It IS About Islam

1. Islam's core teachings promote jihad and violence against non-believers

"Islam was never for a day the religion of peace. Islam is the religion of war."

Quranic justification for violence. The Quran contains numerous verses calling for violence against non-Muslims, such as "fight those who do not believe in Allah" (9:29) and "slay them wherever you find them" (4:89). These are not isolated verses taken out of context, but part of a consistent message throughout Islamic scripture.

Historical spread through conquest. From its earliest days, Islam expanded rapidly through military conquest rather than peaceful conversion. The Muslim empires that followed Muhammad continued this pattern of jihad against non-Muslim lands for centuries. This history of violent expansion is celebrated by many Muslims today as a model to emulate.

Modern jihadist groups cite scripture. Terrorist organizations like ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram consistently justify their actions by quoting the Quran and hadith. Their extremism is not a fringe interpretation, but a literal reading of Islamic texts. While many Muslims reject this violence, jihadists can readily find theological support for their actions.

2. The Caliphate is not a fanciful dream but a serious goal for many Muslims

"ISIS realized this vision on June 28, 2014, by formally establishing a Caliphate—almost three years to the day after CIA director Brennan's assurances that it would never happen."

Historical significance. The Caliphate represents the political unity of the Muslim world under a single leader, or caliph. It existed in various forms from the time of Muhammad until the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1924. Many Muslims see its restoration as a religious duty and sign of Islam's triumph.

Modern resurgence. Groups like ISIS have capitalized on this longing for a Caliphate among many Muslims. Their declaration of a new Caliphate in 2014 attracted tens of thousands of foreign fighters and supporters. While most Muslims reject ISIS's brutality, the idea of restoring the Caliphate remains popular.

Long-term strategy. Jihadist groups have laid out detailed plans for reestablishing the Caliphate over decades. This includes:

• Destabilizing existing governments in Muslim lands
• Uniting Muslims under a single political authority
• Expanding the Caliphate's borders through jihad
• Imposing sharia law as the only legitimate system

3. Sharia law is incompatible with Western values and democratic principles

"Sharia does not respect individual rights, as the West has understood the concept for centuries. Sharia is incompatible with our Constitution and the principles of equality and liberty embodied in our Declaration of Independence."

Totalitarian nature. Sharia is an all-encompassing legal and moral code that governs every aspect of life. It does not recognize the separation of religion and state. Under sharia, there is no freedom of religion, speech, or conscience as understood in liberal democracies.

Harsh punishments. Sharia prescribes severe physical punishments for various offenses:

• Death for apostasy (leaving Islam)
• Stoning for adultery
• Amputation for theft
• Flogging for drinking alcohol

Discrimination. Sharia institutionalizes inequality:

• Women have fewer rights than men in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and legal testimony
• Non-Muslims are relegated to second-class status (dhimmitude) with fewer rights
• Homosexuality is criminalized, often punishable by death

4. The Muslim Brotherhood operates as a "civilization jihad" in the West

"The Brotherhood's goal is nothing less than to Islamicize our free societies. They are working toward that goal through political and psychological warfare that includes cultural subversion, the co-opting of senior leaders, influence operations, propaganda, and other means of pushing sharia into Western societies bit by bit."

Gradual infiltration. The Muslim Brotherhood pursues a long-term strategy of gradually inserting Islamic values and sharia principles into Western societies. This "civilization jihad" aims to transform Western countries from within, without the need for violence.

Front organizations. The Brotherhood operates through a network of seemingly moderate Muslim organizations in the West. These groups present themselves as civil rights advocates while working to advance Islamist goals. Some prominent examples include:

• Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
• Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
• Muslim Student Association (MSA)

Political influence. Brotherhood-linked groups lobby governments, run candidates for office, and seek to shape public opinion on Islam-related issues. They push for accommodations to Islamic practices and work to delegitimize critics of Islam as "Islamophobes."

5. Many Muslims support implementing harsh punishments under sharia law

"A majority of Muslims who favored imposing sharia law also supported hudud punishments for theft, which can include whippings or the cutting off of hands."

Widespread support. Polls show significant percentages of Muslims in many countries favor implementing sharia as the official law:

• 84% in Pakistan
• 74% in Egypt
• 72% in Indonesia
• 71% in Nigeria

Harsh punishments endorsed. Among those supporting sharia, majorities in several countries favor severe hudud punishments:

• 81% support stoning for adultery in Egypt
• 76% support death penalty for leaving Islam in Pakistan
• 66% support corporal punishment for theft in Malaysia

Conflict with human rights. These views clash with modern concepts of human rights and individual liberty. Even in Western countries, significant minorities of Muslims express support for implementing elements of sharia law.

6. Islamic terrorism cannot be explained by poverty or lack of opportunity

"If poverty and anger at the establishment were the predominant motivation for terrorism, then there should be bombs and suicide attacks going on every day in parts of Washington, D.C., or Detroit or South Central Los Angeles."

Educated and middle-class terrorists. Many prominent terrorists and jihadists come from educated, middle-class backgrounds:

• Osama bin Laden: millionaire Saudi businessman
• Mohammed Atta (9/11 ringleader): graduate student in Germany
• Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab ("Underwear Bomber"): engineering student from wealthy family

Ideological motivation. Terrorists consistently cite religious motivations for their actions, quoting Islamic scripture to justify violence. They are driven by a sincere belief in jihad as a religious duty, not economic grievances.

Prosperity doesn't prevent radicalization. Some of the highest rates of jihadist recruitment come from relatively wealthy Muslim communities in Europe. Attempts to combat terrorism through economic development alone have largely failed.

7. Iran's nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat to Israel and the West

"If Iran obtains a nuclear weapon, there is the distinct possibility, if not likelihood, it will use it to destroy Israel and threaten the United States."

Stated intentions. Iranian leaders have repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel and expressed hostility toward the United States. They view nuclear weapons as a means to achieve these goals and establish Iran as the dominant power in the Middle East.

Apocalyptic ideology. Iran's regime is influenced by a radical Shiite ideology that anticipates an apocalyptic war to usher in the return of the Mahdi (a messianic figure). This makes them potentially more willing to use nuclear weapons.

Regional instability. An Iranian nuclear weapon would likely trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East as other countries seek to balance Iran's power. This would greatly increase the risk of nuclear conflict or terrorists acquiring nuclear materials.

8. Islamic teachings on women's rights conflict with modern equality

"Islam expressly forbids anger as a justification for jihad. Consider the words of James Cromitie, a New Jersey native who converted to Islam in prison and gave himself the name Abdul Rahman."

Quranic inequality. The Quran explicitly states that men have authority over women (4:34) and that a woman's testimony is worth half that of a man's (2:282). These teachings form the basis for systemic discrimination against women in many Muslim societies.

Restrictions on women's freedoms. In countries applying strict interpretations of sharia, women face numerous restrictions:

• Requiring male guardian's permission to travel, work, or marry
• Mandatory covering of the body and sometimes face
• Limited educational and career opportunities
• Vulnerability to domestic violence sanctioned by religious authorities

Clash with modern values. These Islamic teachings on gender roles fundamentally conflict with principles of gender equality enshrined in international human rights agreements and Western laws.

9. Free speech is under threat from those seeking to silence Islam's critics

"We have reached the point where TV talking heads can no longer tell the difference between bona fide political speech and simple racist invective."

Violence and intimidation. Critics of Islam face death threats, attacks, and assassination attempts. Examples include:

• Murder of Theo van Gogh for film criticizing Islam's treatment of women
• Fatwa calling for death of Salman Rushdie over his novel The Satanic Verses
• Charlie Hebdo massacre over Muhammad cartoons

Self-censorship. Fear of violence leads many media outlets, publishers, and individuals to self-censor when it comes to Islam. This creates a chilling effect on free speech and open debate about Islamic beliefs and practices.

"Islamophobia" as a weapon. Islamic groups use accusations of "Islamophobia" to delegitimize critics and shut down discussion. This tactic conflates legitimate criticism of Islamic doctrines with bigotry against Muslims as people.

10. Only Muslims can reform Islam, but the West must defend its values

"I believe that only when Muslims themselves decide they need a reformation will there be a real chance at one. But it isn't for you or me to say. I'm not a Muslim. I cannot tell a Muslim how he or she needs to resolve the deep—and perhaps irreconcilable—conflicts between their faith and freedom."

Internal reform needed. Lasting change in Islam must come from within the Muslim community. Reformers seeking to reinterpret Islamic teachings in light of modern values need support.

Western resolve required. While respecting freedom of religion, Western societies must:

• Clearly articulate and defend liberal democratic values
• Resist demands for special accommodations that undermine core principles
• Support Muslim reformers and critics of radical Islam
• Maintain strong national security and counterterrorism efforts

Education and engagement. Westerners should educate themselves about Islamic teachings and engage in honest dialogue with Muslims about areas of conflict between Islamic and Western values.

Last updated: October 1, 2024