Pakistan: Former Muslim Shares His Stories Of Persecution After Coming To Faith In Christ

Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

When Masood knocked on the door of Truth, it was Christ who answered …

By Marian Rizzo, Ocala Star-Banner – “Buried alive, nearly beheaded and jailed numerous times, Steven Masood acknowledged he has many reasons to be bitter over the persecutions he says he suffered in Pakistan for having turned from his Muslim faith to Christianity. But after finding freedom in America eight years ago, he says he is filled with words of gratitude on this Thanksgiving weekend.

‘First of all, I am thankful to God,’ Masood said. ‘Had it not been for the food sent from America and Canada to the northern region of Pakistan, my generation, at that time, back in the ’60s, would have died. Secondly, I am thankful that these American missionaries brought us spiritual food. God already sent someone to die for me. So, I’m thankful for that, as well.’

Born into an Islamic reformist sect called Ahmadiyya, Masood left home at 18 to become a Sunni Muslim. Prior to that, he had received Christian Bibles in the Urdu language on separate occasions. They were immediately taken from him. Even though he continued studying the principles of Islam and memorized the entire Quran, Masood began to question the tenets of his faith. While a student of Islamic studies, he faced persecution from other college students for speaking out, he said.

‘I would say, ‘No, that is wrong,’ and I would get myself in trouble by telling the truth,’ Masood said. ‘One day, Muslim students at the same university drugged me and buried me alive in an open grave in the graveyard.’

Masood believes his escape was something of a miracle.

‘It was the rainy season,’ he said. ‘In the middle of the night, the monsoon rain came. The graveyard was at the bottom of the hill, the reservoir overflowed from the top. Not only was it full of water, but more rain came and washed away everything, including the grave where I was. I started breathing in and became aware that I was going to be drowned in the water. I was floating. I didn’t know how to swim. I started worrying about what should I do. There was a big banyan tree. I climbed in it and sat there. Anyway, God saved my life. The next day, I was reading in the newspaper that 238 people died because of the monsoon rain, and you can imagine, here I was alive.’

When Masood announced his concerns about Islam to his family, his father disowned him. According to Masood, his father dragged him by the collar into the street where a Muslim priest uttered a funeral prayer over him. His hands bound, he was placed on a donkey and was about to be beheaded when the donkey became agitated and ran off. Masood believes God protected him again that day.

Suppressing fear for his life, Masood continued to seek answers, he said.

‘The more I wanted to be a good Muslim, the more I had these questions, but there was no assurance for me,’ Masood said. ‘I was performing all the prayers and everything. I was studying the traditions of Islam. Mohammad said, ‘By works we will not be saved.’ So, people asked him, ‘What about you?’ And he said, ‘Even I, unless God covers me with his grace and mercy.’ So, here I was, searching for that grace and mercy. I was so upset, because nobody was telling me the truth.’

In December 1971, while India and Pakistan were warring over what is now Bangladesh, Masood huddled in the dark as shells fell all around. Afterward, he went to a church in Karachi. The pastor gave him a Bible and Masood spent the next two years studying it.” Read more.

Exposing The Qur’an: Islam’s ‘Holy Book’ Teaches A Flat Earth

Ephesians 5:11, “… have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

If the “holy” Qur’an were truly holy it would need to be divine in origin, and to be divine in origin would, by definition, necessitate that any and all its claims be free from error, be they historical or scientific. In the case of science, it has shown us that the sun does not set in a spring of murky water. The Qur’an says otherwise (Sura 18:86). Science discovered that the earth revolves around the sun, not the other way around. The Qur’an says otherwise (Sura 21:33; 36:38, 40 and 91:1-2). Science discovered that the stars are not close to us. The Qur’an says otherwise (Sura 37:6). Science discovered that the moon does not emit light but rather reflects it. The Qur’an says otherwise (Sura 71:16). Science discovered that the earth did not exist before the creation of the universe. The Qur’an says otherwise (Sura 2:29). Science discovered that male sperm comes from the testicles, not from between the backbone and the ribs. The Qur’an says otherwise (Sura 86:6-7). Science discovered that flesh is formed before bones. But, again, the Qur’an says otherwise (Sura 23:14). We can go on and on, but these blatant errors alone (that Muslims are forced to somehow rationalize and explain away) all beg the following question: How on “Allah’s” flat earth can any reasonable human being believe an error-filled book like the Qur’an, a book that isn’t even arranged chronologically yet tells its followers to ignore earlier verses?  …

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From Zekeriya Kazvinî’s “Acaib-ül Mahlûkat” (The Wonders of Creation). Translated into Turkish from Arabic. Istanbul: ca. 1553. This map depicts “a traditional Islamic projection of the world as a flat disk surrounded by the sundering seas which are restrained by the encircling mountains of Qaf”.

By Ibn Kammuna, Islam Watch – “Muslims claim that the Qur’an mentioned the shape of the earth to be like an egg in the 7th century, long before modern science discovered this fact. Such a scientific fact, and similar ones, Muslims claim, convince us of the divine origin of the Qur’an.

On the other hand, many non-Muslims claim that the Qur’an did not mention the above fact at all. In fact, to the contrary, the Qur’an specifies that the earth is flat, thus reiterating false scientific fact believed by the 7th century humans.

Who is correct? And who is not? This article aims at answering such a question. I will divide this article into the following sections:

Logical analysis of Muslims claims

What are the Qur’anic verses involved in this controversy, and what is their interpretations by a major Tafsir; Jalalyn

Substantive conclusion

1) Logical Analysis of the Muslims claims

According to Muslims, the Qur’an says that the earth is shaped like an egg. Modern science affirms this fact. The Qur’an affirmed this scientific fact in the sixth century, long before modern science discovered this fact. Hence, the Qur’an must have a divine origin.

Let us formulate this claim in its argument form:

Premise 1 : Modern science shows that the earth is shaped like an egg

Premise 2: This scientific fact was not known to any human, and impossible to be known for any human, in the 6th century

Premise 3: The Qur’an mentioned this fact in the 6th century

Conclusion: The Qur’an must have a divine origin

Needless to say this argument is invalid. The conclusion does not follow from the premises. Even if one accepts all the above mentioned premises, one isn’t obliged at all to accept its conclusion. There is no relation between a book containing a scientific fact that is ahead of its times, and the claimed divine origin of such a book. I can believe that the Qur’an is a unique wonder in the world, and not believe at all of its divine origin.

So, it seems clear that a Muslim cannot convince any person of the divine origin of the Qur’an based on claimed scientific facts contained in the Qur’an. There is no logical connection between the ‘science’ of the Qur’an, and claiming the Qur’an as a divine book.

2- What are the Qur’anic verses involved in this controversy, and what is their interpretation by a major Tafsir; Jalalyn

The following Qur’anic verses, with their related Tafsir quotes, do speak about the earth formation

Syria: Islamists Attacking Christian Children, Schools In An Effort To Rid Country Of Christianity

John 16:2b-3, “… the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.”

By Elisa Pinna, ANSAmed – “A young Syrian Christian MP has accused rebel forces of targeting children and schools in government-held areas, especially ones with a Christian-majority population.

Some 11,000 children have already died in the conflict, but the Syrian deputy Maria Saadeh – in Rome to meet with Pope Francis and raise awareness in the West about ‘what is really happening in Syria’ – said they have now become a target for Al-Qaeda-linked and jihadist groups fighting to overthrow the Damascus regime. ‘There have been five attacks alone on Christian schools over the past few days, injuring and killing children,’ she said, claiming that it is a strategy ‘to get Christians – who are secular and moderate – to flee the country.’ Some 450,000 of the just over two million Christians in Syria have left the country. Saadeh blames the media for the slanted take on what happens in Syria. ‘It is not a war against the regime, as the international media has long portrayed it to be, but a war to destroy the Syrian State by a group of extremists and criminals controlled by foreign powers,’ she said. The deputy did not want to identify with the regime, but said that the top priority right now is to defend the State. ‘If the Syrian State collapses, it will mean the total disintegration of the country,’ leaving 23 million citizens without wages, pensions, schools or healthcare in the hands of Al Qaeda-linked groups that are dreaming of a ‘Sunni caliphate’. Saadeh said that the rebels are destroying ‘the country’s administrative facilities, factories, agro-food system, and archeological sites.’ ‘How can the West think that the killings, the car bombs, the attacks on civilians and the beheadings,’ she asked, ‘are synonymous with democracy?'” Read more.

Flashback: Syria: At Least 9 Children Killed After Islamist Rebel Mortars Hit Christian School, Bus In Damascus – “Nine children were killed and 27 people wounded when mortar rounds hit a school and a school bus in the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday, state television reported. ‘The toll in the terrorist targeting of the St. John of Damascus school with mortar rounds has risen to five dead, all of them children, and 27 injured,’ a news alert on Syrian state television said. Another four students were killed when a mortar hit the vehicle they were in …” Read more.

Flashback: Video: Syrian Rebel Admits Using Chemical Weapons, ‘We’ll Kill Their Women And Children’ – “Looks like America’s Islamist ‘allies’ in Syria have already crossed President ‘I-Didn’t-Set-A-Red-Line‘ Obama’s red line long ago. Unfortunately for many lawmakers, even news like this will not be enough to sober up the ‘inebriated johns’ who continually rationalize the irrational …” Read more.

Flashback: Syria: Thousands Of Families Flee, Children Crying In Fear As Islamists Besiege Two Villages In Search Of Christians To Kill – “Islamist rebels besieged two Christian villages in Syria, killing around 13 people and forcing thousands of families to evacuate their homes… 60 armed vehicles entered Saddad: ‘As the vehicles and armed personnel made their way through the streets, the shouting of ‘Allah Akbar’ [‘Allah is great’] and the touting of the Quran made it clear to both permanent and displaced that their time of relative tranquility was quickly coming to an end.'” Read more.

Flashback: US-Backed Syrian Rebels Reportedly Massacre Christian Village, Including Women And Children – “Members of the Free Syrian Army reportedly attacked the Christian-dominated al-Duvair village in Reef on the outskirts of Homs on Monday, where they massacred its citizens, including women and children, before the Syrian Army interfered… The U.S. and other Western governments that are backing the FSA have acknowledged the presence of jihadists but insist that they’re only a small part of the rebel movement. However, al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremist groups have been at the front of the rebel movement since day one of the Syrian war …” Read more.

450,000 Christians Flee Muslim Violence In The Central African Republic

This has been a reoccurring theme as of late …

Acts 14:22, “… continue in the faith … we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

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AINA – “The United Nations is demanding immediate support for the Central African Republic (CAR) during a very difficult period. Apparently over 450,000 people have fled their homes after the Muslim dominated Seleka took power and began persecuting Christians irrespective of the alleged government of national unity during the transitional period. Not surprisingly, Christians are trying to protect themselves against Muslim forces within Seleka which are clearly out of control. Therefore, bloodletting is sowing the seeds of distrust and clearly the international community needs to do something before the crisis reaches a point of no return.

Unlike Christian communities in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, and in other nations, whereby various sects are persecuted, it is clear that in the CAR — just like in South Sudan — that Christians will not just sit back and wait to be slaughtered or become trapped in ghettoes. It is hoped that the international community will be fair in pointing out the real factors behind communal violence. After all, it is clear that religious tensions erupted after Seleka troops began to ransack Christian areas. However, the same media which always points out the ‘Buddhist’ angle in Myanmar (more Christians have been killed in Myanmar than any other non-Buddhist religion in the last few decades) in relation to the persecution of Muslims in this country; they appear to loathe to point out massacres by Muslims forces in the CAR against Christians; just like the persecution of Buddhists and others in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is barely mentioned in Bangladesh.

In must be remembered that when less than two thousand people had been killed in Kosovo the West intervened rapidly and took this part of Serbia away from the indigenous Orthodox Christians. Yet when northern Cyprus was occupied by Turkey and Orthodox Christians were cleansed then Western nations did zilch apart from sell more military arms to Turkey. Similarly, when millions of black African Christians and Animists were massacred in Sudan (many forced into slavery and forcibly converted to Islam) you never had the threat of Western intervention. Likewise, the mainly Christians of West Papua are currently facing Javanization and Islamization in Indonesia but the world is turning a blind eye once more just like they did when the Catholic Timorese were massacred in vast numbers by the same forces.

Elizabeth Kendal reports in Christian Today that the ‘Central African Republic is French-speaking and its population is around 76 per cent Christian. On Sunday 24 March 2013, Seleka — a coalition of local and foreign Arabic-speaking Islamic militias — seized control of the capital, Bangui, in an orgy of violence and looting.’

‘But Seleka does not rape, loot and kill indiscriminately. Rather, Seleka attacks Christians and spares Muslims, causing traditional community trust to evaporate, and creating a sectarian tinderbox.’

The same author reports that Christian militias are now retaliating and massacres against Muslims are happening based on the actions of Muslim forces within Seleka. Indeed, just like you have countless militias in Libya then it is difficult to define Seleka because many are mere rogue elements which are focused on economic goals alongside anti-Christian persecution. However, while religious agitation wasn’t enforced by the usual Christian leaders of the CAR, it is abundantly clear that you have an Islamist cause within all the chaos and common criminality of forces within Seleka and clearly the so-called government of national unity isn’t in control of the situation.

Christian Bishop Albert Vanbuel stated ‘a rebellion of religious extremism with evil intentions, characterized by profanation and planned destruction of religious buildings, especially Catholic and Protestant churches’ is now in power.” Read more.

Flashback: When Islam Rises, All Others Must Fall

• Dozens Killed After Islamists Attack Christian Villages In Central African Republic
• Mass Murder, Destruction: Anti-Christian Violence To Explode In Central African Republic
• Islamists With ‘Hit List’ Of Pastors & Churches Launch ‘Reign Of Terror’ Against Christians
• Islam In Africa: ‘An Invisible Genocide Where Sadistic Killers Slaughter And Execute Thousands Of Christians’

Comet ISON Set To Become Brilliant Spectacle … If It Survives Today’s Close Encounter With The Sun

Update: Sun-grazing comet ISON likely broke up, scientists say …

Update 2: Scientists baffled by new picures of Comet ISON …

By Joe Rao, FOX News – “The incoming Comet ISON is now in the home stretch of its long-awaited hairpin loop around the sun on Thanksgiving Day, making it a great target for amateur astronomers and stargazers. But there are some tips and info you’ll want to keep in mind before you go comet hunting.

Comet ISON is on track for an extremely close shave of the sun when it flies by Earth’s closest star on Nov. 28. The comet will approach within a mere 730,000 miles of the sun during the encounter, leading many scientists and amateur astronomers to wonder if the comet will survive its Thanksgiving Day rendezvous with the sun.

In December, Comet ISON is expected to reach its greatest brilliance. It is during that month that it will be most interesting to both amateurs and the public. [See more amazing photos of Comet ISON in the night sky]

Although forecasting the brightness of a comet months before its arrival at perihelion has always been hazardous, in the case of ISON until recently its brightening trend has been very difficult to decipher. Up until Nov. 13, the comet’s increase in brightness was progressing at a rather sluggish pace, but then suddenly a noticeable outburst began taking place...

From Nov. 13 to 21, Comet ISON brightened by 3.5 magnitudes on the scale used to determine the brightness of objects in space. That’s a 25-fold increase in brightness to the observer! Between Nov. 19 and 21 alone, ISON more than doubled in brightness. Along with this surge in activity, soaring rates of dust and gas were being released from its nucleus.

Amateur and professional astronomers around the world have been tracking Comet ISON in telescopes, with NASA spacecraft and other observatories tracking the object from space.

In the wake of this recent activity, experienced comet watchers are growing more confident that the comet has a chance to be ranked among one of the brightest in the last half century. ‘All this I regard as very promising for something quite significant to be seen from ISON come the early days of December,’ comet expert John Bortle said. [How to Photograph Comet ISON (Step-by-Step Gallery)]

In fact, at its very brightest Comet ISON may even become briefly visible in broad daylight!” Read more.

Afghanistan: Devout ‘Religion Of Peace’ Locals Shoot Couple Dead For Falling In Love

Don’t fall in love with each other. Fall in love with death instead. For peaceful purposes …

By Habibur Rahman Sherzai, RAWA News – “Locals shot dead a girl and her boyfriend after they eloped in northern Baghlan province, officials said Saturday.

The girl eloped with Saifullah, but they were caught by the people in the Ghori area on the outskirts of Pul-i-Khumri, Abdullah, said a police commander, also the boy brother.

Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, Abdullah said his 22 years old brother had developed a relationship with the girl. The two wanted to tie the knot.

Javed Basharat, the provincial police spokesman, said police tried to mediate and rescue the pair, but tribal elders promised to surrender both victims. But they failed to do so.

Police had launched raids to detain those involved in the murder of the pair and put them behind bars, he concluded.” Source – RAWA News.

Flashback: Afghanistan: Two Teens Fall In Love, Angry Muslim Mob Riots, One Killed, Police Station Torched – “It was the beginning of an Afghan love story that flouted dominant traditions of arranged marriages and close family scrutiny, a romance between two teenagers of different ethnicities that tested a village’s tolerance for more modern whims of the heart. The results were delivered with brutal speed… An angry crowd of 300 surged around them, calling them adulterers and demanding that they be stoned to death or hanged… The riot, which lasted for hours, ended with one man dead, a police station charred and the two teenagers, Halima Mohammedi and her boyfriend, Rafi Mohammed, confined to juvenile prison.” Read more.

Flashback: Pakistan: Grandfather Goes On ‘Honor Killing’ Rampage After Daughter Marries The Man She Loved – “It was spine-chilling for Pakistanis to hear news of the grandfather who killed his daughter and his own grandchildren only for protecting the so-called honour of the family. The crime was that the daughter had married a man of her own choice, and not that of the head of her family. The father was so vindictive he waited five years to take revenge for his ‘honour’. He was quite satisfied after taking his revenge on the grand children, who had nothing to do with their mother’s decision to marry of her own choice. He didn’t stop there either. He also killed two young men, brothers of the groom …” Read more.

Flashback: Wife Of Al-Qaeda Chief: ‘Raise Your Children In The Cult Of Jihad And Martyrdom … Instil In Them A Love For Religion And Death’ – “The wife of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has congratulated Muslim women for the role they have played in the Arab Spring and urged them to raise their children for jihad. ‘I congratulate all Muslim women for these blessed revolutions,’ Umaima Hassan Ahmed Mohammed Hassan wrote in a letter posted on the Al-Fajr website on Friday. ‘I advise you to raise your children in the cult of jihad and martyrdom and to instil in them a love for religion and death,’ she wrote.” Read more.

Greece: Authorities Concerned As Muslim Attacks Against Churches Increase In Crete

To Islamists and their leftist enablers, leaving Arabic graffiti on Christian churches is simply an Islamic way of engaging in a bit of interfaith dialogue …

Pravoslavis – “Cases of vandalism in churches of Heraklion and graffiti in Arabic left by criminals, which have become more frequent, are causing the authorities and the Archdiocese of Crete serious concern, reports Sedmitza.ru, citing the Greek agency Romphea.

Another crime of this kind has been committed in a very small church of St. Marina not far from the village of Avgenika.

As it was in the previous cases, the criminals or criminal acted in the same way. The icons inside the church were removed from the walls, stacked on the altar, then doused with an inflammable liquid and set on fire, reports the Patris newspaper.

Moreover, the criminals or criminal left graffiti on the walls in Arabic or in some other Oriental language.

The vandal attack happened at noon. The crime was discovered by the village residents, who saw smoke from the burning icons pouring out of the church windows. They also reported that they had seen a strange car moving near Avgenika.” Source – Pravoslavis.

Flashback: Islam ‘Is Transforming The European Way Of Life In Ways Unimaginable Only A Few Years Ago’ – “From Britain to Greece, and Spain to Slovenia, Muslim immigration and the accompanying rise of Islam are transforming the European way of life in ways unimaginable only a few years ago. What follows is a brief survey of 20 noteworthy stories involving Islam in Europe during just the month of September 2013.” Read more.

Flashback: ‘Rights Groups’ Blame Greek Authorities While Muslim Invaders Are Rioting And Destroying Greece

‘The Situation In Gaza Is Very Bad’: Hamas Cracking Down On Christians, Forcing Them To Convert To Islam

This is only a taste of what is coming. As of right now, Christians in the Middle East are still largely tolerated as “dhimmis” and therefore able to offer up the sacrifice of praise to YHWH today. But this could all come to an abrupt end if a figure of great significance in the Islamic world were to stand against the Temple of God and demands that all stop worshiping YHWH and convert to Islam, or else. We’ve already seen some Muslim leaders issuing fatwas (religious decrees) in places like Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Pakistan demanding that Christians either convert to Islam, or die. A fatwa like this issued against Jews and Christians by someone like the Mahdi, for instance, would send immediate shockwaves all throughout the Islamic world. If such a decree were to happen “then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt 24:21) …

1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

Hebrews 13:15, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

1 Corinthians 3:17, “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

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MidEast Christian News – “Dr. Hazem Abu Shanab, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, told MCN that Hamas, in association with the Muslim Brotherhood, is controlling the Gaza Strip by force of arms, and is cracking down on Christians and restricting their freedom of worship. It is also trying to force them to abandon Christianity and convert to Islam, he said.

Hamas has reacted violently against Christians in issues related to this, said Shanab. He explained that there are ongoing attacks on churches and Christians in the Gaza Strip because Hamas considers Christians ‘infidels.’

Abu Shanab said Hamas modified academic textbooks for this academic year to serve its own plans and ‘radical ideas.’ Muslims and Christians in Gaza are experiencing restrictions on freedoms, and do not have the basic needs for life, such as food, drink and medicine, he said.

Speaking to MCN, Abu Shanab said the situation in Gaza is very bad, because an armed group affiliated to Hamas is controlling the situation. This group claims to rule by law and has legitimacy, he said. Hamas, on the other hand, is cracking down on Christians’ freedom to worship and trying to force them to embrace Islam.

‘There are encroachments on Christian and Islamic houses of worship because the military administration of Hamas has the upper hand, and such attacks particularly target churches and Christians, who are considered ‘infidels,’ which leads to more violence against them,’ he said.” Read more.

Flashback: Gaza Christians Protest Forced Conversion To Islam – “Christians in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip are taking a public stand against forced conversion to Islam. In an unusual public demonstration, men and women gathered in front of the Church of Saint Porphyrius Monday to protest the abduction and forced conversion of members of their congregation… Forced conversion to Islam is not a new phenomenon in Gaza, but public protests by Christians are, Labib Nabanat, coordinator of the Israeli and Palestinian Bible Societies, told CBN News.” Read more.

Flashback: Modern Day Exodus: Palestinian Christians Leaving In Droves – “Home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, the city of Beit Jala — located on a hill adjacent to Bethlehem — still boasts a large number of worshippers. This fact makes the town unique among Palestinian towns, which have generally seen their Christian populations decline. ‘People are leaving Palestine [sic] in droves. Jenin, Aboud, Nablus — these cities have lost much of their Christian population, some villages and towns have no more than two to three families,’ said Peter, a 25-year-old resident of Bethlehem who agreed to be interviewed for this article on condition that his real name not be used.” Read more.

Islamic University Professor: The Muslim World ‘Has Yet To Learn Mutual Respect And To Listen To Others’

Unfortunately, as an Islamic professor he should already be well aware that mutual respect and listening to the differing opinions of others is forbidden in Islam. Given the state of Islam today, this man may soon be denounced as an apostate for entertaining the thoughts of anything other than violent jihad …

Hadith, Sahih Muslim 1:33a, “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and they establish [Islamic] prayer …”

Qur’an Sura 5:51, “O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them [unbelievers]; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.”

Qur’an Sura 4:89, ”They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies … seize them and kill them wherever you find them …”

By Idris Tawfiq, AsiaNews – “The Muslim world ‘has yet to learn mutual respect and to listen to others because violence and aggressiveness are not even useful roads even if one wants to proselytise. I learnt from Christians that we can be together, faithful of different religions or traditions, without condemning or damning each other to hell,’ this according to Idris Tawfiq, a professor at the prestigious Islamic university of Al Azhar, who attended the assembly of the World Council of Churches, which took place recently in South Korea. Here is his full testimonial.

The Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC) was founded after the Second World War as a forum for Christians to try and bring the different branches of Christianity closer together after centuries of division.

Since that time Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox and Evangelical Christians, all with their different histories, traditions and beliefs, have all worked for the day when there will just be one Christian Church. Since then, every seven years the WCC has held a global Congress where participants of the member Churches come together to discuss the faith they have in common…

In all this, then, I was present at the gathering as the Muslim guest of the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches…

It took a little persuasion on facebook to convince some of my friends that I hadn’t ‘gone over to the other side.’…

… I was deeply impressed by the way the participants were concerned about justice. As a Muslim, there were areas of injustice in the world which I thought were not addressed by the Assembly, but there was nonetheless a real thirst for improving people’s lives across the globe, either because of poverty, exploitation or disease. I reflected that at Muslim gatherings we are not always seen to be concerned about the poor. There was also a very impressive concern for the earth itself and the way we treat the earth. Again, I wondered if as Muslims this is not always one of the themes closest to our hearts …

Many of the traditions represented at the Assembly were so different from one another that they almost seemed like different religions, yet people were prepared to listen to other opinions and ideas with respect. I do wish that as Muslims we could listen to other Muslims with the same respect, without condemning them or damning them to hell…” Read more.

Egyptian Fatwas: Women Only Created For Sex, Swimming Women Are Adulterers, Touching Bananas Forbidden …

Daniel 11:37a, “Neither shall he regard the God [YHWH] of his fathers [Abraham and Ishmael], nor the desire of women …”

By Raymond Ibrahim, Gatestone Institute – “As the full ramification of the Muslim Brotherhood’s year in power continues to be exposed, a new study by Al Azhar’s Fatwa Committee dedicated to exploring the fatwas, or Islamic decrees, issued by the Brotherhood and Salafis — the Islamists — was recently published.

Al Azhar, in Cairo, is considered by many to be one of the oldest and most prestigious Islamic universities in the world. The study, written by Al Azhar’s Dr. Sayed Zayed, and entitled (in translation), ‘The Misguided Fatwas of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis,’ reveals a great deal about how Islamists view women.

The Egyptian newspaper Al Masry Al Youm summarized some of the Al Azhar study’s main findings and assertions on November 15 in a article entitled (in translation), ‘Muslim Brotherhood fatwas: A woman swimming is an ‘adulteress’ and touching bananas is ‘forbidden.”

According to the report, ‘fatwas issued by both groups [Brotherhood and Salafis] regard women as strange creatures created solely for sex. They considered the voices of women, their looks and presence outside the walls of their homes an ‘offence.’ Some went as far as to consider women as a whole ‘offensive.”

The study addressed 51 fatwas issued during the rule of ousted president Mohamed Morsi. Among them, the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis ‘permitted wives to lie to their husbands concerning politics,’ if the husband forbids her from being supportive of the Islamists or their agenda; she may then, through taqiyya [dissimulation] — a Muslim doctrine that permits deceit to empower Islam — still be supportive of the Islamists while pretending to be against them.

The study similarly revealed that some of these fatwas decreed that women who swim in the sea are committing ‘adultery’ — even if they wear a hijab: ‘The reason behind this particular fatwa, from their point of view, is that the sea is masculine [as with many other languages, Arabic nouns are gender specific, and ‘sea’ is masculine], and when the water touches the woman’s private parts she becomes an ‘adulteress’ and should be punished.’

Moreover, ‘Some of these fatwas also forbade women from eating certain vegetables or even touching cucumbers or bananas,’ due to their phallic imagery, which may tempt women to deviate.

Other fatwas decreed that ‘it is unacceptable for women to turn the air conditioning on at home during the absence of their husbands as this could be used as a sign to indicate to neighbors that the woman is at home alone and any of them could commit adultery with her.’

One fatwa suggested that marriage to ten-year-old girls should be allowed to prevent girls ‘from deviating from the right path,’ while another prohibited girls from going to schools located 25 kilometers away from their homes.

Another stated that a marriage is annulled if the husband and wife copulate with no clothes on.

These fatwas also sanctioned the use of women and children as human shields in violent demonstrations and protests, as these are considered jihads to empower Islam.

Even slavery was permitted, according to the study: ‘the people who issued these fatwas demanded the enactment of a law allowing divorced women to own slaves,’ presumably to help her, as she no longer has a man to support her.” Read more.

Flashback: Fatwhats?

• Egyptian Clerics Issue Fatwa Forbidding The Killing Of Frogs
• Islamist Group Forbids Eating Tomatoes Because They Are ‘Christian’
• Saudi Cleric Issues Fatwa Calling For The Veiling Of All Female Babies
• Iraqi Cleric Issues Fatwa To All Christians: Choose Islam Or Be Killed
• Syrian Fatwa Forbids Killing ‘Believer Lice’ Growing In ‘Blessed’ Muslim Beards
• Cleric Issues Fatwa Allowing Syrian Rebels To Rape Women To Solve Sexual Urges
• Saudi Issues Fatwa Against Mars Visits, Will ‘Lead To The Destruction Of Those Who Try’
• Egyptian Sheikh: Chevrolet’s Logo Resembles Christian Cross, Issues Fatwa Forbidding Muslims from Buying or Driving Chevys

Russia: 15 ‘Extremists’ Arrested In Moscow With Weapons, Explosives … And Qur’ans

The police diffused what could have been a potentially explosive situation …

“These [‘moderate’ and ‘immoderate’ Muslim] descriptions are very ugly, it is offensive and an insult to our religion. There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that’s it.” – Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 2007

Коран is the Russain word for “Qur’an”

RT – “Moscow police have arrested 15 members of Takfir Wal-Hijra, an extremist organization. The cell had a stash of weapons and explosives, which was seized in the police raid.

The cell was exposed and busted thanks to ongoing investigations into crimes not related to terrorism, the Interior Ministry reported. Members of the group were involved in various acts of crime to fund their activity.

Fourteen radicals were arrested overnight in the east of the city, while another was apprehended hours later at a different location.

Police seized three improvised explosive devices complete with detonators. One of the bombs was designed to be belt-stripped.

Among other items discovered were bomb components, handguns, grenades, ammo and extremist literature, the ministry statement said.

Takfir Wal-Hijra is a radical Islamist organization, which was formed in Egypt in the 1970s.

Members of the group adhere to one of the most fundamental forms of Islam and observe very strict rules, including a ban on being photographed, documented and often even talked to by non-members.

It was not reported to have any cells in Russia or neighboring countries until about five years ago, Elena Suponina, head of the Center for Asia and Near East of the Russian Institute for Strategic Research told RIA Novosti.

The expert added that the cell detained in Moscow may not have a direct connection with Egyptian ranks of the organization, but rather just used the well-known name.

‘Still since they share the ideology and are prepared to resort to violence to reach their goals, they are certainly dangerous,’ she said.” Read more.

Flashback: исламского террора

• Russia Foils Deadly Terror Plot On Chemical Facility That Could Have Killed Hundreds
• Russian Radio Host Attacked For Criticizing Islam Over The Air, ‘You Are Allah’s Enemy!’
• Jihadist Leader Threatens ‘Any Methods Allowed’ By Allah To Stop 2014 Winter Olympics
• Muslim Clerics Warn Of Global Unrest If Gov’t Bans ‘Extremist’ Translation Of The Qur’an
• Convert To Islam Calls For Killing Of All Non-Muslims, Creation Of A ‘Global Islamic Caliphate’
• Prominent Muslim Lawyer Promises To ‘Cover Russia In Blood’ and Turn Moscow Into ‘A Second Dead Sea’ If Sharia Law Is Not Implemented

Nigeria: Baptist High School Principal, Teachers Beaten To A Pulp In Osun State By Angry Muslims

For peaceful purposes …

Qur’an Sura 48:29, “Mohammed is [Allah’s] apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another.”

By  Oluwole Ige – Osogbo, Nigerian Tribune – “There was confusion in the ancient town of Ejigbo in Osun State, on Monday, as the principal and some teachers of Baptist High School were beaten to a state of coma.

The incident, which occurred around 8.00 a.m, heightened tension in the town as many were apprehensive that the crisis might snowball into a clash between Christians and Muslims in the town.

Trouble ensued when some unknown persons  invaded the office of the principal, identified as Mr Layi Oguntola, where they  made some enquiries and subsequently pounced on him, beating him to a pulp.

Our correspondent was informed that the school authorities had, last Friday, sent a female student home for allegedly using veil (hijab) while in the school, a development which infuriated some Muslims.

But Muslim youths in the town mobilised themselves and stormed the school to demand an apology from the school principal, and when he refused to grant their demand, he was malhandled.

Similarly, some teachers were also attacked by the irate youths with dangerous weapons, such as axes, cutlass and charms.

Worried by the incident, the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyesosin, was said to have intervened  and ordered that the principal and other affected teachers be moved to his palace to ensure their safety.

Baptist High School, Ejigbo, was a missionary school, but the school reclassification programme of the state government had affected its nomenclature, as students from other schools were merged with students of the school.

About two months ago, similar incident had occured at the Baptists Girls High School, Osogbo and Baptist High School, Iwo, where some Christians protested the merger policy, leading to chaos.” Source – Nigerian Tribune.