"Is Islam a Religion of Peace?" Abdullah Andalusi and Yahya Seymour vs. Nabeel Qureshi and David Wood

OPENING STATEMENTS


REBUTTALS


CROSSFIRE & CONCLUSIONS

Did Moses Predict the Coming of Muhammad in Deuteronomy 18?

David on "Iron Sharpens Iron" Last Week: MP3 Available

Here's an MP3 of a program I did last week on Chris Arnzen's "Iron Sharpens Iron." We talked about Islam in the news.

Are There Other Gospels That Refer to Muhammad?

Was Muhammad the Comforter of John 14:16-17?

****NOTE**** There's an error in my comments in the video. I said that we have close to 6000 manuscripts of the Gospel of John. It's actually close to 6000 manuscripts of the New Testament. But since many New Testament manuscripts are fragmentary, the number of manuscripts of John's Gospel will be fewer. Just wanted to point that out.

Does John 1:19-21 Refer to Muhammad?

Homegrown Jihad: Terrorist Camps around the U.S.

National Geographic's Blunder Regarding Non-Muslims under Muslim Rule

We have seen the treatment of Muslims afforded by Western countries: England has bent over backwards for Muslims, even asking their police to grant them leniency when accusing them of crimes; Hawaii has instituted a state-wide "Islam Day"; Why, President Barak Obama even held an Iftar Dinner for Muslims, as newspapers in Pakistan will proclaim.

But what if the tables were turned? What if non-Muslims were under Muslim rule? Would they be afforded equality and protection of their rights, or would they be second-class citizens?

It should take no more than one look across the pond to see what is happening to dhimmis around the world. Non-Muslims face persecution in many Muslim states, ranging from restricted practice of their religion to mass genocide.

But some argue that these atrocities against the rights of non-Muslims have nothing to do with Islam. In fact, they are a product of residual local culture. "Islam is peace!" they say, "It affords equality and justice for all!"

Even National Geographic, in their June 2009 article titled "The Christian Exodus from the Holy Land, said regarding the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem:

"(Non-Muslims) were allowed to worship as they pleased... (they) converted to Islam anyway, preferring its emphasis on a personal connection with God..."

Unfortunately, there is a problem with this perspective: it ignores virtually everything about Islam. As we have pointed out before, Sharia stems from the Qur'an, and in its final days of revelation, the Qur'an commanded that Christians and Jews be fought until they are humiliated (9:29). Sharia thus calls for active antagonism towards non-Muslims.

But Umar left an even more explicit account for how non-Muslims are to live under Muslim rule. Below is an account of the Pact of Umar as found in Al-Turtushi, Siraj al-Maluk, 229-230

We heard from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Ghanam [died 78/697] as follows: When Umar ibn al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him, accorded a peace to the Christians of Syria, we wrote to him as follows:

In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate. This is a letter to the servant of God Umar [ibn al-Khattab], Commander of the Faithful, from the Christians of such-and-such a city. When you came against us, we asked you for safe-conduct (aman) for ourselves, our descendants, our property, and the people of our community, and we undertook the following obligations toward you:

• We shall not build, in our cities or in their neighborhood, new monasteries, Churches, convents, or monks' cells,
• nor shall we repair, by day or by night, such of them as fall in ruins or are situated in the quarters of the Muslims.
• We shall keep our gates wide open for passersby and travelers.
• We shall give board and lodging to all Muslims who pass our way for three days.
• We shall not give shelter in our churches or in our dwellings to any spy, nor bide him from the Muslims.
• We shall not teach the Qur'an to our children.
• We shall not manifest our religion publicly nor convert anyone to it.
• We shall not prevent any of our kin from entering Islam if they wish it.
• We shall show respect toward the Muslims, and we shall rise from our seats when they wish to sit.
• We shall not seek to resemble the Muslims by imitating any of their garments, the qalansuwa, the turban, footwear, or the parting of the hair.
• We shall not speak as they do, nor shall we adopt their kunyas.
• We shall not mount on saddles, nor shall we gird swords nor bear any kind of arms nor carry them on our- persons.
• We shall not engrave Arabic inscriptions on our seals.
• We shall not sell fermented drinks.
• We shall clip the fronts of our heads.
• We shall always dress in the same way wherever we may be, and we shall bind the zunar round our waists
• We shall not display our crosses or our books in the roads or markets of the Muslims.
• We shall use only clappers in our churches very softly.
• We shall not raise our voices when following our dead.
• We shall not show lights on any of the roads of the Muslims or in their markets.
• We shall not bury our dead near the Muslims.
• We shall not take slaves who have been allotted to Muslims.
• We shall not build houses overtopping the houses of the Muslims.
• (When I brought the letter to Umar, may God be pleased with him, he added, "We shall not strike a Muslim.")

We accept these conditions for ourselves and for the people of our community, and in return we receive safe-conduct.

If we in any way violate these undertakings for which we ourselves stand surety, we forfeit our covenant [dhimma], and we become liable to the penalties for contumacy and sedition.

Umar ibn al-Khittab replied: Sign what they ask, but add two clauses and impose them in addition to those which they have undertaken. They are: "They shall not buy anyone made prisoner by the Muslims," and "Whoever strikes a Muslim with deliberate intent shall forfeit the protection of this pact."

If Islam becomes the majority, and its rule is imposed on non-Muslims, I would not be surprised to see the example of the "Rightly Guided Caliphs", such as Umar, being emulated and instituted.

For now, let's just hope for accurate media portrayals of Islam and an enlightened populous at large.

David and Sam on TV This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Friends,

Sam Shamoun and I will be on the Aramaic Broadcasting Network this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 7:30 P.M.-9:30 P.M. and from 10:30 P.M.-1:30 A.M. (Eastern Standard Time) each night. If you don't have the channel, you can watch the show on the website by clicking on the third box on the right (it requires Windows Media Browser or a similar program). It's a live call-in show, so feel free to give us a call.

Nine out of Ten Afghan Women Suffer from Domestic Abuse

The United Nations Development Fund for Women reports that nearly 90 percent of Afghan women suffer from domestic abuse. Sadly, there's rarely anyone for them to turn to. If they complain, they have disgraced their families. If they run away, they may be killed. Here's a story about some of the shelters being brought to Afghanistan by Westerners.

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Shameen's brown eyes seem lost as she thinks about the one day she wants to forget, but it is all she can think about.

Still traumatized, she recounts the events that led her to a safe house in Kabul.

She was raped and nearly stabbed to death by her husband just seven days before we met her.

Her lips are quivering and her eyes full of fear.

"He forced himself on me," she said. "All I could do was scream."

She was married off 15 years ago when she was a teenager.

Throughout those years she was tortured and abused, suffering daily beatings with an electrical wire or the metal end of a hammer.

This was her normal life.

"He chased after me with a hammer. He said if I made any noise he would put holes through me," Shameen said.

Shameen and her husband could not conceive a child. And in Afghan society, it seems, the blame always falls on the woman.

After one severe beating, she ran from her home and to the police station. Her husband promised the police he would not attack her anymore, so she gave in and agreed to go back home with him.

Days later, Shameen's husband took her on a trip to visit her sister's grave -- a 15-year-old sister who was burned to death for displeasing her husband.

Shameen says her younger sister was 11 years old when she was forced to marry an older man. He would beat and abuse her until one day he killed her.

As Shameen walked along the graveyard with her husband he took her near a shrine where he forced her to the ground, lifted her burqa and raped her. He then threatened her with a knife and asked her who was going to help her now. She was screaming as he slashed her throat and body.

A passerby saved her.

Now, she has no one to turn to -- not even her own parents. In their eyes, she has brought them shame, an offense punishable by death. Read More.

For more on wife-beating in Islam, please read "Islam and Wife-Beating: Muslim Scholars Speak."

Muslim Apologist Osama Abdallah Proclaims: "Latinas Are the Easiest Girls to Bang!"

For some sick reason, Osama Abdallah is bragging about his knowledge of the USA's easiest women. In the comments section of my recent post on Rifqa Bary, Osama wrote to Fernando (who isn't Latino):

"Dude, Latinas (since you're a latino) are among the EASIEST to bang in the USA! I lived most of the life in the US and I know it."

Imagine what Osama's reaction would be if a similarly racist comment were made about Arab women.

I'm sure we all remember that "loose and flirty behavior" is one of Osama's criteria for "beating the daylights" out of a woman.

Christian Couple Arrested for Expressing their Beliefs

In July, we posted a video discussing a trend in the UK wherein free speech is declining as Muslims constitute a greater percentage of the population. I asked the question "Will this pattern continue?" So far, the answer is "definitely yes."

In England, A Christian couple was arrested for having a conversation about their religious beliefs with Muslims. The arrest was prompted by a Muslim woman in the conversation who was offended by the couple's beliefs. Just what did they discuss? Here is a snippet found in The Telegraph:

It is understood that among the topics debated was whether Jesus was a minor prophet, as Islam teaches, or whether he was the Son of God, as Christianity teaches.

Among the things Mr Vogelenzang, 53, is alleged to have said is that Mohammad was a warlord. His wife, 54, is said to have stated that Muslim dress is a form of bondage for women.

The conversation, on March 20, was reported by the woman to Merseyside Police. Officers told the couple that they wanted to interview them over the incident.

After being questioned on April 20, they were interrogated again three months later before being charged on July 29 with a religiously-aggravated public order offence. They appeared in court on August 14 and are now awaiting trial.

If defending Jesus' deity will send me to jail, or if informing my Muslim friends about the true Muhammad will send me to jail, then throw some chains on my feet and a smile on my face, I'll go there praising God.

Ladies and gentlemen, now is the time to stand up for our freedoms. Let's do it by using them.

Rifqa Bary, Islam, and Apostasy--Part One: The Qur'an and the Hadith

Child Bride Dies in Labor

When a girl hasn't gone through puberty, her hips often haven't widened for giving birth. Such girls can easily die in labor, along with their babies. This is why girls who haven't completed puberty shouldn't be having sex. Unfortunately, Muslims are commanded to follow the example of Muhammad, who had sex with the prepubescent Aisha when she was only nine years old. The Qur'an also allows men to have sex with prepubescent girls (see Surah 65:4 and Muslim commentaries on the verse).

Notice that the reporter attributes the problem to "cultural" practices rather than to Muhammad.

Rifqa Bary's Testimony Prior to Her Father's Death Threats

Osama Abdallah Supports the Deity of Christ!

Osama Abdallah was recently challenged to defend the erroneous Qur'anic claim that the Jews consider Ezra to be the "Son of God" (Surah 9:30). Osama's defense consisted of the following passage, with bold letters to emphasize his point:

"The Second Book of Esdras is an apocalypse that attempts to explain why God allowed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem to be destroyed by Gentiles in AD 70. The book claims to report seven visions of Ezra the Scribe concerning ethical issues and the problem of evil and suffering. The first three revelations (3:1-9:25) concern the angel Uriel's instructions to Ezra about the spiritual-moral realm. In the fourth revelation (9:26-10:59), Ezra witnesses a mourning woman change into the heavenly Jerusalem. The fifth and sixth revelations (11-13) condemn the Roman Empire and forecast its destruction along with other evil Gentile nations by a messiah. The seventh revelation (14) describes Ezra's role in producing the books included in the canonical Scriptures (the 22 books in the Hebrew Bible) and the (70) apocryphal books. This revelation closes with Ezra being taken into heaven without dying. Chapters 1 and 2 and 15 and 16 are generally recognized as subsequent Christian interpolations." SOURCE.

Hence, according to Osama, if a person ascends to heaven without dying, he must be the Son of God. Now I'd like to share an interesting Qur'an passage with our friend Osama.

Qur'an 4:157-158--And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

The conclusion to be drawn is obvious. But to put the argument more formally:

Premise 1: If anyone ascends to heaven without dying, he must be the Son of God. (Claim made by Osama.)
Premise 2: Jesus ascended to heaven without dying. (Claim made by the Qur'an.)
Conclusion: Jesus is the Son of God. (1,2 Modus Ponens.)

Even Ibn can follow the logic on this one.

Since Osama is now forced to grant Jesus' deity, he simply needs to realize that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, and he will be saved!

Muslims Behead Four Apostates in Somalia

In my last post, I noted the terrorist activity of Abu Mansour al-Amriki, an American convert to Islam now waging Jihad in Somalia. Here I want to add that al-Amriki's organization, al-Shabaab (which has ties to Al Qaeda), recently beheaded four apostates for converting to Christianity. Fatima Sultan, Ali Ma'ow, Sheik Mohammed Abdi, and Maaddey Diil were in Somalia taking care of orphans when they were kidnapped and murdered by members of al-Shabaab (in accordance with the commands of Muhammad). How many people would al-Amriki have beheaded if he had remained a Baptist?



Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik 36.18.15—Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam that the Messenger of Allah said, “If someone changes his religion—then strike off his head!”

Abu Mansour al-Amriki (formerly Omar Hammami) Wages Jihad

Notice the progression in this young man's life. (1) He was raised as a Baptist. (2) He converted to Islam. (3) In the aftermath of 9-11, he told newspapers he was shocked at the thought that Muslims could do such a thing, and that he was worried that there would be retaliation against Muslims. (4) He is now waging open Jihad and calling other Muslims to join him.

A week after the 9/11 attacks, a young Muslim at the University of South Alabama told the school's newspaper it was "difficult to believe a Muslim could have done this."

Now, eight years later, he is professing to launch attacks himself and calling on others to join the fight, as terror-related charges await him at home in Alabama, FOX News has learned exclusively.

Abu Mansour al-Amriki — or "The American" — has become one of the most recognizable and outspoken voices of terrorist propaganda.

He has been in war-torn Somalia for several years, fighting the secular government there with a group known as al-Shabaab, which has ties to Al Qaeda and was labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. government last year. Only recently has he taken on a starring — and jarring — role in al-Shabaab's outreach efforts. READ MORE.

Rifqa Bary Trial--Live Blog of the Proceeding

Here's what's happening.

3:03 PM--Rifqa and her attorneys arrive. Her parents are not present. They are likely back in Ohio.

An overflow crowd is watching the proceedings in another courtroom via a video feed.

Attorneys for Rifqa, her parents, FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement], DCF [Department of Children and Families] and a media outlet are in the courtroom.

An FDLE investigation report into this case was sealed today by the judge and the media will argue for its release. An FDLE attorney wants to know what is to happen to the report, which has not been released to either party.

3:15pm - Judge Dawson has entered the room. The parents are joining the hearing via speakerphone.

The judge requested if a date for mediation has been set. It has not, pending depositions in the case. Judge Dawson is pressing attorneys to move forward on mediation and not wait for depositions.

The judge is taking up the request of the Orlando Sentinel to be a party to the dependency case. The media outlet is responding to the judge's decision to seal an FDLE report on the claims made by the teenager.

Rifqa ran away from her Ohio home after she converted to Christianity from Islam and felt threatened by her father. The 17 year old is in foster care in Orange County.

FDLE wants the seal order clarified, since both parties have not seen it.

The attorney for Bary's father says "there is a need for information out there" and requests the judge allow the media more access to the family court's documents.

Her attorney argues against it, saying this is a "private matter."

The judge denied the Sentinel's request to be notified of proceedings in this matter. He did not curtail each party's right to talk publicly about the case, including the relase of documents filed in this case.

Rifqa's attorney, John Stemberger, said he prefers the court see the FDLE report, just completed today, and choose whether to release it to the parties. However, the judge said legal documentation usually works the opposite way with the parties getting it first.

DCF requests each party receive the FDLE report, but the contents not be allowed to be leaked to anyone else.

Judge Dawson ordered the report released to the parties and has given them 10 days to say why they would want to release it or keep it from others. After that, the documents would be made available under the normal restrictions of juvenile court.

A video tape of FDLE's questionng of Rifqa is part of the report.

Copies of the report are being handed to the lawyers.

The judge is moving on to the arraignment portion of this hearing. Both parents deny their daughter's allegations.

Attorney Stemberger is requesting the parents at the mediation, which would take place in Orlando. The judge said he would require their presence by phone, if they cannot afford to travel from Ohio.

After a meeting at the bench, the judge said "We have plenty of attorneys in this case, I'm not sure adding more would assist this."

However, he said, if Rifqa needs more attorneys, then he might allow it at a later time.

He is taking up a gag order requested by the girl's guardian.

The attorney for the Sentinel is being allowed to address the request. He is telling the court that gag orders are usually approved in jury trials. In this case, there is no jury and the judge will make the decision on Rifqa's request.

The gag order would not restrict the media from the court, but would limit what the parties can say about this case.

A DCF attorney says she is getting calls from children who are distraught about the media's coverage.

"There are adults who are parading this about the media," she said.

"This is absolutely causing problems in this case," she added.

Rifqa's attorney said the girl "wants my story to be told."

The attorney for Mr. Bary said the "hypocrisy is clear."

He said Stemberger is calling news conferences to make claims against the family, but now wants a gag order that would keep the parents from defending themselves.

"Where is his (Bary's) right to stand up and say "look not at my religion but look at how I raise my family?'"

"If you agree with this gag order, you are saying the other party cannot have their story told."

The attorney for Bary's mother added that "there's nothing in this (FDLE) report that supports the girl's claim."

The attorney for DCF cried out that his statement violates the judge's order not to release anything about the report for at least 10 days.

The attorneys were called to the bench.

Back at their seats, the attorneys continue to argue their cases.

SOURCE.

Here's an update:

The parents' lawyer is attacking Stemburger and the Lorenzes for publicizing the case. He also earlier mentioned an attack on Islam and Muslims.

The judge is saying that both sides have gotten plenty of media coverage. He agrees that the more media attention Rifqa gets, the less safe she is. He grants the gag order, but only the attorneys. They are to discuss only procedural issues with the media. The parents' lawyer says English is their 2nd language, and he is gagging people who can speak for them. Judge replies that it is not his job to provide interpreters for people who want to talk to the media -- and that they can get other people to speak for them. After the case is resolved, he said, you can write your novel or produce your miniseries or do whatever you want to do.

Now they're discussing Rifqa's citizenship status. And now on to the question of jurisdiction. The mother's new attorney has just filed a new motion saying this court has no jurisdiction. The guardian ad litem says that has already been decided, and you don't get 2 bites of the apple. Now the parents' lawyer says that Ohio Child Protective Services won't file a case because they don't think she is in danger, but FL only has jurisdiction because Ohio has not filed a case, setting up a catch 22. He says that if they have to, they will file a case in Ohio charging that Rifqa is an unruly delinquent. The judge says essentially that if another case is filed, jurisdiction will be reconsidered.

Now they're discussing procedures regarding visitation rights. She has had supervised contact with her brother. The department (not sure of what) is seeking to limit visitation with Pastor Lorenz and his wife. Now the parents' lawyer is saying that the Lorenzes and their children and the Global Revolution Church should be restricted from seeing the child. He says that because of the gag on attorneys, Stemburger, who has a habit of grandstanding, will use the church to do his "dirty work."

Stemburger says Alahi (sp.?) -- the parents' lawyer -- is the one who is grandstanding, and that he has provided accurate information. He says that the Lorenzes' children are Rifqa's friends and provide her comfort. The judge says he will allow them to continue to visit Rifqa. Parents' lawyer says Mohamed Bary has not lost his parental rights, and he has a say in who sees his child. He says the Lorenzes hid Rifqa for two and a half weeks while Ohio was looking for her. The judge says that no allegations have actually been made against the Lorenzes' children. And he adds that even her own siblings should not be discussing this case.

The parents' lawyer says that mediation will be useless. "I'm trying to help the court" by saying this, he says. The judge says that he doesn't see how he is helping the court by complaining that mediation won't work. They agree to set a date for mediation. Also the guardian ad litem asks that the child start counseling, and that should later expand to family counseling. Some say she has already started it. The judge suggests medication, and the guardian says Rifqa objects to that. One of Rifqa's attorneys wants to know the persepective of the counselor.

The parents' attorney wants the judge to appoint an attorney ad litem for Rifqa. He says Stemburger is agenda-driven. The judge says he should file a motion to that effect, but that Rifqa wants Stemburger and he will respect that. He says that it seems that Alahi wants a new attorney who will have a different view from Stemburger's of what is in the child's best interests. But he will not appoint one now.

September 29 -- next hearing. SOURCE