[KENNETH MATIBA]

The next verse borders on pathetic: Qur'an 3:181 "Verily Allah heard the taunt of those who said, (when asked for contributions to the war): 'Allah is poor, and we are rich.' We shall record their saying and We shall say: Taste you the penalty of the Scorching Fire!" If Allah is independent of men, why does he need their money?

According to Allah, those who knew the miracleless, prophetless, scriptureless messenger best rejected him. Qur'an 3:184 "Then if they reject you (Muhammad), so were rejected messengers before you, who came with miracles and with the prophetic Psalms and with the Scripture giving light." Since Muhammad performed no miracles, made no prophecies, and delivered the darkest recitals of all time, rejecting him would seem to be the most enlightened course.

Ibn Ishaq commemorates Uhud with twenty-four pages of poetry. I would be remiss if I didn't share the most disturbed lines. Let's start with a murder confession: Ishaq:403 "Allah killed twenty-two polytheists at Uhud."

Then: Ishaq:404 "War has distracted me, but blame me not, 'tis my habit. Struggling with the burdens it imposes, I bear arms bestride my horse at a cavalry's gallop. Running like a wild ass in the desert I am pursued by hunters."

And... Ishaq:405 "It is your folly to fight the Apostle, for Allah's army is bound to disgrace you. We brought them to the pit. Hell was their meeting place. We collected them there, black slaves, men of no descent. Leaders of the infidels, why did you not learn from those thrown into Badr's pit?" I beg to differ. The Meccans did learn the lesson of Badr's pit. They knew that a disease as vile as Islam, one that would cause terrorists to gloat over the mangled bodies of their slain victims, must be stopped at any cost. That's why they came to Uhud.

The doctrine of the sword will prevail by the sword if unchecked. Ishaq:406 "Among us was Allah's Apostle whose command we obey. When he gives an order we do not examine it. The spirit descends on him from his Lord. We tell him about our wishes and our desires which is to obey him in all that he wants. Cast off fear of death and desire it. Be the one who barters his life. Take your swords and trust Allah. With a compact force holding lances and spears we plunged into a sea of men....and all were made to get their fill of evil. We are men who see no blame in him who kills."

While bad Muslims can and should be saved from Islam, I believe the good ones are beyond hope. They are so corrupt; they will continue to condemn others. Ishaq:414 "If you kill us, the true religion is ours. And to be killed for the truth is to find favor with Allah. If you think that we are fools, know that the opinion of those who oppose Islam is misleading. We are men of war who get the utmost from it. We inflict painful punishment on those who oppose us.... If you insult Allah's Apostle, Allah will slay you. You are a cursed, rude fellow! You utter filth, and then throw it at the clean-robed, godly, and faithful One." It's a rotten job, but someone has to do it.