The Ultimate Goal of Islam...
Note:- If you have come directly to this page, please note that it relates to a Blog item posted on July 19, called Beyond acceptability..., which you can find here. Without that context, it may seem a tad gratuitous.
It has proved quite impossible to find an unbiased discussion
of Islam’s drive to religious world domination (a dogma embraced enthusiastically
by Muslim radicals and terrorists the world over), so I decided to write it
myself. As an atheist, no-one can accuse me of religious bias.
Obviously, I have had to trust my sources for the translations, but the following does show that Islamic expansionism and the quest for ultimate domination is hardwired into the religious teachings.
I have, though, excluded any major reference to terrorism, though mentions here and there are unavoidable. Although its inclusion would have been legitimate, I feel that it would have been inflammatory. I think, though, that one quotation - from Osama bin Laden (interviewed for ABC News in 1998), is justified in this context:-
I am one of the servants of Allah. We do our duty of fighting for the sake of the religion of Allah. It is also our duty to send a call to all the people of the world to enjoy this great light and to embrace Islam and experience the happiness in Islam. Our primary mission is nothing but the furthering of this religion...
Pretty much says it all, really.
The Qur’an refers to the superiority and triumph of Islam over all religions in at least four different Suras ( verses), 61:9, 48:28, 9:33 and 9:29. All translations are by Muslims.
Sura 61:9
61:9 He it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islamic monotheism) to make it victorious over all (other) religions even though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad) hate (it). (Hilali and Khan, The Noble Qur'an, Riyadh: Darussalam, 1996)
This is an alternative translation by Majid Fakhry catches the meaning of the singular:
61:9 It is He Who has sent His Messenger forth with the guidance and the religion of truth, to make it triumph over every religion, even though the idolaters may be averse. (An Interpretation of the Qur’an, New York: NYUP, 2004)
Sura 48:28
The translation that receives Saudi support has the following:
48:28 He it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), that He may make it (Islam) superior to all religions. And All-Sufficient is Allah as a Witness. (Hilali and Khan, parenthetical notes are theirs)
Fakhry, instead of "superior," uses "exalt it above":
48:28 It is He Who sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may exalt it above every other religion. Allah suffices as Witness.
Sura 9:33
This verse merely confirms the previous two.
9:33 It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it superior over all religions, though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it). (Hilali and Khan, parenthetical notes are theirs)
Sura 9:29 is rather more hard line.
9:29 Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. (Hilali and Khan, parenthetical notes are theirs)
Fight, of course can be construed simply as strive, but the source text says that in the original, the imperative verb, “qatala”, is used, signifying war and battle.
So there you have it. Stripped of all the rabid pro-Christian, anti-Islamic propaganda in the source document, these are the principles behind Islamic religious expansionism. The Suras are presented out of sequence, as they make more narrative sense that way. This is how they were presented in the source document; I was tempted to rearrange them into their proper sequence but, on consideration, I feel that this sequence is valid in making the point coherently.
I have tried to present the facts clearly, unemotionally and free as possible of personal opinion - mine and anyone else's. I hope I've succeeeded.