Terrorist actions and Koran teaching

Are terrorists’ actions consistent with the Koran’s teaching?

The recent news coverage of Rev. Terry Jones’s plans (now cancelled, apparently) to burn the Koran, ostensibly in observance of the 9/11 anniversary, implies that the teachings of the Koran are somehow related to the actions of the 9/11 terrorists.

This article examines the difficult question of the relation of Koranic teaching to terrorist actions.

Abrogation in the Koran
One of many major differences between the Bible and the Koran is that, while the Bible is considered by evangelical scholars to be consistent, inerrant, and non-contradictory, Islamic doctrine embraces the concept of abrogation, the principle that later chapters, known as suras, can change and overturn, or abrogate, earlier suras. This is especially troublesome since the Koran (alternate spelling: Quran or Q’uran) is believed by Muslims to be the recitations of God Himself, Allah—the word Quran means “recitation”—who gave his words to an angel*, who in turn gave them to Muhammad, who recited them but never wrote them down. If the Koran is really Allah’s words, then Allah must therefore abrogate himself—He changes and overturns in later speech what he has said previously.

Because of the doctrine of abrogation, it is difficult to determine exactly where the Koran—and Allah—stand on certain positions.

For example, Sura 2:62 says, “[2:62] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who believes in Allah, and believes in the Last Day, and leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.” This sentiment is echoed in Sura 2:136 and 3:84, both of which say, “we make no distinction among any of them.” Yet, in the very next verse, Sura 3:85, we are told that “Anyone who accepts other than Islam as his religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be with the losers.”

Sword verses
Add to these verses the Koran’s “sword verses”: “O believers, fight the unbelievers who are near to you [ some translations read, “disbelievers who attack you]…(Sura 9:123); “Those who believe are fighting for the cause of Allah, while those who disbelieve are fighting for the cause of tyranny. Therefore, you shall fight the devil's allies…(Sura 4:76); “…you may kill the idol worshipers when you encounter them, punish them, and resist every move they make. If they repent….you shall let them go….” (Sura 9:5), which are used by many Muslims to justify making war on non-Muslims.

The Koran and terrorists
While the Koran mentions war repeatedly, and commands or permits Muslims to fight, slay, or expel infidels (i.e., non-believers in Islam), most Islamic scholars contend that fighting is allowed only in self-defense, and aggression, instigation, and oppression are proscribed strongly.

It might be contended, therefore, that the 9/11 terrorists, and other Islamic terrorists, consider their attacks to be self-defense against perceived acts of aggression. However, there are other Koranic passages that must be considered as well. While suicide bombers are promised eternal Paradise by their leaders, Sura 4:29 says, “You shall not kill yourselves,” and anyone who does so, according to the very next verse, is consigned to Hell.

The nature of terrorist attacks is such that their victims are most frequently the innocent, including women, children, and civilian non-combatants. Yet passages such as Sura 5:32 and 2:194 condemn mass murder and insist that retribution be proportional.

Jihad
One of the most controversial words in comparative religions is the word jihad. Jihad means, literally, “struggle.” Muslims point to two kinds of struggles: the inner spiritual struggle against pride and self-sufficiency that is the antithesis of “Islam” (which means “submission”), and the outer physical struggle against the “house of war,” meaning the enemies of Islam (i.e., unbelievers, infidels). In addition to the tactics of preaching, teaching, and social justice, the outer jihad may also include war.

Apologists for Islam often insist that of the two struggles, the inner jihad is the primary. Yet, of the 36 times the word jihad appears in the Koran, all but 4 of these references is to the external and physical.

Sola Scriptura?
As Christians, we hold to the “Five Solas” of the Reformation, including sola scriptura, the principle that Scripture, and Scripture alone, is the only infallibly reliable and primary source of authority for our faith and practice. Muslims, however, often put as much or more stock in the traditional interpretations that have been handed down to them through long years, and give these interpretations of their scriptures the same weight of authority as the writings themselves, putting them more in line with Jews and Roman Catholics in their regard for scriptural authority.

Burn the book?
The conclusion we must come to is that, as many in our own faith do, Muslims who wish to find justification for their behavior can do so within the pages of their scripture. However, this does not mean the Koran should be set to the flame, any more than we should burn our Bibles because some misguided soul believes the Scriptures give him the right to kill an abortionist, burn a clinic, or look down upon a person of different race.

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*It is interesting that both Islam and Mormonism have come about through revelations from purported "angels."  How prophetic are the words of warning from the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:8: "Even if we, OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN [emphasis added] should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!"

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.

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