Nonie Darwish (A Former Muslim): Solving poverty of Muslims - The Islamic way

In my few discussions with Muslims on net about Islam, one question I put up is what was the profession of Prophet Mohammad and his companions (sahaba) during their stay in Medina for full 10 years. How did they earn their living? Silence or some stupid justifications for acts of their Prophet is the normal reaction from Muslims. The correct answer is plundering trade caravans of non-Muslims(Meccans) and villages through raids.

One can read about one such raid, first one, called Nakhla raid from here. One can also read following Hadith and quotes for better understanding of what Ms Darwish has written.

Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform a that, then they save their lives an property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah."(Sahih Bukhari; Vol. 1, Book 2,# 25)

Allah's Apostle said, "I have been given five things which were not given to any amongst the Prophets before me. These are:
1. Allah made me victorious by terror (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey.
2. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum. Therefore my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due.
3. The booty has been made Halal (lawful) for me (and was not made so for anyone else).
4. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation exclusively but I have been sent 1o all mankind.
5. I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection.)
(Sahih Bukhari; Vol. 1, Book 8,# 429)

Allah's Apostle said, "Booty has been made legal for me." (Sahih Bukhari; Vol. 4, Book 53,# 351)

We said to 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, Jo Chief of the believers! Advise us." He said, "I advise you to fulfill Allah's Convention (made with the Dhimmis) as it is the convention of your Prophet and the source of the livelihood of your dependents. (i.e. the taxes from the Dhimmis.)” (Sahih Bukhari; Vol. 4, Book 53, # 388)

Prophet Mohammad said, "Survival of my community rests on the hoofs of its horses and the points of its lances; as long as they keep from tilling the fields; once they began to do that they will become as other men."
(G.E. von Grunebaum, Classical Islam: A History 600-1258(London): Allen and Unwin, 1970, p.57.)

"I will reserve comment on what is in the city I have captured", Amr ibn al-As, the conqueror of Egypt, reported to Umar [Second caliph and father-in-law of Prophet Mohammad] upon the occupation of the port town of Alexandria, " aside from saying that I have seized .... forty thousand poll tax paying Jews....". He was peremptorily ordered to ship a year's supply of food to Medina for upkeep of the Muslim community, which he dutifully did. [EFRAIM KARSH; Islamic Imperialism (A History); page 26; he referred to
(Ibn Sa'd, a'-Tabaqat al-Kubra (Cairo: Dar al-Tahrir,1968), Vol.3, pp.77,157-58)]

(Late)Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan - co-author of Noble Koran and translator of Hadith of Sahih Bukhari in to English from Arabic - writes on Jihad, in a foot note to the verse 2:190 in Noble Koran and also in introduction to the book on Jihad in Sahih Bukhari, that:

"Jihad is holy fighting in Allah’s Cause with full force of numbers and weaponry. It is given the utmost importance in Islam and is one of its pillars. By Jihad Islam is established, Allah’s Word is made superior (which means only Allah has the right to be worshiped), and Islam is propagated. By abandoning Jihad Islam is destroyed and Muslims fall into an inferior position; their honor is lost, their lands are stolen, their rule and authority vanish. Jihad is an obligatory duty in Islam on every Muslim. He who tries to escape from this duty, or does not fulfill this duty, dies with one of the qualities of a hypocrite."

All this also can be viewed from the background of Prophet Mohammad planned and executed 84 wars (or raids) in 9 years which turns in to one per every 6 weeks. But the real problem is with Koran saying about Prophet Mohammad that he is an example for all Muslims to follow for eternity and is the perfect human (ideal man) in the history of mankind. And this what Nonie Darwish also mentions.

This article originally appeared in frontpagemag.com (here).

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A well known Islamic leader in Egypt by the name of Abu Ishak Al Huweini, who often appears on Egyptian TV, has recently said the following in Arabic and I have translated it into English:

“We are at a time of Jihad; Jihad for the sake of Allah is a pleasure, a true pleasure. Mohammed’s followers used to compete to do it. The reason we are poor now is because we have abandoned jihad. If only we can conduct a jihadist invasion at least once a year or if possible twice or three times, then many people on Earth would become Muslims. And if anyone prevents our dawa or stands in our way, then we must kill them or take as hostage and confiscate their wealth, women and children. Such battles will fill the pockets of the Mujahid who can return home with 3 or 4 slaves, 3 or 4 women and 3 or 4 children. This can be a profitable business if you multiply each head by 300 or 400 dirham,. This can be like financial shelter whereby a jihadist, in time of  financial need, can always sell one of these heads (meaning slavery).  No one can make that much money in one deal (from hard work) even if a Muslim goes to the West to work or do trade. In time of need, that is a good resource for profit.”

When I heard this audio message, I could not believe my ears. This is nothing short of barbaric and medieval preaching by a powerful Muslim leader in Egypt who has access to public TV and the ears of millions. This sheikh, who is at least honest and unapologetic about what jihad means, is also promoting the true model and example of the prophet Mohammed in the 7th and what he did to non-Muslims, as an example for all Muslims to follow today. Isn’t that the role of a prophet, to be the example to his followers?

It is difficult for Muslims to run away from their religious history, which is documented over and over again in Islamic books. Mohammed himself said, probably with pride, that he was made wealthy through terror. That preacher is just a good follower of Islam and that is why he is advocating the same kind of behavior. Hey, the plan made Mohammed rich, so why not let it be the formula for all Muslims today? What used to be whispered about Mohammed’s behavior and only discussed among the learned men of Islam is openly advocated today in public in a world where the ugly truth can no longer be hidden.

This audio has shocked some Muslims who are in denial about the history of Islam and the true meaning of jihad, which is defined as a war against non-Muslims to establish the religion and after the fight seize their property, women, children, enslave them and sell them like cattle. According to pure Muslims, what was the model for Muslims in the 7th century is now their model in the 21st century.

In another segment posted on youtube the same sheikh, Al Huweini, blamed Christians for all the violence going on today in Egypt. According to him, it is Christians who are responsible for their own murder, robbing and burning of their churches, businesses and homes. At a time of civil unrest in Egypt, Muslim preachers are openly promoting violence against non-Muslims. This sheikh is not the only one, but the internet is full of others with a similar shameless twisted message. One other Salafi Egyptian sheikh announced that he will not leave a church without searching by force to take out a couple of Christian women whom they allege having converted to Islam. The fact that these women made statements to the contrary and that one is married to a Coptic priest does not matter to the Muslim preachers or the mob. They want to take her out and annul her marriage to a Christian, which is allowed under Islamic law. Jihadists are never out of outrageous excuses to do their dirty work.

Al Haweini, who ironically speaks on Al-Hikma (Wisdom) TV station, has made it his authority and expertise to advise post-revolution Egypt, on economic matters. His brilliant economic advice to the interim government was again inspired by the example of the prophet Mohammed whom he said had forced the collection of zakat (meaning Alms) on the people. He added that this should provide the government with billions of pounds if they force citizens to pay the zakat directly to the government. He then added that after Mohammed died, the people of Arabia stopped paying the zakat to the Khalifa who followed Mohammed, which forced him to fight his people to get them pay the zakat back.

Is it any wonder why all Muslim countries are an economic basket case and if it was not for oil, even Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Emirates would be among the poorest nations on earth?
These preachers of hate and genocide are the face of Islam today and an embarrassing example of how disconnected Muslim religious leaders are today.  That is why I left that religion all together.............

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