Islam
Introduction
Radical Islam is an imperialist ideology with a global agenda, including the suppression of all other forms of government and religion. Whilst the goals and methods of the radical fundamentalists are rejected by the majority of those who follow Islam, the unrelenting propaganda against the West and the Jews is motivating a new generation of Muslims worldwide to feel more and more sympathy with the radicals. Moderate Muslim governments are struggling to suppress the radicals.
Islam in the West
The Islamification of Western nations is a growing problem. Whilst many Muslims migrate to the West initially for personal reasons and to enjoy our political and religious freedoms as well as our prosperity, the very nature of Islamic doctrine, tradition, practice, religious establishment and ideology tends to shape the migrants into a segregated community that ultimately challenges Judaeo-Christian political and cultural systems in their new countries of residence.
Europe is waking up
Some European nations are now waking up to the threat to their cultures from Islam. A few leading Christians in the UK have suggested that Britain could be the first country in Europe to become Islamic. Unfortunately, postmodern, liberal, secular, religious and ideologically driven groups within the intelligentsia - those who regard themselves as the ruling elite, progressive, open-minded and intellectually and spiritually enlightened, together with the majority of national governments, remain either blind to this aspect of Islam, are naive, motivated by fear or have other more pressing needs which prevents any criticism of Islam, for example, the need for access to oil supplies.
Will Britain become an Islamic state?
Abu Izadeen addressed crowds in a shopping mall in Waltham Forest, telling them of his plans to impose Sharia law in that North London borough. He has an on-going campaign to rid the UK of ‘Western decadence’ and successively turn large parts of Britain into an Islamic Emirate.
Izadeen, an ex-convict jailed for funding terrorism, considers that Islam in this country is a sleeping giant that is waking up. He has pinpointed 25 areas around Britain with large Muslim populations (such as Luton, Bradford, Leicester and Dewsbury) and he has a vision to see them all as Islamic Emirates. While this may seem unlikely at the moment, the on-going influx of Muslims into these areas makes it increasingly a possibility.
Moderate majority
The vast majority of Muslims in Britain are far more moderately minded than Izadeen and his followers, but some of his ideas are taking root. MAC (Muslims Against Crusades), promoting Sharia law, was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail on 30 July 2015:
In the past 50 years, the United Kingdom has transformed beyond recognition. What was once a predominantly Christian country has now been overwhelmed by a rising Muslim population, which seeks to preserve its Islamic identity and protect itself from the satanic values of Britain.
There are now more than 2.8 million Muslims living in the UK, which is 5% of the population. At least 5,200 people convert to Islam in the UK each year, 60% of them women. The entire infrastructure of Britain is changing. Mosques, Islamic schools, Sharia courts, Muslim-owned businesses and banks have now become an integral part of the British landscape.
In 2015 there were 100 mosques in just three London boroughs: Waltham Forest, Newham and Tower Hamlets. Nationwide, more than 85 Sharia courts now operate, and there is a separate Islamic financial system conforming to the Sharia banking industry.
Baroness Cox
Baroness Cox, who campaigns on behalf of Muslim women, said in the Daily Mail:
As the Muslim population has grown, and the state-sponsored creed of multiculturalism has become ever more powerful, so Sharia law has strengthened its grip on our society. This is a recipe for disaster, because different legal systems for people of different religions will promote divisions between communities.
Not only that, Sharia courts discriminate terribly against women. Sharia treats women as second-class citizens, whether it be in inheritance rights or divorce. In Sharia courts, a woman’s word counts for only half the value of that of a man. Polygamy is also tolerated, with men allowed to take multiple wives. I know of Muslim women being subjected to savage domestic violence, and then refused a divorce, while their husbands are free to enter into further marriages to women from overseas.
Certainly there are many young British converts to Islam in East London, many of whom, both men and women, consider Sharia law a good thing and are active in promoting it.
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, when asked what a Christian approach should be to Islam in an increasingly polarised society says:
We must firstly attempt to distinguish between Muslims, Islam and Islamist ideology. We can never lose sight of God's love for Muslims, as for all of his creation, and of our obligation to love them as well. Although we will not agree with everything in the faith of Islam, we can study it with profit to better understand our neighbour and be able to converse with our Muslim friends, to witness more effectively to them of God's love for them revealed in Jesus Christ and to seek to serve them in his name.
Islamist ideology, however, may need to be opposed if, for example, it seeks to reduce freedom of belief, expression or the freedom to change our beliefs. Christians will also wish to defend freedom of movement and of opportunity for women and girls and to resist punishments that demean the human person, are cruel and do not have rehabilitation and reformation, as well as retribution, included in their overall aim. Although they will want an appropriate role for the spiritual dimension in public life, they will oppose what is coercive and theocratic and promote what is persuasive and democratic. Alongside this, they will want protection for fundamental freedoms and for the rule of law.
Although we need carefully to distinguish between Muslims, Islam and Islamism, we must also recognise that there is considerable overlap here. A devout and pietistic Muslim can be influenced by extremist ideology, and Islamism certainly uses much in the fundamentals of Islam to argue its case.
The issue of violence
Let's briefly consider the nature of Islam. In the Koran, there are versus that preach hate and intolerance towards non Muslims/infidels and also verses that preach love and peace. What many do not realise however, is that where there is any contradiction the verses written last nullify, abrogate and render void the verses written earlier. Unfortunately, it is the later verses that incite violence, decapitation, terrorism and religious intolerance. And since the early verses are overridden by the latter verses, Islam can not at one level be described as a religion of peace.
This means that the Western politicians and liberal journalists, who continually claim that Islam is a noble religion of peace, are in reality propagating a deception. The notion that the entire Koran promotes peace, love, equality and tolerance for all is simply untrue. We are not aware of one country in the world which is dominated by Muslim's that shows respect for other peoples religions. Why is it that you can criticise any religion in the world other than Islam?
Recommendations
We would recommend the following books:
The Challenge of Islam to Christians: David Pawson
Islam and Terrorism: Mark A Gabriel
Islam and the Jews: Mark A Gabriel
Al-Hijra: Sam Solomon and E Al Maqdisi
Some European nations are now waking up to the threat to their cultures from Islam. A few leading Christians in the UK have suggested that Britain could be the first country in Europe to become Islamic