Sunday, March 15, 2015

The Jihad Triangle

Many people are confused by jihad. If Islam is a religion of peace, why is there a persistent problem of radicalism in the Muslim world? If Islam is the problem, why are there so many peaceful Muslims?

These difficulties dissolve when we realize that jihad isn't the product of a single factor, but of three factors: belief, knowledge, and obedience. These three factors come together in what we'll call "The Jihad Triangle."

25 comments:

Richard said...

True. Jihad comes about when Muslims have the knowledge of their religion, they believe in it and they obey its commandments.

Peaceful Muslims lack at least one of these qualities.

Islam's commandments are clear. Quran 9:111

Jihad is for Muslims to give their "persons and wealth" to "Allah" and "..fight in the cause of Allah and slay and are slain."

In return "Allah" gives them a promissory note - " in return has promised them paradise; "

Of course if they survive and are victorious,they needn't wait for this Islamic paradise. They enslave and have sex with the conquered women and enslave their children and take all their possessions.

http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson/jihad.htm

Of course for a person to believe that nonsense a person has to be uneducated, gullible, and indoctrinated usually from childhood.

That is why Boka Haram, and the Taliban murder students and teachers - education and rationality is the enemy of Islam.

Unknown said...

Few people are just ever one thing.Each person in this world is different and complicated. The people ensnared in mohammedism are no different and change as they live their lives just like anyone else.
I feel especially for those young people traumatised by the current islamic public murders by the IS. Right now those boys are victims, but sadly many will go on to become perpetrators.
A few factors are; self deception, stupidity, inflated self woth and sense of personal destiny, moral weakness, idealism, mental trauma, indoctrination, confused thinking,exteral pressures and threats to conform, self doubt - the list goes on and is long.
A mohammedan can be perhaps 90% victim 5% the perpetrator of hatred with 5% self deception. In others this all this is reversed. It's mainly stupidity, self deception and lack of courage taht's going on - and of course some very real mind numbing hatred and desires to murder.

Mahsheed said...

Very interesting post and comments.

Anonymous said...

Hi David,

Thank you for this succinct and logical explanation.

My Muslim friends would argue that they have all three of these factors (knowledge, belief & obedience) in place. But the "knowledge" they are referring to has been strained through so many filters that it no longer bears resemblance to the original.

When this fact is raised, then there are usually two lines of argument. The first is the "you have to understand the context" and the second is "you are troublesome and therefore I do not have to answer trouble makers".

The Gospel predates the Qur'an and the Hadiths by hundreds and hundreds of years (even assuming its been corrupted), yet Jesus' teaching are as applicable today as they were two thousand years ago.

What happened to Allah's communicative skills between the Gospel and the Qur'an?

But these questions are elaborately explained away or ignored at the touch of an Islamic scholars pen.

For peaceful Muslims, of whom there are many, the tendency to rely on Islamic scholars is easily explained when you realize that the only logical conclusion of a reliance on the Qur'an is that it must be obeyed to the letter.

The Islamic community boasts of many accomplishments and inventions over its history, but perhaps the greatest in the West is the industry that is run by Islamic scholars who tirelessly and feverishly invent reasons why the Qur'an should not be taken at its word.

What may appear to others as "nonsense" is in fact a carefully scaffolded and complex construction that reassures Muslims believers that Allah could not possibly mean what he says.

Anonymous said...

To my Muslim friends,

It is sometimes helpful to remember that while not everything has to make complete sense to human beings, that the reason we think as we do (ie. using our own observation, reason and logic) is because we are designed by the Creator to do just that.

We do not have these abilities so we can reply on other's, we have them so we can work things out ourselves.

Islam cannot be argued without relying on logical fallacies (ie. arguments that ignore reason). If I was accused of this I would want to prove it wrong.

Below is a link where you can read about logical fallacies. It is not an anti-Islamic page, nor has anything to do with religion.

Scroll down to "informal logical fallacies". If you read through these, I encourage you to see how many of them you recognize as ways of answering non-believers.

Again, this is not a page written by people attacking Islam, nor is it a page about Western mentality.

I would very much like to hear your thoughts on this.

Shalom,

Paige

Anonymous said...

My sincere apologies.

I must have forgotten to add the link.

Here it is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies

Keith said...

David, I'm just curious. These videos are perfect. No pauses, no brain farts, no umm's, no ah's. Do you rehearse everything to memory and do the video, or do you have the script held up in front of you (though I don't think so!), or you're just too good now you can say all this in front of the camera impromptu?

David Wood said...

Keith,

If it's a short clip, sometimes I'll just say it several times until I get it right. But with the longer videos, I use a homemade teleprompter (an iPad set under a piece of reflective glass).

Unknown said...

There are other commentators on the same subject but you have a great style of presentation as well as being very knowledgeable.

Seems like the war that really needs to be won is the war of ideas. You are providing the ammunition for that war.

nacanacazo said...

Ha! the octagon of spinelessness! more like the infinitegon of spinelessness.

Uncle Vladdi said...

Isn't it strange how "extremist," "fundamentalist," and "radical" are all oxymorons?

If one is extremely fundamental to the core message of the source texts, then how can one also be "radical" (divergent to it)?!

Here's the real "difference" between "radical" and "moderate" muslims:

"Radical" muslims want to murder us for not being muslims.
"Moderate" muslims want "radical" muslims to murder us for not being muslims.

;-)

And why is this? Simple!

In Judeo-Christian lore, of one commits suicide (much less by, or when also trying to murder others) one learns that one is destined for Hell.

But the criminal Qur'an tells it's Submissive "muslim" dupes that, if and when they're feeling down, they can instantly get to heaven itself BY randomly murdering others!

So it's obviously islam itself which causes any and all "radicalization!"

The only pretended "mystery" is why more rank-and-file muslims aren't already "radicalized:" it's simply because they're still somewhat ignorant of what's written the Qur'an concerning allah's ultimate expectations of them.

Here's how and why any and all "Radicalism" and "radicalization" occurs in islam:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzmyuCXS2sTdZDcxYTA1YzYtOWJmNS00YzNmLWI4YTMtNjRiNDRmMDExYzg3/edit?pli=1&hl=en

(Official 'Abrogation' of all the semi-peaceful verses in the Qur'an)!

In handy web-based .PDF format!

Bottom line: there are no "moderate" muslims, simply because there is no "moderate" islam!

So, why are "our leaders" and their pet enemedia lying to us all the time about this?!

Here's what's really going on:

Although it's true that not all Germans were Nazis, not all Italians are Mafiosis, not all whites are Hell's Angels, and not all Arabs are muslims - it IS nevertheless true that all Nazis WERE nazis, all Mafiosis ARE Mafiosis, all Hell's Angels ARE Hell's Angels, and ALL MUSLIMS ARE MUSLIMS!

The politically correct pretence-du-jour is to pretend that 'NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE MUSLIMS!'

And in order to sell that lie to people, some mythical and entirely unsupported sub-categories of "muslims" ("Radicalists," "Extremists," "Fundamentalists," "Militantists," and of course the ever-elusive "Moderate" muslims) had to be invented and screamed at us, over and over again. The more often a lie is repeated ...!

Of course, they're also all really only "Islam-ISTS" (and, so, purported to be not really "muslims" at all, per se; but really only "islam-ish" in their strangely puzzling behaviours).

And "our leaders" are in the habit of beating us over the head with our own guilt all the time, BECAUSE it is the not-so-secret duty of the authorities and enemedia to scold us for being hateful racist bigots all the time, so their slander can keep us off-balance and on the defensive, thus not giving us enough time to see what they’re really all up to – which is selling us all out for only their own personal gains, by selling our countries off to our enemies, by buying their money, running their tabs in our names.

;-(

ALL MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS!

"Terrorism" is really only the simple crime of "extortion" writ large! Extortion is "threats!"

ALL muslims are criminals, simply by being members of the world's largest and most ancient yet ongoing crime-gang. Being a member of a crime-gang is a crime, even if the member hasn't committed any specific crime beyond that of their general membership, because they represent the inherent public threat the crime-gang presents. It's the Law. Everything muslims pretend to believe is "holy" is already a crime!

And terrorism is an intrinsic sacrament in islam, being their "most pious act!"

nacanacazo said...

Since you have the text for the teleprompter. You should also provide somewhere. Saves the work of having to transcribe.

Mahsheed said...

Uncle Vladdi, it's untrue and inflammatory exaggeration to accuse all Muslims as being terrorists. Obviously too many fall into the two camps of terrorists and supporters but there is a very large number of "pick and choose" Muslims much like the famous "cafeteria Catholics". Don't muddy the waters with these blanket statements.

Assyria_Lost said...

Great illustration, can't help but think it was inspired by the Fire triangle model.

Mike said...

This video is the best "crap" ever posted, when it comes to explaining why certain individuals follow Mocrazies writings. Great "crap" David keep up the "crappy" work! Lol

Assyria_Lost said...

@Mike

Can you come up with a better model? I'm all eyes.

Anonymous said...

Dear @Assyria_Lost,

I thought I'd weigh in here, but I think that Mike was just using the word "crap" sarcastically or ironically as it had been used in another post. Notice that the word is in quotation marks?

I read his comment as being an encouragement to David, not an attack.

I could be wrong, but that was my take on it.

Keith said...

Uncle Vladdi, I agree with the first part of your comment. The word radical itself seems to have contrasting meanings, with one of it also meaning "root". So by calling a Muslim radical, we can also take it to mean that they are only going back to the root...which of course, they are. Much like the word "fundamental".

Anonymous said...

There are unquestionably Muslim believers who are compassionate, kind and generous. We should never suggest all Muslims are bad people, let alone terrorists.

I think Masheed has explained it well when he talked about "pick and choose Muslims". These people pick the verses that resonate with their desire to do good, and choose to focus on the more positive re-interpretations of Mohammad's behaviour, rather than his actual example.

Their good nature drives them to avoid the parts of Islam that Mohammad embraced, and to work around verses that command them to do things they know in their hearts to be wrong.

Are these bad people? No, absolutely not!! They are people locked into a belief system that does not match their heart's desire. They are often people who will not respond to your questions about their faith, because the answers are untenable to them.

They are the people who will listen to their Imam, hoping to have their nagging doubts relieved, while quietly accepting rhetoric that they know in their hearts is flawed.

They will sit in silence wishing they knew the answer to the questions that they already feel condemned for thinking. They want to believe the Qur'an but their intelligence and their conscience silently objects to the hundreds of verses they can barely believe a merciful god would say out loud, or, at all!

These are the people who dutifully pray 5 times a day, while quietly wondering why an infinite God can't be bothered to answer them personally. They fearfully worship a far off hidden figure while wondering why the Creator needs to keep such a distance from his creation.

They are the men, women and children who will never admit that they long for the peace of a faith that is based on relationship rather than works; for a God who looks at them individually and loves them as if they were the most important person in His life (Deuteronomy 32:10).

They are the people who wish their faith was comprehensible, that they could answer their neighbours questions, that they had more than a choice between feeling ashamed or feeling angry when Islam is in the news.

The silent yearnings of Muslims are ever before God, and He is ready to answer them, if they would but ask.

We would do well to remember that there are many, many Muslim who cannot ask the questions that are most upon their hearts.

Mahsheed said...

That's very astute, Paige. I wonder if you speak from experience?

Yes I was a pick and choose Muslim, and I didn't dwell on the parts I didn't like and generally was so secure in my faith it even survived college years.
It was only once I started doubting, which was a chain reaction caused by 911, that my doubts rose to the surface. I was tormented the most at nights. Before this I hadn't been able to penetrate the Bible, the text just repelled me. But random Bible verses that I'd apparently picked up over the years popped into my mind. One in particular was something Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them".

It was a paradigm shift, and I know it was impossible for me to experience this under any other conditions or time in my life.


A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

Mahsheed said...

Paige, you are describing in so many words "cognitive dissonance", which I experienced. It is the tension from trying to reconcile contradictory thoughts, which to me felt like trying to pull two ropes that were too short together so I could tie them. My eastern and western sides just never quite met. But mostly it was subconscious.


A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18 A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Mahsheed said...

The other thing about being Muslim is the feeling of being an orphan and wondering why God is so remote. I once read a story about a man who levitated while he prayed long ago, and this made me overcome with sorrow that those days are past. I'd never heard of anything like this happening. One example of cognitive dissonance was wondering why, for a false religion, did Christians claim so many miracles? It seemed mean of Allah to be so confusing. (Also, why did Christians have the best relationship with God, calling Him Father, while to us He is Master?)

Fast forward years later, my delight at discovering the Catholic saints such as Padre Pio and St Joseph of Cupertino.

Anonymous said...

Mahsheed: thank you for your comments - as a 'watcher' of all things religious but basically an agnostic, I felt so happy reading what you said as it confirmed so much in my head of what is going on with the Muslim religion. I think a lot is fear of questioning anything, they can survive quite happily as long as they never allow those doubts to pop up in their heads and we all know that following along in a movement - 'joining' something that fills your life keeps humans in place because they cannot conceive of how they would survive if they left their group. I call it the "we are we" phenomenon - the group-think controls their life. In the Muslim religion they are so busy 'following' they almost have no time to think - dropping to your knees to pray at appointed times daily takes over your life !

m s said...

http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2015/03/the-jihad-triangle.html

Lines are one dimensional but if you put several lines together in the right way a second dimension emerges: something more complex than any of the individual lines. Human beings are complex creatures. We make decisions based on a variety of factors: genetics, upbringing, feelings, beliefs, desires and so on. Much of what we do can't be explained in terms of one specific factor so one dimensional explanations of our behavior are often misguided. Take jihad. What causes jihad? Is it poverty? If so, shouldn't we see jihad among all poor people whether muslim or not? Is islam a cause? If it were, wouldn't everyone who believes in islam be a jihadist? One-dimensional explanations won't help us understand jihad because it isn't the result of one factor. It's the result of three. If you're missing any of the three factors the new dimension doesn't emerge. But when all three come together, they form what we'll call the jihad triangle. First factor: belief in islam. To become a jihadist, you have to believe that there is no god but allah, that mohamed is his messenger, and that you have access to the commands of allah and mohamed. Islam is foundational because if you don't believe in allah, you're not going to wage jihad for him. You might fight for other things but it won't be jihad. Second factor: knowledge of what islam commands. You can believe in islam without knowing that allah commands muslims to fight those who do not believe in allah (qur'an 9:29), or that mohamed declared "I've been ordered to fight people until they say there is no god but allah (sahih Al-Bukhari 6924)". When I quote these passages to westernized muslims, they generally have no clue what I'm talking about, even when I'm quoting allah and mohamed. But the jihadist is familiar with these kinds of passages. So jihadists aren't merely muslims. They're muslims who know that they've been commanded to fight to violently subjugate unbelievers. Third factor: obedience. The world is filled with people who choose the path of least resistance. People who do whatever makes them feel more confortable. But some people are wired differently. They are willing to do whatever they believe is right regardless of the consequences. You can kill them, they won't back down. This character trait when combined with certain noble values give rise to heroes. Men and women who will lay down their lives to help others. But when it is combined with belief in islam and knowledge of allah's commands, it results in obedience and a willingness to fight the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them (qur'an 9:73).

m s said...

So belief in islam by itself doesn't produce jihad. Knowledge of what islam teaches, by itself, doesn't produce jihad. Obedience, by itself, doesn't produce jihad. Any two of these factors combined without the third won't produce jihad. You can believe in islam and be thoroughly willing to obey allah as long as you don't know that he commands you to wage jihad. You can believe in islam and know that allah commands you to wage jihad, as long as obeying allah isn't a priority. You can know what allah commands and be the sort of person who is willing to lay down his life for what he believes, as long as you don't believe in islam. Once we understand that the triangle requires all three sides we can start to answer some of the more common questions about islam and violence. For instance, we often hear the question: if islam is violent, why are there so many peaceful muslims? Well, most muslims in the west only have one of the three sides: they have belief in islam. But they don't know what islam teaches and, even if you tell them what islam teaches, they're not going to obey if it's something they don't like. My conversations with westernized muslims usually goes something like this: the muslim says "islam is a religion of peace", I respond by quoting a bunch of passages from the qur'an, then the muslim says "you're ignoring the context", so i take them through the context, at that point he calls me an islamophobe and says there's no point in talking to me. Notice even when the commands and the context are spread out in front of them, many muslims simply will not obey. They'll always be one side shy of a triangle. Another common confusion surrounds the issue of radicalization. How many times have we heard: "he was such a polite boy growing up, we don't understand how he ended up with a group like isis"? It's actually pretty straight forward. You see either he was raised with one of the three sides, belief in islam, or he acquired the belief side through conversion. Either way, having the belief side opens the door for the recruiter to start working on the other two sides: "You think allah wants you to live in peace with unbelievers? You got that idea from the unbelievers not from allah. Let me show you what islam really teaches". With the second side firmly in place, the recruiter then shifts his attention to obedience: "You think you get to pick and choose which of allah's commands you obey as if our religion is some sort of lunch buffet? Allah demands complete submission and if you don't obey, you're not a real muslim, you're going to hell." There are plenty of young muslims out there who will resist a recruiter. Nothing will convince them to obey. But some will pack their bags and book the next flight to Turkey, one way. Now is it just me or is this really really simple? What have we discussed that a five year old couldn't understand? And if a five year old can get this, why are politicians and the media so confused by jihad? As it turns out, there is another shape at work among politicians and the media. I call it the octagon of spinelessness. But I think that we've discussed enough geometry for one day.

—David Wood