Morning Star

Traditional view of Islam

In past centuries, less inclined to dialogue and more focused on protecting the flock from doctrinal error, the proclaimers of the Gospel didn't mince words about heresy. In a recent article devoted to historical pronouncements on Islam, author Andrew Bieszad shows us that language used to be far more blunt:

“On the other hand, those who founded sects committed to erroneous doctrines proceeded in a way that is opposite to this, the point is clear in the case of Muhammad. He seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh goads us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure. In all this, as is not unexpected, he was obeyed by carnal men. As for proofs of the truth of his doctrine, he brought forward only such as could be grasped by the natural ability of anyone with a very modest wisdom. Indeed, the truths that he taught he mingled with many fables and with doctrines of the greatest falsity. He did not bring forth any signs produced in a supernatural way, which alone fittingly gives witness to divine inspiration; for a visible action that can be only divine reveals an invisibly inspired teacher of truth. On the contrary, Muhammad said that he was sent in the power of his arms—which are signs not lacking even to robbers and tyrants.”

-St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274), Theologian and Doctor of the Church. Quoted from his De Rationibus Fidei Contra Saracenos, Graecos, et Armenos and translated from Fr. Damian Fehlner’s Aquinas on Reasons for the Faith: Against the Muslims, Greeks, and Armenians (Franciscans of the Immaculate. 2002.).

This is the money quote, among many firm statements, because it goes to the heart of the error as it relates to sins of the flesh -- to which we are all "goaded" by our fallen nature. It is the purpose of this blog to show that there are two possible responses to this concupiscence:

1. The tendency (which objectifies women) can be woven into the divine plan, so that the very piety of men degrades women; or
2. The tendency can be explained and measures offered to fight it, so that women (who depend on the goodness of men for their well-being) are uplifted by their piety.

Certainly, each woman is the guardian of her own soul, but consider what confuses her path to God:

1. A theology that considers her unequal to her male counterparts;
2. A culture that uses shame to influence her behaviour;
3. A family structure that considers her chattel to barter for other goods;
4. A prospect of marriage that may not be exclusive or life-long, depending on the husband.

Men are inclined to shows of strength, and this can be used to protect the dignity of those in their care, or simply to wield destruction. The raiding culture in which Muhammed lived was canonised by the Qur'an, and the harms to women were codified by the culture it bred. This cannot be disputed; it must be endorsed if God actually spoke to Muhammed or renounced out of hand if He did not. There is no middle ground.

This sad truth is only illustrated more boldly today, with the kidnapping of women, the use of sex slaves, the prevalence of honour killings, and the destruction of schools for girls in the wake of jihad. Although so many insist that these actions are not related to Islam, they are evidence of consistent behaviours over the centuries that underscore how Muslim piety harms women.

And what of heaven, according to the Islamic view? 

“The Mahometan paradise, however, is only fit for beasts; for filthy sensual pleasure is all the believer has to expect there.”

St. Alfonsus Liguori (d. 1787). Quoted from his book, The History of Heresies and their Refutation.

See what heresy does to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb? That's why the Church Fathers were so bold in their statements.

Women as chattel; intimacy degraded

The objectification of women is found in many places, many cultures, but Islam must be called out for its blatant disregard for both women and intimacy, the latter being a gift of God to be cherished only within marriage.

For the past week, Khandhar Kaliph's hands have trembled whenever his phone has rung.

He nervously greeted his daughter, who had been kidnapped when the Islamic State (Isis) overran the Yazidi city of Sinjar. There was a minute of silence, before he broke down sobbing.

"She said she is going to be sold as a slave this afternoon, for $10," Kaliph said, his tears dropping into the brown dust. "What can a father say to that. How can I help? We all feel so useless."

Kaliph's daughter, who he did not want to name, had access to a group phone passed around between other girls imprisoned by the Islamic State in Bardoush prison in central Mosul.

All face the imminent prospect of being married off. Or worse, being used by the jihadis as a sex slave.

"The world needs to know that is where our women are, where they are being enslaved, young and old alike," he said, sitting in the dirt outside a building site near the Iraqi Kurdish city of Dohuk that he and some 70 other Yazidis are now using as shelter.

Lest this be thought yellow journalism, the facts have been confirmed at the highest level:

The U.S. has confirmed that the Islamic State group has kidnapped and imprisoned Yazidi women so that they can be sold or married off to extremist fighters, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information came from classified intelligence reports. There was no solid estimate of the number of women victimized, the official said.

This is not an invention of perverse soldiers, nor an aberration by those who misunderstand, but a staple of Islam instituted by Muhammed himself:

"O Prophet! We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers; and those (slaves) whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom Allah has assigned to thee" (Q. 33:50);

"..who abstain from sex, except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess..." (Q. 23:5-6);

"And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess."  A repetative verse, noting that even sex with married slaves is permissible (Q. 4:24);

"But (now) enjoy what ye took in war, lawful and good"  [reference to war booty, of which slaves were a part, and their fate indicated that "Allah gave you mastery over them" (Q. 8:69, 71);

Bukhari's -- one of the four major commenters -- has compiled ahadith, which are considered authoritative interpretations of Islamic thought], and these give various accounts of the slaves taken by Muhammed's men after battle in which the husbands and fathers were killed. The women were subsequently raped and sold (for example Bukhari 62:137);

And this from the Reliance of the Traveller (source of Shari'a law):

According to Sharia, when a child or woman is taken captive by Muslims, they become slaves by the mere fact of their capture.  A captured woman's previous marriage is immediately annulled (09.13).

A recent interview (May 2011) with Egyptian Sheikh Abu-Ishaq al-Huwayni declared that “we are in the era of jihad,” and that as they waged jihad warfare against infidels, Muslims are allowed to take slaves. He clarified what he meant in a subsequent interview:

...Jihad is only between Muslims and infidels….Spoils, slaves, and prisoners are only to be taken in war between Muslims and infidels. Muslims in the past conquered, invaded, and took over countries. This is agreed to by all scholars--there is no disagreement on this from any of them, from the smallest to the largest, on the issue of taking spoils and prisoners. The prisoners and spoils are distributed among the fighters, which includes men, women, children, wealth, and so on.When a slave market is erected, which is a market in which are sold slaves and sex-slaves, which are called in the Qur’an by the name milk al-yamin, “that which your right hands possess” [Qur’an 4:24]. This is a verse from the Qur’an which is still in force, and has not been abrogated. The milk al-yamin are the sex-slaves. You go to the market, look at the sex-slave, and buy her. She becomes like your wife, (but) she doesn’t need a (marriage) contract or a divorce like a free woman, nor does she need a wali. All scholars agree on this point--there is no disagreement from any of them. [...] When I want a sex slave, I just go to the market and choose the woman I like and purchase her.

Vehement renunciations from the West by Muslims who reject the teachings might garner respect, but they would be running counter to historical evidence and religious tradition. Still, the gesture would be appreciated by women everywhere.