PBS Mis-information
or Why I don't support this biased origination
10-17-2014
PBS engaged Rashid Khalidi of Columbia University to attempt to say that the Islamic State is purposely misinterpreting the Quran.
Khalidi is a strident Palestinian activist who blames America and Israel first for all the problems of the Middle East. He's also a long-time supporter and associate of Barack Obama, who started the whole “ISIS is not Islamic” narrative.
Khalidi proceeded to provide for the PBS segment an explanation of Sura 47, Verse 4 of the Quran in which he claims that this infamous verse does not justify beheadings. He is so wrong that he can't possibly be just mistaken:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
We don't know what Quran Khalidi is reading from in the video, or why he does not reveal the entire verse for the audience, but we do know one thing: What Khalidi says 47/4 says is NOT what most Qurans say Sura 47 Verse 4 says. Here is, verbatim, the whole verse in one popular English language version of the Quran published in Saudi Arabia:
| “So, when you meet (in fight–Jihad in Allah's cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have KILLED (emphasis added) and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allah to continue in carrying out Jihad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam and are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire or at least come under your protection], but 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 some of you with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.” |
Obviously, the word KILLED is pretty important here and it is clearly in this Quran in 47/4:
Source: The Noble Quran
Published by Darussalam
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
This directly contradicts Khalidi's contention that all the victims are to be bound, therefore they can't be dead.
So we checked four online versions of the Quran:
1. Sahih International translation:
http://quran.com/47
| “So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah – never will He waste their deeds.” |
Note the use of the term SLAUGHTER. Does someone know of a definition of “slaughter” that doesn't involve killing?
2. Al-Quran translation
http://al-quran.info/#47:4
|
When you meet the faithless in battle, strike their necks. When you have thoroughly decimated them, bind the captives firmly. Thereafter either oblige them [by setting them free] or take ransom till the war lays down its burdens. That [is Allah's ordinance], and had Allah wished He could have taken vengeance on them, but that He may test some of you by means of others. As for those who were slain in the way of Allah, He will not let their works go awry. |
“Decimated” literally means to have killed one out of every ten of the enemy.
3. Muhammad Pickthal translation:
http://www.searchtruth.com/
| Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance). And if Allah willed He could have punished them (without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain. |
Here again there is no suggestion that anyone be spared, at least until the enemy is routed. Presumably one must kill some of the enemy to rout them.
4. Moshin Khan translation:
http://www.searchtruth.com/
| So, when you meet (in fight – Jihad in Allah's Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (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). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allah to continue in carrying out Jihad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam and are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire or at least come under your protection], but 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 some of you with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost. |
This version perhaps most clearly contradicts Khalidi's fabrication.
Finally, that one verse of the Quran is not the only justification in Islamic scripture for beheading. Here are some additional passages from Islamic scripture beyond 47/4 that justify executions, forced amputation and violence:
Quran Sura 5, Verse 33
The Noble Quran
| The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter. |
Sahih International Quran
| Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment |
| Indeed the requital of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle, and try to cause corruption on the earth, is that they shall be slain or crucified, or have their hands and feet cut off from opposite sides or be banished from the land. That is a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter there is a great punishment for them |
Muhammad Pickthel
| The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom |
| The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter |
The Noble Quran
| (Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, “Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.” |
| [Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, “I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.” |
| Then your Lord signaled to the angels: ‘I am indeed with you; so steady the faithful. I will cast terror into the hearts of the faithless. So strike their necks, and strike each of their fingertips!’ |
| When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger. |
| (Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, "Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes." |
Most Westerners are unaware that the Quran is not the only source of Islamic doctrine. There are two additional sources: the Hadith and the Sirah. The Hadith are stories and traditions from the life of Mohammed and the Sirah is the biography of Mohammed.
The Hadith and Sirah make up what is known as the Sunnah, the perfect example set by Mohammed for all uslims to follow. In other words, Muslims are supposed to emulate and imitate Mohammed in every way and the source for his actions, deeds, words and commands are the Hadith and the Sirah.
These two works clearly reveal that Mohammed ordered and took part in mass beheadings.
Dr. Andrew Bostom wrote about this a decade ago in [Video Missing] archive dot frontpagemag dot com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=13030 Front Page Magazine:
|
Reactions to the grotesque jihadist decapitation of yet another “infidel Jew,” Mr. Berg, make clear that our intelligentsia are either dangerously uninformed, or simply unwilling to come to terms with this ugly reality: such murders are consistent with sacred jihad practices, as well as Islamic attitudes towards all non-Muslim infidels, in particular, Jews, which date back to the 7th century, and the Prophet Muhammad's own example.
According to Muhammad's sacralized biography by Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad himself sanctioned the massacre of the Qurayza, a vanquished Jewish tribe. He appointed an “arbiter” who soon rendered this concise verdict: the men were to be put to death, the women and children sold into slavery, the spoils to be divided among the Muslims. Muhammad ratified this judgment stating that it was a decree of God pronounced from above the Seven Heavens. Thus some 600 to 900 men from the Qurayza were lead on Muhammad's order to the Market of Medina. Trenches were dug and the men were beheaded, and their decapitated corpses buried in the trenches while Muhammad watched in attendance. Women and children were sold into slavery, a number of them being distributed as gifts among Muhammad's companions, and Muhammad chose one of the Qurayza women (Rayhana) for himself. The Qurayza's property and other possessions (including weapons) were also divided up as additional “booty” among the Muslims, to support further jihad campaigns. |
The real culprits here are the biased crew at PBS (courtesy of your tax dollars and mine, by the way). PBS is SUPPOSED to at least make a head-fake at being professional and objective. They made no such effort in this case and there is no doubt that the reporter, Hari Sreenivasan, could easily have done the same research we did here to fact-check Khalidi's assertion.
Sreenivasan failed to check with multiple sources for confirmation, which would have conformed with journalistic best practices.