Why Do So Many Muslims Say We've Got It All Wrong?

YOU WILL often see a comment here or elsewhere by an apparently sincere Muslim who says we don't understand Islam at all. For example, on our article, A Message To Peaceful Muslims, someone wrote, "What's the hindrance in understanding? The jihadists? The carrying out of violence in the name of Allah? Allah will deal them for sure, too but why do you with such partial understandings; with all these accusations and with all this in-public discussions trying to prove? FEAR ALLAH, the creator of the worlds. Fight for what is right, against what is wrong but check your facts, your hearts first. You should have a faithful heart, no malice and personal grudge blinding your vision but complete understanding first...etc."

I'm sure you've seen this kind of thing many times. On the article, Your First Impulse Was Correct, someone wrote, "God gave us faculties (mental) to use and decide for ourselves. If someone misunderstands or I should say for the violent/terror spreading ones, do NOT understand at all, it wouldn't be wrong but what you are doing in itself is an act of violence, similar to that of them. You are misunderstanding again. It would be correct if I said you are understanding their misunderstanding...etc."

Why do Muslims — seemingly well-meaning Muslims — say these things? It's very confusing for people who have never read the Quran themselves.

One possibility, of course, is that they are not well-meaning at all but protecting Islam by spreading false information (taqiyya).

But there is at least one other possibility: They really don't know.

A Muslim is supposed to pray in Arabic and read the Quran in Arabic. Everywhere in the world the prayers at the mosques are in Arabic. But most Muslims don't speak Arabic. They learn their prayers by rote. So even if someone goes to a mosque regularly and says prayers regularly, they may know very little about Islam. The only thing they know is what their parents taught them and what is preached in their local mosque. These Muslims may not know what the Quran actually says. They may not know much about what Mohammad did.

Some even memorize the entire Quran in Arabic. Robert Spencer said he was talking to a Pakistani man who said he had the whole Quran almost memorized and as soon as he was done, he would "get one of those translation books" to find out what it means.

If a Muslim's parents were apatheists or MINOs who taught only kindness and love, it is possible for him to sincerely believe Islam is all goodness and light.

I have three friends who all consider themselves Muslims. None of them know each other. None of them pray. None of them go to a mosque. And none have read the Quran.

All three defend Islam and sincerely believe Islam is a religion of peace. They think the "extremists" have somehow hijacked their religion. I've known them all a long time and I'm convinced they sincerely believe this.

If you were learning about Islam from any of them, and then you read something like Jihad Watch, you'd be completely confused. But your confusion could be resolved by reading the Quran.

So if you want to stop feeling confused by Muslim comments, read the Quran. If you want to stop feeling confused by the prominent politicians who confidently proclaim Islam to be a religion of peace, read the Quran. If you want to immunize yourself permanently against taqiyya, read the Quran. If you want to "raise awareness" or help your fellow citizens wake up, do your level best to persuade everyone you know to read the Quran.

Bill Warner has made it as easy as possible with An Abridged Koran. Get your copy today.