In his latest video message, Osama bin Laden tried to coax Americans into accepting Islam, and even offered them a heavy tax incentive. He said, "There are no taxes in Islam, but rather there is a limited Zakat [alms] totaling 2.5 percent". This huge tax-cut would be very tempting for the well-off and big corporations in America. However, he is not telling us whole truth about the taxation system of ideal Islamic states, such as the now-defunct Islamic caliphate, which Osama wants to reinstate on the global scale.
A true Islamic state will have two kinds of citizens: the believers (Muslims) and the dhimmis. Dhimmis, according to Islam, consist of the four kinds of monotheists that existed in Arabia at time of Muhammad ― namely the Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians (Magians) and the Sabians. The idolaters (also heathens, atheists etc.) must accept Islam or be killed as commanded in the Quran: "kill the idolaters, wherever ye find them" [Quran 9:5]. But the Umayyad caliphs (661–750 CE) allowed the idolaters to live under the category of dhimmis in violation of the Quran. Umayyads were rightly condemned as "Godless" by the pious orthodox and the wider Muslim community for their numerous actions that violated the Quran or defied Allah.
Bin Laden tells us that Zakat is the only tax in Islam. But he does not tell us that it applies only to Muslim citizens. He does not tell us about other taxes being imposed on dhimmi citizens, who must pay at least two other kinds of taxes in ideal Islamic states, namely the jiziyah (poll-tax) and kharaj (land-tax). There is also a third kind of divinely sanctioned income for an Islamic state, called khams.
Khams is the spoils of war, also extracted from the non-Muslims. It was the major component of income of the only truly ideal Islamic state, founded in Medina by the Prophet Muhammad during his 10-year tenure (622–632). Muslims, under Muhammad's leadership, only engaged in conquest, raids and plunder to make a living, which was thought to be the ideal means of earning a livelihood by devout early Muslims. They never engaged in agriculture or trades. This mode of living was sanctioned by the Prophet himself according to the tradition described by Abu Umama al-Bahili: "I saw some agricultural equipments (sic) and I heard the Prophet saying: 'There is no house in which these equipment enters except that Allah will cause humiliation to enter it.'" [Sahih Bukhari 3.39.514]. Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan, the translator of al-Zubaidi's collection of Sahih Bukhari hadiths, comments on this hadith that the profession of cultivation is often of oppressive humiliation especially under the feudal system. By indulging in this work, one may neglect the obligatory Jihad in Allah's cause [Al-Zubaidi, AZAL (1994) Compilation of Summarized Sahih Al-Bukhari, p505]. The best example of acquiring khams revenue was Muhammad's capture of the assets, weapons and abodes of the Jews, after attacking and banishing them from Medina by deportation (Qainuqa and Nadir tribes) and mass-slaughter (Quraiza tribe). In the latter case, 600-800 adult males were executed, while the women and children were enslaved and included in the khams. This also received sanction from Allah: "(of the defeated Jews) Some ye slew, and ye made captive some. And He caused you to inherit their land and their houses and their wealth, and land ye have not trodden. Allah is ever Able to do all things" [Quran 33:26-27].
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - The Obnoxious American
Well, I wouldn't expect much truth from an Osama Bin Laden video tape. From blaming the US for his jihad (which is really more self serving than anything else - he started this to unseat the Saudi Royal Family), to the glorification of suicide murder, OBL is hardly a source of truth in the media.
But one other point should be made here. Even with all of the taxes that exist in westernized countries, and even if we added in the additional taxes that might exist in the US should Democrats win in 2008, we are still WAYYYYY better off than if we lived in any one of the tyrannical, closed societies that make up the middle east (except for Israel) - dhimmi or muslim.
Thank god I was lucky enough to be born in the USA!
2 - Mooja
Alamgir Hussain, Thanks for the article. Sheds more light on what we are being forced to deal with.
Religion can be a very dangerous weapon when wielded by fanatics.
3 - moonraven
OA:
Please be advised that one of the reasons I do consulting work every year for universities in the Gulf is because salaries and benefits are not taxed there.
Welcome to The World Outside The Bronx.
4 - Alamgir Hussain
"Sheds more light on what we are being forced to deal with."
'Knowledge is power' said that Enlightenment-age liberals of the West. Knowledge must be processed objectively and thoughtfully too, to make a sense of what it means for now and further ahead.
5 - RJ
Great post.
To some, this will be viewed as merely a recitation of old battles and historical declarations, or some cherry-picked verses from the Koran.
But in truth, this is how our enemy thinks, and this is what these lunatics believe. We ignore them at our own peril.
6 - RJ
Europe, by the way, is screwed.
Read this.
"Workers" from Africa and Asia is nothing more than code for Muslims who will come to Europe, live off the welfare state, and refuse to assimilate.
Christian Europeans are not reproducing. Their current rate is barely over one child per couple. Meanwhile, Muslim immigrants to Europe have three or four (or more) children per couple. And like their parents, these children do not intend to assimilate, and do not feel any loyalty to their country of birth (or the EU, for that matter). Their allegiance is to Islam.
A dying Christian population, coupled with an growing Muslim population and expanded Muslim immigration, means that in a couple of generations, Europe will no longer be a Christian (or even secular) continent.
(Please read this book if you think I'm exaggerating.)
So, the leftist Europeans who mock and belittle the USA for being "too religious" today, because of our fervent and outspoken Christians, will likely be the cowering and subservient dhimmis of tomorrow, when much of Europe falls under sharia law somewhere around 2050.
Of course, if you live in Europe and publicly oppose and speak out against this trend, you are likely to wind up in prison for a "hate crime" due to modern Europe's distaste for freedom of speech whereas it pertains to politically-incorrect commentary.
In light of all this, a few million illegal Mexicans crossing the border in Arizona seems almost quaint... :-/
7 - REMF
"But in truth, this is how our enemy thinks, and this is what these lunatics believe. We ignore them at our own peril."
Yes, agreed. The best way to deal with them is to enlist and volunteer to face them in combat, putting our words into action.
8 - REMF
"So, the leftist Europeans..."
Yeah, those leftist Europeans are far worse than the chickenhawk Americans.
9 - Dr Dreadful
RJ, I love how in a single comment you link to both the London Daily Mail and Mark Steyn - two sources which between them have about as much credibility as a nun in a nudist colony.
10 - STM
Lol. The Daily Mail ... that great journal of record.
Mark Steyn, though ... he at least writes nicely and can be entertaining. And a lot - not all, though RJ - is pretty close to the mark.
11 - Clavos
Doc,
Gotta go wit' da soifuh dewd on Steyn.
He (Steyn, not SS), does soar into the hyperbolesphere regularly, but he aims pretty well much of the time. (Come to think of it, that does fit SS as well.)
Which reminds me, Stan; were you covering the McCann case in Portugal?
12 - Alessandro
They say Islam and Arabs write in poetic prose - this article is no different. Good stuff.
That said, would Americans really be enticed by a tax incentive to join such a repulsive group? Seems extraordinary to me.
13 - handyguy
I find this article laughable and the fact that commenters are taking it seriously even more laughable.
To the extent that anything OBL says is actually newsworthy, the news is that he seems to have been converted to Marxism [if one takes the words in the video literally], and that this seems to have offended some of his Islamist listeners.
I guess that's kind of funny, too. No one else reading this article seems to have their sense of humor switched on.
14 - Alamgir Hussain
"To the extent that anything OBL says is actually newsworthy, the news is that he seems to have been converted to Marxism"
There are not so many idiots around to think that OBL has converted to Marxism. He is evidently clear, however, where his support lies particularly among Western people. That's a tactical move indeed -- but nobody is under any illusion that the Marxists (Lefts, socialists etc -- except probably themselves) will have their head first chopped by OBL before anyone else.
15 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Almagir,
This is a good read - and provides clear reason why I'll die before allowing some damned Arab to take over my home - whether he is backed by the Jerusalem traitor, Olmert and his goons, the Europeans piss ants who will invade to try to impose an Arab state, or Americans who will be sent here to do the same. I may die shooting a gun, but I will take some of my enemy with me.
Note that all the people who get screwed in the article are Jews - so much for Moslem "hospitality."
When compared to what Christians did to Jews, Moslems treated Jews decently. And that is the point. Christians always were rapacious genocidal bastards, and under that thin patina of "civilization" they wear so artfully now, they still are.
Moslems are content to treat Jews like dogs.
16 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
"Thank god I was lucky enough to be born in the USA!"
What a fool you are. I'd warn you of what is coming your way under the Stars and Stripes - but you would dismiss what I have to say. You're no different than all the Polish Jews who laughed at Ze'ev Jabotinsky when he begged them to leave Europe for Eretz Yisrael in 1933-34. The vast majority of them are nothing but bone dust under the feet of the Europeans who happily killed them off.
There are over 100 detention camps in the United States guarded by men in black uniforms and helmets. They weren't built for Mexican illegals; they weren't built to hold Moslems. If it interests you, look it up.
17 - moonraven
Pure drivel.
Blogcritics has really been scraping the bottom of the barrel lately.
18 - Nancy
Ruvy, detention camps for who? Are you trying to claim there are nazi detention camps holding jews scattered around the US? That's even larger bollocks (as STM says) than believing that 9/11 was an inside job. Where are they? Why hasn't the MSM cottoned on & made hay out of it, or the JDL, who are not slow to go on the offensive about anything they find offensive.
If you'd postulated they were run by the CIA or NSA as detention camps for anti-Bush people, I might believe you, things being the way they are these days.
19 - moonraven
And what about those neonazis recently arrested--not in Idaho, but in ISRAEL?
20 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
"Ruvy, detention camps for who? Are you trying to claim there are nazi detention camps holding jews scattered around the US?
If you'd postulated they were run by the CIA or NSA as detention camps for anti-Bush people, I might believe you, things being the way they are these days."
I'll let my Jewish friend, the author of this article, look it up for himself. To my knowledge, Jews are not being held in detention camps - yet.
As for opponents of the régime, yes these camps will be used to hold them. You're still posting, so obviously, you haven't been disappeared yet. But, unless my sources are altogether wrong, that's a definite possibility....
And Marthe, Mexico may not be far enough for you to run if these bastards really pull the mailed fist out of the velvet glove they are wearing now.
Heh! You may have to come here!
21 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Sorry, Almagir. I should have said the author of comment #1 on this article....
22 - MAOZ
#15: "When compared to what Christians did to Jews, Moslems treated Jews decently.
Depends somewhat on where/when you're talking about. A little over 300 years ago, the Muslim rulership in Yemen imposed on the Jews of Yemen a form of internal exile. It was enforced under conditions so severe that, within the space of about one year, three-fourths of all the Jews in Yemen died. Three-fourths. In one year. Even Hitler y"sh would've envied a "record" like that.
In some locations, e.g. San'a, only one Jew in ten survived the Gerush Mauza'.
23 - Nancy
Nobody has been very nice to them, except the far eastern cultures such as China, where the multiplicity of religions - the nature of which seldom insisted on exclusivity anyway - pretty much ensured that on the whole, the Chinese didn't care what sort of worship the Jews followed, as long as they obeyed the local laws & paid their taxes. I find it ironic in the extreme that it's the two religions that claim moral superiority that have always treated others worse than dirt, not to mention frequently cannibalizing their own from time to time.
24 - moonraven
Ruvy,
I do not RN from conflict or confrontation.
Ever.
Much less from fascist fuckheads.
You should have figured that out by now.
25 - moonraven
RUN, sorry about the typos.
Someday I will find an Internet cafe that has LIGHTS in it.