I Am Lucky to Have a Syrian Passport

IMAGE: Public domain by Pixabay.

Image: Pixabay

This post is part of a special series of articles by blogger and activist Marcell Shehwaro, describing the realities of life in Syria during the ongoing armed conflict between forces loyal to the current regime, and those seeking to oust it.

Dear Officer,

I am lucky to have a Syrian passport. You see, if it weren’t for this passport, random selection wouldn’t have chosen me, randomly and coincidentally, for investigation in all airports I’ve ever been through.

If it weren’t for my Syrian passport I would have passed through like all the rest, or, to be accurate, like most of them. I would have passed through failing to notice the unfortunate ones singled out for investigation. I would have had the privilege of reaching my destination on a schedule known beforehand.

Imagine that happening! It would be as if my time actually mattered. If that were the case I would definitely have failed to notice those coming from countries that are worth less under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

If it weren’t for my Syrian passport I would never have heard that extremely polite phrase: “Would you please wait on the side by the wall, Miss?”, and I would not have remembered my childhood school punishments.

What is this world punishing us for? Don’t you think that all borders should be opened specifically for us, Syrians, with a word of apology?

“I wouldn’t have noticed how we, the suspects, are led with extreme politeness to defend our innocence and to denounce terrorism; we, who have been more targeted by terrorism than any of those investigating us about it.”

If it weren’t for my Syrian passport I wouldn’t have noticed how we, the suspects, are led with extreme politeness to defend our innocence and to denounce terrorism; we, who have been more targeted by terrorism than any of those investigating us about it.

The real terrorism flies to you in private jets, and into private airports, after killing us silently, and occupies the pages of your newspapers and gets your media to discuss the elegance of his wife—the “Desert Rose”.

Your politeness, Sir, kills me more than your discrimination. “Would you please….” “We’re sorry to keep you…” “We’re sorry you have to go through this….” They sound like the clichés a man offers a woman he doesn’t love. “It’s not you, it’s me…” An over-politeness to sugarcoat a bitter truth. To make one feel good about oneself. You send us to be investigated on no charge but our identities, but you do it with extreme politeness.

It was a pure coincidence that half of those waiting in the investigation hall raised their hands when the investigator called for “Mohammed”. It was a pure coincidence, among so many other similar coincidences.

Please excuse me: I am obsessed with identifying patterns. If it weren’t for my Syrian passport I probably wouldn’t have noticed the recurring pattern—a purely coincidental recurring pattern, of course.

I sit there and wait with the rest. I take out an Arabic book by Ibrahim Nasrallah, a Palestinian writer who talks about resistance and love. I remember when I was an activist fighting for freedom and democracy, going out on protests and running for shelter, and writing. I look at the book in my hand. Now my biggest act of resistance is holding an Arabic book in an airport.

Excuse me, Sir, if I made reference to how problematic your interrogations of Syrians are. You see, some of us have experienced the unimaginable during interrogations, so we aren’t intimidated by something this polite. Others are so afraid of anyone in uniform that they confess to things they don’t even know. So what “truth” is it that you are trying to get out of us?

I also ask your pardon, for I didn’t mean to say “No” with such pride when you asked me to unlock my mobile. You see, this request echoes deeply in our collective conscience as Syrians. This request takes me back to the checkpoints in my country, where saying no to such a request could simply get you killed. I said “No” with pride because I wanted to inhale some of your democracy.

Do you understand the meaning of half a million of my own people dying in search of a democracy? What it means to be able to say no without getting killed?

“I will try to look cheerful and happy in the airport, but allow me to give you a small tip: if you see a cheerful and happy Syrian in an airport, it’s then you should really be suspicious.”

You ask me about my purpose for being in your country? I don’t know. I came to talk about death. They tell me I’m so good at talking about death that some of you even applaud me when I finish. I have seen so many human remains in Aleppo and it seems I am good in marketing that in English.

That’s what I came here to do. To look for allies I can convince that we deserve less death, and that maybe, just maybe, bombing a school is a shame for all humanity.

Do I look angry to you? I apologize! I haven’t yet mastered your manners. Appearing angry makes one suspicious, I know, and you know how emotional we are. You see, we haven’t yet learnt how to be less angry while all the planes in the world are helping our government bomb us day and night. I will try to look cheerful and happy in the airport, but allow me to give you a small tip: if you see a cheerful and happy Syrian in an airport, it’s then you should really be suspicious.

Do I appear fidgety to you? Maybe it is because I don’t understand how someone would ever answer “Yes” to the question: “Are you a member of a secret banned organization?”

No! No! All the secret peaceful groups I have ever been a member of were destroyed by our regime, their members displaced and their youth killed under torture. Have I ever used guns? I once suggested to a guy I liked to go shooting to release some anger, but he advised that we better avoid that, because it wouldn’t look good on our official papers as Syrians. But I only suggested that because I really liked the guy, and you know how love makes us do foolish things. But I have no intention of going near a weapon in my life. No Sir, I don’t use weapons, I hate weapons, even water guns will not find their way into my house.

Despite all that, I am lucky to have a Syrian passport, as thousands are deprived a passport by virtue of a political decision. Millions of others, who are not as good in marketing death as we are, or whose stories are less exciting to the audience, don’t get visas to travel, so they come to you by sea. Some of them die just to cross to you, so what’s four hours in the waiting area compared to that?

I am lucky to have my Syrian passport. Imagine—after all that I have been through, I still have nightmares where I lose my passport and wake up terrified.

I have an OCD habit of checking my passport every five minutes when I’m travelling. As if I lose it, I don’t know if any of those concerned international entities would help me get another travel document, in the event that the teenager Bashar Al-Asaad refused to consider us citizens and punish us for escaping the leash by denying us passports.

Nor do I want to add to the refugee crisis in your countries, God forbid.

I am lucky to have my passport. Could you please return it to me?

Thank you.

24 comments

  • Michael Lederman

    I find this article to be disingenuous. Lets not lie to people and claim you desire democracy when you were unwilling to stay and fight for it. Do you think America would have democracy if our ancestors ran every time there was strife? No, we stayed and we fought. You also think this has to do with the nation you came from when in fact it is more about the religion you choose. We’ve seen your people arrive only to think the west should provide them with food, living arrangements and sex, mind you not provide them the opportunity to earn these things but to just give them on demand. It is a testament that your people know no self control, have no self respect, do not feel gratitude or even say a mere thank you. As such you are thrust upon us unwanted and unwashed. This will not stand.

    • MJ Sparks

      WRT “Do you think America would have democracy if our ancestors ran every time there was strife? No, we stayed and we fought.”

      BUUUT: …Britain used a fairly precise definition: Loyalists were those born or living in the American colonies at the outbreak of the Revolution who rendered substantial service to the royal cause during the war, and who left the United States by the end of the war or soon after. Those who left substantially later — mainly to gain land and to escape growing racial intolerance — are often called “late” Loyalists.

      Not everyone stayed and fought…

  • […] I Am Lucky to Have a Syrian Passport [Marcell Shehwaro/Global Voices] […]

  • Calipenguin

    The author has some nerve to blame our guardians, the ones who protect us and prevent our country from turning into Syria. No human rights are violated by border and airport security protocols. No country needs to apologize for scrutinizing passengers from terrorism-plagued parts of the world. If a dark bearded Indonesian man is not pulled aside for inspections but she is, that just proves our system is working as intended.

  • […] I Am Lucky to Have a Syrian Passport – “What is this world punishing us for? Don’t you think that all borders should be opened specifically for us, Syrians, with a word of apology?” […]

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  • Michael Lederman

    Yep thank you for showing everyone what Moderate Muslims are really like. You call my deceased wife a “whore” even though you didn’t know her. You use profanity and vulgarity as well as threats of violence. I tell you the truth All of you Muslims are vile disgusting animals and should be wiped clean from this world.

    Notice that in the same two centuries America went from being a vast farmland until we were walking on the moon, not a single Muslim in an Islamic nation created, innovated or invented a single, solitary thing. Not in science, medicine, technology, not in art, music, literature. Nothing of value nothing for the world. How sad it must be that everything you use every day be it a car or bus, glasses or contacts, medicine or vitamin, cell phone or land line, computer or tablet, heck even the printing press used to print your Quran all invented, innovated, created by non-Muslims. Notice you even type in a western language. Planes, trains, automobiles, cameras, movies, cd’s, dvd’s, flash drives all from Non-Muslim minds.

    Even the oil that has allowed your nations to buy things was found by Westerners who also invented ways to get it out from the ground. Then it was Westerners who found ways to convert it to something useful. Then it was Westerners who invented things that use it.

    The world doesn’t need Muslims but Muslims need the world. Imagine how your life would be if we shunned all of you. Ceased to sell you things allow you to use the things we invented. Think it can’t happen? Look around nation after nation are closing Mosques, banning the Burka, deporting Muslims. We could make things much, much worse and trust me you’re a prime example of why we should.

    So remember no one is going to cry when we rid the world of your kind, no one will mourn your passings. If we needed an excuse all we’d have to do is remind the world about these other fine Muslims.

    *Let us see what has been done in the name of Allah/Muhammad in recent years*
    The Shoe Bomber
    The Beltway Snipers (10)
    The Fort Hood Shooter (13)
    The Underwear Bomber
    The U.S.S. Cole Bombers (17)
    The Madrid Train Bombers (191)
    The Canadian Nightclub Shooter
    The California University Stabbing
    The Bali Nightclub Bombers (202)
    The London Subway Bombers (52)
    The Moscow Theatre Attackers
    The Boston Marathon Bombers (3)
    The Pan Am Flight 93 Hijackers
    The Beirut U.S. Embassy Attackers (63)
    The Libyan U.S. Embassy Attackers (4)
    The Buenos Aires Suicide Bombers (85)
    The Munic Israeli Olympic Team Attackers (12)
    The Kenyan U.S. Embassy Bombers (224)
    The Saudi Khobar Tower Bombers (19)
    The Beirut Marine Barracks Bombers (241)
    The Beslan Russian School Attackers (156)
    The First World Trade Center Bombers
    The Bombay and Mumbai India Attackers (164)
    The Achille Lauro Cruise Ship Hijackers (1)
    The September 11th 2001 Airline Attacks (5730)
    The British Soldier Attacker (1)
    The Nigerian Christian Schoolgirl Kidnapped (276)
    The Oklahoma Office Woman Beheaded (1)
    The Syrian Christian Slaughterers (Too Many)
    The Australians Chocolate Shop Attacker (2)
    The New York Police Oficers Shootings (2)
    The French Police Station Knife Attack
    The French Pedestrians Hit By A Car (2)
    The Stockholm Iraqi Car Bomber (1)
    The French Soliders, Children and Rabbi Killed (4)
    The Brussels Jewish Museum Attack (4)
    The France Knife Attack (1)
    The Fresno Mosque Christmas Day Arson
    The Rotterham Children Raped (1400)
    The Spain Police Officer Train Attack
    The French Charlie Hebdo Magazine Attack
    The French, Paris Grocery Store Attack
    The Nigeria, Bagja Massacre (2,000)
    The Belgian Train Station Attack
    The India Nun Gang Raped
    The Cameroon Civilians Burned Alive (91)
    The Copenhagen Attack (2)
    The Thailand Car Bomb Killing (13)
    The Tunisian Museme Tourists (22)
    The Yemen Embassy Bombing (18)
    The Kenyan College Student Attacks (147)
    The Texas Garland Attack
    The Tennessee Chattanooga Shooter (5)
    The Paris Shooting 130)
    The Bali Bombing (202)
    The London Subway Knife Attack
    The China Kunming Knife Attack (33)
    *And Just In 2016*
    The Philadelphia Poice Shooter
    The Jakarta Attacks (4)
    The Burkina Faso Hotel Seige (23)
    The Ohio Machete Attack
    The Brussels Bombers (32)
    The Pakistan Park Bombing (70)
    The Yemen Catholic Priest and Nuns (5)
    The Bangladesh Blogger Machette Attack (1)
    The Munich Knife Attack (1)
    The California UCLA Shooter (2)
    The NY Knife Attack On Police (0)
    The Orlando Nightclub Attack (50)
    The Paris Knife Attack ON Police (2)
    The Texas Walmart Hostage Attack
    The China Train Stabbings (29)
    The Germany Ax Attack (15)
    The French Woman and 3 Childern stabbed (4)
    The Germany Munich Mall Attack (9)
    The 2nd Gemany Machete Attack in a week (1)
    The French Be-Heading of a Priest (2)
    The German Suitcase Bomb (0)
    The German 79 YR Old Rape Victim (1)
    The London Stabbing Spree (1)
    The Belgium Police Machette Attack (2)
    The Swedish Train Attack (1)
    The Paris Eifel Tower Rape (1)
    The U.S Knife Attact in a Mall (8)
    The NY Bombing (29)
    The Washington Mall Shooting (5)
    The Canadian UBC Student Beheading (1)

    *This is just a list of highlights a more detailed list is much, much longer.*

  • Michael Lederman

    I neither want nor need your anything. What would I want respect from someone who’s religion is so weak a simple cartoon can bring it to its knees? You think I care what you think of Persia or anything at all? I explained to you just how worthless you and your people are I note you didn’t seem to address that so you must agree with me. Oh and for the record telling someone to hang themselves is an act of violence but you’d need some background in law to understand that.

    What’s wrong with profanity? It marks you as someone with such a weak grasp of vocabulary that you must resort to the lowest form to communicate. You’re prophet Muhammad (piss be upon him) was a child molester, a slaver, and an ignorant buffoon. You are a true descendant but since your a child of a sharmota I cannot expect anything but ignorance and hate from you. Luckily since you are blind to the truth you pose nothing of a threat to me.

    Spare me your ridiculous websites I shall not visit to read Muslim propaganda suffice to say in two centuries you’ve proven the most worthless people on the planet. A full 90% of what your liberal and muslim rags have to claim are older than Islam itself and thus are Arab not muslim. You make many false claims as is your right to do but notice how you ignore the facts, I notice and anyone reading these comments will also notice.

    A Fatwa is worthless every single cleric issues fatwas out the arse there is a fatwa on fun, on clowns, on women even. So telling me about specific fatwas is meaningless.

    A French company once took apart the Quran to remove all calls for violence and everything that was not about worship. What remained was 7 pages which they bound and sold for $7.00 as the reformed Quran. That says all that any non-Muslim needs to know about that book.

    I told you the genocide is coming not by Western hands but by Westerners witholding our hands, allowing the savages to kill each other until little is left and then we’ll deal with the remaining. You can see this throughout the Middle East. Where oil prices dropped so low Saudi’s are now going to end some entitlements and tax people, other nations have or will be doing the same. More importantly the moment we replace oil, the chaos in the Middle East will end Islam as any force at all.

    As pagan Arabs you contributed much but from the moment Muhammad invented Islam you began to deteriorate as a people to devolve as humans into barbarians. This is why, I said it before and I’ll say it again, in two centuries nothing has come from Muslims but suffering.

    We know about taqiyya, tawriya, kitman or muruna, that Islam is the only so-called religion to allow for lying and deceit. We know of your lack of charity one can find millions of Christian and Jewish hospitals, charities, food banks, orphanages, elder care and more throughout the world. each one offering care and services without regard to race, creed, religion. Yet look for these things from Islam and you will find 1 (one) and right on their website it says “We help Muslims around the world” that says a lot about Islam right there. Oh they’ll take from other religions and pretend to be grateful but dispite all the pain and suffering they only help themselves. We call that selfishness. You can add it to the Muslim traits along with profane and vulgar.

    As for your ridiculous koran quotes take into account approbation and note some of these come after those lovely but not followed by the masses surahs how about these:

    Quran (2:191-193) – “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing…
    but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)” (Translation is from the Noble Quran) The verse prior to this (190) refers to “fighting for the cause of Allah those who fight you” leading some to believe that the entire passage refers to a defensive war in which Muslims are defending their homes and families. The historical context of this passage is not defensive warfare, however, since Muhammad and his Muslims had just relocated to Medina and were not under attack by their Meccan adversaries. In fact, the verses urge offensive warfare, in that Muslims are to drive Meccans out of their own city (which they later did). Verse 190 thus means to fight those who offer resistance to Allah’s rule (ie. Muslim conquest). The use of the word “persecution” by some Muslim translators is disingenuous (the actual Arabic words for persecution – “idtihad” – and oppression – a variation of “z-l-m” – do not appear in the verse). The word used instead, “fitna”, can mean disbelief, or the disorder that results from unbelief or temptation. This is certainly what is meant in this context since the violence is explicitly commissioned “until religion is for Allah” – ie. unbelievers desist in their unbelief.

    Quran (2:244) – “Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things.”

    Quran (2:216) – “Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.” Not only does this verse establish that violence can be virtuous, but it also contradicts the myth that fighting is intended only in self-defense, since the audience was obviously not under attack at the time. From the Hadith, we know that this verse was narrated at a time that Muhammad was actually trying to motivate his people into raiding merchant caravans for loot.

    Quran (3:56) – “As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.”

    Quran (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”. This speaks directly of polytheists, yet it also includes Christians, since they believe in the Trinity (ie. what Muhammad incorrectly believed to be ‘joining companions to Allah’).

    Quran (4:74) – “Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward.” The martyrs of Islam are unlike the early Christians, who were led meekly to the slaughter. These Muslims are killed in battle as they attempt to inflict death and destruction for the cause of Allah. This is the theological basis for today’s suicide bombers.

    Quran (4:76) – “Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…”

    Quran (4:89) – “They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”

    Quran (4:95) – “Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward ” This passage criticizes “peaceful” Muslims who do not join in the violence, letting them know that they are less worthy in Allah’s eyes. It also demolishes the modern myth that “Jihad” doesn’t mean holy war in the Quran, but rather a spiritual struggle. Not only is this Arabic word (mujahiduna) used in this passage, but it is clearly not referring to anything spiritual, since the physically disabled are given exemption. (The Hadith reveals the context of the passage to be in response to a blind man’s protest that he is unable to engage in Jihad, which would not make sense if it meant an internal struggle). According to the verse, Allah will allow the disabled into Paradise, but will provide a larger reward to those who are able to kill others in his cause.

    Quran (4:104) – “And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain…” Is pursuing an injured and retreating enemy really an act of self-defense?

    Quran (5:33) – “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement”

    Quran (8:12) – “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them” No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a spiritual struggle.

    Quran (8:15) – “O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. (16)Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey’s end.”

    Quran (8:39) – “And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion should be only for Allah” Some translations interpret “fitna” as “persecution”, but the traditional understanding of this word is not supported by the historical context (See notes for 2:193). The Meccans were simply refusing Muhammad access to their city during Haj. Other Muslims were allowed to travel there – just not as an armed group, since Muhammad had declared war on Mecca prior to his eviction. The Meccans were also acting in defense of their religion, since it was Muhammad’s intention to destroy their idols and establish Islam by force (which he later did). Hence the critical part of this verse is to fight until “religion is only for Allah”, meaning that the true justification of violence was the unbelief of the opposition. According to the Sira (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 324) Muhammad further explains that “Allah must have no rivals.”

    Quran (8:57) – “If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember.”

    Quran (8:67) – “It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he had made a great slaughter in the land…”

    Quran (8:59-60) – “And let not those who disbelieve suppose that they can outstrip (Allah’s Purpose). Lo! they cannot escape. Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy.”

    Quran (8:65) – “O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight…”

    Quran (9:5) – “So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them.” According to this verse, the best way of staying safe from Muslim violence is to convert to Islam (prayer (salat) and the poor tax (zakat) are among the religion’s Five Pillars). This popular claim that the Quran only inspires violence within the context of self-defense is seriously challenged by this passage as well, since the Muslims to whom it was written were obviously not under attack. Had they been, then there would have been no waiting period (earlier verses make it a duty for Muslims to fight in self-defense, even during the sacred months). The historical context is Mecca after the idolaters were subjugated by Muhammad and posed no threat. Once the Muslims had power, they violently evicted those unbelievers who would not convert.

    Quran (9:14) – “Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people.” Humiliating and hurting non-believers not only has the blessing of Allah, but it is ordered as a means of carrying out his punishment and even “healing” the hearts of Muslims.

    Quran (9:20) – “Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah’s way are of much greater worth in Allah’s sight. These are they who are triumphant.” The Arabic word interpreted as “striving” in this verse is the same root as “Jihad”. The context is obviously holy war.

    Quran (9:29) – “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” “People of the Book” refers to Christians and Jews. According to this verse, they are to be violently subjugated, with the sole justification being their religious status. Verse 9:33 tells Muslims that Allah has charted them to make Islam “superior over all religions.” This chapter was one of the final “revelations” from Allah and it set in motion the tenacious military expansion, in which Muhammad’s companions managed to conquer two-thirds of the Christian world in the next 100 years. Islam is intended to dominate all other people and faiths.

    Quran (9:30) – “And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!”

    Quran (9:38-39) – “O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place.” This is a warning to those who refuse to fight, that they will be punished with Hell.

    Quran (9:41) – “Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew.” See also the verse that follows (9:42) – “If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them” This contradicts the myth that Muslims are to fight only in self-defense, since the wording implies that battle will be waged a long distance from home (in another country and on Christian soil, in this case, according to the historians).

    Quran (9:73) – “O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.” Dehumanizing those who reject Islam, by reminding Muslims that unbelievers are merely firewood for Hell, makes it easier to justify slaughter. It also explains why today’s devout Muslims have little regard for those outside the faith.

    Quran (9:88) – “But the Messenger, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons: for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper.”

    Quran (9:111) – “Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Quran: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.” How does the Quran define a true believer?

    Quran (9:123) – “O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness.”

    Quran (17:16) – “And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.” Note that the crime is moral transgression, and the punishment is “utter destruction.” (Before ordering the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden first issued Americans an invitation to Islam).

    Quran (18:65-81) – This parable lays the theological groundwork for honor killings, in which a family member is murdered because they brought shame to the family, either through apostasy or perceived moral indiscretion. The story (which is not found in any Jewish or Christian source) tells of Moses encountering a man with “special knowledge” who does things which don’t seem to make sense on the surface, but are then justified according to later explanation. One such action is to murder a youth for no apparent reason (74). However, the wise man later explains that it was feared that the boy would “grieve” his parents by “disobedience and ingratitude.” He was killed so that Allah could provide them a ‘better’ son. (Note: This is one reason why honor killing is sanctioned by Sharia. Reliance of the Traveler (Umdat al-Saliq) says that punishment for murder is not applicable when a parent or grandparent kills their offspring (o.1.1-2).)

    Quran (21:44) – “We gave the good things of this life to these men and their fathers until the period grew long for them; See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? Is it then they who will win?”

    Quran (25:52) – “Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness…” “Strive against” is Jihad – obviously not in the personal context. It’s also significant to point out that this is a Meccan verse.

    Quran (33:60-62) – “If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then they will be your neighbors in it but a little while. Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter.” This passage sanctions the slaughter (rendered “merciless” and “horrible murder” in other translations) against three groups: Hypocrites (Muslims who refuse to “fight in the way of Allah” (3:167) and hence don’t act as Muslims should), those with “diseased hearts” (which include Jews and Christians 5:51-52), and “alarmists” or “agitators who include those who merely speak out against Islam, according to Muhammad’s biographers. It is worth noting that the victims are to be sought out by Muslims, which is what today’s terrorists do. If this passage is meant merely to apply to the city of Medina, then it is unclear why it is included in Allah’s eternal word to Muslim generations.

    Quran (47:3-4) – “Those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord… So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah’s Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives)… If it had been Allah’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.” Those who reject Allah are to be killed in Jihad. The wounded are to be held captive for ransom. The only reason Allah doesn’t do the dirty work himself is to to test the faithfulness of Muslims. Those who kill pass the test.

    Quran (47:35) – “Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost (Shakir: “have the upper hand”) for Allah is with you,”

    Quran (48:17) – “There is no blame for the blind, nor is there blame for the lame, nor is there blame for the sick (that they go not forth to war). And whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow; and whoso turneth back, him will He punish with a painful doom.” Contemporary apologists sometimes claim that Jihad means ‘spiritual struggle.’ Is so, then why are the blind, lame and sick exempted? This verse also says that those who do not fight will suffer torment in hell.

    Quran (48:29) – “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves” Islam is not about treating everyone equally. This verse tells Muslims that there are two very distinct standards that are applied based on religious status. Also the word used for ‘hard’ or ‘ruthless’ in this verse shares the same root as the word translated as ‘painful’ or severe’ to describe Hell in over 25 other verses including 65:10, 40:46 and 50:26..

    Quran (61:4) – “Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way” Religion of Peace, indeed! The verse explicitly refers to “battle array” meaning that it is speaking of physical conflict. This is followed by (61:9): “He it is who has sent His Messenger (Mohammed) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam) to make it victorious over all religions even though the infidels may resist.” (See next verse, below). Infidels who resist Islamic rule are to be fought.

    Quran (61:10-12) – “O You who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know! (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwelling in Gardens of ‘Adn – Eternity [‘Adn (Edn) Paradise], that is indeed the great success.” This verse refers to physical battle in order to make Islam victorious over other religions (see above). It uses the Arabic word, Jihad.

    Quran (66:9) – “O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey’s end.” The root word of “Jihad” is used again here. The context is clearly holy war, and the scope of violence is broadened to include “hypocrites” – those who call themselves Muslims but do not act as such.

  • Michael Lederman

    You seem to think the world cannot judge Islam by the behaviour of those who proclaim to follow it. That is cognitive distortion and in fact, we can/do judge Islam by the actions of the people who follow it. You don’t get to decide what Islam is or is not, the world does.

    Another stupid claim, that Islam is the fastest growing religion. Let me demonstrate. I’m proposing a new religion Ledermanism. Oh look my wife joined, and now my best friend joined wow, we’ve grown 300% in five minutes. Now Ledermanism is the world’s fastest growing religion. See how that works?

    Truth is Islam is losing people think of the millions who are now dead, think of the millions throughout the world who converted to Christianity and even more to Atheism. You can’t fool me I told you I support the foundation that helps many of these people and those are just the ones we know of. .

    Yes Muhammad piss be upon him was a child molester and you can claim he wasn’t all you want any man that rubs his pecker on a six year old then penetrates a nine year old is a child molester in my book and the books of any civilized human being.

    Allah is a weakling any deity that needs bearded old fools to defend him isn’t a God at all. Instead he is a demon in fact that’s what Muhammad piss be upon him thought he was hearing until his wife convinced him otherwise.

    You must see that Islam is backwards and fading, in fact along with the facts that nothing has been created, invented, innovated by a Muslim in an Islamic nation in two centuries you must see that the world is turning against Islam. Three nations now ban the Burqa, Mosques are being destroyed. People are marching in ever larger numbers against islam. Why? Well because when you offer nothing of value and only sow hate people turn against you.

    Just look at whom the dominant nations consider to be terrorist groups.
    Foriegn Terrorist Organizations by Nation
    *America Out of 58 FTO’s 43 are Islamic or 74.14%*
    *Australia Out of 20 FTO’s 19 are Islamic or 95%*
    *Britian Out of 73 FTO’s 48 are Islamic or 65.75%*
    *Canada’s Out of 56 FTO’s 42 are Islamic 75%*
    *European Union’s Out of 23 FTO’s 11 are Islamic or 47.83%*
    *UAE’s Out of 81 FTO’s 80 are Islamic or 98.77%*

    —————————————————————–
    *America’s Foreign Terrorist Designations*
    *Out of 58 FTO’s 43 are Islamic or 74.14%*
    —————————————————————
    *Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)*
    *Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)*
    Aum Shinrikyo (AUM)
    Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
    *Gama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group) (IG)*
    *HAMAS*
    *Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM)*
    *Hizballah*
    Kahane Chai (Kach)
    Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) (Kongra-Gel)
    Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
    National Liberation Army (ELN)
    *Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)*
    *Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)*
    *PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)*
    Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
    Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N)
    Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)
    Shining Path (SL)
    *al-Qa’ida (AQ)*
    *Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)*
    Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA)
    *Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM)*
    *Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT)*
    *Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB)*
    *Asbat al-Ansar (AAA)*
    *al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)*
    Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA)
    *Jemaah Islamiya (JI)*
    *Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ)*
    *Ansar al-Islam (AAI)*
    Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)
    *Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)*
    *Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant*
    *Islamic Jihad Union (IJU)*
    *Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B)*
    *al-Shabaab*
    Revolutionary Struggle (RS)
    *Kata’ib Hizballah (KH)*
    *al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)*
    *Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI)*
    *Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)*
    *Jundallah*
    *Army of Islam (AOI)*
    *Indian Mujahedeen (IM)*
    *Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT)*
    *Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB)*
    *Haqqani Network (HQN)*
    *Ansar al-Dine (AAD)*
    *Boko Haram*
    *Ansaru*
    *al-Mulathamun Battalion*
    *Ansar al-Shari’a in Benghazi*
    *Ansar al-Shari’a in Darnah*
    *Ansar al-Shari’a in Tunisia*
    *Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis*
    *al-Nusrah Front*
    *Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem (MSC)*

    —————————————————————–
    *Australia’s Foreign Terrorist Designations*
    *Out of 20 FTO’s 19 are Islamic or 95%*
    —————————————————————-
    *Abu Sayyaf Group*
    *Al-Murabitun*
    *Al-Qa’ida (AQ)*
    *Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)*
    *Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)*
    *Al-Shabaab*
    *Ansar al-Islam*
    *Boko Haram*
    *Hamas’s Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades*
    *Hizballah’s External Security Organisation (ESO)*
    *Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan*
    *Islamic State*
    *Jabhat al-Nusra*
    *Jaish-e-Mohammed*
    *Jamiat ul-Ansar*
    *Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)*
    Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
    *Lashkar-e Jhangvi*
    *Lashkar-e-Tayyiba*
    *Palestinian Islamic Jihad*

    ————————————————————–
    *Britian’s Foreign Terrorist Designations*
    *Out of 73 FTO’s 48 are Islamic or 65.75%*
    ————————————————————–
    17 November Revolutionary Organization (N17)
    *Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB)*
    *Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)*
    *Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)*
    *Ajnad Misr (Soliders of Egypt)*
    *Al*Gama’at al-Islamlya (GI)*
    *Al Ghurabaa*
    *Al Ittihad Al Islamia (AIAI)*
    *Al Murabitun*
    *Al Qa’ida (AQ)*
    *Al Shabaab*
    *Ansar Al Islam (AI)*
    *Ansar al-Sharia-Benghazi (AAS-B)*
    *Ansar Al Sharia-Tunisa (AAS-T)*
    *Ansar Al Sunna (AS)*
    *Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM)*
    *Ansarui Muslimina Fl Biladis Sudan*
    *Armed Islamic Group (GIA)*
    *Asbat Al-Ansar (League of Partisans)*
    Babbar Khalsa (BK)
    Basque Homeland and Liberty (ETA)
    Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA)
    *Boko Haram (BH)*
    *Egypitan Islamic JIhad (EIJ)*
    *Gropue Islamique Combattant Marocain (GICM)*
    *Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassem Brigades*
    *Harakat-Ul-JIhad-Ul-Islami (HUJI)*
    *Harakat-Ul-JIhad-Ul-Islami (Bangladesh) (HUJI-B)*
    *Harakat-Ul-Mujahideen/Alami (HuM/A)*
    *Harakat Mujahiden (HM)*
    *Harqqani Network (HQN)*
    *Hizballah Millitary Wing*
    *Hezb-E Islami Gulbddin (HIG)*
    Imarat Kavkaz (IK)
    *Indian Mujahideen (IM)*
    *Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)*
    *Jaish e Mohammed (JeM)*
    *Jamaat ul-Ahrar (JuA)*
    *Jammat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)*
    *Jaysh al Khalifatu Islamiya (JKI)*
    *Jeemah Islamiyah (JI)*
    *Jamaat Ul-Furquan (JuF)*
    *Jund al-Aqsa (JAA)*
    *Jund al Khalifa-Algeria (JaK-A)*
    *Kateeba al-Kawthar (KaK)*
    Partiya Karkeren Kurdistani (PKK)
    Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
    *Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)*
    *Minbar Ansar Deen (also known as Ansar al-Sharia UK)*
    *Palestinian Islamic Jihad – Shaqaqi (PIJ)*
    *Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command (PFLP-GC)*
    Revolutionary Peoples’ Liberation Party (DHKP-C)
    *Salafist Group for Call and Combat(GSPC)*
    *Saved Sect or Saviour Sect*
    *Sipah-e Sahaba Pakistan (SSP)*
    *Tehrik Nefaz-e Shari’at Muhammadi (TNSM)*
    *Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)*
    Teyre Azadiye Kurdistan (TAK)
    Turkiye Halk Kurtulus Partisi-Cephesi (THKP-C)
    Continuity Army Council
    Cumann na mBan
    Fianna na hEireann
    Irish National Liberation Army
    Irish People’s Liberation Organisation
    Irish Republican Army
    Loyalist Volunteer Force
    Orange Volunteers
    Red Hand Commando
    Red Hand Defenders
    Saor Eire
    Ulster Defence Association
    Ulster Freedom Fighters
    Ulster Volunteer Force

    —————————————————————-
    *Canada’s Foreign Terrorist Designations*
    *Out of 56 FTO’s 42 are Islamic or 75%*
    —————————————————————-
    *Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)*
    *Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)*
    *Al Jihad (AJ)*
    *Al-Murabitoun*
    *Al-Muwaqi’un Bil Dima*
    *Al Qaida*
    *Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)*
    *Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)*
    *Al Shabaab*
    *Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade (AAMB)*
    *Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya (AGAI)*
    *Al-Ittihad Al-Islam (AIAI)*
    *Ansar al-Islam (AI)*
    *Armed Islamic Group (GIA)*
    *Asbat Al-Ansar (AAA) (The League of Partisans)*
    Aum Shinrikyo
    Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC)
    Babbar Khalsa International (BKI)
    *Boko Haram*
    Caucasus Emirate
    Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN)
    Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA)
    Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC)
    *Gulbuddin Hekmatyar*
    *Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s (HIG)*
    *Hamas*
    *Haqqani Network*
    *Harakat ul-Mudjahidin (HuM)*
    *Hizballah*
    *International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy – Canada*
    International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF)
    *Islamic Army of Aden (IAA)*
    *Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)*
    *Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Qods Force*
    *Islamic State*
    *ISLAMIC STATE – SINAI PROVINCE (ISSP)*
    *Jabhat Al-Nusra*
    *Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
    *Jaysh Al-Muhajirin Wal-Ansar (JMA)*
    *Jemaah Islamiyyah (JI)*
    Kahane Chai (KACH)
    Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
    *Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ)*
    *Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)*
    Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
    *Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa*
    *Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)*
    *Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)*
    *Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine(PFLP-GC)*
    *Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)*
    Sendero Luminoso (SL)
    *Taliban*
    *Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)*
    *Vanguards of Conquest (VOC)*
    World Tamil Movement (WTM)

    —————————————————————————-
    *European Union’s Foreign Terrorist Designations*
    *Out of 23 FTO’s 11 are Islamic or 47.83%*
    —————————————————————————-
    *Abu Nidal Organisation*
    *Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade*
    *Al-Aqsa e.V.*
    Babbar Khalsa
    Communist Party of the Philippines
    *Gama’a al-Islamiyya*
    *Hamas*
    *Hizballah Military Wing*
    *Allah Military Wing*
    *Hizbul Mujahideen‘HM’*
    Hofstadgroep
    International Sikh Youth Federation‘ISYF’
    Khalistan Zindabad Force ‘KZF’
    Kurdistan Workers’ Party ‘PKK’
    Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ‘LTTE’
    Ejército de Liberación Nacional (National Liberation Army)
    *Palestinian Islamic Jihad ‘PIJ’*
    *Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine ‘PFLP’*
    *Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command*
    Fuerzas armadas revolucionarias de Colombia‘FARC’
    Devrimci Halk Kurtuluș Partisi-Cephesi‘DHKP/C
    Sendero Luminoso‘SL’ (‘Shining Path’)
    Teyrbazen Azadiya Kurdistan ‘TAK’

    —————————————————————
    *UAE’s Foreign Terrorist Designations*
    *Out of 81 FTO’s 80 are Islamic or 98.77%*
    —————————————————————
    *The UAE Muslim Brotherhood*
    *Al Islah (or Da’wat Al-Islah)*
    *Fatah Al Islam (Lebanon)*
    *Associazione Musulmani Italiani (Association of Italian Muslims)*
    *Khalaya Al Jihad Al Emirati (Emirati Jihadist Cells)*
    *Osbat Al Ansar (the League of the Followers)*
    *The Finnish Islamic Association (Suomen Islam-seurakunta)*
    *Alkarama organisation*
    *Al Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb*
    *The Muslim Association of Sweden (SMF)*
    *Hizb Al Ummah (The Ommah Party or Nation’s Party)*
    *Ansar Al Sharia in Libya (ASL, Partisans of Islamic Law)*
    *The Islamic Council Norway (Islamsk Rad Norge, IRN)*
    *Al Qaeda*
    *Ansar Al Sharia in Tunisia* (AST)*
    *Islamic Relief UK*
    *Daesh (ISIL)*
    *Harakat Al Shabaab Al Mujahideen (HSM)*
    *The Cordoba Foundation (TCF)*
    *Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)*
    *Boko Haraam*
    *Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW)*
    *Jamaat Ansar Al Sharia (Partisans of Sharia)*
    *Al Mourabitoun (The Sentinels)*
    *Tehrik-I-Taliban Pakistan (Taliban Movement of Pakistan)*
    *Ansar Al Dine (Defenders of the faith)*
    *Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari Battalion in Syria*
    *Jamaa Islamic in Egypt (IG)*
    *The Haqqani Network*
    *Al-Tawheed Brigade (Brigade of Unity)*
    *Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis (ABM)*
    *Lashkar-i-Taiba (Soldiers, or Army of the Pure Righteous)*
    *Al Tawhid Wal-Eman battalion (Battaltion of Unity,)*
    *Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt) group*
    *The East Turkistan Islamic Movement in Pakistan (ETIM)*
    *Katibat al-Khadra in Syria (the Green Battaltion)*
    *Majlis Shura Al-Mujahedeen Fi Aknaf Bayt Al-Maqdis*
    *Jaish-e-Mohammed (The Army of Muhammad)*
    *Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Brigade*
    *The Houthi Movement*
    *Jaish-e-Mohammed (The Army of Muhammad)*
    *Talha Ibn ‘Ubaid-Allah Company*
    *Hizbollah Al Hijaz*
    *Al Mujahideen Al Honoud in Kashmor/ India (IM)*
    *Al Sarim Al Battar Brigade*
    *Hizbollah in the Gulf Cooperation Council*
    *Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus*
    *The Abdullah bin Mubarak Brigade*
    *Al Qaeda in Iran*
    *The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)*
    *Qawafil Al-shuhada (Caravans of martyrs)*
    *The Badr Organisation in Iraq*
    *Abu Sayyaf Organisation in the Philippines*
    *Abu Omar Brigade in Syria*
    *Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq in Iraq (The Leagues of the Righteous)*
    *Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)*
    *Ahrar Shoummar Brigade in Syria*
    *Hizbollah Brigades in Iraq*
    CANVAS organisation in Belgrade, Serbia
    *The Sarya al-Jabal Brigade in Syria*
    *Liwa Abu al-Fadl Al-Abbas (rigade of Abu al-Fadl Al-Abbas)*
    *The Muslim American Society (MAS)*
    *Al Shahba’ Brigade in Syria*
    *Liwa Al-Youm al-Maw’oud in Iraq (Brigade of Judgement Day)*
    *International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS)*
    *Liwa Ammar bin Yasser (Ammar bin Yasser Brigade)*
    *Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe*
    *Sufyan Al Thawri Brigade*
    *Ansar al-Islam Group in Iraq (Partisans of Islam)*
    *Union of Islamic Organisations of France (UOIF)*
    *Ebad ar-Rahman Brigade (Brigade of Soldiers of Allah)*
    *Jabhat Al Nusra (Al-Nusra Front) in Syria.*
    *Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)*
    *Omar Ibn al-Khattab Battalion in Syria*
    *Harakat Ahrar ash-Sham Al Islami*
    *Islamic Society of Germany*
    *Al Shayma’ Battaltion in Syria*
    *Jaysh Al Islam in Palestine*
    *The Islamic Society in Denmark*
    *Katibat Al-Haqq (Brigade of the Righteous)*
    *The Abdullah Azzam Brigades*

    Let me make this simple… Imagine a muslim world, child brides, rapes, amputations, beheadings are all normal now. Police roam around making sure beards are worn by males women are dressed appropriately and so on. Alcohol and music disappear. Now where do new medicines, technology, science come from? After all muslim scientists say the earth doesn’t rotate because it isn’t in the quran. Another one claims the earth doesn’t revolve around the sun, etc. So yes a muslim world would be just like the dark ages and therefore no more be thought on the subject.

  • Michael Lederman

    Again you can claim there are 10 billion Muslims but that isn’t a fact. You can post all the silly websites you want but they prove nothing. You don’t seem to get that which is just more cognitive distortion on your part. In every single Muslim nation there is either violence or suffering. Just because they work hard to keep it out of the press which they own, doesn’t make it less true.

    You are a joke and so is Islam. We’ve already judged it and found it to be beneath our contempt.

    The Quran makes it clear that Islam is not about universal brotherhood, but about the brotherhood of believers:
    The Believers are but a single Brotherhood (49:10)
    Not all men are equal under Islam. Slaves and the handicapped are not equal to healthy free men, for example (16:75-76). The Quran introduces the “Law of Equality,” which establishes different levels of human value when considering certain matters, such as restitution for murder (2:178).

    Neither are Muslim believers equal to non-Muslims:
    Are those who know equal to those who know not? (39:09)

    Is the blind equal to the one who sees” Or darkness equal to light? (13:16)

    A believing slave is superior to an unbeliever (2:221)
    The Quran plainly tells Muslims that they are a favored race, while those of other religions are “perverted transgressors”:
    Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book [Christians and Jews] had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors. (3:110)
    As we shall see later, Allah condemns non-Muslims to Hell based merely on their unbelief, while believers are rewarded with the finest earthly comforts in the hereafter, including never-ending food, wine and sex (56:12-40).

    Much of the Quran is devoted to distinguishing Muslims from non-Muslims and impugning the latter. Among other things, non-Muslims are said to be diseased (2:10), perverse (2:99), stupid (2:171) and deceitful (3:73).

    The first sura of the Quran is a short prayer that is repeated by devout Muslims each day and ends with these words:
    Keep us on the right path. The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray. (1:6-7)
    Muhammad was once asked if this pertained to Jews and Christians. His response was, “Whom else?” (Bukhari 56:662).Since Allah makes such a strong distinction between Muslims and those outside the faith, it is only natural that Muslims should incorporate disparate standards of treatment into their daily lives. The Quran tells Muslims to be compassionate with one another but ruthless to the infidel:
    Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are severe against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves… (48:29)
    The Arabic word used to describe the ideal treatment of non-Muslims (shin-dal-dal) is the same word used in over 25 places in the Quran to describe how painful Allah has made Hell for them.

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