name of Islam, the Qur’an / Koran, Muhammad or Allah and therefore, cannot be justified by Islam, the Qur’an / Koran, Muhammad or Allah (in the article Religious wars vs. Atheist wars you will see that in an estimated 10,000 years of war; half of all the “religious wars” involve Islam).

3) The Crusades, Inquisition, witch hunts, etc. truly were due to Christianity, truly were perpetrated by real Christians, truly were done in the name of Christianity, the Bible, Jesus and YHVH, and therefore, truly were justified by Christianity, the Bible, Jesus and YHVH.

Some claim that Islam will have to undergo a reformation as Christianity underwent. However, Christianity’s reformation was away from manmade tradition and towards the text of the Bible. Conversely, Islam’s reformation will have to be the exact opposite; away from the text of the Qur’an / Koran and towards westernized manmade traditions.

When traditional Christianity identifies groups, from Gnostics to Mormons, as pseudo-Christian; the media and pop-culture reject that identification, claim that the allegedly pseudo-Christian groups represent real Christianity and that traditional Christianity is the pseudo-Christian group.

When traditional Islam identifies groups, from Wahhabi to ISIS, as pseudo-Islamic; the media and pop-culture accept that identification, claim that traditional Islam is the real Islam and that the allegedly pseudo-Islamic groups truly are pseudo-Islamic.

The October 5, 2014 AD PBS show, Before ISIS: A history of beheadings to terrify, punish presented some fascinating data on beheadings within the context of ISIS’ recent beheadings of James Foley, Steven Sotloff, David Haines and Alan Henning. The real issue is to distinguish between beheadings done in direct violation and those in direct agreement of the principles upon which it is claimed to be justified.

PBS’ Ivette Feliciano noted:

Some analysts say Muslim extremist groups like ISIS choose the act of beheading because they’re also aligning themselves with what they think is an authentic Islam, pointing to Qu’ranic passages they believe condone the act.

Dr. Dawn Perlmutter “scholar who for years has studied ritualistic crimes and religious terrorism,” and author of Investigating Religious Terrorism and Ritualistic Crimes noted:

That’s why they have to always have this reading of offenses, identifying– having the person– confess, having the person– in front of them, kneeling. It is an execution ritual.

Coming to the point of admitting that beheading is a Qu’ranic ritual Rashid Khalidi, Professor of Modern Arab studies at Columbia University, is brought to the rescue. He quotes the Qu’ran to the effect of:

Therefore when you meet the unbelievers…presumably in a battle…smite at their necks. [ellipses in original transcript]

Feliciano then chimes in with (keep in mind that these are not direct Q&As but are edited segments):

Yet Islamic scholars, like Professor Khalidi, dispute that the Qu’ran offers any justification for beheading. He cites the lines coming immediately after one of the two used to justify beheadings.

Rashid Khalidi then continues with:

At length when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind the captives firmly. Therefore is the time for either generosity or ransom… [ellipses in original transcript]

I’ve just read Sura 47 verse 4. If you cut off their heads you’re not going to bind them, and you’re not binding them to cut off their heads you’re binding them to either be generous to them, release them, or hold them for ransom.

So there is nothing about cutting off their heads in this passage. The people who are doing this act claiming this as justification for this practice. It is not. And it just shows that they know nothing about Islam and they don’t know how to read this properly.

The issue is that it is Khalidi who does not know how to read this properly or is purposefully misreading, misinterpreting, misapplying and misleading with the text. And this is not based on the minutia of theological nor 1,500 year old Arabic grammar.

We will actually quote two texts from six different translations and they are from 47:4 which, by the way, is the surah called Muhammad and 8:12 which is called Al-‘Anafal / The Spoils of War. So, the following are the examples of Muhammad and how to handle the wartime issues.

47:4 reads:

Sahih International, trans.

So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah – never will He waste their deeds.

Muhsin Khan, trans.

So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah’s Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allah to continue in carrying out Jihad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam (i.e. are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire) or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allah’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost,

Pickthall, trans.

Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance). And if Allah willed He could have punished them (without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain.

Yusuf Ali, trans.

Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost.

Shakir, trans.

So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. That (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish.

Arthur John Arberry, trans.

When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds; then set them free, either by grace or ransom, till the war lays down its loads. So it shall be; and if God had willed, He would have avenged Himself upon them; but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of God, He will not send their works astray.

Dr. Ghali, trans.

So when you meet the ones who have disbelieved, then it is striking of the necks until, when you have subjugated (Wrongly understood by Arberry and others to mean “slaughter”) them, then uphold the bonds; (i.e., take them captives) then (it is) either being bounteous (i.e., “showing” bounty by setting them free) hereafter (to them), or (exacting) ransom, until the war lays down its encumbrances. So it shall be; and if Allah had (so) decided, He would have vindicated Himself upon them; but that He may try some of you by means of others (Literally: by means of some “others”). And the ones who have been killed in the way of Allah, then He will never send their deeds into error.

Rashid Khalidi had asserted that this text’s context was “presumably in a battle” and you can tell by the parenthesis within the translations that this is also the assertion of various translators; some of which do not bother with parenthesis but translation as if the assertion is within the text.

Sahih, “[in battle]”

Muhsin Khan, “(in fight Jihad in Allah’s Cause)”

Pickthall, “in battle”

Yusuf Ali, “(in fight)”

Shakir, “in battle”

Arthur John Arberry, no comment.

Dr. Ghali, no comment.

Note against whom the battle is:

Sahih, “those who disbelieve”

Muhsin Khan, “those who disbelieve”

Pickthall, “those who disbelieve”

Yusuf Ali, “the Unbelievers”

Shakir, “those who disbelieve”

Arthur John Arberry, “the unbelievers”

Dr. Ghali, “the ones who have disbelieved”

Disbelieve Allah, Muhammad, the Qur’an / Koran, Islam; of course.

Note the first step in the protocol:

Sahih, “strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens.”

Muhsin Khan, “smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam), until the war lays down its burden.”

Pickthall, “smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens.”

Yusuf Ali, “smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens.”

Shakir, “smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates.”

Arthur John Arberry, “smite their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds; then set them free, either by grace or ransom, till the war lays down its loads.”

Dr. Ghali, “striking of the necks until, when you have subjugated (Wrongly understood by Arberry and others to mean “slaughter”) them, then uphold the bonds; (i.e., take them captives) then (it is) either being bounteous (i.e., “showing” bounty by setting them free) hereafter (to them), or (exacting) ransom, until the war lays down its encumbrances.”

Thus, Rashid Khalidi misrepresents the Qu’ran / Koran even whilst claiming to elucidate it.

It is noted that the Qu’ran / Koran does, in fact, state, “when you meet the unbelievers” and Khalidi guesses, “presumably in a battle” “smite at their necks.” This is followed up with “At length when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind the captives firmly. Therefore is the time for either generosity or ransom.”

So, he admits that according to the Qu’ran it is within Allah’s will to bind and hold people for ransom.

He then states, “If you cut off their heads you’re not going to bind them, and you’re not binding them to cut off their heads you’re binding them to either be generous to them, release them, or hold them for ransom.”

No, but he missed the key point of the text, “when you meet the unbelievers” you “smite at their necks” and only once you have “At length…thoroughly subdued them” then you take the rest of them “bind the captives firmly” and hold them for ransom.

First, you behead those who reject Islam.

Second, once the battle has gone Islam’s way, when they are winning, then those who reject Islam are to be tried / bound.

Third, once this is completed those who reject Islam are to be…:

Sahih International, “either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them]”

Muhsin Khan, “either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam)”

Pickthall, “either grace or ransom”

Yusuf Ali, “either generosity or ransom”

Shakir, “either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves)”

Arthur John Arberry, “either by grace or ransom”

Dr. Ghali, “either being bounteous (i.e., “showing” bounty by setting them free) hereafter (to them), or (exacting) ransom”

8:12 is just as clear and obvious:

Sahih International, trans.

[Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, “I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.”

Muhsin Khan, trans.

(Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, “Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.”

Pickthall, trans.

When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.

Yusuf Ali, trans.

Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): “I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.”

Shakir, trans.

When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

Arthur John Arberry, trans.

When thy Lord was revealing to the angels, ‘I am with you; so confirm the believers. I shall cast into the unbelievers’ hearts terror; so smite above the necks, and smite every finger of them!’

Dr. Ghali, trans.

As Your Lord was revealing to the Angels, (saying), “I am with you; so make the ones who believe stand firm. I will soon cast into the hearts of the ones who have disbelieved horror; so strike above the necks, and strike every finger-tip of them.”

When Islam apologists misrepresent the Qur’an / Koran they do Islam more damage by denying that which it really represents and thus, takes away from it the ability to reform.


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