Juan Cole: Infidel or Pagan? Understanding Kufr (كفر) in the Qur'an | Muhammad the Prophet of Peace
2023 ж. 16 Қар.
4 732 Рет қаралды
In this video I interview Professor Juan Cole, the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. We discuss the historicity of Muhammad's raids as well as the picture of the messenger that is obtained when one focuses on the Qur'an alone. The bulk of our discussion concerns the meaning of the word Kafir or the verb kafara in the Qur'an. Professor Cole puts forth his thesis that Kafir in the Qur'an does not mean "infidel" or polytheist in the conventional sense, but rather closer to the Latin meaning of the term Paganus.
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As a Colian, I very much appreciated this interview. Thank you, Professor Reynolds, for having on the great Professor Juan Cole.
Havent seen any videos from you in a long time. Taking a break ?
I have been wondering when Professor Cole was going to be a guest! His book mentioned in the introduction was the first book about the Prophet and Islam that I read. 💚
If you want non muslims to respect and praise our religion ( islam ) then we muslim must do the same for others and their faith
One of the best episodes you have done. Wonderful.
Very interesting conversation. Loved it.
Thank you Dr. Reynolds for such an awesome interview! I am telling all my friends to subscribe to your channel. Juan Cole is for sure one of the greatest intellectuals of our time, well travelled, polyglot, extremely well rounded individual; as an academic he is a total package, who is at the same time most underrated and ignored in the West. However, where he is having an impact is among the Muslims in the West and the East, and even among the Ulema who are intrigued by his convincing arguments challenging islamic medieval narratives, Quran commentaries, and jurisprudence. I cannot recommend strongly enough reading anything and everything by Juan Cole as great way to learn how to study a subject deeply, how to properly research, contextualize, think critically, hypothesize based on evidence, and argue with the evidence as opposed to against the evidence, how to be aware of your own bias and thus anticipate and take into account counter arguments. And last but not the least how to argue your position in a dispassionate and non confrontational manner. Juan Cole is very outspoken about his political views with which I don’t completely agree but his views and his partisan loyalty are legitimate and his academic credibility should not be questioned because of it.
I wish you could do an episode on how the Quran is chanted in the history of the Quran and the way it’s read loud
So awesome to see him here 😊
I am not in this field but love this channel!
Interesting discussion. It makes sense to me that Roman law would impact early Islam, and this would have been lost on later Muslim commentators (who were operating in the former Sassanian empire). I’m curious if Juan Cole would endorse Shabir Ally’s Interpretation of the infamous “wife beating” verse - that it’s directed to judges rather than husbands.
ليس في القران ضرب للسيده الزوجه السيئه من اين اتيت بذلك؟ كلمه ضرب لاتعني صفع كلمه ضرب لا تعني لكم لاتعني وكز كلمه ضرب اتت في سياق الايات بمعني المباعده والافتراق ضرب مثلا هل تعني تصقع المثل؟ اضربوا في الارض ضربا في الارض هل تعني لكمات الي الارض او صفع الارض؟ ضرب = ابتعد = وفارق
I used to wonder about this one word because its occurrence in that one Safaitic scribble where its Christian registers might come into play, not quite hoping that this seminar could happen, wherefore - Thank you indeed.
Kafir (ك ف ر) in the Quran, means to cover up or concealed. Usually it is used for those who hide or manipulate the message of God before or after the quran.
It could have another meaning if you look at Ahmad Al-Jallad's recent discovery of a Safaitic inscription describing a god '-s-y and the words n-s-r and k-f-r in the same line.
@@fallinginthed33pYou must understand why the user made this comment in the first place. There's a huge element of insecurity among muslims when it comes to the idea that non-muslims may know things about Islam, Quran, ect that Muslims do not know. Hence, the user felt compelled to try to "teach" Reynolds/Cole the meaning of the root كفر (as if theyve never heard the definition the user offered 😂). The user more than likely lacks the multi-disciplinary knowledge that it would require to reach the conclusion that Cole has reached in regards to this words meaning. The user probably also things Prophet Muhammad rode to heaven on a winged animal... Allah knows best.
@@fallinginthed33p Reading the Qur'an in full passages, is fairly clear, without specifically identifying them, it is talking about Talmudic Jews who cover up the Torah with extra layer of interpretations. To understand the Qur'an you must know Judeo-Christian history. Since Muslims believe their alternate history that basically removes itself from the Judeo-Christian tradition and proclaiming itself a separate independent source of monotheism, they lack context to what the Qur'an is talking about. Ever think to ask yourself this, why is the Qur'an so mysterious to Muslims 1,400 years later in connecting the dots and yet Jews and Christians don't have the same level of problem. Basically everything is a borrowing from the Judeo-Christian tradition while removing the context and creating an alternate history. Even "Muhammad" is a Judeo-Christian borrowing that dates back many centuries long before Islam's version of Muhammad. There are no pagans in the Qur'an. The Qur'an is a dispute between monotheist.
@@nurisunnah2871damn did you just roast the OP so bad. you are right though. Theres always this insecurity holier than thou attitude
@@samuelmorales2344 lol judeo-christain. the biggest irony the athiest west has ever devised, meant to help keep the plebs believing in both an imagined unity and nothing both at the same time. The only people that understand the ridiculousness of the statement are actual Jews and real bible christains,
44:59 could it be a way of saying “those who don’t submit” verses those who do (Muslims)?
The 2 are not etymologically related. Kufirun never applies explicitly to Christians and Jews in the Qur’an. It is clear that “kafirun” are a special category. Likewise the term Muslim never explicitly in Quran is applied to Muhammad’s community of Believers. In Quran, Jesus, Moses, Abraham are called Muslims. The translation of Islam and Muslims as “submission and submitters” is very deficient and inadequate to say the least because their etymological root is “slm” or “Selam” meaning peace, safety, blessing, salvation … Cole has an article about the meaning of the word Islam, which although related is distinct form arabic “aslama” which can mean to submit something like a book, but it actually means more like to pass a book over to a friend, or to make give something as a gift, which is different from english “submission” like submitting a book for scrutiny and review. So translating Islam and Muslim as submitting is highly problematic or inadequate to say the least. Kufur, is like a an ingrate who covers up someone’s contribution or doesn’t give credit where credit should be given (to God, like atheists could be perceived as ungrateful to good for giving them life and sustenance on daily basis, or idol worshipers who think idols are responsible for giving them blessings in life). So they are ungrateful to God, because they attribute the blessings in their lives to themselves, other people, or idols rather than to God’s grace and beneficence. Thus they cover up to whom the credit should be given for life and sustenance, and as such are ungrateful.
Kofir in Hebrew is a verb that means deny An كافر is a denier of truth in general God , prophecy, books, otherworldly , Angels etc
Let's assume that his reconstruction is correct then the question is why this history was lost by the Muslim historians so quickly? In particular, why there is almost no trace of the Sasanian-Byzantine war in the Islamic history as far as Muhammad or Quran is concerned?
Islamic extra Quranical sources are written 130-150 years later. Is that too soon to forget something. Can you give us an account about what your ancestors were doing during the Civil War in the States and how they felt about it. And it is not completely true that Islamic sources make no mention. There are hadiths which talk about Jews and Pagans being allied with Persians against the Byzanthines . Quran mentions the Persian takeover of Jerusalem but urges the believers not to despair becuase the Byzanthines will win and the believers will rejoice. Quran clearly sides with the Byzanthines, which later Muslims who will be in war with Byzanthines during the Umayad and Abasid eras naturally want to downplay 150 years later when the political circumstances and alliances have changed. Read Cole’s book he explains it all.
Since there is no 'Mecca' before Islam (no sources) there is no 'Muhammad'.
The absence of evidence doesn’t constitute the evidence itself. You have basic issues with logical thinking.
@@fadiljelin7297 It is pure logical thinking. I'm the King of England. Do you think I am?
There you go. You proved it yourself. You just proved the whole world you have no idea what is logic…
I read somewhere that Arabic word kafara means to cover, hide hence the English word cover originated from. To cover or hide what? The answer is cvering or hiding the truth.
One understanding taught in the seminaries is it’s to know the truth first and believe it independently then to actively cover / hide / against it (while knowing it’s the truth). It’s not a rejection of the truth you don’t believe. Example 2+2 = 4 but I say it’s 5 while knowing it’s 4.
@@m1ha5 The Arabic verb the way it works is pretty amazing at least to me. Give you an example ie., allama meaning 'he taught (the root of verb with third person singular number with past tense) and to teach. Koran tells us that knowledge comes from God and He taught us meaning human being and we believe in other words God teaches us everything and that is how we human being come to know. Source of knowledge is He. Therefore whatever HE taught us by the Quran human being must not hide or cover 'cause that is the Truth. Sura Rahman is one of the good examples.
It is like a an ingrate who covers up someone’s contribution or doesn’t give credit where credit should be given (to God, like atheists could be perceived as ungrateful to God for giving them life and sustenance on daily basis, or idol worshipers who think idols are responsible for giving them blessings in life). So they are ungrateful to God, because they attribute the blessings in their lives to themselves, other people, or idols rather than to God’s grace and beneficence. Thus they cover up to whom the credit should be given for life and sustenance, and as such are ungrateful.
راءع@@m1ha5
كفر = غطي وحجب فالكافر هو من يعلم الحقيقه لكنه يغطيها ولايصرح بها الكفار اتت بمعني الزراع =الكفار اي من يضعون البزور ثم يغطونها بالتراب لتنبت
Isnt it true that the universal brother hood verses are abrogated by the later verses that call for the universal subjugation of man, by the laws of abrogation.
No. Abrogation only applies to the specific laws or commandments such as the verse permitting alcohol but not to come to the service in the mosque drunk which was later abrogated with a total ban on alcohol verse; abrogation never not to the overarching principles such as nonaggression, peacemaking, religious tolerance, and universal brotherhood as you say. Number of guests have discussed this and Dr. Cole has videos on KZhead discussing this topic.
@@fadiljelin7297 Would have been good if you'd been there to explain that to a great proportion of classical Islamic jurists.
What I have stated is the consensus of the majority of the classical Islamic jurists. What you are stating is NOT a great portion of Islamic jurists. Cole addresses the case where an individual jurist during the middle ages who was militant just like the Pope Urban II for example, tried to expand the abrogation ( and yes some salafi and wahabi muslims do cite this one particular medieval jurist today), but this was rejected by the majority of the classical jurists. You are misinformed. Educate yourself about the subject. Provided you are not a troll you will take that advice. The factual truth is the exact opposite of what you are claiming.
@@fadiljelin7297 Abrogation applies to verses in the quran. And by census many of the kumbaya Meccan verses were abrogated by the harsher Medina verse. based on the principle of Nash where older verses are abrogated by recent verses when there is a contradiction. For example Surah 9:29 abrogates Surah 2:109 by consensus.
@@fadiljelin7297 According to Ibn Kathir Surah 9:5 abrogated every peace treaty that had been made with the idolaters: This is the Ayah of the Sword ... Abu Bakr As-Siddiq used this and other honorable Ayat as proof for fighting those who refrained from paying the Zakah. These Ayat allowed fighting people unless, and until, they embrace Islam and implement its rulings and obligations... In the two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn ‘Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, This honorable Ayah (9:5) was called the Ayah of the Sword, about which Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, "It abrogated every agreement of peace between the Prophet and any idolator, EVERY TREATY, AND EVERY TERM." Al-‘Awfi said that Ibn ‘Abbas commented: "No idolator had any more treaty or promise ever since Sura Bara’ah was revealed. The four months, in addition to, all peace treaties conducted before Bara’ah was revealed and announced had ended by the tenth of the month of Rabi’ Al-Akhir." (Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume 4 (Surat Al-A’raf to the end of Surah Yunus), by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri, First Edition: May 2000, pp. 375, 377; cf. online edition; bold italic and capital emphasis ours)
شاهدت 14دقيقه تحياتي لكما ليس صحيح ان هناك قرأن مكي وقرأن في المدينه هذا تقسيم خطأ القران واحد ومن يقول ان هذا ايات مكيه وهذه مدينه يختلف اخرون حولها القران مفارق لبيئته لا يتكلم عن ملوك لايتكلم عن قباءل عن شعوب فالقران ركز كل جهده كل عنايته ليقدم لقارءه الهدي يقص ويحكي عن الله ملائكته انبياءه عن قيم اخلاقيه يدعوا اليها وقيم يطلب عدم ممارستها ويعطي تصور عن الحياه الاخري وعن الحساب مع حكي عمن رفضوا النبي وحاربوه فالقران ليس كأي كتاب يتكلم عن تاريخ ولم يذكر القران امبراطوريات زمنه الفرس والروم فكلمه الروم اتت في القران بمعني اخر و ليس بمعني دوله الروم او امبراطوريه الروم تصريفات الجزر للكلمه رام يروم الروم وسأكتب عن باقي مشاهده الفديو غدا
Oh! Juan Cole, a believer in Bahaullah, shunned by Bahais.
He wrote a lot of important Baha'i Books. And he did translation for many years of the Baha'i Writings.
البهاءيه هي تصوف اسلامي وكلام حضره بهاء الله الاتقان هو نفس ماجاء به محمد هو اسلام ايضا
Cole treats the Quran like a history book whereas it has precisely and deliberately no context.
what do you mean ?
Exactly. How about the Hadith also prescribing jihad? I think he’s hoping to end Islamic “extremism” by presenting a new, or proper, historical interpretation of Islam that wasn’t preemptive. Well, gosh, if we can just now convince all the terrorists all over the world that they don’t know Islam like this guy does.
@@LoveYou-xi1mhwhat about the american terrorists who use democracy and women rigths to detroy muslim countries and bombed them? how should we deal with them?
Are in fact, mushrikun, kafirun? As those words are not defined, it is impossible to say. But they are! Same pattern with nasara. Are those the mushrikun? Of course they are! They say the same thing! But the text (very cleverly) never identifies them to each other.
Write a book on the evidence that Allah the pagan God of the Kaabah is the same as Yahweh the true God of Abraham. I dont see any scholars touching this topic because they know that this book wont sell.
You're confusing the the God of the Quran (al-Lhah) wich is obviously the God of Israel, and what you call 'Allah the pagan God of the Kaaba', who does not exist since 'kaaba' is a word that does not appear in the Quran.
@@user-yz1dl3eu8l How is Allah obviously the God of Isreal?
@@fedesetrtatio1 Read the Quran.
@@user-yz1dl3eu8l الله هو اله ابراهيم هو اله موسي ويعقوب وهارون هو اله المسيح هو اله محمد الله هو الخالق و حسب الاسلام الله =الاله هو اله كل الانبياء والرسل من نعلمهم ومن لا نعلمهم فهناك الاف الانبياء لكل قوم لكل شعب لكل بلد يعلمون الناس طريق الاله الكعبه لم تذكر في كتاب الله المسلمين يقدسونها واحتمال ان تكون من بقايا الوثنيه القديمه كعشرات من الممارسات الوثنيه اللتي ادخلها المسلمين علي الاسلام مامعني كلمه كعبه؟ هي المكان اللذي يذهب اليه الناس ويجتمعون أي كعبه تعني بؤره للالتقاء ومركز للتجمع فمثلا شخصيه شهيره جدا اسمه كعب الاحبار هو حاخام يهودي قبل= اعتنق الاسلام لكن لكونه عالم يهودي ادخل كثير من الاكاذيب الي الاسلام اقوال كاذبه وغير حقيقيه وتصرفات وافعال نسبها للنبي الكريم اسمه كعب الاحبار تعني كثير العلم والمعرفه اللذي يقصده ويذهب اليه باقي الاحبار تحياتي ه
arab christians and jews call God , ALlah. @@fedesetrtatio1
Yeah …. To select few quotes and seek for “peacemaking” in the Quran while disregarding literature of attack by saying “oh, these are just pre -Arabic sentiments of war” is highly prejudiced toward Islam (positive prejudice). The speaker is dismissive of other Quranic quotes which push for war and threaten those who “wish to stay behind” (because there is no war and they are comfortable. I stopped watching at 17 minutes - Cole is too prejudiced to have a clear mind and reasoning judgment Oh - the “kfr” in the Quran describes the Jews who “cover” or hide that Jesus was the Messiah
Perhaps you should have kept listening and might have heard a response to your arguments. Or perhaps dig deeper. Those verses are addressed in other interviews and in his book.
Perhaps if you didn’t stop watching at 17 minutes you wouldn’t waste your time with that moronic comment.
No one should take this Iran agent seriously.
Yeah let’s listen to you instead, a nobody on youtube
I tend to be put off when people mention the word islamophobia. A phobia is an irrational fear of something. People have a real fear of islam because it seems to be the motherload of bad ideas.
Another misnomer is ‘antisemitism’ a nonspecific term that could define many other people or races, but somehow used to single out only Jewish people.
@@jma7600 The real term is anti - Jewish which is a genuine hatred, much different from islamophobia which is a concocted social construct.
الاسلام نور الاسلام رحمه هو السلام تعاليم الاسلام راقيه هي ارقي وانبل من تعاليم يسوع كيف وصلك ذلك سيدي؟ من خدعك بذلك؟ الاسلام يأمر اتباعه لاتعتدوا ان الله لايحب المعتدين الاسلام يأمر اتباعه بعدم الاساءه للمخالفين او ظلمهم يعلمنا الاسلام ان نبتعد عم يسب الله نبتعد عن من يشتم النبي لايعلمنا ان ندافع عن الاساءات بالاساءات بل نعفو نصفح نغفر الاسلام علمنا ان كل البشر متساوين كلهم ابناء ادم كل الناس نحاول ان نقيم السلام والتعاون حتي مع اختلافاتنا الله يعرف ان البشر مختلفين وسيبقوا مختلفين منهم من سيؤمن ومنهم من سوف يرفض ويكفر علمنا ان ننتظر لان الله هو من سيحاسب الجميع
@@user-wc7ku7ud3e عليك بالحشيش يا عمى انت … يظهر ان نوعه فاخر جداً
Misconceptions about Islam | What do you REALLY know? Islam is one of the world's largest religions yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. For various reasons - be they political, economic, biased media or fear of the "other" - mistruths and misconceptions have been spread about Islam. The key to understanding Islam and Muslims is to resist stereotypes and examine each situation according to Islamic teachings and authentic sources. Misconception 1 - "Muslims Do Not Share Good and Noble Values with non-Muslims" "The best among you are those who have the best manners and character." - Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Some people allege that Islamic values are somehow incompatible with decent "Western" values. Such claims could not be further from the truth. Muslims cherish noble and universal values such as: being honest and just keeping one's word allowing freedom of religion respecting parents, relatives, neighbours, and the elderly being charitable, generous, and looking after the poor and needy not lying, cheating, swearing or backbiting anyone Muslims are required to contribute positively towards society and to always conduct themselves with the highest of morals and best of actions. Misconception 2 - "Muslims Worship a New God Called Allah" Muslims worship the same God worshipped by Prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The word "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God - an Arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the one and only God. Allah is also the same word that Arabic speaking Christians and Jews use to refer to God. However, although Muslims, Jews and Christians believe in the same God (the Creator), their concepts regarding Him differ significantly. For example, Muslims reject the idea of God having any partners or being part of a 'trinity', and ascribe perfection only to God, the Almighty. Misconception 3 - "Islam Permits Terrorism" The media generally portrays any Muslim who fights as a terrorist, regardless of whether they fight justly or unjustly, or whether they are oppressing others or being oppressed. In war, the targeting of innocent non-combatants is a despicable act which Islam clearly prohibits. In fact, Muslims are not allowed to destroy plants and animals unnecessarily, let alone innocent humans. However, it is important to distinguish between terrorism and legitimate resistance to occupation, as the two are very different. The Quran clearly demonstrates the seriousness of killing an innocent person, and emphasises the value of human life. "If anyone murders an innocent person, it will be as if he has murdered the whole of humanity. And if anyone saves a person it will be as if he has saved the whole of humanity."Quran 5:32 Misconception 4 - "Islam Oppresses Women" In Islam, men and women are viewed as equals before God, in terms of both receiving equal reward and accountability for their actions. The only thing that distinguishes people in the sight of God is their level of piety. "Verily the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the most God conscious."Quran 49:13This verse proves that real honour and status is not attained because a person is rich or poor, black or white, male or female, but attained through piety and devoutness. Allah, the Creator of both genders, has assigned different roles and responsibilities for each, taking into account their differences. Women are given the utmost respect and honour, such as the right to equal pay, choice of spouse, pursuit of education, and the right to divorce and inheritance. Unfortunately, there are some Muslim women who are oppressed and not given their rights. This is not the fault of Islam. The problem is that in some countries, people follow certain cultural practices and traditions which have nothing to do with Islam. Misconception 5 - "The Quran is Just another History or Poetry Book" The Quran is the divine literal word of God Almighty, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), through the angel Gabriel. It is a criterion for the truth, containing guidance for humanity to live by. The Quran cites lessons from preceding generations and the history of the Prophets in order that we may learn from their experiences. It further teaches us about ourselves and our Creator, as well as the purpose of our existence which is to acknowledge God, worshipping Him alone. God did not create humans to simply wander aimlessly. The test of one's faith is in using one's intellect, free will and reasoning abilities to contemplate and recognise God's signs - one of the greatest signs being The Quran. The Quran contains within it many miracles, so that we can have no doubt about its authenticity. The best way to discover what the Quran is actually about, is to read it for yourself. Misconception 6 - "Hijab is Oppressive" To observe the hijab, Muslim women are required to modestly cover their body with clothes that do not reveal their figure in front of non-closely related males. However, hijab is not just about outer appearances; it is also about noble speech, modesty, and dignified conduct. Although there are many benefits of the hijab, the key reason Muslim women observe hijab is because it is a command from Allah (God), and He knows what is best for His creation. The hijab empowers a woman by emphasising her inner spiritual beauty, rather than her superficial appearance. It gives women the freedom to be active members of society, while maintaining their modesty. The hijab does not symbolize suppression, oppression or silence. Rather, it is a guard against degrading remarks, unwanted advances and unfair discrimination. So the next time you see a Muslim woman, know that she covers her physical appearance, not her mind or intellect. Misconception 7 - "All Muslims are Arabs" Only about 20% of Muslims in the world are Arabs, meaning that up to about 80% of Muslims are non-Arabs. For example, there are more Indian and Indonesian Muslims than Arab Muslims. Islam teaches that an individual is not superior to another because of race or colour, and is strictly against any form of racism. Islam has a universal message for all of mankind - that is, that everyone can gain peace and success only by acknowledging and worshipping the One True God. Misconception 8 - "Jihad is Terrorism" The essence of Jihad is to struggle and sacrifice for one's religion in a manner which is pleasing to God. Linguistically, it means to "struggle" and can refer to one's striving to do good deeds, give charity, or to join an Islamic military action. The most commonly known form is the military Jihad which is permitted in order to preserve the well being of society, to prevent oppression from spreading, and to promote justice. This can be either defensive or offensive, depending on the circumstance. Misconception 9 - "Muslims Worship Muhammad or the Moon God" Yet another misconception is that Muslims worship Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is entirely untrue, and is easily refuted by the actual saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Do not over-praise me as the Christians over-praised Jesus, the son of Mary. I am His slave, so refer to me as 'God's slave and Messenger.' " Islam teaches Muslims to respect all of God's Prophets and Messengers - but respecting and loving them does not mean worshipping them. A related claim is that Muslims worship the "moon God" which is also totally incorrect. Worshipping the moon, or anything other than Allah, is strictly prohibited in Islam: "Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if you really worship Him."Quran 41:37Islam acknowledges the complete perfection, greatness and uniqueness of God with absolutely no compromises. He is the Most Just and the Most Merciful. Worshipping Him alone is the most important belief in Islam, as mentioned in the Quran in numerous places. Misconception 10 - "Islam Permits Forced Marriages" Arranged marriages are cultural practices which are predominant in certain countries throughout the world. Although not restricted to Muslims, forced marriages have become incorrectly associated with Islam. In Islam, both males and females have the right to choose or reject their potential spouse, and a marriage is considered null and void if a woman's genuine approval is not granted prior to the marriage. Misconception 11 - "Islam Forces People to Become Muslim" God says, "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error." Quran 2:256 Although it is a duty on Muslims to convey and share the beautiful message of Islam to others, no one can be compelled to accept Islam. To accept Islam, a person must sincerely and voluntarily believe and obey God, so, by definition, no one can (or should) be forced to accept Islam. Consider the following: Indonesia has the largest Muslim population yet no battles were fought to bring Islam there. There are around 14 million Arab Coptic Christians that have been living in the heart of Arabia for generations. Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the western world today. Although fighting oppression and promoting justice are valid reasons for waging jihad, forcing people to accept Islam is not one of them. Muslims ruled Spain for around 800 years yet never coerced people to convert. Conclusion Learning about Islam from unqualified sources without verification is dangerous and leads to misunderstandings. Do not be misled into accepting misconceptions and false information about Islam - the belief shared by more than a quarter of mankind. Does not the guidance for all humanity, the message of Islam, deserve to be carefully pondered over and reflected on?