Sunday, November 22, 2015

Echoes Down the Corridors - Part FIVE - Islam

Click here if you missed Part FOUR

Choose Wisely

In the beginning of this writing, I spoke about how we all enter into the coliseum to observe, along with others, what is going on in the political arena. We enter to see who is in the fight, who seems to be the strongest opponent and why, and who is the most favored among the people.

As a Christian, I believe that we should be aware of all that is going on around us, just as surely as all the people of God were aware, as we can clearly see in the writings of the prophets, the apostles and Christ Jesus Himself.

None of them were ignorant of who the kings were, what they stood for or against, how strong or how weak they were in their rule, and yes, even the attitude of the people regarding those who ruled over them.

After the flood, beginning with Nimrod and onward, we read about the choosing of judges and kings, as well as their rise and fall and whether the nature of their rule was with good or evil intent and purposes, and whether their overall governance was righteous or tyrannical. 

The difference between biblical scholars and theologians is most often not understood by the average Christian lay person. I am no expert on the subject, yet in my learning from studies, not only did I discover that there is a difference in the categories and labours of the two, but also that the two are not always harmonious, or work together.

I also learned briefly of systematic theology in relation to biblical theology. The fact also discovered is that scholars may be hostile, indifferent or supportive of biblical truths concerning the various aspects of characters, places or chronicles occurring throughout the epochs recorded in the Bible, from Genesis in the OT right through to the last book of Revelation in the NT.

 Many scholars still debate eschatology, and others remain circumspect in their conclusions regarding the biblical accounts of judges and kings, conflicts, wars and miraculous events. Some postulate that the Bible is fraught with ambiguities and note severity of God’s judgments rife throughout the narratives. 

Studying the writings of biblical scholars and theologians can certainly be insightful, yet can also at times create confusion, perplexity, and even disorientation.  Is it not wiser to wait upon the teaching of the Holy Spirit and to trust God with a child-like faith?  We all go through diverse stages in our faith walk; it is said to be an ongoing process of progression.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  [Rom 1:17]

It had been mentioned how just one email that had been sent to me gave me pause. In fact, it caused me to delay posting articles on this series that were already completed by a week and a half.

Additionally, it caused me to go back over what I intended to post and expand and expound, such as I am doing here.  Why?  As mentioned before, I originally began this merely to announce the winner of the 2015 Canadian election.  I did not vote and I knew little about any of the candidates, having been out of the country for several years.

When I began researching and studying certain reports and articles, there was a stirring in my spirit. I continued on with my digging, but I also wanted to be sensitive to the Lord’s leading.  What was the stirring in my spirit? I had to wait to have it revealed to me.

I came to understand that the stirring, of course, had to do with eschatology, a branch of Christian theology and “the study of final things”. It is the study of end times, biblical prophecies and the signs and events of the final days.

Think about how much closer we are. The last days began in the time of the apostles, after Christ’s ascension.  If the disciples considered it to be the beginning of the last days at that time, then we are indeed in the last of the last days now.

The article did not give me pause in considering whether I should write anymore about political matters or not, but rather to consider and better understand the position of many believers that I may not have adequately considered. 

There were also personal matters that gave me pause as well. That being said, these writings are leading up to a panoramic view that shows the astounding accuracy of biblical prophecies that reveal where we are in the timeline.

Never before in history has the world witnessed such global chaos, unexplained weather conditions, intensity and frequencies of violent storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, economic woes, and much more. Many are carefully watching Israel and the Middle East.

However, the war on civilians which is spreading globally is evidenced not only in the recent Paris attacks, which has caused a terror alert to spread across Europe, but it is also seen in the millions of refugees from over 50 countries seeking asylum, with statistics revealing that worldwide displacement has now hit a record high of all-time.

In the last century, and particularly the past fifty or so years, we have witnessed many prophecies fulfilled; however, there are still prophecies that have yet to come to pass.  Jesus’ warnings of the last days included one about false prophets and teachers who would arise and deceive many.

When a person shares a prophetic word from God (and I have) or gives a prophecy, it is never to be considered scripture. It simply is not. Nor is it to be added to scripture, nor should it ever take away from or conflict with scripture. Everything and I do mean everything should be taken to the Lord. We are to try the spirit to see if it is of God.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [1Jn 4:1-3]

Any prophetic word that does not line up with scripture or is out of the character and ways of God, as revealed in Bible must not be received.  Some dismiss prophetic words altogether, insisting that God no longer speaks through people.

In the first book of Thessalonians, verses 17-20, tell us to pray without ceasing, to give thanks and not to quench the Holy Spirit, not to despise prophesying, to prove all things and to hold fast to what is good.

On a final note, I would also like to say that I do believe that the judgment of God has begun. There are many who believe Christians do not come under God’s judgment, but that is not true. Others believe it will come later, and others still confuse God’s judgment with God’s wrath, known as the day of the Lord.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  [1Pet 4:17]

It is my intent to expound on this later on, but let us try to keep things orderly. Yes, I am lacing the series throughout with biblical references, weaving scriptures and commentaries in, but that is to be expected since all that I do is for His glory alone. Without Him, I am nothing, and nothing I do would mean anything.  In Him I live and move and have my being. He is exalted above all.

I will give the reader a small heads up, in that my beliefs are not Preterist, nor do I believe that Christians are to prepare the world for the Lord’s coming through social justice, or by political involvement and actions to bring about the necessary “change(s)” in society in order to “purge the earth” of wickedness before Jesus/Yeshua returns.  The Bible is clear that we will not purge evil. Only the Sovereign God can do that, and He will, but in the time and way He chooses.

Nor do I condone (and exhort believers to avoid) the doctrines of the Emergent Church, New Apostolic Reformation (who believe they are growing faster than Islam), Dominionism, Universalism, New Age et al, which I will touch upon later on.  That should be enough to whet the whistle and provide some insight into what I do not believe. As one continues reading, it will become evident what I do believe the Bible teaches and reveals.

The first book of Timothy (1Timothy 1) begins with: (emphasis mine)

Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

The chapter ends with:

Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you. [vs 16]

There are times we can see a fair distance ahead when we are led in a certain direction, and other times, we only see a short distance, and finally, there are times, we only see one step at a time.

The aforementioned article by Andrew Strom challenged the integrity of the sincere Christian regarding politics.  In his writing, he exhorts the true disciple of Christ Jesus to avoid politics at all cost because in his opinion “Politics is ruining Christianity”.  The political arena seems to be what he calls the “devil’s arena”.

The article is only mentioned again here, not for the purpose of argumentation or persuasion, but to firstly, reveal the different viewpoints regarding politics among believers, and secondly, to declare that we must each choose for ourselves where we stand, albeit with the guidance and help of the Living God.

It would seem to me that Strom’s upset leans more towards those in the pulpit who take biblical principles to the extreme and stir up their congregations, instilling bitterness and advocating rash actions (armed or otherwise) against government and its policies and laws. The more controversial topics of homosexuality, gay marriage, abortion or marijuana legalization, which have recently seen (or await) changes in legislation, were not mentioned by Strom.

That was the conclusion I arrived at after taking over a week to consider what exactly he was saying by rereading his article and taking the matter to the Lord, which is what all of us are required to do, in all things.

I did note that no scripture was used in Strom’s article, except for a quick reference to Jesus’ words that his “kingdom is not of this world”.  To keep balance and in all fairness, I also provided articles by Rev. Mark Creech, who has a different perspective on the matter of politics. (See part FOUR of this series)

I do not know either of these men, so favoritism toward either is out of the equation.  How does one choose a side in any battle if one does not know what either side stands for, believes in, contends for, or if it is scripturally based?

When given a panoramic (which the Bible does splendidly), one can make informed judgments and decisions, preferably free from discrimination, bias, bigotry and intolerance, especially if we wait on the Lord for His direction.  We continue to learn daily, yet at times not without error, which in itself can be a keen teacher if we allow it to be.

In the first part of this series, I spoke about eschatology and how some do not believe that the study of end times is part of the gospel message or something Jesus/Yeshua spoke about.  Yet, His apostles were concerned. 

When they had been with Jesus at the temple, He warned them that not one stone would be left unturned; the temple would be destroyed. They queried Him about when it would happen, about what would   be the sign of His coming (His return), and of the end of the world.

Jesus spoke to the disciples privately on the Mount of Olives. He went into great detail about the events that would occur; about those who would be offended by His people and afflict, persecute and kill them. He warned of betrayals and hatred, the increase in sin and the rising up of many false prophets.

He covered everything to look for in both the physical, celestial and spiritual realms. I will not go into all the details here, but all that He warned about is found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the book of Matthew.

If the disciples wanted to be prepared, and if Jesus found their question worthy of such a lengthy reply, we would be wise to delve into biblical eschatology.  If He spoke about nations and kingdoms and wars, then we surely must watch these things. That would mean that we must pay attention to politics, to what leaders (both political and religious) or kingdoms are rising up against each other.

We have been watching it all unfold for decades now, but it does not take a genius to see how everything is escalating globally, and at an exponential pace. One can choose to sit on the fence, or one can choose to love the Lord God first, cleave to Him and wait patiently for His direction.  He will not go against His Word or His character, and that will means that we must come to know both in a very personal and intimate way.

 Hot, Cold or Lukewarm?


 Even God Himself requires that we take a stand, either a passionate one with great zeal, or an impassionate one with lackluster performance.  Either stance will reveal which side one is on; there is no guessing.  However, those who sit on the fence, remaining lukewarm, God rejects vehemently.

There are those who are violent in their zealousness and those who are violent in their coldness; neither side is right in resorting to violence. Then there are the lukewarm who chant, “Why can’t we all just get along?” with an almost hypnotic charm that seduces both the lambs in the fold and the unsaved.

One can almost see the charmer dancing “through the tulips”, tossing petals of exotic flowers, confetti and sugarplums in the air, complete with a pasted (fake) smile, a form of godliness and an enchanting voice. “Love, love, love, love, love – let’s all just get along!”  Beyond surreal, it is cloaked deception that seduces.

Remember that the common thread throughout the series has been about extremism. Even those who sit on the fence can be extreme and even have the loudest voices. Do not be deceived. These are not to be mistaken for peacemakers.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [Mat 5:9]

 The fence-sitters cannot be trusted, which is why God Himself rejects them. They are often wolves in sheep’s clothing that will betray the true ones in an instant, like Judas did with Jesus. They appear to be loyal and involved, but are self-serving, loyal to none but themselves.

In all that we say and do, we must take a stand. Even God demands it. One can be neutral until they come to a decision, but one cannot remain neutral, as a means to avoid offending anyone. No matter what one decides, opposition can be expected. Jesus spoke truth because He is truth, and He offended many.  We have the power to choose where we stand, and choose we must.

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would (rather) that you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.  [Rev 3:15, 16]
 
Real love will be deeply moved by the suffering of another, we weep. As a disciple of Christ, there will be a groaning and travailing in our spirit that moves us to prayer, whether the suffering is that of a widow or orphan, or of one very close to us, or whether it is the suffering of those that we do not know, the sick or wounded, the oppressed and possessed, or the persecuted and murdered.

The number of countries where persecution, war and conflict is high (torture, intimidation, prison, death): North Korea, Africa (Somalia, Nigeria, Kenya, Central African Republic, Sudan et al), Iraq, Syria, Iran, India, Pakistan, China, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Columbia (South America): 50 plus nations and its people suffering, millions of refugees. (More in later articles)

Statistics for persecution due to religious beliefs are accurately shown on a world watch list, provided by opendoorsusa.org.  Unless otherwise stated, the above photos are credited to Open Doors from a video they posted on Youtube.

The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35 – Jesus wept. Even though Jesus/Yeshua knew that He would be raising Lazarus from the grave, four days after his death, He was deeply troubled to see the anguish and sorrow, the great suffering of His friends and those who had gathered to mourn Lazarus’ passing.  He was troubled and groaned deep within His spirit and wept.

Love bears the nail scars that paid the price for salvation. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love lays down their life for a friend, which is what our Saviour did for us, so that sinful man could be reconciled to a holy God.

Similitude with Trudeau and Obama

I have already shown that the two leaders both promoted “change” during their campaigns; both defend and approve abortions (with approval for gender-specific abortion waiting in the wings); both approve homosexuality and same sex marriage, but does the similitude cease there?  I think not.

Although the focus thus far in this series has been on President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau, and though I will yet continue on with another similitude, please keep in mind that these two men are only two pieces of a puzzle. It is only once the puzzle is put together completely that the entire work makes sense. As the saying goes, “A picture tells a thousand words.”

We all should be watchmen…people who watch, warn and pray.
For thus has the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees. [Is 21:6]

Trudeau - Which Side Does He Stand On?

One of the most controversial topics amongst both supporters and critics of the new Prime Minister has been his visits to mosques in Canada.  The supporters decry that Trudeau was at one time a drama teacher and his participation was merely for show.

Other supporters decry that his actions prove his acceptance for different religious groups and their beliefs.  His critics deem the act as “outrageous” and “intellectually dishonest”.  

It was his association with radical Islamists that was disconcerting. Supporters of Trudeau would call any mentioning of these things a ‘smear campaign’, and critics insist the prime minister supports the Islamic extremists more than the Muslims who desire to live peaceably.
More controversy arose when it was reported that Justin Trudeau visited a mosque in Regina. Nathan Liewiccki, a reporter for Regina's Leader-Post was quoted as saying, "A party (Liberal) spokesperson said Trudeau was going to be at the mosque and that the media were not able to attend." That statement has not been denied or confirmed.

However, an unnamed reporter for the Sun stated that a spokesman form the mosque sent him an email, in which he had written: "It was wrongly reported to the media that they were not allowed to attend.  The coordinator from the Liberal party was asked to arrange for a media person if they wanted."
Well, perhaps the Liberal party coordinator just did not "want" to. Supporters for Trudeau claim that accuse critics of "islamophobia". In December 2012, Trudeau was a key speaker at the "Reviving the Islamic Spirit" conference.

In order to make an informed decision about a matter, one must listen to the voices that know first-hand, who were either personally involved in the event in question, or who knew through association with those involved. The more information a person has about someone or something, the more likely they are to make wise decisions.

When Justin Trudeau went to the Al Sunnah Al-Wahhabi mosque (Sunni Islam) branch in Montreal, some media sources trumpeted that the U.S. Department of Defense had the mosque on its “watch list” and was known to “recruit, facilitate or train al-Qaeda members”.

 “Trudeau’s response, full of sass, was that “we in Canada have our own determinations for those sorts of things because the U.S. is known to make mistakes from time to time,” with regards to a Pentagon terrorism-links list.

Somehow this notion that American military documents are haphazardly compiled and have no credibility has creeped [sic] through not just Justin’s campaign team, but media outlets as well. Jonathan Kay of the National Post assured us that anyone who would feel such a way believes that “Trudeau was born in Kenya”, and that because the mosque in question last harboured terrorists in the ‘90s, there’s absolutely no cause for alarm.”  True North Times  

When visiting the mosque’s online website (which was taken down after the media questioned Trudeau’s visit in 2014), questions arose about whether or not the Wahhabi mosque supported female genital mutilation, as well as the promoting of polygamy.

The mosque’s online library included books such as Tenets of Faith, which wrote about what to do with unbelievers, thieves or adulterers.  The book states that thieves should have their hands cut off and adulterers should be stoned. However, the harshest judgment falls upon unbelievers.

Excerpt from Tenets of Faith:

“We hold that whoever claims that there is, besides Islam, a religion in existence today that is acceptable to Allah – whether it be the religion of the Jews, Christians or others – is an unbeliever (kaafir).  His repentance should be sought; if he refuses to repent, he is to be killed as an apostate (murtad) because of rejecting the Quran.”

Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development (Vancouver) remarked on the “consistent bad judgment” on Trudeau’s part. Kenney went on to say that Trudeau was the same man who had made excuses for the Boston bombers, “without knowing who they were or why they murdered their fellow Americans”.

He critiqued Trudeau as the same man “who agreed to speak at a conference, at which one of the sponsors, IRFAN, who is now known to be a funder of the banned, anti-Semitic terrorist organization Hamas.

And this is a man who criticized me for publishing a citizen guide that condemned certain, barbaric cultural practices…he said that he thought it was insensitive of me to refer to so-called honour crimes and killings as being barbaric.”

Many have come to the conclusion that with the hours Justin Trudeau has spent behind closed doors with the group that he is well aware of their ties with Hamas.  It is interesting to note that the new Prime Minister’s advisor is none other than Saudi-born Omar Alghabra.  He is formerly the president of the Canadian Arab Federation, which is an anti-Semitic group that is known to be a supporter of radical Islam.

Ezra Levant, a Jewish-Canadian media personality, lawyer, writer and broadcaster, wrote his thoughts down in an article shortly after the visit. Keep in mind that Mr. Levant is a former columnist for Sun news, which is known to support the Conservatives.  Levant himself is a political activist on the Conservative side. Nevertheless, he writes some thought-provoking statements, but please do keep the Conservative slant of his comments as a way of balancing the facts.

Excerpt: 

(Note* - No editing is done on his article; it is posted verbatim, with the exception of limited paragraphing, for the sake of space.)


"In 2013, when he was campaigning in a Muslim mosque in Calgary, Justin Trudeau bragged about how many mosques he visits in his hometown of Montreal.  He listed them: the Bangladeshi mosque, the Pakistani mosque, the North African mosque and the Wahhabi mosque. The first three are geographical locations. But Wahhabi Islam is an ideology, not a place.
Wahhabism is to the rest of Islam what the Ku Klux Klan is to the rest of Christianity. It’s an extremist fringe that believes in violence. Or, as it’s called in Arabic, jihad.

Wahhabism was an obscure sect until the dictators of Saudi Arabia decided to bankroll it. Over the past 30 years, an estimated $100 billion of Saudi oil money has been pumped into mosques around the world, on the condition that they follow Wahhabism. That includes mosques in Canada."
Excerpt:

"Other Liberals with better judgment realized how bad Trudeau looked, especially when Hamas’s terrorism is on TV each night. Ralph Goodale, the last Liberal MP in Saskatchewan, said the U.S. terrorism report only came out after Trudeau visited the mosque, and that in any event, it was “trivial.”
But the Al-Sunnah Al-Nabawiah has been in the news for more than a decade. It’s where the Ahmed Ressam, the convicted Millennium Bomber, prayed. It has received international coverage, in PBS, the Associated Press, and in a half dozen Canadian newspapers for extremism, going back to the year 2000. And then there’s that major documentary on Montreal CBC in 2006.
Maybe Justin Trudeau didn’t know any of that. But he knows now. And he is very clear, no matter what Goodale says. He still says he’s “proud” to campaign at the Wahhabi mosque. We should believe him." 
Source:  Ezra Levant
The National Post published an article by Ingrid Ravarty-Konopka, former assistant of Justin Trudeau, in which she states:



“On March 11, 2011, I sent Liberal leader Justin Trudeau to the Al-Sunnah Al-Nabawiah mosque in Montreal — yes, that mosque. For five years, between 2008 and 2013, I was his constituency executive assistant. I ran his life outside of Ottawa. I sent him to churches, mosques, temples — Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu. If his riding had had synagogues, I would have sent him there, too.”

"This is not to say the mosque in question is without controversy. It preaches the most rigid interpretation of Islam: Wahhabism. We now know from leaked U.S. government memos that “known Al-Qaeda members were recruited, facilitated or trained” at the mosque in the late 1990s. This information was made public in April 2011 — a month after Trudeau’s visit."

Comment of Sheldon Lerman, Thornhill, Ontario:


"In her article, Justin Trudeau’s former assistant, Ingrid Ravary-Konopka, discusses how she sent the Liberal leader to a mosque in Montreal that she says, “preaches the most rigid interpretation of Islam: Wahhabism,” and from which, as she later learned, “known Al-Qaeda members were recruited, facilitated or trained.”
She describes how “in settings such as this … Trudeau would always champion Canadian values, such as acceptance, women’s rights, the responsibilities of citizenship and diversity.” That sounds good, but then comes the kicker: “While much of this may sound like sentimental platitudes, for many in Papineau it might very well have been the first time any of these ideas had been expressed to them.”
The first time? Really? If this is true — if people can immigrate to Canada without first demonstrating an understanding of basic Canadian values and declaring their acceptance and commitment to these values — we face a serious problem. Within the parameters of our basic values, there’s much room for diversity and debate. But we can’t wait until after people have arrived and then try convincing them to accept our values and our way of life. By then it may be (and often is) much too late."

Approximately two months after Trudeau’s visit to the Montreal mosque, on October 20, 2014, a lone-wolf terroist, considered to have been inspired by ISIL, ran down two Canadian soldiers (one in uniform, one in civilian clothing) in the parking lot of a shopping centre in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. One soldier survived, the other died.
 
artin Couture-Rouleau, age 25 (above photos), who had converted to Islam only a year previously, was a francophone (French-speaking) Canadian.  He was shot and killed after a police chase that ended when the suspect lost control of his vehicle.

Two days later, October 22, 2014, Zehaf-Bibeau, age 32, said to be a radicalized jihadist and terrorist opened fire on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, fatally wounding a Canadian Forces member, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, who was standing guard at the National War Memorial.  Shots were fired inside the Parliament building before the gunman was killed by the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms.
PM Trudeau told CTV News in an exclusive interview (aired Saturday, October 24) that he fully intends to keep his promise of allowing 25,000 Syrian refugees to come to Canada by the end of 2015.  That is approximately six weeks away.

The screening and security process is crucial to carry out with the refugee applicants coming from Syria, due to possible infiltration of Islamic terrorists. Some of the Canadian immigration officers are concerned that Trudeau is pushing the process so quickly that proper screening and security may not be properly or fully carried out.

However, Global News reported:

“Trudeau dismissed suggestions his plan would compromise Canadians’ security as many of those seeking refuge in Europe and North America are coming from a territory controlled or affected by the violence of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, whose leaders openly call for terrorist attacks on Canadian soil.

No one is suggesting we should put aside security in order to (bring in refugees),” he told the crowd. People fleeing Syria can be properly assessed by employing more case workers, increasing screening capacity and “looking at the possibility of airlifts,” Trudeau said.

In July 2014, three and a half months before the election, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau wrote a letter to the Muslim community after his visit to the Islamic Foundation of Toronto where he participated in Iftaar Iftaar (breaking of the fast) during Ramadan, which is considered a holy month by Muslims.

Islam is considered to be the fastest-growing religion in Canada, according to an article in the Canadian Encyclopedia, which was posted in 2011, but edited in 2015.

 A letter signed “Justin” was sent to the Toronto Muslims stating:
I am thankful for the diversity and religious freedoms which we enjoy in Canada, and I am proud of the accomplishments and contributions made by Canada’s thriving Muslim community. 

I wish my Muslim brothers and sisters a blessed Ramadan, and pledge to continue standing up for all Canadians to protect the values that unite us. Ramadan Mubarak!   The Toronto Muslims proudly published the whole letter.

Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood is anti-Christian, anti-Semitic and prolifically intolerant.”  (Charles Kauthammer of Washington Post) John Kerry (U.S. Secretary of State) travelled to Egypt to give $250 million to Morsi and the Brotherhood.

In an article called The Real Voice of Egypt, Eman Nabih writes that Egyptians accuse the Brotherhood, stating that the MB (Muslim Brotherhood), “humiliated our humanity, dignity and pride”, raped childhood innocence” (at age 9), “practiced circumcision on females”, “cut girls’ hair in schools to force the veil” and “incited Muslims against Christians”, “burned Christian churches and forced them to leave their homes” and “called Christians enemies of God and profaned their blood”.

Nabih, a female journalist who lives in Egypt, knows first-hand and writes about the realities occurring in her country and amongst her people. In the above mentioned article, she wrote:

“On 30/6/2013 we broke all restrictions. Muslims attached to their Christian sisters and brothers in Egypt and walked together, the path we have chosen with our own free will to release our country from the Muslim Brotherhood pure evil black terror. We revolted to get back Egypt again from a regime who tried to erase and smash a 7000 years civilization entity and identity.”

She permits people to use her material, but requests that a link is provided to her site, as she spends countless hours gathering information.  As one who also spends an incredible amount of time doing the same, I find her request not only fair, but also very gracious, as she does not request that you write her for permission.   Eman Nabih

Wahhab
Wikipedia is considered by many to be a problematic site due to the fact that anyone can author, edit or add to an entry whether they have credentials or not.  Others contend that Wikipedia contains useful and valid information and that no one would use the site if it was full of false data. 

Unfortunately, the reality that anyone has the freedom to add to, edit or write any given entry makes the possibility of deception through misinformation or disinformation left wide open.  Therefore, the onus is on the reader to scrutinize and validate what they read by researching other reputable sources.

Wikipedia: Wahhabism is Arabic (وهابيةWahhābiya ([Arabic transliteration]) and is known as a branch of Sunni Islam (a religious movement).  The Islamic Supreme Council describes the “Influence of Wahhabism Today”.
Wahhabi Mosque
Excerpts from material written by the Islamic Supreme Council:

The Wahhabi ideology is antagonistic to non-Muslims and to traditional practices including seeking intercession by means of the pious saints in Islam, accepted by traditional Sunni Islam for over 1400 years. 

By rejecting any form of hierarchy such as that followed by traditional Sunni schools, the Wahhabis rejected traditional rulings on a wide range of subjects, invalidated the four schools of thought and its accepted interpretations of law, as well as issued declarations of unbelief for those who agreed.

While this new ideology prohibited many traditional Islamic forms of worship, its followers did not become overtly militant until recently.  Now “Wahhabi” followers have taken up an increasingly confrontational standpoint attempting to impose their ideology in many regions around the world.

The Wahhabi mentality asserts that Islam may be reformed by means of the sword. Thus the movement has manifested itself as armed insurrections throughout the world, especially where governments are weak and unable to resist aggression effectively.”  Islamic Supreme Council

Hari Sreenivasan, an anchor for PBS Newshour Weekend, wrote that Rashid Khalidi, a professor of modern Arab studies (Columbia University) “disputes that the Quran offers any justification for beheading. He cites the lines coming immediately after one of the two verses used to justify the act:

“Therefore, when you meet the unbelievers, smite at their necks.” But the very next line, contained in Chapter 47, Verse 4: “At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind the captives firmly. Therefore is the time for either generosity or ransom.”  PBS

"Islam must be seen by our new generation, as a system of life. A system characterized by rules and recommendations that guide and influence all aspects of our lives.”  - Samer Majzoub, President of Canadian Muslim Force.


BC Mosque

The Jamia Masjid mosque in Surrey, BC was visited by then-Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and seen wearing a jalabiya, an Arab-style Muslim robe, and was a participant in a (religious) prayer ritual called the Salat Al-Maghrib.  The participant has to state their intentions to pray (3 Fard, 2 sunnah and 2 Nafl).

At the end of the prayers, the “shahada” is spoken in Arabic. It is the Islamic Creed, known as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The shahadi (verb) means the person “testifies” or “bears witness” to the “truth” that Allah is one true God and Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah (true prophet).  Welland Tribune is one of the news sites to critique Trudeau’s involvement in the ritual.
The Tribune writes: Did Trudeau convert to Islam? Did the people praying with him think he did? If so, did he mean it?

It’s one thing to visit a mosque on Monday, a synagogue on Tuesday and a gay pride parade on Wednesday — all are part of a pluralistic Canada. But to say the shahada is more than showing tolerance or friendship to one faith. It’s to join that faith by testifying that it’s the only true faith.
Add in a recent speech Trudeau made to the Muslim Council of Calgary, in which he boasts of visiting Montreal’s wahhabi mosque — that’s the fundamentalist, Saudi-style extremist version of Islam that counts as is followers Osama bin Laden. Is it all political theatre, or is Trudeau actually going there?
It seems that reports of Trudeau saying the shahada are speculative as no media was allowed in the mosque.  The SUN news accuses Trudeau of political pandering.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRrJEMSV3Z4 

In May 2013, the Toronto Sun reported on the fact that the then-Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, along with her mother-in-law Margaret, donned the Muslim hijab head covering on Mother’s Day and was officially released.

Some may shrug and say it was done out of respect for the culture, but when the shahada is recited in front of two or more Muslim men, they are considered witnesses.  It is to “testify” of their faith. This is known to be the sole requirement to convert to Islam (Islamic law requirement).  Therefore the critics and skeptics are frowning upon the prime minister’s wife and mother wearing the hijab.

One has to wonder…when a political leader downplays the seriousness of the Islamic terrorists’ infiltration of Syria and the possibility that they could blend in with the refugees to infiltrate a host country, it is troubling, particularly after the terrorist attacks in Quebec and Ottawa.

When that leader has also been known to frequent mosques, speak at meetings such as “Reviving the Islamic Spirit” conferences, and has an advisor who supports radical Islam, is that leader genuinely concerned about the country’s security, or does he also support radical Islam? These are fair questions.

One truly has to consider such a possibility. The words of charismatic leaders in the past who won the hearts of the people, only to be known later for their betrayal, sleight of hand and deception echo down the corridors of history.
This is the same leader that accused the then-Prime Minister Steven Harper, in March 2015, of “deliberately sowing fear and prejudice against Muslims in Canada.”  
He also severely reprimanded Harper for his comments about a court ruling that disallowed the wearing of the niqab over the face (religious garment) by Muslim women during citizenship ceremonies.

“It is a cruel joke to claim you are liberating people from oppression by dictating in law what they can and cannot choose to wear.”  Justin Trudeau further stated, “We all know what is going on here.  It is nothing less than an attempt to play on people’s fears and foster prejudice, directly toward the Muslim faith.”  National Post - Canada

Since my intention is to provide readers with a bird’s eye view of both sides, I include the following.  The writer at Muslimlink.ca is a Muslim woman named Massey Hoveyda. The day after the October 19 election, she wrote:

“I think our duties as citizens of this country has [sic] only begun. Voting for change is one thing, but lobbying for it, tracking electoral promises and ensuring they become a reality, is the true essence of citizenship.

Excerpt 2:

It seemed apparent that the Harper government expected, via some distorted understanding of Islam, that as a Muslim Canadian, I stood in constant risk of spontaneous combustion of my moral and religious beliefs, of being oppressed as a woman or becoming radicalized as a Muslim.

I was, therefore, considered a constant walking, breathing threat to Canadian safety and society. What I saw as freedom in religious expression like the niqab (which is not a requirement of Islam and which I personally do not agree with, BUT accept as a form of peaceful religious expression protected under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms) were identified by my government as Barbaric Cultural Practices.

Whereas I had before been recognized as an active member of my community and as a Canadian citizen, I was now considered a second-class citizen with the possibility of being stripped of my citizenship should the government deem it necessary.
.
Excerpt 3:

I am a Muslim Canadian, and to me this duty is now of even higher importance, as we work to ensure that Canada steers clear of the darkness, racism and the politics of hate which has shadowed our communities in the past decade – that we remain an inclusive, fair and transparent society that works as a united front towards the establishment of justice and equality for all Canadians.  

Mr. Trudeau made reference, during his victory speech last night, to a Muslim woman wearing a hijab who held up her little girl to him and expressed gratitude for giving her a chance to choose what she wore as a woman and to be lifted from the ranks of second class citizenship.


This meant a lot to me. It is a moment that has become etched in my mind, as both a woman and a Muslim citizen of this country, as a turning point in the climate of Canadian politics because I had sadly forgotten what it meant to be acknowledged and respected by my Prime Minister.”  Muslim Link - Canada

Go here for Part SIX 


for His glory alone

Bonita                                        dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com

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