In 58 posts with close to 100k words, we shared a lot in 2024! Explore 2024’s biggest geopolitical shifts, cultural battles, and bold insights with Drishtikone’s year in review. See you in 2025! Happy New Year! Be safe!
When you see Russia get into existential war over Ukraine, or Israel bomb Syria or India battle with Pakistan or Bangladesh, it is not because of some whim. It has a historical and geographical context. That is critical to understand for analyzing geopolitics.
Dive into the shadowy world of the Deep State—its hidden structures, powerful networks, and the far-reaching impact on global events and control.
The greatest strife in world today is the specter and blot of Islamic terror. Islamic hordes of ISIS and Jehadis of Al Qaeda and the many terror organizations that are backed, funded and spawned by Pakistan, Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia (to name a few) kill in thousands every year! In September 2016, for example, 1167 people were killed in 33 countries in 201 attacks. Until Oct 21, this month of October 2016, 597 had already died in 51 attacks in 12 countries (source)!
That is the level of violence and expanse of attacks that the world is witnessing from Islamic terrorists. And as the figures suggest, it is not a minority! What can the world do about this? One is to understand how Muhammad’s theological doctrine influenced Muslims over the centuries to go and kill. Its imperative that the world puts aside the self-imposed deception and make-believe arguments that somehow Islamic terror is “Political and Not Theologically inspired” (as folks like Fareed Zakaria – “It’s not theology, it’s politics. Radical Islam is the product of the broken politics and stagnant economics of Muslim countries.” – would have us believe!) In this important article in Harvard Business Review, it is argued that to fight Islamic terror, it is critical to understand the war doctrine as laid out by Muhammad.
For instance, based on the words and deeds of Muhammad, most schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree that the following are all legitimate during war against the infidel: the indiscriminate use of missile weaponry, even if women and children are present (catapults in Muhammad’s 7th century, hijacked planes or WMD by analogy today); the need to always deceive the enemy and even break formal treaties whenever possible (see Sahih Muslim 15: 4057); and that the only function of the peace treaty, or hudna, is to give the Islamic armies time to regroup for a renewed offensive, and should, in theory, last no more than ten years.
Quranic verses 3:28 and 16:106, as well as Muhammad’s famous assertion, “War is deceit,” have all led to the formulation of a number of doctrines of dissimulation—the most notorious among them being the doctrine of taqiyya, which permits Muslims to lie and dissemble whenever they are under the authority of the infidel. Deception has such a prominent role that renowned Muslim scholar Ibn al-Arabi declares: “[I]n the Hadith, practicing deceit in war is well demonstrated. Indeed, its need is more stressed than [the need for] courage” (The Al Qaeda Reader, 142).
In an attempt to understand the bedrock of many actions of Muslims – those who engage in terror and those who – while calling themselves moderates – indulge in outright obfuscation of matters (as the Meccan Muslims did when Muhammad’s men killed in the ‘holy month’) – it is imperative that we go through Quranic verses carefully. Here is a list of verses along with their context and background. As HBR says:
This is more ironic when one considers that, while classical military theories (Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, et al.) are still studied, the argument can be made that they have little practical value for today’s much changed landscape of warfare and diplomacy. Whatever validity this argument may have, it certainly cannot be applied to Islam’s doctrines of war; by having a “theological” quality, that is, by being grounded in a religion whose “divine” precepts transcend time and space, and are thus believed to be immutable, Islam’s war doctrines are considered applicable today no less than yesterday.
Islamic war doctrines and motivations come from the so-called “divine word”, which is revered to be unchanging and believed verbatim. So let us leave aside the defeatist political correctness and look at the basis of Islamic terror the way it is!
We will go through different aspects of the Islamic doctrine of terror and genocide as ordained by Allah himself. We will end this post with what is Allah himself trying to achieve? What is Allah’s Goal after all? In that we will get the answer that Harvard Business Review is trying to look for.
Context of verses 190-193: Mohammad had just moved from Mecca to Medina, where he was living peacefully with his followers. It was then that Mohammad gave a call for an attack on Mecca people to drive them out of their city since ostensibly they had not allowed him to offensively put their faith down. As one can clearly see the there is a clever way of calling for violence against all those who disbelieve in Islamic word and a fig leaf of “peace” saying – kill only those who do not follow Allah. So, lets be honest – it is peaceful ONLY towards Muslims and hateful against everyone else! That sounds like a clarion call for terror whichever way you read it. Another thing – it uses the word Fitnah to describe the “transgressions” of the Meccans. Fitnah is basically mischief and is simply whatever anyone says that is not in absolute and complete agreement with “Allah’s word”. So if you have any other version of life or the Universe, well… too bad, you are committing fitnah and in the world of Mohammad, you oughta be killed! Again, if I am the judge of when you “commit mischief” (which is worse than killing) against my “faith” and also the executor – that’s one heck of a justice system isn’t it? Merciful “god” notwithstanding!
Quran (2:190) “And fight in the Way of Allah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors.
Quran (2:191-193) – “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing… but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun(the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)”
When Mohammad and his companions had moved to Medina from Mecca, his followers went out to kill and loot from the Meccan traders. Under false disguise they used to attack those traders and kill them mercilessly – even during the “holy month”. Which the Muslims in Mecca – still there – used to completely deny (just like those today). To help everyone, then Muhammad came up with two verses to establish the sanctity of killing “infidels” during the “holy month”.
Why I Am Not a Muslim
[A Muslim raider] who had shaved his head, looked down on them [the Meccan caravan], and when they saw him they felt safe and said, “They are pilgrims, you have nothing to fear from them.” (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 424, Ibn Kathir V.2 p.242)
[The Muslim raiders] encouraged each other, and decided to kill as many as they could of them and take what they had. Waqid shot Amr bin al-Hadrami with an arrow and killed him… (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 425; see also Ibn Kathir V.2 p.243)
The Quraysh said that Muhammad and his Companions violated the sanctity of the Sacred Month and shed blood, confiscated property and took prisoners during it. Those who refuted them among the Muslims who remained in Makkah replied that the Muslims had done that during the month of Sha`ban (which is not a sacred month). (Ibn Kathir)
As can be seen from the context, these two verses were NOT in self-defense as many “moderate Muslims” would have you believe!
Quran (2:216) – “Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.”
Quran (2:217) – “They ask you concerning the sacred month about fighting in it. Say: Fighting in it is a grave matter, and hindering (men) from Allah’s way and denying Him, and (hindering men from) the Sacred Mosque and turning its people out of it, are still graver with Allah, and persecution is graver than slaughter.”
This one is self-explanatory. No context needed.
Quran (2:244) – “Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things.”
Quran (3:56) – “As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.”
Quran (3:151) – “We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allah, for which He had sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire and how evil is the abode of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)“.
Quran (4:74) – “Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward.” The martyrs of Islam are unlike the early Christians, who were led meekly to the slaughter. These Muslims are killed in battle as they attempt to inflict death and destruction for the cause of Allah. This is the theological basis for today’s suicide bombers.
Quran (4:76) – “Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…”
Quran (4:89) – “They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”
Context: In this verse, the word used is Mujahideen – which is one who is undertaking Jihad. Quite clearly, Muhammad (and Allah) had a clear use of Jehad – Violence.. and not “Spiritual introspection” as many would like us to believe. This was revealed (per the Hadiths) when a blind man protested that he couldn’t participate in Jihad. So it obviously wasn’t an “internal struggle” that was meant by Jihad here.
Quran (4:95) – “Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home).Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward ”
This verse exhorts Muslims to kill even those who are retreating.
Quran (4:104) – “And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain…” Is pursuing an injured and retreating enemy really an act of self-defense?
Quran (5:33) – “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement”
These verses in Sura 8 came forth after Muhammad’s men attacked a caravan that was going peacefully. The battle was provoked by Muhammad himself.
Quran (8:12) – “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them” No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a spiritual struggle. The targets of violence are “those who disbelieve” – further defined in the next verse (13) as “defy and disobey Allah.”
Quran (8:15) – “O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. (16)Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey’s end.”
Muhammad had denounced Meccans’ religion and tried to break their idols before he was thrown out of Mecca. Meccans did not allow him or any armed groups to enter Mecca for any Haj related activities. Although other Muslims were allowed. This verse comes under that circumstance. As per Sira (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 324) Muhammad elaborated that “Allah must have no rivals” after saying that fight until only Islam is left there (religion is all for Allah)
Quran (8:39) – “And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion is all for Allah” (For more on Fitna, please check introduction to 2:193).
Quran (8:57) – “If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember.”
Quran (8:67) – “It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he had made a great slaughter in the land…”
Quran (8:59-60) – “And let not those who disbelieve suppose that they can outstrip (Allah’s Purpose). Lo! they cannot escape. Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy.”
Quran (8:65) – “O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight…”
The time for this verse was when Muslims had fought and won over Mecca and were now committing genocide and cleansing of the place by killing all who were not ready to accept Islam – forcibly. There was no question of “self-defense” on part of Muslims here. It was an act of Genocide and Religious Cleansing! In fact this verse has been used by ISIS in their exhorting Jihadis to carry out terror attacks!
Quran (9:5) – “So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them.”
Allah not only promotes Genocide and Religious Cleansing but openly celebrates humiliating others as a way to feel good. If this is not a definition of a psychopath, one isn’t sure what is?
Quran (9:14) – “Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people.”
Those who have striven – really means those who are on the path of war and inflicting terror. The root for the word in Arabic translated as “striven” is the same as Jihad.
Quran (9:20) – “Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah’s way are of much greater worth in Allah’s sight. These are they who are triumphant.”
The next few verses call openly for Islamic Hegemony! ‘People of book’ are Christians and Jews – who clearly need to be humiliated and subjugated, per Allah.
Quran (9:29) – “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
Quran (9:30) – “And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!”
Quran (9:33) – “ It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it).”
And in establishing the Islamic Hegemony and committing genocide and religious cleansing – as ordained by Allah himself – if you had any doubts as a Muslim on your duty, then this verse settles it clearly.
Quran (9:38-39) – “O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place.”
And, even if you have to go away from your home and fight in other lands. Self-defense?
Quran (9:41) – “Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew.” See also the verse that follows (9:42) – “If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them”
If the Muslims had any more doubts left, then the push to kill non-Muslims becomes even harder! Well, they are evil and hell is where they belong, pronounces Allah!
Quran (9:73) – “O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.”
Quran (9:88) – “But the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons: for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper.”
Being a Ruthless (find you in hardness) terrorist and attacking, fighting and killing is the sine qua non of a true Muslim. That is the pronouncement of Allah as per Quran’s Sura 9. Now go figure!
Quran (9:111) – “Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Quran: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.”
Quran (9:123) – “O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness.”
Ever wondered by the terrorists first ask non-Muslims to convert and then threaten with terror and death? Well it is because of the path set forth by Allah for them. This verse sets the steps up for Terror 101!
Quran (17:16) – “And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.”
Quran (21:44) – “We gave the good things of this life to these men and their fathers until the period grew long for them; See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? Is it then they who will win?”
Quran (25:52) – “Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness…”
This verse lays it out clearly that the victims of Islam have to be sought out and killed, merely for who they are. The word “hypocrite” seems interesting as it makes it seem “reasonable” – but what is Allah’s definition of a ‘hypocrite’? Here you go – “And that He might test the hypocrites, it was said to them: “Come, fight in the Way of Allah or (at least) defend yourselves.” They said: “Had we known that fighting will take place, we would certainly have followed you.” They were that day, nearer to disbelief than to Faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah has full knowledge of what they conceal. Quran 3.167” To understand the import of “those of diseased hearts”, please refer to the verse 5:51 and 52!
Quran (33:60-62) – “If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then they will be your neighbors in it but a little while. Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter.”
And, why doesn’t Allah – one who created humans kill the unbelievers? Well, that is to test the “faith of the Muslims”. Ever watched those psychopaths playing with their victims? Well…
Quran (47:3-4) – “Those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord… So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah’s Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives)… If it had been Allah’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.”
Quran (47:35) – “Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost(Shakir: “have the upper hand”) for Allah is with you,”
Quran (48:17) – “There is no blame for the blind, nor is there blame for the lame, nor is there blame for the sick (that they go not forth to war). And whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow; and whoso turneth back, him will He punish with a painful doom.”
And btw, all that talk of “Equality for the mankind” in Islam is debunked by Allah himself in this verse. Allah is very clear on who should be treated as humans!
Quran (48:29) – “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves”
He wants his religion to be victorious over all other religions and he loves those who fight for this cause. The words for fighting and striving here, btw, are the root words of Jihad. So much for Jihad as internal struggle!
Quran (61:4) – “Surely Allah loves those who fight in His cause” Religion of Peace, indeed! The verse explicitly refers to “rows” or “battle array,” meaning that it is speaking of physical conflict. This is followed by
Quran (61:9) – “He it is who has sent His Messenger (Mohammed) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam) to make it victorious over all religions even though the infidels may resist.”
Quran (61:10-12) – “O You who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know! (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwelling in Gardens of’Adn- Eternity [‘Adn(Edn) Paradise], that is indeed the great success.”
Quran (66:9) – “O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey’s end.”
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