I have been researching, studying, teaching and writing about anti-semitism, Islam, sharia, Israel and the Jewish people for about 15 years. What I am about to say could easily get me pegged as a right-wing-bigoted-racist but I certainly hope that my readers would not give-up until they have read my entire article.
Lately, the planet has been plagued by numerous attacks by Muslims from different factions. The damages have gone from verbal abuse on the streets of London to broken storefront in the Paris suburb of Sarcelles to the crucifying of Middle Eastern Christians and the beheading of two American reporters and everything in between. Of course, the perpetrators come from different countries as well as ideological persuasions, yet the common denominator is that THEY WERE ALL MUSLIMS. This is a fact and would only qualify as Islamophobia (a phobia is an irrational fear) if the story were fabricated to ostracize and/or demonize the Muslims. If, like some choose to do, I would state that "all Arabs are Muslims and I hate Islam, thus I hate the Arabs", that would undoubtedly make me an Islamophobe, but that statement is erroneous, so perish the thought. It would be the same as saying that all Germans were Nazis and I hate the Nazis, thus I hate all Germans!" Absolutely ludicrous right? Or it would be the same as saying that all Jews all over the world are responsible for what happens in Israel and the territories...Oh, wait a minute...Somehow that is actually how the world is treating Israel and the Jews, but I digress!
Back to trying to identify real Islam. I understand that many within Islam will disagree with me, strongly or not so strongly. But I would like to posit that the only "Real Islam" is the Islam that the western world is faced with today,
and has been quietly observing for the last several decades. It is currently represented by the likes of Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hamas and of course the now globally infamous Islamic State (formerly known as ISIS or ISIL). But what about 90% of the 1.5 billion Muslims who call themselves moderate, they couldn't possibly be categorized using the same criteria? That is absolutely correct, and that is because I don't believe for a minute that they are moderate. I would much rather describe them as "nominal" or "cultural" Muslims instead of moderate ones.
Many people call themselves "Christians" but are not be followers of Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth who believe in His death and resurrection for their sins (Isaiah 52:13-53-12). They identify with a more cultural brand of Christianity that is quite removed from the first Century Jewish sect that it used to be. This does not make them to be bad people, but they simply are "Christian" in title or practice only, and certainly not by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
By the same token, many people today would tell you that they are Muslims, yet they would be hard pressed to identify some of the key passages of the Qur'an or the Hadith (teachings of Mohammed not found in the Qur'an). Sure they might keep a Halal diet, pray five times a day and even fast for Ramadan, but they would be the first ones to admit that they do not adhere to the entire Qur'an, especially the verses and passages that advocate hatred, lying and killing of infidels.
Those verses are real and they mean exactly what they say. Let us also consider the fact that most of the verses in question are normative and not historical. In other words, they are more open-ended than historically linked, and thus still very much apply to the "infidels" to this very day. Consider just a few of those verses below:
Sura 4.95 - "Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-"
Sura 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"
Sura 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."
Sura 47.4 - "When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield strike off their heads and, when you have latid then low, bind your captives firmly. Then grant them their freedom or take a ransom for them, until the war shall lay down her burdens."
Of course, many will come to the rescue of the Qur'an and quote verses such as: "Let there be no compulsion in religion; truth stands out clear from error" (Sura 2.256), claiming that Islam is indeed a religion of peace. This is wishful thinking from a politically correct mind and it is also completely ignoring the basic Qur'anic law known as "the Law of Abrogation". The Qur'an contains many mansukh (abrogated or "cancelled out" verses) and nasikh (abrogating or "canceling" verses). The later render the former obsolete and yet they remain part of the Qur'an as a whole. Most if not all of the "peaceful verses" were penned during Mohammed's early years in Medina when he was struggling to gain exposure and be vindicated. The rest of the "not so peaceful verses" like the ones quoted above, came out of the Mecca years after Mohammed had established himself. So to put it plainly, even though it is thrown at us ignorant Westerners all the time, a verse like "Let there be no compulsion in religion; truth stands out clear from error" is no longer in effect by "True Qur'an believing Muslims".
This leaves us with a reality that almost no one is willing to face (
including our own president); true-to-the-Qur'an Islam IS NOT A RELIGION OF PEACE and only true-to-the-Qur'an Muslims are real Muslims. So NO, I do not believe that radical Islam is the exception, I believe that radical Islam is the real Islam and that the rest of the world's Muslims are not moderate but either nominal or cultural. I know that many will want to call me an Islamophobe or a racist Zionist, but I am just stating the facts.
I condemn violence, hatred, lies and killings and for that reason, I hate real Islam. This being said, I ache for the 1.5 billion Muslims who are prisoners of Islam. God loves all people and I love God and want to be in His will, thus I will strive to show His love to all, and as a result I CANNOT HATE MUSLIMS, as difficult as it might be, especially being Jewish!
But you see, I am a Jew who has a personal relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I believe that my Messiah has come in the person of Yeshua of Nazareth and that His death and resurrection was not just for me but for all who believe Him (Genesis 49:10, Psalm 22, Daniel 9:1-27), including all the Muslims, Qur'an following or not! I know that one day, all hatred, violence and death will all be gone when Mashiach returns and brings His Messianic kingdom on earth. Until then I will press on with God's truth, a truth that I cannot find in the Qur'an!
Olivier, thank you for your dedication and research to reveal the true Islam. Blessings...
Absolutely SPOT on!
Great post. Appreciate your time and effort with research and study. I will certainly read more.