‘And we damned well kicked their asses. But they started it, not us,’ Roth said. ‘Look. It’s like this, okay? In their belief system, the world is divided into two parts. One they call Dar al-Islam, the House of Islam. That’s the part of the world over which they have dominion, obtained historically through military conquest, systematic repression of other religions and forced conversion to theirs. The other is Dar al-Harb, the House of War. That is to say, the parts of the world still waiting to be conquered, including your country and mine. The Qur’an is real clear on this, my friend. Right there in black and white, it creates a canonical obligation for believers to remain in a perpetual state of war against all infidels, until the whole world is either converted or subjugated under Sharia Law. “So fight them until there is no more disbelief and all submit to the religion of Allah alone.” Qur’an chapter 8, verse 39. I could quote a whole bunch of verses that say much the same thing. And they take that obligation seriously. Just like they do when Allah proclaims: “I will terrorise the unbelievers. Therefore smite them on their necks and every joint and incapacitate them. Strike off their heads and cut off each of their fingers and toes.” I mean, come on, man. Doesn’t it seem a strange coincidence that they’re reading this stuff in their holy book, and then carrying it out in real life? Can anyone actually believe their motivation isn’t coming straight out of those pages? Who’re we trying to kid?’

Ben had heard all this before, many times. He knew all the arguments through and through. And in some regards, Roth was right.

Chapter 34

Ben had first come across the Qur’an and its associated texts when he was a theology student, and he’d been struck at the time by the aggressive note of many of its more belligerent verses that seemed to be a direct call to arms against unbelievers. Years later, finding himself up against its followers in combat, he’d witnessed the fierceness of their zeal first-hand.

But that wasn’t the whole picture for him, and he was uncomfortable with the open hatred Roth was expressing towards these people.

He replied to Roth, ‘I hear what you’re saying. But you’re talking about the crazies. I’ve known a lot of Muslims who were decent and peace-loving people. You can’t pretend they don’t exist.’