Why Islam Is Incompatible with the West
You, as a human being, operate under a set of ethics. These ethics shape every aspect of your life: how you treat yourself, your family, and the world around you. They determine what you stand for, what you reject, and how you contribute to society. But have you ever asked yourself how were these ethics developed?
Western ethics were shaped by centuries of struggle, refinement, and philosophical evolution, centered on the value of the individual and the pursuit of the common good. Different schools of thought (deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics) each established conditions for defining right and wrong. At their core, they sought to benefit society as a whole, not just a specific group.
Even religious morality in the West, rooted in Judeo-Christian values, was examined, questioned, and, when necessary, reinterpreted. If a commandment contradicted the overarching principle of the common good, it was viewed in its historical context, allowing moral progress to continue. This process never stopped. Over time, Western civilization granted more rights, more freedoms, and more personal agency.
Islam, by contrast, operates under a completely different ethical framework. A Muslim’s moral compass is not shaped by philosophical discourse, societal evolution, or the refinement of ideas through time. Instead, it is dictated entirely by the Quran, the Hadith, and the lives of Islam’s pioneers. The problem? These sources were built upon the values of 6th-century Arabian tribalism. And those values (violence, conquest, subjugation of women, suppression of dissent, and the elimination of non-believers) are not just historical artifacts. They are considered eternal truths.
Attempts to develop an ethical system in the Islamic world, independent of these sources, have been met with brutal suppression. Throughout history, scholars who sought alternative ethical frameworks were persecuted, exiled, or executed.
One of the earliest and most prominent cases is that of Ibn Rushd (Averroes), a 12th-century Andalusian philosopher. Ibn Rushd attempted to reconcile Islamic thought with Aristotelian philosophy, advocating for reason and critical thinking. His works were banned, and he was exiled by the Almohad Caliphate for daring to challenge Islamic orthodoxy.
All Muslims Live Under Sharia Law
Some academics argue that only a handful of Muslim-majority countries enforce Sharia law in its strictest form. But this is a deceptive argument. Islam itself is the source of ethics for all practicing Muslims, regardless of their country of residence. This means that whether in Saudi Arabia or in the suburbs of Paris, a Muslim’s ethical framework is dictated by a legal and moral code that is fundamentally at odds with the West.
Sharia is not merely a set of criminal laws applied in Islamic states; it is a comprehensive legal and moral system that governs every aspect of a Muslim’s life, from diet and dress to social interactions and political governance. Even in Western countries, where Sharia is not state law, it functions as a parallel legal system within Muslim communities. Sharia courts operate in Britain, family disputes are settled under Islamic law in France, and honor-based justice is enforced in communities across Europe and North America.
Moreover, since Sharia is seen as divine law, it is considered above all other legal systems. This is why radicalization happens, not because of external influences, but because the very foundation of Islamic ethics frames the West as an enemy.
The Incompatibility Is Inevitable
Western civilization is a direct threat to Islam because it contradicts its ethical system at every level. That is why, when Muslims advocate for Sharia law, they are not merely asking for legal accommodations, they are demanding the replacement of the entire ethical system of the West.
Islamic ethics are frozen in time. They cannot be modified, refined, or developed. The very act of questioning them is seen as an attack on Islam itself. And because Western principles, human rights, gender equality, freedom of speech, contradict these ethics, they are perceived as a form of enmity against Islam.
The proof is everywhere. In the majority of Islamic countries, women are still legally considered inferior. In civil courts, a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man. Anger is mistaken for strength. Exposing child molesters is considered shameful, not the act itself. Sympathizing with terrorists is seen as righteous because they are simply adhering to the ethical framework Islam provides.
Integration efforts will fail because the ethical foundation of Islam is fundamentally incompatible with Western civilization. No amount of tolerance or goodwill can change the fact that an ethical system rooted in the 6th century cannot coexist with a civilization that has spent centuries refining and expanding human rights.
The Only Solution: Rejecting Islam as a Moral Framework
The only solution is to dismantle Islam as a source of ethics. The West must reject the idea that Islam’s moral framework deserves any legitimacy and instead help Muslims move beyond its rigid, antiquated limits. Only by breaking free from this ideological straitjacket can they truly integrate into modern society.
About the Author
DANNY BURMAWI
Danny Burmawi is an Author, speaker, an advocate for religious liberty, and rational thought, a content creator, and social entrepreneur with a passion for transformative media and advocacy.
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