Dr Tawfik Hamid is an Egyptian medical doctor and was once part of Al Qaeda and Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya. He proclaims that he is among the rare breed of Muslims who have eschewed terrorism and now lectures worldwide on dealing with fanatic Islam, which is no different from moderate Muslims.
Has anyone heard about an ex-terrorist so far? Well, I didn’t, and that precisely hooked me to the book. Initially, I thought the author was doing al-taqiyya on us. However, after a few pages, I understood that the author was honest.
In the book, Dr Tawfik analyses the psychology and theology behind terrorist groups like ISIS. He gives a background on why Islam continues to consider Earth flat and why it remains a sore. He starts with a statement that brings forth the gist of the desert cult.
According to Dr Tawfik, the philosophy of the cult begins and ends with that. It is straightforward and easy to understand, and there is no complicacy like Hinduism. Following this philosophy, it has ruled half of the world with a sword in one hand and Quran in the other. They firmly believe that it is the duty of every Muslim to kill every kafir.
Islam was in terminal decline for the past two centuries the world over, especially when the Caliph in Turkey was put on a train to Switzerland. However, in the early 1970s, after the OPEC oil embargo (America’s first energy crisis), the price of crude oil skyrocketed from $12 to $42 in a few months.
It’s a must-read book not because it gives an idea of what goes inside the mind of a terrorist but also provides a practical way to combat the situation. It is an interesting take as it comes directly from the horse’s mouth
It led to astronomical profits for OPEC nations, especially Saudi Arabia. From one of the poorest countries, it catapulted to one of the wealthiest countries on the ‘flat earth’ in less than a decade. Muslims, the world over, started believing Saudi Arabia’s newfound wealth was a divine gift and Allah had sanctioned increasing Saudi influence as it entailed no efforts from any Muslim.
Oil was spudding out on its own, and some American and European slaves were managing it. It not only increased Saudi’s wealth but also trickled down, rather fast, to brotherly Muslim countries like Egypt, Pakistan, Sudan, and others.
Within no time, the phrase “Revival of Islam” was increasingly heard in Muslim lands. And then, the term ‘Islamic terrorism’ found its way into the lexicon. The growing financial clout of Saudi Arabia spawned the new-age militancy, which, as a core concept, was no different than before.
The only difference was its globalised nature: Saudi’s money and ideology, European and American equipment, and foot soldiers from all over the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan. The elusive charm of Jannat with unlimited sex with 72 hoors ensures that this brand of terrorism will never be bereft of ghazis.
It’s a must-read book not because it gives an idea of what goes inside the mind of a terrorist, but also provides a practical way to combat the situation. It is an interesting take as it comes directly from the horse’s mouth. A few points from the book are worth considering:
The primary aim of every Muslim is to subjugate the world to the power of Islam. No one is a misguided youth. Their only identity is Muslim. Muslim is only a Muslim. Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus are only kafirs, and exist only to be used, raped, and killed. Every child in a Muslim household is taught this. Consequently, they are clear on their motives.
Muslims are told to believe in al fikr kufr, i.e., thinking critically makes one an infidel. They are taught to believe, not to think. In contrast, Hindus consider themselves seekers.
They indoctrinate people with a carrot-and-stick policy. They scare Muslims with dozakh (a hell with the hottest fires). That’s why Muslims even get scared when it is mentioned that their dead bodies will be cremated.
They attract people to the terrorist ranks with the promise of unrestrained power and boundless sex with kafir slave girls. Muslims criticise Western communities but rarely their own, especially when dealing with kafirs.
All kafir nations, by design, are tolerant or, at least, like to appear that. Muslims interpret it as an “Islam ki taqat.” The more we surrender, the more Islamists demand, the more we surrender.
Islamists see examples of tolerance and freedom as capitulation and weakness. .The more hijabs you see on the streets, the more probability is of Islamic terrorism. The author makes an insightful remark: “The proliferation of the hijab is strongly correlated with increased terrorism. Terrorism became much more frequent in such societies as Indonesia, Egypt, Algeria, and the UK after the hijab became prevalent among Muslim women living in those communities.”
Their books promote jihad and violence. Madrassa education is the root cause of indoctrination.
They create a “state within a state,” whether in Europe, the US, or India. Every region has mini-Pakistan or mini-Arab, or mini-Syria. Others are not allowed even in the vicinity of these areas, the penalty for which is the swift swish of the sword on your neck.
They hate weak people. China is deeply respected and feared. After the publication of the Muhammad cartoons by a Danish newspaper in 2005, Muslim riots started in earnest only after the paper issued an apology.
Rape is a potent methodology in their arsenal. In non-Islamic countries, virtually all rapes are committed by Muslims—75 per cent in Denmark, 65 per cent in Norway, with similar numbers in India.
They play the victim cards everywhere. Indian Muslims are no different. They use democracy to kill democracy. They use modern technology to go to the 7th century. Deal with them firmly, and you will win the battle.
The book is full of innuendos and metaphors belonging to the medical profession. Cancer is the most repeated word in the book, majorly in the context of Islam. On second thoughts, it is natural. Imran Khan also keeps using cricket analogies in his speeches.
It’s a great book not only because it gives you a great idea of what goes inside an Islamists mind but also provides a practical way to combat the situation. Many countries don’t want to take decisive action against terrorists lest it upset the oil-rich countries. The author also insinuates that once crude oil stops gushing out from the womb of mother earth, terrorism might decrease substantially.
Using his psychological and medical background, the author sensibly explains the stages of radicalisation—from hatred to conscience killing to desensitisation to violence—with a focus on how radicals seek to suppress the human capacity for critical thinking, as established by a meaningful dialogue with a senior terrorist who once told him, “One’s brain is similar to a donkey…You may ride it to Allah’s palace but must leave it outside when entering.”
He signs off by telling how Islam can be reformed by reinterpreting its books, which I am not sure is a viable solution. Overall, it is a kind of book to be read by every non-Muslim who wants to gain insights about the brutal Islamic mind.
Author of the bestsellers on Indian history titled “Swift Horses Sharp Swords” and “A Never-Ending Conflict”
(P.S. References to Hindus are mine and extrapolations to the propounded theories in the book)
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