In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
There is no other god beside GOD

Condemning killing by ISIS / ISIL of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff in the name of Islam

Barbaric behavior by ISIS (ISIL / Islamic State / IS) violates Quranic laws forbidding murder; actions are completely against Submission (Islam)


Masjid Tucson condemns the barbaric murders of James Foley and Steven Sotloff by the so called "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (also known as ISIS / ISIL).

ISIS has taken the side of Satan and abandoned God and the Quran. No person or organization observing God's religion would ever commit murder (4:29, 5:32, 17:33, etc.). The religion of Submission to God (Islam in Arabic) and the Quran strictly forbids the killing of innocents as well as any form of aggression or terrorism. God teaches us in the Quran that life is sacred (6:151, 17:33, 25:68).

The Major Commandments

[Quran 6:151] Say, "Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you: You shall not set up idols besides Him. You shall honor your parents. You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty―we provide for you and for them. You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden. You shall not kill―GOD has made life sacred―except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand."

Grossness of Murder

[Quran 5:32] Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing.

 

Further, the Quran guarantees absolute freedom of religion (2:256, 18:29). The practice of kidnapping, murdering or oppressing innocent individuals is completely against God's law (2:85, 2:190-193, 2:217, etc.).

No Compulsion in Religion

[Quran 2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

[Quran 2:85] Yet, here you are killing each other, and evicting some of you from their homes, banding against them sinfully and maliciously. Even when they surrendered, you demanded ransom from them. Evicting them was prohibited for you in the first place. Do you believe in part of the scripture and disbelieve in part? What should be the retribution for those among you who do this, except humiliation in this life, and a far worse retribution on the Day of Resurrection? GOD is never unaware of anything you do.

 

ISIS / ISIL has chosen the path of evil and has rejected God's religion of Submission (Islam). This so-called "Islamic State" and other supposedly "Islamic" groups would do well to follow God's laws. A community or nation that upholds God's laws is characterized by:

To summarize, the true religion of Islam (Submission) forbids the killing of innocent people for any reason. Even in the due course of justice, the Quran discourages capital punishment. The focus is on worship of God and seeking God's approval in our daily lives, not on aggressing against or harming others.

We recommend each reader find out what God says in the Quran by reading it themselves and verifying the information it contains.

References:


Editorial, August 2014


International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson
The world wide community of those who Submit to God Alone and advocate the worship of God Alone
Praise Be To God, Lord of the Universe
Email: info@masjidtucson.org