“Is Islam an enemy of the West? It does seem like such a ridiculous question, doesn’t it?” asked Georgetown University professor Tamara Sonn on February 22 at its Saudi-funded Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU). What seemed manifestly obvious to this Qatar-funded Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor in the History of Islam at the ACMCU presentation of her new, eponymously-titled book, is not clear at all to skeptical observers. Thus, her work resembles that of many of her Middle East studies colleagues, who long ago replaced rigorous scholarship of Islam with a fawning approach that blames the West for the region’s systemic problems.
Sonn presented her “little, airport-size book” to an ACMCU conference room filled with about fifty listeners, included like-minded Georgetown colleagues Jonathan Brown, Jordan Denari Duffner, and Father Drew Christianson. “How can an ancient, global religion be an enemy of a modern geopolitical construct?” she asked, as if Islamic doctrine merely defined a religion, not a “geopolitical construct” that has historically attacked other civilizations, particularly the West. For Sonn, such reasonable conclusions were superficial compared to her survey of “Islamophobic” reactions to jihadist violence in recent decades. “If you only know headlines and blog posts, you have reason to be afraid,” she concluded.
Many of Sonn’s questionable arguments merited greater scrutiny, such as her citation of a 2008 Gallup poll of Muslims surveyed worldwide that was conducted by ACMCU founding director John Esposito and his protégé Dalia Mogahed. Sonn sought comfort in the survey’s finding that only seven percent of Muslims considered the September 11, 2001 al-Qaeda attacks “completely justified,” while ignoring that, in total, 36 percent considered the attacks at least partially justified. She also claimed that “Muslim religious authorities unanimously condemn terrorism,” based on a September 2001 denunciation of 9/11 signed by, among others, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and its Palestinian affiliate, Hamas. Historically, the MB is behind much jihadist violence (consider its mourning of the recently-deceased leader of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing), while several countries, including the U.S., have designated Hamas a terrorist group.
While referencing her involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood-derived Muslim Students Association as a professor at William & Mary University, Sonn described the Islamic understanding of jihad in terms of a Venn diagram. Accordingly, jihad is the “struggle to do the will of God in all circumstances, all times, and a tiny part of it is military effort under specific circumstances controlled by Islamic law.” In contrast, native Arabic speakers, such as the Egyptian-American Christian Michael Youssef, strenuously reject this marginal definition for what Islamic canons typically describe as warfare in Islam’s name.
Sonn’s other depictions of Islamic doctrine were equally suspect: her claim that Islamic law “forbids declaration of war by anyone but a duly recognized head of state” is only true during offensive jihad. She added that the “terrorists believe their anti-West campaigns are defensive, because they believe that the West is at war with Islam,” an assertion that would make jihad mandatory upon individual Muslims. The Middle East’s long-suffering Christians would also reject her ridiculous contention that “Islamic law has preserved pluralism since the revelation of the Quran, since the first constitution dictated by the prophet” of Islam, Muhammad. Although commonly cited by Muslim apologists, this “constitution” is a slim historical reed for justifying Islamic tolerance.
In further sophistry, Sonn described the 1981 jihadist killing of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as a “standard political assassination.” “The assassins condemned Sadat for his authoritarian ways and his collaboration with the U.S. and Israel, despite its violation of UN Security Council resolutions calling for withdrawal from occupied territories” such as Jerusalem. Yet in 2011 a leader of the assassination plot, which included current al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, described the goal as an Islamic revolution whose extension would ultimately involve Hamas’s long-desired destruction of Israel.
While opposed to Western policies, Sonn maintained that the majority of Muslims, “instead of attacking the West in order to achieve those goals . . . work through peaceful means at the local, national, and international levels to achieve their goals.” Without citing specific examples, such as BDS, she portrayed this as selfless political activism in the best democratic tradition, asking, “any of you who have ever tried to be a community organizer, do you know how hard that is day-in, day-out?” By contrast, jihadists such as those of the Islamic State are “pitching their message to the marginalized underclass, the unemployed, and especially those who feel rejected by the mainstream,” an oft-debunked claim.
Predictably, Western sins, such as colonialism, loomed large for Sonn, who, in discussing Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws, described the nation as “one of the most highly challenged post-colonial countries on earth.” She attributed the alleged “scapegoating” of Muslims in Western countries to those “who are actually benefiting from the declining economy of the middle class.” These elites are utilizing “fears of generic, former middle-class U.S. and European people who are feeling threatened by declining economic security.” Such “scapegoating,” she maintained, distracts from the “unimpeded tyranny of capitalism . . . the terrorism, as Pope Francis calls it, against all humanity.”
While wealthy Gulf State backers see a handsome return on their petrodollar investments in Sonn and ACMCU, few will appreciate her whitewashing of Islamic doctrine and history amidst screeds against the capitalist West. Her shallowness is a damning indictment of modern Middle East studies, while her allegiance to politicized, biased models of scholarship is entirely predictable in contemporary academe. This status quo unfailingly cheats Georgetown students of their education and the nation of deeply informed views of the region.
Andrew E. Harrod is a freelance researcher and writer who holds a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School. He is a fellow with the Lawfare Project. Follow him on Twitter at @AEHarrod. This essay was sponsored by Campus Watch, a project of the Middle East Forum.
Ladyfair says
Islam has been conquering and colonising the world since Mohammed….What is she talking about with her Muslim scarf on? If Muslims want to come here isn’t that colonising?
Stan Lee says
Obviously, she became afflicted after the 10th time she sat through the film “Lawrence of Arabia.”
I await recognition by CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood, and Louis Farrakhan of the former Jesuit institution, Georgetown U as proof that Islam didn’t even need to conquer that university. It was only too willing to surrender the Cross for the symbols of Islam.
Ned Kelly says
Of course Islam is a religion of peace, watch these teachings in Britain…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEvMmAj4m5A
Sam NigroMD says
The University and all should demand she teach all that at Middle Eastern schools–they are the ones who need to learn that….
panda says
“Is Islam an Enemy of the West? It Does Seem Like Such a Ridiculous Question, Doesn’t It?”
It IS a ridiculous question, Doc. Of COURSE islam is an enemy of the west. It is an evil cult based on partial extractions of Jewish teachings amplified by Christian scripture — modified to allow a 7th century barbarian to achieve military supremacy. It continues to be an evil cult.
carol says
I guess Prof Sonn overlooked the memo from the Muslim Brotherhood clarifying their goal:
“…a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within and “sabotaging” its miserable house by their [own] hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.”
And we PAY for these “educations”??
Emilie Green says
“Is Islam an enemy of the West? It does seem like such a ridiculous question, doesn’t it?” asked Georgetown University professor Tamara Sonn.
No, no it is not ridiculous at all.
Now I have a B.S., a J.D., and an LL,M, meaning I am not stupid, but rather I am successful and accomplished professional. And in my opinion, I do NOT think that that is a ridiculous question in the least.
Custos Custodum says
Myles says
Sonn is on the islamic payroll, she’ll say anything the Arabs tell her to say.
Custos Custodum says
Oldest profession in the world.
Mark DeFord Eletion says
“Georgetown Prof: “Is Islam an Enemy of the West?”
Not only is islam an enemy of the west, it is an enemy of all humanity, present and future. Islam is the enemy of muslims as well, but they can do little or nothing to oppose it. The responsibility falls on the west to save both muslim and kuffar from the ravages of islam.
Norger says
Unless she means that mainstream Islam is today so obviously (and centuries has been) an enemy of the west that it’s silly to even ask.
Angemon says
Huh, since *when*? MSM go well out of their way to scrub islam out of of their news. Heck, in Sweden 2nd generation muslim “immigrants” are referred to as “Swedish”, so headlines can go “Swedish man rapes girl” and no one would be the wiser.
Decades ago, there was this sort of fawning over Communism and Communist countries, with the equal (in nature) whitewashing of Communist atrocities. My theory: Communism has past its prime and islamic culture took over as the “alternative civilization/way of life” empty-headed morons can point to as an alternative to their “dreadful” existence in Western nations.
gravenimage says
Angemon wrote:
“If you only know headlines and blog posts, you have reason to be afraid,” she concluded.
…………………
Yeah–ignore the growing body count, and pretend that Islam is peaceful…
Wwd says
I am a graduate of Georgetown and am ashamed at what passes for scholarship. It is not ridiculous at all. Go on YouTube and search: “Why are afraid a 1400 year secret”.
ECAW says
I agree about the jihad battle map, isolated here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_To-cV94Bo
I use it a lot, having checked with a professor of mediaeval history who confirmed its accuracy, but I do not agree that our cowed reaction goes back 1400 years. My father’s generation who fought in N. Africa regarded Arabs (they hardly distinguished between Arabs and Muslims) with contempt not fear. I contend that our craven attitude to Islam only goes back a couple of generations and is primarily caused by Arab money and self-laceration encouraged from the left. The turning point, in Britain at least, was the Salman Rushdie affair in 1989 when people realised that there would be repercussions to speaking freely about Islam. Thereafter we found many ways to wrap up our fear as politeness and respect:
https://ecawblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/24/fear/
somehistory says
Looks like she has given her soul to islam. One can see a dish with what looks like arabic writing on the shelf behind her, and she is spouting the *party line.*
She exudes sympathy for the moslims *community organizing to reach their goals* as opposed to outright warfare. *Can you imagine it, day in and day out*?
revereridesagain says
What would be the place of such a woman in a seraglio? And what a pity she cannot be sent to find out because such places no longer exist… do they…?
somehistory says
Would be no surprise if they still do. Everything else about islam is the same from the evil day it began.
gravenimage says
They certainly exist in the Islamic State–and probably in other parts of Dar-al-Islam, as well.
mortimer says
Speaking of Dar al Islam… if Islam is NOT a threat, then WHY do they call non-Sharia countries ‘DAR AL HARB’ … the domain of WAR????????
Oh, no particular reason … except that Islam is actually AT WAR with non-Sharia countries.
Bingo, Dr. Sonn, bingo! Dar al Harb.
james.mich says
A movement with over 30,000 kills to its name since September 11 2001 is not exactly peaceful. Murderous ? Quite possibly. And why should Western countries tolerate that sort of behaviour ?
Wellington says
Georgetown University, once a great Jesuit institution of higher learning, actually the oldest Jesuit institution of higher learning in America, has now become a parody of itself, of what higher learning looks like when it descends into nothing more than an institution of lower, and frankly stupid, indoctrination.
This silly professor, one Tamara Sonn, is representative of this extremely sad decline for Georgetown. The woman is either a fool or something worse, the distinction here being largely irrelevant (N.B., largely irrelevant though not entirely so since her motive is “worthy” of consideration), because the effect is the same, to wit, the compromising of higher education in America, in this instance for the worst of excuses, i.e., the exculpation of the totalitarian ideology, wrapped up in religious form, which is Islam.
Yes, this woman is either a deceiver or a fool. No third alternative exists.
gravenimage says
All true, Wellington.
mortimer says
Agree with Wellington. Sonn is a sell-out to Gulf oil money. She has no integrity. Islam was always a threat to the West and now has weapons of mass destruction!
Mockingjay says
“It Does Seem Like Such a Ridiculous Question, Doesn’t It?”
– Er,
no.
gary fouse says
Wow. Maybe we should rename Islam “Sunnybrook Farm”. With this woman, Esposito and Jonathan Brown, the Talal Center must be quite an institution.
somehistory says
It is ridiculous that it has to be asked. By now, from John Q. Adams, the Marines, Churchill, down to 9/11 and Boston, and Orlando, and, Paris, and many places in Germany, and Sweden, and, and…the little girl in ID, and the 12 yr old in NY, and…everyone should know the answer. islam is the enemy of the entire world of mankind.
gravenimage says
Spot on, somehistory.
abad says
That professor should fly out to Palmyra and live there for a few months then tells us how the Islamic Paradise of Syria(TM) really is.
Liar.
no_one says
7 % who approve 9/11 is too much. It is not tiny. The percentage should be zero. It is amazing how people get paid to lie. And these fools compare with real professors in STEM. This is just ridiculous. Georgetown University is gone as a place of learning in my book.
gravenimage says
And 51% of Muslims in America want to see the imposition of Shari’ah law here. Truly disturbing.
gravenimage says
Georgetown Prof: “Is Islam an Enemy of the West? It Does Seem Like Such a Ridiculous Question, Doesn’t It?”
………………..
Not after over 30,000 Jihad terror attacks just since 9/11, it doesn’t. And really, the core of Islam is its regarding every Infidel land as an enemy to be conquered.
Muslim apologist Tamara Sonn either does not know this, or is willingly whitewashing this foul creed.
Chintamani Patwardhan says
ISLAM IS ENEMY OF ALL NONISLAMIC THINGS— LIVING, NONLIVING, MUSIC, DANCING, PUBS, BARS, STATUES AND EVERY THING OTHER THAN ISLAMIC
Chintamani Patwardhan says
IT IS NOT LIMITED TO WEST BUT ACTIVE IN EAST, SOUTH, NORTH UP AND DOWN. EVERY WJERE AND IN ALL DIRECTIONS DESTRUCTION AND DESTRUCTION
dumbledoresarmy says
Yes. It’s just about everywhere.
Even as Islam was attacking ‘the west’ it was *also* laying waste to human communities in Africa and in Asia.
Chintamani Patwardhan says
ALL OF US TO TRY TO KEEP MUSLIMS CONFINED IN CAGE LIKE WILD ANIMALS
Pierre Le Kuffar says
“Is Islam an enemy of the West? It does seem like such a ridiculous question, doesn’t it?” asked Georgetown University professor Tamara Sonn.
Indeed it is a ridiculous question….when Islam itself is debating WHY they hate the west so much that they seek to “destroy it from within” It is a ridiculous question because the answer is already patently obvious : the questionng
mortimer says
What’s ridiculous is professor Tamara Sonn. Very patronizing of her too, considering Islam has a 1400-year-old history of INVASIONS, RAPES, PLUNDERINGS, GENOCIDES and DESTRUCTIONS of NATIONAL CULTURES perpetrated IN THE NAME OF ALLAH.
164 jihad verses in the Koran say professor Tamara Sonn is WRONG… very wrong.
She should not have a job teaching history.
No Fear says
“How can an ancient, global religion be an enemy of a modern geopolitical construct?”
This is like asking “How can an ancient global virus can be an enemy of a modern geopolitical construct.”
Islam is simply a supremacist mind virus designed to subsume and subjugate all things non Islamic.
Simply look at the Quran. There is a chapter on “War Booty”. All those who disagree with Islam are considered worthy of burning in a fire. Islam is designed to WIN.
Stubb says
There are over 40 references to jihad in the Koran, and only one of them refers to peaceful spiritual struggle. All the rest are violent.
Islam regards itself as under constant attack by the rest of the world. Therefore virtually any violence directed toward non-Muslims at any time can be rationalized in one way or another as “defensive.”
Islam is packed with this kind of sophistry, where Muhammed or others initially posit a benign-sounding precept that they then add conditions to so as to render it meaningless, even though it initially seems groovy and peaceful.
For example, the OIC proudly subscribes to the UN Charter of Human Rights, *except* (and what an except that is) where these rights contravene sharia law. IOW, the OIC’s version of the charter has nothing to do with human rights in its allowance for brutality, murder, slavery, rape, and so forth in the name of Islam. Another good example of this characteristic disingenuous at the heart of Islam is Muhammed’s subtle tweaking of his version of the verse(s) he lifted from the Talmud: “Whosoever killed a person, it is as if he killed the whole of mankind.” Muhammad changes this to “Whosoever *unjustly* kills a person, …” Given that islamic doctrine can be massaged and manipulated to justify virtually anything, this small addition of “unjustly” nullifies the thought at the heart of the verse and renders the verse meaningless, makes it a kind of spiritual propaganda that doesn’t really say what it says. In other islamic texts the verse is rendered as “Whosoever kills an *innocent* person…” Again, given that sharia law states that a muslim is always innocent in any conflict with an infidel, it is very difficult if not impossible for any infidel killed in any type of conflict with a muslim to be “innocent” Thus, the addition of a single word to what was initially a thoughtful message of peace and good will again turns the verse’s meaning upside down — basically, it now means that a muslim can kill any infidel he wants to under a wide variety of conditions — and negates the original meaning of the verse.
It is this constant sophistry and outright lying around virtually any point in Islamic doctrine that makes me really despise Islam. There is no there there, no solid core, nothing you can grab onto and depend on. Islam lies even when it doesn’t have to. It lies for the sheer sake of lying, like Noam Chomsky or Hillary Clinton.
Don’t even get me started about abrogation.
The framers of Islam probably believed that the consistent disingenuousness they imparted to their doctrine in the attempt to cover all possible bases (because the perfect religion of Islam must always be right about everything while simultaneously being immune to question or criticism) somehow makes Islam mystical and profound, but what Islam really is is a bunch of looney-tunes crackpot bullshit.
underbed cat says
Yes, the islamic doctrine had antibodies that fight off all attacks or inquires of the agenda…and just like a deadly virus it spreads under the cover of a cell that multiplies.
It is very clever, and deadly for its neighbors especially if it crosses blood barrier borders and reaches the brain and morphs to identify itself as harmless and easily tolerated perfect deception to con, weaken the target and remove or replace a tolerant culture with sharia laws.
Baucent says
” The Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU). ”
I wonder what the good prince is going to promote Muslim-Christian understanding in his home country of Saudi-Arabia? You can’t even open a church in Saudi for the foreign workers. Perhaps Prince Alwaleed needs to consider his own back yard first.
As for Professor Tamara Sonn, her bookcase behind her and her scarf, ready to cover her head in the presence of the Prince, tells me all I need to know. If she is not already a muslim convert, she’s on the road.
Chris Malan says
Come on – professor in the history of Islam? It’s always these kooks in these strange disciplines who come up with the nonsense. Most likely because their disciplines are nonsense disciplines. How many students would take a course in the history of Islam? Which job does that prepare one for? Will it be to one’s credit in applying for the job as a toilet cleaner in a VD clinic? I think not. She would have been much better off, and more useful to humanity had she done a degree in home economics and learned how to bake a cake.
Elaine McMurren says
If I were in charge, women who talk that way would be instantly delivered to the nearest Mosque. The jihadis would be told, “Do what you want with this one. Just make sure you do it on the steps of State capital building.” Maybe then some people would wake the hell up.
DT says
Follow the money http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=1402008
Warmac9999 says
Immediately after 9/11, Sonn tried to justify the attacks in a local newspaper, the Virginia Gazette. She got absolutely lambasted and told to,shut up by the College of William and Mary administration. She is a reflection of the evil,that is Islam.
mortimer says
Has Prof. Sonn studied the history of jihad? It appears that she has not, but preposterously, she considers herself an expert on jihad without learning the jihad theory and 1400-year history of jihad. Does she realize that SHARIA LAW declares jihad to be incumbent upon all Muslims? Apparently, she is unaware of Sharia law’s statements about jihad.
So what is the basis of her unfounded ‘opinions’ on jihad? Did a Saudi prince hand her a page of notes in an envelope containing the required remuneration?
Is it worth it to have a job where academic integrity must be sacrificed to make propaganda for a hideous country like Soddy Barbaria?
Florida Jim says
Only Democrat stooges are not aware that every muslim wants A Caliphate, Sharia, Jihad, Taqiyya and then the beheading begins that is Islam in a nutshell and even brainwashing professor’s know it but pretend otherwise thinking Muslims will not turn on them, stupidly.Professor’s have done this since 1914 and the Communist Revolution always pretending Communism was a “good thing” even indoctrinating their students in these lies.
Mark A says
Unfortunately, professors of this low quality are all too common in universities today.
Georgetown is supposed to be a Catholic university run by Jesuits. It was once a grwat university but its name is being dragged down by the likes of this professor.
John A. Marre says
“How can an ancient, global religion be an enemy of a modern geopolitical construct?”
The practitioners of the religion hate democracy, and kill practitioners of democracy. That’s how. For the weak minded: Islam is the enemy of democracy.
eduardo odraude says
Her question is just so idiotic it is truly mind-boggling. In the movie Stripes, there is a scene with a certain scene with an incredibly stupid guy — the movie writers were creative enough to make what he says sound not merely stupid, but stupid squared or cubed, as if the guy almost had a genius for being stupid, which is quite funny. This idiot Tamara Sonn would be funny if she weren’t on the side of the banality of evil. The tidal wave of asinine garbage washing over this world from “experts” like Tamara Sonn just might mean enough of a deluge to end things.
eduardo odraude says
Islam, if you have studied its texts, the state of human rights in Muslim-majority countries, and Pew polls of Muslim opinion, reveals how utterly worthless and stupid so many of our “opinion-leaders” — like this idiotic woman at the Georgetown center bought-and-sold by Saudis. It really makes you want to hurl. And plan to vote for Trump next time around as well (assuming he does well in the next four years). Tamara Sonn — a standout in the annals of stupidity and mediocrity.
Crusades Were Right! says
“colonialism”
“Colonize”, it seems, is an irregular verb:
I (a Muslim/black/Asian in a white country) am a refugee
You (my fellow Muslim/black/Asian in a white country) are a migrant
He/she (a European Christian anywhere) is a colonist
Etc…
Fight until all religion is for who? says
How does Son interpret Qur’an Verse 39 Chapter 8?
Fight until all religion is for who? says
Sorry, I meant Sonn
ECAW says
8:39
And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.
This is the Hilali-Khan translation, sometimes known as the Wahhabi Koran, the most widely disseminated version in the West courtesy of the Saudis’ $100,000,000,000 progaramme of mosque building and proselytising. They added the bit about “in the whole of the world” just to clarify the mainstream Islamic understanding of Allah’s intent.
UNCLE VLADDI says
Islam is really an actual threat to everyone because IT says it is, not because we misinterpreted it.
According to their own Eastern histories, islam has an official 1,400 year history of “holy” lies, extortions, robberies, tortures, arsons, kindappings, slaveries, rapes and 270 million murders: that’s OVER A QUARTER-BILLION INNOCENTS SACRIFICED TO ALLAH, so far!
For a detailed breakdown of historical islamic depredations by region and era, just Google for: “Tears of Jihad.”
Islam has a larger death-tally than that of EVERYONE ELSE, both secular and religious, COMBINED, and with an historical average of less than 1% of the global population to have committed it with, too!
Do the math: 270 million divided by 1,400 is almost 200,000 per year, or over 500 per day, or over 20 per hour or about one person every three minutes being murdered by Muslims ever since Islam was founded.
So, simply and precisely because of their “THOU SHALT KILL!” cultural indoctrination, MUSLIMS ARE STILL FROM BETWEEN FOUR AND SEVERAL HUNDRED TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN MURDER (and all other crimes,) THAN EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD!
Aussie Infidel says
Prof Tamara Sonn asks, “Is Islam an enemy of the West?” I would have thought the answer was obvious – A resounding YES! Where did Prof Sonn learn her Islam? From books by people like Karen Armstrong? Or was it Ali Baba and the 40 thieves? Or from some Muslim imam or mullah in dawah sessions whitewashing Islam to attract potential converts and apologists. Does she understand the Islamic doctrine of Taqiyya, or ‘lying for the sake of Allah’?
To claim, “Muslim religious authorities unanimously condemn terrorism, based on a September 2001 denunciation of 9/11 signed by, among others, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and its Palestinian affiliate, Hamas,” would be one of the most naive claims I’ve ever read. This illustrates a low level of critical thinking, and should disqualify her from her position. I’m left wondering whether Soon has ever read the Quran and other scriptures for herself? Or has she simply relied on anecdotes from her local imam and the MB front groups which have infiltrated most universities in the Western world?
Sonn’s claims about ‘jihad’ are just as ludicrous. The Reliance of the Traveller says:
o9.0 JIHAD “Jihad means to war against non-Muslims … warfare to establish the religion. The scriptural basis is … Koran 2:216; 4:89; 9:36; and the hadiths by Bukhari and Muslim.”
o9.1 Jihad is a communal obligation for all Muslims… a war to establish the religion.”
o9.8 The Objectives of Jihad … Koran 9:29.”
Does Sonn also believe that the 30,000 deadly jihadist attacks against non-Muslims since ‘9/11’, are simply examples of Muslims ‘struggling to maintain their faith’? Or does it represent something far more sinister?
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com
It would be interesting to know what Sonn makes of the following Quranic verses?
2:193, 2:216, 8:24, 9:5, 9:14, 9:15, 9:29, 9:111, 47:4.
And the following Hadiths?
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’.” (Bukhari 1:8:387).
“Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war…When you meet your enemies who are polytheists (Pagans and Christians), invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them…. If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them.” (Sahih Muslim 4294).
Do those verses indicate that jihad (the Greater Jihad) is simply an exercise by which Muslims maintain their faith? Or would Soon concede that they contain a level of inate violence, which is not apparent in any other religion? Even those in the Old Testament, are not commandments to Jews to fight their enemies in this day and age,, but justification for historic events in the distant past.
Sonn’s statements such as, the “unimpeded tyranny of capitalism,” also mark her as a hardline leftist. And as we all know, the left is so far in bed with Islam, their relationship is virtually incestuous. But both groups are totalitarian organisations seeking to overthrow Western civilization?
Is Sonn aware of the many books by anti-jihadist authors, such as Robert Spencer, Wafa Sultan, Brigitte Gabriel, Raymond Ibraham, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Nonie Darwish, Pamella Geller, Stephen Coughlin, Mark Durie, Harry Richardson, John Perkins and Claire Lopez – or do they not fit into the ‘Islam is peace’ paradigm, perpetuated by former US Presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barak Obama? Did she consult any of these publications before she completed her magnum opus?
The fact that many Quranic verses and Hadith have been codified as ‘sacred law’ in the Sharia, means that those verses are as valid today, as when they were first written 14 centuries ago. The Sharia directs Muslims how they should behave toward each other and all non-Muslims – and has no specific time frame, because Muslims believe it is sacred and inviolable. The tyranny which Soon claims to be driving jihad, is not “western capitalism”, but the criminal commandments in the Islamic scriptures themselves, and its Sharia law. In short, the problem is Islam itself – pure and simple.
If engineers were as poorly educated as Sonn’s students, their structures would come crashing down around their ears.
It’s time universities took a long hard look at what so-called professors of Middle Eastern studies are teaching. Or are they simply prepared to allow these professors to be used as ‘useful idiots’ for Islam’s propaganda to conquer the West?
Chris Malan says
All of you make the mistake of taking this woman seriously, as if what she said really merits discussion. One evaluates what she said, see that it is total nonsense, go into her history and find she is a professor in one of these wacko humanities disciplines, and tell her, ‘shut up, sit down, you’re talking nonsense.’ Maybe one can tell her like JR Ewing did in one Dallas episode to ‘go bake a cake.’ But that’s as far as one goes.
Like John Becker said, the world is full of fools. And they talk a lot of nonsense. One can’t possibly respond to all of it.