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Muslims must reform Quran's call for violence

A couple embrace in front of tributes placed in a memorial for victims of the recent attacks on Brussels at the Place de la Bourse on Friday, March, 25, 2016. Amid signs that life in Brussels was returning to some sort of normality on the third day of mourning the dead, authorities lowered Belgium’s terror-threat level by one notch. However, they said the situation remained grave and another attack is “likely and possible.” Belgium had been on its highest alert since Tuesday’s bombings.
A couple embrace in front of tributes placed in a memorial for victims of the recent attacks on Brussels at the Place de la Bourse on Friday, March, 25, 2016. Amid signs that life in Brussels was returning to some sort of normality on the third day of mourning the dead, authorities lowered Belgium’s terror-threat level by one notch. However, they said the situation remained grave and another attack is “likely and possible.” Belgium had been on its highest alert since Tuesday’s bombings. Alastair Grant AP

There is a real need to respond to a March 29 guest column authored by Hassan Shibly, a paid publicist for the Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida. This organization has an agenda to paint Islam as a religion of peace. This is laughable unless one lives in a cave along with the administration.

Hassan draws parallels with Hitler's murderous bias to Jews and America's internment of Japanese in WWII. No German Jews ever blew up a German train station. No Japanese American committed terrorist acts. The jihad has not been embarrassed by American Muslins with few exceptions. American Muslins are safe, not victims.

There is an important distinguishing fact to be stated with great emphasis. Most Muslims are not inclined to murder and mayhem committed on nonbelievers. They do not follow the doctrine within the Quran. Teachings within their "holy book" are the antithesis of Western law and society.

Most American Muslims have integrated their faith in our culture. However, if anyone takes the time to read the Quran (and you should), it will be obvious that Muhammad's revelations in Mecca are in stark contrast to his revelations and actions in Medina. If you are an apologist, quote only verses from the first half, not the second. Never quote Surah 9:5: "Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them, capture and besiege them and lie in wait for them and every ambush."

What explains the terrorists and Iran's antipathy for the Jews and Israel? Look at the Holy Book, Surah 5:82: "Christians and Jews are your greatest enemies."

Surah 2:59: "Allah and Allah's people will curse the Jews until judgment day."

It is not for outsiders to reform Islam. This all important task falls to all peace-loving Muslims and their children, their schools and teachers. Without this internal shift, the world will witness war, not peace, from the adherents of ancient Islamic doctrine for decades to come.

Harris Silverman

Bradenton

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Muslims must reform Quran's call for violence ."

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