Lord Pearson of Rannoch, who led Ukip during the last general election, is to be reported to the speaker of the upper house, Lady D’Souza, after he suggested that the Qur’an had inspired Rigby’s killers.
He told peers: “My lords, are the government aware that Fusilier Rigby’s murderers quoted 22 verses of the Qur’an to justify their atrocity? Therefore, is the prime minister accurate or helpful when he describes it as a betrayal of Islam? Since the vast majority of Muslims are our peace-loving friends, should we not encourage them to address the violence in the Qur’an – and indeed in the life and the example of Muhammad?”
A Ukip spokesman said: “What Lord Pearson is doing is calling on Islamic scholars to treat the Qur’an as Christian scholars treat the Bible – to use it as a subject for debate and discourse around the core message. He is talking about how Islamic scholars are constrained by the comprehension that the Qur’an is the perfect word of God unencumbered by human frailty, unlike the Bible. In contrast the apostles are human and like all human things are prone to error.”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/25/ukip-lord-pearson-quran-lee-rigby-murder
Comparing the New Testament to the Koran is like comparing the inaccurately recorded speech and deeds of a prophet by his apostles with the directly transcribed Word of God.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/story/mmfour.html
A period of forty years separates the death of Jesus from the writing of the first gospel.
One is hearsay written by different people 40 years later whose narratives do not quite agree, and the other is conceptually superior dictated and transcribed Word of God which took place as a series of contemporaneous revelations over 23 years ie God would reveal a chapter, and Muhammad's followers would act on its divine advice, recommendations and suggestions, particularly when these revelations contain battle orders and how to distribute booty.
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Michael Adebolajo who now calls himself Mujaahid Abu Hamza quotes Qur’an verses at the bottom of the second page of his letter as his motivation to his actions. He put them in five groups:
1. 4:69-76, 4:84, 9:41
2. 9:24, 9:39, 9:46, 9:87, 9:93
3. 9:67, 3:173, 47:20, 9:86, 9:31, 9:51-5, 8:5-6, 2:170
4. 3:160, 9:119, 9:123
5. 9:37, 2:216, 3:142
Clearly, Michael Adebolajo took it upon himself to murder Lee Rigby as part of his jihad, but it should be borne in mind that none of the verses that he cites in any way justifies terrorism.
It has been suggested by Lord Pearson that these verses must be in some way "extremist" - whatever that means - but there are plenty of stories in the Old Testament about war and murder, and many perfectly irreligious people think the end justifies the means.
I can only equate Adebalajo's reading of these verses as "going beyond his brief" or an unqualified person thinking he can conduct brain surgery by referring to a manual.
As they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
The only way to avoid political violence is good government that is on the whole trusted by those whom it governs under a fair enough system. Britain is now a society of rising crime and disorder and this is accompanied by ever shriller cries from women demanding yet more protection from men while the men are too afraid to protest at their loss of liberty and rights because they no longer have anyone in political establishment who will stand up for them. Women should not be so systematically and provocatively alienating men in this quite unnecessary way and then refusing to hear well-meant criticism.
http://www.heretical.com/sgs-2013/sprees.html
The spree killer may be at the outer boundary in the range of normal human behaviour, but nonetheless his is the natural response of the social animal provoked beyond endurance. He is merely the forerunner, and until he is given legitimate expression of his valid and justified anger, and allowed to respond to the daily injustices and affronts he must presently endure, each new atrocity will only herald more to come.
There is nothing remarkable about the fact that the biggest horde of foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria originated in Tunisia, the most westernised of Arab countries. Mass education, economic crisis and unfeeling government have long constituted a fertile soil for the cults of authoritarianism and violence. Powerlessness and deprivation are exacerbated today by the ability, boosted by digital media, to constantly compare your life with the lives of the fortunate (especially women entering the workforce or prominent in the public sphere: a common source of rage for men with siege mentalities worldwide). The quotient of frustration tends to be highest in countries that have a large population of educated young men who have undergone multiple shocks and displacements in their transition to modernity and yet find themselves unable to fulfil the promise of self-empowerment. For many of them the contradiction Dostoevsky noticed between extravagant promise and meagre means has become intolerable.
One of Darwin’s observations is relevant: that “the competition is always the most severe between the most closely allied species.” The British and German populations are genetically very similar. Another proposal is that ‘females make small differences larger.’
A man who has lost control at home can seek to dominate elsewhere. This displacement idea can be extended to a national leader, perhaps an American president. He must have a great lust for power to attain such a position and it is not surprising that once installed he wishes to “flex his muscles” and exercise some real power. However his options for doing so at home are limited. His masculine instinct to dominate and subdue may be exercised far away instead.
Simon Sheppard attempts to bridge the ‘missing link’ between feminism and war and asks, Were suffragettes responsible for World War One?
The names and faces of those killed in London
After 60 people being murdered in just London alone, the threat of terrorism does not seem quite so threatening, particularly as Lee Rigby's murderers carefully chose their victim. Would you prefer to be in fear of terrorism or in fear of being stabbed or shot by some random criminal?
Or would you rather have a change of government from one that provokes terrorism, lets in murderous criminal terrorist migrants to one that does not provoke terrorism, does not just let anyone into the country and runs it properly?
https://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2014/03/01/lee-rigby-analyzing-muslim-killers-letter-with-quran-verses-to-murder-witness/
GROUP 1
“And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions. That is the bounty from Allah , and sufficient is Allah as Knower. O you who have believed, take your precaution and [either] go forth in companies or go forth all together. And indeed, there is among you he who lingers behind; and if disaster strikes you, he says, ‘Allah has favored me in that I was not present with them.’ But if bounty comes to you from Allah , he will surely say, as if there had never been between you and him any affection. ‘Oh, I wish I had been with them so I could have attained a great attainment.’ So let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And he who fights in the cause of Allah and is killed or achieves victory – We will bestow upon him a great reward. And what is with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, ‘Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?’ Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taghut. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.” (4:69-76)
This verse was addressed to Muhammad when he was telling his followers to leave Mecca with him for Medina. Understandably, many of them needed a bit of divine encouragement to up sticks and promises in the afterlife and posterity to compensate them for the undoubted dangers of emigration and doing God's work in a sea of hostile unbelievers. Faint heart ne'er won fair lady and all that.
“So fight in the cause of Allah ; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers that perhaps Allah will restrain the might of those who disbelieve. And Allah is greater in might and stronger in punishment.” (4:84)
This verse would be comforting for the jihadi because it is only to be expected that if you are a terrorist, you would be challenging what you regard as an oppressor and an oppressor is by definition mightier and more numerous than you.
“Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah . That is better for you, if you only knew.” (9:41)
This no more than states that men are the ones who do the fighting, not the women. If we are to fight then let it be for a righteous cause.
GROUP 2
(Muhammad), tell them, "If your fathers, children, brothers, spouses, relatives, the property that you possess, the trade you fear may have no profit and the homely life are more beloved to you than God, His Messenger and fighting for His cause, wait until God fulfills His decree (of making the right distinct from the wrong). God does not guide the evil-doers." (9:24)
Muhammad, tell your reluctant followers that they should love a righteous cause more than they love their creature comforts and possessions if they are indeed moral men.
“If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And Allah is over all things competent.” (9:39)
If you won't do God's work, He will find another people who will and then you'll be sorry.
Had they (the hypocrites) wanted to join your army, they would have prepared themselves, but God did not wish to motivate them, so He caused them to linger behind with those whose joining you in battle would be of no use. (9:46)Muhammad, don't be downhearted about those hypocritical bastards who said they would join your army and then made their last-minute excuses saying they weren't ready after all. You are better off without them.
They are content to be with those (the women) who sit behind (at home). Their hearts are sealed up (from all kinds of goodness and right guidance), so they understand not. (9:87)
So not everyone joined your army, Muhammad, and many men decided to stay home with their women. Let them.
The blameworthy ones are those who ask for exemption despite their ability and who preferred to stay at home with those who are truly exempt. God has placed a seal on their hearts but they do not know. (9:93)
Excuses, schmexcuses. Never mind, Mo. It will be all right on the night, you know wot I mean.
GROUP 3
“The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Indeed, the hypocrites – it is they who are the defiantly disobedient.” (9:67)
So the Hypocrites have let you down again. Next time they are in a fix, I'll let them stew. Don't worry about it, Mo, my man. Onwards and upwards!
“Those to whom hypocrites said, ‘Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.’ But it increased them in faith, and they said, ‘Sufficient for us is Allah, and the best Disposer of affairs.’” (3:173)
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, especially if you have faith. Onwards and upwards!
Those who believe say: "Why is not a Surah (chapter of the Quran) sent down (for us)? But when a decisive Surah (explaining and ordering things) is sent down, and fighting (Jihad holy fighting in Allah's Cause) is mentioned (i.e. ordained) therein, you will see those in whose hearts is a disease (of hypocrisy) looking at you with a look of one fainting to death. But it was better for them (hypocrites, to listen to Allah and to obey Him). (47:20)
Haha! These Hypocrites demanded another chapter of revelation from God, but quail when they learn that its contents are battle orders, particularly about how to kill the enemy for which they are not trained, not being professional soldiers, merely luxury-loving businessmen. Try and get them onside, Mo, they might be all right in the end once you get them going.
And when a Surah (chapter from the Quran) is revealed, enjoining them to believe in Allah and to strive hard and fight along with His Messenger, the wealthy among them ask your leave to exempt them (from Jihad) and say, "Leave us (behind), we would be with those who sit (at home)." (9:86)
Well, Mo, I'm afraid that some of your followers may well be cowardly custards. Just do your best with what you have, my man.
“They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah , and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.” (9:31)These pesky Jews with their Holy Rabbis and these pesky Christians with their own Holy Rabbi with their pesky idolatry. A pox on both their houses.
“Say, ‘Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.’ And upon Allah let the believers rely. Say, ‘Do you await for us except one of the two best things while we await for you that Allah will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting.’ Say, ‘Spend willingly or unwillingly; never will it be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been a defiantly disobedient people.’ And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling. So let not their wealth or their children impress you. Allah only intends to punish them through them in worldly life and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.” (9:51-5)
Disbelievers will die disbelievers and then they will be sorry when they find in the afterlife that they are sent to The Other Place that does not have gardens with running streams and beautiful young men and women serving them delicious things to eat and good wine to drink while they recline on silk cushions in their fine clothing.
“Just as when your Lord brought you out of your home in truth, while indeed, a party among the believers were unwilling, arguing with you concerning the truth after it had become clear, as if they were being driven toward death while they were looking on.” (8:5-6)
Some people just like arguing for the sake of it, even when the matter is already settled. Try and ignore them and don't let them get you down, Mo.
“And when it is said to them, ‘Follow what Allah has revealed,’ they say, ‘Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.’ Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided? (2:170)
Christians just prefer their nonsense because it is the nonsense of their ancestors even when what Islam offers is obviously superior. Not much you can do with people like that.
GROUP 4
“If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.” (3:160)
Deserve the support of God and none shall overcome you, disbelieve in Him and you are doomed if He should wish to upset your plans.
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.” (9:119)
Obviously, keep good company and give each other mutual support, and keep away from bad company and those who wish to undermine your faith just for the fun of it.
“O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous.” (9:123)
Teach these pesky disbelievers a lesson and be righteous.
GROUP 5
“To disregard the observation of the sacred months and to observe it during the non-sacred months is to add more to one's disbelief. This causes the unbelievers to go further astray. One year they (the pagans) consider a sacred month not sacred, (and observe it during a non-sacred month) but the next year they consider it sacred at the right time. By dealing with the sacred months in such a manner, they think that they have observed the laws of God, but, in fact, they have changed them. Their evil deeds seem attractive to them but God does not guide the unbelieving people.” (9:37)
These dreadful people break even their own rules, rather like liberals who delight in going against God's laws. What a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive! Soon these disbelievers will be deceiving themselves and be quite unable to tell truth from falsehood, nonsense from reason and utterly destroy themselves after going mad. Just you wait and see, Mo!
“Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (2:216)
I know you lily-livered milquetoasts hate the idea of risking your lives, but in the end, you will be pleased with yourselves you did it.
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allah has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause and made evident those who are steadfast?” (3:142)
Obviously, God is testing you for your fitness to enter heaven.
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I am afraid I can't really discern any particular theme to these groups of verses other than that of how difficult it is to get people to fight for a righteous cause, especially if they are luxury-loving businessmen. This remains true now, I imagine.
