Criticism of Islam  

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Criticism of Islam has existed since its formative stages. Early written disapproval came from Christians as well as by some former Muslims such as Ibn al-Rawandi. Western criticism has grown in the 21st century.

Objects of criticism include the morality and authenticity of the Quran and the hadiths, along with the life of Muhammad, both in his public and personal life. Other criticism concerns many aspects of human rights in the Islamic world (in both historical and present-day societies), including the treatment of women, LGBT groups, and religious and ethnic minorities in Islamic law and practice. In the recent adoption of multiculturalism, some have questioned Islam's influence on the ability or willingness of Muslim citizens and immigrants to assimilate into Western countries. The issues when debating and questioning Islam are incredibly complex with each side having a different view on the morality, meaning, interpretation, and authenticity of each topic.

G. K. Chesterton criticized Islam as a derivative from Christianity. He described it as a heresy or parody of Christianity. In The Everlasting Man he says:

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During a lecture given at the University of Regensburg in 2006, Pope Benedict XVI quoted an unfavorable remark about Islam made at the end of the 14th century by Manuel II Palaiologos, the Byzantine emperor:

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As the English translation of the Pope's lecture was disseminated across the world, many Muslim politicians and religious leaders protested against what they saw as an insulting mischaracterization of Islam.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/><ref name="BBC1"/> Mass street protests were mounted in many Muslim-majority countries, the Majlis-e-Shoora (Pakistani parliament) unanimously called on the Pope to retract "this objectionable statement".<ref>{{

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Winston Churchill criticized what he alleged to be the effects Islam had on its believers, which he described as fanatical frenzy combined with fatalistic apathy, enslavement of women, and militant proselytizing.<ref name="Churchill 1899">Winston S. Churchill, from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pp. 248–50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899)</ref> In his 1899 book The River War he says: [[File:Wc0042-3b13159r.jpg|thumb|left|A young Winston Churchill on a lecture tour of the United States in 1900]]

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According to historian Warren Dockter, Churchill wrote this during a time of a fundamentalist revolt in Sudan and this statement does not reflect his full view of Islam, which were "often paradoxical and complex." He could be critical but at times "romanticized" the Islamic world; he exhibited great "respect, understanding and magnanimity."<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="telegraph"/> Churchill had a fascination of Islam and Islamic civilization.<ref name="telegraph">Template:Citation</ref> Winston Churchill's future sister-in-law expressed concerns about his fascination by stating, "[p]lease don't become converted to Islam; I have noticed in your disposition a tendency to orientalism." According to historian Warren Dockter, however, he "never seriously considered converting".<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=Dockter>{{

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}}</ref> He primarily admired its martial aspects, the "Ottoman Empire's history of territorial expansion and military acumen", to the extent that in 1897 he wished to fight for the Ottoman Empire. According to Dockter, this was largely for his "lust for glory".<ref name=Dockter/> Based on Churchill's letters, he seemed to regard Islam and Christianity as equals.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="telegraph"/>Template:Dead link

See also

• Clarion Project
• Criticism of Twelver Shia Islam
• Faith Freedom International
• Fitna
• Innocence of Muslims
• Internet Infidels
• Islamic Circle of North America
• Islamic feminism
• Islamo-leftism
• Islam: What the West Needs to Know
• Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
• List of critics of Islam
• Muslims Condemn
• Shia–Sunni relations
• Sudanese teddy bear blasphemy case
• The Satanic Verses controversy
• Trial of Geert Wilders