John Quincy Adams on Islam

by

       M. Richard Maxson

      John Quincy Adams had the fortune to be at the birth of our Republic, at it's beginnings and to be tutored at the feet of his father, John Adams, our second President. John Quincy was literally nurtured by his father in the intricacies of the founding of the Republic. John Adams involved his son at an early age in his own activities and travels on behalf of the fledgling nation. John Quincy accompanied his father to France in 1778, became Secretary to the American Minister to Russia, was the Secretary to his father during peace negotiations that ended the American Revolution in 1783, served as U.S. foreign ambassador, both to the Netherlands and later to Portugal, under George Washington, to Prussia under his father’s presidency, and then to Russia and later to England under President James Madison. He served as a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State under President James Monroe, and then as the nation’s sixth President (1825-1829), and finally as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was a staunch and fervent opponent of slavery.

      The Founders of the American Republic had to be well-studied in the ebb and flow of human history, and the international circumstances and enemies that could potentially impact the newborn United States adversely. They were not of a multi-cultural society. They had not been indoctrinated by the pluralism, “diversity,” and political correctness that now blanket and stifle today's American culture. They had to be vigilant in all things that were evil and alien that could potentially impact the United States adversely and they were not oblivious to and unconcerned about the threat that Islam poses to the American (and Christian) way of life as society is today. In fact, they spoke openly and pointedly about the anti-American, anti-Christian nature of the (so-called) religion of Islam.

      These are the writings of an early President of the United States, John Quincy Adams. After his presidency, but before his election to Congress in 1830, John Quincy penned several essays dealing with one of the many Russo-Turkish Wars. In these essays, we see a cogent, informed portrait of the threat that Islam has posed throughout world history:

      "In the seventh century of the Christian era, a wandering Arab of the lineage of Hagar, the
Egyptian, (Mohammud) combining the powers of transcendent genius, with the preternatural

energy of a fanatic, and the fraudulent spirit of an impostor, proclaimed himself as a messenger from Heaven, and spread desolation and delusion over an extensive portion of the earth. Adopting from the sublime conception of the Mosaic law, the doctrine of one omnipotent God; he connected indissolubly with it, the audacious falsehood, that he was himself his prophet and apostle. Adopting from the new Revelation of Jesus, the faith and hope of immortal life, and of future retribution, he humbled it to the dust, by adapting all the rewards and sanctions of his religion to the gratification of the sexual passion. He poisoned the sources of human felicity at the fountain, by degrading the condition of the female sex, and the allowance of polygamy; and he declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind. THE ESSENCE OF HIS DOCTRINE WAS VIOLENCE AND LUST: TO EXALT THE BRUTAL OVER THE SPIRITUAL PART OF HUMAN NATURE."

       "Between these two religions, thus contrasted in their characters, a war of twelve hundred years has already raged. That war is yet flagrant; nor can it cease but by the extinction of that imposture, which has been permitted by Providence to prolong the degeneracy of man. While the merciless and dissolute dogmas of the false prophet shall furnish motives to human action, there can never be peace upon earth, and good will towards men. The hand of Ishmael will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. It is, indeed, amongst the mysterious dealings of God, that this delusion should have been suffered for so many ages, and during so many generations of human kind, to prevail over the doctrines of the meek and peaceful and benevolent Jesus." (Blunt, 1830, 29:269, capitals in orig.).

      Adams not only documents the violent nature of Islam, in contrast with the peaceful and benevolent thrust of Christianity, he further exposes the mistreatment of women inherent in Islamic doctrine, including the degrading practice of polygamy. He also spoke of the coercive, violent nature of Islam, as well as the Muslim’s right to lie and deceive to advance Islam:

       "The precept of the koran is, perpetual war against all who deny, that Mahomet is the prophet of God. The vanquished may purchase their lives, by the payment of tribute; the victorious may be appeased by a false and delusive promise of peace; and the faithful follower of the prophet, may submit to the imperious necessities of defeat: but the command to propagate the Moslem creed by the sword is always obligatory, when it can be made effective. The commands of the prophet may be performed alike, by fraud, or by force." (Blunt, 29:274).

      A legitimate religion benefits mankind. "The fundamental doctrine of the Christian religion, is the extirpation of hatred from the human heart. It forbids the exercise of it, even towards enemies." John Quincy Adams and the other Founders were forthright in their assessment of the nature and teachings of Islam and the Quran. They realized the danger this cult of Islam is to the world. It is time for this country and the civilized world's political leaders to take a sober look at history and to call this group what it really is and take appropriate action.  Failure to do so will be catastrophic for the United States and all mankind.