• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Robert Spencer in PJ Media: Flying Pig Alert: A DEMOCRATIC Congressman (From CA!) Admits ISIS is Islamic

May 27, 2016 11:17 am By Robert Spencer

Over at PJ Media, I discuss some recent strange remarks from Rep. Brad Sherman:

brad sherman

It’s absolutely unprecedented: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) has become the first notable member of the Democratic Party to depart from the Obama administration’s official line and admit the obvious. Sherman has admitted that the Islamic State — ISIS, or ISIL, as Barack Obama insists on calling it — is in fact Islamic, and that its appeal among Muslims is rooted in its claims to be the quintessential expression of Islam.

Sherman did not say this directly, of course. But his quote nails it — the implication is clear, rational, and unmistakable. Said Sherman:

We have a State Department with people who think that you can show the evil of al-Baghdadi if you can show him personally executing a defenseless Yazidi.We need people who understand that if you can just get a picture of him eating a ham sandwich, that would undermine ISIS and its recruiting ability.

The State Department persists in working under the assumption that the people who are candidates to join the Islamic State will be turned off by its brutality. This is based on the further assumption that the potential ISIS recruits share the values and perspectives of contemporary non-Muslim Westerners.

State Department wonks can’t seem to conceive of the notion that anyone might not hold those values. Worse, they are bound as a matter of policy not to consider Islam in evaluating Islamic State recruitment. They cannot consider the possibility that a young man who reads that his god wants him to kill or subjugate unbelievers (cf. Qur’an 2:191, 4:89, 9:5, 9:29, etc. for starters) might be attracted rather than repelled by the sight of the caliph “personally executing a defenseless Yazidi.”

Sherman is not correct about his next assertion, however. Would a photo of al-Baghdadi eating a ham sandwich really undermine the Islamic State?

Sherman’s reasoning appears to be that such a violation would classify al-Baghdadi as not worthy to be the emir al-momineen, the leader of the believers. Sherman is to be commended for saying analysts dealing with the Islamic State should study Islam — a refreshing departure from the prevailing denial and willful ignorance — but he also reveals that he doesn’t know much about Islamic jurisprudence himself.

One hadith depicts Muhammad saying:

You should listen to and obey your Imam (Muslim ruler) even if he was an Ethiopian (black) slave whose head looks like a raisin.” (Bukhari 9.93.7142)

Muhammad is attempting to give what he thinks is an outlandish example in order to make his point that Muslims should obey the ruler even in extreme circumstances. Those circumstances include even if the ruler is sinful.

Another hadith depicts Muhammad saying:

There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who will not adopt my ways. There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings. … You will listen to Amir and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey.

Is there ever a circumstance in which Muslims should not obey the ruler? Yes — only when he commands something sinful.

In another hadith, Muhammad says:

It is obligatory upon a Muslim that he should listen (to the ruler appointed over him) and obey him whether he likes it or not, except that he is ordered to do a sinful thing. If he is ordered to do a sinful act, a Muslim should neither listen to him nor should he obey his orders.

If al-Baghdadi was seen eating a ham sandwich? That wouldn’t do the trick.

But if al-Baghdadi was seen forcing another Muslim to eat a ham sandwich, that just might.

In his comments, Sherman also remarked:

We need State Department people to [have] an understanding of Islamic jurisprudence. That’s not the kind of knowledge that you can get at Princeton. Woodrow Wilson did a great job. He did not memorize the Koran.

What he means by dragging Woodrow Wilson into this is unclear, but Sherman is spot-on in declaring the obvious: if State Department analysts hope to have any chance of defeating the Islamic State and other jihad groups, then — at a minimum — a good knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence should be a prerequisite for the job.

Of course, no one at State is going to heed Sherman’s advice….

Read the rest here.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: Featured, Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), Robert Spencer Tagged With: Brad Sherman


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Comments

  1. Walter Sieruk says

    May 27, 2016 at 11:33 am

    For once ,an American politician speaks the truth. Amazing . Furthermore, the cruel ,vicious and murderous jihadists thugs who composes the brutal and deadly jihad entity ISIS are actually putting in to the practice ,with all their ruthless actions, the violence and killing that is part of the teaching of the “holy book” of Islam ,the Koran. Which contain the doctrine of extreme violent force for the advancement of Islam. As seen in the Koran, for example, 4:89. 5:33. 9:5,111,123. 47:4. So in spite of the strong denials by many, ISIS is an actual Islamic organization. Likewise the malicious, bloodthirsty violence jihadists who make up ISIS are real Muslims. Nevertheless, there are some who might , understandably, wonder and then ask “Just how can those jihadists of ISIS ,being so very religious , also at the time also be so very malice-filled ,unfeeling and deadly ? “ The answer to that question is found in the Bible. For the Bible teaches that there are some people who are extremely heartless, cold, callous and dangerous because they have had “their conscience seared with a hot iron.” First Timothy 4:2. [ K.J.V.] In this case of the members of ISIS this “hot iron” is Islam.

    • Champ ♥ says

      May 29, 2016 at 3:05 am

      All *very* true, Walter! Thank you for your contributions!

  2. davious says

    May 27, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    I watched the CNN special “Why They Hate Us” by Fareed Zakaria. I was expecting it to throw me into a blind rage with the usual Islamapology you find on CNN and MSNBC (and every public figure). Remarkably it was fairly accurate. There were a couple areas that were just plain wrong, but for once they didn’t attempt to blame the US, blame the “lack of opportunity”, and they focused entirely on the text of the Koran and how it was being interpreted. Interesting tidbit: the idea of getting 72 virgins comes from a misinterpretation of ancient text. The true meaning is 72 RAISINS, which were a delicacy when it was written.

    • Angemon says

      May 27, 2016 at 6:23 pm

  3. Guest says

    May 27, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    Look the rare and endangered, “truth telling democrat.” Shh don’t shout you might scare it away.

  4. Sam says

    May 27, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    WOW! A liberal can see that “Islamic State” is Islamic. I am impressed.

  5. Hope says

    May 27, 2016 at 3:39 pm

    Not bad, for a Dhimmicrat.

  6. James Foard says

    May 27, 2016 at 6:05 pm

    LOL

  7. Kurt says

    May 27, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    Good for him, but he may have to start looking for a new job.

  8. Carmel says

    May 27, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    Hope he lost his job for not to have seen the obviious before .

  9. BARBARA BROOKS says

    May 27, 2016 at 9:58 pm

    I really don’t think the average rank and file liberal is sympathetic to Islam at all. They envision hordes of people fleeing Islamic countries because they feel oppressed by Islam and want a Western way of life and have no idea how many are not democratic in outlook in the least. Most liberals are concerned with things like stopping foreign wars and having protections for workers, but the liberal elite has fed them lies about Islam so they think the average Muslim migrant is like the nice liberal Muslims they know personally. It’s a mistake to make opposing Islam a conservative cause–Islam is a lot more dangerous to liberal ideas than to conservative ones. If liberals were really aware, they would oppose what their leaders are doing.

  10. underbed cat says

    May 28, 2016 at 1:18 am

    I would love to see an interview with the head of the State Department and Justice Department and ask what do you know about Islam and why would you need to restrict inquiry and speech ? Do you feel sharia law should replace the constitution….if so why are you in a government job? Do you encourage OIC suggestions and do you know why misdirection plays such a role. I guess it is dream on time.

  11. DiploNerd says

    May 28, 2016 at 2:56 am

    You wrote: “Of course, NO ONE at State is going to heed Sherman’s advice….”

    There are a few of us in the State Department who know a great deal about Islam. Please stop bashing us. Help us educate our colleagues instead. You lose credibility when you act like a jerk, and that just makes it more difficult for us to get through the liberal wall of political correctness that we face in dealing with many diplomatic egos who think they already know all about Islam — after all, some of them have pedigrees from Georgetown and Harvard, both of which have received millions of petro-taqiyya dollars.

    Mr. Spencer, you are a leading expert on Islamic doctrine, but if I refer to your stuff, my colleagues’ eyes roll. What a waste. Your stuff is great and I wish I could use it.

    You have allies in places you’d never expect, but treating your allies as enemies is not a winning strategy.

    • Robert Spencer says

      May 28, 2016 at 2:01 pm

      Glad to hear you exist. I hope you prevail. But I am not going to stop skewering the dominant perspective there.

  12. DD says

    May 28, 2016 at 5:39 am

    I think you will see more Democrats admitting the evils of islam now that Obama is on his way out.

    • SBJ says

      May 29, 2016 at 2:30 am

      If Hillary gets in she’ll just continue Obama’s legacy. If Bernie gets in, I seriously don’t know. He seems to hate his own Jewishness. And Trump will halt the increase of muslims. But he actually needs to do far more than that. Islamic CAIR needs to be done away with and all muslim privileges and yes, even stopping funding from Saudi, and her gulf sisters in financing mosques and schools. Don’t comply, gets the boot. Burkas banned. No islam schools. No Halal. No multiple wives. Limited children tax credits. etcetera. One can’t play this thing two ways. It all needs to be cleaned up, with a quick swift kick. Western way, all the way.

      • robert says

        May 29, 2016 at 12:34 pm

        AMEN! canadas P.M. tredeau should also do the same.keep the muzzies out of north america.

  13. jewdog says

    May 28, 2016 at 7:24 am

    People who are ignorant of other cultures tend to fall into the mirror image fallacy. That would be the State Department.

  14. scherado says

    May 28, 2016 at 7:46 am

    Not to be confused with “pigs on the wing”, though it reminds me of 1977. (“Three little ones”)

  15. Champ says

    May 29, 2016 at 2:49 am

    …that photo cracks me up! 😀

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • OLD GUY on UK: Woman converts to Islam, distributes Islamic State jihad terror videos
  • OLD GUY on Al-Qaeda Calls on Jihadis to Kill Non-Muslims With Poisoned Coronavirus Masks
  • Boycott Turkey on Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and UAE conduct joint military exercises amid rising Turkish threat
  • Michael Copeland on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • Michael Copeland on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.