Habakkuk 1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. -LORD God
Muslims often complain of misconceptions about their religion in the West. We took a hard look. The most prevalent myths of Islam are the ones held by Muslims and Western apologists. The only exception may be the misconception that all Muslims are alike. They are not of course. But many Muslims apparently believe this as well. This is why there are various factions insisting that they are true Muslims. Those who disagree with them are either infidels, hijackers, or hypocrites. Don’t be fooled! Hear the myths but know the truth.
Islam Means “Peace”
The Myth: Muslim apologists sometimes claim that the root word of Islam is “al-Salaam,” which is “peace” in Arabic.
The Truth: An Arabic word has only one root. The root word for Islam is “al-Silm,” which means “submission” or “surrender.”
There is no disagreement about this among Arabic or Islamic scholars. al-Silm (submission) does not mean the same thing as al-Salaam (peace).
Submission and peace can be very different concepts. But peace can be brought about by forcing others into submission.
As the modern-day Islamic scholar, Ibrahim Sulaiman, puts it, “Jihad is not inhumane. Despite its necessary violence and bloodshed, its ultimate desire is peace which is protected and enhanced by the rule of law.”
In truth, the Quran not only calls Muslims to submit to Allah, it also orders them to subdue people of other religions until they are in a full state of submission to Islamic rule. This has inspired the aggressive history of Islam, its military, and demographic success in conquering other cultures.
Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
1 Timothy 1:10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine…
Slavery… Does Islam condone slavery? Does Islamic teaching allow Muslim men to keep women as sex slaves?
Islam neither ignores nor condemns slavery. In fact, a large part of the Sharia is dedicated to the practice. Muslims are encouraged to live in the way of Muhammad, who was a slave owner and trader. He captured slaves in battle. He had sex with his slaves. And he instructed his men to do the same.
The Quran actually devotes more verses to making sure that Muslim men know they can keep women as sex slaves (4 verse) than it does to telling them to pray five times a day (zero verses).
Quran 33:50 O Prophet! We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers; and those (slaves) whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom Allah has assigned to thee.
This is one of several personal-sounding verses “from Allah” narrated by Muhammad, in this case allowing a virtually unlimited supply of sex partners. Other Muslims are restricted to four wives, but they may also have sex with any number of slaves, following the example of their prophet.
Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Titus 1:6 …namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
Quran 23:5-6 …who abstain from sex, except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess…
This verse permits the slave-owner to have sex with his slaves. See also Quran 70:29-30. The Quran is a small book, so if Allah used valuable space to repeat the same point four times, sex slavery must be very important to him.
Muhammad was relatively reticent on matters of human compassion and love.
Quran 4:24 And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess.
Even sex with married slaves is permissible, a reference to war booty, of which slaves were a part.
Quran 8:69 But (now) enjoy what ye took in war, lawful and good.
The Muslim slave master may enjoy his “catch” because (according to verse 71) “Allah gave you mastery over them.”
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Mark 12:30-31 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” -Jesus
Breeding slaves based on fitness…
Quran 24:32 And marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and your female slaves…
Quran 2:178 O ye who believe! Retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the murdered; the freeman for the freeman, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female.
The message of this verse, which prescribes the rules of retaliation for murder, is that all humans are not created equal. The human value of a slave is less than that of a free person. And a woman’s worth is also distinguished from that of a man.
Leviticus 19:15 You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
Quran 16:75 Allah sets forth the parable (of two men: one) a slave under the dominion of another; He has no power of any sort; and (the other) a man on whom we have bestowed goodly favors from ourselves, and he spends thereof (freely), privately and publicly: are the two equal? By no means; praise be to Allah.
Yet another confirmation that the slave is not equal to the master. In this case, it is plain that the slave owes his status to Allah’s will. According to Quran 16:71, the owner should be careful about insulting Allah by bestowing Allah’s gifts on slaves, those whom the god of Islam has not favored.
Romans 3:22 …the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction…
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
The following is from an American soldier who has served in the Middle East.
Here’s TEN reasons, I’m always saying: “ISLAM” The RELIGION OF PEACE my A$$…
#1) 18,000 deadly attacks committed explicitly in the name of Islam in just the last ten years. Other religions combined for perhaps a dozen or so.
#2) Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, had people killed for insulting him or for criticizing his religion. This included women. Muslims are told to emulate the example of Muhammad.
#3) Muhammad said in many places that he has been “ordered by Allah to fight men until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger.” In the last nine years of his life, he ordered no less than 65 military campaigns to do exactly that. Muhammad inspired his men to war with the basest of motives, using captured loot, sex, and a gluttonous paradise as incentives. He beheaded captives, enslaved children, and raped women captured in battle. Again, Muslims are told to emulate the example of Muhammad.
#4) After Muhammad died, the people who lived with him and knew his religion best immediately fell into war with each other. Fatima, Muhammad’s favorite daughter, survived the early years among the unbelievers at Mecca safe and sound. Yet, she died of stress from the persecution of fellow Muslims only six months after her father died. She even miscarried Muhammad’s grandchild after having her ribs broken by the man who became the second caliph. It was this same caliph, Umar, who ordered the death of the first convert to Islam at Medina, an elderly leader who became a close companion to Muhammad and proved his worth in battle. Sa’d ibn Ubadah was killed after a failed bid to be caliph. Fatima’s husband Ali, who was the second convert to Islam and was raised like a son to Muhammad, fought a civil war against an army raised by Aisha, Muhammad’s favorite wife – and one whom he had said was a “perfect woman.” 10,000 Muslims were killed in a single internal battle waged less than 25 years after Muhammad’s death. Three of the first four Muslim rulers (caliphs) were murdered. All of them were among Muhammad’s closest companions. The third caliph was killed by allies of the son of the first (who was murdered by the fifth caliph a few years later, then wrapped in the skin of a dead donkey and burned). The fourth caliph (Ali) was stabbed to death after a bitter dispute with the fifth. The fifth caliph went on to poison one of Muhammad’s two favorite grandsons. The other grandson was later beheaded by the sixth caliph. The infighting and power struggles between Muhammad’s family members, closest companions and their children only intensified with time. Within 50 short years of Muhammad’s death, even the Kaaba, which had stood for centuries under pagan religion, lay in ruins from internal Muslim war… And that’s just the fate of those within the house of Islam!
#5) Muhammad directed Muslims to wage war on other religions and bring them into submission to Islam. Within the first few decades following his death, his Arabian companions invaded and conquered Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Zoroastrian lands. A mere 25 years after Muhammad’s death, Muslim armies had captured land and people within the modern borders of over 28 countries outside of Saudi Arabia.
#6) Muslims continued their Jihad against other religions for 1400 years, checked only by the ability of non-Muslims to defend themselves. To this day, not a week goes by that Islamic fundamentalists do not attempt to kill Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists explicitly in the name of Allah. None of these other religions are at war with each other.
#7) Islam is the only religion that has to retain its membership by formally threatening to kill anyone who leaves. This is according to the example set by Muhammad.
#8) Islam teaches that non-Muslims are less than fully human. Muhammad said that Muslims can be put to death for murder, but that a Muslim could never be put to death for killing a non-Muslim.
#9) The Quran never once speaks of Allah’s love for non-Muslims, but there are hundreds of verses that speak of Allah’s cruelty toward and hatred of non-Muslims.
#10) “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!” (The last words from the cockpit of Flight 93.)
