Muslim-American: Impossible!

The residents of Minnesota’s 5th district recently elected the first Muslim to Congress. Keith Ellison (D-Minn), a defense attorney, won on a platform of anti-war and tolerance. He campaigned heavily against the war in Iraq and has put environmental and health care issues at the top of his list of priorities. Is he on the level? You’ve got to be kidding! I believe he may very well be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I find it curious that he was associated with the Nation of Islam (an anti-semitic organization led by Louis Farrakhan) and received financing from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (an organization with suspected ties to Hamas). A Muslim in American government is dangerous because of the requirements of the Islamic faith. The Muslim does not recognize and has no loyalty to any non-Islamic government. Remember that!

Almost immediately after 9-11-01 prominent Americans, our president included, assured the world that the United States respects Islam and recognizes that it is a religion of peace, tolerance and forgiveness. The despicable act of war against our country was perpetrated by radical Islamic extremists who use Islam to achieve their political agenda. If you believe that, you’re kidding yourself!

The Muslims who attacked this country on 9-11 are actually fighting a religious war! This has nothing to do with politics or a political agenda. These men are practicing Islam exactly as Muhammad commanded. It is the misguided people who believe Islam is a religion of peace who need to wake up!

Before I really get into this, lets get a couple of things straight. The word “Islam” means submission. The word “Muslim” means one who submits to Allah. The “Quran” is Islam’s holy book and is divided into 114 chapters called “Surahs.” The Quran was written by Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, in the early seventh century. The word “jihad” means struggle and in a practical sense it is “holy war” or “religious terrorism.”

In his book, Islam and Terrorism, Mark Gabriel tells us that there are three kinds of Muslims:

• The secular Muslim believes in the nice parts of Islam, but he rejects the call to jihad.
• The traditional Muslim comes in two types:
  • First are those who study Islam, know it and practice it, but have a stumbling block with the concept of jihad
  • Second are those who know that jihad is fighting non-Muslims, but they don’t take action because they don’t have the ability, are concerned about what might happen to their lives, family or children if they join a fundamentalist group or they want to live a nice life on earth instead of dying
• The fundamentalist Muslim are those who perpetuate terrorism and their goal is to practice Islam as Muhammad did. We call them radicals, they are practicing true Islam!

Islam is a religion based on works. Basically, there are five requirements that must be met to be a Muslim. These requirements are called the “five pillars of Islam.” They are:

• Statement of belief: Accepting the Muslim statement of faith–”There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”
• Prayer: Muslims must pray five times per day facing Mecca (the birthplace of Muhammad)
• Giving Alms: Like a tax, its paid at the end of the year and distributed to the needy
• Fasting: This takes place during the Islamic month of Ramadan, which begins in mid-November
• Pilgrimage: Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime where a five day ritual is followed

Why is it necessary for Muslims to perform these pillars of faith? Because entrance to Paradise (heaven) must be earned. However, the Muslim has no assurance of his salvation. When he dies, he believes he’ll go to the grave to await judgment. On judgment day, Allah will weigh his good works and his bad works and decide his fate. The Quran states,

“Then as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be heavy, he will live a pleasant life (in Paradise). But as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be light, he will have his home in Hawiyah (pit, i.e. Hell) [Surah 101:6-9].

So there’s no guarantee no matter how many good works you’ve done–its whatever Allah decides, right? Well, there is one way…

The only way to know for sure that you will get into Paradise is to die in jihad–to die while fighting the enemy of Islam. Once again according to Paul Gabriel, “Jihad is really a contract between Allah and the Muslim. If the Muslim fights, Allah rewards him in the afterlife.” The Quran states,

“Let those (believers) who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter fight in the Cause of Allah, and whoso fights in the Cause of Allah, and is killed or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward.” [Surah 4:74]

the Quran also says,

“For them Allah has got ready Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” [Surah 9:89]

Talk about the perfect motive! Kinda makes you want to strap on some explosives doesn’t it?

So, what exactly does the Quran say about jihad?

“Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) 94) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah (tax) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” [Surah 9:29]

Basically, this verse tells Muslims they must fight four kinds of people:

• Those who don’t believe in Allah
• Those who don’t believe in the last day (”Qiyamah,” the end of time)
• Those who do things that Allah and Muhammad have forbidden
• Those who don’t acknowledge Islam as the truth, i.e. “people of the Scripture,” who are Jews and Christians

and Muhammad gave people three options:

• They could accept the message of Islam
• They could remain Jews or Christians and pay a special tax (jizyah)
• They could die (the phrase “and feel themselves subdued” is much stronger in Arabic than in the english translation. It means “abject subjection” and carries the idea of cowering in fear before a greater power)

So, if jihad is the way of Islam, why does everyone claim its a religion of peace, love, tolerance and forgiveness? At one time, it was. For 10 to 12 years, while Muhammad was in Mecca, he never spoke of jihad. During this time, he persuaded people to follow Islam without killing or demanding taxes from them. His message was one of repentance, patience and forgiveness. During this time many of the people were leaving behind idol worship and following Islam. Of course, the tribal leaders didn’t like this and they persecuted Muhammad, attempting to kill him on several occasions. Because of this persecution, Muhammad soon left Mecca and settled in Medina.

In Medina, Muhammad continued to convert the population while at the same time building an army. It was during this time that Muhammad received the call to jihad. The call came in three revelations. The first, “repay those who mistreat you,” which he did, defeating the tribes that once persecuted him; the second, “conquer your region,” which continues today–there are Islamic governments in 27 countries from Kyrgyzstan to Morocco; and the third, “conquer the world,” which took a giant step forward on September 11, 2001. The message of peace Muhammad presented in Mecca lasted about 12 years; jihad has lasted 2,400 years and continues today.

Why is Islam portrayed a religion of peace, similar to Christianity? Because the non-Muslim doesn’t understand Islam. With the drastic change in Muhammad’s message after he left Mecca, several contradictions arose in the Quran. After all, there are verses in the Quran that speak positively about Christians, while there are others that condemn them to hell. Some verses say that Muslims can have a good relationship with Christians, while other verses say Muslims must require Christians to convert to Islam. There are also contradictions outlining the rules for alcohol consumption and the dress and behavior of women. So, how does one account for these obvious contradictions?

Islamic scholars determined which verses to follow in the case of a contradiction. This was accomplished by the principle of naskh. This principle is based on the fact that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad at different times (over the course of about 22 years). To solve a contradiction, they decided that new revelations would override (naskh) older (previous) revelations. For example, there are over 114 verses in the Quran that speak of love, peace and forgiveness. But when Surah 9:5 was revealed later, it cancelled out all previous verses. This verse states,

“Fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, and lie in wait for them in every strategem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”

This is known as the verse of the sword, and it explains that Muslims must fight anyone who chooses not to convert to Islam. It is considered to represent the final development of jihad in Islam.

A religion of peace, love, tolerance and forgiveness? Not on your live! (and it may likely come to that). Disagree? Consider this post on islamicweb.com forums:

Originally posted by Max_cell on 24 May 2006, regarding the potential election of Ellison to Congress:

“Since the iraq war, all muslims have changed, american no longer be seen as anything as a big fat kaffir bully with muslim blood on its hands.”

“Muslims in america must choosh [sic] they are either american or muslims, if like fools like this they choosh [sic] america then fine just dont say your muslims, go away…..”

“100,000 muslims are dead in iraq, all that killing all that brutality, all because of lies and a desire to control muslims and have a massive U.S base in the heart of the Ummah.”

“That kaffir desire has failed, but they have No consequences for their war, the consequences is the hatred and anger of 1.5Billion muslims.”

“If a Muslim does not hate america… then its like he has joined the quresh after they attacked and insulted the prophet Muhammed.”

He’s right in one respect: One can’t be an American and a Muslim!