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 A respectul but hard hitting discussion of the sources of intolerance in Islam October 21, 2006
Craig Matteson (Ann Arbor, MI)
381 out of 449 found this review helpful
Robert Spencer is one of the voices speaking clearly about where the Jihadists derive their core beliefs and patterns for their actions. The title of this book is not speaking against Islam or saying that Muslims are hiding some secret about their faith (although there are some difficult points they do not like to discuss much). What the title of the book is referring to is the false notion that the Western multi-culturalists like to peddle: that Islam is principally a religion of peace and that our conflict with them comes from not treating them as if they were another kind of Congregationalist sect.
Because of the centrality of Muhammad to Islam, Spencer takes us through what can be known about the life of Muhammad. However, the Qur'an alone is not enough for that task. The author also uses the Hadith (traditions about Muhammad), and the Sira (a biography of Muhammad written down 150 years after his death). Using these secondary sources helps illuminate what the Qur'an is saying to the believers through their Prophet.
As Spencer takes us through Muhammad's life and conquests, we learn the sources and traditions for what the Jihadists do today. Rather than twisting or hijacking the faith as some claim, there is a reason that so many within Islam feel proud and agree with the way the Jihadists act towards non-believers, what is preached against believers in their mosques, and the constant work to establish Sharia as a replacement for established law all over the world. This is what Muslims have done since their beginning and what they feel their mission is today. To them, all non-Muslim culture is inferior and all non-believers deserve second-class status at best. Tolerance and equality with non-believers is not possible according to Muhammad's teachings, even on his deathbed.
This paragraph of Spencer's sums up the core of the book:
"It is nothing short of staggering that the myth of Islamic tolerance could have gained such currency in the teeth of Muhammad's open contempt and hatred for Jews and Christians, incitements of violence against them, and calls that they be converted or subjugated. While human nature is everywhere the same and Muslims can, of course, act as tolerantly as anyone else, the example of Muhammad, the highest model for human behavior [according to Muslim belief - CSM], constantly pulls them in a different direction. The fact that Western analysts ignore all this demonstrates the ease with which people can be convinced of something they wish to believe, regardless of overwhelming evidence to the contrary." (pp. 182-183)
The author also provides a chapter showing how the examples from Muhammad's life are preached and lived today, including jihad, violence against unbelievers, death penalty for apostates, and the marriage of young (very young) girls in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Spencer is quite clear that the marriage of young girls was not unusual in Muhammad's life and place, but despite the changes in the modern world it is the power of these traditions that keeps such practices alive.
This is a respectful book, but does not shy away from difficult examples or teachings. Spencer does not go out of his way to try and create a kinder and gentler Muhammad, but he doesn't create a negative caricature of the man a billion people regard as a great prophet. Spencer is also clear about the inferior status of Jews, Christians, and Pagans in the Muslim view of the world. He even shows how Muhammad "corrected" Christian teaching about Jesus in the Qur'an. Among other things, the Muslim scripture declares that Jesus was not the Son of God nor was he crucified.
This is a very interesting and informative book. Yes, it scares the heck out of the mainstream media, but that only shows the intolerance of Islam towards anyone who even raises difficult issues about the faith in even a respectful way. There are thousands of books on Christianity that are much harsher and are actually virulent and no one thinks twice about promoting them everywhere. But if you get the imams railing against you, well, like Spencer, Steve Emerson, and others, you need to live in "secure undisclosed locations". I don't know why you even need any more proof than that for the thesis of this book about the intolerance of Islam towards non-believers.
Recommended.
Fills readers' deficit October 6, 2006
Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth)
762 out of 911 found this review helpful
Since September 2000, at the beginning of the latest phase in the Arab Muslim jihad against the Jewish people in Israel, I have done extensive reading on the history of Islam in a concerted effort to determine the cause. During my early months and years of research, I felt confounded by Islam, which scholars often described as a faith, at its core, moderate and peaceful. Lord knows, I long believed them.
Unfortunately, the more I read, the more discouraged I have become as to the true nature of Islam, and its founder.
Much, though hardly all, of my expanding base of knowledge, has come from Robert Spencer, whose books I have read both with pleasure and dismay--pleasure, because he writes and researches so well, and dismay, because his books so discourage one regarding the onerous tasks that now face Western civilization. Like it or not, we are increasingly imperiled by, and simultaneously, oblivious to the global political ambitions of resurgent Islam.
These dangers appear genuinely contemporary after one learns the details of Muhammad's dealings with the Jewish Banu Qurayzah tribe of Yathrub (Medina).
After sending a secret Muslim convert, Nu'aym bin Mas'ud, to sabotage a Qurayzah alliance with the pagan Quraysh, Muhammad debased the Jews as "brothers of monkeys." This language, as Spencer dutifully notes, "also made its way into the Qur'an"--in chapters 2 (verses 62-65), 5 (verses 59-60) and 7 (verse 166)--and is routinely invoked by current-day Muslim leaders.
Citing the famed A. Guillaume's 1955 translation of Ibn Ishaq's Life of Muhammad (Sirat Rasul Allah), Spencer notes that Muhammad's forces "laid siege to the Qurayzah strongholds for twenty-five days, until... 'they were sorely pressed' and, as Muhammad had warned, 'God cast terror into their hearts'." At this juncture, the leader of the Qurayzah offered his people three choices--to accept Muhammad and Islam, to kill their wives and children and fight Muhammad unencumbered, or to ambush Muhammad on the Sabbath.
The Qurayzah ignored their leader's counsel and, instead, surrendered to the Muslims. Muhammad asked Sa'd bin Mu'adh to determine their fate--and he in turn ruled that "their warriors should be killed and their children and women be taken as captives." Muhammad himself then went into the Medina market and dug trenches into which some the heads of at least 600 or 700 Qurayzah men (possibly, 800 or 900) would be struck. One boy who had not yet "begun to grow hair" later reputedly explained that this factor determined whether a boy was deemed a boy--and spared--or a man, and killed.
Every drop of non-Muslim blood Muhammad spilled, he deemed to have set "a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah" (Qur'an, chapter 33, verse 21).
It's all too clear, five years after 9/11, that most Americans lack the motivation to read the Koran--which is neither long, nor impregnable. If they had it, the public would soon discover that even the mildest of translations, which omit the most offensive verses and explicit terms, prove enlightening.
But Spencer's 224-page biography of Muhammad, based entirely on the most important and authentic of Muslim sources, is well-positioned to fill the deficit for even those readers most devoid of educational motivation.
--Alyssa A. Lappen
Spencer, Karen Armstrong and Ibn Ishak October 11, 2006
David Cashin (Columbia, South Carolina)
228 out of 270 found this review helpful
It is interesting how often those who are negative to Spencer's book cite Karen Armstrong's book as a much better source. It may interest you to know that Karen Armstrong's book is sold on all the Islamist websites I recently visited. That should tell you something. Things are very polarized these days and its hard to figure out as an outsider, who is telling the truth. I have read both books as well as all the early Muslim biographies of Muhammad, Ibn Ishak in Hisham's recension, Al Tabari, Al-Waqidi, Ibn Kathir. Armstrong is writing Islamist propaganda and Spencer is telling you the truth, pure and simple. Now you don't have to believe me, just read the Muslim books! Ibn Ishak's Life of Muhammad is available for $22 postage paid from Oxford University Press Pakistan. It is an 800 page medieval tome, not an easy read. But you owe it to yourself to read it. Remember, it is a work of Islamic propaganda circa 750 C.E. It is not history but a santized version of history. What is astonishing is that Karen Armstrong, Dr. Esposito and numerous other "scholars" sanitize this sanitized version of history. In other words they write Islamic propaganda. I have no doubt that when you finish reading the book you will KNOW that Armstrong, Esposito and the entire politically correct crowd in academia have lied to you. And they are paid to do so. Esposito's Georgetown University recently received a $20 million dollar gift from a Saudi financier to further Esposito's organization at the college. There are big bucks to be made if you play the politically correct game. Spencer is risking his life to tell you the truth. He is on hit-lists. Now go buy the MUSLIM book, read it and "witness the greatest cover-up in world history". My apologies to the DaVinci Code for stealing their line.
Spencer Got It Right September 26, 2006
bulldog
185 out of 220 found this review helpful
Its about time the truth about Mohammed and Islam came to light. The West has been crippled by the PC disease in dealing with Islamic Fascism which is not a radical splinter of Islam but is mainstream Islamic thinking. Spencer writes well and is a thorough researcher. He backs up his views with evidence (unlike some of the reviewers who just rant). After studying Islam for some time and reading Spencer and other authors, including the Islamic apologist Karen Armstrong, I conclude that Mohammed either made it all up (to raise and motivate an army and culture), had a pyschotic break with reality, or had visions and communication with a supernatural force that was not God. Islam is not about peace, its about domination at all costs, and always has been. Islam's methods are evil.
bravo ! The Truth Must Be Told September 23, 2006
Shlomo (Melmac :))
161 out of 191 found this review helpful
Mr. Spencer does a fine Job of exposing some of the misconceptions about the founder of the worlds most intolerant religion. Mr. Spencer will be accused of being biased in his understanding of this subect matter and I am sure that will be the basis for some to discredit his findings he shares and articulates so well in his book.
I have found in my own life that in order to find truth one must put aside his or hers own personal bias and just look at the facts and in being courageous enough to do so will find themselves in the unchartered waters of the sea of truth instead of an ocean of deception.
Many, expend their energy focusing on and trying understand "Good vs. Evil", but that approach is to lead one down a rabbit trail of confusion. The real issue is not "Good vs. Evil", but rather "Truth vs.deception.
Good and Evil are simply byproducts of "Truth or deception". We must first unravel the massive amount of deception that has been and still is being fed to us by a variety of sources. I really do not care where the facts come from as long as it is varifiable and incontrovertable then I am interested.
If Hitler where alive today, and he made the statement that 2 + 2 = 4, It would make no difference to me in discerning that that was a true statement despite the fact that it came out of the mouth of such an evil man.
I make this point because the majority of people I speak with these days and the many of the reviews I read even on this site to not uphold such a liberating approach to fleeing the deluge of deception that we encounter on a daily basis.
Mr. Spencer is simply doing his part to expose deception and help people find some truth in this matter of Muhammed and the Moslem religion.
I took notice to a person reviewing this book (BS Abbas) and he certainly typifies a person who holds to the erroneous approach to truth that I previously mentioned. BS Abbas states in his review that Mr. Spencer is not willing to look at the good in Muhammad, but isn't BS not guilty of the same thing he accuses Mr. Spencer of...that is, he is not willing to accept any of the FACTS that Mr. Spencer presents regarding the evil about Muhammad??
BS also uses a very interesting word in his review that might have summed up the Moslem religion with and that word is "Impose". BS says that Muhammad imposed prayer and other things as well on his people. If one really studies the Moslem relgion they will find that it is all about impsoition and inotlerance.
Now, before I go any further let me say that I am not a Christian, however I am a follower of Yahshua (some call him Jesus). I never find Yahshua imosing His will on people, in fact if you read the story of the rich man who came to Yahshua and asked "what must I do to be saved"? Take notice that Yahshua did not force Himself on the rich man. He gave him a CHOICE, (something not very popular amongst the Moslems) He said "sell what you have and follow me". Then Yahshua walked away and left the rich man to make his CHOICE.
There was no sword, no convincing, just words of truth left on the door of that mans heart.
It is not force which will change the heart of a person, rather it is the truth spoken in and demonstrated in love which will take even the hardest heart and turn it into clay.
BS also holds to the "Majortiy must be right theory". He states that more peope convert to Islam than other religions. Well, Yahshua had something to say about that as well... "Wide is the gate to destruction and narrow is the gate to truth, life and very few will find it"
Maybe some who read this review might be thinking Yahshua (Jesus)? what about the crusades? Yahshua had nothing to do with the crusades. He did not win people by force, He won them by love. Read about His life if you will and make the distinction between Him and His flawed followers. Then read and study the FACTS about Mohammad and hopefully you wll make the right choice as to who you follow, that is if you choose to follow anyone at all.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 338
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