Enimies of Islam and how they peddle the false Islam.

For the millionth time, Islam is what the Quran says it is and only what the Quran says it is and nobody can change this fundamental premise of the Islamic faith. The use of any other premise to explain Islam will run contrary to the established "primary source trumps everything" rule. By constantly bringing up the deliberately misleading mantra that Quran can be interpreted in "many ways" is "convenient" to some but dead wrong never the less. This line of passive aggressive attack is designed to try and bend the straightforward message of the Quran. Equally important to note that this same mantra utterly fails to take away from yet another fact; all the guidelines for accurately interpreting the message of God are embedded in the Quran itself.

Yes Quranic verses reveal multilayer information but that should not be confused with different interpretations. Mustansir Mir, Professor of Islamic Studies at Youngstown State University, puts it beautifully;

“From a linguistic standpoint, it is quite possible for a word, phrase or statement to have more than one layer of meaning, such that one layer would make sense to one audience in one age and another layer of meaning would, without negating the first, be meaningful to another audience in a subsequent age.”

Why sticking to the Quranic guidelines of interpretation is so critical when attempting to understand the message of God than a mere technical handbook or a improve yourself guide for instance? Because unlike these limited impact activities, the message of God defines us. We are supposed to and most do shape their lives and individual actions around it. So when we get it wrong, the results can be catastrophic both for us and the people around us. As is sadly evident from the events of the recent past. 

By now it is almost boring to note that whenever these blinkered lot are reminded that Islam is based on a message of peace they pretend to not "understand". Invariably their very next move is to start pointing to badly translated and out of context and/or incomplete verses popularized by the usual suspects. These usual suspects both Muslims and the Islamophobic kind can be seen selling snake oils from all corners. Not to mention mixing the seriously problematic secondary sources with the purity of the Quran. Predictably when reminded that there is no option in the Quran for an offensive war, they feign surprise.

Simply bringing up actions of those who either happens to be Muslims or claims to be Muslims does not mean Islam is to be blamed. Exactly in the same way when bad Christians or bad Jews or bad Buddhists or even those smitten with the so called secular ideologies do bad things, they do not represent neither their respective majorities nor the belief system associated with them. Furthermore, endorsement of clearly un-Islamic practices by a noisy minority from within the Muslim communities cannot change the fact that these are and should be treated in the context that they reside in, the un-Islamic kind.

When it comes to the overwhelming message of peace in the Quran, it appears that what they are really objecting to is the fact that God in the Quran also gives the believers full rights to defend themselves when attacked, as it should be. Furthermore, they conveniently omit or ignore the easily verifiable strict guidelines accompanying such rights. Namely, cease all hostilities when the attackers stop fighting. And even during hostilities if some from among the enemy ask for a sanctuary, it should be given to them in a manner that makes them feel safe and always side with the oppressed caps it all.
 
To miss this level of detail cannot be explained away. Attempts to hide these related verses are amateurish at best. The real explanation of course is that they take the intended audience for fools and sadly in most cases they are. Quranic laws are not some purist ideals but rooted in the real world and helps individuals and communities deal with reality of the human condition in the best possible manner.

The play behind the opposition to the Quranic Islam has a much bigger plot. This push back, both by sectarian Muslims and outsiders is obviously nothing to do with not being able to understand the message of the Quran. In fact this opposition stems from the realization that real Islam gives unprecedented powers to individuals. Not only that but the whole phenomena encourages reason and logic and rational thought. Hence, it comes as no surprise that an increasingly bogus scientific authority is used to provide a cover to undermine the real power that accompany faith based movements in general and Islam in particular.

Individuals must learn to use the very same logic and reason emphasized in the Quran to separate the real divine message from the fake message aggressively sold to them day in and day out by those hell-bent on taking their rights away from them.

These well-funded campaigns give the impression as if notions like critical thinking, proofs and evidence are their preferred paths. The truth is that this phoney front cloaked in terms like "Humanists" and "ethics" are subservient to doggy political movements and its close cousin the big business, with just one objective; to squeeze the rest of the society. True that most rank and file of these enemies of Islam, both from within and the ones operating on the outside are not in on the "secret" motive. In this relentless game of grab they are also the victims; either brainwashed into acting under false ideologies or are simply motivated by money. Yes money, organized religion pays hefty commissions to fund raisers.

And BTW what exactly do they expect us to do when badly translated verses are incessantly quoted out of context? They are not only badly translated but in some cases deliberately translated wrong. Repeating either type incessantly will not change the fact that they continue to be out of context and wrong :) Every single time.