Spencer: Latest Jihad Plot Shows Need to Know Koran

A piece I wrote for Human Events today:

The still-unfolding New York/Colorado jihad terror plot -- including an Islamic imam and of a Muslim who says he downloaded bomb-making materials by mistake while downloading a "religious text" -- focuses our attention again on the role of Islam and the Koran in inciting Muslims to commit acts of violence and terror.

Since September 11, 2001, this is the single aspect of the terror threat that government and law enforcement analysts, as well as the mainstream media, have consistently ignored, downplayed, denied outright and misunderstood. And this lack of understanding of the motives and goals of those who would destroy us remains our chief handicap in formulating a truly effective response to the global jihad threat.

Ask an Islamic jihadist why he is doing what he is doing, and he invariably makes reference to Koranic imperatives. Muslims who believe the Koran commands them to make war against and subjugate Infidels comprise a global movement, active from Indonesia to Nigeria and extending into Europe and North America.

In March 2009, five Muslims accused of helping plot the September 11 attacks, including the notorious Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, wrote an "Islamic Response to the Government's Nine Accusations." In it they quote the Koran to justify their jihad war against the American Infidels. "In God's book," asserts the letter, "he ordered us to fight you everywhere we find you, even if you were inside the holiest of all holy cities, The Mosque in Mecca, and the holy city of Mecca, and even during sacred months. In God's book, verse 9 [actually verse 5], Al-Tawbah [the Koran's 9th chapter]: Then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, and besiege them and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush."

Osama bin Laden's communiqués have also quoted the Koran copiously. In his "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places," he quotes seven Koran verses: 3:145; 47:4-6; 2:154; 9:14; 47:19; 8:72; and the notorious "Verse of the Sword," 9:5. In a sermon broadcast in 2003, bin Laden rejoiced in a Koranic exhortation to violence as being a means to establish the truth: "Praise be to Allah who revealed the verse of the Sword to his servant and messenger [the Islamic Prophet Muhammad], in order to establish truth and abolish falsehood." The "Verse of the Sword" is Koran 9:5, the one quoted above about slaying the pagans.

It is extremely rare -- if not impossible -- to find a jihadist who does not cite the Koran to justify his actions. One pro-Osama website put it this way: "The truth is that a Muslim who reads the Koran with devotion is determined to reach the battlefield in order to attain the reality of Jihad. It is solely for this reason that the Kufaar [unbelievers] conspire to keep the Muslims far away from understanding the Koran, knowing that Muslims who understand the Koran will not distance themselves from Jihad."

Yet a huge number of policy decisions are predicated upon the assumption that the Koran teaches peace. These include U.S. government postures toward Pakistan and Egypt; immigration matters; airport security procedures; military strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan; domestic anti-terror policies; and our acquiescence to Saudi Arabia's Islamic proselytizing campaign in America and many other countries.

Most government and media analysts dare not even question the assumption that the Koran is peaceful, for they believe that any insinuation to the contrary is racist, bigoted, and effectively brands all Muslims as terrorists. They simply assume the Koran teaches peace without bothering to study the text, an act which might raise some uncomfortable questions.

But those whom the Koran asserts are Infidels need to know what the Koran is saying about them and what must be done about them, because Muslims around the world today are acting upon these teachings. It's a simple matter of knowing who those who have vowed to destroy us think they are, and what they think they're doing, and what they hope to accomplish. They themselves tell us the answers to these questions are found in the Koran.

That's why The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran is needed.

It's a question of self-protection.

« Previous Entry | Home Page | Next Entry »

11 Comments

R_not | September 24, 2009 1:26 AM

Hey I am first!! And I got the book this week delivered to me. I have not started reading it yet, but will soon.

Deus_Vult! | September 24, 2009 1:46 AM

An extremely astute essay- Something that all western world government leaders need to read and process........

Robert gives me hope for the future.

Excellent work! (As always)

DogWithoutSlippers | September 24, 2009 2:48 AM

War waged by koranists against Infidels is their way to legitimize theft, rape, enslavement, and murder!

efoc | September 24, 2009 5:03 AM

"Most government and media analysts dare not even question the assumption that the Koran is peaceful, for they believe that any insinuation to the contrary is racist, bigoted, and effectively brands all Muslims as terrorists. They simply assume the Koran teaches peace without bothering to study the text, an act which might raise some uncomfortable questions."

For me, this has been the key thing. Prior to 9/11 I assumed the Koran was peaceful etc as we had studied religion at school. And for a while after 9/11 I believed the same, thinking al-Qaeda were perverters of Islam.

Yet only after having studied the Koran, Hadith and the example of Muhammad have I seen otherwise. These texts compel, command and dictate Muslims to convert, subjugate and/or kill non-Muslims. At the very least, Islam teaches Muslims to treat non-Muslims with contempt and have disdain for them, which, when you think about it, is very easy to foment into violence later down the track. It's as clear to anyone who bothers to read the texts and join the dots after studying the history of Islam.

Political leaders of the West need to have history lessons and undergo examinations of the Koran in order to realise the threat we face. If we have to keep harrassing them to even just READ Robert Spencer or Andrew Bostom's compendiums then this is at least a start. I found that once I started, I couldn't stop learning and the more I learnt, the more I got scared but at least I've dealt with this early enough so I can devise what effective action we need to combat the threat of Islam.

Step by step, we will get there.

dave | September 24, 2009 8:17 AM

"That's why The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran is needed.

It's a question of self-protection."

The arguements in the article are persuasive. No need to cheapen them by ending with an ad. It would be very unfortunate for casual readers to think this is all about selling books.

Mackie | September 24, 2009 8:33 AM

It is this issue that confounds most of us, and yet any military strategist worth his salt would tell you that you must "know your enemy and know him well to be able to defeat him".

We get most of our information from one media form or another, from numerous battlefields whether it be Iraq ,Afghanistan, or probably the most dangerous enemy to western Civilization; the stealth jihad being conducted right under our noses. To many of us are to easily drawn into the web of deceit practiced by Islamists because the elite media has a self imposed curtain around its reporting so as not to offend Muslims.

The perversion of multiculturalism is our Achilles heel and Muslims know it,our ignorance about this totalitarian ideology leaves us extremely vulnerable.

You could not help but be concerned when we saw Hesham Islam who was attached to the Pentagon go after Major Coughlin after Coughlin had written a brilliant thesis on the threat that is Islam. David England who was 2nd in command in the Pentagon had the ear Hesham and Coughlin was asked to leave.

The media talks incessantly about the fact that we are losing in Afghanistan and commanders on the ground ask for more troops. No one in the media explains why we are losing the war in Afghanistan,no one speaks about the duty of Muslims to the umma for Allah,no one asks why Muslims from Germany,or a host of other Western Countries are joining in the jihad against the infidel troops.

The fact is you do not have to study everything in the Quran,syrah,and hadiths to be able to get a basic understanding into what drives Muslims to act out the jihad imperatives.

The main thing to understand first is that the the words in the Quran cannot be abrogated and they are considered pure for all time no matter how archaic they appear in a civilized world.

2nd; The jihad imperatives are what one should focus on in the Quran,

3rd; the commands of allah against all who are non Muslims,kuffar,dhimmis,and infidels should be studied.

Focus on those and than broaden your scope about Islamic teachings from there.

dlp | September 25, 2009 5:23 AM

Claiming that the Koran is the cause of jihad violence is simplistic, comforting for some and reductionistic. No text, religious or otherwise, can be held responsible for inciting violence without there being some kind of predisposition towards violence. Texts don't exert magic powers over people do they now? This is not to say we ought to discount it altogether but the notion that social or other factors play no role by virtue of there being commands in the Koran and sunna is fallacious: there is no reason why there can't be both a pull factor (Koran included but even here there are other "external" factors) and a push factor (hinging on the "internal" or personal traits of a person). Yes, the Koran and its supremacist ideology matters and has largely been falsely denied in academic, political and media circles, but let's not thrown the baby out with the bathwater: texts don't exist in a vaccuum and don't have the same appeal to all that read them or hear the messages they contain preached by Muslims.

Caped Crusader | September 25, 2009 10:15 AM

Wow the jihadists quoting from the Quran!

Doesn't that make them Islamophobes?

Great work Robert! There's something special about Robert's writing. Can't wait to receive my copy...

Caped Crusader replied to comment from dlp | September 25, 2009 10:34 AM

dlp while anyone would welcome intelligent debate about this, you seem to be splitting a fine line between moderates, or liberal, Muslims and the Islamists.

The vast majority of Muslims don't commit terrorist acts, but many do wish to live under Shrai'ah law (as Mark Steyn pointed out). Indicative of this culture's thinking is the popularity of the name Osama within Britain (where I currently reside). Not Mohammed, but Osama.

BBC 'Osama' popular in Pakistan

Telegraph Osama is as popular a name for newborn babies in Britain as Darius, figures released by the Office of National Statistics have revealed.

With respect, I completely disagree that blaming the Koran alone is simplistic, reductionist and comforting to some. Ideas can kill. Religion (talking as a secularist) is an idea. This notion shows a complete lack of knowledge of what it takes to make a person commit suicide and murder others. Furthermore there is nothing more sanctomonious, self-righteous or endlessly motivated than one whom believes 'God' justifies his/her actions.

Thanks

Mackie replied to comment from dlp | September 25, 2009 10:38 AM

dip:

Unfortunately being simplistic about what is taught in the Qu'ran,syrahs and hadiths is necessary to reach the greater audience. Very few are going to take the time to study all the tenants of Islam. The fact is that the Quran is their guide to jihad and the words of it are locked in stone for all time. Remove the Jihad imperatives,the anti-semitism, the hate against all who are kaffir,infidels,non- Muslims, and you would have seen a more peaceful world from the great myth that is the religion of peace.

The text of the Qu'ran is the inciter to violence,it is fully responsible for the violence committed in the name of Allah.

unbeliever1 | September 26, 2009 10:14 AM

How convenient!Bomb making material next to religous text.
One stop shopping.

FrontPageMag.com

Books by Robert Spencer

The Muslim Brotherhood in America, by Robert Spencer

Islamophobia: Thoughtcrime of the Totalitarian Future

Muslim Persecution of Christians, by Robert Spencer

The Ground Zero Mosque: Second Wave of the 9/11 Attacks

“My comrade-in-arms, my pal, my buddy.”
— Oriana Fallaci

“Robert Spencer incarnates intellectual courage when, all over the world, governments, intellectuals, churches, universities and media crawl under a hegemonic Universal Caliphate’s New Order. His achievement in the battle for the survival of free speech and dignity of man will remain as a fundamental monument to the love of, and the self-sacrifice for, liberty.”
— Bat Ye’or

“Robert Spencer is indefatigable. He is keeping up the good fight long after many have already given up. I do not know what we would do without him. I appreciate all the intelligence and courage it takes to keep going despite the appeasement of the West.”
— Ibn Warraq

“America's most informed, fearless, and compelling voice on modern jihadism.”
— Andrew C. McCarthy, Senior Fellow at National Review Institute

“Robert Spencer is the leading voice of scholarship and reason in a world gone mad. If the West is to be saved, we will owe Robert Spencer an incalculable debt.”
— Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs

"The consummate Islam critic and expert." — Bruce Bawer

“Over the years, we have become friends, and I have received his assistance on several pieces of legislation I proposed.”
— Former Congressman Tom Tancredo

“Few people are capable of applying scholarship, analytical reasoning, and objectivity to their topic -- while simultaneously being readable and witty -- as can Robert Spencer.”
— Raymond Ibrahim

“A national treasure...The acclaimed scholar of Islam.”
— Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy

“I am indeed honored to call him my friend.”
— Brad Thor, novelist

“A top American analyst of Islam....A serious scholar...I learn from him.”
— Daniel Pipes

“A brilliant scholar and writer.”
— Douglas Murray

"One of my best teachers."
— Ashraf Ramelah, Voice of the Copts

“Thank God there’s at least one man with balls left in the West.”
— Kathy Shaidle, Five Feet of Fury

“I read people like [Mark Steyn] and Bob Spencer and the rest of them, and I say, ‘Boortz, you’re pretending you’re an author. These people really are. They really write some entertaining, some standup stuff.’”
— Neal Boortz

“Robert Spencer is the Stephen King of Jihad.”
— Chris Gaubatz, Muslim Mafia

“Armed with facts and fearlessness, Spencer stands up for Western civilization.”
— Michelle Malkin

“Widely read in conservative foreign policy circles.”
— New York Times

“Widely read in many quarters in Washington.”
— Washington Post

“A canny operative who likely has the inside track on the State Department’s Middle East affairs desk should the tea party win the White House.”
— New York Magazine

“A hero of the American right.”
— Karen Armstrong

"The leading anti-Islamic intellectual in the United States....The go-to Islam expert for the right wing."
— Salon Magazine

“Robert Spencer is an Edward Said turned upside down.”
— Stephen Suleyman Schwartz

“One of the nation's most notorious Islamophobes.”
— Hamas-linked CAIR

"Geller and Spencer are probably the most important propagandizing Islamophobes in the world. These people's voices speak very loudly — not just here in the United States but overseas."
— Heidi Beirach, Southern Poverty Law Center

“Satanic ignoramus.”
— Khaleel Mohammed

“The Likud anti-Christ.”
— Dar al-Hayat newspaper (Saudi Arabia)

“Zionist Crusader, missionary of hate, counter-Islam consultant.”
— Al-Qaeda’s Adam Gadahn, “Azzam the American”