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Islam is an ideology - a set of ideas. The term Muslim is just an identity and Muslims are human beings who associate themselves with Islam in some way. The assumption that criticism of Islam is equal to an attack on Muslims is completely wrong. On the one extreme there are people who are bigoted against Muslims in general and on the other extreme there are people who view criticism of Islam as bigotry. Here is what both parties need to realize:

1). People have varying interpretations, knowledge and commitment with regards to the religious doctrine.
2). People give different amounts of emphasis to various aspects of religion.
3). People are made up of more than just religion.

With that said, after having studied Islam in-depth it is very clear to me that there are huge problems in the Islamic doctrine. Some of these are so problematic that makes it absolutely necessary to criticize Islam. I also include articles to refute the alleged scientific accuracy of Islam scripture which is a complete myth. Now let's move on to my analysis. Click on each topic to see my complete analysis using Islamic scripture.

I. Moral and Ethical Problems:

Death Penalty for Leaving Islam
Gender Segregation and the Hatred of Love
Discrimination and Oppression of Women
The Severe Hatred for Unbelievers

Religious Warfare and Promise of Paradise
Barbaric Inhumane Punishments and Torture
Blasphemy Killings and their Islamic Roots

Approval for Sex with Prepubescent Girls
Usage of Girls for Sex Slavery
Quran's Most Misquoted Verse 5:32
The Myth of the Progressive Quran
Islam: Made for Muhammad by Muhammad
Islamic Scripture Shows ISIS is Islamic
Muhammad's Massacre of a Jewish Tribe
Endorsement of Female Genital Mutilation
Some Shocking and Evil Teachings

II. Scientific and Factual Errors:

Quran's Failed Challenges and Appeal to Ignorance
The Quran Falls in its Own Bible Trap
Biological Blunders in the Quran

Creation of Universe and Miracle Claims
Sun Sets in a Spring of Water

Sun Revolves Around the Earth
The Flat Earth Theory

Islam: Made for Muhammad by Muhammad

Most of the Quran contains general instructions for believers or people in general. However, there are certain verses in the Quran that are not just specifically addressed to Muhammad, but address his most trivial personal issues and insecurities. Take a look at some of those verses:

Quran 33:50 - O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess, [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. 

Quran 33:51 - You, [O Muhammad], may put aside whom you will of them or take to yourself whom you will. And any that you desire of those [wives] from whom you had [temporarily] separated - there is no blame upon you [in returning her]. That is more suitable that they should be content and not grieve and that they should be satisfied with what you have given them - all of them. And Allah knows what is in your hearts. And ever is Allah Knowing and Forbearing.

Quran 33:52 - Not lawful to you, [O Muhammad], are [any additional] women after [this], nor [is it] for you to exchange them for [other] wives, even if their beauty were to please you, except what your right hand possesses. And ever is Allah , over all things, an Observer.

The following verse addresses Muhammad's discomfort with people remaining in his house after having food and talking to his wives. They also forbid anyone from marrying his wives after his death.

Quran 33:53 - O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity. 

Below is a revelation specifically addressed to Muhammad to validate his marriage to his adopted son Zaid's wife Zainab.

Quran 33:37 - And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah ," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished.

And then another verse for the sole purpose of implying that Muhammad is not Zaid's father, and therefore not marrying his son's wife.

Quran 33:39 - Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah , of all things, Knowing.

Let's take a look at another part of the Quran.

Quran 66:1 - O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Quran 66:2 - Allah has already ordained for you [Muslims] the dissolution of your oaths. And Allah is your protector, and He is the Knowing, the Wise.

Situation: Muhammad made a certain promise to one of his wives that he would not drink honey from the house of another woman because she didn't like it. Muhammad is later told through revelation that he need not keep the promise.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (66:1) - Allah's Messenger used to stay for a period in the house of Zaynab bint Jahsh and drink honey in her house. (She said) "Hafsah and I decided that when the Prophet entered upon either of us, we would say, `I smell Maghafir on you. Have you eaten Maghafir' When he entered upon one of us, she said that to him. He replied (to her), No, but I drank honey in the house of Zaynab bint Jahsh, and I will never drink it again. Then the following was revealed; O Prophet! Why do you forbid that which Allah has allowed to you... (Quran 66:1)

Quran 66:3 - And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, "Who told you this?" He said, "I was informed by the Knowing, the Acquainted."

Quran 66:4 - If you two [wives] repent to Allah , [it is best], for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him - then indeed Allah is his protector, and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are [his] assistants.

Quran 66:5 - Perhaps his Lord, if he divorced you [all], would substitute for him wives better than you - submitting [to Allah], believing, devoutly obedient, repentant, worshipping, and traveling - [ones] previously married and virgins.

As per the 66:3, one of the things Muhammad confided into one of his wives was shared by her to another of his wives. Then Muhammad came to know about the leakage of this secret. Conveniently, he gets a revelation sent down by Allah chastising the wives. As a bonus, the revelation also contained a thinly veiled threat that, perhaps Allah would get them divorced from Muhammad and give him better wives.

The Myth of the Progressive Quran

Let's look at some Islamic apologist arguments about how the Quran promotes progressive values, reason and freedom of thought.

Myth #1: Quran encourages free thinking

The myth of Quran promoting free thought is busted by looking at some specific verses in the Quran.

Quran 4:59 to 4:64 - O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result. Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to Taghut, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray. And when it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion. So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allah , "We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation." Those are the ones of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts, so turn away from them but admonish them and speak to them a far-reaching word. And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful. 

As you can see, the Quran repeatedly demands obedience to authority on the face of any disagreements without entertaining free thought. Let's read on further.

Quran 4:65 - But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission. 

Notice how the Quran makes it abundantly clear that believers won't be considered true believers unless the submit to the authority of Muhammad without the slightest discomfort or disagreement. But it gets worse.

Quran 4:66 to 4:69 - And if We had decreed upon them, "Kill yourselves" or "Leave your homes," they would not have done it, except for a few of them. But if they had done what they were instructed, it would have been better for them and a firmer position [for them in faith]. And then We would have given them from Us a great reward. And We would have guided them to a straight path. And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.

The Quran demands obedience even if the command given to believers were to "kill yourselves" or "leave your homes" as the Quran clearly puts it!

Quran 4:80 - He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah ; but those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian.

Let's look carefully at the above statement. It doesn't simply say obey Allah and Muhammad. It instead says that whoever obeys Muhammad is thereby obeying Allah. This simply reinforces the idea that Muhammad indeed is practically the authority in Islam.

Quran 33:21 - There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.

The above verse makes it clear that Muhammad is a role model or an example to be imitated for the believers. Remember, not merely an inspiration but an example to be followed.

Now, let's check another part of the Quran to see its stance on doubtful questioning from believers.

Quran 5:101 to 5:102 - O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you. But if you ask about them while the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be shown to you. Allah has pardoned that which is past; and Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing. A people asked such [questions] before you; then they became thereby disbelievers.

The Quran discourages believers from asking questions about things which can potentially cause themselves distress. It mentions that some people who asked such questions became disbelievers because of that.

And what might be the purpose of life according to Islam?

Quran 51:56 - And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

The reason why Allah has created us as per the Quran is nothing else than to worship him. Sounds like somebody creating robots to sing his praises.

Quran 49:14 to 49:15 - The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful.

Quran in the above verses encourages blind submission (islam) and obedience even in the absence of belief (iman). To become true believers, it is stated that there should be no doubt in Islam.

Myth #2: Kufr doesn't mean disbelief; disbelievers don't get hellfire

Quran 40:70 to 40:72 - Those who deny the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers - they are going to know, When the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged In boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled [with flame].

The above verses are clear that denying the Quran and its messages (with which the messengers were previously sent forth) is going to land people in hellfire.

Quran 48:13 - And whoever has not believed in Allah and His Messenger - then indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers a Blaze.

In the above verse, the word kufr (which liberal Muslims often say doesn't refer to disbelief) is clearly associated with the action of not believing in Allah and Muhammad. And for such people, hellfire is clearly assigned by Allah.

Quran 5:72 - They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.

The above verse clearly states that those who associate others with Allah (i.e. don't accept Tawheed or strict monotheism) are going to hellfire.

Quran 3:151 - We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allah of which He had not sent down [any] authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.

Again the Quran reiterates that people who associate others with Allah will be made to feel terror because of associating partners with Allah.

Quran 47:8 to 47:10 - But those who disbelieve - for them is misery, and He will waste their deeds. That is because they disliked what Allah revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds. Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them? Allah destroyed [everything] over them, and for the disbelievers is something comparable. That is because Allah is the protector of those who have believed and because the disbelievers have no protector. Indeed, Allah will admit those who have believed and done righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow, but those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as grazing livestock eat, and the Fire will be a residence for them.

Disliking Allah's revelations means Allah will cause such people misery, cause their good deeds to be wasted and put them into hellfire.

The Quran Falls in its Own Bible Trap

This article examines how the Quran makes certain claims about the Bible and thereby lays a trap for itself proving itself wrong. Muslims often make the claim that the Torah (which belongs to the Old Testament of Bible) and the Gospel (which belongs to the New Testament of Bible) are corrupted. They make this claim because of two reasons:

1). The Quran confirms that the real Torah (referred to as Taurat in the Quran) and the real Gospel (referred to as Injeel in the Quran) are Allah's revelations.
2). Some of the things written in the Torah and the Gospel today are in conflict with the Quranic teachings.

Whether the Torah and the Gospel today are corrupted (ie; are different from their original versions) is difficult to know as it is hard to dig up their early history today. The point of this article is not to try and challenge this claim of corruption of the Torah or the Gospel. What we are going to see is how some of the claims the Quran makes about the Bible backfires against itself.

The Quran in the following verses very strongly insists that the Torah and the Gospel were not corrupted at the time of Muhammad. Allah even admonishes the Jews for coming to Muhammad asking for guidance, reasoning that the Jews already have the Torah in their hands (which was revealed by Allah as per the Quran).

Quran 5:43 to 5:48 - But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers. Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers ... And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous. And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient. And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth.

These verses sharply condemn people who won't judge by what Allah has revealed in both the Torah and the Gospel (as well as the Quran itself). If the Torah and the Gospel were corrupted at the time, why would Allah admonish Jews who come to Muhammad for guidance in such a clear language and expect Jews and Christians to refer to their corrupted books for guidance? We can therefore safely say that the Quran dismisses any notion of corruption of the Torah or the Gospel AT THE TIME.

People who don't realise the gravity of this claim might think - why can't the Torah and the Gospel be corrupted after the time of Muhammad? The problem lies in the fact that hundreds of thousands of copies of the Bible would be already circulating around the world during Muhammad's time. Perhaps even a million copies of the Bible would be around at this point of time (the world population was around 200 million or more estimated in the 7th century). How does one corrupt a book after a million copies of it are already spread around the world? The sheer impossibility of this claim will become clear as we think about it through an example:

While making a variety of different claims about the Bible, the Quran makes one specific claim which literally digs its own grave. It claims that Muhammad is mentioned in BOTH the Torah and the Gospel!

Quran 7:157 - Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.

This claim has troubled Muslim scholars so much since the Quran itself rubbishes the idea that either Torah or Gospel was corrupted at the time, they are forced to do the unimaginable: Find Muhammad's mention in the Torah and the Gospel. The trouble of course, is the simple fact that Muhammad is not mentioned in either the Torah or the Gospel by any means (even by description, let alone the name).

Muhsin Khan and Hilali (scholars and translators of the Quran) even make a futile attempt to mention the Bible verses referring to Muhammad:

The Hilali/Khan translation of verse 7:157 reads: "Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e.Muhammad SAW) whom they find written with them in the Taurat (Torah) (Deut, xviii, 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16),..."

Deuteronomy 18:15 - "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers — it is to him you shall listen"

Gospel of John 14:16 - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever"

These are probably the best attempts to find Muhammad's mention in the Bible. However if we read the Bible in context these claims boomerang because Deuteronomy 18:15 is clearly talking about a prophet to be raised from among the Israelites/Jews. And if we keep reading Gospel of John 14:16 till 14:26 we find that the "helper" or "comforter" mentioned in 14:16 is very clearly the Holy Spirit (the same comforter is mentioned again in chapter 15 and 16 as well), and not Muhammad. Islamic preachers like Zakir Naik mention these and other passages to fool people who don't bother to research these claims. However, every single claim of Muhammad being mentioned in the Bible is easily debunked by simply reading the Bible properly.

In light of the above, let us think about what it really means to claim that the Torah and the Gospel (which were uncorrupted at the time as per Quran) were later corrupted. This would involve burning of pretty much all the (one million) Bibles that are in circulation during 7th century to make sure that every single mention of Muhammad in both the books are gone and then replacing them all with copies that don't have Muhammad's name (and do the same with every single contradiction between the Quran and the Torah/Gospel). Such an event would most certainly be well-documented in history. In short, absolutely impossible! Any corruption of a book which would eventually be widely circulated has to happen in its earliest stages of history, near to its inception.

Despite how the Quran strongly implies that these Bible books were uncorrupted, Muslims try to find counter evidence using other verses of the Quran (despite that at best it would only imply that the Quran contradicts itself). The best argument for corruption of the Bible is probably Quran 2:79 which condemns "those who write the scripture with their own hands and claim that it is from Allah". Muslims claim that this implies that Quran recognises the Bible to be corrupted or was being massively corrupted at the time. Once again, this claim is debunked - by reading this verse in context:

Quran 2:78 to 2:79 - And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming. So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah ," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.

Clearly we can see that it doesn't give any credence to the idea that the Bible was corrupted already. Neither does it suggest that the Bible was being corrupted on a large scale. It simply admonishes people who don't know what is in the scripture and then mislead people by writing/attributing wrong teachings to the scripture. Let's not forget the literal impossibility of completely corrupting the Bible (or any book with a wide circulation for that matter) from a point where it was not significantly corrupted.

CONCLUSION: Given all the above facts, the only reasonable conclusion one can make is that the Quran simply traps itself by implying that the Torah and the Gospel were uncorrupted at the time - and thereby today as well - and by how it still contradicts these books. A good example being the claim of Muhammad being mentioned in these books.

Biological Blunders in the Quran

In this article I'm going to focus on two clear mistakes the Quran makes when it tries to explain aspects of biology.

(I) Origin of semen in man:

86:5 to 86:7 - So let man see from what he is created! He is created from a water gushing forth, Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.

The Quran claims that the semen originates from between the backbone (sulb) and the ribs (tara'ib). While most translators of the Quran translate sulb as "backbone", some translators translate it as "loins". Whether the word actually means loins or backbone, both are inescapable errors.

Anatomically, loins (also known as lumbus) refers to areas on both sides of the backbone between the lower ribs and the thigh bone. If we view anatomically there is absolutely no way seminal vesicles (which is where semen actually originates) can come between the loins and the ribs. The only other way loins could make sense here is if it is considered to be the "sexual areas" of the man which is vague and has no precise location. Anyhow, even if we take loins to be the sexual areas of man, saying that semen originates between the loins and the ribs is inexplicable - what are ribs even doing here? They are completely out of the picture.

Islamic apologists desperately try to defend this clear error mainly in two different ways:

1). By drawing a line between the bottom of the tailbone (coccyx) through the seminal vesicles they use deceptive drawings of the human body to claim that this line catches the bottom of the ribs. As weird as this explanation looks, an accurate check of the anatomy of human body reveals that a line drawn between the bottom of the tailbone through the seminal vesicles will not even come close to catching the ribs - as the following depiction clearly shows:

Imagine a straight line from the bottom of the tailbone to the top of the seminal vesicles and extend it. The ribs are not even in the picture! And hence the argument of semen originating from between backbone and ribs fails even if we consider the bottom-most tip of the tailbone.

2). By claiming that not only is "sulb" male sexual areas but also claiming that "tara'ib" means female sexual areas. Virtually every decent translator of the Quran has translated tara'ib as ribs. And so does every single dictionary of classical arabic there is. The Islamic apolgists cleverly pick out a part of the sentence in Lane's Lexicon (a dictionary of classical arabic) to make this laughable claim.

Quoted from Lane's Lexicon (page 301): "... most of the authors on strange words affirm decidedly that it (tara’ib) is peculiar to women." Now despite the fact that the very same Lane's Lexicon clearly refers to tara'ib as ribs (whether it is peculiar to man or woman) the apologists hide this fact to pretend that this somehow means the "sexual areas of women" by taking out that one portion where it says this word is often used particular to women and hiding the rest.

The result? A complete fail. All of the futile attempts at explaining away and whitewashing this clear error are simply destroyed.

(2) Origin of milk in cattle:

16:66 - And verily! In the cattle, there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from between excretions and blood, pure milk; palatable to the drinkers.

Milk is produced from mammary glands (which are part of the "udder" in cattle - the equivalent of the breasts in humans). Neither are milk in the cattle at any point of time situated in their bellies, nor are they coming from between excretions/intestines and blood. A clear and indefensible error.

Although there are more poor biological explanations and errors in the Quran, I have just focused on two of these errors as they are easily and clearly proven and hence indefensible.

Barbaric Inhumane Punishments and Torture

Islam contains absolutely cruel, and unthinkably inhumane punishments for several crimes and even non-crimes. These punishments and teachings in Islam show how fundamentally unfit it is for the modern world.

(I) Theft - Amputation of the hand:

5:38 - As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands. It is the reward of their own deeds, an exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise.

Sahih al Bukhari 6799 - Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah 's Apostle said, "Allah curses the thief who steals an egg (or a helmet) for which his hand is to be cut off, or steals a rope, for which his hand is to be cut off."

Sahih al Bukhari 6790 - Narrated Aisha: The Prophet said, "The hand of a thief should be cut off for stealing a quarter of a Dinar."

(II) Fornication and adultery - Hundred lashes in public (plus stoning to death for adultery):

24:2 - The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. 

Sahih al Bukhari 7332 - Narrated Ibn `Umar: The Jews brought a man and a woman who had committed illegal sexual intercourse, to the Prophet and the Prophet ordered them to be stoned to death, and they were stoned to death near the mosque where the biers used to be placed.

Sahih al Bukhari 2695 - Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani: A bedouin came and said, "O Allah's Messenger! Judge between us according to Allah's Laws." His opponent got up and said, "He is right. Judge between us according to Allah's Laws." The bedouin said, "My son was a laborer working for this man, and he committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife. The people told me that my son should be stoned to death; so, in lieu of that, I paid a ransom of one hundred sheep and a slave girl to save my son. Then I asked the learned scholars who said, "Your son has to be lashed one-hundred lashes and has to be exiled for one year." The Prophet said, "No doubt I will judge between you according to Allah's Laws. The slave-girl and the sheep are to go back to you, and your son will get a hundred lashes and one year exile." He then addressed somebody, "O Unais! go to the wife of this (man) and stone her to death" So, Unais went and stoned her to death.

Sahih Muslim 4191 - 'Ubada b. as-Samit reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: "Receive (teaching) from me, receive (teaching) from me. Allah has ordained a way for those (women). When an unmarried male commits adultery with an unmarried female (they should receive) one hundred lashes and banishment for one year. And in case of married male committing adultery with a married female, they shall receive one hundred lashes and be stoned to death."

(III) Homosexuality - death; and transgenders - forcing them out of their homes:

Quran 7:80 to 7:84 - And (remember) Loot (Lot), when he said to his people: ‘Do you commit the worst sin such as none preceding you has committed in the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)? Verily, you practise your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds (by committing great sins).’ And the answer of his people was only that they said: ‘Drive them out of your town, these are indeed men who want to be pure (from sins)!’ Then We saved him and his family, except his wife; she was of those who remained behind (in the torment). And We rained down on them a rain (of stones). Then see what was the end of the Mujrimoon (criminals, polytheists and sinners)”

Sunan Abu-Dawud 4462 - Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet said: If you find anyone doing as Lot's people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done.

Sahih al Bukhari 5886 - Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet cursed effeminate men (those men who are in the similitude (assume the manners of women) and those women who assume the manners of men, and he said, "Turn them out of your houses." 

(IV) House arrest for life for women committing "sexual immorality/lewdness":

4:15 - If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four (Reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or Allah ordain for them some (other) way.

(V) Beating people who consumed alcohol:

Sahih al Bukhari 6777 - Narrated Abu Salama: Abu Huraira said, "A man who drank wine was brought to the Prophet. The Prophet said, 'Beat him!" Abu Huraira added, "So some of us beat him with our hands, and some with their shoes, and some with their garments (by twisting it) like a lash, and then when we finished, someone said to him, 'May Allah disgrace you!' On that the Prophet said, 'Do not say so, for you are helping Satan to overpower him.' "

(VI) Crucifixion, chopping off hands and feet and other forms of torture:

5:33 - The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom.

Sahih al Bukhari 3018 - Narrated Anas bin Malik: A group of eight men from the tribe of 'Ukil came to the Prophet and then they found the climate of Medina unsuitable for them. So, they said, "O Allah's Messenger! Provide us with some milk." Allah's Apostle said, "I recommend that you should join the herd of camels." So they went and drank the urine and the milk of the camels (as a medicine) till they became healthy and fat. Then they killed the shepherd and drove away the camels, and they became unbelievers after whey were Muslims. When the Prophet was informed by a shouter for help, he sent some men in their pursuit, and before the sun rose high, they were brought, and he had their hands and feet cut off. Then he ordered for nails which were heated and passed over their eyes, and whey were left in the Harra (i.e. rocky land in Medina). They asked for water, and nobody provided them with water till they died (Abu Qilaba, a sub-narrator said, "They committed murder and theft and fought against Allah and His Apostle, and spread evil in the land.")

CONCLUSION: We can all argue if some of these actions are moral or immoral, but the fact is that the level of punishment is disproportionate and inhumane. Chopping off hands for theft condemns the thief with a punishment that he or she can never recover from. Publicly humiliating people with 100 lashes or stoning to death are absolutely savage. If you ever watched a video of a person being stoned to death anyone with a heart would see how utterly devoid of humanity such a punishment is for any crime. The LGBT are clearly going to suffer, whether by being put to death or being rendered homeless. Apart from that, no civil society should recognize torture as a valid punishment for any crime. These aspects of Islam should make any believing Muslim rethink whether Islam is a great religion, to say the very least.

Blasphemy Killings and their Islamic Roots

Anyone who listens to the world news attentively knows how uniquely intolerant Islamic world is on the topic of blasphemy or a perceived insult of Islam. The conviction that a person has committed blasphemy can turn a mob dedicated with all their anger and might towards publicly murdering a person. Let us take a moment to examine the straightforward connection between blasphemy killings and the Islamic doctrine and scripture.

The Quran contains a lot of hate speech and threat of violence against people who abuse the prophet or mock Islam. Let's take a look at a few of these verses:

Quran 33:57 to 33:61 - Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger - Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment. And those who harm believing men and believing women for [something] other than what they have earned have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin. O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madinah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little. Accursed wherever they are found, [being] seized and massacred completely.

The Tafsirs show that the context applies to anyone who persistently mocks Allah and Muhammad.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (33:57-61) - (Verily, those who annoy Allah and His Messenger,) was revealed about those who slandered the Prophet over his marriage to Safiyyah bint Huyay bin Akhtab. The Ayah appears to be general in meaning and to apply to all those who annoy him in any way, because whoever annoys him annoys Allah, just as whoever obeys him obeys Allah. ... Then Allah issues a warning to the hypocrites, those who make an outward display of faith while concealing their disbelief.

Quran 9:61 to 9:66 - And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allah and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allah - for them is a painful punishment. They swear by Allah to you [Muslims] to satisfy you. But Allah and His Messenger are more worthy for them to satisfy, if they should be believers. Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - that for him is the fire of Hell, wherein he will abide eternally? That is the great disgrace. They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear." And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals.

From the Tafsirs it appears that the verses were revealed in context of punishing a man with stoning for mocking Islam.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (9:65) - `Abdullah bin `Umar said, "During the battle of Tabuk, a man was sitting in a gathering and said, `I have never seen like these reciters of ours! They have the hungriest stomachs, the most lying tongues and are the most cowardice in battle.' A man in the Masjid said, `You lie. You are a hypocrite, and I will surely inform the Messenger of Allah. ' This statement was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah and also a part of the Qur'an was revealed about it.''' `Abdullah bin `Umar said, "I have seen that man afterwards holding onto the shoulders of the Messenger's camel while stones were falling on him, declaring, `O Allah's Messenger! We were only engaged in idle talk and jesting,' while the Messenger of Allah was reciting,

Let us see this concept in action from the hadiths. In the below story, a blind man stabs his wife to death for repeatedly slandering Muhammad. When Muhammad heard the news he ordered the man to turn himself in. When he did, Muhammad let him away with no punishment.

Sunan an-Nasai 4070 - Ibn 'Abbas narrated that: There was a blind man during the time of the Messenger of Allah [SAW] who had an Umm Walad by whom he had two sons. She used to slander and defame the Messenger of Allah [SAW] a great deal, and he would rebuke her, but she would not pay heed, and he would forbid her to do that, but she ignored him. (The blind man said) One night I mentioned the Prophet [SAW], and she slandered him. I could not bear it so I went and got a dagger which I thrust into her stomach and leaned upon it, and killed her. In the morning she was found slain. Mention of that was made to the Prophet [SAW] and he gathered the people and said: "I adjure by Allah; a man over whom I have the right, that he should obey me, and he did what he did, to stand up." The blind man started to tremble and said: "O Messenger of Allah [SAW], I am the one who killed her. She was my Umm Walad and she was kind and gentle toward me, and I have two sons like pearls from her, but she used to slander and defame you a great deal. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not pay heed. Finally, I mentioned your name and she slandered you, so I went and got a dagger which I thrust into her stomach, and leaned on it until I killed her. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "I bear witness that her blood is permissible."

While the above are more direct examples for blasphemy, there is a lot of hate speech in the Quran that is written against those who spread "corruption" in the land. If we examine within the Quran itself, we can see how easily it is possible to use the excuse of spreading corruption against blasphemers.

Quran 5:32 to 5:33 - Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely ... Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.

Obviously Allah is invisible if he exists and Muhammad not alive today so any war that can be waged against Allah and his messenger today is a war of ideas. Besides, one big problem with this is that when the system itself is Islam, anything that challenges and tries to reform Islam can be classified as corruption. Quran in chapter 2 supports this notion.

Quran 2:8 to 2:12 - And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah and the Last Day," but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not. In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie. And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers." Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.

Reforms and innovations are absolutely scorned upon in Islam. Before concluding, let's look at another hadith:

Sahih Muslim 1852 - It has been narrated on the authority of 'Arfaja who said: I have heard the Messenger of Allah say: Different evils will make their appearance in the near future. Anyone who tries to disrupt the affairs of this Umma while they are united you should strike him with the sword whoever he be.

CONCLUSION: Although what I did is a scriptural analysis on blasphemy within Islam, these don't present a complete picture of the existing problem. Lots and lots of Muslims who barely know the scripture in detail still support blasphemy punishments. Considering a medieval warlord as the perfect example for mankind by itself is extremely troublesome. When pointed out troublesome facts about Muhammad in the Islamic scripture, this can make people extremely defensive and angry as there is some truth in the accusations. Another part of the problem is in the belief that Quran is perfectly preserved, to the letter. This leads to people being extremely allergic to change and being intolerant of reform. The result of all this is that Islam creates a cult centred around the Quran as a book and Muhammad as a person, resisting even small amounts of criticism or reform, leading to an extreme intolerance to blasphemy.

Quran's Most Misquoted Verse 5:32

Quranic verses are often misquoted - purposefully or due to ignorance - to the easily fooled common man who doesn't know much about the actual scripture. Here are some quick facts about Quran's most misquoted verse - Verse 5:32 - which shows its dark side that doesn't get much public attention:

Misquoted verse: "Whoever kills an innocent human being, it is as if he has killed all mankind."

Actual verse: "Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption done in the land it is as if he had killed all mankind."

(1) The common misquote of the verse leaves out two important things. First, that "corruption done in the land" could be used an excuse to kill a person. Now, from an Islamic point of view, what is the ultimate corruption that can be done in the land? Driving people away from or corrupting Islam. The following verse clearly shows that Muslims who claim to reform Islam are called out as corrupters.

Quran 2:8 to 2:12 - And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah and the Last Day," but they are not believers. They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not. In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie. And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers." Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.

Besides, Quran 4:48 and 4:116 makes it clear that "shirk", or associating partners with Allah is the ONLY unforgivable crime in the eyes of Allah. If anyone thinks that Christianity and Judaism are exempt from this, they should read 9:29 of the Quran which calls out Jews and Christians for shirk.

(2) The second important thing that is left out in the misquote has to do with what is conveniently omitted before the verse. "It was ordained to the children of Israel" - notice that the Quran is not making a new teaching here but referring to an old teaching that was already there - which as the Quran admits was given to the Jews (just like the Quran often refers to the Bible teachings throughout the book). Could it just be that this verse was found in another scripture?

Jewish Talmud, Mishnah Sanhedrin 37a - "For this reason was man created alone, to teach thee that whosoever destroys a single soul of israel, scripture imputes to him as though he had destroyed a complete world"

Notice how unlike the Quranic verse, the Talmud teaching doesn't give the dangerous exception for corruption done in the land as a green light to murder people.

(3) The last important point we need to know is the verse that comes immediately after the "peaceful" verse 5:32.

Quran 5:33 - "Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land."

Let's just think about this verse in today's context for a moment. Allah is invisible if he exists and Muhammad a long dead man. So how does someone wage a war against Allah and his messenger today and promote corruption in the land? By waging a war against Islam - the ideology. When the system itself is Islam, the ultimate corruption would be something that undermines the very system of Islam. With that in mind, the above verse can be very easily used against anyone who preaches against Islam or promotes any kind of deviation from the so-called "true" Islam (The Quran itself calls out people who deviate and try to reform Islam as corrupters). I'm pretty much waging a war against Allah and his messenger right now according to the Quran. I can be killed, crucified, mutilated or exiled depending on the level of criticism that I offer.

Quran's Failed Challenges and Appeal to Ignorance

The aim of this article is to expose some ridiculous claims and failed challenges made by the Quran, and its constant appeal to human ignorance of science and worldly facts.

(I) Quran's self defeating challenge to find contradictions in it:

4:82 - Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found within it much contradiction.

The most interesting thing about this challenge is that one only needs to go back four verses to see how it fails miserably. Here we have back to back verses contradicting each other:

4:78 - Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allah "; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allah." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?

In the above verse, Allah criticizes people for accepting that good is from Allah while blaming others for evil. Allah affirms that all things (good and evil) are from himself. However in the very next verse Allah contradicts this, claiming that any evil that befalls a person is from the person himself.

4:79 - What comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allah as Witness.

Now let's go to another clear contradiction - whether intercession (the act of a person requesting forgiveness for the sins of another person to save the latter from hell fire) will be acceptable on the day of judgement.

The following three verses clearly say NO to ANY sort of intercession being acceptable on the judgement day:

2:48 - And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided.

2:123 - And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, and no compensation will be accepted from it, nor will any intercession benefit it, nor will they be aided.

6:51 - And warn by the Qur'an those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord - for them besides Him will be no protector and no intercessor - that they might become righteous.

The following three verses however say YES to the idea that intercession is acceptable - to those whom Allah permits:

20:109 - That Day, no intercession will benefit except [that of] one to whom the Most Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word.

34:23 - And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.

53:26 - And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.

(II) The challenge to bring a Surah (chapter) like one in the Quran:

2:23 to 2:24 - And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a Surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful. But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.

10:38 - Or do they say [about the Prophet], "He invented it?" Say, "Then bring forth a surah like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allah , if you should be truthful."

Notice that Allah challenges those who doubt the Quran to produce a chapter like one in the book, claiming that this challenge cannot be ever met. Let's put aside all the magnificent poetries, philosophical writings, and delightful novels and stories that people have produced over the ages from time immemorial. The sheer stupidity of this challenge can be shown by simply looking at certain chapters in the Quran. Let's take a look at one of them - chapter 111 of the Quran:

111:1 to 111:5 - May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained. He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame. And his wife [as well] - the carrier of firewood. Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber.

And that's it - the whole chapter. How beautiful! A whole chapter dedicated just to condemn some guy and his wife into hellfire and torture. Anyone can easily produce a much more valuable chapter than this. Nothing more needs to be added here.

(III) How the Quran tries to validate itself, appealing to human ignorance:

13:2 - It is Allah who erected the heavens without pillars that you [can] see; then He established Himself above the Throne and made subject the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. He arranges [each] matter; He details the signs that you may, of the meeting with your Lord, be certain.

Implies that the "heavens" or objects that we can see in the atmosphere or beyond like planets or stars (depending on how people translate the word heavens) have invisible pillars supporting them from Earth. For those who argue that it implies no pillars at all, then the verse conveys that the atmosphere or celestial objects just being there is something miraculous. Either way this verse directly appeals to human ignorance of the basics of how gravity works.

16:15 - And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided.

Mountains are in fact formed in the least stable parts of the Earth, and such regions are more prone to earthquakes or landslides. The claim of mountains holding the Earth firm is hence a laughable one. Also notice how Allah claims that rivers and roads were made so that humans would be guided. This is a strange enough claim with rivers, but I'll let you figure this out. Allah made paths or roads so that humans may be guided? Or... humans made paths or roads for their own guidance and travel.

16:79 - Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? None holds them up except Allah. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.

Back then, people really didn't know the basics of aerodynamics. Hence the idea that it is God who holds the birds up in the sky from falling down would seem credible and wonderful to those who hear it. This is projected as a sign for people to validate the Quran.

31:31 - Do you not see that ships sail through the sea by the favor of Allah that He may show you of His signs? Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

Again, claiming that ships sailing through the sea and not sinking is by the favor of Allah. We can see one of the repeated attempts at self-validation over here. Of course, the ignorance of basic hydrodynamics can make this feel wonderful.

(IV) Some dubious claims that any believer should think about:

15:26 - And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud.

Claims that humans were created from clay by shaping black mud.

16:8 - And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. 

Claims that horses, mules and donkeys were created by God for humans to ride and decoration or show.

CONCLUSION: I'm not stressing on proving any scientific or factual errors here, but rather the ridiculous nature of these claims made by the Quran. I invite anyone who believes in the divine nature of the Quran to ponder over these claims and the failed attempts at self-validation. It should be pretty clear to anyone who reads over this article with an unbiased mind that the Quran cannot possibly be from a divine being, if at all a divine being exists.

The Severe Hatred for Unbelievers

Islam inspires tremendous hatred towards unbelievers for Muslims who take its commands seriously. Let us have a look at the Quran and Sahih hadiths to see the extent of this hatred.

(I) Commands from the Quran:

48:29 - Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves.

60:4 - There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, "Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone"

5:51 - O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

9:23 - O ye who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for friends if they take pleasure in disbelief rather than faith. Whoso of you taketh them for friends, such are wrong-doers.

58:22 - Thou wilt not find folk who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His messenger, even though they be their fathers or their sons or their brethren or their clan.

8:55 - Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are those who have disbelieved, and they will not [ever] believe

98:6 - Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings.

9:73 - O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end.

9:123 - O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).

3:151 - We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve because they ascribe unto Allah partners, for which no warrant hath been revealed. Their habitation is the Fire, and hapless the abode of the wrong-doers.

22:19 to 22:22 - These are two adversaries who have disputed over their Lord. But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water. By which is melted that within their bellies and [their] skins. And for [striking] them are maces of iron. Every time they want to get out of Hellfire from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!"

4:56 - Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses - We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.

33:64 to 33:66 - Indeed, Allah has cursed the disbelievers and prepared for them a Blaze. Abiding therein forever, they will not find a protector or a helper. The Day their faces will be turned about in the Fire, they will say, "How we wish we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger."

(II) Disbelief is a bigger crime than murdering an unbeliever:

For a Muslim, leaving Islam is considered a crime punishable with death. To add insult to injury, murdering a non-Muslim will not ever warrant a death penalty.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6922 - "Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him."

Sunan ibn-Majah 2761 - “A Muslim should not be killed in retaliation for the murder of a disbeliever.”

(III) How Muhammad dealt with unbelievers:

Muhammad, the role model of mankind in Islam ordered the expulsion of every single non-Muslim from the Arabian peninsula.

Sahih Muslim 1767 - "I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim."

Sunan Abu Dawud 3029 - “Expel the polytheists from Arabia, reward deputations as I did”.

Muwatta Imam Malik 1618 - "Two deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian Peninsula."

He pursued an all-out warfare to get rid of unbelievers from his territory if they refused to accept Islam.

9:5 - Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Sahih al-Bukhari 25: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity."

CONCLUSION: The above is just a small (but significant) sample of the hateful commands and examples shown in Islam towards unbelievers. The Quran is littered with verses condemning unbelievers to tortures in hell and preaching hatred towards them. The authentic hadiths portray Muhammad as a bigoted warlord who was obsessed with spreading Islam by force.

Usage of Girls for Sex Slavery

The Quran makes it very clear it is permitted for men to have sex with "those whom your right hands possess" or in other words - women used as sex slaves, outside marriage. Slavery itself is unacceptable because slaves are obliged to obey their masters, being considered their "possessions". With this in mind, it is very clear that using slave women for sex effectively amounts to rape.

4:24 - Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess: Thus hath Allah ordained (Prohibitions) against you: Except for these, all others are lawful, provided ye seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust, seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers (at least) as prescribed; but if, after a dower is prescribed, agree Mutually (to vary it), there is no blame on you, and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.

23:5-6 - Who abstain from sex, except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame.

70:27-30 - And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord, indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - And those who guard their private parts, Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy.

The hadiths describe this clearly, referencing Muhammad's words:

1). Permission to use female captives for sex slavery, even if they are married:

Sunan Abu Dawud 11:2150 - Abu Said al-Khudri said: "The apostle of Allah sent a military expedition to Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought with them. They defeated them and took them captives. Some of the Companions of the apostle of Allah were reluctant to have intercourse with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Quranic verse, "And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess". That is to say, they are lawful for them when they complete their waiting period." [The Quran verse is 4:24]

2). Muhammad advises men to stop withdrawing their penis during the sexual act (coitus interruptus) and instead complete the sexual act:

Sahih Bukhari 5:59:459 - Narrated Ibn Muhairiz: "I entered the mosque and saw Abu Khudri and sat beside him and asked him about coitus interruptus. Abu said, "We went out with Allah's messenger for the Ghazwa (attack upon) Banu Mustaliq and we received captives from among the Arab captives and we desired women and celibacy became hard on us and we loved to do coitus interruptus. So when we intended to do coitus interruptus we said "How can we do coitus interruptus without asking Allah's messenger while he is present among us?" We asked (him) about it and he said "It is better for you not to do so, for if any soul (till the Day of Resurrection) is predestined to exist, it will exist."

3). Muhammad supports Ali who obtained a slave girl from "khumus" or war-booty: 

Sahih Bukhari 5:59:637 - Narrated Buraida: The prophet sent Ali to Khalid to bring the Khumus ([one fifth] of the booty) and I hated Ali, and Ali had taken a bath (after a sexual act with a slave girl from the Khumus). I said to Khalid, "Don't you see this (i.e. Ali)?" When we reached the prophet I mentioned that to him. He said, "O Buraida! Do you hate Ali?" I said, "Yes" He said, "Do you hate him, for he deserves more than that from the Khumus."

CONCLUSION: Needless to say this is absolutely unacceptable. One might wonder why would a religion like Islam which normally strictly forbids sex outside marriage allows for this despicable practice. But when we look at things closely, sex in Islam follows a pattern:

1). Men are allowed to marry upto four wives while women are allowed only one husband.

2). Men who lead normal lives are restrained by the strict rules prohibiting sex outside marriage.

3). Men who take part in battles can obtain any number female captives who can be used for sex.

4). Men who are martyred in battles are promised paradise and extreme sexual pleasure in afterlife.

What do we see here? Islam was a religion made for men which entices men to take part in battles and get martyred to get the ultimate sexual pleasures on earth and paradise. If we cannot see through this, can we see through anything? It is good that Muslims don't mostly follow all of this today, but that doesn't change the fact that when the Islamic fundamentalist groups do it, their actions are well-justified scripturally.

The Flat Earth Theory

The Quran clearly endorses the age old theory that Earth is flat.

15:19 - And the earth We spread out, and placed therein firm mountains, and caused to grow therein all kinds of things in due proportion.

20:53 - Who has made earth for you like a bed (spread out); and has opened roads (ways and paths etc.) for you therein; and has sent down water (rain) from the sky. And We have brought forth with it various kinds of vegetation.

43:10 - Who has made for you the earth like a bed, and has made for you roads therein, in order that you may find your way.

79:30 - And after that He spread the earth.

These and other verses repeatedly mention that Allah spread the Earth like a bed - which implies that the Earth is flat. The Muslim defense comes mainly through interpreting 79:30 to mean that Earth is shaped like an ostrich egg. The justification for this is that 79:30 uses the arabic word "dahaha" which is derived from the word "duhiya" (every word in arabic is derived from its root word). They argue that duhiya means ostrich egg.

There are two big problems with this argument. Firstly duhiya does not mean ostrich egg but the place in sand where an ostrich lays its egg. Secondly even if we accept that it can somehow mean ostrich egg, the fact is that Earth is not shaped like an ostrich egg at all. Earth is roughly an oblate spheroid - which is the shape we get if we DECREASE the curvature of a sphere at its poles. Ostrich egg is roughly a prolate spheroid - which is the shape we get if we INCREASE the curvature of a sphere at its poles. A prolate spheroid never looks like an oblate spheroid no matter which angle we view it from. This is basic 3D geometry. Read this to get a basic idea on oblate and prolate spheroids.

Additionally, there is one more interesting verse that confirms the flat earth theory in the Quran.

2:144 - Verily! We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad's SAW) face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, so turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid- al-Haram (at Makkah). And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction. Certainly, the people who were given the Scriptures (i.e. Jews and the Christians) know well that, that (your turning towards the direction of the Ka'bah at Makkah in prayers) is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.

The above verse asks Muslims to turn their faces in the direction of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, wherever they are during prayer time. Obviously since the Earth is curved, people living far away from Arabia will have their faces pointed at the outer space when they attempt to face Mecca (unless of course they are facing the ground). Again, this verse further substantiates the ignorance of the author of Quran of Earth being spherical. Ultimately, the Quran fails to explain the shape of Earth correctly no matter how you twist the verses.

Creation of Universe and Miracle Claims

It is often claimed by Islamic apologists that Quran explains the "creation" of Universe in a miraculously correct manner. Muslims often claim that Quran explains the Big Bang theory correctly despite being written over 1400 years ago. This is one of the most commonly cited "Scientific miracles of the Quran". However, a careful look at the verses of the Quran shows something entirely different. Apart from the fact that it doesn't explain the big bang, the Quran also appears to contradict it, and makes claims that go against basic scientific knowledge of the universe.

The following verse is the base of the Islamic claim:

21:30 - Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them? And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?

This is allegedly referred to as an explanation of the big bang. The fact is though that apart from claiming that Earth and "heavens" (it is claimed that the heavens refers to the rest of the universe) were together, there is nothing that remotely matches big bang here. The verse also inaccurately claims that the Earth was "separated" or "parted" from the heavens. This is a troublesome claim because the Earth didn't even exist until BILLIONS of years after the big bang. Imagine how grossly inaccurate the verse is. But of course the apologists don't give up just like that. They say that the verse doesn't really claim the Earth existed in its current form when the separation happened. This doesn't sound convincing at all and if that was a description of the big bang, then it is the worst possible description I have ever read. Let's look at another part of the Quran to see some more claims it makes about the universe.

41:9 - Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days and you set up rivals (in worship) with Him? That is the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

41:10 - He placed therein (i.e. the earth) firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days equal (i.e. all these four 'days' were equal in the length of time), for all those who ask (about its creation).

41:11 - Then He Istawa (rose over) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come, willingly."

41:12 - Then He completed and finished from their creation (as) seven heavens in two Days and He made in each heaven its affair. And We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as to guard (from the devils by using them as missiles against the devils). Such is the Decree of Him the All-Mighty, the All-Knower.

Look at the order of creation here. First Allah made the Earth, then he placed mountains and things for sustenance of life. Then he rose towards the heaven when it was nothing but a puff of smoke. Then he shaped them into seven heavens and made stars to decorate and "guard" the lowest heaven. These verses clearly claim that the Earth was formed before the stars, no matter how you look at it. This is in direct conflict with science. Science tells us that stars were formed billions of years before the formation of Earth.

CONCLUSION: The Quran makes huge scientific errors in its verses describing the universe and the claim of "scientific miracle" is an absolute joke. These are things that should become clear to anyone who has a basic understanding of what big bang and science tells us about the timeline of universe.

Religious Warfare and Promise of Paradise

The emphasis that Islam places on religious warfare, killing and getting killed in the battlefield to attain paradise makes it dangerous when these commands are taken seriously. What makes things worse is that the violent verses of the Quran are said to be revealed later on, compared to the relatively peaceful verses earlier on. The chapter 9 for example is the second last chapter of the Quran (and the last major chapter), and filled with violent commands.

9:5 - Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (9:5) - In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, (I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the Zakah.) This honorable Ayah (9:5) was called the Ayah of the Sword, about which Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, "It abrogated every agreement of peace between the Prophet and any idolator, every treaty, and every term.'' Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas commented: "No idolator had any more treaty or promise of safety ever since Surah Bara'ah was revealed. The four months, in addition to, all peace treaties conducted before Bara'ah was revealed and announced had ended by the tenth of the month of Rabi` Al-Akhir.''

Here is the hadith referenced by the Tafsirs:

Sahih al-Bukhari 25: Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Messenger said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah."

9:29 - Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

The verses that follow 9:29 explain the reason for fighting:

9:30 to 9:32 - The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah", and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded? They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah , and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him. They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.

The Tafsirs confirm the purpose of the Jizyah tax - humiliation, degradation and disgrace of the unbelievers.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (9:29) - Allah said, (until they pay the Jizyah), if they do not choose to embrace Islam, (with willing submission), in defeat and subservience, (and feel themselves subdued.), disgraced, humiliated and belittled. Therefore, Muslims are not allowed to honor the people of Dhimmah or elevate them above Muslims, for they are miserable, disgraced and humiliated. Muslim recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said, (Do not initiate the Salam to the Jews and Christians, and if you meet any of them in a road, force them to its narrowest alley.) This is why the Leader of the faithful `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, demanded his well-known conditions be met by the Christians, these conditions that ensured their continued humiliation, degradation and disgrace.

8:38 to 8:39 - Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place. And fight them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah. And if they cease - then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do.

2:192 to 2:193 - And if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors.

The meaning of the word "Fitnah" in context is disbelief and polytheism according to some translators and persecution according to some others. What is clear anyway, is that the polytheists are to be fought until two things are achieved: (1) Fitnah is no more (2) Religion is for Allah alone. Looking at the Tafsirs, it seems that the earliest scholars and companions understood Fitnah as "Shirk" meaning polytheism. It seems to be a never ending war that is not to be stopped till Islam triumphs over the whole world.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (2:193) - Allah then commanded fighting the disbelievers when He said: (...until there is no more Fitnah) meaning, Shirk. This is the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi`, Muqatil bin Hayyan, As-Suddi and Zayd bin Aslam. Allah's statement: (...and the religion (all and every kind of worship) is for Allah (Alone).) means, `So that the religion of Allah becomes dominant above all other religions.' It is reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said: "The Prophet was asked, `O Allah's Messenger! A man fights out of bravery, and another fights to show off, which of them fights in the cause of Allah'. The Prophet said: (I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight the people until they proclaim, `None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'. Whoever said it, then he will save his life and property from me, except for cases of the law, and their account will be with Allah.)

We have already seen the repeated calls to engage in warfare for the sake of Islam. Let's examine a few more Quran verses:

9:111 - Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.

4:74 - So let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And he who fights in the cause of Allah and is killed or achieves victory - We will bestow upon him a great reward.

4:95 - Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward.

2:216 - Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.

And the following is how Muslims are encouraged to act in the battlefield:

8:12 to 8:13 - [Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, "I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip." That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.

According to these verses:

1). The best way to attain paradise is to kill and get killed in warfare for the sake of Islam.

2). Even if you attain paradise by other means, it is those who die in religious warfare who get the best treatment by far in paradise.

3). Religious warfare is something Muslims should engage in even if they dislike it, because God has ordained it.

The puzzle is not complete without a look at what Islam offers the pious Muslims in paradise:

78:31 to 78:34 - Verily, for the Muttaqun, there will be a success (Paradise); Gardens and grapeyards; And young full-breasted (mature) maidens of equal age; And a full cup (of wine).

In other words, Islam offers Muslims in afterlife the pleasures that it forbids in the real life. It is a well-engineered ideology to control human minds and direct it to achieve religious supremacy.

Sun Revolves Around the Earth

The author of the Quran clearly seems unaware of the fact that Sun doesn't actually orbit the Earth, and the apparent orbit is an illusion caused by Earth's rotation.

36:37 to 36:40 - A token unto them is night. We strip it of the day, and lo! they are in darkness. And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise. And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shrivelled palm-leaf. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.

As you can see, Quran mentions the orbit or course of the Sun in context with the onset of night. It never mentions the fact that Earth rotates - which is the actual cause of night. This leaves us with only one logical explanation: The Sun orbits the Earth according to Quran. We can also note the weird motion of the sun which involves a resting place during night time. Muslims defend these verses arguing that Sun’s rotation about its own axis or its revolution around galaxy is being talked about here. However this is logically absurd as there is no need to mention the day and the night in context with Sun’s rotation or its revolution around galaxy. The statement: "It is not allowed for sun to overtake the moon" would be meaningful only if the orbits are in a similar path and is a clear proof for the scientific error.

But if that's not enough evidence for you, check out this Sahih Hadith for Muhammad's statement which again clearly proves that the motion of the Sun mentioned here is neither about Sun's rotation nor its revolution around galaxy - but about sunset and sunrise - which are related to the apparent orbit of sun around earth. The silly story about sun taking rest at night is seemingly supported here as well.

Sahih al-Bukhari 3199 - Narrated Abu Dharr: The Prophet asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates Itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. And that is the interpretation of the Statement of Allah (36.38): And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise.)