The superstition of the Ishmaelites which to this day prevails and keeps people in error, being a forerunner of the Antichrist. They are descended from Ishmael, [who] was born to Abraham of Agar, and for this reason they are called both Agarenes and Ishmaelites. They are also called Saracens, which is derived from Sarras kenoi, or destitute of Sara, because of what Agar said to the angel: ‘Sara hath sent me away destitute.’ These used to be idolaters and worshiped the morning star and Aphrodite, whom in their own language they called Khabár, which means great. And so down to the time of Heraclius they were very great idolaters. From that time to the present a false prophet named Mohammed has appeared in their midst. This man, after having chanced upon the Old and New Testaments and likewise, it seems, having conversed with an Arian monk, devised his own heresy…..continued…
Muslim “missionaries”
But when we ask: ‘And who is there to testify that God gave him the book? And which of the prophets foretold that such a prophet would rise up?’—they are at a loss. And we remark that Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai, with God appearing in the sight of all the people in cloud, and fire, and darkness, and storm. And we say that all the Prophets from Moses on down foretold the coming of Christ and how Christ God (and incarnate Son of God) was to come and to be crucified and die and rise again, and how He was to be the judge of the living and dead. Then they reply that the book came down to him while he was asleep. Then we jokingly say to them that, as long as he received the book in his sleep and did not actually sense the operation, then the popular adage applies to him (which runs: You’re spinning me dreams.)
They furthermore accuse us of being idolaters, because we venerate the cross, which they abominate. And we answer them: ‘How is it, then, that you rub yourselves against a stone in your Ka’ba and kiss and embrace it?’ Then some of them say that Abraham had relations with Agar upon it, but others say that he tied the camel to it, when he was going to sacrifice Isaac. And we answer them: ‘Since Scripture says that the mountain was wooded and had trees from which Abraham cut wood for the holocaust and laid it upon Isaac, and then he left the asses behind with the two young men, why talk nonsense? For in that place neither is it thick with trees nor is there passage for asses.’ And they are embarrassed, but they still assert that the stone is Abraham’s. continued….
Then we say: ‘Let it be Abraham’s, as you so foolishly say. Then, just because Abraham had relations with a woman on it or tied a camel to it, you are not ashamed to kiss it, yet you blame us for venerating the cross of Christ by which the power of the demons and the deceit of the Devil was destroyed.’ This stone that they talk about is a head of that Aphrodite whom they used to worship and whom they called Khabár. Even to the present day, traces of the carving are visible on it to careful observers. (Must Read: St. John of Damascus on Mohammedism)
St. John, Pray for us, pray for Christians living in Muslim countries, and the conversion of the Ishmaelites to the One True Faith. Amen.
The below video is from a few years ago, when Our Holy Father spoke the truth, causing the whole “Regensburg Affair”. But, just in case you have never seen it..
This video is excellent. Thanks so much for sharing.
Your Welcome
Thanks Ken. I’ll read with interest from St John of Damascus.
I cannot refrain though from wondering on the reason and opportunity of the current anti-Islam upheaval from so many Catholic sites, expecially from the US. Probably linked with patriotism, and wars that are fought. But as Catholics, we should not be afraid of Truth, motivations for these wars are far removed from Justice or the Faith, they are yet a new shame to our dissolving civilization and simply unjustified aggressions (remember WMD?) to nations, people, families. How many Iraqis died since 2003, 0.5 millions, 1 million ? Were not their lives worth being lived, and in the name of what they have been killed ?
The cornerstone event here is 911, and the faith or lack of it in its official narrative. We should indeed re-appropriate of the use of reason, and strongly reject the obviously fake tales they have been telling the world, a final act of supreme arrogance.
Islam, the worst enemy of Christianity for centuries, is now the victim suffering injustice. Their women veil their heads, and reject the slavery to which our young generations are lethally bound, that of the sins of the flesh, true adoration of the idols.
That somebody is rejecting this inhuman slavery we are trying to bring also upon them we should rejoice.
They have keep the ties with their Tradition and with the Land, and their families are blessed with kids in large numbers. As a result, we owe to justice that they will soon largely outnumber us in Europe, could it be otherwise ?
Our countries rejected Christ to serve the idols, and our civilization is dissolving like the pagan Rome. Should we spend our remaining energies condemning them because not Christian ? Can you see many Christians in our own countries ? God can make Abraham’s sons rise out of stones.
Anti-islam apologetics, OK. But how can we say to our brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when we do not even notice the wooden beam in our own eye?
For me anyway, not linked to Nationalism. Never supported this Iraq thing. Was always a travesty. Please don’t mix up my being American (patriotic at that) with my dislike of Islam.
We (the US) are fighting a pseudo-crusade to spread our new idol: Secular Democracy. They want to fight Islam not for the Cross, but for the “virtues” of modern secularism: Ya’ know: 45 million abortions in forty years (in the US), 54% divorce rate, 1/3 born out of wedlock, 1/3 of teenage girls with a venereal disease, culture drowning in pornography. I understand why the muslims loathe us, and consider us evil. Well, because we are. The culture we live in has rejected the Gospel, despite protestations otherwise.
The Church is between a rock and a hard place. Islam, growing & militant on one side, and Western Secularism, withering, but just as militant (at least in the US) on the other.
I do not hate Muslims, I do however, hate their Religion, as it is false. (As our Saint John calls it “forerunner of the anti-Christ”). How is it hate to wish, pray, and hope for their Eternal Salvation? (which can only be found in Christ) Is it better we bite our tongues, play inter-Religious patty-cake during our time in this Valley of Tears, and never try to pull them from the Abyss?
We (the West) are indeed commiting cultural suicide. That cult is the most dangerous to enter into the vacuum that is being created, and many folks (thanks to 40+ years of Ecumenism) see no difference in Religion. They will eventually submit, they will go with the flow.
Kind of like when Theodosius made Christianity the official Religion of the empire in the 4th century. How many were Christian by conviction? Alot of them just went along to get along. Whatever the status quo is, they will do. And since we are after all “brothers in Abraham” (gag), why won’t those in the West,1 or 2 generations down the line, bow down to the stone of Kaaba. All Religions are equally true, right? Why would they struggle, and die for what…nothing?
Vatican II was good for Religion, unfortunately, that religion was Islam.
Damned right! I was totally against the Iraq war but I still see that Islam is evil. Every aspect of it is either ridiculous, blasphemous or a lie. I have know doubt what so ever that the foretold false prophet is Mohamed. In my country, Britain, the Mohammedans kill something like 200 women a year in ‘honor’ killings. I was just reading today about one dug up in a back garden having been tortured and raped before her murder. Another womans head had just been found floating of the north coast. ‘BY THEIR FRUITS SHALL YE KNOW THEM’.
Thanks Ken – for the post and your good comments – I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you Terry.
20 years ago I went to college and met a lot of Muslim men. I also read the koran and was disgusted. My feelings about Islam have nothting to do with 9/11 or the Iraq war. You don’t have to be a nationalist to know a pile of manure when you see one.
Thanks Ken. It’s reassuring to me to hear your thougths, and I can only agree.