Islam. They have even published their own translation of the
Koran.^6
Ms. Bewley says that her translation of Qurtubi’s
commentary “is intended to give modern readers access to
the immense learning of Imam al-Qurtubi in such a way that
it will illuminate for them the meaning of Allah’s words in
the Qur’an”.^7 Yet this learned, illuminating commentary on
the Koran portrays Islam as anything but tolerant. When it
comes to discussing the key violent sections of the Koran,
this classical commentary makes it clear not only that
“the religion of peace” commands violence, but this
violence is to be used against those who are doing
absolutely nothing to harm Muslims:
permission to fight was revealed about
fighting in general and the instruction is to
fight not only those idolaters who fight the
Muslims but also those who do not fight.
[...] This is the position of the majority of
scholars.^8This Islamic scholar goes on to clarify: Islam demands that
all peaceful non-Muslims are to be killed purely because we
have not submitted to the values of Islam.
It is an unqualified command to fight
without any precondition of hostilities being
initiated by the unbelievers [...] the reason
for fighting is disbelief because Allah says,
“until there is no more fitna,” meaning