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Completed Surah Baqarah

End of chapter 1, which was on race. Tbh I'm actually bored. Murray just reals off details of individual incidents in some university or some institution. He's also entirely focused on the USA.

Disclaimer: I'm not reading this because I agree with it. I'm reading it to see what arguments others make in favour of the west.

One of the things that Khalid keeps saying when giving the ultimatum to various towns is to accept Islam, pay jizya, or face battle "at the hands of a people who love death as you love life".

I find that so striking. The imaan that these sahaba had is incredible. To love death more than life is just incredible.

It's amazing reading about the very human aspect of many of the sahabah. Some of them just didn't get along, which is quite natural. Also, the author knows his comedic timing and delivery. At multiple stages you chuckle. Thus far, this book is everything I wanted, and more. Medieval battles and strategy in detail.

“The use of armed forces is one aspect of war—a violent and destructive aspect—to be used only when political measures fail to achieve the aims of the State.”

Thus far he's making a strong case against democracy, but a poor case for epistocracy.

Just a musing thought: I’m struck by the conviction and stature of the earliest believers. It must have taken so much courage—even if you knew it was the truth—to have publicly supported the Prophet (SAW).

I'm confused. It's a monologue? And a rather airy fairy one as well. So many words, yet nothing actually said. I might as well finish it given I'm halfway through and it's quite short.

It was heartbreaking hearing about the author and his eventual decision to leave his mother's side. It made me ask myself if I could do the same? Could I leave behind my family in the interests of greater good?

"When one realizes the only remaining hope is to accept hopelessness, it is an act of abandoning one's ultimate dependence on the other. It is a final moment of saying farewell to humanity, so as not to embarrass it, perhaps, and making the dignified choice to face one's enemy, instead of pleading with the equally helpless humanity—being nothing but bystanders, with or without the bystander guilt."