There are many strategies employed by Muslims in their attempt to fend off or deflect inquiry. Two are Taqiyya and Tu Quoque.
Taqiyya is the name given to religiously-sanctioned dissimulation about the faith of Islam itself, and about what particular Believers believe. Essentially, it means that it is all right to lie about the contents of the Faith, and about the beliefs of particular Believers (including, most obviously, the particular Believer who practices Taqiyya), if that protects the Faith and the Believer from enemies.
There is even a form of Taqiyya about Taqiyya among Sunnis, such as Tariq Ramadan, who claims that it is exclusively a doctrine among the Shi’a, and that Sunnis do not lie about the faith because they have no need to do so. But if Taqiyya originates among the Shi’a, in order to protect them from Sunni persecution, the Sunnis have their own doctrine, kitman, or mental reservation, where you don’t quite say everything, even if what you do say may be true. You do not misinform directly; you misinform by holding things back.
The practice of Taqiyya, or Kitman, allows non-Muslims of the credulous sort to insist that Islam must be as described to them during those Mosque Open Houses that have been a feature of Muslim life in America, an outreach unheard-of elsewhere.
Tu Quoque is the Latin term for “you do it, too,” and because the West is full of people who like to admit that they are full of sin and error, it’s not hard to find those who are willing to believe that the bad things that are done in the Western world are what the West should focus on, should deal with, before being outraged at others. I’ve just stated a parody of a position, but it’s a position that I’m afraid many have been willing to hold. “Let he who is without sin…” can be a way to avoid firmly condemning what others do.
The behavior of the Islamic State, however, has been enough, most must agree, at least to put a stop to the widespread invocation of Tu Quoque. It’s hard for Muslim apologists to claim that “you are another” when what is being discussed is the mass murder and rape of Yazidis. The bombing in Iraq or elsewhere doesn’t quite amount to that.
Neither of these — Taqiyya and Tu Quoque — has in recent times been as effective as it was ten years ago. The problem is that, still, there are so many non-Muslims who don’t want to allow themselves to recognize what the texts of Islam inculcate; it would be too painful for them to do so, and would require them to take a different attitude toward their Muslim neighbors, and toward Muslim immigration. This they do not seem to be able to do.
The most recent events may make what I originally described as part of the strategy of denial — Taqiyya and Tu Quoque — much less effective, but it doesn’t matter; so many non-Muslims will still hear what they want to hear, will perform the Taqiyya or the Kitman, that is, on themselves, because they cannot bear to hear the truth.
It’s an astonishing thing to see, but look around at what non-Muslim figures of note continue to say about Islam. Do they believe it? When NPR hails the proliferation of mosques, and when a former member of a synagogue apparently now used as a mosque hails this transformation, and describes how he “told the imam” how happy he was that this place was still dedicated to religion, he is expressing the view of someone who doesn’t want to look into Islam closely, and who wants to collaborate in accepting the misstatements of his friend the Imam.
There are still so many who supply the Taqiyya themselves, and on that limp and dismal note, let us end.
Peter Buckley says
“The problem is that, still, there are so many non-Muslims who don’t want to allow themselves to recognize what the texts of Islam inculcate; it would be too painful for them to do so, and would require them to take a different attitude toward their Muslim neighbors, and toward Muslim immigration. This they do not seem to be able to do.”
When non-muslims fail to reconcile “those nice muslims next door”, with what the Quran clearly states, I usually forward this article by ex-muslim Nonie Darwish:
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3681/muslim-family-next-door
Pretty simple, really.
Also, this one:
http://www.raymondibrahim.com/islam/when-muslims-betray-non-muslim-friends-and-neighbors/
Being “good neighbours” AS WELL AS DESPISING NON-MUSLIMS is perfectly Quranic.
t. says
”Being “good neighbours” AS WELL AS DESPISING NON-MUSLIMS is perfectly Quranic.”
Perfectly put and it’s absolutely true, Peter! I know this to be so, for over thirty years now. I studied this massive cult, literally from inside out! Unfortunately many non Muslim westerners reading this would dismiss it as another Islamophobic and hateful statement. I still encounter them, almost daily.
Thanks for the link to the article of Nonie Darwich.
dumbledoresarmy says
You write – “for over thirty years now. I studied this massive cult, literally from inside out! ”
What started you off? Thirty years ago would be around the 1980s. And when did you work out that Islam, and Muslims, were dangerous? – really dangerous?
Jack Diamond says
and the taqiyya about taqiyya as if it were only a Shi’a concept as Sunnis object when you use the term, when the Sunnis have exactly the same doctrine under their own various terms of concealment, “muda’rat” et al, all derived from the same texts, all of which embody Muhammad’s “war is deception”
(the war of which the Qur’an is the manual).
Scott says
Islam in it’s most fundamental form is the ideal totalitarian ideology which uses the guise of religion (taqiyya or kitman) to obfuscate it’s true intentions.
“Big Brother” (Communism) and it’s cousin Nazism came close….but Islam is uniquely positioned to use Western Civilization against itself.
The Muslim apologists, cavorting around using their own taqyyia as pseudo intellectuals (tu quoque:, are either in league with Quranic deception or just victims of it. I think it’s actually both.
Michael Copeland says
“Tell the infidels in public we respect your laws and your constitutions, which we Muslims believe that these are as worthless as the paper they are written on.”
Tariq Ramadan, adviser to David Cameron
http://libertygb.org.uk/v1/index.php/news-libertygb/6377-tariq-ramadan-respect
mortimer says
Jack Diamond mentioned ‘the taqiyya about taqiyya’
Shi’ites take PhD and post-doctoral courses in TAQIYYA, whereas Sunnis pretend they don’t use TAQIYYA…meaning ‘Oh…THAT sacred prevarication! We call that MUDA’RAT!’
Yeah…Sunnis call TAQIYYA ‘muda’rat’.
JIMJFOX says
Taqiyya/Kitman/Muruna/Tawriya….
TRUMP CARD— The Qur’an states TWICE that ALLAH is the best of the deceivers:
And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against them): and Allah is the best of schemers (waAllahu khayru almakireena). S. 3:54 Pickthall
And when those who disbelieve plot against thee (O Muhammad) to wound thee fatally, or to kill thee or to drive thee forth; they plot, but Allah (also) plotteth; and Allah is the best of plotters (waAllahu khayru almakireena). S. 8:30 Pickthall
And ALL muslims MUST follow allah’s example…
Walter Sieruk says
Of the different kinds of Taqiyya Muslim deception for Islam] is the disinfomation given by the many apologists of Islam is that Muslim terrorists who engage in the jihad are “not real Muslims but criminals who hijacked Islam for politics.” This lying deception is a falsehood of a statement for many reasons. First,the “holy book” of Islam ,the Quran teaches the use of violence and killing for Islam . As in ,for example Sura 9:5,111. 47:4. Second , the jihad thugs held at Gitmo have the have Qurans, Muslim prayer rugs, and likewise Islamic dietary approverd foods. Of the Muslim groups such a C.A.I.R make sure of .This is strange if those held at Gitmo are not really Muslims. Third, if Osama bin Laden was not a real Muslim it was very odd the so many imams complained that he was buried at sea and not underground as the only filling and proper way for a Muslim to be buried . In short, the deception of Taqiyya that the Muslim apologists engage in for Islam is very unconscionable.
Don McKellar says
Honestly, the deception with regards to Islam in the mainstream media began with George the Idiot when he proclaimed Islam as “the religion of peace” and made proclamations about how it’s “one of the world’s great religions” and how it was “perverted by terrorists”. It all started with George Bush, Jr. He needs to be held to account in any discussion regarding Islamic deception in MSM, as he kicked the whole thing off under guidance by his Saudi advisors and “go to people” as he hid for nearly a week after Sept 11th.
Barack bin Obama has his infamous Cairo speech of June 4, 2009. And George the Idiot has his infamous Religion of Peace speech from Sept 17, 2001. It is pure KITMAN Islamic deception.
Michael Copeland says
They all trace back
In a dead straight track
To the duping of Bush by CAIR.
http://libertygb.org.uk/v1/index.php/news-libertygb/6720-the-duping-of-cameron
Walter Sieruk says
Of the many sly ways of those Muslims who engage in the Islamic deception of Taqiyya is one which is known as Stealth jihad. Which is gaining power for Islam in the form of Gradualism. The subtle stratergy is an scheme of jihad that has the same end as violent jihad only by differnt means. In some ways this insidious jihad method is similar to what is taught in THE ART OF WAR by Sun Tzu .For it reads “At first, then exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; aftwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and then it will be too late for the enemy to opposes you.”
Angemon says
“Hello there, Mr. Wolf.”, said Mr. rabbit. “I’ve been marinating in lime juice and spices, and it’s wonderful. I’m so glad we could work things out!”
Alissa says
“Tu Quoque is the Latin term for “you do it, too,” and because the West is full of people who like to admit that they are full of sin and error, it’s not hard to find those who are willing to believe that the bad things that are done in the Western world are what the West should focus on, should deal with, before being outraged at others. ”
These people drive me crazy. Traitors. We need to wipe that sanctimonious liberal attitude out of our culture. They are revolting. They make me want to throw up.
Ian H says
While these people also drive me crazy at times, I don’t reject them. I think it is good that we have those people in our society. A willingness to admit mistakes and be self-critical is one of the great virtues of western civilization.
It is a virtue that ISIL completely lacks. Nobody in ISIL is going to say “hey guys – I think throwing gays off tall buildings might actually be wrong – let’s not do it any more”. Anyone who said over there would probably be drowned in a cage or burned alive or have some important body part amputated. Totalitarian philosophies completely lack the capacity for self-criticism. They react violently to dissent from within or without.
Of course while the ability to be self-critical is a strength, it can also be a weakness. All virtues tend to become sins when applied inappropriately or to excess.
voegelinian says
All Muslims lack the virtue of cultural self-criticism; a virtue which, as Ian H points out, the West cultivates to a fault. This reflects yet another asymmetry to this world war we are in: We criticize ourselves too much, they are proud of their evils.
My favorite* in the long list of asymmetries of this world war:
We don’t know we’re at war; they do. As counter-terrorism analyst Stephen Coughlin puts it: “We don’t know the enemy, and we don’t even know ourselves — and the enemy knows this.”
* (I say “favorite” with bitter black humor…)
KrazyKafir says
The Imam uses a story to show how it’s good to lie about Islam to advance its cause.
jewdog says
Both Muslims and non-Muslims collaborate in telling each other soothing lies. It helps social harmony, just white lies told to spare people’s feelings. It would be harmless were it not for the day in the future when Muslims don’t have to be tactful and can take the gloves off, because for them taqiyya and kitman, like everything else they believe, are war tactics for achieving the victory and total domination of Islam.
Wellington says
Truth and Islam don’t mix well. Not at all actually. This helps explain in part the need for taqiyya and kitman by Muslims.
Comprehend this fully and, “as the night follows the day,” it will be impossible to continue any defense of Islam, which anticipated 20th-century totalitarianism by some thirteen centuries.
Herein lies Islam’s true legacy, to wit, it promulgated totalitarian thought long before Marxism or fascism were even born. Oh, be proud of this all you Muslims out there. Be very proud, because your religion is a guarantee that freedom is forever incompatible with it.
Wow, what an achievement. What a legacy———and a legacy that daily events in our time bear witness to as mucho numbers of people continue to be slaughtered, maimed, repressed, terrified, etc., all in the name of Islam.
My God, either mankind comes to the realization that Islam is heinous throughout and must be assigned to the trash heap of history or, to the extent that mankind doesn’t reach this conclusion, Islam will continue to terrorize mankind in the name of religion. Yes, it’s this simple and this complex.
mortimer says
‘EVERYTHING YOU SAID (WELLINTON) IS COMPELETLY WRONG!’
mortimer says
‘EVERYTHING YOU SAID (WELLINGTON) IS COMPELETLY WRONG!’
That’s a typical example of TAQIYYA.
I call this ad hominem attack the lazy man’s approach to the BIG LIE.
How would you as a law expert handle that egregious exaggeration?
Wellington says
For starters, mortimer, I would quote passages from the Koran and ahadith, for instance Sura 47:4 and 4.52.220 from Bukhari. I would also note that not a single school of Islamic theology to the present day, Sunni or Shiite, has repudiated the freedom-of-religion killing doctrine that a Muslim who converts to another religion must be terminated. If I were then met by the pathetic out-of-context excuse masquerading as an argument that I have taken things out of context, I would ask the deceiver or ignoramus (take your pick) in what context can statements about beheading and being victorious with terror and killing someone who changes his religion possibly be innocuous.
And then I’d go from there. I would never let up. I would never give Islam a pass (assuming of course that I wasn’t faced with immediate beheading or some other exquisite form of death by an enraged Muslim, in which case I would then elevate survival over being correct).
R Cole says
If you listen to stories about confidence tricksters – whenever the person being conned was asked – was there anything that rose the alarm – that raised questions – they would always answer ~ yes – and continue by saying – if they were to disbelieved them on the one issue – I would have had to doubt their whole story.
But it is not a bunch of money – these Islamic sharia artists want to walk away with – they hope to gain people trust – in order to go after our liberty and our way of life.
There was an interesting article that appeared in the UAE’s National – where UK Islamic leaders were discussing the openness to Islamic law. And they said that the Left were less resistant – to the idea of implementing the sharia. [Naturally the Left are convinced it’s about anti-racism!]
::
How people fool themselves – in this respect – is interesting. More than ‘those who haven’t sinned throw the first stone’ – the driving force is one of personalization. What is believed about this 1000+ year old doctrine – becomes about one’s personal politics. I’m on the Left – and this is what we believe – versus those on the Right – the ‘racists’. Where if you really looked at what they are saying – it has almost nothing to do with the actual religion. It’s the empty barrel.
Even the ‘racist’ charges – when it comes to speaking openly about Islam – can be seen as being personal. They fear being called racists. In Europe – you can sprinkle in the colonization aspect – people of the former colonies – viewed as not entirely cognizant – therefore a need for parental responsibility — but for people who are saying – we want to replace your laws and create an Islamic state.
The Left have their favorite Muslims – who present them with a living-room form of Islam – the pleasantry – tea and biscuits type – not the goings on of the kitchen and the run of the house form of Islam.
You know that a Muslim is behind some of the things they are saying – particularly with their selection of name calling – but the tragedy of it all is that there is no marginally higher status for some non-Muslims over others – as they have been led to believe or simply imagined – you are either Muslim or you are not – and the same names they have been directed to call critics of Islam – are the very same names they would themselves be called in Islam. “Ignorant” for one.
::
When non-Muslims who claim that criticism or open question of Islam is ‘racism’ – most of the time it is not worth listening to. I can remember reading a Guardian article – Comment Free section – where the writer was calling a person a ‘racist’ while asking a question about Islam. They don’t realize how clueless they sound – but they can shut down a debate pretty easily – by just calling ‘racism’.
At this level such talk is relatively benign – but where I do start to listen to them – is when the start to talk about implementing the sharia – naturally to fight the ‘racists’. They just moved from noisemaker to tool.
The reason for the Islam or else terrorism – and the reason for the soften the reality of Islam deceit – is all in aid of the creation of the Islamic state. Which Muslims believe was prophesied.
[What are the Left doing aiding this? To many the very question would be ‘racism’!]
::
Another reason for the Left’s willful blindness is their stance of Israel – as if solving the Palestinian crisis – will bring to an end the jihadist terrorism in Southern Thailand and Nigeria.
::
In my opinion people are the same – it’s Islam that’s different.
That’s so racist!!
Jeff says
All these woes are foretold in the Bible as anti-Christs, that would decieve even the very elect. We need to draw close to Jesus Christ in the Bible, who overcame sin and death and said, in John 16:33 –
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”
God made us in his image and we have the right to defend it, by physical and spiritual means; for good reason Jesus said to his disciples that ad they went out they needed to go out with an actual sword.
Spend more time knowing Christ but be wary of the enemies, like Islam and other facisms.
Psalm 91:1 – “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.”
The cosmic war by Christ has already been won. In Christ your Salvation is certain; however, do not be deceived by the anti-Christs of Islam, Nazism, Communism, or any others that would have you think you are mentally defective for believing in the God of Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob; Jesus Christ of the Bible; and the Holy Spirit – Who God the Father sent that we might might know these things.
Davegreybeard says
@Jeff
“…Jesus said to his disciples that ad they went out they needed to go out with an actual sword. “…Jesus said to his disciples that ad they went out they needed to go out with an actual sword.”
And when Jesus said “…and he that has no sword let him sell his garment, and buy one.” what did that mean, Christian?
And when they say “…there is a time for war and a time for peace…” is now a time for war?
And if it is not a time for war, exactly what is it time for, Christian?
I get so sick of you people willing to throw away what you say you hold most sacred because it makes you feel so good, and so self-righteous, to declare that you will not pick up a weapon and use it to defend the innocent.
duh_swami says
Not all non Mahoundians have calcified minds, but the liberal left does. When I say something factual about Islam, I get confronted with infidel taqiyya, tu quoque, kitman, deflection, obfuscation and outright lies…then they call me a moron…and this is coming from people who have never cracked a book. They not only are know nothings, they actively resist learning anything, probably for reasons as listed by Hugh…
Davegreybeard says
My experience as well, swami.
But every now and then I get through.
Uncle Vladdi says
And that outs them as LIARS.
Lying is the most basic form of theft: it’s the (at least, attempted) theft of the Truth.
And, since all crimes are forms of theft, lying (“fraud”) is a crime.
Presenting one’s entirely fact-free subjective opinion AS objective fact, is to lie.
Uncle Vladdi says
Liberals LOVE the Argumentum Tu Quoque, because it embodies and exemplifies their main fact avoidance stratagem: “GroupThink.”
“Islam isn’t an evil crime-gang because we (i.e: you) all do it, too!”
… illustrates their usual group-might-made rights victimology meme – where they can slander any given individual or group of individuals based on shallow appearances, so that, if one sort of resembles someone else or a group which, in some other time and place, may fave committed a crime, oppressed, offended or even merely hurt the feelings of someone else, who may sort of resemble the leftists (or their pet victims du jour) in question, then YOU OWE THEM REPARATIONS.
And of course, since criminals are all about the attack and winning the argument, rather than about mutually beneficial symbiotic problem-solving collaboration, the converse is also “true:” whenever one of their group commits a crime, suddenly they’re all about personal individual responsibility and against group “stereotyping.”