If you know Mr. Yusuf Islam's email please ask him to read this message and respond.

Brother Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Steven) is very upset and frustrated with the acts of Islamic Jihadis for 9-11. He has decided to pick up the keyboard instead of AK47, plastic bombs, and the sword to defend Islam (Peace Train: Late Again: NFB, December 24, 2001). In this rather curiously titled essay, he sheds tears (crocodile?) and sorrows for the victims of the Islamic terror perpetrated by a bunch of misguided (?), hardcore co-Islamists. He spares no pain to portray Islam as a religion of peace, mercy, tolerance, love, and what not to say the least. He quotes the same oft-repeated minuscule 'goodies' from the Quran to tell the world that the episode of 9-11 is not ´real Islam.´ 

So, what is 'real Islam'? From President George Bush to brother Yusuf Islam every 'lover' of Islam is using a huge loudspeaker to announce to the world that 'Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. Islam does not preach violence, terrorism, murder, killing, raping, burning, and looting... etc. The terrorists have hijacked the peaceful Islam. Blah, blah blah'. How nice those words are. Islam is the light of the world. The world will plunge into black darkness without Islam.  

The world is tired and fed up hearing this tirade for 24/7/365. The question naturally arises: if Islam is such a virtuous religion, then why it needs such a huge broadcast to proclaim to the 'ignorant' billions of Kafirs' that 'Islam is peaceful. Islam is peaceful ad infinitum. The answer to this is also clear. The world´s mainstream print and electronic media just to please the Arab ´oil masters´ are using this slogan. No other religion in the world needs such a huge advertising campaign to promote its 'goodies'. Is there anything wrong with Islam? Of course not. Everything is fine and dandy with Islam. If not anything seems to be OK with Islam, then that is not the fault of the 'best religion' of Allah. Every problem of Islam is actually the evil designs of the Jews, the evil West (Christians), the Maalaoon Indians (Hindus) and the repugnant secularists/ freethinkers. It seems that Islam has enemies everywhere. Our brother Yusuf Islam plays the same tune. He writes,  

"But after being given the Koran in my late twenties, I discovered quite the reverse of what I´d expected. One of the first revelations was that the word Islam itself comes from Salam or ´Peace´. A faith and concept far away from the horrific violence, destruction and terrorism we have seen in recent weeks." 

Oh! How nice and beautiful those words are! Surely, those words are carefully constructed to attract more converts from the West like, John Walter (American), David Hicks (Australian), and Richard Reid (British)...Etc. Mr. Yusuf quotes from Islam without giving any verse reference those old and the only innocent excerpts from the Holy Book. Now, I ask brother Yusuf, "Can you please tell us what are the 'contexts' of those verses"? Whenever the 'Kafirs' quote from the Quran, the Islamists mercilessly whack them with the same old lame excuse of 'out of context'. Now, the Kafirs' also play the same game. What do you know! We also say that those verses are 'out of context' too'. Let us see how. 

Here is a brother Yusuf Islam's gem  

"There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256).  

[al-Baqarah 2:256] Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things. 

Mr. Yusuf Islam knows very well that this provision does not apply to the Muslims (whether born or convert, if a Muslim changes his religion he faces death penalty). That is why he carefully states, " meaning once a person is of a certain faith there should be no force imposed on that person to change". However, brother Yusuf Islam, you have misunderstood. This verse (2:256) has been abrogated and is replaced by (9:5) 

After the four sacred months (Rajab, Zulqad, Zulhaj, Muharram) have passed slay the pagans wherever you find them; if repent and becomes believers then forgive...9:5

[at-Taubah 9:5] But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. 

How dare I say that verse 2:256 is canceled? For an answer please look at verse 2:216

Fighting is prescribed even if it is disliked...2:216

[al-Baqarah 2:216] Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not. 

This verse cancels all the 'goodies' and 'mercies' for the unbelievers. 

Verse 9:5 clearly says what is the true meaning of 'compassion' in Islam. Please look at the tolerance of Islam in this verse. Islam will spare the life of an unbeliever if only he submits to Islam. There is no way to escape death if one decides to keep his/her old faith after being defeated by merciful Islam. Can brother Yusuf now tell us what is the context of verse 2:256? Does this verse (2:256) still apply or verse 9:5 apply? 

Brother Yusuf takes great pride in Islam because Islam recognizes the Torah and the Gospel. This, of course, is true for the simple reason that our merciful prophet copied all his inventions from these sources. However, does brother Yusuf know that reading the Torah and the Gospel by the Muslims is forbidden? Here is one example:

Listening to a faction of the people of Book makes one an apostate...3:100

[Al-Imran 3:100] O ye who believe! If ye listen to a faction among the People of the Book, they would (indeed) render you apostates after ye have believed!

What is the meaning of this verse, Mr. Yusuf? Does not this verse is crystal clear that if a Muslim reads/listens to the current versions of the Torah and the Bible he becomes an apostate and liable to death penalty? Is not this the reason of death penalty for the mere possession of the Bible in some Islamic Paradises? Please answer this question.

Here is one more 'goldies' for the people of the Book :

People of the gospel (Christians) are asked to judge the Quran, if they do not agree then they are rebellious...5:47 

[al-Ma'idah 5:47] Let the people of the Gospel judge by what God hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.

Here is another superb quote brother Yusuf uses to tell us about merciful Islam. 

[al-Kafirun 109:6] To you be your Way, and to me mine.

Well done, brother! May I humbly ask you what is the 'context' of this verse? I know you are fumbling for an answer. Let me tell you the context. This verse from sura 'Kaffirun' is one the earliest 20 verses of the revelation of merciful Allah to his best creation, Mohammad. In fact, this is the 18^th sura in the chronological order of the Quran. Why our peaceful prophet was so magnanimous at that time?. The answer, simply, was his survival.  

You see, during that very early morning time of Islam, our prophet was more dependent upon the mercy of the 'Kafir' pagans and the Jews and the Christians of Mecca than upon mercy of Allah. At that time, he had a very handful of followers (probably 30 or less). He had no choice but to be humble and compromising with these pagan 'beasts' just to save his neck. These 'beasts' gave him a chance. He was allowed in Kaaba and was allowed to preach. Of course, some of these 'beasts' were not happy with him and pelted stones at him whenever he tried to propagate his merciful doctrine. Nevertheless, they tolerated him and allowed him to continue. Therefore, the prophet of Islam took the strategy of give and take (compromise) with the pagans. 

But the tune of merciful prophet changed dramatically when the number of his followers swelled to a couple of thousands mainly from the ranks of criminals and mischief- makers. He became militarily strong and made a complete about turn from verse 109:6. This time he invented the following suras to completely subdue the pagan 'beasts'. Here are a few examples. 

[al-Baqarah 2:190] Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for God loveth not transgressors.

Slay the unbelievers wherever you catch them...2:191

Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter...2:191

Do not fight at the sacred mosque (Ka'aba) unless they fight you there...2:191

If they fight then slay them...2:191

[al-Baqarah 2:191] And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith. 

Fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression...2:193

[al-Baqarah 2:193] And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression. 

Fight in God's cause and rouse the believers...4:84

God is the strongest in might and punishment...4:84

[an-Nisa' 4:84] Then fight in God's cause - Thou art held responsible only for thyself - and rouse the believers. It may be that God will restrain the fury of the Unbelievers; for God is the strongest in might and in punishment. 

Rouse the believers to fight; if there are twenty amongst you, you will vanquish two hundred, if hundred then you will vanquish one thousand...8:65

[al-Anfal 8:65] O Apostle! rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding. 

I can go on quoting verses after verses where you will see how our 'prophet of peace' loved to hunt and kill the 'beasts'. Brother Yusuf, will you kindly let us know if these verses are still applicable today or not? 

Is suicide allowed in Islam? Of course, not, isn't it? Then, how come the suicide bombers are not impressed by 4:29-30 that says 

The believers are to do trading/business with each other; do not cheat a trading partner and do not commit suicide...4:29 

[an-Nisa' 4:29] O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful! 

If any believer commits suicide then God will cast him in hell fire...4:30

[an-Nisa' 4:30] If any do that in rancour and injustice,- soon shall We cast them into the Fire: And easy it is for God. 

Well, those young Jihadis do not take Islamic lessons from brother Yusuf. Do they? They consider dying in the process of killing the 'infidel West' is the best form of salvation. Allah has reserved the front row seats for them in heaven. See what Allah says: 

The believers fight in the cause of God; they kill and get killed...9:111 

[at-Taubah 9:111] God hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than God? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme. 

Does not this provision made sense to those baby Jihadis who had just started in their life and had very little/no experience about life in general and about the crooked preachers in particular? 

Now, to add fuel to the fire, here is a Hadith, which clearly sanctions suicide to kill the 'infidels' 

Mohammed eulogized a person for committing suicide for Allah's cause...9.83.29

Volume 9, Book 83, Number 29:

Narrated Salama:

We went out with the Prophet to Khaibar. A man (from the companions) said, "O 'Amir! Let us hear some of your Huda (camel-driving songs.)" So he sang some of them (i.e. a lyric in harmony with the camels walk). The Prophet said, "Who is the driver (of these camels)?" They said, "Amir." The Prophet said, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on him !" The people said, "O Allah's Apostle! Would that you let us enjoy his company longer!" Then 'Amir was killed the following morning. The people said, "The good deeds of 'Amir are lost as he has killed himself." I returned at the time while they were talking about that. I went to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Prophet! Let my father be sacrificed for you! The people claim that 'Amir's good deeds are lost." The Prophet said, "Whoever says so is a liar, for 'Amir will have a double reward as he exerted himself to obey Allah and fought in Allah's Cause. No other way of killing would have granted him greater reward 

Can Mr.Yusuf Islam deny this Hadith, which is from Shahih Bukhari, the most trusted Hadith in Islam. 

Can brother Yusuf please tell us the 'contextual reference' of this Hadith? Are all Muslims including the baby Jihadis are supposed to emulate this Hadith or not? 

Mr. Yusuf Islam then expresses,  

"Today, as a member of the human family, I have been shattered by the horror of recent events. The display of death and indiscriminate killing we have just witnessed in the US has undoubtedly scarred humanity; terror on this scale affects everybody on this small planet of ours, and no one is free from the fallout. Not only did the terrorists hijack planes and destroy life, but also they hijacked the peaceful religion of Islam and split the brother and sisterhood of mankind." 

Truly, you are a lover of humanity, brother. You are so horrified by the terror. But brother, did you know that this terror is actually sanctioned by merciful Allah? See for yourself: 

God casts terror in the hearts of unbelievers...3:151 

[Al-Imran 3:151] Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with God, for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be the Fire: And evil is the home of the wrong-doers!

The unbelievers cannot escape God's terror...8:59-60 

[al-Anfal 8:59] Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly): they will never frustrate (them). 

[al-Anfal 8:60] Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of God and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom God doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of God, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly. 

God sends signs by way of terror...17:59 

[bani Isra'il 17:59] And We refrain from sending the signs, only because the men of former generations treated them as false: We sent the she-camel to the Thamud to open their eyes, but they treated her wrongfully: We only send the Signs by way of terror (and warning from evil). 

Unbelievers are to quake from terror'c34:51

[Saba' 34:51] If thou couldst but see when they will quake with terror; but then there will be no escape (for them), and they will be seized from a position (quite) near. 

God has sent terror in the heart of the unbelievers, that's why the believers are stronger...59:13 

[al-Hashr 59:13] Of a truth ye are stronger (than they) because of the terror in their hearts, (sent) by God. This is because they are men devoid of understanding. 

After all, those burst of tears from our brother Yusuf Islam, we expected a genuine evaluation of the reason for all those 'blessed terror'. But no. He will not budge. He blames the Hollywood for this terror! I think even those 'Beshti Jihadis' will laugh to their hearts content at this madness of brother Yusuf. Brother writes, 

"It must also be mentioned that during these last twenty-odd years, there has been a noticeable build up of hostility and propaganda in the West against Islam. The growing number of violent films we have seen coming out of Hollywood depicting Muslims as terrorists, should have prepared us."  

I really do not know what to write. The real reason for Islamic terrorism is American Hollywood movie makers!! May Allah give brother Yusuf a long life. Without him, this temporary herein (present world) will be absolutely a boring place. He still knows how to entertain! 

Note to the readers.

Lest you've not noticed already, this scribe is a paid lackey of the Jews, the West and the Hindus. He receives regular payment from these 'enemies of Islam' for 'bashing the religion of Peace. He has received five thousand dollars from the Jews (Mossad) for writing this 'out of context' essay to deride the good name of the Prophet and the king of all religion, Islam. Don't you believe this? Duh! 

All Quran translations are by A.Yusufali. Hadith Translation is by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan.

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Abul Kasem pens his essays from Sydney (not Sidney as some dullards of scb think). Comments could be directed at - abul88@hotmail.com