Islam Is Not A Good Religion

By Editor |

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

I have spent a great deal of time on this blog criticizing Christianity.  I do that because Christianity is the religion I know best, and also because there is a large population of mean-spirited, politcally active born-again Christians in the U.S.  As I've said in other places, the main story line of Christianity -- human beings are sinful by default (why should that be?), so God's son (how could God have a single son?) sacrificed himself (apparently to appease his angry father) to allow us an opportunity to redeem ourselves (from the original sin that doesn't actually exist) -- reads like a Grimm's fairy tale.

As bad as Christianity is, Islam is worse.  I recently read about half of the Koran (or Q'uran), and it reads like it was written by a paranoid schizophrenic.  Some passages sound reasonable and tolerant; but in almost every chapter of the Koran, the language degenerates into paranoia and anger.  Muhammed was clearly a very angry person who felt insulted by a great many people.

Here is the first chaper of the Koran, called the "Opener":

"In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
 
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds --
 
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
 
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
 
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
 
Guide us to the straight path --
 
   The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray."

(The words in brackets were added by the translator, apparently for clarification.)

It sounds perfectly reasonable until you get to the final line where it mentions "those who are astray".  That line is actually fairly mild, but it provides a hint of what is to come.


Here is the second chapter, called the "Cow":
"Alif, Lam, Meem.

This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah --

Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them,

And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].

Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.

Indeed, those who disbelieve -- it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them -- they will not believe.

Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment.

And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah and the Last Day," but they are not believers.

They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.

In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.

And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."

Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.

And when it is said to them, "Believe as the people have believed," they say, "Should we believe as the foolish have believed?" Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not.

And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, "Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers."

[But] Allah mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression [while] they wander blindly.
 
Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided.
 
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
 
Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return [to the right path].
 
Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allah is encompassing of the disbelievers.
 
The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent."

Just seven lines into the second chapter, Muhammed starts talking about how Allah punishes non-believers.  Muhammed's anger at non-believers then mounts from one line to the next.  The non-believers "deceive".  Allah has put "disease" into the hearts of the non-believers as their punishment.  They are called "corrupters".  They are called "foolish".  The word "evil" is slipped in there, and they are called "mockers".  The non-believers "wander blindly".  The non-believers "purchased error in exchange for guidance".  The non-believers are left in "darkness".  They are called "deaf, dumb and blind".  The non-believers cannot see though their path is lighted.

And so it goes throughout the Koran.  As I said above, I have read about half the Koran.  Every chapter ultimately degenerated into angry judgements.  Muhammed's rantings is the kind of speech which is designed to get people riled up and makes them want to go out and wage jihad.  It is no wonder that there is so much violence among Muslims.  The Koran is full of hate speech!

In the third chapter, "Family of Imran", the third line says this:

Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur'an. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment, and Allah is exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution.

Here, again, Muhammed is saying that non-believers will have a "severe punishment".

There is then more ranting against non-believers, and then we get to these lines:

Indeed, those who disbelieve -- never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allah at all. And it is they who are fuel for the Fire.

[Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and those before them. They denied Our signs, so Allah seized them for their sins. And Allah is severe in penalty.

Say to those who disbelieve, "You will be overcome and gathered together to Hell, and wretched is the resting place."

Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met - one fighting in the cause of Allah and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.

In the second verse quoted above, Muhammed is apparently referencing an actual event in which the Egyptians were punished for not believing in Allah.  Then, in the third verse he references Hell.  And in the fourth verse he references an actual battle which occurred, and in which the forces of Allah defeated the non-believers.

All this ranting against non-believers would have the effect of making Muslims xenophobic.  It would make them contemptuous of all non-Muslims.  The Bible, for example, has passages in which it condemns various groups, but to the best of my knowledge it does not rail against them constantly.  And if you see the New Testament as superceding the Old Testament (where most of the hate is), as some Christians do, then the Bible becomes a more loving document, far more loving than the Koran is.

The fact that Muhammed is referencing actual battles is a very bad thing.  It tacitly gives his followers permission to wage war.  Indeed, Muhammed himself was a warrior who is famous for slaughtering the Jews.  That battle in which he slaughtered Jews no doubt sent a message to his followers throughout the centuries that the Jews could be a target.

There are also passages in the Koran in which Muhammed exhorts his followers to fear Allah.  In that way, the Koran is very much like the Old Testament of the Bible.  A person who fears God, instead of believing that God is a friend or supporter, is more likely to live a conservative life and be judgemental of other people who don't.

[I'll add to this article as I find the time.  Thank goodness that this is an anonymous blog, lest some crazy Muslim try to wage jihad against me!]