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I get called ignorant of Islam about five times a day. Muslims and non-Muslims write to me or about me in hot indignation, claiming that I'm misrepresenting Islam. But none of the enlightened ones have ever bothered to clue me in about the real, peaceful thing -- which, of course, also seems to elude the grasp of tens of thousands of jihad terrorists and misunderstanders of Islam worldwide. When I ask them to show me evidence of a mainstream Islamic sect or school that renounces violence against and the subjugation of unbelievers, they assure that...well, there are hordes of them, but they just don't have their names on hand at the moment, and I am an utter moron not to have noticed them.
This kind of thing happens even though I am invariably the one quoting chapter and verse of Qur'an and Hadith, while my opponent is making vague claims of an Islam that is tolerant and peaceful but doesn't seem to have any specific textual support (beyond Qur'an 2:256 and 5:32, of course).
The charge of "ignorance" is, of course, a propaganda tactic which, like most propaganda tactics, has nothing behind it. It may fool the credulous clientele of academic titans like Omid Safi, Carl Ernst, Ahmed Afzaal, and Mark LeVine, but anyone who troubles to look will see that the facts are on the side of the allegedly "ignorant," and the academic apologist emperors have no clothes.
So it is in this case. The Pope's statements were entirely correct, and all Taslim Aslam can fall back on is a vague and unsubstantiated charge of "ignorance." And many credulous types out there will figure that Taslim Aslam knows his own religion better than the Pope does, and so he must be right. And I expect that that's at least half-true: I expect that Taslim Aslam does know his own religion better than does the Pope.
"Pakistan: Pope's Jihadi Comments Shows His Ignorance of Islam, Official Says," from AKI, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
Islamabad, 14 Sept. (AKI) - Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson, Taslim Aslam, has referred to recent comments by Pope Benedict XVI against the Muslim concept of jihad or holy war, as a sign that the pontiff did not understand Islam. Aslam was quoted by Arabic language satellite television channel Al Jazeera, as saying that the Pope's recent statements showed his "ignorance" on the fundamental principles of Islam and its history. On Tuesday, the Pope spoke out against jihad saying it was against God and urged Muslims who renounced it to enter a dialogue of cultures.Speaking in Germany on Tuesday, Pope Benedict said the idea of jihad is contrary to God's plan. Experts on Islam and the Roman Catholic Church however told the New York Times that the pope's source-based speech did not appear to be a condemnation of Islam. A Vatican spokesman said the comments were not meant as any statement on Islam but only a brief reference to his argument of the dangers of the separation of reason and religion.
The Pakistani foreign office spokesperson however said that the Pope's statement on Islam and the prophet Mohammed showed that he did not understand Islam. She went on to say that Muslims were "the founders of science in general" and that they were the leading "lights in a period in which the world was wrapped in darkness."
Oh, well! Why didn't you say so before? Muslims founded science, eh? Well, that means there must not be any violent jihad today!
Posted by Robert at September 14, 2006 8:48 AM
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He left out the usual follow up statement, that the Pope's comments will lead to more terrorism.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 14, 2006 9:13 AM
"Pope Benedict said the idea of jihad is contrary to God's plan"
"The Pakistani foreign office spokesperson however said that the Pope's statement on Islam and the prophet Mohammed showed that he did not understand Islam."
In other words, Jihad is NOT contrary to God's plan. I guess we can choose now, perpetual peace, without islam....or pertpetual jihad, with islam.
at September 14, 2006 9:29 AM
yeah, right. THEY invented science. Surgery as first with circumsision, decapiation, hand cutting and other butchery on human body.And probably muhammad was the first astronaut since he asscend to sky with his donkey (burak)which was actually a first rocket of mankinde.
Posted by: svemirko at September 14, 2006 10:20 AM
"a sign that the pontiff did not understand Islam."
This is not the first time a pope has been criticized for "not understanding" his totalitarian enemies. The Nazi Regime attacked Popes Pius XI & XII for their anti-Nazi statements and especially condemned Vatican Secretary of State Eugenio Pacelli for his lack of "understanding" the poor peace-loving nazis
Das Schwarze Korps, the official publication of the Nazi 'SS, wrote on Pacelli's election as Pope Pius XII in 1939: "As nuncio and secretary of state, Eugenio Pacelli had little understanding of us; little hope is placed in him. We do not believe that as Pius XII he will follow a different path (than his predecessor)".
So when Benedict XVI is condemned for "lack of understanding" he is in good company.
Posted by: Provoslavni at September 14, 2006 11:04 AM
"the founders of science in general"
Here are the scietific journals of islam.
"The Mechanics of Looting"
"The Intricacies of Rape"
"Sawing Off Heads : A Beginner's Guide"
"Complex Paedophilia"
"The Designs Of Butchery"
"Genocides : A Complete Guide"
at September 14, 2006 11:10 AM
wow, they insulted my pope, now I am going to riot on the street and burn a pakistani flag.
Posted by: FedUp at September 14, 2006 11:37 AM
As we all know, 2:256 was abrogated by more aggressive verses from sura 9, and 5:32 is an instruction to the Jews of Israel not mo's followers.
Posted by: Celsius at September 14, 2006 1:05 PM
They know that if christianism began to make great proselitism againt islam, they can do nothing. They can´t kill all the new christians. God bless and help the Pope.
Posted by: Franze at September 14, 2006 1:11 PM
actually, the pope has made some encouraging statements lately. When is the EU going to start denouncing him?
--he has pointed out the violence in Islam, subtly using a quote from an emperor of the Byzantine empire in order to reach out to the eastern Orthodox Christians.
-- he also pointed out that the roots of Europe are "Jewish, Greek, and Christian" --he could have added Latin or Roman. Anyhow, this remark is significant as a rebuttal of Kant and Hegel's position [going back to Marcion] that was so negative on the Jewish contribution to civilization. It too rejects the islamization of Europe that many in the EU bureaucracy are promoting.
at September 14, 2006 5:21 PM
I get called ignorant of Islam about five times a day.Robert
Do those 5 times co-incide with their 5 prayers? If so, be thankful that Mohammed negotiated that number down from 50, otherwise... ;->
Posted by: Infidel Pride at September 14, 2006 5:39 PM
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for rational people to band together with one another against a common enemy, I'd have to say the adept Pope just may turn out to be the free world's lead dog. May God give him continued strength and protection.
The complete text of Pope Benedict's lecture at the University of Regensburg on Tuesday, September 12th is on the Vatican's web site.
He knows the Koran; he knows what's at stake. I look forward to hearing from him again.
at September 14, 2006 6:41 PM
This "Muslims invented science" thing always cracks me up. They claim to have invented the aeroplane, because about a thousand years ago some Arab strapped wings to himself, jumped from a great height, awkwardly glided in a rapid downward direction, and killed himself upon heavy impact with the ground. The experiment was never repeated and no helpful drawings or technical descriptions of the "aeroplane" survived - yet, nevertheless, this is their claim to aeronautical fame. Other "Muslim" inventions are said to be gunpowder (despite a truck load of evidence that it was invented in China) and glass (despite examples of 2000 year old Roman glass in dozens of European museums). Notwithstanding the utter hilarity of their claims, the uneducated and delusional Muslim masses actually believe such piffle. Moreover, despite the fact that the first book was printed in medieval Europe and that the writing of Music was initiated and developed in medieval Europe, despite the magnificence of the Byzantine Empire and of the Italian fleets, the crusaders are regularly called "barbarians" by the Arabs. Unfortunately, the Muslim mind believes what it wants to believe, the facts being quite irrelevant. The word “barbarian” though is an odd insult, as it literally means “men with beards”. In classical terms barbarians were lightly armored irregular troops, who invariably outnumbered their adversaries, yet lost most engagements – a perfect description of the crusaders’ unshaven foes!
Posted by: Timbo at September 15, 2006 10:22 AM
109:1-6
Say : O ye that reject Faith!
I worship not that which ye worship,
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
To you be your Way, and to me mine.
That said, if you believe in God then what is the point of bashing one another?
at September 15, 2006 11:54 PM
Hello to you All
there's much criticism about islam and jihad and The life and teaching about Holy Prophet(P.B.U.H)
Pope quoted a 14th century emperor in his defence
I can quote thousands of quotes critising Christanity . Perhaps you all our forgetting the role of Church in brutalising ManKind our perhaps you all are forgetting how many people Hitler Killed
My Point is here that if christian or a jew is something wrong you say That the Person is Wrong not
Christianity or Jewisim But if a muslim does something wrong You say Islam is at fault
Maybe We should Repel this dual Policy from our Nature
at September 16, 2006 5:20 AM
"My Point is here that if christian or a jew is something wrong you say That the Person is Wrong not Christianity or Jewisim But if a muslim does something wrong You say Islam is at fault"
aarijmh ... it's always done in the name of Islam though isn't it?, the likes of Hitler, Napoleon, the East India Company, the IRA, Western Communists etc. never did anything in the name of Jesus, but the many many crimes of you people always seem to be wrapped up in the name of Islam.
"I can quote thousands of quotes critising Christanity" .... yes and if you did NOTHING would happen to you, but if anybody says anything about Mohammed, they want his or her head on a stick. It just goes to show how dark and sad Islam is.
"Perhaps you all our forgetting the role of Church in brutalising ManKind" ...... yes, so you Muslims always tell us.... and how long ago was that? 500 years? 1000 years? Us normal human beings are far more worried about the 21st century and the home made bombs being cooked up by Muslim immigrants so they can blow themselves up in the name of Mohammed, so they can go to kinky sex heaven with their 72 virgins. So tell me, how many Christians are killing people in your corrupt country right now? If you're honest, the answer is none, all you do is accept foreign aid and then you bite the hand that feeds you. For example Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Western aid in the whole world - and what thanks do we ever get? Indonesia got billions in aid from Christians, and they still hate us.
How about these choice cuts from your bloodthirsty Koran "Islam":
Only evil people are disbelievers. 2:99
Allah turned Sabbath breakers into apes. 2:65-66
Fight them until "religion is for Allah." 2:193 ( Since muslims will say this is out of context, realize, Fighting is allowed, if someone else starts it, not allowing Islam to move forward is opression, or fighting. You fight those not allowing the religion of Allah march forward, Western Idealogies are not allowing the religion to move forward...that can be seen as the "first punch" so you can fight back)
Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends 3:28
Don't believe anyone who is not a Muslim. 3:73
Believers fight for Allah; disbelievers fight for the devil. So fight the minions of the devil. 4:76
They desire that you shoule disbeliever as they disbeliever, so that you might be all alike; therefore take them not as friends until they fly in Allahs way; but if they turn back, then seize and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them a friend or a helper 4:89
Allah has cursed the Jews and hardened their hearts. Nearly all of them are treacherous. 5:12-13
Those who make war with Allah and his messenger will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. That is how they will be treated in this world, and in the next they will have an awful doom. 5:33
Don't take Jews or Christians for friends. If you do, then Allah will consider you to be one of them. 5:51
Those who deny Muhammad's revelation are evil. 7:177
Fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. 8:39 (Name one muslim who does not believe Muslims are persecuted throughout the world? Hence, they are allowed to fight the persecutors)
Exhort the believers to fight. They will win easily, because disbelievers are without intelligence. 8:65
Don't make be friends with with your disbelieving family members. Those who do so are wrong-doers. 9:23
..........
Oh, but the pope is "ignorant" if he says that the Koran encourages hate and war......... I think he isn't! (-;
Posted by: Timbo
at September 16, 2006 6:57 AM
Church brutalize HumanKind it doesn't matter when they did and they did in the name of chritanity .
Pope Quoted a 14th century emperor.And i don't think 14th century was YesterDay
I suggest you read the history of crusades when the church used the sword to further it's cause citing these words of Jesus Christ
"AS for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me " (Luke 19: 27)
And we know that thousands were put to sword during infamous Inquisitions.
And please don't tell 6 million jews werent' butchred by a Christian known as Hitler in the name of christianity
Apart from this Jesus Christ is As respectful to us As Muhammed(P.B.U.H) as QURAN tells us and we won't dare in our dreams to insult him or any other Prophet of God
A Person says " I'll kill anyone who will insult my family". And another person quotes the first Person that "he is dangerous as he is saying 'I'll Kill anyone ' "
So please quote the verses with their context you should read those verses with the context and then
quote so all the readers can fully understand the scenario
thank you
at September 17, 2006 5:49 AM
Aarijmh
I tire of debating with Muslims, because you are all so very dim, and dishonest, but here goes:
"AS for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me " (Luke 19: 27)
This is misquoted, used out of context. It's part of a story about an angry King, and it is something the angry king is quoted as saying. Jesus is asking for nobody to be slain, indeed he is talking against violence.
"I suggest you read the history of crusades when the church used the sword to further it's cause citing these words of Jesus Christ"
They never cited those words for the reasons given. The Muslim world attacked and occupied the West first in Spain & Italy (fact). But anyway, it was almost a thousand years ago - who cares!!!!!! Welcome to the 21st century.
"Christian known as Hitler" - Hitler & the SS were followers of ancient Norse religions and the occult (fact). He manipulated some Christian sects but was never fully identified with them. Given the zionist nature of the OT he could not have been Christian.
PS - Muslims lie
at September 17, 2006 10:09 AM
Muslims foundeds science? They continue repeating the old lies.
It's the Persians who contributed to found sciences and they were not as Muslims as the Islamists would have liked them to be.
Posted by: Stefania at September 17, 2006 11:04 AM
Timbo
it's like you dont' like what people do to you, what you do to other people(quoting out of context)
you said i quoted out of context so did you.
Hitler wasn't a christian, ask a German
There wasn't a revouloution in europe against the atrocities of Church
and so on.. but who cares it was in the past
6 million jews butchered wasn't even a century ago
And for The speech of Pope the emperor he quoted was a big time loser a defeatist (probably you should yourself start looking into annals of history)
and wasn't popular enough to quote
And the emperor was talking to a Iranian Scholar(Muslim) there was no mention of the reply given by the Iraninan probably you should check that
also
"And Muslims invented Science" No one invented science Science is in nature of Mankind
Although there are certain areas which were pioneered by Muslims, As there are Areas which are
pioneered by Non Muslims
My friends the era in which Persians conqured Science was Post Muhammed era and were muslims
at September 18, 2006 1:53 PM
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