About six weeks ago, on March 26, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth published a photo of himself on X in which his tattooed right biceps was prominently featured. Two tattoos especially stood out, one in Latin (Deus vult) and the other in Arabic (كافر – transliterated as kafir). For three quarters of the world’s population, these phrases wouldn’t cause any stir, but many from the world of Islam got their knickers in a twist, and made sure the rest of us knew how offended they were.
The term Deus vult means literally “God wills [it]”. Its offensiveness, in Muslim eyes, stems from its reputedly use as the war cry of the “Christian warriors” during the First Crusade (1096-99), when the Roman Church sought to win back the Holy Land from its conquest three hundred years earlier by the armies of Islam. Biblically, its origin goes back to the Latin Vulgate translation of 2 Samuel 14.14 — nec vult Deus perire animam (“God is not willing that any soul should perish”). Here, God’s will is associated with His desire that human beings find their well-being in Him and His ways. The Christian claim that the gospel is God’s revelation to the world is not well-received by the Muslim world, which asserts that its message surpasses all others. “God wills the gospel to triumph over Islam,” Pope Urban II essentially said.
This naturally troubles many Muslims, who find is offensive. But, it is the message of the Bible – God sent His Son into the world to bring sinners from all walks of life in all time and places to salvation through the cross. God wills the advancement of the gospel to every human ear.
But the sword of offense cuts both ways. In the Arabic language there is a common phrase transliterated as masha’allah, which translates roughly as “what God wills.” It is typically used as an expression of wonder, joy or praise, sort of like “Look at what God has done!” Among the superstitious, it is repeated as a way of warding off the evil eye of others, hinting that my good fortune (the birth of a beautiful baby, the gift of a expensive present, etc.,) is not my doing but rather the work of God – you can’t be jealous or wish me ill because of what Allah has done).
And there is another phrase found habitually in Muslim vocabulary that even Muhammad used as a war cry when his armies attacked non-Muslim communities: Allahu akbar! This phrase does not mean “God is great,” as it is often mistranslated, but rather “God is greater” (akbar is the comparative form of kabir). As a result, this cry is a challenge to the non-Muslim world: our Allah is greater than whatever force you can muster against him/us. He will be victorious, and you and all unbelievers will finally fall before our authority or before our swords. If you think a bit about this, you discover that the Allahu akbar shout is in fact little different from Deus vult, except for the fact that they are invoking two different Gods.
The Muslim who is offended by Hegseth’s Deus vult tattoo, to avoid hypocrisy, must also register his offense at Allahu akbar. Yet in my almost seven decades of life I have never come across such a Muslim, and doubt I ever will.
Even more offensive for some Muslims is the fact that Hegseth, a vocal disbeliever in the religion of Islam, has tattooed himself with the Arabic word “kafir”, found over 150 times in the Qur’an. They find it to be a personal insult, implying that Hegseth is openly mocking their beliefs.
Nerdeen Kiswani, a Palestinian Muslim activist, posted on X: “Hegseth just got a kafir (كافر) tattoo under his Deus Vult tattoo—a Crusader slogan. This isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a clear symbol of Islamophobia from the man overseeing U.S. wars. “Kafir” has been weaponized by far-right Islamophobes to mock and vilify Muslims.”
Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR, an organization founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and listed by the US government as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation anti-terrorism trial of 1995-2008), commented to Newsweek: “Tattooing the Arabic word kafir – which refers to someone who knowingly denies or conceals fundamental divine truths – on his body is a display of both anti-Muslim hostility and personal insecurity.”
Well, let’s back up for a minute. The Arabic noun kafir comes from the verb kafara, which primarily means “to cover or conceal.” When referring to people and their beliefs, it points particularly to those who hide from themselves and others the truths that God has revealed. In the context of the Qur’an, it is a negative term for those who have not become Muslims, either because they have not yet heard the message of Muhammad, or those who have heard and rejected Islam. For the former kuffar (plural of kafir), they still have an opportunity to convert once the invitation to Islam comes to them. For the latter, Islam has declared war against them and they are to be subdued or exterminated.
The term is often translated as “unbeliever or infidel” for the ignorant kafir, and as “disbeliever or rejecter” for the kafir who intentionally ignores or rejects the message of Islam.
But on the streets of the Muslim world, kafir bears a heavy load of freight beyond the denotations of the Qur’an. The word divides the in-crowd (the Muslim world) from the out-crowd. It has disparaging, pejorative and derogatory implications, which all find their roots in the Qur’an because Allah declares there that the kuffar are the vilest of creatures/animals (98.6; 8.22, 55), the deaf and dumb (6.39), the losers (7.1788), evil-doers (16.25), liars (16.39), dumb as cattle (25.44), forgers of lies against Allah (61.7) and the deviators (72.15). Those who die as disbelievers/rejecters will receive the fires of hell, the most painful punishments for eternity that Allah can devise. They will rue their disbelief in Allah and Muhammad, but it will be too late to undo their fate. Allah will have the last laugh.
Read the rest at Mateen Elass’ blog.
ME Infidel says
A Defense Secretary who understands the threat of Islam. That should trigger not only Sharia-compliant Muslims and jihadists but their Leftist enablers. Great!
Troybeam says
It does not take much to offend Islam, a bunch of cry babies Muslims are. Happen to like Pete Hegseth, former military who understands what America and the military need. His tattoos are not offensive, they are part of his life history and wears them proud.
Thankful President Trump is cleaning up the government, now if only we can get all the Muslims to return to home nation, tear down their mosques and schools that teach hate, kill non Muslims and pass a law once again that keeps Islam out of America forever.
Siddi Nasrani says
That was a nice dream, hope it will come true in the near future.
Dan Dagovitz says
It is OUR responsibility to make it come true!
Troybeam says
Might be surprised that the amount of people learning how evil Islam is will make it so, drive out Islam
Daffy says
All tattoos are offensive. Self mutilation.
gravenimage says
So you find tattoos offensive–are you fine with Jihad terror? Copts affirm that they are not by wearing tattoos of Coptic crosses. I am not generally a fan of tattoos, but I make an exception for affirming good values.
JOHN LLOYD SCHARF says
Tattoos are not kosher.. Leviticus 19:28 in the Bible prohibits making cuts on the body or tattooing oneself, particularly for mourning or in connection with pagan practices. CHRISTIANS do not get a pass on this.
Matthew 5:18
New King James Version
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one [a]jot or one [b]tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
a.Matthew 5:18 Gr. iota, Heb. yod, the smallest letter
b.Matthew 5:18 The smallest stroke in a Heb. letter
Bret says
I thought Christian were no longer under the law of Moses, which was superseded by the new Covenant.
somehistory says
Christians never were under the Law of Moses; only the Jews and those who joined them.
However, the principals embedded in the Commandments should be followed by anyone claiming to be Christian, just as Christ showed by His words and conduct.
somehistory says
principles, not principals.
GoldieElaine says
yes thats true however if one has Tatoos all their life and are on thei rdeath bed and receive Jesus as their Savior before they die. They still meet the Lord do they not?
Troybeam says
New Testament: Jesus said all things that were forbidden are now made new meaning that the everything changed when he was born, preached, died and rose from the dead. Faith means you believe with out any tangible item to touch, that Jesus is real thru faith. If you desire proof then read your Roman history. Jesus is well documented and that cannot be taken away. The Old Testament talks about his birth something like 700 years before he was born, think about that one.
So what”s really important here people, your true faith in Jesus and that he is the way, truth and life or that tattoo’s are that important to argue about.
Luchtpint says
So, a Christian who reappropriates the Arabic word kafir, which muslims use as a slur to pigeonhole all non-muslims with, becomes a sort of dangerous critic or either an unashamed satirist ?
No wonder muslims get offended ! Non-believers can’t criticize or have a laugh at their expense ! What’s new ?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Reminds me of Malaysia, where Malay speaking Christians are banned from using the word “allah” to refer to God. Apparently, muslims can use any word they like, but others can’t
Dan Dagovitz says
After 26 years in the U’S’ Army I am a Proud and Dangerous Kaffir… and I stand tall. If the Evil Islamic Cult does not like it they can return to Shitholastan or Assholabad and live like the pigs that most (not all) of them are.
If any Muzzie finds this too offensive to live with you can come and correct me!
skeptiker says
Großartig!
Dan Dagovitz says
Nachdem ich fast mein ganzes Leben lang unbewaffneten Kampf unterrichtet und ein ausgezeichneter Schütze war, bin ich mir ziemlich sicher, dass ich durchaus in der Lage bin, „anderen etwas anzutun, bevor sie mir etwas antun können“! Die Moslems haben drei Einsätze in Südwestasien lang versucht, mich ins Grab zu bringen, und jetzt ruhen sie sich aus …
Schwert Gottes!
gravenimage says
+1
skeptiker says
Großartig ! 100% !
Virginia says
👍🏻
Winston 101 says
D D
Thank you for your service and your comment.
Return them to my favorite muslim, theocratic nation, Trashcanistan!
࿗Infidel࿘ says
His confirmation hearing for his job was pretty hostile. One asked about his “Deus Vult” tattoo, but no one asked him about the tatt in Nastaliq? What did they assume: that he had something praising islam on it, and wanted to prevent it from getting out?
Mitchel Evans says
Hegseth is now my hero.
skeptiker says
Großartig! 100 pro !!
skeptiker says
Pete Hegseth wird mir immer sympatischer.
sporticus says
The Infidel Pope has just died.
So, according to Islam he will burn in Hell for all eternity, for ever and ever, not because he was a bit of a dummy but simply because he was born into the Christian Faith and didn’t give that up and become a Muslim.
“Nonsense on stilts”.
I know why Allah time and time again does not answer when called upon by Islamists – Allah cannot be so stupid as to be listening to these clowns to throw Catholics, sundry other Christians, agnostics, atheists, innocent children, and even the Falun Gong, into a furnace which burns the infidels forever and yet never allows them to sleep for one second nor be granted the mercy of ceasing to exist.
At least for the Christian Hell you have to have done something really bad -such as no going to church on a Sunday. Yes, I know. But that is exactly what Catholic children used to be taught. The good news was that they could go to Confession and the unsurprised priest would just tell them to say some Hail Marys and Our Fathers (3 of each) and the threat of Eternal Damnation would disappear (piff!) -at least until next Sunday.
TIJERANDY says
So happy to see Hegseth is telling the Truth in this unusual way. I call myself ‘PROUD INFIDEL’, which is same. Pete, having served in the Middle East, well knows the nature of Islam and Muslims. And he will not back down.
Winston 101 says
I am glad for any form of information getting out the message of the truth and horror that is Islam.
A high profile person like Pete Hegseth displaying his “Kafir” tattoo leads people to ask – “What’s a kafir?” Then they can learn that it applies to them – and all the gory details – like in all the rapes and blade attacks on kafirs.
I’ve always found tattoos repulsive but knew one day I’d find one I liked. This is that day.
I too am glad to have a Defense Secretary that has some “inkling” about the nature of Islam.
gravenimage says
Embrace Your Inner Kafir
………………………….
I do this every day!
Hrb says
Muslims will.never assimilate into any western culture. Especially here in the United States of America. They will never put our constitution and Bill of Rights before their “religion” and sharia laws. They think that they have.the right to lie.to.an infidels to.achieve their goals. They look.at raping an infidels as their right, they will take children as brides. Most western civilizations look.at.this as a foul and nasty thing to.do to.children and totally unacceptable. All you have to do is.look at UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe. They bring violence and chaos where ever they invade. They will whine about anything that they consider an insult. The only.difference here in the United States. We have never give up our second amendment I’m just an old American citizen but I will never submit to islam. They have invaded our country and it has started here, we have the muslim Brotherhood and Cair both should be abolished. I.Don’t care who immigratesto the USA but it has to be legal and assimilate into the American culture and bring something that will will.improve our country. Muslims will not bring anything but violence and chaos. Never had a tattoo but I’m seriously thinking about one. I support Pete H 100%! God. Bless America.