What's Wrong with Islam?

by Mahathir

Since the period of expansionism which began with the Islamic regime's conquest of a large portion of the world under Prophet Muhammad during the period in Medina, Islam has been characterized by a) racism and hate mongering, b) crimes against humanity, and c) violence.

a) The Quran openly describes Jews, referred to in the Quran as people of the book, as apes and swine as indicative in Surah 5 verse 59: 'O people of the Book! Do ye disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah...' and verse 60 (which continues): '[s]hall I point [out] to you something much worse than this, (as judged by the treatment it received from Allah?) those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom He transformed into apes and swine....' (English translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, an Indian Islamic scholar whose translation of the Quran is the most widely known and used in the English-speaking world). This not only constitutes racism of the highest order in the form of anti-Semitisms but also encourages discrimination against Jews perpetuated by the media of the Middle East which actively socializes Muslim children into practicing hate mongering.

Chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Great Satan" can openly be witnessed in the Middle East with thousands of Muslims demonstrating in the streets. Not only is this true but Muslims of Middle Eastern descent can openly be seen calling for the annihilation of Jews, Israel, America and the West. This culture of hate mongering is deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition which advocates that Muslims emulate Prophet Muhammad as prescribed by the Hadith; for the Prophet slaughtered 900 Jews in Medina following the colonialism that began with Islam's ugly conquest of a large portion of the world.

Not only is this true, but discrimination by Muslims against non-Muslims extend further than anti-Semitisms. Muslims discriminate against all non-Muslims regardless of religious affiliation because the Quran calls for non-Muslims to accept second class status in society as preached by the Quran; Surah 9 Verse 29: '[f]ight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day.... ...nor acknowledge the religion of Truth.... ...until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued' (Yusuf Ali). This verse from the Quran openly calls for Muslims to discriminate against all non-Muslims regardless of religious affiliation until non-Muslims accept the status of Dhimmis in society, regard Muslims as superiors under an Islamic caliphate where they submit themselves to Muslims in a state of subjugation, not only acknowledging the superiority of Muslims, but also paying the Jizya (a tax for non-Muslims) as dictated by the Quran – which by tradition under the Islamic caliphate in Medina under Prophet Muhammad, necessitates that non-Muslims extend the Jizya to Muslims on bended knees and for Muslims to spit at non-Muslims.

This culture of discrimination prevailed during the Muslim conquests under Prophet Muhammad with wide scale hate crimes being committed against places of religious worship in countries that fell under the control of the Prophet with his megalomania conquests – which saw an inordinate number of Buddhists and Hindu temples in countries such as India being destroyed. Unfortunately, this culture still prevails today with hate crimes being committed by Muslims who burn down churches in Indonesia and Malaysia. Not only is this true, but the culture of discrimination against non-Muslims can also be witnessed in the banning of churches in the Middle East as well as restrictions to the size of  places of religious worship being placed upon non-Muslims in Malaysia.

Other hate crimes against non-Muslims are documented in historical accounts of racial riots in Indonesia, committed by Muslims against ethnic Chinese due to envy over the wealth of the Chinese, and in Malaysia which saw ethnic minorities being slaughtered during May 13th. for the same reason.

But the racism does not end there as can be witnessed by conflicts between Muslims and Christians throughout the world, as well as racist policies of discrimination against ethnic minorities being implemented, in countries such as Malaysia, that discriminates against so-called non-bumiputras in the field of education, employment and business. This is not to say that all Muslims subscribe to prejudice and discrimination; there are ample Muslims who don't strictly abide by the Quran; it is merely to say that the Quran dictates that Muslims discriminate against non-Muslims and that if a purist interpretation of the religion were to be practiced that rampant discrimination would be prevalent in Muslim countries.

b) Crimes against humanity can easily be witnessed by acts of terrorism committed by Muslims in the name of Islam (more on that in point c) and gross violations of human rights as indicative by the acts of dictators in Libya such as Muhammad Gadhafi – who is slaughtering rebel fighters in the South African nation; in Syria through Bashar al-Assad's slaughter of anti-government demonstrators; as well as the mass murder of religious dissidents under the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

The violation of human rights does not end with the acts of dictators but also extend to other areas such as honor killings, that are committed by Muslims towards their relatives, for perceived despoiling of the family's honor, the cruel and unusual punishment as prescribed by Syariah Law, and the oppression of women in Muslim countries.

As for the former, precedent is set by the tradition of Muslims advocating the beheading of Muslims for something as minor as apostasy as prescribed by the Quran; while the cruel and unusual punishment as prescribed by Syariah Law can be found in verses in the Quran that call for the stoning of homosexuals and critics of the Prophet, and the call for whipping of drug addicts as well as the cutting off of the hands of thieves; while the latter is prescribed in the Quran –  which abundantly makes the superiority of men over women known by saying that a woman's place is to obey and satisfy her husband's every desire and the injunction that men reserve the right to beat their wives for any disobedience, the implication that a man's  testimony is equal to that of four women's and the discrimination being preached against women by imams in mosques throughout the United Kingdom (see Channel 4's brilliant documentary Undercover Mosque and Undercover Mosque – The Return), and can be witnessed through genital mutilation of Muslim women throughout Muslim countries.

c) As for acts of terrorism, Muslims are taught to fight and slay non-believers wherever they find them. In the Quran, Surah 9 Verse  5, Muslims are admonished to: '...fight and slay the  Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)....' (Yusuf Ali). Muslims are taught to divided the world in half: The House of Islam, where Muslims and non-Muslims who subjugate themselves in acknowledgement of Muslim superiority and willingly pay the Jizya live in peace and harmony, and the House of War, where war is declared against non-Muslims who refuse to submit themselves and pay the Jizya (Islam, is an Arabic word meaning submission, regardless of what Muslims apologists would say when they try to convince non-Muslims into believing that it means peace; playing on the subtly of the Arabic language where there is another similar sounding word that actually does mean peace). To acerbate the situation, Surah 61 Verse 4 claims that: 'Allah loves those who fight in His cause in battle array,' (Yusuf Ali) while Surah 2 Verse 190 admonishes Muslims to: '[f]ight those who fight you....' (Yusuf Ali). Surah 2 Verse 191 continues with: '[a]nd kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out of the places [from] whence they drove you out, [for] persecution is worse than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them.' (Shakir) Surah 2 Verse 193 continues: '[a]nd fight them [...] until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except for those who practice oppression.' (Yusuf Ali) These verses are frequently cited by terrorists as justification for acts of terrorisms throughout the world. Osama bin Laden in his infamous letters to America (of which there are many), first calls for Americans to embrace Islam, failing which he threatens America with acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. To make matters worse, Muslims children in the Middle East are taught to love Jihad and to aspire for Martyrdom through the process of socialization through their families, educational institutions and the media. Hence, it comes as no surprise to witness Muslims committing acts of terrorism against those whom they believe have been guilty of inflicting perceived injustice against them, such as Israel when it rightfully attempts to safeguard the country from descending into chaos by taking action to curtail acts of terrorism committed by Palestinians in Gaza either through suicide bombings or the use of improvised explosive devices, when it tries to restore law and order to prevent the country from descending into political instability by taking action against acts of anarchy committed by Palestinians throwing rocks at innocent passersby and smashing car windows, and when they rightfully retaliate against rocket attacks by Hamas or the PLO that inflict casualties on innocent civilians in areas that may or may not be heavily populated; for even the Bible justifies retaliation in self-defense (when thy hand offend thee cut it off, when thy eye offend thee pluck it out). It bears reminding that even in Muslims countries, stern action is taken against those who engage in activities that threaten political stability; for example, in Malaysia, anyone who takes to the street in demonstrations or attempts to commit acts of terrorism will be taken into custody under the Police Act and ISA and thrown into jail. (By the way, Israel has rightfully taken action to block so-called activists from sending flotillas into the nation, for one can never know for sure that these activists are not trying to smuggle arms provided by interested parties to Hamas).

For Muslims, there is no guarantee of salvation unless they die in the cause of Jihad. In the Hadith, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 555 (narrated by Aby Huraira), it can be found that: 'Allah's Apostle said, "Allah guarantees (the person who carries out Jihad in his cause....) that He will either admit him into Paradise (Martyrdom) or return him with reward or booty...."' while Surah 9 Verse 111 continues with: '...Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him.... ...[w]ho fullfileth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice in the bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.' (English translation by Picktall, a British Muslim scholar widely known for his translation of the Quran) Surah 3 Verse 169 proclaims that: '...those who are slain in Allah's way [are not] dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of the Lord,' (Yusuf Ali) while Verse 170 that 'they rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah: '[a]nd [with] regard to those left behind, who have not joined them (in their bliss), the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on them [there] is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve.' (Yusuf Ali) Hence, the Quran not only guarantees Jihadists a place in Paradise (Heaven) but also proclaims that their families will not grieve, for the Martyr will be ensured a place in Paradise with 72 mansions with 72 homes with 72 sheets on 72 beds with 72 virgins who will never lose their virginity. Surah 37 Verse 48 proclaims that:'...besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of beauty and wonder).' (Yusuf Ali) Hence, it comes as no surprise that interviews with families of suicide bombers do not find their mothers grieving, feeling sad or ashamed over the death of their child, but rather rejoicing over the notion that their child is now in Paradise (Heaven) enjoying eternal intercourse with 72 virgins because the Martyr's erection will not wither but last for eternity. Islam has assured jihadists not only a place in Paradise (Heaven) but also promised them sexual delights beyond anything they will ever experience on earth – a strong incentive for sexually frustrated young Muslim men to take up the cause of jihad.

In conclusion, let me leave you with the ominous words of Prophet Muhammad. '...I would love to be martyred in Allah's Cause and then get resurrected and then get martyred, and then get resurrected again and then get martyred again and then get resurrected again and then get martyred.' (Hadith, collected by Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari)

Does this mean that all Muslims are bad and will commit acts of terrorism if they have the chance? Of course not. There is a substantial number of peace loving Muslims who neither care for pursuing a course of Jihad or committing acts of terrorism. It does mean, however, that there will be an increase in terrorist activities if more Muslims were to subscribe to a purist interpretation of the Quran.