Mauao Man

Myth 7: “Islam Is Compatible with Western Values”

📉 The Reality: Traditional Islam Fundamentally Clashes with Core Principles of Western Civilization

The narrative that Islam can seamlessly integrate into liberal democratic societies is intellectually dishonest. While individual Muslims may adopt and respect Western values, Islam as a system — its scriptures, laws, and historical enforcement — directly contradicts the foundational pillars of Western freedom.

Let’s break it down piece by piece.

🗣 I. Freedom of Speech vs. Blasphemy Laws

Western Principle: You can criticize, question, mock, or abandon any idea — including religion — without state punishment.

Islamic Doctrine:

Criticism of Muhammad or Allah is blasphemy (sabb al-nabi) — a capital offense in classical Sharia law.
Qur’an 33:57 –
“Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger – Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment.”

Classical Jurists:

Ibn Taymiyyah: “The one who curses the Prophet must be killed, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.”
Reliance of the Traveller (Umdat al-Salik, a Shafi’i manual of Sharia):
o8.7 – Apostasy includes "reviling Allah or His Messenger."

Modern Echoes:

Many Islamic countries still enforce blasphemy laws (e.g., Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran).
Even in the West, Islamist pressure groups and mobs demand censorship and violence (e.g., Charlie Hebdo, Salman Rushdie).

Conclusion:

Islam’s view of sacred authority is incompatible with the Western right to dissent and debate.

⚖️ II. Equality Before the Law vs. Sharia Discrimination

Western legal systems are based on equal treatment under the law regardless of religion, gender, or background. Sharia, by contrast, institutionalizes inequality:

A. Gender Inequality

Qur’an 4:11 – Women inherit half of what men do.
Qur’an 2:282 – The testimony of two women equals that of one man in financial matters.

"…if there are not two men [to witness], then a man and two women."

Polygyny is permitted for men (up to four wives), but polyandry is prohibited for women.
Domestic discipline is also allowed:
- Qur’an 4:34 –
  “…As to those women on whose part you fear disobedience… strike them.”

Classical Tafsir confirms this includes physical discipline, sanctioned by scholars like Ibn Kathir and al-Tabari.

B. Religious Inequality

Non-Muslims (dhimmis) under Sharia are second-class citizens:
- Must pay the jizya tax (Qur’an 9:29)
- Cannot build new houses of worship
- Limited legal standing vs. Muslims
- Forbidden to criticize Islam
Qur’an 9:29 –
“Fight those who do not believe in Allah… until they pay the jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.”

🛐 III. Religious Freedom vs. Apostasy Laws

Western value: You can change, leave, or criticize your religion without consequence.

Islamic ruling: Apostasy (riddah) is punishable by death.

Sahih Bukhari 6922 –
“Whoever changes his religion, kill him.” – Muhammad

Reliance of the Traveller o8.1 –
“When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed.”

Application:

Apostasy laws are still in place in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Mauritania, and others.
Even outside these states, social enforcement (family violence, honor killings, ostracism) keeps many ex-Muslims silent or in hiding.

This is the polar opposite of Western human rights principles.

🏛 IV. Democracy vs. Theocracy

Islam is not just a religion — it's a political system:

Muhammad was a prophet, judge, and military leader.
The ideal Islamic government is not secular — it’s one where Sharia is supreme.

Qur’an 5:44 –
“Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is they who are the disbelievers.”

Western values are rooted in separation of church and state, rule of secular law, and pluralism. Islam rejects this separation.

Result: In Sharia-based states, religious minorities and women consistently suffer legal and institutional repression.

🔥 V. The “Reform” Argument Is a Deflection

Apologists often point to modern Muslims who don’t follow Sharia strictly, or secular Muslim-majority nations like Turkey or Indonesia.

But that’s not the point.

We are evaluating Islamic doctrine, not what some Muslims personally choose to ignore.

Whenever Islamic revivalism gains ground — as seen with the Taliban, ISIS, or even peaceful Islamist movements like the Muslim Brotherhood — they always revert to Sharia supremacy, not liberal pluralism.

⚖️ Final Verdict:

Islam, in its classical and doctrinal form, is not compatible with Western values.

It clashes with:

Freedom of speech (banned under blasphemy laws)
Gender equality (enshrines legal and moral inequality)
Religious liberty (criminalizes apostasy and proselytizing)
Secular governance (mandates Sharia as divine law)

Muslims in the West may personally adopt liberal values — but Islam itself does not support them. Compatibility only exists where Islamic law is not implemented.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About the Author

Mauao Man is a blog created by a New Zealand writer who believes in following the evidence wherever it leads. From history and religion to culture and society, Mauao Man takes a clear, critical, and honest approach — challenging ideas without attacking people. Whether exploring the history of Islam in New Zealand, the complexities of faith, or the contradictions in belief systems, this blog is about asking the hard questions and uncovering the truth.