For most Americans, Islam was a religion that lived on the periphery of their lives, a culture they caught glimpses of in movies and television shows. Then came the tragic events of 9/11, and suddenly the Western world was desperately grasping to understand a religion they knew precious little about. With all the questions swirling around the true nature of Islam, none has been asked more than this: Does Islam promote violence?
On September 5, 2003, the Palestinian Sheikh Ibrahim Mudeiris declared: “The Prophet [Muhammad] could, by means of unbroken ranks, conquer Byzantium, the greatest power compared to today’s America….America is our No. 1 enemy, and we see it as our No. 1 enemy as long as we learn from the lessons of the Battle of Tabouk [which Muhammad fought in 630AD]: ‘Make ready for them whatever you can of armed strength and of mounted pickets’ [Qur’an 8:60].”
As late as November 2003, the website of the Islamic Affairs Department (IAD) of the Saudi embassy in Washington exhorted Muslims to “sword.” It quotes Muhammad delivering Allah’s words: “Whoever of My slaves comes out to fight in My way seeking My pleasure, I guarantee him that I will compensate his suffering with reward and booty (during his lifetime) and if he dies, I would forgive him, have mercy on him and let him enter Paradise.”
In December 2003, an Iraqi jihadi explained: “The religious principle is that we cannot accept to live with infidels. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him, said, ‘Hit the infidels wherever you find them.’” This quote was not from Muhammad but from Qur’an 9:5.
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