An examination of Islam, violence, and the fate of the non-Muslim world. — Virtually every major Western leader has over the past several years expressed the view that Islam is a peaceful religion and that those who comm... more »it violence in its name are fanatics who misinterpret its tenets. This claim, while widely circulated, rarely attracts serious public examination. Now, the question is finally being asked, "Is Islam itself violent?"
Through an examination of the Koran, other Islamic texts, and the example of the prophet Muhammad, this documentary establishes, through a sober and methodical presentation, that violence against non-Muslims is and has always been an integral aspect of Islam. "Jihad," while best translated as "struggle," as represented in the Koran and the life of Muhammad, means nothing less than organized warfare against unbelievers. Relying primarily on Islam's own sources, this documentary demonstrates that Islam is a violent, expansionary ideology that seeks the destruction or subjugation of other faiths, cultures, and systems of government.
The documentary consists of original interviews, citations from Islamic texts, Islamic artwork, computer-animated maps, footage of Western leaders, and Islamic television broadcasts. Its tone is sober, methodical, and compelling.
Features interviews with noted experts on Islam including Robert Spencer, Serge Trifkovic, Bat Ye'or, Abdullah Al-Araby, and former terrorist Walid Shoebat.« less
"A couple of years ago I decided I needed to become informed regarding Islam, so began. All told I guess I've read about 40 books and now have a pretty good idea about what it is. The first book I went out and bought and read, was the Koran, because I thought l may as well go to the source and get the info straight.
Contra earlier reviewers to the other listing of the DVD - `Ehab M. Omar "Newman"', `Dr Saleem Ahmed', `Sky Lion "SkyLion"' - reading the Koran did not convert me, nor was it a magic bullet, knock over evidence in favour of Islam. In fact, to quote Thomas Carlyle as quoted in the excellent book `Secrets of the Koran' by Don Richardson, the Koran is "A wearisome jumble, crude, incondite [with] endless iterations [and] longwindedness...Nothing but a sense of duty could carry any European through the Koran.' And so it was with me. I slogged through it, not because it was brilliant, gripping, diverse literature - it most certainly is not, rather drab and uniform from beginning to end - nor because despite its hell fire and damnation on virtually every page, it had the ring of truth and the divine about it - it most certainly did not. It is the most turgid, boring, incomprehensible writing I have ever read. And according to Richardson, it is even more incomprehensible in Arabic! It is more comprehensible in translation because at least in a translation, the translator tries to make what is being translated comprehensible! But then of course, a translation is not THE Koran, as only the Koran in Arabic - the holy tongue - is the Koran, so I never really read the Koran did I, and no one who does not know Arabic can do so!
(Saleem; where did you get that ridiculous statistic that 3 out of 4 people who read the Koran accept Islam? I'm sure that huge numbers of Westerners have read the Koran in the last few years, though have not been converted but repulsed by it. I imagine like me they read it so as to become informed.)
Well...in my reading I came to cut through all the baloney being put out by idiot PC Western leaders who to this day keep assuring us that Islam is a `religion of peace', and that it is only a few disaffected Moslems who have hijacked the `great religion' who are a threat to the West. It became abundantly clear, that it is Islam itself, built on the explicit teachings of the Koran and Hadith's, and on the example of the Islamic `perfect man', Mohammed, which is the threat. 1400 years of these explicit teachings and example being followed has wreaked death, destruction, and slavery on an mind numbing scale, over vast areas. And today the same is occurring all around the world. When a bomb goes off somewhere, you can almost guarantee, 99 times out of 100, Moslems planted it.
The talk today about moderate/peaceful Moslems and radical/jihadist/terrorist Moslems, is I think a false dichotomy. Rather what you have are inconsistent Moslems and consistent Moslems - and the consistent, orthodox ones are the radicals/jihadists because they follow the Koran and example of Mohammed, and the others, for whatever reason, don't. The only place it appears you can have `reformist' Muslims is in the West because in Islamic countries, reformists end up dead as heretics. But then in the West you have the out-working of `taqiyya' - Muslim lying to further the Islamic cause. At the end of the day, can any Muslim in the West be trusted? With taqiyya as a Mohammed established/authorised doctrine, I don't see how they can be.
So...when I heard that `Islam: What the West Needs to Know', was available, I purchased it immediately, and it confirmed what I had already discovered. It is not entertainment, nor can be called a nice dvd, but never the less should be required viewing. It has no razzamatazz or glitz whatever, but is solid information from beginning to end. The jutaposition of Western leaders making their starry-eyed public statements, with blunt statements of Islamic authorties contradicting them was most enlightening. (Where do Western leaders get their information from? Muslims practising taqiyya?) The technical quality could be improved, but that should not get in the way, nor be allowed to. The content is clear and unemotional, coming from people who know the subject inside out. And, with it simply examining the actual words of Islamic authorities, and avoiding secondhand or adversarial sources, it plays the strongest hand possible. I highly recommended it.
(I would suggest to the makers of it - perhaps they are already planning or working on this - that they put out a second version with upgraded illustrations and more of them. When anything can be illustrated it should be. This would make it more accessible for more people and be more visually interesting.)
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Absolutely Essential Viewing
Stephanie Jasky | Michigan | 07/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This movie needs to be seen by EVERYONE EVERYWHERE! What people need to understand is that the reason there are no 'moderate' Muslims speaking out against terrorism and atrocities committed world wide by those who follow Islam is because if they are not also committing these acts of jihad or supporting those that do, they are not truly 'good' Muslims as defined in the Quran. The people everyone wants to call 'radicals' or 'extremists' are in fact, just practicing the true words of Muhammed in the Quran. The Quran is a confusing book and once you understand how it is to be read (oldest passages are completely superceded by all later passages), then one comes to understand that any peaceful writings in the Quran were all very early and have since been replaced with the later chapters which are all entirely violent, preach intolerance and killing of all kaffur or infidels (those who are non-Muslim) and that the whole purpose of Islam is to be the one and only religion. This is the ONLY religion in the world which has a penalty of death for leaving! Does this sound peaceful? Did anyone stop to think how, why and what kind of person would willingly 'martyr' their children, sending them out to die just to kill others they deem unworthy? For most of us it is inconceivable. This film will show you how they come to be so passionate about death to the infidels that it is worth killing their own children. This is NOT biggotry. Islam is truly not a religion. It is a military organization with a political ideology and until the western world stops allowing it protection under our laws of freedom of religion, they will continue to infiltrate every aspect of our life, using our own laws protecting freedom, at the same time, using these laws to restrict our own freedoms, whilst they gain more and more. Already, one cannot say 'merry Christmas' but tax payers are now financing footbaths and special rooms for prayer at public schools! The Muslims are demanding not just 'rights' but being allowed to trample ours (and I'm not a Christian, but I clearly see this as WRONG). It is time to stop bending over backwards to be politically correct and wake up and see that these people who are true followers of Muhammed want us dead. No matter how much we try to give them what they want - until we DIE, they won't be happy!"
Powerful and Thoughtful
art lewis | 07/07/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have just watched this DVD for the second time. It is loaded with pithy, essential material that should knock your socks off. It presents brilliant speakers discussing Islam, and their statements are interwoven with television footage from the Middle East, the U.K., and the United States. Relevant quotations from the Qur'an and from the canonical Islamic traditions appear on screen at just the right moments to illustrate points.
The speakers possess an extraordinarily in-depth knowledge of Islam's documents, its history, and its modus operandi, and discuss questions on the minds of increasing numbers of Westerners today: how do Muslims resolve the contradictions between peaceful and violent verses in the Qur'an? What is the Qur'an's famous verse of the sword? Is it true that, while there are moderate Muslims, there is no moderate Islam? What does the Qur'an say about Muslims deceiving non-Muslims? Does the Qur'an forbid Muslims to befriend Jews and Christians except deceptively? Is there a clash of civilizations? Is Europe going to be Islamized in a generation, as the Muslim population of Europe continues to grow by leaps and bounds through rapid immigration and high reproductive rates, while non-Muslims reproduce below replacement rates? Is Islamic law in any way compatible with Western social systems? Is it the case that Islamic law forbids Muslims to compel non-Muslims to convert to Islam, but commands Muslims to fight until all humankind submits to rule by Islamic law? These and a number of other questions critical to understanding what the future may hold are illuminated.
One of the speakers is Walid Shoebat, a former Muslim and a former PLO terrorist. Another is Robert Spencer, author of many books about Islam. He is also the head of jihadwatch.org, appears on numerous television news shows and radio shows, has been studying Islam for decades, and has recently begun a brilliant weekly internet Qur'an class, where he has been explaining the Qur'an verse by verse, and then answering questions about the Qur'an from commenters. Like others who have dared to reflect critically on Islam, Spencer receives numerous death threats and must conceal where he lives. Bat Ye'or is another scholar featured in this DVD. She is famous for several books that virtually created a new field of research: the study of "dhimmitude." Dhimmitude refers to the varying forms of second class status of non-Muslims living under Islamic law in various parts of the world during the course of history. The other two speakers on this DVD, Abdullah Al-Araby and Serge Trifkovic, also have fascinating things to say.
In this DVD there is no nudity, no obscenity, and no violence. But some of the television footage showing what some Middle Easterners say when they think Westerners are not listening will stand your hair on end. For example check out the Muslim preacher who brings an Iraqi crowd to its feet as he draws a long scimitar from its sheath and screams with a diabolically charismatic fury, all while quoting early Islamic traditions about killing Jews. The sound quality of his voice is distinctly reminiscent of Hitler's diabolically furious rants to huge crowds. This and some of the other footage is astounding, and provides a powerful counterpoint to the very clear statements by the speakers.
I can't recommend this DVD highly enough as a way to learn a number essential facts about Islam's past, present and possible future."
An unflinching unapologetic look
KAOSKTRL | FL. | 07/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This movie will be a shock to the system .Obsession this movie isn't their is no prattle about radical islam this and hijacking of Islam that, This talks about the real Islam and the real Mohammad. ready or not you need to know about this stuff."
Says it all
Ms. J. Graham | Australia | 07/07/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This documentary has no frills. Mr Spencer just tells it as it is backing up with quotes from the Quran. Mr. Shoebat now a converted Christian gives a heartfelt story of his own experiences as a Muslim terrorist.
Everyone speaking on this film spoke with an insiders knowledge of Islam and Middle East history.
I found the historical segments very good because they can easily be proven and give the movie credibility for those who will disbelieve it.
It is a shock to be confronted with all these facts but it is a must see for anyone wanting to know more about Islam and the threat it poses to the west."