The Islamic Center of Davis, California, has defended Imam Ammar Shahin over a sermon last Friday in which he quoted an antisemitic text and prayed for Allah to “annihilate” Jews “down to the very last one.”
Just imagine the scandal if a Christian pastor had preached such a hateful sermon calling for the annihilation of Muslims or any other group. It would not be tolerated, and charges would likely be brought against the preacher. Instead, this disgraceful mosque was not upset at the imam, but at “Islamophobic news organizations” that revealed what the imam had said. Even more absurd was that the mosque further defended the hate preacher, saying he meant “destroy” instead of “annihilate,” as if that made a difference.
“Mosque Defends Imam: He Meant ‘Destroy’ Jews, Not ‘Annihilate’ Them”, by Joel B. Pollak, Breitbart News, July 26, 2017:
The Islamic Center of Davis, California, has defended Imam Ammar Shahin over a sermon last Friday in which he quoted an antisemitic text and prayed for Allah to “annihilate” Jews “down to the very last one.”
In a statement issued Tuesday morning, and e-mailed to Breitbart News, the mosque claimed that Shahin’s sermon was quoted out of context, and lashed out against “Islamophobic news organizations.”
It claimed that the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) had mis-translated Shahin’s prayer, and that he prayed that Allah “destroy” rather than “annihilate” the Jews responsible for temporarily closing access to the Al-Aqsa mosque (after a terror attack).
The word “destroy,” the mosque claimed, was not a call to violence but merely a “supplication that is generally used against oppressors.”
The mosque’s full statement is as follows:
On July 21st, 2017, Imam Ammar Shahin gave a sermon at the ICD. The sermon was about the horrific events that had recently taken place, and continue to take place, in East Jerusalem. In this sermon, Imam Shahin exercised his first amendment right to protest the illegal closure, occupation, and attacks against Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site for all Muslims. This illegal closure of the Mosque is in addition to the killing of Muslim worshipers, the injury of many more, including the Imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the prevention of worship, and the prevention of the call to prayer at the Mosque. The International community has expressed outrage over the incidents, with the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People stating at the recent International Conference on Jerusalem that what is happening is against international law.
After this sermon, MEMRI, an agenda driven organization that supports Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land, and other Islamophobic news organizations, accused Imam Shahin and the ICD of anti-Semitism, quoting edited passages of the sermon out of context. In particular, they said that Imam Shahin cited an anti-Semitic prophetic tradition in his sermon. The tradition in question refers to the theological issue regarding the apocalyptic battle between Jesus and the Antichrist. It says that there will be people from various groups, including Muslims, who will follow the Antichrist, and there will be people who will believe in Jesus and follow him, including Jews and Christians. A battle will take place between these two armies, with the army of Jesus prevailing. Thus, this prophetic tradition is referring to a battle between good and evil, and not a battle against any particular group as MEMRI would like people to believe. The apocalyptic battle between the Messiah and the Antichrist is something found in all Abrahamic traditions. Imam Shahin’s condemnation was aimed towards those who are taking part in the illegal aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and no one else.
It was clear to all those who listened to the entire sermon that Imam Shahin was not calling towards anti-Semitism nor towards violence against any religion. Rather, he is known for his stance against extremism and his condemnation of un-Islamic groups which promote such views. This has always been the position of the Imam and the ICD. To clarify how the cut-and-paste tactics of MEMRI twisted what was said, the following is a summary of the sermon:
The sermon was approximately fifty minutes long. The clip that MEMRI circulated was 2 minutes and 19 seconds long, comprised of smaller clips put together out of context. Then they placed a title to the video to reflect the message they wanted to paint Imam Shahin with. The entire sermon was about the theological virtues of the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which the Jews call Temple Mount. He then mentioned that closing the holy site of Muslims is a form of oppression, and that God comes to the aid of the oppressed if they return back to their faith. The Imam also mentioned Jews in a positive context in his sermon. He addressed how God saved the Jews from Pharaoh when they were oppressed yet held on to their religion, similarly, God would relieve the Muslims who are oppressed by the occupying forces in East Jerusalem when they return back to their faith. This is when Imam Shahin cited the prophetic tradition regarding God giving victory to Jesus and the followers of truth during the apocalyptic war with the Antichrist. When people believe in Jesus as a prophet of God and hold on to the truth, God will support them. This was the purpose of citing the prophetic tradition. In the context of the full sermon, it becomes clear that the theme of the sermon was against oppression, and not against Jews or any religion. This was clearly explained in the sermon when Imam Ammar said that the battle at the end of time is not specific to Palestine, indicating that the conflict is not with Jews or any specific group of people, but it will be against all evil. This then makes clear to whom the supplication at the end of the sermon was referring. It was referring to the oppressive occupying forces that closed down one of the holiest sites in the world and attacked worshippers. Moreover, MEMRI also wrongly translates “ahlik” as “annihilate”. Ahlik, in the Arabic language, means destroy, a supplication that is generally used against oppressors. MEMRI’s deliberate and erroneous translation to promote their agenda is unacceptable and aims to portray people of faith against each other.
If MEMRI and company sincerely followed Imam Ammar Shahin’s work and did not just cut and paste what suits their cause, they would have come across the countless lectures and sermons he has given regarding treating all people, especially non-Muslims, with kindness and giving them their full rights, supporting them when they are oppressed. Never has Imam Shahin called for discrimination or harm of any group of people. These types of claims are expected from an organization like MEMRI which is notorious for its academic dishonesty.
Finally, the ICD welcomes all people to come to our Mosque to find out what we really teach. We have an open-door policy.
Nowhere in the mosque’s statement did it condemn or even criticize the terror attack earlier this month in which a Muslim shot and killed two Israeli Druze police officers, leading to the temporary closure of access to the mosque.
Despite the mosque’s claims, Imam Shahin’s sermon referred specifically to Jews — in English (via MEMRI transcript):
The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘Judgment Day will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews, and the Jews hide behind stones and trees, and the stones and the trees say: Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah…’ They will not say: Oh Egyptian, oh Palestinian, oh Jordanian, oh Syrian, oh Afghan, oh Pakistani. The Prophet Muhammad says that they time will come, the Last Hour will not take place until the Muslims fight the Jews. We don’t say if it is in Palestine or another place. Until they fight… When that war breaks out, they will run and hide behind every rock, and house, and wall, and trees. The house, the wall, and the tress will call upon the Muslims. It will say: Oh Muslim… It will not say: Oh Palestinian, oh Egyptian, oh Syrian, oh Afghan, oh Pakistani, oh Indian… No, it will say: Oh Muslim. Muslim. When Muslims come back… ‘Come, there is someone behind me – except for the Gharqad tree, which is the tree of the Jews. Except for a certain tree that they are growing today in Palestine, in that area, except this form of tree, which they are growing today… That’s the tree that will not speak to the Muslims.
Moreover, as Breitbart News reported on Monday — after watching the entire video, and not just the portion excerpted by MEMRI — Imam Shahin specifically referred to “a war of faith” against Jews…..
IQ al Rassooli says
Dear Americans, please always remember that as Infidels/ Kuffar/ Non Muslims,Jews are NOT the only ones targeted for Subjugation to Sharia or EXTERMINATION by Muslims (Arabs or otherwise) hence it is VITAL that you realize that one does not need more than two brain cells of logic to understand Muslims and Islam in a nutshell~
Since every Muslim is Sharia compliant (London mayor Khan is a prime example who made Haj to Mecca and hence Sharia compliant as well as Linda Sarsour who LOVES Sharia) every Muslim cannot ever be a Law abiding LOYAL citizen in ANY non Muslim nation because these nations do not submit to Allah’s Sharia. Hence every Muslim is the mortal and eternal enemy of every non Muslim Infidel/ Kafir on planet Earth (80% of current humanity) who hide their disloyalty by PRETENDING and deceiving (Taqiyyah) non Muslims that they are loyal (such as mayor Khan and the Muslims in congress)
Every Muslim is a potential Mass Murderer the instant he/ she decides that he/she is NOT Sharia compliant enough (just like in the recent Muslim terrorist attacks in UK and the Afghani Muslim soldiers who murder their American benefactors)
I agree that Not ALL Muslims are Terrorists BUT 100% of all Terrorist attacks against Infidels/ Kuffar are committed ONLY by Muslims. Therefore, every Muslim is a hair trigger Time Bomb primed to go off (It is also a FACT that it is IMPOSSIBLE to point out who among Muslims is a terrorist or not)
Only in the WARPED imagination of leftists can one find Moderate, Militant, Radical or Extremist Muslims because in reality Muslims are Muslims just as Nazis are Nazis and no one ever addressed Nazis as Moderate, Militant, Radical or Extremist. (Just ask PM Erdogan of Turkey to prove my statements)
All other explanations are superfluous and redundant It is time for every decent and patriotic person to unshackle yourselves from the pre conceived but erroneous notion that ANYONE who is not a Muslim can make PEACE with Islam.
All anyone in doubt has to do is READ only chapters 2 to 9 of Muhammad’s Quran and watch the repeated mass slaughter of unarmed innocent European, American, Russian, Indian, Chinese, Iraqi etc. civilians by Muslims proclaiming they are doing the butchery to PLEASE their demonic god Allah
As usual, all that Europeans get from their criminally negligent leaders after every Islamic mass murder are platitudes, meaningless expressions of sympathy to the hapless victims by the very leaders who are unwilling to protect their citizenry because of their abject denial of all Facts and Reality regarding the TRUTH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTuFA1fQ-yg&feature=youtu.be&a
IQ al Rassooli
Kafir & Proud!
http://www.alrassooli.com
Don Foss says
Muslims are a protected class, like the Black tranny, They’re super special.
Jacqueleen says
They are super special……….The New World Order Thugs and their counterparts the leftists are behind the violence and want Sharia Law to be able to control the masses once they are in control of the world…..Then, they will annihilate the Muslims. The Muslims are not very bright.
They are being used by the left but will get what they deserve in the end.
Jaladhi says
Muslims have been oppressors in all the countries they have invaded!! So should there be call to destroy those Muslims?? Just using the Islamic logic of California mosque people!1 Isn’t is strange that we always misunderstand, misinterpret all those religious calls of Muslims to destroy or annihilate non-Muslims! And BTW, whats the difference between destroy and annihilation – ask a Muslim! He finds a huge difference but see the definition below:
an·ni·hi·la·tion
əˌnīəˈlāSHən/
noun
1.
complete destruction or obliteration.
“the threat of global annihilation”
and – destroy
de·stroy
dəˈstroi/Submit
verb
put an end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it.
“the room had been destroyed by fire”
synonyms: demolish, knock down, level, raze (to the ground), fell; More
ruin (someone) emotionally or spiritually.
“he has been determined to destroy her”
Both result in the destruction of the opposing party! I think we should always follow Islamic taqqiyya logic while dealing with Muslims!
Jaladhi says
Oh no, we can’t do that either or our moronic libtards will accuse us of “cultural appropriation”!! LOL..
epistemology says
It was clear to all those who listened to the entire sermon that Imam Shahin was not calling towards anti-Semitism nor towards violence against any religion.
—————————————————————————————————–
Obviously annihilating Jews has nothing to do with anti-Semitism nor with hatred of any religion. Muzzies permanently insult our intelligence, they think we’re as dumb as they are, far wrong.
Anyway this is only business as usual, as Christine put it, according to the self-appointed prophet there will only be peace when all the Jews are destroyed just to use their wording.
But in spite of BDS and other crap Israel will prevail and hopefully one day the whole world will see how evil Islam the religion of sharia is.
Islam is a crime against humanity.
Dwayne Austin says
He meant “destroy” instead of “annihilate, is as ridiculous as saying “occupation” is different from “conquest.” They think Jerusalem belongs to Islam because they “conquered” it; but modern Israel is only an “occupation.”
Walter Sieruk says
This imam prays to his god Allah. Therefore something need s be made clear by to different essays .
First, the God of the Bible is not really Allah the god of Islam. To explain, through the passing of time it has become widely accepted that the word “Allah” is just the Arabic word for God. This started when truth compromising Bible “translators” substituted the word Allah where the word God should have had been uses in the Arabic translation of the Bible. Furthermore, in the glossary in the book ASSASSINS! By Dr. Haha Lung it defines Allah as the “Pre-Islamic Lunar god : the god of Islam. “ Likewise, in the book entitled INSIDE ISLAM by a former Muslim who is now a Christian, Reza F. Safa on pages 22, 23 it reads “In pre-Islamic times both Allah –worship and Baal-worship involved the worship of the sun, the moon and the stars which h defines them as astral religions. [Which are condemned in the Bible, Second Kings 23:5] The crescent moon, which was the symbol of moon worship, is also the symbol of Islam.” In conclusion the Islamic god, Allah, is not the God of the Bible.
The words in brackets are my own. In addition other some other books that expose this little known truths are WHO IS THIS ALLAH ? by G..J.O.. Moshay also UNVEILING ISLAM by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner and THE ISLAMIC INVASION by Robert Morey . There is also PHILISTINE by Ramon Bennett and ANSWERING JIHAD by Mabeel Qureshi
Second,in the Bible it gives the account of the Prophet Elijah declared “If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal be ,then follow him.” First Kings 18:21.[N.K.J.V.] In other words follow one of the other. Not both.
Furthermore, many people say that the God of the Bible and the god of Islam are one the same. Is the majority always right? That’s not always the case. As an example the Christian pastor and scholar, Michael Youssef, who is also an Arab in his book entitled JESUS, JIHAD AND PEACE on page 69 informs the reader that “The name Allah comes from pre-Islamic times, and it corresponds to the Babylonian mane Bel or Baal. According to the Middle East scholar E.M. Wherry, pre-Islamic Arabs worshiped gods they called Allah. Both pre-Islamic Allah-worship and Baal –worship involved worship of the sun, the moon and the stars, which is why they are called astral religions. The crescent moon, the symbol of pagan moon worship, is also the symbol of Islam. It is printed on flags of many Islamic countries and placed atop minarets and mosques.” Likewise, a former Muslim who is now a Christian, Dr. Daniel Shayesteh, who used to live in the Middle East but now he lives in America . In his book ISLAM AND THE SON OF GOD. On pages 7,8. Reads “Allah is the generic term for God in many Middle –Eastern cultures. Allah is identified as one of the 360 or so idols worshiped by the Arabian people for centuries before Muhammad was born. Many do not know that Allah was the good god of the Arabians. This explains the crescent moon found on minarets and mosques and the flags of Muslim nations. .. .Historic writings also identify Allah with Baal.” It’s also worth mentioning that the Bible condemns such astral religions. As in, for example, Second Kings 23:5.
Therefore, now in modern times, it may be rightly said “If Yahweh Lord of the Bible , be the one True God follow Him. Yet if Allah the lord of Islam be the one true god then follow him.” The case is very clear cut.
There is the Christian site http://www.answering-islam.org
Monty says
The tragedy is that Christians have lost sight of their commission. We are supposed to be preaching the Kingdom of God and waging spiritual warfare. Instead the church has become introverted and weak. There are some bright spots, but the church has been declining since the 70’s and Islam has been rising at the same time. It is no coincidence.
jack grandville says
I must keep asking: Why is there this continual ‘discussion’ when we are discussing what can only be referred to as ‘social rabies’ with the same cure as animal rabies requires. There is no point in ‘discussing’ the obvious as if there was another solution — there is not.
Ron Naujelis says
Seems to me that muslins preaching that kind of hate don’t belong in this country.
That bothers me, ISRAEL, is a part of my religion any other religion that’s preached
That kind of hate should be charged with a hate crimes. Jesus is a JEW, and anyone or mosque we need to look at closing them, how much longer are we going let this happen. You can imagine what would happen is a priest said that.
I can’t print the words I have for that pig and the Mosque that supports him.
Kesselman says
We all know what a supremacist and racist ideology Islam is. It should be old hat these days. But the outspoken wish to annihilate and eradicate from the face of the earth the entirety of a certain people/religion is an outrage and punishable. But see to it if it does.
KJ for truth says
Oh, my – limited access to the mosque for a couple days is “horrific”?!?!
John A. Marre says
If he is not stripped of his citizenship and thrown out of the country, he will be preaching hate against Jews for years to come.
Hate from Muslims is never prosecuted.
Monty says
So what else is new? This is Islam. Only the deliberately blind and ignorant can find excuses for Islam. For some reason, most of the leaders of the free world have decided to throw their citizens to the Muslim wolves. Has a Muslim nation threatened a mass assassination campaign on leaders who do not give in to Islam’s demands? What inspires a nation’s police force to support Islam no matter what but persecute Christians who are non-violent? I expect this from Muslim countries but not from the UK. It is appalling but it is what it is. We need a miracle to reverse this blight on the human race.
carpediadem says
UK has hated Jews for years despite allowing them to live there, and as part of the EU joined the EU-based alliance with Islamic countries for cheap oil and such.
UK however, has a long history of anti Zionism and anti Semitism.
Kesselman says
You are right, but it’s not the issue here. Today we’re talking about the imminent threat from an ideology which you can compare to neither the Christendom nor Judaism.
John Forbes says
Actually the UK does have a disturbing hatred of JEWS & this is being posted more & more !!
The UK government is full of LEFT WING COWARDS & badly compromised by the Muslim Brotherhood in all levels of government & security & local government !
The CHILD RAPING INDUSTRY as illustrated in Easy Meat shows the level of deceipt that this group at both Parties are capable of !
No credibility for the British should be accorded at all !
The POPULATION is in big trouble with a set of COWARDS like this !!!
Frank Thiboutot says
Michael Savage was also all over this story…..but, what will happen? Absolutely NOTHING. It’s getting to the point that NOTHING these vermin do have consequences. WTF?!?!
CogitoErgoSum says
What about the Jews (and Christians) who will supposedly be paying the Jizya at the time when the Muslim version of Jesus returns? Will being good little dhimmis protect them from this “ahlik?” No, this bizarro version of Jesus will do away with the Jizya and any and ALL non-Muslims will be slaughtered if they do not immediately convert to Islam. Some time after that Jesus will die and be buried in a grave that awaits him next to Muhammad. What a pathological liar Muhammad was and how sick are those who believe his lies …. so sick that they have to pile lie up lie.
moeped says
Too much talk. We know what we’re up against.
Enough explaining the ideology here, we all know what we’re up against.
It’s long overdue but we just have to begin the process of informing our leaders and joining their ranks.
LR says
If MEMRI has some short clips, doesn’t someone have the full sermon?
If we can watch full sermons then we can decide for ourselves, and don’t have to rely on Islamic societies ‘explanations.’
FYI says
Regarding the (completely erroneous)misguided and warped islamic beliefs pertaining to future apocalyptic times… muslims believe that…
1)”The last hour would not come unless the muslims will fight against the Jews”
sahih Muslim book 41 no 6985
That explains why the followers of allah,the anti-Semitic,commandment-violating god of islam are keen for atrocities against the Jews to increase.
2)There is no mention of Jerusalem in the koran.
Isn’t that really,really,odd and a tad inconvenient for muslims?No reference in their “perfect book” to the Holy City of Jerusalem.
3)”During his time allah will destroy all religions except islam”
Tafsir Ibn Kathir vol 3 page 32
Not so.It is the “islam will rule the world” people who will be obliterated.Since muslims think their shadow god allah is God they fail to understand that ..
GOD ALREADY OWNS THE WORLD AND HAS NO NEED TO CONQUER IT.
Besides,a muslim-only world would require the extinction of the Jews and the annihilation of Israel…but you see the True God chose the Jews for a reason that has to do with His plan of salvation for All Mankind.
He will not allow Israel to fall (Zechariah chapters 12,13,14)
It is the enemies of Israel that will be obliterated.
4)The coming of Christ …”to break the cross and kill the pigs”
sahih al bukhari vol 4 bk 60 n0 3448
Utter nonsense and completely at odds with the actual Truth as revealed by Christ Himself.
Just like God’s Original Commandments are twisted and broken by allah in his perfect koran(delivered via the anti -semitic angel jibreel*,to the anti-Semitic “prophet”, the most perfect man that ever lived,muhammed)…the original prophetic Biblical revelations are completely twisted by allah’s idiotic followers:they think Jesus is a..muslim prophet who will return….to “break the cross ,kill all the pigs” and islamize the whole world.
The idea that the Parousia has something to do with Jesus beating up or wiping out Christians in order to make them all muslim is not only laughable:it is insane.
The antichrist (or false Christ in fact.. because he will try to imitate Christ initially)will use islam to get to power but after that he will not tolerate them.
he will not tolerate ANY religion in fact.he will not tolerate atheism either.
“he will oppose every so called god” 2Thess 2 v 4
2 Thessalonians 2 describes the rise and…sudden… fall of the antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 1 v 5-10 …gives the fate of the enemies of the True God(no mention of a global caliphate ..which is impossible anyway.. because muslims do not obey the Good News v8)
In the Catholic belief system..”Rome will lose the faith and become the seat of the antichrist”.
To come to power he needs a false prophet in Rome,someone who might be say,a defender of islam…someone who undermines Christians and Catholics like fraudulent francis,the heretical pope ..if you listen carefully you might note that francis appears to look like a lamb always dressed in white and yet ..speaks like a dragon..
In any case it is no harm to keep an eye on the Vatican and what is happening around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the incessant threats against Israel from without;you cannot ignore the reality of what is happening.
What comes out of the Vatican will be significant for the whole world.
The reason why God allows this is to separate the wheat from the chaff and the antichrist will attract the easily deceived,the evil and the stupid to himself making it very easy for God to administer His Justice.
* “The angiel gabriel is the enemy of the Jews”
sahih al bukhari vol 4 book 60 no 3329
so let’s see…we have an anti-semitic angel jibreel(impersonating Gabriel)
We have an anti-Semitic muhammed(impersonating a prophet) who curses the Jews and we have an anti-Semitic god allah(impersonating God)who curses the Jews.
We appear to have a theme here:islam is violently anti-Semitic.
“allah curses the Jews and the Christians” q9:3
What would those two famous Jewish (True) Prophets,Moses and Jesus Christ make of allah’s hateful anti-Semitism:they would never accept it surely!
So let’s not pretend- ever- that allah is the same as God or the koran should be compared with the Bible.
Buford says
I think that P O S needs to be annihilated he said what he meant to say & that other Turd Blossom started back peddling by saying he was Miss-interpreted Total BS he slipped up & told the truth which he is not suppose to do deception & lies are what the Phony Quran Call for.