"The Reformation"

I can consider that :) But unto the topic at hand, basically what you are saying is that if Islam has a reformation such as the one christianity had, Islam would returning to its quranic roots. You say that this reformation would cause more extremism, presumably because you believe the Quran calls for that kind of extremism, so if muslims were to adopt "sola scriptura" as it were, it would lead to catastrophe. And you say isis is bringing said reformation. I would largely disagree that isis is actually taking a "sola scriptura" approach to the Quran. Many of the verses which seem to support them are actually out of context. So no I wouldn't compare ISIS to reformers. Now would a return to strictly the Quran mean global jihad and violent subjugation? I wouldn't say so.

Many of the verses in the Quran which seem violent are out of context, they usually referred to Muhammad and the muslims defending themselves from the meccan polytheists who persecuted them. One of the most well known violent Quran verses is Quran 2:191 that reads "And kill them wherever you find them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah [Persecution] is worse than killing" this is what people who call this passage violent usually show. But they don't even show the whole verse which shows you're supposed to kill them if they're fighting you. The rest says "And do not fight them at al-Masjid al- Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers." And The next verses which say: "And if they cease, then indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful. 2:193 Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah [Persecution] and [until] worship is for God. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors." Also Christians make the mistake of thinking that they're part of the disbelievers mentioned here. That's not the case, in Islam and the Quran a disbeliever is someone who doesn't believe in the God of Abraham. Like I said here it refers to the palytheist meccans. Jews and Christians are referred to as "people of the book" in the Quran. Actually Quran 3:64 calls to understanding with them "Say: "O people of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not from among ourselves Lords and patrons other than Allah."

The verse you quoted is also one to look at in context. Many Islamic apologists use the verse before it alone to say that Islam is peaceful. They'll usually say something like "The Quran says that if you kill one person it's as if you've killed all mankind, but if you save a life it's as if you've saved all mankind."and they'll leave it there. Many respond simply by pointing out the next verse. However I think they should be taken as one whole the two verses together say "Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment," Quran 5:32,33.

What we see with both together is that we are reminded of a decree given to the jews before that said that killing a person was like killing all mankind and saving someone is like saving all mankind. The exception for killing is if someone was causing trouble in the land. It adds that even after God's word was clearly shown people continued to transgress. Then comes 33 with the consequences to causing corruption . However it also mentions what the corruption is which is fighting God and his prophet. And we know that the corruption isn't christianity because as I showed earlier the people of the book are treated with respect in the Quran.I don't remember the verses right now but they are supposed to be allowed to practice their religion in peace and have churches and mosques. And in fact many mosques and churches exist in muslim lands.

So having actually considered what the Quran says I wouldn't say that a reformation that took a "Sola Scriptura " approach would result in a global jihad that could tie into Biblical prophecy.

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