One more study in fatuity, in a recent story from Bill White, a journalist at The Morning Call, a paper in Allentown, Pennsylvania. “Islam and Chili“:
OK, I confess I was trying to intrigue at least a few potential readers with that strange headline.
But it really does reflect what I’m writing about, which is two terrific events Saturday.
They are the Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley’s Spring Open House and the annual Spring on the South Side chili-tasting event in Bethlehem.
I try to put something up here every time the Muslim Association holds one of these events, because it’s such a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of their faith.
From 11-3 Saturday [April 28] at 1988 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, you can learn about Islam, including a Question-Answer session; visit cultural stations; sample Middle Eastern food; take tours of the Islamic Center; and participate in other activities designed to enhance cultural understanding.
As someone who has attended events designed to forge connections between Muslims and Christians, I can tell you that you don’t have to shy away from asking sensitive questions. They’ll be ready and willing to address them. And their food is awesome.
Yes, of course “the food is awesome.” There is hardly a Muslim event put on for the Kuffar — an Open Mosque Day, an Islam Awareness Week, an Ask-A-Muslim Anything booth — that does not have food at its center. Food of various Muslim cuisines, from Moroccan tajines to curries from the subcontinent, to traditional rijstaffel dishes from Indonesia, are all being set out and offered, and they are not only deliciously exotic — all the stops are pulled out for the Infidel visitors — but the varied cuisines silently make the point that “Islam is not a monolith” and that Islam, far from being limited to the Middle East, doth bestride the world like a colossus. Small-talk between hosts and guests at the buffet table: “And did you know that there are 40 million of us in Europe?” “You know, now there are (choose a number from 4 to 7) million Muslims in America.” “Did you know that Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion?” Words to that effect. Outwardly friendly, yet menacing withal. That underhum of “we are here, here to stay, and there are more of us, every day.”
Bill White was certainly impressed. He strongly urges you — perhaps even more strongly than he suggests that you visit the Chili Festival — to visit the Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley’s Open House. You will be able to eat those wonderful foods. You can even take a tour of the Islamic Center — “and here is the mihrab, which is the niche in the wall of a mosque, at the point nearest to Mecca, toward which we Muslims face to pray.” If you are lucky, you may even see Muslims saying one of their five daily prayers — “yes, we pray from before sunrise to after sunset, bowing down, prostrate toward Mecca, then rising up, then bowing down again, over and over, as we chant our prayers. Just look at those men– you can see the depth of their devotion.” My, how impressive is that sight of serried ranks of the devout turned Mecca-wards, up and down, up and down. “What they are saying? These are prayers, so I suppose it must be something about peace or love or hope or charity, that’s what all religions are about, aren’t they?” “Yes, that’s exactly what they are talking about. Peace. Tolerance. Love for one another. The very word ‘Islam,’ you know, means ‘peace.’’’ “No, I didn’t know that. But I”m not surprised. It’s so peaceful here, in this place of prayer. I only wish some of the islamophobes in town could see what I am now seeing.”
Bill White says the Open House at the Muslim Association is the perfect place “where you can learn about Islam, including a Question-Answer session; visit cultural stations; sample Middle Eastern food; take tours of the Islamic Center; and participate in other activities designed to enhance cultural understanding.”
So you’ve visited those “cultural stations” where, so often, free hijabs are given out, to the female visitors, and to men, too, if they ask, for their wives, sisters, daughters, girlfriends at home. And what’s more, you are taught how to tie them correctly. “Go ahead, put it on, now you’ve tied it perfectly,” and with that encouragement, you can imagine the girls and women who will want to wear those hijabs. What fun! It’s playing at make-believe — “I could be in Cairo! I could be in Baghdad!” — and what the wearer does not know is that the hijab that she is putting on so eagerly is in many Muslim countries forced on women and girls, which is why this spring in Iran, women tore off their hijabs in a public demonstration of defiance of the mullahs. You might also be given a demonstration, and women visitors a free application, of henna tattoos right on the back of their hands. “How beautiful!” It has nothing to do with Islam, of course, but no one will think to ask about that.
So you’ve had the tour of the Islamic Center, seen the prayer room and, if you are lucky, may have seen Muslims at prayer, an inspiring sight as long as you don’t know what they are saying, you have not just “sampled” but consumed large amounts of food, and “participated in other activities designed to enhance cultural understanding,” aside from the henna and hijabs, samples of Qur’anic calligraphy, perhaps a video of village women weaving oriental rugs, or dervishes whirling, or a man playing on an oud. All part of enhancing “cultural understanding.”
There might be a short talk on the Five Pillars, always a crowd pleaser: Shahada (the Profession of Faith), Salat (the Five Daily Prayers), Zakat (the obligatory charitable giving), Ramadan (the month of daytime fasting), and Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca which all Muslims who can afford it should make at least once in their lifetime). No, you don’t have to write it all down. Your hosts have thoughtfully prepared a pamphlet describing the Five Pillars. “Yes, it’s part of the material we have prepared for all our visitors. Please help yourself to as many as you want, we’re delighted you want to help us inform others.” Nothing in that pamphlet will explain that Zakat is meant only for fellow Muslims, or those who are on their way to converting to Islam. Nothing, either, about the contents of one part of the five daily prayers, that is, the last two verses of the Fatihah, the first sura, which are said 17 times a day and in which the Christians and Jews are cursed.
But then comes what is going to be the most important part of the visit: the Question-and-Answer. Ask Away! says Bill White: “As someone who has attended events designed to forge connections between Muslims and Christians, I can tell you that you don’t have to shy away from asking sensitive questions. They’ll be ready and willing to address them.”
So what do you think you should ask about? What “sensitive questions” will Muslims “be ready and willing to address”? How about these?:
1. While it is true that the Qur’an says “there is no compulsion in religion,” isn’t it true that those who leave Islam may be killed? Doesn’t Muhammed say that “he who leaves his [Islamic] religion, kill him?” And isn’t it true that even today, apostates have been killed in several Muslim countries, not always by the government, but by private individuals enforcing the Sharia?
2. Why is it that under the Sharia daughters inherit half that of men? And why is the testimony of a woman worth half that of a man? What did Muhammad mean when he said that women’s testimony was worth half that of a man because of “a deficiency in their intelligence”?
3. In a famous hadith, Muhammad says “I have been made victorious through terror.” What do you think he meant by that?
4. Muhammad was 54 when he consummated his marriage to nine-year-old Aisha. Muhammad is regarded in Islam as the “Model of Conduct” and the “Perfect Man.” Does that include his betrothal to Aisha when she was six, and the consummation of the marriage when she was nine? Is that the reason that when Ayatollah Khomeini came to power, he reduced the marriageable age of girls to nine years?
5. Why do you think there have been so many monarchies, and despotisms, in Muslim lands? And why so few democracies? Is there something in the political theory of Islam that makes Muslims regard democracies with distrust?
6. What is taqiyya? Why did Muhammad say that “war is deceit”?
7. What was Muhammad’s reaction when he heard of the murders, by three different followers, of Asma bint Marwan, Abu ‘Afak, and Ka’b bin al-Ashraf?
8. Why does Qur’an (5:51) command Muslims not to take Christians and Jews as friends, “for they are friends only with each other”?
9. What is the meaning of “Jihad”? Of “jizyah”? Of “dhimmi”?
10. Why was slavery abolished as late as 1962 in Saudi Arabia and Oman? As late as 1981 in Mauritania? Why in recent years have there been black slaves of Muslim Arabs in the northern Sudan? Why are there still a large number of black slaves and Arab masters in Mali? And in Mauritania, SOS Slavery says that there are up to 600,000 slaves. These are all Muslim countries. Has slavery been regarded as legitimate because Muhammad himself owned slaves?
11. Why can a Muslim man have up to four wives? Why can he divorce a wife simply by repeating the word “talaq” three times? Why is it so much more difficult for a Muslim wife to obtain a divorce than for a husband? Qur’an 4:34 allows a Muslim husband to “beat” a disobedient wife. Some interpret that to mean “beat (lightly).” How do you interpret that verse?
12. Muslims who conquered non-Muslims gave them a choice: to convert to Islam, to be killed, or to live permanently as dhimmis, subject to a host of onerous conditions, of which the best known is the required payment of the Jizyah, a capitation tax which, if other conditions were met, would allow a Christian or Jew to continue to practice his or her own religion. Do you think the dhimmi status was a fair one? Why did Muslim states stop the practice?
13. Do you agree that all people deserve the right to choose their own religion without being subject to any punishment? Shouldn’t Muslims have the same rights as Christians and Jews to leave their original faith for another one, or for none at all? Shouldn’t the choice of a faith be an entirely personal matter?
This is a Baker’s Dozen of questions, each consisting of several parts, the kind of “sensitive questions” that Bill White says Muslims are eager to answer. Did some of them turn out to be just a little too “sensitive,” so that you were not given a straight answer, or perhaps any answer at all? Let Bill White at The Morning Call know how your questions were answered — or not answered — by your Muslim interlocutors. He might find your report enlightening.
Karen says
Awesome list of questions Robert. I’d like to use them in my classes if that’s okay.
greyhound fancier says
One good question I saw recently: “As a Muslim, do you regard me as a kuffar?” That would likely be pretty uncomfortable.
gravenimage says
Agreed, Karen.
One small point–this article is by Hugh Fitzgerald, not Robert Spencer.
Stinkhorn says
Questions noted! Will spend a bit of time linking in some references (to bolster credibility if asked: “where in the koran / sharia etc does it say that”). Would like to compile further (e.g. “Am I a kuffar?”, etc) – but just our of interest, has someone beaten me to it, and already published a book / pamphlet of such questions?
somehistory says
“Ready and willing” to lie and pull the scarf over the eyes of anyone daring tor thinking to ask these questions.
People should ask: How clean are the hands that prepared the food? Some of their “cultural” practices are just plain filthy.
rbla says
Great questions Hugh. But wouldn’t an infidel be taking his life in his hands when asking them in a room full of devout Muslims. Remember that the ‘wergild’ of a Muslim is much higher than ours. So after EM carries your battered body to the hospital don’t expect any arrests or even a mention on the 6 o’clock snooze hour.
mortimer says
Your uninformed, bigoted and vicious comments are shameful. Use some restraint. You are not only sophomoric, but you have not read the Islamic source texts and you are unable to discuss them.
YOUR SPUTTERING, ILL-TERMPERED, LOW-LIFE VITUPERATION is not DISCUSSION… it is verbal spitting.
You make JW’s appear to be of low IQ.
Necrophage says
So what do the source texts actually say? I’ve heard your objection a hundred times before, and not once have I been showed a different interpretation of of the texts.
gravenimage says
You consider calling Muslims bozos to be “vicious”? *Really*?
jihad3tracker says
Hello to Jay & all other readers — If you click on the red hotline it brings up that article and a contact path to the writer. Please take a few minutes to give this clueless moron some truth. If really short of time just send that URL of this JW page — the post by Hugh Fitzgerald.
HugoHackenbush says
Four simple questions to pose to an Islamic apologist:
1. Are there both peaceful and violent passages in the Koran, yes or no?
2. Were the violent passages transmitted mostly after the peaceful passages, yes or no?
3. Is there not in Islam a principle of “abrogation” whereby passages transmitted later have authority and precedence over older passages, yes or no?
4. Is not killing and/or being killed for the cause of Allah an absolutely certain way to gain entrance to paradise, yes or no?
Best to avoid a Koranic “quotefest” of passages and let the Islamic apologist undo himself via the answers or avoidance of answers to the above questions.
Save Europe says
I’d also say about their supposed cuisine –
1) Lebanese – Christian created, Muslim appropriated.
2) Indian – Western version started in Birmingham UK – completely unlike true Indian food. In the UK, the Bangladeshis and Pakistanis have culturally appropriated the Indian Western cuisine and 95 percent of UK Indian restaurants are Bangladeshi.
3) Turkish kebabs/shoarmas – vile.
4) Generic KFC chicken shops – vile and rancid.
5) Generic Pizza Hut and Domino’s or Dhimmino’s – vile and rancid.
Plus they’ll all push you halal meat in all their food without often admitting it.
tedh754 says
Gee, do they invite visitors to view beheading videos?
Indiana Tom says
Well, I want to watch the FGM show.
Diane says
NOTE:
I’m trying to respond to “tedh754′, but I’m not sure if my screen is linking my comments, properly.
Can you imagine if an American went to one of these open house events, and said, “Hey, I’m interested in beheading videos. Do you have any you can show me?”
I wonder how the faithful would respond. It would be a shocking/awkward moment, I believe…. but seriously, how could the faithful possibly respond to a question like that, with any credibility? In many ways, I feel sorry for people who are born into this culture/religion. By default, they’re put in an awkward position, trying to defend their life; their identity, etc., but what they’re trying to defend is so convoluted/crack-pot/awful, that the “cognitive dissonance” in their mind, must be overwhelming, at times. I mean this, in regards to SOME of the faithful. I’m well aware that some of them truly embrace the tenets of their religion…. including, the deadliest verses. However, the people I wonder about, are the ones that have a decent heart, an actual conscience, some common sense. It must be hard to grow up in the midst of this insanity, while sensing something’s very wrong… but trying to “toe the line”, so they aren’t castigated by the community (or worse!). I have ALL THE RESPECT IN THE WORLD, FOR THOSE BRAVE SOULS WHO LEAVE…. BECAUSE I KNOW IT COULD COST THEM THEIR LIVES.
Ginny says
Indeed.
Save Europe says
Can you imagine if an American went to one of these open house events, and said, “Hey, I’m interested in beheading videos. Do you have any you can show me?”
I wonder how the faithful would respond. It would be a shocking/awkward moment, I believe….
********
Just go ahead and do so ? I’ve heard so much taqiyya and a dearth of acceptance over the years, from them, then I’m now politely plain speaking. Whenever they use the racism card, I merely retort ‘you’re NOT a race of people.’ There is NEVER any comeback.
LR says
Hugo….
Very good suggestion …People should take it up…
Mark Spahn (West Seneca, NY) says
A few more questions I would want to ask…
I understand that every Friday during services in the mosque there is a sermon (called a “khutbah”, I’m told). How long does this sermon last? How memorable are these sermons? Let me ask a random member of the congregation — (pointing) You sir/ma’am, what was the subject of last Friday’s sermon? … Okay, you might not remember that far back, but let me ask: Has the imam ever preached a sermon on jinns?
What about jinns? Can you be a good Muslim and disbelieve in jinns? What do we know about jinn demographics? What is family life like among jinns? How many kids does a jinn mother give birth to over her lifetime (Total Fertility Rate)? What is the average lifespan of a jinn? What’s the most popular religion among jinns?
Let’s talk about Islamic humor. I know that that sourpuss the ayatollah Khomeini said “There is no humor in Islam”, but you fun-loving Sunni must have a regular comedy circuit of Muslim comedians. Is there an Islamic Jeff Foxworthy with a routine “You may be a kafir if …”?
At these Islamic fairs, do they ever have a booth where you can have a calligraphy poster made? I would love to get one saying, in ornate Arabic script, “Polytheism — Diversity Is Our Strength!”
Indiana Tom says
So you eat the chili mixed with camel urine with the same hand you wiped your rear end with in the morning?
So where is the heavy petting zoo and the boy play room?
Indiana Tom says
Maybe in Mecca, but things really blossomed when they got to Mediana.
Indiana Tom says
Fat fingered Medina.
rubiconcrest says
Q. I am particularly interested in Mohammad’s 11th wife, Safiyah bint Huyayy. Tell us about her and why he married her? What happened to her husband before he took her as a wife?
mortimer says
Hugh Fitzgereald is really on to something … the culinary jihad which disguises the REALLY PROBLEMS with the argument of POPULATION (more of the idea that ‘WE WILL CRUSH YOU … so GIVE IN NOW’).
In fact, the Muslim birth rates are dropping very DRAMATICALLY in all Muslim-majority countries. They will soon have 2 children or less per family as girls are universally educated.
Save Europe says
It’s not just that M. It’s the number of idiots (and I’m serious, truly) who’ve used the words – ‘but the blokes who work in my curry house are really nice.’ To which I respond – yes, you’re giving the restaurant your money, plus do you really really know them?!?!!!!
gravenimage says
Is Mortimer now saying that Islam is no longer a threat to us?
Lydia Church says
It is Christians who have the correct answers anyway, not muslims, bout God and life!
Yes, this is a typical outreach.
And another double standard; when Christians evangelize the world is not as welcoming!
mortimer says
If anyone is going to one of these FOOD JIHAD events, please bring this list:
Worst things about Islam: 1 No Golden Rule 2 No free speech 3 No democracy 4 Jihad – holy war of supremacism 5 Honour killings 6 Taqiyya – sacred lying 7 Taqlid – group think 8 Circular reasoning 9 Misogyny – repression of women 10 Rape of kafirs as jihad prizes 11 Genocide 12 Ethnic cleansing 13 Al-Walaa wal-Baraa – Islamic apartheid 14 Torture 15 Plundering 16 Cruel and unusual punishments 16 Backwardness – stagnation 17 Violence against women 18 Slavery 19 Discriminatory Sharia law 20 Hatred of the arts 21 No music 22 Pedophilia disguised as child marriage 23 Fifty generations of cousin marriage and genetic defects 24 Cruelty to animals 25 Extortion tax to humiliate disbelievers 26 No historic basis 27 Anti-intellectual obscurantism 28 FGM 29 Arab racism 30 Theocratic totalitarianism 31 Vigilantism 32 Amoral, opportunistic character of Mohammed that all Muslims must imitate 33 Hatred of non-Muslims as an essential doctrine 34 History of Islam includes the genocidal murders of 270 million non-Muslims in Islamic holy wars, terrorism, persecutions and enslavement directed against non-Muslims.
Diane says
Thank you for this list.
gravenimage says
Good post.
Benedict says
“One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.” And one may cook, and cook, and be a crook.
Granddaddy says
I recently watched a video in which a Muslim cleric talked about how, for the first 5 years after they take control of the US, after they’ve replaced the Constitution with Sharia, he suggested they not chop off any hands. For the conviction of theft — that’s what their law says to do to convicted thieves — because he apparently felt we would be too sensitive to that. But apparently, he seems to think that after 5 years of Sharia we would be less sensitive. This is coming from a Muslim cleric from the Middle East somewhere. And he seemed to be sincere. Even though he was smiling at the time. But I’m sure he was serious.
But here’s what he didn’t tell us: that after they chop off the hand, they make a necklace out of it and hang it around your neck.
How’s that go with your chili, Mr. White?
Matthieu Baudin says
“… 5. Why do you think there have been so many monarchies, and despotisms, in Muslim lands? And why so few democracies? Is there something in the political theory of Islam that makes Muslims regard democracies with distrust?..”
Good to raise this more often in light of all the failings to reform politics or to nurture civil society in Muslim lands. Furthermore, the monarchies all – to my knowledge – claim a blood line to Muhammad’s immediate family thus perpetually melding affairs of State with religious adherence.
Terra Nova says
Oh my God, another of those leftists. Who payed for the long dresses , the hats and the food? I bet your taxpayers money did.
Could they have offered us before their good food without the beheadings, floggings, stoning, Sharia, raping forcing young girls to marry old men at 13 years old, mutilations, etc, the list is too long to write it over and over again. And that is how they do it and that is the way you fell for it.
They are so nice, they keep smiling and put a knife into your back while still smiling, and then when you fall, they don’t smile. They are laughing with each other about how smart they were again. Another one!
Stay the fool and see how they will take everything away from you and now that you have seen, what a nice people they are: CONVERT OR GET KILLED. Keep on dreaming and let us know when you wake up to reality. Because of people like you, the western civilisation will be destroyed and you and your families will live happily forever under Sharia. Muslims themselves don’t even know what they are talking about, they only hate and are violent. It is crazy, here in my own country when it is nice weather people want to sit outside on the terraces. The first row is always occupied, why, because people don’t want to sit anymore in the middle , they want their back against the wall, and why? because they do not want to be attacked from the back, they want to be able to oversee everything that happens.
Your friends, who’s duty it is to put fear into the Western people, did a beautiful job, but great food!
Enjoy while it lasts !
gravenimage says
“You Don’t Have To Shy Away From Asking Sensitive Questions… And Their Food Is Awesome”
…………………….
What kind of sensitive questions would the witless Bill White think to ask? Certainly, nothing that Hugh Fitzgerald might have mentioned.
Here’s more from the clueless Bill White:
“Hatred of Muslims rears its ugly head again”
http://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/blog/mc-opi-hatred-of-muslims-white-20180525-story.html
He says that 9/11 had a “poisonous impact it had on the attitudes of some Americans and on the lives of law-abiding American Muslims”.
Apparently he did not care about all those dead Americans.
He also cites the Boston Marathon Bombing as being bad for Muslims–but not for the victims of Muslims, apparently. *Ugh*.