In case you missed it, here is Andrew Harrod’s review of my new book The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS, which you can order here.
“Robert Spencer Exposes Islam’s Phony Peace,” by Andrew E. Harrod, The Stream, August 7, 2018:
“I have been made victorious with terror.” Muhammad, Islam’s prophet, reportedly said this before his death in 632. Robert Spencer’s new book The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS puts facts behind the claim.
Deadly Doctrines
Spencer writes of violence throughout Islam’s 1,400 years. Jihad is a basic tenet of Islam. Islam demands jihad warfare. Violent jihad is the best act for a Muslim.
This was seen in Islam’s conquests in its first century, which were unequaled in history. Mainstream Muslims were never concerned about human equality. “There was no Era of Good Feeling, no Golden Age of Tolerance,” writes Spencer. Centuries later, it’s still this way.
There were jihad horrors like the 1453 Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (now Istanbul). Tamerlane’s 1398 Mongol invasion of India was also bloody. He had 100,000 Hindu prisoners killed in one day.
Muslims didn’t just wage jihad against non-Muslims. Tamerlane, for instance, beat the Ottomans at the 1402 Battle of Ankara. The defeated sultan’s wife then became a naked table servant.
Also, Jihad slavery of non-Muslims has been prevalent in places like Eastern Europe. The name “Slav” derives from the Arabic word “saqlab” for slave. In 1842, a British consul general shocked Moroccans by suggesting limits to slavery.
Muslim Tyranny
Muslim tyranny changed people. Conversion to Islam was a means of escape. Istanbul was 50 percent Christian even in 1914, but today is 99.99 percent Muslim.
Muhammad’s example showed that truth was unimportant. Ottoman rulers could break treaties according to a 1571 fatwa. The only exception to war was peace with non-Muslims when it benefitted Muslims. Otherwise war was required.
Further, Spencer debunks interfaith myths about Muslim Spain. Events like the 1066 Granada pogrom happened. What’s more, after the 1086 Battle of Sagrajas, Muslims were called to prayer atop piled Christian heads.
Spencer also denies unique Western self-loathing shown by the Crusades. The Crusades’ counterattack defended against jihad, despite crimes like Jerusalem’s 1096 sack. By contrast, a Muslim 1180s traveler found Muslims in Crusader lands living better than in Islamic areas.
As with Islamic Spain, Spencer offers facts concerning the Crusaders’ famed opponent Saladin. Saladin’s myth supports Islam’s nobility. Yet he killed Christian captives defeated at the 1187 Battle of Hattin. He later also thought of killing Jerusalem’s Christians, but enslaved and ransomed them instead.
Hear No Jihad, See No Jihad
…Muslim raiders attacked Rome in 846. Leo IV began as pope the next year by improving Rome’s defenses. In contrast, today Pope Francis calls Islam peaceful and condemns walls.
Spencer also notes Pope Benedict XVI’s 2006 address in Regensburg, Germany. His quoting of 15th-century Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus appeared “Islamophobic.” Modern listeners are much more naïve than in Manuel’s time.
Spencer criticizes the Catholic Church’s abandonment of centuries of counter-jihad leadership. The Vatican does not remind the world “how Islam had been set against Europe for fourteen hundred years.” It does not warn people that “mass Muslim migration into Europe might not be such a good idea.”
Spencer writes that elites have misinformed the public about jihad. This lack of responsibility is unique in history. Meanwhile Muslim Brotherhood organizations have for decades misled America.
Spencer examines the bad results following Al Qaeda’s September 11, 2001, attacks. He condemns President George W. Bush’s remarks at Washington, DC’s Islamic Center six days later. The concession he made would have shamed past Byzantine emperors.
Bush’s companions that day included Abdurahman Alamoudi. This prominent Muslim fake “moderate” had never hid his support for jihad. He later went to jail for terror financing.
Whitewashed Islam
Politically correct whitewashes of Islam have blinded officials, Spencer notes. “America was going to war against jihadists while forbidding itself to understand jihad.” President Barack Obama only made things worse. The leader of the free world’s 2012 United Nations speech hinted at Islamic blasphemy bans.
For too long Spencer has been alone in warning of jihad. This is all the more reason why his richly researched book deserves a wide audience.
gravenimage says
Excellent stuff from Andrew Harrod. He is right about the savagery of Islam, as well as the denial over its danger and the whitewash of Islam in the West.
Anjuli Pandavar says
Has any Islamic apologist stuck their head above the parapet yet?
Walter Sieruk says
This book by Robert Spencer should serve as wake up call for many Americans to become aware and informed about the dangers of Islam’s jihad , both violent and stealth jihad.
Nevertheless, there are and still will continue to be some sincere but terribly naïve people who feel that they can change vicious and violent way of thinking of a jihadist Muslim by showing him kindness and even love. Those naive but well-meaning people express that idea they have by the words “Have you hugged ad terrorist today?” The harsh reality is that the only reason the a jihadist would let that person to get so close to him, as to embrace in a “hug” is to get close enough to literally stab that person in the back. This may be yet better explained by one of the fables of Aesop which is entitled THE FARMER AND THE VIPER. So here it is “Once in ancient Greece there was a farmer outside on a very cold winter day walking in if field to make sure that everything is in order and as it should be. The farmer came upon a half-froze viper about to die from the bitter cold. The kind yet foolish farmer took pity on the viper and in an action of kindness put it his is vest jacket to warms and up and thus save its life. The viper warned up revived and then bit farmer through the vest jacket. So the kind but foolish farmer died a slow painful death in awful agony because he felt sorry of the viper and saved it life.” The point to this fable is the no amount of kindness will chance an evil and dangerous nature.
Those jihadist have they dangerous and evil nature because they are hopelessly infected by hard core non-watered down Qu ‘ran based violent jihad Islam.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
“Agents trace bomb found in mailbox at Soros’ N.Y. home”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bomb-soros/suspected-explosive-device-found-at-george-soros-new-york-home-idUSKCN1MX0AQ
George, you can’t continue to do your malfeasance from the shadows. The world knows what you’re up to. Now the crazies are after you. What goes around, comes around.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
“Watch–Louie Gohmert: ‘Perhaps Soros’ is ‘Funding’ Caravan for Midterms”
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/10/22/watch-louie-gohmert-perhaps-soros-is-funding-caravan-for-midterms/
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
“MS-13 Gang Members Amongst ‘Migrant Caravan’”
https://www.infowars.com/ms-13-gang-members-amongst-migrant-caravan/
gravenimage says
Yep.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
“A SECOND migrant caravan heads for the US: 1,000 Hondurans have crossed into Guatemala following the first group of 7,000 into Mexico”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6307043/SECOND-migrant-caravan-1-000-heading-following-first.html
FYI says
Maybe a complimentary copy should be sent to pope francis for a reading.
On second thoughts,an Audio book might be better:we know he has reading problems.
{His “reading” of the koran showed it to be”opposed to every form of violence”}
Even the Gospel does not make that claim!
“I don’t read the Bible.I listen to it”
Pope francis tweet
An Audio Book for Christmas for pope francis…..
infidel says
The book exposes Islam stark and naked….Still our ruling elites choose to be blind to this pestilence..
Frank says
I’ve read @ half of Robert Spencer’s books, subscribe to the JW newsletter and am in my 2nd reading of this book. It should be in the hands of our President and his cabinet. Surely, that can be accomplished. Otherwise, we’re all blowing in each other’s like-minded ears.