Why I Am Not a Muslim

Why I Am Not a Muslim is the title of a book critic of Islam, who performs under the pseudonym Ibn Warraq, in reference to Bertrand Russell's book Why I Am Not a Christian.

The book is a moral critique of the Muslim faith, the Koran and a historical description of the negative aspects of Islam. According to Ibn Warraq, the reason for the beginning of his work was the Salman Rushdie affair in this book. In his opinion, the western world watched helplessly as Ayatollah Khomeini against Salman Rushdie issued the death fatwa.

Content

The book describes in 17 chapters, among others, the Rushdie affair, and shall in the origins of Islam and the problem of Islamic sources. The Prophet Muhammad and his message, the Koran, are presented. Ibn Warraq shows in his opinion, totalitarian nature of Islam and addresses the question of the compatibility of Islam with democracy and human rights. In addition, the Arab imperialism, Islamic colonization and the status of non -Muslim vanquished are described. Other topics include heresy and heterodoxy, atheism and free thought, principles and changes in Islam, and the influence of Greek philosophy and the sciences of Islam and the difference between Sufism and Islamic mysticism. In addition to Al- Ma'arri the position of women in Islam and the prohibitions in Islam (wine, pork and homosexuality) are discussed. The judgment of the person of Muhammad and the position of Islam in the West close the book.

Output

• Ibn Warraq, Why I Am Not a Muslim. Matthes & Seitz Berlin, Berlin 2004, ISBN 3-88221-838- X.