All Comments (182)

According to Rania, Islam teaches that it “good to give, to empathize, to be patient, to be compassionate.” These are all condescending dispositions. Islam is a supremacist ideology that seeks domination over others. To add “charity, empathy, patience, and compassion” to the plight of one’s subjects is a sorry consolation prize.

We in the liberty-loving West believe we are sovereign individuals with rights –- i.e. we have just claims by our very nature as human beings –- to own our lives to live as we choose.

Self-reliance, not charity is a primary virtue. Charity is secondary but we prefer to stand on our own feet.

Self-assertion and achievement, not empathy for the suffering (at the hands of our oppressor) is a primary virtue. Empathy is secondary due to the exceptional.

Freedom to act and associate with others is a primary value; not being patient for permission from the ruling authorities or God.

And compassion is proper but suffering isn’t the norm in a free society. It’s a norm under Islamic rule.

It is clear that this “Queen” has a few crumbs for her subjects. Too bad she does give them liberty. Then they wouldn’t need charity, empathy, permission, and compassion for their suffering. Islam is clearly a poor-man’s religion. Rania shows how Islam is incompatible with Western individualism, universal rights, and prosperity.

What a lovely and thoughtful commentary! You may advise westerners who have little or no knowledge of Islam to obtain a good translation of the Holy Qur'an and a good commentary, as an aid to understanding the Islamic world. People are surprised to learn that the word "sword" does not appear in the Holy Qur'an, and that "Jihad" does not have the meaning traditionally and erroneously attributed to it by the western press. In any event we live in a small world, and simply cannot afford to allow ignorance and hatred to cloud our appreciation of other peoples, of their religion, history, and culture. There simply is no alternative to finding the good in everyone, and finding a way to peacefully coexist on our small planet. If I may: Peace be upon you, upon your beautiful country, and your co-religionists throughout the world.

All this “feel-good” fluff is intended to confuse ignorant non-Muslims.

Yes, the Koran has both tolerant and vicious passages. But the tolerant passages were from the Mecca revelations when Mohammad was out of power and seeking acceptance. When he rose to power in Medina he plundered caravans, slaughtered those who would refuse to summit, and started Islam on imperial conquests.

How does a Muslim tell which part to follow? Besides the Koran, there is the Sunnah (way of Mohammad as exemplified and recorded outside the Koran) and the Sira (biography of Mohammad). The Sunnah (or Hadith) essentially tells Muslims that Mohammad’s tyrannical ways as a leader in Medina supersedes his early Meccan teachings. The doctrine of abrogation, rigorously determines which Sura in the Koran has precedence over others.

Sunni Muslims, the vast majority, are those that follow the Sunnah in addition to the Koran. Of course, this is obscured by the four schools of jurisprudence, the various versions of the Hadith (accepted sayings and deeds) and the relation of these texts to each other. The Koran (which is memorized and recited) requires further documents if it isn’t just self-contradictory gibberish. Historically, the Hadith, Sunnah, and Sira, have all played a role. Those who try to cherry pick what they like in the Koran are getting a false picture of Islam and its history.

Why is it that Jordan does not allow Jews to live there? Why is it that Jordan engaged in the Black September massacre of PLO folks and drove them out of Jordan which is mostly palestinian anyways? These Islamist love putting a pretty face on death and torture.

I went to Jordan in early 2000. Several weeks before I arrived, a man had killed his sister for an alleged romance that disgraced Islam, Allah, and the family. She was in her early 20's.

This man was paraded through the streets, on people's shoulders, as a true hero of Islam.

With all due respect to Queen Rania who in her rare air of privilege can walk comfortably in Jordan, Paris, and Rodeo Drive, I believe she paints a untrue portrait of Islam.

I'm sick of seeing all this Islam crap in the paper every day. There is no amount of propaganda that will change my opinion of these idiots as a bunch of violent criminals - all 3 billion (or whatever) of them.

I went to Jordan in early 2000. Several weeks before I arrived, a man had killed his sister for an alleged romance that disgraced Islam, Allah, and the family. She was in her early 20's.

This man was paraded through the streets, on people's shoulders, as a true hero of Islam.

With all due respect to Queen Rania who in her rare air of privilege can walk comfortably in Jordan, Paris, and Rodeo Drive, I believe she paints a untrue portrait of Islam.

This is a news report from Jordan where a raped woman must hide from her Muslim family in jail. If released they would murder her and claim it was an Honor killing. The fact she was raped and gave birth to an unwanted child gives Muslim family's special treatment for this type of barbaric behavior. Many Muslim cultures subscribe to this punishment for women because it is written in the Koran as law:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rTRiLgG3VU

With all due respect, Mr. Lee, your little anecdote about Jordan represents nothing of Islam. Rather, it is clearly representative of Jordan culture and value which have very little basis in Islam (killing of "dishonorable" women was clearly documented well before Prophet Muhammad's time)

Those of you who disparage Islam as a religion incompatible with Western ideals clearly don't understand Christianity either.

Faith can guide an individual morally, or an individual can subscribe to a literal, fundamentalist reading of Holy Verse. Both scenarios exist among Muslims, and both certainly exist among Christians.

Mr. Paul,

The fact that you conveniently doubled the amount of Muslims in the world, it just goes to show how people are willing to exagerrate just to get their point across and put other people down.

Would it be impolite to suggest that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a benevolent dictatorship in hock to the American neocon empire of George W. Bush, a pliant satellite in his "war on terror" and clandestine co-conspirator in Bush's disastrous occupation of Iraq? This is not Queen Rania's fault but rather the circumstances that overwhelm the power of any Jordanian to alter right now.

Perhaps while the Queen crouches on her posh prayer mat facing Mecca, she will give a few passing thoughts to reality -- that the warm, natural, human qualities she ascribes to Islam are those valued by any normal human community, whether pagan, Christian, Buddhist, agnostic or atheist. They are universal human values, not particularly Muslim.

In contrast to the Queen's lofty sentiments are the bloody, barbaric fevers that organized religions -- be they pagan, Muslim, Christian, Jews or Hindu -- seem to chronically spark in the minds of poor, insecure, disoriented, fanaticism-inclined peoples and violent demagogues who trade in this sort of thing.

By all means, let's have more of the Queen's "intercultural exchanges" and less of the "clash of civilizations" that organized religions seem to exacerbate. But let's not confuse banal sentimentality with the realism our predicament requires.

You are wrong Jason Poppas.

Empathy, compassion and charity are not primary virtues? Who taught you that?

It was certainly not the prophet Mohammad (pbuh) whose single miracle of the Quran begins "In the name of God, the merciful and the compassionate" Not he whose word for hello is itself a call for peace.

Was it Jesus? No, it cannot be Jesus, not he who relied on his friends to build his church; a church which had not become self-reliant at the time of his death. Not the Jesus who preached compassion and justice above all, healed the lepers, and counseled the rich, self-reliant man to give all his worth to charity.

Was it the Buddha? No, for the Buddha cared only for compassion and justice even to the animals. Of the Great Boddhisatvas the most revered is His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the reincarnated Boddhisatva of compassion.

Or was it Moses? No, for while Moses believed in Self-Reliance still was he more faithful to the forgiving and generous spirit of the lord.

So my friend, who was it that taught you this supreme virtue? And why do they teach it so differently from what every other holy man has said?

I thought Queen Rania's article was a good reminder that Muslims are not a homogenous group, but a faith comprised of millions of individual human beings. Yes, some Muslims commit horrible crimes, sometimes in the name of their religion, but so do some Christians, some Jews; even athiests have killed in the name of an ideology. Islam, like most other religions and ideologies, is subject to perversion and distortion and manipulation and extremism, but it is also subject to growth and progress. Some Muslims, and some Christians, and some Jews, and some atheists, are ordinary people trying to live good lives, to grow in virtue and strength, to care for their families and friends; who all want much the same things of life: peace, security, and love. People of good hearts must work together to foster understanding and respect, and improve the lives of those around them with humility, kindness and compassion. The alternative is to let hate, prejudice, and extremism fester unchecked.

In the liturgy of the Catholic Mass, we also say, "Peace be with you." I thank Queen Rania for reminding us that people of all faiths have much in common: shared values, but also, a shared humanity.

In that cas of good Islam, Why do I see all the killing of innocent people by the name of islam. Where are this people who talks about good islam all the time but no where to be found during sucide attacks commited by Muslims?

If you want to talk about good Islam, please stand up and refuce to accept all the bad deed commited by so called fanatics.

MP

Very beautiful statement. Thank you.

Mad.dam, you said, "All faith, after all, is based on an intensely personal, private relationship with God."

Mad.dam, all roads do indeed lead to God but all but one ends at hells door. Yours lead to that door. God's ONLY Son said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. NONE come to the Father but through Me."

Mad.dam, Jesus was telling the truth which makes you a liar.

Call them what you will, but as long as they teach hate in their schools, things will only get worse.

Another Muslim dictator posts another set of lies. Jordan's King can overrule any law and dismiss the legislature at his him (not just "can", he's done so multiple times).

Meanwhie, the queen and the poster Jack tend to forget a few things about the Koran:
1) It never mentions Jerusalem, but does say this land is the land of the Jew.
2) It does, however, brag about the slaughter of Jews and other infidels when Medina was conquered
3) Disbelievers will be burned with fire. 2:39, 90
4) War is ordained by Allah, and all Muslims must be willing to fight, whether they like it or not. 2:216
5) So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters
wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait
for them in every ambush,... 9:5

Then there are the Hadiths, critical to the Sunni branch, that formalize the mistreatment of conquered infidels or dhimmis.

Oh, yes, truly a religion of peace

I have a question:
be a better person or be a better Muslim,which do you think be more important? if we focus on our identity of mothers, fathers,spouses ,students, neighbors, friends, what on earth do it differ between Islam and other faith?

I have a question:
be a better person or be a better Muslim,which do you think be more important? if we focus on our identity of mothers, fathers,spouses ,students, neighbors, friends, what on earth do it differ between Islam and other faith?

As a participant in a monarchy, even a benign dictatorship - you are (despite being kind, pleasant and beautiful) part of the problem.

Radical islam is used as a weapon of the disaffected masses in the middle east against what they see as their oppressors, western governments and local elites.

Religion, all of it, divides and disserves humanity. We'd be better off without it and the middle east would be better off without it's ruling class. To be fair, we probably would also be better without ours - but at least we have a bloodless way of change.

Jason Pappas you are so right. If the Arab is so benevolent, (but surely in the Arab case an i must be inserted in that word) why oh why is there such poverty in Jordan?

I put little faith in the views of someone who willingly allows herself to be called "Her Majesty."

Pappas, Lee and all these holier than thou writers are in essence showing and displaying their vitriolic hate and intolerance to Islam and Muslims. Speaking with total inimitable ignorance, each purport to be an expert on the subject and present their vicious agenda of constant hatred.

Well, when you leave this world( and you will, make no mistake about that probabality equal to 1) you will then learn the real truth, as I and everyone will. At that time, try to present your blind and illimitable hatred and see if it gets you heaven or hell. Till that time go on bashing and hating under your understanding of promoting the "truth". O should I say your personal, self serving agenda.

Any religion that has a large segment of followers which condones strapping a bomb to your back and going out into a market and blowing yourself up and anybody you can take with you has serious issues in the 21st Century.

The lovely Jordan Queen here is surrounded by bodyguards, so she can go out dress the way she pleases and do and say how she feels. The average woman in the Middle East (see Afganistan, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, etc) did this she would be arrested and or worse.

Schools even in Moderate countries like Saudi Arabia teach hate against all non-muslims. Nice to everyone is lumped into one category.

Deshimiah, your a brainwashed clown. No one cares about your opinoins on the afterlife. Your religion is silly.

Zooey Glass, the four classical virtues are justice, wisdom, prudence, and self-control (or continence). You’ll find these in Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero. Christians add three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. This, for example, makes the seven cardinal virtues of the Catholic Catechism. You obviously are ignorant of the history of ethics. May I suggest some good books to read?

Thanks, "anonymous", you are correct. A truly benevolent leader would want their people to have liberty and prosperity instead of being impoverished under oppressive rule by ignorant but kindhearted royalty. If the Queen wants to help her people, she only needs to follow the example of the nation to her West.

What a beautiful piece of her Majsty´s version of Islam. I do not mind calling me a Muslim if this is real Islam though I am an atheist. To me all human beings dedicated to themselves for their own good as well as for universal good are just fine people, extraordinary children of our common mother EARTH. Doesn´t matter if we call them Muslim or Atheists.My eyes are tearful reading ths wonderfdul piece! Thanks your Majesty.

A Trojan Horse message brought to you by El Quaida International! Caveat Emptor! Don't believe a word of it.

I'm sorry, no amount of nice talk will change the fact that she is the wife of a dictator. Anyone who thinks that reproductive lineage is a good way to determine political leadership doesn't earn any credence in my book.

THIS IS PEACEFUL? IS SHE TALKING ABOUT THIS KORAN AND THIS ISLAM?

To Muslims the Koran is the very word of God, who spoke through the Angel Gabriel to Muhammad: "This book is not to be doubted," the Koran declares unequivocally at its beginning. Scholars and writers in Islamic countries who have ignored that warning have sometimes found themselves the target of death threats and violence, sending a chill through universities around the world.

The Hadith No. 284, The Muslim, volume one, says that any Jew or Christian, who heard of Muhammad but did not convert to Islam, and died in disbelief, would rot in hell! Thus Islam withdraws from all Jews and Christians the right to believe in their faiths, and practice them as such.
"The unbelievers of the People of the Book and the idolators shall be in the Fire of Hell therein dwelling for ever; those are the worst of creatures. But those who believe, and do righteous deeds, those are the best of creatures..." (XCVIII: The Clear Sign: 5)

Here those Jews and Christians, who spurn Islam, have been lumped together with the idolators such as the Hindus, and classified as 'the worst of creatures'. Therefore the Koran commands:
"O believers, take not as your friends those of them, who were given the Book before you, and the unbelievers, who take your religion in mockery and as a sport..." (V: The Table: 60)
"The true believers say: Has not God ordered a chapter that commands the holy war" (Sura 47:22); or elsewhere: "Kill the idolaters wherever you find them, imprison them, besiege them, ambush them" (Sura 9:5); and, "Make war on unbelievers" (Sura 9:29). "When you come upon unbelievers, massacre them, tighten the bands of the captives that you will have taken. Then you will set them free, or you will release them for a ransom" (Sura 8:57).
"To Allah, there are no animals viler than those who do not believe and remain unbelievers" (Sura 8:57). That is why it is necessary to Islamize them by force and by humiliation. And those who resist Islam and its founder must be chastised, according to the Koran: "Here is the fate of those who fight Allah and his messenger: you will put them to death or you will make them suffer the torture of the cross; you will cut their hands and their feet alternately. They will be driven from the country" (Sura 5:37).
"Do not display cowardice, and do not call the infidels to peace when you are superior to them" (Sura 47:22). THIS ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE PEACE SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE WAR AGAIN LATER.
4.89": They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.
"4.90": Except those who reach a people between whom and you there is an alliance, or who come to you, their hearts shrinking from fighting you or fighting their own people; and if Allah had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so that they should have certainly fought you; therefore if they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not given you a way against them.
"4.91": You will find others who desire that they should be safe from you and secure from their own people; as often as they are sent back to the mischief they get thrown into it headlong; therefore if they do not withdraw from you, and (do not) offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and against these We have given you a clear authority."

IF NOT THEN THEY ARE NOT ISLAMIC - IF THEY DO WHAT MAKES THEM MODERATE?

WERE THESE THE ACTS OF MODERATES?:
622-623AD: Mecca-Medina: Mohammed with followers flees opposition in Mecca and go to Medina. The first mosque is built. Mohammed becomes a warrior.

625AD: Arabia: Battle of Ohod, victory of the Meccans.

624AD: Arabia: First battle for the faith with the Meccans at Bedr. Victory of Mohammed.

628AD: Mohammedan war against the Jews of Khaibar

The "intensely personal,private relationship with God"
that you describe,exists in your intensely personal and private imagination,
which is where anything can exist.
What could be more intensely personal and
private than the relationship the 9/11 bombers had with Allah?
They gave up their lives for Him.
How beautiful is faith.How wonderful.How demented.

What a load of crap!

Yes, that is right Muhammad Choudhery. Many of the barbaric practices, such as honor killing, don’t stem from Islamic scripture. However, Islam readily underwrites savage tribal cultures. In the Koran you'll find: plunder (caravans, for example), ethnic-cleansing (the Jews of Medina, for example) and similar practices. It’s not odd that even today this 7th century creed is found among 7th century thinkers.

WELL I FORGOT SOME MORE OF THE PEACE AND MODERATION
780AD: Islam, Capture of Semaluos by Harun ar-Rashid. In Spain, capture of Saragossa, Hosein is taken and executed.

788AD: Islam, Spain, Death of Abd ar-Rahman. HIs son and appointed heir, Hisham I, succeeds. He proclaims a holy war and finishes the mosque of Cordova.

789AD: Islam, Arabs invade Rumania.

792AD: Islamic invasion of Southern France, from Spain.

807AD: Islam: Spain, After continual disorder in Toledo, Al-Hakim massacres the chief citizens. Resistance is abandoned.

815AD: Islam: Spain, Rising in Cordova against Moslems put down with great cruelty. Exile of the inhabitants who go to Africa.

829AD: Islam: Mohammedans from Africa invade Sicily, take Palermo.

831AD: Islam: Mohammedans being long invasion of Asia Minor.

832AD: Islam: Capture of Heraclea. In Spain in 832, Toledo rebels against Moslem rule and is suppressed again.

838AD: Islam: Moslem victory at Dasymon. Amorium captured.

839AD: Moslem occupation of Southern Italy.
846AD: Islam, Moslem forces sack Rome.

847AD: Islam: Death of Wathik. State officials elect Mutawakkil. He is noted for atrocious cruelty and persecutes Jews and Christians.

852AD: Islam, Serious revolt suppressed in Armenia.

858AD: Islam, Great war with Byzantines begins in Asia Minor. Mohammedans capture the Byzantine commander.

860AD: Islam, Byzantine defeat near Melitene.

872AD: Islam: The Tahirites are overthrown in Persia, and War with the Byzantines recommences.

887AD-888AD: Islam: Mohammedan invasions of Asia Minor.

904AD: Islam: Moslems capture Thessalonica.

917AD: Sicily falls to the Saracens, "an Arabic race" based at Palermo.

939AD: Islam: Capture of Mosul.

985-986AD: Islam: al-Mansur conquers and sacks Barcelona, a port of eastern Spain.

987AD: Islam: Spain, Bermudo tries to free himself from Moorish sovereignty, Al-Mansur razes Coimbra and in 988 invades to the heart of Leon.

996AD: Islam, Spain, Moorish capture of city of Leon. Al-Mansur now takes Compostella. In Africa, Al-Mansur's generals have victories in Mauretania.

997-1030AD: Mohammed of Ghazni rules Afghan empire; he invades India 17 times.

From 1000AD: Turkey transforms Islamic Society and carries Islam into India and Europe.

1008AD: Islam: Spain, Death of Abul-Malik. His brother Abd ar-Rahman (Sanchol) succeeds to chief ministry, and he conducts a campaign in Leon.

1009AD: Jerusalem: Holy Sepulchre destroyed by Al Hakim.

1010AD: Islam: Hakim destroys Christian Churches in Syria.

1019AD: Islam: Moslem conquest of Punjab in India.
1058AD: Islam, persecution of Christians in Alexandria.

1065AD: Muslim Seljuk Turks invade Asia Minor.

1074AD: Islam, Suleiman, the Seljuk, conquers Asia Minor and founds kingdom of Rum or Iconium.

1090AD: Islam, Hassan b. Sabba, of Nishapur, organizes a band of Karmathians called The Assassins.

1192AD: India: Moslem Muhammad of Ghur captures Delhi.

1192AD: India: Sultanate of Delhi is founded by Afghan invaders.

1194-1199AD: Islam: Moslem conquest of Northern India and Bengal.

1238-1492AD: In 1238 founding of the Moslem Kingdom of Granada.

1336AD: India: Hindu empire of Vijayanagar founded by Harihara I, and becomes centre of resistance to Islam.

Circa 1390AD: Islam: Ottoman Turks complete conquest of Asia Minor.

1550: Islam spreads to Indonesia.

EVEN MORE MODERATION FROM ISLAM:
Qur’an Chapter 2 Verse 65:
And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (Jews): We said to them: "Be ye apes, despised and rejected."

Ishaq: 250
The bestial transformation occurred when Allah turned Jews into apes, despised.

Tabari VIII: 28
When the Messenger approached the Jews, he said, ‘You brothers of apes! Allah shamed you and cursed you.’

Qur’an Chapter 5 Verse 14:
From those too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent to them: so We estranged them, with enmity and hatred between one and the other, to the Day of Judgment. And soon will Allah show them what they have done.

Qur’an Chapter 5 Verse 41:
…Jews, - men who will listen to any lie…For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.

Qur’an Chapter 5 Verse 82:
Strongest among men in enmity (hatred) to the believers (Muslims) wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans.

Ishaq: 262
Some Muslims remained friends with the Jews, so Allah sent down a Qur’an forbidding them to take Jews as friends. From their mouths hatred has already shown itself and what they conceal is worse.

Qur’an Chapter 5 Verse 51:
O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he among you that turns to them for friendship is of them.

Qur’an Chapter 3 Verse 28:
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 (prevention), that ye may Guard yourselves from them (prevent them from harming you.) But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah. [This verse teaches Muslims not to make friends with unbelievers, but allows them to feign friendship with unbelievers in order to prevent harm befalling themselves]

Ishaq: 364
Muslims, take not Jews and Christians as friends. Whoever protects them becomes one of them, they become diseased, and will earn a similar fate.

Sahih Muslim Book 037, Number 6665:
Abu Musa' reported that Allah's Messenger said: When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your rescue from Hell-Fire. [All Muslims are saved from Hell because a Jew or a Christian will go to hell in their place]

MODERATION FROM THE HEAD MAN HIMSELF:
SARIYYAH OF `UMAYR IBN `ADI
From Ibn Sa`d's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, translated by S. Moinul Haq, volume 2, pages 30-31.

SARIYYAH OF `UMAYR IBN `ADI
Then (occurred) the sariyyah of `Umayr ibn `Adi Ibn Kharashah al-Khatmi against `Asma' Bint Marwan, of Banu Umayyah Ibn Zayd, when five nights had remained from the month of Ramadan, in the beginning of the nineteenth month from the hijrah of the apostle of Allah. `Asma' was the wife of Yazid Ibn Zayd Ibn Hisn al-Khatmi. She used to revile Islam, offend the prophet and instigate the (people) against him. She composed verses. Umayr Ibn Adi came to her in the night and entered her house. Her children were sleeping around her. There was one whom she was suckling. He thrust his sword in her chest till it pierced up to her back. Then he offered the morning prayers with the prophet at al-Medina. The apostle of Allah said to him: "Have you slain the daughter of Marwan?" He said: "Yes. Is there something more for me to do?" He [Muhammad] said: "No. Two goats will butt together about her. This was the word that was first heard from the apostle of Allah. The apostle of Allah called him `Umayr, "basir" (the seeing).

in ww2 islam did this http://www.tellthechildrenthetruth.com/gallery/

and in ww1 islamics killed 1.8 million christian armenians by islamic turks.

and then there is this:

One of many sacks of Rome, that of the year 846 was the only instance of Muslims sacking the capital of the Christian church.
During the 8th and 9th centuries, the Arabs (known by mediaeval Italians as the Saracens) had begun to expand into Southern Italy during the Muslim conquest of Southern Italy. These newcomers, sailing from their bases in North Africa, had conquered Sicily and had begun a steady penetration of the peninsula.
Under Pope Paschal I (817-824), all the spoils of the holy martyrs were transferred into the walls of the city. When Rome was finally sacked in 846, Paschal's preparation did not prevent the robbery of Basilica of Saint Peter itself, nor of another major basilica, San Paolo fuori le Mura, both of which were outside the ancient fortifications.

hey lets talk crusades.
i posted a date by date history of islam's first 50 years. murder after murder. now here is a summary of what lead up to the crusades.
The first Crusade began in 1095… 460 years after the first Christian city was overrun by Muslim armies, 457 years after Jerusalem was conquered by Muslim armies, 453 years after Egypt was taken by Muslim armies, 443 after Muslims first plundered Italy, 427 years after Muslim armies first laid siege to the Christian capital of Constantinople, 380 years after Spain was conquered by Muslim armies, 363 years after France was first attacked by Muslim armies, 249 years after Rome itself was sacked by a Muslim army, and only after centuries of church burnings, killings, enslavement and forced conversions of Christians.

846 Muslims sacking the capital of the Christian church. During the 8th and 9th centuries, the Arabs (known by mediaeval Italians as the Saracens) had begun to expand into Southern Italy during the Muslim conquest of Southern Italy. These newcomers, sailing from their bases in North Africa, had conquered Sicily and had begun a steady penetration of the peninsula.
Under Pope Paschal I (817-824), all the spoils of the holy martyrs were transferred into the walls of the city. When Rome was finally sacked in 846, Paschal's preparation did not prevent the robbery of Basilica of Saint Peter itself, nor of another major basilica, San Paolo fuori le Mura, both of which were outside the ancient fortifications.

To prevent a second such incident, in 852 Pope Leo IV commissioned the construction of another wall (so-called Leonine Wall) around an area on the opposite side of the Tiber from the seven hills of Rome. This enclosure has since become known as the Leonine City.

additionally - The Islamic conquest and domination of Sicily, as well as parts of southern Italy, is a process whose origin must be traced back in the general expansion of Islam from the 7th century onwards.

The first attacks from Islamic ships to Sicily, then part of the Eastern Roman Empire, occurred in 652: they were Arabs from Syria, led by Mu'àuia ibn-Hodeig of the Kinda tribe, and remained on the island for several years. The Byzantine exarch of Ravenna Olympius also came to Sicily but were unable to oust the invaders, who returned to Syria after collecting a large booty.

A second expedition occurred in 669. This time the strong, ravaging force consisted of 200 ships from Alexandria. They sacked Syracuse and returned to Egypt after a month of pillaging. After the Umayyad conquest of Africa (complete around 700), attacks from Muslim fleets repeated in 703, 728, 729, 730, 731, 733 and 734, the last two times meeting with a substantial Byzantine resistance.

The first true conquest expedition was launched in 740: in that year the Muslim prince Habib, who participated on the 728 attack, and his son Abdurrahman, after a successful siege of Syracuse, were ready to conquer the whole island when they were called back to Tunisia by a Berber revolt. A second attack in 752 aimed only to sack the city.

In 805 the Imperial patrician of Sicily, Constantine, signed a ten years truce with Ibrahim I ibn al-Aghlab, Emir of Ifriqiya, but this did not prevent other Muslim fleets from other areas of Africa and Spain to attack Sardinia and Corsica in 806-821. In 812 Ibrahim's son, Abdallah I, sent an invasion force to conquer Sicily. His ships were however pushed back first by the intervention of Gaeta and Amalfi, and later by a tempest which destroyed much of them. However, they managed to conquer the islands of Lampedusa and, in the Tyrrhenian Sea, to ravage Ponza and Ischia. A further agreement between the new patrician Gregorius and the Emir established the freedom of commerce between southern Italy and Ifriqiya. After a further attack by Mohammed ibn-Adballad, cousin of Emir Ziyadat Allah I in 819, no news of subsequent Muslim attack to Sicily are known until 827.
At his point, Sicily was almost entirely in control of Aghlabids, with the exception of some minor strongholds in the rugged interior. The population had been increased by the immigration of Muslims from Africa, Asia and Spain, as well as Berbers, who were most concentrated in the southern of the island. The emir in Palermo nominated the governors of the main cities (qadi) and those of the less important ones (hakim), and the other functionaries. Each city had a council called gema, composed by the most eminent members of the local society, which was entrusted of the care of the public works and of the social order.

The conquered Sicilian population was subjected to the typical discrimination against the Infidel found in most Muslim dominated lands.

****They were permitted freedom of worship, but only if they accepted the inferior status of a dhimmi.****

As dhimmi they were subjected to extra taxation -- the jizya (poll tax) and the kharaj (land tax), which ensured that they were contributing to the upkeep of security and protection that the Muslim armies were providing them. There were restrictions on repairing or building new churches. The dhimmi could not bear arms or ride a horse and were required to wear distinctive clothes so that they could be easily identified as dhimmi. Some converted to Islam in order to leviate the additional taxes that they had to pay. This situation resulted in the spread of Islam among the inhabitants (whether by honest conviction or economic and societal compulsion). However, many Greek Christian communities managed to survive as dhimmi until the arrival of the Normans -- especially in the hill towns of Northeastern Sicily. These Sicilians generally welcomed the Norman invaders.

isn't 500 years of being attacked, sacking rome, enough to warrant a response? not if your islamic.

America is doomed. Too many of my countrymen think they're heroes when they parrot race supremacy gibberish and think it's Christianity. Why do they make Jesus weep?

Your Majesty:

Your words are most welcome.

To the degree that people all over the world can grow in understanding of each other, they can engage with respect of their similarities and differences. As you have related, we are all fellow beings on this spaceship Earth, on a marvelous, mysterious journey sharing many of the same experiences. In the end, we shall all return to God. Whatever differences people of belief may have, that they believe makes them existentially similiar, and very special. You have referred to your resepect for the Koran and what "the true meaning" of Islam is. In his excellent book "The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists," Khaled Abou El Fadl states "the Koran teaches that Islam is intended as a mercy for all humankind, and that the earmark of a Muslim is moderation."

As an American Jewish Christian, I have studied your holy book and various analysts in these dark days in which we strive to understand each other and put an end to the extremism we see. Perhaps no other Sura lets us know what God wants than Sura 5:48, which states that God could have made all people “one nation,” or “one community,” or “one people,” but did not “therefore, (Jews, Christians and Muslims should) vie with each other in good works.” When this is the rule we shall see a different world. When we are vying with each other to see who can do better, rather than what some are now doing, we shall be doing work for God. The West waits upon the Muslim world to see many, many more of these "good works," one of which is to discredit the extremists as the imposters that they are.

The true believers of God are those who strive for peace with each other. In the end, we shall all return to God and "He shall inform us of our differences."

Peace to you and your family. May God's Blessing be upon you.

Thank you.

Raised from birth as an American and a Roman Catholic I have always been taught and hold very close to my heart and head that with freedom comes responsibility and with religion must come respect and tolerance. Every one of us human beings is sinful, makes mistakes, has been misguided and misunderstood. Somehow each of us needs to find some common sense, to relinquish the hatreds that we continue to foster, to stop living from fear to fear.

The tenets of Christianity are fundamentally those of which you say are the basis of Islam. Together we Christians together with the people of Islam and all the monotheists of this planet need to rise up and declare the end of this force, these few which divide us. No one people or religion has the complete answer…but united we can forge the road to peace and justice which is at the very root of every human heart.

Thank you for taking the time to open this conversation.

In today's world of supercharged religious zealotry the traditional Christian greeting, "Peace be With You" gets lost in the overwhelming backround noise we live with today. I hope this one gets through.

I feel the real issue facing all people, not just people of faith, is the white hot intollerance we see daily. Neo-conservitive Christians, Radical Muslims, and hard line Jews seem to lead the hit parade of hatred and violence that has our cities (New York, Bagdhad, London, Madrid, Jerusalem) running with blood.

How do good people everywhere bring an end to the violence and rhetoric and bring reason to bear in our world once again?

Many Neo-conservative American Christians often preech that the U.S. was started Christians and that faith should make the rules. They forget that our founding fathers, brilliant, educated men, relied on their faith to create an enlightened society that welcomes and protect everyone, not just Christians.

What role does reason play in the Muslim faith and how can it be brought to bear to eliminate the radical revenge and blood lust that is dominating the region?

Thank you for taking the time to open this conversation.

In today's world of supercharged religious zealotry the traditional Christian greeting, "Peace be With You" gets lost in the overwhelming backround noise we live with today. I hope this one gets through.

I feel the real issue facing all people, not just people of faith, is the white hot intollerance we see daily. Neo-conservitive Christians, Radical Muslims, and hard line Jews seem to lead the hit parade of hatred and violence that has our cities (New York, Bagdhad, London, Madrid, Jerusalem) running with blood.

How do good people everywhere bring an end to the violence and rhetoric and bring reason to bear in our world once again?

Many Neo-conservative American Christians often preech that the U.S. was started Christians and that faith should make the rules. They forget that our founding fathers, brilliant, educated men, relied on their faith to create an enlightened society that welcomes and protect everyone, not just Christians.

What role does reason play in the Muslim faith and how can it be brought to bear to eliminate the radical revenge and blood lust that is dominating the region?

Brendon, how do you get an internet connection from a cave?

When my husband and I visited Petra, I remembered him telling me of a conversation with an arab man about how much they cared about their children and the meaning of life. We need not to forget regardless of what religions we belong to that we are all humans first. We all have basic wants and needs for ourselves and our children. I hope that we can continue to dialog rather than fight to maintain who is more right.

Garbage .....

Deshimiah, enjoy your grave. I’m living and loving this life.

By the way, Islam is so obviously bad that one doesn’t need an expert exegesis of 7th century texts anymore than one requires an expert parsing of Das Kapital to see the horrors of communism.

Thank you your Highness for the observations of your faith, family, and culture. I appreciate that you point out those fine traits and family desires are universal to all human religions, even if the traditional method of interacting with and praying to God is different between them. All parents love their children wherever they may live!

However, I think you are, respectfully speaking, focusing on the lesser issue, actually.

I don't concern myself with how Muslims pray. Any differences to other religions that might be visible to the eye do not matter to God - the interaction with his faithful is what matters.

What I AM concerned about is the problem that the Islamic world's intellectuals and political moderates are divorced from the community of terrorists, political/religious radicals, and the uneducated peasants that fall victim to the terrorists and political/religious radicals... And at the same time are apologists in some cases for them due to tribalism and pride.

In this very forum I've read comments from a muslim scholar to the effect (I paraphrase) 'Why should I continue to speak out against terrorism and dictatorship? I already did once in a speech years ago'. I've had muslim intellectuals try and tell me that Nasrallah was "tricked" into invading Israel, taking soldiers prisoner, and launching 100 rockets into civillian suburbs that started the recent war in Lebanon. Its a rediculous assertion that is based in Arab pride, and nothing else.

Last night I heard a muslim intellectual (whom I have extremely high regard for) tell me that when she saw the humiliating images of Uday Hussein in death - mouth agape, lying on a table for inspection - she identified with him because he was an arab! I pointed out that he threw his citizens - even his olympic atheletes - into a giant meat grinder to intimidate the others into behaving, talking, informing, or winning in sports as he desired. She said no matter- as an Arab she was insulted at his treatment and she identified with him.

I was SHOCKED. I was offended at her tribalism and ethnic pride overcoming her disgust at his henious crimes against his own people.

Frankly, speaking as a Jewish American I can think of a number of Israeli politicians and generals who I would not have felt any sorrow for if they had come to the same end. They EARNED it. They drove people from their land, allowed and lit the way for terrorists to kill defenseless Palestinian women and children in refugee camps in the dead of night, and steal land in violation of the very laws that made Israel a soverign State.

Tell me please if you have an idea as to an answer: Why can I see crimes committed by my own people in pride and call it as it truly is - henious crime wrapped in Jewish tribalism - and a modern muslim intellectual does not do the same when Arab pride is involved?

Please, the next time you comment would you address the issues of Muslims cleaning up their own community? And also please address the reluctance of some intellectual muslims to take responsibility for addressing and stopping the actions of those who are obviously distorting Islam from the gentle loving faith it is to a murderous political movement due to tribalism and ethnic pride.

If I write an article about how athiest families care for each other, do kind works, and spread good will, can that help muslims understand athiests? Perhaps I can recommend a good book to give you a better understanding of athiesm? After all, if you're asking me to understand your religion, I think it's only fair that you give my athiesm the same courtesy.

How did we become so intolerant? The Queen is right, at the end of the day - whether Muslim, Jew, Christian, Bhudist...etc - we're all human beings and when we stop recognizing that, we all lose... Yes, some Muslims have done the world harm, but we've become so angry, so blinded by ignorance and hatred that we refuse to listen to any voice of reason.

"The Hadith No. 284, The Muslim, volume one, says that any Jew or Christian, who heard of Muhammad but did not convert to Islam, and died in disbelief, would rot in hell! Thus Islam withdraws from all Jews and Christians the right to believe in their faiths, and practice them as such.
"The unbelievers of the People of the Book and the idolators shall be in the Fire of Hell therein dwelling for ever; those are the worst of creatures. But those who believe, and do righteous deeds, those are the best of creatures..." (XCVIII: The Clear Sign: 5)"
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This is not accurate in its suggestion that Islam requires all people of other faiths to be killed. "The Book" often refers to the Old Testament, not the Koran, in Islamic literature. For example, I believe the Koran allows that "people of The Book," that is, Jews, are not to be forcibly converted.

All of the posts attributing invasions and the actions of conquering armies from Arabia to "Islam" are also misleading. Do you also attribute the invasions and actions of armies from Europe and N. America to pillaging, ruthless Christians? It would seem a similar line of thought.

Moreover, saying that every current living person of Islamic faith believes in everything in the Koran is also dishonest. Few Christians and Jews believe in the violent or otherwise nonsensical directives of the Old Testament, so why do you assume Islamic people believe in everything written in the Koran? That seems either terribly ignorant or brazenly dishonest to me. There are many peaceful people of the Islamic faith, just as there are many peaceful people of other faiths. You shouldn't attribute the values of fanatics to everybody who believes in some form of Islam- unless you do the same to Christians, Jews, etc.

Leftcoaster: Islam holds that atheists must be killed. But she’ll do it compassionately and with empathy.

Jeff: you are right that it “is not accurate in its suggestion that Islam requires all people of other faiths to be killed.” People with no faith (i.e. atheists) must be killed. We atheists don’t take to kindly to such a viewpoint.

Honor killings aren't legal anywhere in the Muslim world to my knowledge and certainly not in Jordan. The state reserves the right to violence in those countries, just like in the West. Does the public sometimes glorify criminals in Jordan and else where, of course they do. Do some parts of society sanction some honor killings, of course they do as they did in the USA until recently. In Texas, if you caught your wife or hushand in bed with another, you normally got off without indictment if you killed them both right away. In the 90's a Man shot and killed 4 kids he caught stealing his wheels, and one of the kids was passed out at the time, and the Grand Jury refused to indict him despite the States repeated efforts to bring him to trial. Note the man reloaded his assualt rifle 2 times, and none of the kids even attempted to return fire.

Black men can still die for dating white women in parts of the country today, and it was common for it to happen in 1/2 of the country 20 years ago. None of the USA abuses of justice I mentioned were ever legal either, but they happened because vocal and often violent parts of society supported these injustices. So while honor killings are crimes against justice and many governments don't do nearly enough to punish the guility, the Arab world is hardly unique in this trait. Note in South America, some honor crimes were LEGAL until the last 10 years or so I believe.

Wow there seems to be a lot of vitrol on this site for a woman speaking words of faithful peace. I was raised to believe that all human beings deserve dignity and respect.

Being a college student in the DC area, I have made friends with several Muslim students from many different countries. None of them "strap bombs to themselves" in the misguided name of a religion. What I have seen though, is Christian Evangelists shouting in our quad about how Jesus is a savior, and how non-believers will "burn in the lakes of hell". There was even a group with signs that said "God hates you".

Not being a religious person, I can only speculate on how Queen Rania's concept of benevolent religion drives her to do interfaith humanitarian good, but applaud her for writing with pride.

I feel much more oppressed and afraid of facists touting Christianity as a means to achieve thier social objectives in this country than I do of Muslim suicide bombers overseas.

I still have hope that humanity can persevere against those that wish to denegrate, hate and destroy others in the name of (all) benevolent religions. Peace be upon you.

With respect to Queen Rania, the views of Islam expressed by the Westernized, liberal elite of Arab nations can hardly be considered that of the mass of Muslims in those nations. While the Queen expresses an inviting and accommodating view of Islam, there is little reason to believe that she speaks for her coreligionists on that score.

Moreover, her assertion that Islam (and all faith) is an "intensely personal, private relationship with God" is, at least to my knowledge, directly contrary to the orthodox interpretation Islam which centers on the "Umma", the collection of Muslims, that transcends culture, language, etc. The notion that of "personal relationship with God" (akin to evangelicalism's construction of Christianity) is simply antithetical to Islamic doctrine, as I have been led to understand it.

Finally, the Queen expresses Islam as "as something intrinsic to" daily life. This is a sanitized way of observing that there is no separation between the divine and common, secular and spiritual in Islam. Christ's command to "render unto Caesar the thing's which are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's" has no meaning or equivalent in Islam. The state is not separable from, and has no legitimacy apart from, Islam. This distinction is profound between Islam and Christianity, not simply on theological terms, but on civil terms as well.

Mel: “I was raised to believe that all human beings deserve dignity and respect.”

Not me. I see no dignity or respect due to Adolf Hitler, Jeffery Dahlmer, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot, or Osama bin Laden. Respect has to be earned. Dignity can be lost. Mel, you must live in a fairytale world.

I'm a Muslim woman. Trust me, this woman knows nothing of Islam.