The Muslims at the mosque will be happy to explain all the things that Islam shares with Christianity. They will claim — either just before or just after the Five Pillars are discussed — that the root of the word “Islam” means “peace,” confident that no one will contradict them. They will explain what “sura” and “ayat” mean, and how the suras are arranged in the Qur’an. They will offer some dates for the birth, death, and major events — chiefly battles — in the life of Muhammad. Then it’s onto the Qur’an, and the two verses that are always trotted out by apologists for Islam. The first is “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). Visitors will take this verse at face value. Why should they question it? They will not know that there is most definitely “compulsion in religion” in Islam for both Muslims and for non-Muslims. For Muslims, the compulsion is to remain in the faith: apostates from Islam can be executed. Muhammad himself said in a hadith: “Whoever changes his [Islamic] religion, kill him.” A possible death sentence for apostasy certainly constitutes “compulsion in religion.” As for non-Muslims, they have three possible options when they live under Muslim rule: death, or conversion to Islam, or the permanent status of dhimmi, which requires them to submit to a host of onerous conditions, including payment of the tax known as the Jizyah, which assures their safety from attacks by Muslims. Many people over the last 1,400 years have chosen to convert to Islam not out of conviction, but in order to escape from those harsh conditions imposed on dhimmis. That pressure to convert constitutes, again, compulsion in religion.
The second Qur’anic verse that the visitors to this Texas mosque are likely to be given is the abridged version of 5:32: “If any one slew a person… it would be as if he slew a whole people; and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of a whole people…” This seems on its face to be a statement against murder. But the full version of 5:32 reveals it to be a statement about when the killing of a person is justified, and it is directed not to everyone, but only to the Children of Israel:
“On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”
In other words, far from condemning killing, 5:32 sets out the reasons that justify such killing: “for murder or for spreading mischief (fitna) in the land.” “Spreading mischief in the land” can amply accommodate whatever Muslims want it to mean; one kind of mischief is opposing the will of Allah. When 5:32 is read together with 5:33, which gruesomely describes the punishment to be meted out to those who “murder or spread mischief in the land,” that is, crucifixion and “the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides,” the meaning of 5:32 becomes clearer still.
Do you think any of the visitors to the mosque would know enough to ask about the 109 Qur’anic verses that command Muslims to engage in violent Jihad? Or enough to ask about the verses that instruct Muslims to “strike terror” in the hearts of the Infidels? And how could they possibly imagine that the Qur’an describes Unbelievers as “the most vile of creatures,” especially given the warm welcome they have received? Do you think anyone mentioned the word “dhimmi” during that open house? Don’t be silly.
So the evening will come to a close. The visitors will have learned, they allow themselves to believe, a lot about Islam. They will bring home those cards, with their names written on them in Arabic by a real calligrapher — their new friend Osama Qureshi — to put up on their walls. The girls will be proudly wearing the hijabs they’ve been given, and that they now know how to fold correctly.
And they learned so much.
All the visitors are enthusiastic about the Open House, and the wonderful food they’ve eaten, and the recipes they’ve been given, and the unfailing kindness of their hosts. And they’ve learned…Well, let’s see. The Five Pillars are Shahada, and Salat, and Zakat, and Hajj , and…what’s the fifth one? Oh yes, Sawm. That’s five. The Five Pillars. And Mecca, you turn toward Mecca to pray. It’s in Arabia. And Islam means “peace.” The Qur’an is just like our Bible. There is no compulsion in religion in Islam. You can believe what you like. No one forces you. That’s a relief. And Muslims learn that if you kill one man, it’s as if you killed the whole world. That’s what the Qur’an says. That’s good to know. And Islam is one of the three great abrahamic faiths. Jesus is a revered prophet in Islam, a close second to Muhammad. Sounds like he’s almost equal, in fact. And Mary has a whole chapter of the Qur’an devoted to her. Muslims, Christians, and Jews got along so well in the old days, especially in Spain, so why can’t they all get along again today? Nothing’s holding them back, except the tiny handful of extremists on both sides whipping up bad feelings. That’s plenty to learn in one evening. How much more can there be? They gave me a Qur’an to keep, but after tonight I’m not sure I really need to read it. I think I’ve got the basics pretty much down. Besides, I like to get my information from Muslims themselves, straight from the horse’s mouth, not from a book that I probably wouldn’t understand. If I wanted to learn about Christianity, wouldn’t I talk to Christians? Maybe I’ll dip into it next summer. Gosh, that curried lamb was good. And the baklava — out of this world! Now I have my name in Arabic calligraphy to tape to my door. My roommate told me I probably wouldn’t learn much of anything at this Mosque Open House. But he majors in Western Civ. What does he know?
john cannon says
A very accurate description.
As if we didn’t know..
Frederick King says
Will they put the crescent moon on those building domes next ?
FYI says
{Elderly,diminutive Jewish lady at the islamic food counter ,”allah’s bounty”}
“Curried lamb?Yik..Not to my taste.Do you have any… Chopped Liver? ..Chicken soup with Kreplach?…I’ll bet you never have Matzo balls?Does your moon god allah not like Matzo Balls?Who doesn’t love Matzo balls?Any Israeli Beer?Too much to expect…huh?..What have you muslims got against Jewish cuisine:I thought this was {multicult} islamic diversity evening where infidels are warmly welcomed and the Truth about islam is cunningly hidden to deceive the gullible….oy vey,oy vey!”
Butch says
Oh, she’s soooo breathtakingly beautiful, both physically and spiritually. I want to soooo bad make her my 4th wife.
m says
The verse “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256) refers to the REVERSE of what one assumes. K2.256 refers to Arab mothers who had vowed to raise their children in Judaism. Mohammed insisted that the mothers could BREAK THEIR OATHS and bring the children to Islam. To put it simply, “IT ISN’T OATH-BREAKING WHEN MUSLIMS DO IT.”
Clear now? You’re welcome.
gravenimage says
Hugh Fitzgerald: Mosque Open House at Texas A&M (Part Three)
……………….,.
More steaming loads of Taqiyya..
fredoniahead says
Speaking of “compulsion in religion”.
ibn Kathir’s commentary tells us that this verse has been abrogated by the sword verses, such as 9:73, 9:123, 48:16.
Be careful with ibn Kathir’s tafsir. Those online will likely leave out the part where he says 2:256 is abrogated.
It is harder to find, but get the one translated by Sheikh Muhammad Nasib Ar-Rafa’i and published by Al-Firdous. It is worth having if you collect these books for research.
I found this out from IslamCritiqued. A brilliant young Christian fellow who has the latest anti-jihad website.
Check him out on YouTube when you get a chance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxheJas1hGM
In Muslim Book 19, Hadith 4361 (USC-MSA) Muhammad ties a poor slob to the pillar of the mosque until he converts to Islam.
That kind of sounds like compulsion to me?.
ninetyninepct says
The word “peace” in Islam means the point where there is no opposition to Islam or sharia. We humans have to be vary careful when referring to words and phrases Muslims use. Deception. They have different meanings in Muslim speech and thought. Taqiyya, tawriya, kitman – all mean deception.
My first question to any Muslim is to ask “I am an infidel. Why do you want to kill me?” Invariably they respond saying they don’t, that the words are taken out of context. My answer? In that case, you have to die for lying about the words of the Koran.