Coming this summer from Bombardier Books is my latest, and I believe my best and most important book: The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS. You can pre-order it now here.
This book provides, for the first time in the English language, a general overview of jihad activity from the time that the concept of jihad was first invented (and arguably even before that) to the present day – from Arabia to North Africa and Persia, from Spain to India, from Tel Aviv to New York City.
The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS traces the 1,400-year war of Islamic jihadis against the rest of the world, detailing the jihad against Europe, including the 700-year struggle to conquer Constantinople; the jihad in Spain, where non-Muslims fought for another 700 years to get the jihadi invaders out of the country; and the jihad against India, where Muslim warriors and conquerors wrought unparalleled and unfathomable devastation in the name of their religion.
Told in great part in the words of contemporary chroniclers themselves, both Muslim and non-Muslim, The History of Jihad shows that jihad warfare has been a constant of Islam from its very beginnings, and present-day jihad terrorism proceeds along exactly the same ideological and theological foundations as did the great Islamic warrior states and jihad commanders of the past.
The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language, and the first book to tell the whole truth about Islam’s bloody history in an age when Islamic jihadis are more assertive in Western countries than they have been for centuries.
“Robert Spencer is one of my heroes. He has once again produced an invaluable and much-needed book. Want to read the truth about Islam? Read this book. It depicts the terrible fate of the hundreds of millions of men, women, and children who, from the 7th century until today, were massacred or enslaved by Islam. It is a fate that awaits us all if we are not vigilant.” (Geert Wilders, member of Parliament in the Netherlands and leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV))
“From the first Arab-Islamic empire of the mid-seventh century to the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the story of Islam has been the story of the rise and fall of universal empires and, no less importantly, of never quiescent imperialist dreams. In this tour de force, Robert Spencer narrates the transformation of the concept of jihad, ‘exertion in the path of Allah,’ from a rallying cry fro the prophet Muhammad’s followers into a supreme religious duty and the primary vehicle for the expansion of Islam throughout the ages. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the roots of the Manichean struggle between East and West and the nature of the threat confronted by the West today.” (Efraim Karsh, author of Islamic Imperialism: A History)
“For those who still think — and, alas, there remain many — that Islamic terrorism has emerged only in the last forty years or so, Robert Spencer’s carefully researched work on Jihad from the beginning of Muhammad’s political and prophetical career to the acts of terrorism of September, 11, 2001, will be a salutary shock. It will not be at all easy to refute Spencer’s account, which shatters many myths. Robert Spencer’s work is essential reading for all of us, for all those who want to defend our values from the relentless jihad that has not ceased for fourteen centuries.” (Ibn Warraq, author of The Origins of the Koran and The Quest for the Historical Muhammad)
“Spencer argues, in brief, ‘There has always been, with virtually no interruption, jihad.’ Painstakingly, he documents in this important study how aggressive war on behalf of Islam has, for fourteen centuries and still now, befouled Muslim life. He hopes his study will awaken potential victims of jihad, but will they—will we—listen to his warning? Much hangs in the balance.” (Daniel Pipes, president, Middle East Forum and author of Slave Soldiers and Islam: The Genesis of a Military System)
“Robert Spencer, one of our foremost analysts of Islamic jihad, has now written a historical survey of the doctrine and practice of Islamic sanctified violence. With crystal clarity and rigorous argument, he relentlessly marshals the facts that put the lie to the sophistries of apologists and the delusions of Western appeasers. To fight the enemy we must know the enemy, and Robert Spencer’s page-turner is the place to start.” (Bruce Thornton, Research Fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and Professor of Classics ad Humanities at the California State University)
“The most important book you will read about the fifteen-hundred-year war that Islamic jihadists have waged on us. Spencer’s brilliant book is also the only book you can read on this history, since appeasers of Islamic bigotry and bloodthirstiness have worked so diligently to suppress it.” (David Horowitz, founding president of the David Horowitz Freedom Center and author of Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey)
“Jihad is not mere terrorism. Ironic as it may seem, that is Western wishful thinking. From its inception, as Robert Spencer incontestably illustrates, jihad has been the outward, aggressive expression of a conquest ideology. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS is as relentless in relating unvarnished truth as is the phenomenon it tracks in seeking domination—and never being satisfied with less, however long it takes. Those who care to preserve Western rationalism, civil liberties, and free societies must confront this history, and its implications, with eyes opened.” (Andrew C. McCarthy, bestselling author, former federal prosecutor, and National Review contributing editor)
“In a time of cowardice and deliberate falsehood, the courageous and scholarly exposure of the greatest challenges and dangers of our time by Robert Spencer is priceless.” (Bat Ye’or, author of The Dhimmi and The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam)
mortimer says
This book will be the Muslim Brotherhood’s worst nightmare. They will want to stop it, but if they do, they look like the evil dictators that they actually are.
This book will show that Islam is a vicious Death Cult that cannot be defended by a reasonable person.
The history of Islam is filled with the largest slave trade in history, the largest religious genocide in history and the largest racial genocide in history, as well as the largest anti-intellectual movement in history and the largest anti-woman movement in history, and the largest meat-use (and consequent over-grazing) in history and the largest religious persecutions in history.
All the above negative and deleterious aspects of Islam are inseparable parts of JIHAD… the normative Islamic method of REMOVING the human rights and civil liberties of women and non-Muslim ‘OTHERS’.
gravenimage says
The Muslim Brotherhood cannot stop the publication of books in the United States–not yet, anyway.
Krishna says
I’m going to research about islamic conquest death toll and i’m going to write a book called black book of islam
just like black book communism were the book shows the scale of genocide,massacres committed under communism in my it shows about things done under muslim rule and i’m going to make a epic miniseries called bloody history of islam based on the book
CRUSADER says
Krishna,
perhaps have a discussion with Arjuna about the great battle ahead…
….and have the black book be written with a forward by Kali.
infidel says
Championing Individual successful Muslims in host infidel societies doesn’t mean a thing and does not lead to much: READ ON:
In recent times, a Muslim from the South of India has made it big in the food industry and as expected the left libs have gone completely ga ga on him all over the world. He has recently given a talk at Dhimmi Harvard where he was feted profusely.
But as expected in his speech, he FAILED to acknowledge the contributions of the free Majority Hindu society that has allowed him to shine and prosper. And more disturbingly, he has given enough hints that he is a devout Muslim.
And a devout Muslim, even if he is not a Jehaadi, he will contribute big time to mosques and madaraasaas, the hotbeds of Islamic terror. And the bigger his business grows, more his clout and more his potential for stealth jehaad.
It is just like a successful person being obligated to the mafia and contributing money to them regularly.
As for the host infidel nation, this is nothing more than a cosmetic exercise… a toxic trojan that has been unleashed in the long run on the host infidel society.
That is why I have always held that Muslims will always (inadvertently or willfully) misuse the platforms and opportunities presented by the host infidel nation.
And even if the successful Muslim felt like giving back to the host,the mad Mullahs will not allow him as the loyalty to the Umma ranks higher than the loyalty to the infidel land.
The 3 Bollywood Muslim superstars perfectly fit this….And this will happen in the Greater West too as more and more individual Muslims will make their mark and still be of NO USE to the greater good of the land.
CRUSADER says
Paying for Jihad is commendable, as well, you know….!!!
Does it not make one a Jihadi/Jehaadi to pay for it?
Does one not also go to Jannah, and by pass the levels of heaven en route to paradise?
(So say the foolish Queer’an and the Hate-ith)
St. Manuel II Palailogos says
If I wasn’t so lacking in wealth, I’d order it. Maybe my library will get it in time.
CRUSADER says
Of the numerous volumes which Robert Spencer has already penned (17 or 18 up to now)…
which have you read so far?
There are occasions to get hold of some older copies at discounted prices, after all.
Maybe it is good to start with some of those titles first?
gravenimage says
In most library systems, you can request that they order certain books. This does not always work–things like budget and perceived popularity of any given volume are issues–but it is a place to start.
CRUSADER says
Might there by a more reliable “Reliance of the Traveller” to get at a library, since the edition I have seems to have been “revised” ??
Tjhawk says
I’ve been thinking about writing a book that is historical fiction, yet does not stray from the foundational texts of islam. I want to use the power of story and narrative to create a user friendly intro to the islamic backstory. Robert’s books are great, but with some steamy passages, and interesting conversations, and humor, it might entice a few people outside the “choir” that already reads Roberts books to get interested.
I think the Safiyaa and Kinana story could be the central theme.
Do a Michener type intro to the life and times of the Jews of the Arabian Peninsula and a parallel of pre islamic Mohammed’s life as a boy toy for Kadhija. Work out a love story with S &K. Create scenarios about why mo hated the Jews and was so misogynistic and culminate with the destruction of the Jewish tribes, the murder of Safiyaas family and her eventual choice of getting raped to death by the soldiers or living and just gettin raped by mohammed.
Then , to make the book useful, I could provide an index or appendix with all the citations to study the source texts for the stories in the book
I don’t know if I have it in me to do this, but it might be another prong in the fork that I would love to stick in islam’s ass.
CRUSADER says
GOOD IDEA !
Transmit the message through a narrative.
Story telling is smart!!!
gravenimage says
Go for it, Tjhawk! I would read that book.
CRUSADER says
Graven, thank you for your mentioning of 9/11 victims, as I personally knew six of them.
And we are all changed by that event. We all to some extent are affected by the Jihad incurred against us.
So, we all need to be in solidarity as victims to become SURVIVORS and fight this evil!
+++++++++
DEUS VULT
+++++++++
duh swami says
In order to secure a more perfect union stop watching CNN and read Spencer…
Tjhawk says
Sage advice.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Ï hope Mr Spencer’s book Will be presented before an intellectual forum for critical review to See if it is not a réplication of concocted lies against islam by Christian evangelist liars of old debunked and dismissed as rubbish.
Remember, the subject area of jîhad has vast and rich literature available even at western institutions. But the title of the book “History of jîhad from muhammad to IsIs “suggest biased mind ab initio. IsIs is a terrorist group carryingout indiscriminate killings of people. This is not how prophet muhammad prosecuted jîhad. As such there is no corrélation. Never the less , let us have an opportunity to go through the book to See what it contains for us to critique It and Come out with our assessement. Ï hope the book is going to différent from previous works by Mr Spencer. May be by now he has learnt the techniques of interpretation of Islamic sources and scientific historical studies to make the book, atleast, thought-provoking even if that thought could not discover the truth.
Thanks
Indiana Tom says
IsIs is a terrorist group carrying out indiscriminate killings of people. This is not how prophet muhammad prosecuted jîhad.
Mohammed was a blueprint for ISIS.
https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/muhammad/self-defense.aspx
http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson/qurayza_jews.htm
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Indiana Tom, the content of your reference here is exactly the rubbish we want Mr Spencer to avoid. you do nothing more than conjecture
gravenimage says
Both the Religion of Peace and Answering Islam sites both use reputable sources–the Religion of Peace, especially, uses entirely canonical Islamic sources, including the Qur’an and Hadith.
Ibrahim itace muhammed does not understand what conjecture means–for him, it just means coming to any conclusion that Muslims do not want to hear.
CRUSADER says
Rather an erudite approach by Mr Irritates, or his nom de plume, that is.
I suspect a switch. He has gone on vacation, and has a gentlemanly stand-in !
StellaSaidSo says
I have long suspected at least two, and possibly three, ‘contributors’ posting under the name ‘Ibrahim Itace Muhammad’.
CRUSADER says
Well, either way, he is IRRITATING !
ha ha ha
gravenimage says
I think it’s the same guy–he just uses cut and paste sometimes, from sources that are not as illiterate as he is.
gravenimage says
The foul Ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
Ï hope Mr Spencer’s book Will be presented before an intellectual forum for critical review to See if it is not a réplication of concocted lies against islam by Christian evangelist liars of old debunked and dismissed as rubbish.
……………………..
Notice that Ibrahim itace muhammed, in all the time he has been here, has never once been able to point to a single untruth from Robert Spencer? What he means by “lies” are truths about Islam that Muslims do not want told by Infidels.
More:
Remember, the subject area of jîhad has vast and rich literature available even at western institutions. But the title of the book “History of jîhad from muhammad to IsIs “suggest biased mind ab initio. IsIs is a terrorist group carryingout indiscriminate killings of people. This is not how prophet muhammad prosecuted jîhad. As such there is no corrélation. Never the less , let us have an opportunity to go through the book to See what it contains for us to critique It and Come out with our assessement. Ï hope the book is going to différent from previous works by Mr Spencer. May be by now he has learnt the techniques of interpretation of Islamic sources and scientific historical studies to make the book, atleast, thought-provoking even if that thought could not discover the truth.
Thanks
……………………..
Ibrahim itace muhammed hs said this sort of thing befor: that ISIS is–somehow–not carrying out true Jihad.
Yet he has never once been able to point to a single aspect of ISIS that he disagrees with, and he himself has said that Muslims may slaughter any Infidels who do not submit to Islam.
Indiana Tom says
Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward Kindle Edition by Nabeel Qureshi (Author)
https://www.amazon.com/Answering-Jihad-Better-Way-Forward-ebook/dp/B01AB12QX6
I sort of like this book, but I think his solution was silly putty.
This book does dispel the theological myth that Jihad is a peaceful inner struggle with Allah.
This book does dispel the myth that Jihad is the same as Old Testament wars that the Israelites fought..
CRUSADER says
What was the silly solution proffered?
gravenimage says
Nabeel Qureshi was a Muslim apostate–I had a great deal of respect for him (he passed away recently). I think he basically thought that it was possible to appeal to the better angels of all Muslims and they would leave islam just as he did. I think he was far too optimistic.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
The dead apostate is now in the middle of hellfire burning and regretting
CRUSADER says
Mr Irritates, that is the Mirror you are facing, you are seeing your own image burning!
+++++++++
DEUS VULT
+++++++++
CRUSADER says
Well, as more apostate Muslims and ex-Muslims speak up, and as White Wednesdays catch on… there may be a revolutions brewing….
Bless all those who see the wrong in Islam!
gravenimage says
How appalling is this? Nabeel Qureshi believed that God loved all of mankind, and wanted to share that love with his former fellow Muslims. Even if one believed that he was mistaken, that so many Muslims vented their hatred and enjoyed the pain of his dying is very telling as to just how sick Islam is.
Here is Qureshi’s good friend David Wood showing some of the hate mail he received after this good and caring man died:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAc1vTIoe04
No one should be surprised that Ibrahim itace muhammed is one of these vicious ghouls.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Devil wood Will soon join him in the middle of hellfire burning together with the Satan Who misled them.
CRUSADER says
Stanford might need CliffNotes version.
They are kids on dope at that campus!
gravenimage says
Available now for pre-order: Robert Spencer’s The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS
……………………
No topic could be more timely. Looking forward to reading it.
CRUSADER says
Wouldn’t it be a blast to form a book club?
gravenimage says
Yes, it would. CRUSADER. We could read and comment on these books together.
hammar says
mohammad was no prophet to begin with. He was a killer child rapper and pillager. He had no revelation from God. Only murder and sin follow him. nothing more.
Cameron says
Great. I’m looking forward to reading this book. It seems to be exactly what I’ve been looking for.
Will it have featurettes on the societies, cultures, nations even civilizations that Islam has conquered and made extinct or close to it?
Jan Aage Jeppesen says
I look forward to put Robert Spencer’s coming book “The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS” next to the work of Paul Fregosi “Jihad in the West – Muslim conquest from the 7th to the 21st centuries” from 1998 in my bookshelf.
In the 20 year period between the two works on Jihad we have seen a surge in Islamic Jihadist attacks worldwide, but the concept of Jihad is unchanged from the founding of Islam.
Jihad is back, wrote Fregosi on the book flap – a statement more true today than it was two decades ago:
“The Jihad, the Muslim Holy War against Christians and other faiths, has raged in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia for over 1,300 years, and has now reached the Americas. The Muslim military conquests of former centuries and the terrorist campaigns of recent decades share more than just the name Jihad. They are both expressions of the Muslim distaste for and basic antagonism to the entire non-Muslim world, which it shows by doing battle against those it perceives as blasphemers and infidels.
For over a century and a half the world had forgotten this fact, since most Muslim countries were politically impotent and ruled mainly as the colonies or protectorates of European powers. But recent events in Iran, Afghanistan, and elsewhere have reminded us of the Muslims` existence and newly won power. Jihad is back.”
Robert Spencer and a few other brave scholars realized that Jihad is indeed back and started warning the public against it in books and here on Jihad Watch.
Hogdude says
To All: I look forward to Mr. Spencer’s new book, as I have his others. Being trained to respect fact-based statements and rely less on opinion evidence (even my own), it appears that the Qu’ran (sp) is a mere shadow of the Holy Bible loved and understood by most Christians. With that statement sure to generate heated discussion (and cussing) on all sides, I bid All adieu and peace.
Linnte says
THANK YOU Robert Spencer, for writing this! I can’t wait to get it!
Bacherbazistan says
Thanks Crusader et al for crusades book list.
Felix Quigley says
CRUSADER says
Mar 13, 2018 at 6:03 pm…a writer on Jihadwatch writes….
During the Cold War, Bulgarians were highly distrusted by the West, particularly in the intelligence agencies. Bulgarians were ruthless and cruel and deceitful, many were hired thugs for spy industries.
However, I am inclined to learn of what goodness and grace that the Bulgarian people offer.
After all, I do love Bulgar salads! Just not Islamic salat.
I say in response to this…what does it say that the West distrusted “Bulgarians”, there was a Cold War in operation.
This Cold War was a result of the overthrow of capitalism in the Russian Revolution of 1917. This was a happening that the “West” has never forgiven. The “West” is a metaphor which stands it this contect for capitalism (or Imperialism).
The other aspect which is ignored by the writer above is the rise of Stalinism. These regimes in this period discussed above were Stalinist regimes which were not revolutionary socialist but were repressive Stalinist. This fact has got to be explained by careful explanation of history. All of that is ignored by the writer. Thus the words of the writer are far from enlightening people.
The issue of Stalinism has to be taken very seriously. It is the duty of socialists to raise the issue of Stalinism and to explain Stalinism, how it arose, why it arose, and it is also important for people in the present days to understand that Stalinism was fought against, by Leon Trotsky, and that that battle is not over.
Socialists, real socialists, have got to be very concerned about Islam, and Jihad. That is why I will be supporting this new book by Robert Spencer.
Everybody has their own ideas on these issues. If I think there is anything deficient in the book by Robert I will explain my thinking, but that is in the context of unity against Islam, and its supporters in the present day, and among those are the jailers of the Britain First leaders, among other vital events.