ISLAM

Submitted by Faqi (United States), Oct 8, 2008 at 21:47

That Muslim conquerors very often killed non-combatants in their conquests of formerly Christian regions of the Byzantine empire, the Balkans, and elsewhere is abundantly and independently confirmed by the primary sources: the accounts written by those Christians whose territory was being conquered by Muslims.

Read John of Nikiu on the Muslim conqest of Egypt; read Sebeus and Lewond on the Muslim conquest of Armenia in the seventh and eighth centuries. Read the Chronicle of Thomas the Presbyter. Read Sophronius' sermons referring to the Muslim invasion of Palestine. Read Theophanes. Read Matthew of Edessa and Scylitzes on the Turkish conquests of E. Anatolia in the eleventh century. Read Doukas on the Ottomans' destruction of the Byzantine empire, including the final assautl on Constantinople. Read the letters of Manuel II Paleologus. All these primary sources and many, many more show that Muslims were quite willing to set aside any prohibition on killing civilians in order to take over as much Christian-ruled land as possible.

Most religions have their share of fanatics, but there really isn't quite anything like Islam. One can mention abortion clinic bombers and the like, but seriously, the numbers and impact of the lunatics are nothing like in Islam. The Japanese publisher of Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses was murdered. Do ANY Christians, Buddhists, etc. call for KILLING people for criticizing their prophets. Scores of Muslims are guaranteed to do this at the slightest offense. Women in Iran, Saudia Arabia, Afghanistan cannot dress the way they want. This isn't because of 'a few fanatics', it's the way of the land. Why isn't this a basic human rights issue? Why do even 'moderate' Muslim-dominated countries like Malaysia have anti-apostasy laws, to punish Muslims for openly renouncing their faith. This is again NOT because of a few fanatics, it's the law of the land. Muslims take advantage of the tolerance of others, but when they are in the majority, none of that is reciprocated. The Saudis won't allow a church or temple on their soil, but they will fund mosques even in places where Muslims are a small minority. Islam is fanaticism. The moderates who are born Muslim simply have the good sense not to practice it.

How come every unflattering quote from the Quran is taken out of context? I have read the Quran and these quotes are not taken out of context. The quotes are their entirety. Mohammed personally killed men women and children and ordered the killings of thousands of others. He raided caravans to support him and his followers. He married a six year old, though he waited till she was 9 to consummate the marriage. On the other hand, Jesus said to love thy enemy, to turn the other cheek, and that forgiveness was a good thing. Who is a better role model? Look up the word dhimmi and then tell me how Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance.

Saying someone is a "moderate" muslim is like saying someone is a "moderate" NAZI. It's still an abhorrent, primitive, and dangerous belief system.

Quran 4:89: "They (infidels) desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper."

Quran 8:12: "Instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers;"

Quran 2:191: "... kill the disbelievers wherever we find them …"

Quran 22:19-22: "… for them (the unbelievers) garments of fire shall be cut and there shall be poured over their heads boiling water whereby whatever is in their bowels and skin shall be dissolved and they will be punished with hooked iron rods."

Quran 8:12: "Your Lord inspired the angels with the message: 'I will terrorize the unbelievers. Therefore smite them on their necks and every joint and incapacitate them. Strike off their heads and cut off each of their fingers and toes.'"

Quran 8:7: "Allah wished to confirm the truth by His words: 'Wipe the infidels out to the last.'"

Quran 8:59: "The infidels should not think that they can get away from us. Prepare against them whatever arms and weaponry you can muster so that you may terrorize them. They are your enemy and Allah's enemy."

Quran 8:60: "Prepare against them whatever arms and cavalry you can muster that you may strike terror in the enemies of Allah, and others besides them not known to you."

Quran 9.29" "Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection."

Quran 47:4: "Strike off the heads of the disbelievers" and, after making a "wide slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives."

Hadith Sahih Muslim (41:6985): "Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: 'The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the tree Gharqad would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews.'"

Quran 9:5: "When the sacred forbidden months for fighting are past, fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, torture them, and lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war."

Sura 3:151: "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the unbelievers for that they joined companions with Allah for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be the fire; and evil is the home of the wrong-doers!"

Sura 8:60: "Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power including steeds of war to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides whom ye may not know but whom Allah doth know. Ha

I read three English translations of Koran to know why Islam is so violent, revengeful, only interested in destroyng Idols and killing infiedels.The religion is by no means a religion of peace, equality, tolence, and benevolence.

Unfortunately, educated, moderate, and cultured Muslims have not rejected the ethos and theology of the seventh century, except defending it including the suicide bombing, killing , kidnapping. and brutality.

I applaud Ms. Ali for her courage in speaking and writing what is inherently true. Muslims on a whole are so quick to cry out against anyone that criticize Islam, yet keep silent about truly horrendous and barbaric acts in the name of Islam that fuel these criticisms. It is a shame that a religion has imprisoned billions of people in a backward mindset.

My experience with attending masjid services while at university only strengthened my opinion of the inherent extremist and violent nature of the religion. Listening to the sermons made me so uneasy and frightened, and these were sermons from "educated" Muslims, imagine what is said from those not in a higher-learning establishment.

All the major religions have had violent and fanatical pasts, they have gone through violent change, but what distinguishes other worldly religions, is, that on the most part, and they came to the conclusion that fundamental civil and human rights need to trump what is stated in ‘holy books.' While every practicing Muslim that I have met believes they must adhere to literally everything in the Koran, even when it justifies violence. From my own experience I feel this state of mind really applies to every practicing Muslim.

While a majority of the world is evolving with their religious beliefs, Islam on a whole seems to be de-evolving back to the dark ages.

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