This comment on my new book The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) has just been posted at Conservative Booknotes:
Here's a reader comment on Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades), which continues to sell fabulously well, especially considering the MSM's refusal to acknowledge its existence. I'm hoping it hits the New York Times bestseller list, so they'll have to run yet another story about the conservative book that everyone's buying but no one (who exists in their universe) is reading.I just finished reading Robert Spencer's book. Surprisingly it's a page-turner and possible to read in two determined sittings, if you do it on a weekend. Spencer is convincing: His quotations from the Qu'ran, and his insets comparing the Christian with the Islamic doctrine by citing their scriptures answer questions handily. He also chooses chronologically arranged historical events to support his conclusions about Islam.This book is disturbing and would make an excellent topic for C-span's Q & A or Book TV. I hope Spencer is not easily recognized, however, or careless about his personal security. The hideous curses that he (and Salman Rushdie) have been targets of make me fear for his safety.
MHG
MHG, don't worry. Allah has so far not heeded requests to rip out my spine and split my brains in two.
Mr. Spencer-
You may already know this, but the local WB affiliate in Raleigh discussed your book on air (even gave it a close up AND a 15 second sound byte from you) before offering a poll online. I believe that poll was asking whether people believe there is a way to make peace with radical islam. Sure, the question is backwards in that it should be asking whether we belive radical islam can make peace with us - but a step in the right direction is still in the right direction.
Thanks for your effort on this site!
--Stephen
Also, what exaclty is "MSM?" A quick google search turned up the Morehouse School of Medicine, so I doubt I'm on the right track...
Dear Mr Spencer
I received my copy in the post today and have already read the first two chapters - you write wonderfully, with a light touch over a serious subject that makes the points you raise all the more digestible and true - congratulations on a truly valuable and urgent book - I will evangelise for it and make sure it is read as widely in England as possible.
Can be read in "two determined sittings"?
Nonsense. I got my 2 copies Saturday morning (one extra for the local library) and finished it Saturday night.
Informative and de-mythologizing as hell.
It even clued me in about the length of the folly of "deconstructionism", which I thought had cropped up in the 1980's, but, as Mr. Spencer rightly noted, it dates back to the 1960's (Jacques Derrida started it all in France around 1967... prefering obscurantism over clarity... first by taking a word like "analysis" and bloating it into the abstruse formulation entitled "deconstructionism", and, second, by never defining what he meant by this neologism).
The "P.I.G.", contrary to Jacques D.'s work, is a brisk and informative (and witty) read.
Great job!
SR-
MSM?
Main Stream Media (the prevailing Press that does not press any issues which embarass its p.c. predispositions)
I'm posting some articles on Derrida, aporia, and ideology later this evening at my famous blog. If you have anything you'd like to add, please click on the appropriate box and do as you will.
Damn!
http://nodhimmitude.blogspot.com
I hope Spencer is not easily recognized, however, or careless about his personal security. The hideous curses that he (and Salman Rushdie) have been targets of make me fear for his safety.
This is definitely a concern. Although I no longer have my blog, I still have a webpage up, and my computer is the target of numerous attacks on an ongoing daily basis. My firewall logs indicate I am tracked by DoD/SPAWAR and a whole lot of other intel outfits, plus a steady stream of suspicous IP's out of China, Europe, and the Mid-East.
In fact, since posting on Jihad Watch, the attacks on my computer have tripled. The unrequested data packets are non-stop. As far as I can tell, my firewall has held, but you never know...
Security should ALWAYS be a concern whenever you speak the truth and say anything negative about Islam. Kinda tells you something, don't it...
Allah has so far not heeded requests to rip out my spine and split my brains in two.
Robert at August 15, 2005 12:00 PM
Dear Robert,
For whatever it’s worth, my prayers to God Almighty to keep you happy and help you in your service. To me you are criticizing the wrong twist given to Islam, not Islam as it is in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. God Almighty willing, I hope to respond in detail on this aspect later.
I am not seeking longer life as the life of each one of us is pre-decided even before we are born. Quoting Tradition numbered 430, Volume 4, of Sahih Al-Bukhari, we have:
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Narrated Abdullah bin Musud
Allah's Apostle, the true and truly inspired said, "(The matter of the Creation of) a human being is put together in the womb of the mother in forty days, and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and then a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then
Allah sends an angel who is ordered to write four things. He is ordered to write down his (i.e. the new creature's) deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in religion). Then the soul is breathed into him. So, a man amongst you may do (good deeds till there is only a cubit between him and Paradise and then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of the (Hell) Fire. And similarly a man amongst you may do (evil) deeds till there is only a cubit between him and the (Hell) Fire, and then what has been written for him decides his behavior, and he starts doing deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise."
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So, every one of us shall by necessity live our full lives. That is why, I pray for your happiness and victory.
Mohideen Ibramsha,
1. I don't believe the myth of "moderate Islam." It's like having "moderate cancer." It's a deadly disease any way you cut it.
2. I don't believe anything in the Koran. It holds ZERO authority for me.
3. When Islam is removed from the face of the earth forever, humanity will be a lot better off.
4. If Allah is the one true God, and Mohammed his chief prophet, and the Koran is a "holy book", then I'd sooner spend eternity in hell with all the other infidels. (Which I am sure is exactly where you think I will end up.)
5. And while I live my 'full life', I will freely make choices. One of those choices is to defend my life, and the lives of those I love, and if someone becomes a deadly threat, we shall then see who 'allah' has destined to die that day... won't we?
6. I will die a Christian.
7. We are at war, and I am an admirer of General Patton, who said, "May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't
Robert Spencer: MHG, don't worry. Allah has so far not heeded requests to rip out my spine and split my brains in two.
Have their been such requests?
I have often wondered how Mr Spencer has so far avoided the murderous anger of muslims. It is curious, in that others who have criticised islam, have been subject to a fatwa of death.
The reason could be in the very nature of Mr Spencer's works. They are scholarly expositions of islam and the koran. As such, it attracts the attention of the media, and thus further raises the profile of islam. All good for islam.
Theo Van Gogh and Salman Rushdie OTH, evoked a quite different response, as they ridiculed islam and its practices.
Whatever it maybe, I hope that Mr Spencer continues in educating the people of the world, muslims included, about the nature of the koran.
Stay safe Mr Spencer.
Arkansas Bushwhacker : If Allah is the one true God, and Mohammed his chief prophet, and the Koran is a "holy book", then I'd sooner spend eternity in hell with all the other infidels.
Reading the koran one gets a distinct impression that allah is merely the mouthpiece of muhammed. Allah jumps to attention to satisfy any craving or lust of the muhammed, giving all the moral justification that muhamed or any other could desire.
"Allah jumps to attention to satisfy any craving or lust of the muhammed..."
I guess the 72 virgins thing is the same concept.
I've got this T-shirt with the logo showing an Arab dancing girl with veils and the words "72 Virgins Dating Service. Immediate Delivery Available. We'll Hook You Up!" There is a sniper crosshair reticule in the background.
It's put out by the Army Rangers at the Ranger Quartermaster website.
Mohideen:
"To me you are criticizing the wrong twist given to Islam, not Islam as it is in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. God Almighty willing, I hope to respond in detail on this aspect later."
Twist? Spin? Or maybe taqiyya? I'll pass on the 'apologetics.'
Now you can 'twist' Islam until it looks like a kosher pretzel, but as we say here in the backwoods, "You can give your pig a bath, spray it with perfume, and even put a pretty bow around its neck, but it's STILL a pig!"
Mohideen, If every moment of a person's life is predestined, what's the point of prayer at all? Has allah ever been known to rewrite destiny?
Instead of living fearful lives in hopes of reaching paradise, it seems to me that muslims would live it up to the max because no matter how bad or how good they are, (from an Islamic standpoint, not a moral one) their ultimate fate was decided at birth and nothing can change that. What's to lose?
Just now got up a couple of essays on Ideology and Aporia. I had a problem with something I don't understand, so please bear with it till I can figure it out.
On the bright side, if you look closely at the accompanying photo you'll see Susan P, me, Shiva, Waterdragons52, Mentat,(and even Spencer and Hugh in the background)trying to have intelligent conversations with dhimmi Westerners.
I bought my copy and am "Pigging out" now. I paid full price and it is a bargain.
Certainly hope Robert keeps his spine in place and brain intact as we have enough muslims already!
Hey DP111, some of our old posts have ended up on an Indian website "Sulekha, the biggest and most popular online community and social/professional networking hub for Indians in the world." (along with Hugh, Suzan, CGW, alasux, apostate Islam -etc. etc.)
http://websearch.sulekha.com/news/ThreadComment.aspx?cid=548784
Fame at last!
Timbo, posting that is the only thing you've done in your whole life that hasn't pissed me off. Thanks for the laugh.
If every moment of a person's life is predestined, what's the point of prayer at all?
Susanp at August 15, 2005 09:39 PM
The Tradition does not say every moment is predetermined. The Tradition does say that whether the person would be blessed or wretched in religion. In Paradise there are many gradations. Even for one who is predetermined to enter Paradise, the relative position in Paradise is dependent upon the individual’s actions. In a course, getting the grade of D is enough to pass. Sometime in the middles of the semester, the professor might say regarding some students that they are sure to pass. Do they stop working on that course? No, every student tries to get the best grade within reach. The same applies to life also.
SonofWalker:
Thanks for mentioning my name along with other distinguished JW/DWers.
Mohideen Moonbat:
Not that I think for a moment that you would ever do this, but put down your Qu'ran a minute and pick up a book by Sam Harris called, "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason". See review below:
“Harris’ tour de force demonstrates how faith—blind, deaf, dumb, and unreasoned—threatens our very existence. His exposé of faith-based unreason—from the religious fanaticism of Islamic suicide bombers to the secular fanaticism of Noam Chomsky—is a clarion call for reasoned debate in this age of terrorism.
—Alan Dershowitz, professor of law at Harvard and author of America on Trial.
Waterdragon, where did you get the idea that the approval of Alan Dershowitz was an argument in favour of anything?
His exposé of faith-based unreason— … —is a clarion call for reasoned debate in this age of terrorism.
—Alan Dershowitz
waterdragon52 at August 16, 2005 09:11 AM
What are we doing here? Are we not debating? Is there no reason in our statements? As regards reading that book, as and when God Almighty induces me to believe that the contents of that book are worthy of my time, hopefully, I would look up the place where I could locate a copy: if ever that book would survive so long!
And which terrorism are we looking into: targeted assassination of a cripple in a wheelchair?
Mohi, you are refering, of course, to the assassination of the religious leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. What you cleverly (using your usual Taqiyah methods) leave out is the fact that Yassin was personally responsible for numerous murderous terror attacks on Isreal, resulting in the deaths of many civilians, both Israeli and foreign. It was Yassin, who in his capacity as Head of Hamas, personally gave his approval for the launching of Kassam rockets against Israeli cities, as well as for the numerous Hamas terrorist bombings and suicide operations. In his public appearances and interviews, Yassin called repeatedly for a continuation of the 'armed struggle' against Israel, and for an intensification of the terrorist campaign against its citizens.
The successful operation by the Isreali Defence Forces against Yassin constitutes a significant blow to a central pillar of the Hamas terrorist organization, and was a major setback to its terrorist infrastructure.
I don't see how you can call targeting of a well known terrorist such as Yassin as being an act of terrorism. You should be lauding the death of this terrorist rather than condemning it. But then, why should anyone be surprized by your assertion. After all, we all are quite well aware of the warped logic of muslims. In any case, as per Islamic theology, the IDF did him a big favor. He must be having a gala time with the 72 houris presented to him by your wondrous Allah.
I don't see how you can call targeting of a well known terrorist such as Yassin as being an act of terrorism.
Razdan at August 17, 2005 12:14 PM
Yassin was the leader of the independence struggle of the Gaza residents. How can a struggle for independence become a terrorist act? It would have been proper for Israel to have arrested Yassin; prosecuted him under International law; and punished him as per the law. Obliterating him by a missile was state terrorism. State terrorism was and continues to be the root cause of all terrorism.
He must be having a gala time with the 72 houris presented to him by your wondrous Allah.
Razdan at August 17, 2005 12:14 PM
As of now, Sheikh Yassin is a bird of Paradise; the 72 houris come only on the Day of Judgment, not before.
Mohi, I agree Yassin shouldn't have been let off so easy by the IDF who simply obliterating him. He should have, instead, received the same kind of justice he and his ilk subject non-muslims to. Perhaps it would have been more fitting to have had him kidnapped, and then summaraily tried and executed by having his head be slowly decapitated while shouting "Allah hu Akbar" as per the dictates of Islamic justice.
Perhaps it would have been more fitting to have had him kidnapped, and then summaraily tried and executed by having his head be slowly decapitated while shouting "Allah hu Akbar" as per the dictates of Islamic justice.
Razdan at August 17, 2005 11:59 PM
Great! The Zionists giving Islamic justice!! Just great!!!
It is not as easy as thought above to cut the head off the body of a Muslim. Even that can happen only if sanctioned by God Almighty. Such attempts were made even fourteen centuries back as given in Tradition numbered 281 in Volume 4 of Sahih Al-Bukhari, quoted below:
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Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle sent a Sariya of ten men as spies under the leadership of Asim bin Thabit al-Ansari, the grandfather of Asim bin Umar Al-Khattab. They proceeded till they reached Hadaa, a place between Usfan, and Mecca, and their news reached a branch of the tribe of Hudhail called Bani Lihyan. About two-hundred men, who were all archers, hurried to follow their tracks till they found the place where they had eaten dates they had brought with them from Medina. They said, "These are the dates of Yathrib (i.e. Medina), "and continued following their tracks. When Asim and his companions saw their pursuers, they went up a high place and the infidels circled them. The infidels said to them, "Come down and surrender, and we promise and guarantee you that we will not kill any one of you." Asim bin Thabit; the leader of the Sariya said, "By Allah! I will not come down to be under the protection of infidels. O Allah! Convey our news to Your Prophet." Then the infidels threw arrows at them till they martyred Asim along with six other men, and three men came down accepting their promise and convention, and they were Khubaib-al-Ansari and Ibn Dathina and another man. So, when the infidels captured them, they undid the strings of their bows and tied them. Then the third (of the captives) said, "This is the first betrayal. By Allah! I will not go with you. No doubt these, namely the martyred, have set a good example to us." So, they dragged him and tried to compel him to accompany them, but as he refused, they killed him. They took Khubaid and Ibn Dathina with them and sold them (as slaves) in Mecca (and all that took place) after the battle of Badr. Khubaib was bought by the sons of Al-Harith bin Amir bin Naufal bin Abd Manaf. It was Khubaib who had killed Al-Harith bin Amir on the day (of the battle of) Badr. So, Khubaib remained a prisoner with those people.
Narrated Az-Zuhri: Ubaidullah bin Iyyad said that the daughter of Al-Harith had told him, "When those people gathered (to kill Khubaib) he borrowed a razor from me to shave his pubes and I gave it to him. Then he took a son of mine while I was unaware when he came upon him. I saw him placing my son on his thigh and the razor was in his hand. I got scared so much that Khubaib noticed the agitation on my face and said, 'Are you afraid that I will kill him? No, I will never do so.' By Allah, I never saw a prisoner better than Khubaib. By Allah, one day I saw him eating of a bunch of grapes in his hand while he was chained in irons, and there was no fruit at that time in Mecca." The daughter of Al-Harith used to say, "It was a boon Allah bestowed upon Khubaib." When they took him out of the Sanctuary (of Mecca) to kill him outside its boundaries, Khubaib requested them to let him offer two rakat (prayer). They allowed him and he offered two rakat and then said, "Hadn't I been afraid that you would think that I was afraid (of being killed), I would have prolonged the prayer. O Allah, kill them all with no exception." (He then recited the poetic verse): "I being martyred as a Muslim, Do not mind how I am killed in Allah's cause, For my killing is for Allah's sake, And if Allah wishes, He will bless the amputated parts of a torn body." Then the son of Al Harith killed him. So, it was Khubaib who set the tradition for any Muslim sentenced to death in captivity, to offer a two-rakat prayer (before being killed). Allah fulfilled the invocation of Asim bin Thabit on that very day on which he was martyred. The Prophet informed his companions of their news and what had happened to them. Later on when some infidels from Quraish were informed that Asim had been killed, they sent some people to fetch a part of his body (i.e. his head) by which he would be recognized. (That was because) Asim had killed one of their chiefs on the day (of the battle) of Badr. So, a swarm of wasps, resembling a shady cloud, were sent to hover over Asim and protect him from their messenger and thus they could not cut off anything from his flesh.
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