in "understanding christian muslim relations" he discusses extensively texts that christians and muslims cite from both of their scriptures to justify their views of the other. he examines texts that support positive, or conciliatory and negative, or confrontational, views. in examining such qur'anic texts at 9: 5 (cited to justify unprovoked aggression against non-muslims including acts of terror such as 9/11) and verses cited to justify the oppression of women in islam (such as q4: 34-5) bennett refers to muslim opinion that interprets the qur'an's message as permitting only self-defense and as one of gender equality. he suggests that while some muslims used (and some still use) the qur'an to justify violence or gender inequality, muslim voices offering alternative ways to interpret these verses exist and have a right to be heard. even if the majority of muslims understand a text in a certain way, this does not necessarily mean that they are right. noorani's comments on bennett were in the context of discussion of q9: 5. noorani agrees with bennett's interpretation that this refers to permission to re-engage after a religious truce in the context of an existing defensive war and does not constitute blanket permission for muslims to attack non-muslims at any time.