Free Islam and Terrorism by Mark A Gabriel

away. They took jihad outside Arabia, attacking many countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. This was the whole known world at the time.
    In all Muhammad personally led twenty-seven battles. In addition he sent out his army forty-seven times without him (that’s about seven times a year). 10 Muhammad’s reign ended in AD 632 with his death. Despite his militaryactivity, he did not have a battle-related death. History records that he actually succumbed to an extended fever.
S UMMARY
    After reviewing the culture and some of the characteristics of the Arabic people prior to Muhammad, we have a deeper understanding of the bloody history of Islam. Disagreements and misunderstandings often led to terrorist acts among the pre-Islam Arabic people due to their predisposition to act emotionally and violently as a whole.
    Because Islam entitled them to the defeated enemies’ possessions, the constant struggle for power among Arab tribes grew stronger and more brutal. Not only did they attack non-Muslims, but the early Muslim tribes also attacked each other. An example of this was the constant battle between the Ammoweyeen and the Hashemite, both of the tribe of Quraysh.
    This culture readily accepted the philosophy of jihad that was revealed to Muhammad. These were progressive revelations of Quranic verses over a period of about twenty-two years. The progressive steps were:
1.   Fight those who persecuted you (in Medina).
2.   Conquer those who reject Islam in your region (the Arabian Desert).
3.   Conquer the world in the name of Islam.
    No Quranic revelation contradicted this final command of jihad, so it is still the goal of Islam today.

Chapter 10
THE THREE STAGES OF JIHAD
    How a Weakened Muslim Minority Takes Over
    I F YOU LOOK at Muslim countries around the world, you will see that they are in one of the following three stages of jihad. (My source for these stages is Islamic theology based on the Quran.)
W EAKENED S TAGE
    This stage applies to Muslims when they are a weak, small minority living in a non-Islamic society. In this case overt jihad is not the call of the hour. Muslims submit to the law of the land, but they work to increase their numbers.
    At this stage Muslims follow the word given to Muhammad in Mecca: “There is no compulsion in religion” (Surah 2:256, The Noble Quran ). You have probably heard people in the media quoting this verse to prove that Islam does not compel, or force, anyone to convert.
    Another key verse Muhammad received at this time was Surah 5:105:
O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allah, then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do.
    —T HE N OBLE Q URAN
    This verse was a response to Muslims in Mecca who were wondering what to do about all the unbelievers around them. It basically told them, “Be responsible for yourself. Don’t worry about the infidels around you. You and they will all go before Allah one day and be judged by your works.”
    These verses speak of living quietly and at peace with unbelievers; however, we need to remember that Muhammad received these words when Muslims were a small, weak group in Mecca. After his movement gained strength, Muhammad received new words that canceled out ( naskh ) these verses.
P REPARATION S TAGE
    This stage is when the Muslims are a reasonably influential minority. Because their future goal is direct confrontation with the enemy, they make preparations in every possible area—financial, physical, military, mental, and any other area.
Let not the Unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly): they will never frustrate (them). Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power , including steeds of