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The "Radical Muslim": Getting It Bass Ackwards

Paul Derengowski, ThM

 

What exactly is a "radical Muslim"?  We often hear about them in the news.  Typically the designation is placed upon those who have committed some act of terror as a Muslim (e.g. beheading the innocent, car bombings, suicide bombings, etc.). Also we regularly assume that the act of terror is done in some far away land, where camels roam the deserts and building structures are at least 500 years-old.  But is such a media-driven picture really accurate of what a "radical Muslim" is?

Over the years and after looking into the basic teachings of Islam it has become the position of CAPRO that the radical Muslim is not one who goes about beheading people or waging militant Jihad against the non-believer.  Instead the radical Muslim is one who demonstrates several key characteristics that are completely at odds with the media-driven image regularly portrayed to the general public.  Those characteristics involve the Qur'an, Muhammad, and the arbitrary teachings of the imams, sheikhs, and mullahs as based on the Quran and Shari'a Law; all of which must be denied.

In order to be a "radical Muslim" one must first deny the teachings of the Qur'an, particularly those verses which explicitly tell the Muslim to "Fight against those who believe not in Allah" (9:29).  Of course that would mean denying 99% of the Qur'an, for from Sura 2:244 onward the attitude of Muhammad changes from one of peace to one of war.  Moreover, given the doctrine of abrogation (2:106; 16:101), which essentially means that all verses preceding the ones speaking of peace have been done away with, one will be hard-pressed to conclude that the Muslim practicing peace with his neighbors is in conformity with the Quran.  Therefore, the "radical Muslim" becomes a people without any objective moorings.  He cannot rely upon Qur'an as a guide since it repeatedly speaks of doing violence to those in opposition to his religion.

Second, the "radical Muslim" must deny his prophet, Muhammad, for he was a strong advocate of conquering by the sword.  Of course there are the militant Muslims who wish to paint a rosy picture of a peace-loving prophet who would only strike out against those who allegedly either offended or violently opposed his teachings.  But, such a picture is deceitful at best.  For history shows that after Muhammad was able to garner enough financial and military support, his whole modus operandi changed from one of peace to threatening, intimidating, and murdering those who failed to submit to his rants.  His threats, intimidations, and murders are preserved for us not only in the Qur'an (2:244; 4:56, 76, 84; 5:33, 51; 8:39, 65, 67; 9:5, 12, 73; 22:39; 47:4; 60:1; 98:6), but in the Hadiths (Bukhari 4.6.53; 102.196; 157.269; 159.271; 21.386; 26.392) and the Sunnahs (which are really nothing more than the practices derived from the Hadiths).  After Muhammad passed from the scene his successors carried on his tyranny.  So, if one desires to be truly "radical" as a Muslim, he must deny or renounce Muhammad, his declarations, and his lifestyle.

Finally, the "radical Muslim" must deny the teachings of the imams, sheikhs, and mullahs who base their beliefs upon the Quran and Shari'a Law.  A day does not go by where one cannot find in the news or on YouTube an imam, sheikh, or mullah expressing a hateful comment directed toward the West or Israel.  These teachings extend back to the days of Muhammad when he engaged in hate rhetoric toward the infidels, Christians, and Jews, when he either had them murdered or subjected to the jizya (the poll tax).  Today's imams, particularly those overseas (although a growing number of them are now in the United States), are just as hostile and anti-Semitic as Muhammad ever was.  Plus, as already noted above, there are repeated mandates and examples in the Qur'an and Hadiths to keep the incendiary comments flowing.  These, however, must be rejected in order for one to be a "radical Muslim."

Of course by now some might be saying, "But, to oppress, maim, and murder those who disagree with Islam is 'radical.'  Islam is actually a 'religion of peace.'"  Such thinking has been conditioned by propaganda and is devoid of understanding the fundamental teachings of Islam.  To oppress, maim, and murder is a part of Islamic doctrine.  Failure to recognize or acknowledge those basic tenets of the religion is to set oneself up to be deceived, and then to become a deceiver.  It does not discount the fact that there are millions in Islam who would not engage in such heinous activities.  What it does is place the religious ideals of Islam in proper perspective and point out that the "radical" is the peaceful Muslim, not the suicidal bomber. In other words, the true practitioner in Islam is not the peaceful exponent, but the one willing to fight and kill the infidel, regardless of the means necessary to carry out Allah's will.

Therefore, the media, government officials, and religious dupes have gotten it bass ackwards when using the expression "radical Muslim."  For the radical Muslim is NOT the one committing terrorist acts in his Jihad against the infidel.  That kind of Muslim is the norm when one takes into consideration what Muhammad, the Qur'an, and the Hadiths prescribe in the quest to dominate the world.  It is the Muslim who denies those actions and persons doing the prescribing who is the real "radical Muslim."  Continued misuse of the expression will only contribute to the confusion of misidentifying who is doing what in the name of Islam.