Islam is Upside-Down World – For Real!

Feb 09, 2025

I often hear people say that Islam seems upside-down. Upside-down compared to what? Compared to Western social norms. But what are Western social norms? Whether or not individuals personally subscribe to the beliefs that inspired them, these norms are enshrined in documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the American Declaration of Independence. These, in turn, stem from Judeo-Christian traditions that have made Western society into a place of freedom and stability — one that countless people have sought as a refuge.

In contrast, Islamic principles — i.e. sharia — are rooted in the Koran and Hadith. The Hadith, collections of sayings and actions of Mohammed, serve as a model for Muslims to follow for all time.

MAN HANGING FROM HORIZON AS IF UPSIDE DOWN — Photo Credit: Miles Hardacre

Separation from All Others:

Islamic teachings emphasize the importance of Muslims maintaining a distinct identity and refraining from, interacting with, or imitating non-believers — all unbelievers — be they Hindu, Bahai, Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, atheist or none of the above.

There are thirteen verses in the Koran forbidding Muslims from taking ‘unbelievers’ as friends or allies.

“O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christian allies. They are in fact] allies of one another. And whoever an ally to them among you — then indeed, he is [one] of them.” (Koran 5:51)

Muslims who fail to adhere to this prohibition can face severe consequences including death in ‘honour killings’. Just a week ago, a Muslim man shot and killed his 14 year old daughter over her ‘TikTok’ videos [1]. The family “had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle and social gathering.” She was American and he had also become an American citizen — but he had recently moved his family to Pakistan which he had left 25 years ago. This happens with far greater regularity than people realize [2].

Islamic Justice vs. Biblical Justice

Whereas the ten commandments of the Judeo/Christian tradition are clear. ‘Thou shalt not kill’ (Exodus 20:13). In contrast, Islamic law allows family pardons, making it easy for honour killings to go unpunished. A get out of jail free card for blood relatives.

Musnad Ahmad 346: “It was narrated from ‘Umar bin Shu’aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah [Mohammed] said:
‘A man is not killed in retaliation for killing his child.’
Reliance of the Traveller — a Classic Manual of Islamic Law (ROT o1.2): “Not subject to retaliation is a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring’s offspring.”

The civil law in Pakistan has recently been changed to require punishment if the father is found to be guilty — but that remains a big IF.

And while Islamic law explicitly states that there is no punishment or expiation for killing a non-Muslim or an apostate, as an apostate “deserve to die” (ROT o1.2), Christianity explicitly rejects the death penalty for apostasy (John 8:7, Luke 9:55–56)

Opposition to Western Cultural Norms

There are many examples that would be amusing if the over all trend was not designed to ensure never ending conflict between the norms of the Islamic world and all others — coupled with severe warnings of punishment for transgressors. However, here are a few:

“The Jews and the Christians do not dye their hair, so be different from them.” (Bukhari 3462)

Whereas dogs and art are generally appreciated in Western culture and the bible specifically says that all animals are good (Genesis 1:25) . Mohammed demanded otherwise and even tore down his wife’s curtain that included a picture:

‘Angels do not enter a house where there is a dog or a picture. (Bukhari 3322)
Mohammed “ordered that dogs be killed.” (Bukhari 3323)
‘The black dog is the devil.’ (Ibn Majah 3210)

Figures, paintings and musical instruments have regularly been destroyed as ‘Jahiliyya’ — from the pre-Islamic period of ignorance’. Sharia completely prohibits images of living beings and finds precedence in Mohammed’s return to, and conquest of, the previously multicultural Mecca where he had all but one of the 360 idols in the Kaaba destroyed [3–6].

“The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the image-makers.’ (Bukhari 5954)
I never used to leave in the Prophet house anything carrying images or crosses but he obliterated it. (Bukhari 5952)

Rejection of Christian and Jewish Traditions

When it came to calling Muslims to prayer, it was suggested that maybe a bell or horn would be useful but Mohammed would have none of it:

“Some suggested using a bell like the Christians, others suggested a horn like the Jews. `Umar said, ‘Why not send someone to announce the prayer?’ So the Prophet [Mohammed] said, ‘O Bilal, stand up and call to prayer.’” (Bukhari 604)

Mohammed was particularly averse to the bell:

“The bell is the musical instrument of Satan.” (Muslim 2114)
“Allah ordered me to do away with musical instruments flutes strings crucifixes and the affair of the ‘pre-Islamic period of ignorance’ (ROT r40.1)

In Iraq a young boy was beheaded for listening to Western music [7].

From a ‘Western’ perspective these seem quite extreme but are nevertheless in line with Islamic doctrine — ‘It is unbelief (kufr) to turn from the sunna [example of Mohammed] in order to imitate non-Muslims when one believes their way to be superior to the sunna’ (ROT e4.1). This naturally extends to include religious festivals, and symbols [8]. For example, participating in a non-Islamic celebration like Christmas is forbidden. As reiterated by a Canadian Sheikh in one of his sermons [9]:

“If a person were to commit every major sin — committing adultery, dealing with interest, lying, murder… If a person were to do all of those major sins, they are nothing compared to the sin of congratulating and greeting the non-Muslims on their false festivals”

Originally, Mohammed and his followers prayed facing Jerusalem like the Jews, expecting them to follow him. When they refused, he turned his prayer mat to face Mecca (Koran 2:144) and it is then that the Koran became highly critical of Jews repeatedly claiming that the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) corrupted their scriptures (Koran 2:79, 3:78, 5:13, 9:30 etc.)

Mohammed also initially observed Yom Kippur — a Jewish day of fasting — but then replaced it with Ramadan — a full month of fasting (Koran 2:185–187)

“The Prophet [Mohammed] came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah saved the children of Israel from their enemies, so Moses fasted on this day.’ The Prophet [Mohammed] said, ‘We have more right to Moses than you.’ So he fasted on that day and ordered [Muslims] to fast.” (Bukhari 2004)

Although it seems reasonable to ask whether Ramadan is truly a fast. People eat a great deal –‘exceeding normal consumption pattern’, but they do it at night — this turns day into night and night into day with noticeable repercussions for the non-Islamic workplace. Productivity decreases by 35–50% and causes safety issues both on the job and off — with threats of, or actual. violence against non-Muslims who do not fast [10–13].

Koran 8:12 ‘…I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve; so strike them upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.’
Koran 9:28 ‘O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean…’
Sahih Bukhari 5488 “Do not eat from the utensils of the Jews and Christians unless you find no other option, and then wash them first.”

Clothing and Public Identity

Jewish and Christian priests wore silk and gold as signs of honour. Muhammad banned silk and gold for Muslim men, reserving them only for women.

Mohammed said: Wearing silk and gold has been made unlawful for the males of my ummah and lawful for their females.” (Nasa’i 5148)
Hadith Bukhari 5590 Mohammed said “From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful [halal] …Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.”

I think the point has been made and we’ll conclude this section with clothing — particularly the hijab on women. This is another way to differentiate between adherents to Islam and everyone else:

Koran 33:59 O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable THAT THEY WILL BE KNOWN AND NOT BE ABUSED. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

It is well known that this has become a national security issue, as unveiled women are being harassed to the point of wearing hijabs just to “pass” as Muslim [14].

Women as Half the Value of Men

There are many things about Islam that people in the West find completely opposite to their way of thinking. For example, that the ‘best deed’ ensuring ‘Paradise’ in the hereafter is for someone to die in the act of violent jihad [15]. That rather than a spiritual concept of the afterlife Islamic doctrine portrays one that is hedonistic and focused entirely on the carnal desires of men while another hadith says that hell is full of women, who were disobedient to their husbands (Bukhari 304) [16].

Similarly, Islam values women at half that of men in the case of testimony (K4:111), inheritance (K2:282), and ‘blood money’ (compensation) for wrongful death (ROT o4.9). Jews and Christians are valued at one-third and a Zoroastrian at one-fifteenth the value of a Muslim (ROT o4.9). There are no equivalent limitations in the Bible — inheritance (Numbers 27:7–8), justice (Exodus 21:12) — all are applied equally however men are expected to contribute more when making vows to God based on their ability to perform labour.

Additionally, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights specifically states in Article 1 that ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’ Likewise, the American Declaration of Independence states ‘“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Truth vs. Deception: A Fundamental Divide

A key difference between Judeo-Christian values and Islamic doctrine is the concept of truthfulness.

The Bible commands absolute truthfulness:

Exodus 20:16 — “Thou shalt not bear false witness.”
Proverbs 12:22 — “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.”

Islam permits deception under certain conditions:

Koran 3:28 — “Let not believers take disbelievers as allies… except when taking precaution against them in prudence.” (taqiyya — lying for protection)
Sahih Muslim 6303 — “Lying is permissible in three cases: (1) in war, (2) to reconcile people, and (3) between husband and wife.”

It’s important to mention that Ibn Kathir explains in his tafsir of Koran 5:33 that ‘waging war against Allah and His Messenger,’ means to ‘oppose or contradict’ — punishable by death or severe punishment ‘and it includes disbelief.’

Mohammed himself sanctioned deceit:

Bukhari 4037 — “The Prophet [Mohammed] said: ‘Who will kill Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf? He has harmed Allah and His Messenger.’ Muhammad bin Maslamah said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, do you want me to kill him?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ Muhammad bin Maslamah said, ‘Then allow me to say something (deceptive).’ He said, ‘Say it.’”

This doctrine of deception (taqiyya, kitman, tauriya, and muruna) allows Muslims to conceal their intentions, mislead non-Muslims, and break oaths if it benefits Islam. In stark contrast, truth is an unshakable moral principle in Christianity and Judaism.

Conclusion

Islamic teachings ensure a perpetual conflict with non-Muslim societies by enforcing or attempting to enforce:

Separation from non-Muslims
Rejection and reversal of long held traditions and customs of the host country
Honor killings, blasphemy laws (Islamophobia), and legal inequality i.e. sharia councils, polygamous Islamic marriages
A system where non-Muslims are seen as inherently inferior via educational institutions teaching sharia
Deception as a legitimate tool to advance Islam

Historically, Islam has never integrated into the host society but sought instead to eventually dominate — we have seen this in every country Islam has entered and this process is currently underway in the West. Rather than a refuge, we now see crowds of protesters in the streets who do not uphold Western values but instead seek to replace them with sharia, we see it in the workplace, where demands to accommodate sharia are a regular and litigious occurrence. Many ask why — they will find the answer is in the doctrine. Islam does not simply coexist with the West — it actively resists and seeks to replace it.

‘Allah drew the ends of the world near one another for my sake. And I have seen its eastern and western ends. And the dominion of my Ummah would reach those ends which have been drawn near me and I have been granted the red and the white treasure…’ (Muslim 2889a)