You cannot reason with someone who believe their actions will entitle them to everlasting life. Now 99.9% of the time this is just a nuisance, but every once in awhile someone gets killed over it. Islam is a much much better example of this, I don't pretend to be knowledgable on the Koran, But there is a passage I know of:
"Let those who would exchange the life of this world for the hereafter, fight for the cause of God; whoever fights for the cause of God , whether he dies or triumphs, We shall richly reward him... The true believers fight for the cause of God, but the infidels fight for the devil. Fight then against the friends of Satan... Say: "Trifling are the pleasures of this life. The hereafteris better for those who would keep from evil... " - Koran 4:74-78
Now we aren't supposed to denounce Islam because it's a religion, I would be murdered if I went on TV and said that Islam was a horrible religion and a terrible influence on people. But right there, it states murdering infidels (That's you christians, and me as an agnostic) will give them rich rewards in heaven. How is this not a terribly dangerous thing to teach people? Again I have written to long and my train of thought is derailing, so I'm gonna end this post
You know, understanding is the key to all your answers. You can't judge a book by its cover. What appear to you to be somthing terrible might not be as you see it.
As you know, the Quran was revleaed to Prophet Mohammed who was reciting it to the people at that time whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.
If you read anything about the Muslims in time of prophet Mohammed and what they were facing you will understand what is the meaning of the verses you mentioned.
At the first 13 years, Prophet Mohammed was commanded by God to do only one thing. To ask his people to believe in one God. That's all?
Yes, that's all. For 13 years he was asking his people to believe in one God and stop worshipping the false idols which Satan inspired them to worship it beside God. They knew who is God, but they were praying to their idols to make them closer to God "they claim so".
Now, at the first 13 years, the verses which was reveleaing to prophet Mohammed were short verses about God and how they should believe in him. To know more about the priniples of
Tawheed (Divine unity) you can visit this link below.
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40240&highlight=Tawheed
You can notice short verses like this one.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1] Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
[2] Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
[3] He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
[4] And there is none like unto Him. (Quran 112:1).
This while they are in Mecca city. After that, when they travelled to Maddina, they started building their way of life and there was no problem till the nonbelievers of Mecca started to bother them and came to fight them even when they flee to another city. Now, they have to fight for their survival. On the other hand, Quryish "the main tribe in Mecca" were so offended on how a man amongst them "Mohammed" dare to challenge their false beliefs. They wanted to get rid of him and they hurted his friends and their families and they tried all kind of punishemnts and harrasement in order to force them to give up on what they believe in.
That's why God supported them and was asking them to fight back. Now you or other people might wonder, if this fight was for their survival, then why he was asking them in the Quran to fight in the first place, it's obvious, isn't it?
No it's not, do you know why?
In the first battle for instance, the number of Muslims was 300 hundreds somthing only while the number of the unbelievers wasn't just the double, but it near to 1000.
The Muslims were terified and anyone will think to give up, or to flee to another city again, but God asked them to stay and face the enemy who wants to eliminate them and eliminate their sacred message. He asked them to fight back whatever their number is and God will help them.
And the verse you mentioned is one of the verses which was revleaed when they were at this situation in Maddina. So sadly, you didn't post the entire verses from 74 till 78.
Allah said in the Quran ...
[74] Let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter, To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah - whether he is slain or gets victory - soon shall We give him a reward of great (value).
Here is God, asking them to fight, and he promised them whether they gain victory or been defeated, it's all good for them and they will get their reward from God.
The beauty of the Quran is that the answer will be presented to you even before you ask.
Now just think of this verse # 74 and say why? Ask God and tell him why you said so?
The next verse will answer you ...
[75] And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!
You got it now?
Let's go on with the verses.
[76] Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith fight in the cause of Evil: so fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan.
This is God describing both sides for the reader. You are not a follower of Satan nor any Christian here as you claimed, those who persecuted the Muslims and worshipped false idols are the friends and followers of Satan, inspire them to do all evil things.
Let's go the following verse to know more, and to discover more reasons for his order for them to fight.
[77] Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who were told to hold back their hands (from fight) but establish regular prayers and spend in regular Charity? When (at length) the order for fighting was issued to them, behold! a section of them feared men as - or even more than - they should have feared Allah; they said: "Our Lord! why hast Thou ordered us to fight? Wouldst Thou not grant us respite to our (natural) term, near (enough)?" Say: "Short is the enjoyment of this world: the Hereafter is the best for those who do right; never will ye be dealt with unjustly in the very least!
Then to the last verses you mentioned "only by number" in your post.
[78] "Wherever ye are, death will find you out, even if ye are in towers built up strong and high!" if some good befalls them, they say, "This is from Allah"; but if evil, they say, "This is from thee" (O Prophet). Say: "All things are from Allah." But what hath come to these people, that they fail to understand a single fact?
He told them, whether they fight, flee or surrender, if it was written for them to die, so they will die whether they are in front of the enemy or hiding in a great tall towers, or whereever they hide, they will die, and if it was written for them to live, whatever appear to them, scare them, nothing will happen to them because everything is by the cause of Allah, he is the all knowing, most merciful.
I hope you got the real meaning of the verses now.
Don't think that i'm giving a blind eye for what SOME Muslims are doing now, but that's another issue and i don't want to go off-topic. You just have to know that the Quran doesn't teach hate, doesn't teach killing. There is a reason for everything. I know that you judged the verses based on what some Muslims are behaving today, and i would blame Islam and the Quran if i were you, but when you read the Quran, you will definitely find the truth. You have to know that we, and the majority of Muslims condemn all acts of violence and terrorism and if you wan tto judge me or judge my religion, show me where in the Quran or in the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed anything of what those minority are doing in the name of Islam, you will find none, I assure you.
All human beings just try to label and cover their own evil through any feeble reason. For instance, the Crusade, our beloved Prophet, Jesus Christ "peace be upon him" was teaching love, but because people were evil, they wanted to control other people, they were claiming that this is the will of God, fight for God, while simply they were just fight for power and land. Human beings are capable of anything and everything. It's free will, and we have the chance whether to use in good way, or to screw it up.
Peace and blessing,
The Truth
