Amein,
Lets go back to basics and look at the Merriam-Websters dictionary...
Main Entry: trea·ty
Pronunciation: 'trE-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural treaties
Etymology: Middle English tretee, from Middle French traité, from Medieval Latin tractatus, from Latin, handling, treatment, from tractare to treat, handle
Date: 14th century
1 : the action of treating and especially of negotiating
2 a : an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation: (1) : PRIVATE TREATY (2) : a contract in writing between two or more political authorities (as states or sovereigns) formally signed by representatives duly authorized and usually ratified by the lawmaking authority of the state b : a document in which such a contract is set down
Is an American visa a negotiation with the foreigner entering the country and the country? Nope. It is the rules that the foreigner must abide by when they are here. So number 1 doesn't define the visa the way you think it does. Let's go to number 2, and again a visa is not a negotiation, and additionally it is made between two or more political authorities, which a foreigner is not. It's a document between an individual and government. So as you can see, a visa is NOT a treaty according to the dictionary.
Main Entry: 1vi·sa
Pronunciation: 'vE-z& also -s&
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Latin, neuter plural of visus, past participle
Date: 1831
1 : an endorsement made on a passport by the proper authorities denoting that it has been examined and that the bearer may proceed
2 : a signature of formal approval by a superior upon a document
A visa is not a treaty by any stretch of the imagination. They are not the same. You are trying to make a visa into a treaty to fit your position, a dangerous practice when interpreting a religion or scripture. It happens all the time and allows scipture with a small twist here, and a small bend there, to mean something totally different.
Do you see, by the dictionary, that a treaty is not a visa?
As far as polytheism, Muslims consider Christians polytheistic because they feel Christians worship three Gods. And America, (far from a Christian nation, in my honest opinion), is based upon Christian principles and considered by many to be a Christian nation. So that tells you more about what Islam thinks of America. We are polytheistic, or "idolaters (infidels)", in their opinions. So you'll need to come up with something else for the definition of idolater. Cause America fits right into the one you described.
You also asked, "how do you reconcile that with the notion that Muslims should kill all non-Muslims?"
That's simple! By the Qu'ran:
002.193
PICKTHAL: And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers.
And finally, I can see you feel you are right, that the Qu'ran is not violent and being misinterpreted by the terrorists, and frankly me and many, many other people. I ask you this, being open minded, can you see how others are misinterpreting it? I know you don't think their right, but is it possible for you to see how someone might, even know you think they are wrong?
Thanks again for your honest responses....
God Bless,
IGIT |
