My understanding is pretty much irrelevant. Im not a Muslim. Thats why Ive provided the understandings from Ibn Khaldoon from the 13th century, Hasan Al Banna from the 1920s, Sayyid Qutb from the 50s and Abu Saif from Britain 3weeks ago.
Did you have a point, or just the need to respond?
You emphasize the importance of context (not just the surrounding words of a quote, but the meaning assigned by scholars) when you attempt to apologize for passages promoting violence in the Bible.
You apply a different standard to Islam. Islam is not a unified faith, and has no single large leaders like the Pope, or the various Christian Conferences, who can speak for Islam as whole.
If we are going to play the cherry picking game, here are some other "understandings" with context.
Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Senior Ulema [Religious Scholars] Shaikh Abdulaziz Al-Ashaikh issued a statement today condemning the terrorist acts that have taken place in the United States, saying categorically: "Such acts run counter to the teachings of Islam.'' He went on to state: "God Almighty has decreed that people adhere to the principle of justice because heaven and earth are based on justice, and He sent his messengers to advocate for justice, and the Holy Qur'an underscores the importance of following the path of justice in this world. And it is clear that to hold someone responsible for a crime committed by another, is not just." He added: "Enmity and hatred do not justify aggression or injustice."
Shaikh Al-Ashaikh listed four facts that every person, every country and every nation must be made aware of, whether Muslim or non-Muslim:
"Firstly: the recent developments in the United States including hijacking planes, terrorizing innocent people and shedding blood, constitute a form of injustice that cannot be tolerated by Islam, which views them as gross crimes and sinful acts.
"Secondly: any Muslim who is aware of the teachings of his religion and who adheres to the directives of the Holy Qur'an and the sunnah (the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad) will never involve himself in such acts, because they will invoke the anger of God Almighty and lead to harm and corruption on earth.
"Thirdly: it is the duty of the Muslim ulema (religious scholars) to make facts clear in this respect, and to clarify that Islam never accepts such acts.
"Fourthly: the media which try to defame Islam and Muslims in order to rally against them the feelings of various nations, should immediately stop this unacceptable and unjustifiable practice, since all reasonable and just people know that such biased accusations have nothing to do with Islam."
"Do not be people without minds of your own,
saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well,
and that if they do wrong you will do wrong.
Rather, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good,
and not to do wrong if they do evil."
- The Prophet Muhammad
One modern Muslim scholar's view on Jihad:
http://islam.about.com/od/jihad/f/jihad.htm
Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhi (Rūmī) - 1207 to 1273
an Islamic scholar of the Sufi tradition who's life provide true testimony and proof that people of all religions and backgrounds can live together in peace and harmony.
Love’s nationality is separate from all other religions,
The lover’s religion and nationality is the Beloved (God).
The lover’s cause is separate from all other causes
Love is the astrolabe of God’s mysteries.
Ok. Well, things are being settled all across the world. We'll see who writes the history books.
