Unmasking Islam

By Noble Din

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, but what effect is it having in society, governments, and what effect could it potentially have in the future? Unmasking Islam uncovers urgent truths about Islam that Westerners, Christians, Jews, and even Muslims must learn. This is a study of these truths that are taken directly from the writings and sayings of Islamic texts and scholars. Islam is not a religion of peace and never was. Who is Allah and Muhammad? Many young Muslims are not aware of what the Qur'an teaches as they do not read, speak or write Arabic. What is the media not telling the world about Sharia law, radical Islam and atrocities worldwide in the name of Allah? Most importantly, Muslims are children of God just like all of us. The purpose of this book is to explain the truth about what the Qur'an teaches. Christians today must share the truth and love of Christ so that we can truly live in a more peaceful world and retain the freedoms we have fought so diligently to preserve.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781641919203

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Unmasking Islam

Noble Din

Copyright © 2018 Noble Din

All rights reserved

First Edition

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc

Meadville, PA

First originally published by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc 2018

ISBN 978-1-64191-919-7 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64191-920-3 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Introduction

In the late seventies, I went into a Christian bookstore and saw the book I Dare to Call Him Father by Balqis Sheikh. The author impressed me with her story about her conversion experience from Islam to Christianity. Soon thereafter, I contacted the publishing company in the USA to inform them that I wished to translate the book into the Urdu language, which is the national language of Pakistan and the official language of six states of India. Upon receiving financial backing from a friend, I received the publishing rights to translate this book into the Urdu language in eighteen months, although I finished the project in nine months. The cost to complete the project was seven thousand British pounds. Because I felt the Lord had given me this project as a purpose, upon praying, I discussed the project with Christian friends, and soon the funding began to arrive from American and English friends in England and abroad. Unfortunately, there was criticism from some Christian organizations and individuals, as they sought an interest in this project as well, and I was the only individual with exclusive rights to publish the book in the Urdu language. God sent Bob Hiley from Christian Literature Crusades to my rescue, who later became a dear friend. Because of Bob’s knowledge of publishing rights and regulations, he could manage others who tried to hinder my project.

A Christian brother assisted me with translation of the book into Urdu, and my wife wrote the final manuscript. The calligraphy was completed by a Muslim who worked for an Urdu newspaper in England; however, upon completion, we were 750 pounds short after the book was sent to the printer. I continued to trust that God would provide the means to complete the project. The next Sunday, when at church, one of my English friends, Ronald Wilcox, asked about my project. When I explained the status of the book and the shortfall of 750 pounds, he assured me that there would not be any financial problems. The following Sunday, my friend provided me with a check for the exact amount needed.

Once completed, I gave the book to the Christian Literature Crusades to distribute and sale. This was not done for financial gain but for the glory of God. Once the book was completed, I traveled to California, where I contacted Balqis Sheikh, as this is where she lived at the time. During lunch at her home, we discussed the logistics of the book and how God had provided the funding for the book’s completion. She was overjoyed that I had the desire to take on the project of translating the book.

In the late eighties, I met a Pakistani woman in England who also wished to write a book about her conversion experience from Islam to Christianity. Because she couldn’t read or write English, I interpreted her story in English. The book was subsequently published to tell her story. Due to this experience and others, I continued to study the Qur’an and Islam with added interest, which in turn compelled me to write about my findings into what Islam truly teaches. When working in the Middle East, a local Muslim doctor attempted to convince me to convert to Islam and gave me a copy of the Qur’an. This event led me to find it necessary to research the religion of Islam and beliefs before making any hasty decisions.

As a Pakistani Christian, I was somewhat familiar with Islam but had spent most of my life in England. After several years of study of the Qur’an and Islamic culture while working in the Middle East again, I found no comfort for the soul or salvation when I compared the Bible with the teachings of Islam and the Qur’an.

This kind of prayer is comforting to the heart in Psalm 61: 1-4

Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I

Will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

The purpose of this book is to primarily shed light on what is taught by the Qur’an and Islam. My intentions are not to offend anyone’s faith or beliefs. The content written pertaining to Islam can be found in the Qur’an, Hadith, the Sahi-al-Bukhari, and from other Islamic scholars. My sources are not Jewish or Christian but only Islamic, except when verses from the Bible are being quoted. This book’s purpose also entails educating Westerners about what Islam teaches. Some Western politicians are cowards and are spineless straws of men who bend to every wind and not willing to call a spade a spade. Muslim leaders often play the sweet and peaceful role in front of the camera because the Qur’an teaches to be submissive when outnumbered and to attack when strong. They also celebrate the death of nonbelievers. The former prime minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair, claimed that he read the Qur’an and stated that Islam was peaceful; I do not know which version of the Qur’an he was reading. We are not suggesting that all Muslims are bad or that they are terrorists, but instead we are showing the dangerous growth of the radical views of Islam, which is supported and financed by Saudi Arabia.

Chapter 1

Understanding Islam: A Summary

As a young man traveling to Saudi Arabia for the first time, my expectations of an advanced Arabic culture as the birthplace of Islam were dismissed quickly. In truth, the Eastern province of the country generates a tremendous amount of wealth for the entire country and is immensely rich from oil revenue and resources. The Saudi Kingdom emerged from nomadic ancestors present thousands of years ago, and some of the country’s culture continues to practice this ancient lifestyle. Several cities, such as Riyadh and Jeddah, are ultra modern with advanced architecture and technology comparable to any other modern city of the world. Though my anticipation had been left disenchant, I continued to desire to learn more about Islam and why this religion was so powerful in the lives of so many.

While there, a doctor at the university hospital encouraged me to convert to Islam and gave me a copy of the Qur’an. Therefore, in the area I resided, I frequently studied more in depth about the religion of Islam at the university library to discover what it teaches. As well, I needed answers as to why the Muslims from my home country had persecuted Christians and Jews for so many years, and the reason was they believed their faith was the true faith. The same doctor was disappointed when I informed him after three months of intense study that I was unable to find anything truthful or meaningful about Islam. Though I studied Islam fairly and with an open mind, I found no evidence that satisfied my queries as to it qualifying as spiritual or holy religion. Instead, my studies led to a conclusion that this was a religion of the sword and of fear. I told the local doctor that I continued to find my truth in my Lord Jesus and apologized for disappointing him.

Growing up in Pakistan in a majority Muslim society, I had learned many things about the religion of Islam that compelled me to compare Islam in Sunday school to the entirely contrasting teaching of the Bible and Christianity. While in the Bible Christ teaches us to love one another, the Qur’an teaches hate against Christians, Jews and all nonbelievers. My parents moved to England when I was a teenager, and I followed them shortly afterward.

To give more history of my home country, Pakistan was formerly part of India. There was a political division that took place after the British left India in 1947. When created, Pakistan was meant to recognize the minority religion of Christianity as equal citizens, but the reality turned out to be quite the opposite. Sharia law grew stronger, and human rights violations against Christians became worse. When I left Pakistan, I was eager to move to England, where I could learn a new culture.

In the midsixties, when I moved to England, ethnic minorities were often targeted by skinheads because of the difference in culture and ethnic backgrounds. I made several good Muslim and Hindu Indian friends. We did not argue about religion or discuss our religious differences. In the mideighties, after noticing individuals with more radical Islamic views, I spoke with my friend in London, the late Rt. Rev. Bishop of Stepney, Jim Thompson. I discussed with him the potential serious problems with the Islamic world due to the dangerous radical views of the people that were moving into metropolitan areas of England, such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester. He answered to me that they were such a small minority that it would never be an issue or problem; however, I warned him that from experience with the religion, it would eventually grow and become problematic.

From time to time as a young man, I would work for the Metropolitan Police of London as an interpreter for the home office and in the courts regarding immigration cases. This gave me the opportunity to meet with people of numerous nationalities and cultures as I was fluent in Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi.

When I traveled to Saudi Arabia for my work, I finally had the opportunity to learn from the birthplace of Islam and Muhammad. Ultimately, I found many answers that troubled me. This book is meant to give the reader facts regarding Islam from a point of view of love, not of hate or fear.

To better understand the relationship, history, and present-day situations in our world, we need to be able to know the facts and beliefs of Islam. Upon reviewing the facts and data, a well-informed opinion can be made carrying forward with the following chapters, whether the reader is Muslim, Christian, or of another faith. Much of the conflict of the past and present is due to misunderstanding of many subjects surrounding religion, especially Islam. News media does not expound on the background and all the facts when reporting on news worldwide, especially involving radical Islam and why Muslims extremists commit the atrocities of murder, rape, kidnapping, torture, looting, destruction of ancient sites, and human trafficking.

The religion of Islam was founded in AD 622 (CE), nearly six hundred years after Christianity. Christianity and Judaism had a significant influence on Muhammad’s life and beliefs, although upon further review of the teaching of Islam, it is apparent that Muhammad’s teachings took a completely different direction. Muhammad was age forty when he reported his first experiences or revelation from Gabriel in the Cave of Hira, which is two miles from Mecca in the Hejaz region of present-day Saudi Arabia. First, we will review the foundation of the Islamic creed.

Iman: the belief in the six articles of faith

The Islamic theology requires that true followers believe in six metaphysical aspects of the faith: (1) the belief in God (Allah), (2) the angels, (3) the divine books, (4) the prophets, (5) the day of judgment, and (6) Allah’s predestination. Islam teaches that angels have three functions, and they are heavenly (praising God, carrying messages, and supporting His throne), an instrument in human affairs in as such that each person has two guardian angels and that there are specific angels that play a key role (beginning with the death of a person and ending with resurrection). Believing in God’s sacred books include the Qur’an, Mosaic law, Psalms of King David, the Torah or Old Testament, and the New Testament. Believing in the last day of judgment and resurrection in Islam means that on that day, all people will be rewarded by God according to their beliefs and deeds. Those who die while believing that there is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God and practicing Muslims will be rewarded on that day and will be admitted to paradise. And lastly, Allah’s divine destiny, or Qadar, which is the belief that he is responsible for what happens and it is according to his plan.

Five pillars of Islam: acts of worship

The primary rituals in Islam are referred to as the Five Pillars of Worship or Five Pillars of Islam. These include the Shahada, which is testifying a profession of faith that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the prophet of Allah; the daily prayers, or salat, which much be performed five times a day with the chest facing the direction of the Kaaba located in Mecca; zakat, or helping the needy (only Muslim needy); sawm, or fasting, which must be performed from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan; food and drinks are served daily, before dawn and after sunset. While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations. Finally, the hajj, which is a holy pilgrimage to Mecca, the sacred city where all able-bodied Muslims are expected to travel on during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah at least once in their lifetime if finances allow. There is a sixth pillar in Islamic acts of worship referred to as jihad. This is a religious duty of all Muslims to maintain and spread Islam. Most Westerners likely only think of terroristic acts when hearing this term and with good reason. We will explore jihad more when we cover violence in Islam.

Pagan roots of Islam

As the religion of Islam was being developed by Muhammad, he borrowed from multiple other regional religions of the Middle East. These religions included Sabianism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and forms of paganism (prevalent in Mecca during Muhammad’s life). Judaism represents the most common contributor to Islam, followed by Christianity, then by the various pagan religions, and Muhammad’s own creations or revelations. Pagan rituals constitute symbolic meanings of the Islamic faith. Pre-Islamic history divulges that many Arabian tribes worshipped stones. This is also acknowledged in Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 5, #661. Muhammad incorporated the Kaaba’s pagan roots into Islam to give Muslims, especially the pagans converting to Islam, a comfortable transition by continuing the local practices of their ancestors.

When Mecca was conquered in 630 by Muhammad and his ten thousand men, he ordered the Kaaba to be dedicated to Allah. This stone ritual also attributed to giving Muslims a sense of identity, validity, and oneness. Because historical references for the Kaaba were invented by Muhammad, Muslims believe and are taught that Abraham and Ishmael laid the foundations of the Kaaba (Q 2:127). Muhammad initially stated that the Kaaba was founded by Abraham, even though there has never been any mention of Abraham being around Mecca in the Old Testament.

Taha Hussein, a famous Egyptian professor of Arabic literature, declared that the Islamic myth of Abraham building the Kaaba came into vogue just before the rise of Islam. He comments, The case of this episode is very obvious because it is of recent date, and came into vogue just before the rise of Islam. Islam exploited it for religious reasons (quoted in Mizar al-Islam by Anwar al-Jundi).

It cannot be denied that an entire pagan theology and ritual was adopted by Islam after Muhammad had one of his convenient revelations and made it religiously correct. About a year and a half after the migration to Medina, after the Jews had thoroughly rejected him, it is believed by Muslims that Muhammad turned the direction of prayer to Mecca­—the center of pagan worship in the Arabian Peninsula (Q 2:144). Prior to Muhammad defeating the Meccans and claiming the city for himself and Islam, there were 360 idols around the Kaaba and the pilgrimages to the Kaaba were all pagan pilgrimages. The pagans held ritual processions around the Kaaba as part of their custom. Pilgrims wearing white robes were from pagan faiths, along with the worship of the Kaaba and the black stone; thus, these Islamic customs are derived from pagan rituals and beliefs. Today, the same as Muslims calling out Allah’s name, the pagans called out the names of their gods as they circled the Kaaba in ages past. Pagans also ritualistically ran between the nearby hills, just as Muhammad authorized Muslims to do the same ritual in the Qur’an and probably ran between the hills himself. Years after Muhammad’s death, Muslim theologians concocted many myths about Mecca and the Kaaba.

The prophets of Islam and the holy books

In Islam, it is taught that the prophets of the Old and New Testament were Muslim prophets, even a thousand or more years before the religion of Islam, in Qur’an 6:84–86. This list of prophets includes Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus. These prophets fit the requirements of a prophet according to Judaism and the Bible; however, Muhammad does not pass the tests according to Scripture, which will be reviewed in another chapter analyzing the prophethood of Muhammad. The Qur’an teaches that Muhammad’s teachings supersede the former prophets.

Muslims believe that the Qur’an is God’s final revelation to all of mankind given through the archangel Gabriel to Muhammad over a period of twenty-three years. They also believe that it is without error and guarded from any error by Allah. Muhammad taught his followers that Allah gave four books to mankind to live by, which are the law of Moses (Old Testament), the Psalms of David, the Gospel of Jesus, and the Qur’an. Muhammad taught that the Qur’an superseded or abrogated the other earlier books (namely of the Old and New Testament) because they had been corrupted. There is, however, astounding proof that the Bible used today is the same as early Christians followed and lived by over two thousand years ago. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient manuscript copies completely discredit the corruption claims by Muhammad and Islam. In fact, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by Muslim Bedouin shepherds.

Islamic law and regulations

The most distinct feature of Islamic religious law and commands is that they have Shariah, or Islamic law, which regulates every aspect of a Muslim’s devotional and personal life as well as the government over the community. Shariah law is extensive and broad, depending upon the area of the world where it exists and prevails over Muslim life. While most of the legal codes regulate public behavior, Sharia law regulates public behavior, private behavior and even private beliefs. In summary of Shariah law, it is the most restrictive and intrusive of legal systems internationally, especially regarding women’s rights.

In Islam, the punishment for leaving the faith is death and referred to as apostasy. Although this practice is more prevalent among countries and provinces that are ruled by Shariah law, this punishment is dealt out in all areas of the world, even though not under Shariah law, such as the United States, Australia, and Canada, to name a few. On September 29, 2016, it was published in the Daily Mail from the United Kingdom that an Iranian immigrant in Australia had murdered his wife with a knife for converting to Christianity. He was charged with murder by the local government in Sydney, Australia. More of these types of stories can easily be found through search engines on the internet such as Google. The following in the Qur’an describes this ruling:

They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper. (Q. 4.89)

A hadith teaches that Muhammad stated, Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him (Sahih Bukhari 9.84.57). The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law, according to all the schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

Shariah law itself cannot be altered, but the interpretation of Shariah law, called figh by imams (religious leaders), is given some latitude.

The following is a list of Shariah laws that are practiced in most of the world by Muslims:

Theft is punishable by amputation of the right hand.

Criticizing, destroying, or denying any part of the Qur’an is punishable by death.

Criticizing Muhammad or denying that he is a prophet is punishable by death.

Criticizing or denying Allah, the god of Islam, is punishable by death.

A Muslim who becomes a non-Muslim is punishable by death.

A non-Muslim who leads a Muslim away from Islam is punishable by death.

A non-Muslim man who marries a Muslim woman is punishable by death.

A man can marry an infant girl and consummate the marriage when she is nine.

A woman can have one husband, but a man is allowed up to four wives; Muhammad was allowed more.

A man can beat his wife for insubordination.

A man can unilaterally divorce his wife by stating, ‘I divorce you’ three times to make legal; a woman needs her husband’s consent to divorce.

A divorced wife loses custody of all children over six years of age or when they exceed this age.

Testimonies of four male witnesses are required to prove rape against a woman.

A woman who has been raped cannot testify in court against her rapist(s).

A woman’s testimony in court, carries half the weight of a man’s.

A female heir inherits half of what a male heir inherits.

A woman cannot drive a car, as it leads to fitnah (upheaval).

A woman cannot speak alone to a man who is not her husband or relative.

Meat to eat must come from animals that have been sacrificed to Allah; i.e., be halal.

Muslims should engage in taqiyya and lie to non-Muslims to advance Islam.

There are several forms of lying to nonbelievers that are permitted under certain circumstances, the best known being taqiyya. Circumstances that are allowed and are approved by Muslim scholars and leaders are those that advance the cause of Islam. Some of these cases can be to gain the trust of nonbelievers to draw out their vulnerability and defeat them. Muslims are also allowed kitman, which is lying by omission. For example, when a Muslim is debating or arguing about the Qur’an being peaceful by quoting only a fragment of chapter 5, verse 32 (that