Since September 11, 2001, interest in Islam and the Muslim world has heightened due to the terror attacks on American interests at home and abroad. As we have been studying the religion of Islam on Wednesday evenings, we have noted that Islam has grown and conquered the world, not by intellectual reasoning, but by the sword. The movement from its earliest days until now has been known by violence, war and brutality.

In the news recently, is the attack by Chechnyan Muslims against a school, where over 200 were killed. Russia has announced that they will now go after terrorists wherever they are found worldwide. I find it hypocritical of the United States to argue that Russia should sit down and talk with the Chechnyans, and then go after terrorists itself. No, all countries should be united in standing against terrorism wherever it is found.

Since the siege of the Russian school on September 9, the Muslim world and Arabs started to look at themselves more than ever. In the New York Times, under the title “MASSACRE DRAWS SELF CRITICISM IN MUSLIM PRESS,” John Kifner quotes various Muslim sources.

Abdel Rahman al-Rashed said, “It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims.” He went on to say, “The majority of those who manned the suicide bombings against buses, vehicles, schools, houses and buildings all over the world, were Muslim. What a pathetic record. What an abominable achievement. Does this tell us anything about ourselves, our societies and our culture?”

In Jordan, a group of Muslim religious figures, meeting with a religious affairs minister, issued a statement saying that the seizing of the school and massacre “was dedicated to distorting the pure image of Islam. . . This terrorist act contradicts the principles of our true Muslim religion and its noble vales.”

Others in various Arab journals have stated that there should be denunciations all over Islam for this and all other terrorist acts, and an effort made to put a stop to “the propagandists of jihad who in a span of a few years have distorted the image of Islam.”

Two observations are in order, and you draw the conclusions.

First, why this denunciation of terror now, after 200 were killed in a school in Russia. Where were these voices after September 11, 2001? Could it be this issue is finally being raised and discussed because Muslim terrorists are now attacking Russia, a well known friend of the Arab world?

Secondly, compare this with these passages from the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book:

Fight those who believe not/In Allah nor the Last Day
Nor hold that forbidden/By Allah and His Apostle
Nor Acknowledge the religion/Of truth (even if they are)
Of the people of the Book/Until they pay the Jizya
With willing submission/And feel themselves subdued

And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah
And the Christians say: The Messiah is the Son of Allah
These are the words of their mouth;
They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before;
May Allah destroy them; how they are turned away (Sura 9:29-30)

In quoting the Qur’an to try to prove that it is a religion of peace, we read Sura 5:32 which states:

“For this reason did We prescribe to the children of Israel that whoever slays a soul, unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew all men.” But the next verse says, “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned.” There is no doubt in many minds that anyone who says anything against Islam is making mischief in the land.

One Egyptian said, “Muslims are not permitted to make peace with a non-Muslim country until its inhabitants surrender to Islam. They can agree to a cease fire for a period of time, but never to peace with non-Muslims.” This is why Anwar Sadat of Egypt was assassinated—because he tried to make peace with Israel.

While it is commendable and laudatory that many have spoken out against terrorism, I am afraid that we will be facing this for time to come. Islam is not a religion of peace, despite what adherents claim. More next week.