This is a page I wrote to put on a website (Fjordman's blog). He asked for comments about Islam's Weak Points. In fact, I would not even say 'weak' because that implies that Islam has 'strong' points. It doesn't. Anyway, I would like to share my thoughts and experiences with Muslims on Internet forums and blogs. For several months I have tried to reason with them about their religion, their prophet and the impact of Islam in the world. This page is an attempt to summerize my thoughts on Islam and give the reader an idea of the challenges we face and the dangers that imperil our human rights. Here is what I wrote in December 2005, with only a few minor chages and corrections.
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This is basically a summary of my experience and thoughts on Islam, based upon my many experiences with Muslims. The fact is that relations between Muslims and Non-Muslims are not good and will probably not get better. Muslims cannot accept Western ideals and live peace- fully with others. This is sad. |
Where Muslims dominate you have inequality, oppression, discrimination, and lack of many basic freedoms. I won’t do into details, all one needs to do is look at the TV and read newspapers, or better, follow things in the Internet. Islamic countries are among the most repressive, intolerant and undemocratic on the planet. Be aware of how they treat (or mistreat) their minorities and even sects of Islam. It isn’t a pretty picture. In most Islamic country the Quran (Koran) and Sharia are legally defined as the basis for all laws. Non-Muslim minorities are therefore, by definition, second class citizens. But it is not so great for Muslims either - no wonder they want out. So they come to the West and …
When Muslims move to the West in numbers, they take their hate and anger with them. Again, without going into details, all that is needed to follow current events (London, Paris, Sydney, Amsterdam, etc…). More on this below in Point 9.
Contrary to what Mr. Bush says, Islam is not a religion of peace (unless he meant "pieces" of bodies). There are so many evils that seem to be associated with Muslims – to name a few: honor killings, FGM - female genital mutilation, forced marriages, polygamy, slavery, wife beating, stonings, domestic abuse, beheadings, bombings, beatings, oppression of other religious groups, oppressions of women (in so many ways: dress, education, legal status, work opportunities, etc…), terror, racial and ethic discrimination, denial of opportunities, class privilege, and so on…. Don’t let anybody say these are "isolated" cultural practices, because they are not. They are much more widely practiced then Muslims want to admit. I recommend that you read blogs of people in Islamic countries. Speaking of Islamic countries, research about how Muslims treat minority groups and religions where they dominate. Look at the human rights situation in those nations.
Most of all, Islam is characterized by: a. hate and anger, and b. denial. The hate and anger occurs at different levels; at one level it is subconscious and a product of a deep internal frustration and resentment. Since, by definition, Islam is perfect, they must place the blame elsewhere, and so, it is the Crusaders fault, or the imperialists, Israel, The Jews, America, Bush, Feminism, Liberalism, democracy, the corrupting influence of Western society, Hollywood, Bugs Bunny, racism, Christianity, and so on. You may not know it, but these all are waging war on Islam. Everybody is at fault but hardly ever Muslims and never Islam. On another level the hate is open; it is preached in the Quran, Hadiths, in Islamic literature, and by Imams in the Mosques. In most Western language Internet this aspect is played down, but in Muslim language sites (Arabic and others) it is out in the open.
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A Muslim website says: "You should instill a hatred for this culture (the West) and its ways in the hearts of your children" |
Most of the troubles with Muslims can be traced directly to the Quran and Old Mo, their great leader. Words like "So, fight them till all opposition ends and the only religion is Islam" (Koran8:39) and "Muhammad is the apostle of Allah. Those who follow him are merciful to one another, but ruthless to unbelievers" (Koran 48:29) leave little room for doubt. Islamic terrorists are simply following the precepts of their prophet. They are practicing their understanding of Islam. Even if hate is not open and declared, it exists in the contempt and dislike for Western culture and its people. Take the recent events in Sydney and Paris, for example. In these cases Islam is not the cause of the riots per se, but it is an enabling agent, or catalyst, that makes these events possible and gives them meaning. The teachings of Islam provide the intellectual and moral basis for the hate and alienation found in Muslims, which lead to events of intolerance and violence that are characteristic of Islam. These groups of young people do not act in the name of Islam, but have in their Islamic heritage the roots of their rejection of common values and their isolation from the larger society. They may not be experts in Islam, but they know enough about it to absorb Islamic attitudes toward infidels that manifest themselves in their behavior. And then again, you have things like this at Islam_QA: Please read what Muslims who live in the West are supposed to teach their children about their host countries: http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=70256&dgn=4 "You should instill a hatred for this culture (the West) and its ways in the hearts of your children" (Question 70256, item 8)
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The Quran is full of verses promoting hatred towards infidels. Yes, there are some verses that say nice things, but there as many that say otherwise, so at the very least the Koran is inconsistent, vague and poorly written. |
I could write a book. The simple fact is that Muslims refuse to contemplate the words and accounts in their own scriptures. The Quran is full of verses promoting hatred towards different kinds of infidels. Yes, there are some verses that say "nice" things, but there as many that say otherwise, so at the very least the Koran is inconsistent, vague and poorly written. The Hadiths are even worse. From these traditions we find that Mohammud and his gang of thugs were haters, murderers, torturers, slavers, wife-beaters and so on… Muslims will pretend that events described in the Quran and Hadiths do not exist. Yes, they will quote from the same book and chapter to prove a point them to prove, however when one asks about the evil acts also recorded, they become irrelevant or, more often, the Muslim turns into a zombie – his/her eyes glaze over and suddenly they cannot hear or speak. It is like "Night of the Living Dead". It is almost impossible to find a Muslims who will comment on these verses, but there are there. This pattern of hate, violence, inconsistency and denial is a bloody river that runs through the life of Mohammed, across the pages of the Koran and into the lives of Muslims – and it is now overflowing into the West.
Now let me say a word in defense of our Muslim friends. For most of us in the West, being honest about a belief or religion is easy. It is a matter of saying "Oops" and then following up (an apology, change of opinion, new political party, resigning from an association, new church, no church, etc..) It is not a big deal most of the time. It can be difficult for some, but it is doable. For a Muslim to admit that Islam is wrong, or that it contains deep dark aspects of hate, anger and intolerance - well that is not easy! Nobody wants to admit that their great hero is a low-life murderer and torturer, and takes 9 year old girls playing with dolls to his bed. For Muslims to be honest, they must be willing to make a sacrifice, and I mean a big sacrifice. And I am not talking about hurt feelings, or even having to admit that they supported a belief and a man that espouse oppression and hate. It is much worse! Often it means they must give up job, friends, worldly goods, social position and even family, or their own life.
My demands are very simple: I want Muslims to think about the verses that describe the vile acts inflicted upon people by Islam's prophet and his men. I do not even ask that they believe them (that would be too much!), just recognize they exit. When I read a passage that says Mohammud's followers killed an old woman (Asma) for criticizing him, I want them to say "Gee, he had an old woman killed." When I read from the Quran and its says that a man can rape his married female slaves, I want them to say "Yes, it says a Muslim can have sex with his married female slaves when he wants." When I read verses like "So, fight them till all opposition ends and the only religion is Islam" (8:39) and Koran "Muhammad is the apostle of Allah. Those who follow him are merciful to one another, but ruthless to unbelievers" (48:29) or even the famous "kill them wherever you find tem ) I want to Muslims to look at me and say "Yes, old man, that is real mean. I can understand why you are offended."
Quote: Then the Prophet was informed by a shouter for help, he sent some men in their pursuit, and before the sun rose high, they were brought, and he had their hands and feet cut off. Then he ordered for nails which were heated and passed over their eyes, and whey were left in the Harra (ie. rocky land). They asked for water, and nobody provided them with water till they died…" (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/052.sbt.html)
Read verse 261 Yes, they were thieves, but….
Quote: "The women asked, "O Allah’s Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He said, "Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn’t it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?" The women replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her religion." Bukhari Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301. (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/006.sbt.html#001.006.301)
Quote : "The military expeditions (Ghazawat, literally raid) in which the Messenger personally participated were twenty-six. Some say there were twenty-seven." Tabari IX:118 "The armies and raiding parties sent by the Messenger of Allah between the time he came to Medina and his death (ten years) was forty-eight." Tabari IX:115. The accounts tell of the plunder and taking slaves, of giving captured women to the Prophet’s men. The writer was especially proud of the raids where the caravans and villages were taken by surprise. (Quote: Ibn 'Aun reported: ...The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) made a raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water. He killed those who fought and imprisoned others. On that very day, he captured Juwairiya bint al-Harith. Muslim Book 019, Number 4292 - also in Bukhari). (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/019.smt.html#019.4321
Quote: "And all married women are forbidden unto you save those captives whom your right hand possess (your slaves). It is a decree of Allah for you." (The Koran, Muslim 4:24) Can anybody justify this?
There are dozens of verses that tell of unprovoked attacks, horrible torture (like building a fire on a man’s chest, for example), wife beatings, slavery, rape of married women, disrespect for women, murders for petty reasons (like the killing of Abu Afak, Asma bint Marwan and her 5 children by the prophet's men – do a Google on that!) and so on.. The list goes on and on. Notice the references and the links to Islamic sites. This is the man Muslims consider to be a "great" example. There are some great sites that expose the nefarious life of this man, such as "faithfreedom" and "prophet of doom."
Quote: Prophet Mohammed's message to nonbelievers is: "I come to slaughter all of you."
Here is an article in CNN's online edition with a message from the Religion of Peace: Radicals vs. moderates: British Muslims at crossroads, Posted: 4:37 p.m. EST, January 22, 2007. DUBLIN, Ireland (CNN)
At a recent debate over the battle for Islamic ideals in England, a British-born Muslim stood before the crowd and said Prophet Mohammed's message to nonbelievers is: "I come to slaughter all of you."
"We are the Muslims," said Omar Brooks, an extremist also known as Abu Izzadeen. "We drink the blood of the enemy, and we can face them anywhere. That is Islam and that is jihad."
Anjem Choudary, the public face of Islamist extremism in Britain, added that Muslims have no choice but to take the fight to the West.
"Both sources are indispensable; one cannot practice Islam without consulting both of them (Quran and Sunnah). Bukhari's collection is recognized by the overwhelming majority of the Muslim world to be one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet..." (from http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/sbtintro.html)
"This thorough authentication process ensures that these accounts (the Hadiths) are real, validated narrations of the sayings, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. (from http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=106)
"These (hadiths) are the real explanation, interpretation, and the living example of the Prophet (...) for teachings of the Qur'an." (from http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/quran/)
"The Shareeah, which is embodied (in) the Quran and Sunnah, are the proclamations of Allah and His Messenger (...) ...it is obligatory for every Muslim to obey any command that he hears from Allah or His Messenger (...), even if the command should go against his own desires, opinion or against popular opinion." (from http://www.iisca.org/articles/document.jsp?id=65)
"To be a true Muslim, the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (...) must be followed. The sources of information about the Sunnah are found in Hadith..." ( from http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=article&id=141)
Note: The first biographers of Muhammad were Ibn Ishaq and al-Tabari; they provide the only authoritative history of his life. Later, Bukhari put together a collection of Hadiths/traditions which are regarded almost as valid as the Qur’an. These three historians provide the original information we have about Muhammad and early Islam. In 830 AD Ibn Hisham wrote a censured version: "I am omitting things which Ishaq recorded in this book. I have omitted things which are disgraceful to discuss and matters which would distress certain people." Ishaq:691. All modern day biographies are even more "cleaned-up’.
For over 4 months I went to dozens of sites, I quoted the hadiths, I pointed out to Muslims these passages that described the evil acts by their dear prophet. I asked them to recognize and admit that the man was bad. Not one would do so. The best answer I got was that the passages were "problematic" (at altmuslim.com). Very often my postings were deleted, no matter how nice I tried to be. Muslims do not want to known about these things. I even asked tried to get Muslims, even if they dis not accept those accounts, just to tell me that if they understood what the verses said. I said something like this: "OK, you do not accept that Mohammed had people tortured, but at least tell me that if the text says that the men were brutally tortured" and "Do you agree that this hadiths says that Mohammed beat Alisha (his favorite wife) and she said that it caused her pain?". I even asked one Muslims Just to type the words "The text appears to say that Mohammed had people tortured. No luck. No luck at all. I could not even get a single Muslims to tell me in plain words what the sentences said. Now that is denial! I am telling you this to that all of you will understand how hard it is to reason with a Muslim when it comes to their prophet and the Koran. Logic does not apply.
Coherence and consistency are not Islam’s strong points. Muslims can ignore and explain away anything. There are no words to convey the extent to which Muslims will deny reality or use the most absurd excuses in their arguments. Thus we have Islamic articles starting with words "No Compulsion in Religion" and ending with "the law of execution will apply" (from http://www.alinaam.org.za/library/religion/comp_religion.htm) or that declare that "Islam means Peace" (from http://www.discoverislam.com/poster.asp?poster=DIP2004_24&page=1) when the word actually means ‘submission’. Muslims can write "Under no circumstances is violence against women encouraged or allowed" (from http://www.isna.net/services/library/papers/dv/EndingDomesticViolenceinMuslimFamilies1.html) and on the same site quote this verse: "As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next) do not share their beds, (and last) beat (tap) them (lightly)" (http://www.isna.net/services/dv/imamcorner/). The word 'tap' should read 'beat' and the adverb 'lightly' is pure invention by the translator to make it less harsh. Just as bad as this distorted translation are Islamic sites that say this practive is a "safeguard" for women (from http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=544).
It gets worse, for example, there is a site that says the concept of slavery should be regarded as a concept of mercy, as the heinous crime of rejecting Allah demands immediate death, from http://www.islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=1928).
Also consider cases like this: http://www.muslim-canada.org/apostasy.htm about how Muslims in Canada want the right to kill apostates/blasphemers under Islamic sharia law.
And just when you think you have seen everything, you find things like this:Muslims like to claim that Islam exalts women, even as they are required to wear blankets, stay home, not drive or enter the back door of mosques and share a segregated side room with other women during sermons. Remember, Muslim men are told to beat their wives (Surah 4.34), and Islam’s great prophet says women are deficient in intelligence http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/006.sbt.html#001.006.301. I would like to refer to the UNs "Arab Human Development Report 2002" (look it up on the Internet, please!), written by Arab experts about the discrimination and prejudice against women in the Arab (ie, Muslim) world. It addresses the widening gaps in freedom, women's empowerment and knowledge in the Middle East.
According to altmuslim.com the number of mosques in the US that segregate women behind partitions or in backrooms has increased considerably. Also, see what is happening to women in Egypt: http://bigpharaoh.blogspot.com/2005/07/egyptian-women-emancipation-egyptian.html
A good, honest source about the status of women under Islam is Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s blog at http://www.ayaanhirsiali.web-log.nl/.
Rape especially is a something that seems to characterize Islam. We all know of events in Europe (do a Google search with terms like "Rape" "Muslims" "Europe" or substitute "rape" for "crime". Let's not forget to mention Coptic women abducted (http://www.copts.net/demands.asp) or hindu women taken for wives against their will (http://web.mid-day.com/news/world/2005/november/123248.htm). Domestic abuse is a very big problem in the Islamic community, much bigger than in Western societies.
First of all let me make clear that the massive immigration of Muslims to the West is a new phenomena that has only occurred in the last generation. Before that it was Europeans, Asians or even Africans (against their will). Prior to the 1960s when immigrants came from Muslim countries, it was mostly Christians escaping the evils and discrimination they suffered under Islam and Sharia.
Understand also that the rules have changed - 100 years ago a family would move and they had to integrate. Now with multiculturalism, welfare and technology, this is different. A group can live, work, worship and even hate, and live side by side with another group. When people praise past immigration (as in the US or Australia) they are talking about a world that no longer exists. It is like the generals planning for the last war. Things have changed, but the politicians and intellectuals don't know it.
Welfare now makes immigrants independent of work and responsibility. Multiculturalism makes them immune from OFFICIAL criticism and discourages integration. Modern technology means they can live in the West like they never left home (and even eat their favorite Pakistani dishes or watch their favorite Imam in Old Arabia on TV telling them to hate the infidels). It is a whole new world. The effects of globalism, new communication technology and mass migrations are so many and so deep that they are beyond any individual's understanding. This is a dangerous mixture one day and it will explode. Boom.
The fact is that things will get worse. Sadly, I do not believe that Muslims can integrateor live side by side (in numbers) with other people, and still be good Muslims. Read the Quran and the hadiths. They are very clear as to the preferred relationship between Muslims and infidels. When the number of Muslims reaches a certain level (the point of no return) they will start their jihad. (Note: jihad means Holy War 99% of the time; it only means ‘inner struggle’ when Muslims are explaining it to stupid infidels. This distortion of reality in Islam is known as the doctrine of Al-taquiya - deception). If fact, some consider immigration to be a low level jihad. First it will be just demands, then a little crime, then more demands, then fights, then a riot, then murders, and then more riots and finally full-scale war. It will get ugly. I wish I could believe otherwise. Yes there are good Muslims, but not enough to make a difference. Most of them are either indifferent and/or in denial, so the radicals will win, as they always do in Islamic societies. They, after all, practice the "pure" Islam and they have the Quran, the hadiths and especially the example of Mohammud on their side. All the moderates can do is make excuses and pretend this has nothing to do with Islam.
We must fight to save our liberties, especially the freedom of conscious and speech. The ability to criticize Islam and Muslims (or anybody else) for what they say and do is part of the freedoms we hold dear, and for anybody (the media, government, speech codes, PC educators, etc…) to write this off as racism, hate speech, vilification or prejudice is to deny our right to express ourselves. If the facts are true, why the effort to silence those who speak out against the vile ideology of Islam? Take away the liberty of expression and you have nothing (as is the case in so many Islamic countries).
As I have pointed out so often, Muslims cannot be honest about their religion and their dear prophet. To get along with Muslims and "respect" them, you must also be dishonest about these things. You must ignore the hate and anger in their writings and you must ignore the many vile acts and often vulgar life of Mohammed.
To get along with Muslims you must be willing to apply different (inferior) standards to their speech and conduct; and pretend that their faith, laws, customs and practices (particularly in Muslim dominated countries) are admirable and deserving of respect. You must be willing to make excuses and accept generalized, gross violations of human rights as minor aberrations by a few insignificant individuals. You must be willing to accept words and actions that, if practiced by individuals of western culture, would be resoundingly condemned in a minute. This is a form of cultural racism in a way - a bigotry of low expectations and double standards if you wish.
This use of different standards for different people is the essence of multiculturalism. Well actually, the basic ideology advocated by Multiculturalists is that Western culture is evil and everything else is great. You may criticize any and everything about European heritage and history (fine with me!), but you must not only overlook the shortcomings and failures of other societies and not even talk about them, you must even go so far as to distort facts and ignore history (not a good idea!) to make them feel good. That is Multiculturalism.
Understand that Islam is a problem everyone faces, not just Israel, America, Holland, etc.. Consider the news. Riots in France, the Copts in Egypt, Iran wants to kill 4 million people, bombings in India and Turkey, terror in Spain, beheadings of 3 Christian girls in Indonesia. What do these events have in common? Why don’t Muslims ever ask why? Why? Denial! This problem is not going away.
There are no easy answers. Violence is not the solution; it only takes one side down to the level of the other. Yes, speaking out may create resentment and radicalize some Muslims, but to remain silent is worse, and wrong. To continue under the current policy of asinine political correct multiculturalism is to add fuel to the fire. In my opinion, forget banning headscarves or the hajib, the best we can do is be honest with Muslims about their religion. Tell them the things they do not want to hear or even think about. Show them the verses from their scriptures that proclaim hate and anger to non-Muslims. Show them the repulsive deeds performed by their prophet Mohammed - a man they consider to be a great "example". Tell them you are offended! Demand that they explain these verses. Do not accept anything but absolute honesty.
This is the best way to deal with this issue. Even so, this may not be enough. We cannot change Islam, only Muslims can do that, but they are in denial, so it will not change. Bad times are a-coming.
It is as I always say: Radical Muslims kill, moderates make excuses.
I apologize for the length of this post, but this issue is one of life, liberty and happiness.
Signed, John Arthur aka old kactuz
A day or so later I added this comment...
It is important that we know those who want to harm us; it is important that we read their writings and have an honest, sincere debate with them about their ideology.
Things will get bad, I believe, but they will be far worse if we do nothing. Being honest about Islam is good for everybody, especially Muslims.
Thanks,
John
We will miss Fjordman very much.
