Does the Quran Promote Violence?
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, Islamic Horizons, Nov/Dec 2001 Unfortunately, the charged atmosphere engendered by the Sept. 11 tragedy has prompted media opinions, based on some Qur’anic verses that are misquoted and taken out of context, that the Qur’an promotes violence. Cal Thomas, a columnist for the Washington [DC] Times, did just this in his Oct. 3rd article “Can we be fooled twice?” For example, he presents only part of 5:85: “among those most hostile to the Believers you will find Jews and Pagans. . . ” One wonders why he does not complete it: “. . . and nearest among them in love to the Believers you will find those who say: ‘We are Christians,’ because among them you find men devoted to learning, men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.” Thomas quotes part of 9:5: “. . . then fight and slay the Pagans wherever find them. Seize them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them.” However, when read in its full context, verses 1-5, the meaning is quite different. Islam
