Introduction: Muslims claim that Islam is a religion of peace; Mohammad, their Prophet, was a Messenger of their God – Allah; Gabriel the Angel revealed to Mohammad the instructions of their God and those instructions are codified in the Quran.
Why this essay? Islamic scholars and physical evidence tell us that countess temples, churches, synagogues, and other non-Islamic places of worship have been destroyed by Muslims. By definition – violent behavior.
The Bengali Hindu Genocide of 1971, saw the murder of 2 million Hindus by the Pakistani Army under the banner of Operation Searchlight (including the rape of over 200,000 Hindu ladies in specially set up rape camps). (Lee, 2021). The 9/11 terror attack, the 26 November Mumbai Terror Attack, and the 7 October invasion of Israel were done in the name of the Islamic war against non-Muslims i.e., Jihad. Again, violent behavior.
I asked my neighbour, Adbul, a Muslim about these incidents, and he told me that Islam must not be judged by the acts of Muslims, because in his words – “we Muslims are humans and humans commit sins. The only truly virtuous person was the Beloved Prophet Mohamad, Peace Be Upon His Soul. Judge Islam through his words”.
Hence this essay. Since the Quran is the last word of God told to the most perfect human being who ever existed. Since no word, comma, or period of the Quran can be questioned (for fear of “sar-tan se juda” or beheading – a contradiction of Islam’s peaceful nature but let us not get caught in the weeds), it serves as the perfect source document.
This essay will dissect Islam by way of its call for war against all non-Muslims. Its hatred for Christians and Jews. Mohammad’s views about women and his order for killing all polytheists. Finally, I will present some of the verses which speak of the “rewards” awaiting Islamic men who heed these commandments.
Methodology: The ideal approach would been for a forensic psychiatrist (aided with a polygraph machine) to interview Mohammad. But since that is not possible, this essay will rely entirely on the Quran. The premise being that the Quran is indeed the word of the Muslim God, that Gabriel did reveal to Mohammad the words of God, that one of the instructions was that Mahammad himself was a Prophet, that the Quran has remained unchanged since it was “revealed” and that no other versions of the Quran are in existence today.
The version (there are in fact, many versions) used for this essay will be the one published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A link is provided in the references below.
The Absoluteness of the Quran: This concept is specific to Islam. Even Christianity and Judaism have moved away from blind faith. But the Quran and by extension, Mohammad cannot be questioned. This is proved below:
Sura: Al-Anbiyaa; Verse 26: He will not be questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.
Therefore, every word of the Quran is a commandment and not a suggestion or advice. With this caveat, let us see what Islam and Mohammad say about the subjects listed above.
Islam / Mohammad commandment of war against all non-Muslims:
Sura: Al-Baqara; Verse 191: And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense
of the disbelievers.
Sura: An-Nisaa; Verse 76: Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taghut. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.
Islam / Mohammad on Muslim Ladies and Prepubescent Children (who are a man’s wives):
Sura: An-Nisaa; Verse 15: Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse of your women – bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine the guilty women until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way.
Sura: An-Nisaa; Verse 34: Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have given them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.
Sura: Al-Talaaq; Verse 4: And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women – if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him of his matter ease.
Islam / Mohammad on Killing Jews:
Sura Al-Ahzaab; Verse 26: And He brought down those who supported them among the People of the Scripture from their fortresses and cast terror into their heart (so that) a party you killed, and you took captive a party.Sura Al-Ahzaab; Verse 27: And He caused you to inherit their land and their homes and their properties and a land which you have not trodden.And ever is Allah, over all thing, competent.
Islam / Mohammad on Christians:
Adh-Dhaariyat; Verse 46: And [We destroyed] the people of Noah; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.
Sura At-Tawba; Verse 31: They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.
Islam / Mohammad’s Command to Kill Polytheists:
Sura At-Tawba; Verse 5: And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go]on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Islam / Mohammad’s promised rewards in Heaven for Muslim (Men) Who Have Followed its Commandments:
Sura: At-Tur; Verse 17: Indeed, the righteous will be in gardens and pleasure.
Sura: At-Tur; Verse 18: Enjoying what their Lord has given them, and their Lord protected them from the punishment of Hellfire.
Sura: At-Tur; Verse 20: They will be reclining on thrones lined up, and We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
Sura: At-Tur; Verse 24: There will circulate among them [servant] boys [especially] for them, as if they were pearls well-protected.
Conclusion: Is Islam’s claim that it is a religion of peace factual? Could a Messenger of God say hateful things, and by extension implying God to be hateful? Was the 7 October Jewish Genocide prescribed by Islam? Was 9/11 and the Mumbai Terror Attack sanctioned in the Quran? The Islamization of places like Indonesia, Lebanon, Kashmir, and the Northeastern States of India by way of exodus of non-Muslims – is that because of Islamic tenets against Polytheism and Christianity?
These are not for me to say. All I have done is quoted straight from the Islamic source document. I welcome all to read the Quran and ask these questions to judges, political leaders, human rights commissions, and other law-making bodies. What I would offer is that seeking interpretations from Imams or Islamic scholars would be wrong – firstly, because of an inherent conflict of interest. Secondly, any scholarly work from such people will be their own opinions. Since Muslims claim that the Quran is the word of God, therefore obtaining answers from that source document, without intermediaries is the most logical approach.
References:
- The Quran
- Congresswoman Shiela Jackson Lee. (2021). Address to the US House of Representatives. ‘In Remembrance of the 50th Anniversary of the Bengali Hindu Genocide’. Available at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2021-03-23/html/CREC-2021-03-23-pt1-PgE290.htm (Accessed: 28 October 2023)
