Shari'ah (Islamic Law): Difference between revisions

'''Islamic Laws''' are made up of ''Shari'ah'' ('‎شريعة Šarīʿah) and ''Islamic jurisprudence'' (فقه‎ [[Fiqh]]). Shari'ah is seen as sacred and constitutes the [[Qur'an]] and Muhammad's [[Sunnah]] (way), which is found in the [[Hadith]] and [[Sira]]. Islamic jurisprudence is a complimentary expansion of the former by Islamic jurists.

Shari'ah not only governs public life, but also many facets of ones personal life. It has laws covering Muslim interactions with non-Muslims, sexuality, food, rituals, leisure activities, dress, hygiene etc. This is due to Muhammad's pivotal role in both the practice of Islam and the formation of Islamic law. He is considered by all Muslims, in Islamic theology, as the [[Uswa Hasana|uswa hasana]] (perfect example). As both are based on the same source, they are inseparable from one another.

Many respected bodies have concluded that Shari'ah is incompatible with accepted modern standards of human rights.  

This is of no surprise when you consider that Islamic laws on human rights (and their laws in general) are based on the views and actions of a 7^th century warrior 'prophet.' While other systems of law have adapted and changed with the passage of time, Shari'ah has not. Some may assume that Islamic thought simply has not reached enlightenment yet, and like other religious bodies will eventually adapt to the modern world. This is a naive and ignorant assumption which fails to appreciate the dogma of the Islamic faith, and therefore fails to recognize the impossibility of the trend ever taking hold in Islam. Reform is not possible under Islamic law. To reform it, would be to destroy it and Islam along with it. Shari'ah (consisting of the Qur'an and Sunnah) are seen as Allah's unalterable holy laws. To attempt to change it would be considered blasphemous, as it constitutes [[Bid'ah]], something which was forbidden by Muhammad himself.<ref>"''A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.''" - {{Muslim|18|4266}}</ref><ref>"''Narrated Aisha: Allah's Apostle said, "If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected.''" - {{Bukhari|3|49|861}}</ref> What can be altered is Islamic jurisprudence, but as that is extracted from, and cannot contradict,<ref>Khalid Baig - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.albalagh.net/general/bidah.shtml|2=2011-11-01}} Sunnah and Bid'ah] - Albalagh, May 5, 2001</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.alahazrat.net/islam/concept-of-bidah-in-islam.php|2=2011-11-01}} Concept of Bidah in Islam] - Alahazrat International Islamic Web</ref> Shari'ah, the result will always be unacceptable to the modern world. Muslim scholars agree. The following is an excerpt taken from a fatwa in objection to the [http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ Universal Declaration on Human Rights].

Indeed. To add to the words by the respected scholar; we see in the United Kingdom, which only has a Muslim population of 2 to 3%,  there have already been demands (in October, 2009) to install full Shari'ah as its default law system,<ref>Martyn Brown - {{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/134080/Now-Muslims-demand-Give-us-full-Sharia-law |title=Now Muslims demand full Sharia law |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/134080/Now-Muslims-demand-Give-us-full-Sharia-law |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Daily Express, October 15, 2009</ref> and a recent 2009 survey by ''The Equalities and Human Rights Commission''<ref>Emma Wall - {{cite web |url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/66597/Ghetto-Britain/ |title=Ghetto Britain |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/66597/Ghetto-Britain/ |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Daily Star, January 21, 2009</ref> revealed that a massive 44% of Muslims in the UK want to create their own communities and remain segregated from British society. Also in Kenya, while Muslims currently constitute only 10% of the total population, in August 2009 they began pushing for Shari'ah law to become a part of the Kenyan Constitution.<ref>[http://www.persecution.org/suffering/ICCnews/newsdetail.php?newscode=10619&title=christians-oppose-musim-push-for-sharia-in-kenya Christians opose Muslim push for Sharia] - Persecution.org, August 7, 2009 [[dead link]]</ref> At the moment (like in the UK) there are Shari'ah courts, but they hold little power and only apply to Muslims. The Christian majority are concerned that if Muslims succeed, the persecution of non-Muslims in Kenya will only intensify.

===Spread of Sharia is Obligatory===

Intoxicants such as [[alcohol]], marijuana etc.<ref>"''....The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) replied: "Every intoxicant is khamr, and every khamr is haram."....“Khamr is what befogs the mind.” These are the words spoken by 'Umar ibn al-Khattab from the pulpit of the Prophet (PBUH),....Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opium, and the like are definitely included in the prohibited category of khamr. It is well known that the use of such drugs affects the sensory perceptions, making what is near seem distant and what is distant seem near; that their use produces illusions and hallucinations, so that the real seems to disappear and what is imaginary appears to be real; and that drug usage in general impairs the faculty of reasoning and decision-making....''" - [Alcohol and Intoxicants in Islam] - Muslim Bridges</ref> and recreational games of chance, such as board games<ref>"''....the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever plays games of dice has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger."....''" - {{Muwatta|52|2|6|}}, See also {{Muwatta|52|2|7|}}</ref> (including chess),<ref name="chess">"''....Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: He who played chess is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine....''" - {{Muslim|28|5612}}, See also {{Muwatta|52|2|7|}}</ref> card games and other forms of gambling are forbidden under Islamic law. Surprisingly, this was not always the case. Intoxicants (namely, alcohol) was permitted during the early phase of Islam. Muhammad even drank it and (rather strangely) performed ablution with it.<ref>"''....The messenger (Peace Be Upon him) asked:”Have you fermented it, even with one piece of ferment?” He (Gaber) said "yes" and he (Muhammad) drank....He answered that he had wine in a pot. Mohammed said: Pour me some to do ablution and he did....''" - [[Muhammad drank wine and performed ablution with it]]</ref> In the Qur'an, wine is even praised<ref>"''....and gardens of vines and fields sown with corn, and palm trees.... Behold, verily in these things there are signs for those who understand!....''" - {{Quran|13|4}}</ref> and is described as being an aspect of heaven.<ref>"''....[in the Garden which the righteous are promised are] rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear.....''" - {{Quran|47|15}}</ref> However, what we now know as the Qur'an was allegedly revealed over a period  of twenty-three years.<ref>Living Religions: An Encyclopaedia of the World's Faiths, Mary Pat Fisher, 1997, page 338, I.B. Tauris Publishers,</ref> As it stands, the Qur'an is arranged roughly from the longest surah (chapter) to the shortest. But if we read it in a chronological order, we can see the gradual shift in attitude towards intoxicants and such. Verses were 'revealed' as the situation in Muhammad's life demanded. Followers were attending prayer at the mosque while intoxicated, so {{Quran|4|43}} was revealed warning against such behavior. Later on we find {{Quran|2|219}}, which tells us that there is some good and some bad in intoxicants and games of chance. The hadith record that Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib, in a drunken state, mutilated two camels, chopping of their humps and taking out their livers.<ref>"''....the humps of my two she-camels cut off and their flanks cut open and some portion of their livers was taken out. When I saw that state of my two she-camels, I could not help weeping. I asked, "Who has done this?" The people replied, "Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib....''" - {{Bukhari|4|53|324}}</ref> When rebuked by Muhammad, he insulted him to his face, saying "Aren't you but the slaves of my father?"<ref>"''....Hamza looked at Allah's Apostle and then he raised his eyes, looking at his knees, then he raised up his eyes looking at his umbilicus, and again he raised up his eyes look in at his face. Hamza then said, "Aren't you but the slaves of my father?" Allah's Apostle realized that he was drunk, so Allah's Apostle retreated....''" - {{Bukhari|4|53|324}}</ref> Taking this into consideration, there is little wonder Muhammad then banned the consumption of intoxicants. Even going so far as to refer to alcohol (something which is found in heaven) and games of chance as "Satan's handwork" in {{cite quran|5|90|end=91|style=ref}}. Commenting on chess, he said "He who played chess is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine."<ref name="chess"></ref> After this revelation, Muhammad ordered beatings<ref>"''....Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) gave a beating with palm branches and shoes [for drinking wine],....''" - {{Muslim|17|4226}}</ref> and flogging<ref>"''....Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him). He gave him forty stripes with two lashes.....''" - {{Muslim|17|4226}}</ref> for anyone who broke these laws. Repeat offenders were ordered by him to be put to death.<ref>"''....The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If he is intoxicated, flog him; again if he is intoxicated, flog him; again if he is intoxicated, flog him if he does it again a fourth time, kill him....''" - {{Abudawud|38|4469}}</ref> Later, Umar ( the second 'rightly guided' Caliph) would order eighty stripes as the mildest punishment.<ref>"''....Thereupon Abd al-Rahman b. Auf said: My opinion is that you fix it as the mildest punishment. Then 'Umar inflicted eighty stripes.....''" - {{Muslim|17|4228}}</ref>  

In the modern-world, hash punishments for blasphemy (including death) are still applied in many Islamic nations including; Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. Accusations of blasphemy are becoming more and more frequent in the East, and almost always lead to mob-violence (sometimes by thousands of Muslims) against non-Muslim minorities. For example, this was seen in the August 2009 riots against Christians in Gojra, over an alleged desecration of a Qur'an. Many Christian men, women and even children were burnt alive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=15943&size=A |title=Eight Christians burned alive in Punjab |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=15943&size=A |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Asia News, August 2, 2009</ref> In addition to this, Bibles were burnt and more than a hundred churches and Christian-owned homes were looted and destroyed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=15941&size=A |title=Muslims burn 75 Christian homes and 2 churches in Punjab |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=15941&size=A |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Asia News, August 1, 2009</ref><ref>[http://jubileecampaign.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/50-more-homes-burned-in-gojra/ 50 More Homes Burned in Gojra] - Jubilee Campaign, August 5, 2009 [[dead link]]</ref> While there are [[Islam and Freedom of Speech#Practical_Application_in_Islamic_Countries|numerous examples]] of individuals being sentenced by Islamic courts to death or imprisonment for blasphemy, they are rarely publicised by Western media outlets. Of course, there are a few exceptions when the blasphemer in question happens to be a Westerner. We've all heard of the Jyllands-Posten Danish cartoons and the [[Islam and Freedom of Speech#The_Muhammad_Cartoons_Controversy|resulting uproar]]. For no apparent reason (other than deeply rooted Muslim prejudice) these cartoons, once again, sparked violence and murder against the minority Christians in the East.<ref>"[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=24&art_id=vn20060208033427794C349514 Murder of priest 'religious revenge']". Independent Online. 2006-02-08 [[dead link]]</ref> By the end of February 2006 more than 40 people had died<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/25734739/JOURNALISM-FOR-INTEGRATION-THE-MUHAMMAD-CARTOONS |title=JOURNALISM FOR INTEGRATION - THE MUHAMMAD CARTOONS |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/25734739/JOURNALISM-FOR-INTEGRATION-THE-MUHAMMAD-CARTOONS |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Encyclopedia Britannica</ref> as a result of the angry reaction from Muslims, and its continued republication has resulted in more than 200 deaths and hundreds of injuries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,547572,00.html |title=Yale Removes Cartoons of Prophet Muhammad From Forthcoming Book, Citing Fears of Violence |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,547572,00.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Fox News, September 08, 2009</ref> We also have the November 2007 "[[Islam and Freedom of Speech#The_Muhammad_Teddy_Bear_Blasphemy_Case|Muhammad Teddy bear]]" blasphemy case, which led to a protest in Khartoum, Sudan. A protest where ten thousand Muslims<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-498689/Teddy-teacher-Lawyer-expects-pardoned-visit-British-Muslim-peers.html |title=Teddy teacher: Lawyer expects her to be pardoned after visit from British Muslim peers |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-498689/Teddy-teacher-Lawyer-expects-pardoned-visit-British-Muslim-peers.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Mail Online, December 01, 2007</ref><ref name="teddy bear protest">{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/nov/30/uk.schoolsworldwide |title=Jailed teddy row teacher appeals for tolerance |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120801/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/nov/30/uk.schoolsworldwide |archivedate=2012-08-01 |accessdate=2012-08-01}} - Allegra Stratton - Guardian, November 30, 2007</ref> carrying swords, knives, and sticks, after Friday prayers, called for the execution<ref name="Calls in Sudan for Execution">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/world/africa/01sudan.html |title=Calls in Sudan for Execution of British Teacher |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/world/africa/01sudan.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - The New York Times, November 30, 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newser.com/story/12982/armed-mob-wants-british-teacher-dead.html |title=Armed Mob Wants British Teacher Dead |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.newser.com/story/12982/armed-mob-wants-british-teacher-dead.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Sam Gale Rosen - Newser, November 30, 2007</ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071130/ap_on_re_af/sudan_british_teacher Calls in Sudan for execution of Briton] - Mohamed Osman - Associated Press, November 30, 2007  [[dead link]]</ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071130/wl_uk_afp/sudanbritainreligiondiplomacydemo Khartoum demo calls for teacher to be shot] - Charles Onians - Agence France Press, 30 November 2007 [[dead link]]</ref> of a British teacher for allowing her students to name a teddy bear 'Muhammad.' And also the "[[Islam and Freedom of Speech#The_Satanic_Verses_Controversy|Satanic Verses]]" controversy, which led to thirty-eight deaths<ref>Dr. Koenraad Elst - {{cite web |url=http://koenraadelst.voiceofdharma.com/articles/misc/rushdie.html |title=Afterword: The Rushdie Affair's Legacy |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120710/http://koenraadelst.voiceofdharma.com/articles/misc/rushdie.html |archivedate=2012-07-10 |accessdate=2012-07-10}}</ref> and nationwide bombings of book-stores in the U.K<ref>Pipes, (1990) p.169-171</ref> and U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/09/arts/riverdale-press-to-be-honored.html |title=Riverdale Press To Be Honored |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/09/arts/riverdale-press-to-be-honored.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - New York Times - Tuesday, May 9, 1989</ref>

Homosexuality under Islamic law, is a punishable crime. How it is dealt with differs between the four mainline schools of Sunni jurisprudence today, but what they all agree upon is that homosexuality is worthy of a severe penalty. In the Hanafi school of thought, the homosexual is first punished through harsh beating, and if he/she repeats the act, the death penalty is to be applied. As for the Shafi`i school of thought, the homosexual receives the same punishment as adultery (if he/she is married) or fornication (if not married). This means, that if the homosexual is married, he/she is stoned to death, while if single, he/she is whipped 100 times. Hence, the Shafi`i compares the punishment applied in the case of homosexuality with that of adultery and fornication, while the Hanafi differentiates between the two acts because in homosexuality, anal sex [something that is prohibited, regardless of orientation] may also be involved, while in adultery [and fornication], the penis/vagina (which are reproductive parts) are involved. Some scholars [based on the Qur'an and various ahadith] hold the opinion that the homosexual should be thrown from a high building or stoned to death<ref>”So when Our punishment came upon the people of Lut, We turned the city upside down and showered them with stones of baked clay, one after another.{{Quran|11|82}}</ref> as a punishment for their 'crime', but other scholars maintain that they should be imprisoned until death. <ref>[http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503545556 IslamOnline.net - Death Fall as Punishment for Homosexuality] [[dead link]]</ref> Another view is that between two males, the active partner is to be lashed a hundred times if he is unmarried, and killed if he is married; whereas the passive partner is to be killed regardless of his marital status.<ref>See the chapter on "hudud" in Sharaya and Sharh Lum'a also al-Khu'i, Takmilah, p. 42-44.</ref> Within the context of Islamic thought, hostility towards homosexuality originated from the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Muhammad had stated, ''“If you find anyone doing as Lot's people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done.”''<ref>{{Abudawud|38|4447}}</ref> He even went so far as to condemn the “appearance” of homosexuality, when he cursed effeminate men and masculine women and ordered his followers to ''"Turn them out of your houses."''<ref>{{Bukhari|7|72|774}}</ref> This ruling on homosexuals was naturally adopted by his later successors. The father of Aisha and Muhammad’s first successor, Abu Bakr, had a homosexual burned at the stake. The fourth caliph, Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali, ordered homosexuals to be stoned, and even had one thrown from the minaret of a mosque.<ref>[http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=20145 Islam's Love-Hate Relationship with Homosexuality] - Serge Trifkovic - FrontPageMag, January 24, 2003 [[dead link]]</ref>  

Exact figures are hard to determine, due to the political turmoil in many of the Islamic states, but homosexual relationships, acts or behaviour are currently forbidden in approximately thirty-six Islamic countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Sharia areas of Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen, with punishments including anything from a fine up to life imprisonment. <ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_issues_and_Islam#Homosexuality_laws_in_Muslim_countries WikiPedia - Homosexuality laws in Muslim countries]</ref> <ref name="IL">{{cite web |url=http://www.iranian.com/Letters/1999/September/gay.html |title=The Iranian Letters - The New Dark Ages |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.iranian.com/Letters/1999/September/gay.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref> Worse still, ten of those countries out of the thirty-six impose the death penalty for homosexuals. They are Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi-Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and some states in Malaysia.<ref> [http://www.sodomylaws.org/world/malaysia/mynews033.htm Malaysian State Legislature Passes Bill on Strict Islamic Criminal Code] [[dead link]]</ref>  According to the Iranian gay and lesbian rights group Homan, the Iranian government alone has put to death an estimated 4,000 homosexuals since the Islamic revolution of 1979.<ref name="IL"/> In the secular nation of Turkey, a country which is often held-up as a poster-child for [[Moderate Islam|'moderate' Islam]], persecution and violence against homosexuals [along with [[Persecution of Non-Muslims|non-Muslim minorities]]] is on the rise, with eleven gays being killed within the first half of 2009 .<ref>[http://www.ansamed.info/en/news/[email protected] homosexuals in turkey: istanbul week for gay rights] [[dead link]]</ref>

In 2010, a Saudi woman who filed harassment claims in Saudi Arabia without being accompanied by a male relative was sentenced to 300 lashes and 18 months in jail.  Sawsan Salim lodged a series of complaints in 2007 at government offices and in court in the northern region of Qasim in which she alleged harassment by local officials, the New York-based rights group, Human Rights Watch, said. She was sentenced in January on charges of making “spurious complaints” against government officials and appearing “without a male guardian,” the group said in an e-mailed statement.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-03/saudi-woman-gets-300-lashes-jail-for-complaints-group-says.html Saudi Woman Gets 300 Lashes, Jail for Complaints, Group Says] - Henry Meyer - BusinessWeek, March 3, 2010 [[dead link]]</ref>

[[Music]], and some other forms of [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Pictures and Images|art]] (including Tattooing),<ref>"''....The Prophet forbade the acceptance of the price of a dog or blood, and also forbade the profession of tattooing, getting tattooed....''" - {{Bukhari|3|34|299}} See also {{Bukhari|3|34|440}}, {{Bukhari|7|72|829}}, and {{Bukhari|7|72|845}}</ref> under Islamic law are forbidden. Western music<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/05/1996913.htm?section=entertainment|title=Iran arrests 230 in raid on illegal rock concert|publisher=ABC News (Australia)|date=4 August 2007 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120717/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/05/1996913.htm?section=entertainment |archivedate=2012-07-17}}</ref> and movies In particular, have been declared as corruptive influences by Islamic clerics. The vast majority<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themuslimwoman.com/beware/MusicisHaram.htm |title=Music is Haram |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.themuslimwoman.com/beware/MusicisHaram.htm |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - The Muslim Women</ref> of Islamic scholars and all four schools of Islamic jurisprudence<ref name="Music 2"></ref> are in agreement that listening to, or playing musical instruments, and singing is forbidden. They form this opinion from both the Qur'an and Hadith. The only exception to this rule which can be extracted from the hadith is the permissibility of singing acapella accompanied by a duff (a hand-held one-sided drum) on special occasions (i.e. on weddings, Eid, during jihad etc.)<ref>"''....innocent singing, unaccompanied by musical instruments other than the daff(small hand drum) is permissible are specified in the Sunnah. These are: 1) Jihaad. During jihad and other struggles in the way of Allah, battle songs are of great moral and spiritual benefit to the fighters....''" - {{cite web |url=http://islamicarticles.wordpress.com/music/ |title=Music - BEATING THE DUFF |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://islamicarticles.wordpress.com/music/ |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Islamic Articles</ref> This form of song is referred to as a  '''Nasheed''' (نشيد), and the striking of the duff is permitted for women only<ref>"''....What is mustahabb (recommended) is to beat on the daff [simple hand drum] at weddings. This is mustahabb for women only, in order to announce the wedding and to distinguish it from fornication....As for men, it is not permissible for them to play any kind of musical instrument, whether at weddings or on any other occasion....''" - {{cite web |url=http://islamicarticles.wordpress.com/music/ |title=Music - BEATING THE DUFF |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://islamicarticles.wordpress.com/music/ |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Islamic Articles</ref> and must not be done in the presense of men.<ref>"''....According to the Sunnah, females can sing and beat the duff on the two ‘Eids (specific Muslim celebrations) and to announce a Muslim wedding amongst themselves, and their voices shouldn’t be raised loud enough or near enough to be heard by the men.''" - {{cite web |url=http://islamicarticles.wordpress.com/music/ |title=Music - BEATING THE DUFF |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://islamicarticles.wordpress.com/music/ |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Islamic Articles</ref> There are several verses within the Qur'an which have been understood by highly respected early scholars and historians of Islam to be condemning music and singing. For example; in verse 31:6, according to the Tafseer of Ibn Kathir, "idle talks" is a reference to "singing and musical instruments."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/5000/music |title=Ruling on music, singing and dancing - Fatwa No. 5000 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/5000/music |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Islam Q&A</ref> While the Qur'anic verses on music and its prohibition may appear vague to non-scholars, the hadith are a lot clearer in regards to this issue. Authentic sources record Muhammad as saying "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful..."<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/069.sbt.html#007.069.494v Sahih Bukhari 7:69:494v] [[dead link]]</ref> and upon hearing music, Abu Bakr proclaimed "Musical instrument of Satan!"<ref name="Music 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.islamicawakening.com/viewarticle.php?articleID=312 |title=Music |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.islamicawakening.com/viewarticle.php?articleID=312 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Shariffa Carlo - Islam Awakening</ref> The mere fact that Muhammad condemned music in the same breath as other non-Islamic activities, such as illegal sexual intercourse and drinking alcohol, spoke volumes and the companions (including the four Caliphs) understood.<ref>"''....The companions unanimously agreed upon the prohibition of music and song but allowed particular exceptions specified by the authentic sunnah....Also, the four Khalifas, the fuqahaa among the saahabah such as Ibin Abaas, Ibin Umar, and Jaabir bin Abdullah as well as the general body of saahabah.''" - Al Qurtubi's Tafseer, vol 14, pp51-52, and Al-Aaloosi's Tafseer, Roohul Ma'aani, vol. 21, pp. 66-68)</ref> As Abu Bakr rightly stated, unless performed under the various restrictions outlined in Muhammad's Sunnah, music in Islam is considered of the devil.  

During the Taliban rule of Afghanistan between 1996 and late 2001, all forms of music and Television (i.e. moving pictures) were banned. TV sets, radios, etc were confiscated and burnt, and anyone caught with cassettes in their possession were jailed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rawa.org/music.htm |title=The censorship of music in Afghanistan |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120630/http://www.rawa.org/music.htm |archivedate=2012-06-30 |accessdate=2012-06-30}} - RAWA, April 24, 2001</ref> In early 2001, they destroyed the historic 1,400 year old giant (175 and 120 feet tall) Buddha Statues which were located in the Bamyan Valley's.<ref>[http://www.hazara.net/hazara/geography/Buddha/buddha.html A Profile On Bamyan Civilization] - Ishaq Mohammadi [[dead link]]</ref> While their actions may be called 'extreme', they were only adhering to a somewhat accurate interpretation of Islamic law based on the Sunnah of their prophet. Just as Muhammad had done before them, when he conquered Mecca and destroyed the 360 pagan idols which were housed at the Ka'aba, the Taliban were only destroying Afghanistan's offensive (to Muslims) pre-Islamic 'pagan' heritage and art. If the Taliban's actions are denounced by apologists as 'un-Islamic', then they must also denounce Muhammad's. The truth of the matter is that their actions were very Islamic.

The effects can be easily seen in the Islamic world. A 2009 survey carried out by the ''United Nations Development Fund for Women'' found that nearly 90% of Afghan women suffer from domestic abuse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/23/afghanistan.women.abuse/index.html |title=Afghan women hiding for their lives |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/23/afghanistan.women.abuse/index.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - CNN</ref> According to the director of ''Women for Afghan Women'' (WAW) "Their mothers are beaten by their fathers. They're beaten by their fathers, by their brothers. It's a way of life." The Pakistan Medical Association found in a 2006 study, that 80% of Pakistani women reported being subjected to some kind of abuse within marriage, and the Progressive Women's Association (PWA) believe up to 4,000 Pakistani women are burnt each year by husbands or in-laws as 'punishment'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stopvaw.org/PAKISTAN_Domestic_violence_endemic_but_awareness_slowly_rising.html |title=PAKISTAN: Domestic violence endemic, but awareness slowly rising |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.stopvaw.org/PAKISTAN_Domestic_violence_endemic_but_awareness_slowly_rising.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - The Advocates for Human Rights</ref> And also in 2006, the Refugee Workers Association Woman’s Group (GIK-DER) found that up to 80% of Turkish women were victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment in 'moderate' Turkey.<ref>http://www.toplumpostasi.net/index.php/cat/9/news/9633/PageName/English [[dead link]]</ref>

Islamic law allows, encourages, and even demands<ref>"...it is permissible to lie if attaining the goal is permissible (N:i.e. when the purpose of lying is to circumvent someone who is preventing one from doing something permissible), and obligatory to lie if the goal is obligatory..." - Reliance of the Traveler, p. 746 - 8.2</ref> lying by its followers. Lying for Islam is generally referred to as ''Taqiyya'' (تقي). Many Muslims will claim that this is not an Islamic, but a  Shi'ite practice. Unfortunately, this is a lie. There are many verses in the Qur'an which condone lying and deception,<ref>"''A Muslim does not have to maintain his oath (faith) as long as what's in his heart is true''" - {{Quran|2|225}}</ref><ref>"''Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah.''" - {{Quran|3|28}}</ref><ref>"''Any one who, after accepting faith in Allah, utters Unbelief,- except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in Faith - but such as open their breast to Unbelief, on them is Wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a dreadful Penalty.''" - {{Quran|16|106}}</ref> and several classical and contemporary Sunni scholars have validated its place within main-stream Islam.<ref>"''(unless you indeed fear a danger from them) meaning, except those believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers. In this case, such believers are allowed to show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly. For instance, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Ad-Darda' said, "We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them. Al-Bukhari said that Al-Hasan said, "The Tuqyah is allowed until the Day of Resurre ction. Allah said,''" - [http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=3&tid=8052 The Prohibition of Supporting the Disbelievers] - Tafsir Ibn Kathir [[dead link]]</ref><ref>"''Let not the believers take the disbelievers as patrons, rather than, that is, instead of, the believers — for whoever does that, that is, [whoever] takes them as patrons, does not belong to, the religion of, God in anyway — unless you protect yourselves against them, as a safeguard (tuqātan, ‘as a safeguard’, is the verbal noun from taqiyyatan), that is to say, [unless] you fear something, in which case you may show patronage to them through words, but not in your hearts: this was before the hegemony of Islam and [the dispensation] applies to any individual residing in a land with no say in it.''" - {{cite web |url=http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=28&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 |title=Tafsir al-Jalalayn |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=28&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Tafsir Al-Suyuti</ref> In the inquisition miḥna during the Caliphate of al-Ma’mun, a number of Sunni scholars used taqiyya, attesting to the Qur’an as having been created despite believing the opposite.<ref>Virani, Shafique. The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation (New York: Oxford University Press), 2007, p.48.</ref> Given these facts, some will go on to attack the strict definition of Taqiyya and claim that it is “only allowed to save one's own life” or that its "restricted to its use in war". Again, these statements are false. In sahih (authentic) hadith, Muhammad admits to being a liar<ref>"''Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported: I came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) along with a group of Ash'arites requesting to give us a mount. He (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I cannot provide you with a mount, and there is nothing with me which I should give you as a ride. He (the narrator) said: We stayed there as long as Allah willed. Then there were brought to him (to the Holy Prophet) camels. He (the Holy Prophet) then ordered to give us three white humped camels, We started and said (or some of us said to the others): Allah will not bless us. We came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) begging him to provide us with riding camels. He swore that he could not provide us with a mount, but later on he provided us with that. They (some of the Prophet's Companions) came and informed him about this (rankling of theirs), whereupon he said: It was not I who provided you with a mount, but Allah has provided you with that. So far as I am concerned, by Allah, if He so wills, I would not swear, but if, later on, I would see better than it, I (would break the vow) and expiate it and do that which is better.''" - {{Muslim|15|4044}}</ref> and advises its acceptable for Muslims to do likewise,<ref>"''Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samura: The Prophet said, "O 'Abdur-Rahman! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking (for it), then you will be helped (by Allah) in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better.''" - {{Bukhari|9|89|260}}</ref> allowing his followers to use deception to silence critics.<ref>Muhammad permitted a Muslim to “say what he likes” i.e. to lie in order to kill Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf, a Jewish poet who wrote an anti-Muslim poem which offended him. This is a clear case of Lying endorsed by the prophet in order to achieve the objectives of Islam, therefore Muslims are permitted to lie and kill in defense of Muhammad, his character and Islam. {{Bukhari|4|52|271}}, and {{Bukhari|5|59|369}}</ref> One of the 99 "holy names" of the Islamic deity is ''Al-Makir'' (the Deceiver),<ref>Harun Yahya includes ''Al-Makir'' in [[Allah the Best Deceiver#Harun_Yahya|his listing]] of Allah's 99 names ([http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/names/names04.php#16 Names of Allah/ No. 16 (Al-Makir)]). He in this instance mistranslates it to mean "Planner", but more correctly translates the same word in the same verse elsewhere on his site ({{cite web |url=http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/school/school2.php |title=The School of Yusuf - Harun Yahya |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/school/school2.php |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}). [[:File:Makr Lane-Lexicon-page Vol 7-pg. 256.jpg|Lane's Lexicon for ''Makr'']] and the [[:File:Hans Wehr dictionary - page 917.jpg|Hans Wehr dictionary]] both confirm the meaning of the term to be "Deceiver".</ref> and in the Qur'an Allah refers to himself as the 'best deceiver',<ref>Qur'an 3:54: "''And they cheated/deceived and God cheated/deceived, and God (is) the best (of) the cheaters/deceivers.''" - [{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/3/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-08-25}} 3. Ali-Imran - The Family Of 'Imran (سورة آل عمران) - Revealed in Madinah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011</ref><ref>Qur'an 7:99: "''Did they secure God's scheme/deceit ? So no(one) trusts God's scheme/deceit except the nation the losers.''" - [{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/7/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-08-25}} 7. Al-A'raf - The Heights (سورة الأعراف) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011</ref><ref>Qur'an 8:30: "''And when those who disbelieved deceive/scheme at you to affix/affirm you, or kill you, or bring you out, and they scheme/deceive , and God deceives/schemes and God (is) best (of) the deceivers/schemers.''" - [{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/8/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-08-25}} 8. Al-Anfal - Spoils Of War (سورة الأنفال) - Revealed in Madinah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011</ref><ref>Qur'an 10:21: "''And if We made the people taste/experience mercy from after calamity/disastrous distress touched them, then for them (is) cheatery/deceit/schemes in Our verses/evidences . Say: "God (is) quicker/faster (in) cunning/scheming , that Our messengers write what you cheat/ deceive/scheme.''" - [{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/10/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-08-25}} 10. Yunus - Jonah (سورة يونس) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011</ref><ref>Qur'an 13:42: "''And those from before them had cheated/deceived/schemed, so to God (is) all the cheatery/deceit/scheme. He knows what every self gains/acquires , and the disbelievers will know to whom (is) the house's/home's end/turn (result).''" - [{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/13/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-08-25}} 13. Ar-Ra'd - The Thunder (سورة الرعد) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011</ref> and admits to deceiving Muslims<ref>"''When Allah showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many you would certainly have become weak-hearted and you would have disputed about the matter, but Allah saved (you); surely He is the Knower of what is in the breasts. And when He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes and He made you to appear little in their eyes, in order that Allah might bring about a matter which was to be done, and to Allah are all affairs returned.''" - {{cite quran|8|43|end=44|style=ref}}</ref> and creating Christianity through deception.<ref>"''And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, '''but it appeared to them so (like Isa)''' and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.''" - {{cite quran|4|157|end=158|style=ref}}</ref>  With all things considered, the simple fact is Islamic teachings as a whole breed dishonesty like no other religion and even elevates it to a holy status.

As has already been mentioned, Muhammad committed pedophilia, and even according to the most stringent clinical definition of pedophilia - the DSM-IV-TR, [[Aisha Age of Consummation|he was a pedophile]]. His actions fulfilled all three requirements needed for a positive diagnosis; he had sexual urges/relations towards/with a pre-pubescent child (generally age 13 years or younger) over a period of at least six months, he acted on those sexual urges, and he was over 16 years-old and at least 5 years older than the child involved. Muhammad was engaged to ''Aisha bint Abu Bakr'' when she was only six years of age and he was fifty-one, and consummated the relationship while she was still pre-pubescent, aged just 9 years old<ref>"''....the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old...." - {{Bukhari|7|62|64}}</ref> (at the very least, she remained pre-pubescent until aged fifteen).<ref>"''....Dr Muhsin Khan in the official text published in Islamic University - Al-Medina Al-Munauwara, Saudi Arabia says in two related ahadith that Aisha had not reached puberty when she was 15 years old....''" - [[Pedophilia Revisited]]</ref> Many people assume that to be diagnosed as a pedophile there needs to be a pattern of conduct, but (as is clear from the DSM criteria) this is not the case, and even if it were; Aisha's abuse is only known to us due to her being a wife to Muhammad. Who's to know how many children suffered at the hands of Muhammad's perversion? Others will claim that it was the 'cultural norm' and Aisha was 'offered' in marriage by her father. This is false. It was Muhammad who approached Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr originally protested.<ref>"''....The Prophet asked Abu Bakr for 'Aisha's hand in marriage. Abu Bakr said "But I am your brother."....''" - {{Bukhari|7|62|18}}</ref> However, even if she was offered to Muhammad, this does not alter the fact that as the 'uswa hasana' his actions are forever considered lawful and morally acceptable in Islam. Muhammad even justified his perversion with a 'divine' vision from Allah,<ref>"''....You were shown to me twice (in my dream) before I married you. I saw an angel carrying you in a silken piece of cloth, and I said to him, 'Uncover (her),' and behold, it was you. I said (to myself), 'If this is from Allah, then it must happen.....''" - {{Bukhari|9|87|140}}</ref> something which also destroys the apologists appeal to cultural relativism; according to Muhammad, the marriage was due to the will of Allah, and not the culture.

In the East, girls far below the age of puberty are forcibly married to older persons (sometimes in their 50s and later) for various personal gains by the girls' guardian. Pedophilic Islamic marriages are most prevalent in Pakistan and Afghanistan, followed by other countries in the middle east and Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=1631 |title=America Magazine: Child Marriage in Afghanistan and Pakistan, by Andrew Bushell; March 11, 2002 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=1631 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americansforunfpa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=630 |title=Americans For UNFPA: Virtual Slavery: The Practice of “Compensation Marriages” by Net Community of AfUNFPA; last retrieved Monday, 08 December 2008 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.americansforunfpa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=630 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref> This practice may also be prevalent to a lesser extent amongst other Muslim communities, and is worryingly on the rise among the growing Muslim populations in many Western countries, such as the United Kingdom (where, according to 2009 government figures in the UK, forced teen marriages have seen a ten-fold rise in just four years)<ref name="Ten-fold rise in forced marriages in just four years">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196955/Ten-fold-rise-forced-marriages-just-years.html |title=Ten-fold rise in forced marriages in just four years |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196955/Ten-fold-rise-forced-marriages-just-years.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - The Daily Mail July 2, 2009</ref> and the United States.<ref>Christine Vendel - [http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1557578.html?pageNum=2&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container Man charged with statutory rape in ‘marriage’ to 14-year-old girl] - The Kansas City Star, November 8, 2009 [[dead link]]</ref>

Under Islamic laws, slavery is explicitly permitted.<ref>"''....I married a virgin woman in her veil. When I entered upon her, I found her pregnant. (I mentioned this to the Prophet). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: She will get the dower, for you made her vagina lawful for you. The child will be your slave....''" - {{Abudawud|11|2126}}</ref> As Saudi Sheikh ''Saleh Al-Fawzan'', a member of the Senior Council of Clerics had said in 2003, those who argue that slavery is abolished are "ignorant, not scholars. They are merely writers. Whoever says such things is an infidel."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35518 |title=Saudi sheik: 'Slavery is a part of Islam' |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35518 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - WorldNetDaily, November 10, 2003</ref> Muhammad himself was a slaver. He not only owned many male<ref>{{cite web |url=http://answering-islam.org./BehindVeil/btv5.html |title=Slavery in Islam: Chapter 5 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://answering-islam.org./BehindVeil/btv5.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Answering Islam</ref><ref>"Zad al-Ma'ad" by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya Part 1, Pages 114-116</ref> and female<ref>"Zad al-Ma'ad" by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya Part 1, Pages 114-116</ref> slaves, but he also sold, captured, and had sex<ref>"''....Waqidi has informed us that Abu Bakr has narrated that the messenger of Allah (PBUH) had sexual intercourse with Mariyyah [his Coptic slave] in the house of Hafsah....''" - Tabaqat v. 8 p. 223 Publisher Entesharat-e Farhang va Andisheh Tehran 1382 solar h ( 2003) Translator Dr. Mohammad Mahdavi Damghan</ref> with his slaves. Even his wives owned slaves. Apologists will claim that Muhammad provided a system that would eventually lead to the abolition of slavery, but this is not true and nowhere does Islamic scripture support such a statement. Yes, Muhammad regulated it and allowed for the manumission of a slave, but this is by no means an obligation. It is clear that Muhammad held no animosity towards slavery,<ref>"''....Allah's Apostle sent someone to a woman telling her to "Order her slave, carpenter, to prepare a wooden pulpit for him to sit on."....''" - {{Bukhari|1|8|439}}</ref> and at times even discouraged the freeing of slaves.<ref>"''...."Do you know, O Allah's Apostle, that I [Maimuna bint Al-Harith] have manumitted my slave-girl?" He said, "Have you really?" She replied in the affirmative. He said, "You would have got more reward if you had given her (i.e. the slave-girl) to one of your maternal uncles.''" - {{Bukhari|3|47|765}}</ref> He even encouraged racism by exchanging two black slaves for one Arab.<ref>"''....Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Sell him to me. And he bought him for two black slaves,....''" - {{Muslim|10|3901}}</ref> As is clear, Muhammad's actions perpetuated the existence of this reprehensible trade by institutionalising it within Islam, This sanction of slavery has helped the Muslim world create one of the largest trans-continental slave trades in history. The Eastern Islamic slave trade is the longest yet least discussed of the two major trades. Much like the Crusades and the Islamic Conquests which prompted them, you only hear of the one and not the other. Many people are not even aware that the Arab slave trade ever existed, even though it began around 650 AD (pre-dating the European slave trade by over a thousand years) However, It was only officially abolished (due largely to pressure from the West,<ref>Brunschvig. [http://www.brill.nl/m_catalogue_sub6_id7560.htm 'Abd; Encyclopedia of Islam] [[dead link]]</ref> rather than their own conscience) in the 1960's and the slave trade still exists in the Islamic East. As of July 2009,<ref>Nick Meo - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/ghana/5805113/Half-a-million-African-slaves-are-at-the-heart-of-Mauritanias-presidential-election.html|2=2011-04-05}} Half a million African slaves are at the heart of Mauritania's presidential election] - Telegraph, July 12, 2009</ref> there were over half a million slaves in Mauritania alone. In Pakistan, the labor minister of Punjab had said in early 2009 that there are "millions of forced laborers in 'private prisons' across the country",<ref>E. Benjamin Skinner - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1932723,00.html|2=2011-04-08}} Pakistan's Forgotten Plight: Modern-Day Slavery] - TIME, October 27, 2009</ref> and the town of Hajja, Yemen, in 2010 is home to another 300 slaves.<ref>Jamal al-Jaberi - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hqh_clC3ngbax_X84fY4c7uGQihw|2=2011-04-05}} 'Slaves' in impoverished Yemen still dream of freedom] - AFP, July 20, 2010</ref> This (just like the history of Jihad) is an ongoing atrocity that many want to erase from our history books and have largely succeeded in doing so. Unlike the Europeans who were primarily interested in male slaves for use as  agricultural workers, the Islamic raiders interests (like Muhammad's before them) lay in female slaves to use for sexual exploitation as concubines, in harems. Also, putting aside the 1.25 million white Europeans Christians who were captured and sold into the Muslim slave trade between the 16th and 19th century,<ref>Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters:  White Slavery in the Mediterranean; the Barbary Coast and Italy 1500 - 1800, by Robert Davis, Palgrave MacMillan, 2004</ref> the number of innocent Africans who were taken (or died in the process of being taken) as slaves over the last fourteen centuries of Islamic slavery is estimated to be higher than 140 million.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles_ca/2004-4-TheScourgeofSlavery.htm|2=2011-03-20}} The Scourge of Slavery] - Christian Action, 2004 Vol 4</ref> This figure dwarfs the numbers that were taken at the hands of Europeans. And unlike in the West, male slaves (blacks in particular) were commonly castrated,<ref>Islam's Black Slaves, by Ronald Segal, Farrar, New York, 2001</ref> hence the lack of surviving descendants of black slaves in the Middle-East.

Fasting (صوم ''Sawm'') for thirty days every year during the Islamic month of Ramadan is the fourth Pillar of Islam, therefore it is compulsory (الفرض ''Fard''). Fasting lasts from dawn till dusk, and Muslims must abstain from all foods, drinks, sexual intercourse,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haqislam.org/fasting-in-quran/ |title=Fasting and Tafsir of Ma’ariful Qur’an |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120904/http://www.haqislam.org/fasting-in-quran/ |archivedate=2012-09-04 |accessdate=2012-09-04}} - Haq Islam</ref> and even smoking. Contrary to popular Muslim beliefs, Islamic fasting (unlike medical fasting) has numerous adverse effects that have been observed using scientific studies and news sources. These include; the increase in irritability<ref>Psychosomatic Medicine 2000 Mar-Apr 62:2 280-5 ([http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/reprint/62/2/280.pdf pdf])</ref><ref name="arabnews">{{cite web |url=http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=101889&d=30&m=9&y=2007 |title=Productivity and Self-Discipline in Ramadan |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=101889&d=30&m=9&y=2007 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref> and crimes,<ref>[http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3746 Ramadan saw rise in violent domestic crimes] - Daily News, Egypt [[dead link]]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/4-gold-shop-robbers-killed-2-caught-during-police-raids-across-the-city/326794 |title=4 Gold Shop Robbers Killed, 2 Caught During Police Raids Across the City |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/4-gold-shop-robbers-killed-2-caught-during-police-raids-across-the-city/326794 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indonesiamatters.com/762/ramadan-crime/ |title=Ramadan Crime |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.indonesiamatters.com/762/ramadan-crime/ |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref> effects on Health, such as the increased risk of diabetes,<ref>[http://www.ansamed.info/en/news/[email protected] Ramadan: Productivity of Arab Businesses Drops by 78%] [[dead link]]</ref> dehydration,<ref>El-Hazmi, Al-Faleh, & Al-Mofleh, 1987; Kayikcioglu et al., 1999; Ramadan et al., 1999; Schmahl & Metzler, 1991; Sweileh et al., 1992</ref> tachycardia,<ref name="polish"/> severe headaches,<ref name="polish"/> dizziness,<ref name="polish"/> nausea,<ref name="polish"/> vomiting<ref name="polish"/> and circulatory collapse.<ref name="polish">Polish Journal of Occupational Medince 1991 4:3 219-28</ref> It can also cause problems with sleep,<ref>Ahmed BAHAMMAM/Sleep Disorders Center, Respiratory Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia</ref> daytime drowsiness<ref>Therapie 54:567-72</ref> and alertness.<ref>Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 2000 44:101-7</ref> Naturally, all of these factors affect the economy in Muslim majority countries during Ramadan. For example; the productivity of Arab businesses in this period drops by a staggering seventy-eight percent.<ref>"''....Survey carried out by Cairòs Institute of Social Sciences of the Arab World which was printed by 'Leaders', a Tunisian website....''" - (ANSAmed)</ref> Also, as the length of a fast is governed by the rising and the setting of the sun, this can cause a huge problem for those who live close to the North or South poles. The closer we get to the poles, the longer our days or nights become. They can eventually extend for up to several months each, making the fourth Pillar of Islam impossible to practice without starving yourself to death. Islamic scholars have said that even if a fast lasts for up to twenty hour a day, this is something a Muslim must accept.<ref>"''Indeed, the fasts may be twenty hours long, but this is something one will have to adhere to.''" [http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=1947&CATE=6Fasting in extreme latitudes] - Sunnipath.com Q&A [[dead link]]</ref> Obviously Muhammad was unaware of the poles. Persecution of non-Muslims also rises during the month of Ramadan, with people of other faiths often being attacked in Muslim majority countries for eating or drinking in public. August 2009, In Pakistan, two Christians were arrested and jailed for "desecrating Ramadan" by eating during daylight hours inside a Hotel.<ref>[http://www.persecution.org/suffering/newssummpopup.php?newscode=10769&PHPSESSID=2e29113718bec785f2919ac3592116dc Christians Arrested for Eating During Muslim Holiday] - ICC [[dead link]]</ref>  

Crucifixion (صلبه ''Salb'') typically refers to the inhumane and painful method of execution and/or torture by tying and/or nailing someone to a cross, stake or tree.  It can also refer to the method of public display of a body after execution, such as the incident in Saudi Arabia when a convicted killer was beheaded and his body was "crucified."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/30/saudi.arabia.execution/index.html |title=Convicted killer beheaded, put on display in Saudi Arabia - CNN - May 30, 2009 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/30/saudi.arabia.execution/index.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref>  Despite the fact that ''Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, abolished crucifixion in the Roman Empire in ad 337, out of veneration for [[Isa|Jesus Christ]], the most famous victim of crucifixion'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/144583/crucifixion |title="crucifixion" - Encyclopædia Britannica Online - 2009 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120729/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/144583/crucifixion |archivedate=2012-07-29 |accessdate=2012-07-29}}</ref> Muhammad perpetuated this barbaric practice by declaring it a prescribed punishment in the Qur'an. Crucifixion as a method of torture and execution is reportedly still being used in Sudan and Iraq, both Islamic countries,<ref>[http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2004/s04110038.htm Sudanese slave 'crucified' by his master not unusual in central African nation - Michael Ireland (Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service) - November 9, 2004] <BR>[http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/articles/a0000648.shtml 7 Christians mutilated & Crucified During a Series of Raids on Villages - Simon Caldwell (The Catholic Herald) - 25 September 2009] [[dead link]]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56726 |title=Christians in Iraq, including converts from Islam and people involved in mixed-faith marriages, are being crucified by Muslim terrorists, according to a Dutch member of Parliament studying the war-torn country (WorldNetDaily.com) July 17, 2007 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56726 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref> and it is still a part of Iran's criminal code.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1108208 |title="Case Study in Iranian Criminal System" - Ehsan Zar Rokh, University of Tehran - 2008 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1108208 |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}}</ref>  Adding itself to the ranks of shariah-practicing leaderships,  Hamas, the Islamic governing body of Gaza, reinstated the penalty of crucifixion in 2008.<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/Hamas_bombs_Gaza_Israel/2009/01/09/169756.html Hamas Reinstates Crucifixions of Christians - Nicole Jansezian - January 9, 2009] [[dead link]]</ref>

*[[Muslim Statistics (Shari'ah)]]