PART SEVENTY
Surah 47 - "Muhammad"
By LTC Daniel Marvin, USASF (ret)

If you were to read Surah (Chapter) 47 of the KORAN you would, if you believed Muhammad and were a follower of Islam – understand some of what is going on when and where the so-called “Radical” Islamic Terrorists strike and why it is that “infidels” (Christians and Jews) are so concerned by the spread of Islam. I will quote from two versions of the KORAN and I want you readers to know that I have found the same “language” in each and every English translation of the KORAN:
1: The KORAN as translated by J.M. Rodwell and first published in “Everyman” in 1909 in London. Muhammad, in Surah 47, verse 4 tells Muslims “When you encounter the infidels, strike off their heads until you have made a great slaughter among them, and of the rest make fast the fetters [shackles or chains that bind the feet].” and he goes on in verse 9 to say, “But as for the infidels, let them perish: and their works God shall bring to nought.” And, in verses 11 & 12, Muhammad again lays it on the line, saying that “God brought destruction on them: and the like of this doth await the infidels. This – because God is the protector of those who believe [the KORAN], and because the infidels have no protector.”
2. We now go to the KORAN as translated by N. J. Dawood and first published by the Penguin Group in London in 1956. Muhammad, in Surah 47, verse 3, tells all Muslims “When you meet the unbelievers [the infidels] in the battlefield strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low [captured them], bind them low, bind your captives firmly.”
The edict of Muhammad is deadly toward Christians and Jews in each and every translation that I have come across in bookstores or public libraries. Knowing this and hearing recent rhetoric of leaders of so-called “Free Muslims” and “Moderate Muslims” I took the liberty of writing more than once to President Kamal Nawash of the “Free Muslims” coalition, who at the request of President Bush, represented the U.S. before the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the session on combating intolerance against Muslims. On 22 February 2005 I wrote and asked him about “The Foundation "truths" that his organization was based on.
“Dear President Kamal Nawash,
“There are a growing number of American citizens who are increasingly troubled by the fact that most terrorism in the world, to include the 9/11 terrorist strike on the United States, is precipitated by the teachings of fundamentalist Islamic leaders and perpetrated by those who practice Islam, using the Koran as the basis for their judgments and actions to support those judgments.
“Brent Selleck and myself are two who, among others, write a regular column in a local paper that is based on Muhammad's teachings and dictates as recorded in the KORAN. I have personally delved into what Muhammad has in the past established as the foundation for Muslim discipline and activity in a few editions of the KORAN and in each instance they promulgate the killing of Christians and Jews inasmuch as he has judged these two classes of people to be "infidels." Keeping that in mind, is it not understandable that Christians and Jews worldwide concern themselves with the growing Muslim population?
“Brent and I, and I am certain most others who read the 20 February 2005 e-mail from your organization titled "Muslims Wake Up - Response to Freedom House investigation," and other similar publications from your office, feel comforted that a possibility exists that a revised KORAN - similar in thought and direction with what your office advocates with regard to an anti-terrorist, civilized base that accepts all races and religions in the world that we now live in. We wonder if that is what you are attempting to do?”
I went on in one or more letters to him to ask for the publisher, date of publication and where I could obtain a KORAN that DOES NOT, in any way, order Muhammad’s followers to kill infidels. He has yet to respond and no other “Moderate Muslim” leader has responded to that very specific question when asked by me.
In one of Dr. Nawash’s responses he wrote, “The problem with Islam is not what the Koran says or not. Like most religions Islam is subject to numerous interpretations. Islam today is practiced differently in different countries. For example, the Koran says
in two chapters that Jews and Christians may go heaven. A rational Muslim accepts this as meaning that any Christian or Jew who does good may go to heaven. A radical Muslim interprets those chapters as meaning Christians and Jews who existed before Islam and thus they conclude that modern day Christians and Jews may not go to heaven.” He does not quote any chapter (Surah) or verse.
I will copy this to Dr. Mawash and ask that he respond to that specific question with regard to a KORAN that does not tell Muslims to Kill Jews and Christians. In his letter to Brent Selleck at the Hi Neighbor I would insist that he provide specific KORAN publication, publisher, and source for the readers to purchase same or to ask their local library to obtain and place in the reference section.
On a world-wide basis – the threat of terrorism as carried out by persons of the Islamic faith is too great and too impacting on innocent civilians to ignore this matter a minute longer.
. You be the judge, using this column, the KORAN and the response for Dr. Mawash as at least a part of your reference tools from which to decide.
For peace and justice in a free world, Brent, Dan, David & John dedicate ourselves.