Hirsi Ali and her errors

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/12/hirsi-ali-and-her-errors.html

Harun Yahya, Istanbul, Turkey

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, whose book, "Heretic : Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now?", was recently published, rose to fame through her undiluted opposition to Islam. 

Born in Somalia, Hirsi lived a difficult childhood that included her being subjected to female circumcision and a forced marriage. 

Later, she filed for asylum with the Netherlands and was accepted in a record two weeks due to her difficult situation. 

It was then that her metamorphosis started. 

With her introduction to Western society, she changed her name, her appearance, her faith, and became a staunch anti-Islamic figure. She was a welcome addition to anti-Islamic circles that were using every opportunity to incite tensions against Muslims. 

So much so that she entered the Dutch parliament with an anti-immigration party, secured book deals, appeared on CNN, wrote for Time magazine and was named one of the top 100 influential people in 2005 by Time. 

She was following a known route sometimes seen among members from the less-privileged parts of the world. These people tend to blame their former lives, faith, and culture in a desperate attempt to fit into their new environment. 

They start emulating everything Western — good or bad — and denounce everything from their past. Most of the time, this behavior makes them famous, and incidentally makes them rich too; either in the form of book deals or a political career.

Ali met the expectations of the Islamophobic circles and hastily began telling horror stories about Islam. She blamed Islam for every fault she could find in today’s world including traditions and superstitions. 

She liked the attention too much to give thought to such things like fairness or justice.  

Her dislike of Islam was so strong, even though she was once a refugee in need, she didn’t hesitate to defend anti-immigration policies to restrict the entry of less-privileged and vulnerable people to Europe.  

Since she enjoys lots of coverage in the mainstream media, her errors and deceptions about Islam need to be clarified:

She claims that women are oppressed in Islam. It is true that in many Muslim countries women face lots of difficulties. 

However, the problem in the Muslim world stems from false hadiths and superstitions that emerged over centuries after the revelation of the Koran. 

Islam offers true respect and value to women. For instance, in the event of a divorce, God ensures that they are always taken care of and never left in a needy position. 

Or, in case of conflicting statements with the husband, the wife’s word supersedes the husband’s. 

In the Koran, Mary, mother of Jesus, is shown as a role model not just for women, but for all of humanity.   

The Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Khadija, was a woman of a strong character, running her own business and dealing with society at large. 

God gives equal responsibilities to men and women and promises the same reward to both of them.

Hırsi claims that violence is a part of Islam. Yet this problem stems from the superstitions that emerged after the revelation of the Koran. 

The false manufactured hadiths led to emergence of justifications for violence. In truth, God orders absolute peace and love for the entire humanity and strictly forbids violence and hostility. 

There is no room for violence in Islam and the actions of Islamic radicals do not change this fact.  

In a cliché approach, she uses the word “jihad” in an attempt to vilify Islam. Contrary to popular belief, the word jihad means “making an effort”. 

The physical fight is described by the word qital, and according to the Koran, is permissible only as a defensive move and as a last resort. 

The fact that radicals misuse the word neither makes it right nor does it make it a part of Islam. 

Islam champions true democracy, freedom of thought and secularism. Muslims are ordered to invite people to the right path in the kindest manner, but leave the choice to them.  

While the mainstream Western media hails her as a hero, Hirsi doesn’t hesitate to go against everything that the Western world claims to stand for, like freedom of faith, freedom of thought, the right to human dignity, respect and protection.  

She says the Western world needs to be in a military war with Islam. 

Furthermore, she claims to oppose violence allegedly resulting from Islam, but expresses sympathy with Anders Behring Breivik, the mass-murdering terrorist who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011: “That one man, who killed 77 people in Norway because he fears Europe will be overrun by Islam, may have cited the work of those who speak and write against political Islam in Europe and in America.” 

He says very clearly that it was the advocates of silence. Because all outlets to express his views were censored, he says, he had no other choice but to use violence. 

She even says that there should be such a thing as the “right to offend”, and encourages offending Muslims in every way possible. She is clearly the outcome of radicalism. 

But Muslims must not repeat her mistake and blame her while ignoring the real problem. We need to understand our duty and come together to put an intellectual end to this wrong perception of Islam in the Western world. 

It is crucial that Muslims abide by the Koran completely to show how Islam values women, art, democracy and freedom. 

We need to show to the whole world that the real Islam in the Koran is the epitome of love and beauty. 

__________________

There is no room for violence in Islam and the actions of Islamic radicals do not change this fact.  

____________________

The writer has authored books on politics, religion and science.

Anti-Semitism, An Atrocious “Trend”

Our world has seen its fair share of brutality. From Hulagu Khan, who boasted about killing 200,000 Muslims during his violent week-long rampage in the city of Bagdhad which also resulted in the complete destruction of centuries-old heritage, to Vikings that took what they deemed desirable by force and violence, to the modern day Syrian regime targeting its own people, we can say that our world has witnessed some unspeakable acts of violence.

However, throughout the history, some groups were targeted more than the others. Like the Jewish people. Their ordeal started at the hands of Pharaoh, who killed their boys and let only their girls live. The oppression against Jews continued throughout Antiquity, at the hands of the Assyrians, Babylon and the Romans, who massacred and exiled Jews and destroyed their temples and cities. In Medieval times, Jews were once again targeted, labeled, discriminated against and chased away from wherever they took shelter. The oppression continued in recent history when six million Jews were slaughtered by Nazis.

Today, the persecution still goes on.

Anti-Semitism in Europe lingers in the form of harassment in public areas, offensive remarks and discriminatory behavior in social life and more terrifyingly, in the form of brutal assaults; The vandalizing and looting of Jewish businesses, burning of cars, hundreds chanting “gas the Jews”, “kill the Jews” in violent protests, shooting and molotov cocktail attacks at the synagogues, and the recent Creteil attack in France where a Jewish couple was brutally attacked in their homes. The incident was a horrible reminder of the 2006 incident -again in France- that involved a young Jewish man being captured, tortured for weeks and then left naked to die. He later died from his injuries.

France is not the only place that witnesses anti-Semitism. From Argentina, to Tunisia, from Ireland to Spain, Jews seem to be caught up in a constant cycle of hatred targeting their communities. Even in the USA, which is known for its unwavering support for Israel, Jewish people are wary of divulging their identities, or practicing their religious duties in public. An unprovoked attack on a 24-year-old Jewish man wearing a yarmulke by four men in Brooklyn, NY; the assault of a 12-year-old Jewish girl who had a bottle thrown at her by a group of girls, including one who yelled, “You dirty Jew”; and the attack on a Jewish man in Los Angeles, CA, who was surrounded by five male suspects who yelled “Heil Hitler!” before striking him, can be listed amongst the disturbing incidents in the USA.

The Middle East is home to the worst cases of anti-Semitism. Especially after the recent Gaza/Israeli war, hatred towards Jewish people regardless of their age, gender or involvement in any of the conflict, has gone up in a disturbingly fast manner. But why does some people seem to think that it is legit to hate Jewish people?

In the past, some people disliked Jews as they saw them underhanded conspirators who segregated themselves from the societies they lived in due to widespread antisemitic propaganda as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The sentiment was further fuelled with notorious lies like the blood libel, portraying Jews as the veritable embodiment of evil. Today, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is the driving force behind this ubiqutious Jewish-hatred, and often used as a cloak to justify violence against ordinary Jews on the streets.

Surely political administrations or individuals within a community might make mistakes. However, persecuting a whole community based on the acts of few would be neither Quranic nor moral.

The Jewish people are known for their calm and modest demeanor. They are a quiet people that like to occupy themselves with their daily routine and religious practices. Therefore it is even more surprising that such calm and reserved people have been on the receiving end of such persecution throughout the history.

Any resentment towards the policies of Israel should be voiced in a civil manner, without putting the blame on the entire community. God prohibits Muslims from such a behavior. In the Qur’an, God warns believers as such:

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” (Qur’an 5:8)

It is most natural for there to be good and bad people in every group, community or nation. Just like there are countless murderers, liars, criminals, people with bad morals in the Muslim communities, it is natural for Jewish communities to have people with less than commendable actions. Yet, it is a most absurd and ridiculous act to feel antipathy towards a group in its entirety for the actions of a few. Most importantly it is diagonally opposite to the teachings of Qur’an.

According to the Qur’an, Jewish people are People of the Book and are to be respected, protected and approached with love. God allows Muslims bonding with them through marriage, which alone explains the extent of friendship and closeness God expects from us to have with them. As when people marry, they become their significant others, lovers, confidants, and companions. God also allows us to have social bonds with Jews, to have dinners with them in their homes. God never tells Muslims to hate them, or discriminate against Jews or Christians. God praises Jews in many verses for their devotion and piety and indeed, Jewish people set a great example to Muslims with their unwavering loyalty to the Prophet Moses.

All these facts make it clear that there is no basis, neither in Islam nor in Judaism, that could lead to such friction. Once everyone realizes that God created this world for love and it is against God’s wishes to harbor hostile feelings towards each other, brotherhood and peace will prevail. 

The writer is a TV commentator who has authored more than 300 books in 73 languages on political, faith-related and scientific topics. This essay first appeared in the Daily Caller.

Source: http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/anti_semitism_an_atrocious_trend

The Protocols Of The Learned Elders Of Zion

Mr. Adnan Oktar's live talk with Prof. Charles Asher Small, Director of Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy on A9 TV (29 December 2011; 11:00)

Harun Yahya: Love, rational thinking and common sense will emerge victorious

CHARLES ASHER SMALL: So, I guess my first question would be from a religious perspective, as well as from a philosophical, moral and ethical perspective, the treatment of the other is an important aspect of religion, if not civilization. So, from a political/moral perspective, I'm influenced by the work -for example- of Emmanuel Levinas, and the treatment of the other and he argues that when we see ourselves, we see ourselves in the face of the other, that this is the moment we become human; this is the moment when we realize the godliness in the other person, that we're all created in the image of God. And can you speak please, I guess from an Islamic perspective, from your teachings and from your perspective, the importance of acknowledging and respecting the other vis-a-vis, in the case that I'm interested in, anti-Semitism or other forms of discrimination; how does that affect the morality of the individual from an Islamic perspective?

ADNAN OKTAR: Anti-Semitism is impossible in our age, at a time when we have the internet and television and when people can easily access information of all kinds. It is a system that applied during the Middle Ages, when cruel and ruthless ideas predominated. But we are now a society of love. The world is heading in the direction of love. Of union, unity and brotherhood. We are in the age of the Messiah, the King Messiah, the Mahdi. There is no room for such primitive and oppressive ideas as anti-Semitism in such an age, and we will never permit it. Islam is a religion of love and peace. All the religions demand love, peace and brotherhood. It is the same in Judaism and Christianity and Islam. The name 'Islam' means 'peace', as befits it. It's origin comes from the Arabic root word meaning peace, and it can thus be best understood from this as well. Allah wants us to be forgiving, affectionate, compassionate, loving and sincere. And the Qur'an tells us to learn about science and research. It wants art, beauty and goodness to reign over the world. And that is the age we have now entered. There will be no more oppressive systems from now on.

CHARLES ASHER SMALL: I pray to God that he is right, and I appreciate his answer, but I would argue that through the use of the internet, through globalization at the one hand, globalization is bringing people together as never before, perhaps in the history of humanity and, at the same time it's separating and segregating people through all sorts of economic, social and cultural processes. And in fact the internet and globalization, a part of it is a rise in hatred. I would say for example that internet websites are preaching hatred, even though sometimes people are preaching love and togetherness; there is a movement that's preaching hatred. For example, the lies of European anti-Semitism, the anti-Semitism which existed before the internet which was basically a European issue more so than any other part of the world, but this European anti-Semitism is actually infiltrating into the Islamic world at a very alarming rate; and for example, the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" which was a forged document, a fake document.

CHARLES ASHER SMALL: So, we were speaking earlier about how Islam and Christianity and Judaism and other religions are religions of love, and this is essentially a time of love in Messianic times, but I was saying that the internet is also a conveyor of hate that's bringing people together to hate, and in some countries like Turkey, the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" which is a lie, which is a European genocidal anti-Semitic discourse, is now entering into the Islamic world. I was wondering what he thinks about this phenomenon.

ADNAN OKTAR: Such ideas have long existed in the Islamic world and in Europe. But love, rational thinking and common sense have always emerged victorious. We cannot abandon the world to psychopaths, of course. The world has now entered the Golden Age under the leadership of the Mahdi, the King Messiah. And that development is still continuing. Tyrants and the supporters of satan encourage ruthlessness, bloodshed, psychopathic behavior and persecution. But the supporters of Allah, those who love Allah, espouse love, peace, brotherhood, art, science and democracy. The supporters of Allah will be victorious. That is explicitly set out in the Torah and the Qur'an. Look, it is vital that we know that there is an urgent need for the way of the Mahdi, the King Messiah, the Mahdi, and to seek these individuals who have been foretold and praised. That is so important, the key to solution.

CHARLES ASHER SMALL: Okay, so I agree on that level, but now that we're living in the physical world, at this moment of history, where people are using religion to preach hatred and not love, how do we, from an Islamic perspective, how are people in power to counteract, to confront those for example who speak of the Jews in the narrative of the "Protocols", from Indonesia to Tehran to Gaza, people are using these European anti-Semitic narratives and infusing it as true Islam. How do true believers in Islam react or confront this evil?

ADNAN OKTAR: These are of no scientific value of these. They need not be taken seriously because our criterion is the Qur'an. And the Qur'an teaches love and compassion. Almighty Allah says we may marry the People of the Book, a Jewish woman, for instance. That provision is sufficient all by itself. How does a person regard his wife? As his beloved, the jewel in his crown. His wife is the person he trusts most of all. She is the mother of his children. I mean, should he look at her in the light of that document, or of the ruling in the Qur'an? Therefore, documents of no scientific worth or faith, devoid of any Qur'anic values, are not valid for any rational Muslim. I think you are wrong to be uneasy over this. Relax, trust in Allah, and never forget we are in the age of the King Messiah. Ask Allah to show the King Messiah and pray for the immediate building of the Temple of Solomon. This century will be a glorious one for Jews. Their finest years. The years when Islam comes to reign. The Jews will enjoy a Golden Age under the leadership of the person known as the Mahdi, or the King Messiah. They will enter a time of peace and happiness. The age they have been waiting for over the last 3,000 years is this century. There is no other appropriate time according to the Torah and other Judaic sources. That age will start in 2012. All Judaic scholars and sages know. It is also in the Zohar. A known fact.

Excerpt from Mr. Adnan Oktar's Live Interview on A9 TV dated December 29th, 2011