ISLAM AND TERRORISM [Paperback]

Dr. Gabriel, Ph.D. was a professor, one of the youngest hired at the prominent Al-Azhar University based in Cairo, Egypt. He began lecturing after he finished his master's degree and working to finish his doctorate in Islamic culture and history. Al-Azhar has operated continuously for more than one thousand years and is seen as the most respected and authoritative Islamic academy throughout the entire world.

Written in the aftermath of September 11th 2001, this book gives a unique insight into a religion that was, up until then to many westerns at least, a religion deeply enshrouded in mystery. What makes this book so impressive and important is the fact that it is written by a former Muslim and discusses frankly the central issue and greatest threat that is effecting us today - Islam. Not only that, but a highly praised and well respected Muslim. Also, it is written in such a way that is easy to follow. I personally read it from cover to cover in one day due to this fact but also because it is thoroughly gripping and brutally honest. Gabriel pulls no punches with this publication and focuses extensively above all else on honestly and truth from an unbiased insiders perspective.

Gabriel writes from his heart and soul about a subject of which he is fundamentally qualified, with over thirty years of first hand experience and knowledge. As he states himself: "I didn't just do research about Islam; I lived it for thirty-four years!"

Firstly, let me tell you a little bit more about the author himself: when Gabriel was only five years of age and growing up in Egypt, his devout Muslim family helped him to study and start memorising the Qur'an. By the age of twelve he could quote it in its entirety. In his youth Gabriel attended only Islamic schools, from elementary school right through to high school, rather than attending the general public schools of Egypt. In later years he worked as a travelling lecturer for, and hired by, the Al-Azhar University. He also served as an Imam, or spiritual leader, of a mosque in the suburbs of Cairo, Egypt.

As I have pointed out, Gabriel was a prestigious member of the upper echelons of the Ummah, or Islamic Muslim community, and had a deep understanding of the Islamic faith from an insiders point of view, just as his academic credentials below show (on top of the ones already pointed out):

- Bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in Islamic history and culture from Al-Azhar University.

- Graduating second in his class of six thousand students for his bachelor's degree. This ranking was based on a test to verify he had memorised the entire Qur'an and an oral exam in his subject area.

- Travelling lecturer. Al-Azhar University sent him to countries around the Middle East as a lecturer in Islamic history. (taken from another book by Gabriel)

However, after earning his Ph.D in Islamic history he began to question his spirituality and devotion to Allah, finding that Allah, nor Muhammad through the Koran and Hadith, spoke to his inner soul. Thus he found Christianity and completed his Discipleship Training School with Youth with a Mission in Cape Town, South Africa. The University he lectured at found out about his reservations in Islam and fired him immediately. Rumours spread like wild fire and thus sparked the Egyptian secret police authorities to target him as a traitor and pariah and torture him to near death. Few people realise that it is a crime punishable by death to even question any aspect Islam by a Muslim and today Gabriel still has both the physical and emotional scars of his terrible ordeal. By rejecting Islam Gabriel lost contact with his family, being shunned by many of them, and had two attempts on his life by religiously political radicals. He fled Egypt for his life to South Africa and then onto the United States.

After reading this book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. In light of what you know from reading about `fanatic' Muslims in newspapers or watching news stories of them from the mainstream media news sources, you will learn that it is not a question of whether these Muslims are fanatic Islamic radicals or extreme religious fundamentalists; no, these people, these Islamists, are just practicing true, honest Islam, and not the watered down Westernised form of it to convert and deceive us.

The book `Islam and Terrorism' (ISBN: 0884198847) starts off with a personal testimony by Gabriel on his experience, knowledge and religious dedication to Islam and his subsequent questioning and departure of a faith that he held in such high regard; a departure that very nearly cost him his life. This testimony in itself is a terrifying tale that will grip you from beginning to end. But, it must be noted that the book goes into great lengths to point out that Muslims are not the main culprits behind terrorism but that it is in fact Islam itself. Gabriel points out that "Islam is behind terrorism, not Muslims. Muslims are victims. Even the nineteen young people who hijacked the planes and were killed in the crashes-they we're victims. The criminal is Islam." It is all in the Koran, you just need to read it for yourself, but this book will be a welcome springboard to opening your eyes to the hidden seed of hate within the Islamic faith of Islam and it's holy book, the Qur'an. A prime example is Surah (Chapter) 9, Ayat (Verse) 123 which states in no uncertain terms, "O you who believe, fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them see how harsh you can be." and reveals the following of `naskh' which is a "system of Quranic interpretation where new verses override old verses" exposing the myths from the politically correct brigade, when the mention them at all (which is extremily rare) of the `loving' verses over the `not so loving ones'.

The books totality interprets every aspect of Islam in an easy to follow fashion and treats us to the history of Islam, its core beliefs and the inherent justification for terrorism within it's teachings from ancient times, looking at the example of Muhammad to the modern day `extremists' taking the Qur'an at it's literal word just as every good Muslim should do.

Although not a Christian, I found it very interesting to learn the false image of Christianity that is presented to Muslims.

Also discussed are the ways in which the mainstream media deceivingly misinterpret Islam as a "peace loving religion" by informing the reader that Islam doesn't actually mean `peace' at all but in fact means `submission' to exposing the real agenda behind Islam, the agenda of global domination. It exposes the three stages in which Islamists carry out `jihad' all over the world and the real meaning behind that word which is so confused throughout the unenlightened Western world today and the justifiable use of lying to carry this out.

An interesting topic covered are the rights of those - both men, women, believers and non-believers, living under Islamic rule to how mosques are increasingly being used to spread hate.

All this, again bearing in mind, that it is not written from a view point of someone from the outside looking in with a potentially biased approach, but from one so deeply and intricately involved within the faith itself. Indeed, at this point I feel it necessary to quote Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's `Sherlock Holmes' when he stated: "To let the brain work without sufficient material is like racing an engine. It racks itself to pieces." And I recommend this book so highly because it quite simply gives you all the facts deemed necessary to make an informed and educated decision. It hides no truth, regardless of whom it may offend. For that reason it is a truly valuable asset.

I think that it is safe to say that you will by no means be disappointed with this book. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that you will encourage others to read it by buying the book for themselves and lending your copy out to friends and family. The knowledge and understanding that you will gain from reading this book of `true' Islam is well worth the small amount of your hard earned cash that you will fork out to get a copy. It is, quite simply, a rip roaring rollercoaster of a read, so don't delay, buy today and learn the truth about the hidden seed of hate within the worlds second largest religion and help prevent the Islamification of Britain!

Ellison J. Peterson

For more information on Dr. Mark A. Gabriel, Ph.D. and his other books please visit his website at www.markagabriel.com

Also, a DVD interview with Dr. Gabriel is available from the Lamb & Lion Ministries by emailing them at lamblion@lamblion.com

Written in the wake of the September 11th attacks, the book outlines how as a "Christian" society, we in the West have an extremely limited comprehension of what Muslims actually believe and what, if any, agenda the religion of Islam has.

At the outset, the contents of the book go to great lengths to point out that "Islam is behind terrorism" and not "Muslims". Readers being encouraged to love individual Muslims but to be aware of what Islam teaches, pointing out that many Muslims themselves are not aware of all that the Islamic faith includes.

Muslims being described here as falling into any one of three groups; secular, traditional and fundamental Muslims. Secular Muslims only believing in what they term the "nice" parts of Islam and who reject jihad. Traditional Muslims who have a stumbling block with the concept of Jihad and the latter group of fundamentalists who actually perpetrate the terrorism. More detail of this is included as the book progresses.

The book begins with an autobiography detailing the writer's experience and knowledge of Islam and how he came to question his Islamic faith. This is followed by an account of his expulsion from University, his arrest and detention by the Egyptian secret police and his treatment/interrogation. The story extends to his conversion to Christianity and the main body of the book which deals with Islam and associated terrorism.

The fundamentals of the Islamic faith are examined initially, with a description of Islam as being a "religion based on work" with "entrance to paradise" having to be earned. Muslims being described as having no "assurance of salvation". The only way of guaranteeing "entrance to paradise" being to die in jihad. What the book describes as the "perfect motive for suicide bombers". Something which is describing as encouraging Muslims to even leave their own nations to fight jihad in other countries.

This study illustrates that the focus of jihad is to "overcome" people who do not accept Islam (page 33). A quotation from Surah 4;89 of the Noble Quran stating, "Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back, take them and kill them wherever you find them".

Many, many other quotations are taken from the Islamic holy books to substantiate this issue. Many readers may be disturbed by what they read. Indeed, the book proceeds to describe (with suitable references) that the ultimate goal of Islam is to establish Islamic authority over the entire World. The book also revealing what it describes as historical facts about the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his teachings and practices, that few Westerners have ever encountered.

The book declares that Islam has been veiled in a vast sea of misinformation since September 11th , with many political and media elements falsely presenting Islam as a "religion of peace". Muslim spokespersons publicly proclaiming such an image are described as distorting the truth to make it palatable to Western ears and also with a view to attracting possible converts. Many Islamic leaders being cited here as each doing their part for jihad by deceiving the Western populace through the media, achieving the desired effect upon public opinion.

We are also presented with Muhammad's own example of jihad and how others were encouraged to follow him. The ultimate goal of Islam is also examined. Mawlana Abul Ala Mawdudi, the founder of Pakistan's fundamentalist Islamic movement is quoted as saying that Islam is not like the other religions in the World and Muslim nations not like other nations, because Muslim nations have a command from Allah to "rule the entire World and to be over every nation in the World". (Page 81).

The book takes the reader on what it describes as a guided tour through 1,200 years of Islamic history where examples are illustrated that "justify" the killing of even women and children. The evolution of Islamic terrorism is also studied and how it has been brought to the West. The book describing how Islamic terrorism is no longer so intent upon targeting diplomatic figures or individuals, as random attacks upon the general public are more effective, as they terrorize the majority and spread fear in a larger way. Terrorism shown to have become a method of "political debate & dialogue". The depth of the Islamic hatred of Israel, the US, the West, Christianity and Judaism all being mentioned.

The contents of this work also show that Muslims believe that "war means deception" and that lying is justified and indeed an important element of war in Islam. How this crucially affects countries dealing with Islamic nations in relation to so called "peace agreements" is also studied. The book describes how difficult it is for the Western public to accept and understand such a mind-set.

I would respectfully recommend another book by Mark Gabriel entitled "Islam and the Jews; The Unfinished Battle". Thank you.