Islamic Doctrine Versus the U. S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials

Increasing numbers of Muslim candidates for office are entering the U.S. political system at every level from local to state and federal; and, while we applaud civic engagement by all citizens in our democratic system, we also are mindful that Islam is a faith like none other in the obligation levied on its followers to place Islamic Law (shariah) above any other law, including the U.S. Constitution. Obviously, this sets up a conundrum for those candidates for political office who are devout and practicing Muslims. Indeed, Andre Carson (IN-D), who currently represents Indiana’s 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, has openly urged fellow Muslims in explicit terms to represent Islam as an elected official in the U.S. government: "Each and every one of us has a directive to represent Islam, in all of our imperfections, but to represent Islam ... Such declarations set up a direct challenge to Article VI Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, to which each and every Member of Congress, House and Senate, is pledged under oath to uphold." With his newest book, "Islamic Doctrine versus The U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials," author and scholar of Islam Stephen M. Kirby, Ph.D. has drawn upon a series of essays first published on PipelineNews.org. Dr. Kirby has elucidated the very direct conflicts between Islamic Law and the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 13th, and 14th Amendments to the Constitution. But one might ask, aren’t all Members of Congress obligated to swear or affirm an oath to support that Constitution? So, how could a Muslim official take such an oath and yet remain true to both his faith and the Constitution he has pledged to uphold? As this book goes to print, the U.S. is heading into another presidential election year (2020). The sobering reality of what devout, faithful, observant Muslims actually believe and are bound to obey must be a factor in the responsibility of every citizen to be both informed and engaged in the political process. Dr. Kirby’s scholarship in this regard could not possibly be more timely and is made of even more practical use by the 10th and final chapter in the book, where he proposes a number of considerations and possible questions for the American citizen who may want to attend a campaign event where a Muslim candidate will be available for Questions and Answers. The entire text of "Islamic Doctrine versus The U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials" may be thought of as a handbook for the citizen voter. Foreword........................................................................................................1 Introduction ..................................................................................................5 The Dilemma for Muslims in Public Office...............................................................5 An Important Distinction ................................................................................................7 About the Source Material ..............................................................................................7 Koran Commentaries and Asbab al-Nuzul ...............................................................8 Hadiths .................................................................................................................................11 Islamic Doctrine and Sacred Law..............................................................................11 Taking the Oath of Office........................................................................ 13 Man-made Laws ...............................................................................................................14 A valid oath under Islam...............................................................................................15 If something better comes along or there is hardship.....................................20 Knowingly swearing a false oath without penalty ............................................23 The significance of including the phrase Inshah’ Allah....................................23 An oath has various meanings ...................................................................................24 No reference to a deity in the oath...........................................................................27 Swearing an oath on the Koran .................................................................................28 The implications...............................................................................................................31 Understanding Islam............................................................................... 35 The Koran............................................................................................................................35 The Doctrine of Abrogation.........................................................................................36 Specification (Takhsees) ...............................................................................................39 Are Koran Verses Specific or General? ...................................................................41 Muhammad.........................................................................................................................41 Islam Allows Muslims to Deceive Non-Muslims ............................ 47 Koran 3:28 ..........................................................................................................................47 Koran 16:106.....................................................................................................................51 Islam and the 1st Amendment............................................................... 55 Freedom of Speech..........................................................................................................55 Freedom of Religion .......................................................................................................59 Islam and the 2nd Amendment.............................................................. 65 Islam and the 4th Amendment.............................................................. 69 Islam and the 8th Amendment.............................................................. 73 Amputation and death for theft.................................................................................73 Amputation of a hand and foot from the opposite sides ................................76 Amputation of the fingers and toes..........................................................................77 Beheading............................................................................................................................78 Burning people to death ...............................................................................................80 Crucifixion...........................................................................................................................83 Flogging................................................................................................................................84 Stoning to death ...............................................................................................................86 Torture .................................................................................................................................91 Islam and the 13th Amendment............................................................ 93 Whom Your Right Hands Possess.............................................................................94 The Koran allows slavery.............................................................................................97 Muhammad was a slave owner and dealer ..........................................................97 Islam and the 14th Amendment..........................................................103 Sanctity of Life................................................................................................................ 104 Dhimmitude .................................................................................................................... 111 Jizyah.................................................................................................................................. 117 Prepubescent Marriage.............................................................................................. 119 Muhammad and his child bride ........................................................................121 Afghanistan................................................................................................................124 Bahrain ........................................................................................................................124 The Gambia ................................................................................................................124 Iran ................................................................................................................................125 Iraq ................................................................................................................................125 Kuwait..........................................................................................................................125 Mali................................................................................................................................125 Niger .............................................................................................................................126 Pakistan.......................................................................................................................126 Saudi Arabia ..............................................................................................................126 Senegal.........................................................................................................................126 Somalia ........................................................................................................................127 Sudan............................................................................................................................127 Turkey..........................................................................................................................127 Yemen...........................................................................................................................127 Philippines .................................................................................................................128 Tanzania......................................................................................................................128 Trinidad and Tobago .............................................................................................128 Equality in Judicial Proceedings?........................................................................... 128 Equality in Inheritance?............................................................................................. 131 Overview of Women under Islam.......................................................................... 132 Women and Marriage in General........................................................................... 135 Maintenance of the Wife............................................................................................ 136 Husbands can beat their Wives .............................................................................. 139 Divorce .............................................................................................................................. 141 What a Woman inherits ............................................................................................. 143 Women and Death........................................................................................................ 143 Equality in Cemeteries? ............................................................................................. 144 Preparation and Questions .................................................................147 Preparation...................................................................................................................... 147 Questions.......................................................................................................................... 148 Islam and the 1st Amendment............................................................................148 Islam and the 8th Amendment ...........................................................................148 Islam and the 13th Amendment.........................................................................150 Islam and the 14th Amendment.......................................................................151 Handling Evasive Responses ..............................................................153 Conclusion.................................................................................................157 Appendix ...................................................................................................161 Questions for Canadians ......................................................................161 Bibliography.............................................................................................163 About the Author ....................................................................................180 References ................................................................................................183 Index ...........................................................................................................209 "ISLAMIC DOCTRINE VERSUS THE U.S. CONSTITUTION is factual, concise and a great resource. It is much more than an educational book; it is a superb weapon in an ideological war. More and more Muslims are entering political races at every level--local, state and Federal. Opposing voices have been de-platformed from Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and many other media platforms, but the beauty of politics is that we cannot be denied a platform for our voice in a political race. Whenever Muslims stand in front of an audience in a campaign race, they should be confronted with the facts in this book. Every Muslim candidate must be forced to deal with the fact that Islamic political doctrine contradicts our Constitution. Indeed, it is the sated purpose of political Islam to annihilate our government and set up Sharia law. Read ... and arm yourself with facts to defend our nation."--Back cover