The following are news items quoted from newspapers in the last few years.

October 19, 1994
 " A powerful bomb, apparently placed by Islamic militants opposed to the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations, blew up a crowded bus during the morning rush hour in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israel, killing 22 people and wounding 48."

July 18, 1995
 " A huge bomb exploded destroying a seven-story downtown building housing two Jewish groups in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  At least 26 people were killed and 127 injured."

February 26, 1993
 " A tremendous underground explosion believed to be caused by a bomb, shook the 110 story twin towers of Manhattan’s World Trade Center, in New York, killing at least five people, injuring more than 1000, and sending tens of thousands of workers fleeing for their lives down crowded smoke-filled stairs."

May 4, 1992
 " 13 Egyptian Christians were shot dead by Muslim fundamentalists in Mansheit Nasser, Egypt.  Ten Christian farmers were ambushed and murdered while working in their fields.  A Christian teacher was shot in the local school while teaching a class of ten-year olds.  A Christian doctor was shot dead outside his home."

 These are just a few samples out of thousands of terrorist attacks, which all have one element in common:  They were all committed by Muslim fundamentalists.  While there are extremists in other groups, who are capable of committing acts of violence, it seems that violence committed by Muslim extremists exceeds the violence of all other groups combined.

WHY DO MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISTS ACT THIS WAY?
 Are Muslim fundamentalists inherently inhumane, savage and evil?  Of course not.  Muslims are ordinary people, just like anybody else.  They are fathers, brothers and sons.  They could be doctors, engineers and lawyers.  They are your co-workers, and your next door neighbors.

 So what goes on in their minds when they act violently?  To understand this one must understand an important and dangerous Islamic teaching called "Jihad", ( or Holy War).

 It is important to understand that not every Arab is a Muslim, not every Muslim is an Arab, and not every Muslim is a fundamentalist.  We are not trying to attack a religion.  We are only exposing a teaching in a religion that could have a serious effect on all society.

 It is also important to know that in exercising Jihad, Muslim fundamentalists may not think they are trying to maliciously hurt others, but rather they are only obeying God’s commandments.  And in doing so, they are assuring themselves a place in Paradise.

JIHAD ( Holy War)
Jihad is one of the most sacred duties Muslims perform.  The word "Jihad", is an Arabic word which means "struggle".  In this sense Jihad is the struggle for the cause of spreading Islam, using all means available to Muslims, including violence.  This kind of Jihad is often referred to as " Holy War".

 In resorting to violence, Muslims will not have any problem finding passages in the Quran ( believed by Muslims to be Allah’s word), and the Hadith (Mohammed’s sayings as recorded by Al Bukhari), that will not only condone violence, but will also demand it.

JIHAD IN THE "QURAN".
 Allah orders Muslims in the Quran to terrorize non-Muslims on His behalf.

 "Strike terror (into the hearts of) the enemies of God and your enemies."
 Surah 8:60

 Fight (kill) them (non-Muslims), and God will punish, (torment) them by your hands, cover them with shame." Surah 9:14

 " I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.  It is not ye who slew them; it was God."
Surah 8:13-17.

JIHAD IN THE "HADITH".
 In the Hadith Mohammed also urges Muslims to practice Jihad.

 Mohammed was once asked: what is the best deed for the Muslim next to believing in Allah and His Apostle?  His answer was : " To participate in Jihad in Allah’s cause. " Al Bukhari vol 1:25.

 Mohammed was quoted as saying:  "I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah."
Al Bukhari vol 4:196.

 Mohammed also said;  "The person who participates in (Holy Battles) in Allah’s cause and nothing compels him do so except belief in Allah and His Apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty ( if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise ( if he is killed).  Al Bukhari vol 1:35

MOHAMMED: AN EXAMPLE

 When the prophet of Islam started preaching his new religion in Mecca, he was conciliatory to Christians and Jews.  He told them, "We believe in what has been sent down to us and sent down to you, our God is the same as your God. "Surah 29:45.  This attitude changed completely after he gained strength.  Allah then tells him to
"Fight People of the Book (Christians and Jews), who do not accept the religion of the truth (Islam), until they pay tribute (penalty tax) by hand, being inferior." Surah 9:29.

 Regarding Christians and Jews, it seems that Mohammed hated the Jews more.  During his lifetime, Mohammed devoted much of his efforts to get rid of the Jews:  "You (Jews) should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His apostle, and I want to expel from this land ( the Arabian Peninsula), so, if anyone owns property, he is permitted to sell it".  Mohammed was quoted.

 At that time there were in Medina three Jewish tribes.  Two of them, the Qaynqa and the Bani-al-Nudair tribes, were besieged by Mohammed’s men, blocking their access to food supplies, until they surrendered on Mohammed’s terms, which were that their lives would be spared, that they must emigrate from Medina, and that they must deposit all their belongings at a certain place for distribution among Muslims.

 The third tribe, Bani Quayza, was not as lucky.  After the war of the trench, in which Mohammed was besieged by the Qurayshites led, by Abu Sofyan, it was alleged that Bani Qurayza agreed to provide help from within to Abu Sofyan’s forces.  Although the alleged help did not materialize and the siege eventually ended, nevertheless, Mohammed never forgave them for their willingness to help his enemies.

 Muslims turned against Bani Qurayza and blocked their streets for twenty five days.

 The Jewish tribe expressed readiness to accept the surrender terms which had been conceded to the other two Jewish tribes, namely cession of their belongings and departure with safe conduct.

 Mohammed, however, would not consent to this, and instead appointed as an arbiter Saad iben Moaz, a man who was known to be on bad terms with Bani Qurayza.  Saad ruled that all Bani Qurayza’s men should be beheaded, that the women and children should be sold as slaves, and that all their property should be divided among the Muslims.

 Trenches were dug in the bazaar of Medina for disposal of the nine hundred Jewish bodies whom Mohammed had spent the night slaughtering. (See Ibn Hisham: The Propeht’s Biography: vol 2 pages 40&41.)

DEAR FRIENDS:

 These are historical facts that happened 14 centuries ago, they represent a dangerous tendency for violence in the Islamic mentality.  More serious is that Muslim fundamentalists are trying to repeat these acts of violence in this 21st century.  Guard our freedom and democracy.  Let Jesus’ message of tolerance and non-violence rule our land.  "Put up again thy sword into its place:  for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. " Matthews 26:52 KNOW THE TRUTH FOLLOW THE TRUTH SPREAD THE TRUTH " You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32