Quotable quotes from the wonderful world of free speechers ... part 24

Sir William Muir (1819-1905)  Lt.Governor of British colonies.   One of his important works on Islam is: "The Life of Mohomet and History of Islam to the Era of the Hegira"

"The spread of Islam was stayed whenever military success was checked. The Faith was meant for Arabia and not for the world, hence it is constitutionally incapable of change or development. The degradation of woman hinders the growth of freedom and civilization under it."

"First: Polygamy, Divorce, and Slavery strike at the root of public morals, poison domestic life, and disorganise society; while the Veil removes the female sex from its just position and influence in the world. Second: freedom of thought and private judgment are crushed and annihilated. Toleration is unknown, and the possibility of free and liberal institutions foreclosed. Third: a barrier has been interposed against the reception of Christianity."

"The pressure brought to bear on the inhabitants of the countries overrun by Saracen arms was of the most stringent character. They were offered Alternatives offered to the conquered nations: Islam, the Sword, or Tribute.the triple alternative—Islam, the Sword, or Tribute. The first brought immediate relief. Acceptance of the faith not only stayed the enemy's hand, and conferred immunity from the perils of war, but associated the convert with his conquerors in the common brotherhood and in all the privileges of Islam."

"The religion of Mohammed, on the other hand, gives direct sanction to the sexual indulgences we have been speaking of. Thus it panders to the lower instincts of humanity and makes its spread the easier. In direct opposition to the precepts of Christianity it "makes provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof." Hence Islam has been well called by its own votaries the Easy Way."

 “The sword of Muhammad and the Coran are the most fatal enemies of civilization, liberty and truth which the world has ever known – an unmitigated cultural disaster parading as God’s will.”

"Political element of Islam had extinguished free enquiry and real criticism."

"The blind faith of Mahomet and his followers spurned the aids of investigation and of evidence. Thus saith the Prophet of the Lord, and every doubt must vanish, every rising question be smothered. If doubts did arise, and questions were entertained, by any rash philosopher, the temporal authority was at hand to dispel and to silence them."

"To the present day, the hearty ejaculation, May the Lord curse him! is linked by every Moslem with the mention of such "enemies of the Lord, and of his Prophet." What voice would be raised to correct the pious exaggerations of the faithful in the stories of their execrable deeds, or to point out the just causes of provocation which they might have received? Impious attempt, and mad perversity! Again and again was the bare sword of Omar brandished over the neck of the luckless offender, for conduct far more excusable, and far less dangerous to Islam."

"To the combination, or rather the unity, of the spiritual and political elements in the unvarying type of Mahometan Government, must be attributed that utter absence of candid and free investigation into the origin and truth of Islam, which so painfully characterizes the Moslem mind even in the present day. The faculty of criticism was annihilated by the sword."

"The system pious fraud not abhorrent from the axioms of Islam. Deception, by the current theology of Mahometans, is allowable in certain circumstances. The Prophet himself, by precept as well as by example, encouraged the notion that to tell an untruth is on some occasions allowable; and what occasion would approve itself as more justifiable, nay meritorious, than that of furthering the interests of Islam?"