At this point I would like to alter course. There is only so much ugliness one can endure without a break. So rather than dissect the remainder of the early Meccan revelations in their entirety, I'm going to provide a "Best of Muhammad" by subject. But first, a Maududi introduction: "These surahs were sent down when persecution of Muslims was near its climax. Their theme was to warn the disbelievers of the evil consequences of the persecution and tyranny that they were perpetrating on the converts to Islam, and to console believers. If Muslims remain firm and steadfast against tyranny and coercion, they will be rewarded richly for it." Islamic logic is funny, in a twisted sort of way. While mocking the self-proclaimed prophet could hardly be called "tyranny," today's most coercive and tyrannical nations are Islamic. They have become what they detested. As with the child abuse that gave rise to Islam, Muslims have come full circle - the abused have become the abusers. Even Maududi seems to agree: "'Allah will avenge Himself on those who persecute you by burning the unbelievers to death and casting them into pits full of fire.' The disbelievers will not only be punished in Hell for their disbelief but, more than that, they will suffer punishment by fire as a fit recompense for their tyranny and cruelties. 'Allah's grip is very severe.' If you are proud of your strength, you should know that Pharaoh and Thamud were stronger and more numerous. Therefore, you should learn a lesson from the fate they met. Allah's power has so encompassed you that you cannot escape His encirclement, and the Qur'an that you are bent upon belying is unchangeable: 'It is inscribed in the Preserved Tablet, which cannot be corrupted in any way'" ...although it does a world-class job of corrupting. The themes that follow are Muhammad's favorites. We'll start with a sampling of how the Islamic deity responded to those who challenged his prophet's credentials. Qur'an 76:4 "For the rejecters We have prepared chains, iron collars, manacles, and a blazing fire." Qur'an 77:39 "If you have a trick or plot, use it against Me! If you have any wit, outwit Me. Woe to the rejecters!" Qur'an 78:28 "They called Our proofs, signs, and verses false with strong denial. We have recorded everything in a book, so taste (that which you earned). We give you nothing but torment." Qur'an 78:40 "We have warned you of a penalty, of a torment on the Day of Doom when the disbeliever will say, 'Woe is me! I wish I were dust!'" That was as direct as it was unpleasant. Accept Muhammad or suffer the consequences. Dissent is not to be tolerated. With the mockers warned, it was time to terrorize them. Qur'an 77:29 "It will be said: Depart to the doom those who used to deny! Depart to a shadow of smoke (from the Hell Fire) ascending in three columns, which yields no relief or shelter and is of no use against the fierce blaze. Verily, (Hell) throws off sparks huge as castles as if they were yellow camels." Qur'an 78:21 "Truly Hell is as a place of ambush, a resort for the rebellious. A dwelling place for the disbelievers. They will abide there forever. Therein they taste neither coolness nor any drink save a boiling water and a fluid, dark, murky, intensely cold, paralyzing, a dirty wound discharge. It is a fitting reward for them." The Hell Fire is Allah's resort for the rebellious - it's for those who don't surrender. To avoid this hellish doom, submit to Muhammad and obey him. A drunken brothel shall be your just dessert. Qur'an 76:5 "As for the righteous, they will drink a cup of wine from a spring, making it gush forth abundantly." Qur'an 76:19 "And round them shall serve immortal boys of perpetual freshness, never altering in age. If you saw them, you would think they were scattered pearls." Qur'an 76:21 "Upon them will be green garments of fine green silk and heavy gold brocade. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver; Their Lord will slack their thirst with wine." Qur'an 77:41 "The righteous shall be amidst cool shades, springs, and fruits - all they desire. Eat and drink to your heart's content." Qur'an 78:31 "Verily for those who follow Us, there will be a fulfillment of your desires: enclosed Gardens, grapevines, voluptuous full-breasted maidens of equal age, and a cup full to the brim of wine. There they never hear vain discourse nor lying - a gift in payment - a reward from your Lord." And that I suppose would eliminate recitals of the Qur'an. Paradise indeed. But it was all for naught if the Islamic god was not. The following Allahisms are proof he wasn't divine. Qur'an 76:1 "There came over man a period of time when he was a thing not worth mentioning." Qur'an 76:2 "We created Man from nutfa (drops) of mingled sperm (sexual discharge of men and women), in order to try him. So We gave him the gifts of hearing and sight." Qur'an 76:15 "Goblets made of silver, crystal-clear, and transparent." Qur'an 76:28 "When We want We can replace man by substituting another in his stead." Qur'an 77:20 "Have We not created you from a despicable fluid? Then We placed it in a place of safety for a known period because We measure; and We are the Best to measure." Qur'an 77:25 "Have We not made the earth a receptacle for the living and the dead?" Qur'an 78:6 "Have We not made the earth as a bed and the mountains pegs?" Qur'an 78:37 "The Lord with Whom they cannot dare to speak, none can converse with Him, none are able to address Him." Man isn't worth mentioning, and he can be easily replaced. To try us, god gave us hearing and sight. Perhaps we are to use them to see the earth as a receptacle and hear it speak with inspiration. Yet two verses are more fatal than frivolous. "The Lord with Whom they cannot dare to speak, none can converse with Him, none are able to address Him." If that's true, why prostrate oneself five times a day in prayer? And what is the difference between not being able to converse with god and having no god at all? "This Qur'an is a conclusive word; it is not a thing for amusement. It is no pleasantry. And it is no joke." It is neither funny, pleasant, nor amusing, but it is conclusive. It proves that Muhammad was a fraud and that Allah wasn't god. |
