Special Coverage of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Conference and Jihad: Saudi Cleric Musa Al-Qarni: Spreading Islam by the Sword Is, at Times, Justified
The following are excerpts from an interview with Saudi cleric Musa Al-Qarni on Iqra TV that aired on February 3, 2005.
Musa Al-Qarni: The chaos evident today in the human race -- killing, attacks, rape, robbery and so on -- the cause of all this is that the flags of the Jews, the Christians, and other faiths are raised higher than the flag proclaiming, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger."
Let's look at what is written in the Koran. What position should we adopt towards Allah's enemies? Is the position we Muslims have adopted towards Allah's enemies. First, we must accept. There are those who don't want us even to use the term 'Allah's enemies.' They don't want us to say that the Jews and the Christians are Allah's enemies. They don't want us to say that the Jews and Christians are the enemies of the Muslims and Islam.
Interviewer: This was said in the Koran and the Sunna.
Musa Al-Qarni: Since this was said in the Koran, how can it be that among our own tongues, our own sons, our own people, among the Muslims, there are people who deny these things, and deny the enmity between Muslims and non-Muslims? True, Allah's religion is all compassion. But if someone fights Allah's religion, fights those who love Allah, distorts the image of Islam and the Muslims, and makes efforts to weaken Islam.
This isn't just talk; let's take real examples. The Jews who now occupy the Muslims' lands, raping their women, killing their children, and destroying their houses -- are these acts being perpetrated by the Muslims or by the Jews?
Interviewer: By the Jews, the whole world knows that.
Musa Al-Qarni: OK, but now we see that anyone who--¦ anyone who speaks about the Jews - the term anti-Semitism has become widespread, and people are brought to trial for this. Aren't the Jews trying to make us change the Koranic verses? This verses, from the Book of our Lord, prove them to be sworn enemies and show their vile traits, their despicable defects, what they did to the prophets and their history of scheming, deception, conspiracy and treachery. They are trying to do this.
Interviewer: You cannot blame them for this. It is our fault because we agreed to change the Koran and the Sunna for their sake.
Musa Al-Qarni: The terrorists are these Jews and Christians, who carry out this policy by force, oppression, and tyranny, using tanks, planes, and all the lethal weapons.
Interviewer: Sister Aisha asked about the claim that Islam spread by the sword. They always say that Islam is spread by the sword. How should we respond to them?
Musa Al-Qarni: I ask how exactly the freedom that America wants is being spread.
Interviewer: Not by the sword, but by missiles, bombs.
Musa Al-Qarni: By missiles, by B-50s, by internationally prohibited bombs, by hundred of thousands of soldiers armed to the teeth --this is how freedom has spread.
Interviewer: And we don't see any freedom. We see nothing but enslavement.
Musa Al-Qarni: This religion. We must first of all, accept that Allah commanded us to spread this religion worldwide. It should be spread by calling to Allah's religion - using words, friendliness, and good deeds. By letting people hear Allah's words and showing them Allah's true religion. But if there is someone who obstructs this path and wants to prevent religion an light from reaching people, such a person must be fought. This is why Allah said: "Fight them so there is no strife and religion is professed for Allah alone."
I am not one of those who deny this completely and say this religion doesn't use the sword. No. This religion uses the sword when this is necessary. Therefore, wisdom, as the religious scholars say, is to put everything in the right place. If there is need for the sword, then it is wise to use the sword, and if there is need for good deeds and preaching, then it is wise to use them.
We ask Allah to strengthen the mujahideen in Iraq, and and bring them victory over their enemies, the Jews and the Christians. I also want to stress that the Jihad waged by Muslims in Iraq in order to drive out the enemies, from among the Jews and the Christians, who are attacking both land and honor-- this Jihad is legal. It is Jihad for the sake of Allah and in defense of Muslim lands, honor, and sanctities.
Published February 03, 2005, MEMRI.org
http://memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=523
