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Coptic Priest Zakariya Boutrus on the Spreading of Islam
The following are excerpts from an discussion with Coptic Priest Zakariya Boutrus, which aired on Al-Hayat TV on June 16, 2005
Boutrus: Islam, as portrayed in the encyclopedia of Islam, in the Koran and the Hadith, was spread by means of the sword.
“The sword played a major role in spreading Islam in the past, and it is the sword that preserves Islam today. Islam relies upon Jihad in spreading the religion.” This is very clear in the encyclopedia. This appears in section 11, page. 3,245. It says: “Spreading Islam by means of the sword is a duty incumbent upon all Muslims.” Thus, Islam is spread by means of the sword.
Another thing is the punishment for apostate. “The punishment of killing any Muslim who abandons Islam is one of the most important factors terrifying all Muslim. He does not dare question the truth of Islam, so that his thoughts will not lead him to abandon Islam. In such a case, he would receive the punishment for apostasy: He would lose his life, and his property and wives would permitted for all.”
This reminds me of a true story that I heard about the preachers who spread Islam in Africa. They reached a certain place in order to spread Islam, and they asked one of the locals: "Do you prefer to worship one god and have four wives, or to worship three gods and have one wife? We, of course, don’t worship three gods, but that’s what they said.
The African said “I like four women, and I don’t care which god. I want four women.” So they told him to say the shahada, and he did.
Then they told him he had to be circumcised in order to become a Muslim. He asked: “Do I really have to? I am a grown man.” They answered: “Yes, you have to, in order to get the monthly stipend, and you can marry four wives.”
The man agreed, and underwent the pains of circumcision despite his advanced age. They began to pay him the monthly stipend, and after a few months they cancelled the stipend. The man went and asked: “Where’s the money?” They told him: “Now you are deep in Islam, you don’t need the monthly stipend any more.”
He threatened: “I will abandon Islam.” They said: “If you leave Islam, we will carry out the apostasy punishment on you.” He asked what the it was, and they said: "We will chop off your head, and cut you into pieces. " This African man began to mumble: “What a strange religion: when you go in they cut off a little piece of you, and when you go out, they cut you into little pieces.”
This is the punishment for apostasy that keeps people afraid. Even when they reach the truth, they’re afraid to express their opinion.
There are other factors, such as upbringing from a young age. Children are brainwashed that Islam is the truth, that Mohammad is the last prophet, that the Christians are infidels and that the Jews are infidels. They repeat it constantly. Since early childhood, he cannot think properly, because a certain way of thinking is forced on him.
In addition, the religion of Islam satisfies the human urges, just like our (African) friend who said he preferred four wives. “Two, three, four, or however many you can.” It satisfies the sexual urges and man’s desire for ownership. It goes hand in hand with human nature. It does not exalt human nature, but reduces itself to the level of human nature.
Boutrus: I live in a country (the US) that respects freedom of speech. I exercise my freedom of speech and talk, and no one can deny my free will. Gone are the days of the sharp sword that cut off the tongues of our people and forefathers to prevent them from speaking in the Coptic language. Gone are the days people’s heads would be chopped off if they did not convert to Islam.Interviewer: What should the Muslims do to make you stop saying these things?Boutrus: My demands involve ten important issues. Let’s call it ten demands. The first demand… They are not for my sake, but for the sake of truth, belief, and Jesus. First, striking out all the Koranic verses that deny the divinity of Jesus and the revelation of God in him.Second, acknowledging that Jesus is the spirit and word of God, as they truly believe, without hiding this fact.Third, striking out the Koranic verses and Hadiths that incite to kill Christians, like in the Al-Tawba chapter, v.29: “Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in Judgment Day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His messenger have prohibited, nor do they follow the religion of truth” – that is, Islam. Among whom? "Among the People of the Book."Interviewer: Who are…Boutrus: The Christians and Jews. “Until they pay the Jizya poll tax in submission.” This is murder.Number four, striking out the Koranic verses and Hadiths that incite to terrorism and oppression in all their forms.Interviewer: What do you mean by terrorism and oppression?
The following are excerpts from an discussion with Coptic Priest Zakariya Boutrus, which aired on Al-Hayat TV on June 16, 2005
Boutrus: Islam, as portrayed in the encyclopedia of Islam, in the Koran and the Hadith, was spread by means of the sword.
“The sword played a major role in spreading Islam in the past, and it is the sword that preserves Islam today. Islam relies upon Jihad in spreading the religion.” This is very clear in the encyclopedia. This appears in section 11, page. 3,245. It says: “Spreading Islam by means of the sword is a duty incumbent upon all Muslims.” Thus, Islam is spread by means of the sword.
Another thing is the punishment for apostate. “The punishment of killing any Muslim who abandons Islam is one of the most important factors terrifying all Muslim. He does not dare question the truth of Islam, so that his thoughts will not lead him to abandon Islam. In such a case, he would receive the punishment for apostasy: He would lose his life, and his property and wives would permitted for all.”
This reminds me of a true story that I heard about the preachers who spread Islam in Africa. They reached a certain place in order to spread Islam, and they asked one of the locals: "Do you prefer to worship one god and have four wives, or to worship three gods and have one wife? We, of course, don’t worship three gods, but that’s what they said.
The African said “I like four women, and I don’t care which god. I want four women.” So they told him to say the shahada, and he did.
Then they told him he had to be circumcised in order to become a Muslim. He asked: “Do I really have to? I am a grown man.” They answered: “Yes, you have to, in order to get the monthly stipend, and you can marry four wives.”
The man agreed, and underwent the pains of circumcision despite his advanced age. They began to pay him the monthly stipend, and after a few months they cancelled the stipend. The man went and asked: “Where’s the money?” They told him: “Now you are deep in Islam, you don’t need the monthly stipend any more.”
He threatened: “I will abandon Islam.” They said: “If you leave Islam, we will carry out the apostasy punishment on you.” He asked what the it was, and they said: "We will chop off your head, and cut you into pieces. " This African man began to mumble: “What a strange religion: when you go in they cut off a little piece of you, and when you go out, they cut you into little pieces.”
This is the punishment for apostasy that keeps people afraid. Even when they reach the truth, they’re afraid to express their opinion.
There are other factors, such as upbringing from a young age. Children are brainwashed that Islam is the truth, that Mohammad is the last prophet, that the Christians are infidels and that the Jews are infidels. They repeat it constantly. Since early childhood, he cannot think properly, because a certain way of thinking is forced on him.
In addition, the religion of Islam satisfies the human urges, just like our (African) friend who said he preferred four wives. “Two, three, four, or however many you can.” It satisfies the sexual urges and man’s desire for ownership. It goes hand in hand with human nature. It does not exalt human nature, but reduces itself to the level of human nature.
Boutrus: I live in a country (the US) that respects freedom of speech. I exercise my freedom of speech and talk, and no one can deny my free will. Gone are the days of the sharp sword that cut off the tongues of our people and forefathers to prevent them from speaking in the Coptic language. Gone are the days people’s heads would be chopped off if they did not convert to Islam.Interviewer: What should the Muslims do to make you stop saying these things?Boutrus: My demands involve ten important issues. Let’s call it ten demands. The first demand… They are not for my sake, but for the sake of truth, belief, and Jesus. First, striking out all the Koranic verses that deny the divinity of Jesus and the revelation of God in him.Second, acknowledging that Jesus is the spirit and word of God, as they truly believe, without hiding this fact.Third, striking out the Koranic verses and Hadiths that incite to kill Christians, like in the Al-Tawba chapter, v.29: “Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in Judgment Day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His messenger have prohibited, nor do they follow the religion of truth” – that is, Islam. Among whom? "Among the People of the Book."Interviewer: Who are…Boutrus: The Christians and Jews. “Until they pay the Jizya poll tax in submission.” This is murder.Number four, striking out the Koranic verses and Hadiths that incite to terrorism and oppression in all their forms.Interviewer: What do you mean by terrorism and oppression?
