Terrorism Is Not a Perversion
Karl Trautwein
February 28, 2009
A recent event has given us a reminder that the driving force behind terrorism is something that Americans still know very little about. On Thursday February 26, Columbus Ohio native Christopher Paul was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction on targets in Europe and the United States. Paulīs terrorist career started with a conversion to Islam a few years after graduating from high school. He subsequently aligned himself with al-Qaida and fought in Afghanistan. Paul traveled to various terrorist hot spots around the world, receiving and giving training from and to like minded Islamic jihadists. Back in the United States Paul trained and associated with other terrorists bent on conducting attacks on various U.S. targets.
The idea that a U.S. citizen would plot to kill innocent fellow citizens in terrorist attacks is extremely disturbing. But what is more disturbing to me is the lack of understanding by Americans of just how an average citizen, like Christopher Paul, when exposed to Islamic ideology can be converted into a ruthless killer.
This lack of understanding is evidenced in the words of U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost who sentenced Christopher Paul. According to a report by John Futty of The Columbus Dispatch, Judge Frost was "perplexed" by the terrorist. Futty quotes the judge as saying "Itīs hard for me to get my mind around what you were conspiring to do."
In this article I want to examine two issues that come out of this sentencing. First, is the reaction of Judge Frost, and I believe many other Americans, of being "perplexed" at terrorists such as Paul. Second, I want to analyze Judge Frostīs statement to the convicted terrorist that he had "perverted the religion you supposedly follow."
Like the Judge, most Americans are perplexed or puzzled as to why Paul would plot to murder them. Our lack of understanding would vanish if we were familiar with the teachings of Islam. These teachings are contained within the pages of the holy bible of Islam The Koran. The actions and words of Muhammad who founded Islam also inspire Muslim terrorists eager to follow his example. Letīs look at a few quotes from the Koran and the words and actions of Muhammad.
Karl J. Trautwein is the author of the new book The 9/11 Verses Terrorist Teachings In the Koran which details the Islamic scriptures that inspire terrorism. (www.the911verses.com)
"Believers! wage war against such of the infidels as are your neighbors, and let them find you rigorous: and know that Allah is with those who fear him." The Koran chapter 9:123
"O believers! take not the Jews or Christians as friends. They are but one anotherīs friends. If any one taketh them for his friends, he surely is one of them! Allah will not guide the evil doers." The Koran chapter 5:56
"A Jewess used to abuse the Prophet (peace be upon him) and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) declared that no recompense was payable for her blood." Muslim Hadith Book 38, Number 4349
"The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) appointed Abu Bakr our commander and we fought with some people who were polytheists, and we attacked them at night, killing them. Our war cry that night was 'put to death; put to death.'" Salamah said: "I killed that night with my hand polytheists belonging to seven houses." Muslim Hadith Book 14, Number 2632
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I am commanded to fight with men till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Apostle, face our qiblah (direction of prayer), eat what we slaughter, and pray like us. When they do that, their life and property are unlawful for us except what is due to them. They will have the same rights as the Muslims have, and have the same responsibilities as the Muslims have." Muslim Hadith Book 14, Number 2635
"Fight then against them (non-Muslims) till strife be at an end, and the religion be all of it Allahīs." The Koran chapter 8:40
A terrorist is someone who uses violence or threats to force others to do what he wants them to do. These quoted teachings of Islam squarely meet the definition of being terrorist in nature. I call these types of teachings "The 9/11 Verses" because they are the inspiration for what Christopher Paul and other terrorists are doing.
Unfortunately most Americans have never been exposed to these quotes even though they are the key to "getting our minds around" what Islamic terrorists are seeking to do. The few examples I have given teach Muslims to wage war against non-believers, be intolerant towards those of other faiths, kill those who insult Muhammad, attack and kill non-Muslims, and to physically fight non-Muslims until they convert to Islam.
Now to the idea of Judge Frost that the terrorist Paul has somehow "perverted" the religion of Islam that he "supposedly" follows. This idea is repeated many times in media discussions that try to separate Islam from its terrorist adherents. Go back and read the quotes for the scriptures of Islam. Can you seriously believe that terrorist like Paul have "perverted" Islam? To the contrary he is following the teachings of Islam. I am not being critical of Judge Frost. Like most Americans the Judge has trouble believing that any religious faith would sanction the murder of innocent people.
To be sure, Islam does contain peaceful tolerant teachings. Those who try and separate Islam from terrorism quote them to prove that Islam does not condone terrorism. I call Islam bi-polar because within its scriptures are two very different faiths. The violent hateful version of Islam is the one that jihadists choose to follow. The teachings terrorists follow are not a perversion of Islam. They are one of the two versions of the faith. The terrorist would argue they are following the "true" version of Islam. I believe that they are correct but that is a subject for another article.
As Christopher Paul serves his 20 years in prison he will no doubt spend much time reading the Koran. Perhaps the following words found in Chapter 9 of the Koran will bring him comfort.
"Verily, of the faithful hath Allah bought their persons and their substance, on condition of Paradise for them in return: on the path of Allah shall they fight, and slay, and be slain Rejoice, therefore in the contract that ye have contracted: for this shall be a great bliss."
The idea that a U.S. citizen would plot to kill innocent fellow citizens in terrorist attacks is extremely disturbing. But what is more disturbing to me is the lack of understanding by Americans of just how an average citizen, like Christopher Paul, when exposed to Islamic ideology can be converted into a ruthless killer.
This lack of understanding is evidenced in the words of U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost who sentenced Christopher Paul. According to a report by John Futty of The Columbus Dispatch, Judge Frost was "perplexed" by the terrorist. Futty quotes the judge as saying "Itīs hard for me to get my mind around what you were conspiring to do."
In this article I want to examine two issues that come out of this sentencing. First, is the reaction of Judge Frost, and I believe many other Americans, of being "perplexed" at terrorists such as Paul. Second, I want to analyze Judge Frostīs statement to the convicted terrorist that he had "perverted the religion you supposedly follow."
Like the Judge, most Americans are perplexed or puzzled as to why Paul would plot to murder them. Our lack of understanding would vanish if we were familiar with the teachings of Islam. These teachings are contained within the pages of the holy bible of Islam The Koran. The actions and words of Muhammad who founded Islam also inspire Muslim terrorists eager to follow his example. Letīs look at a few quotes from the Koran and the words and actions of Muhammad.
Karl J. Trautwein is the author of the new book The 9/11 Verses Terrorist Teachings In the Koran which details the Islamic scriptures that inspire terrorism. (www.the911verses.com)
"Believers! wage war against such of the infidels as are your neighbors, and let them find you rigorous: and know that Allah is with those who fear him." The Koran chapter 9:123
"O believers! take not the Jews or Christians as friends. They are but one anotherīs friends. If any one taketh them for his friends, he surely is one of them! Allah will not guide the evil doers." The Koran chapter 5:56
"A Jewess used to abuse the Prophet (peace be upon him) and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) declared that no recompense was payable for her blood." Muslim Hadith Book 38, Number 4349
"The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) appointed Abu Bakr our commander and we fought with some people who were polytheists, and we attacked them at night, killing them. Our war cry that night was 'put to death; put to death.'" Salamah said: "I killed that night with my hand polytheists belonging to seven houses." Muslim Hadith Book 14, Number 2632
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I am commanded to fight with men till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Apostle, face our qiblah (direction of prayer), eat what we slaughter, and pray like us. When they do that, their life and property are unlawful for us except what is due to them. They will have the same rights as the Muslims have, and have the same responsibilities as the Muslims have." Muslim Hadith Book 14, Number 2635
"Fight then against them (non-Muslims) till strife be at an end, and the religion be all of it Allahīs." The Koran chapter 8:40
A terrorist is someone who uses violence or threats to force others to do what he wants them to do. These quoted teachings of Islam squarely meet the definition of being terrorist in nature. I call these types of teachings "The 9/11 Verses" because they are the inspiration for what Christopher Paul and other terrorists are doing.
Unfortunately most Americans have never been exposed to these quotes even though they are the key to "getting our minds around" what Islamic terrorists are seeking to do. The few examples I have given teach Muslims to wage war against non-believers, be intolerant towards those of other faiths, kill those who insult Muhammad, attack and kill non-Muslims, and to physically fight non-Muslims until they convert to Islam.
Now to the idea of Judge Frost that the terrorist Paul has somehow "perverted" the religion of Islam that he "supposedly" follows. This idea is repeated many times in media discussions that try to separate Islam from its terrorist adherents. Go back and read the quotes for the scriptures of Islam. Can you seriously believe that terrorist like Paul have "perverted" Islam? To the contrary he is following the teachings of Islam. I am not being critical of Judge Frost. Like most Americans the Judge has trouble believing that any religious faith would sanction the murder of innocent people.
To be sure, Islam does contain peaceful tolerant teachings. Those who try and separate Islam from terrorism quote them to prove that Islam does not condone terrorism. I call Islam bi-polar because within its scriptures are two very different faiths. The violent hateful version of Islam is the one that jihadists choose to follow. The teachings terrorists follow are not a perversion of Islam. They are one of the two versions of the faith. The terrorist would argue they are following the "true" version of Islam. I believe that they are correct but that is a subject for another article.
As Christopher Paul serves his 20 years in prison he will no doubt spend much time reading the Koran. Perhaps the following words found in Chapter 9 of the Koran will bring him comfort.
"Verily, of the faithful hath Allah bought their persons and their substance, on condition of Paradise for them in return: on the path of Allah shall they fight, and slay, and be slain Rejoice, therefore in the contract that ye have contracted: for this shall be a great bliss."
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