An old (and tiresome) debate appears to have been settled by those best positioned to settle it. According to Andrew Gripp, a former political science professor:
Since 9/11, one of the defining fault lines in American and Western politics has concerned whether jihadist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS are motivated by their religion or by politics – or more specifically, by grievances against Western foreign policy. Some insist that Islamic doctrine is the basis of their violence, while others insist that such groups are not truly Islamic, but are instead using the guise of religion to lash out against Western influence and intervention.
After indicating how “jihadist groups’ political behavior is consistently traceable to their beliefs about what the Quran, hadith, and respected commentaries say they have a divine injunction to do,” Gripp writes:
For years, however, making this case has been a challenge. This is in part because al-Qaeda was intentionally speaking to both sides in this debate. As the scholar Raymond Ibrahim demonstrates in The Al Qaeda Reader, the terrorist group would regularly frame its grievances in political terms when broadcasting its message to the West (so as to insinuate that once the West withdrew, peace would come). Yet when speaking to the Muslim world, the group would make highly sophisticated religious arguments, explaining why its actions, however reprehensible on their face, were in fact justified by a close reading of the holy texts.
This was indeed the main reason I sought to translate and publish al-Qaeda’s internal communiques to fellow Muslims side-by-side with al-Qaeda’s communiques to the West: to show the stark differences in tone and purpose. As I wrote in the book’s preface ten years ago:
This volume of translations [The Al Qaeda Reader], taken as a whole, proves once and for all that, despite the propaganda of al-Qaeda and its sympathizers, radical Islam’s war with the West is not finite and limited to political grievances—real or imagined—but is existential, transcending time and space and deeply rooted in faith.
Now, however, the world need not rely on my translations and can get it straight from the horse’s mouth. In a recent article titled “Why We Hate You & Why We Fight You,” the Islamic State gives six reasons. Reason number one says it all:
We hate you, first and foremost, because you are disbelievers; you reject the oneness of Allah – whether you realize it or not – by making partners for Him in worship, you blaspheme against Him, claiming that He has a son [Christ], you fabricate lies against His prophets and messengers, and you indulge in all manner of devilish practices. It is for this reason that we were commanded to openly declare our hatred for you and our enmity towards you. “There has already been for you an excellent example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, ‘Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone’” (Al-Mumtahanah 4 [i.e., Koran 60:4]). Furthermore, just as your disbelief is the primary reason we hate you, your disbelief is the primary reason we fight you, as we have been commanded to fight the disbelievers until they submit to the authority of Islam, either by becoming Muslims, or by paying jizyah – for those afforded this option [“People of the Book”] – and living in humiliation under the rule of the Muslims [per Koran 9:29].
This is as plain as it gets, not to mention wholly grounded in Islam’s traditional worldview. As has been repeatedly pointed out, if Muslims are persecuting people who share their nationality, ethnicity, culture, and language—on the simple basis that they are Christians—why should there be any surprise, or excuses of “grievances,” when Muslims terrorize the “infidels” of the West?
Reasons two and three of why ISIS hates and fights the West are essentially the same as reason one: Western secularists and atheists are hated and attacked for disbelieving in and living against Allah. Although reason four cites “crimes against Islam,” this is a reference to the “crime” of refusing to submit to Islam’s authority and sensibilities, also known as “Islam’s How Dare You?!” phenomenon.
It is only in reasons five and six that ISIS finally mentions “grievances” against Western foreign policies—only to quickly clarify:
What’s important to understand here is that although some might argue that your foreign policies are the extent of what drives our hatred, this particular reason for hating you is secondary, hence the reason we addressed it at the end of the above list. […] The fact is, even if you were to stop bombing us, imprisoning us, torturing us, vilifying us, and usurping our lands, we would continue to hate you because our primary reason for hating you will not cease to exist until you embrace Islam. Even if you were to pay jizyah and live under the authority of Islam in humiliation, we would continue to hate you [emphasis added].
It is this unrelenting hatred that Westerners cannot comprehend; a hate that compels Muslim husbands to hate their non-Muslim wives, that compels America’s great “friends and allies,” such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to publish government sanctioned decrees proclaiming their hate for America.
And it was always this hate that fueled al-Qaeda’s jihad—not grievances. All of the Koran verses that call for enmity against non-Muslims have been repeatedly cited by al-Qaeda in its Arabic writings to Muslims. Ayman Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s current leader, wrote a 60 page treatise devoted to delineating how Islam commands Muslims to hate non-Muslims (see “Loyalty and Enmity,” The Al Qaeda Reader, p. 63-115.)
Osama bin Laden once wrote:
As to the relationship between Muslims and infidels, this is summarized by the Most High’s Word: “We renounce you. Enmity and hate shall forever reign between us—till you believe in Allah alone” [Qur’an 60:4 referenced above in ISIS’s recent publication]. So there is an enmity, evidenced by fierce hostility from the heart. And this fierce hostility—that is, battle—ceases only if the infidel submits to the authority of Islam, or if his blood is forbidden from being shed [i.e., a dhimmi], or if Muslims are at that point in time weak and incapable [in which case, bin Laden later clarifies, they should dissemble (taqiyya) before the infidels by, say, insisting the conflict is about “foreign policy,” nothing more]. But if the hate at any time extinguishes from the heart, this is great apostasy!… Such, then, is the basis and foundation of the relationship between the infidel and the Muslim. Battle, animosity, and hatred—directed from the Muslim to the infidel—is the foundation of our religion. (The Al Qaeda Reader, p. 43).
Yet, in every communique he issued to the West, bin Laden stressed that al-Qaeda’s war was entirely based on Western foreign policies detrimental to Islam: if the West were to eliminate these, terrorism would cease. This rhetoric was accepted at face value by many so-called “experts” (such as ex-CIA agent Michael Scheuer, author of Imperial Hubris) and became the default answer to the tired question, “why do they hate us?” As late as 2014 U.S. President Obama invoked the “grievance” meme concerning ISIS.
Of course, it was one thing for Western leaders to accept and disseminate al-Qaeda’s lies concerning “grievances,” and another thing for them to continue doing so now, in light of ISIS’ open confessions concerning the true nature of the jihad. Any Western leader, analyst, or “expert” who at this late hour continues peddling the “grievance” narrative falls within the ever growing ranks of fools and liars.
Thank you Raymond. I think you demonstrate that the spirit of truth and life never gives up. Your reward will be great.
We need many more people like Raymond Ibrahim. Great job, Raymond.
ISIS certainly references the negative attribute of hatred quite a bit. Their hatred is of the humane, of the Christ-like, and of the liberty of the West. And yet, pinheads like Andrew Gripp think that there is a faultline in how Islam can be percieved. Maybe that is why he is a “former” political science professor. One need only read their corpus and see their works to know that they are very emphatic about their hate.
Yes, one could “read their corpus” to learn the hatefulness found in Islam.
But here’s a summary of the passages pointing to the basis of Islamic violence: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/violence.aspx
Thank you. Your essay explodes the lies from the voices of violent Islam using their own counter pronouncements.
We have here a duality that alone discredits these voices, although they may not see so due to the holy texts of Islam justifying two faces of Islam (hate and peace) as a means to spread Islam. Thus, Islam as a mass belief system remains intellectually unworthy for its duplicity. The subterfuge inherent in Islam contributes to its inferiority as an honest response to the human condition.
This position of Islam in effect justifies means to an end without restraint. Hence, we observe the most barbaric violent practices used by the Islamic extremists to murder others in the name of Islam.
As well, Islam openly disregards human dignity by marking Jews and non-Muslims for death, as commanded by the Koran, for following a different religious path. This one position, if nothing else, gives the lie to Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance.
Islam holds out not an olive branch to others but an active sword for winnowing all who live by another belief system.
Isn’t it something that our leaders, and especially military and academics, don’t have a clue! so many years after 9/11 and even with the attacks coming more often now by violent jihadists?! Many chose ignorance and think they will be safe. Look at the Middle East, Africa, S.E. Asia and not one of them who have chosen to be useful idiots have asked themselves the question – “There must have been other useful idiots to enable Islam’s growth in those areas,… where are they?”
We need many Raymond Ibrahims who have the guts and the foresight to tell the truth like it is. Thank you, Raymond.
Great article! It goes to the heart of the matter. The whole truth always need to be constantly expounded and repeatedly! Society has short memories.
The ideological and foundational sources of terrorism are Islam and Prophet Muhammad. The seeds of terror are to be found in the Quran, the hadiths and in the Sira.
Therefore, the only practical and effective to protect Western civilization is to ban Islam and Muslim migration. I know it sounds extreme, but its absolutely necessary!
There were indeed some very good Nazis who risked their lives to save Jews during World War II. This doesn’t mean that Nazism or Hitler are good. The ideological sources for Nazi atrocities are Mein Kemph and Hitler.
Similarly, there are some very nice and good Muslims. However, Muhammad and Islam are inherently violent and evil.
The majority of Germans during World War II, many of them were members of the Nazi party, were nice and good people. They just closed a blind eye to Hitler’s atrocities and were in denial. They did their best to just close their eyes, ears and mouth to Nazi atrocities. They didn’t like these atrocities. Most of these people were not personally involved in any wartime crime. Because of their loyalty, patriotism and emotions, Germans just could not bring themselves to condemn Hitler’s atrocities!
The situation is exactly the same throughout the entire Muslim world! There’s just no mass movement against religious violence (jihad), the discriminations against women and non-Muslims and Sharia. Its a case of the silent majority being in denial! The parallel in the Muslim world and in nazi Germany is remarkably similar.
When you get to the point that you come up with conspiracy theories like that the Jews bombed the towers in New York and told all the Jewish employees to leave the buildings beforehand, or that the Illuminati are going to bomb the London Olympics and try and put the blame on Muslims, that’s not just a case of being in denial but you are basically engaging in cover-up and propaganda. So, I am sorry but from where I stand it doesn’t look as innocent as you make it sound.
Muslims around the world say that Israel has no right to exist. Israel is the no 1 target for all Islamic terrorists. This hatred of Jews comes directly from Prophet Muhammad.
MURDERING CHILDREN.
Initially, Prophet Muhammad forbade the killing of children in war but later he abrogated this and permitted the murder of children.
[Muhammad said] “Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah. Do not be deceitful with the spoils; do not be treacherous, nor mutilate nor kill children.” (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992)
Look at this later revelation. This abrogates/cancels out the earlier verse.
It is reported on the authority of Sa’b b. Jaththama that the Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him), when asked about the women and children of the polytheists being killed during the night raid, said: “They are from them.” (Sahih Muslim 4322, see also Bukhari 52:256)
Book 019, Number 4321:
It is reported on the authority of Sa’b b. Jaththama that the Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him), when asked about the women and children of the polytheists being killed during the night raid, said: They are from them.
________________________________________
Book 019, Number 4322:
It is narrated by Sa’b b. Jaththama that he said (to the Holy Prophet): Messenger of Allah, we kill the children of the polytheists during the night raids. He said: They are from them.
Book 019, Number 4323:
Sa’b b. Jaththama has narrated that the Prophet (may peace be upon him) asked: What about the children of polytheists killed by the cavalry during the night raid? He said: They are from them.
Muhammad drew a distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim children and implied that it would be permissible to kill a child who has no prospect of accepting Islam:
The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used not to kill the children, so thou shouldst not kill them unless you could know what Khadir had known about the child he killed, or you could distinguish between a child who would grow up to he a believer (and a child who would grow up to be a non-believer), so that you killed the (prospective) non-believer and left the (prospective) believer aside. (Sahih Muslim 4457)
MURDERING AND TORTURING OF OLD PEOPLE
Prophet Muhammad had no compunction for murdering or torturing old people.
Quran (1:1)
According to his biographers, Muhammad had his men butcher at least three elderly persons: Umm Qirfa, Abu Afak and an unnamed man who refused to prostrate himself at the Kaaba.
After assuming military superiority in Arabia, Muhammad sent his adopted son, Zayd bin Haritha, on a raid against a tribe that wanted nothing to do with Islam. They resisted the first attempt to force them into the Muslim fold, and so Muhammad sent Zayd back, where he was successful in killing the men and capturing the women as they were attempting to flee with their children.
The captured women included Umm Qirfa:
She was a very old woman, wife of Malik. Her daughter [and another] were also taken. Zayd ordered Qays to kill Umm Qirfa and he killed her cruelly by putting a rope between her legs and to two camels and driving them until they rent her in two). (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 980)
The old woman’s daughter was brought back to Mecca along with the other prisoners, where she was awarded to her captor as a “prize.” This was before Muhammad noticed her:
I drove them along until I brought them to Abu Bakr who bestowed that girl upon me as a prize. So we arrived in Medina. I had not yet disrobed her when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) met me in the street and said: “Give me that girl.” (Sahih Muslim 4345)
After having been “killed cruelly” the old woman was spared the sight of her daughter passed between lustful men, which included the prophet of Islam himself.
The eminent scholar, Sir William Muir, notes:
We read of no disapprobation expressed by the Prophet at the inhumane treatment of Omm Kirfa, and are therefore warranted in holding him to be an accomplice in the ferocious act. (The Life of Mahomet)
Muhammad also ordered the death of an elderly man named Abu Afak. This occurred less than two years after he had arrived at Medina. Abu Afak was said to be 120 years old. His “crime” was to compose satirical poetry about Muhammad in protest of the many assassinations that the prophet of Islam had ordered.
For “showing disaffection,” Abu Afak himself became Muhammad’s next victim:
The apostle said, “Who will deal with this rascal for me?” Whereupon [a follower] went forth and killed him. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 995).
The official reason is that Abu Afak, “gave the lie to Allah’s religion.” The assassin is said to have mocked his victim by thrusting the knife into the body while saying, “take that, Abu Afak, in spite of your age.” (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 995)
Muhammad later killed a woman (and mother of five) for protesting the death of Afak. That the self-proclaimed prophet of Allah had to murder those who spoke out about him, rather then countering their words with argument, speaks poorly as to the legitimacy of his claims.
Yet another elderly man was murdered following Muhammad’s order to kill any non-Muslim who remained in Mecca following his capture of the city in 630. (The early part of the Qur’an’s ninth chapter commands the slayings). The man’s death is recorded in Bukhari:
The Prophet recited Suratan-Najm (103) at Mecca and prostrated while reciting it and those who were with him did the same except an old man who took a handful of small stones or earth and lifted it to his forehead and said, “This is sufficient for me.” Later on, I saw him killed as a non-believer. (Bukhari 19:173)
All the atrocities of ISIS were also done by Prophet Muhammad. He is the role model for all Muslims and the most perfect of Allah’s creation. Muhammad and Islam are the ideological sources for terrorism. The seeds of terror are to be found in the Quran, the Sira and in the Hadiths.
Thank you brother Raymond for being a voice of reason in an age when reason has been thrown out the window.
Thank you Raymond you are a true light in the darkness. Never compromising on any truth you push forward full steam ahead relentlessly always, undeterred in your zeal to expose Islamic hatred/ persecution and murder of Christians (all ‘ infidels’) and Islamist trickery deceit and supremacy goals.
Islam has never in it’s 1400 year history been able to conquer more easily than it is doing today in the West. Which they attribute to allah, but is really only due to little resistance of weak , incompetent or even complicit Western Politicians and media, including scandalously enough many church people !
Why most of them seem to keep rigidly to this PC suicidal path to destruction is beyond me, as if they have caught some contagious disease, or maybe they have come under the biblically prophecied ‘ delusion’ or ‘ blinded’?
Go to YouTube and watch: Ex-Muslim to Obama: Islam is the disease, terrorists are just symptoms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7v5xucCsNs
Shariah is the strategy and terrorism is one tactic to reach it.
What is a Caliphate and how would it affect America if it was imposed here? A Caliphate is an Islamic empire dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries.
Who wrote this, when and why?
The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the Laws of their prophet [Mohammed], that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every musselman [muslim] who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.”
This statement was a part of a March 28, 1786, letter from John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, the United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Continental Congress, concerning their conversation with Tripoli’s to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman as to why his pirates/terrorists hijacked our merchant ships, stole the ships and cargo while holding the sailors for ransom. (Source: Founders:
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-09-02-0315
http://memory.loc.gov/master/mss/mtj/mtj1/005/0400/0430.jpg
http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~argyll/From%20JOHN%20ADAMS%20And%20THOMAS%20JEFFERSON.pdf
Thank you for sharing this powerful testament from Br Rashid.
This statement from 1998 by Zawahiri, bin Laden and others explains why there is a “Jihad against Americans and Crusaders”: fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/980223-fatwa.htm