[ April 23, 2024 ]
This is what a real reformer sounds like. No posturing. No Jasser jive. No deception and dissembling about what jihad is and what Islam commands.
This is what Islam needs – its own Vatican II.
Egyptian-German Scholar Hamed Abdel-Samad On Intellectuals’ ‘Enlightenment Phobia’: There Can Be No Enlightenment Without A ‘Mighty Clash With Heritage’
MEMRI, July 6, 2018
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Speaking at a Moroccan Organization for Human Rights conference, Egyptian-German scholar Hamed Abdel-Samad called for a halt to trying to please the Islamists and said that “whoever wants to embrace the heritage, along with its representatives and theoreticians, and to incorporate them in the enlightenment game is perpetrating a crime.” Abdel-Samad enumerated the principles of enlightenment and said that solutions should not be sought within jurisprudence as these are “nothing but plastic surgery for a lifeless corpse.” It is like a rubber band, he said: “We pull away with our thinking, but then we are pulled back by our fear, of taboos, our fear of prohibitions, and our fear of being punished by the law or by society. There can be no enlightenment where there is fear.”
“When Intellectuals Say To Me: ‘Society Has Not Yet Matured Enough To Interact With Your Bold Ideas,’ I Always Respond: ‘Well, Give Me A Date – Tell Me When'”
Hamed Abdel-Samad: “When we revisit the notion of Jihad, which has gotten us to where we are today, we must call our forefathers to account, for coming to North Africa and enslaving human beings. We must also call the texts that led to that to account. Who has the courage to do that? I face criticism from brothers… It is natural for me to face criticism and threats of Islamists, but when intellectuals say to me: ‘Society has not yet matured enough to interact with your bold ideas,’ I always respond: ‘Well, give me a date. Tell me when. If it’s Thursday, May 13, 2035, I’ll be there. Just give me a date.’ It shouldn’t be left open-ended. Why has society ‘not yet matured’? Could it be because no one has dared to confront society with these ideas? Could the reason be because people who dared to take a step forward took two steps back, because they wanted an easy and comfortable enlightenment, without confrontations? This is a great deception.
“There can be no enlightenment without a mighty clash with the heritage. Whoever wants to embrace the heritage, along with its representatives and theoreticians, and to incorporate them in the enlightenment game is perpetrating a crime. Whoever thinks that some Islamists support enlightenment is wrong. There are no hedgehogs without quills.”
[…]
“The Truth Is That All The Principles That I Have Mentioned Are Either Non-Existent, Or Else They Are Castrated Or Conditional, In Islam”
“Enlightenment has five principles, the first of which is freedom. The second principle is human rights, and I mean it in the sense that appeared in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and not the hierarchical rights that we know from Islamic heritage, in which Muslims have certain rights and non-Muslims have different rights, men have certain rights and women have different rights. No, all citizens have equal rights and equal duties. The third is the principle of tolerance – again, not in the Islamic sense, where we allow certain things to the People of the Book, but not to the Bahais, the atheists, or the Buddhists. No. Tolerance should be non-hierarchical and should apply to all. Should the fact that I am a Muslim and belong to a Muslim majority mean that all the minorities should be under my thumb? No. We are equal before the law. Another principle is the principle of pluralism. This principle of pluralism does not exist in Islam. I say this loud and clear. The truth is that all the principles that I have mentioned are either non-existent, or else they are castrated or conditional, in Islam.”
[…]
“There Are Also Jurisprudent Solutions, Which You Should Forget About Altogether – They Are Nothing But Plastic Surgery For A Lifeless Corpse – They Are Like Painting The Walls Of A Building On The Verge Of Collapse”
“Everybody is trying to get out of this mess in their own way. There are enlightened solutions, like the ones offered by Said Nacheed, Rachid Aylal, Ahmen Assid, or Mohammed Lamsiah. There are also jurisprudent solutions, which you should forget about altogether. They are nothing but plastic surgery for a lifeless corpse. They are like painting the walls of a building on the verge of collapse. Don’t waste your time on people who are trying to do this, because they are striving to save face, not to reach enlightenment.
[…]
“You can be sure that no matter how hard you try, you will never please the Islamists. And the Islamists will never be pleased with you until you follow their creed… Anyone trying to play tricks and to dodge clarity in order to please others – it will not happen. They will use you for their cause and then throw you a bone.
[…]
“It is imperative to confront our forefathers and their [religious] texts. We must open all the complex problems, once and for all.”
[…]
“The Job Of The Intellectual Is Not To Save Islam, Or To Find A Comfortable Way Out For The Fanatic Believer”
“Our goal is not to save Islam. The believers can save their personal faith, by refraining from mixing it in politics and legislation. The job of the intellectual is not to save Islam, or to find a comfortable way out for the fanatic believer. The fanatic believer should find his own solution, when the rug is being pulled out from under his feet, in legislation, in law, and in politics. But as long as we pamper them, and give them the impression that they are strong and we are weak, they will continue with this.
[…]
“Each and every one of us was born into a certain religion, or into no religion at all, by a mere coincidence of genetics and geography, yet we continue to circle that coincidence, as if we are tied to it by an elastic band – whenever we try to pull away from it, we are pulled back and get slapped by the elastic band. It’s like an elastic band. We pull away with our thinking, but then we are pulled back by our fear, of taboos, our fear of prohibitions, and our fear of being punished by the law or by society. There can be no enlightenment where there is fear.”
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41 Comments
5 years ago
He will be called “racist” “islamophobe ” for speaking the truth about islam.
And if you dare expose truth about islam and their propat they will keel you ! just like the jihadis in Indianapolis are doing http://bit.ly/2rVCN7E
5 years ago
Reply to
Suresh
Hopefully this guy has much protection, he said he gets many death threads so I am guessing he has a good security detail for now anyways.
5 years ago
islam cannot be reformed as change would make it something other than islam. Islam was founded of hate, violence, lies and deceit. How can the foundation be changed without destruction of the cursed cult of islam? Violence is what preserves islam, were there no violence, there would be no islam. In essence, “follow the money” which is what islam is all about.
5 years ago
Reply to
Mahou Shoujo
If they followed his enlightenment, their would be no more Islam, what they would become who knows what. To take down the foundation of Islam through enlightenment is to eradicate Islam in no uncertain terms. I believe that is where the fear he speaks of comes in.
5 years ago
Reply to
Mahou Shoujo
While I generally agree with your thoughts, I was thoroughly amazed at the article above. It essentially states that Islam is without redeeming merit of any kind. it states, as most of us will agree, that it has no ”enlightened basis,” and from a purely enlightened view point, it should be rejected. This article accepts and promotes due process and equality between people. I have never seen such candor coming from one who was born into Islam. I hope his views start multiplying like a plaque.
5 years ago
Reply to
Dennis
“Islamist” is a word that like islamophobia was “created by fascists and used by cowards to manipulate morons.” There is no “other” islum, it’s all the same totalitarian, fascist, Jew hating, vile, violent garbage no matter what fancy bow you try to put on it.
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5 years ago
Reply to
IzlamDownpressesHumanity
”Islamist” is a word that like islamophobia was “created by fascists and used by cowards to manipulate morons.”
Sure, by people like Daniel Pipes, who knows more about the Islamic world and heritage than anyone here, including Pamela. Gad, what an insipid mind you have.
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
Don’t urinate down my back and tell me it’s raining muslum apologist worm. I’ve noted what the f’ing muslums have done in Lebanon, Cyprus, England, France, Sweden, Dearbornistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia. Wherever your f’ing muslum pets gain power freedom and liberty die — without exception.
Why don’t you just recite the shahada and get it over with worm.
5 years ago
Reply to
IzlamDownpressesHumanity
I hope Poland and Myanmar are smart enough to realize muslum apologists/sympathizers are just as much the enemy as the muslums. As for muslum collaborators:
http://cdn4.pix.avaxnews.com/avaxnews/ab/0e/00000eab_medium.jpeg
5 years ago
Reply to
IzlamDownpressesHumanity
To change or to reform Islam means to destroy it. There is nothing worth preserving. It cannot change the fundamental idea that to be a Muslim means to be conquer by force other people and make them follow the cult of murder and conquest. It cannot be changed without being destroyed. Basically that is what needs to be done, these will be people who will have to join one of the existing religions: Christianity, Judaism.
5 years ago
Reply to
carpe diem 36
I agree and even no religion at all would be preferable to islum.
5 years ago
Reply to
Dennis
Agree. But In UK sharia Police go after those who protest muslim gang rapists and other crimes http://bit.ly/2r6F3cp
5 years ago
Reply to
Dennis
Candor or not, the man still identifies as Muslim. There are others, such as Tarek Fatah, who also demonstrate cognizance of the deficiencies in Islam but who nevertheless adhere to the doctrine. I simply cannot understand why. I don’t believe that the people who are courageous enough to speak out by naming the deficiencies, fallibilities and abhorrent practices of the Islamic texts, laws and culture are fearful of the apostasy sentence. So what keeps them tied to the totalitarian apron strings?
5 years ago
Reply to
Duchess of Pork
I am of the same thought, and have heard like minded Muslims talk almost lovingly of a better future and a greater understanding between people leading to a more harmonious society. I have found Tarek to be a bit on the abrasive side, but another ” grandmother ” like lady, spoke quite endearingly and sagely like of a future where Islam and others all get along, and all the while thinking ” why do you still identify as a follower of the koran and Mohammed “. It would be like substituting Muslim to Nazi, the koran to mein kampf, and Mohammed to Hitler, and while still identifying as a Nazi, to say this ideology can coexist with any other society.
Islam is its scriptures, it is the character of Mohammed ; its history is not some distortion of its basis, it is a reflection of it, and has not changed one iota. As abhorrent an idea as ripping out pages from the bible would be to Christians, the koran would need to be heavily edited to remove the hate filled verses that apply today as much as they did originally. The OT. vs the NT. in the bible, while related, speak much differently about our interactions with one another ( ie. ” an eye for an eye ” does not apply under the NT. ), but the koran has no such division, nor does it permit even the talk of such. And Mohammed is probably the most un-Christlike figure anyone could imagine to represent God or love. A tree and its roots are intrinsically a part of its whole – sick roots – sick tree, and no amount of trimming can fix it. To think or expostulate otherwise is either delusional or, in this case of topic, tyqiya
5 years ago
Reply to
Mahou Shoujo
Violence is ingrained in every aspect of Islam, from Muhammad through the Sunna to the Hadith and Islamic law.
In order to excise it from Islam, you need to roll back everything Islam has become, and return it to before the Hijrah, return a fully developed beast into a harmless embryo (that, by the way, would be ready to erupt in violence again)—no conquests, no entitlement, no money, and only a handful of followers, and all this against the huge mass and power of the ummah.
Reforming Islam is equivalent to abolishing it—a totally hopeless endeavor.
The best we can achieve is educating people about what Islam really is.
You cannot abolish evil, but you can teach people to recognize it.
5 years ago
Reply to
Ego
islam is based on lies, hate and violence, it cannot be islam if it is peaceful without prejudice. There is no way for islam to coexist with other beliefs, its nature is to hate and force itself of everyone.
5 years ago
Reply to
Mahou Shoujo
It’s just a chip off the old block, Satan. The struggle against the Jewish Messiah is as old as time itself, that’s the ultimate point being missed…
5 years ago
Reply to
Mahou Shoujo
Indeed…I think Jasser means well but one can’t really separate “political” Islam and live with the culture (heritage). He wants to nudge and fool their masses but it can’t possibly work. Islam is too thoroughly fascist and authoritarian for any compromise. Which is why I prefer the old name of Mohammedanism since Mo represents everything the faithful aspire to and is therefore their only god.
5 years ago
This man is brilliant, a light house to the world, and damn brave.
5 years ago
This guy is Egyptian with no signs of German at all.
5 years ago
Reply to
hangar2247
He´s an Egyptian living in Germany for many years already with 24/7 protection due to the several death threats from devout muslims that he receives. He is desperately trying to warn Germans of the dangers of Islam, but sadly doesn´t get heard as the Germans have become deaf for any criticim on Islam.
5 years ago
Cut the BS.
The Muslims like to control the entire world. The world is divided to two parts. Dar al Islam and Dar al Harb. Dar al Islam refers to those lands where Muslims can practice their religion as the ruling sect.
Dar al Harb – Territory of war. It means that the rest of the world should be under Muslim law. Whether in peace or by war.
In order to control the world they use 3 ways of operation.
– Propaganda against unbelievers.
– Immigration to the west.
– Jihad. A war or struggle against unbelievers.
This article is a perfect example of it.
5 years ago
Moslems are DECEIVED people – plain and simple. They have been DECEIVED by the god of this world – SATAN, their father.
When SATAN is removed, then the scales will fall of their eyes and they can see.
So in the meantime you are to be ARMED to the TEETH. 😉
5 years ago
Terror with all its barbarity is a poisonous side show with real purpose. It allows Muslims to play the victim card and authority to play the caring guardians of a multi cultural society. How? By allowing aspects of Sharia to become part of Western laws. Authority seems to believe that conceding to sharia helps Muslims integrate into society? All it does is change society from within, conceding power to Islamic ideology.
Islam is a political ideology that is perpetuated by indoctrination of its children from the age they can learn. No society or individual will ever change Islam from within. On the contrary. As Islam plays its victim card with greater vigor and obvious success, its followers are now even stronger. Muslims are now even more aligned to the extreme disciplines Islam demands of its followers. It will only get worse.
5 years ago
Reply to
Roy Jennings
I would contend the face of Islam has changed considerably over the centuries and that nobody alive today knows what Islam will “look” like in 100 years. I see it as a the challenge of the civilized world to convince Moslems that Islamist is not in their best interest.
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
I totally agree except Islam is Islam. The so called separation of the religion from its political roots is a media inspired move to deflect from reality. Most Muslims follow the teachings of Islam and have sympathy with most of its barbaric practices. According to recent PEW research 17% even accept retribution otherwise known as terrorism as justified as a result of what Islams perceives as Western interference in Islamic countries. A link to a summary of the PEW research is: –
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
I would be very interested in what you would cite as support for your contention that it has ” changed considerably over the centuries “. Convincing evidence of such would go a long way to your 100yr forecast and the integrity of your challenge. I do hope you are referring to core changes and not just cosmetics, you know the saying ” You can put lipstick…..”. From what I see today, there appears to be no fundamental changes whatsoever – no Quran 2 – Mohammed not denounced for monstrous acts, still idealized – death threats to all apostates and heretics – political aspirations of the caliphate. Enlighten us, but don’t waste our time.
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
Has Islam truly evolved from 1400 years ago? The centrality of a concept of a holy war in Islamic law and culture is undeniable.
5 years ago
Reply to
R. Arandas
Of course it’s evolved their methods of enforcing the totalitarian dictates of their death cult are much more efficient.
5 years ago
HA! Just another heretical “reformer” trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Islam can never be “enlightened” or “reformed” because it was the invention of an immoral and disgusting man who perverted the pre-existing Judeo-Christian monotheistic religion. The only way for a “Muslim” to become “enlightened” is to cut that elastic band to Islam altogether and become an apostate.
5 years ago
The bone the Islamists will throw you will be one of your own, most likely your head!
A very courageous man, fatwas are likely to be issued for his life
5 years ago
In other words: Islam is a cult of submission and domination. Jihad is the method by which it conquers all other religions and ideology…and Civilizations. The Quran says: “It is the duty of every good Muslim to fight the Jihad, with all means at his disposal, until the World bows down to Allah”…There is no other way to talk around this. And the penalty for ‘reforming’ and/or rewriting the Quran is DEATH FOR APOSTACY AND HERESY. To even suggest THE NEED FOR REFORM is death. Can it be that the ‘reformers’ do not know this?
5 years ago
Hamed to be murdered in 3-2-1-…
5 years ago
For a freedom fighter to even suggest that Islam can be reformed is a disgrace and a danger to western civilization.
5 years ago
Islam is still hopelessly stuck in the past. It is amusing how Muslims believe their societies will survive this century if they refuse to reform and cling to vastly outdated traditions and beliefs.
5 years ago
Reply to
R. Arandas
Muslim societies have already reached a boiling point and are way beyond their zenith already. Islam will implode because it´s a natural law that those who don´t go with the time will be left off and cease to exist. All muslim countries, even the rich ones, have massive problems, and they´re rapidly mounting due to their inability of rational and self-criticial thinking. It´s their very own 7th century style world view and lifestyle that will destory them sooner or later.
5 years ago
islam is a parasite that feeds on the consideration and charity of others. As islam is based on violence, and lies, it quickly finds the decent considerations of a society, then exploits and twists them into false statements that it then answers with lies that the quran mandates be told by muslims to nonbelievers. Once islam has control, it uses violence to retain domination over the society that tolerated or even welcomed it, as the lies of mutgonad, police beat upon him, are the same today as they were when mutgonad, police beat upon him, was a camel urine collector.
5 years ago
This guy talked about the reasons why islam is coming fast to the west …
