No verse of the Holy Quran is superseded or negated by another. This is a flagrant and audacious ploy used by Jihadists to deceive the public to reject the intent and purport of Quran unjustly to divide Muslims, to incite one group against another and to justify causing disorder on earth.

It does not behoove a peace-loving person to support the intrigues of militant groups to support their cause of flaring war and terror in the world citing Quranic verses out of context. Militant ideology forced upon Quran using the excuse of abrogation has to be countered emphatically to convince a lone wolf or a Jihadist group to surrender to the Quranic injunction, "There is no compulsion in religion," to stop him from violating his own claim of following the Book of God.

To eliminate terrorism, we should not be supporting Jihadists by confirming their misrepresentation of the Holy Quran, but rather we should explain to them the wisdom it presents to the world to stop wars and to spread peace. All who want to stand by peace and stop terrorism, say "Aye!"

It is as joyful and exhilarating moment for a critic of Islam to spot the word "kill" in Quran as it is for a Jihadist without paying attention to the intent, context and relation with the tens of other verses addressing the subject of war and peace. This is, of course, not a wise way to promote peace in the world and to exterminate Jihadist tendencies. To examine what Quran proposes on a certain subject we have to look at all the entries on those subjects together and then reach a conclusion that represents the content of the Quran and not the intent or wishes of critics or Jihadists.

If in fact there were any abrogated verses, they would have been marked in the text from the very beginning or they would have been taken out. Otherwise, how could an ordinary reader know which verse abrogates another?

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It is academic dishonesty to quote out of context to deceive readers. Please read yourself and decide. "And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. And kill them wherever you meet them and drive them out from where they have driven you out; for persecution is worse than killing. ... And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is freely professed for Allah (that is, assure complete freedom of religion). But if they desist, then remember that no hostility is allowed except against the aggressors. ... So, whoso transgresses against you, punish him for his transgression to the extent to which he has transgressed against you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him." (2:190-195)

It cannot be made clearer than the extract above that Islam allows only defensive wars and it is the greatest deception that Islam supports militancy and aggression in the name of God.

Ahmad is a regular contributor to The Forum’s opinion pages. He has translated, compiled and co-authored “A Gift for the Queen,” “Points to Ponder,” “Why Islam is my choice” and “Words of Wisdom.” He lives in fargo and can be reached at syedsajidahmad@yahoo.com.