Pensacola Terror Attack Connected to Fort Hood Massacre, Al-Qaeda

Shortly before he opened fire at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Second Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani (a Saudi Air Force officer) tweeted a message to the American people. In his tweet, he quoted both Osama bin Laden and Sheikh Anwar al-Awlaki (of al-Qaeda fame). Since the al-Awlaki quotes were taken directly from al-Awlaki's "Message to the American People," Alshamrani clearly read about Major Nidal Malik Hasan's attack at Fort Hood.

"American Taliban" Terrorist John Walker Lindh Released from Prison, Living in Virginia

John Walker Lindh, an American convert to Islam who fought for the Taliban, joined al-Qaeda, met with Osama bin Laden, and has praised ISIS, has been released from prison after completing 17 years of his 20-year sentence. Lindh (also known as Yahya, Sulayman al-Faris, and Abu Sulayman al-Irlandi) will be living in Virginia.

Answering Islam 9: Is the Qur'an Good for the 21st Century?

Here's Episode 9 of our "Answering Islam" series, where I answer the question: "Is the Qur'an good for the 21st Century?" For the rest of the series, click on the playlist.

Here's the full text of the video:

Is the Quran Good for the 21st Century?

One of the biggest problems in Islam is that, according to the Qur’an (Chapter 33, verse 21), Muhammad is the pattern of conduct for Muslims. Muhammad had sex with a nine-year-old girl. He bought, sold, and traded slaves. He married the divorced wife of his own adopted son. He ordered his followers to assassinate people for making fun of him. He beat his wives. He had sex with his slave-girls. And he said that he had been commanded to fight non-Muslims, simply for being non-Muslims. This is not someone that people should be imitating, but the Qur’an tells Muslims to imitate Muhammad. So the Qur’an is bad for the 21st century just for making Muhammad a role model.

But it gets worse when we look at specific teachings in the Qur’an.

According to the Qur’an, Muslims are the best people in the world. In Surah 3, Verse 110, Allah says to Muslims:

You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind . . .

Well, what about Jews, Christians, and other non-Muslims? Surah 98, Verse 6:

Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikun (those are idolaters) will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.

Non-Muslims are the worst of creatures. Muslims are the best of peoples. The last thing we need in the 21st century is this kind of division. Here are the best people (the one’s who imitate Muhammad) and here are all the other people, and they’re the worst creatures in the world. They’re lower than cattle.

Not surprisingly, given the inferiority of Jews and Christians in the Qur’an, Muslims aren’t supposed to be friends with us. As we read in Surah 5, Verse 51:

O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other.

This doesn’t mean that Muslims are simply to avoid us. Muslims are commanded to actively persecute unbelievers. Surah 48, Verse 29 declares:

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves.

Those who are with Muhammad (i.e., Muslims) are severe against whom? Unbelievers. They’re merciful to whom? Only to their fellow Muslims.

Similarly, in Surah 9, Verse 123 Allah commands Muslims:

O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness.

Muslims are specifically commanded to fight Jews and Christians (the “People of the Book”) in Surah 9, Verse 29. Allah commands his followers:

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Notice that every criterion for fighting us in this verse has to do with our religious beliefs or practices. Muslims are commanded to fight us until we pay them not to fight us.

So the Qur’an is very bad for non-Muslims. We are to be violently subjugated in the name of Allah.

But the Qur’an is also bad for Muslims themselves, and I don’t just mean that it’s bad for them because it keeps them from knowing and understanding the truth about Jesus. It’s bad for them because Muslims often get killed by their fellow Muslims, and this is because the Qur’an commands Muslims not only to fight against unbelievers, but also to fight against hypocrites.

Surah 9, verse 73, says:

O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them.

The word for “strive hard” here is a form of the word “jihad.” Muslims are commanded to wage jihad against hypocrites—Muslims who claim to follow Muhammad but aren’t really following him.

It seems like every few days we hear about Sunnis blowing up Shias, or Shias blowing up Sunnis. And every time, world leaders say, “You see, the terrorists aren’t real Muslims, because they’re killing their fellow Muslims. And Muslims aren’t allowed to kill their fellow Muslims.” Now it’s true that Muslims aren’t supposed to wage jihad against true Muslims, but we’ve already seen that the Qur’an commands them to wage jihad against hypocrites. And that’s what’s going on when Muslim groups launch terrorist attacks against each other. Jihadis don’t kill Muslims they regard as devout followers of Muhammad. They kill Muslims they regard as hypocrites. But no matter what Muslim group you’re in, there are always going to be other Muslim groups calling you a hypocrite, so Islam isn’t even safe for Muslims.

It’s not good for Muslims. It’s not good for non-Muslims. Muhammad isn’t a good role model. The Qur’an definitely isn’t a good book for the 21st century.

Jihad Returns to New York City

In support of ISIS, Sayfullo Saipov, who immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan, rented a truck from Home Depot. On October 31, 2017, he drove the truck down a Manhattan bicycle path and plowed it into a crowd of people before crashing into a bus. As usual, politicians and reporters are convinced that the attack had nothing to do with Islam, Islamic terrorism, the Qur'an, or Muhammad's teachings.

The London Bridge Massacre

On June 3, 2017, three jihadis drove a van into pedestrians walking across London Bridge. After fleeing the van, the jihadis proceeded to Borough Market, where they stabbed a number of people. As usual, British politician Theresa May is calling such violence "a perversion of Islam." But does May's plan for dealing with Islamic violence make sense? Let's take a closer look.

What Is Jihad?

What is jihad? "Jihad" is an Arabic word meaning "struggle," and thus may be applied to a variety of forms of physical, emotional, or spiritual exertion. In its religious context, however, the most relevant form of jihad is devoted to violently subjugating non-Muslims. Robert Spencer discusses the issue.

Why Jihadis Attack Concerts: Understanding the Manchester Massacre

On the four-year anniversary of the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby by two converts to Islam, a Muslim suicide bomber named Salman Abedi attacked exiting fans at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, killing 22 and injuring 59 others. Can we understand this brutal attack? Only if we turn to the Muslim sources.

The Palm Sunday Bombings: Are Coptic Christians Islamophobes?

On April 9th, 2017, ISIS-linked jihadis bombed Coptic Christians at St. George's Church and St. Mark's Cathedral in Egypt. Since these attacks have been going on for centuries, and since the attacks are promoted in the Qur'an and the Hadith, are Copts irrational for being concerned about Islam?

Iowa State Students Required to Write about 9/11 Attacks from al-Qaeda Perspective

Students in an Iowa State International Studies class were recently given an interesting assignment: they were required to write about the 9-11 attacks from the perspective of al-Qaeda jihadis. In this video, I complete the assignment.

Understanding Vehicular Jihad

In the past year, we’ve seen vehicular terrorist attacks in France, the United States, Germany, and Great Britain. Given the success of these attacks, we certainly haven't seen the last of them. Hence, our task now should be to understand vehicular jihad, so that we can eventually stop such attacks.

Theresa May Calls London Terror Attack "Perversion of a Great Faith"

On March 22, 2017, Muslim convert Khalid Masood launched a terrorist attack that began on Westminster Bridge and ended in Parliament Square. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack. In response, British Prime Minister Theresa May insisted that the London terror attack was a "perversion of a great faith."

What Pope Francis Needs to Know about Islam

Pope Francis was recently asked about Islam and violence. The Pope responded that he can't talk about Islamic violence without talking about Catholic violence, since Catholics can be violent too.

Is this a serious response to jihad? Let's find out.

Keeping Up with the Jihadis

Terrorist attacks have been so frequent lately that I simply can't make videos quickly enough to keep up with the jihadis. So, I put together some template videos that I can use again and again as terrorists slaughter their victims. Since there was a terrorist attack in Kabul yesterday, I decided to use one of my templates.

The Rich, Educated Jihadis of Bangladesh

The recent terrorist attack in Bangladesh once again raises the question, "What causes jihad?" Politicians and the media often answer this question by claiming that jihad arises from poverty and lack of education. The Bangladeshi jihadis, however, were wealthy and well-educated. It seems we must search for the source of jihad elsewhere. What happens if we examine the teachings of Muhammad?

Three Questions for Moderate Muslims

Islam is in the headlines almost every day now, and it's rarely for something positive. Moderate Muslims are distancing themselves from the actions and teachings of jihadis, but what do their responses to terrorist attacks really accomplish?

In light of recent events, here are three questions for moderate Muslims.

Omar Mateen's Ramadan Massacre at an Orlando Gay Bar

Omar Mateen

Early in the morning on June 12th, 2016, American Muslim Omar Mir Seddique Mateen opened fire at "The Pulse," a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Mateen killed around 50 people and injured dozens more while shouting “Allahu Akbar!” During the attack, he called 911 to declare his allegiance to ISIS.

One of Mateen's former co-workers said that he regularly spouted hate-filled, racist, and misogynistic words, but wasn't fired because he was a Muslim. Mateen had ties to radical imam Marcus Dwayne Robertson and to other Islamic fundamentalists.

So, did this shooting have something to do with Islam?

Jihad Returns to Belgium

On March 22, 2016, multiple jihadists, under orders from the Islamic State (ISIS), carried out coordinated terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium. Dozens were killed, around 200 were injured. In this video, I explain what will happen in the near future as a result of this attack.

Jihad Comes to Philadelphia

Edward Archer recently ambushed Officer Jesse Hartnett. After being apprehended, Archer proclaimed his allegiance to ISIS and his desire to promote sharia through jihad. Yet Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney insists that the attack had nothing to do with Islam. Can we take the mayor's comments seriously?

Eddie Redzovic Assures Us That The Islamic State Has Nothing To Do With Islam

The Deen show is a popular Muslim Dawah TV program, hosted by Eddie Redzovic. They frequently interview ex-Christian converts to Islam, who unfortunately often butcher their alleged former faith, showing little to no understanding of Christian theology. I and others have offered to come on the show and do a debate with Eddie or anyone of his choice, but unfortunately Eddie doesn't do debates, because he knows full well that his arguments (and the arguments of his interviewees) would not stand up to cross-examination.

From time to time, I visit the Deen show's YouTube Channel. This week, I wondered whether the Deen show had put out any commentary on the tragic events that unfolded in Paris just two weeks ago. Sure enough, three days ago a video was posted, featuring Eddie Redzovic condemning the Paris attacks that left 130 civilians dead. Of course, Eddie is to be commended for putting out this condemnation. I couldn't help but notice, however, that there was a conspicuous lack of any meaningful exegesis of the Quranic texts that I and others find troubling.

Islam and the Siege of Paris

Following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, millions of people are once again trying to understand the relationship between Islam and terrorism. Both peaceful Muslims and jihadists quote the Quran to justify their views. In this video, David Wood examines two verses of the Quran to determine the Quranic stance on terror.