About "Discover the Truth":
"Discover the Truth" (DTT) is an Islamic propaganda site that uses partial truths and
sleight of hand to downplay the Quran's harsher verses and unflattering episodes from
Muhammad's life. Those who do not know
much about Islam can easily be fooled by glancing at a bombardment of scholarly-looking articles
and assuming that the conclusions are proven.
On the surface, each article seems to refute the straight-forward interpretation of a
problematic Quran verse or topic with (mostly) 20th century commentary that guides the reader
to a contrary conclusion. The articles are not all wrong, but the weightier ones often rely on four
subtle techniques to misdirect the reader:
1) 'Adding' to the Quran: Allah could have explained things
better, either by including a few more words in a verse or directly referencing another passage in a
whole different chapter. Fortunately, the DTT apologist can tell you what Allah really meant to say
(sometimes by referring to a Tafsir, in which someone else tells you what Allah really meant to say).
2) Citing Contemporary Apologists or Weak Hadith: All Islamic
history was recorded by devout Muslims (some of whom left out unflattering details
along the way). Despite this clear advantage, DTT relies heavily on modern-era
sources. This is a case of one apologist citing another as if it is fact.
DTT presumes that later sources are more aware of what was happening at the time of Muhammad than those
closer to the actual events (in fact, earlier sources were generally less subjective and often had
access to material that has since been lost). Most of DTT's contemporary sources
tend to imagine details not found in the earlier accounts, which is why they are cited.
Muslim apologists typically rely on weak hadith verses or later commentary to shape a positive
interpretation. These are Islam's version of Fake News. They
are narrations or editorial opinions that were invented several centuries after Muhammad.
Unfortunately, DTT often does not distinguish later scholars
by anything other than name. They are usually mixed in among passages from
the Hadith and Sira, which no doubt misleads readers into thinking that they
are historical accounts instead of the relatively recent opinion of like-minded
apologists and scholars.
3) Ignoring Reliable Hadith and Sira:
Discover the Truth will often leave out contrary narrations, even if they come from
earlier or more reliable sources.
4) Sleight of Hand: Discover the Truth sometimes
references a reliable source in name to add the connotation of authenticity when the
same source may, in fact, contradict the conclusion elsewhere. Sometimes wording is
changed or omitted. Sometimes historical events are juxtaposed in a way that deliberately
confuses the sequence of events.
Discover the Truth also makes steady reference to a shadowy cabal of "Christian
missionaries," who
are said to be distorting the truth about Islam (while no doubt rubbing their hands together
in sinister fashion). Alleging a religious agenda is a rhetorical strategy
intended to marginalize intellectual critique. In truth, the greatest threat to the
Islamic religion is the Information Age, which makes available texts and teachings that distinguish
Islam from how many prefer to view it.
The efforts of apologists like Discover the Truth always tell us more about what
they want Islam to be rather than what it is. Ironically, by trying to mold Islam to fit a
preferred conclusion, DTT acknowledges an
independent moral framework to which there is greater loyalty. The radical
or terrorist does not play these games: they take Islam as it is.
The truth is never determined by what anyone wants it to be, be they apologist
or critic. Even if the motives of Discover the Truth are noble (and that is
debatable) the tactics of deception are deplorable. Since a noble cause never
requires a lie, one may indeed question the integrity of Islam based on what is required to
defend it.
(More on DTT's arbitrary manipulation of sources here. More on their promotion of hatred for religious minorities and gays here)
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