Suffering through the Koran, Sura 54, ' The Moon'.

That the Koran is unholy, illogical, poorly written and racist is obvious to any who has bothered to read a page or two. This chapter named 'The Moon' has only one reference to the moon and it is a bad prognostication intended to frighten Mohammed's tribe the Quraish, into joining the Ali-ilah male moon deity cult: “The Hour of (Judgment) is near, and the moon is cleft asunder.” [54:1] Apparently the moon remains un-sundered. This seems to be a very peculiar, and rather surprising mistake and poor prophecy, by a supposed 'God' transmitting his 'uncreated' power, through the military adventurer Mohammed.

When you read this Sura you quickly realize that it is little more than a public relations piece targeting Mohammed's tribe which is the ruling elite of Mecca. The Quraish rightly rejected Mohammed as nothing more than a mad-man making up stories, who was deranged enough to believe that the angel Gabriel was talking to him and transferring the literal word of God. The Quraish had become rich from trading, and from pilgrims making their way to the polytheist Kabah shrine which house a black asteroid, and 365 celestial deities including ali-ilah or Allah – the chief male moon idol. The Quraish had little spiritual, financial or social incentive to follow Mohammed's demands that they convert to Islam, and submit themselves to his rule.

These fantastical claims by an illiterate Mohammed, would do little but offend, grate and inflame the more sentient and sophisticated members of Quraish society. It would be as if your neighbour challenged the local ruling kleptocracy of your closest major city; went into the City's chambers of discussion; announced that his family tree 'God' had spoken to him, and the entire city-state metropolis government and elite must submit itself to this tree deity forthwith. It is highly unlikely that many people would take such a claim seriously or believe that the spokesperson for the tree-God was anything else other than a lunatic.

Rejected by his own tribe the moon deity comforts poor little Mohammed, “Therefore, (O Prophet), turn away from them. The Day that the Caller will call (them) to a terrible affair, ..”[54:6] In other words don't worry Moh, the moon deity will help you out, and make sure that they follow you.

As with the entire racist and supremacist writings of the Koran, there are no messages of tolerance, love and gratitude, nor of the Golden Rule. Nowhere can such passages be found. Instead Mohammed, supported apparently by Gabriel's translation from the moon deity, resorts to violence and threats. The Quraish will be crushed and will be coerced into following his leadership. The moon guy said so.

Are you Unbelievers, (O Quraish), better than they? Or do you have an immunity in the Sacred Books? [54:43]

and

Soon will their multitude be put to flight, and they will show their backs. Nay the Hour (of Judgment) is the time promised them (for their full recompense): and that Hour will be most grievous and most bitter. [54:46]

and

The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces, (they will hear): 'You taste the touch of Hell!' [54:48]

How touching. How loving. How tolerant. How peaceful. How moderate.

Ali-ilah will ensure that the Quraish are 'dragged through the Fire on their faces'. Ouch. This will occur after a battle, in which the Quraish 'multitude (will be) put to flight'. Nothing can save the Quraish because the moon guy has not protected them in his and Mohammed's 'Sacred Books'.

Maybe the mythical moderate Muslims can go to this Sura and highlight for us infidels the injunctions about love, charity and tolerance. Maybe the moderate Muslims can describe to us, how this Sura and others depict Mohammed preaching and convincing people of his spiritual revelations using the parables, examples and words by someone like Christ? Maybe the moderate Muslims can explain to us, what these words of violence 'truly mean'.

For Mohammed war and violence is the only path to enforce Islamic submission. The Quraish have 'disrespected' his teachings. The only recourse is to destroy them. The moon guy agrees, sending to Mohammed this 'revelation', to give to the leaders of the Quraish, admonishing them and forewarning them:

“...We have destroyed gangs like you: then is there any that will receive admonition ?” [54:51]

The Quraish will thus join a long list dating from the time of Noah, of those tribes and clans who rejected 'Allah'. The moon deity is a vengeful, power-mongering figure, who does not have patience with those who will not prostrate themselves to his rule:

“Before them the People of Noah rejected (their Messenger):....And we caused the earth to gush forth with springs. So the waters met (and rose) to the extent decreed.” [54:9 and 12]

Noah was destroyed by Allah's flood. So too did Pharaonic Egypt feel the wrath of the Meccan moon deity when Ramses rejected Moses as a Prophet – apparently Moses was a Muslim working for ali-ilah, an assertion certain to surprise even the most self-loathing of modern Jewry:

“To the People of Pharaoh, too, aforetime, came Warners (from Allah).” [54:41]

Just to make sure that the messaging is understood, no less than eight times in this Sura, does ali-ilah, through Mohammed make it clear that violence and punishment await the Quraish or anyone else who dares to deny the omnipotence of the male moon deity of Mecca: “Yes how terrible was My Penalty and My Warning!” [54:21]

The Koran is of course insane gibberish. It is simply a proclamation by a deranged personality named Mohammed, justifying his lust for power and control. The only admirable aspect of this tract is the endless calls to war, violence and destruction of the unbeliever. This clarity of purpose – repeated ad nauseum without end -- is in some ways refreshing for its perverted, but direct, honesty.

[Note: This sura is taken from 'The Holy Quran', translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, reprinted in 1995, Goodword Books. Regarded as one of the best translations from Arabic to English of the Koran.]