Besides removing supposed temptations to idolatry, Islamic jihadists want to ruin the artifacts of non-Muslim civilizations because doing so testifies to the truth of Islam, as the Qur’an suggests that ruins are a sign of Allah’s punishment of those who rejected his truth:
Many were the Ways of Life that have passed away before you: travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who rejected Truth. (Qur’an 3:137)
This is one of the foundations of the Islamic idea that pre-Islamic civilizations, and non-Islamic civilizations, are all jahiliyya — the society of unbelievers, which is worthless. Obviously this cuts against the idea of tourism of ancient sites and non-Muslim religious installations such as St. Catherine’s monastery. V. S. Naipaul encountered this attitude in his travels through Muslim countries. For many Muslims, he observed in Among the Believers, “The time before Islam is a time of blackness: that is part of Muslim theology. History has to serve theology.” Naipaul recounted that some Pakistani Muslims, far from valuing the nation’s renowned archaeological site at Mohenjo Daro, saw its ruins as a teaching opportunity for Islam, recommending that Qur’an 3:137 be posted there as a teaching tool.
“Inside Palmyra: ISIS releases taunting tourist board-style video showing smoke rising from ancient ruins as fears grow that the jihadis are preparing to lay waste to the captured Syrian city,” by John Hall, MailOnline, May 26, 2015 (thanks to Anne Crockett):
Chilling video footage has emerged showing the interior of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra after it was captured by militants fighting for the Islamic State terror group.
A short video released by the local pro-ISIS media company Aamaq News shows thick black smoke rising over Roman ruins that have stood for thousands of years in the central Syrian desert city.
Heavily armed jihadis can be seen patrolling the steps of Palmyra’s ancient amphitheatre as the high-definition camera pans around to capture streets lined with ancient monuments that now face destruction at the hands of ISIS and its history-erasing bulldozers and sledgehammers.
The one and a half minute video doesn’t feature any fighting in and around the city of Palmyra, which was captured by ISIS militants last Thursday following a lightning advance.
Instead it looks almost like a tourist video – capturing the beautiful sand-coloured Roman ruins in the kind of slick high-definition footage now synonymous with ISIS propaganda releases.
It seems increasingly likely that the video could turn out to be one of the final documents of the ancient city, as the jihadis are expected to raise [sic] much of it to the ground in the same way the bulldozed the equally historic city of Nimrod and destroyed ancient artifacts in Mosul museum.
Even if ISIS decide not to destroy the ruins, their destruction may well come about from the battle to force the jihadis out of the city.
Just this morning separate video footage was released showing the destruction of ancient buildings in Palmyra’s rubble-strewn suburbs following intense airstrikes by Syrian regime warplanes.
The video of destroyed buildings emerged just hours after Syrian regime warplanes carried out intense strikes on ISIS targets within Palmyra in an attempt to force the terrorists out of the strategically important desert city.
Within days of ISIS capturing Palmyra, hundreds of locals were brutally executed – among them at least 67 civilians, including 14 children.
Hundreds more were imprisoned by the Islamic terrorists.
Yesterday the Syrian Air Force announced that it had carried out a series of raids on ISIS targets within the militant-held city.
‘The air force struck more than 160 Daesh targets, killing and wounding terrorists and destroying weapons and vehicles equipped with machine guns’ on Palmyra’s outskirts and elsewhere in the east of Homs province, the source said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
‘We are pursuing Daesh wherever they are,’ he added….
Yes, and obviously you’re having great success.
Abu Obeida says
Bowing down to the Kaaba isn’t idolatry? kissing the black stone isn’t idolatry?
How they still claim to be monotheists is beyond me.
mortimer says
The Black Stone is a symbol of the goddess Venus (Allat or Uzza). She was also called ‘Chabar’ (the great one).
The Kaaba is surrounded by a veil, suggesting it is the home of a female divinity. The Muslims bow down to a goddess without knowing it.
Renee says
So is the black cloth a giant burka?
duh_swami says
The black rock that used to be white, until menstruating women fingered it, is also a yoni. And it is a fertility symbol. I’m curious if anyone has ever washed the rock with a disinfectant. 1400 years of accumulated slobber, must be infectious…
Gyro says
This is not the truth, but if you enjoy believing this than remain in it. In the middle of it.
Angemon says
And above all, Abu, is their worship of muhammad. They strive to imitate him as closely as possible, they kill people who “offend” him, and they don’t consider that to be idolatry. But if a Christian were to pray to a patron saint and ask him/her to intercede with God on his behalf, then the Christian is an idolater, polytheist and fair game.
Gyro says
Following a Prophet is not worship, how ignorant you are!
Following the teachings of Prophet Muhammed, Prophet Mozes, and other Prophets is what God commands mankind. They are His messengers. You should ignore the satan’s whisperings to you about this being worship.
Richie says
I think there are actually some Muslims who would destroy the phallic black stone if they could- the end resulkt could at least be of Muslims confining their killing to each other
Georg says
I was scrolling down to comment that praying toward Mecca must be shirk. Man, are these guys idiots. Are they incapable of abstract reasoning? The cross is only symbolic of Jesus who is, according to Christians, just an iteration of God. To me, a cross is much less abstractly Godly than Mecca. I swear nothing offends me more on this Earth than belligerent stupidity (which I realize is a bit redundant). These guys have turned it into their reason for being. And it’s all thanks to the Islam so many are phobic of. Some royal heir in Quatar (LOL!) just blamed Muslimphobia on Western media for it’s displaying jihadis; of course jihadis ought bear no blame, according to a supremacist Muslim imbecile.
duh_swami says
Just information…The ‘cross’ has vast symbolism. It’s use per-dates Jesus. The type that Jesus is on, represents the fall of man. Other types are the equal arm cross, magical crosses where the arms are divided into squares and each square has it own symbolism, called a ‘flyfot’ cross. Even the Nazi swastika is a cross. There’s more than that, the connections are nearly endless.
Gyro says
The kaaba is the centre for worhship. God Almighty commanded believers to direct their worship towards the kaaba. Not to worship kaaba xd. Worship is for God alone Who created the heavens and the earth. Kissing the black stone is out of love, you should do research about it. Kissing it out of love is also not worship xd. Although the unbelievers would like to see idolatry in it. Islam (and Judaism) are pure monotheistic religions.
Angemon says
Gyro posted:
“Islam (and Judaism) are pure monotheistic religions.”
Not according to the quran.
profitsbeard says
Militant Ignorance marching toward the Abyss called Allah.
Death Cults cannot abide thought.
Only bowing and killing.
Islam delende est.
Gary says
So true. Marching straight toward the abyss.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”
Jesus
Circa 33 A.D.
Chabuco says
‘We are pursuing Daesh wherever they are,’ he added….—
And soon we will pursue them here in Damascus. That’ll show ’em! We will hit their knuckles with our faces.
nacazo says
Hint: They have to bring bulldozers from elsewhere. When you see a column of bulldozers, bomb away.
William Lucas Harvey Jr. says
The 7th Century “Deranged” Sick Mentality Muslims WANT to, as their “Last Resort”, attempt to Rewrite History, with the Destruction of EVERYTHING that Represents or Reminds the World of BEFORE, THEIR latest 21st Century Allah, Muhammed, and Qur’an Condoned, Bloody Butchering Acts of “Death to the Infidel”, and “Allahu Ackbar” Islamic Terror – which Muslims BOAST about, with “Glee”, and a Qur’an approved “High”.
gravenimage says
Islamic State releases ominous video hinting at imminent destruction of Palmyra
…………………………
Yes—I’d heard that ISIS had taken Palmyra. I’m sick at heart—I’ve written papers on the Roman ruins at Palmyra.
Here’s some of what we may soon lose:
http://www.phoenix-syria.com/city.php?id=27
Bloody savages.
Matthieu Baudin says
One has to marvel at an ideological religious movement that gives priority to attacking statues. Only an outfit with bricks in its head will feel compromised by old stones and ruins left alone for the most part by the approaching and departing armies of centuries past. But then, this is the mark of an uncompromising, year zero apocalyptic movement, which has becoming unhinged from reality and will share a place in the bin of history alongside the Khmer Rouge of Pol Pot and other pretenders.
duh_swami says
Traveling about the earth is different today than when Gabriel was in charge. In order to see ruins, you don’t even need to leave your house. There are more ancient ruins in the world than Islam can ever destroy. And there are ancient questions to be answered, like how did they transport and stack those huge rocks, and how did they make laser like cuts in rocks with just primitive hand tools? Allah neglects to say anything about that.
So Islam has no answers. When you have no answers, destroy.
Well good luck with the big stuff. it’s not as easy to destroy a pyramid as you think. And several thousand ton rocks, as big as a city bus, don’t bull doze easy and don’t blow up very well.
jayell says
“Islamic jihadists want to ruin the artifacts of non-Muslim civilizations…” You mean there is such a thing as a ‘Muslim Civilisation’? Wouldn’t that be a contradiction in terms?
TheBuffster says
I hope none of these creeps or their fan-boys ever take a tour of the Louvre.