Seeing Behind the Façade of Islam

Our Russian correspondent Russkiy, who is fluent in Arabic, has translated a portion of an Al Haya TV program in which a young German is interviewed. The German man converted to Islam as a youth, and then became dissatisfied with Islam, returning to Christianity. The interviewer draws him out on his reasons for leaving Islam.

Russkiy has written an explanatory article to help the reader understand the background of the video.

Seeing Behind the Façade of Islam
by Russkiy

Not unlike thousands of other people concerned with the issue of Islamisation, I became interested in the subject matter following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I read the Koran and other Islamic texts and could not help but notice such verses as these:

  • Ye who believe! take not the Jews and Christians for your patrons : they are patrons of each other; but whoso amongst you takes them for patrons, verily, he is of them, and, verily, God guides not an unjust people.
  • Kill them wherever ye find them, and drive them out from whence they drive you out; for sedition is worse than slaughter; but fight them not by the Sacred Mosque until they fight you there; then kill them, for such is the recompense of those that misbelieve.

I actually had many Muslim friends at that time, so when I read such verses the first thing I thought about was whether my Muslim friends believe in these things, and whether the friendship we shared was false, as the topmost verse quoted above clearly commands Muslims not to befriend non-Muslims.

In my desire to see behind the façade I decided to learn Arabic so that I could eavesdrop on what the non-Muslims are normally not privy to. Sometime in 2005 I started, mainly through books, to learn Arabic. About three years ago I reached a level where I was able to understand formal Arabic speech. For a long time I searched for spoken material that was both interesting and easy for me to understand; i.e. it had to be formal Arabic as opposed to dialect, as at that time I didn’t understand Arabic dialects which are multitudinous.

At first, most of the formal Arabic material I could find did not interest me. However, eventually I came across a website belonging to the Al Haya (Life) satellite channel. The Al Haya has become notorious in the Arab world. They are an Arabic-speaking evangelical channel dedicated to “saving the souls” of Muslims by converting them to Christianity.

Having grown up an atheist in a non-religious Soviet environment, the Christian component of the Al Haya message didn’t particularly interest me. However, the amount of useful information I found about Islam is difficult to convey. For a long time now I have been thinking of translating some of the programs into English but up until now I haven’t been confident enough of my Arabic to ensure sufficient quality in the translation.

A few weeks ago I watched an episode of the Daring Question (one of the more prominent programs dedicated primarily to exposing the true nature of the Islam to Muslims) that dealt with the issue of spread of Islam in the West, and which focussed on Western converts to Islam. I thought, this will be a good video to translate for the Gates of Vienna readers as means of introducing counter-Islamic activities that are going on in the Arabic-speaking sphere.

The interviewer in the video is one Brother Rashid, a former Muslim from Morocco, a son of an Imam, who converted to Christianity and has now become notorious in the Arab world for criticising Islam, on the par with Father Zakaria Botros. His guest in the program is a young German man who, when a teenager, in his yearning for a spiritual fulfilment and connection with God, had converted to Islam. In his pursuit to improve himself as a Muslim he learned Arabic, which I would like to note is of a very high standard. By getting more deeply immersed in the Islamic faith, he discovered things that made him backtrack and return to Christianity.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to Russkiy for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes for the subtitling:

Transcript (original program time stamps):

25:53   During these 5 years,
25:55   can you tell us some things that you learned about Islam?
26:00   Who were the people who had an influence on you in your life as a Muslim?
26:05   What were your ambitions as a Muslim living in the West?
26:10   All these things. We want to see these things
26:15   from the perspective of a European person who had converted to Islam,
26:20   how was he seeing these things.
26:25   While being a Muslim I had become acquainted with many people,
26:30   including many youth of German origin
26:35   who had converted to Islam.
26:40   We encouraged and supported each other.
26:45   Amongst them there were those who
26:50   began their Islamic path as Sufis
26:55   and then adopted a Sunni perspective.
27:00   Also there were those of us
27:05   who started as Sunnis,
27:10   but we were in a Sunni mosque,
27:15   but some brothers said after a long study,
27:20   said that they didn’t believe that
27:25   the true Islam is in that mosque.
27:30   They were convinced that they had to go to a Salafi mosque
27:35   in order to learn about the true Islam.
27:40   So… therefore even in Mosques in Europe
27:45   there are many directions.
27:50   Of course… There are Turks
27:55   who have become Islamised.
28:00   They don’t go to their (Turkish) mosques, as they believe that the real Islam
28:05   is not being taught there.
28:10   So for the Turks there are Turkish Mosques? And the Islamised Turks go to
28:15   the mosques of the Arabs? OK, which of the Islamic movements as a rule
28:20   is being adopted by the Europeans who convert to Islam?
28:25   The majority of the converts go to a Sunni movement
28:30   or what is known as ‘ahl sunna wal jam’a’.
28:35   That is influenced by Salafis. That’s right. Do these mosques…
28:40   Perhaps the entrance into Islam may be different
28:45   but in the end they adopt
28:50   the path of ‘ahl sunna wal jam’a’ (i.e. Salafi)
28:55   The more they learn about Islam the nearer they come to the Salafi way? That’s what I have experienced.
29:00   Have you seen this in other young men? That’s right. We want to take an objective view of this,
29:05   or in other words a holistic view. That’s what I’ve seen.
29:10   OK in this evolution or attraction towards certain path,
29:15   Is it supported… are the majority of mosques… what is the type of
29:20   majority of the mosques? The majority of the mosques
29:25   belong to the ‘ahl sunna wal jam’a’.
29:30   And do you think that financing from Saudi Arabia,
29:35   Gulf money, has an effect in spreading Salafi views in Europe or not?
29:40   Of course, of course those Salafis
29:45   distribute many books.
29:50  
29:55   Putting great effort
30:00   into their Dawa (proselytising), and of course this is
30:05   likely to be financed by Saudi Arabia.
30:10   OK, your view of the European society
30:15   as a young man who had converted to Islam. How did you start seeing it? Did your view change?
30:20   Did your opinion of your friends change?
30:25   Absolutely, it had to change, because we had read
30:30   and learned hadith where Muhammad said:
30:35   Who emulates a nation he is of them.
30:40   And this hadith has a great influence
30:45   on the young people here in Germany.
30:50   Now I still hear in my ears
30:55   the voice of one of the older men in the mosque
31:00   who told me to read this hadith,
31:05   this hadith is very important,
31:10   I am to deal with the society on the basis of this hadith.
31:15   we have read and learned
31:20   many Quranic ayas,
31:25   among them the aya which requires
31:30   a Muslim to hate others (non-Muslims)
31:35   and to distance himself
31:40   from the society of Infidels.
31:45   You had learned by means of hadiths and Islamic texts to separate yourselves from
31:50   the European society. That’s right. Did you consider that society to be a society of infidels?
31:55   Of course. What are the some ayas that you remember that impacted you
32:00   and left this big impression that is you had to separate from
32:05   the infidel society? For example: take not the Jews and Christians for your patrons:
32:10   they are patrons of each other; but whoso amongst you takes them for patrons,
32:15   verily, he is of them – that is, they are infidels –
32:20   and who becomes friends with them is therefore infidel like them.
32:25   And another example? Another example: You will not find a people who believe in Allah
32:30   and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger,
32:35   even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred.
32:40   And its mentioned in this aya the closest relatives. Yes,
32:45   as a result, what was the impact of these ayas on you?
32:50   These ayas caused embarrassment in me,
32:55   but the struggle,
33:00   an internal struggle had started… because
33:05   I used to believe that this is a book of God
33:10   and therefore every aya in that book had wisdom
33:15   and we have to…
33:20   take it as it is, without change,
33:25   but at the same time
33:30   I had non-Muslim friends, so how do I deal with them?
33:35   Taking into consideration those ayas. Difficult,
33:40   and even my mother and father are infidels how do I deal with them?
33:45   The aya says: even if they were their fathers.
33:50   So its requested of you to hate your mother and father, according to this aya.
33:55   Yes, that’s right, and there’s where my struggle started,
34:00   because I read something which is compulsory to believe in
34:05   but it is impossible to implement,
34:10   as it contradicted what was inside of me. This is even against the human nature.
34:15   Yes that’s right, the love for one’s parents
34:20   is a human instinct. Of course every person loves his parents,
34:25   this is a natural thing. But the religion of Islam
34:30   has ordained the opposite,
34:35   to hate infidels, whoever they may be,
34:40   to hate them.
34:45   Ok, were these ayas a part of,
34:50   let me say, a significant reservation or question mark
34:55   that remained inside of you?
35:00   Certainly, of course. Those ayas caused
35:05   an embarrassment,
35:10   and I have memorised an aya that says:…. [not sure how to translate – the meaning of the aya]
35:15   is not to feel embarrassed of what god had ordained.
35:20  
35:25  
35:30  
35:35   It was very very difficult to implement this aya,
35:40   because I found inside of me an embarrassment for what Muhammad
35:45   and his god had ordained.
35:50   It is very difficult to give in to this commandment.
35:55   Let me ask you a specific question… did some young people including yourself
36:00   have inclinations towards Jihad, for example?
36:05   That is, to struggle against this infidel society?
36:09   For example, you have to do something to change this society, taking into
36:13   consideration the requirement to promote virtue and prevent vice,
36:16   to remove vice even by means of force,
36:20   did such or similar discussions take place?
36:25   I’ve read a lot on this subject,
36:30   because the Quran is full of jihadi ideas,
36:35   such as fighting against infidels,
36:40   so of course the issue was raised.
36:45   We discussed it, but the majority
36:50   are saying that we don’t have the strength
36:55   required to fight the infidels,
37:00   that’s why it was forbidden for us to practice violent Jihad.
37:05   So it’s not an issue of conviction;
37:10   everyone is convinced of the importance of Jihad against the infidel society.
37:15   Rather the issue is one of capability. Yes because the implementation of Jihad is based
37:20   on capability, the extent of the capability that’s right.
37:25   We didn’t have this capability and we wouldn’t be able to backtrack.
37:30   So the issue of Jihad is only temporarily held back.
37:35   That’s right … but those who
37:40   I have discussed this issue with
37:45   told me yes. The ayas are there and are not abrogated.
37:50   They are current,
37:55   but the problem is only in implementation,
38:00   because we don’t have the capability. I hear some people say that in the West
38:05   the Islamic minorities, sheikhs in mosques,
38:10   the new converts have an ambition
38:15   to one day govern with the Islamic sharia
38:20   in Western countries. Is this correct according to your personal experience?
38:25   In my experience,
38:30   many of my Muslim acquaintances
38:35   fully believe in the Islamic sharia.
38:40   They want to implement it in reality,
38:45   and are hoping to rule with the Islamic sharia,
38:50   even here in European countries,
38:55   but at the current time they cannot do it,
39:00   they cannot cut off an arm of a thief or stone an adulterer
39:05   or whip someone, but they are hoping to
39:10   reach that stage.
39:15   When? At the time when they will have
39:20   the capability.
39:25   When their numbers will be
39:30   Sufficient to implement it. So the ambition is there…
39:35   You confirm this? I confirm it 100%.
39:40   Ok, before we… But at the same time they told me not to
39:45   say this openly… So that you don’t get into trouble. Yes, not to get into trouble,
39:50   and also because at first the infidels
39:55   don’t understand our religion,
40:00   and we don’t want to show them this aspect at this time.
40:05   No need to reveal this dogma, this sharia now.
40:10   The time is not now suitable.
40:15   Did this issue make you happy or did it frighten you
40:20   I found it strange because,
40:25   I said to myself, why are we ashamed of
40:30   revealing the truth of God’s sharia,
40:35   the God who created us and gave us this religion? Therefore
40:40   we have to proselytise this religion. Why do we hide from society
40:45   a part of this religion? So you were happy with the Idea that
40:50   you have to struggle against this society or at some stage implement within it
40:55   punishment for stealing , infidelity or consumption of alcohol etc.
41:00   I don’t know how I arrived at that point
41:05   but yes indeed,
41:10   at some point I believed that
41:15  
41:20   the sharia must be implemented fully.
41:25   Before the beginning of the interview you told me that amongst the people that influenced you
41:30   is the sheikh Abu Yahiya al-Liby
41:35   known in Jihadist circles and on the Internet.
41:40   I would like Brother Rashid
41:45   to come back to this point, which I think is important. Yes, please, you have complete freedom;
41:50   I just wanted to introduce this component into discussion.
41:55   I wanted to focus on an important point because
42:00   I became a Muslim due to my desire
42:05   to know God, and due to my desire
42:10   to pray and express what was inside of me,
42:15   but as time went on,
42:20   I don’t know how, but I lost
42:25   that desire.
42:30   Everything became cold.
42:35   I don’t know how,
42:40   but the initial desire was lost, and was replaced with
42:45   me wanting to know the legalistic rulings only.
42:50   I had become
42:55   a person who converted to a religion
43:00   which happened to be a bunch of commandments and rituals.
43:05   This is halal and that is haram,
43:10   and I was influenced by this idea and had become such.
43:15   Did you feel as if
43:20   you were somehow tricked? You entrance was spiritual
43:25   but was changed to something else. That’s right, yes,
43:30   that’s what I wanted to explain… and without
43:35   realising it, that’s what happened.
43:40   Gradually, gradually
43:45   I had lost the initial desire and adopted the Idea
43:50   that the religion is
43:55   a bunch of prohibitions. Commandments and
44:00   rituals that have to be carried out at the same time there is emptiness inside.
44:05   That’s right, and even the prayer. In the beginning I very much loved the prayer,
44:10   but as time went on
44:15   it became just a routine, that’s one thing, and the other thing
44:20   is that one day a friend told me
44:25   that your prayer is not right,
44:30   the way that you perform the prayer is wrong,
44:35   you have to make such and such a movement
44:40   The prayer had become not an expression of
44:45   Instinctive…Yes.
44:50   And not a means to talk to God,
44:55   but something routine, as if I’m a machine,
45:00   And if I forgot to make some movement.
45:05   Or doing so and so…
45:10   The prayer becomes wasted,
45:15   and the idea that there is a wasted prayer is very difficult
45:20   for a person to accept.

10 thoughts on “Seeing Behind the Façade of Islam

  1. Pingback: Seeing Behind the Façade of Islam | Vlad Tepes

  2. Thank you for that. This video is so deceptively unobtrusive that its absolutely fascinating content creeps up on you without you realising the eyeopener it is until the end. Born and brought up in Germany, I soooo well recognised the quintessential German mind in this young man and following the tale of his devolvement down to islam and his slowly climbing out of it and evolving again, taught me more than nearly anything I have heard/seen/read of islam before. Thanks for this effort to all of you who brought this to us.

    Incidentally, the original reason for this young man to embrace some “faith” in “some God” – in his case it was islam, made me remember somthing I just recently read: the islamisation has progressed the fastest in the scandinavian countries atheism is the default position.

  3. In Islam, there are wasted prayers, but no wasted curses, I’m sure.
    Islam is profane.
    Mohammed is a false prophet.

  4. An example of Muslim hypocrisy,

    The Islamic convert being interviewed attested that he frequented mainly Sunni, salafist mosques and groups. He was told to keep the unsavory aspects of Islam under wraps, at least until the Muslims had the political or demographic strength to implement them.

    This is obviously taquiya, or the telling of untruths to advance Islam.

    And yet, the Sunnis claim to pride themselves on not accepting the Shia view of taquiya:

    “By the Shia definition (the one used one websites and by those who wish to attack Islam), Sunni Muslims (over 90% of Muslims) do not believe in taqiyya. Furthermore Sunni Scholars have rejected that definition since the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and have clarified what “taqiyya” is within the mainstream belief of Islam – that is only to conceal one’s faith under compulsion or duress only. In addition to that Sunni Islam believes lying is forbidden and only made permissible in specific cases, and even in these three cases it is disliked – it is never encouraged. A Muslim can not lie to spread Islam, as is often claimed, in mainstream Sunni Islam.”

    http://www.alhamdulilah.info/2010/09/taqiyya.html

    What’s the conclusion? It seems to be extremely dangerous to allow Muslim immigration under the best of circumstances. Any sizable Muslim population will generate enough violent activity to overwhelm the security forces of a democratic society, not to mention the very focused political pressures to blunt or forbid frank criticism of Islam.

  5. Quote:
    I had become
    42:55 a person who converted to a religion
    43:00 which happened to be a bunch of commandments and rituals.
    43:05 This is halal and that is haram,
    43:10 and I was influenced by this idea and had become such.
    43:15 Did you feel as if
    43:20 you were somehow tricked? You entrance was spiritual
    43:25 but was changed to something else. That’s right, yes,
    end

    People who study religion and anthropology understand the difference between the deeds of faith and propitiary magic. There is no transformation in Islam, it is truly nothing more than propitiary magic and blood sacrifice.
    Religions can be evil or good, sacred or profane– and our failure to understand these distinctions in the West has been our suffering and will be our further downfall unless people educate themselves about religion in life.
    Not every discourse performs according to virtue ethics and scientific method.
    Bodies of rules can change from one discourse to another– to search for some overall pattern is pointless and even, may I say, curiously Islamic.

  6. It’s not just Christians whom they’re killing in Pakistan, they’re killing each other. It’s getting so bad that there’s specuslation that the Shias may quit Pakistan altogether. This augurs ill for the Western countries, as we’ll see an invasion of Shias bringing all their cultural baggage. In Australia we already have the Hazara illegal boat people claiming special refugee status on the grounds of political asylum. No way of knowing if they’re just singing the old mantra! I don’t see why such people don’t form their own battalions and fight whatever oppression they claim to be suffering from in their own countries. We’re losing young soldiers regularly in their countries while they seek refuge in ours. Something wrong there!

    http://dawn.com/2013/02/17/time-for-shias-to-leave-pakistan/

  7. I watched the video and I liked it, it’s a good lesson for everyone who don’t now much about this religion, as well as those who were drawn and trapped into this religion after being told beautiful lies and false promises of getting closer to God, I personally encourage people to follow this religion and dig deep into it’s teachings, try this recipe for yourselves, and as time goes by you’ll find out the truth of the biggest lie in history of mankind from their own books.

    While reading through the comments above, I stopped at one funny comment !
    someone says ( A Muslim can not lie to spread Islam )
    That was really funny !
    obviously, whoever says something like that, doesn’t have a good grasp of the Quran, which clearly enforces the idea of jihad (war) upon all muslims from the day they’re born to the day they die, the book explains very clearly that in war you must cheat and deceive and lie to win the war, these things are a “Must” to reach to the main goal which is enforcing islam and the shareyah as the only religion on this planet even if it takes mass killings of innocent human beings, which’s been happening for the last 14 centuries till this very day, just go on youtube or other websites or watch the news around the world, you will find never ending stories of muslims beheading innocent people or chopping their arms or legs or tongues or stoning people to death while praising their strange God very happily, all in the name of this strange and weird God, they all didn’t any guilt whatsoever, accept they were Not muslims, that’s their only crime.
    I come to a conclusion that killing all these innocent people including beautiful kids and little innocent babies in the name of God is acceptable ( halal ) , but … ( A Muslim can not lie to spread Islam ) …. it means a muslim can only kill to spread islam .. but not lie !

    • There’s a word in the Koran, and in the hadiths, to describe the quality of lying to the infidels in the mosques and face-to-face. It’s called ‘al Taqiya’ and is a way of giving infidels one message of appeasement while saying something enirely the opposite to a fellow Moslem. The imams in radical mosques are well known for using this tactic, stirring up the mob in Friday prayers while telling journos something else.

Comments are closed.