Criticism No 2:
Swami Vivekananda while appreciated the best part of Islam, and exhorted to the non-Muslims to adopt that, he was also ruthless in condemning the barbaric, divisive and inhumane aspects and actions of Islam and its followers, he did not mince words when he stated: "The Mohammedan religion allows Mohammedans to kill all who are not of their religion. It is clearly stated in Koran, "Kill the infidels if they do not become Mohammedans". They must be put to fire and sword. (Works of Swami Vivekananda II.335).
One religion may ordain something very hideous. For instance, the Mohammedan religion allows Mohammedans to kill all who are not of their religion. It is clearly stated in the Koran, "Kill the infidels if they do not become Mohammedans." ---Practical Vedanta Part III ( Delivered in London, 17th Nov 1896)
Response:"Thou art not one to compel them by force."--(Quran 50:45)
If your Lord had willed, all the people on the earth would have believed. Do you think you
can force people to be believers? (10:99)
Swamiji quotes exactly the western critics of Islam! Among the most widely believed myths about Islam in the West today is the myth of forcible conversion to Islam. Many Westerners do believe that Islam is so widespread in the world today simply because of a "holy campaign of terror" carried out by the early Muslims to convert non-Muslims to Islam. Non-Muslims were offered the freedom to choose either Islam or death.
In a discussion with a Baptist Minister he said that "Muslims tend to kill non-Muslims anyone who disagrees with them". In a syndicated column appearing in over 30 papers (on July 23rd, 1994) entitled, "Muslim persecution of Christians increasing" the author blames many Muslims countries for persecuting Christians. Robert Bean says: The Muslims conquered the entire world before and they could do it again.
But L.Browne, a Western researcher, expresses this situation in the following words:
“Incidentally these well-established facts dispose of the idea so widely fostered in Christian writings that the Muslims, wherever they went, forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword.”----- The Prospects of Islam, pp. 11-15.
The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book "Heroes and Hero worship", refers to this misconception about the spread of Islam: "The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can."
The theory of Islam and Sword for instance is not heard now frequently in any quarter worth the name. The principle of Islam that there is no compulsion in religion is well known. Gibbon, a historian of world repute says, "A pernicious tenet has been imputed to Mohammadans, the duty of extirpating all the religions by sword." This charge based on ignorance and bigotry, says the eminent historian, is refuted by Quran, by history of Musalman conquerors and by their public and legal toleration of Christian worship. The great success of Mohammad's life had been effected by sheer moral force, without a stroke of sword.
Islam and Mohammed The Prophet----By Prof. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao, Head of the Department of Philosophy,Government College for Women, University of Mysore, Mandya-571401 (Karnataka).
Sword of the Intellect.
It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people.
But I am an Indian, and I will quote an Indian critic (Famous Hindu Scholar) to counter criticism of Swamiji.
Swami Dayananda Saraswati Quotes: "A statement should be interpreted according to the connotation of the author meant. Most often Obstinate persons choose to interpret it against the intent of the author" (Satyarth Prakash, Sarvdeshik Arya Prathinidhi Sabha, New Delhi, Pg.9).
Here The Quranic verses are misinterpreted mistranslated! They are presented out of context, situation and background! If a person has any objection to a Quranic verse dealing with Jihad or battle against unbelievers, they should study it along with a few preceding and succeeding verses. If he does so the objection will cease to exist and it will be vividly clear. They are the commandments for wartime or to establish peace and justice on Earth.
OUT OF CONTEXT:
Some of the verses from which verses are quoted out of context;
"Fight against those who fight against you in the way of Allah, but do not Transgress, for Allah does not love Transgressors. Kill them wherever you confront them and drive them out from where they drove you out. (For though killing is sinful) wrongful persecution is even worse than killing. Do not fight against them near the Holy Mosque unless they fight against you; but if they fight against you kill them, for that is the reward of such unbelievers. Then if they desist, know well that Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Compassionate. Keep on fighting against them Until mischief ends and the way prescribed by Allah prevails. But if they desist, then know that hostility is only against the wrong-doers. The sacred month for the sacred month; sanctities should be respected alike (by all concerned). Thus, if someone has attacked you, attack him just as he attacked you, and fear Allah and remain conscious that Allah is with those who guard against violating the bounds set by Him" ---------------(Quran 2:190-194)
Instead of presenting the verses in totality, those who object to their content cite only extracts like;
"Kill them wherever you confront them"
"Keep on fighting against them"
Just to meet their mean objectives!
A Justice loving person would study these verses in their totality keeping in view the situation in which they were revealed, and would never draw erroneous conclusions that the objectors do.
If I say that, the Vedas permit Killing of those who don’t follow the Vedas , and cite the following Shlokas as proofs,
"Kill the opponents of Vedas".- (Atharva Veda: 20-93-1)
"(O King!) you reach everyone who tells the evil (tells against Vedas) and kill Him"
--------- (Atharva Veda: 20-74-7)
"O Indra ! Kill the sinful ass (a person who mocks Vedas)". (Atharva Veda: 20-74-5)
"Wage the religious war" (Gita: 2:32:34)
And if I draw a conclusion on the basis of the literal meaning of these teachings of Hindu scriptures, without keeping in view their context and background, would my Hindu brethren, who object to the Holy Qur’an, consider it proper ?
It is a fact that the Holy Quran commanded to fight the Unbelievers is not because they are Unbelievers, but because those Unbelievers Unleashed atrocities of sorts on Holy Prophet and his followers. The Atrocities committed by the Unbelievers then are;
1. They laid the Believers bare backed on live cinders and put large chunks of rock over them:
2. Dragged them undressed on the hot desert land.
3. Branded their bodies with Hot Iron bars.
4. Disgraced and scandalized their women.
5. Threw them under social and economic boycott, so much so that victims had to eat leaves and soaked leather.
6. The atrocities reached their climax when they hatched a plan to put an end to the lives of Prophet!
7. They compelled the prophet and his followers to leave their home and hearths.
8. They also repeatedly attacked them at the places where Muslims took refuge.
The Question is whether the Holy Quran should have enjoined its followers to shower flowers upon these diehard oppressors??
Right Way of Thinking!
Suppose you are a teacher and are punishing a child for some wrong. A stranger, who does not know your being a teacher and considers you a common man, is closely watching your act of punishing the child. He would surely take your act of punishing as something condemnable and mentions it to whomever he meets. But, if he comes to know that you are a teacher and it is in the capacity that you are punishing the child for wrong, then he would not consider your act condemnable, and would feel no need to mention it to anyone.
We come across countless incidents of this type. Some people are subjected to untold sufferings in Jail, some are hanged to Death, police personnel are seen torturing criminals, and armed military men can be seen shooting other human beings. As we know the position of these men and can comprehend the background of the incidents, we never take trouble to think why such a large number of people have been put behind the bars--this is atrocious! Why were such and such terrorists, rioters, murderers hanged to death?--this is utterly violent! Why do security guards gun down rioters and terrorists?--this is stark cruelty! Why do the army jawans shoot down the enemies at borders?--this is Horrific!
On all such occasions everyone says, and rightly so, that these apparently atrocious, horrific and violent acts are being done to achieve the greater good which we call justice, peace and prosperity and security.
This is what even the Bhagvad Gita says,
"for the protection of good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of Dharma". ----------(Gita 4:8)
Freedom of Religion:
Some of the Quranic Verses that disprove Swamiji’s allegations are;
"Let there be no compulsion in Religion; Truth stands out clear from error" -(Quran 2:256)
"Say: It is truth from the Lord of you all. Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve." (Quran 18:30)
"We showed him the way; whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will)." (Quran 76:3)
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