Until the advent of materialism and 19th c. dogma, Western Civilisation was superior to anything Islam had developed. Islam has not aided in the development of the modern world; in fact civilisation has only been created in spite of Islam. Proof of this resides in the 'modern' world and the unending political-economic and spiritual poverty of Muslim states and regions. Squatting on richer civilisations is not 'progress'. Islam is pagan, totalitarian, and irrational.
The central tenet and rule in Koranic theology, or the cult of Muhammad is supine slavery. Enslavement to the demands of both Muhammad and his monotheistic creation named the Lord or i-lah, which has nothing in common with Judeo-Christian ideals of divinity, is what the Koranic cult reiterates and demands on every page of their constitution. It is curious, that a long screed demanding on the one hand violence against non-cult members; and on the other hand, pliant, irrational, unthinking prostration to an unknowable moon deity or 'Lord', is viewed as a religion. Slavery is a cult phenomenon, it is not part of a religion.
In Sura 57 or 'Iron', violence and slavery are prevalent. The 'substance' in question is iron but not iron for pots, pans and axles for carts. It is the iron for war.
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Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. |
It is clear that Islam comes out of the Iron age cults of celestial and nature worship. These cults are largely premised and founded upon Bronze age organizations and pre-Iron age rituals and demands. The Babylonians of course conquered Mecca in around 590 BC. Their great celestial cult of Sin, or the moon deity which protected Babylonian civilization, was transferred to Mecca. Sin or 'the One Lord', is of course i-lah in Arabic or Al-Lah.
In any event Iron age materials were pretty handy for warfare. Give your money to the cult. Let it buy the substance for war. And participate in the war:
“Not equal among you are those who spent (freely) and fought, before the Victory, (with those who did so later). Those are higher in rank....” [57:10]
57:10 is clearly supremacist. An important duty of all Muslims is to support the acquisition of iron, and to spread the Jihad. Reading benign intentions into what is clearly a program of aggression does not make you progressive or nuanced. It just means you are stupid.
This Sura contains not one single sentence of an ethical code. Of the 29 verses, 18 demand mindless submission to Allah and his Messenger, and 11 outline either punishment for unbelievers, or why Infidels are really wayward Muslims who will either return to Islam or face the consequences:
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And those who believe in (the Oneness of) Allah and His Messengers, they are the Siddiqun (i.e. those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them), and the martyrs with their Lord, they shall have their reward and their light. But those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) and deny Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they shall be the dwellers of the blazing Fire. |
The highest possible attainment for the hated human [there is no free-will within Islamic doctrine], is to emulate Muhammad. The Koran repeatedly calls Muhammad the slave of Al-Lah. Using Moslem 'logic' one can only deduce that being a good 'slave' will please the Al-Lah thing and bring one 'closer to Muhammad':
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It is He Who sends down manifest Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to His slave (Muhammad SAW) that He may bring you out from darkness into light. And verily, Allah is to you full of kindness, Most Merciful. |
If you are a good slave of the 'One', or ilah, he might treat you with kindness. The pre-requisite for 'heaven' within Islam is to be a good slave. There is no discussion in Sura 57, or within the entirety of the Koran about human worth illustrated by free-will, faith through reason, the Golden rule, or rationality informing the spiritual. Koranic dogma is typical of the late Bronze and Iron ages – shut up and submit.