These reformers of Islam may be right. The intention of Mohammed, in what he said of jihad, may have been misunderstood and misrepresented. But into this question we do not desire to go. For what we are considering is, what Mohammedanism is and has been--that is, what orthodox Mohammedanism teaches concerning jihad, founding its doctrine on a certain definite interpretation of those passages in the Koran which speak of jihad. Until the newer conceptions, as to what the Koran teaches as to the duty of the believer towards non-believers, have spread further and have more generally leavened the mass of Moslem belief and opinion, it is the older and more orthodox standpoint on this question which must be regarded by non-Moslems as representing Mohammedan teaching and as guiding Mohammedan action.
-- W. R. W. Gardner, "Jihad" Moslem World #2, 1912
Yes, 1912. That is from an essay collected in Andrew Bostom's excellent The Legacy of Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims, 2005
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for stopping by! Please keep your comments civil and on-topic. Spammage will be cheerfully removed.