C H A P T E R I V
I N C I T E M E N T S I N T H E Q U R A N T O H A T E A N D
D I S C R I M I N A T I O N O F N O N - M U S L I M S
There will be four small chapters about the Quran’s point of wiev on the relationship between non-Muslims and Muslims: This one, and this for obvious reasons is rather depressing. After that comes a very short one about non-Muslim in Muslim countries - depressing to say the least of it, but not entirely black. Then one about the difference between non-Muslims and Muslims according to the Quran - also somewhat depressing for non-Muslims (the order of things as seen from the point of view of the “Ubermench” often is for “Untermench”). Then follows one about possibilities for friendship between non-Muslims and Muslims - it is wrong to say it is nice reading, but not 100% bad.
And I stress two things:
A. This is what the Quran says - not what governments of some Muslim states say today.
B. Most Muslims. I have met, does not live according to the strictest rules. They simply want to live and let live just like you and me. (But the old problem of course is: How to know who is good and who is terrorist - or the helper of terrorism?)
I have at least a few friends and a number of acquaintances who are Muslims, and they are just as human as me.
These four chapters are all arranged according to the approximete age of the surahs, partly because it is interesting to see if there are any developments in Muhammad’s/Islam’s point of view over those 23 years, and partly because according to the abrogation rule in Islam, if there are two or more verses in the Quran that say differet things, the oldest in invalidated and the youngest is what counts - therefore it is essential also for non-Muslims to know which are the real rules, this even more so as the youngest rules often are the strictest.
There is a lot slander about how bad the non-Muslims are who do not live according to Islam and how they will be punished for that - a good reason for looking down on them. I skip most of that, and also most of the happy endings for (those who become) Muslims and the very bad endings that always catch up with non-Muslims - tales intended for strengthening moralities of Muslims and their proselytes - and concentrate mainly on the more direct relationship between non-Muslims and Muslims.
Year 610 to 622 - some 86 surahs:
It is a striking fact that in all the years before Muhammad fled to Medina there hardly is a single word about that non-Muslims were a danger to Muslims, or that there was a reason to hate them or anything like that. Non-Muslims were bad in the meaning that they wanted you to leave Muhammad and stupid as they did not see that Muhammad was speaking the truth - not to mention that they were stupid who had to ask for proofs. There is one slight mentioning of the possibility to meet them in strife (16/110), but that may as well mean intellectual strife. That is all I find. (If I have overlooked anything, please inform me). Non-Muslims should also not be chosen for friends, and of course Muslims are much better quality. But no incitements to hate or suppression or slaying or enslaving or rape or murder or war.
But as soon as Muhammad arrived in Medina, the religion all of a sudden changes on this point. Already in verse no 4 in surah 47 - no. 47 is likely to be partly from Medina and no. 2 the first wholly from there. It is all blood (“smite at their necks”) and war and terror and the possibility of extorting money.
Muhammad needed highwaymen and later warriors.
(Muslims frequently explains away the yeas as robbers and murderers and extorters preying on caravans mainly to and from Mecca, with that this was part of the war Mecca forced on the Muslims in Medina. To be polite that is wrong. Mecca was only too glad to be rid of Muhammad and his followers, and had happily left them alone in Medina if not Muhammad time and again and again robbed their caravans, killed some of the men from the caravans and took others prisoner and extorted money for releasing them alive. The robberies were not because of a war - the 3 wars started because of the bloody and thieving behaviour of the Muslims.)
Year 622 AD (Medina), syrah 47 (087):
001 47/4: “Therefore (because Allah wants it!! - see 47/3*), when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; at length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them), thereafter it is time for either generosity or ransom - - -”. No comments - none necessary.
0Aa 47/23: “Such are the men (non-Muslims*) whom Allah has cursed - - -”. And when Allah has cursed them, they of course are worthy of only despise.
0Ab 47/29: “- - - those in whose hearts is a disease (= non-Muslims*)- - -”. With such a disease they of course are worth very little.
Year 622-624 AD mainly (verses 275-281 ca. 632 AD) (088):
002 2/191: “- - - and slay them (non-Muslims fighting you “in the widest sense of the word” according to Islam) wherever ye catch them - - -”. A nice tit bit for terrorists.
003 2/191: “- - - and slay them (see 1. Part of 2/191 just above) wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out.” That Muslims retake land they have once conquered seems to be right and just - no matter that they, themselves, once took it from someone else. But that Hindus in India wants their now “small” country - remember that India once (until 1947) was what was now are Pakistan, India and Bangladesh - instead of being ruled and misruled by Muslims is very bad; hate the Hindus. And most of the Middle East, included Egypt and Turkey once were Christian. But when Christians for a hundred years once more dominated parts of the area, Christians were the worst people ever. Hate them and kill them. And the Buddhists in Indonesia: When they do better than “we” - hate them and kill them (pogroms especially against Chinese). And when the Christians in East Timor had had too much of Muslim suppression and demanded to become free: Murder thousands of them - it is lawful and just. And when Muslims in Indonesia do not kill in East Timor, they bomb Hindus and Christians in Bali and other places. Not to mention the not too secret dreams of retaking Spain and Southeast Europe “because it used to be Muslim land, and we should turn out the ones who took it from us” - oh, yes, I have heard it.
And it hardly is strange that this is a dream, as the official goal for Islam is to dominate the entire world, and suppress and tax all non-Muslims. Just read the Quran and see - it is said there.
If someone dominates Muslim area - hate them and kill them, so Muslims can dominate and suppress and tax the survivors fair and just. The Muslim way of fair play?
004 2/217: “- - - Tumult and oppression (of Muslims*) are worse than slaughter (of non-Muslims*)”. It is correct that in this verse it was said about the rulers of Mecca. But as Islam nearly always says: What is said in the Quran, mostly goes for all similar situations everywhere and at every time.
An impressing point is that the Quran orders all Muslim to suppress and tax and subdue ALL non-Muslims in the entire world if and when they are able to. See 8/39 just below.
Year 624 AD (090):
005 8/39: “And fight with them (non-Muslims) until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere - - -”. I include this from the chapter about war, to stress that also incitement to war is incitement to hate. You will thus find a lot of incitement to hate, detesting and discrimination against non-Muslims in that chapter in addition to what is mentioned in this. The same goes for the chapters “Muslims are better” and “Muslims should not make friends with non-Muslims”.
006 8/73: “The Unbelievers are protectors, one of another - - -”. Stick together against the non-Muslims.
007 3/75: “They (pagans/non-Muslims*) tell lies against Allah”. No comments necessary.
Year 625 AD mainly (some verses 631 AD) (092):
008 3/110: “Most of them (Jews and Christians*) are perverted transgressors.” Yes, one has to be perverted to believe in the god of the old - a god that according to their holy book has manifested his power many times, like the Jews, or in a book backed by thousands of witnesses (though in both these cases something or details may be wrong), compared to believe in a medium large businessman liking power much, and who in addition is a highway man, extorter, womaniser, rapist, torturer, enslaver, slave dealer (selling his 20% of the slaves taken), assassin, murderer, mass murderer, breaker of his words (murdering people he had guaranteed safety during peace talks) and inciter to hate, discrimination and war - a man in no way able to do more than to tell unfounded tales backed by invalid and even wrong “signs” and “proofs” - tales that on top of all shows a number of the hallmarks of a swindler, cheater and deceiver. (Muslims: This is no slander - the facts are taken from Islam’s own books telling about and praising Muhammad - it only lacks the sugar coat of explaining away and heroism. There is no reason of being angry when meeting the very plain truth).
Yes, Jews, Christians and for that case Pagans have to be perverted not to believe on basis on such - unproven - words. And for not to kill and terrorize on his orders.
009 3/118: “- - - they (non-Muslims*) will not fail to corrupt you (Muslims*)”. No good people.
010 3/118: “They (non-Muslims*) only desire your (Muslims*) ruin - - -”. There is a good reason for despising such people.
011 3/118: “- - - rank hatred (of Muslims*) has already appeared from their (non-Muslims) mouths - - -”. Is it possible to find worse human beings?
012 3/118: “- - - what their (non-Muslims*) hearts conceal is far worse (than rank hatred against Muslims*) - - -”. No, worse than non-Muslims is not possible to find.
013 3/119: “- - - they bite off their very fingertips at you in rage (if you are lucky in some way or other*)”. Despicable people.
014 3/120: “If aught that is good befalls you (Muslims*), it grieves them (non-Muslims*) - - -”. Unkind fellows.
015 3/120: “- - - but if some misfortune overtakes you (Muslims*), they (non-Muslims*) rejoice at it”. There is a good reason to dislike - or worse - them.
015 3/149: “If ye (Muslims) obey the unbelievers, they will drive you back on your heals - - -”. No good.
Year 625-626 AD perhaps. (093):
016 61/7: “Their (the wrongdoers‘*) intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light - - - “ Hateable.
Year 625-629 AD - most of it likely 627-629 AD (094):
017 33/60: “Truly, if the Hypocrites, and the ones in whose hearts is a disease (non-Muslims) - - - desists not - - - they will not be able to stay in it (a city) as thy neighbours for any length of time - - ”. Bad people are to be chased away.
018 33/61: “(Hypocrites and non-Muslims and those who make unrest*) shall have a course upon them: wherever they are found, they shall be sized and slain (without mercy)”. More plainly it is difficult to tell it - and who is to decide what is unrest and who starts and continues it? Pogroms happen - f. ex. in Indonesia and Malaysia against Chinese not long ago - they were richer than the Muslims (Chinese works more). Will there be unrest against others because they are richer than Muslims somewhere in the future? - or simply because non-Muslims never should be the boss of a Muslim (not likely to be a rule today, except perhaps in conservative areas, but it used to be a rule during hundreds of years many places)?
019 33/62: “Such (to kill non-Muslims not living according to Islam’s laws of suppression of non-Muslims*) was the practice (approved) of Allah among the ones that lived aforetime: no change wilt thou find in the practice (approved) of Allah (now or in the future*)”. If Islam/Muslims grow strong enough some time, this is what to expect, according to their holy book. How had the world looked today, if the industrial revolution with its superior weapons, ships and economic and military superiority had happened in the Muslim area? - Islam has no moral, ethical, ideological or philosophical ideas against suppressing other people - on the contrary it is a religious duty. Actually Islam has no moral or ethical philosophy at all - that was decided once and for all before 1100 AD by the religion, with al Ghazali as the last and conservative thinker (there were a few thinkers for some time - about 100 more years - in Spain, but they got little influence on the mainstream Islam).
Year 629 AD (101):
020 66/9: “O Prophet (Muhammad*)! Strive hard against the Unbelievers and Hypocrites, and be firm against them.” And Muhammad is the example for all Muslims.
Year 629-630 AD - most likely early 630 AD (102):
021 60/4: “There is for you (Muslims*) an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: ‘We are clear of you and of whatever you worship besides Allah: we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred forever - unless you believe in Allah and him alone’ - - -”. Remember that Islam tells often and clearly that what is told in one context in the Quran, nearly always has general and universal meaning and value. Words not possible to misunderstand.
022 60/6: “There was indeed for them (Abraham and his people in 60/4*) an excellent example for you (Muslims*) to follow - - -.” See 60/4 just above.
Year 631 AD - age not quite sure. (105).
023 9/8: “- - - most of them (non-Muslims*) are rebellious and wicked”. It is normal to dislike and stay away from wicked people. A god advice.
024 9/28 (118): “Truly the Pagans (people neither Muslims nor Jews nor Christians) are unclean - - -” And what is said in the Quran is valid also today and forever. During the Muslim military expansion, pagans frequently were very harshly treated - killed by the thousands and even by the tens of thousands f. ex. in Sind and the rest of India.
025 9/29: “Fight those who believe not in Allah - - - until they pay the jizyah (extra tax*) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued”. The softest word possible: Discrimination. The jizyah frequently was high.
026 9/32: “Fain would they (Christians*) extinguish Allah’s Light with their mouths - - -”. Bad and detestable people.
Year 631 (106):
027 49/7: “- - - He (Allah*) has made hateful to you (Muslims*) unbelief - - -”. To hate unbelief means to hate the unbelievers/non-Muslims.
Year 632 (107):
028 5/52: “Those in whose hearts is a disease - - -”. If you are not a good Muslim, there is a disease in you.
029 5/62: “Evil indeed are the things they (Jews and Christians*) do.” No comments, except that you should detest and hate such people.
030 5/80: “ Evil indeed are (the works) which their (Muslims seeking contact/friendship with non-Muslims*) souls have sent forward before them, (with the result that Allah’s wrath is on them - -*)“. Just to seek contact/friendship with non-Muslims makes Allah angry with you. No comments.
Year uncertain (113)
031 98/6: “They (non-Muslims*) are the worst of creatures”.
A fitting last quotation?
P O S T S C R I P T U M F O R C H A P T E R I V .
In this chapter I have listed some verses - but far from all - of the incitements to dislike, discrimination, hate, etc., that do not fit in other chapters (and some that fit). You will find more if you read the book, especially if you also include the so-called hypocrites, which I mostly have omitted.
In addition you will find lots and lots about it in the chapters about war - which has much incitement to detesting, discrimination, and hate - discrimination (“Muslims are better”, “Make no friends with non-Muslims”), and the small one about non-Muslims in Muslim states. And not to forget all the incitements there are to dislike, detest, discriminate and look down upon non-Muslims that is to be found in all the hundreds of loose statements about how bad non-Muslims are according to Allah, and what a punishment he will give them. Of these there are so many, and many are so easy to see, that I have not bothered to list them - anyone can make a long list already the first time they read the Quran. An impressing friendly religion.
The Quran talks a lot about nice words and peace and such things. To a degree it is true inside Muslim communities - as long as “the others” do not belong to a sect too different from your own.
But towards non-Muslims Islam teaches detesting, discrimination, suppression, hate and war. And enslavement according to the Quran, if not the West had made official slavery impossible. (The last Muslim state to abolish officially accepted slavery was Mauritania as late as in 1982 AD - and it did not become a punishable crime until in unbelievable 2007 AD!!). I say official, because according to the United Nations there are today (numbers released early 2007 AD) some 24 million slaves or people living under slave-like conditions in the world - quite a large lot of them in Muslim countries (but the West - and a lot other places - are not “white” either: Some 700.000 of them live in Europe (included East Europe) - I have not seen the numbers for USA.)
Muslims talk nice words - but teach and preach and most places where they are in power, also live according to the far more sinister sentences in the Quran about discrimination, looking down on, segregation (in countries where they do not have power they often do not want to mingle with the bad “infidels”), and worse. Possible exceptions to a degree are countries like Malaysia and some countries where the conservative Islam is not too strong. But teaching of hate against non-Muslims is far from infrequent in the madrasas (religious schools) in many Muslim communities.
Cairo, 04.12.07