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Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions about the World s Fastest-Growing Faith
In Islam Unveiled, Robert Spencer dares to face the hard questions about what the Islamic religion actually teaches--and the potentially ominous implications of those teachings for the future of both the Muslim world and the West. Going beyond the shallow distinction between a true peaceful Islam and the hijacked Islam of terrorist groups, Spencer probes the Koran and Islamic traditions (as well as the history and present-day situation of the Muslim world) as part of his inquiry into why the world's fastest growing faith tends to arouse fanaticism. Islam Unveiled evaluates the relationship between Islamic fundamentalism and mainstream Islam; the fixation with violence and jihad; the reasons for Muslims' disturbing treatment of women; and devastating effects of Muslim polygamy and Islamic divorce laws. Spencer explores other daunting questions--why the human rights record of Islamic countries is so unrelievedly grim and how the root causes of this record exist in basic Muslim beliefs; why science and high culture died out in the Muslim world--and why this is a root cause of modern Muslim resentment. He evaluates what Muslims learn from the life of Muhammad, the man that Islam hails as the supreme model of human behavior. Above all, this provocative work grapples with the question that most preoccupies us can Islam create successful secularized societies that will coexist peacefully with the West's multicultural mosaic?
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
27 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Robert Spencer
116 books327 followersROBERT SPENCER is the director of Jihad Watch, a program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and the author of seventeen books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) and The Truth About Muhammad. His latest book is The Complete Infidel’s Guide to Free Speech (and Its Enemies). Coming in November 2017 is Confessions of an Islamophobe (Bombardier Books).
Spencer has led seminars on Islam and jihad for the FBI, the United States Central Command, United States Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group, the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Justice Department’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council and the U.S. intelligence community. He has discussed jihad, Islam, and terrorism at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the German Foreign Ministry. He is a consultant with the Center for Security Policy.
Spencer is a weekly columnist for PJ Media and FrontPage Magazine, and has written many hundreds of articles about jihad and Islamic terrorism. His articles on Islam and other topics have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Examiner, the New York Post, the Washington Times, the Dallas Morning News, Fox News Opinion, National Review, The Hill, the Detroit News, TownHall.com, Real Clear Religion, the Daily Caller, the New Criterion, the Journal of International Security Affairs, the UK’s Guardian, Canada’s National Post, Middle East Quarterly, WorldNet Daily, First Things, Insight in the News, Aleteia, and many other journals. For nearly ten years Spencer wrote the weekly Jihad Watch column at Human Events. He has also served as a contributing writer to the Investigative Project on Terrorism and as an Adjunct Fellow with the Free Congress Foundation.
Spencer has appeared on the BBC, ABC News, CNN, FoxNews’s Tucker Carlson Show, the O’Reilly Factor, Megyn Kelly’s The Kelly File, the Sean Hannity Show, Geraldo Rivera Reports, the Glenn Beck Show, Fox and Friends, America’s News HQ and many other Fox programs, PBS, MSNBC, CNBC, C-Span, CTV News, Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News, France24, Voice of Russia and Croatia National Television (HTV), as well as on numerous radio programs including The Sean Hannity Show, Bill O’Reilly’s Radio Factor, The Mark Levin Show, The Laura Ingraham Show, The Herman Cain Show, The Joe Piscopo Show, The Howie Carr Show, The Curt Schilling Show, Bill Bennett’s Morning in America, Michael Savage’s Savage Nation, The Alan Colmes Show, The G. Gordon Liddy Show, The Neal Boortz Show, The Michael Medved Show, The Michael Reagan Show, The Rusty Humphries Show, The Larry Elder Show, The Peter Boyles Show, Vatican Radio, and many others.
Robert Spencer has been a featured speaker across the country and around the world and authored 17 books. Spencer’s books have been translated into many languages, including Spanish, Italian, German, Finnish, Korean, Polish and Bahasa Indonesia. His Qur’an commentary at Jihad Watch, Blogging the Qur’an, has been translated into Czech, Danish, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
Spencer (MA, Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) has been studying Islamic theology, law, and history in depth since 1980. His work has aroused the ire of the foes of freedom and their dupes: in October 2011, Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups wrote to Homeland Security Advisor (and current CIA director) John Brennan, demanding that Spencer be removed as a trainer for the FBI and military groups, which he taught about the belief system of Islamic jihadists; Brennan immediately complied as counter-terror training materials were scrubbed of all mention of Islam and jihad. Spencer has been banned by the British government from entering the United Kingdom for pointing out accurately that Islam has doctrines of violence against unbelievers. He has been invited by name to convert to Islam by a senior member of al-Qaeda.
Spencer has led seminars on Islam and jihad for the FBI, the United States Central Command, United States Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group, the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Justice Department’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council and the U.S. intelligence community. He has discussed jihad, Islam, and terrorism at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the German Foreign Ministry. He is a consultant with the Center for Security Policy.
Spencer is a weekly columnist for PJ Media and FrontPage Magazine, and has written many hundreds of articles about jihad and Islamic terrorism. His articles on Islam and other topics have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Examiner, the New York Post, the Washington Times, the Dallas Morning News, Fox News Opinion, National Review, The Hill, the Detroit News, TownHall.com, Real Clear Religion, the Daily Caller, the New Criterion, the Journal of International Security Affairs, the UK’s Guardian, Canada’s National Post, Middle East Quarterly, WorldNet Daily, First Things, Insight in the News, Aleteia, and many other journals. For nearly ten years Spencer wrote the weekly Jihad Watch column at Human Events. He has also served as a contributing writer to the Investigative Project on Terrorism and as an Adjunct Fellow with the Free Congress Foundation.
Spencer has appeared on the BBC, ABC News, CNN, FoxNews’s Tucker Carlson Show, the O’Reilly Factor, Megyn Kelly’s The Kelly File, the Sean Hannity Show, Geraldo Rivera Reports, the Glenn Beck Show, Fox and Friends, America’s News HQ and many other Fox programs, PBS, MSNBC, CNBC, C-Span, CTV News, Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News, France24, Voice of Russia and Croatia National Television (HTV), as well as on numerous radio programs including The Sean Hannity Show, Bill O’Reilly’s Radio Factor, The Mark Levin Show, The Laura Ingraham Show, The Herman Cain Show, The Joe Piscopo Show, The Howie Carr Show, The Curt Schilling Show, Bill Bennett’s Morning in America, Michael Savage’s Savage Nation, The Alan Colmes Show, The G. Gordon Liddy Show, The Neal Boortz Show, The Michael Medved Show, The Michael Reagan Show, The Rusty Humphries Show, The Larry Elder Show, The Peter Boyles Show, Vatican Radio, and many others.
Robert Spencer has been a featured speaker across the country and around the world and authored 17 books. Spencer’s books have been translated into many languages, including Spanish, Italian, German, Finnish, Korean, Polish and Bahasa Indonesia. His Qur’an commentary at Jihad Watch, Blogging the Qur’an, has been translated into Czech, Danish, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
Spencer (MA, Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) has been studying Islamic theology, law, and history in depth since 1980. His work has aroused the ire of the foes of freedom and their dupes: in October 2011, Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups wrote to Homeland Security Advisor (and current CIA director) John Brennan, demanding that Spencer be removed as a trainer for the FBI and military groups, which he taught about the belief system of Islamic jihadists; Brennan immediately complied as counter-terror training materials were scrubbed of all mention of Islam and jihad. Spencer has been banned by the British government from entering the United Kingdom for pointing out accurately that Islam has doctrines of violence against unbelievers. He has been invited by name to convert to Islam by a senior member of al-Qaeda.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 23, 2022
I have no animus against Muslims and neither does the author of this book. However, I do think it’s perfectly okay to ask tough questions about the faith and it’s views on women’s rights, apostasy, and tolerance. Spencer asks these tough questions and, unfortunately, it does appear that Islam is in need of reformation.
December 20, 2014
This is an excellent critique of a religion that defies critique. Robert Spencer is a respected/reviled critic of jihadism, but he frankly has good reason to be critical. Spencer's work is too often dismissed as racist or bigoted. Those insults are not only inaccurate, in my view, but insidious as they attempt to silence one of the few voices still willing to speak out about the serious problems inherent within this religion. It is a truly complex religion, and even though we must never forget the human element - that people are people and that we must not assume guilt by association nor demand the innocent be punished for the sins of their co-religionists - we also must not be so naive as to willfully allow the sinister elements of Islam (or any religion or other group for that matter) to advance their positions at the expense of the rights of the rest of humanity.
July 8, 2016
Unlike other reviewers, I think Spencer tries to give Islam its due. He compares and contrasts the arguments that the sympathizers make with the ones the critics make. On the other hand, when he quotes the Quran, but he seems to stick to only the most inflammatory passages.
I continue to be curious about why Islam, once at the forefront of culture, science, philosophy, medicine, literature, etc. lost that dynamism. Spencer argues that Western thinkers in the age of enlightenment posited that God created the world the natural world to follow a set of laws. We humans can know and understand those laws, depend on them, and demonstrate them in different ways. He argues that, although there were Muslim philosophers who believed in the validity of conclusions reached using human reason, mainstream or orthodox Muslim thinkers did not. Orthodox Muslims argued that God could do whatever he wanted, and did not need to "obey" any "laws." Hence, it was ridiculous to try and discover and articulate those laws. The only knowledge anyone needed was all in the Quran, for then, for now, and for always.
I continue to be curious about why Islam, once at the forefront of culture, science, philosophy, medicine, literature, etc. lost that dynamism. Spencer argues that Western thinkers in the age of enlightenment posited that God created the world the natural world to follow a set of laws. We humans can know and understand those laws, depend on them, and demonstrate them in different ways. He argues that, although there were Muslim philosophers who believed in the validity of conclusions reached using human reason, mainstream or orthodox Muslim thinkers did not. Orthodox Muslims argued that God could do whatever he wanted, and did not need to "obey" any "laws." Hence, it was ridiculous to try and discover and articulate those laws. The only knowledge anyone needed was all in the Quran, for then, for now, and for always.
June 1, 2016
Always enjoy Robert Spencer's books. I don't always agree with everything he says, but his work is always well researched and well documented. This book asks some bothersome questions about the origins of and the nature of the teachings of Islam that anyone who considers themselves an adherent needs to at least ask themselves. Enlightening, controversial and highly recommended.
Listened to the unabridged Audible.com audiobook version.
Listened to the unabridged Audible.com audiobook version.
June 13, 2016
Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions about the World's Fastest-Growing Faith - Robert Spencer
I read this book along with several others by modern authors looking at the origins and future of Islam, including works by Reza Aslan, Maajid and Sam Harris, Tamim Ansary, Ayan Hirsi Ali, Ziauddin Sardar, and others (see list at bottom). This is easily the most Western-oriented and most critical of Islam. The context in which Spencer wrote this book is 2002-2003 when the US was invading and occupying Iraq, ostensibly in part due to a belief that Al-Zarqawi and Saddam Hussein were linked and somehow complicit for 9/11.
Spencer examines modern thoughts from Islamic scholars and clerics and rather selectively quotes from throughout the centuries on subjects ranging from slavery, to women's rights, to warfare. He is pushing back on the criticisms of himself and others of "Islamophobia," rejecting the same caution about political correctness found on the Left that Nawaz and Harris address in their dialogue on Islam. He is also criticizing the Leftish push toward "multiculturalism" and "plurality" in that it discourages the assimilation needed for everyone living within a border to live under the same laws and have the same rights and opportunities. The "melting pot" of America has had less of a problem assimilating Muslim immigrants than Europe, where you see places like France have essentially a class system that systematically discriminates against foreigners and limits their opportunities. He rightly addresses the tensions that Hirsi Ali and Mona Eltahawy raise in their books-- is a woman forced to wear a burqa being deprived of her human rights or is it an untouchable topic of culture and religion? A major weakness of the book, however, is that he mostly lumps "Islam" into one category, not recognizing different strains, such as Sufism, that have a diversity of views and practices. He pulls quotes from Islamic scholars throughout history without explaining the context of the quote itself, or what school of thought the cleric came from. This is not a scholarly work, but rather a political reaction.
Early on, Spencer recognizes the need to deal with the text-- do we approach the Quran as Tom Holland does, as a function of the cultural context it was written in or as an eternal non-created document in an eternal language (Arabic) that therefore predates the earth and all other religions (as is orthodox Islamic doctrine since the 800s, before which proponents of this view such as Ibn Hanbal were imprisoned as heretical.) He also brings up the thousands of hadiths and the varying degree to which they are considered reliable records of Muhammad's thoughts and deeds. Spencer could have done well to explain the process by which "western" Greek ideas such as reason and rhetoric were initially embraced by Islamic scholars from the 700-800s and later rejected as the views of conservative clerics tending to more of a Salafist view that the Quran could not be read and interpreted contextually eventually held sway. Spencer recognizes that most Muslims do not deal contextually-hermeneutically with the Quran and therefore picking and choosing verses to back a point is a fair game (there's no such thing as "out of context.") But Spencer seems largely ignorant of historical scholarship and that is not his aim in this book.
In regards to women, Spencer notes that Muhammad had access to many more women than just his wife, bringing up the controversy over Muhammad marrying his adopted son's former wife, which some claim from various hadiths that Muhammad brought about-- he was impressed by her and made it happen. He deals with the history of female circumcision, how rape is only provable if there are four male witnesses attesting to it, and shows various interpretations of the Quranic verse about beating women-- none of which are as light a translation/interpretation as Reza Aslan puts forth in his book No god but God. There is a theme running through many hadiths and writings that hell is filled with more women than men.
Ultimately, Quranic verses dealing with women (such as allowing men to have four wives)and the patriarchal and tribal customs that existed in the time of Muhammad are what drive later legal and and cultural understandings about the rights of women. Among other books I read along with this one were several written by women who were raised in the Middle East and Africa, they do a better job painting the complex realities of women in Islam.
Spencer also raises concerns about the relationship between Islam and democracy. Islam cannot be separated from governance, the Quran is the basis for theocracy, there is no other legitimate government. Hence, Spencer would predict secular democratic countries like Turkey where conservative, Islamic-practicing ministers have been elected, would gradually erode the remnants of the secular democracy and impose more Islamic-based laws that may run contrary to Western definitions of rights and liberties. Many would argue this is what has happened in Turkey since this book was published. Spencer, like many authors, notes that historically the Islamic reaction to stagnation has been a move toward more conservativism (such as at the end of the Abbasid caliphate).
Lastly, the author addresses the idea of "jihad," since he is the founder of a group called "Jihad Watch." Islam's first century was rapid expansion from Africa to India by military conquest, it spread under "the shadow of the sword." Tamim Ansary and Robert Hoyland have pointed out that the concept of "jihad" was used in the seventh and eighth centuries for offensive purposes, while John Esposito would argue that it was misused at that time-- jihad is a defensive concept with Quranic restrictions on its appropriateness. The later "House of War" and "House of Islam" dichotomy has also led to justification of further spreading Islam by force by Salafis and groups like ISIS today. Spencer does not seem to acknowledge that this phrase came about after Muhammad. Spencer writes that all generally agree that Muhammad gave license to kill apostate Muslim converts, but he may not agree that much of the assimilation of cultures in that first century after Muhammad was done non-violently. The largely Arab armies were outnumbered by the locals, therefore concessions had to be made, they did not have a "convert or die" ultimatum as is so often assumed. Where Jews and others claim massacres occured, there is disputed evidence and other counter-examples; every area's conquest was different. In short, there is a battle about the definitions and origins of the word and concept "jihad."
To Spencer's point about how multiculturalism discourages assimilation, "demographics may make jihad unnecessary." His comments here border on xenophobia as he notes how largely-unassimilated Muslims are growing in number in Europe and will soon have influence over various laws and interpretations of laws there; the same in the US where as I write this in 2016 the US Census is reporting that Arabic is the fastest-growing language. There is not an overt proposed solution here, but it would seems Western societies absorbing these populations need to have a good apologetic for why the laws and values for having adopted the constitutions and laws that are currently on the books.
In all, I give this book 1.5 stars. It raises good questions to ask but does so in an unhelpful manner. It is too easy for someone to read this book and draw conclusions without further investigating the history of Islam and engaging with the diaspora of Islamic beliefs.
Other books read concurrently that I recommend above this one:
A Very Short Introduction to the Koran - Michael Cook (4.5)
A Very Short Introduction to Islam - Malise Ruthven (3 stars)
In the The Shadow of the Sword - Tom Holland (4 stars)
In God's Path - The Arab Conquests and the Creation of an Islamic Empire - Hoyland (4 stars)
Great World Religions: Islam (The Great Courses)- John Esposito (3 stars)
Reza Aslan - No god but God - The Origins and Future of Islam (2.5 stars)
Dialogue with Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz - Islam and the Future of Tolerance (1.5 stars)
Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes - Tamim Ansary (4.5 stars)
Heretic - Ayan Hirsi Ali (4 stars)
Headscarves and Hymens - Mona Eltahawy (3.5 stars)
The Land of Invisible Women - Qanta Ahmed (4.5 stars)
The United States and the Middle East 1914-2001 by Salim Yuqub (Great Courses)
Brief History of the Middle East - Peter Mansfield (3.5 stars)
History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani (4.5 stars)
Desparately Seeking Paradise - Ziauddin Sardar (4.5 stars)
What Do Muslims Believe? - Ziauddin Sardar
I read this book along with several others by modern authors looking at the origins and future of Islam, including works by Reza Aslan, Maajid and Sam Harris, Tamim Ansary, Ayan Hirsi Ali, Ziauddin Sardar, and others (see list at bottom). This is easily the most Western-oriented and most critical of Islam. The context in which Spencer wrote this book is 2002-2003 when the US was invading and occupying Iraq, ostensibly in part due to a belief that Al-Zarqawi and Saddam Hussein were linked and somehow complicit for 9/11.
Spencer examines modern thoughts from Islamic scholars and clerics and rather selectively quotes from throughout the centuries on subjects ranging from slavery, to women's rights, to warfare. He is pushing back on the criticisms of himself and others of "Islamophobia," rejecting the same caution about political correctness found on the Left that Nawaz and Harris address in their dialogue on Islam. He is also criticizing the Leftish push toward "multiculturalism" and "plurality" in that it discourages the assimilation needed for everyone living within a border to live under the same laws and have the same rights and opportunities. The "melting pot" of America has had less of a problem assimilating Muslim immigrants than Europe, where you see places like France have essentially a class system that systematically discriminates against foreigners and limits their opportunities. He rightly addresses the tensions that Hirsi Ali and Mona Eltahawy raise in their books-- is a woman forced to wear a burqa being deprived of her human rights or is it an untouchable topic of culture and religion? A major weakness of the book, however, is that he mostly lumps "Islam" into one category, not recognizing different strains, such as Sufism, that have a diversity of views and practices. He pulls quotes from Islamic scholars throughout history without explaining the context of the quote itself, or what school of thought the cleric came from. This is not a scholarly work, but rather a political reaction.
Early on, Spencer recognizes the need to deal with the text-- do we approach the Quran as Tom Holland does, as a function of the cultural context it was written in or as an eternal non-created document in an eternal language (Arabic) that therefore predates the earth and all other religions (as is orthodox Islamic doctrine since the 800s, before which proponents of this view such as Ibn Hanbal were imprisoned as heretical.) He also brings up the thousands of hadiths and the varying degree to which they are considered reliable records of Muhammad's thoughts and deeds. Spencer could have done well to explain the process by which "western" Greek ideas such as reason and rhetoric were initially embraced by Islamic scholars from the 700-800s and later rejected as the views of conservative clerics tending to more of a Salafist view that the Quran could not be read and interpreted contextually eventually held sway. Spencer recognizes that most Muslims do not deal contextually-hermeneutically with the Quran and therefore picking and choosing verses to back a point is a fair game (there's no such thing as "out of context.") But Spencer seems largely ignorant of historical scholarship and that is not his aim in this book.
In regards to women, Spencer notes that Muhammad had access to many more women than just his wife, bringing up the controversy over Muhammad marrying his adopted son's former wife, which some claim from various hadiths that Muhammad brought about-- he was impressed by her and made it happen. He deals with the history of female circumcision, how rape is only provable if there are four male witnesses attesting to it, and shows various interpretations of the Quranic verse about beating women-- none of which are as light a translation/interpretation as Reza Aslan puts forth in his book No god but God. There is a theme running through many hadiths and writings that hell is filled with more women than men.
Ultimately, Quranic verses dealing with women (such as allowing men to have four wives)and the patriarchal and tribal customs that existed in the time of Muhammad are what drive later legal and and cultural understandings about the rights of women. Among other books I read along with this one were several written by women who were raised in the Middle East and Africa, they do a better job painting the complex realities of women in Islam.
Spencer also raises concerns about the relationship between Islam and democracy. Islam cannot be separated from governance, the Quran is the basis for theocracy, there is no other legitimate government. Hence, Spencer would predict secular democratic countries like Turkey where conservative, Islamic-practicing ministers have been elected, would gradually erode the remnants of the secular democracy and impose more Islamic-based laws that may run contrary to Western definitions of rights and liberties. Many would argue this is what has happened in Turkey since this book was published. Spencer, like many authors, notes that historically the Islamic reaction to stagnation has been a move toward more conservativism (such as at the end of the Abbasid caliphate).
Lastly, the author addresses the idea of "jihad," since he is the founder of a group called "Jihad Watch." Islam's first century was rapid expansion from Africa to India by military conquest, it spread under "the shadow of the sword." Tamim Ansary and Robert Hoyland have pointed out that the concept of "jihad" was used in the seventh and eighth centuries for offensive purposes, while John Esposito would argue that it was misused at that time-- jihad is a defensive concept with Quranic restrictions on its appropriateness. The later "House of War" and "House of Islam" dichotomy has also led to justification of further spreading Islam by force by Salafis and groups like ISIS today. Spencer does not seem to acknowledge that this phrase came about after Muhammad. Spencer writes that all generally agree that Muhammad gave license to kill apostate Muslim converts, but he may not agree that much of the assimilation of cultures in that first century after Muhammad was done non-violently. The largely Arab armies were outnumbered by the locals, therefore concessions had to be made, they did not have a "convert or die" ultimatum as is so often assumed. Where Jews and others claim massacres occured, there is disputed evidence and other counter-examples; every area's conquest was different. In short, there is a battle about the definitions and origins of the word and concept "jihad."
To Spencer's point about how multiculturalism discourages assimilation, "demographics may make jihad unnecessary." His comments here border on xenophobia as he notes how largely-unassimilated Muslims are growing in number in Europe and will soon have influence over various laws and interpretations of laws there; the same in the US where as I write this in 2016 the US Census is reporting that Arabic is the fastest-growing language. There is not an overt proposed solution here, but it would seems Western societies absorbing these populations need to have a good apologetic for why the laws and values for having adopted the constitutions and laws that are currently on the books.
In all, I give this book 1.5 stars. It raises good questions to ask but does so in an unhelpful manner. It is too easy for someone to read this book and draw conclusions without further investigating the history of Islam and engaging with the diaspora of Islamic beliefs.
Other books read concurrently that I recommend above this one:
A Very Short Introduction to the Koran - Michael Cook (4.5)
A Very Short Introduction to Islam - Malise Ruthven (3 stars)
In the The Shadow of the Sword - Tom Holland (4 stars)
In God's Path - The Arab Conquests and the Creation of an Islamic Empire - Hoyland (4 stars)
Great World Religions: Islam (The Great Courses)- John Esposito (3 stars)
Reza Aslan - No god but God - The Origins and Future of Islam (2.5 stars)
Dialogue with Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz - Islam and the Future of Tolerance (1.5 stars)
Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes - Tamim Ansary (4.5 stars)
Heretic - Ayan Hirsi Ali (4 stars)
Headscarves and Hymens - Mona Eltahawy (3.5 stars)
The Land of Invisible Women - Qanta Ahmed (4.5 stars)
The United States and the Middle East 1914-2001 by Salim Yuqub (Great Courses)
Brief History of the Middle East - Peter Mansfield (3.5 stars)
History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani (4.5 stars)
Desparately Seeking Paradise - Ziauddin Sardar (4.5 stars)
What Do Muslims Believe? - Ziauddin Sardar
October 31, 2017
Contrary to what a lot of people think, this book nor its author incites hate towards Muslims. Rather, it does put Islam to the test. Spencer's challenge can be summarized with a quote by Robert Harris: "The problem with Islamic fundamentalism are the fundamentals of Islam". And thus, Spencer discusses the main themes with which Islam has fundamental problems. To state his case, he quotes directly from the Quran, the hadiths and the Sharia and makes a link with a series of anecdotes.
This anecdotal character, however, stands in stark contrast with the lack of an analysis of a broader mentality in the Muslim world, whilst the theological texts offer a too theoretical basis. Besides, Spencer gives way too much credit to Christianity, as the "basis of Western democratic values". Nevertheless, 15 years after publication, Islam Unveiled is alarmingly relevant, and offers a good overview of what the West is up against.
This anecdotal character, however, stands in stark contrast with the lack of an analysis of a broader mentality in the Muslim world, whilst the theological texts offer a too theoretical basis. Besides, Spencer gives way too much credit to Christianity, as the "basis of Western democratic values". Nevertheless, 15 years after publication, Islam Unveiled is alarmingly relevant, and offers a good overview of what the West is up against.
August 10, 2008
I read this as part of my "learn more about the middle east" kick which also included Palastine by Joe Sacco and would have also included Said (it still will) except I was over ambitious at the library and had to return it before reading it.
The premise of this book is that Islam reads the Koran as the direct word of god and since Muhammad was actually a leader of a community in an age when being a leader of a community usually meant going to war as opposed to other religious figures like the guy with religious ideas under the Roman Empire's rule (that's Jesus, see)the Koran has lots of stuff that most of us generally don't find suitable today like killing your enemies and having multiple wives. A primary hinge for this argument it that Islam does not have the long history of reinterpreting the holy text that Judaism does (aka no one is stoning homosexuals even though Leviticus says to straight up) nor the benevolent 'turn the other cheek,' 'meek shall inherit the earth' thing of Christianity. Without those things it is harder for moderate Muslims to argue against Fundimentalists and not risk being considered not Muslim.
Spencer does a good job citing evidence from current events and to support this hinging claim, but I would like to see the other side, if anyone is arguing the other side
As for the rest of the book that basically goes through different chapters of women's rights, human rights... he seems to show some solid Koran quotes that don't look so pretty. What bugged me is his constant reference to how Judaism and Christianity were not comparable. I would be rather more likely to say that all three religions are outdated to our current values, and more dangerous than helpful, but that the skeptical atheist in me.
You will also get the gist of the book in the first chapter where he lays out the argument. No real need to read the rest of the chapters. Its clear after the first couple that the answer to all the rhetorical question chapter titles is no.
The premise of this book is that Islam reads the Koran as the direct word of god and since Muhammad was actually a leader of a community in an age when being a leader of a community usually meant going to war as opposed to other religious figures like the guy with religious ideas under the Roman Empire's rule (that's Jesus, see)the Koran has lots of stuff that most of us generally don't find suitable today like killing your enemies and having multiple wives. A primary hinge for this argument it that Islam does not have the long history of reinterpreting the holy text that Judaism does (aka no one is stoning homosexuals even though Leviticus says to straight up) nor the benevolent 'turn the other cheek,' 'meek shall inherit the earth' thing of Christianity. Without those things it is harder for moderate Muslims to argue against Fundimentalists and not risk being considered not Muslim.
Spencer does a good job citing evidence from current events and to support this hinging claim, but I would like to see the other side, if anyone is arguing the other side
As for the rest of the book that basically goes through different chapters of women's rights, human rights... he seems to show some solid Koran quotes that don't look so pretty. What bugged me is his constant reference to how Judaism and Christianity were not comparable. I would be rather more likely to say that all three religions are outdated to our current values, and more dangerous than helpful, but that the skeptical atheist in me.
You will also get the gist of the book in the first chapter where he lays out the argument. No real need to read the rest of the chapters. Its clear after the first couple that the answer to all the rhetorical question chapter titles is no.
May 10, 2015
Although this book is definitely anti Islamic, I think it was well researched and still presented opposing views, often times comparing Islam to Christianity. I would like to see an afterward that updates the book in its relation to current events. Spencer's predictions about the world and Islam after the death of Hussein, Bin Laden, and Gaddafi have been correct and his definition of ISIS has somewhat changed since the book being published. Definitely an interesting and shocking read.
October 14, 2025
Everybody should read this book. With the world rapidly changing it’s important to know what Islam truly believes (and not what the hyper tolerant west thinks it believes). Theology is important, knowing what is truly said in texts is important, taking off rose colored glasses is important, and seeing things for what they are is important. Stating what is true might get the world to label you a bunch of different things, yet that all washes away when it really matters
October 30, 2023
Interesting listen that helped provide research and education to understanding the Islamic faith. A lot of thought provoking questions, research and theory that I learned a lot from. While this book is over 10 years old, a lot of this can be applied to current world affairs.
April 16, 2007
Scary!!! A must read for any serious student on the threat to Western civilization by the perpetrators of global jihad.
Going beyond the shallow distinction between a "true" peaceful Islam and the "hijacked" Islam of terrorist groups, Robert Spencer probes the Qur'an and other sacred documents, as well as Islamic traditions and history and the present-day situation of the Muslim world, to find out why the world's fastest-growing faith tends to arouse extremism. A student of religion for the last 20 years, Spencer brings a knowledgeable and critical sensibility to this brave, searching work. Cutting through the touchy and sentimental relativism of so much current discussion about the subject, he rigorously interrogates Islam. Were Osama bin Laden and his followers perverting Islam when they claimed to find sanction for their attacks against the United States in the Qur'an?
Going beyond the shallow distinction between a "true" peaceful Islam and the "hijacked" Islam of terrorist groups, Robert Spencer probes the Qur'an and other sacred documents, as well as Islamic traditions and history and the present-day situation of the Muslim world, to find out why the world's fastest-growing faith tends to arouse extremism. A student of religion for the last 20 years, Spencer brings a knowledgeable and critical sensibility to this brave, searching work. Cutting through the touchy and sentimental relativism of so much current discussion about the subject, he rigorously interrogates Islam. Were Osama bin Laden and his followers perverting Islam when they claimed to find sanction for their attacks against the United States in the Qur'an?
September 8, 2014
Given the current situation with ISIS in Iraq and Syria I wanted to learn more about Islam. I really liked the author's style of compare and contrast vs Christianity and Catholicism, and he was well researched into Islam historically and in modern day. I finished the book very disturbed by Muslim treatment of women (polygamy,divorce, child brides, lack of education), the religious rationale behind violence, and a better understanding about how peaceful Muslims -in America- are more the exception than the norm although they obviously are the ones we will have more contact with (vs. the brutality in Iraq where it is a state religion and all other minorities pushed down).
April 15, 2010
I was skeptical about this book at first having experienced much religious ignorance in my time, but the author throughout is careful to give a non-biased account of Islam. Concepts such as sharia and caliphates are explained in a way that I was able to understand. It examines the history from Mohammad to present day Iran and unveils the socio-political forces that drive quite a large portion of the world's society.
January 30, 2008
I wish more people knew of this book and Robert Spencer. A lot of the nonsense about "prejudice", "profiling", and Islam being peaceful could be quickly put to rest.
April 21, 2013
A real eye opener.
Worth looking into
Worth looking into
August 2, 2014
Robert Spencer is clearly an expert in this area. Plus he's a middle eastern Christian so he knows first hand how Islam works "on the ground."
August 22, 2014
Read this back in college.
January 16, 2015
Democracy is not important enough as it does not fit with beliefs. Submission is required by all and once a Muslim you can never leave.
July 3, 2015
Solid content, but the complete lack of organization and irritating amount of repetitiveness spoiled this book for me.
May 16, 2015
I could barely make it through this book
February 24, 2017
Excellent overview of Islam and its contrast with both orthodox Christianity and the western culture that is Christendom's successor.
March 16, 2023
I almost did not read this because of some of the reviews I read. While I recognize that people have their own opinions and are free to share them, I did not find "bigotry" or “hate” in this work. I did feel a little Islamophobia was displayed by the author, toward the religion in general, not the people. (He is particular about those who were in power and squandered their opportunity to allow their societies to progress. I recognize that “progress” is a relative term depending on your point of view. Robert Spencer’s POV is clear. There is no guess where he stands.
Criticism about not documenting the work is completely unfounded. A full 15% of the entire book is filled with documentation and reference materials. I added no less than 4 books on this subject to my “To-Read” list. I am glad I decided to read for my own benefit.
All in all, I found this to be a highly informative and beneficial read. I like to examine all sides and make up my own mind. This has added weighty material for me to continue to study and consider. Let me quote a few lines in the book that asked difficult questions. They are legitimate questions, but as he states, our fear of not being PC has veered from finding the truth to another tool for suppressing well-thought-out discussions and debates. Let me share a couple of quotes from the book to make my point: All quotes by the author unless specified.
“Islam has never known the separation of church and state which has determined the political and social evolution of the West, leading as it does from absolutism to democracy, from obedience to civil rights, and from blind faith to reason. Absolutism remains the rule. Some Muslim countries have religious rulers, others have nationalist and secular rulers, but all (with the doubtful exception of Turkey) are despotisms, in which the rule of law is a matter to be negotiated. Everywhere the secret police and the military are an ominous presence. This is what inhibits the creative energies of Muslims and prevents them from doing justice to themselves.”
“If political conditions were different, might the world be afflicted with hundreds of thousands of Christian terrorists, instead of Muslim ones? Or is there something about Islam itself that gives rise to this sort of thing?"
“Each time that Muslim terrorists struck, Americans hastened to assure themselves and the world: We know this is not real Islam; we know these terrorists are hijacking the religion of peace.”
"Between fear and political correctness, it's not possible to say anything other than sugary nonsense about Islam."
"Political correctness is one thing, but fear? What are people like [this] professor who declined to not be identified because he is afraid to say anything? Professional censure? Disapproval? Firing? No-these anxieties are the luxuries of academics in other fields. Scholars who dare.”
(I’m thinking of Salman Rashid, who has had a fatwa issued against him because he was a bit lose on how he treated the Prophet in his fictitious book: Satanic Verses.” He has now been in hiding for 20+ years with his family in fear of someone spotting him and eliminating him.”)
(Think Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident reporter, and journalist who was critical of Saudi Royalty. Khashoggi goes to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for a marriage license but never leaves the embassy because he was hacked into little pieces by the Saudi “government,” and never seen again by his fiancé. Although there is straightforward evidence that the Saudi Crown Prince ordered the assassination, not much has happened, or been said in the international community out of fear of “ruffling” some feathers in the oil-rich world.) That has been my observation.
When your political leaders are your religious leaders, the “Law” is upheld by the Koran, it is interpreted by the Koran.
With whatever fears we may have, I believe it would best to understand our world's neighbors and think about their plight and what we can do to assist in ways that would be beneficial for all.
Here is what Ayatollah Khomeini said when speaking to members of the UN: “Allah did not create man so that he could have fun. The aim of creation was for mankind to be put to the test through hardship and prayer. An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious."
What? No fun! Yea, living under those rules would be suffocating for sure. But not close to what the women suffer when forced to live under Sharia.
Points were well made, and I think I will be referring to this often.
This book was from a scholarly Westerner’s point of view. From a Muslim Woman’s point of view, I suggest picking up the book by Ayaan Hirsi titled: Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now. It addresses the why, as in this book, and gives some really good anecdotes about her life as a Muslim woman growing up in Somalia. She wrote a couple more books I liked:
1. Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations
2. Infidel
3. Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights
I gave this book 4 stars, but it leans more toward 3.5 as I didn’t think there were many suggestions on resolutions. This book focused more on the differences between Islamic countries and the West, their train of thought, and why they think or act the way they do. Maybe there isn’t a fix, but I would love to hear more opinions on the subject.
I am not optimistic; when the rational and irrational (each thinking they are the other) come together, chaos is likely to ensue.
Criticism about not documenting the work is completely unfounded. A full 15% of the entire book is filled with documentation and reference materials. I added no less than 4 books on this subject to my “To-Read” list. I am glad I decided to read for my own benefit.
All in all, I found this to be a highly informative and beneficial read. I like to examine all sides and make up my own mind. This has added weighty material for me to continue to study and consider. Let me quote a few lines in the book that asked difficult questions. They are legitimate questions, but as he states, our fear of not being PC has veered from finding the truth to another tool for suppressing well-thought-out discussions and debates. Let me share a couple of quotes from the book to make my point: All quotes by the author unless specified.
“Islam has never known the separation of church and state which has determined the political and social evolution of the West, leading as it does from absolutism to democracy, from obedience to civil rights, and from blind faith to reason. Absolutism remains the rule. Some Muslim countries have religious rulers, others have nationalist and secular rulers, but all (with the doubtful exception of Turkey) are despotisms, in which the rule of law is a matter to be negotiated. Everywhere the secret police and the military are an ominous presence. This is what inhibits the creative energies of Muslims and prevents them from doing justice to themselves.”
“If political conditions were different, might the world be afflicted with hundreds of thousands of Christian terrorists, instead of Muslim ones? Or is there something about Islam itself that gives rise to this sort of thing?"
“Each time that Muslim terrorists struck, Americans hastened to assure themselves and the world: We know this is not real Islam; we know these terrorists are hijacking the religion of peace.”
"Between fear and political correctness, it's not possible to say anything other than sugary nonsense about Islam."
"Political correctness is one thing, but fear? What are people like [this] professor who declined to not be identified because he is afraid to say anything? Professional censure? Disapproval? Firing? No-these anxieties are the luxuries of academics in other fields. Scholars who dare.”
(I’m thinking of Salman Rashid, who has had a fatwa issued against him because he was a bit lose on how he treated the Prophet in his fictitious book: Satanic Verses.” He has now been in hiding for 20+ years with his family in fear of someone spotting him and eliminating him.”)
(Think Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident reporter, and journalist who was critical of Saudi Royalty. Khashoggi goes to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for a marriage license but never leaves the embassy because he was hacked into little pieces by the Saudi “government,” and never seen again by his fiancé. Although there is straightforward evidence that the Saudi Crown Prince ordered the assassination, not much has happened, or been said in the international community out of fear of “ruffling” some feathers in the oil-rich world.) That has been my observation.
When your political leaders are your religious leaders, the “Law” is upheld by the Koran, it is interpreted by the Koran.
With whatever fears we may have, I believe it would best to understand our world's neighbors and think about their plight and what we can do to assist in ways that would be beneficial for all.
Here is what Ayatollah Khomeini said when speaking to members of the UN: “Allah did not create man so that he could have fun. The aim of creation was for mankind to be put to the test through hardship and prayer. An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious."
What? No fun! Yea, living under those rules would be suffocating for sure. But not close to what the women suffer when forced to live under Sharia.
Points were well made, and I think I will be referring to this often.
This book was from a scholarly Westerner’s point of view. From a Muslim Woman’s point of view, I suggest picking up the book by Ayaan Hirsi titled: Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now. It addresses the why, as in this book, and gives some really good anecdotes about her life as a Muslim woman growing up in Somalia. She wrote a couple more books I liked:
1. Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations
2. Infidel
3. Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights
I gave this book 4 stars, but it leans more toward 3.5 as I didn’t think there were many suggestions on resolutions. This book focused more on the differences between Islamic countries and the West, their train of thought, and why they think or act the way they do. Maybe there isn’t a fix, but I would love to hear more opinions on the subject.
I am not optimistic; when the rational and irrational (each thinking they are the other) come together, chaos is likely to ensue.
July 17, 2024
Even from the title of the book it would not be difficult to assume that this book would raise some concerns, just like any other work that says anything less-than positive about Islam. Yet, far from being Islam-bashing, the book presents a balanced, well-researched and historically-based analysis of what is essentially the inherent incompatibility between Islam and the West. This certainly opens up the question about the socio-political and cultural consequences of the multiculturalism frenzy that is ongoing in Western societies, especially since multiculturalism is implemented and respected principally only by one side, whereas the other invokes it only when it benefits from it. In truth, the second side is actively encouraged to do so. But that is well beyond the point of this book.
What is the author's essential point is that all the truth, knowledge and anything that anyone would ever need is contained in the Quran, and nothing beyond it really matters. And starting from this point he goes on to explore different attitudes of Islam to different issues, on this basis. What he ultimately does is look at the verses in the Quran and how they relate to certain aspects of society throughout history and today. He also does look at more "moderate" voices who raised concerns about the treatment of the Quranic verses and their contextuality, yet he also does well to show that these voices have been and still are the minority - and cause no consequences, other than perhaps endanger their own lives. I've read in one of the reviews of this book that the author fails to treat the different strains of Islam, which is just incorrect - the entire implicit point of the book is that no matter the strains within, the problem with Islam will always be present, so long as the Quran is taken literally and as the one and sole Truth.
What to me was missing in the book is perhaps a clearer delineation of the more political aspects from the more spiritual aspects of Islam, insofar as the book tends to focus primarily on the political aspects, or rather the political implications. Perhaps, even further, a chapter devoted to the link between politics and Islam and why this link is inherent in much contemporary treatment of Islam to the point of it becoming a political religion (rather than a spiritual practice) would have also been interesting (consider that for example, much of the rhetoric of Islamic terrorists is geopolitical and the hostility is related to questions of geopolitics rather than spirituality).
For this purpose, as well as due to issues with formatting I give this book 4 stars, with the added recommendation for people to read it, as it does present a balanced and historical view of many of the contemporary debates about the place of Islam in the West.
What is the author's essential point is that all the truth, knowledge and anything that anyone would ever need is contained in the Quran, and nothing beyond it really matters. And starting from this point he goes on to explore different attitudes of Islam to different issues, on this basis. What he ultimately does is look at the verses in the Quran and how they relate to certain aspects of society throughout history and today. He also does look at more "moderate" voices who raised concerns about the treatment of the Quranic verses and their contextuality, yet he also does well to show that these voices have been and still are the minority - and cause no consequences, other than perhaps endanger their own lives. I've read in one of the reviews of this book that the author fails to treat the different strains of Islam, which is just incorrect - the entire implicit point of the book is that no matter the strains within, the problem with Islam will always be present, so long as the Quran is taken literally and as the one and sole Truth.
What to me was missing in the book is perhaps a clearer delineation of the more political aspects from the more spiritual aspects of Islam, insofar as the book tends to focus primarily on the political aspects, or rather the political implications. Perhaps, even further, a chapter devoted to the link between politics and Islam and why this link is inherent in much contemporary treatment of Islam to the point of it becoming a political religion (rather than a spiritual practice) would have also been interesting (consider that for example, much of the rhetoric of Islamic terrorists is geopolitical and the hostility is related to questions of geopolitics rather than spirituality).
For this purpose, as well as due to issues with formatting I give this book 4 stars, with the added recommendation for people to read it, as it does present a balanced and historical view of many of the contemporary debates about the place of Islam in the West.
July 24, 2024
SPENCER’S BROAD ATTACK UPON ISLAM
Robert Spencer is "a board member of the Christian-Islamic Forum. His articles on Islam have appeared in National Review, Crisis and other magazines." He is also the author of many books such as 'The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades),' 'The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran,' etc. This book was published in 2002, and is subdivided into chapters asking questions such as, "Is Islam a religion of Peace?"; "Does Islam Respect Women?"; "Is Islam Tolerant of Non-Muslims?" etc.
He observes early in the book that "neither Judaism nor Christianity has any violent organization equaling the al-Qaeda network, or Hezbollah, or Islamic Jihad, or Hamas, or any of the other myriad Muslim terrorist groups. The occasional abortion clinic bomber or the Jewish Defense League is hauled out when needed to illustrate Christian and Jewish violence, but they are nothing compared to Osama bin Laden's organization." (Pg. 3)
He argues, "virtually all Muslims are fundamentalists. To isolate Islamic terrorists as 'Muslim fundamentalists' is absurd, then, because it suggests something that those who use the term would deny: that violence and terror are fundamentals of Islam." (Pg. 22) He adds that Muslims "have no verses to mitigate the violent passages from the Qur'an and the Sunnah." (Pg. 56)
He suggests that "the Bush/Blair cure for terrorism may end up being worse than ineffectual. The Islam that the West embraces in order to co-opt bin Laden today may be the Islam that assaults the West tomorrow... Violent Islam has the enemy (us) and the scriptural justification (in the Qur'an) to keep pushing until they win---that is, until the West is Islamicized. And moderate Islam is essentially powerless to stop it." (Pg. 39)
He admits that by many accounts, Jewish persons "had it better in Muslim countries than in Christian ones during the Middle Ages." But he adds that the majority of Jewish persons lived in the West, because "while Christian teachings about human rights ultimately eased the plight of religious minorities in the West, the hardening of Muslim attitudes toward infidels created the opposite situation in Islamic lands." (Pg. 155-156)
Spencer's books are always provocative, and will be of considerable interest for persons (particularly Christians) wanting critical perspectives on Islam.
Robert Spencer is "a board member of the Christian-Islamic Forum. His articles on Islam have appeared in National Review, Crisis and other magazines." He is also the author of many books such as 'The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades),' 'The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran,' etc. This book was published in 2002, and is subdivided into chapters asking questions such as, "Is Islam a religion of Peace?"; "Does Islam Respect Women?"; "Is Islam Tolerant of Non-Muslims?" etc.
He observes early in the book that "neither Judaism nor Christianity has any violent organization equaling the al-Qaeda network, or Hezbollah, or Islamic Jihad, or Hamas, or any of the other myriad Muslim terrorist groups. The occasional abortion clinic bomber or the Jewish Defense League is hauled out when needed to illustrate Christian and Jewish violence, but they are nothing compared to Osama bin Laden's organization." (Pg. 3)
He argues, "virtually all Muslims are fundamentalists. To isolate Islamic terrorists as 'Muslim fundamentalists' is absurd, then, because it suggests something that those who use the term would deny: that violence and terror are fundamentals of Islam." (Pg. 22) He adds that Muslims "have no verses to mitigate the violent passages from the Qur'an and the Sunnah." (Pg. 56)
He suggests that "the Bush/Blair cure for terrorism may end up being worse than ineffectual. The Islam that the West embraces in order to co-opt bin Laden today may be the Islam that assaults the West tomorrow... Violent Islam has the enemy (us) and the scriptural justification (in the Qur'an) to keep pushing until they win---that is, until the West is Islamicized. And moderate Islam is essentially powerless to stop it." (Pg. 39)
He admits that by many accounts, Jewish persons "had it better in Muslim countries than in Christian ones during the Middle Ages." But he adds that the majority of Jewish persons lived in the West, because "while Christian teachings about human rights ultimately eased the plight of religious minorities in the West, the hardening of Muslim attitudes toward infidels created the opposite situation in Islamic lands." (Pg. 155-156)
Spencer's books are always provocative, and will be of considerable interest for persons (particularly Christians) wanting critical perspectives on Islam.
March 29, 2023
This is a useful primer about the beliefs of Islam in relation to Western values. You will need to look at other books though to find out the internal belief system of Islam or its history.
If you are unfamiliar with the more violent beliefs of Islam, thankfully not practised by the majority of Muslims, you will find this book helpful. It refers in part to the Koran but also to the hadiths which are considered authoritative sources by Sunni Muslims in particular. These collections of stories about Muhammed and his behaviour provide the basis for many of the more violent conflicts between Islam and the West. Though when I say 'the West' by that I mean a culture shaped by the values of Christianity, however imperfectly...
The book is straightforward to read and relatively short, even if, at times, the chapters read more like blog posts than a coherent whole. Those already familiar with this disturbing side of Islam won't find much that is new. Those who naively think Islam is a religion of peace will need to think again after reading it.
One should, of course, constantly contrast the actual practices of Muslims with the theoretical teachings of Islam. The number of Muslims in the West who follow these hard line beliefs is relatively small, although not non-existent. The number is considerably larger in majority Muslim countries. Islam, like Christianity, has various sects (denominations) and some are more peaceable than others.
It is also true that Christians should be distinguished from Christianity. Many who say they are Christians show little or no evidence of following Christ. Yet the key question will always be, what kind of person will you become if you become more like Jesus? And what kind of person will you become if you become more like Muhammed? The value of this work is it shows what the latter ideal looks like, at least in part.
If you are unfamiliar with the more violent beliefs of Islam, thankfully not practised by the majority of Muslims, you will find this book helpful. It refers in part to the Koran but also to the hadiths which are considered authoritative sources by Sunni Muslims in particular. These collections of stories about Muhammed and his behaviour provide the basis for many of the more violent conflicts between Islam and the West. Though when I say 'the West' by that I mean a culture shaped by the values of Christianity, however imperfectly...
The book is straightforward to read and relatively short, even if, at times, the chapters read more like blog posts than a coherent whole. Those already familiar with this disturbing side of Islam won't find much that is new. Those who naively think Islam is a religion of peace will need to think again after reading it.
One should, of course, constantly contrast the actual practices of Muslims with the theoretical teachings of Islam. The number of Muslims in the West who follow these hard line beliefs is relatively small, although not non-existent. The number is considerably larger in majority Muslim countries. Islam, like Christianity, has various sects (denominations) and some are more peaceable than others.
It is also true that Christians should be distinguished from Christianity. Many who say they are Christians show little or no evidence of following Christ. Yet the key question will always be, what kind of person will you become if you become more like Jesus? And what kind of person will you become if you become more like Muhammed? The value of this work is it shows what the latter ideal looks like, at least in part.
March 16, 2020
Robert Spencer’s Islam Unveiled is a rather disturbing book. It’s a negative critique of Islam. Undoubtedly, all religions have strengths and weaknesses. They are many aspects to agree and disagree about them. But for the most part the writer undertook to demonize the Islamic faith. Throughout the book he explained how Islam is violent towards non-Muslims. Further, he deplored the life the prophet Muhammad by comparing him with Jesus Christ. And according to Spencer the Islamic faith in the Middle East and around the world is inspired by fundamentalism.
Occasionally, the author did a comparison of Islam with Christianity. With reference to the historical evils of Christianity, he recounted that Christian leaders had acknowledged these wrongs, and made efforts to correct them. This he stated was not the case with Islam. In contemporary times Spencer wrote that Christianity had changed for the better. He saw this as the result of a change of emphasis beginning with a shift from the teachings of the Old Testament to that of the New Testament.
Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of Islam, it would have been more beneficial to readers if the writer had presented a more balanced picture of Islam. And he had provided a more comprehensive account of Christianity’s past when comparing these two monotheistic faiths.
Occasionally, the author did a comparison of Islam with Christianity. With reference to the historical evils of Christianity, he recounted that Christian leaders had acknowledged these wrongs, and made efforts to correct them. This he stated was not the case with Islam. In contemporary times Spencer wrote that Christianity had changed for the better. He saw this as the result of a change of emphasis beginning with a shift from the teachings of the Old Testament to that of the New Testament.
Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of Islam, it would have been more beneficial to readers if the writer had presented a more balanced picture of Islam. And he had provided a more comprehensive account of Christianity’s past when comparing these two monotheistic faiths.
April 24, 2020
I watched a lot of Spencer's videos on YouTube and his writing style is like his presentations: clear, factual, and level-headed. He lets his facts talk for him and never comes to a boil. With good books like this one, the flaws stand out more. The book promised to 'unveil' or expose Islam, and not to make suggestions to solve anything, yet that is what I found myself asking. He does make a prediction, but even this is mild compared to the vast info of Islam's ugly history. I felt the book wasn't disorganized, but at times meandered, though it did seem to cover all the bases. Spencer did an excellent job of citing the Koran, Hadith, and respected Muslim scholars throughout history with shocking confessions and even contradictions. It straightens out whether it is possible to be a moderate Muslim or not. It's a reread for me since I consider it a reference book. I plan to go through next time and mark up key sections. There are many places where he defines key concepts concisely. I especially liked learning what kind of a Muslim Qaddafi and Saddam Hussein were. I plan on reading more of his works which is the best sign for me that a writer is good.
December 27, 2025
Reading like an indictment of the religion of Islam as compared to Christianity, there certainly are points. Some of the strongest being the treatment of women, non-believers, and the scope of such Islamist organizations as Hamas, etc. without Xtian equivalent. My own feeling is that Islam is a younger religion and comparing the Inquisition, witch burnings, Crusades, bloody wars of the Reformation and other sectarian violence, it feels like we need to give Islam its millennia of growing pains before we can really compare. However, the author does make a convincing case that the gory and cruel expansionism of the The Arab Empire, a.k.a. the Islamic Caliphate, was a vast medieval empire that emerged from the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, rapidly expanding across the Middle East, North Africa, and into Europe (Spain) and Central Asia, becoming a major world power for centuries without any equivalent of Xtian militarism and occupation of Islamic territory.
December 5, 2017
The rhetoric of a semi evidence-based analysis of a holy book allied to the political sphere of when the author wrote it produces this book. It has the potential to help those wanting to discriminate against religion in general and this faith in particular, but it carries some hard truths and heavy bias against Islam.
The solution offered by the author is nonexistent. There are none.
The author, therefore, lacks the biggest insight of them all, after his anti-muslim analysis is concluded.
It is not this faith, in particular, that is the problem.
It is the fable that permeates and constitutes religions, in general, that must be doused by knowledge and facts.
The solution offered by the author is nonexistent. There are none.
The author, therefore, lacks the biggest insight of them all, after his anti-muslim analysis is concluded.
It is not this faith, in particular, that is the problem.
It is the fable that permeates and constitutes religions, in general, that must be doused by knowledge and facts.
January 22, 2023
Spencer provides a detailed analysis of the historical and contemporary teachings of Islam, and how they are often used to justify violence and oppression. He also examines the ways in which these teachings are being used to infiltrate and change Western society.
Spencer's writing is easy to follow and understand, even if you're not an expert on the subject. He presents the information in a creative and engaging way, making the book an enjoyable read. The author also doesn't shy away from tackling sensitive and controversial topics, which makes the book an interesting read.
Spencer's writing is easy to follow and understand, even if you're not an expert on the subject. He presents the information in a creative and engaging way, making the book an enjoyable read. The author also doesn't shy away from tackling sensitive and controversial topics, which makes the book an interesting read.
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