(Cross posted from
LGFWW)
I am referred to
this piece very often. Apparently it is well known among the Religion of Peace apologists. I thought it was a ripe target for a good old-fashioned fisking…
"Misconceptions" 1-4 are below. 5-9 will be posted next week.
Misconception #1: Muslims worship a different God
The headline of this one is absolutely true; there is a major misconception among the masses that Islam’s Allah is not the God of Abraham or the Christian God. The Qur’an goes to great lengths to make sure that the Believers understand that there is only one God and that Allah is the God of the other, false, religions.
It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). [Qur’an 3:3]
Misconception #2: Muslims worship Muhammad
This too is truly a misconception. Where many (if not most) Christians openly worship Jesus, Muslims all know that Muhammad (The Prophet) was a man chosen by Allah to lead the people. My reading has led me to believe that Muhammad was a leader that used a concocted religion to control his troops. This puts him in the same level as Charles Manson, David Koresh and Jim Jones.
Misconception #3: Islam is a religion only for Arabs
While it is strictly true that Islam is not “only for Arabs”, it has a strong Arab bias. There are many places in the Qur’an that make a point to say that the language of the Qur’an is Arabic.
We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may learn wisdom.[Quran 12:2]
Thus have We revealed it to be a judgment of authority in Arabic. Wert thou to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither protector nor defender against Allah.[Qur’an 13:37]
We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear.[Qur’an 16:103]
Misconception #4: Islam degrades women
I hate to break it to you, but this is NOT a misconception. I am often completely at a loss for an explanation why any free woman would support Islamic government or become Muslim. The author of this page points to a number of truths about Islam and women and rightly points out that for the 7th century, the treatment of women was far advanced when compared to other cultures. Problem is that this is the 21st century and 7th century norms are no longer acceptable.
A complete list of verses in the Qur’an that denigrate women are too numerous to for this forum. I will just grab a few to make my point.
Women are worth one-half of a man:
Let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her.[Qur’an 2:282]
A man can have up to 4 wives, a woman can have only 1 husband:
If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.[Qur’an 4:3]
Don’t be lewd, if you are a woman:
If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four (Reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or Allah ordain for them some (other) way.[Qur’an 4:15]
Yikes!
Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.[Qur’an 4:34]
More
here.
"Misconceptions" 5-9 will come next week!
