| Submit your comments on this article |
| Terror Networks |
| Truce or Taqiyyah |
| 2006-01-24 |
| The Koran, Islamic tradition and al Qaeda's leadership shed light on bin Laden's offer. by Raymond Ibrahim Osama bin Laden is apparently certain that the vast majority of Americans, including their policy-makers, are ignorant of al-Qaeda’s goals and strategies. His recent “extended truce” offer to the Americans suggests as much: after offering the truce, he qualifies its earnestness by asserting “for we [Muslims] are a Nation whom Allah has forbidden from breaking pacts and lying.” And this is definitely true — the Koran and Tradition of the Prophet clearly censure acts of perfidy and deception. However, there are various doctrines and exceptions — also grounded in the Koran and Tradition — that assert that lying and pact-breaking, if done for a “just cause,” such as empowering Islam or preserving one’s life, are permitted. Such is the doctrine of Taqiyyah, which is well established in Muslim tradition (e.g., Koran 3:28). According to this doctrine, Believers may in certain circumstances openly deceive infidels by feigning friendship or goodwill — even a show of apostasy — so long as their heart is secure in its faith. Also, there are several traditions of the Prophet that justify oath-breaking. For instance, “Allah’s Messenger [Muhammad] said, ‘He who takes an oath but eventually finds a better way should do that which is better and break his oath’” [Sahih Muslim 15: 4057]. Even so, it would be unrealistic to assert that the majority of Muslims, assimilated in the world-body, either engage in — or possibly even know about — these somewhat obscure sayings. But ever-pious al Qaeda both knows and endorses these doctrines of deception, as evidenced by their writings. For instance, bin Laden’s right-hand man, Aymin al-Zawahri, himself the target of a U.S. attack in northern Pakistan just last week, quoting prominent Muslim scholars and imams throughout the ages, writes: “We grin to the faces of some peoples, though our hearts curse them….Protection is not accomplished with deeds but with the tongue [i.e., dissembling]…. [D]emonstrate friendship to the infidels with your tongues, while harboring hostility towards them….The Prophet, prayers and peace be upon him, said, ‘War is deceit.’…. Now deception in warfare requires that the mujahid bide his time and wait for an opportunity against his enemy, while avoiding confrontation at all possible costs. For triumph, in almost every case, is [achieved] through deception.” Rest at link. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #2 Under Sharia, there is no concept of sins committed against an Infidel. The only sin you can commit is being too friendly with them. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2006-01-24 12:17 |
| #1 I thought it was only wrong if Muslims lie to Muslims.All others are fair game. |
| Posted by: raptor 2006-01-24 06:53 |